Choosing Christ: 31 Devotions for Hurting Hearts

By Evelyn Collins

When you study and believe the promises of Jesus, God changes into endless peace and gratitude the plunging emotions that overwhelm and crush your spirit.

Are your daily trials of loss, isolation, and frightening thoughts destroying or rendering you powerless? What you choose to believe about fleeting ideas in your head controls whether you feel defeat instead of walking in victory.

What is and how do you obtain love, peace, and joy that is constant regardless of circumstances? Solitude with and focus on Christ, places within your spirit the confidence to relax in his care. Your old soul is free of all the pent-up anxiety and worries of this world. A new sense of calm and wholeness enters and guides you.

This devotional contains real-life accounts of how the author overcame defeat and accepted the grace of God to stand against obstacles. When you seek God, he begins to transform you into his image. Even though you live in a lost and confusing world void of peace, there is the peace that he places within you. God promises to ignite hope and fill each person with his love that accepts Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638144915

Book preview

Introduction

You hold in your hand the result of many hours and years of my relationship with God. Since I was young, I poured out my heartfelt thoughts, hopes, dreams, and hurt to God in a journal way before it was popular.

Over the years, I yearned to hear his voice, and he answered me in a very personal way. He sometimes woke me up at night, and I scribbled his messages onto paper. His messages kept me focused on him, and I overcame doubt and fear.

During this Pandemic, I felt his prompting to help others who were confused, suffering, and had lost all hope. It is for him and his love for you that you hold this book in your hand.

My prayer for you is from the Word of God.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24–26)

Acknowledgments

Thank you, Lord, for the journey. I fall more in love and dependent upon you each phase of writing this book. I am so thankful for your presence in this crazy year of my life.

Thank you to my husband, Ron, for your support and unconditional love during this process. You graciously accept late dinners as part of the writing process.

My dear friend Kathie Keller has a special place in my heart. I lovingly recall the day we read my first attempts at writing. I thought she would be by my side during the journey, but it was not God’s plan. Her initial encouragement was the confirmation I needed to step out in faith. If only she were here to see the book come to fruition.

My pastor, Mike Hailey and Debbie Boyd, for encouraging me to take the initial steps necessary to get off the fence and write. What better beginning to test the waters with my devotions than my home church?

Thank you to my sister Margaret for spending her vacations helping me edit my book rather than sunbathing at the beach. I couldn’t have done it without you. I apologize for the late hours and the loss of sleep.

Kellie Stigliano inspired me to write and introduced me to Word Weavers. This entire group of writers is awesome. In addition, Kellie’s available whenever I have a question regarding writing or publishing.

Katherine Hayes, Shari McGriff, and Jenifer Jennings thank you for the valuable writing insights. I need and appreciate friends with your expertise, willing to assist me.

Thanks to Judy Alexander for always coming to my aid whenever I have computer issues.

Lastly, I appreciate Covenant Books’ patience and for giving me this opportunity.

1

Reverse the Lie

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

—Matthew. 6:19–21(KJV)

Devotional

Isolation is a blessing if you use it to heed God’s promptings. It is a gift to be set apart with God for a time. However, some don’t benefit from this time, just as some reject salvation. While we waste time, we could seek God. Those that realign priorities in their lives and implement the necessary changes draw close to God.

God allows solitude in our lives to reverse the lie that society accepts as truth. The myth of staying busy means you are productive when in actuality, nothing is more valuable than time in fellowship with God. The belief in entertainment bringing joy is a lie because it is a momentary pleasure that soon disappears. Only the Lord truly fulfills your life with everlasting joy. Security in wealth is a lie as it is subject to vanish tomorrow, and it doesn’t bring happiness. Only God provides real riches that last an eternity.

When we trust Christ to guide us, we can lean firmly on him in uncertain times. Only then is our future secure. Most people, being finite creatures, think they are in control when in reality, none of