But God Moments in a Quarantined World: 366 Daily Devotionals

By Lisa Hysell

In today’s uncertain times, as we maneuver our way through a pandemic and into years to come, we may find ourselves looking for guidance, inspiration, and encouragement to reach out to the One who can take us through all our unchartered waters.

In But God Moments in a Quarantined World, author Lisa Hysell presents a devotional intended to provide those things on a daily basis for the year ahead. She prays that you can place yourself in each daily scripture or story and that you can dig deeper into God’s hidden truths and gems. Her focus is on what she refers to as “but God” moments—those times when God lifts us up when we least expect it. She hopes you can see all these moments in the Word and discover some of your own over the course of the year.

This yearlong devotional offers daily support to anyone who is searching for greater connection in an increasingly disconnected world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664218383

Lisa Hysell

Lisa Hysell lives with her husband, Joe, in Hartford, West Virginia, a small town along the Ohio River. In addition to worshipping the Lord, they love to kayak, play tennis, and go to the beach as much as possible, where they hunt for sharks’ teeth, adding to their collection of more than twenty thousand.

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Copyright © 2021 Lisa Hysell.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher

make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book

and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,

copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English

Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry

of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1839-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1840-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1838-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021901549

WestBow Press rev. date:  02/01/2021

CONTENTS

Introduction

JANUARY

January 1 - New Year, New Day

January 2 - Empty Chaos

January 3 - Timely Word

January 4 - My People

January 5 - A Flood of Justice

January 6 - The Way Home

January 7 - Finding Rest

January 8 - Declare or Not Declare

January 9 - Feeling Trapped?

January 10 - Covered in His Armor

January 11 - What if I Fail?

January 12 - Our Father Knows Best

January 13 - Terrors and Arrows

January 14 - Dreads and Disasters

January 15 - Remove Your Veil

January 16 - Ordering Angels

January 17 - A Stubbed Toe

January 18 - Crushing the Enemy

January 19 - Whom Are You Calling?

January 20 - Would You Like to Have Supper with Me?

January 21 - Pick Up Your Mat

January 22 - Don’t Look Behind You!

January 23 - Hobbies—Labors of Love

January 24 - Passing Your Test

January 25 - Taking the Scenic Route

January 26 - Decisions, Decisions

January 27 - Watch God Work

January 28 - Seasoned Prayers

January 29 - New Seasons, New Chapters

January 30 - Imitate Jesus

January 31 - Worship First

FEBRUARY

February 1 - The Great Physician

February 2 - Shhhh! It’s a Secret!

February 3 - Are You Hungry or Hangry?

February 4 - Stubborn People

February 5 - Be Still

February 6 - Shalom (Peace)

February 7 - Bless Them in My Name

February 8 - Self-Discipline

February 9 - Young Women in Training

February 10 - Education from Older Men

February 11 - Come Closer

February 12 - Stand, Kneel, or Fall

February 13 - Bottle of Tears

February 14 - Will You Be My Valentine?

February 15 - Search Me

February 16 - The Promise Keeper

February 17 - Correction?

February 18 - Walk the Walk

February 19 - Everyone’s Duty

February 20 - Temptation 1—Count the Carbs

February 21 - Temptation 2—Jump!

February 22 - Temptation 3—Kingdom Ownership

February 23 - Sweet or Salty?

February 24 - Fruit Bearing

February 25 - Lights, Camera, Action!

February 26 - Mustard-Seed-Sized Faith

February 27 - Wake Up!

February 28 - Knocking on Heaven’s Gate

February 29 - The Golden Rule

MARCH

March 1 - The Wandering Sheep

March 2 - Gentle Spirit

March 3 - One of the Ten

March 4 - Come Down from That Tree

March 5 - Can You Come to My Office Please?

March 6 - Assignment

March 7 - Listen Quietly without Anger

March 8 - Do Not Fret

March 9 - Can I Do Everything? Really?

March 10 - Me and My Big Mouth

March 11 - Who Is in Control?

March 12 - Humility

March 13 - You Are What You Eat

March 14 - Pure at Heart

March 15 - Peacemakers

March 16 - Guilty or Not Guilty?

March 17 - Did You Pick the Right Spouse?

March 18 - To Knit or Not to Knit

March 19 - To Cook or Not to Cook?

March 20 - Real Estate Investments … In the Bible?

March 21 - Generosity

March 22 - Virtuous Woman’s Husband

March 23 - Are You Prepared for Emergencies?

March 24 - Compassionate Women

March 25 - Appreciation Day

March 26 - Inner Beauty

March 27 - Dying of Thirst

March 28 - Hide-and-Seek

March 29 - Nothing Better Than a Christian Friend

March 30 - I Have a Plan

March 31 - A Mother’s Belief/Trust

APRIL

April 1 - Rare Perfume

April 2 - The Trail of Blood

April 3 - Good Old Foot Washing

April 4 - The Folded Linen

April 5 - Rooster’s Crow

April 6 - Communion

April 7 - Shield of Protection

April 8 - Choices

April 9 - Let Go!

April 10 - Debt Slayer

April 11 - Gratitude Attitude

April 12 - Soaring Like Eagles

April 13 - Confident or Bashful?

April 14 - Patient Endurance

April 15 - Run to Win!

April 16 - Wrestling with Prayer?

April 17 - You are Valued

April 18 - The Waiting Game

April 19 - Fill in Those Potholes!

April 20 - Counting the Grains of Sand

April 21 - Wash Those Hands

April 22 - Anchors Aweigh

April 23 - The Lord Is, and the Lord Leads

April 24 - Tools in the Toolbox

April 25 - Thanksgiving Table

April 26 - A Changed Heart

April 27 - Counting Those Hairs

April 28 - Weeds to Boutiques

April 29 - Stand Vigilant

April 30 - On Your Mark

MAY

May 1 - Do Not Give Up

May 2 - Insurance Assurance

May 3 - God Is Writing Your Story

May 4 - I Will Go

May 5 - Such a Time as This!

May 6 - Remove Your Sandal and Hand It Over

May 7 - Me and My House

May 8 - Do-Over

May 9 - A Mother’s Love

May 10 - The God of Second Chances

May 11 - Laughter Is the Best Medicine

May 12 - Teachable Inspiration

May 13 - Fight, Finish, Remain

May 14 - Lying Tongues

May 15 - Overcoming

May 16 - Run to Win

May 17 - Sin Filled or Spirit Filled?

May 18 - God’s Love Ministries

May 19 - Life’s Storms

May 20 - Heavenly Treasures

May 21 - God Looks at the Heart

May 22 - Victory Is Ours Despite Persecution

May 23 - Habakkuk’s Outlook

May 24 - Clay Jars

May 25 - Pearl of Great Value

May 26 - Confidence

May 27 - Be Yourself

May 28 - Warfare Weapons

May 29 - Childlike Faith

May 30 - Focus on Today

May 31 - Army Crushing

JUNE

June 1 - God Sees You

June 2 - Power of Prayer

June 3 - Saved by Grace

June 4 - Take Delight in the Lord

June 5 - Paul’s Thorn

June 6 - From Doubt to Destiny

June 7 - Mighty Oak Tree

June 8 - Pray without Ceasing

June 9 - Overcoming Temptations

June 10 - We Reap What We Sow

June 11 - For God So Loved …

June 12 - From a Funeral to a Wedding

June 13 - A Father’s Discipline

June 14 - Mind Your Own Business!

June 15 - Wi-Fi Faith

June 16 - Jesus’s Habits

June 17 - Intercession

June 18 - Menopausal Insomnia

June 19 - Love Is a Verb

June 20 - Joy Robbers

June 21 - Depth of God’s Love

June 22 - The Written Prescription

June 23 - Love of $$$

June 24 - Reflecting God’s Glory

June 25 - Do Not Despise Small Beginnings

June 26 - Be a God Influencer

June 27 - Prison Ministry

June 28 - False Accusations

June 29 - Ultimate Sacrifice

June 30 - Jesus Wept

JULY

July 1 - Haters Going to Hate

July 2 - Ask Me

July 3 - Sparkle!

July 4 - Son or Servant?

July 5 - Gaze on the Unseen

July 6 - In Spirit and Truth

July 7 - Eyes of the Lord

July 8 - Father of Lies

July 9 - My Heart’s Response

July 10 - Jacob’s Bodyguard

July 11 - The Burning Bush

July 12 - Wisdom Seekers

July 13 - Mud Running

July 14 - No Identity

July 15 - Complain, Complain, Complain

July 16 - Christ, Our High Priest

July 17 - Plan B

July 18 - The Thief

July 19 - Joseph’s Harm Became God’s Good

July 20 - Giving Advice

July 21 - Justice, Mercy, Humility

July 22 - Apples, Oranges, Pineapples

July 23 - God Rescues

July 24 - You Are Mine

July 25 - Vacay Time!

July 26 - Get Your Yoke On

July 27 - God’s Word

July 28 - Higher Ways

July 29 - Abundance

July 30 - One Accord

July 31 - No Matter Your Age

AUGUST

August 1 - Spiritual Gifts

August 2 - Building Confidence

August 3 - Diligent

August 4 - Essential

August 5 - Spontaneous Giving

August 6 - Compliments

August 7 - Accept Things You Cannot Change

August 8 - Take Off Those Grave Clothes

August 9 - Ways to Motivate

August 10 - Rainy Days

August 11 - Retirement Benefits

August 12 - Prayers in the Garden

August 13 - Walking in the Fire

August 14 - Quiet Living

August 15 - Conduct Worthy of Heaven

August 16 - Self-Love

August 17 - Submission

August 18 - Investments

August 19 - Overthinking?

August 20 - The Belt and the Breastplate

August 21 - Shoes of Peace

August 22 - Shield of Faith

August 23 - Helmet and Sword

August 24 - Shake the Snake Off

August 25 - Count It All Joy

August 26 - Honey … Sweet to the Soul

August 27 - How Tall Are Your Walls?

August 28 - The Good Samaritan

August 29 - A Sling and a Stone

August 30 - First Miracle

August 31 - God Still Speaks Today

SEPTEMBER

September 1 - Putting Out the Fleece

September 2 - From 32,000 to 300 -

September 3 - Be Careful Whom You Fall in Love With

September 4 - Valley of Dry Bones

September 5 - Prayers in the Lions’ Den

September 6 - He Told Me Everything I Ever Did

September 7 - Throw the First Stone

September 8 - What Are You Talking About?

September 9 - In All Your History?

September 10 - Enthusiasm

September 11 - Peace or War?

September 12 - Do Not Let Evil Conquer You

September 13 - Respect for Authority

September 14 - Dependable

September 15 - Gossip City?

September 16 - Hospitality

September 17 - Remove Your Log First

September 18 - What Soil Are You?

September 19 - Now Let’s Talk Seed

September 20 - Parable of the Yeast

September 21 - The Heart of Man

September 22 - Vineyard Workers

September 23 - Parable of the Two Sons

September 24 - Bridesmaids’ Dates

September 25 - Bags of Silver

September 26 - Parable of the Lamp

September 27 - A House Divided

September 28 - A Cup of Sugar or a Loaf of Bread?

September 29 - Fish, Snake, Egg, Scorpion

September 30 - The Rich Fool

OCTOBER

October 1 - Evil and Live

October 2 - Shout Your Praises

October 3 - Never Forsaken

October 4 - God’s Creation

October 5 - Talk It Out

October 6 - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

October 7 - A.M./P.M. Prayers

October 8 - Omniscience

October 9 - Omnipresent

October 10 - Omnipotent

October 11 - The Power of Prayer

October 12 - Renew Yourself

October 13 - His Steps, His Wounds

October 14 - Collect That Interest

October 15 - Consequences

October 16 - Help My Unbelief

October 17 - Peeps of Heaven

October 18 - Anointed to Preach

October 19 - Hannah’s Vow

October 20 - Do You Like Change?

October 21 - The Good Fear

October 22 - Dry Toast or Cinnamon Roll?

October 23 - That Isn’t Fair!

October 24 - Newsong

October 25 - What Size Band-Aid?

October 26 - Living Water

October 27 - Make Your Reservation Today

October 28 - Don’t Cut the Cord!

October 29 - Examine Your Heart

October 30 - The Good Book

October 31 - In God’s Will

NOVEMBER

November 1 - Jesus’s Name above Every Other Name

November 2 - Bend Down and Listen

November 3 - Crowns for Us All

November 4 - Hike to Heaven

November 5 - Flip This, Reno!

November 6 - Who Reads Instructions?

November 7 - New Birth, New Life

November 8 - Beauty in Exchange for Ashes

November 9 - Help

November 10 - Who Watches Over You?

November 11 - Veterans Day

November 12 - Trust

November 13 - The Chief Sinner

November 14 - Your Favorite God Spot Destination

November 15 - You Look Pretty Today!

November 16 - Tame That Tongue

November 17 - My Salvation Story—The Short Version

November 18 - Supplement Your Faith

November 19 - The Silver Bridge

November 20 - His Will, Not Mine!

November 21 - Control Your Emotions

November 22 - Accountable

November 23 - Foundations

November 24 - Listen to Abraham

November 25 - The Widow’s Offering

November 26 - Who Holds Your Future?

November 27 - Plagues

November 28 - By Faith—Abel

November 29 - Abraham the Nomad

November 30 - God Fearing

DECEMBER

December 1 - Immanuel

December 2 - Crossing between the Waves

December 3 - Can I Get an Amen?

December 4 - Clear Conscience

December 5 - Nailed to the Cross

December 6 - Get That Monkey Off Your Back!

December 7 - No Weapon …

December 8 - A Time for …

December 9 - Weigh-Ins

December 10 - Looking in the Mirror

December 11 - Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus

December 12 - Your Word in My Heart

December 13 - Delegate!

December 14 - A Birthright for Some Lentil Stew

December 15 - Refreshing

December 16 - Hope Chest

December 17 - A Tree Equals Prosperity

December 18 - Snowflakes

December 19 - Is Your Battery Dead?

December 20 - Know When to Quit

December 21 - Extra! Extra! Read All about It!

December 22 - Binoculars

December 23 - Sharpening One Another

December 24 - Best Gift Ever!

December 25 - I Bring You Good News

December 26 - Perfect Pillow

December 27 - Write Your Book

December 28 - Leave Your Light On

December 29 - Entertaining Angels

December 30 - Grief and the Pandemic

December 31 - Is It Really Possible?

Sources

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I

dedicate this book foremost to my Lord and Savior. Thank you for your encouragement and connection throughout this book-writing journey.

Second, to my wonderful husband, Joe, for his love and encouragement in everything I do.

Third, to my family, church family, and sisters in Christ, who were my continual uplifters and prayer warriors. You all know who you are!

Fourth but certainly not last, in memory of three special people who touched my life and made it better while they were here.

My Dad, James P. Young, 4/15/1939–1/30/2012

My Mom, Judy A. Young, 9/18/1942–03/27/2019

My Nephew, Dakota James Young, 5/2/1986–12/18/2019

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INTRODUCTION

How this devotional came about comes from a place of grief and a pandemic. If I were not grieving from my two losses in 2019, it most likely would not have been written.

I had been asking God for a heart like my nephew displayed. I am not even sure he knew how many lives he touched with his big heart. After his death, hundreds if not more people he had touched in small and big ways reached out to his mother.

After watching all this play out, I was trying to learn a lesson from it, and God was listening. Then March 2020 rolled in, and we were quarantined. God told me, Here is your chance to start. He told me I was to stay connected to a certain number of people during the quarantine since we could not socialize in person. So I began each morning by sending a text with a picture and a passage from scripture. After a few days, the girls caught on to what I was doing. I began getting encouragement; some would respond, I can’t wait till the morning for the next one, or with a simple thank you and tell me that it was just what they needed.

My prayer warrior of many years, Debbie, sent me a text: You need to make a book out of these. Of course, I never saw myself as a writer, and I simply joked it off. But after her third text, I had my but God moment and I knew God was using her to start this journey of writing this devotional. You will see throughout this book several but God moments.

Thank you, Debbie, for being obedient. I also thank all the girls; their responses kept me going through a difficult season in my life. And thank you, Lord, for answering my prayers and being the ink on each piece of paper I wrote this devotional on.

I hope and pray that this devotional inspires, encourages, uplifts, makes you laugh, and teaches you to dig deeper into God’s Word for your own but God moments!

Sincerely,

Lisa Hysell

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JANUARY

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin

afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:23)

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New Year, New Day

Lamentations 3:22–24

January 1—a new year, new day, new resolutions, new hopes, new dreams, and new goals. We often associate the first of the year with beginnings. We may want to lose a few pounds, maybe get those abs we’ve dreamed about or those guns on those arms, and we may even want to get closer to God.

Whatever our aspirations are, we have to realize that there’s a good chance we won’t meet our goals. I know; that’s is not very encouraging. We are determined on the first, but by the seventh or fourteenth, are we still motivated? My hope is that you can say yes and that you reach and succeed at what you set out to do. But just in case you are like most of us, God has Bible verses that encourage us when we slow down or stop our goals altogether. He said, Great is my faithfulness, my mercies begin new [afresh] each morning (Lamentations 3:23). That makes me happy. God knows us so well! Try to remember this verse when you start to feel yourself forgetting your hopes and desires, and say each morning, I can start new. I will put my hope in him.

List some of your goals and dreams.

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Empty Chaos

Isaiah 45:18b

Do you believe the Word of God? Isaiah 45:18 reads, He created the heavens and the earth, and put everything in place. Do you believe this? Can you see it?

I can—I can see it in nature, the sunny days, the rainy days, the majestic trees swaying in the breeze, the mountains, and the oceans. I can see it in the smile of the grocery clerk and in the eyes of the homeless person when you decide to say hi to or smile at him or her.

This world is meant to be lived and loved, not empty, not chaotic. In Esther 4:14, Esther was asked by her cousin, Do you think you were born for such a time as this? Are we asking ourselves the same thing? Are we born in the world for such a time as this?

Today, let’s remember that God wants us to live full lives, not empty or chaotic ones. So smile back at the world. Live, love, and laugh! Our lives will be better if we just read, see, hear, and taste what the Lord has in store for us.

List ways we can live fuller lives.

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Timely Word

Jeremiah 29:11

Have you spoken this scripture over yourself or over a loved one? I sure have. It is a promise from God that we should believe and declare over one another. But what we must know or remember is that this was spoken over God’s children who were in exile under Babylon leadership. He was letting his children know that he had a future for them. Good plans. And he does the same for you and me. These promises were during a battle, a trial, but he was telling them he wanted them to be the light under this trial. He told them to build homes and plan to stay, to plant gardens and enjoy the food they produced, marry, and have children.

What really stood out to me was that God told them to work for peace while they were still in their city of exile. He told them to pray to him for the city’s welfare because it would determine their welfare. Wow! How many of us could do that? Be captive but pray for your captor. Our lights, our attitudes, our behaviors can really affect how our futures unfold.

It took seventy years for God’s children to be set free, and sometimes, we cannot wait five minutes for a burger in the drive-thru. So the next time we begin to question or doubt our futures, we should go to Jeremiah and repeat this verse to ourselves and really believe he has our backs. And our futures.

List people to pray Jeremiah 29:11 over.

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My People

2 Chronicles 7:14

If we want God’s eyes open and his ears attentive to our prayers, we must follow 2 Chronicles 7:14; we must pray, humble ourselves, and seek his face. We must turn from our wicked ways. The need is just too great for us not to obey this verse.

Do we want forgiveness for our sins? Do we want him to restore our land? I know it sounds like a list of demands, as if he were saying, If you do this, I’ll do that. We had all this inside us when we are born, but we live in a fallen world where we fall short at times.

This verse reminds us how we can live lives of peace and restoration. Things the enemy steals from us can be restored if we obey God’s Word. We all have different things we have allowed to be robbed from us—our identity in God, peace in God, love of God … The list goes on.

Let’s seek God more than we ever have right now. Let’s do what God’s Word says. Let’s be his people.

List things we must restore.

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A Flood of Justice

Amos 5:24

During these times of uncertainty—with the pandemic of 2020 and the riots in so many cities—we need to ask ourselves if we see this world the way Jesus sees it. Do we desire a mighty flood of justice?

God was concerned back in Amos’s day, and he is still is concerned today about you and me. He wants to see his people have righteous character; he wants us to be just in our conduct. How we treat others shows the condition of our hearts. Our words and actions toward others should flow from hearts that love Jesus so much that we cannot help but be nice to all people regardless of their age, race, gender, or religion.

Think of one or more random acts of kindness to do today. We never know how one smile, one holding of a door, one conversation, one text, phone call, etc., can impact someone. It may just be the way Jesus uses us today to stop someone from committing an injustice. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NIV).

List acts of kindness you can do.

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The Way Home

John 14:1–6

Today’s verse has brought me so much comfort over the years. When I have doubts or concerns about where I am going after leaving this world or how to get