Just One Word: 2014 to 2015 By Cortney Donelson

Source: Unknown

Hello! It’s been awhile. I do apologize for the sudden way the posts and devotions ended. It was for a season, one that I had to sit still in for multiple purposes. 

One of those reasons was to provide myself the opportunity to finish my book. It will likely be published some time in February. I am more than excited about it. There is this nail-biting, antsy-pantsy, I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening kind of wait. God has taught me so much during these past three years. I feel both giddy and overwhelmed with the weight of it all. 

When my book was finally completed (I am still working with the publisher on some minor edits and the cover design), I was all too ready to sit back and relax. I was positioned mentally and emotionally to shut down the laptop, can up the creative juices, and end the late hours. 

God had other plans. During one of my prayers this past month, He made something clear. It was time. 

“Time for what?” I asked with hesitation because I already knew the answer. I just didn’t want to hear it. 

It was time to start writing again. God, as Gardener, started planting more ideas, titles, and devotions into my stubbornly resistant brain. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing. It’s that I now feel the full responsibility of what I am doing. Since my last devotional writing season, I have come to learn a few things that make this divine request all the more daunting. 

I have learned that words hold so much more power than I realized. 

I have learned editors are just as important (if not more important) than the authors.  

I have learned that stripping a verse from its surrounding Scripture can sometimes mean transforming the original message itself.  This sounds dangerous to me. 

So, when I felt prompted to continue writing, God and I had a long chat about crucial traits such as courage and obedience. Funny. In December 2013, I chose the word “courage” as my word of the year. As you may know, every year, I prayerfully choose one word to live out the year as the basis of my focus and decision-making efforts. Words like peace, joy, and courage have helped me shape the last several years of my life around certain priorities. Each time I have done this, God has proven faithful in providing the opportunities to lean on my words, these keystone concepts, in order to find Him. I have grown spiritually with each passing word.

Words do hold power.

It took every ounce of courage I could muster to send my manuscript, cover design, money, and release forms to a publisher. So, as I prayed about my word for 2015, I waited for what God may have in store for this New Year. 

My word for 2015 is obedience. It’s another scary word if you really desire to live it out. Often times, with obedience comes sacrifice, humility, and service. However, obedience also brings blessings, abundance, joy, and adventure. God typically calls us outside our comfort zones. To live obediently outside the cultural box of expectations and standards allows me to focus on what is really important: God’s work, Jesus’ love, and my purpose. 

God has promised to take care of those who walk in obedience to His commands and guidance. Since I have watched His promises unfold time and time again, I can trust Him. His Word has never failed. Therefore, I will go where He asks, serve in ways He has requested, and love others like Jesus does. Hopefully, a little more each day. That is the point, right?

As I welcome 2015, I pray I am obedient to God’s call. I am sure He will take me to places I never would have dreamed!

Prayer: Father God, we trust You with a limitless amount of confidence. We do this because of Your character, Your promises, and Your favor. We ask for Your continued blessings as we enter 2015, blessings that we will use to glorify You and bring the Good News of Your Great Joy to those who may not know You. Help us hear Your call and act on it rather than run the other direction in fear or selfishness. Give us courage to be obedient in the hard areas, the ones that go against the grain of how society may normally function. Father, we love You more and more each day that we see Your awesome power at work. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Influenced by Leviticus 26:1-13 (NIV)

© 2014-2015 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

Is it You? By Cortney Donelson

John 11:35 (NIV)

“Jesus wept.”

Source: Unknown

In my opinion, I don’t know if there has been a more powerful two-word sentence ever written than this: 

“Jesus wept.” 

In John’s gospel, Jesus had just learned of Lazarus’s death. Lazarus’s sister, Mary, who is also Jesus’s close friend, was filled with grief and sobbing at His feet. Upon witnessing Mary’s anguish, Jesus was overcome with emotion. Jesus felt every bit of Mary’s pain. It did not matter that He already knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus’s sorrow – His love - was so profound, that He didn’t just cry. The King of Kings and Savior of the world, who knew He would soon crush all of death under His feet - He wept. 

I do not know for whom this devotion is written. I just know it is for someone specific. Is it you?

A few weeks ago, I was driving alone in my car. As is typical for these solo drives, I was singing along with worship music. I sing loudly. I don’t just follow along in my head, hum, or mouth the words. I belt out the verses of these songs. If you were to stop beside me at a red light, you might think I was crazy. I get lost in the music. It’s just what I do.

This particular day, a song came on the radio that I had heard a few dozen times. This time, as I listened and sang along, something happened. 

How Sweet the Sound (Citizen Way)

Yea though I walk through the valley

I know that You are always right beside me

And I will fear no evil

You're my rock

And my strength

You comfort me

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

I hear You singing over me

I once was lost but now I'm found

And it's beautiful

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

It covers every part of me

My soul is silent

I am found

And it's a beautiful sound

You carry me through the waters

Where Your peace clears away all my sorrow

And nothing can separate us from Your love

Oh, Your love it will always be

You were healing in the pain

You were shelter in the storm

Hallelujah You restore my soul

As I sang, I wept. I felt no sorrow. No grief. No anguish. No pain. I wept with tears that soaked my face and neck. I just could not stop. My throat never constricted like it does when my own raw emotion is attached to my tears. As I sang and wept, I felt the overpowering sensation that I was weeping Jesus’s tears, and they were tears for someone else. I had no idea who that someone might have been – I still don’t. Is it you?

Jesus wept for Lazarus. He wept for Mary. Jesus weeps for us. When we walk through a darkness filled with deep sorrow or pain, Jesus is there. He cares. He loves us through it. When jobs are lost. When food is scarce. When our children struggle with a fatal disease. When our marriages end. When our safety is betrayed. When our innocence is stolen. When our homes are destroyed. When our nation is under attack. When our pain is so great that we think it just can’t get any worse, Jesus weeps for us. 

That day in the car, Jesus was weeping through me. Was it for you? 

I have had this devotion on my heart for two weeks now. I wanted to write and publish it last week. I felt like someone needed to hear it then. Someone needed to know that Jesus sees him (or her). He cares about him. He loves him. However, I allowed my busy schedule and other things to get in the way of doing what I believe God laid on my heart to accomplish. I may have missed God’s will and perfect timing. I feel like this week might be too late for that someone. And, I am sorry. 

I do know that God can take my procrastination and create something meaningful in His perfect way. In that promise, I find some relief. I also know that God’s love is so vast and so good that He uses many different ways to show it. In this case, I believe He is using someone who is not currently living in a dark place to weep and write for another. Me. In that sense, I am overwhelmed and humbled by His plan. I hope I have reached that individual who needed to know this … to know that Jesus wept for him. If it is not you, is it someone you know? 

If nothing else, we could all remember this: God’s love is so powerful that it can make a Savior weep. He wept for Lazarus and Mary. He will weep for you too. 

Prayer – God, I have experienced something I cannot explain. I wept without feeling. I can only assume it was You, weeping through me, and I pray I was not too late in getting Your message out. You love someone so deeply and so vastly, that You wept for them. You want them to know You see them. You care about what they are going through. You love them. Thank You for that love.  In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

© 2014 As a Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

No Scars ... No Proof By Cortney Donelson

This devotion was first published on "As a Clay Jar" in 2013. It happens to be the most viewed post to date by those in the United States. I hope you enjoy either reading it for the first time or revisiting it. My prayer is that the message is one of encouragement but also of conviction ... that we shouldn't hide our hurts if God wants us to use them for His glory. Amen?

Galatians 6:17 (The Message)

“Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do – the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.”

Growing up an avid athlete, I had my fair share of injuries. In fact, I had plenty of surgeries in attempts to fix those injuries, and those surgeries left a lot of scars. After my second wrist surgery to repair the torn ligaments that ended my tennis career, I had accumulated 11 scars from scalpels alone. It was then I received an amusing T-shirt from a family member. The back of the shirt read, “No scars … No proof.” It reminded me that my body had taken some abuse over the years. More importantly, it reminded me of what I had received in return for those wounds – self-confidence, determination, triumph, friendship, discipline, courage, and memories that will last a lifetime. The scars were the proof of what I had gained, and they were worth it.

Jesus bore wounds that were worth our very lives. There was a disciple to whom Jesus appeared after His crucifixion – one who needed a little extra information in order to believe the Good News. In John 20:24-25, Jesus’ wounds would become the proof Thomas needed of Jesus’ resurrection. “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas, was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later, Jesus allowed Thomas to do just that. Those wounds were proof that the living God had come to earth, died for our sins, and rose again. Jesus was alive!

Sometimes, our wounds are worth it too. But, our wounds are not always physical, are they? Most of us have emotional and spiritual hurts too. Thomas wasn’t the only one to receive the Good News. Jesus came to heal our wounds as well – all of them. Some wounds are superficial, bleed for a short time, and are then forgiven and forgotten. Others remain active for years – similar to cuts on knuckles that keep reopening. They tear at our confidence. Jesus can heal those long-standing hurts too.

How? He stops the bleeding, and He leaves the scars. I believe if He erased our experiences and left no evidence of our pain, we might not learn from those experiences. Think about it. Would we remember them without the scars? Would we be able to turn them into powerful messages for God’s gain and glory? Probably not. As they say, “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Many of us try to hide our wounds and scars. I used to do this. I would cover them up, keep them private, and deny their existence. I believed they were ugly and thought if I ignored them, they would go away. Can I share something? That is a lie. As a believer, I have learned that God not only sows up our wounds and builds scars over them, but He also uses them in mighty ways – if we allow Him. Galatians 6:17 in The Message says, “Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do – the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.” It’s time we stop being bothered by the fact that we have scars. Maybe it is time we start seeing them as God does – ugly made into beautiful. As the Scripture says, I have more important things to do than worry about what others might think – namely, I need to be living authentically for a Savior who is bigger than any wound I bear.

All of us have wounds. It’s part of life. We can stop trying to be perfect and stop pretending we are unscathed. When we allow God to heal our hurts, He does … and leaves the scars. He doesn't erase them. Doing so would take away our memory – our message. We all carry scars that shape who we are and the decisions we make. Many times as Christ followers, we are offered the opportunity to sustain wounds and bear the scars in service to Jesus. And, what an awesome opportunity that is! After all, no scars … no proof.

Prayer –Thank You, Father God, for the wounds Jesus’ bore on our behalf. The scars on His body are the proof that our sins are forgiven, and we have a home in Your heavenly dwelling. For that, we are all so grateful. I pray we don’t try to hide our hurts in darkness but bring them to You, the ultimate healer. I pray we don’t judge others’ wounds and scars, but instead allow You to heal them and use them for Your glory. I know by doing so, we will all find Your joy. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!

© 2013-2014 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.

Collecting and Depositing Pieces By Cortney Donelson

Source: Unknown

1 John 2:6 (ESV) 

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

The metaphor I am about to use about the heart is not inherently biblical. However, the underlying message is based in Scripture. I believe it’s one of the foundational hopes God carries for us all. The metaphor materialized in my thoughts recently, as I was talking with a group of women with whom I will soon travel to Haiti. I love when God shows up like this.

Our hearts are not born whole. They are fragmented. Some pieces are missing. They need to be found, collected, and added to the whole. There are other parts of our hearts that are not our own. They don’t belong. They don’t fit quite right. Our hearts are comprised of significant portions that should be deposited for others to use or for us to relinquish for God’s glory. All of these pieces are God pieces. 

“When I left Haiti last June, I left a piece of my heart there. I can’t wait to go back.” 

As the group of women talked about and asked questions about our upcoming mission experience and a couple of their pending adoptions of children from Haiti, something clicked. My statement had triggered something inside me. I did not know if it was a good click or a bad one. I just knew that later, on the 90-minute drive home, I wanted to sit with God. Something in these conversations was important. 

Later in my car, a question materialized. Why do I feel like part of my heart is in Haiti but not Russia or China? My children were also adopted internationally. One from Rostov, Russia, and the other from Nanchang, China. Mommy guilt started to creep in. Why don’t I feel as connected to by children’s birth countries as I do to Haiti? 

God answered. I started to see my heart like a glass vase with some pieces of the mosaic missing. Holes in my vase reveal where those specific fragments are not present. God knows what those pieces are, and He knows where I can find them. The question for me becomes will I follow Him to those missing pieces in order to build my heart and make it whole? 

Many years ago, I followed God to Russia. I found a piece of my heart in the blue eyes of a little boy sitting on the countertop of the medical room in a small orphanage. That piece was put in its place, forever sealed into my love-vase. I followed God to China several years later. I found another missing piece of my heart. She too, with her petite body but huge smile, filled one of the holes in my heart. I wasn’t leaving my heart in Russia or China. I was collecting my own heart’s pieces. I was treasuring what God had willed for me long ago. 

Haiti was different. God had placed an extra piece on my heart-vase. A piece that didn’t belong only to me. It was to be shared … given away even. When I followed God to Haiti last year, it was for the purpose of depositing that piece, forever connecting me to the people, the culture, and their needs. When I travel to Haiti again this summer, I am simply going to visit that piece I left behind. It’s a God piece that will continue to pour out to others in an effort to show them who this person of Jesus is – to give them Life.

I believe we all have missing pieces. Call them God-shaped pieces if you will. But, I believe they come in all shapes and sizes and are meant to be filled with the plans, will, purposes, and adventures that God wants us to pursue as we run after Him. I believe the tugs we feel to do something extraordinary and for His glory are the pulsing beats of those pieces felt from the other side of the street, other end of town, in the slum neighborhood, in the widow’s house, and in the orphanage across the globe. 

I think we all have extra pieces too. They are portions of our hearts that were intended to be given away. Perhaps these pieces are shared via acts service, gifts, tithe, time, resources, acts of love, or as callings. What about in our marriages? Or in our jobs, neighborhoods, or churches? Christ was in the giving-away-heart-pieces business. He so desperately wants us to do the same.  The apostle John wrote, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” As followers of Christ, we can all do a better job of leaving behind our hearts – as reflections of His heart. “Walk the walk,” as they say.

Have you been collecting pieces to make your heart whole? Is there something tugging at your heart that you have been ignoring? I challenge you to find that piece. Follow God to the ends of the earth if you have to. A full and complete mosaic is what He is after – isn’t it what we should be chasing after as well?

Have you been depositing parts of your heart? Have you left His legacy in areas where others could use some God-shaped heart pieces? I encourage you to pray about how you can do that. We all want to make a difference. Sharing our extra heart pieces is an amazing way to get started.

Prayer – God, thank You for tugging on the holes in my heart and leading me to my children. Thank You for allowing me to share my heart – Your heart – with others in Haiti. I pray I continue to follow Your lead as we collect and deposit Your love wherever we go together. In Jesus name, Amen. 

The Many Sides of Love - Part II By Cortney Donelson

Source: Unknown

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

I am a love-work in progress. I am better at loving today than I was last week. I will be better tomorrow than today. Jesus is perfect love. He is the model I run after as I chase down this gloriously mysterious condition of the heart. There is no greater love than that of Jesus’ love for us. 

It is not proud. The side of love named meekness is a side I seek on a daily basis. I must. For, I know I struggle with pride. Sometimes, I forget that meekness is a choice. Jesus humbled himself over and over in order to model for us this choice we have – to consider less of ourselves. In Philippians 2:5-8 it directs, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!” The One who had every reason to be proud, lived out perfect humility.

The side of love called meekness hopes we choose to serve. 

To release our ego, 

To humble ourselves,

To relinquish our pride, position, and selfish priorities,

to wash one another’s feet, 

to bow to God, 

to surrender all.

This is what Jesus chose.

Love does not dishonor others. The side of love named honor compels me to obedience. Jesus shows me how complete obedience to - and honor of – the authority of God the Father will mark my life for eternity. A clear but perhaps forgotten message of the New Testament is that Jesus’s entire life and ministry were orchestrated by God. Hebrews 10:7 says, “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come . . . to do thy will, O God.” Jesus was careful to carry out every detail according to the will of His Father.

The side of love named honor hopes I am as concerned about my allegiance and obedience to God as Jesus was. 

Honor God. If I do, then I will …

Honor my parents. 

Honor those who teach and lead. 

Honor my spouse.  

This is what Jesus chose.

Love is not self-seeking. The side of love named selflessness reminds me what Jesus did for me. Romans 5:8 explains Jesus’ selfless love plainly: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I am not sure there is a more powerful statement of selfless love. Jesus didn’t just die for me. He was betrayed. He was humiliated. He was beaten. He was physically and emotionally diminished in the eyes of His community. Then, He was crucified. For me, a sinner. And, for you. All for love. 

The side of love named selflessness hopes I never forget the cross. It hopes I look at every person I meet through the same lens as Jesus … and view him as a child of God worthy of His death on that cross. 

No matter who they are. 

No matter what they have done. 

No matter what they believe. 

No matter what they feel, think, or value. 

No matter what.

This is what Jesus chose.

Love is not easily angered. The side of love named self-control is sometimes one of the hardest to master. Yet in perfect love, there is no anger. Anger is born of fear or pain. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter acted out of fear-inspired anger when he cut off the ear of one of the men sent to arrest Jesus. Matthew 26:51-53 details Jesus’ response: “With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” Jesus had every worldly right to be angry. He was betrayed. He was about to die unjustly. But, love conquered fear that night. 

The side of love named self-control warns me: I can expect to become a victim of whatever means I use to get what I want. Love wants me to live by this fruit of its spirit called self-control so that others will do the same. 

Self-control is infectious.

It turns away wrath;

It quiets contention;

It provides understanding.

It bridges divides.

This is what Jesus chose.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. Have you ever had to forgive someone who didn’t think there was anything wrong to forgive? A love like Jesus’ knows no boundaries. His forgiveness is for all, even those who intentionally do wrong, unknowingly hurt others, or masterfully sin against God himself. In Luke 23:34, as some of His last words before His death, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…” Perfect love keeps no record of wrongs. Perfect love forgives. Even if it must do it “70 times seven times” (Matthew 18:22).

The side of love named forgiveness helps me. When I don’t feel the capacity to forgive, God is there, whispering truth - about the freedom forgiveness secures, not for others, but for me. Jesus’ love promises that forgiveness will set me free…

From lasting pain,

from the weight of resentment,

from the grip of hurt,

from the handcuffs of anger.

This is what Jesus chose.

This love – this perfect love – is available to us all. Are you willing to embrace it? Are you willing to live it out?

“His love is deep, His love is wide

And it covers us

His love is fierce, His love is strong

It is furious

His love is sweet, His love is wild

And it's waking hearts to life”

- “Furious” by Bethel Music

Prayer – Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to model perfect love. We cannot begin to appreciate how deep and how wide this love for us is. Our prayer is that as we learn more and experience Your love, we can live out greater love towards others – and perhaps wake hearts to life in You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The Many Sides of Love - Part I By Cortney Donelson

Source: www.turnbacktogod.com

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Love is complicated. It does not always make sense. It is not for the weak in spirit, it is not easy to come by, but it is absolutely worth it. Jesus is perfect love. In honor of His death on the cross and His resurrection on Easter Sunday, the next two weeks’ devotions will be about perfect love – a love from God we must not only accept and embrace, but strive to illuminate for others, to the glory of God. Amen.

Scripture talks in depth about love. One of the most well known Bible verses about love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, the one that defines this powerful condition of the heart - each and every glorious side of it.

Love is patient. As my five-year takes her time putting on her shoes this morning, and I am rushing around making sure every lunch is packed, every breakfast item is put away, and the dog has been fed, the side of love named patience watches me. It senses my growing frustration, and it tries to speak to the hurried parts of my soul. Slow down. Love reminds me that this little girl, whom God blessed me with, is doing her best. She is growing in self-confidence with every act of independent dressing. This one matters too. I choose to listen to the patient side of love, and I suddenly see the situation very differently. I see my daughter’s proud smile when she realizes she has put her shoes on the correct feet. I would have missed that smile if I had chosen to ignore this side of love.

Love is kind. It is apparent that the woman at the return desk is having an awful day. I overhear the sarcasm and rudeness as she speaks to the customer ahead of me. It’s now my turn. There is no greeting, certainly no smile from her. The side of love named kindness watches me. It senses my growing attitude of contempt toward this woman, and love tries to speak to the ugly parts of my soul. Be graceful. Love reminds me that this woman is a child of God who is struggling for a reason unknown to me. It is not an attack against me. It is not about me at all. I choose to listen to the kind side of love, and I suddenly see the situation very differently. I see a lady who needs someone else to show her kindness first. I smile and give her a compliment. She pauses. Then, she smiles back … and apologizes. I would have missed that opportunity to offer her a second chance if I had chosen to ignore this side of love.

Love does not envy. I clutch the phone as I sit on the floor. Tears soak my cheeks. A friend who never shared with me her desire to start a family is pregnant. I am not – pregnant that is. My husband and I have been diagnosed with infertility after years filled with tests and doctor visits. Our pain is fresh. She is excited about the tiny life inside her and perhaps unaware of the ache her news is causing me. Envy is erupting in my heart. The side of love named contentedness watches me. I have plans for you too. Love reminds me that my friend’s pregnancy does not point to any failure on my part. God has separate plans for each us. Good plans. Perfect plans. I finally “hear” my friend and realize she deserves happiness, just as much as I do. I take a deep breath … and I choose to congratulate her from the bottom of my heart. I would have missed feeling true happiness for her if I had chosen to ignore this side of love.

Love does not boast. I sit and think of all the times I have experienced success … and boasted about it. There are too many examples to count. I have boasted about myself. I have boasted about my children. I have boasted about position, intellect, experience ... As I sit and pray about which example to write about, the side of love named humility watches me. Do not boast. Love convicts me. By writing about any success I have boasted about in the past, I am claiming that accomplishment again – for myself. Instead, we are instructed to boast in the Lord. We are to claim His righteousness, not our own. Jeremiah 9:24 says, “but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” I am lovingly convicted. I am just so grateful to know God at all, to call Jesus my Savior. He has blessed me with much. Nothing I have done that would be considered "good" has been accomplished apart from God. That is the truth. And, I would have missed the opportunity to boast about God’s mercy, authority, glory, and grace if I had chosen to ignore this side of love. 

Next week, I plan to sit with more of God’s love. My prayer is that God will speak to all of us regarding the remaining sides of love – the sides of meekness, honor, generosity, self-control, and forgiveness. 

This perfect love, Jesus’ kind of love, is quite amazing. I don't always get it right, modeling this love. I am a work in progress. What about you? Is there a side of love you struggle to show others? 

Prayer – God, Your love has no boundaries, no judgment, and no selfishness. It is a perfect love, evidenced by Jesus birth, death, and renewed life. Our prayer is that we don’t miss any of the many sides of Your love. And, furthermore, that we can be a model of Your love, in our own lives as we interact with others. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Deer Feet By Cortney Donelson

This devotion was first published in May 2013 by As a Clay Jar. It has been, by far, the most read devotion overseas. In a few weeks, I will repost the devotion most popular with readers from the United States. Thank you to all my readers, near and far. God bless you.

Source: Unknown

Habakkuk 3:19 (NKJV)
“The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

The ability to change directions quickly…

That is what I long for as a Christian. When I am running down a path not suitable for my gifts or my purpose, I pray for the capacity to hear God yell “turn around!” If I can hear it, I can do it – because God gave me feet like those of a deer. After all, I desire to be obedient to His call.

When I first read Habakkuk 3:19 (verses similar to Psalm 18:33), I immediately thought of a deer’s amazing ability to jump and run. The muscles of a deer's hind legs provide most of the power for those physical skills. Did you know that deer have the startling ability to jump eight feet into the air?

However, the deer’s front legs are just as special and just as critical to their survival. They are ideal for pivoting, allowing the deer to make sharp turns. I believe it is these front legs that are even more noteworthy when it comes to my faith journey.

Here’s another “deer feet” fact that maybe you didn’t know: With all this running, jumping, pivoting, and changing directions, the hooves are constantly worn down by heavy use. So, God created the hooves to grow continuously – they never stop. I think this is the most significant aspect of a deer’s feet to consider as I look at my own relationship with God.

When Scripture says, “He will make my feet like deer’s feet,” I try not to take this too lightly. I was made to run, jump, pivot, change directions, and grow as a Christian. I want to run to God. I long for the courage to jump into obedience of His will. I seek to pivot away from temptations and circumstances that go against God. I desperately hope I can change directions when I am on the wrong path. And, I ache to grow continuously in my faith and in my relationship with Jesus.

For a long time, I had been running down the wrong path. Unknowingly, I was putting someone else ahead of God – my husband in fact. Kyle Idelman, author of “Not a Fan,” asks this question of Christians to prompt a serious look at our relationships with God, “Where do you turn when things go wrong?” Up until a couple years ago, my answer would have revealed a problem. During struggles, my first reaction was to go to my husband – every time. In thorny circumstances, we would lean on each other instead of getting on our knees and seeking out His presence. We solved every difficult decision together but without God’s input. We led small groups, but we were not praying together. On paper, we had a very Jesus-filled marriage. In reality, our marriage was independent of Jesus’ direction, and we were absolutely running down the wrong path.

That dangerous path led to pain, hurt, selfishness, loneliness, betrayal, and loss. The last part of Habakkuk says, “And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Thankfully, God had a plan for me. I was one of His lost sheep. Yet, in His loving fashion, God put me up on a high hill where I was forced to see my mistake. In His gracious way, He allowed me to experience a specific catastrophe – one with a powerful purpose. Only this type of sting could force me apart from my husband long enough to make the choice God was hoping I would make. Ultimately, that choice was to use those deer feet the Lord gave me to pivot and change directions, getting back on His path.

Sometimes, our high hills – in this case our painful experiences – are our greatest blessings. When God made me walk up there on “heartbreak hill,” He opened my eyes to His love and purpose for me. Just like those hooves, I felt worn out while working through the crisis, but I grew too. I grew spiritually and emotionally. I also grew mentally and relationally. Now, two years later, I am running and jumping with power – His power.

My husband and I are running together down the right path now because God is in the middle. However, every once in a while, I check myself to make sure I am putting Him first and that I am listening for His voice to guide me – and help me pivot again if needed.

My deer feet have done me well.

Prayer – God, thank You for giving me the ability to seek You and run to You – through the sacrifice of Jesus, Your Son. There are many times I have had to change directions in life. You have been there every time to show me the way. My prayer is that I continue to grow towards You in my mind, heart, and spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Author’s Note:

You will find people whom you love, whom you share everything with – when you do, ensure that God is your Master and you are both living to serve Him. 

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