Category: <span>thoughts by Christa Hardin</span>

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It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.Psalm 127:2 (NASB)

She frowned as she looked more closely at the label on her concealer bottle. The four-ounce container had cost more than her meal last night; it had promised rejuvenation in a bottle. After using it she looked like she had even less than the four hours of sleep she had actually gotten.

She looked at herself squarely in the mirror, tossed the concealer in the trash, and spent a moment with the Lord. After she prayed, she cancelled a non-essential meeting with her friend, and took a long and much-needed nap before picking her daughter up from preschool. Later in the afternoon, she was much better prepared to hand in a carefully reworked project for her boss with pride and confidence, knowing that she had done her best.

Whether you are sick, emotionally exhausted, overloaded, or just plain busy, remember that Jesus is the great Restorer. He has wise plans for your each and every day, plans that include a restful portion of sleep. That is a gift to you, a breather from the “painful labors” of each day. Submit your plans for today to Him, bowing down to things He may need to change around in order for you to accomplish what is needed. In fact, as you can see through today’s verse, if you trust Him with your rest, He gives to you even while you sleep. Won’t you sleep a little easier knowing just how much your Father loves you?

Dear Lord, I want to please others in my life, but most of all I want to please You. Please teach me to follow Your lead and to receive Your call to rest every time You desire it for me. How amazing is it that You would give to me even in my sleep? Thank You, God! In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Christa Hardin

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Thoughts by All thoughts by Christa Hardin Thoughts by Women

Daily devotional

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

She slammed the college rejection letter down angrily. “I guess I’ll work in the food industry my whole life. God, what am I supposed to do?” She immediately regretted bragging to friends and family about her ability to get into any school she wanted. All of them would now know the truth: she is a big fat failure!

Thank goodness this is not the truth. God knows your future, and when a door closes, you are one step closer to your true destination, which is right where God wants you to be. As long as you are hard at work serving God, you will significantly contribute to this world. And when you’re actively on God’s team, we are all better off!

God loves when we work hard, whether we are at college or working behind a fast food counter, at home watching elderly grandparents or children, or even studying with everything we’ve got. Merely talking about how successful we plan to be will only lead to failure and disappointment. But if we cast visions about what we want to do with our lives while taking prayerful and practical steps to get there, we will thrive.

If you are frustrated about a job or school situation today, God is ready to you remind that all hard work brings profit. When you work at something doing your very best, the reward is deep and great.

You may not see what God is doing right away, but when you work to serve and love others in God’s kingdom, you are part of a larger tapestry that is breathtakingly beautiful. Remember Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Dear Jesus, thank You for reminding me that I am part of the work You are doing. Thank You for laying out my life’s plans and dreams and allowing many of them to come true already. I want to do Your will, and to work hard as well. Please help me, in the discouraging moments, to remember that all of my hard work will bring a profit, Lord. I give You my plans and ask that I would walk in You as I serve this world with my gifts. Amen.

Thought: What are your career goals? Are you hoping to excel as a stay-at-home mom or volunteer as a newly retired veteran? Are you at the cusp of a possible promotion or getting ready to open a new business? Whatever your position, work at it your hardest, committing to memory today’s verse.

By Christa Hardin


If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.


If you are reading this devotional by email you can respond by clicking on this link:
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Thoughts by All thoughts by Christa Hardin Thoughts by Women

devotional

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)

After church, two women giggled at their rare chance of conversation in the midst of their busy lives. One of them paused for a moment and then thought, “Now, I can get this off my chest,” Pushing down guilt, she shared about how one of her friends had treated her badly. The other woman gasped, sipping her coffee in delighted horror at the fascinating details of her friend’s recounting. The ladies bonded over that trial, validating one another’s concerns and pretending for as brief moment that they themselves were never party to such pithy manipulations.

Deep down however, both women felt a tug of something else during that discussion. Joy didn’t permeate their hearts they way it did when they were in right relationship with God. The gossip that had tasted so good at the beginning was hard to swallow. The Holy Spirit inside of them was reminding them that gossip masquerading itself as righteous recounting doesn’t settle well. It ultimately leads to relationship death, not life.

Next time you are confronted with the urge to share some unsavory news about a friend or family member who has mistreated you, ask yourself if this information will be life-giving for the friend you are with, or even life-giving for you to repeat. If we feel we need to talk it out, even after God tells us to make sure our conversation is edifying, consider a more biblical and direct confrontation (see Matthew 18:15-16).

When we disobey Scripture to vent and gossip, we are telling God we don’t trust Him with the outcome of our story. We’re trying to find comfort in something that will never satisfy. Remember God is just — He can be trusted! So if you need to vent to someone, He is always available. It’s never gossip when you’re talking to Him!

Dear God, thank You for reminding me that You have something far better for me than gossip or slander. I trust You know my situation and will help me not to be overshadowed by someone else’s malicious behaviors, intended or not. You won’t let anything get in the way of the dreams You have placed inside of my heart, the things You want for me. I receive that now. You have called me toward a purity of speech, and I want to honor You in that way today and every day. So please help me to take every thought and word captive, and release them to You. Amen.

Thought:  Next time you have a chance to talk with a friend, if and when the urge to gossip presents itself, try to steer conversations to more life-giving topics. If you need to process your situation, consider going to a pastor, counselor, or someone who has no relationship with the person you are in turmoil with. Finally, don’t forget to take it to God, who is always there to listen and to offer the perfect wisdom to you.

By Christa Hardin


If you prayed this prayer we would love to hear from you . If you would like to know God deeper we can connect you with an email mentor and/or send you some great links.


If you are reading this devotional by email you can respond by clicking on this link:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2015/08/17/ch_hard-to-swallow/


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thoughts by Christa Hardin Thoughts by Women

daily devotional

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31 (NASB)

Mommy, is I big?” asks my almost three-year-old son Jack. This inquiry is typically followed with questions about whether he is strong, whether he is a superhero, and whether he is still a baby. His deeper question, I have come to realize, is, “Am I someone special, someone significant?” I love doting on him and covering him in kisses and hugs and telling him how special he is.

We all want this affirmation, although as we grow older, we are often more reserved and introspective with our wonderings. God doesn’t want us to feel sheepish about asking how valuable we are.

Today, God wants you to remember how very valuable you are to Him. He loves you enough to know how many (or few!) hairs are on your head. Even though the tiny sparrows are fed and nourished and loved enough to be fully provided for, you, His son or daughter made in His image, are even more valuable than many sparrows.

Though it’s proper and best to put God ahead of ourselves, spend some time thinking today about how special you are to God also. We can’t always ask our friends or family for validation, but God is always ready to tell us how much we are loved.

Dear Lord, thank You for making me so special! I love You and I want to honor You with each moment of my day today. Help me to remember that I am special to You, so I will have deep joy in my heart and live my true gifting! Help me to share Your love and joy with others. Thank You Jesus, Amen.

Today, remember you are special just the way you are. Even while you were lost in sin, God made a way to find you. Now, as you walk in Him, pass this reminder on to others. Children, like my son, need those reminders as they grow. Older people who are in nursing homes or lonely at home often need the same thing. Take some time in your busy day to bless others, reminding them of their unique and special position as beloved children of God.

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By Christa Hardin

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