Cross My Heart Ministry

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,
be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
I Timothy 1:17 (NIV)

Paul’s words to Timothy in verses 15-17 sum up the Gospel beautifully. He essentially says:

• I am the worst of all sinners,
• Jesus has extended unlimited patience to me,
• If God would save me, He would save anybody,
• God is owed glory and honor.

The way we live our lives ascribes glory and honor to God. Altering our behavior to make much of God should be prompted by love and gratefulness. The motivation behind these course corrections matters. It matters a lot. Living honorably is not a have to, but a want to – a delight to.

We don’t walk honorably to become saved or even to prove we are saved, but simply because it’s who we are.

Living honorably means we live not to indulge ourselves but to please and magnify God – or in Paul’s words, to give Him glory and honor.

But a caution is in order: fulfilling that purpose can (and often does) spiral downward to legalism, rule-keeping, and self-righteousness when we believe we’re doing it well, and to self-condemnation and shame when we know we’ve failed.

Living honorably is not about keeping rules or checking off a list. It means allowing love to lead out. If I truly love God, I long for my life to honor and please Him. If that is my goal, I am free to “live loved” – free from the consequences of failing, and from the pride of succeeding. I love Him and all glory goes to Him.

Let’s allow Scripture to teach us what walking honorably looks like when it’s lived out:

• “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of your crops…” Proverbs 3:9

The “firstfruits” principle can be applied to our time, our treasure, and our talent. Do I give to God first – or give from what’s left? It takes a much greater step of faith to give to God first, trusting there will be enough left at end of winter, end of month, or end of day. Whether our crops, our paycheck, or our 24 hours per day, giving to God first honors Him and bolsters our faith.

• “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” Proverbs 20:3

Walking honorably might require some walking away. Sometimes that feels decidedly unnatural and certainly un-American! We are conditioned by the world to stand up and speak up – to stick up for ourselves and demand our rights. I don’t think God wants us to be a doormat, but I do think wisdom should prompt some prayer before responding. How many family rifts, broken relationships, and hurt feelings could be avoided if we intentionally, deliberately avoided strife?

• “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19b-20

I’m taking the log out of my eye, as I reflect on this one. When it comes to honoring God with our bodies, I’ll borrow words from Paul and just say that “I’m chief among sinners.” I’m convicted (yet again) that running to chocolate instead of God when I’m hurting (or happy) is idolatry. Many of us may congratulate ourselves that we don’t smoke, do drugs, or get drunk, but isn’t that a pretty low standard if the goal is to honor God with our bodies? I want to live a long life so I can serve my Lord. I’m asking Him to allow me to continue teaching Bible study into my nineties. But I’m also certain that I must do my part to cooperate with God by choosing to make healthier choices, and to exercise and remain active to keep my body running effectively for that long.

Walking honorably is a day-by-day and even a moment-by-moment process. It’s a choice on our part, but also possible only because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.

What “walking honorably” choice is God calling you to make?

In this week’s video devotional, Laura shared thoughts about honoring the Sabbath. Does that sound legalistic to you? Watch the video for a new perspective!

“…humility comes before honor.”
Proverbs 15:33b

Honor can easily lead to pride.

It’s a blessing to receive encouragement and gratitude. We are all thankful when others acknowledge and appreciate our efforts. Many Scripture passages encourage us to release gratitude and encouragement, to spur one another on, and to be thankful: Paul encourages us to “honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10), and the writer of Hebrews instructs, “encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13). But as we receive it, we must simultaneously release it.

Receiving honor should prompt us to immediately deflect the glory to God.

Like the multiplication of the little boy’s lunch, we must acknowledge that while we may pitch in a couple of loaves and a few fish, it’s God Almighty who makes the banquet happen. On Feed-the-5000 day, the focus wasn’t on the kid who remembered to pack a lunch (in all probability, his mama should get credit for it anyway!) or even his willingness to offer it up. The spotlight shone clearly on Jesus, the miracle maker—or, in this case, the meal creator. He did that day what He also does for us on this day: He takes our little—our lacking, our paltry, our meager—and makes it not just enough, but more than enough. (Mark 6:43 reveals there were 12 basketfuls left over that day, enough for each disciple to have a carry-out.)

The little boy may be honored for sharing, but Jesus is glorified for the miracle. The same is true for us. We are honored for sharing, giving, and loving on others, but the ultimate glory goes to our Lord. God may honor us by using us, but we must first humble ourselves by yielding to his teaching and saying “Yes, Sir” when He calls.

We keep ourselves usable, pliable, teachable, and humble by abiding in Him … coming to Him in prayer, yielding to His Spirit, and acknowledging His authority to lead us. As we bow down and pray—perhaps physically, but most assuredly in our hearts and minds—we adopt a spirit of humility. I believe God delights in answering prayers that spring from a humble heart.

Jesus Himself modeled humility before honor as He humbled Himself to leave His throne in heaven, don his robe of flesh, and become obedient to death for us. Paul’s letter to the Philippians beautifully describes the humility of Jesus. These phrases describe our Lord in Philippians 2:6-11:

• made himself nothing
• taking the very nature of a servant
• humbled himself
• obedient to death—even death on a cross

Jesus first humbled Himself and His obedience was followed by honor: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name …” Philippians 2:9

The humility of Jesus—His willingness to be shamed and ridiculed, His obedience to endure a criminal’s death—led to the highest honor, that of bringing glory to God, as He provided salvation for us. Jesus is unquestionably the greatest example of humility before honor.

Humility before honor typifies what I like to call the “upside-down logic” of Scripture: you have to lose your life to gain it, the first will be last, and the greatest will be the servant.

I’m grateful the ways of God are different from the ways of the world.

How do we respond when life seems unfair, when the unexpected happens, when what we hoped for doesn’t happen, when happiness eludes us? It’s all too easy to sigh, slump our shoulders, and drag our feet. Sometimes the dreaded “D’s” follow: devastation, discouragement, depression. But it’s in those moments we can remind ourselves of what C.S. Lewis said so well,

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

Thankfully, heaven’s rules don’t always apply on Earth.

Humility before honor may not win the election. It may not secure the promotion, bring a dinner invitation, or influence the masses of this world … but God sees. God knows. And, in our hearts, you and I experience peace and joy that bears witness to the honor of God’s blessing.

When we look at our commitments and responsibilities to our families, churches, and those we care about, it’s so easy to wonder, Am I doing enough? Should I be giving more of my time, treasure, and energy?

Please know that you are not alone. I ask myself these same questions, as does every other woman I know. And I’m convinced the questions keep us humble—and, therefore, keep us praying and wholly dependent upon God for guidance, wisdom, and strength. There is NO WAY we could fulfill God’s high and holy calling on our lives apart from Him. We can thank Him for the assignments that feel too big for us, the tasks that seem impossible to accomplish on our own, because it ensures we need Him and stay close to Him. And a heart that is dependent upon God is a heart that honors God.

When we are dependent upon Him, we are humbled. And it is from that place of humility that we are finally in a position to receive honor. Humility is a prerequisite to honor. In God’s upside down economy, the way up is often down.

In Friday’s devotional video, we unpack thoughts on David’s prayer in I Chronicles 29:10-13, and are reminded that true honor and wealth come from God:

Visit our Downloads page today to find your copy of this month’s Write the WORD bookmark and S.O.A.P. study pages!

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed….
John 17:1

John 17 captures the night before for Jesus.

The next day would bring his arrest and subsequent crucifixion. Because He was fully divine and fully human, He knew what He was facing:  harsh judgment, abuse, condemnation, and horrifically painful death.

When you and I have a challenge coming, how do we prepare? Reward ourselves with a good meal or a pedicure? Maybe some shopping therapy? Indulge in a chick flick with a big bowl of popcorn?

Jesus could have hung with his friends … perhaps gone fishing or reminisced around the campfire, “Remember that time we fed 5000 with a kid’s lunch? … Dude, how about that blind Bart that got to see?”

Jesus did not spend His night before relaxing, hanging with his buddies, or pampering Himself. He spent the night before doing the very best thing to prepare for the next day: He prayed.

Unlike Jesus, you and I are not divine, so we never know when today will be our own night before. We never know when our challenge will come, but we know it will.  We know trouble will find us. Jesus gave us this heads up:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.”
John 16:33a (NIV)

Note that Jesus doesn’t say we might have trouble. He doesn’t say trouble is a possibility. He says, “You will have trouble.” So if it’s coming, we are wise to prepare.

When the tornado sirens go off, we head to the basement.

We make freezer meals before the baby (and sleepless nights) arrive.

When the road sign pictures a sharp curve ahead, we slow down.

We nail up the shutters if the weather man says a hurricane is rolling in.

When the property tax bill comes, we start setting money aside to pay it.

Trouble will come, but we can have peace in the midst of it. It almost sounds – and feels – like an oxymoron, but it is true. It is possible. It comes by being “prayed up.”

We prepare for the unidentified-trouble-we-know-is-coming by PRAYING.

Take some time to read John 17. These 26 verses record the prayer of our Lord to His heavenly father. His prayer was for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers – that includes you and me! How extraordinary to know our Lord prayed for us the night before He sacrificed Himself for us.

Look closely at the prayer for Himself. He prayed for God to be glorified through the difficulty. He didn’t ask God to make it bearable or for death to come quickly. He leaned into the suffering because He wanted to fulfill His divine calling to glorify God.

You and I were created for the same purpose: to glorify God. And perhaps our suffering offers the greatest opportunity to fulfill that purpose.

The world shrugs with indifference when the healthy, wealthy, seemingly-blessed believer praises God. But when we praise Him in the pain – during serious illness, loss of a loved one, a prodigal child, divorce, a layoff, bankruptcy, or any other hard thing – the world takes note. They are curious, intrigued, and perhaps amazed enough to ask, Why? – and that is our opportunity to share a gospel story. An opportunity to bring glory to our great God who can use all things for our good and FOR HIS GLORY.

The last part of John 16:33 encourages us:

But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33b (NIV)

Bottom line:

1. Trouble will come.
2. Peace is possible even in times of trouble.
3. We get ready for trouble by being “prayed up.”
4. We can overcome because He overcame!

Women of God, are you ready
to start taking prayer seriously?
Are you ready to woman up
and get down on your knees?

In this week’s devotional video, Laura introduces our June Write the WORD topic, HONOR … and shares thoughts on how we can live honorably and respond with HONOR to the upcoming Supreme Court decision that may overturn Roe v. Wade. We hope her thoughts will prompt prayer and self-examination, and inspire us to be godly, wise, and honorable in our interactions with those who may disagree with our convictions.

Find this month’s free Write the WORD and ‘Do It!’ List downloads HERE, and plan to join us in June as we read, write, and study Bible verses that include the word HONOR.

We read King Hezekiah’s story in chapters 18–20 of II Kings. His life included some good choices and some not-so-good; that unvarnished reality simply accentuates the Bible’s credibility, and reassures us of the truth of Scripture. It inspires hope for our own lives.

Hezekiah’s prayer is recorded in II Kings 19:14-19:

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it.
Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and
spread it out before the LORD.

And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD, the God of Israel,
enthroned between the cherubim,
you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.
You have made heaven and earth.

Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see;
listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste
these nations and their lands.

They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them,
for they were not gods but only wood and stone,
fashioned by human hands.

Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand,
so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, LORD, are God.”

King Hezekiah receives a threatening message from Sennacherib, the King of Assyria. Up to that point, Hezekiah had made some poor choices, but on this day, he chooses to turn back to God. Clutching the frightening letter, he hurries to the temple and spreads it out before the Lord.

I love that visual. I love the example Hezekiah sets for us. We, too, can spread out the papers (or the piles) that threaten us before the Lord. Following Hezekiah’s lead, I have spread out before the Lord:

• To-do lists
• Piles on my counter
• Tax returns
• Writing projects
• Speaking outlines

Praying over practical challenges reminds us that our great God is not just the God of up there, but very much the God of down here, too.

What papers and piles need some divine direction in your life? Why not try spreading them out before the Lord, and praying over the challenge?

Hezekiah begins his prayer by praising God for who He is. He takes time to “tattle” on Assyria. He wraps up his prayer by clearly stating his request: deliver us from his hand.

And then comes a phrase I love to find in Scripture: so that. I love seeing a reason behind a command or a request. (Maybe it’s human nature for all of us … how many times have we mamas heard even a two-year-old ask, “Why?”)

Hezekiah doesn’t just ask for deliverance; he wants God to be glorified in the answer! He prays:

Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand,
so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know
that you alone, LORD, are God.

I like to call this “praying BIG!” When we pray that God will be glorified, and God will get the credit, we begin to anticipate answers that may be different than what we would want or expect. Even our suffering serves a purpose: by praying BIG—praying for God to be made much of—we find that chemotherapy, a dreaded family reunion, and a flat tire can all be opportunities for gospel conversations that bring glory to God.

For whatever challenge today brings, don’t just pray … pray BIG!

I’m praying for you today, my friend, asking God to use Hezekiah’s prayer to inspire you to:

1. Spread your challenge out before the Lord.
2. Pray BIG – pray that God will answer SO THAT He is glorified in the answer!

In Friday’s devotional video, Laura asked the question: Is God trustworthy? Watch now to hear the answer, as found in the Old Testament book of Habakkuk.

It’s not too late to join us for the remaining days of May, as we focus on PRAYER. Visit our Downloads page for your copy of this month’s Write the WORD bookmark and optional S.O.A.P. Bible study pages.

Coming soon: our June Write the WORD
and ‘Do It!’ List downloads!

“The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
Exodus 15:2

The bulk of Exodus 15 is a song of praise to God by Moses and Miriam. Their delight in what God had done could not be contained. The joy in their hearts overflowed into praise on their lips. They were witnesses to an extraordinary act of God: the parting of the Red Sea and the deliverance of their people from Pharaoh’s Army.

If you’ve grown up in church, the story is most likely familiar to you. But take a moment to turn to Exodus 14. Try to place yourself in the sandals of these ancient people. They had never known anything but slavery and cruelty. They fled Egypt, following their leader Moses, and found themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place — in this case, Pharaoh’s army behind and the Red Sea in front. Do they surrender or wait to be slaughtered? Will death be painful? Will it be quick? Then, suddenly, extreme fear is transformed to extreme amazement. The sea is miraculously parted!

God made a way where there seemed no way. He rescued His people from certain death. The parting of the waters was miracle enough, but the pursuit by their enemy catapulted their praise of God to joyful gratefulness.

Surely the people would have praised God for parting the waters. But parting the waters when the enemy was on their heels propelled their praise to a new level. Perhaps we have to look behind to truly appreciate the deliverance God has provided.

Are you in a good place today? Can you count your blessings? Are you able to acknowledge God’s provision?

Egypt represented sin and the consequences sin always brings: slavery and bondage. For the Egyptians, it was physical slavery. For the follower of Christ, our life before Jesus — our “Egypt” — was spiritual bondage. The Cross of Christ represents our Red Sea parting, the place where God made a way when there was no way. Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves. And, like the parting of the Red Sea, the story may lose something over the years because it is so familiar.

Please don’t let it. Take a moment to go back to your Red Sea. Think about the former you — the one on the other side of that wide river. Let your voice sing along with all of God’s people, as you allow Moses and Miriam to lead you in singing:

“The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

In honor of this month’s National Day of Prayer, we are devoting the May Write the WORD to prayer. Each day we are focusing on one prayer in the Bible, hoping to encourage all of us to PRAY.

Often when we think of prayer, we think of a prayer list of folks we will pray for: those we love, those who are sick, missionaries, our pastors and leaders. Prayer can generally be described as communication … a conversation with God. Is this conversation solely devoted to asking God for something? Should we not also be thanking Him for what He has already done?

Here’s the challenge: go to God in prayer today and just praise Him. Refrain from asking Him for anything; just praise Him for what He has already provided. You might even borrow some words from Moses and Miriam if you can’t think up adequate ones on your own.

In this week’s devotional video, Laura encourages us to consider how we react to bad news, in light of Nehemiah’s prayerful response in Nehemiah, chapter 1.

It’s not too late to join us for the rest of May, as we focus on PRAYER. Download your copy of the Write the WORD bookmark here.