Daily devotional, April 26, 2024 Assembly line worker

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

Whenever we watch news about factories or any manufacturing business, chances are, the video will show an assembly line of workers, piecing together a final product. Each person has a role – an assignment to do, so that the whole line will end up with their desired output.

As followers of Jesus, we can see ourselves as a part of an assembly line of people working to encourage more and more individuals to turn to God. That as we take to heart God’s command to encourage others to follow Him, we ought to realize that our efforts will yield fruit as we work with other fellow followers who also want to lead people to Jesus.

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 
2 Timothy 4:2

When we have this type of mindset, we will be less disheartened when our efforts to invite others to church or to bible study, seem to fail. We will get to accept and understand that we are just seed-planters in the Lord’s field and it is up to the Lord to touch the heart of the person we are inviting.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." 
1 Corinthians 3:6-9

In the Parable of the Sower, the Lord explains the four types of soil where seeds are scattered. The soil can be likened to the people, while the seeds are the Word of God.

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:19-23

If we think of ourselves as one of the sowers, then we could at least continue sowing seeds of faith and the word of God on people that we meet. And while some may be ready and others are not, we can take heart that our efforts will not go to waste because somehow, our scattering of seeds could at least make the person aware of God’s word. And since we now understand that only God can prepare and cultivate that soil for planting, then we can just go on with our effort to sow the word of God.

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 
2 Timothy 4:5

If we will think back into our lives, we will realize that it took more than one person to finally convince us to build a personal relationship with the Lord. That there was one person then who invited us to church, we did not have the time back then, and so we did not go. But then after some time, another person came up to us inviting us to participate in a church event. After which another person in our life invited us to a bible study group.

Until we finally said yes to the invitation, and we surrendered our life to Jesus. If we could just be that one person in the line of the many persons that encouraged us to be by Jesus’ feet, then we could be part of God’s kingdom workers who will also encourage others to be faithful to the Lord.

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." 
2 Timothy 2:2

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Matthew 13:1-8 and 18-23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you lose heart when you fail to lead others to Jesus?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you very much for assuring me that my efforts count at following your command to make disciples of all nations. Give me the confidence to continue in my efforts to plant seeds of faith to others. Allow me to be one of your Kingdom workers, my Lord. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: Assembly line worker appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 25, 2024 Total Wreck

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
1 John 1:9

One of the worst things that could happen to a vehicle is to become a total wreck. Totally wrecked cars not only mean financial loss, it is also usually accompanied by death or severe life-altering injuries. And it does not usually end there, the incident also inflicts trauma on both the victims and their loved ones.

Nowadays, the word “total wreck” does not only allude to accidents and vehicular condition, it is also being used to describe someone who feels like they are in a bad physical or mental state.

As followers of Jesus, we can remind ourselves that no matter our past and what we are going through in the present, our Savior will never see us as a “total wreck.” In His eyes, we will always be His priceless creation that He will always hold dear.

"Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.”
Isaiah 43:4

We may see ourselves as a failure because the world may see us that way, but in Christ, we can be victorious. His presence in our life will remind us that our worth is not defined by how other people see us. That our true worth is in Him.

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

When we are parched beyond words for other people’s care, understanding and forgiveness, our Lord offers His merciful embrace. His hand of grace. When others cannot seem to let go of our mistakes, He gives us a chance to rest, recollect ourselves, and move forward.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

When the persons nearest and dearest to us turn their backs on us one by one, the Lord assures us that He will stay.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
Deuteronomy 31:6

And while He never promises a problem-free life, He assures us help to endure our trials. He promises to be there with us, walk with us, and deliver us. That He will give us the spiritual strength to outlast our difficulties, the means to withstand our trials, and the peace amidst the storms of our lives.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 
John 14:27

And when we think that we are at the end of our rope, when we start to believe that there is no solution to any of our problems, let us remember that our Wonderful Lord promises life. He reminds us that He came to allow us to live a purposeful existence, and that He loved us even when we were still sinners.

"I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." 
John 10:9-11

As followers of Jesus, we should always remember that there is no sin that is beyond His pardon. That He will never condemn us. And as long as we repent and step away from our sins, He will forgive us and make us new. We can start a whole new life with Him even if we see ourselves as totally wrecked and completely damaged.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." 
Ezekiel 36:26

All we need to do is to come to Him, accept His Lordship in our lives, ask for the forgiveness of our sins and stop doing them. Start a life of obedience. It is never too late to come to Him.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Corinthians 4:7:18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you feel like a total wreck? How can knowing that Jesus sees you as His precious one  help you regain your confidence?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you very much for assuring me that no one is beyond your grace, healing and mercy. Thank you for offering me the gift of new life. For allowing me to put my concerns by your feet. May you continue to strengthen me so that I can live a life of obedience to you. Amen.

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Daily devotional, April 24, 2024 The dictionary

"For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." 
1 John 3:20

I was an elementary student prior to the Google era, and so Mr. Webster is the one I sought for when I do not understand a certain word. My mom bought me a really big and thick dictionary and she taught me how to use it. I was amazed at how many words that big red dictionary held, and I often wondered how long it took them to compile all that information.

As followers of Jesus, we can rest assured that our God needs no reference tool just to understand us. He is all-knowing that He knows our thoughts and actions even before they are formed.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me!You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways." Psalm 139:1-3

In one of his more popular Psalms, King David shared his amazement at how God fully understands us. That He is gracious enough to know where we are coming from in terms of our responses to various situations in our lives, hence King David’s prayer and praise:

"Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;it is high; I cannot attain it." 
Psalm 139:4-6

Our God understands everything that we do because He can see through our hearts. He is the God who sees, and just as we cannot hide anything from Him, He also sees everything that we do, and everything that other people do to us. We do not need to burden ourselves to explain too much because He hears all of our cries, and sees well beyond our tears. In fact, He knows what we need even before we ask Him.

"And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." 
Hebrews 4:13

Moreover, Jesus knows what we are going through because He has gone through hurts and various difficulties too. He knew how it is to hunger and thirst, be tempted, be ridiculed, be betrayed, face death, be persecuted, and endure hardship and sufferings. He knew how it is to say goodbye to his loved ones and leave them behind. He is not AND will never be indifferent to our pains.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." 
Hebrews 4:15

God fully knows how it feels to be human, and so when we pray to Him, we can trust that He can empathize. So when others do not understand us, and when we sometimes feel like we do not even understand our own selves, we can take heart that there is someone up there who knows, who sees, who understands, and yet continuez to love us for who we are. He knows our backstories, and yet He still invites us to come back to Him, and form a loving relationship with Him. 

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
John 16:33

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 4:12-16 and Psalm 139 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you feel like God understands your circumstances and pain?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you for assuring me that you know me inside out. That you know my mistakes and yet you love me. That you see my efforts to be a better person for you. Give me the strength and confidence to continue pursuing you. Amen.

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Daily devotional, April 23, 2024 Statistics

"Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life." 
Isaiah 43:4

During calamities and even in the recent pandemic, fatalities are reported through death tolls. Numbers upon numbers of people who succumbed to a tragedy are publicized, nameless and faceless for brevity’s sake and ease of reportage. News anchors highlight the fact that everyone should be careful, because once you perish, you will just be a number in the statistics.

And while the world just labels each death as just a number, we can be sure that each person — if He happens to be a follower of Jesus — will be known by the Heavenly Father by name.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his faithful servants." 
Psalm 116:15

As children of the one true God, we are given a new identity by our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been dead to sin and alive in our Savior. We have shed our old lives marked by sin, and a life of pursuing and abiding in Him.

"“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 
1 Peter 2:9

Our Lord assures us that He knows each one of us. That He cares for everything that happens to our lives. That we are not just part of His creation, but we are  significant to Him and we are loved.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." 
Isaiah 43:1-3

That He sees our pains and struggles, and ensures that all these will be for our own good. That He makes sure that no tear is wasted.

"You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" 
Psalm 56:8

When we feel like God does not hear us, and does not even know where we are, we should remind ourselves that we are where God wants us to be. In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul explained to the Athenians the vastness of God’s power that pre-determined every detail of our lives:

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us," 
Acts 17:26-17

In fact, our coming to Him is likewise recorded as He takes note of each of us that have accepted His lordship in our lives. Psalm 87 mentions how God has adopted us in His family:

"'I will record Rahaband Babylon among those who acknowledge me— Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush—and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.”The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:“This one was born in Zion.” 
Psalm 87:4-6

We are not insignificant to the Lord. We are not just a number. We are not just part of a census of name and location. We are God’s one and only, much loved and much cared for — and we should always remind ourselves that.

"And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:18-19

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 87 and Ephesians 3:14-21 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: How do you remind yourself that you are significant in God’s eyes?

Conversation with the Lord:  Almighty Father, thank you for always assuring me that you love me and I am a gem in your eyes. Thank you for looking beyond my failures, imperfections, fears and anxieties. Give me the confidence to continue to seek you, so that I could soak up in your presence and feel your love abound. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Statistics appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 20, 2024 The long aisle

"You shall no more be termed Forsaken,and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married." 
Isaiah 62:4

My friend jokingly says that the longer the aisle in a church, the better it is for wedding ceremonies. He explains, the longer the walk, the longer the chance for a person to think about the life-changing decision he is making. That the length of time it will take to get to the end of the line will be helpful in case he changes his mind and decides to run away.

As followers of Jesus, we can take heart that no matter the length of our life journey and what it entails, what is important is we know who is waiting for us at the end of our faith walk. That we are looking forward to eternity with our one Eternal Bridegroom who has been faithful to us since day one, and will never turn His back on us.

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." 
Isaiah 61:10

We must keep in mind that no matter the heartbreaks and challenges we experience in our lives, there is a good future that awaits us. That no matter who betrayed our trust, left us out in the cold, and broke our fragile heart, there is a one true God who sees through our brokenness, heals us, and makes us new.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

That we must be confident that no matter our past sins, mistakes, and failures, He is faithful enough to forgive us as long as we repent. In the book of Hosea, God used the prophet’s life to demonstrate His love to the Israelites and His desire to re-uphold His covenant with them.

"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you inrighteousness and justice, in love and compassion.I will betroth you in faithfulness,and you will acknowledge the Lord." 
Hosea 2:19-20

And just as a bride’s life-changing choice looms before her as she walks towards the altar, may our God-honoring choices lead us to the Lord. May it sanctify us enough to stand before our Eternal Bridegroom at the end of our faith walk.

'Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure'—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.'" 
Revelation 19:7-8

So what do we have to do to make sure that it is the Eternal Bridegroom that awaits us at the end of our lives? Well, we have to forge a good relationship with Him as early as now. We can do this by setting apart time in our daily lives to commune with Him through prayer and quiet time.

We should try to get to know Him more by reading His words and reflecting on them. Reflecting on how we can live out His teachings. Moreover, we can nourish our relationship with Him by allowing ourselves to get acquainted with His promises and be bold enough to claim them for ourselves. Lastly, we can form that strong bond with our Creator by worshipping Him, and seeking Him alongside other believers.

"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." 
John 17:3

Equally important is to live out our faith and abide in Him, will help us remain faithful to Him. It is by having this intimate bond with the Lord will we get to ensure that it is our Eternal Bridegroom that awaits us on that day.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Isaiah 62:2-5 and Hosea 2:10-23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Can you give your heart wholly to the Lord?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving me the gift of Eternal Life. Your presence in my life and your promise of eternity is what helps me get through all the challenges in my life. I love you Jesus. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The long aisle appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 20, 2024 Exact Location

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" 
Acts 17:26-27

Every avid online shopper and digital merchant has mastered every bit of description he can give to direct a customer or courier towards his place. Every landmark is important, every street name a must.

As followers of Jesus we have to take heart that we are exactly where God wants us to be. That since He is sovereign, He chose where we will stay, where we will build our home, and live our lives. In the Book about the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul addressed Athenians and explained to them Who God is, His power and divine plans for every being:

"And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us," 
Acts 17:26-27

Sometimes, we may feel like we are not happy or at least thriving in one place. We wonder if there might be somewhere out there where life could be better for us. Where we could get the best out of life, and where we will be surrounded by more sensible people.

In times like these, we should remind ourselves that God is in control and that He has long planned out the blueprint of our life. Just like the above mentioned passage from the Acts of the Apostles, we have been planted where we are so that we could seek and find God. We just have to trust in His plan for us, and intentionally seek Him and build a relationship with Him.

"My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them." 
Psalm 139:15-16

One of the proofs that God is in control of where we live our lives is the story of Philip the Evangelist. Philip was guided by the Angel of God as He preached and performed miracles in Samaria, Jerusalem and Gaza, even up to Caesarea. Upon baptizing an Ethiopian Eunuch, he suddenly found himself mysteriously on another place to preach the Good News.

"And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea." 
Acts 8:39-40

If we will think about Philip’s story, then we can be sure that as long as we abide by the Lord and follow His will in our life, we will be exactly where He wants us to be. That we may experience persecution and challenges right where we are, but as long as He is with us, we do not have to worry because He will help us endure.

Now if we find ourselves still wondering about our purpose in life, and if we are indeed in the right place, then we should ask ourselves if we are living aligned to God’s purpose. Are we abiding in Him? Are we living out His mission for us?
Most of the time, we are at a loss because we do not seek out God’s guidance in our life. We head towards the direction that we think is best for us, without even considering which path the Lord wants us to take.

Let us take the time to seek Him by dutifully praying to Him daily. Intentionally allot time to read and reflect on His words. Be with other people who are seeking Him and studying the scriptures. Worship Him weekly alongside other believers.

It is by nourishing our relationship with the Lord where we will get to be in tune with His plans for us, and we get to fully trust and be confident of His love.

"The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken." Psalm 16:6-8

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Acts 8:26-40 and Psalm 139:7-18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you believe that you are exactly where God wants you to be?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for putting me in a place where I could fully maximize your plans for my life. Help me to follow you out of love and obedience, so that I could live a life that is glorifying to you. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: Exact Location appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 19, 2024 To the left, to the right

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

I am not so sure about what Gen Z people will call it but my generation calls a person who “bursts bubbles” as a K.J. or Kill Joy. It could be a person of authority like a strict teacher, it could be an elder in the family like a parent, or an older sibling, or it could even be a conscientious friend.

Someone who will not think twice to point out the wrong but seemingly fun and harmless things that are being done by others. Someone who is responsible to put an end to meaningless or even hurtful pursuits.
But in hindsight, kill joys are not really killers of joy. They are just standing for what is right, and are just trying to shine their righteous light to eliminate darkness at least where he or she is.

"For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 
John 3:20-21

If we take a closer look into our lives, we may see that sometimes, we are the killers of our own joy. We tend to compare our lives with others, and covet what we do not have.  The recent World Happiness Report showed data that for the first time in 20 years, one of the world’s richest and most powerful countries, the United States, failed to make it to the Top 20 happiest nations. It fell out of the top 20 because American Millennials reported a drastic drop in happiness, which experts attribute to social media use.

Talk about the famous quote of their 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, who famously said that “Comparison is the thief of joy.” A thief of joy indeed.

As followers of Jesus, we are being encouraged to focus on our own lives and work for His glory. To not compare ourselves and our skills and gifts with others.

"Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding." 
2 Corinthians 10:12

That same theme of not looking to another, was somehow carried out in his letter to the Thessalonians. In that epistle, St. Paul urged believers there to mind their own business as they strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord:

"But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." 
1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

And when we live our lives quietly, and we faithfully seek Him, and abide in Him, God promises that we will have contentment in our hearts. That we may not be the richest person in terms of material wealth, but we will feel that we lack nothing.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34:8-10

Once we have discovered that God is the true source of joy, we will learn to see situations and things in a different light. We tend to align to His will, and see beyond what the world sees. And as we delight in His word and guidance, we will have the kind of joy that does not dissipate in our hearts. The joy that cannot be robbed from us, and may not even be understood by those who have yet to know the Lord:

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 16:11

We live miserably because we keep on regretting our failures, and we let anxiety rule our days because we refuse to cast our worries on our Sovereign God. We lack joy because we keep on comparing ourselves and our own personal progress with others. It is high time that we give ourselves the chance to experience the joy offered by our one true God. Our God who is faithful to deliver us, who is more than glad to make us joyful, and who loves us despite our many mistakes and failures.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 
1 Peter 1:8-9

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 34 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Have you discovered the true source of lasting joy?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for being the real source of joy in my life. Allow me to see things differently, and focus on just seeking and abiding in you. I want to treasure in my heart, the joy that only you can give. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: To the left, to do right appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, 18 April 2024 Fruit Ninja

"Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

One of the earlier game apps that I enjoyed playing was Fruit Ninja. For those who are not familiar with the game, it basically just lets the player slash the fruits flying out from the bottom. And as the game progresses, the fruits appear out of nowhere at a much faster pace, forcing the player to slash fruits much quicker, and strategize about which fruit to slash first so that nothing will go unslashed.

As followers of Jesus, we too, have a sword that could slash sin, negativity, fear, anxieties, and sadness from our system. It is called the “Sword of the Spirit,” and according to the Apostle Paul this is the weapon that we can use to fight the schemes of the enemy:

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints," 
Ephesians 6:17-18

The Sword of the Spirit is one of the elements of the whole armor of God that Apostle Paul talks about in his letter to the Ephesians. There he mentioned that followers of Jesus face real spiritual battles and only the Armor of God can help us survive such.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," Ephesians 6:13-17

And indeed, the word of God helps us battle sins and the devices of the enemy. When we regularly feed ourselves the truth of God’s Word, our hearts tend to be more resilient from negative emotions, and the urge to sin. Since we know the truth, we are reminded constantly about sticking to it, and living our faith.

For a genuine believer these words spring out of the mind and the heart daily and more especially during stressful and trying times. The words can also be read in the person’s daily bible reading time, mentioned in an app or book devotional, randomly mentioned by a friend,repeated during a Sunday Sermon or group bible study or could even be heard in praise songs.

The bottomline is, the Lord gives us His words as assurances, so that we could endure the challenges that come our way.

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." 
Romans 15:4

And this is the reason why we are being encouraged to memorize bible passages. By meditating and trying to remember God’s words and His promises, we get to protect our hearts and minds from spiritual attacks that could derail us from living a peaceful life that is pleasing to God.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

Hebrews 4:12

Having our “sword of the spirit” ready to use and on standby does not only benefit us. It also helps us to encourage others. We can remind those around us who are feeling weak and depressed that they should lean on the truth of God’s word.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." 
Colossians 3:16

So how do we harness this weapon the Lord has made available to us? Simple. We should delight in His word. We should set aside time to read and reflect on it. Get together with others to study it. Worship and intently listen to weekly church sermons. When we show interest and delight in the word of God, our Savior smiles down on us. Because it is when we seek Him, will He reveal ourselves to us.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Ephesians 6:10-20 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you try to read and memorize the word of God?

Conversation with the Lord: Almighty Father, thank you for giving me your words to lean on, especially during my most trying times. Please continue blessing me with the time and the opportunity to study and meditate on it more, so that I could have a ready response to any spiritual attack that I will face. Amen. 

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Daily devotional, April 17, 2024 Summer Song

"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" 
Isaiah 30:18

Whenever I hear Bob Marley’s song entitled “Waiting in vain,” I feel like I am being transported into an island paradise. It gives me the perfect summer vibes. A closer look at the lyrics of the song though will make you realize that the song is kind of sad. Here goes a clip: “Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn. While I’m waiting, while I’m waiting for my turn. See. I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.” Sad, right?

As followers of Jesus, we will never be put in such an awkward, frustrating, and lonely position. We do not even have to wait for His love, because He first loved us — imperfections, weaknesses, sins, failures, and all!

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Now, it is a totally different thing when we would say that it is taking too long for God to answer our prayers. Well, it may be a surprise to you but the moment He heard your plea, He responds to it right away.

The thing is He answers the best way possible, and since He has a drone-like view of our life and our world, His response will not always be the kind of answer we think it should be. And yes it may be unpredictable, but we can trust that His response will be for our own good.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts." 
Isaiah 55:8-9

As we wait for the Lord to answer our prayers, we should reflect on what He is possibly telling us. Is He telling us to wait because we are not yet prepared to get what we have been praying for? Is He telling us ‘no’ because what we have been asking for is not good for us in the long run? 

Either way, we should remind ourselves that our Creator knows what we need even before we ask Him. That He will do what is best for us. Since He is the Beginning and the End, and He made the blueprint of our lives, He knows the best course of action on a given situation we are facing.

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

But how do we know His answer to our prayers? How do we know how much longer to wait and pray before giving up?

Well, we will know the answer by continuously praying to Him, and listening to what He has to say. When we have a loving relationship with our God, and we take time to communicate with Him and read and study His words, we will hear His answers. We will know His will and we will receive His guidance.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." 
John 10:27-28

Just like human relationships, forging a bond with our Lord and Savior takes time and effort. We have to prioritize Him in our daily schedule by setting apart time to pray to Him. We also have to dedicate time to read the bible and reflect on what is written on it and what the passages mean to our life and how we can apply it. We have to go worship Him on Sundays, and have fellowship with other believers who are also seeking Him. We must give him the center stage in our mind and heart.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:25-26

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 130 and Lamentations 3:21-33  to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you still waiting for the Lord’s response to your prayer?

Conversation with the Lord:   Heavenly Father, thank you for assuring me that you are only doing what is best for me. Give me the confidence to just continue trusting in you and praying that my will be aligned to Yours. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Summer song appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 16, 2024 Through the cracks

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

One of the most common offenses of the children of my generation is breaking something at home. It could be a flower vase, a figurine, a plate or a favorite mug. Out of fear balanced with child-like hope, we try to fix the broken thing by piecing it together. But we all know that this is close to impossible. And even if it can be done, the cracks would show.

Followers of Jesus like us, have or will experience brokenness at one or even several points in our life. It is a given fact that we will go through challenges and difficulties, even if we have anchored our lives in the Lord. In the Gospel of John,  our Savior Himself told us that such seasons are part of our earthly existence:

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 
John 16:33

The problems that we have gone through usually change how we live our lives. It can traumatize us, cause us to get depressed or anxious, and can leave wounds that take long to heal. Some come out victorious and resilient, while others have a hard time coping. It can alter our mindset either positively or negatively depending on how we take it.

Truth be told though, traumatic events, which shatter our sense of attachment and security, hardly cause someone to feel positive right away. It usually takes time to get back to our normal selves — if we ever will. And so the scientific community usually recommends relaxation techniques that could at least negate our stress levels.

Psychotherapist Anne Power suggests that when we are about to go into full-on stress mode we should try to regulate our emotions by slowing down. She says we have to consciously try to breathe slowly and lower our heart rate, explaining “when we feel safe, that is when learning can take place,” hence we can discover opportunities for growth.

But what should we feed our mind as we try to slow down and relax our pace? What do we tell ourselves amidst the chaos around us, and the developments that shake us to our core? How do we move on victoriously amid the problems?

One good story in the Old Testament was the context of how Psalm 43 was written. In the midst of his depression, King David, reflected and tried to calm himself down. He wrote:

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,my salvation and my God." Psalm 43:5

Through His brokenness, King David tried to make sense of his situation. He tried to calm himself by anchoring his hope on the Lord. The Lord who to King David’s mind, has the power to vindicate him, and take him out of the darkness that he is in.

"Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God." Psalm 43:3-4

Going through sadness, fears, and anxieties are not a sign that we have a weak faith. As one Jesuit said “the beauty of believing is not in the absence of doubt but in the courage to respond in faith even in the midst of the tension of unbelief, uncertainty, and brokenness.”  That as we reel from our fears, grief and anxiety brought about our brokenness, he said that we should allow Christ’s light to shine through our cracks.

One of the most quoted verses in the bible can be found at Matthew chapter 11, where Jesus calls on the weary to come to Him:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Let us heed our Savior’s invitation to lay our fears, and anxieties on His feet. He may choose to not solve our problems right away, but He will definitely respond the best way He could, and for our own good. Let us slow down, and take our time to talk to Jesus about our cares and concerns. Let us listen to what He has to say by intentionally seeking Him through bible reading and reflection, regular churchgoing, and fellowshipping with other followers. Let us fill our minds with His love, because like any creation in this world, only our Creator can perfectly mend our brokenness.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." 
Isaiah 53:5

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 43  to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Is your brokenness keeping you from reaching out to God?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you for being there for us. For allowing us to anchor on your love so that we will not be swept away by the storms of our lives. Give us a trusting heart, so that we too can help others to trust more in you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Through the cracks appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 15, 2024 The watchtower

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine." 
Psalm 33:18-19

Watchtowers are useful structures that have stood the test of time. In ancient times it was used to ensure the protection of a city against invaders. Guards are stationed in the tower to watch against threats to their kingdom or territory. In the medieval times, and up until now, it was used to watch over prisoners, especially in big detention areas. It is also currently being used in mountainous and heavily forested lands to detect wildfires at its earliest stage.

As followers of Jesus, we can rest assured that our Heavenly King watches over us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He watches us to ensure our welfare and protection. His eye is on us to see to it that His divine will in our lives come into fruition.

"The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." 
Psalm 121:5-6

As the God who sees everything, He assures us that He hears our pleas. He guarantees us that He knows everything and that we should not fear because His love covers us:

"You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me." 
Psalm 56:8-9

Apart from His protection, His watchful eye is also meant to guide us and keep us on the right track. In Psalm 32 where King David in part spoke prophetically about God’s response to the restoration of their fellowship, God assures that His gaze will be our guide. This is akin to a parent letting his child know what the right thing to do is in a given situation just by only looking at him and the environment they are in:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you." 
Psalm 32:8

And since His eye is on us, we need not be afraid of what other people will think of us. We will not be afraid of what others will say about us as long as we try our best to abide in the Lord.

"The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man;from where He sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them alland observes all their deeds." 
Psalm 33:13-15

If we trust that the Lord sees everything that we do, and sees what is in our hearts, we can go through life without overthinking about other people judging us for what we do. We can get rid of that anxiety that cripples us from doing what we think is right. Besides, God promises us that our efforts to do good things will not go to waste:

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." 
Matthew 6:4

The Lord is a relational God. He sees us and everything we do. He sees the good that we do, and He sees our sins. These truths should at least further motivate us to continue nurturing the relationship we have with Him. It should assure us that He loves us so much that even if He knows our failures, weaknesses and waywardness, He still chooses to love us.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 33:13-22 and Psalm 121:3-8  to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Have you ever felt like God does not see you and your sufferings? Or the good works that you do?

Conversation with the Lord: Almighty Father, thank you for watching over my life. For assuring me that your loving eyes are on me and that you protect and counsel me. Give me the confidence to continue doing what is pleasing to your eyes, knowing that your joy should be my strength. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The watchtower appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 13, 2024 Plant a seed

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," 
1 Peter 3:15

In our faith journey, there comes a time when we feel like giving up on someone who has yet to heed our advice to follow Christ. We see the person suffering, we hear her complain, and she continues to ask for our advice, but what we say falls on deaf ears.

And while this may be frustrating, we should take heart that as followers of Jesus there are also limitations as to what we can do. While we are being called to spread the good news of salvation, acceptance of the gospel is something that is decided only by the person concerned. We have to accept that we do not have control over the timing or manner of her acceptance of the truth we are telling her, and only the Lord can open her eyes to it.

Let us take into consideration this passage from St. Paul the Apostle’s First Letter to the Corinthians:

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." 
1 Corinthians 3:6-9

Our God controls everything. He could even choose to harden the heart of people to teach them a lesson (Romans 9:18). And while He loves us, there will come a time when He will let us endure the natural consequences of our sins so that we can come to our senses and realize that salvation and peace can only be experienced through Him.

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," 
Ezekiel 11:19

Like our earthly parents, our Heavenly Father disciplines us by allowing us to experience His corrective hand, and the natural repercussions of the attitude we refuse to change and our persistent sins.

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?" 
Hebrews 12:7

And so when this correction happens, the person being disciplined can hopefully come to her senses, get sick of her sins, and turn towards God. As an onlooker, we can only assure the person that there is salvation in Jesus, and as long as she is willing to confess and repent of her sins, the Lord is faithful enough to cleanse her from it and make her new. 

As the earlier passage mentioned it may take one, two or even more attempts to get her to accept the idea. She may not believe us at first, but if there will be others who will plant the same seeds of faith in her, then hopefully she will hear it when the Lord calls her back into His arms.

As St. Paul the Apostle says it is but realistic to see that people who do not know the Lord will not really think the same way believers think.

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 
1 Corinthians 2:14

With the above passage, we can then surmise that our role is to faithfully and tirelessly plant seeds of faith that would hopefully bloom and inspire those around us about the truth that saves.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:4-12 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you getting tired of sharing the gospel to someone who seems to reject it?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for giving me the opportunity to spread the good news of your salvation. Please give me a heart that endures frustrations when I mourn about other people’s rejection of the Good News. Give me an understanding heart that could move on and keep on planting seeds of faith on others. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Plant a seed appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, 12 April 2024 Formal request

"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." 
John 9:31

When dealing with government agencies, especially when requesting for permission to use a certain resource, one will be asked to make a “formal letter of request” to process the thing he is asking for. There may be a pro-forma letter, but more often than not, such letters are penned in formal, even legalistic language. For this reason, some people get intimidated with processing or requesting something from public offices because of such formalities.

As followers of Jesus, we are glad that there is no need for us to be too formal in presenting our requests to Him. He listens to us no matter how we relate to Him, because our God is a relational God, who values our connection with Him.

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord," 
Jeremiah 29:12-14

For him as long as our hearts are sincere, He listens and He responds. He may not answer the way we may want Him to answer, but we can be sure that His solution and timing is the best.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." 
Isaiah 55:8-9

So how do we pray to God? Do we have to be formal when talking to Him? Do we need to speak in straight English? Taglish (combination of Filipino and English), or do we talk to Him in our local dialect?

The answer is, we can talk to Him in the manner we are most comfortable relating to Him. We do not need to use words from the King James Bible. We do not need to speak in straight English. We can speak to Him in Filipino, Taglish, our native dialect, or even through muffles and sad cries. He can even hear what our hearts say when we are at a loss for words and could not even bear to speak.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." 
Romans 8:26-27

If we are the type to pray with our minds, that is okay with Him too. If we are the type who verbally enunciates the things we want to say to Him, then He is sure to listen. If we are the type who whispers prayers deeply, then God is more than happy to see us with our sincere hearts praying. The bottomline is He is listening. He even actually listens to us even if we are angry, shouting, or telling Him our resentments. His heart is big and mature enough to understand. What our God wants is that we know in our hearts that it is to Him we have to run to when we are both troubled or happy. That He is our first resource when we are struggling, and not our last resort as we try to wriggle ourselves out of trouble.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 
Hebrews 4:16

As for the length of prayer, well God can listen to us go on and on about our day, about our issues, about our thanksgiving, so there is no time limit there. It is usually us humans who put a time limit when it comes to communing with Him. But in reality, the Lord is available to us 24/7.

We can also pray for brief moments, we can also in bursts. We can pray lengthily once a day, and the remaining prayers be brief and concise. We can pray by writing Him a journal entry. What is important is that each prayer comes from the heart, is done out of love and worship to Him, and not just a sense of duty.

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people" 
Ephesians 1:18

We do not have to go to our place of worship to pray. In reality, we can pray in our bedroom, in our home, in our garden, or even in the roof decks of our office or some quiet place.

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 
John 4:23-24

If we have yet to forge an intentional prayerful life, then the best time to start is now. You may not be comfortable right away, you may lack the words to say, or get distracted more than you should be, but wanting and having the discipline to put God first in everything — including your day, will surely change your life for the better.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." 
Matthew 6:33

Start with just two minutes, followed by meditating on a bible passage of your choice, or from a devotional book or app, and let it start from there. Do it everyday of your life, first thing in the morning. Present to Him everything you want to say: thanksgiving, requests, fears, sad stories, funny stories. He is willing to listen.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Jeremiah 29:11-14 and Psalm 139 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you intimidated with the thought of spending time in prayer?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for wanting to have a relationship with me. For calling unto me despite my failures and mistakes, and for calling me in love. Give me the confidence to come to you in prayer every single day, and abide by your words. I want to live in the peace that only you can give. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: Formal request appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 9, 2024 Natural Resources

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." 
Ephesians 2:10

At one point in our lives we have been told to “count our blessings.” Usually, we hear this as a response when we verbalize our sadness over a difficult challenge in our life. And indeed, it helps a lot. When we take an inventory of the good things we have in life, our focus naturally shifts on the good things even if only for a short time.

But how do we sustain that focus on the positive? How do we arrest despair and remain afloat amidst a sea of challenges? One way is to take stock as well of the natural skills and abilities God has graciously gifted us. Because more often than not, God uses what we already have to help us out of a sticky situation. All we have to do is to recognize these blessings and have faith that our God is good and He will help us endure. 

"Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life." 
Psalm 54:4

The story about the widow whom the prophet Elisha helped is a good illustration of how God helps us using what we already have in us. In that story, the widow was desperate because she was too deep in debt that her creditors are about to take her two sons as slaves. 

When she asked for the prophet’s help, he asked her what she has and she said that all she has jar of oil. He told her to collect as many jars as she can and pour the oil that she has on them. And so, she and her sons borrowed from her neighbors. 

"When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
 2 Kings 4:6-7

As followers of Jesus, we are being called to be like the widow. We should recognize what we have, and have faith that the Lord can help us. If the widow did not see the meager amount of oil she has as a blessing, the prophet Elisha would not have anything ready to use to help her. If she did not have faith that the Lord can help her through the prophet, she would not have collected as much jars as she did. What if she only collected one empty jar, would she have been able to pay up her debts?

When we feel desperate we tend to forget the blessings we already have. When we feel overwhelmed with problems, we do not see that our current skill set and talent can help us out of our trouble. When we are in our darkest, we tend to forget that we have a God who can deliver us and help us endure. 

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 
Isaiah 41:10

In his exhortation to the Philippian Church, St. Paul the Apostle reminded early Christians to focus on the wonderful things in life. To hold on to the true and good:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Let us look inward, and find the natural gifts and abilities our God has graciously given us. And with faith and hardwork, we can endure. We have to trust that we have a God who knows what we need and so our first resource when we feel troubled is to run to Him. 

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 
Hebrews 4:16

So how do we seek God amidst our despair? We worship Him. We worship not only in church, but even in our own homes or wherever we are. We set apart time day after day to earnestly pray. We dedicate a time of day to read and reflect the bible. When we delight in the Lord, He promises to help us out. He may not remove us out of our troubles the way we think He would, but He will resolve it the best possible way. After all, He knows everything and He can do all things!

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." 
Psalm 124:8

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 2 Kings 4:1-7 and Psalm 46 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: When was the last time you had an “inventory” of God’s blessings in your life?

Conversation with the Lord:  Heavenly Father, thank you for continuously blessing me inspite of the many times that I am unappreciative and ungrateful of all the good you have showered me. Give me the confidence to take stock of everything and use them not just to help myself, but also to show love to others and give glory to your name. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Natural resources appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, 8 April 2024 Beyond depleted

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved." 
Psalm 55:22

Heat exhaustion leaves most people feeling easily fatigued. Energy depletion is imminent as our body works double (or even triple time) to cool us. Add dehydration into the mix and some could even lose consciousness.

As mothers we often get to the point where we feel beyond depleted. We may feel physically tired, mentally drained, and even emotionally spent all at the same time. But as followers of Jesus we should take heart that we have a source of energy that could help us endure whatever hardship or difficulty we may face.

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." 
Isaiah 40:29-31

We should likewise remember that our God is the greatest comforter. He promises to strengthen us, and He has all the power to do so. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Once we take into heart these characteristics of His, we can rest assured that no matter how we feel, no matter what we have done, and no matter how difficult our situation is, we can count on Him. Let us hold on to this verse found in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:

"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." 
Isaiah 41:10

We should have faith that whatever it is that we are going through, all of these are part of God’s perfect plans for us. His promises are true, and His will in our life is all for the best.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." 
Romans 8:28

As mothers we should also put in mind that God allows us to experience pain for a purpose. As a parent we are the source of comfort for our children and without experiencing pain ourselves it will be harder to empathize with our kids and to other people experiencing difficulties. Once we have gotten past our hurts through God’s grace, we can pass on the comfort and mercy that we have received from the Lord to others.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3

When faced with overwhelming physical and inner exhaustion, let us run towards Jesus. Let us allow His power to help us endure. Let us allow His spirit to help us see beyond the difficulties of life.

Practically speaking we can do this by continuously nourishing our relationship with Him. Regular quiet time of prayer and bible reading and reflection will help us recognize His voice more as we seek His comfort and direction for us. Weekly worship helps us show our love for Him. Fellowship with other believers and seeking Him alongside them allow us to demonstrate the Love He gave us, and be accountable for our actions.

Tapping into God’s power is the best way to regain our power when we are beyond depleted. There is nowhere for us to go but to Him so that we could boldly claim the comfort and strength He promised us.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Isaiah 40:25-31 and Psalm 121 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Where do you draw strength from during times of hardship and difficulties?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being my source of comfort and strength. I humbly ask that you continue to go before me my Lord, because you are my rock and refuge. Amen. 

The post Daily devotional: Beyond depleted appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 6, 2024 Run to Him

“I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,  and I will not remember your sins." 
Isaiah 43:25

Some 20 years ago, I joined my first fun run. It was fun and exciting. Running with my friends, being in a tree lined oval and seeing greeneries amid buildings, and just testing my strength and endurance to make it to the finish line of that three-kilometer race.

As followers of Jesus, we are running a race everyday. Race towards our sanctification — of being Christ-like and being the person God wants us to be. Like any race, there are a lot of external factors that could affect our performance. The route, the weather that day, the rules of the race, as well as our gear. In our race to Christ-likeness, our personal situations, people around us, as well as our goals and values could affect how we run the course.

However, what is most important is what is inside of us. We should have what it takes to make it to the “finish line.”

Part of knowing what it takes to make it to the finish line is knowing in our hearts that we can make it to the finish line because God has given us the grace to do so. That no matter what happens during the race, we can always pick ourselves up and move on.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

And so when we fall down and stumble in our journey towards being Christ-like let us remind ourselves that we should go on and RUN TO HIM instead of RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. We have the natural tendency of feeling guilty and ashamed when we fail to be good, and so we tend to shy away from the Lord. But He invites us to come to Him, to continue coming to Him as we work on improving our character and tap on His strength.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Corinthians 12:9-10

When we dash our feet and fall on the ground, the Lord calls us to move on and do not stay stuck on the ground. To not dwell on our mistakes, and just keep on trying. He reminds us that we have been given the grace to be in His presence through Jesus. That no amount of effort to be righteous will be enough to face God, but since Jesus died for us, His righteousness is what God sees in us. We can come to Him.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." 
Romans 5:8-9

When we get lost, Jesus calls us to get back to the right path and continue running the race. That we break the cycle of guilt and shame that the enemy puts upon us so that we will be too ashamed to run to Jesus when we fail. The Lord has promised that He is faithful enough to forgive and forget our transgressions as long as we confess it to Him and repent on it.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
1 John 1:9

Let us always remember that the Lord renews His mercies every morning, and that He forgets about our transgressions. Let us not listen to the jeers from the crowd, instead turn our ears towards the voice of Jesus, Who keeps on encouraging us to run towards Him.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:1-17 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: When you fall back into your old cycle of sinning do you run towards Jesus or run away from Him?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for inviting us to run towards you. I love you with all my heart and your assurance that you will accept me for what I am, and your invitation to me to follow you no matter what is an opportunity I would like to take in this lifetime. Be with me by Lord as I take this journey, strengthen my faith, and help me endure. I want to be with you always, and I want to spend eternity with you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Finish line appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 5, 2024 The field trip

"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." 
1 John 2:3-6

I first encountered the term “buddy system” during our elementary field trip many years ago. There I learned that we will be required to walk with a classmate so that we can be safe and remain with the whole group at all times.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to walk with Him. Walk in His ways, and follow the path He takes. (“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” — 1 John 2:6) He never promised that His route is easy, but He promises to help us out and not let go of us the rest of the way:

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his lifewill lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25

One of the powerful illustrations we could imagine in our walk with Jesus, is being yoked with Him. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus was quoted inviting the weary to come to Him and walk with Him:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Being born in the Philippines, I usually just see in local textbooks pictures of a yoke on top of a lone beast of burden. Biblical scholars however say that the yoke Jesus was talking about in the gospel is a yoke for two. A yoke that pulls two oxen so both of them could plough the field. And as I envisioned myself being in the same yoke of Jesus, I felt relieved because I am not just carrying my burdens with someone else, I too am sure to not get lost because the one I am yoked with, is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE.

One of the most famous psalms in the bible, Psalm 23 penned by King David, tells us about his experience in his walk with God, and what we can expect as we walk with our Lord:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me." Psalm 23:1-4

And so I say to myself, even if I lag behind, even if I fall to my feet, even if I dash my foot into a stone, I sure have someone to deliver me. I am sure that I will have someone who will pull me up, get me back to my feet, and lead me to my one true goal of spending eternity in Heaven.

Yes, it will not always be easy to make all the right choices. That there usually is no instant gratification in choosing a disciplined and a better life. That the narrow path to the best life is longer and not well paved. That there will always be thorns in the way — but because of His abiding Presence in our lives, we can and we will be able to go through life’s challenges and difficulties victoriously. Let us keep our focus on our goal of life with Jesus both here on Earth and eternity and the spiritual transformation we all wanted to experience, will make us into the person our God wants us to be.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Philippians 3:12-21 and Psalm 23 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are you walking with God? How do you keep yourself in the road with Him?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting me to walk with you. Your abiding presence is all I need, as I know you only want what is best for me. Guide me and empower me to endure the potholes and thorns in this route we both are taking, so that I can be with you to your Kingdom in heaven. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The field trip appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 4, 2024 The Claw Machine

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." 
Psalm 147:5

My children love to take a chance in arcade claw machines. They are just so fascinated with the thought that they could possibly win a plushie just by trying to control something. But as in any game of chance, the odds of winning are slim. And so they ask me for one more token so that they could get another chance, and I oblige. And the cycle of trying, failing, and asking for new chances continues but only up to the limits that I have set.

As followers of Jesus, we are more than blessed to be governed by a limitless God. A God who despite His boundless power is so generous and gracious enough to give us second, third, fourth and many chances until we finally get it right and live according to His will for our lives. As the Apostle Paul assured the Roman Church about the Lord’s boundless mercy:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

The story of the Israelites is one of the best illustrations of how steadfast and merciful God can be. Their stubborness, and cyclical patterns of being thankful to the Lord, forgetting about Him, turning to other idols, being stricken with calamity and suffering, and then pleading for the Lord’s mercy is just so vicious yet the Lord remained faithful to them, answering their cries for help each time.

"Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them. But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways." Judges 2:18-19

In our lives and failures, God shows us how redemptive He can be. How merciful He is, and how deeply He understands that our sinful nature could lead us to falter. He loves us so much that He sends help to deliver us. He continues to call us to rely on Him, and He rescues us.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning;great is Your faithfulness." 
Lamentations 3:22-23

And so when we feel like we continue to falter on our resolve to change ourselves for the good, and turn away from our “favorite sins,” let us remind ourselves that only the Lord could help us. He will send us the Holy Spirit that will empower us to spiritually transform into what He has envisioned us to be. That we should not lose hope that we could change for the better because our great God gives us all the chances to follow Him. In fact He strengthens our resolve so we can endure and improve:

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So how do we claim our succeeding chances from God after we have failed? St. Peter the Apostle tells us that if we confess our sins and call on Jesus’ name, and repent, we will be forgiven. We will be made new and we can have another clean slate to restart our lives:

"Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

It is never too late to ask for another chance from the Lord. Accept your frailty and accept the fact that only the grace of God can change you. That only through His power, will you be able to win against the temptations in your life, and be the best person God has made you to be.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on 1 John 1:7-9 and Ephesians 3:14-20 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Do you need more chances from God?

Conversation with the Lord: Almighty Father, thank you for being the God of many chances. For renewing your mercies every morning, and for not getting tired of calling me into your grace. I want to follow you and I plead that you help strengthen me so that I could improve on my character. I need your grace and mercy. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: The claw machine appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 3, 2024 Information superhighway

"All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” 
Isaiah 54:13

Much is being debated about how this generation of children is so anxious and depressed. Experts lay most of the blame on technology, specifically the unrestricted use of social media on children and teens. As moms, much of the burden on ensuring our child’s welfare and mental health is placed on our shoulders.

The Bible offers a plausible solution that requires the strength of heart, mind, and body of parents. Strength of heart because not all parents are okay with seeing their children getting “left out” by their peers by not having access to smartphones and social media. Strength of mind as it requires the will to enforce rules on smartphone use especially on teenagers who may have already been exposed to it. Strength of body so that we as parents will have enough energy and resolve to care for our kids — especially the young ones — spend time with them, and not leave them with their gadgets just so they could keep quiet and allow us to do our thing.  

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.” 
Proverbs 29:17

In the Old Testament, Moses gave the Israelites instructions on how to raise children who love God. The guide may have been conceptualized thousands of years ago but it can still be applicable to us present-day parents:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:5-7

So how does the above biblical instructions relate to the parenting challenges of today? Well, the above guide from the Book of Deuteronomy gives us the idea of what to aim for as parents.

As leaders of our family, we should at least have an idea on what kind of people we want our children to end up being. Do we want them coveting what they see from others all the time? Do we want them to lead superficial lives? Do we want them seeking acceptance all the time, even from people who are not living out the best values in life? If the answers to the past three questions are a “yes,” then you may be okay with a child’s over exposure to Social Media. But if you are concerned with any of it, then the Bible is the best source of possible solutions to address these issues.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 
Romans 12:2

The passage above penned by St. Paul the Apostle should at least inspire us parents to not succumb to the pressure of giving smartphones and social media access to our children. There are freedoms our children cannot handle yet and are made available by the above-mentioned technological advancements. Some of these freedoms include having access to pornographic content, abusive language, worldly ideas, and way too much consumerism.

Think of it this way, we would not allow your child to walk on an expressway alone right? So why will we leave our kid to themselves as they explore the information superhighway? The place which gives them access to data that is not yet appropriate to their age?

Besides, if we adults can be addicted to social media, how can a kid or a teenager muster self-control to stop himself from doom scrolling? The buck should stop with us parents, and we have to do what we have been called to do: discipline our children.

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." Hebrews 12:11-13

While preventing children from doing what their peers are busy with sounds harsh and is much like biting a bullet, followers of Jesus like us know that the right path is not always the easiest route to take. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ even tells us that following Him — meaning being godly ourselves and raising godly children — is tantamount to giving up on things we enjoy but is not right for us in the end.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." 
Matthew 16:24

So what can we do as parents to keep our children from suffering from the ills of social media? Well, we can raise them up in the way of the Lord.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." 
Proverbs 22:6

There is no other way but to give them a better alternative to just lazing up on the couch and finding out what other teenagers like them are doing. Yes, it may take up our time and energy as parents but we should recalibrate our motherhood goals. We have to change the current tendencies of children. Instead of being an anxious generation, we should raise an optimistic one. Instead of being depressed, we should make them feel blessed. Instead of allowing them to be covetous, let us give them the chance to be generous.

While it is easier said than done, all these goals are achievable if only we will take the first step. Some of the initial steps we can take include:

1. Exposing them to God’s word: bring them to church and read and reflect on the bible with them, get them to Sunday school.

2. Allow them to socialize with others IRL: Let them socialize with THE RIGHT GROUP OF kids in church. Whose family values are the same as what your family values. If your church has groups for children and teens then allow them to join these social circles and have them participate in the activities.

3. Give them physical activities that would take their mind off-screen: allow them to learn musical instruments if they are interested, let them take up a hobby like baking or have them join sports activities.

4. Be a role model yourself. We have to practice what we preach and show our children we are not dependent (or addicted) to social media. Keep your phone down and talk to them in the house, at the dining table, and while waiting in restaurants or airports. Convince them that face-to-face interaction is much better than the digital kind.

5. Give them a chance to do good. Join mission trips and charitable activities as a family. Encourage your child to care for others too so that he or she would not focus much on herself. Remember, self-focus, envy, and narcissism remain to be a stronghold of the selfie generation.

None of the above suggestions may be easy, but they are not impossible to do. If we want our children to be resilient, then we should bring them up knowing that a nourished relationship with God is far more important than achieving all the success, treasures, and accolades that this world has to offer. That this life does not end in this world because we have an eternity to look forward to, and that is what we have to work on in this lifetime.

"Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:3-17 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Are your children exposed to social media? How do you ensure that they are protected from its ill effects on their mental and spiritual health?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, help me become a more responsible parent so that I can safeguard my children from the hazards of modern-day technology. Empower me to raise godly-children, and give me the strength and confidence to do what it takes to that they grow up to be like you. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Information superhighway appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Daily devotional, April 2, 2024 Guarded Heart

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." 
Proverbs 4:23

One of the most tightly guarded places in the world is the building of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The sophisticated security measures ensure that no unauthorized person can penetrate the structure that houses close to 500,000 bars of gold. And if you think that the main reserve is within the building, well, it is not. The gold bars are stored in a vault underneath the structure below 80 feet
As followers of Jesus, we are called to tightly guard our hearts. For before we came into Christ our hearts could be the source of sinfulness: 

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander," 
Matthew 15:19

But since we have been given a new life and a new purpose in Christ, we have to make sure that our hearts will not be corrupted as the direction of our lives depend on it:

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." 
Ezekiel 36:26

The Bible says that the heart can be deceiving, but since our Heavenly Father is powerful and all-knowing, He knows what is in our heart. He knows if it is hardened, He knows as well if it has gone cold. The Lord also knows if we have a double heart or an unbelieving and unclean heart. And so it is in our best interest to guard it. The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah says:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” 
Jeremiah 17:9-10

When we do not guard our hearts, we can easily fall into sin. We can go back to our old ways. We can easily believe the enemy’s lies that we are not worthy of the Lord’s love. When our hearts are unguarded, we can find it harder to move on from a temporary spiritual setback and wallow in anxiety and depression. We might even find it easy to go back to our former sinful lifestyle instead of going back to the Lord and repenting. We really should do all we can to protect the new heart we have been given.

So how do we do that? How do we guard our hearts? One of the best ways to guard it is by ensuring that it is a treasure trove of God’s words. That we delight and continue to fill our hearts and meditate on the scripture that we read, and live its lessons in our day-to-day lives:

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:1-4

In his letter to the Philippian Church, the Apostle Paul assures that communicating with God through prayer guards the heart:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 4:6-7

And so when tempted, anxious, or scared, call on the Lord. At all times, secure your heart against idols and in going back to your former way of life and cycle of sin. Nourishing a close relationship with Jesus Christ through daily quiet time of prayer and intentional bible reading and reflection, will help you anchor your heart to our Heavenly King.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Proverbs 3:1-8 andMatthew 15:15-20 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: How do you guard your heart against things that can hurt your spiritual life?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, help me guard my heart so that I can always do things that are pleasing to you. I want to live a life of praise and worship to you, as you always want the best for me. Amen.

The post Daily devotional: Guarded Heart appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.