Jan 19
Today’s Truth
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes (Psalm 119:59 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I gave her instructions for the job. “Remove the chairs from the room, vacuum thoroughly, and 
then I will show you how to mop the wood floor.” Once my daughter got through the first two of three steps, I joined the cleaning party to teach the age-old-mom-class, “Mopping 101.”
Class began with a few mopping fundamentals. “Shake the bottle of polish before you use it. Do one small section at a time. Mop along the grain of the wood. Put some muscle into it and always – always take a step back to see if you missed any spots.” I gave a quick demonstration, then Kennedy took the mop and got busy on her weekend wood-floor polishing project.
As I walked away, it hit me.
The lesson.
In order to see where the polish had been applied on the floor – in order to see if there were any mistakes or overlooked places – a mopper needs to step back and look at things from a different angle. From a fresh perspective.
To gain perspective in life, we often need to step back too: away from our emotions, our plans and our expectations – in order to consider the big picture. The God-picture.
It’s so easy to get lost in the drama-filled challenges of life and become overwhelmed by our circumstances. Can I hear an Amen? I do this all the time! I get sucked into the drama of a moment and see only what my emotions allow me to see: a dim, slim and flesh-led view.
Let’s be honest, we all have some level of drama and expectations. And that’s not a bad thing. But when our emotions lead our responses, it can be difficult to see beyond our moments and mountains. When our hearts are consumed by the emotions of a moment, we can lose sight of what honors God and what really matters.
So, what’s a woman to do?
Take a step back. Pray. Ask God for vision and perspective. Consider His Word. Remember His power, provision, and plan. Move beyond self-led reactions to Spirit-led responses. The late pastor and theologian A.W. Tozer wrote, “Sometimes when we get overwhelmed we forget how big God is.”
Our perspectives change in God’s presence. We gain clarity and peace when we adapt God’s perspective instead of our own. His sight is pure, full of grace and eternal – while our sight is imperfect, narrow and worried about the now. The wise King Solomon encouraged us this way, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).
David often stepped back in awe of God’s love. “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NIV)
He reflected on his own ways versus God’s ways. “I meditate on your precept and consider your ways” (Psalm 119:15 NIV). “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119:59 NIV).
Jesus also encourages us to step back from worries and fears. ““Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:24-26 NIV)
As we consider the ways God provided in the past, it helps us to trust Him in the present.
Kennedy rocked the mop that day in our kitchen because she heeded my directions and consistently drew back to gain perspective on her polishing. Step back today and position yourself in His grace. Consider the big picture. Lay your day, your plans, your thankfulness, your people, your problems, your wins and your losses before God. Trust His ability to work in and through it all. Relish the perspective and peace that rises and then be prepared for those around you to be drawn to the able, faithful God who is at work within you.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Help me to step back from my emotions, expectations, and plans. I want Your perspective and to respond in ways that please You. Cover me again with grace, order my steps, and equip me fresh with Your Spirit.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What will that look like for you? Are you ready to step back? Click over to the post and respond with a ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY!
Then encourage one another in the comments section.
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Thank you for this mornings message. A very good Godly friend of mine shared. IT immediately gave me peace. What a good reminder and illustration of allowing a fresh perspective to bring your cares once again to God. Thank you so very much simply said, HIS ways are always good always promising always perfect! Just let go and give it to God.
I’m going to try to turn my emotions over to Jesus
The line in your devotional where you wrote is so powerful. Move beyond self-led reactions to Spirit -filled responses! This devotional is so great Thank you!
The line in your devotional where you wrote is so powerful. Move beyond self-led reactions to Spirit -filled responses! This devotional is so great Thank you!
I’ve been caught in the moment for quite a while now, unable to focus on the bigger picture. Yesterday was a challenging day and I felt utterly defeated. I needed to hear these words today to realize my problems may be big, but I serve a bigger God. Thank you Gwen for these encouraging words. You helped me to see, there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. (I didn’t follow your one sentence summary instruction, but it was intentional and I’m sorry. 😉
It is so easy to get caught up in the moment, but I have to remember that God knows our bigger picture. Thank you for sharing. It was what I needed this morning.
Good morning Gwen I’m blessed by this devotion this morning, I plan to step back from my fears and worries, gain Gods perspective and proceed forward in confidence and peace and love. God Bless ♥️
Stepping outside of my emotions to get a clear and fresh God perspective helps me to reduce worry, fear, stress, and anxiety, reminding me that I serve a God big enough to free me of these things.
I am reminded of this simple process, yet an often neglected one to take time out and evaluate before planning ahead. Thank you.
Good Morning Gwen, The perfect reading to remind me to take time to reflect, pause and recall the God I serve who always is mightier than my worries or challenges. Blessings.
Thank you, Gwen, for your encouraging words. I commented a while back about my strenuous year serving my church. I needed a new perspective, too. I took a retreat away for 5 days, just Jesus and me. I desperately needed quiet time with Him and to understand how to love my unlovable self so I could love others better, to grasp that His love for me is not based on performance but who He created me to be, to allow myself to be who He created and not what others expect (which I have done most of my adult life) and to find peace. I took several books with me in order to address those things, but He already had what I needed where I was staying. A devotional book on the coffee table that spoke to me about the peace I craved, and another book I had wanted to read but never did about getting real with who you are and setting out to become a better person, and above all accepting and celebrating who God created you to be! Jesus met me where I was and gave me the tools for a new perspective! I now have a few goals for this month, working on them one day at a time, living one day at a time. Focusing on the moment, not failures of yesterday or fears for tomorrow. Today, celebrate and love today. Once I accomplish those goals, I will make new ones for next month. This perspective helped me not be so overwhelmed with all I was struggling with and kept me from anxiously trying to fix all that I saw wrong with me. I know not everyone has the opportunity to get away for five days, but we can get away in our own homes by sitting quietly, still, and listening. Slow deep breaths, calm your anxious heart and recieve His love for you. Thank you again Gwen, and all the GiG’s who encourage and love us through their beautiful devotionals. And thank you to all the GiG’s in this world who make it a better place just for being you. God bless you.
I know God is Bigger!
I believe God sent this word for me. I will step back from my fears and look up to Him to take charge.They appear overwhelming if itemised but I believe He is capable in Jesus name, amen.
I am truly ready for God to work for me. It is overdue time for me to sit back and lay the plans He has for my life back in His hands. I shall sit back and watch from His perspective opposed to mine and rest in His Grace.
I will place my trust in the Lord!
Fears can drive us when we allow them but it robs us of so much joy and truth. Today I commit to turn my fears over to God and trust that he is in control. I want to make positive memories instead of wasting a day on stress. I love you Abba Father.
I need to let go and let God.
Such a simple thing but more profound than the depth of the sea: God loves me and I’m always welcome to go to him, never fearing to come into his presence for any reason at all.
Lead me Lord 🙏🏽❤️
God where are you leading me?
Thank you Gwen for this devotion and thank you Christine for sharing your experience.
I have been feeling the same way you have described in your comment, and waiting on God to give me a new perspective, vision and plan
I definitely need to take a step back from fear and anxiety, I need to take a step back from valuing myself based on my performance or what others think of me.
I need to step back from setting unachievable goals and getting so overwhelmed when I don’t achieve them. I need to stop worrying and start trusting. so help me God
I need to stop judging myself and start accepting my flows. Someone once said” what we think of as flows is what make us so special”, so help me God.
I need to slow down and enjoy my everyday life, I need my mind to be at rest, and be able to experience God’s peace. so help me God
So, today I decided to step back from worries, fear, and perfectionism and step in faith and trust. So help me God.
I am praying that Jesus meet me where, i am praying that He would give me the tools of a new prospective, I am also asking that God teaches how to lay my day, my plans, my thankfulness, my people, my problems, my wins and and losses before God, and trust the Holy Spirit’s ability to work in and through it all.
I hope that soon I will share with you that Jesus met me where I am, “that I have a few achievable goals, that I am working on them one day at a time, living one day at a time. Focusing on the moment, not failures of yesterday or fears for tomorrow”.
ABBA FATHER BE A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH AND A LATCH FOR MY MOUTH!
PROVERBS 4:23 BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU THINK BECAUSE YOUR THOUGHTS RUN YOUR LIFE.
Lord Jesus, teach me how to chill out and trust You more.