Psalms 37:35 NIV[35] I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

March 27, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 37:35 NIV
[35] I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
I wonder of David was thinking of himself when he wrote this. He says he saw this man but he withered away and could not be found even though David looked for him. Perhaps he was thinking of a part of himself which he repented of. Perhaps not.
But it is a good point. Sometimes our former selves did better in this world then our Christian, God following selves.
There may have been better chances for promotion. You may have had more friends. Yet, when you chose Jesus, you died to that person who would fit in those groups. Choosing to leave all past behind you and seek Jesus instead.
We think of the verse about not being upset when the wicked prosper over us, as being about others, but what about who we were before letting Jesus change us. Sometimes we get upset when we think of how well the old us did in this life. Some days we may think unfair that following Jesus better means leaving things behind. But who God is, how He loves us, the way He provides, He is so much greater than anything you could have without Him.

Take away:

The verse above also leads on to say how David sought for the wicked man but could not find him.
When we die to the old us, that person us gone! We may seek them out, but we are better off if we don’t find them.

Christmas · Devotional · encouragement · found · free

Psalms 36:9 NIV[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

March 26, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 36:9 NIV
[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
In God’s light we see light.
Light is a funny thing. You can be in a room fully lit and have someone turn on a flashlight and you cam see the light from flashlight even though the room isn’t dark. It’s because they are often two kinds of light. The flashlight beam is often a more powerful watt than the one in your ceiling lamp.
We are called to be light to this world, so in a way, we glow. But our light is minimal compared to that of the light of Jesus. We are like glow worms in contrast to the sun, if you compare our light to His.
We need His light for us to be able to shine at all!
He burns within us and shines to those around us through us.

Take away:

God is light. With Him there is no darkness. We are called to also be light. However, in our shining we have to make sure we are staying close to Jesus, because our light comes from Him.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · holy spirit · Jesus · power of God · Prayer · psalms

Psalms 35:14 NIV[14] I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

March 25, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 35:14 NIV
[14] I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
David was never shy about calling for the destruction of his enemies. Yet at the same time he knew his position and God’s. He would call for God to bring them to justice and to destroy them, but he himself treated them as he felt God would want them treated. Now we aren’t speaking of war times or when he fighting to protect his kingdom, we are talking about personal attacks against him. Did David ask God that he would bring to ruin those who spoke maliciously against him? Yes. But then he reminds people that this is God’s job and that he treated those who were against him as a friend. I chose this verse out of the rest in this chapter because I am a ‘rain down fire from Heaven’ person. I would rather see my enemies destroyed before me and be able to walk away satisfied. Which of course is not what God wants.
Instead of seeking justice for myself I have to remember that justice is God’s department, and that I need to heap burning coals of love on those I want to bury in my flower bed, instead of hating them. Which is not fun and really, really hard. But that is what we are called to do. It makes me feel like the people in the beginning of that older sitcom show. “I can change, if I have to, I guess.”
Loving your enemies is really hard, and feel unfair, But God will strengthen you to do so.

Take away:

No one ever said that loving your enemies would be easy, but God makes it possible. Hopefully through how you treat them, they will change.

Devotional

Psalms 34:6 NIV[6] This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

March 24, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 34:6 NIV
[6] This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
David was not poor in monetary ways or in possessions, not by a long shot, but he recognized that even with all his wealth he was poor when it came to any ability to save himself. David was the perfect example of how you cam have everything and still have nothing without God. He was rich, yet he relied on God. He was a great warrior, yet he relied on God. He was skilled in many things, yet he relied on God.
He could have relied on his abilities, the way Sampson threw out his anointing to rely on his own strength. But David knew that without God he would not be king. Without God the giant would not have fallen. Without God Saul would have caught and killed him. Without God he would never have survived a single battle.
So many sought David’s life. So many wanted him dead and to take his kingdom. He lasted so long because of God. God chose him to be part of the birth line of Jesus.
No matter how much you have. No matter how strong, brave, smart, skilled, attractive you are, you are lost without God.

Take away:

We sometimes grow discouraged when those who hate God are heavily successful and we feel we are struggling. Yet God is the answer to every problem and He will help us.
The wicked who succeeded have their inheritance already, this world and what it gives.
But the righteous who love Jesus, we have an eternal inheritance.
Do not be discouraged, God will help you in all you do!!

Devotional · encouragement · found · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · psalms · searching · still fighting · True Joy

March 22, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 33:18 NIV
[18] But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
God cares for His people.
Read that again.
We hear and repeat those words so often that we forget the meaning. God Himself, care for you.
He watches us and keeps us safe. Even in times of trouble and terror God has us in His hands. Our hope is in the fact that God loves us and will take care of our needs. In truth, and this is hard, God does not always care for our wants. Sometimes He gives us what we want as a gift of love from a Father to a child, but we often we lose faith in Him on the times when He does not give us our wants and we forget the times when He has provided our needs.
I was reminded recently that we can build an alter to God even in the valley. That was really encouraging because I have felt like I am in the valley for a few days now. It’s a “why God?” Instead of a, “but God!” Moment. Then a friend said how she was marking down her blessings because she had seen how much she has, this was after spending two days in emergency not able to get in. But she lives like that. No eyes on the dark clouds, only on the ways to dance in the rain. God has permitted her to go through so much and yet every morning she takes special time to praise Him. I lack so much compared to her. To feel blessed in the middle of your stress may sound like a bumper sticker but it’s a good way to live. God has got you! He has a plan! You may never know why you spent this time in the valley, but God has a reason.

Take away:

Just because you are down does not mean that God has left you. Look around, you will see Him there reaching out His hand. Sometimes God speaks in the sunshine on a day that was supposed to rain. Sometimes He speaks through the laughter, in a time that should have brought pain. Sometimes He speaks in the “caught it just in time,” when you would rather it had not happened at all.
Sometimes the blessings are wrapped like a sugar coating on a pill. Something sweet to take a sting out of the bitter. But God will remind you He is there, you just have to look around.

Devotional

Psalms 32:5 NIV[5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

March 21, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 32:5 NIV
[5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
We often feel like we cannot go to Jesus with our sins. We get it into our heads that what we have done is too great and we turn from Him in shame. Yet, Jesus is not surprised by our sins and He is waiting for us to come to Him and repent. For as long as you refuse to repent the sin lives on as a torment inside your mind. It may feel like what you have said, thought, felt, or done is beyond Jesus’s forgiveness, but it’s not. The demon possessed man was set free and forgiven in a moment, do not think that whatever you have done is the worst thing Jesus has ever seen, because it isn’t.

Take away:

When looking at your sins and feeling guilt and shame, remember that Jesus took every sin upon Himself when He was on the cross. Your sin is not unique, He’s seen it before and has forgiven it before. He will forgive you too.

Devotional

[22] In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.

March 20, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

[22] In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
When we have hard times, or times of waiting, or times of silence; we feel like God has left us. In moments of despair we feel like He has given up on us and we are alone. When we are tired, or unwell, or overworked, feeling like God’s presence has departed is too often the outcome.
In these short words, David gives us the answer to these moments of feeling lost, “Keep praying.”
David says he felt cut off from God’s sight, then he says God heard his cry for help, this shows that in this time David kept praying. That is the answer. You will not always FEEL God, but that does not mean you stop talking with Him. No matter what is drawing you away, look to Jesus and keep talking with Him and worshipping Him, your breakthrough will come.

Take away:

Even when we feel far from God He is still with us. Keep spending time with Him no matter how you feel, even if His face is hard to see. Your breakthrough is coming, keep pressing in to your savior.

Devotional

Psalms 30:6 NIV[6] When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”

March 19, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 30:6 NIV
[6] When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
When we feel secure we often feel like we will never be shaken, like God has blessed us so much we are self reliant now. Then the fall happens. We hit something that scares us or hurts us and suddenly our confidence dies.
Having our confidence in ourselves wax and wane is not abnormal because it depends on our feelings, but our confidence in God? That’s another story. He never fails us. He always has a plan and purpose. This chapter continues on to say how when God hid His face the Psalmist felt dismayed.
When we seek God and are for Him His favor rests upon us, but the moment we begin to feel like we can do it all on our own we are about to stumble. God wants to care for us, but He does not want us being prideful and ignoring Him.

Take away:

God will always love us and be there for us, but we need to remember to be on His team and not walk off on our own. Keep a heart posture of humility, for God will lift up those who are low in spirit. I don’t mean walk around with a mini you cloud over your head, but remember who got you where you are and give Him the glory, not yourself.

Devotional

Psalms 29:11 NIV[11] The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

March 18, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 29:11 NIV
[11] The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Peace. It may be the most fleeting and fragile thing we seek. It’s here today and gone tomorrow depending on what happens. It can be broken and chased away by small and simple things.
Yet, God gives His people strength to endure what shakes their peace and He restores peace to them.
Things in our lives and our days may try to crush us and take our peace, but if our peace is from God then we are secure in Him.

Take away:

The peace the world offers will not last, but the peace of God is forever.

Devotional

Psalms 28:6 NIV[6] Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

March 17, 2026 carriedinthecross1 Comment

Psalms 28:6 NIV
[6] Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.

Oh how I cry for mercy these days. We feel that we have to be in really bad times to pray for mercy, but sometimes you need mercy even when things are blessed and plentiful. It seems to be in the times that are not super good and not super bad that we fall into temptation. Temptation to gossip, to fuss, to bad mouth others. I am not sure why this is but it happens, and it’s contagious. I know that I am taking this Psalm out of context, but I felt it worked as long I did not pretend this was the need David had.
No, he was calling to be saved from physical enemies. I am called to be spared from spiritual ones. Today for example was a good day. Yet my dog whom I love was and is in a fussy mood. He has literally whined for stuff off and on all day. ALL DAY! Somehow his whining made me feel whiny and I started to worry and fuss over something that is completely out of my control. I acted as though God could not fix things, but He can. Despite my failure and lack of faith, God is merciful and He is taking care of me.

Take away:

Even when we disappoint God, He is merciful and does not cast us away. Even if we fuss at Him all day He still loves us. Unlike my day with my dog, He never puts in ear plugs when He has had enough of us. He always listens and is always there.