God’s correction brings life

March 31, 2026

Maria 1 Timothy 6, Conviction , 1 Comment

But you, O man of God . . .pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 NKJV

I woke up heavy-laden, preoccupied with an ongoing health issue that I can’t seem to ‘hack’ my way out of. Nothing I have tried has brought relief—whether advice from traditional medical people, friends, or even ChatGPT.

Putting on headphones to listen to a podcast while I fed the cats, made coffee, and did my morning stretching, I chose instead an audio message from an Argentinian mom who is part of my weekly English conversation group I lead.

Her five-minute recording sparked tears, for I realized that despite what discouraged me this morning, I apparently had ministered to her in a meaningful way. She explained that she trusts me and feels like she can safely share her worries about money, faith, and relationships. God sweetly revealed to me that physical discomfort is no impediment to helping a sister in Christ.

Sitting down with coffee and Bible at hand, I opened a devotional by Ken Boa. Under the section “Character I want to cultivate” was a first-person affirmation taken right from Paul’s instructions to Timothy (see above). This young pastor needed to center on God’s Kingdom and personally “pursue” the character traits of a godly man or woman.

Immediately, the Holy Spirit pierced my heart: “Just what are you seeking first in your life, Maria?. What has grabbed your heart? ”

Humbled, I knew what He was asking. I had let this pursuit of a solution concerning a physical condition be front and center in my life. Sovereignly using that audio from Veronica, the Lord proved that despite certain issues, I can serve others.

I repented and asked for God’s help to refocus and remain centered on what matters most to God—Kingdom expansion and righteousness.

As though to encourage me, another young woman texted me after my morning time with Jesus. She wrote how today’s selection from the Feed on Him book had steadied her nerves about some new classes she was about to lead later in the day.

Thank you, Father, for Your ongoing corrections. I receive them gratefully as proof that I belong to You. I know You are always speaking to me through people, creation, the Word, and thoughts You plant. Today, I will try to keep my ears, eyes and heart fixed on You.

Chance, luck and accidents

March 16, 2026

Maria Anxiety, Fear, God's Peace, God's Sovereignty, Psalm 23, Psalm 31 , , Leave a comment

I will fear no evil nor any scary news, for You are with me. Psalm 23:4 paraphrase

This morning, Joe challenged and encouraged us as he preached through John 21:18-19, adding some life-altering applications.

My major takeaway came from this premise—We should draw comfort and find stability in the truth that God has ordained everything in our lives. As the Almighty Sovereign who lovingly works all things for our good, neither luck, chance, nor accidents exist. Yes, harm can befall us, but all events are in His hands. Therefore, no one can say truthfully, “What dumb luck”, or “she never gets a chance”, or “he’s accident-prone.”

I can sense God growing me out of my former identity as a practiced negative forecaster. For some years now, I’ve been pleading with my Father all the while trying to break this self-sabotaging habit. Is it not insane to imagine all that might go wrong instead of all that might go right?  Who really wants to be depressed in this way, just from our own thoughts!

With the world in a media-proclaimed crisis in the Middle East, I woke up this Sunday morning with a pressing need to Feed on Him and meditate on what is beautiful, good, and life-giving. Of course, the Holy Spirit came through. 

Daily, I ease into time with the Lord through reading and praying through two pages of a small book by Ken Boa: Handbook to Renewal:Renewing Your Mind with Affirmations from Scripture. Today’s readings included Psalm 23.  I paused and lingered when I read:  I will fear no evil, for You are with me. 

What a lot to draw out from that affirmation. I noticed that ‘evil’ is assumed—no denying the reality in God’s Word. Yes, our world is broken and suffering is woven through every facet. Who can deny that all humans are sinful and Satan is our enemy?

But God teaches that we have agency.  I CAN decide not to practice fear, empowered by grace and truth.  What is that truth?  That Jesus, through His Spirit, is always with me. 

So, Joe’s proclaiming that luck, chance and accidents not only don’t happen, they can’t occur made me breathe with relief. 

Fretting about what might occur tomorrow–as in, for example, “What if I get into a car accident?”—is fruitless. Of course I should pray for protection, but then follow that with a calm relaxing into God’s promised care. 

Two realities support that. First, my fretting won’t block suffering.  And second, if God’s plan for tomorrow includes pain or sorrow, I can trust that He has also foreordained more than enough grace. What gives me most peace is that He has assured me of constant presence as the Good Shepherd.

Father, help me put my active imagination to better use—imagining all the good that you have destined for me. “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” Psalm 31:19

Can we really eliminate worry?

March 9, 2026

Maria Genesis 28, God's presence, Jacob, Nehemiah, Trusting God, Worry , , , , Leave a comment

At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he had a dream . . . Genesis 28:11–12 NLT

God has been pinpointing several accounts in the Bible to capture my attention about sinful worry. The patriarch Jacob’s reaction to stress while fleeing contrasts with my well-practiced angst. How could this young man sleep knowing his murderous brother was after him?

Then there is Nehemiah. This brave Jew’s response on a perilous mission trip reinforces what I still lack—solid faith that replaces fretting.

Consider what the audacious royal cupbearer for King Artaxerxes undertook when he journeyed the three to four months from Susa to Jerusalem. Not only could he not predict what each successive travel day would bring, he couldn’t plan for potential obstacles or challenges involved in rebuilding the wall. How did he handle all the ‘What ifs’?

Scripture such as these, along with life’s circumstances, press me to admit how little sway I have over life in general and my particular circumstances. My general response as I have aged has been to resort to negative forecasting.

Yet, each time God provides what I need despite pathetic night-interrupting prayers for “all to go well tomorrow,” I tell myself, “Maria, see, you CAN and you SHOULD trust the Lord. He always comes through.”

But I don’t change. In fact, after God has answered a prayer, especially involving the unpredictability of air travel, I’ve muttered, “Yeah, but if I knew that the next flights would go well, I wouldn’t HAVE to worry.”

But God! In a ‘wispy,’ almost ephemeral way, I’m now sensing that I might not need to know how tomorrow will turn out—that the FACT of Jesus’ promised presence and provision is enough.

Mike Foster, author of the book The Seven Primal Questions, sorts all events into three different categories—what we can’t control, what over which we have partial control, and what we CAN determine.

Current struggles concerning our cat Jason’s change in eating habits, sleep ‘success,’ personal digestion issues, emotional states of family members, a friend’s husband potentially dying, and now the military conflict in Iran have impressed on me the futility of worry. And I haven’t even mentioned future travel.

I’m daydreaming about what it would be to just hand everything over to God.

But what if . . .

What if I simply relinquished each ‘worrisome’ circumstance I mentioned? If I just relaxed into a state that proclaimed and REALLY believed in my heart, “What does it matter what happens tomorrow if Jesus is with us? Whatever He brings about is His ‘good’ plan for us. He will give what we need. He has promised to never leave us.”

What fun it would be just to pray earnestly, calling on His character, past deeds, and promises of future grace. And then to let it all go and embrace the day for the joy of it.

Please, Father, strengthen me to try Your way.