Flowers in God's Garden today's devotional was adapted from an article written by Sonya Laughlin for reflections magazine. visit reflectionsupci.com to access the free magazine.

The Principal Thing Wisdom from Proverbs GOD'S GIFT A FATHER'S INSTRUCTIONS personal reflection

At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" . . . "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" . . . "Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you." (I King 3:5, 9, and 12, NKJV) King Solomon was wise — according to the Bible the wisest man who ever lived. How did he gain his wisdom? Is it possible that we can learn from the words he left behind in the Book of Proverbs? Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba. When Solomon ascended to the throne of Israel, he was young and inexperienced. He realized his responsibilities would be heavy and that he had much to learn. Then God came to him in a dream and said to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon chose wisely. He did not ask for riches or things others might seek. Instead, his greatest desire was to possess wisdom and understanding to lead his people well. God gifted him with a wise and understanding heart. Wisdom is a gift from God, and it is available for each of us. James 1:5 tells us He gives it liberally — generously, freely, abundantly — and without criticism or disapproval. All we have to do is ask. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (NKJV) According to James 3:15-18, there are two types of wisdom: earthly (worldly) wisdom and the wisdom that comes from above. Earthly wisdom is rooted in envy, selfish ambition, confusion, and other evil practices. It is unspiritual and demonic. It is self-centered and driven by human desires. Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, submissive, compassionate, full of good fruit, without partiality, and free of hypocrisy. It gives us insight on how God wants us to live and connect with others. While Solomon was still young, his father took time to teach him the importance and the blessing of wisdom. That teaching provided a foundation that he could build his life upon. In Proverbs 4:1-13 Solomon shares some of his father's instructions on the blessings that come from seeking wisdom. Those same lessons still apply today and will lead us into a more fulfilling and God-honoring life. It will preserve and keep us. It will bring promotion and honor. It will become an ornament of grace and crown of glory. It will keep us from limping or stumbling. It will give us a good life. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom . . ." (Proverbs 4:7, NKJV) How will heavenly wisdom help you in your daily life? Is there a situation in your life now that requires wisdom? Have you prayed for the wisdom and understanding you need? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

Craving a Holy Hunger

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2, NKJV) We are often only vaguely aware of innate spiritual yearnings and cravings within us. Yet, if we fail to heed those cravings, they are quietly snuffed out, and we lose the precious opportunity to cultivate our hunger. Words from the song "Hear Our Prayer" by Tanya Richards say it best: "Like a deer longing for water, my heart yearns. Only You can fill my deep hunger, my heart burns!" It is in our hunger and pursuit of Him that He is found! God will come by invitation and birth holy passion in us if we make room for Him. Hebrews 11:6 declares, "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Amos 5:4 challenges us with: "Seek me (inquire for and of me and require Me, as you require food) and you shall live" (Amplified Bible). We usually require natural food several times a day. If I really desire something to eat, I can find it even if I must exert effort in the pursuit. How hungry are we for God? How much energy goes into filling that spiritual hunger that demands attention? Noted evangelist Verbal Bean led a life punctuated by encounters with God. He often challenged congregations to run after prayer. Once, he asked church members to make lists of their daily activities and bring them to him. As they stood and read their descriptions, they were often shocked to find how far down their lists prayer had been bumped! One godly woman broke down and wept when she realized it had been four days since she had found time to pray. Busyness is like that, robbing, stripping, and leaving us barren. If we will pray unrelentingly for a holy hunger, He will give it to us! By regularly knocking on the door of His heart and crying out for more, we send up distress signals to Him that won't be ignored. On certain days, I make "prayer reservations." I tell the Lord, "I'm seeking You with an organized zeal today." I let Him know that I'm famished and that He will be my main course for the day. It's amazing how we find time for the things that we really want. So much of our missed prayer is fed by lame excuses. Smith Wigglesworth used to say that he never prayed a long time, but never went a long time without prayer. The length of time is not as important as the message we transmit: "See our longings and give us a holy hunger!" When we empty ourselves and follow after Him, He comes to us. It takes discipline for our flesh to surrender in brokenness and waiting. In an act of obedience, we are spiritually nourished. It is critical to spend time reverently listening. If we allow time for His voice, He will speak. His still small voice nourishes, strengthens, and changes us all at the same time. He truly becomes the "rewarder of them who diligently seek him." He has the miraculous ability to feed us, satisfy us, and yet leave us hungering for more. A heartfelt hunger for holiness will become not just a one-time experience but a vibrant ongoing passion! PRAYER Lord God, Awaken in me a holy hunger for You. Where my desire has grown dull, breathe fresh life into my spirit again. Teach me to seek You not as a last resort, but as my greatest pursuit. Forgive me for the times I have allowed busyness, distraction, or discouragement to quiet my devotion. Draw my heart back to the place where I long for Your presence above all else. Renew my mind and reshape my desires. Let my soul learn to recognize Your voice and respond quickly when You speak. Satisfy me with Your presence, and yet keep me longing for more of You each day. Make my life one that seeks You diligently and finds joy in Your nearness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Blessed Life

"They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (Psalm 34:10). "I want. I want. I need. I need. There are so many things I want and need." That little ditty is comical but true. We want it all. From the beginning, God promised good things to those who followed Him. He told Abram, "I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). What does it mean to be blessed? Parents bless their children, friends bless each other, and God blesses us. When we are blessed, we have the favor and best wishes of another. While it is always nice for someone to speak a blessing into our lives, a blessing from God goes beyond good wishes; it includes the power to bring those benefits to pass. How do we become recipients of God's blessings? The answer is simple. When we obey God's Word, we have a good life. When we disobey, things are more difficult than necessary. The Bible tells us, "The way of transgressors is hard" (Proverbs 13:15). We shy away from words like obedience and submission. Their negative connotations suggest we will be left with less, not more. God's approach is the opposite of ours. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). When He tells us to obey and submit to His will for our lives, He promises fabulous benefits. "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Can you imagine being pursued by blessings? Everywhere we go and everything we do under the umbrella of God's approval? Just as absolute, not observing God's commandments has dire consequences. "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee" (Deuteronomy 28:15). Is obedience to God's Word really so important? If we desire all the good things—God's blessings, anointing, favor, provision, and approval—it is critical. Obedience to God's Word is more than a suggestion or a good idea. It is a sin issue. Whenever we refuse to submit, when we are stubborn and rebel, we are sinning. "Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (I Samuel 15:23). Sin separates us from God. (See Isaiah 59:2.) In addition, it prevents God's blessings from coming our way. "Your sins have withholden good things from you" (Jeremiah 5:25). Radical obedience guarantees radical blessings. "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). When God blesses our lives, He does more than provide us with good things. Like Abram's promise, the bounty and benefits overflow and splash onto the lives of those around us. (See Genesis 12:1-3.) Not only are we blessed, but we become conduits of His blessings. God uses us to touch, love, and lift others. A life blessed by God is ours for the taking. The decision is easy. Every day we simply say, "Dear God, I'll do it Your way!"

The Word Living in the Prayer Room Today's devotional was adapted from an article written by Bobbi Mooney for Reflections magazine. Visit reflectionsupci.com to access the free magazine.

"Whatsoever things are true… whatsoever things are lovely." (Philippians 4:8) Some of the most formative and imaginative moments of my childhood took place in the prayer room at our church. Before every service, my parents made it a habit to spend time in prayer before entering the sanctuary. As a small child, accompanying my mother into those dimly lit ladies' prayer rooms was sometimes unsettling. I would peer through the darkness, wondering who else was there and why God seemed to prefer conversations in the dark! My own simple prayers were usually brief, and before long, my mind would drift into imaginative play. With the darkness limiting my sense of sight, my other senses seemed to come alive. I felt, smelled, tasted, and heard a world of experiences in that prayer room. I remember the cold metal folding chairs where we knelt and the tiny balls of fuzz from the worn carpet that I would shape into animals and flowers. The fragrances of those prayer rooms still linger in my memory. In one church, there was a damp, musty scent that lingered for years in our family vacuum cleaner, which was used to clean the building. In another, the sweet aroma of potpourri filled the room. Different ladies carried different fragrances—perfumes, powders, even the faint scent of mothballs. I could often identify who was praying nearby just by their familiar scents. Even my taste buds joined the experience. There was the taste of my hair, which I occasionally chewed despite strict instructions not to. There was the church bulletin that I would fold and twist before absentmindedly chewing on it. And sometimes there was the refreshing taste of a mint slipped into my hand by a grandmotherly saint. Yet no sense was more engaged than hearing. This was the prayer closet my mother entered, and her prayers were anything but silent. Mom was highly verbal with God. From her, I learned that God is someone you can talk to as a trusted friend one moment and worship as a majestic King the next. Her prayers overflowed with thanksgiving, appreciation, awe, and worship. Sometimes she brought needs and requests before the Lord. At other times, her prayers became groanings of deep intercession as she carried burdens for others that words alone could not express. There were moments of silence as she listened for God's voice. At other times, she prayed in tongues as the Holy Spirit ministered comfort and edification to her heart. I learned a great deal about real life by listening to Mom pray. I heard her bring the same unanswered requests before God year after year. Through that, I learned persistence in prayer and gained an appreciation for the mystery of God's timing. I also remember the occasional yawn mixed into her prayers. Those yawns reminded me that even faithful Christian soldiers grow weary, yet continue in the discipline of prayer. In that prayer room, I witnessed commitment and priority. But my favorite memories were when Mom prayed the Word. She undoubtedly learned to pray Scripture by following the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than from a prayer technique book. Certain verses became regular companions in her prayers. Long before I realized some of her favorite phrases came directly from Scripture, I had already grown to love them. The words I remember hearing most often came from Philippians 4:8: "Whatsoever things are true… whatsoever things are lovely." Sometimes she would pray, "Lord, You are altogether lovely and altogether true." Those words still echo in my memory in my mother's voice. They remain a gentle reminder to intentionally fill my mind with what is true, beautiful, pure, and lovely. In a world that constantly competes for our attention, Philippians 4:8 calls us to focus on the things that reflect God's character and goodness. The Word that lived in that prayer room continues to live in my heart today.

Flowers in God's Garden today's devotional was adapted from an article written by Sonya Laughlin for reflections magazine. visit reflectionsupci.com to access the free magazine.

Today, as my daughter Hayden and I worked together in our flower garden, God gently reminded me of a beautiful truth: our gardens often reflect our spiritual lives. As I worked among the flowers, I noticed that many of the plants that looked identical when first planted had grown quite differently. Some stood tall and strong, while others seemed weaker and slower to flourish. It reminded me that God is constantly at work in each of us, growing and shaping us according to His unique purpose and timing. While it can be tempting to compare our progress with others, God's plans for every life are beautifully different. I also noticed weeds beginning to appear among the flowers. At first glance, they looked much like the young plants around them, making them difficult to identify. Yet over time, their true nature became evident. The weeds competed for the water, nutrients, and sunlight that the flowers needed to thrive. How much like the enemy this can be. Satan often disguises harmful influences as something attractive or harmless. He plants seeds of distraction, discouragement, pride, fear, or worldliness that may seem insignificant at first but can eventually hinder our spiritual growth. If left unchecked, these weeds can slowly crowd out the things God desires to cultivate within us. Thankfully, our Heavenly Father has not left us without guidance. In His wisdom, He teaches us how to recognize the weeds and remove them by the roots. He shows us how to care for the areas of our lives that may be struggling and how to nurture the growth He desires to see. Just as a gardener keeps tools close at hand, we must keep our spiritual tools nearby. Prayer draws us closer to God and strengthens us for each season. His Word takes root in our hearts and helps guard us from deception. Worship, fellowship, and words of encouragement become rays of sunshine that help us continue to grow and flourish. Whether God has called us to nurture children, invest in relationships, serve our communities, pursue a ministry, or simply grow deeper in our walk with Him, we all have a garden to tend. As we faithfully cultivate the life God has entrusted to us, we can trust Him to produce beauty and fruit in His perfect time. May we remain rooted in His truth, nourished by His presence, and open to the work He is doing within us. Then, season by season, we will become the beautiful flowers He intended us to be. "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:8, NKJV). Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for the work You are doing in our lives. Help us to recognize and remove anything that hinders our growth in You. Plant Your truth deep within our hearts, strengthen our faith, and teach us to trust Your timing. May our lives bear fruit that honors You, and may we bloom wherever You have planted us. In Jesus' name, Amen.