In October of my first semester in college, I repented and gave my life to Christ. As a young believer I wanted to know everything I could about Jesus. I remember being in my dorm room, joyful tears streaming down my face as I learned how to study my Bible for the first time. The deep satisfaction of knowing my faith was real kept my fervor for the Lord strong. During Christmas break, my boyfriend from high school proposed. Though we were young, my family liked him and saw him as a good option for marriage. Though many transitions were happening fast, I was joyful for the season.
Shortly after giving my life to Christ, I had joined a women’s discipleship group. We shared our joys and struggles and helped one another walk in truth. One afternoon, I met with my group leader, and she challenged me to lay my relationship with my fiance before the Lord.
I had prayed many times before about my engagement. Though we both professed faith in Christ, my fervor and excitement for the Lord was starting to become a point of tension. After much prayer, I made that very difficult decision to call off the engagement and ultimately end our relationship. He was quite angry and hurt. My family thought I was taking my relationship with God too seriously. It was truly a difficult season of feeling misunderstood, seen as bizarre and over the top. But that one decision greatly changed the trajectory of my life from that moment on.
In our reading today, we met a woman who makes quite a scene showing her great faith in Christ. In this account, we don’t have a description of who she is or how long she has been following Jesus. We don’t even get her name in this version of the story. Her anointing of Jesus was bold, beautiful, very costly, and she was ridiculed for it. But whatever fears or apprehension she may have had prior to this moment did not keep her from publicly worshiping the Messiah. Her actions tell us she understood who Jesus was and acted upon this knowledge regardless of the cost, financially or socially.
Following Christ will inevitably put us in some awkward situations. Many will question the decisions we make. Many will lack understanding, believing we are wasting our time, money, and resources on the things of God. Many will wonder why we chose to live in certain neighborhoods or question the company we keep. But we can take heart in knowing that when we walk by faith, we can rest assured our heavenly Father sees our good deeds and we will not be scoffed at by the Most High. May we find His presence an embrace worthy of such devotion.
I changed up my routine as I am training for a long hike. I have missed my mornings with SRT. So nice to start my morning with y’all again!
Jakell, thank you for your devotional and the reminder of what I need to lay down at Christ’s feet instead of holding onto things.
Michelle P- I too have struggled with dreams like this, where I wake up yelling Jesus’s name. It can be so distrubing, but what I love is this- I call out his name and the dreams instantly cease. When I get them, I try to increase my prayer/study time and seek God to see if there is anything in my life that may be allowing these dreams to happen. Praying for you that the nightmare cease, you have restful sleep and peaceful dreams.
Laura- I will pray for your daughter that her heart turns back to God. Prayers for you as well as you deal with the separation. I don’t have children; I can’t imagine how hard this is for you and I am sorry it is happening.
I have a prayer request: I gave my notice last week and God has been blessing me ever since! I have a meeting with a potiential client/ partner for the next two days and then another meeting on Friday. Praying that these meetings produce relationships that give me a steady stream of clients. For the first time in my life, I have NO idea what the future holds. But I am letting go and trusting God with it.
Glad to “see” you back, Taylor! Praying for you
Thanks Arina – such a beautiful contrast! Praising God the reality is both are important! Lord help me to focus on Your needs- not my own!
❤️
“You are worthy of it all, You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things, and to you are so things. You deserve the glory. ” This worship song came to mind after this reading. Let’s pour it ALL out to Him without fear in faith.
So many wonderful reflections here this morning! I have a ridiculously sensitive sense of smell and so often have memories triggered by a passing scent. Can you even imagine the overwhelming fragrance in the room as the pure nard was poured out? It would likely have clung to everyone present. When they left, they would have taken the scent with them. Were their memories of that day triggered by fragrance forever after? 2 Cor 2:15-16 says “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” Do I leave the fragrance of life, of Christ, in my wake?
Lord, I thank you for today. Todays reading was exactly what my heart needed. You always know what is best for me. My desire to begin learning the ways of the Church and read the Bible has caused tension in my home as my husband is a devout agnostic and doesn’t understand why I would have any interest in the Bible. I am still learning and questioning but I know that I find peace and comfort in the words I read. This feeling of peace and happiness keeps me coming back for more. This reminder that it is okay to be misunderstood is so comforting. I read it as a sign that I am moving in the right direction.
I thank you for today. Todays reading was exactly what my heart needed. You always know what is best for me. My desire to begin learning the ways of the Church has caused tension in my