Take Heart!
7 Scripture Devotionals To Dwell On
By now, you’re probably past the point of coronavirus news fatigue. We’ve all heard the phrase, “You are what you eat,” so why not fill up on good things? Even Jesus alludes to Scripture as our daily, true bread. The Spire staff has prepared 7 devotionals below to encourage and motivate you, and to give your hungry mind something to meditate on.
John 16:32-33
NIV
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
If that doesn’t sound like today, I don’t know what does:) Let’s remember today that God is THE overcomer and that He has also give us the power to overcome and have peace. I’ve been sharing lately with a lot of creatives that I have always believed that God made us creatives for Kingdom reasons and it’s not just for the times that are smooth sailing – but even more so the times that require us to be the change agents He made us that we can help lead people into creative solutions and even to Christ through our skills and talents! So, let’s not retreat but instead reclaim and remember His truth for our creative lives!
~ Nate Lu: Executive Director, Founder
Romans 8:26-28
The Message
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
I was recently reading Romans 8 this past week and (per usual) I am always blown away by the relevancy and power of God’s word. It is true that there is nothing new under the sun and God is not surprised by anything that happens (yes, even COVID-19!) He is all-knowing AND our ever-present comfort! When our worries seem larger than any words we could muster up, remember that God’s spirit is already praying for us on our behalf. Our tired sighs and overwhelmed groans are not only prayers to God, but we can take comfort in knowing every detail is being worked into something good and into His Glory. I want to encourage us all to take a moment of silence today – even if it is for 1 minute – and RECEIVE the comfort of this truth! Give yourself a moment not to strive, but to rest in His presence! May it encourage you, bring you peace, and free you to do your best creative work today!
~ Nicole Armstrong: Director of Soul Care, Founder
2 Timothy 1:7
ESV
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Resilience is defined as “the capability to spring back and recover from difficulty”. During uncertain times, I’m reminded of the resilience of the human spirit. Remembering that humanity has survived thousands of years through many hardships and catastrophes. That when times are scary, we can turn TO each other, rather than ON each other. I’ve experienced plenty of examples of this resilience this week: A young woman buying groceries for an elderly couple in the parking lot too afraid to go in. Deliverymen and women across the country working overtime to provide for not only their loved ones, but for the countless of households across the world. Companies offering help to students, families, and the homeless who have nowhere to turn. Nurses and doctors putting themselves in the line of danger to make sure that the lives in their hands will go home and live another day.
I urge us all turn to God in the midst of the unclear. To find that God-given power within ourselves to be brave in times of trouble. To give love to our neighbors that ever so need it. And to find self discipline to be Christlike and shine a light in the darkness. The great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” Our inheritance is to be those stars to shine God’s light in the darkest of nights. Times will not be like this forever. Humanity will bounce back. We can be the ones to make sure it happens.
~ Chris Thomas: Director of Development, Founder
James 1:1-8
ESV
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
What an opportunity we have, Christians! In a time of trials of health, inconvenience, financial struggle, uncertainty, fear, and anxiety we have reason to “count it all joy.” God promises us that through these times our seeking Him, our faith in Him, produces steadfastness. Our growth and our relationship in God will grow and that’s something to be excited about!
Here is my charge to you:
1) Be joyful in this time. God has you right here, right now, in your home, or practicing social distancing somewhere, for a purpose. Enjoy the ride.
2) Pray for wisdom. Boldly and faithfully ask God for wisdom during this time. There is a lot of uncharted territory, whether that be for you personally, your family, or in your work. Don’t rely on your own strength, you’ll be disappointed. Just like James wrote to the 12 separated tribes: On this day, in this time, when there is much separation from one another… count it all joy!
Be encouraged. Stay faithful.
~ Ethan Bailey: Church Coordinator, Founder
Psalms 9:9-11
ESV
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!”
It’s easy to feel anxious, nervous, and maybe even a little scared when something is beyond our control. But when we are in distress and our trust is in the Lord, then He is our refuge, our safe place - a place we can go and not worry about what else is going on. He can remove that fear, the worry, the tears. No matter what our need is, he told us “...I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). As we read from Ethan, even in the middle of a trial, we can count it all joy because we know that God is working behind the scenes. Often, it’s the trials we view as tragedies that God really triumphs in our lives! What if we change our perspective from viewing these trials as tragedies to opportunities for God to do His work in a way that’s greater than we could ever imagine!
Proverbs 18:10 teaches us that “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Fortified towers are set in place not just to protect what they contain, but to keep out what doesn't need to come in. He wants us to stay in a close relationship with Him, but the moment we stop trusting or fall into sin, we choose to walk out of his protection. The amazing thing about grace though — the door will remain open for your return. The Father will even call out your name pleading for you to return to His protection. Just like Peter when he denied Christ, the door was open; or the prodigal son who returned to his father, the door was open. The door is open for you too.If you feel surrounded by worry, anxiety, or fear, just run to the Father, our strong tower. Just take all your burdens to Jesus, give them to Him, and you will find perfect peace.
~ Levi Jones: Spire Designer
Romans 12:12
NIV
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
This morning I wanted to share a quick word with you on having patience and what it means for us in today’s climate. As creativity in this field is often tied to deadlines, we operate in a culture of impatience – we want solutions, and we want them now. Overnight deliveries and faster technologies have only added to this culture of instant gratification. So it should come as no surprise that in a world taken over by the uncertainty of what tomorrow brings, we can find ourselves struggling with not seeing the answers right away.
Remember, you shouldn’t start painting ’til the gesso dries. If you pick a font before having a concept, the design won’t match. And if you snap a shot before the lighting is set, the result might be ruined. Patience is part of our craft, a fruit of the Spirit and we should desire that it become a core of how we operate in the new normal with our eyes on the hope of what is to come. So let’s take the time to breath. To experience the fullness of the time that God has given us right now. And to patiently listen for His words and promises in this new season of waiting.
~ Nate Lu: Executive Director, Founder
Romans 13:11-14
The Message
"But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!”
This passage has some pretty clear "do’s" and "dont’s" that could really shape our perspective during this time.
Don’t… Keep pressing the snooze button until the last second possible.
Don’t… Waste your time grabbing everything in sight (including toilet paper!)
Don’t… Get lost in your obligations up until the very last moments of the day.
Do… Get out of bed and be up and about! (And put those jeans on).
Do… Clothe yourselves in the righteousness and fruit of Christ!
Do… Be AWAKE to what God is doing during this time!These statements are all in an effort to open our eyes to see what God is doing AMIDST our circumstances! To give us a framework to be more fully aware of His presence. I pray today that we would be awake to God’s movement among us and in our week! God is moving and He is so good.
~ Nicole Armstrong: Director of Soul Care, Founder
Want More Inspiration?
You can find Scripture devotionals like these every few days in Spire’s Slack community. Spire Together offers community, free portfolio critiques, prayer, job postings, and more.
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