Get Into the Sonlight

If you are joining me here today from Proverbs 31 Ministry’s Encouragement for Today, welcome! (If you have stopped by for my regular “In the Know” post on all things pertaining to teens, it will be back next Wednesday. You won’t want to miss a compelling interview with a 13 year-old Dylan.)

My devotion today dealt with our need in life to sometimes move in order to get into the Sonlight. Move out of routines that are too comfortable. Move into new areas of ministry even when it makes your stomach do flip flops. Move out of old relationships that are distracting, damaging, possibly even sinful. Move out so that we can move into His Presence.

My routine a few years ago was set. Drop my kids off at school and head to the Y. There I could hop on a treadmill, chat away with some friends for an hour and then head home to start the day. Sounds good hun? Not really.
#1) By the time I got out of the shower it was felt late to me and I felt the rush to get going on chores, errands, etc. Skipping time with Jesus was just too easy

#2) Much of the chatter was just not the type of conversation that was causing me to grow.

#3) I was paying money for this!

So, I made the decision to quit my membership and begin spending a season of walking alone, chatting with Jesus each day. It was a hard change for me. As a person who works at home, I looked forward to interaction with adult women when I can get it. That was not what I needed. I needed to move to get into the Sonlight.

I asked a few friends of mine to share what changes they have had to make to strengthen their relationship with Jesus.

Kelly shares:

“Watching a friend of mine, I have been able to see how she follows Christ regardless of how that following with affect her life personally. I’ve seen her give grace that could only be given when you are filled with the Holy Spirit. She has shown me that it isn’t the absence of fear that enables you to go ahead with God’s plans, but IN the fear you are able to go forth, relying totally on God. I am going to lead a small group, which, in my flesh, I feel totally incapable of doing, but in the Spirit, I know that God will use an ordinary person, like me, to do extraordinary things. And I know, that I know, that my success or failure isn’t what God will measure me by, but on my willingness to be faithful and obedient. That is what I have learned from my friend so far. I can’t wait to see what I will learn from her next!”

Kathy shares:

While reading your devotion, I kept thinking of the song by FFH “Move or Move me” (not sure if that is the name, but those are the lyrics) it goes on to say “move me out of the place of complacency to a place of fellowship with Thee”. There is no better place to be, but it is not easy to surrender fears and insecurities to get there. After the past years of emotional roller coasters, I can say that God has moved me to a place of truth. I can be honest and healthy in my spiritual, emotional and physical life, OR I can be a sick liar. God is very clear in His Word “let your yes be yes and your no be no”. I am choosing healthy!!

What is your story of how you have moved? If you have received this by e-mail, click here to head to Lynn Cowell.com so you can comment or just click “comment” below and thanks ahead of time for sharing!

Lynn

15 Comments

  1. Lynn,
    I so needed to read this today. I blog, and yesterday I started a new post and titled it "something is missing". That something is Him. I have come back from vacation and it seemS like I just can't back into a routine. I haven't been in His word or in His presence regularly in two weeks. I
    miss HIM.

  2. Anonymous says:

    As I'm sure it will be for so many others, today's devotion seemed to be writen just specifically for me and an answer to prayer. Just last night I shared with my husband something I have been struggling with. He so graciously challenged me to trust in the Lord with my fears and struggles enough to be able to cut out some unhealthy things in my life that were only preventing me from fully trusting God and letting God intervene in my life. I prayed all night last night that God would help me to be able to make the decision to be able to cut these things out. Because as much as I knew they weren't God's best for my life and not how He intended me to be living, I didn't totally want to give them up. Life seemed easier and more managable with them. As I read your devotion this morning with my husband as we were having our quiet time, tears just streamed down my face. I'm so thankful to the Lord for giving me the encourgaement to be able to throw these briers and thorns away and assuring me that as I remove the walls that were separating me from Him, He will shine on me and I will bloom!

  3. Lynn–

    Your devo today was a HUGE confirmation for me about a move our family must make. I'll fill you in sometime but I just wanted to shout out a gigantic THANK YOU!!!! Cyber {{hugs}}!

  4. Loved your devotion, Lynn! When I was in high school our class motto was "Face the sunshine and you will not see the shadow." Yesterday I was inspired to rewrite the quote on my blog. It goes perfectly with your devotion. The Lord has moved me a bazillion times and continues to do His daily work … I am so grateful that He does! Oh, how I need Him! My revised quote is at: cherilb.blogspot.com.
    Thanks for sharing! Blessings, Cheri

  5. GREAT devo today, Lynn. Thank you for being so challenging. I've been looking forward to reading it ever since Rachel sent us the line-up, and I was curious about your title!

    Amy

  6. Lynn,

    First of all let me say that your devotion today was just beautiful. I loved your comparison of our lives with the Crape Myrtle.

    I have felt the nudge to move outside of my comfort zone and participate in a mission trip with my husband and son. I know this will be a life-changing experience and perhaps will change our family forever. Although it's hard, I know it's the next step for me. Steven Curtis Chapman's song comes to mind – "So here I go, I'm divin' in!"

    Thanks for your insight today. It's given me more to ponder.

    Sweet Blessings~
    Pam

  7. What a wonderful devotion today, Lynn! I always want to move into the Songlight, and be guided by His Presence in my life.

    Thanks! Andrea

  8. Lynn

    Your Encouragement Today post was so lovely and meaningful with spectacular imagery!

    It brought the point across in a most beautiful way.

    Blessings, Nancy J Locke

  9. It's been so encouraging today to find out that I am not the only one that the Lord has to move! So glad we are able to strengthen each other through our testimonies. I know each time I obey, blessings come!
    Lynn

  10. It seems I search for a routine and as soon as I find it, get in its groove and start sailing with it something changes and off I go, searching again.

    With school beginning next week, I am searching for routine again and I found myself wondering if maybe all of my searching for a good groove actually leads me to be more dependent on God. I need Him to show me daily what stays and what goes. I also need Him to help me develop Godly habits that will lead me closer to Him.

    I have had seasons of no TV, no books other than the Bible and no gym myself. Especially the things that involve other people are hard to give up because I love that connection too. But, you are right, the connection with Jesus is what's most important!

    Thanks for some perspective, Lynn.

  11. Thank you for your wonderful devotional this morning. This is truly something I needed to hear. I have been going through a time of real confusion and longing to reconnect in a better way with God. I realize I have to recognize my obstacles (me being a big one), and get moving into that Sonshine. Thanks for sharing.

  12. Please pray for me I haven't been the way I was when I had more issues in my life when I was a single mom…all of a sudden when I lost my job last year I went into a total couch potato, computer facebook gamers and tweeter with nothing that equals loving the Lord or reading HIS word. I got a job paying me what I made in HS over 35 years ago!

  13. Hi Lynn, I loved your devo today and especially love the comments from your blog readers. When I read Anonymous' words and how just last night she was contemplating her situation I thought, "There's that God of ours again, showing off for all the world to see by having Lynn do her devo today!" Don't you just love it when He does that? And Anonymous…start pruning away girlfriend..God's got BIG plans ahead for you!

  14. Well, Lynn, I hate to be a repeat, but I too felt like this devotion was "just for me"! The only difference is I AM ready to step out and take that leap of faith and I know that when the time is right with God that opportunity will come. I know it will not be easy, but I'm not an easy kind of girl! I know it will be demanding and difficult but in the end it will be worth it. I am not afraid because I know that our Lord is guiding me every step of the way! Thank you for all you do and all the P31 girls who sacrifice to speak to us through tough times!

  15. Sweet friend…thank you for this today. My problem is I "haven't" moved. God is calling me to, but I want to keep my feet rooted to familiar ground…don't want to move to foreign land. I'm not talking a physical move, but a heart shifting. Moving from a longing for contentment and complacency to a deeper following and yearning for holiness. There are changes and moves that need to take place that require me to deliberately interrupt my addiction and preoccupation with self. I have to intentionally make some moves for change to occur. It's not going to happen without effort. Needing strength to make that move.

    Thanks for this challenge. Hopefully I'll be able to come back soon and tell you my heart is moving in the right direction.
    Hugs,
    Joy

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