Join us each week for a new devotional for motivated and inspired leaders. Ines offers you a moment of pause on your Monday mornings, to seek God, His Grace, and His purpose for you. Start the week centered around the love of Jesus. We hope you find kinsh
Sometimes on our journey of faith, we're going to feel weak, discouraged, and confused. How do we get ourselves from that state to a place of strength and courage? It's actually easier than you could ever imagine. In Deuteronomy 31, we see a command that God seems to repeat multiple times in the Old Testament: "Be strong and courageous." Watch this week's devotional to learn more about how we can be strong and courageous, just like God reminded the Israelites to be. Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:6-7 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riseandrest/message
Do you ever feel like you're lacking control? Maybe your life is filled with ups and downs? That is just like the story of Joseph. Joseph continued to face obstacles and favor and then obstacles and favor. But through it all, he continued to lean on God and trust in God's faithfulness. Our lives will not always work out the way we want them to be. Our journey of faith is uncharted. But our God is faithful and will be with us every step along the way. Trochia Ministries is a crowd-funded non-profit dedicated to Christian discipleship. You can take part in helping create more videos like this and other resources of any amount at Trochia.org/give Want to learn more about our Psalm 119 course? Join us now! trochia.org/psalm119 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riseandrest/message
Do you ever feel that you're not seen? Do you struggle with feeling like no one hears you? Those feelings can be incredibly discouraging. But today, I want to remind us that even when we feel mistreated or ignored by those in the world, we have a Father in heaven who is always with us. Although sometimes our world is loud and busy, we have a God who is seeing us, hearing us, and with us, no matter the situation. Scripture: Genesis 16:7-13 Trochia Ministries is a crowd-funded non-profit dedicated to Christian discipleship. You can take part in helping create more videos like this and other resources of any amount at Trochia.org/give Want to learn more about our Psalm 119 course? Join us now! trochia.org/psalm119 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riseandrest/message
How strong is your faith in Jesus? Is it strong enough to endure when things don't make any sense, when there's deep suffering in your life, when God's doing something you don't understand, and you're calling out to God and not hearing any answers? Does your faith have the strength and the resilience to overcome? I want a resilient faith. I assume you do as well. Today, I want to remind us both how we can be sure to have that kind of faith, especially when things especially challenging. Scripture: Genesis 22:11-14 Trochia Ministries is a crowd-funded non-profit dedicated to Christian discipleship. You can take part in helping create more videos like this and other resources of any amount at Trochia.org/give Want to learn more about our Psalm 119 course? Join us now! trochia.org/psalm119 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
It's natural to feel uncertain and vulnerable at times. We can't control everything that happens in our lives, as much as we'd like to. However, it's important to remember that we are not alone and that we can find peace and joy in trusting in a good and sovereign God who loves us deeply. Today, I hope that this devotional can bring you more peace as we look at Scripture and are reminded that the Father is the one who is in control, but he is not controlling. Scripture: Genesis 3:9 Trochia Ministries is a crowd-funded non-profit dedicated to Christian discipleship. You can take part in helping create more videos like this and other resources of any amount at Trochia.org/give. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Worship (v.) – showing reverence and adoration to God. How do you prefer to worship God? Do you prefer to do it in a corporate setting, with a full band? Do you prefer to do it in the privacy of your home? Do you tend to worship God while you're driving or hiking or in the midst of the mundane? What does worship look like for you? Each week, we've been talking about servant leadership through the Christmas story. Today, we close out this series by learning about the shepherds and how they taught us to be servant leaders through worship. I hope you enjoy this week's devotional. If you haven't already. Click subscribe and the bell so you don't miss this series! Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
When we get close to Christmas time, we often think about gifts. Take a moment and think of the best gifts you've ever received. Were any of them acts of service? In reality, acts of service as a gift can be some of the most treasured things we get during Christmas, because it's more than opening a present and using it. It's someone's time and energy to make that gift a reality. This week, we're talking about servant leadership through the lens of the wise men. They showed us how a seemingly small gift could have a major impact down the road. I hope you enjoy this week's devotional. If you haven't already. Click subscribe and the bell so you don't miss this series! Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
When you think of the word vulnerable, you might have a picture of weakness or fear. But becoming vulnerable is an important part of servant leadership. In order for us to lead, we must first serve, and in this week's devotional, we learn about how to be vulnerable in our servant leadership from Joseph. Joseph is not often talked about when we look at the Christmas story, but he was the picture of leadership. He was showing that despite the honor/shame society that they lived in, he would listen to God first. Check out this week's devotional where we learn about servant leadership from Jesus' earthly father: Joseph. Bible passage: Matthew 1:18-25 - Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Do you think leadership and being a servant can co-exist? The world would likely tell you no. You are either leading or serving. But the bible is filled with characters who both led AND served and taught us how to do the same. I am so excited because for the month of December, we are celebrating and studying the people from the Christmas story. Each and every one of them taught us about servant leadership. This week, we're reflecting on Mary, the mother of Jesus. I hope you enjoy this week's devotional. If you haven't already. Follow us so you don't miss this series! Sign up for our FREE 7 Day Character Led Leader Course at www.trochia.org/character-led-leader Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Why is sharing the load of leadership so difficult? No matter if it is the leadership role we have at work, in our families, or a calling that God has put on our heart, delegating our burdens can be a challenge for us all. In the book of Exodus, Moses faced the same challenge as he led the people of Israel. Check out this week's devotional all about it. Bible Scripture: Exodus 18:13-18 Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Why is sharing the load of leadership so difficult? No matter if it is the leadership role we have at work, in our families, or a calling that God has put on our heart, delegating our burdens can be a challenge for us all. In the book of Exodus, Moses faced the same challenge as he led the people of Israel. Check out this week's devotional all about it. Bible Scripture: Exodus 18:13-18 Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Have you ever had a season of discouragement? A time when nothing seemed to go your way, when you felt attacked or mistreated or when a difficult struggle seemed to shade everything in your life for the worse? Listen to this week's devotional to learn more about encouragement through the story of Nehemiah! Scripture: Nehemiah 4:11-14 Your generous support allows us to make biblical resources and reach thousands of people with the encouragement of God's Word. Visit www.trochia.org/give --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Being faithful to God is easier said than done. All around us, there are many other “gods”—e.g., money, human praise, fleshly pleasures, and the need for control—demanding our attention and allegiance. It is no wonder that we all lose sight of living for and trusting in God at times. Check out this week's devotional about growing in faithfulness through the story of the story of Joshua (Joshua 24:15) Join our FREE 7 Day Character Led Leadership Course - Start Today! at http://www.trochia.org/characater-led-leader --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Accountability can be uncomfortable. It often requires change, which is difficult for us all. Pursuing humility and justice can be especially challenging when it requires us to change for the sake of an injustice someone else is experiencing. The Bible is clear throughout Scripture that we should depend on our community and Jesus to reveal the most justified decisions. For that, we must be willing to be humble and held accountable. Listen this week's devotional to learn more about just as an important character trait to develop as an everyday leader. If you haven't yet, sign up for my FREE course on Character Led Leadership at https://trochia.org/character-led-leader/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Should we be learning to lead with Daniel's Wisdom? - How do you respond when under great pressure in your leadership? What about when the pressure is coming from someone with authority over you? If you are like me, sometimes you find it difficult to respect those in authority while simultaneously clinging to your convictions. In the book of Daniel, four young Hebrew men were in just such a situation. The people of Judah had been exiled to Babylon, and these four young men were forced into servitude for King Nebuchadnezzar. While they were being trained for this position, they were stripped of their names, language, and culture. We've launched our FREE Character Led Leadership 101 Course! Get Access NOW to this course at http://www.trochia.org/character-led-leader Never miss an devotional from Ines. Subscribe to receive these devotionals in your email at http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Let's explore Leadership Resilience through Esther. As leaders, we are faced with challenging situations regularly, whether it's a difficult decision, having to work through conflict with a friend, family member, or colleague, or having to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Part of being a good leader is learning to embrace godly resilience. Resilience is one's ability to overcome or recover from difficulty, pain, fear, or challenge... We've launched our FREE Character Led Leadership 101 Course! Get Access NOW to this course at http://www.trochia.org/character-led-.... Never miss an devotional from Ines. Subscribe to receive these devotionals in your email at http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Why Do we Need Vulnerable Leaders? - Vulnerability is an essential part of the character of all great leaders. To be vulnerable is to lower our protective barriers for the sake of being seen, known, and loved, and to create space for others to do the same. In our society, leaders who demonstrate strength are highly valued. Our world tells us that leaders should have all the answers, never reach their limitations, and demonstrate strength in all situations—even if they have to fake it. Doesn't this sound problematic? Get Access to our Free Character Led Leadership 101 Course now! - http://www.trochia.org/character-led-leader Never miss a weekly devotional - Get yours at http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
It is no coincidence that even in secular leadership books and seminars, Jesus Christ is mentioned as one of the most powerful examples of effective leadership. Most historians, whether or not they are believers, still affirm that he was a great leader, with a great following, who did great things—despite his unconventional upbringing, poverty, and unimpressive status as a Jewish carpenter. So how does Jesus continue to be associated with high-level leadership today? __ Get Access to our new FREE Character Led Leadership 101 Course http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In the face of evil, who (or what) do we turn to for help? Who do we trust to stand between us and danger as our protector, strength, and champion? Though most of us will understand God to be the best answer, we still will find our trust elsewhere when evil comes our way. Check out this week's devotional on Psalm 119:153-160, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. I post a new devotional every week! http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In the face of evil, who (or what) do we turn to for help? Who do we trust to stand between us and danger as our protector, strength, and champion? Though most of us will understand God to be the best answer, we still will find our trust elsewhere when evil comes our way. Check out this week's devotional on Psalm 119:153-160, and subscribe so you never miss a video. I post a new devotional every week! http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
When we look at the pain and difficulty around our world, it can be hard to have hope that things are going to be made right. At times, it seems that humanity has forgotten what it means to live righteously. And when things look bleak, where are we to turn for mercy, justice, and goodness? In this section of Psalm 119, we are encouraged to look only to the righteousness of God. Listen to this week's devotional to learn more about Psalm 119:137-144, and hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode! http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Have you ever watched baby birds being fed by their mother? Their heads tilt back, their mouths open wide, and they call out for food. Baby birds are completely reliant on their mother to survive. This is like our soul's dependence on God and his instruction. In this section of Psalm 119, each line begins with the Hebrew letter pe, meaning mouth and representing the power of speech. The psalmist uses this section to highlight the power of the mouth of God, admonishing God's decrees, words, commands, promises, precepts, statutes, and instruction—all of which come from the mouth of God. The psalmist even uses a word picture to communicate how his soul hungers and thirsts for God's instruction. He writes, “I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commands.” Watch this week's devotional to learn more about pe and Psalm 119:129-136. We only have 5 more videos going through Psalm 119. Make sure you click the Subscribe button, so you never miss a video! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Have you ever done everything right in a situation, and it still doesn't seem to be working out in your favor? Have you ever felt so desperate that you called out for God's help, praying: God, it is now or never! This is exactly where we find the psalmist in this section of Psalm 119. Watch today's video to learn more about Psalm 119:121-128 and fixing your eyes on Jesus. http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In this section of Psalm 119, the letter samek (pronounced samekh) means to support, and all throughout this section, the psalmist demonstrates that he looks to God to support him fully. Check out this week's whole devotional. If you haven't yet, click the FOLLOW button so you never miss a video! http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Have you ever faced a leadership challenge that felt beyond you? How did you respond to the situation and those you were leading? As we continue through Psalm 119, the psalmist offers us a hint as to how to lead through difficulty effectively. Where the world tells us to lean on our wisdom, strength, or cleverness, this section of the psalm suggests a very different approach. If you haven't yet followed, make sure to click the FOLLOW button. http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Has there ever been a passage of Scripture that refreshed your thirsty spirit? A passage that God used to speak to a specific situation or breathe life into you just where you needed him to? If you're like me, this has happened to you countless times. Although, I must admit these moments do not come to me as often as I want. So how can we set ourselves up to drink from the well of Scripture consistently? The psalmist may have some clues for us... www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In this section of Psalm 119, the Hebrew letter highlighted is lamed which means to learn and to teach, and all throughout this section we see the psalmist looking to God as his limitless teacher. Make sure to click subscribe and hit the bell, so you never miss a video. New devotionals happen every Monday morning. Start your day (and week) right, by starting your day in the Bible. www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
“Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success.” - William Wilberforce What does godly perseverance look like? When we are at the end of our rope, at our wits end, drained of all strength, down for the count, what does it look like to press on with God rather than with our own strength? Check out this week's devotional on Psalm 119 as we discuss what godly perseverance looks like. www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe Watch now on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GFkP6s-iAug --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
You may have never thought of yourself as being slandered, but we've all had times when someone said something untrue about us. Sometimes it will come in the form of a blatant lie, but most of the time, it is far more subtle. Maybe a friend misrepresented a particular situation, or a coworker or boss made an unfair claim about you at work. Perhaps you were made to feel crazy when you pointed out a specific area of dysfunction within your family. And we have heard the whispers of the Enemy lying to us and leaving us with unconscious beliefs about our identity. Unfortunately, we all have experienced this sort of slander in our lives. And whether big or small, being lied about hurts. As we continue through Psalm 119, we find that the psalmist is going through a similar situation. Watch the whole devotional to learn more about how the psalmist recommended we handle slander throughout this week's study. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
If I shouted, “God is good…” you might be tempted to return, “...all the time!” But do we really believe that? In the midst of our suffering and pain, do we have the foresight to see God's goodness? The psalmist uses the picture from the Hebrew letter teth to discuss the good hidden in his own affliction. He writes, “Before I was afflicted I went astray…” and “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes.” (Verse 67, 71) The word afflicted (in Hebrew, `anah) also carries with it the meaning of being oppressed, humbled, or bowed low. Recognizing that it has actually led him back to God's instruction, the psalmist declares his affliction or humbling to ultimately be a good (towb) thing. As we consider Psalm 119 and the affliction of our own lives, what might it look like to ask God for this sort of perspective? To ask that we be shown the hidden goodness that God may bring from the difficulty and humbling in our own lives. In it we may just discover a God whose words are “more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.” (Psalm 119:72) ___________________________ Make sure to watch the whole devotional and click the subscribe button so you never miss a video! New devotionals go live each Monday morning. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In both life and faith, it is easy to get swept up in the distractions and stresses of our fast-paced culture. Rather than turning our eyes up to examine our path, we often focus on simply making it to our next step. But Psalm 119 reminds us of the importance of pausing to consider the path we are on. __________ Start your day right, and spend five minutes connecting to God through his Scripture. Make sure to hit the Subscribe button, so you never miss a video. These devotionals are available every Monday morning. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
PSALM 119 shows us why Godly leaders hold to their convictions. And, leading with confidence can be tricky. Feeling under-qualified or ill-equipped are common insecurities we as leaders face, tempting us to either freeze (fearing we will lead others poorly) or fake it (trying to appear strong or wise in the eyes of others). Both responses search for confidence in our own strength and what others think of us. The seventh section of Psalm 119 offers us a different perspective. I hope you enjoy this week's devotional! If you haven't yet, click subscribe so you never miss a video! Website: Inesfranklin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesfranklin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InesSFranklin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Sharing the truth of Jesus with boldness can be intimidating on its own, but to share it with boldness and kindness takes true reliance on God. Each line in the sixth section of Psalm 119 begins with the Hebrew letter vav. The letter vav is considered the letter of truth, and this section of the psalm can teach us a lot about sharing the truth even in the face of opposition. The psalmist begins by praying, “Let your faithful love [literally goodness or kindness] come to me…Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.” (verses 41-42) In the face of taunters—presumably those who stand against the ways of God—the psalmist turns to God in two key ways: God's love and word. Drawing from these sources, he has resolved to speak truth with boldness and kindness no matter what comes his way, trusting God as his protector. From this springs many promises, among them to “speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed.” (verse 46) As we continue to walk through the wisdom of Psalm 119, I pray that we may share the truth God's reveals with boldness and kindness, “and not be ashamed.” (verse 46) If you haven't yet, click subscribe so you never miss a video! Website: Inesfranklin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesfranklin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InesSFranklin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
The psalmist wants to convey that, as students of God, the seeds of learning take time and intentionality to take root in our hearts. It is not enough to simply know them in our minds but allow God to tend to the soil of our hearts so it is fertile for the truth to be received. This may look like turning up old soil of the past for God's healing. It may mean allowing him to remove deep lies and misbeliefs as though rocks and weeds. This process can, at times, be painful, but only then will our learning lead to lasting action. So as we position ourselves as students at the feet of Rabbi Jesus, what might it look like to invite him to garden our inner life, removing what is unnecessary and harmful in order to plant truth that bears fruit to bless our lives and the lives of others? _______________________________________________________ If you haven't yet, click subscribe so you never miss a video! Website: https://www.Inesfranklin.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesfranklin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InesSFranklin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
In the fourth section of Psalm 119, the Hebrew letter daleth is used at the beginning of each line. Daleth (pronounced dalet) not only means door, but also calls to mind an impoverished person knocking on doors in desperate need. Using this image, the psalmist calls out to God in his own need. He is honest about the difficulty of his suffering, while simultaneously asking for the strength to trust God and His instruction. He prays, “My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word,” (verse 25) and then, “I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.” (Verse 28) It is important for us to remember that the Book of Psalms are meant to serve as the prayer book to Israel. They were written not to simply record a psalmist's divinely inspired prayer, but to teach God's people how to pray. Notice that here the psalmist doesn't hold back how he feels despite knowing that God will eventually “broaden [his] understanding” of the situation he is going through. (See verse 32) Through this part of the psalm we learn that our suffering matters to God, even if God knows how he will work out the situation for our good in the end. Website: https://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesfranklin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InesSFranklin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
The third section of Psalm 119, is themed after the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, gimmel. Gimmel carries many meanings, among them nourishment. It is no wonder then that the psalmist seeks to point readers towards the only true source of spiritual nourishment. As with the rest of Psalm 119, the overarching theme in this section is the goodness of God's intended way of life laid out for us. Over and over again we see the psalmist admonish God's way, saying: …I will keep your word. (Verse 17) …that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction. (Verse 18) … do not hide your commands from me. (Verse 19) ...I am continually overcome with longing for your judgments. (Verse 20) …your decrees are my delight and my counselors. (Verse 24) The psalmist clearly sees God's way as the one worth investing in and building upon. I believe this is because the psalmist has a proper sense of awe in regards to God and the instruction He offers us through His written word and through His Spirit. To be in awe is to be in wonder to the point of dread-filled adoration. Our sense of awe is a good thing. It is meant to help us revere what is most admirable (mainly God) and identify what is not. In a sense, it steers where we look for spiritual nourishment (gimmel). _______________ I hope you enjoyed this week's devotional! Click subscribe, if you haven't already, so you never miss a video. Subscribe at www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe Learn more: www.inesfranklin.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Homes are sanctuaries—safe spaces where we can let our guard down and simply be ourselves. And when we let someone in, we take a risk. We say, “I trust you… at least enough to let you into the room that I have cleaned and prepared for company.” But how vulnerable is it to allow someone into the deeper and less tidy parts of our homes? How much trust must we have to let someone see our mess? I often find that I trust Jesus with the tidier parts of myself, while closing up my mess in the hidden rooms of my heart—hiding it from both Him and myself. But Jesus doesn't say that He will come in and judge us for our mess, or come in and shame us for our sin. We do not need to clean ourselves up before Jesus enters. He only asks that we open the door. I hope you enjoy this week's devotional. Click the subscribe button so you never miss a video! Learn more at http://www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Jesus provides us the perfect example of this unshakable happiness. Even though his life on Earth was filled with difficulty, sadness, and rejection, he found the blessedness that only comes with trusting and following the way that his Father laid out for him. Therefore, Jesus invites us to take up our cross and follow him! (See Matthew 16:24) He is inviting us to follow him to a life of blessedness and happiness beyond anything this world could ever offer us. As we continue to walk through Psalm 119 together over the weeks to come, my prayer for us is to be committed—as the psalmist cries in verse 5—to seeking out the true happiness that can only come from us trusting the Lord's instruction for our lives. Make sure to hit that subscribe button, so you never miss a Podcast!. Subscribe at www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe Learn more: www.inesfranklin.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Today, I want to remind you: You've been rescued! Years ago, my sister “Cuqui” (her real name is Lizette) rescued my siblings and me. A group of tough boys determined to break into our apartment via our fire escape window and beat us up. We were terrified! We lived in the South Bronx, and this gang harassed us daily. That afternoon, my mother and two brothers were at work, so our 19-year-old sister was left to fight for us little ones. She sat at the windowsill, looking down and yelling at the angry mob climbing up the ladder. She did her best to discourage them from approaching our window. She threw down books, boots, and anything heavy we could find in our tiny apartment and eventually poured hot water over the gangsters. One of them got angrier and made it to the top of the stairs, but my sister's adrenaline-pumped fear and the buckle side of a belt on her hand sent him back down the ladder whimpering. From that day, my sister became my hero. She risked her life for ours! My sister rescued me from a momentary situation, but Jesus rescued me (and you) from an eternal one. In today's reading, King David's perspective of the Lord's power to deliver inspires him to declare the hope of the Lord's vindication. He proclaims the Divine Warrior's victory. God will triumphantly subdue the enemies. They had planned to destroy the righteous, but the Lord will bring them down to the lowest parts of the earth. GOD'S JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL! Therefore, though evil seems to be winning the day, David is confident enough to express JOY! The king will rejoice in God. He will be happy, praise and even boast in the Lord. The deception of the enemy will once and for all be silenced! Think of a time when you were rescued by another person and name a few attributes of that person. Did you think of courage, selflessness, strength, or boldness? Totally! Jesus gave it all for us. He conquered our greatest enemy, death. Are you frustrated? Do you feel weak? Are you discouraged? Does it seem like the “enemy” is winning? Remember. You've been rescued by the almighty God, King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator of the universe. Nothing can snatch you from his hands. Even if you are in the middle of a fire, you feel weak or in trial or pain…God's faithful love is worth more than gold. It is better than life. Don't measure God by your circumstances. Measure your circumstances by your Almighty God. In this time of trouble, stand in your confidence that the LORD is victorious. He will put the enemy to shame, and before the Lord, every knee will bow before the LORD, and every tongue will acknowledge GOD. Subscribe at www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe Learn more: www.inesfranklin.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Even if you are going through a hard time, God is present with you. King David had a lot of responsibility and experienced many difficult struggles. In Psalm 63, he models how he brought peace to his heart. He focused his mind on God during the "watches of the night." He was aware of the dangers around him and remembered how God had helped him in the past. David uses a military metaphor to explain his posture toward threats and his dependence on God. In David's time, the twelve-hour "night watch" was divided into four-hour blocks. This allowed for much-needed rest for most of the soldiers while a few kept an eye out for threats. David remembers the LORD's past acts and draws comfort during the "night" when the shadows of adversity haunt him. David's alertness and dependence on God not only benefited him personally but also the entire nation of Israel. As king, David was responsible for the safety and well-being of his people, and he took that responsibility seriously. He was always on the lookout for potential threats, and he trusted in God to protect him and his people from their enemies. And instead of only singing after God helps him, David sings while he waits for the Lord's help. He sings with anticipation. God has helped him in the past, and he will help David again. God has helped you in the past, and he will help you again. Remember God's kindness toward you in the past. Remember what he has already done for you. Remember his mighty acts, the many ways he has shown up in your life. The enemy wants you to forget all of that. He wants you to question God's goodness, especially when you feel weak. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE. Once good to you, God is always good to you. You can rest in the "shadow of his wings." The Lord has promised to be close to his own, but he also expects his children to draw close to him, to seek his help and support. No matter the size and force of your "storm," no matter the challenge, lift your hands in faith and dependence on God. His love will rescue you. Cling to God as he upholds you with his strong right hand. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
If you haven't yet, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, so you never miss a video! What do you do, and where do you go for renewal from the loneliness of leadership? Leaders struggle with a sense of isolation from time to time. For example, when we're charging toward a big goal, a new venture, or a challenging season, our team hesitates. We will feel lonely as we take responsibility for others when the buck stops with us. Isolation is heavy when others criticize, attack, or let us down, but also when we disappoint our team. Every leader faces loneliness at times, whether we admit it or not. King David models for us the way to renewal from loneliness. King David suffered difficult leadership moments. He was often forced to run for his life and hide in a harsh desert. He knew how to survive in the desert physically, but he wanted more. He wanted to thrive emotionally and spiritually, always. He did not want a life without God. In Psalm 63, David cries out to God while hiding in a desert cave. In prayer, David intentionally shifts his focus from an earthly perspective to a vision of the throne of God. We can, too (see Colossians 3:1-3). The God David and we worship is the great KING who promises to dwell among his people. Renewed by the truth, even if David were to endure adversity throughout the rest of his life, he commits himself to praise. Lifting his hands in that time of loneliness meant committing in the same fashion we do when we are in court and swear to tell the truth. When we feel the loneliness of leadership, we can count on God to renew us. God is greater than our circumstances. God is greater than our problems. He is our healer. He is higher than any other. He is excellent in power. May we, like David proclaim, “My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
Does your faith feel burned out? Let's be honest, we all thirst physically and spiritually. Our bodies struggle to survive after just a few days without water, even quicker under certain conditions. A lack of an adequate amount of liquids will make us physically uncomfortable, with growing intensity, until satisfied. This is an inescapable fact of life. In the same way that our bodies are designed to thirst for water, our spirit thirsts for that which only God provides: the purest quality of love (present, permanent, and eternal). We can try to quench our spiritual thirst with the “stuff” of this world, but only the Divine can truly satisfy. This is so important for all of us to remember. When we lead others, we cannot lead from an empty vessel. Through prayer, we can admit and express of our needs to our loving Creator. King David wrote one of my favorite prayers, Psalm 63, in which he reveals his “thirst” and “longing” for God. Verse 1 says, "God, you are my God, I eagerly seek you; I thirst for you, my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate and without water." At a time when David was running for his life in a literal hash desert, he expresses this deep desire for the “water” only God can give. Jesus offered this thirst-quenching “living water” to the woman at the well in John 4:10, and He offers it to us daily as well. Today, I want to pray for us that if we are leaning on counterfeit nourishments for our soul satisfaction, that God would help us put them down. May we follow the example of the life of Jesus. Prayer gave him endurance, protection, guidance and so much more. He prayed regularly and at times all night (Luke 6:12). And when we don't know what to pray, may we remember that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to intercede for us (Romans 8:26-27). Through honest prayer we remain connected to the Source of our nourishment and lead out of an abundant and generous heart in love. Ask God to increase your thirst for Him and then fill it. If you haven't yet, please consider subscribing to my email list, so you never miss a devotional!...Click to watch this devotional >>> Read more at www.inesfranklin.com/riseandrest > Are you bogged down and looking for breakthrough? - I would love to offer you guidance and support on your leadership journey. Subscribe to our Email List begin - www.inesfranklin.com/subscribe --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/riseandrest/message
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