Is there a way I can speak of the Lord’s faithfulness throughout my life to someone I meet today? Lord, may I be sensitive to the opportunities I may have with people I meet today. (Lectio, May 27, 26) Are you struggling to do your part in God’s unfolding story?
We long to play our part in God’s unfolding story—but how can we step into that calling if we do not truly know who we are? So many of us have allowed others to define us. Our identity became shaped by labels spoken over us—some careless, some wounding, some simply untrue. We learned to live as the version of ourselves others expected, not the person Christ redeemed.
Yet in Christ, we put on our true name. A name rooted not in brokenness, but in belovedness. A name spoken by the One who formed us, called us, and set His Spirit within us.
Today is the day to lay down every false label, which are the things that are the opposite of what He says we are.
God said we are special, chosen, lovely and unique, we are strong, courageous, smart, kind, compassionate, trustworthy, giving, dedicated, loving and have self control.
Today we release the labels/identities that were never ours to carry and to step into the truth of who Christ says we are.
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Romans 12:2 instructs us not to conform to the pattern of the world. What patterns was Paul telling us not to confirm to? The patterns are the labels placed upon us. Paul said to transform through the renewing of your mind so that we will no longer be captives of the false narrative.
We can find comfort in transforming from who we thought we were to who we truly are because God’s truth empowers us, it sets us free, and is anchored in His unconditional love.
When we begin to walk in the identity God gave us before our birth, we become strengthened to take our rightful place in His unfolding story. Shame loses its grip. Fear loosens its hold. And we find the courage to share our lives—and our faith—with others. Once we are no longer held captive by our false narrative, hiding from who we are, we can speak openly of who Christ is within us. With confidence, humility, and joy, we step into the role God has written for us in His great and beautiful story.
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” ~ Galatians 5:16-17 NLT
In these verses, the Apostle Paul offers the ultimate solution to overcoming selfish and sinful tendencies. It focuses on three main concepts:
Walk by the Spirit: To “walk” means to live, conduct your life, and make daily decisions. To “walk by the Spirit” means relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power rather than your own strength.
The Flesh: This refers to human nature apart from God—our natural, selfish inclinations, compulsions, and desires that lead to sin.
The Promise: Paul presents this as a cause-and-effect relationship. As you actively focus on and surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading, you lose the drive to fulfill the desires of your sinful nature.
The verses acknowledge an ongoing internal struggle (detailed in verses 17-23) between what your natural self wants and what God’s Spirit desires.
Paul’s message is that victory does not come from strictly following a list of rules; rather, it happens naturally by cultivating a daily relationship with God.
Key Takeaways:
Continue to deepen your relationship with the Lord through short prayers and expressions of gratitude throughout the day.
Tether yourself to the Holy Spirit who lives in you. He is not a guest; he is a resident.
Resist your earthly desires. It will require prayer and positive self-talk.
Listen to the Holy Spirit who will serve as your cheerleader as you separate your wants from your spiritual needs.
I learned through BSF that praising God throughout the day profoundly changes the atmosphere around you. I know this because I witnessed it beautifully lived out in the lives of so many women whose faith, joy, and unwavering trust in God reflected His presence even in the midst life’s challenges.
Again and again, I listened to testimonies from women walking through incredibly difficult seasons, yet they still smiled, greeted others warmly, and lifted up the name of the Lord. At first, I wondered, how can they still radiate joy while carrying such heavy burdens?
Over time, I realized their praise was not based on circumstances — it was rooted in faith. They chose to focus on God’s goodness, His faithfulness, and His presence instead of allowing hardship to define their hearts. Watching them praise the Lord in both challenging moments and praise-report moments was deeply humbling, inspiring, and life-changing.
In closing, Psalm 71:8 declares, “My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.” This verse reflects a life committed to continual worship and gratitude, regardless of circumstances. It reminds us that praise shifts our perspective — from fear to faith, from discouragement to hope, and from struggle to the splendor of God’s enduring love and strength.
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To reflect on an earlier devotional, have you recently ended a conversation by saying, “Have a blessed day”? Did you notice even the slightest change in the other person’s demeanor? Those simple words have a way of breathing life into the soul, reminding people they are seen, valued, and covered by God’s grace.
The gift of life is knowing Christ. Jesus became like us so we could become more like Him. Growing in Christ is a journey of transformation, becoming more aligned with His Spirit each day. (FB-Cal Jernigan, Central Christian Church, Mesa, Arizona)
Through the sacrifice of Christ, who bore our sin, we no longer fall victim to sin, which is the wager of death. Instead, we have been gifted with eternal life when our human bodies are shed.
Hebrews 2:17 (NIV) explains: “For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.”
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) states: “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1.Eternal life is the free gift
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
The idea here is that we cannot earn eternal life through good works. It is given freely through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Christ took the penalty for sin so that anyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness and life with God that starts now and continues forever.
2. Abundant life right now
In John 10:10, Jesus says: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”
This points to more than just life after death. It is about restored relationship with God, peace, purpose, and the Holy Spirit living in believers. The “gift” is not just heaven later but a different quality of life today.
3. New creation/Born again
2 Corinthians 5:17 describes it this way: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.”
So, the gift includes a new identity, a cleared record, and adoption into God’s family.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ties it together: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
We are born into a fallen world, shaped by sin from the very beginning (Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:5). Life offers no guarantee of ease or comfort. In fact, sin ensures that we will encounter hardship, suffering, and spiritual battles.
The enemy works diligently to unravel our faith. He tempts us to rely on ourselves, to define truth on our own terms, and to pursue independence from God. Yet self-reliance ultimately leads to failure and separation, because apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
But this is not the end of the story.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Romans 5:20). Though we are born into sin, we are invited into redemption. Through Christ, trials refine our faith rather than destroy it (James 1:2–4). What the enemy intends to use to isolate us, God uses to draw us closer to Himself.
Our hope is not in a trouble-free life — it is in a faithful Savior.
However, there is good news — glorious, hope-filled news. Praise our Lord!
From our youth to our old age, He promises to be with us. “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He… I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).
He does not abandon His children in the middle of their trials. He walks with us. He cares for us. He sustains us when we are weary. And when we need rescuing, He rescues us.
Our lives may be marked by difficulty, but they are also marked by divine presence. The same God who formed us carries us. The same God who allows refinement also provides deliverance.
We are never alone — not in youth, not in maturity, not in old age. He is faithful in every season.
Dark days do not mean we live in the dark.
Seasons of hardship do not extinguish the Light within us. They reveal it. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Dark days remind us who we belong to. We are children of the Father, not prisoners of circumstance. When storms rise, they call us back to dependence — to trust the One who sees beyond the wind and waves.
Our Father leads and guides us through every storm. He does not abandon the ship. He steadies us, anchors us, and directs us safely to His harbor. “The Lord will guide you always” (Isaiah 58:11).
We may walk through dark valleys, but we do not walk alone. The Shepherd is present. The Light still shines. And the harbor is certain.
When applying this Scripture, it does not imply passivity or inaction. It does not suggest that we sit still and do nothing. Rather, it calls us to begin in the right place.
We are to go to God first.
Before stepping out on our own, we seek Him in prayer for wisdom, direction, and discernment. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Rational people prepare, strategize, and plan. Scripture affirms wise preparation (Proverbs 21:5). Planning is not a lack of faith. Acting without consulting God is.
Christians should begin every process with prayer — not as a last resort, but as the first response. We align our plans with His will before we implement them. We seek His counsel before we rely on our competence.
Prayer is not the absence of action; it is the foundation of right action.
We plan.
We prepare.
We move forward.
But we begin on our knees.
Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalm 27:14 (NIV) Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
James 4:13-15 (NIV) Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Psalm 37:5-7 (NIV) Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
When we acknowledge that we are not in control and turn to Him at the first sign of uncertainty, our outcomes change. What might have become confusion becomes clarity. What could have led to missteps becomes guided direction.
Had we blindly forged deeper into the unknown on our own, we might have wandered. But when we pause and seek Him first, we are led — not lost.
The Lord is not only our Father; He is our guiding Light. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
A lamp does not illuminate the entire journey at once — it lights the next step. And often, that is exactly what we need. Not the full blueprint, but faithful guidance for the moment before us.
When we surrender control, we gain direction.
When we admit uncertainty, we receive wisdom.
When we seek Him first, we walk in light rather than shadow.
He does not promise us full visibility — but He promises faithful guidance.
Lisa’s Daily Inspirations 