Tag: plans

Barefoot Devotions

Wandering In The Darkness

Hannah B.

I was driving home last night from Bible study and I was spending time talking to God about this current season I am in. The night time in Eastern Kentucky is a different kind of dark compared to the the city night I am used to. As this thought came to my mind, I realized that this season I am isn’t any different.

God showed me that even though this season isn’t ideal to me, it’s necessary. He is still here and when He answers me, it’s like a huge bright light shining on my path.

Often times in our journey, we find ourselves wandering in the dark. Seeking and searching for any kind of sign from God that will bring comfort, peace, or an answer as we continue to walk out the call God has for our life.

During this season of trials and tribulations, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s eye is on us. If we stay focused on Him, He won’t let us aimlessly walk in the dark without a purpose. He is there and we can trust that He is purposefully guiding us. He is allowing us to get to know Him intimately and is building our trust in Him. Though He may seem far away, the next time He speaks to you, answers a prayer, or gives you what your spirit is needing – it will be the brightest and purest light bulb moment that can’t be missed.

Though I have been in the dark and have felt like I have been aimlessly kicking up dirt down here on Earth, it’s the clearest I have ever heard from God in any season. For me, these moments have been pivotal and defining.

I pray you are having them too as we need to always be growing, stretching, and planting seeds. Too many people given up the fight in the darkness. Suit up and even if you feel like your just kicking up dirt, fight.

I leave you with God’s truth that is sure to get you ready for battle!

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all of my love and encouragement,

Hannah B.

Barefoot Devotions

Light Bulb Moments

Hannah B.

Have you ever felt like you are down here on Earth wandering around with a blindfold on wondering what in the world you were doing? I have experienced this many times, even recently. I almost felt like I was lost in the darkness. Am I even on the path that was designed specifically for me? I can see how easy it is to become discouraged in the Christian walk and give up. When we reach this point, it’s important to stop and take a look at what is happening in our day to day lives and remember the truth we find in God’s Word.

I have been praying for the next adventure God has laid on my heart for this ministry. For about 500 times, I have asked God a variety of questions, “Are you sure this is it?”, “What am I doing?”, “What am I supposed to be doing that I am not doing?” I began to feel like I was aimlessly wondering in my day to day life. As I was waiting for confirmation and the next step to be revealed, the confusion began to set in with doubt starting to bloom. As I look back, I knew what God laid on my heart but I expected an entire download of His outline or maybe even a direct answer.

Now, I realize that is not always how God works especially in this season of my life. I know God is teaching me to trust in His timing while refining my soul and character to be able to keep up with His plan for my life. He is more into the process of walking out the work He has planned for our lives. It’s very gentle, loving, and kind that He changes us and our situations in a process. The process allows Him to be able to empty the world out of us so that our soul and flesh will be ready to act together when the Holy Spirit guides us to our next step.

I am reminded of the story of Noah. He gave Noah instructions on how to build the ark and then instructed him when it was time to go. Clearly, Noah had enough faith and believed in God to do as he was told even when he didn’t have the complete plan. He understood that God had made a promise for him and his family and had a purpose.

I am the type that will run toward the end goal without experiencing the process and completely miss the joy that can be found in every moment in between. The joy when we learn something new through a trial, when we are stretched outside of our comfort zone, and we step out in faith and overcome the fear that holds us back. Although growth stretches us and it can be uncomfortable, it is necessary so that we can be molded into the person God has called us to be even when we feel that we aren’t sure of the way He would have us go. Though we are being refined, we can be assured that God is with us through the process. He always provides light bulb moments on our path and when we continue to diligently seek Him and His will for our life, we will see them. If we are in tuned to the Holy Spirit, these light bulb moments will appear. We will see them when we hear someone speaks, a verse that pops up, or little reassurances that we know only God could do.

I’ve stopped rushing the process and I am starting to enjoy the little things in each day because it’s where you will find bulbs of joy, reassurance, peace, and guidance. They keep you going on the path we are called to walk and for that, I am so thankful that God would place them there just for me! Don’t forget to look for them!

Prayerfully yours,

Hannah Boyd

Barefoot Devotions

It’s always His best

Hannah B.

Today was one of the most frustrating days I have had in a while. I like to think that I can hold my frustrations together fairly well but today my flesh got the best of me.

When I received news about last minute change of plans that required me to adjust my Christmas Eve plans, I was really upset. My family is coming to visit for Christmas and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible.

After being upset long enough, I finally prayed and talked to God about my entire day. Almost instantly, I began to feel better because God reminded me of the beginning of the story of His son Jesus’ birth. How did Joseph feel having to pack up his very pregnant wife and return to his hometown for a census that was ordered by the king? We are talking about last minute travel right before the birth of The Savior, God’s son, and our King.

They accepted the change of plans and made the journey doing the very best they could. I couldn’t imagine they grumbled too long since they had to be quick about their journey since Mary was so close to giving birth. They knew God had each of their best interests at heart and trusted in Him.

Just like when our circumstances and plans do not go as planned, we have to trust that our Heavenly Father has our best interests at heart that match His grand master plan for our lives. I know there has been or even will be disappointments that come up. It’s important to be able to continue to walk forward and make the best out of the situation we have been given. Who knows, it could be a blessing is disguise. Don’t forget to open your heart and eyes to look for it.

Be sure to rest this season!

With all my love and encouragement,

Hannah Boyd

Barefoot Devotions

Blessings In Obedience

Hannah B.

Let’s Relate Together

The word obedience is an unfriendly word to a person who has a rebellious streak.  It’s the type of word that makes you turn ahead in the Bible and hope you see a page that is more pleasing to the flesh.  As a young child, I developed a stronghold to do the opposite of what anyone told me to do.  It could be as simple as someone telling me to wear a pink shirt over the blue shirt.  I would pick the blue shirt simply because I was told to wear the pink shirt – even if I despised the blue shirt.   The reason I am sharing this with you because I want you to understand how difficult breaking this stronghold has been over the years.  I have learned that a lot of the situations I have put myself in could have been avoided because I simply needed to obey God and heed His word.

Let’s Talk About Obedience To God

Obedience to God is an essence of a Jesus follower and we must be listening and heeding His word daily.  By doing this, we ensure that we are indeed in His will.  When we are aligned with God we receive His counsel, healing, and rewards.  God even calls us His treasure!  This scripture can be found in Exodus 19:5

Exodus 19:5 | Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

An obedient act for God could be something like telling your co-worker about Jesus, stepping out of your comfort zone,  and the most valuable act would be relinquishing something that you are holding tightly to. God will reveal to you the areas in your life He needs you to be obedient in.

For example: I have wrestled with separating myself from the only social connection I have because it simply wasn’t meant to be. Out of fear, I stayed connected because I was fearful of being “alone”. After leaving this Facebook group, not even an hour later I received a message from a sweet friend whose words were Kingdom building related.

Let’s Talk About Why It’s Hard

The Israelites wandered around in the wilderness for forty years – it was a trip that should have taken two weeks for them to complete but halfway through they became discouraged and afraid of the Canaanites.  With their fleshly eyes, they saw people who were far too powerful for them to overtake.  Instead, they disobeyed God and in His anger He allowed them to wander. You can check out the story here: Numbers 32

Joshua 5:6 | The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Do you often feel like we are wandering in life without a sign or a glimpse of hope?  Perhaps there was something God asked you to do and you allowed fear to overtake you and it stopped in your tracks.

Barefoot Devotions

A Never Ending Light

Hannah B.

The Discovery

In the thick forest surrounded by darkness that seems to be thick with shadows, she continues to walk along the path that is set out before her. The wind is still stirring around her causing her long dark hair to blow into a tangled mess.

The debris from the last storm has covered most of her path. The aftermath of the storm is making it difficult to judge if she is even on the right path. Her vision is clouded with darkness that seems to be closing in in her.

Determined to fight through, she manages to move her feet forward and shuffle through the shattered pieces and belongings that lie around her. As she looks down and remembers the pieces that were once whole and the story they tell, sadness begins to match the power of darkness.

Once again, she is determined to look toward a light that seems to be pulling her feet forward. Knowing that if she doesn’t look forward, she will surely die. Dying was not option. She was tired of dying over and over through every storm.

Staring at the pieces of her aftermath on the ground, she cried out in desperation, “Surely, this is not what life is!” Deep down she knew she was called for more, but what? What could she possibly do that was worth anything? She was trapped in the tangled mess and broken pieces the storm left behind.

There was the light again. It was so close but yet so far away. It was peaceful and it seemed to have what she so desperately needed. A deep yearning that she did not realize was there. Unsure of where this light was coming from or what it was, it had found her. It was the opposite of everything else she knew, so surely it was good. Surely, it would help her find her way. Still surrounded by darkness, she focused her eyes ahead and chose to follow it with a desire to be enveloped in this light.

As she was walking further down the path, she realized the light grew brighter at her feet. It was leading her away from the storms that never seemed to let up and the aftermath that was left behind.

The closer she walked toward the light, the heavy burdens of being tangled in her mess were coming less worrisome. Though it was still dark, she could see at her very step and it was peaceful because she knew that as she walked toward the light, it would shine before her feet took the next step.

Abba Father. Jesus. My savior. You have searched for me and you found me. You have saved me.

Her name is Faith and this is how she was found.

A Lesson

Although we walk on dark paths in life’s unknowns, we can rest knowing that our Father has already gone before each of our lives. He has strategically planned out our every move, every day of our life, and our every breath.

He has forseen every problem we will face and has already come up with the perfect solution. We don’t need plan A, B, or C because He has the one.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

It’s for your benefit. It may be painful as we endure trials, but in the end, the perseverance will lead us to a greater purpose and great joy.

1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

By reading God’s Word and focusing on Jesus, our faith will grow as we begin to understand God’s heart. We are able to trust that He is there with us, has already gone before us, we do not need to fear the darkness because Jesus’ words are the light that will always lead us to our purpose that we were predestined for before we were born.

He is a light that is always twinkling and desires to catch your eye. When we allow darkness to seep in, it will cloud our spiritual eyes like a dark fog. Often we wonder why God has left us? But He has not. We have simply strayed too far down the wrong path, away from Him. It’s up to us to turn around and find Him. Chase Him. Run to Him. Don’t look back.

It’s up to us to turn the light on. We don’t have to look very far because He is closer than our earthly eyes perceive.

Psalm 119:105 – Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

Xoxo,

Hannah B.