Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Self Image


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Fashionista

Scripture for Today: John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life; that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

fashion unnamed

I was intrigued by the saying on this store window. This high-end women’s clothing store suggests that the goal of living is to dress well, using their brand of course. For many, fashion is tied to self-image and a sense of well-being. Fashion can occupy a huge place in one’s thoughts. The “fashionista” follows the latest trends and spends a good portion of income to stay current. Walking by this saying did make me think. What do I live for? Anyone who knows me would not guess fashion! But it is the age-old question posed by many philosophers over the centuries.  Why am I here? What is my purpose in life?

Today’s verse gives the answer to the question. Eternal life for the believer begins in the here and now. Life, whether in the future or the present is consumed with one goal; to know Him (Phil. 3:10). It is a goal that never grows old and tired. And because God is so immense, it is a goal that can never be completely realized. How amazing to spend an entire earthly life in the quest to know Him as He reveals Himself little by little through His Word and through His Spirit.

When I am with my Savior in Heaven the goal continues to know Him completely. Knowing God personally and up close will be an adventure that is eternal! I will never come to the end of knowing Him. He is that vast and deep! Knowing the Lord little by little while on earth, gives meaning and purpose to my life that nothing else can! This is what I live for!

Thank you Lord, that the goal of knowing You gives my life purpose!

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2015)


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“Breath of Life” Rose

Scripture for Today: Psalm 62:9 “Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance they are nothing; together they are only a breath.” 


T Kiya from Aichi, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This beautiful apricot-colored rose turns pink with age and blooms multiple times. It is a climber and can reach up to ten feet. The long lasting blooms make for a good vase life and it has a pleasing fragrance. Its name comes from Britain’s Royal College of Midwives. They chose “Breath of Life” to signify the Creator in Genesis and everyone’s first vital act on entering this world.

Today’s verse describes people as only a breath. Even long lives are considered but a breath in comparison to eternity. Perhaps the lowborn are more likely to consider the brevity of life. The highborn however, are tempted to think that money and position can give them longer days and more importance. But “everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.” (Ps. 39:5) From God’s perspective no one’s life is more than a passing puff of air. On a balance our lives do not even register as having substance.

How different a life becomes when God breathes His Spirit into the one who comes to Him in faith! (John 20:22) As a believer, my life may not necessarily have a longer span but it certainly does have more substance. A life lived to His praise and glory gives it meaning and purpose. Because the breath of the Almighty has given me life (Job 33:4) my breath is to be spent praising Him along with every living thing! (Ps. 150:6) So until my last breath, I want to praise Him. And may my first breath of heavenly air be spent in praise to Him!

Lord, don’t let this day go by without praise to You!


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The Right to Complain

Scripture for Today: Psalm 142:2 “I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.“

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrulster/49153661098

I cannot remember the last time I saw a sign for a “Complaint Department.” This sign is from a restaurant in Ireland and obviously they are not really interested in hearing your complaint! Making this department as inaccessible as possible seems smart! Who wants to hear a bunch of complainers? Inviting a disgruntled customer to express his frustration seems like inviting trouble. And to be the person handling the complaints would require enormous patience. More often than not, the complaint department has moved to social media in the form of poor reviews expressed there.

Today’s verse was written by David while hiding out from Saul in a cave. He had plenty of reason to complain. Saul was intent on killing David without cause. His complaints were voiced out loud and he cried out for God to deliver him. David did not try to sugar coat his emotions. He complained of his troubles. But like so many of David’s psalms, he ends it on a positive note with confidence that God will work in his favor.

I take heart when I read this psalm. The Lord knows exactly what I am thinking and feeling. I might as well voice it and get it all out in front of Him. Nothing shocks the Lord and He can take it. Unlike the person handling customer complaints, His patience with me is infinite! Pouring out my complaint to others does not give me the same relief that the Lord does. Not only does He patiently listen, He has all the power to do something about it. And like David, voicing my complaints and troubles to Him puts me back on my knees in prayer. Before long, He reassures me that He is on it. 

Thank you Lord, for patiently listening.


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Cinco de Mayo

Scripture for Today: Romans 8:31 “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”

https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/0503_nws_dpt-l-theguide1-brf.jpg?w=861

Being from Southern California, close to our Mexican neighbors, we enjoyed the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, every 5th of May. After moving to France we did not think to mark the day. However, one year we intentionally went to a hard-to-find Mexican restaurant, early to beat the anticipated crowd. The place was deserted and after looking up information about the celebration I understood why. This day is to celebrate the Mexican victory over the French army in 1862! What was remarkable about the Battle of Puebla were the odds. Facing a better equipped and larger army, the Mexican losses were small in comparison to the French loss of life.

The odds in today’s verse are pretty remarkable too! If God is for us there is no contest! This is our response to any charge. He has declared us righteous through Christ. Because God is for us, there is not even a hint of condemnation from any quarter (Rom. 8:1). God is for us and Christ intercedes on our behalf. Nothing and no one can separate us from His love. We are not just conquerors over the enemy but “more than conquerors.”

It is not because of numbers or size or strength but because of His love that I am more than a conqueror! (verse 37) He has already won the most important battle of them all, the battle for my soul! Celebration can start today and continue into eternity! The outcome is sure and I can live in the absolute certainty of victory. There is not a single scenario imaginable that can change this truth. Because He is for me, I win!

Thank you Lord, for already securing the victory for me.

(Look familiar? This is a repost from 2016)


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Jackfruit

Scripture for Today: I Samuel 16:7b “…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.”

For a fruit that is so versatile, nutritious and easy to grow in a tropical climate, the jackfruit has an off-putting appearance! The skin of what is considered to be the largest fruit in the world is thick and spiny, making it difficult to open. A ripe unopened jackfruit is brown and has a strong unpleasant odor. But the pulp of an opened jackfruit is bright yellow or orange and smells sweet! Getting past that outside is rewarded with pleasant color and taste!

Today’s verse draws a sharp contrast between what man sees and what the Lord regards as important. The Lord had commissioned Samuel to anoint the next king of Israel. First, Samuel considered each of Jesse’s sons. But their birth order, their height and their appearance were non factors. It was the youngest son that had the lowly job of tending sheep who had the heart God could use.

I tend to assign value to a person based on outward appearance. I hate it when people do so with me and yet I find I do it all the time! When all is well-groomed on the outside, I assume the inside is in order as well. But wickedness can have a very appealing veneer of respectability. The flip side is true as well and I can completely miss a beautiful friendship by an off-putting image. Christ Himself had no beauty or majesty to attract us; nothing in His appearance would cause us to desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). And yet, no one who ever walked this earth was more beautiful.

Lord, make me beautiful on the inside.