Cross My Heart Ministry

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:12

King David prayed the words above following his great sin with Bathsheba. I always assumed David lost his joy because he sinned, but I now believe it is equally true that he sinned because he lost his joy.

Maintaining our relationship with Christ keeps us experiencing joy (a fruit of the spirit). But it is also vital for keeping us safe and protected from sin. When sin reigns, there is no joy.

Salvation brings the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which, in turn, produces fruit: love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

We sustain that joy by abiding in Christ: placing ourselves in His presence, reading His Word, regularly spending time in prayer. You most likely could add other spiritual disciplines to the list.

The life of an abiding believer is characterized by a daily time set aside to be with Jesus. You may call it your devotion (time devoted to Jesus) or your quiet time (time to silence the distractions of the day and focus on Him). Whatever we call it, making this time holy — deliberately setting it aside each day — is key to sustaining our walk with Christ.

Every relationship requires an investment of time to grow. Our relationship with Christ is no different. Joy comes with salvation, but it is sustained by devotion.

And yet, we are human. We become distracted. We read the words while our minds think ahead to the tasks of the day. Our commitment wavers. We skip a day. Then another. We are out of fellowship and vulnerable to sin.

It happened to King David. It can certainly happen to us!

When we wander far and yield to temptation, David’s prayer can become ours: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…”  Easy words to pray. Powerful words when prayed sincerely, because repentance brings the restoration of joy.

But the prayer is a two-parter. David also prayed, “…and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.”  You and I can also ask God to transform our hearts and minds — to give us the “want-to” (what David called, “a willing spirit”).

Sustaining our joy is all about maintaining the relationship. And perhaps sustaining is most challenging — and never more needed — than when life is exceedingly full or particularly hard. Like during the holidays. Like living in a pandemic. Like when life is lonely or sad or desperate.

Whatever your status in relationships, finances, or health … whatever the balance in your checking account (or the total of your unpaid bills) … whether your calendar is filled and overflowing or all white space … the real question is: what is your joy status? Are you abiding in Christ? Every day? Moment by moment? Are you in a sustain-joy mode or a restore-joy mode?

Whether life is full or not-full-enough, are you abiding in Him? If there is no Jesus, there can be no joy. But if you know Jesus, you know joy!

I pray that your December is filled with joy because you are abiding in Him. May you have the “want-to” — the willing spirit — to sustain your relationship with Jesus. I hope this month’s Write the WORD bookmark might help, and I invite you to download this free tool and begin writing the WORD every day. The focus for December? JOY!

If you missed last week’s Martha Monday video, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out my introduction to the monthly ‘Do It’ List — another free resource that you can only find here from Cross My Heart! If you’re like me, you probably find that December is often hectic, which makes it perfect time to jump into the ‘Do It’ List and learn some of my hard-earned strategies for taming chaos at home.

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

There are lots of reasons crushed defines many of us these days.

When we look around at the political, medical, cultural, and meteorological happenings in our world, even the calmest among us may become anxious. The world has been all-but-stopped by the global pandemic. We have now started our third pass through the alphabet with tropical storms. The west is plagued by forest fires and the military has been called into Louisiana to fight mosquitoes. We are simultaneously shocked and horrified at what has become acceptable — both morally and legally.

And that is just all the “out there” stuff.

Individually we are battling loneliness, financial challenges, medical issues, and relational struggles that might be too personal to share. We are depressed (some even clinically). We are exhausted. We are outraged. We feel powerless to stop the advance of evil.

Whatever emotion a human can experience, we have individually and collectively experienced it in 2020.

We can identify when the author of Proverbs writes, “…a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”  

Thankfully, he also gives us the antidote: a cheerful heart.

A cheerful heart is good medicine…

A cheerful heart is not one that simply chooses to grin and bear it — or one that checks out of reality. And certainly, it is more than simply the practice of positive thinking.

My NIV translation uses “cheerful” and the King James Version says “merry” … but when I pulled out the NASB, I read “JOY” — and my first thought was: Bingo. That’s it!

A joyful heart is indeed good medicine. But how to get it? Where does it come from? For the prescription, we flip over to the New Testament book of Galatians and scan down to Chapter 5, verse 22:

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…

When listing the nine characteristics of the fruit produced by the Spirit, second on the list is JOY. We cannot manufacture joy on our own. Joy is a product of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Circumstances might make us happy, but only Jesus can give us joy. And the mature believer comes to realize that it is possible to be simultaneously unhappy and joyful.

We look around and may indeed feel crushed, but we look up and find joy. It does not mean our circumstances have changed … but it does mean that God can change us in the midst of those circumstances.

Now that’s good medicine!

If you missed this week’s teaching lecture from the Romans Bible study, I invite you to take a few moments out of your Sunday to watch today:

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have faithfully read, watched, encouraged, and supported Cross My Heart Ministry (and me personally) in the call to encourage women to love God and love His Word this past year. Without you, this ministry would not be possible, and I am profoundly grateful for each of you.

Well…what Jethro actually said was, “What you are doing is not good.” Exodus 18:17

One of the many tasks that fell to Moses as leader of the Israelites was serving as judge. Exodus 12:37 tells us there were 600,000 men, a count that did not include women and children, in the wilderness with Moses. A million people (even God’s chosen people — or perhaps especially God’s chosen people!) would have disputes and disagreements that must be settled to keep law and order.

While Jethro (Moses’ father-in-law) was visiting, he observed Moses sitting to judge the people from early morning to evening. Jethro questioned the system and concluded it was not healthy for Moses or the people, declaring, “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” Exodus 18:18

As an outside party coming in, Jethro offered a fresh perspective. He identified the problem and then went on to offer a solution. What he recommended was essentially an appellate court system, with judges presiding over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Only the most difficult cases would be referred to Moses.

Jethro also advised, “Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.” Exodus 18:20

As a side note, it is also interesting to see the character traits that were recommend for these judges:

• Capable
• Fear God
• Trustworthy
• Hate dishonest gain

All these years later and that continues to be good criteria for our leaders.

Learning to let go and allow others to carry responsibility can be challenging — whether you are a mom delegating laundry, a committee chairman handing over program planning to a member, or a CEO entrusting your team with a marketing plan. Every area of life offers opportunities for us to train, teach, and mentor … and then release others to go forth. Even Jesus did it!

Are there areas of life, ministry, or work where you are struggling — feeling overwhelmed and “under the pile”— today? Could God be calling you to take some advice from Jethro and do some training and subsequent delegating?

If home management is one of those areas, perhaps the free ‘Do It’ List could help! Both pre-filled and blank versions are available on our ‘Downloads’ page. I hope you will consider using these tools to delegate essential tasks to your children, and that you will receive the same blessing Jethro declared to Moses:

“If you do this and God so commands,
you will be able to stand the strain,
and all these people will go home satisfied.”
Exodus 18:23

Sounds like a win/win. And that’s good.

Are you familiar with the free monthly ‘Do It’ List? If not, I invite you to learn more about the list — and some of this month’s tasks to help make the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday more manageable — in this video:

And if you find this helpful, I hope you’ll take a moment to subscribe to the Cross My Heart YouTube channel! You can also sign up for my ministry newsletter and be among the first to know when I publish something new on the blog. (Please note: I am committed to protecting your privacy, and will never share or sell your email address!)

“As for me, far be it from me that I should
sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.
And I will teach you the way that is good and right.”
I Samuel 12:23

The passage above is just a brief excerpt from Samuel’s farewell address to the people. It is one verse, with two sentences.

At first glance, those two sentences offer two true — but somewhat unrelated — ideas.

Does Samuel change topics mid-verse? Not at all.

When I reflect on this passage, some initial take-aways from I Samuel 12:23 include:

• Failure to pray is a sin
• A good leader must first be a praying leader
• Praying must precede teaching
• The content of a leader’s teaching must highlight what is good and right

Given these observations, we can then work in reverse to see the seamless truth Samuel conveyed to the people then — and, by extension, to us now.

If the end goal is to teach what is good and right, the only way to discern what qualifies is through wisdom from God Almighty. We cannot find good and right on our own; only God can reveal it to us! And, like all truth, you must know it before you can teach it. God often — and in fact, almost always — requires a leader to eat what he or she serves.

Leaders, make no mistake, include not just those who stand at a podium, but those who raise children, chair committees, lead a team, or are sought out for advice. Every one of us can lead someone and can influence the thoughts, actions, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Are we stewarding that influence well? Are we consciously wielding our influence with purposeful intention?

If we are to teach what is good and right, we must know it … to know it, we must receive it from God … to receive it from God, we must ask God. Asking God means praying to God. And if I am attempting to fulfill my call to invest in/love on/teach others without prayer, I am sinning!

Are you connecting the dots? Do you see the relationship between praying and teaching? Are you convicted? Are you challenged? Will you commit now to PRAY for those you are called to TEACH – whether formally or informally, whether with a microphone or with an example?

Samuel’s words to the nation of Israel were weighty then, and they are weighty now. May we hear … and may we heed.

It’s not too late to begin this month’s Write The Word, as we read, write, and dwell on Old Testament verses with the word, “good.” You can download the free November bookmark and S.O.A.P. Bible study pages HERE.

Are you a subscriber to the Cross My Heart email list and YouTube channel? If not, I hope you’ll take a moment to sign up for both today, so you can be among the first to know when we share a new blog post or video!

You won’t want to miss this week’s teaching lecture from our study on Romans!

“You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good to accomplish
what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Genesis 50:20

As he interacted with his brothers, Joseph was able to set aside any personal feelings of pain, anger, and rejection. (See Genesis 37 for the tragic story of jealousy and betrayal that resulted in Joseph being sold into slavery.) Only by looking to God and seeing an eternal perspective was Joseph able to squelch the all-too-human desire for revenge or retribution against the brothers who betrayed him.

God used those years of one man’s suffering to provide deliverance for an entire nation. Joseph, the one who suffered, set aside his own pain to acknowledge and celebrate God’s provision.

Joseph embraced an eternal perspective.

An eternal perspective can only be developed over time … and it requires a heart and mind open to the possibility that God can work to bring good from difficult, challenging, and even heartbreaking circumstances.

Are there bitter events in your past that God has worked for good — or could work for the good? Do those past experiences empower you going forward to adopt a better-not-bitter attitude going into the next struggle?

As our faith muscle is exercised and grows, our past experiences bolster our faith going forward. We can then face our present and future challenges with the expectation that God can use today’s harm for tomorrow’s good.

My prayer today is that these words will be a blessing to you! If you have not yet subscribed to the Cross My Heart newsletter, I hope you’ll sign up today to receive notice when I publish a new post.

 “A man’s wisdom gives him patience,
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11

While the TSA may admonish air travelers, “If you see something, say something,” perhaps God’s advice would more often be, “If you see something, pray something.”

The most Christ-like, holy action we take today might be to close our mouths: to choose prayer over retaliation, intercession over criticism.

Perhaps the best way to hone this spiritual life skill is to practice the habit of “prayer walking” — allowing what you see to prompt you to pray. Resist the urge to condemn as you walk, drive, and shop … and instead transform the criticism into prayer and bounce it up to God.

It is easy to walk with a critical spirit. But it requires the power of the Holy Spirit to overlook an offense and choose the way of prayer.

As is often the case, our obedience rolls blessing back upon us. When God releases me from my addiction to self-righteousness and my preoccupation with my rights or my offense, I am ready for transformation. This is when the Holy Spirit permits me to see people and situations as God sees them.

Consider these scenarios where condemnation (or inward or outward eye-rolling) might be our first response, and how we might instead offer up intentional intercession:

Reckless driver (who might not remain wreck-less for long!)
As a mom with children in the car, a driver endangering the lives of my darlings prompted righteous indignation from this mama bear. Rather than yelling “Fool!” from the inside of my car or even using my horn to communicate my offense, what if instead my children heard me pray aloud:

Lord, I pray the young man driving that car would see his life as a gift from You. He is created in your image. Please prompt Him to treasure and value his life as You do, and to steward his life and his days well that he might live to bring You glory.

Scantily-dressed teen
I can remember sitting in church a number of years ago, behind a teenage girl dressed in a way I considered inappropriate. With my young boys sitting next to me, I was distracted by her attire and couldn’t help wondering if my sons were, too. I found myself thinking, “Was she trying to draw attention to herself?” And my criticism was not limited to her, as my next thought came, “Why did her mother allow her to leave home dressed that way?” Bouncing my focus might lead me to intercede:

Lord, I pray blessing over this young woman. May her identity be found in You alone. I pray she would see that outward appearances matter little (and let me acknowledge that, also, Father). And Lord, I pray that my daughters — and my sons, as well — would dress and behave in ways that honor You always and in all ways.

Screaming mother
You have probably been behind her (or maybe another like her) in the checkout line. She’s the one yelling at her kids, “If you don’t…I’m gonna…!” But they know she’s not gonna. I know she’s not gonna. The cashier, everyone in our lane, and the people in the three lanes on either side of ours all know she’s not gonna. Instead of silently sighing, mentally rolling my eyes, and tapping my foot faster, I am convicted to pray:

Lord, bless this frazzled young mom. Give her peace in the midst of a very challenging season in life. Bring alongside a mentor mom to encourage and equip her for this difficult task of child raising. I pray she would look to You for everything she needs.

While Matthew 18 does call us to “go and show” when we are sinned against by another, my guess is that we are more often offended (or simply irritated) than actually sinned against. Before jumping quickly to “go and show” (Matthew 18:15-17), perhaps we should try to “let it go” (Proverbs 19:11) first.

How is God calling you to close your mouth — and perhaps drop to your knees — today?Have you subscribed to the Cross My Heart Ministry email list? Subscribers are the first to know when new blog posts are published! Click HERE to sign up today!

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Don’t miss Laura’s latest weekly teaching from Romans!

“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
but the folly of fools is deception.”
Proverbs 14:8

Deception can be a quick, easy way to get out of an awkward situation or a tight jam. Just a little white lie to a four-year-old (“we don’t have any ice cream”), to the sales clerk (“it was a gift”), or to your husband (“it was on sale”) may seem harmless at the time, but that shortcut comes at a high price.

Easy, quick solutions to immediate dilemmas often bring significant long-term consequences. Much sin is like that. We do not want to wait, we do not want to be thought less of, and we do want to avoid conflict … and so we resort to deception.

We lie. And if we lie, that makes us a liar—and according to Proverbs 14:8, that also makes us a fool.

Those who are wise, however, refuse the “deception solution.” They think before speaking. They are not seduced by the quick, easy way out.

When tempted to lie, the wise woman remembers:

• This lie could bring significant consequences later.
• This lie brings the challenge of remembering not just the truth, but keeping up with the lie so as not to give myself away later.
• This lie will damage my character.
• Even if no one else finds out (unlikely), I will know and God will know.
• I belong to Christ. By calling myself a Christian, I have identified myself with Him … and this lie will malign His great name.

For those who are teachers, parents, or leaders, the stakes are even higher. Because we are in a position to influence others, our deceptive ways can prompt others to take the easy way out, too.

If I lie—even one time—it makes me a liar. That is an ugly-but-true reality. By cultivating the habit of refusing to lie in small things, we will be well prepared to resist the temptation to lie in bigger things. For the woman who follows Christ, this is non-negotiable.

Lord, help me to choose Your way, the way of truth. When tempted to lie, show me the wisdom of speaking honest words instead. Convict me when I have lied … give me strength and courage to confess, make amends, and seek forgiveness. May I never be found maligning Your name.

For more teaching from Romans, see this week’s YouTube video: 

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If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

One short verse, but so much truth here! Let’s unpack it together:

Humility
The verse begins, If any of you lacks wisdom. In order to receive, we must first acknowledge we lack it! A prideful heart resists asking for help. Self-sufficiency is a chief stumbling block to attaining wisdom.

Ask God
God is the source of wisdom. When we go looking elsewhere, true wisdom will elude us. At best, we will get a band-aid rather than a cure … at worse, we’ll be led astray to something that is not wisdom at all. If you need to know how often to change your oil, the best source of information is the manufacturer. We were created by God – He knows us best and loves us most.

He Gives Generously
I love finding “-ly” words in Scripture. Adverbs are powerful communicators; they provide deeper shades of meaning for us to glean understanding. Our great God does not just give — He gives generously. He is not stingy. He does not hoard. He never runs out. He delights when we come to Him.

He Gives to All
As a mom of four kids, I know the challenges of simultaneously meeting everyone’s needs.  When they were growing up, we instituted “Kid of the Week” to give everyone an opportunity to have special privileges like sitting up front in the car or going out to breakfast with Daddy.  In God’s Kingdom, we are all the “Kid of the Week” every day. Our God is powerful enough to hear the mom in Africa who prays for healing for her sick child, but also listen to my prayer for help to speak so my young-adult child will hear.

He Does Not Find Fault
There is no condemnation from God for asking. Have you (like me) ever shuddered as you heard words like these come out of your mouth:

• “How many times do we have to go over this?”
• “Why did you wait until the last minute to tell me about your science project?”
• “We’ve talked about this!”

Probably good examples of condemnation. And we get none of that from our perfect heavenly Father.

He Delivers
We ask. He answers. Then comes the hard part: doing what He says!

In what decision, relationship, or challenge do you and I need to ask God for wisdom today … and then follow through with the guidance He provides?

Editor’s Note: For more thoughts on wisdom, check out Friday’s Cross My Heart video devotional:

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