Women's Devo | September 2021
Rainy Day Thoughts
South Georgia has had lots of rainy days recently. The ground is saturated with water. Rainy days can seem a bit dreary and be a little inconvenient in the busyness of life. So, as I sat quietly and listened to the rain, my mind remembered an old song. “Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head, and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed. Nothing seems to fit.” There may be times in life we experience, not the physical rain fallin’, but those little “rain drops” that sting. They sting like the raindrops from a hard down pour. This rain may come in the form of adversity, disappointments, uncertainty, the pain of rejection, the pain of loss; the things the enemy uses to overwhelm us. He has no new strategies. These circumstances, if we allow them, will block us from the SON. Remember when we were kids? We loved to play in the rain and splash in the water puddles. We never waited for the rain to stop. We just learned to play and dance in the rain. We enjoyed the rain and when the rain was gone, we enjoyed the sun.
As children we learned before we crossed the street to STOP, Look and Listen. I have found this to be a very good practice when concern, uncertainty, frustration, and all the little things that sting show up. STOP, Look into the Word and Listen to TRUTH.
This I know anytime my life lacks peace, it is because I am trying to carry “care.” When the cares of life try to weigh me down, I remind myself, “Shalynn, this care is not yours to carry. This care you must cast.” “Casting all you cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” 1 Peter 5:7 AMP
God’s Word promises me He will perfect these things. “The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.” Psalms 138:8 AMP
Jesus tells me to come to Him. That requires me to act. Jesus tells me to learn of Him. That also requires me to act. It is only then that I will find rest.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP
The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our joy, because it is the JOY of the Lord that is our strength according to Nehemiah 8:10.
The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our PEACE, because the Word of God promises us that we WILL have perfect peace if our mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Things that “sting” may come, but mighty women of God we must say NO to anxious thoughts and decide to take God’s thoughts which is “His Word.” Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV teaches us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalms 62:1-2 NLT
“The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalms 121:7-8 NLT
Saturate yourself with God’s thoughts for then the only thing overwhelming will be our VICTORY!
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NLT
I am thankful for the Word of God because it brings such peace!.
South Georgia has had lots of rainy days recently. The ground is saturated with water. Rainy days can seem a bit dreary and be a little inconvenient in the busyness of life. So, as I sat quietly and listened to the rain, my mind remembered an old song. “Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head, and just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed. Nothing seems to fit.” There may be times in life we experience, not the physical rain fallin’, but those little “rain drops” that sting. They sting like the raindrops from a hard down pour. This rain may come in the form of adversity, disappointments, uncertainty, the pain of rejection, the pain of loss; the things the enemy uses to overwhelm us. He has no new strategies. These circumstances, if we allow them, will block us from the SON. Remember when we were kids? We loved to play in the rain and splash in the water puddles. We never waited for the rain to stop. We just learned to play and dance in the rain. We enjoyed the rain and when the rain was gone, we enjoyed the sun.
As children we learned before we crossed the street to STOP, Look and Listen. I have found this to be a very good practice when concern, uncertainty, frustration, and all the little things that sting show up. STOP, Look into the Word and Listen to TRUTH.
This I know anytime my life lacks peace, it is because I am trying to carry “care.” When the cares of life try to weigh me down, I remind myself, “Shalynn, this care is not yours to carry. This care you must cast.” “Casting all you cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].” 1 Peter 5:7 AMP
God’s Word promises me He will perfect these things. “The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.” Psalms 138:8 AMP
Jesus tells me to come to Him. That requires me to act. Jesus tells me to learn of Him. That also requires me to act. It is only then that I will find rest.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP
The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our joy, because it is the JOY of the Lord that is our strength according to Nehemiah 8:10.
The enemy would like nothing more than to steal our PEACE, because the Word of God promises us that we WILL have perfect peace if our mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).
Things that “sting” may come, but mighty women of God we must say NO to anxious thoughts and decide to take God’s thoughts which is “His Word.” Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV teaches us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalms 62:1-2 NLT
“The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalms 121:7-8 NLT
Saturate yourself with God’s thoughts for then the only thing overwhelming will be our VICTORY!
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NLT
I am thankful for the Word of God because it brings such peace!.
Shalynn Lairsey serves alongside her husband, Bishop Keith Lairsey, Pastor of Victory Tabernacle Church of God, Jesup, Georgia where they have served for 16 years. The Lairsey’s have served in fulltime ministry for 26 years and have been married for 40 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Brittany (Shawn) Southerland, Allie (Matthew) Strickland and have four incredibly handsome grandsons: Brayden, Cason, Hagen, and Beau. Shalynn works fulltime as a Certified Insurance Billing Specialist for a group of Orthopedic Surgeons and Ambulatory Surgery Center. Shalynn enjoys spending time with her family cruising on the pontoon boat and reading
2 Comments
It's the "the only thing that will be Overwhelming is my Victory!" part for me! We don't praise Him for Victory we praise Him FROM victory!! 🙌ðŸ»
Love this..💕