Never Ending Praise The Lord

Devotions and short stories that draw me to God.

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Hey! I’m Chelsea and I started this website as a way to get closer to God through devotional time. I thought, why not share it with others? If I have questions, it’s very possible that you have questions as well. Eventually, this website will have short storiesarticles as well as devotions. I would also like to implement prayer requests and a place to share answered prayers and testimonials I can feature. I live in Texas with my mom and our two dogs Twiggy and Bella. I’m a woman who has been through the fire many times, and the only way I came out of it was the love of God. Until things come together, please feel free to comment your need for prayer. You have the option of telling me “Please pray, God knows.” or if you want it to be specific, you’re more than welcome to share. Praying it all comes together soon!
  • Perfectly and Purposefully Placed

    Perfectly and Purposefully Placed

    Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!“

    A couple weeks ago, I wrote about spoiling the plans God has for us and how dangerous that is to our present lives. It recently dawned on me that when we look back longing for our past, it’s just as dangerous.

    When I moved here to Texas, I wanted to be everywhere else. I thought maybe I would go back to Indiana, God said no. I thought maybe I would return to Florida but again, God said no. He shut the door on me three times when I tried to make plans to move. It was frustrating! I wanted the beach, the guy I thought I loved or the life I lived in Indiana.

    All three times, I learned a couple things about God and myself.

    First, God is great about answering prayers and later reminding you of what he did. For example, in Indiana, I had a whole tantrum wanting to get out of the circumstances I was in. I had zero patience and I was at the very end of my rope after a difficult period of life. While my actions and my very childish fit were…disappointing to say the least, God did remove me from my circumstances and after a short period, he removed me from Indiana altogether. It was difficult because I had great friends, mentors and amazing church, but he had plans. Those plans included a couple of difficult years back in Florida. Yes, I said years.

    That’s the second thing I learned about God. His timing is so different than ours- that’s what makes it so hard not to want to know the ending! However, that short time in Florida- that seemed long at the time- was necessary for where I am today.

    I came to Texas believing it was a short-term solution. I tried finding housing and employment in Indiana first and God really said, “I brought you out of that place and you’re not going back.”

    Oh. Okay, Lord.

    Then I thought I would either return to the New Smyrna beach area, and once again- God shut it down. He reminded me that while it was a beautiful place, there was nothing good for me there.

    Then I went to visit that formerly mentioned gentleman, and I came back thinking ok, I’m going to get a job where he is and go be with him. I even had a job interview. In fact, I had several. I even had companies working to help me figure out the soonest I could be there. Except….

    God said no… again. I didn’t get the jobs. I didn’t have the answers and not long after that, I realized that guy wasn’t for me.

    I had to face the very real fact that God had something for me right where I am.

    I want to remind you that once upon a time in a far away land…. Lot’s unnamed wife looked back at her former life too… after being warned not to! She looked back at Sodom, and she turned into a pillar of salt! [You can read about this entire account in Genesis 19]

    Maybe you’re asking why God judged Lot’s wife so harshly for simply back.

    God has been very gracious about answering this for me because the same is true for us today. When we look back on our past lives, it tells God that our hearts are not in the right place. As people belonging to God, we don’t want to long for a corrupt and passing world. We want to be longing for what he is preparing for us in the future. That doesn’t mean we have to rush to find out. It actually means we should be living our present lives, focused on sharing the love of God knowing that our future is planned- perfectly and purposefully.

    Luke 17:32 even warns us to Remember Lot’s wife! A clear warning not to do the same thing. And Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us to forget what is behind and press on toward the goal.

    I’m careful about the more secular quotes I hear and use because I want to honor God in every way. I do think this quote however, is something to keep in mind.

    When you are depressed, you are living in the past.

    When you are anxious, you are living in the future.

    When you are at peace, you’re living in the present.

    I want to add that our present should be filled with peace from God, reading his Word and spending time getting to know him while we wait for our promised eternal future. You are perfectly and purposefully placed right where you’re at.

  • Such A Time As This

    Such A Time As This

    Hello all!

    I thought I would be wrapping up my Armor Of God series by now, and I’ve barely even started! The truth is, God has been speaking into me in many other ways and sometimes that means the path I’m on isn’t just straight, but full of curves and peaks and valleys. Isn’t that true for all of us?

    I’ve been doing something called Bible Study Fellowship [BSF] for a few years now. This organization is such a blessing. It’s very in depth and I encourage you to look into it if you’re interested in knowing God on a much deeper level. [mybsf.org]

    This year, we studied the return of formerly exiled Israelites to their homeland in Jerusalem. I read tons of Old Testament books- so you already know I was invested!

    As we’re wrapping up another amazing year in BSF, we’ve been reviewing everything we’ve learned. So, there I sat in my small group on Monday night, going over the book of Esther, and the conversation really nagged at me. “Esther was known for her boldness.” These were words spoken by my small group leader, and up to that point I had always nodded in agreement.

    Quick note to tell you a little bit about Esther. Esther’s real name was Hadassah and she was a Jew living in Persia. Esther 2:7 gives us a lot of information about her. She had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Her cousin Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her mother and father died. It’s important to note that King Xerxes ruled at this time in history and well, if you haven’t read Esther yet- what are you waiting for?

    King Xerxes was who I view as a spoiled brat. He showed off his wealth and riches for 180 days. He banished his wife, Queen Vashti, because she refused to be a trophy. Then he decreed a beauty pageant of sorts to find his new queen. Guess who got that title? If you guessed Esther… ding ding ding!

    Now I don’t want to take anything away from Esther. She was truly bold, and she really inspired me to live in courage and boldness as well. [I’m a work in progress, ok?] She was able to save her people, the Jews, from being wiped out.

    My question last night was that I wondered if she would have been nearly as courageous and bold if Mordecai hadn’t been instructing her. Through a messenger, Mordecai reported to Esther all that was being plotted against their people and urged her to stand up for them. Esther 4:14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

    Clearly, Mordecai’s words had an impact on Esther because she did approach King Xerxes and… spoiler alert, after quite a few chapters of suspense and adventure… the Jews were safe!

    My own question had me thinking… what would it look like to be a person’s Mordecai? What would it look like to have your own Mordecai in your life?

    Before I really expand on that more, I want to add something. God’s name is not mentioned even one time in the book of Esther. However, his work and faithfulness shine throughout the entire story from beginning to end. Another woman in my small group pointed out that Mordecai in some ways had characteristics similar to God. He was a protective, self-sacrificing, faithful provider for his people. His life truly mirrors a life belonging to the Lord.

    To be someone’s Mordecai would mean we are wise and loving in our correction and instruction. It would mean encouraging a friend or family member to fulfill their calling from God. It would mean advocating for them, offering support, and keeping an observant eye.

    I have found in life, that when we are blessed with our own Mordecai, it’s our responsibility to be someone else’s Mordecai as well.

    And who knows… Perhaps you’ve been perfectly and purposefully placed for such a time as this.

  • Spoiler Alert

    Spoiler Alert

    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.”

    Surprise.

    I’m still here.

    I’m still working on preparing Armor Of God devotions but the break has been a real curve ball.

    I realized something recently and while it was something of an “Aha!’ moment, I didn’t feel inclined to share… until this morning when the Holy Spirit nudged me.

    I have a tendency to look for spoilers. It’s especially difficult in TV shows and books. In fact, my friends and family have often teased me about this. I’ll just be reading a book or watching a show and my mind starts thinking of all the possibilities and then I have to know how things end. I’ve even started challenging myself to just enjoy the story and wait for the surprise.

    I’ll be honest though. It drives me absolutely crazy.

    Please tell me there is someone else out there that struggles with this because it’s getting just a little lonely over here.

    Here’s the shocker though. I’m like that with everything in life! I realized this the other day when I went down my typical google rabbit hole, trying to figure out something about a TV show I was watching. Does a certain couple end up together? Is there a love triangle? Does so and so have what’s-his-names child? As I sat there googling questions about Sullivan’s Crossing, I started thinking about how I wish I had google for my own life too.

    I think I would ask questions like, “Do I become successful in life? If so, how?” and “Do I get married to an amazing Christian man?” or “Does this guy like me as much as I like him?” I think I would also ask google questions about heaven. What it’s like, what I’ll do there, and if I’ll recognize everyone I love.

    Here’s the conviction I received from the Lord…

    If I continue wanting to rush to the end, If I keep looking for all the answers, I won’t get to enjoy things as they unfold. Needing to know what happens only drives me crazy. There’s truly a beauty in enjoying what’s in front of you without having to know the end.

    I’m going to be completely transparent here… my aha moment faded over the last several days. This morning however, in my prayer time, God gently reminded me again… “You’re too eager to know the plans I have for you. I know them. Trust me. Take a deep breath and just enjoy.”

    My need to know all the things shows my lack of fulfillment. That fulfillment won’t come in the things of this world, but in Christ himself. That’s who my eyes should be on. When they’re focused on him, I get the blessing of enjoying God’s creation and all the things he’s doing in my life.

    So if you struggle with this too, let me be your gentle reminder that God has you in the palm of his hand and he definitely has a plan. We just get to be surprised by how it all turns out, and there’s a peaceful joy in that.

  • Crushed In Spirit

    Crushed In Spirit

    Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.”

    In my prayer time this week, I found myself quoting this scripture back to God. My prayer time has included a lot of tears and honesty. I’ll be frank here; it’s a rough season. I am struggling with a lot of uncertainty, confusion, overwhelming sadness, and a really low sense of self-worth.

    I’m struggling with all the things I write about, the things I long to help others with.

    For weeks the alarm bells have been ringing, and I have ignored them. “I’m just busy!” I say. “God will work it out!” and “I will eventually get to rest from everything.” Now here I am asking God for a life preserver- the one I should have asked for weeks ago.

    I couldn’t think of anything to say, how to ask for help, but the above verse came to mind, and it left me wondering about our idea of brokenhearted and crushed in spirit versus God’s idea. I also had to question, “Am I really broken hearted and crushed in spirit?” I don’t want to be dramatic because it could always be worse. However, my inability to sleep and my tears leave me to believe that yes, I am crushed in spirit. The downward spiral of questioning my worth and allowing the enemy to be louder than God’s truth led to me being crushed in spirit.

    I know someone else out there feels the same way. So I want to tell you right here and right now- God is near. I think sometimes we forget that when the enemy is loud, we can ask God to be louder. We can also tell the enemy to get behind us and flee. [Matthew 16:23, James 4:7]

    When David wrote Psalm 34, he and his friends were experiencing fear, vulnerability and uncertainty. Yet, David wrote beautifully about God’s faithfulness in the midst of adversity. They were in the wilderness fleeing from King Saul. I would say that definitely left them crushed in spirit.

    As I think about what it means, I think it’s less about how we’re crushed in spirit. There’s no comparison math here. We all have different stories and circumstances in life that feel turbulent. It’s more about God meeting us where we’re at.

    “He saves the crushed in spirit.” the word ‘saves’ indicates that God provides deliverance, restoration and hope in all ways.

    If life feels messy right now, remember God is close and wants to give you rest. It may look like realizing we’re not machines and we can’t live life on autopilot. It may look like stepping back from toxic relationships or learning to say no to things. It may look like crying out to God multiple times a day and then being still. It may even look like asking him to show you what needs to be changed. Sometimes we have to repent and ask for forgiveness, which is what I had to do.

    I realized that a lot of how I’ve been feeling is due in part to my treating worldly circumstances and ‘things’ like idols. Even work for God can become an idol. When we prioritize busy-ness and allow it to distract us, it starts shaping us more than God himself. Truth be told, I want God’s word and his truth to be a mirror that reflects my life. What about you?

    Psalm 34 goes on to say in verse 19-20, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”

    I think that is a beautiful follow up to the promise of drawing near to the broken hearted and saving the crushed in spirit.

  • He Is Risen, Indeed

    Good morning!

    I apologize for not posting last week.

    Yesterday was Resurrection Day- or at least what some of us refer to as Easter Sunday. I have to say, this is probably my favorite holiday. Around this time, I always do a lot of reflecting. Perhaps it’s the Holy Spirit working through me. This year, I was able to think about the ways Jesus has brought new life and I wanted to share.

    The thought hit me a couple of weeks ago as I prepared to study John 3. In my prayer time, I always begin by thanking God for different things that he’s done, as well as the things he will do. On this particular day, I happened to think of the symbolism I had missed a year prior.

    In the midst of a rough season, I switched from teaching toddlers, to being surrounded by infants. I had avoided being around babies my entire time at my job. In part, it was due to fear. What if I dropped a baby? I didn’t think I could possibly keep up and stay organized. I didn’t feel qualified to care for these very vulnerable, tiny humans.

    Let me tell you what God did though. He surrounded me with new life. It was in this season that I started to really feel better. My first class of babies witnessed a lot of tears, I’ll be honest. There were days I had a lot of pain and could barely move, but I needed to be at work. Focusing on these babies helped a lot. Interestingly enough, infants know how to show love in the very best way. They show love with snuggles. They show love by laughing when you do something funny or make a funny noise. They show love by smiling when you engage with them. It felt like they saw through my pain and loved me through it. Through them and their innocence, I really felt the love of God.

    God was telling me that he was about to really bring me new life- but it had to come through him. I couldn’t give in to the dark, sad things of this world. There was lot of praying in that classroom, a lot of reflecting and meditating on his word, a lot of frustration while i muddled through health issues, surgeries and even mental anguish.

    After I realized that he had shown me new life in him by surrounding me with new life, I thanked him. I was just simply awestruck by his goodness, his purpose and his intentionality. I finished praying,and opened my bible to John 3.

    John 3 opens with a Pharisee, Nicodemus, approaching Jesus in the night. The discussion following was about being born again. Now, Nicodemus was very confused. At that time, Jews searched for a messiah to bring them a new world in which they would not be oppressed by the Roman empire. However, Jesus came to bring new life.

    Reading this passage with commentary [enduringword.com] was like God saying, “See how I’ve brought you new life?”

    I want to just remind you here, that his suffering on the cross didn’t just end in death, it actually ended with an empty to tomb as he was raised to new life. And that is what he wants to do for you.

    As my pastor asked yesterday, what will you do with it?

  • A little Interruption

    Good morning!

    A small apology for being absent last week! I was recovering from being sick [can you believe I had covid again?] I chose to work on just healing for a couple weeks and did not get an opportunity to work on my next devotion.

    I will be working on it this week, however but I thought I would come write some thoughts. I have still been spending mornings with God, and he has done so many great things in my heart, and I wanted to share.

    I recently finished the book of Job. It was my second time reading it, but this time I actually meditated on it, took notes as I often do, and really studied it. Most of us think of Job as a depressing or boring book of the bible. When I read it in the summer of 2024, I definitely had those same thoughts. It was interesting because I only read Job the first time because I felt prompted daily by the Holy Spirit. What I didn’t know then, was that God was preparing me for a very difficult season. I was really sick and also dealing with some other really scary things at the time.

    I would be lying if I said I handled that period with grace and patience. I didn’t think about what I had read in Job that summer at all. There were times I felt God had abandoned me, much like Job did. Had I truly understood the book of Job, I might have realized that God had simply allowed a very limited amount of opposition in my life to draw me close to him, refine me and build me into the person he intended me to be. Unfortunately, like Job, I was scared, depressed, and a little lost. My faith at the time was a little shaky anyway because of how things had been for the past few years.

    I can tell you now, having studied Job in more depth and detail, I really understand what God did at that time and I am bewildered at his goodness.

    As I came upon Job 23, I was able to really relate to his words in verses 8-10. We look for God in a multitude of ways and think ‘I can’t find him.’ And it leaves us feeling forsaken and abandoned by him. But I want to leave you with this. Verse 10 says, “But he knows the way i take, when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

    He hasn’t forsaken you. He hasn’t abandoned you. He is moving you in ways you don’t even understand yet. Only precious metals like gold and silver are typically put in the fire. So when you go through it, remember these things.

    1. You are more precious than gold.
    2. The fire refines you
    3. He is carrying you through and you will come forth as gold. You are not forgotten, there is purpose in the crisis, it will come to an end, and something good will come from all of it.

    Sending love and prayers. Stay tuned for the next part of The Armor Of God.

  • Buckle Up, Buttercup

    Ephesians 6:14 NIV Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

    I don’t know why, but when I hear ‘belt of truth’, I automatically just see Wonder Woman with her lasso in hand. While I do have a fondness for the princess of the Amazons, the belt of truth goes much deeper.

    In reading about this specific part of God’s armor, I was fascinated to learn that the belt isn’t actually considered armor itself. Instead, it’s what secures the garments underneath. A roman soldier’s belt held his sword, kept his tunic tucked in so he wouldn’t trip, and held it all in place. Without the belt, the rest of the armor falls and becomes ineffective.

    In other words, the belt of truth is essential in securing what’s underneath all that armor and the rest of the armor itself.

    Now maybe you’re asking what the belt of truth actually means. Earlier, I talked about Wonder Woman’s Lasso of truth. The lasso of truth basically forces anyone captured in it to tell the truth. The belt of truth, however, is way cooler than that. It refers to the truth of who God is and what his Word says. If we’re focused on believing lies that we’re told from the enemy and allowing insecurity to define us, we aren’t wearing our belt of truth. Think about it, who we are is found in Christ, but Satan loves to distort that truth. So, when our belt of truth is secure and in place we can rest knowing that our security comes from our identity as children of God.

    Wouldn’t it be great if we knew how exactly to buckle this baby on? I got you. Read scripture regularly, reframe intrusive thoughts with God’s promises, and live out biblical truth by walking obediently.

    Hear me loud and clear here. Next time Satan tells you that you’re not enough, or that you’re disqualified, tighten that belt! Remember, you are made in God’s image, you are chosen, you are loved, and you are his.

  • Dressed For Battle

    Ephesians 6:13 NIV “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.

    Have you ever given thought to what a soldier wears in battle? I never had until recently. Usually, I picture a soldier in the typical army fatigues we see or their formal military uniform. Maybe it’s because I don’t like to think of the battlefield and the devastation it comes with. When I see or hear the word armor, I envision a knight from fairytales. You know, fully armored and faceless, rescuing the princess from whatever mess she’s entangled in.

    Regardless of what comes to mind when we think of soldiers and their armor, the truth is that they have a serious need for protection.

    It seems like military gear has advanced in modern times. Our troops wear things like tactical helmets and vests, radios, boots and eye protection. They even have stealth technology to help avoid detection.

    Even with all that gear, they don’t always come out of battle completely unscathed. We already know that sometimes…they even lose their lives.

    In the same way, Christians also have a serious need for protection. The world is scary for lack of a better word. We don’t just need physical protection though. We also need to be covered spiritually. In fact, Ephesians 6:12 says, “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.

    Most of the time, the battles we face are deeply spiritual and they come directly from Satan. Fortunately. God gives us a full set of armor to use. If you take the time to examine Ephesians 6, you’d probably understand that what Paul is saying about putting on the full armor of God is not a mere suggestion, it is a divine mandate. He doesn’t say if the day of evil comes, or if we get attacked by the evil one- he uses the word when. We are guaranteed to face battles from Satan, and we are expected to face these battles with truth and covered by the protection of God.

    So, what does it mean to put on the full armor of God? Stay tuned because over the next few weeks, I’ll be learning with you.

  • Trusting God With The Unforgivable

    Colossians 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 

    A few months ago, I wrote a devotion about the gospel. (The Best News You’ll EVER Hear – Never Ending Praise The Lord) I’ve known for quite some time now that I would need to write a follow up. As I’ve muddled through life’s curveballs, I realize that the time has come.

    Now that we’ve gone over what sin is a couple of times, I want you to think of the most ‘unforgivable’ sin you can. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

    Now that you’ve pondered that, I want to rewind to a few times in the Bible when some of our favorite people committed truly horrific sins. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then he conspired to have her husband, Uriah, murdered. Guess what? God said he was forgiven. Paul murdered I don’t even know how many Christians before he was ever redeemed. Let’s take it all the way back to Genesis even. Adam and Eve… they really messed up didn’t they? Everything was perfect until they ate the fruit God specifically told them NOT to eat. They were forgiven…but I’ll get back to that.

    Now I want to tell you two things. First, that sin you deemed ‘unforgivable’? Let’s talk about it. That sin is no more or less than the white lie you told, sex before marriage, or even stealing. I know we could come up with a miles long list of sins and guess what? Second, Jesus covered every. single. one when his blood was shed on the cross. His death and the brutality he suffered beforehand gives all of us hope and the ability to transform our lives.

    Stay with me. I understand that this is a hard pill to swallow- I struggle with this sometimes because I want justice for evil in this world. Justice, however, belongs to God and God alone. Here’s the thing, we want to believe that there’s a scale and that the good outweighs the bad. The bad will be punished and the good will go to heaven… and that thought process nullifies what Christ did at on the cross. How do we even define good? We all have our own thoughts and ideas, but we have to know God has a different view completely, his truth is what matters and none of us live up to that goodness.

    I told you once that if you believe with your hearts and confess with your tongues that Jesus is your savior, you’ve received salvation. This doesn’t give us permission to sin. I know, I just said his death covered all the sins and now I’m tossing more at you. Hear me out though. When Christ died so that we would have redemption, it didn’t mean we suddenly had free reign to do whatever we wanted. It’s truly the opposite. His death saved us from eternal, spiritual death but it also called us to action- a transformed life.

    Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” We don’t want to live in sin, and we don’t want to live in shame so we face consequences of our actions, we ask God for his forgiveness, and we work to be better than we were the day before. David faced consequences, Adam and Eve faced consequences but- they were still covered by grace. Then when wickedness in the world continued to increase, God sent Jesus. So while we may have consequences we have to face, boundaries we have to respect, and new ways of living, we can rest assured that Jesus paid the price and when we truly choose him as our redeemer , and work to transform- we receive that magnificent, beautiful grace.

    I don’t believe there is one person in this world who can’t be redeemed. We may not always understand or like it, but we do need to trust God with the unforgivable.

  • Eyes On The Savior

    Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NIV “Let no one be found among you…who practices divination, or interprets omens… Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”

    The more I wrote these divination devotions, the more I began to understand why God wanted me to do them. While I don’t fall prey to these things now, I was fascinated by them in the past. I myself thought it was just harmless. I didn’t give thought to the doors I was opening, and how that was a clear invitation for the enemy to swoop in.

    Beyond that, the fascination with anything involved in the occult drew me away from the Lord’s presence and guidance. When that happens, we give power to the enemy to have a stronghold in our lives. This is a small fraction of why we are told to guard our hearts [Proverbs 4:23]. When everything flows from it, you want to be sure it’s in the right place.

    There are probably a lot of things I didn’t actually cover in this series, but I have a couple reminders for you:

    1. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I find that with Jesus, there is no guess work. If the stars were made to worship him, why would I worship them?
    2. Remember that if it doesn’t glorify the Father- it’s not from him and most likely only leads to harm. When in doubt, pray it out and tell the enemy to flee.