When I Kept Silent

I’ve had a good day today. Part of it is because I had a day off from work, another is that I got to sleep in till about 7:00AM. Can I get a hallelujah? After feeding my doggo I was able to get a load of laundry started and clean up the kitchen! Winning. I was able to make it to a local coffee shop and get half priced coffee and read my devotional by 9:30AM. The real miracle here though is that I was able to sit down and be inspired by God’s word for this devotional prayer.

There have been many times in my walk with God where I have questioned my own salvation. But I’m reminded when I get into the Word that it is a lie that the Devil is trying to trip me up with. I have been and will continue to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. I have the Holy Spirit within me, being both a comfort and a compass pointing me towards God. My prayer is that Psalm 32 will both convict you and point you to the true blessing in this life: the love of our heavenly Father.

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1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

God, my Father, thank you for forgiving my transgressions against you. Thank you for being there, all around me, waiting for me to reach out. Thank you for never turning away from me. Lord, I pray for blessings to pour out upon this community. God, I pray that if there is a woman here who does not know you that show yourself to them today. I pray that their hearts are softened and that they feel the peace and love that you have for them.     

3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.

Your Holy Spirit lives within me and nudges me in the way I should go. God he is here in my heart that I may know you while I still live here on earth. He coaxes me to turn back to you and reconcile what has happened and be redeemed by you, God.    

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.

God give us all the craving and urge to seek you and pray. God help our first thoughts to be of you each day. When the good or the bad occur let us go to you first with thanksgiving and praise. Just as David said, “you are my hiding place”, Lord. Continue to shelter us in your arms and set your angels around us as protection against the enemy attacks.

In your name we pray, Father God. Be with us this day and all the days to come.

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Photo by Jessica Delp on Unsplash

My Rock // Chelynn Broughton

If you haven’t read I and II Samuel, you may not know about all the struggles that David faced during his long life. Most of the Psalms are written by David during these difficult times. He spent much of his young life trying to avoid the death warrant the king placed on his head, but he stayed faithful in his relationship with God through all of it. When we are praying through the Psalms, sometimes his prayers seem so far off from our lives, but some of them are similar to what we are experiencing. Psalm 28 is one of those that is pretty spot on with what our nation is going through right now.

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“To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.”

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Father God, You are my rock, my firm foundation. Hear my prayer dear Lord. I cry out to you for help and lift my hands towards Heaven.

“Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back on them what they deserve.”

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Please help me to not be like those who speak kind words to their friends and then plot to destroy them. God, punish them for their evil actions and measure out their punishment in proportion to their wickedness.

“Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

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Praise you Lord for hearing my cries for mercy. You are my strength and my protection. I trust You, Lord, with all my heart. You fill my heart with so much joy that I want to sing songs of worship.

“The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

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Thank you Lord for giving me strength during these hard times. Please make your presence known to those in power. Bless our nation and lead your people; be our shepherd and carry us in your arms forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Are you remaining strong in your faith even in these chaotic times? Know that God is faithful to His word. He will bless those who stand firm in their faith through their struggles.

Chelynn is a contributing writer for Shaken and Stirred. She is a long-time daughter of Christ, a wife, mother of two amazing adult children, and Nonnie to four beautiful grandchildren. She teaches Senior English at Charles Page High School and is also a Realtor for Keller Williams. She enjoys all things summer including boating, vacationing, and swimming.

Photo by Ben Karpinski on Unsplash

The Big Ask

Esther’s trip to see the King was just the first step she needed to take in search of favor. When her life was spared and the King asked what she wished for, Esther said that she just wanted to have the King and Haman the over for dinner.  

Sometimes that’s what our walk with God can look like. We can be brave enough to go before our Lord. But too scared to make our requests known to him right away. There’s a fear that if we ask the question, we will get the answer we don’t want. Esther probably wanted a little more time to come up with the right words and seeing her husband on his throne, surrounded by his advisors, was probably nerve wracking.  

It wasn’t until the dinner was underway that she made her request:  

“…and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” 

 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.  For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.[a]” 
(Esther 7:2-4) 

Esther, humbly, breaks down what has happened and asks only that her people are spared death. Like any good husband the King is furious that anyone would dare do such a thing to his wife and when he learns of Haman’s involvement the King has him killed.  

Of course, there is more to this story because Haman’s decree had already been announced to all the provinces of the land. There was literally a law in place that said anyone could: kill, enslave, and steal from them. So, Esther again went to the King and asked him to spare her people and the King literally gives her his signet ring and says to write a new edict in the kings name:  

“The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies.” 
(Esther 8:11) 

Esther was given so much favor in that moment and did she have to do? Pray and ask.  

Ladies, how often are we told to just ask? In church, there will be alter calls that ask us to come to the front if we are need. The last couple of times that opportunity has been offered I stayed in place. Stuck. Because I was afraid of the answer. I was afraid to be told “no” by God.  

Is there something you are afraid to ask God today? I encourage you, to be like Esther and make your big ask.      

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

Photo by Velizar Ivanov on Unsplash