thoughts by Idelette McVicker Archives - Daily Devotionals by Thoughts about God

Published September 7, 2023

The Story of Your Heart

Read: Matthew 1

I was reading the genealogy of Jesus again when it struck me how there are only three women mentioned by name in the whole genealogy: Tamar, Rahab and Mary.

Tamar was a widow who pretended to be a prostitute, slept with her father-in-law and got him to restore her honor. Rahab, a prostitute, helped the Israelites conquer Jericho. And Mary was already pregnant when she married Joseph, something that would have been severely frowned upon in her own Jewish community.

These three women became part of the genealogy of Jesus, in spite of the labels they might have carried within their own communities. I recently heard a young woman from a respected Christian family tell how she fell into adultery. When the story came out, she went to her father. He said to her, “That’s what you did, my daughter, that’s not who you are”

God, our Heavenly Father, sees who we really are, not the labels placed upon us by ourselves, our families or society. God sees our hearts.

Reflect: If God were to look at your heart today, what would He see?

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Words of Blessing

“The tongue has the power of life and death.” Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

My eldest will be going into Grade one this year. For nearly six years we have been speaking into her young life and heart. Sometimes I am encouraged by the fruit; sometimes humanly disheartened. I am reminded and challenged to speak words that belong to a category of blessing. They are words of acceptance, affection, appreciation, approval and attention.

In the same way, we can use our words “and our looks” to curse. These words are: degrading, derisive, derogatory, destructive, displeasing and disapproving.

There is so much power in our tongue. We can shape and build lives with words that strengthen and give life. Or we can choose to hurt and harden the hearts of those around us.

Today let’s ask God that the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in His sight.

Prayer:

Father, please help me to use my words to build up, strengthen, encourage and ultimately bless. Help me not to break down what You are intending to shape in the lives of those around me. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

A Clean Plate

“The time is coming”, declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31(NIV)

I recently heard this wonderful illustration to show why God couldn’t continue covering us under the old covenants or agreements. It is like taking a clean dinner plate and filling it with spaghetti Bolognese. Someone would be happy to eat it. Then, instead of cleaning the plate, place a napkin on it and add the next meal, let’s say a broccoli chicken casserole. Someone who’s hungry would probably still enjoy it. Then again, instead of cleaning the plate, place another napkin on top to cover up the old food and add another layer of food. With every covenant God renewed in the Old Testament, it was like a new covering over the old sin. But when God sent us Jesus, He came to clean our plates. He washed away our sins and gave us a clean start.

Thank You, Jesus, that You clean my plate. Thank You that by Your life we may have a new covenant and that we can start fresh every day, in spite of how messy our lives may get sometimes. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Friend of the Poor

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

A recently read Anne LaMotte’s book, “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith.” In her dry humorous style, she writes about visiting a prison with a friend “to teach inmates how to tell stories.” She then shares a quote from Reverend James Forbes that has stayed with me for many days. He said, “Nobody gets into heaven without a letter of reference from the poor.”

Rev. Forbes bases his thoughts on Matthew 25 where the Son of Man separates the sheep from the goats. The sheep, “those who cared for the poor and the prisoners” are allowed to share in the kingdom inheritance; the goats aren’t.

Our culture is so focused on popularity and individual gain, it’s easy to get caught up in this. But when we get quiet before God and sit at His feet, we are reminded of Jesus, a friend of sinners and a friend of the poor.

Lord, when our hearts are turned towards You, we can’t help but also see the poor, the prisoners and the unloved. Help me to see those precious souls the world disregards and reach out with love, grace and compassion.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Clarifying your Need

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.” Matthew 20:32

It might seem kind of obvious that when two blind men call out to Jesus for mercy that they want to be healed. But Jesus stops, calls them closer, and asks them directly, “What do you want me to do for you?”

I have noticed, sometimes, when I’m sitting by the side of life’s road, crying out to Jesus for mercy, he stops, calls me closer and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”

It’s one of those questions that clears the cobwebs. It cuts through to the core issue. After all, if I’m enlisting the Creator of the Universe on my behalf, I’d better know what I want.

How am I really feeling? What’s the real issue here? What do I need from God today?

There is power in clarifying your true need. And there’s power in bringing it before the throne of grace.

Today, what do you need Him to do for you? Ask for what you need – even when it seems kind of obvious. Ask. And watch how He moves heaven and earth on your behalf.

Dear God, Please help me be clear about what I really need and want. Thank you, that when I ask, you listen. Help me see the power of your hand upon my life, even today. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

In Preparation and Waiting

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:23 (NLT)

Advent marks the season of preparation and waiting. In a sense, it is our taking part in the pregnancy of the Christ child, carrying our part of His story. We prepare our hearts to receive Him; for Him to be born into our humble and broken lives.

It struck me today that as we prepare for Christmas, our hearts focused on the birth of our Savior, in a greater sense we are also participating in a kind of Advent season every other day of the year. Whether it’s Christmas season or not, we are preparing for the return of Christ. We are preparing our hearts for Jesus to come again. Our world is pregnant with His return.

Reflect:

Is your heart ready to receive Him at this time in history?

Where are you making room for Christ this season?

Prayer:

Come, Lord Jesus, come … Help me prepare my heart as a welcoming place that receives You today and every day to come.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

The Power of Love

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrong.” Proverbs 10:12

I am in a season of life when I am confronted daily with the idea that I am, well, not perfect. I am making a lot of mistakes and pray for grace constantly. That’s when I started thinking about my own upbringing and what made the difference. In spite of the humps and bumps of growing up, my mom’s love carried me through. Did she make mistakes? Yes. Was she perfect? No. Did she show me an amazing love, rooted in an unshakable faith? Absolutely.

In Proverbs 10:12 we read, “love covers all wrongs” We find the New Testament version in 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” It’s a spiritual principle that gives me a fresh perspective on parenting, relationships and doing life well. The amazing power of Love means that even when I make mistakes, as long as my Love is even greater, I am covered. No wonder Jesus breaks the commandments down to this one action: Love.

Reflection:
How big is your Love?
Where do you need the power of Love to cover your sins and your mistakes?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for covering my life with Your amazing Love. Grant me the grace to love well, so those in my world will remember my love, rather than my mistakes. Amen.

by Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Extravagant Love

“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume” Luke 7:37 (NIV)

Imagine bringing something worth as much as one whole year’s salary and pouring it out on the feet of Jesus. The woman who worshiped Jesus with the alabaster jar of oil brought a gift that was extremely extravagant, by any account. She took everything she had – her very best – and chose to pour it out to Jesus. This was her simple, but oh, so extravagant thank you.

Jesus loved her act of worship; He saw her heart. He knew her story and He understood her worship. She had a heart filled with love for the God who forgave her sins.

What does my worship look like? Does it spring out of a heart of gratitude? What have I brought to God that is most precious to me?

Jesus, thank You for pouring out Your life on my behalf. I want to bring You my very best. Thank You that You know my story and that You see my heart. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Ensnaring Sin

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

I love that God has created us to do good works and that He has prepared them in advance for us to do.

(See Ephesians 2:10) Even before we were born, God had a purpose for our lives and there are good works He needs us to do on this earth. On the other hand, there is an Accuser, an enemy of our souls, who does his best to keep us from fulfilling our purpose. I have noticed that it often is the same things that keep coming up to entangle me. Hebrews 12 verse one calls it the sin that so easily entangles us. Is there one sin in your life that keeps creeping up on you, trying to entangle you?

When the Holy Spirit points out our sin, it is to turn our eyes back on to Jesus and to set us free. It’s never about condemnation. God wants to put iron in our souls as we respond to His discipline, because ultimately He wants us to fulfill our purposes and not be held back in a life of sin. How wonderful to know that God calls us to freedom, godliness an great purpose.

Create a clean heart in me, O Lord. I want to live out the purposes You have for me and walk in the good works You have already prepared in advance for me to do. I love You, Lord. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

No More Pain

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

My best friend’s mom is in the hospital with cancer. She’s been battling the disease for over a year, but she’s come to a place now where they are basically unable to manage the pain. My friend knows they’re saying good-bye.

At night, especially, this brave lady has been struggling with incomprehensible pain levels. It was during one of these “sessions,” while doctors and nurses were trying to comfort her, that Jesus spoke to her:

“Yes this process is painful, my dear … Do you remember giving birth? Being in labor? You are now in labor, except you are the one being birthed. Take courage. You are being reborn, with a brand new body. No more pain.”

This is the Jesus I worship, the One who feels our pain and meets us in its midst.

by Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

The Heroism of Job

Through seasons of suffering and loss, when things seem most dark, remember to praise my God, in spite of the circumstances.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God’s name be ever blessed.” Job 1:21 (Msg)

Let’s just say Job is not the most popular name on the baby name sites. We like to name our children after the typical heroes, names that can bless them with a future of power and strength. Job’s name is synonymous with suffering and loss. And yet, Job is someone we can hold up as an example of strength, patience, grace, love, friendship with God and the ultimate comeback.

Several years ago, I attended a weekend retreat in the mountains in Taipei. We were organized in groups and had to choose a person from the Bible to represent our table. Our table chose Job. “What?” I thought, but trusted that God would show up in this seemingly strange choice. The light came on for me when we created a one-sentence mantra to describe our hero. I still remember it: “Job, a humble, but wealthy man who praised God, in spite of his circumstances.”

Job holds out a life story that, in the end, is noteworthy. He walked through the pain and came out admirable.

Through seasons of suffering and loss, when things seem most dark, do I remember to praise my God, in spite of my circumstances? Job continues to remind me that everything I have is a gift.

Reflect: What are you thankful for today?

by Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

In Our Place

Because He suffered, we can find comfort in the midst of pain and chaos.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)

How human we are.

How broken is our world.

How incomplete are our relationships.

And yet, in that brokenness and pain, we can come to Jesus and see Him bent over, agonizing in the Garden. He’s been there. He understands. And He provides comfort for those who mourn; He binds up the broken-hearted. He proclaims freedom for the captives.

My deepest comfort can be drawn from Jesus, the man familiar with suffering. He laid down everything He was, every ounce of dignity and honor, to be despised and rejected so we don’t have to carry it. He deserved nothing but glory and yet He chose the simple life of a carpenter and allowed a shameful death on a cross in exchange for Life

I can draw strength from a God who has experienced every broken human emotion. Because He was despised, I can turn to Him for Love. Because He was rejected, we are accepted. Because He suffered, we can find comfort in the midst of pain and chaos. He took it all upon Himself.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! You deserve our unending praise. I am so grateful for what You did on the cross … so grateful. Thank You. Amen.

by Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, and would like to know Him in the way the author does, you can start today. Simply say this prayer and your journey with Christ will begin:

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to trust you from now on. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Thank you for enabling me to trust you in these uncertain times. Amen.

Another Sample Prayer:

Dear God, today I bring you my life, my hopes, my dreams, my deepest yearnings … You know me intimately. You knew me even before I was formed in the womb. You called me into this world to do good and live the life I was uniquely and specifically created for. I ask for Courage and Wisdom to live this life–the life of my dreams. Show me where to start and help me be open to hearing your Voice today. I ask for a greater consciousness of your Presence, today and every day of my life. Amen.

This is My Body

“This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 (NIV)

I remember waking up in a narrow twin bed. I was at a women’s retreat: two nights away from home, with time to spend with God in the company of other women. It was still early. I reached for my Bible and opened it to Luke chapter 22. I heard the women in the hallways, getting ready for the day. There was cheerful chatter and noise that can only happen at a women’s retreat where thirty women have to share bathrooms and hairdryers.

I was still reading when the Spirit stopped me in my tracks:

This is my body, given for you;
This is my body, given for you;
This is my body, given for you!

The words rang in my ears as I heard the sound of the women in the background. Thoughts and emotions collided. This is my body given for you. These were members of our church “the Body of Christ” and they too were given to me. I had always thought only of Christ’s physical body and His offering when taking communion. For the first time, I felt the sacred gift in the presence of my fellow members of the Body. These are the people we share our lives with, our community. A gift to everyone who is willing to partake.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Photo Credit – Tom Sens ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/riverofgod/
Some Rights Reserved: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Healing at the Pool

Jesus’ very act of coming to earth meant exchanging heaven for a human life on earth.

I love that the Son of God didn’t seek out only environments and places to visit worthy of his heavenly identity. After all, his very act of coming meant exchanging heaven for a human life on earth. He deliberately chose simple environments, like a stable, to display the power of the Kingdom of God. For me, his visit to the Pool of Bethesda stands out. It was a place where “a great number of disabled people used to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.” (John 5:1-3) It struck me that this was probably not the most hygienic place around.

Imagine the smell. Most of these people couldn’t make it to the bathroom on their own. I imagine most regular people didn’t frequent this pool and yet Jesus chose to enter into this humble environment and bring healing.

Who and what do I surround myself with? Which places do I frequent? Is this where Jesus would go? Perhaps it’s time to consider the positions we have created for ourselves and our thoughts about where we belong on this earth, and then, just like Jesus did, let’s lay these down.

Thank You, Jesus, for coming to earth and laying down Your divinity. Today, I lay down any concept of self that excludes me from entering the humble, stinky places where you would hang out. I ask for the grace to walk where You go. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

A Heart Turned Toward God

Our heart can be turned towards many things and even other people.

“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Matthew 19:16 (NIV)

Devotion speaks to the position of the heart: a heart fully turned to the one we love. God longs to be the recipient of our affection and have our heart.

Who or what is your heart turned towards today?

When Jesus responded to the rich young ruler’s question, he wanted to find out where his heart was. Keeping the commandments is part of devotion to God, but it needs to flow out of a heart that is turned towards God. Jesus made it clear that following the rules alone was not enough. It would be an act of service, dutiful and metallic, but devoid of heart. Until he was willing to turn his heart away from money and towards God, he couldn’t truly follow God.

Our heart can be turned towards many things and even other people. Is there anything you are not willing to bring to the altar? – Your house, your career, your position, your husband, your children, your closet, your bank account, a parent? What do you hold most dear? What do you treasure in your heart?

When God has our heart, He truly has our life.

Thank You, Father, that You are interested in my heart and not necessarily my service. You are my treasure and I want You to have every piece of my heart. Today I lay down everything that holds me from following You with all of my heart. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Category: <span>thoughts by Idelette McVicker</span>

Further Reading

photo credit: Anthony Janeaud https://www.flickr.com/photos/leyeti/ creative commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

“The tongue has the power of life and death.” Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

Further Reading

Further Reading

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Further Reading

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.” Matthew 20:32

There is power in clarifying your true need. And there’s power in bringing it before the throne of grace.

Further Reading

Further Reading

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrong.” Proverbs 10:12

Further Reading

Further Reading

I love that God has created us to do good works and that He has prepared them in advance for us to do.

Further Reading

Further Reading

Through seasons of suffering and loss, when things seem most dark, remember to praise my God, in spite of the circumstances.

Further Reading

Because He suffered, we can find comfort in the midst of pain and chaos.

How human we are.

How broken is our world.

How incomplete are our relationships.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! You deserve our unending praise. I am so grateful for what You did on the cross … so grateful. Thank You. Amen.

Further Reading

“This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 (NIV)

Further Reading

Jesus’ very act of coming to earth meant exchanging heaven for a human life on earth.

Further Reading

Our heart can be turned towards many things and even other people.

Further Reading

photo credit: Anthony Janeaud https://www.flickr.com/photos/leyeti/
creative commons license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/