Cross My Heart Ministry

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13

When we read “I can do this,” it may bring up an image of Rosie the Riveter — jaw set, muscle flexed, and polka-dot scarf secure. The tough Rosie of the 40’s may well be the foremother of Helen “I am woman, hear me roar” Reddy in the 70’s … and all these generations later, we may try to sing the song and flex the muscle (and surely that red scarf is here somewhere!), but the reality can be less than rosy. Pun intended.

Our song may be more like: I am woman, I am tired.  

Philippians 4:13 is often quoted (also framed on our walls, posted on our social media, and written in our greeting cards). But is the truth of it written on our hearts?  

Rather than a proclamation of strength and self-sufficiency, it’s a confession of our weakness. Taken to heart, it’s a humble declaration of our dependency on Christ.  

Just before this oft-quoted verse, Paul wrote: 

I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
Philippians 4:12

Paul was explaining the secret — the key — to finding contentment no matter what the circumstances. I’m encouraged to note that he uses the word learned. Even if we haven’t yet achieved contentment, we can learn it. We can aspire and grow into it.  

And according to Paul it has nothing to do with our physical situation: want or plenty, well fed or hungry … and we might add employed or unemployed, malignant or benign, celebrating or grieving.  

We can fill in our own 21st-century “whether” but the message is the same: our circumstances do not dictate our reality, nor do they make us content. It is the One who is with us in those circumstances that determines our level of contentment.

Hard things will come and go in this life. Some the result of our sinful choices, some the result of the sin of others, and still others are simply the result of living in a fallen world.  

But none can touch our security in Jesus Christ.  

He is our life preserver in the storm. He keeps us afloat. He is our strength in any and every situation. Yes, my friend, we can do this — we can keep working, keep giving, keep serving, keep forgiving, keep hoping, and keep on keeping on.  

But not because we have the power on our own. It’s all because we have the power through HIM who gives us strength! 

Have you got trouble? Life in this world tells us if we don’t now, we will! It’s not pessimistic — just realistic. Life in this world will bring us trouble.

All this month, we are exploring verses that equip us in responding to trouble. In this week’s devotional video, Laura reflected on a good go-to passage to cling to in trouble or share with a friend who is enduring hardship. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul has some advice for a time of trouble:

– Don’t be anxious
– Do give it to God
– Do be thankful for it

That last one is not only difficult, but counterintuitive! We encourage you to listen as Laura reflects on this powerful passage, and then consider sharing it with a friend going through hard things. We pray the insight Paul offers will be hidden in your heart and available to you, allowing you to share it when needed or claim it for yourself.

But I will sing of Your strength;
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 

We all struggle with feeling like doing something versus choosing to do it. Because we are saved by grace — and because our eternal destiny is based exclusively on the completed work of Christ, not our own — we can easily give ourselves a pass on “I will” and instead wait for “I feel like” before we act.  

The engagement of an I will marks us as women of God. I will means that because my identity is in Him, I choose to lean in … to press in ... to work out the salvation He has provided.  

Here in Psalm 59, David’s use of “I will” conveys a deliberate choice. Let’s join with David and choose to do likewise.  

David’s I will is a choice to worship. And it’s also a choice to worship at a specific time: morning. Morning worship is a statement of priority. It adopts a first–things–first attitude that declares, “Worship is the priority of my day.” It’s a tithing of our time, if you will. 

And worshiping first also means it ripples out to impact everything else that happens in the course of the day.  

Worshiping first renews us for the day. Yesterday morning’s worship sustained us for yesterday, but today is a new day. The little irritations, the nagging annoyances, the distractions and frustrations of the day push us out of alignment. Our morning worship is a daily realignment.  

Fear and anxiety are typical symptoms of a day with trouble. The degree of the trouble is measured by the depth of our anxiety. Worship is the antidote. We may have no control over the trouble, but we can rein in our response to it.  

Worship is the best preparation for trouble, and the best defense when trouble comes.  

David’s worship included singing. The lyrics he chose showcased the character of God: 

I will sing of your strength,
I will sing of your love.

Over and over again in Scripture, I continue to see confirmation of the overriding character traits of our God — He is GREAT (strong) and He is GOOD (loving).  

If He were only loving, but not strong, he would be powerless to protect and provide for us. Because he is strong, He can help. And because He is loving, He wants to.  

As our worship draws us to celebrate God’s goodness and His greatness, His strength and His love, we renew our trust in His provision. Our worship keeps us safe in the fortress of His protection.  

Like many of us, you may look around at the world and feel there has been no season when we needed the fortress of God more. We are living in times of trouble. We may not feel like singing, but as women of we can choose to sing. Today, we can declare with David:

I will sing of your strength,
I will sing of your love.

And then let’s do it again tomorrow morning.  

We were so pleased to have guest lecturer Stacey Broyles at our women’s Bible study this week! Please listen as Stacey shares a powerful passage on the Fruit of the Spirit and practical applications for walking it out:

“Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior
and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:4-5

David’s prayer to God hundreds of years ago is the prayer of humble hearts today: 

Show me … teach me … guide me. 

These words acknowledge a need for guidance and provision. They reflect a man who knows his need and knows only God can provide.  

Show me your ways 

The pronoun “your” suggests what we know to be true — there are indeed other ways than God’s ways. True for David and still very true for us. There are ways of the world, family traditions, and ways ingrained from old habits. There are ways prompted by legalism and ways prompted by liberalism. There are ways birthed from fear and ways birthed from freedom. But the way of a humble heart of faith is God’s way.  

God, as you reveal YOUR way, I am ready to follow – even if it messes with MY way! 

Teach me your paths

The word teach is reassuring. God doesn’t expect us to know everything. And as we ask Him to teach us, we acknowledge we don’t know everything. Pride resists learning, but humility welcomes it.  

The choice of the word path confirms life is a journey of learning and growing in Him. While he may not reveal the entire life map, we can trust Him to reveal the next step to be taken.  

We are reassured in knowing that traveling His path means He travels with us. His path is a path of righteousness (“He guides me in paths of righteousness..” Psalm 23:3) and it is a path of freedom (“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32). 

Jesus, give me a teachable spirit. I want to travel this journey along your good path of righteousness and freedom.  

Guide me in your truth 

The world says truth is subjective: You have your truth — good for you, but I have mine. Yet by its very definition, truth is exclusive. If there is more than one truth, a lie has been introduced.

God is so good to us. He gently guides us into His truth. He is not harsh with us, but kind. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” As He reveals truth, may we be faithful to make course corrections. (“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statues.” Psalm 119:59) 

Holy Spirit, thank you for faithfully guiding me in the truth. Enable me to realign my ways to your truth. As You reveal, I will obey.  

As God answers our Show Me / Teach Me / Guide Me prayer, may we bend our will to lean in to the truth He reveals. May we follow faithfully where He leads. When we take that first step down the right path, the joy of abiding in Him becomes so good and so great that what may have once felt like obligation melts away into desire and even delight. We find that the hope enveloping our hearts and minds during our morning quiet time, will sustain us for the day — indeed, we can declare with David, “my hope is in you all day long.” 

Have you got trouble? Life in this world tells us if we don’t now, we will! It’s not pessimistic — just realistic. Life in this world will bring us trouble. All this month, we are exploring verses that equip us in responding to trouble. In this week’s devotional video, Laura unpacks truth from David’s words in Psalm 16:8. David — a man who knew trouble — declares (and challenges us) to keep our eyes on God come what may. We pray this devotional teaching encourages you if you are in a time of trouble … or equips you to be ready when it comes.

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:8

At first read, How to Not Be Shaken sounds like a title in the self-help section of your local bookstore. You may have even wondered if this week’s Sunday Soaking had taken a turn from  scripture.  

And then you read the verse. There it is. Truth from God’s Word.  

If we want to be the women of God who stand firm in our faith, refuse to allow circumstances to dictate our reality, and who will not be shaken — we need God. We must keep our eyes on Him. Every day. Every moment of every day. Always.  

Like most biblical truth, it is profound and seems simple, but is challenging to live out. Johnny Hunt says, “The Christian Life is not difficult … it’s impossible.” Impossible that is, if we try to do it on our own.  

A sure way to be shaken: 

• Hit the snooze button, sleep late, and jump into the day without your time with Jesus. 
• Read the words of your Bible (checking the “daily scripture reading” box) with your mind simultaneously planning breakfast, laundry, and the rest of the day’s To-Do List. 
• Complete your Quiet Time, close the book, and then move on to Task Mode with no connection of what you read to the rest of your day. 

A woman of faith makes time for Jesus, every day. She does it because she knows she needs Him. She does it because she knows the rest of the day is fruitless apart from Him. She fills up so she is ready to pour out. “Have to” gives way to “want to” — and even “delight to” — as she comes to Jesus because she loves Him and needs Him.

Does that describe you?

Do you want it to? 

Are you ready to declare with the Psalmist, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord”?

It’s a daily choice. It’s a conscious decision about who’s in charge. Yesterday’s choice does not cover today. We need fresh manna. Every. Single. Day. Choose Him today. Prioritize time with Him today. And then do it again tomorrow.  

Putting Jesus first is a statement of faith — there will be enough time for everything else in my day.  

Putting Jesus first is a declaration of His Lordship — He is in charge of my life.  

Putting Jesus first is a declaration of my neediness — apart from Him, I’m finished. I cannot do life on my own.  

Putting Jesus first claims victory for today — without Jesus, I might as well wave the white flag of defeat before the battle even begins.  

Choosing to put my eyes in God’s book first (as I like to tell my ladies at Bible study, “You have no business putting your face on Facebook until you’ve had your face in His book!”) means everything else in my day is seasoned, softened, and saturated by His Spirit living in me and by the truth from His Word. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and transforms my words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes for the day.

Daily life is transformed. The mundane becomes divine. The ordinary has purpose.  

The truth of Psalm 16:8 in the Old Testament is illustrated by Peter in the New Testament (Matthew 14:25-32). Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. He had His eyes on Jesus and he was walking on the water. But then he looked away – the wind was blowing, he was distracted, and Peter took his eyes off Jesus. That’s when he began to sink. What a metaphor for us! We, too, can do the impossible — serve, give, love, forgive, and yes, refuse to be shaken — so long as we keep our eyes on Jesus.  

Paralleling our political freedom to our spiritual freedom, we must reject both the slavery of “legalism” and “liberalism.” We invite you to listen to this week’s teaching lecture as Laura unpacks Paul’s challenge to stand firm in our freedom.

This month’s Write the WORD bookmark and S.O.A.P. study pages,
as well as other free resources to help you balance your heart for God
with the demands of a busy life and home, can be found on our Downloads page.

If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves
and pray
and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven,
and I will forgive their sin
and I will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14

Have you downloaded this month’s Write the WORD bookmark? If so, you know the verses selected all are chosen because they can speak to us in times of trouble. Trouble can lead us to fret and frenzy, to hyperactivity or fearful paralysis. Sometimes we alternate through all those responses in the course of a day! 

Times of trouble are heart-revealers. Times of trouble are also opportunities for us to walk out our faith. Choosing faith over the two extremes — fear or frenzy — is hard. But it’s also possible.  

If we want to stand in faith, I’m convinced we must abide in His Word and remain in a spirit of prayer. And that’s precisely what we hope reading, writing, and praying the Word this month (and every month) will help you do! 

The verse above from II Chronicles 7:14 may be familiar to many of us. You may read it, and even tend to immediately move to “scan” mode … thinking, “I know this one.” 

But do you know it? Have you dissected it? Let’s parse this verse today and glean some insight, phrase by phrase: 

My people ⇒  Clearly, this verse is directed to the people of God.  

Who are called by my name ⇒  When we define ourselves as Christians, we take on the name of Christ! 

If…then ⇒  This verse has covenant language. God has four things for us to do, and then He promises what He will do.  

Our four things: 

1. We must humble ourselves.
   Perhaps the reason we bow our heads or bow our knee when we pray is to adopt a physical posture that reflects our inward attitude. Only a humble heart can truly seek God. The best antidote for pride is to come before God. In His presence, we are aware of who He is – and who we are not. 
2. Pray.
   We all believe in prayer. If prayer were outlawed, we would make signs and march to protest. Yet, in our freedom to pray, we often fail to pray. Prayer is less about getting what we want and more about getting ourselves aligned with what God wants. Before we engage to do things for God, it is imperative we spend time with God.  
3. Seek His Face.
   We know we have persevered in prayer— we have prayed through to amen — when we can truly seek His face and be content with His will. Our Lord Jesus wrestled in prayer the night before His crucifixion. He was prayed up when He was ready to pray the prayer that never fails, “Thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:29-42) 
4. Turn from wicked ways.
   God did not call us to turn from our sin first. Cleaning ourselves up is never a prerequisite to come before Him. God knows we cannot conquer our sin on our own. It’s only possible in Him and through Him. The awareness of our sin comes when we stand before Him and behold His holy perfection. I can turn from my wicked ways because I have turned to Him. He enables me to do what I can never do on my own. This is not legalism, friend. This is freedom. Joy. Peace.  

And when we do our part, God does His. Note the three “I will’s” in this passage: 

1. I will hear. 
   We may find it impossible to get an appointment with the mayor, the governor, the president, the CEO, or the committee chair, but God is available to us 24/7. The Creator of the Universe listens to us. He hears us when we call.  
2. I will forgive.  
   His well of forgiveness never runs dry. He continues to pump it out far beyond what the most patient of humans would consider reasonable. Are we carrying a burden that can be lifted for the asking? Why struggle under the load of guilt and shame when freedom and forgiveness are available? Sin loses its grip on us when we allow Him to lift it.  
3. I will heal their land. 
   When followers of God seek God, those in the land are also recipients of His grace. Our blessings become the blessings of our fellow humans. Healing may be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. God’s thoughts and God’s ways are higher than our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see with human eyes, while He sees for eternity. But He is trustworthy. He is a God of love. He is for us.  

I read this verse and am startled and humbled to realize that I am culpable for many of things I have too often blamed on the world — the media, the schools, the government, the entertainment industry, etc. I have been good at identifying the problems, but in this passage, God challenges me to be part of the answer.  

Will you join with me this month in praying for the U.S.A. during this 250th year of our country’s existence?

In this week’s teaching video from Laura, Paul continues his relentless desire for his spiritual children in Galatia to rest in faith-based righteousness instead of reverting to works-based righteousness. He goes all the way back to Abraham and his two wives to help us see the contrast between slavery and freedom, law and grace. We hope this week’s teaching, inspired by the great Westminster Chapel pastor, G. Campbell Morgan, will help you glean a deeper understanding of God’s magnificent grace.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight…”
Philippians 1:9-11

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians in the first century is a great one for us to pray over our prodigals in the 21st century. The topic of his prayer is love.

Ahhh ……. love. The theme of the songs we love to sing, the rudder that steers our ship, and the glue that keeps us connected to others.

But what is love exactly? A feeling? A commitment? A choice?

When a teenager falls in love, we deem it “puppy love,” implying it will fade with time. We talk about being lovesick – suggesting an inability to function or behave normally. Love has been deemed mysterious, unpredictable, and disconcerting. The Greeks needed more than one word to describe what English speakers sum up simply as “love”: phileo, eros, agape.

As we struggle to understand, define, and live out love, perhaps Paul can help. His prayer for the Philippians in chapter one of the book that bears their name is a powerful prompt for us to pray over our prodigals (and ourselves), as it simultaneously teaches us much about prayer as it sheds light on the topic of love.

Please take a moment to read this passage slowly and thoughtfully:

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ— to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s prayer offers great insight into the subject of love then and now. Clearly, it is more than a feeling and has purpose beyond ourselves.

Love is not static – it is growing, expanding, and prompts action and change.

When love leads out, we know what is right (“discern what is best”) and we do what is right (“pure and blameless”). Knowing what is right and then following through by doing what is right is what I call “smart love.“ The resulting choices lead to purity and righteousness. As we continue to make those decisions, a lifestyle develops. Love “abounds more and more.” And the epitome of it all: God is glorified.

Join with me in praying for your prodigal:

God Almighty, please draw my prodigal back to the path of “smart love.” He/she has wandered away pursuing a perception of love that really isn’t love at all. Let this precious one – created in Your image and cherished by You – come to his/her senses today. Stir up his/her heart with a holy discontent. I pray life would feel boring, meaningless, and lacking as he/she looks around. And in that moment, may he/she look up and look to You. Rekindle that spark of faith. Draw this one to You! I pray the one I love would run back to You and that You would fill his/her heart with a hunger for love that is discerning. May that love grow and flourish to prompt him/her to know what is right and follow through in doing what is right. May love for you grow daily, abound more and more, produce righteousness, and bring You glory and praise!

In the scripture passage for this week’s devotional video, Paul exhorts the Galatians to see that by embracing law-keeping they are forfeiting their identity as sons and choosing instead to live as slaves. How do we do the same all these years later? Keeping the law (legalism) brings insecurity as we continually strive to be good enough. But a child of God can live as His beloved child – fully known and also fully loved.

We invite you to watch and listen to this week’s lecture from Laura’s Bible study, and then ask God to show you where you may be vulnerable to SELF-righteousness … rather than enjoying the peace and joy of righteousness rooted in faith.

“…take hold of the life that is truly life.”
I Timothy 6:19

Paul wrote these words to Timothy — the young man he called “my true son in the faith” (I Timothy 1:2). Timothy received not one, but two letters from Paul, perhaps demonstrating not only the depth of the relationship, but awareness of the weight of the baton Paul was passing.

Though written specifically to Timothy, you and I — together with Bible readers for twenty centuries — are privileged to glean from the wisdom passed from a spiritual father to a spiritual son.

What I tend to believe about wisdom is this: life will bring it. Living brings learning. That’s the natural, long-route way to arrive at wisdom. But those who are teachable get to take a shortcut. The ones willing to heed the sage advice of those who have traveled the road ahead of them, can benefit tremendously. They have joy in the journey, they take the best route, and they avoid many of the detours and pitfalls that life often brings.

The phrase, “the life that is truly life,” resonates perhaps even better to a 21^st-century audience than a first-century one. Our society has become consumed with stuff — we accumulate toys, we buy clothes we seldom wear, we are driven to replace what we have with the latest version, model, or color. After a while, the stuff we own seems to own us!

Are we individually and collectively chasing the counterfeit instead of the real?

Are we permitting the temporary to trump the eternal?

In this verse, Paul is wrapping up a teaching about riches and wealth where he encouraged a choice to “be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” This type of investment reaps dividends for eternity.

Even the minimalists and the most frugal among us can get caught up in the consumer mentality. When we say “no” to ourselves, we loosen the consumer grip. Releasing our grip on stuff frees us our hands (and hearts) to “take hold of the life that is truly life.”

What are we holding on to? What is most valuable to us? The prodigals we love may be chasing the next raise, the bigger house, or the newer car. They may be seeking acceptance and approval from friends (or strangers), or investing in nothing more than the fleeting pleasures of the moment. As we pray for an eternal mindset for them, we can pray also for ourselves — that we would model richness in good needs, a spirit of generosity, and a willingness to share the abundant blessings that God has given us.

Are you and I holding on tight to that which will last? Are we releasing the manufactured / counterfeit / temporary life for the eternal “life that is truly life”? Would you make some time today to consider Paul’s wise counsel to his “son” Timothy … and to ask your own Heavenly Father, “What do I need to release, so that I can grab hold of real life?”

This month, our Write the WORD bookmark features verses we can pray over the prodigals in our lives — those who KNOW Jesus, who made a COMMITMENT to Jesus, but are not WALKING with Jesus.

In this week’s devotional video, Laura offers some words to pray from John 14:26. We invite you to listen, and then (if you haven’t already) download your copy of this month’s bookmark from our Downloads page. When you print it, there are THREE on the page. We hope you’ll share with two friends and encourage them to pray, too! Won’t you join with us in praying every day this month for the prodigal friend, parent, aunt, co-worker, sister, brother, uncle, or child in your life?