Appreciating God

 Psalm 37:4 (NLT) says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.” 

A lot of us really like this verse because it sounds like God is promising to give us the things we want, and honestly that part is exciting and easy to focus on. But what I’ve been starting to understand is that it’s not just about getting what we want, it also says something about God’s character, that He is actually good, and caring, and involved in our lives in ways we don’t always notice or think about.

James 1:17 (NLT) says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” When I read that, I think about how many good things I just overlook every single day because I’m so focused on what I don’t have yet or what I wish was different. It’s easy to think of blessings as only the big things we pray for, but the truth is there are so many things that are already in place that we don’t even stop to question or appreciate.

Like just the fact that we breathe and don’t even have to think about it, or the sun just keeps coming up every morning like it’s supposed to. God holds together the world in a way that actually works for us to live in it. Even nature, how things grow without us making them, and seasons just change and keep going in order, and food actually comes from the ground and trees. None of it is really “normal” when you stop and think about it, but we act like it is. Maybe it’s because we see it every day, but it’s miraculous, and it all still points back to God. He’s the one keeping it going and providing way more than we even notice most of the time.

When we receive blessings from God, we often feel very overjoyed and give thanks to Him. Although we may say thank you, we may not truly understand how big a blessing something really is. You might wake up with food in the fridge and a closet full of clothes, sometimes even too much to pick from, and it starts to feel normal even though it really isn’t. And even if life isn’t like that, the fact that you’re still here, still breathing, still getting through each day is proof of God keeping you and sustaining you.

We still need to be grateful because God has given us so much to live for even when not a single one of us really deserves it. If we go back to James 1:17, it reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from God and remembering that can help shift our minds when we start feeling ungrateful or stuck in what we don’t have.

So if you ever wake up feeling ungrateful, just be real with yourself about it, whether life feels good or whether it feels like things are hard right now. Gratitude doesn’t mean acting like everything is perfect, it just means remembering God is still good and still there, even in whatever you’re dealing with. And even then, you can still give Him praise and be thankful, not because everything is easy, but because He is a God who blesses us and keeps showing us good things in our lives.  

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Appreciating God”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Spiritual Discipline Is Important

 

In life, most of us understand the importance of disciplining ourselves with food and exercise, because we want the benefits of good health. Although it is really good to take care of our physical bodies, we should also know that it is even more important to maintain our spiritual health too. Just as we need discipline to reap the rewards of better health, we also need spiritual discipline to maintain our relationship with God and to have a healthy spiritual life.

1 Timothy 4:78 (NLT) tells us, “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 ‘Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.’”

This verse means that instead of focusing on being popular by society’s standard, and getting caught up in looking a certain way, we need to focus on growing spiritually because that is what counts the most.

God created us to live a good life, and having spiritual discipline will help us do that. When we practice spiritual discipline through reading God’s Word, praying often, and welcoming God’s presence, we please Him. We show that we honor and love Him with our whole lives. This is what invites the Holy Spirit to help us build the spiritual discipline we need.

When we do an honest self-reflection about our faith, it helps us notice where we may need God’s help in certain areas. It means we care about following the example of Christ, and this pleases our Heavenly Father. Praying and asking Him what we need to improve in our spiritual walk with Him helps us resist falling into repetitive sin.

 

So, remember, spiritual discipline is very important to a successful life. It is a part of God’s Will and plan for us because it helps us stay strong in Christ. It is far more important to have spiritual values than any others because it has many more benefits that will always last.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Spiritual Discipline Is Important”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

When Shyness Gets In The Way

 Most of us have felt shy at some point, whether it was at school, church, or when meeting new people. Being shy isn't always wrong. Sometimes it's just a normal feeling. But if we're not careful, shyness can stop us from doing things God wants us to do. And that can become a bigger problem. You might be thinking, “How can being shy have anything to do with God?” Well, when we start listening to our shyness more than we trust what God says, it can become an idol. Most people think idols are only statues that people worshipped in the Bible, but almost anything can become an idol if we listen to it more than we listen to God. Idols are anything that try to take God's place in our lives. A lot of people make this mistake without even realizing it. 

It's when we worry so much about what people might think or say about us that we start holding back. The Bible warns us about this in Proverbs 29:25 (NLT): “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” This verse shows us that when we're more worried about people's opinions than what God says, we can end up making their approval too important in our lives. Instead of trusting God, we're focused on what everyone else thinks. But God wants us to trust Him. When we do, we can have confidence knowing that He is with us and taking care of us.

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) also says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

Jesus never promised that we would never feel afraid, but He did promise to be with us. Because we belong to Him, we don't have to let fear or shyness control our lives. He promises to help us and give us strength when we're feeling nervous or unsure.

In conclusion, we don't have to let shyness hold us back. We can have confidence in God's power and trust Him to help us when we feel afraid. When we trust our Heavenly Father instead of worrying about what other people think, we can move forward in faith. We also have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to help us be brave and do what God is calling us to do. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“When Shyness Gets In The Way”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.comby Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Trusting God When You Feel Lonely

 There comes a point in our lives where we might feel lonely. Whether it’s from losing family, friends, or even just broken relationships, loneliness can take a toll on us. It can make us feel sad and isolated from everyone. But we need to remember that God is always by our side and He is constantly watching over us. 

Joshua 1:9 (NLT) says, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

In this verse, God commands His people to be strong and courageous because they were getting ready to follow His guidance to the Promised Land. It was not going to be easy, but they could have confidence and be strong because He would be with them. It’s the same with us. We can lean on God’s strength and trust that we are never alone because He is always with us. In Hebrews 13:5 (NLT), He tells us, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

You might argue that just reading this verse isn't enough to make you feel less lonely. And that's true. Feeling less lonely doesn't happen just because we read God's promises. It happens as we begin to trust what He says and remind ourselves that God is with us, even when we don't feel like He is.

So whenever we feel lonely, we can trust that God is right there with us. And even when we have doubts, we can talk to God, pray, and trust Him to strengthen our faith and remind us that we are never alone. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Trusting God When You Feel Lonely”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

What Does It Mean to Fear God?

 Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT) says, “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

When people hear the phrase “fear God,” they sometimes think it means we should be scared of Him. But the fear of the Lord is much deeper than that. It means having a deep respect for Him and understanding that He is God and we are not. He has all power in His hands. He knows everything there is to know, and He created everything. We can love God and be close to Him, but we should never treat Him like His commands don't matter. When we fear God, we take Him seriously, respect His authority, and want to obey Him.

It is very important that we reverence God because when we stop respecting Him and His ways, we try to do things our own way. We forget that He’s the One in control of everything. This pulls us away from God, and it opens doors for the devil to attack us. None of us should want that kind of life.  

Acknowledging our Heavenly Father’s superiority in all things is essential for us to enjoy the kind of relationship He wants with us. It helps us stay humble and reminds us that His wisdom is greater than ours. It also helps us listen to His guidance instead of following whatever we feel like doing.

Proverbs 14:27 (NLT) says, “Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”   

This verse shows that fearing God is good for us. When we respect God and follow His ways, He helps guide us away from things that can harm us. His wisdom protects us from many traps and bad choices that could lead us in the wrong direction. The fear of the Lord brings life because it keeps us close to God and His truth.

In conclusion, we should always fear God and give Him the respect He deserves. When we reverence God, we are more likely to obey Him, grow closer to Him, and stay on the right path. We should never forget that God is our loving Father, but He is also the Lord of all creation. Because of that, He deserves our honor, our humility, and our obedience. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“What Does It Mean to Fear God?”, written foraheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.comby Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Trusting God Even When It’s Hard

 Have you ever gone through something that made you scared or upset and you didn’t know what to do? Recently, I had an eye appointment and found out that my eyesight had gotten worse and I would need special glasses and contacts. At first I felt really sad about it because I didn’t want my eyes getting worse. But my mom reminded me that I still need to trust God and have faith that He can heal me. Sometimes it can be hard to trust God when things happen that we don’t understand or when we feel worried, but that is when we need to keep praying and leaning on Him even more instead of letting fear take over.

James 5:15 (NLT) says, “Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.” This verse reminds me that God hears us when we pray and trust Him. It does not mean everything happens exactly when we want it to, or even how we want it to, but it means God cares about what we are going through and wants us to keep having faith in Him even during hard situations. 

Sometimes the enemy will use fear, worry, or disappointment to make us doubt God or feel like He is not listening to us. That is why we have to keep praying and keep trusting Him even when things feel difficult. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.” I think it is important to remember that God does not leave us alone when we are struggling. He stays with us through every situation, and He gives us strength when we feel worried or afraid.

So even when we go through things that scare us, upset us, or make us feel uncertain, we can still trust God through it all. Healing may not always happen overnight, and sometimes waiting can be hard, but God still sees what we are going through, and He will help us. Psalm 34:17 (NLT) says, “The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. That reminds me that God listens to us, cares about us, and wants us to keep having faith in Him no matter what situation we face. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Trusting God Even When It’s Hard”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Standing Strong When Sin Surrounds You

 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT) tells us, “Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for ‘bad company corrupts good character.’”  When you are in a sinful environment, it can be hard to stay focused on God. You may be influenced to do the same thing you see people around you doing. So, the people we spend time around can affect us more than we realize, even to the point where we start thinking certain sins are not a big deal anymore. People may pressure us to do things we know are wrong, and we do them just so we can fit in or feel accepted.

And honestly, sometimes the pressure is not just at school. It can be online, through friends, or even people in your own family. That can make following God feel harder sometimes. God’s Word lets us know that just because everybody around us is doing something does not mean He wants us doing it too. Even though that pressure is real, God wants us to stay close to Him and not follow the crowd. 

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” I think this verse is really important because what we keep around us eventually gets into our heart little by little. We don’t even realize it, but the music, conversations, shows, and people we are constantly around can start changing the way we think. They can take our minds off the goodness of God.

That is why Psalm 1:1 (NLT) says, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.” God is not saying that we should act like we’re better than people. He is warning us that if we keep surrounding ourselves with sin all the time, eventually it starts pulling us farther away from Him. That is why it matters who you listen to and who is influencing your life.

Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Sometimes the world makes sin seem cool, funny, or not serious at all. This is not what God wants. He wants us to think differently than the world and stay close to Him even when it is hard or uncomfortable.

Standing strong around sin is definitely not easy sometimes. There are moments when doing the right thing can make you feel alone or awkward. But 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” This reminds us that God helps us when we feel weak. We do not have to fight temptation by ourselves. When we pray, stay in God’s Word, and trust Him, He gives us strength to keep choosing what is right even when it is hard. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“Standing Strong When Sin Surrounds You”, written for aheartforchristdevotions.blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2026. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ our Lord!