Take this day as an opportunity to catch up on your reading, pray, and rest in the presence of the Lord.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
– Hebrews 12:28-29
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25 thoughts on "Grace Day"
Ladies, I ask for your prayers. I am in a teacher preparation program and just started student teaching. My situation is a difficult one in which I disagree with how my master teacher interacts with her students. This week has been incredibly hard and I’ve had many discouraging moments and tears… I know that God is growing me through this and I’ve been in constant prayer throughout the day and while I am teaching. I’m also doing course work (edTPA) while student teaching and it can be incredibly overwhelming at times. I can only do this through God’s strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength!
Any teachers out there with encouragement? Sometimes I wonder if this is what I am called to do.
I am not a teacher by profession but so appreciate your willingness to go into this field. Praying that you will be the light that school needs. Be confident that as you follow the Lord there and as you stay in prayer, you will make an impact. You may not see immediate results but know that God sees and will reward your efforts. Hang in there.
Jess, I posted a reply to you earlier, but for some reason it seems like it’s disappeared. I had a trying student teaching experience as well, although not for the same reason as you. My master teacher was amazing – so amazing, in fact, that I felt a lot of pressure (mostly from myself) to fill her shoes. Throw in a few bouts of strep throat and other ailments, and I was almost ready to quit. My confidence in myself and my teaching ability was so low. It is something I still struggle with four years later, even though I know so much more now than I did then. I love teaching, but I still have many days where I feel inadequate. I’ve spent many days wondering if this is the right career for me, if this is really where God wants me. But I’m starting to realize that the very reason He pointed me in this direction was probably to show me that I need to rely on Him and not myself. I struggle with self-sufficiency and God is working on that in me. He has shown me time and time again that His grace is sufficient for me, that His power is made perfect in weakness. Don’t be discouraged. God has big plans for you as a teacher and He will get you through this difficult season. I will be praying for you, Jess!
I am a teacher! I often find myself in situations where I feel I am asked to compromise my integrity, and I know how difficult that can be when you are not the lead teacher. I have to say though, since having my own class, I have been able to take control and lead things in the ways that I want to, with God at the centre, and it has been LOADS easier. Keep putting God first, and trusting that He will lead you in the future. You are learning from the best teacher! God bless you – we need so many more Christ-loving teachers out there so keep going!!
I am a teacher, and I do want to encourage you. My first couple of years were rough…. to the point of debilitating panic attacks. I was completing course work and raising my three year old boy, in an urban school with overcrowded classrooms. It was overwhelming, and to be honest, I had no idea how I would ever become, or feel like, a “real” teacher. My classroom didn’t look like that of my colleagues and neither did my teaching style. But I had to capture my students hearts in my own way, or I would have a nervous breakdown. That was 11 years ago. I’m still teaching. And it’s still a hard job. But it’s good. We need you in the profession. We need strong, loving passionate people, with wisdom to seek out prayer and advice and encouragement. We need professionals that are unwilling to compromise integrity. I believe you are doing a good thing. God is doing a good thing in you. Don’t give up. Our kids need you.
Prayers for strength and courage as you finish up this school year.
Jess, what a beautiful opportunity to be a light in that classroom. I feel like the Lord has place you here specifically to minister to these sweet students and shepherd them well – and not just in their schooling! Grateful for you.
– Stormye
Jess,
I hope this finds as I’m catching up on my readings. I’m a second year teacher and had a similar situation during student teaching but you will get through it! And take those experiences with you in your own classroom one day. Praying for you. Also, I struggled to get a job and really lost faith during that time….so please don’t lose your faith right now. God works in mysterious ways and now I’m teaching in my dream district and grade level! Good luck, remember this is what god wants you to do!
Good afternoon Ladies, well I have had very difficult days yet peace filled. Tuesday was my Dad’s birthday and I got to talk to him and the last thing we said to each other was I love you. Wednesday my Dad passed away. Please pray for strength and courage for me flying out tomorrow for the service on Monday. I’ll be by myself, because my fiance is staying home with the dog and was not able to get the time off from work. My Dad and I both have our lives to Jesus Christ around about the same time 5 years ago. So the peace filled part is I know I will see him again. The difficult part is everything else and not sure how tomorrow will be once I get to his house. Thank you all in advance for your prayers.
Very similar to the story of my dad’s passing the day after Thanksgiving 1997. What a blessing you were able to speak to him. I’m sorry for your loss but you’re right: you will meet again.
Sorry for your loss. I will be praying that you will find comfort. Safe travels.
Praying for you to continue to have peace in the days ahead, as you deal with the funeral and other necessary things.
Pam
Praying for your day today and trusting the Lord to give you His perfect peace today and in the days to come. Read the He reads Truth devotion for this one for encouragement about how God’s restoration happens a bit at a time but what the ultimate prize is: Life in, with and because of Jesus. Thanking Him today that you and your dad are His.
Praying for you in this difficult time, Gina Jo. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. Asking the Lord to grant you peace and comfort in the midst of sadness and loss. Praying for safe travels and strength.
– Stormye
Set free=liberate =free from enemy occupation
Upon waking this morning I again immediately sensed all my soul crouching around me, all the parts wanting to be heard and in the midst of all this I asked God “What will you have me to do this morning?” and immediately I heard “receive”. I thought “ummm, ok” not quite knowing how to proceed. A to-do list in my mind was perched ready to start demanding I get to work on things that needed to be done. I paused and waited for clarification and then sensed God telling me to go downstairs and watch the sunrise from the couch. I thought that made sense, perhaps that would fill me up and satisfy me and then I’d be able to receive better whatever God had for me this morning. However, since it was pouring rain and completely cloudy, I realized there would be no sun to see but, agreed to sit on the comfy couch with my warm tea and view the cloudy sky while listening to the rain dropping and waiting to “receive” from God. From this place I will tell you what then unraveled this morning…
Last night, during a big conflict that arose between my daughter and I, I told her that I am hurting due to her anger and sarcasm toward me and the rest of our family lately. In the midst of our conflict she reminded me that she wants me to not yell so much. We have both been working on these things. While looking back this morning and reflecting on last nights conversation, I was interrupted with some unrelated thoughts and realized my immediate response back to myself on my own thoughts came with sarcasm. A short while later, my son came downstairs and said something to me and I told him to go back upstairs, and heard anger in my own voice. Anger and sarcasm, the two things i was addressing my daughter on. The prior day, while in conflict with my daughter at night and my son in the morning, I ended up yelling in both situations after I could no longer keep my feelings of hurt, rejection and unloved under wraps. I was yelling, the very matter I have asked my son to work on and do less of as well, as I struggle to do the same. Now fear is telling me I’ll have more loss as a result of these recent conflicts, and anxiety is scanning the situation to figure out how were going to quickly fix all this. I’m hurting, where do I start to get out of this pain? I know the answer is with my thoughts but, how do gather myself from the puddle on the floor that I’ve melted into and move ahead?
John 8:31-32
“…then Jesus said to those Jews having been persuaded by him, “If you be present, stay and remain in my words, wait while meditating on and holding onto my words while waiting for the ah-ha moment when deep revelation comes to you, don’t flee (physically nor mentally) but stay right where you are, in any given place, state, relation and just abide while surrounded by your thoughts of my words, then truly you are learners of mine, my pupils. And you will know truth, but not merely truth as spoken but, rather truth of idea, reality, the opposite of illusion and, this truth will set you free, release you from bondage to false beliefs, incorrect mindsets and destructive behaviors, remove the restrictions of sin (darkness) where you have missed the mark and formerly experienced forfeit and loss.”
Ahhhh, there it is! Took about an hour or so but, yes there it is. My reflective thoughts and resulting feelings about what happened in the past 24 hours with my kids and, even regarding events that happened years ago, are not all reality but truth and falsehood are mixed. But, clarity with truth is coming and I will know and experience freedom. Now I will wait a bit longer for this all to sink in deep and unravel false beliefs and enable myself to unburden. My load is oh so heavy often times, I really needed to exchange my burdens for His this morning, for Jesus’s burden because he says his is light right? Admittedly, I didn’t know how to do that immediately upon waking this morning. But, by calling out to God first thing and then trusting in and relying upon what He said to do, HE has done it, has brought me to a new place. THANK GOD!
*****
March 25, 2017
Today’s devotion…
Hebrews 12:28-29
28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. 29For our God is a consuming fire.
OMG! This is amazing and so God!!! I am crying as I write this. I had not yet read today’s devotion but decided to take a look at it just now and was blown away when I read it! There it is, the word He spoke to me this morning – RECEIVE! One of God’s names for Jesus is so evidently appropriate…the WORD. You know, a word never stops being a word and, a word never stops speaking whether spoken or written, even if never uttered more than only once. Scientists have said that once a word it uttered it never disappates but, travels around the universe and back again. JESUS, the WORD, is always speaking to us. And when we pause to listen we can finally RECEIVE.
I hear you Jesus and I my focus today will be Gratitude & Worship!
Love your story this morning–thank you for sharing! I know your obedience will bless you. :)
May the Lord bless you Diana. The surest way to build back those bridges with your children is to ask forgiveness and help when you begin to get angry and sarcastic. Then be willing to accept when they call you out on it. Each time it happens go to the Word of God and ask Him to continue renewing your mind, Rom. 12:2. Start each day asking the Lord to use the Holy Spirit in you to remind you every time those thoughts of sarcasm, anger, fear come that the Holy Spirit will have control and use His Word in you. Little by little you will begin to see Him transforming your thoughts. Tell your children to be patient with you. May God richly bless you and do not let the devil discourage you when you slip or fall, just get up ask forgiveness, 1 John 1:9, and keep going. Love you sister.
Greatful I am ! Thank you God for all you have given me and everything you take away !!
Let us be grateful. Amen
God help me to receive this Truth simply, and not complicate it or It’s meanin. Thank you.
Amen
“A kingdom that cannot be shaken.” Yes, please.
“Hold on to grace.” Yes, help me, Lord.
“Serve God acceptably.” Yes, I need help with this too.
“Reverence and awe.” Yes, all to You alone.
“Our God.”. Yes, You Lord. Ours.
“A consuming fire.”. Yes. Burn all my dross. Let me be red hot for You.
Amen.