I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Rest Under His Hand

Psalm 139 is one of the most breathtaking pictures of God’s intimate love, care, strength, protection, and empowerment toward us—His beloved. David, the psalmist, opens by acknowledging how completely God knows him. Every word, every action, even the not-so-proud moments… and still, God adores him. In verse 5, David says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head” (Psalm 139:5 NLT). This isn’t a casual tap on the head. This blessing is God personally bestowing His favor, care, and approval. His hand is active—protecting, guiding, comforting, and reminding us that He’s got us surrounded. He goes ahead into our future, shields us from the lies of the past, and walks right beside us in the present. I picture a loving parent with their hand resting gently on their child’s head as they walk together. • Belonging – The gentle touch says, You’re mine. You’re loved. You’re safe with Me. • Comfort – That steady hand reminds the child they won’t lose their way. Every twist and turn is navigated with the Father’s protection. • Grace and Goodness – Even when the child wanders off and regrets their choices, that same hand guides

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I Choose Today to Be an Influencer and Imitator

I’ve been reading John Maxwell’s book Developing the Leader Within You, and he talks about how influence leaves a mark on our everyday lives. He shares this quote: “No one can understand that mysterious thing we call influence… yet… every one of us continually exerts influence, either to heal, to bless, to leave marks of beauty; or to wound, to hurt, to poison, to stain other lives.” Influence is powerful. It often works quietly, shaping our actions, decisions, and the way we interact with others—sometimes without us even realizing it. A recent trip to the grocery store reminded me just how real this is. My husband and I went to a specialty grocery store to buy a specific bread for an event. We ended up with ten packages of it in our cart. As we were checking out, the man in front of us stepped away from the register and came back with six packages of the very same bread. He laughed and said, “I saw how many you were buying, and I figured it must be really good!” He didn’t know us. We didn’t say a word to him about the bread. Yet in that moment, our simple action

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I Choose Today to Shine My Light

The other night, I got up in the middle of the night and noticed how dark the house felt. Everything was still, shadowed, and quiet. Yet I didn’t have to turn on a single light. Why? Because the soft glow of the moon through my bathroom window was enough to guide me. Just a sliver of light—barely there—was all I needed to navigate the darkness without stumbling. I couldn’t help but think about how God did the very same thing in creation. Genesis tells us that in the beginning, there was a dark, lifeless void—until God said, “Let there be light.” That moment changed everything. And even after He separated day from night, He didn’t leave the darkness completely dark. He gave us the moon and the stars—small, flickering lights that pierce the night sky. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). Sometimes, this world feels like that dark room. News headlines, heartbreak, and the heaviness of life can make it feel like the shadows are winning. But if we belong to Him, His

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I Choose Today to Be a Mirror

My hope and prayer is that my actions reflect God’s goodness to those who see me. I desire to represent God to those in my sphere of influence—even to those I interact with at the store, at the coffee shop, or those I pass along the street. I want them to see my face reflecting God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—through my countenance, in my smile, and through my eyes. How do I do this? How can I know and reflect Jesus? John 1:1 tells us how: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the Word. Knowing Jesus is knowing the Word of God! How awesome is that? Like any relationship, it grows with time and intentionality. When I first met my husband, we spent all our free time together, getting to know each other—our likes, dislikes, tendencies, mannerisms, and personalities. As the years have passed, we’ve continued to make intentional time for one another, investing in what matters to each other, and growing together. Lasting relationships, like marriage, take time, intentionality, commitment, and love. And as the Church, we are the bride of Christ. That means we

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I Choose Today to Speak Life

I’ve heard an analogy many times over the years—one I’ve repeated myself because it sticks with me so deeply: A hummingbird and a vulture fly over the same desert. One searches for life, the other for death. Both find exactly what they’re looking for. Isn’t that just like our words? The way we speak—to ourselves and to others—has the power to bring life or to tear it down. What we search for in people and situations often reflects the posture of our own hearts. And what we speak into the lives around us can shape realities we may never fully see. Some of the words spoken over me growing up were meant to kill. Not physically, but emotionally, spiritually. Words that tried to crush my self-worth, belittle my dreams, and silence my voice. But God. The more I’ve sat with Him in prayer, soaked in His Word, and allowed His truth to speak louder than the lies, the more those old words have lost their grip. God placed encouragers in my life—people who speak life, not just to me, but over me. They remind me who I am in Christ and, more importantly, who He is in me. And you

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