Nothing can ever separate us from God’s Love.

Romans 8:38

God Is Near Us

Samuel Johnson, an 18th-century writer said, “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” Learning new things keeps us sharp and helps us improve ourselves. But, there is so much that we already have learned but just don’t either apply or remember it. One of those things we need to remember is just how near God is to us. Here’s some hope-filled truth to remember:

There’s never a place we can go where His presence won’t be there first. He’s in our yesterday, He’s in our today, and He’s in our tomorrow all at the same time. He rejoices over us, rewards us, blesses us, and smothers us with His forgiveness and grace every day. Throughout the entire day; isn’t that crazy! In addition to the good, there is no tragedy we’ll face, no hardship we’ll endure, and no adversity we’ll encounter where God is not with us. He is steadily holding us up with His mighty, righteous, and perfect right hand.

When you feel lonely and wonder where God is, just know that He is about you, above you, after you, amidst you, among you, behind you, beneath you, beside you, beyond you, for you, inside you, near you, and over you. He is everywhere, all the time. Always and forever. He is near us.

When you experience fear and wonder why God won’t remove it from you, know that He hasn’t given you a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind. That nothing can separate us from His love and presence. Always and forever, He is near us.

When you’re sick and don’t understand why God won’t heal you, know that He is still the Great Physician and Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals. The time frame you have in mind may not match His, but rest assured, He is doing a work in you and through you. Always and forever, He is near us.

There is nothing that we’ll encounter that God has not already defeated. Not just defeated, but completely annihilated on out behalf when He put Jesus on the cross to cover our past, present, and future sins. Always and forever, He is near us.

When you go through devastating situations, He is with you. When your life seems to be spinning out of control, He is with you. When you can’t see the path or even the next step, He is with you.

There are options everywhere that beg us to place our trust, hope, and joy in them. Those temporary joys and pleasures hold no comparison to the eternal, never-ending presence of out Almighty God who calls us His children. His presence is the prize. It’s what we get for all eternity.

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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you god will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaish 43:2

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? All trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquers through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither dearth nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not 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 8:35-39

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All the love,

Cheyenne

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

God Forgives Us

Do you ever get so frustrated with yourself for saying or doing something you know you shouldn’t have? What about the thoughts you let go through your mind about other people? Every single day—and often many times a day—we act in ways we know aren’t honoring God. Our humanity is just so human, isn’t it?

Whether we understand what we’re doing or not, God gives grace to us! His perfect, unmerited flavor covers a multitude of sins and is available to us 24 hours a day, every day of every week. the Bible is full of people who understood the powerful grace of God in their loves. Let’s hear two stories:

Saul/Paul

According to himself, Sail was a Pharisee of all Pharisees. If anyone had the right resume with numerous accolades, it was him. He stood for what was “right” and even stood by watching Christians be murdered. He was determined to rid the world of Christianity. But then he met Jesus, literally, and he was radically changed. Saul, renamed Paul, became the most influential leader in the early church and authored 13 of the 27 New Testament books.

Peter

When referring the 12 disciples of Jesus, Peter is almost always mentioned first. His leadership was evident, and he’s known for being outspoken. So much so that when Jesus told the group that they would all desert him, Peter was adamant that he would never do that. Yet, after Jesus was arrested, Peter was confronted and denied that he know Jesus, not once, but three times. When Jesus came back from the dead, He forgave Peter and restored him to ministry. Peter went on to be one of the most influential leaders in the early Church.

Paul didn’t know what he was doing until he knew what he was doing. He genuinely didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah and felt justified in his Jewish faith by attempting to rid the world of a supposed con artist. Peter, n the other hand, had been with Jesus, and many would say “he knew better.” He even proclaimed that he’d be the best person to ever leave Jesus. Two very different scenarios covered by the same grace and forgiveness of God.

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We all sin and do the unthinkable. However, God’s grace lavishes us with forgiveness. So, no matter how far you’ve strayed, how corrupt you’ve been, or who you’ve hurt. God’s forgiveness is just a simple prayer away. In addition, to having our sings forgiven, God won’t waste our pain or experiences! We get to see those hard situations we walked through become stories for God’s glory. He uses the most unlikely people to be His vessels of hope on this earth. Are you willing to be an avenue of hope to someone who needs Jesus?

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

But he denied it before them all, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went our to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:69-75

When they had finished earring, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him to third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things’ you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow Me!”

John 21:15-19

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7:59-60

And Saul approved of their killing him.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 8:1-3

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:1-2

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

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to vile. Let the one who does right continue to do right. Let the holy person continue to be holy.”

Revelation 22:11

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All the love,

Cheyenne

My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.

2 Corinthinans 12:9

God Strengthens Us

The strength we possess as humans is limited. No matter how many self-help ideas we implement or positive statements we proclaim; our strength will only take us solar. That may discourage some, but hopefully, the truth we read from God’s Word will deposit hope in us instead.

In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul was sharing about a “thorn in his flesh” that continued to “torment” him. He actually pleaded and begged God to remove it. Each time God told him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Think about that for a minute. God used this man in influence the early Church and take to gospel to numerous countries. In his moment of weakness, he begs God to help him, and God basically says no. However, God doesn’t stop there. God tells Paul that it’s when he’s weak that the perfect power of God is working best. Imagine that! We need to be weak to see God’s power work best. While we see weak weakness as a barrier, God is using it to uphold us. Our strength as humans may come to a certain level, but with God’s strength boosting us up, there is nothing we can’t endure!

We’re all either in a challenging season or will be in one soon. Life can either bring it gently, or it can hit like an unexpected tsunami. Regardless of how we enter into hard times, we’ll have to learn how to walk through them. We have to rely on God’s help, because what we possess on our own just isn’t sufficient. We need God’s strength.

So, when we’re in a trial where we have our own “thorn in the flesh,” we can derive power by admitting we can’t do it our own and calling out to God. As we navigate the fiery trials in our loves, it’s an opportunity for our faith to be proven genuine. It’s a chance for God’s strength to strengthen us so that we will be “perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:4).

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Verses to look up:

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He give strength to the weary and increases the power of the work.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and sound men stumble and fall; 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 40:28-31

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my darknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of grater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7

All the love,

Cheyenne

Being in quarantine and in isolation is definitely not for those who enjoy being outside, an extrovert, a introvert who has become a social butterfly because of university, or even someone who has depression. So everybody! Well, maybe not everybody; not those who of the generation now that don’t find outside enjoyable but they would much rather look at their phones or video games.

However, everyone’s stories are different throughout their time in quarantine.

My experience started from my sister having COVID and us not knowing about it. We were all together on my birthday; that’s how we got exposed the 1st time. When you are exposed then you have to quarantine for 10-14 days; however that’s hard when you live will the people who was exposed as well. When another person got it in the family; we just added 10 more days.

This time is about family and the time to spend together. To take some time away from the office and the extensive workload that took you away from all the family functions and outings. Family means everything.

Throughout my days stuck in my parents house with them as they were going through there symptoms; I felt completely fine (or so I thought). I didn’t have any symptoms throughout the time until the time school started up again. I felt sick to my stomach to where I couldn’t eat or sleep when I laid flat on my back. Most of the time I didn’t sleep or I would just get a couple hours a night to where I was exhausted. I went to the doctor when it affected my lungs and breathing became a struggle. I still have trouble with my breathing after being tested. The weird thing about all of this is that I still had my taste and smell. This was a week before school started again for my last spring semester.

My family is competitive when it comes to card games or games in general; so we had played a lot of rounds of Rummy, ERS (Egyptian Rat Screw), Goldfish (we kept Daisy for a little bit), amongst others.

Family is important and always should be in your life.

Maybe this was a test from God to follow him or get right in your walk with him. I don’t believe that he created this hysteria that followed the crisis outbreak; however how many of you came to know Christ in this dark time. Did he become your light in this darkness and unknowing time? What did you find out about yourself? Any new hobbies or talents? If you have kids, what new things did they learn or your eyes was opened about them? Did they find Jesus and they brought you to church? What was your light in the darkness? I would love to know. Comment below and let’s talk about it.

All the love,

Cheyenne

Devotional:

Put It Into Practice

After 21 days of rewriting thought, you have wiped out the toxic though and replaced it with positive, productive thought. Here’s how we change our lives.

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Matthew 4:1-11 tells us about how the devil was tempting Jesus when He was in the wilderness for 40 days. During that time, Jesus went without food. The devil knew He was weak, and he tempted Jesus to turn from God. With each attack from the devil, Jesus responded with the Word of God. Even though He went without physical sustenance for 40 days. He survived and thrives spiritually. Because Jesus spent time with His Father, He knew the truth. He was prepared for this temptation.

We can’t live in freedom if we constantly allow our toxic thoughts to monopolize our thinking. The best way to battle them is by applying Scripture, because that will strengthen us in our own battle. We must gear up ahead of time and not try to do this once we’re in the battle. Soldiers don’t look for their weapons when the bullets are flying. They are prepared—ahead of time and at all times.

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Let’s prepare ourselves by putting our minds to the test and choosing to capture toxic thoughts instead of entertaining them. Once we do that, we end that lie that has held us hostage by declaring God’s truth. This is how we live free of toxic thoughts.

But it is also true that if we will fix our thoughts on Jesus and live our lives to honor Him, the need for having to test and capture our thoughts will decrease. The author of The Message paraphrase encourages us at the end of Philippians 4:8 to fill our minds with “the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”

We must continually be filling our minds with things that bring life. We must look for the good. For when we do, we’ll find it.

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Reflect:

* On day 3, you listed a recurring, toxic thought that you needed to take captive and hopefully, you found a verse to combat that thought. Continue to do this for 21 days. Not the victory you’ve found after this. Make this practice a part of your day everyday until this toxic thought no longer overpowers you.

* Now, list a second toxic thought you have and find a verse to combat that lie. Follow the same plan as you did for the first lie. Continue this practice over every toxic thought that attempts to rule over you.

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Verse to look up:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple, “if you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

” ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ “

Jesus answered him, ” It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord you God, and serve him only.’ “

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Matthew 4:1-11

All the love,

Cheyenne

Devotional:

Fix Your Thoughts

When we fill our thoughts with the right things, the wrong ones have no room to enter.

Joyce Meyer

Testing our thoughts and leaning to take them captive is a huge part of the mental battle we have with our thoughts. So, when we can learn to do that as a regular practice. we will gain control over our thoughts.

What if we chose to be more proactive with our thoughts in order to prevent reacting late on? Yes, there will still be thoughts that have to be tested and take captive, of course. For we are not perfect. We can, however, choose to follow through with Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:2 NIV. Which says, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” In setting out minds on “things above” we will have less thoughts that need testing and being taken captive.

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When we set out minds, we are striving for something and directing out mind toward a certain thing. This verse says we shouldn’t set out minds on earthly things. Those “earthly things” usually distract us and cause our thoughts to keep up from Gods’ best.

There are plenty of things we see every day that are out of our control. But, much of what we see can be prevented. What we put in front of out eyes is a very big deal! If you feel that your have too many toxic thoughts; what is it that could be causing them? Could it be things on social media, movies, tv shows, news, in magazines, being around bad friends, through war, abuse… amongst other factors. It’s wise to analyze the things we are viewing daily and ask God to show us what would ne a good thing to decrease or eliminate altogether.

Much like we need to watch what we put in front of our eyes; we also need to consider what is going into our ears. What we affects our thoughts just as much as what we see. Have you noticed what types of music, books, or podcasts possibly cause toxic thought in your mind? Are there things you need in include, not just remove, that will build you up and help create healthy thoughts instead?

Instead of focusing on and setting our sights on things that could cause toxic thoughts. Let’s be proactively mindful of what we choose to put in front of us. When we choose things that honor God and keep us pure in heart; we will have less thoughts to test and take captive.

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Reflect:

– What tends to be you struggle? What you watch or what you listen to?

– List the biggest thing you need to eliminate from what you normally watch or listen to. Chances are you already know what that is. Give it up for 21 days and see what a difference you see in your thought life.

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Verses to look up

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

colossians 3:2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lost heart.

hebrews 12:1-3

All the love,

Cheyenne

Devotional:

Capture Your Thoughts

Taking thoughts captive means controlling them instead of letting them control you.

Priscilla Shirer

We were created in the image of God, and we are His masterpieces. What would our lives be like if we lived like we believed that truth? The biggest reason we don’t is because we have let toxic thoughts run rampant in our minds. We can’t let them dictate our lives—we must choose to capture our thoughts.

Taking out thoughts captive will be one of the toughest battles we engage in. It’s so much easier to just entertain the toxic thought. The effort comes when we engage in the battle. Even if we entertain the thought; we can still take to captive. It truly is better to do it late than never.

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Here’s an example: let’s say there’s someone in your life you need to forgive. Every day, you remember what they did to you. You can’t seem to let it go or heal from it. You might start have thoughts like, “I don’t really need to forgive this person” or “What they did to me is unforgivable.” These are the toxic thoughts you must take captive. Recognize that it is causing you inner turmoil. Then, choose truth from God’s Word. You might even pray, “God, I’m choosing to push this thought aside instead of entertaining it. I know you have forgiven me of so much in my life. Help me to extend the same forgiveness to this person.”

However, you do it again and again and again until it “takes.” You’ll know healing is occurring when you look back on the situation and the sting of pain isn’t as intense. You will se it as something that happened to you—past tense—not something that is happening to you—present tense.

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Why is it important that we stop those thoughts?

• Because they go against God’s best and prevent us from living joy-filled loves.
• In order to spend out mental energy on things that build up instead of tear down.
• So they won’t control out minds, which in turn control our actions.

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Every day is a new day. We get a new set of hours to live the lives that will bring glory to God and joy to out souls. We just have to recognize that and wake up with a newfound determination to be the boss of our thoughts; not the other way around.

Reflect:

• What is a recurring, toxic thought that you need to start taking captive today? Call it what is—a lie.
• Find a verse that will blast that lie. When you think that thought; capture it and speak the verse aloud. Do this as often as you need.

Verse to look up:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 corinthians 10:5

All the love,

Cheyenne

Devotional:

Test Your Thoughts

The thoughts you keep in a loop determine the direction of your life.

Steven Furtick

We have a lot of thoughts every day. In fact, many experts believe we think somewhere between 60,000 and 80,000 thoughts per day. That averages out to 2,5000 to 3,000 per hour. Remarkable, isn’t it?

It would be great if our thoughts were all good; however many of them are negative and toxic. The good news is that we have a guide to help us test our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 is a great test as to whether we should think about something. The verse tells us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worth of praise. Consider each word listed below.

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True:

One of the most important things to consider about our thoughts is, “Are they true?” Too often our thoughts are just not true. We need to focus on what is authentic, real, and lines up with God’s word.

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Noble:

Because we are children of God, we’re in the highest of ranks! Our thoughts should be royal and regal. Not in an arrogant way but in an unkind or repulsive manner.

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Right:

So many people want to be right—to be the one who is never wrong. But often, we don’t allow that desire for being right to permeate out thoughts. Thinking right thoughts means allowing accuracy and appropriateness to guide us.

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Pure:

To be pure in heart and thought is not as difficult as it seems. It’s simply choosing to thing on ethical, good, upright, and honest things.

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Lovely:

This is a word that isn’t used much, but it should be. To think lovely thoughts means to see the beautiful and stunning in life and allow out minds to think upon those things.

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Admirable:

To be admired is something most people want. However, do we want admirable thoughts? Thoughts that are credible and distinguished and allow us to live in such a way that is commendable.

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Excellent:

The best of the best is what excellent is. When out thoughts are excellent; they are superb, exceptional, and fabulous. Excellent thoughts lead us to live excellent lives.

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Worthy of Praise:

What thoughts are worthy of praise? Thoughts about God. His ways, His plans, and His creation; just to name a few. It’s safe to say that when our thoughts are on Him, that’s a good thing.

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We can test our thoughts every day. As we do this, eventually we won’t have to test many of our thoughts, because we will already know if they meet up to the standards in Philippians 4:8.

We will never be able to adjust every negative thought that approaches our awareness, but we can certainly try to free out minds from toxic thinking… one thought at a time.

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Reflect:

• Write out Philippians 4:8 in three different Bible versions and compare them. Ask God for insight.

Verse to look up:

Finally, brothers and sister, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

PHilippians 4:8

All the love,

Cheyenne