The Established Heart: A 30 Day Devotional

By Christina Stephens and Ron Webb

 "The Established Heart: A 31 Day Devotional" is a devotional that helps believers who are experiencing an identity crisis have confidence in who they are in Christ Je

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rejoice Essential Publishing
• Release date: Jul 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781952312854

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my father, Jim Devine — a spiritual inspiration to all his children and someone who inspired my walk with my Lord Jesus Christ.

Table of Contents

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Goodness of God

God Is a God of Peace

Peacemakers

The Issue of Stress, Worry, and Anxiety

Grace- God’s Way Versus Your Way

Works of Love

Rejection Leads To Pride

Who Do You Serve?

Humility

Grief

Seek to Build A Spiritual Mind

Establishing The Kingdom on Earth

Knowing God

Change Your Mind Toward God

Seek God With Your Whole Heart

The Holy Spirit Inspires Change

Words Carry Weight

Stewards and Caretakers

Truth

Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation

Power to the Powerless

Victory

The Land of Rest Called Victory

Prepare the Temple

Warriors in Christ

Harvest

Brokenness

Your Identity in Jesus Christ

Fleshly Living Results in Death

About The Author

Index

Foreword

The Established Heart: A 30 Day Devotional , written by Christina C. Stephens, is inspirational. You will receive strength, encouragement, spiritual guidance as you read the pages inside. This book will lift your spirits because it is good spiritual nourishment to the soul. I plan on teaching from it.

— Bishop Ron Webb

Day 1

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

Sometimes as a mighty warrior of the Lord, you can grow weary. Everyone faces obstacles of discouragement, fatigue, or weariness, especially while battling the enemy, or in times of transition or waiting for a breakthrough. But we don’t have to allow those circumstances or people to steal our joy and rob us of our strength.

In Galatians 6:9, Paul tells us not to be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap a harvest if we faint not. In verses 7-8, Paul tells us that whatsoever we sow or plant, we shall also reap. If you sow in the flesh, your human nature, feelings, or emotions, you will reap and produce in the flesh. If you sow in the spirit, you will reap a harvest and gain life everlasting.

We have a choice when weariness and discouragement come. We can choose to hear the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and act within the spirit or allow fleshly emotions or feelings to take over. It’s a choice.

In Nehemiah 8:9-10, the children of Israel found strength in the Lord during a time of discouragement. They had just returned to Jerusalem after many years of exile. God charged Nehemiah and the people with him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Ezra, who was a scribe, was asked to read the Word of God to them. They were listening to the law of Moses and were convicted because they realized their lives did not line up with the words being released. They were overcome with sorrow. They were grieved instead of being condemned because God encouraged them. The Holy Spirit will convict us but also encourage us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t discourage. God said to them, Mourn not, nor weep. Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy unto your Lord. Neither be ye sorry. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

He is telling them not to dwell in their feelings but to find joy and strength in God. The people listened. They received the Word of the Lord and went their way. The Bible says great happiness happened because they understood and received the Words of God. The joy of the Lord is realized and brought to fullness. When we accept, understand, and acknowledge God’s goodness, we accept His provision of righteousness by grace through His son Jesus Christ. When we realize this, we can enjoy God’s presence, enjoy the relationship we have with Jesus Christ and find the strength we need when we grow weary. Paul gives us another example of people having joy and strength with God’s Word.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 says, "And ye became followers of us and the Lord having received the word in much affliction (trouble, tribulation, anguish) with the joy of the Holy Spirit. They heard and stood on the Word of God, and were rewarded with the joy of God’s Spirit. When we trust in God, we will find strength.

Psalm 28:7-8 says, The Lord is my strength and my strength and my shield my heart trusted in Him and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.

God is our strength in times of weariness, mourning, depression, or discouragement. God also tells us to praise Him.

Isaiah 61:3 says, To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment praise for a spirit of heaviness.

The joy of the Lord is realized and brought to fullness when we accept, understand, and acknowledge God’s goodness. Accept His provision of righteousness by grace through His Son Jesus Christ. When we realize this, we can enjoy God’s presence and a relationship with Him to find the strength we need when we grow weary. When you’re weary, heavy-laden, or discouraged, lift your hands and praise the name of God. Lift your voice in song to Him and He will give you strength and joy. Be encouraged because we are being trained, growing, and maturing during these times of weariness.

The Bible says those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. The word wait means to look for, hope, and expect. Active waiting on God will help us gain new strength and mount up with wings like eagles run and not grow tired.

So let us greatly rejoice in the Lord. Let us be joyful in our God even in times of weariness. In times when it looks like evil prevails, God has clothed us with the garments of salvation. Jesus covered us with the very robe of righteousness. Don’t give your joy away. Don’t let circumstances steal your joy and strength but turn to God, His word, His Spirit, and find strength and peace. Psalm 30:5 says, But weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Determine within your spirit to seek joy when you wake up. Rejoice in the Lord as soon as possible, and you will draw strength even in difficult seasons. You can have joy. Say, This is the day the Lord has made. I will be glad. Worldly possessions do not bring everlasting joy. The source of all joy is Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit. Luke 2:10-11 says, Fear not for behold I will bring you good tidings of great joy to all people for unto you a savior is born which is Christ the Lord Jesus.

Pray Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s grace is sufficient for you.

I encourage you not to internalize feelings, emotions, and thoughts that would steal your joy and strength. What you think about produces. What you feel produces actions and decisions. Instead, internalize God’s words and thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Cast the burdens that steal your joy and strength that you carry upon the Lord. He will sustain you (Psalm 55:22).

Lay aside every weight (burden) and the sin that may beset us. Run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith! Don’t stay in sorrow, grief, discouragement, or regret but