BIG Life Devotional | Daily Devotional for Women Pamela Crim | Daily Devotional for Women

We love the God of “yes” and “right now”. But isn’t it the same all-knowing, all-powerful, loving and gracious God who also says “no” and “not now”?







Did you know the Holy Spirit not only opens doors, but honey, he closes doors. He redirects us down a different path for divine purposes we may not know or understand. Our role in this partnership is to seek, listen, and follow. His role is to align, guide, and direct.







I saw a great little video by a funny gal named Ellen demonstrating what our surrender to God really looks like. The title says, “Point of View: Letting Jesus Take the Wheel.” She was sitting in the passenger seat of her car, allowing Jesus to take over driving. Ahhh, this feels good Jesus, you drive. Then, it starts happening …. So, Jesus, it says 55, why we only going like 20? Let’s fo faster! Jesus, there’s the turn. Uhhhh wait, you missed it. So, like that’s where everyone else usually turns, don’t you want to go back? Then she says, “Okay, so I thought this was going to be more like you drive a little, then I drive a little, like we take turns, Jesus. Aren’t we gonna take turns now?”







Well isn’t that what we do … Jesus, you take the wheel when I don’t know what to do, but when I think I’ve got this, then let me drive. Let me set the pace. Let me turn when I want to turn. We’re good at letting Jesus take the wheel, but how are we with letting him keep the wheel?







Sometimes I feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit that says go. I love it when I get the green light. I’ve grown to love it when the Holy Spirit says, “This is what I want you to say, now say it.” Okay Jesus, I lovvveeee talking. Tell me all about what to say and I will talk all day! But sometimes the Holy Spirit tells me to shut my mouth. Sometimes the Holy Spirit says be still. Sometimes the Holy Spirit says I know you can do this, but I don’t want you to.







I don’t really like that.







The question becomes, will I let him keep the wheel when he slows my role or directs a turn I don’t want to take.







I naively assumed the Holy Spirit would co-sign all my good intentions. I believed all positive work would be Spirit approved and blessed with expedience. I was wrong. What Bible was I reading? Oh, the same one I’m reading now, just I’m reading between the lines of quoted feel good scriptures to see the deeper works of the Holy Spirit I had been missing. And my whole life is making a whole lot more sense now.







Paul and Silas were missionaries for God. Their intentions were good. Their works were positive. But when their positive works of intended good were met with a no from the Holy Spirit, we have to take notice.







Acts 15: 6-7, “They went through the region of Phyrgia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bihynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.”







A little geography lesson. This area of Asia is our modern day Turkey. All of these town were the different regions of Turkey. Northern Turkey, Southern Turkey, Western Turkey. The Holy Spirit would not allow Paul and Silas to share the word of God here. It was a NO.







Sometimes a no from God doesn’t make sense. Why, God? Why wouldn’t you want your word shared here? Why wouldn’t you want these disciples of Jesus to share the good news to people who had never heard it?







I often find myself pleading my case with the Holy Spirit. I’m all whiny like, “But why, God?

Join Pamela for this Friday morning Bible study of Exodus 25-40.







You can watch the live recording from Bali here:https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim







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God uses hardened hearts for his glory.







Right now, in your life, someone has a hardened heart. Someone isn’t listening. Someone is making life ridiculously hard. And you’re asking God why. Why won’t they change? Why won’t they open their eyes and see the path they’re on and the destruction it’s leading to? Why won’t they stop?







May our questions change from why to what. What is God doing here? What is he aligning for his glory? What good plan does he have aligned through this?







In Exodus we read of the Egyptian king with the hardened heart, Pharaoh. God not only allowed Pharaoh’s hardened heart, but he orchestrated it for a greater purpose. Exodus 7: 3, the Lord says, “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart and multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.”







God’s power would be seen through the condition of Pharaoh’s hardened heart. One hardened heart would be used to prove God’s protection, provisions and personal involvement for over 2 million Israelites.







The Lord told his servant, Moses, to go to Pharaoh and demand the Israelites be set free from slavery in Egypt. But God had planned for Pharaoh to refuse. The question isn’t “Why, God”, but the question is, “What, God … What are you doing through this?”







What God was doing was bigger than the problem being faced. The problem was slavery in Egypt and a leader who refused to let them go. And no doubt, that sucks. Their work was hard. Their life was unfair. But God was getting personally involved! WHAT God was doing through this hardship was more than a temporary relief, it was a show of his glory and power that no one could deny.







My sister, God is getting personally involved in your hardship. He has heard your cries. His relief will not be temporary here. It will be an undeniable show of his power involved in the details of your problems, and God will receive all the glory!







Get ready to give him glory!







Each time Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go, God’s power showed up in the form of a plague on the Egyptians, but the Israelites were protected. First all the water turned to blood. Second, they were invaded by frogs. Pharaoh promised set the Israelites free if Moses would appeal to God and take the problems away. Moses cried out to God for help, and God miraculously intervened and removed the problems. Then, guess what happened … Void of the problems, Pharaoh quickly returned to his old ways. Exodus 8: 15, “But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen.”







Plague after plague, it happened. Horrible things happened to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, he would promise to let the Israelites go, but as soon as God made the problem go away, Pharaoh would change his mind and return to his hardened heart.







And through it all, God was not at all surprised. Nor was God stopped or limited. God’s power showed up all the more. God’s glory grew and grew.







God works through hardened hearts, bad decisions, and hardships. This is the stage for his power to be displayed. This is where God does what only God can do. This is where we will know it is God who saved us!







So, there’s a hardened heart that is making a mess for you? Talk to God about that. Ask for his involvement. Ask for his mercy. Ask for second chances, third chances, 47th chances for the one with the hardened heart. Don’t stop asking. God’s power will not stop. There is no limit to what he can do.







But know this, when hearts won’t change,

God needs your cooperation today.  He’s trying to work in your life.  He’s trying to pave the way.  He’s trying to guide you into his ultimate and best plan, but he needs your to cooperate.  There’s one thing we keep doing that hinders God’s work and allows the enemy to gain a foothold.  This one thing is something most of us struggle with, without even realizing the danger.







What is it?  What are we doing that’s hindering God’s work in our own lives?  We keep running our mouths.Feel that … yip, that’s conviction!  That’s God’s spirit pinging in you right now guiding you to a better way.







In Exodus chapter 14 the Israelites are being chased by the Egyptians.  They have every reason to be scared.  Every reason to want to turn around and go back.  But their instructions are very clear.  Verse 14 in the Message translation says “God will fight the battle for you.  And you?  You keep your mouths shut!







“If you’re facing a battle right now, understand God wants to fight it for you.  He wants to defend you.  He’s able to bring victory … but you have a job to do and that job is to zip your lip, shut your face, girl stop talking about it.  Let God fight this for you.  Take a seat and be silent.







When I’m under attack I have a natural defense … I lash out.  Then after I lash out, I like to retell the story to anyone who will listen.  Are you the same? 







We build our defense by talking about it.  And did you know when we do, we hinder the VICTORY God has planned for us?  He doesn’t need you to lash out.  He doesn’t need you to tell everyone your side of the story.  What he needs is your cooperation.







Here’s the problem … if we’re busy complaining and telling our side of the story, we’re not praying.  The answer is always PRAY about it, not COMPLAIN about it.  How often do we seek the opinion of others without first seeking the direction of God?







Did you know your words have the power to steal your peace and your victory?  God has a plan to redeem you fully.  Every hardship or wrongdoing against you has been seen, he is fully aware, and it will be used for your good, but girl you’ve got to get out of the way!  When you lash out in anger, speak out of turn, pipe up with your complaints, your side isn’t being built … understand you’re only giving the enemy ammunition. 







Satan wants you to be busy fighting so you’re distracted from your mission.  Every time you retell the story, every time you engage in the argument, every time you complain about the situation, you’re loading bullets in the weapon pointed directly at YOU.







I promise it is possible to be under attack and still have peace.  It is possible to be in the battle and retain your joy.  You can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and FEAR NO EVIL because God is with you and he will comfort you.







You’re not in this alone!  Oh if you could only see God leaning in over you to protect you.  If you could only see the angel armies of Heaven on their way to defend you.  If you could see it, you’d easily keep that mouth shut.  Even though you can’t see it, will you trust it?







Do you trust that God is for you and not against you?  If you do, then you know what they’re saying about you has ZERO impact.  Who can be against you?  NO ONE.  Let them talk, you keep your mouth faithfully shut and those lips zipped.  God wants to fight for you.  Victory is yours … If you don’t screw this up.  You have one clear instruction here, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.







No complaining, no building up your side of the story,

Who’s getting tired of doing the right thing over and over again, with seemingly minimal results? Who’s worn out from fighting when the relationship just doesn’t seem to be improving?







Who’s burned out from counting the calories, from denying yourself of the deliciousness you most desire, when the progress is ever so slow and nonexistent at times?







Who am I speaking to this morning?  Are you getting tired of doing what is good?  If you’re questioning if it’s worth it, I believe God has your answer for you loud and clear this morning. Galatians 6:9 – “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”







DON’T STOP NOW.  Steven Furtick says, “You’re only stuck if you stop.”  If you don’t stop, honey, you can’t be stuck.  Keep doing the good you know to do because God is getting ready to give you a harvest of blessings if you just don’t give up.







Let me speak life into your frustrated spirit this morning.  Today is not the day to give up.  This is not the time to back down.  This day was made for doing good.  With all that you are, with all that you have, do good today.







God desires for each of us to come to a place of full surrender in life.  A place where we recognize we can’t do this on our own.  A place where we fully trust that if we do all we can, God will show up and do what only he can.







Now this place of full surrender doesn’t come naturally to us.  It takes one heck of a storm to get us there.  It often requires a weary spirit, exhausted from trying.  A body without a lot of fight left.  This is surrender … and this is where God works best.







I don’t know about you, but I have some areas in my life where I need God to do what only he can.  I have some impossible.  I have some mountains.  I bet you do too.  And oh how our loving heavenly Father WANTS to show up for us.  He WANTS to.  You never have to question God’s desire to help you.  He’s never sitting in heaven looking down with angry eyebrows and arms folded saying, “nope – don’t wanna.  I just don’t wanna help her today.”  Yet, the truth is that’s exactly what we believe sometimes so we don’t even ask for help.







Understand this, God is ready, willing and able to help you.  He wants to pour out his blessings on you … and HE WILL, oh how he will if you just keep doing the good that you know to do.  And as you know better, you will do better.







God is cautioning us against growing weary in doing good.  Has the storm weathered your heart?  Are you becoming cynical?  Have your good works been met with greed and ungratefulness?  Have your good works been taken advantage of or gone unnoticed?  Have your good works been void of return?  Then of course it becomes easy to have a critical spirit.  I mean why even try if it’s not going to make a difference.







It’s like what is the point in cleaning the house when you have a tornado of a toddler tearing it up faster than you can put it back together.  Why speak kindness to your husband when he’s so negative and edgy?  Why give your best at work when it goes unnoticed and unappreciated?  Why work so darn hard on your health when you still get bad news?







That’s what a weary heart says.  That’s what a critical spirit says.  That’s what a cynical woman’s thoughts sound like.  That’s the product of a bad attitude.







And that is NOT you.

Today, I’m going to tell you something very specific God absolutely loves to see you do.  Something you can do that brings him tremendous delight.  You would want to make God happy today, wouldn’t you?  You would want to please him.







I do.  Gosh, I want to make God absolutely giddy he gave me this day of life.  But sometimes I wonder how to please him.  How to make him smile.  How does a really normal girl like me bring great delight to my Almighty creator?  Have you ever asked the same question?







2 Corinthians 9:7 “God loves a cheerful giver.” 







You’ve likely heard that before along with a guilt trip to give your money.  But what if your opportunity to be a cheerful giver goes far beyond money and meets you right where you are today.  God is asking you to give what you have with joy, with excitement, with open hands and an open heart.  To stop holding back, and let God flow through you in all you have to give.







MSG: “God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.”  The Voice: “Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.”







Right here, this Monday.  Will you be a cheerful giver?







Let’s take an inventory of what you have available to give today.







First, your time.  In this single day you have 24 hours – or 1,440 minutes. Will you give your time cheerfully today?  OR WILL IT BE A CHORE FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH THEM?  WILL IT BE A CHORE TO LISTEN?  WILL IT BE A CHORE TO REALLY BE THERE?  Will you be happy about giving time with God today?







How many of us are there, but we’re not really there?  We’re begrudgingly showing up and checking the box but we don’t really want to be there.  That’s not GIVING your time … that’s allowing someone or something to TAKE your time.  Today will you GIVE your time.  Purposely.  Intentionally.  Cheerfully.  Will you gladly be there?  Will you fully be there?







God loves that.  He loves when you cheerfully show up for your own life and invest in it.  He loves when you are fully there, engaged.  Not because you have to, but because you GET to.







And he really loves it when you view this life you have to live through the eyes you have been given instead of a screen you hold in your hand!







What else do you have to give today?  Your energy.  Within you is the power to GSD.  Get stuff done.  You have a set of 2 choices. 







Do it – or don’t do it.
If you should do it, then you have another choice to make – Do it happy – or do it miserable.

Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”







Here in Bali, I’m learning what a privilege work is.  Everyone I meet is delighted to have a job.  They are working long days to make $25 per week.  They are perpetually early, genuinely eager, with attitudes of gratitude.  Have we lost that?  Have we become too entitled to remember what a privilege this all is?







There are a whole lot of people showing up for work today miserable.  They’re there, they’re completing the tasks before them, but it’s not because they want to be.  How incredibly sad.  How sad that there are moms holding babies, wishing they were somewhere else.  How sad there are wives making the bed in an angry fit today.