God Isn't Afraid to Get Down in the Dirt |
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Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
— Genesis 2:7
The story of creation is an incredible one. For so many reasons. But mostly — at least for me — because it shows so beautifully the unmatched worth we have in God's eyes.
God spoke everything into existence, which is a whole mind-blowing thing all on its own: "Let there be..." and there was. God was balanced between time and eternity — forming galaxies, zebras, mountains, and starfish with His very words. He spoke, and they were created. Something out of nothing. When it came to His creation of humankind, however, He changed things up. - Instead of speaking us into existence, as He did with everything else, He chose to form us in His own image.
I close my eyes: "Fearfully and wonderfully," He made us (Psalm 139:14). I've seen pictures of some pretty amazing sand sculptures, but I'd say that God's takes first prize.
And then He breathed into us.
Face-to-face, we inhaled His exhale. Our first breath came from the very mouth of God. I cannot even fathom the worth — the wealth — of that breath of life.
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Regardless of what I feel, God never leaves me.
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Regardless of what I feel, God never leaves me. |
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When my life is a mess or it feels like there's no end in sight to the challenges I'm facing, it's easy to think that God is far removed from it all. When the nights are long and the darkness closes in, His presence doesn't always feel very present. But just as He was with Adam in Genesis, He is right here
in the dirt with me.
Regardless of what I feel, He never leaves me.
He never forsakes me. He doesn't just watch me from afar; He sits right down in the messy chaos with me.
When I remember that He made me in His image, it's easier to trust that He is intimately involved in my life, even when I can't see Him. And it makes me want to open my eyes wide and look for Him in unexpected places.
Like right here in the dirt.
Pray
- That you will remember to look for God where you normally don't expect to see Him at work.
- That you will feel His presence in new and intimate ways.
- That you will experience His matchless love and let that overflow onto those around you.
Reflect
In what unexpected places can you see God at work right now?
God, You are close, as near as my own breath. Today, I pray that I will reach out for Your hand and embrace Your presence in each moment.
Excerpted with permission from Prayers to Help You Thrive, copyright Zondervan. * |
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We can feel like God is far removed from us even during the Christmas season when the
message of Jesus becoming Immanuel, God with us, is everywhere we look. Today, look closer and ask God to reveal where He is at work in your life, even if it's someplace unexpected! ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Develop and strengthen your time with God |
Prayers to Help You Thrive: Devotions to Help Women Live with Joy & Confidence |
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+ Take an extra 20% off $45+ with GG20 |
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Life doesn't always go your way, and during those times you may feel let down and unhappy. The world is full of cancelations, changes, and a great deal of pain. But, if you rely on God, put your faith in Him, and go to Him in prayer, you can thrive.
Prayers to Help You Thrive is a beautiful mix of devotions, Scripture, prayers, and prompts that will help you develop and strengthen your time with God. Inside you'll find: - Gorgeous full-color pages with art, callout quotes, and room to write.
- Entries written by New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist, Chike Chukudebelu,
- Katie Hardeman, Margaret Hogan, Denise Hildreth Jones, Tsh Oxenreider, Rachel Randolph, and Alece Ronzino.
- Relevant topics of discussion such as social justice, economic equality, social media addiction, mental health, balance, prayer, relationships, and decision-making.
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After completing Prayers to Help You Thrive you'll: - Have a deeper relationship with the Lord and a more consistent and meaningful prayer life.
- Learn how to thrive no matter what season of life you're experiencing.
- Better understand how to handle sensitive topics with grace and hopefulness.
Thriving can feel difficult in our day-to-day, especially when life's curveballs come. But God's purpose for you includes thriving in His goodness and living with joy and confidence—through a relationship with Him. Come to Him today and thrive in the life and hope that is yours in Christ. |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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*Sale price ends on 12/31/23 at 11:59 PM. Limited quantities available. Sale pricing excludes ebooks and audiobooks. Free Standard Shipping for U.S. orders over $35 excluding Alaska and Hawaii. *Offer valid until December 14, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET or while supplies last. Offer valid online and by phone only. Take an additional 20% off your purchase of $45 or more with code GG20, after promotions and discounts and before shipping and handling costs are applied. Shipping, gift cards, or customization of products does not qualify towards minimum purchase requirements. Receive free standard ground shipping on non-rush orders of $35 or more, valid within the 48 continental United States or to an FPO/APO address; offer does not apply to Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Territories, rush orders, or expedited shipping methods. Offer only available to customers in the United States age 18 and older. To redeem offer, enter promo code during online checkout or provide the code to a representative during phone orders. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other discount offer. FaithGateway reserves the right to de-activate the promo code in the event of fraud or technical issues and limit quantities of individual items eligible for purchase with this discount. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Not valid for resale. *eBook and audiobook purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose. Please note that: - To access your eBooks, you can download the free Glose app or read instantly in your browser by creating a Glose account using the same email address you use to purchase the eBooks.
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