Today’s Truth
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens,” (Psalm 148:13 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Some of my Girlfriends in God are not going to like this devotion. I’m not even sure I do. But I’m going to put it out there anyhow. During the month of February, I write devotions on marriage. It is the month of love, and marriages certainly are in shambles all around the world. It is a month when I celebrate marriage!
Each February, I am flooded with e-mails: some are appreciative for the reminders on how to love their husbands, some are hurting because they are in their own struggling marriage, and some are broken hearted because of shattered dreams. These women are so thankful for the balm of God’s truth in a very tender area of their lives.
But I also receive e-mails from women who are not married, who do not like the attention to marriage at all. They are flat out angry and frustrated because the devotions do not pertain to them. The same type of complaints comes in during the month of May when I write about Motherhood. And girlfriend, some of those e-mails are not pretty.
I’ve seen the same thing in church. “I didn’t like that sermon.” “I didn’t like the singing today.” “I couldn’t relate to that teaching.”And on and on we go. You know what I’ve discovered? It’s not about me. It is all about God. If the pastor is preaching on a topic that is not my struggle, I pray that God will open my eyes to new truths that I’ve never seen. If he is talking about losing a loved one, I pray for those who have lost a loved one recently…even though that not might not be my struggle at that particular time. Is the teaching on raising young children? I have a grown son, so I pray for those who are in the throes of raising the next generation.
One Sunday, I was singing in church. Barely singing, I might add. It was a dry old hymn and I just wasn’t into it. Then I looked at an older women a few seats down and she had tears trickling down her wrinkled face. She was moved to tears by that old hymn and was taken to the throne room of grace. “Oh Father,” I prayed. “Please forgive me. This is not about me. It’s not about what I like or dislike. It is all about You. Truth is truth. Worship is worship. Help my focus be on You and You alone. It’s not about me.
Listen to how David focused on God during worship:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.Psalm 62:5-8
Teach me your ways, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 86:1112
So let’s commit to remember together…it’s not about me. It’s all about God.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, please forgive me when I make worship and Bible study all about me. The purpose of my worship is to give glory to You and You alone, not to make me feel better. The purpose of Bible study is to learn what Your Word has to say about Your character and Your ways and to discover the truths that lead me into the way of righteousness. I praise You! I thank You! I worship You!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Now It’s Your Turn
Here is a fun exercise. Go back and pick out one of your favorite chapters in the Bible. Now, focus on the verses that you DID NOT underline.
Here is a wonderful Psalm to use for your extended prayer time today. Open your Bible to Psalm 136 and pray that prayer of praise with David. Don’t skip over the repeated refrains…His love endures forever! He repeats it for a reason. David meant it. God wants us to get it!
More from the Girlfriends
I will be beginning a new on-line Bible study from my book A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More. If you feel like something is missing in your spiritual life, then this study is for you. Here’s a little good news: the answer is not found in what God wants from you, but what God wants for you. It’s not too late to sign up. I’d love for you to join us. Click here to learn more and sign up. The sign up is on the right hand side of the page.
Thank you so much for this devotion. I am not married and do not have children; therefore, lessons and devotions many times do not pertain to me. You are so right about it not being all about us- sometimes I learn from lessons that have absolutely nothing to do with me. I just file them away for future reference!
Amen! God bless you Sharon!
I understand your point. Sometimes messages I hear that don’t necessarily pertain to me provide great insight and advice to share with others who may be in that particular situation. Although, I do have to say, I notice my worship experience IS different when I feel a personal connection to it. And I know I’d begin to lose interest if week after week the message or devotions were designed around issues that don’t apply to me. I’ve been married for 17 years so I personally enjoy reading things that deal with strengthening and uplifting marriage. Though, just as much as I love those, I’d be turned off by devotionals that always talked about being single. My point is that devotionals and messages that are designed to be all-inclusive can’t really be effective if it’s isolating a big group of people. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought that was the point to having a devotional–to connect personally to God and learn about yourself and the things you need to improve upon. Anyway, thanks for your comments. This was the first GIC devotional I’ve read in over a year.
Right on! I experienced this first hand many years ago. My husband was the pastor in a contemporary worshiping church. My elderly mother-in-law visited. As we went through our choruses she just politely stood there, but then we sang part of an old hymn. She began to cry and worship. Jesus went out of His way to encounter one woman at a well. He just might do that in a Sunday service. May we not whine when He does!
Hi Sharon Jaynes
I have been so blessed by your daily devotions as well as the other GIG devotions. I thank God for I know that these devotions are Holy Spirit inspired because each day’s message is so relevant to my needs as well as the needs of my loved ones. May God bless and continue to use you in the ministry.
Regards
Yours in Christ
Naomi
Sometimes when I’m not “into” a lesson or it doesn’t relate to my current situation, I A) thank God that I am not going through that particular trouble at the moment and B) ask him to know me something new in the lesson anyway. When I ask him to show me something new, he always delivers, and it’s an amazing thing!
Thank you so much for this devotional. it is so true sometimes that we (especially me!) can get stuck on ourselves and what we get out of something and not realize that everyone’s different and even though we may not be getting something out of a particular sermon or devotional that someone else in a completely different situation might be hearing exactly what they needed to hear to soften their heart or get them through the week! Thank you for helping to remind me of that
I have read your devotions, well, I have read over them this month because marriage is not my favorite topic and God did in fact rebuke me for the attitude that I had while reading them. Not every marriage has two main stream people in it. If a women is married to a man with a disorder, that disorder takes over in many cases and it’s as if he does not operate within his right mind at times…so your devotions have not fully pertained to those type couples. Women in these marriages feel hopeless, powerless, because we understand that we can only do our part and we are helpless to wait on our spouse to have a “good day” Those are couples that need a specific type of help. However, I know that you are coming from a Godly place and that what you are saying is supported by the word, and that God gave you this word for a reason, that someone needed it. But there are people who are going through things on days and they need a direct word from God. We have to feed our spirit so that we can be strong…so I always pray that God will help me to hear Him when I read any devotion, along with my Bible.
Thank you so much for sharing this. You hit the nail on the head with thoughts I often have. It saddens me that people complain rather than realize not EVERYthing will mean something to EVERYone. There’s no way to minister to everyone’s need at every moment. And if we would pray for open eyes, ears, and hearts, we just mind find that we’re touched by something that doesn’t pertain to us! Thank you for your ministry and for freely sharing God’s word.
I read GIG each morning and I rarely comment. Let me take the time to tell you that I appreciate your devotions and the way you always turn my eyes back to my Savior.
Especially today’s post!
You’re right. It isn’t about me!!!
I’m sorry on behalf of the women who have written nasty emails to you.
I thought this was a great devotional and I am proud of you for putting it out and reminding us that it is not about each one of us..when we get focused on those things we are not being focused on God. And really isnt that what are life’s should be about..focused on the one who sent his son to be tortured and beat and crucified on the cross for us so we would have eternal life and forgiveness of sins!! No matter what we dont have or what we are not yet.. we still have the best gift we will ever receive in the whole world and that is our saviour..God!! And let our minds be focused on him and living a life for him and not the world.
So saddened to hear that you have been under attack, and also sad for those who have lost sight of WHO your devotions are really about. Praying God’s love and peace to be poured out on all of you.
There are two Christian radio stations in my city, one of which is largely talk but plays several programs of hymn-style music I love. The other is all-music–and largely contemporary-style. For months I listened only to the first station and grumbled because I “had to do without” music so much of the time. Recently, I’ve started giving the second station more opportunity to speak to me–and you know, I might actually get to like contemporary!
If anyone finds herself being upset with a pastor or a writer of a devotional about a message that does not pertain to her situation, I will ask the person to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to renew a right spirit within her. Being a Christian is never about us, Christ loved everyone, the lepers, the sick,the maimed, the adulterous woman, the Samaritan woman, etc. That is why you will find a lady missionary, never married, no children, having a ministry caring for children in orphanages. The Lord wants us as His children to have a heart for others. The message may not be for you on that day but the Lord may have ministered to the speaker to give that message for someone who needs it. Just pray that each day’s message is received by the ones the Lord meant it for.
Blessings
Even though I am unmarried. I thoroughly enjoyed your devotions during the month of February. I shared them on facebook for others to enjoy.
God bless
Thanks so much for this message. This will help me a lot in my prayer and to bring up others with their troubles and not being so self-centered. God bless you
Sharon, I enjoyed reading GIG everyday. It’s interested to know all three of you women of God been through a lot in your lives. By the grace of God he gave you all the strength to helped you all to be strong. Yor devontion of the month of Feburary talked about marriage. I’m engaged to be marry. It really encourage me of what to look forward of being marry and putting God first in the marriage. Thank you soo much of your encouraging words. It’s sooo true that we have to put God first because it’s not about us.:-)
You are so right Sharon, it IS all about God! Funny, because my husband and I are reading “The Purpose Driven Life”, and yesterday’s topic was about just that. It’s about God’s Glory. I love it!
When I was single, I enjoyed reading about what a godly marriage should be, how to treat my husband, etc. I entered into marriage almost 2 years ago, and all the stuff I read and learned over the years helped tremendously!
It too saddens, and appals me that members of the Body of Christ have sent you nasty emails and letters. God help us! Thank you for speaking the truth in these devotionals in love. May we remember to always make it about HIm!
Much love, Rikki
I was very disappointed to read this devotion because it’s terrible to hear about all the negative feedback you have received from women who complain that they cannot relate. “It’s not about Me,” really stood out to me because that is a sermon that my Pastor has preached and pulled from to continuously remind the congregation that it really isn’t about us ALL the time. And we need to remember that 1) everything should be done to worship and glorify God and 2) we should always seek to help others. I thought you did an excellent job bringing to light an ugly topic that we sometimes seek to avoid – our selfishness.
As single woman, I just want to say Thank You for your series on marriage. I have really enjoyed your words of wisdom on building a strong and loving marriage. I know that when my turn comes to walk down the aisle to meet my husband and begin our lives together, I will be better equipped to be a supportive and loving wife and remain steadfast in my commitment to him.
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the devotionals from the GIG’S. They’ve been insightful, wise and humorous at times. Thank you for the series on marriage. I gathered much spiritual food from it. I think we forget that you are simply “the messanger” and we must respect that role that you, Gwen and Mary are serving.I am so grateful for you three.
God’s Mightiful Blessings,
Mary
Good Morning Sharon: I had signed up for the 14 Day Romancing your Husband emails. I read about four of the days and my heart was in pain and breaking. Trust has been broken in my marriage and my husband is currently in a depression and has health issues. In the past we had worked through so much garbage but there was one area we did not work on together and that was our finances. It is in this area that we have been struggling with and where my trust in my husband has been broken due to decisions he has made that has affected us greatly. It has been complicated with a stroke and now depression. Oh how I desire that we would work together again. As a result I have been very angry at him. Angry that he has defaulted back to depression and he is hiding in his cave and I am left to deal with everything. I am angry that he does not want to include me in his life. My anger is something that God is working on in me. He is pruning in my life several things and one is the need to be right.
So each devotion I read about romancing my husband, I would talk to God, Lord what about me? I have been wronged, why do I need to make the steps? How do I press on despite the pain? So, each time I turned the pain to God. We are a long way, it seems in my mind, from healing. But God …. is our healer. I thank you for this devotion that reminded me it is not about me. It is about how can God be glorified in my thoughts, feelings and actions at this time. Prov 3:5-6 comes to my mind.
Thank you. Lord forgive us when we make it about ourselves which removes the focus from our all powerful, loving heavenly Father. May you be glorified and lifted high Lord.
Thanks for listening.
In Joy
Mariann
Thank you for this Sharon! Most of the GIG devotions relate to me because I’m married , have a child & have day to day struggles like so many other women but sometimes I fail to realize its all about God & not about me! Thank u !