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

In the Old Testament, before God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, God only spoke to his people on occasion. His word would come through a vivid dream, through a blinding light, through an angel’s visit, a talking donkey.







We rarely hear of these blinding lights, angelic appearances of prophetic dreams now, and here’s why … God’s Spirit now dwells within those who have accepted Jesus as their savior, and he’s continually prompting us. God no longer has to show up in a magical way in our day, he’s already in us. As a Christian, you carry his Spirit with you every where you go.







So, this is what you need to know … GOD IS SPEAKING TO YOU. He is prompting your thoughts, guiding your feet, opening your eyes, and stirring your dreams. Constantly. And here’s the problem with something you’re constantly experiencing … You stop noticing it. You’ve stopped noticing how God divinely brings you to the right place at the right time. You’ve stopped noticing how you just wake up naturally in the morning when God stirs you. Now, you just go back to sleep. You’ve stopped noticing how your spirit is stirred to go here, do that, say this, and you’ve been dismissing it all in your busy loud world.







God is still speaking. His word is still flowing through you. His promptings are continual. But continual becomes normal, and normal is so easily dismissed.







Lord, don’t let us dismiss your promptings just because you have been so faithful to continually provide them.







Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 1: 4-5, “The word of the Lord came to me: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.”







My sister, the word of the Lord comes to you too! He has chosen you before he formed you. He has set you apart from the very beginning. Will you receive that word today? Will you listen as God speaks to you? Feel that stirring within right now. This is for you.







What does Jeremiah do when he receives this powerful word from the Lord? The same thing we do …







Verse 6, “But I protested, ‘Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”







He protested. Essentially Jeremiah says, God, you can’t be speaking to me. You can’t see me as anyone special. And he dismisses himself with the insecurity he carried. Lord, I’m too young.







My excuse is no longer that I’m too young. I’m more in the too simple category. Too ordinary. There’s nothing special about me, God. There are others with so much more, surely you would choose them.







What’s your excuse? What dismisses you from hearing directly from the Lord? Why wouldn’t he choose you?







These are YOUR insecurities … not God’s. God is not insecure about you at all. He’s confident in your potential because, honey, he’s the one who formed you in your mother’s womb. He knows what he put inside of you. He knows what you’re capable of because he set you apart with those capabilities.







When Jeremiah protests and dismisses himself from God’s calling on his life because of his insecurities, God interrupts him. Verse 7, “Then the Lord said to me: ‘Do not say, I am only a youth, for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you.””







And God is showing up right in the middle of your ordinary, routine morning and he is interrupting you! STOP confessing your insecurities.

Not everybody gets you. Not everybody likes you. Not everyone will agree with you or be on your side.







Are you going to let that get you all upset and steal your joy? Even worse, are you going to let that cause you to lash out and fight back, then cause you to show up as a lesser version of who you were created to be?







In my head, I’m a pretty darn nice person. I know the intentions of my heart are good. I’m also fully aware that I’m flawed and imperfect and screw up on the regular. People often remind me of that by email. I literally have a team of people who scan my emails before they reach me because some messages are a little too harsh for my naive, rose glasses mindset that thinks everyone is my friend with pure motives.







These messages used to rock my world and leave me in tears. I would allow the criticism to replay in my mind for days, hurting me a little more with each replay. Then, it accumulated in my heart and began to steal my joy and make me cynical. The notification of an email from a stranger sent fear through my veins, automatically assuming someone else had something hurtful to say to me. I assumed the position of a victim, forfeiting my calling as a woman with a divine mission.







As my joy lessened, my passion for living out my purpose wavered. It honestly felt not worth it.







Maybe you feel the same way. You feel misunderstood. Under appreciated. Under attack.







Girl, let me call you out of that victim mindset. That’s not where God wants his girls to hang out! You have a calling on your life and a divine mission for your days. Don’t you forfeit an ounce of what God has placed within you because you can’t win everyone over.







A few years ago Taylor Swift wrote a song that became the anthem of every girl going through a time of discouragement. I’m warning you right now of the earworm I’m about to throw at you.







‘Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, playAnd the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hateBaby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shakeI shake it off, I shake it off (hoo-hoo-hoo)Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, breakAnd the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fakeBaby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shakeI shake it off, I shake it off (hoo-hoo-hoo)







Yes, that’s an earworm, also known as the stuck song syndrome. Like it or not, the same lyrics just get stuck in your head. But did you know there’s a way to end the stuck song in your head? Yes there is, and you won’t believe the trick.







To make the song you can’t stop singing get out of your head, you simply play the song all the way through. Yes, let it play and let it end. It gets stuck when you leave it unfinished.







Ahhhhh, I wonder if that’s what happens with harmful words and hateful emails. You never let it end. So it replays, hurting you a little more each time. Growing bigger and bigger. And guess what, Sis, you’re the one who has to end it. End the loop of replayed harmful words and actions with your intentional response of grace led by the Holy Spirit.







Here’s the example in scripture.







Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Their intentions were good. Their message was positive. Yet, not everyone liked it. Not everyone wanting the saving grace they came to share. I know that’s crazy, but not everyone wants or accepts good news, even when it is absolutely true. The people stirred up all kinds of crazy nonsense against Paul and Barnabas. And verse 51 and 52 show us their response and the result.

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,