7 Devotionals to Overcome A Crushed Spirit

God's Rainy Days

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

I once heard someone say, “All sunshine makes a desert.” It takes rain to turn a desert into an oasis. I know that’s been true in my life. I’m not saying I look forward to rainy days, but I’ve learned that it’s during those times that I grow the most. We should embrace those days when struggles, trials, and even temptations come our way. It’s the only way that our dry, arid hearts can begin to grow and blossom and flourish. God is a loving Father who wants only what is best for us. He has promised to walk with us through any trouble we encounter and bring us wisdom and understanding along the way.

Prayer

Father, thank you for walking with me through the inevitable troubles of life. I know that you are bringing me showers of blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hitting Bottom

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

A few months ago, someone told me, “I’m ready to hit bottom. When will I get there?” This is how I answered: “When you stop digging!” It’s simple, really. We hit bottom when we finally get tired of being beat up by ourselves and others. Then and only then, at the point of complete surrender, do we find rest. This isn’t the sitting and doing nothing kind of rest – it’s peace of mind. Peace of mind is attainable, but it requires a new lifestyle, new habits, new behaviors, and relationships that are strong and upright. With God’s help, we can all find our way, but nothing less than complete commitment will get us there.

Prayer

Father, I want peace of mind. I have been captive to my painful, troubling, disobedient thoughts, for far too long. As I surrender to you, surround myself with good people and flood my mind with your Word. I pray that you will bring me the gift of peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Time To Read

“Whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither ---whatever they do prospers.” – Psalm 1:2-3

Reserving time for anything in our busy culture is a challenge. No wonder we aren’t always faithful reading our Bibles every day and letting God’s Word soak into our souls and spirits. But Bible reading is an essential part of our spiritual growth and recovery. By spending time in God’s Word daily, we will gain insight into our lives as followers of Christ. That’s pretty important to our success.

Prayer

Lord, help me to make a habit of Bible study and prayer so that I might grow spiritually and be pleasing to you . In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Recycled Pain

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

I don’t know anyone whose life has gone exactly as they wanted it to. I don’t know anyone who has managed to escape pain of some kind, whether that pain was caused by someone else or they brought it on themselves. We’ve all been hurt. He can make good from everything that happens to us, both the good and the bad. There is one condition, though. God brings good from the bad in our lives when we give it to him and allow him to use it to help someone else. Though we might wonder how that is possible. He can redeem our pain and use our experience to encourage others as they are walking through fire.

Prayer

Father, I’m amazed to learn that you can use my pain to help someone else. Thank you for giving my pain purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What Are We Worth?

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”- Romans 8:32

How do we know how much something is worth? Well, I’m not an economist, but I think the simplest answer is, something is worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a house, a comic book, a vintage record, or anything else. Considering that, how much are we worth? According to the Bible, God’s holy Word, we are priceless because God was willing to pay an unimaginable price for us – the lifeblood of his own Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Father God, I can’t imagine why you would pay such a price for me, but I’m so glad you did. Thank you for your inexplicable and incomparable love for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Victory Is Ours

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” – Psalm 18:35

Sometimes it feels like winter will never end. That’s what I was thinking as I left the house to cut more firewood, and it was making me a little grumpy. After all, I had other things to do on this cloudy morning. I was still complaining under my breath as I went up the hill behind the house to start cutting. After the first tree came down, I set my chainsaw to the side and turned around to an amazing site. The clouds had lifted, revealing a 14,000-foot, snow capped mountain! As I stood looking at the this magnificent example of my heavenly Father’s creative genius, all my complaining was replaced with thoughts of gratitude and appreciation. I was healthy, my chainsaw was working, I was surrounded by beauty, and there was an abundance of trees to be cut in order to war our home.

Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me new eyes to see that you have surrounded me with beauty and given me a life of joy, peace and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Full Of Life

“He frees the prisoners…He lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads.” – Psalm 146:7

The book of Revelation mentions a river that will flow from the throne of God. The Bible calls it “the river of the water of life.” In the book of Ezekiel, we learn that this river expands as it flows eastward, nourishing everything in its path, until finally it empties into the Dead Sea making the salty water fresh and able to support life. If God can give life to the lifeless Dead Sea, he most definitely can bring us life. No matter how vile and polluted our lives have been, his living water flowing through us will let us experience life to the fullest.

Prayer

Lord God, you are the Giver of living water. Flow through my sin-polluted heart and make it fresh and clean once again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.