Devotional: All Of My Devotionals List

Today, there isn't a new devotional to read, but there is a list of devotionals I put together for you. I went through and added all the devotionals I've written for this blog into a really orderly list. You can read any that you choose! Next week there will be a new devotional - I haven't stopped writing them, so you can expect that on Tuesday. Thanks! Happy reading!!

Devotional: Grow Where You're Planted
Devotional: Don't Be Someone Else
Devotional: Beeee Happy
Devotional: You Have An Enemy
Devotional: Laugh At Fear
Devotional: Keep Showing Compassion
Devotional: Receiving His Grace
Devotional: God Is Protecting Us
Devotional: You Are Unique
Devotional: Learning To Be Content
Devotional: Let's Give Thanks
Devotional: Every Season Has A Reason
Devotional: Seek Out His Peace
Devotional: Christ Is Within Us
Devotional: When The Holy Spirit Speaks
Devotional: God Is With You
Devotional: We Will Continue To Grow
Devotional: Love Your Enemies
Devotional: Spring Brings Hope
Devotional: Waiting Patiently
Devotional: Seeing Flowers Fade
Devotional: God's Ways Are Higher
Devotional: His Abundant Blessings
Devotional: Care For Your Animals
Devotional: The Power of Prayer
Devotional: Avoiding Sin

The devotionals begin from the oldest to the newest. The newest being "Avoiding Sin." This even got me thinking that I should write a book that includes all these devotionals in them, and the ones to come! Today, I hope this list encouraged you in some way! I also pray for lots of love in your life. 💙 *What subject should I write about next in my devotional?

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Devotional: The Power of Prayer

Prayer is more powerful than we think. In the spiritual realm, it's how we communicate with God. And not only is it essential for connection, but also for our closeness to the Heavenly Father. I see it as talking with someone I love, but with true reverence. We often, ourselves, see it as a way to ask God something. There is nothing wrong with asking, but I believe it has to be more than that. I like to talk to God, but I don't always listen. I try, but my mind is always going. I'm practicing to still my thoughts and my heart for His voice.

When I was a young girl, I prayed often. I prayed every night. God answered a few of my prayers. I had wanted a horse, so I prayed for a black one. A friend of ours that had horses asked me and my parents if I wanted a free horse. And he was black! I couldn't believe it. It was truly a gift. Another prayer was answered when I was much younger. An outside cat of ours went missing one day. I prayed for that cat often to come back, and he did two years later. These prayers being answered strengthened my faith. I would pray little prayers for something that I had lost, I would find it and thank Him. I thanked Him for everything.

Because I've seen the power of prayer, I believe God can create a gift or a miracle in anyone's life. He also answers a lot of our smaller prayers, as well. If we're full of humility, patience, and love, He can do anything. Prayer is powerful. Don't underestimate what God can do through your prayers. I remember praying for a dear friend and relative of mine to become a Christian. I prayed each night. My Mom purchased a Bible for her. I gave it to my friend. She was elated! I found out later that she had given her heart to Christ. God can answer any prayer with a yes. Now, sometimes He doesn't. It's hard to accept that.

I've seen some prayers not answered with a yes, and it's been heartbreaking. I had to give up some dreams. But I understood. God knew better. I know He always does. I just have to trust Him. But that doesn't mean I should give up praying. Keep praying. You never know what'll happen. For myself, talking to God has been one of my favorite things in this life. And I'm so thankful that He gave us a way to connect our spirits with Him. Remember, our prayers are a special gift. A gift that can bless us and others. God can answer any prayer, too. Don't ever think your prayer is unimportant or too big. Just keep praying. 💓

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Devotional: His Abundant Blessings

We don't always receive good things. Sometimes life is difficult. I know what these days are like. I've faced many of them. Life can also be back and forth. There will be hard days and easy days. There will even be a mix of both. I've discovered for myself that there's usually some kind of blessing in a day no matter how hard it is. This isn't always the case, however. I know that life can get unbearable. But know this, there can be blessings. If we're given some rest and peace, we can then see the gifts of that day. When we can see them, it brightens our day like nothing else. It's a wonderful blessing from God.

God's blessings can be anything, I believe. He can make our day brighter through someone else. That person could be led to bless you. He can bless you with what seem to be simple gifts, but in turn, become the biggest blessings. I love it when my cat gets to cuddle with me. I'm reminded of the gift that I have a wonderful cat that provides me with comfort. And God created my cat! How awesome! We can experience God's blessings through prayer, too, which is one of the reasons why it's so important. Keep praying. You never know what could happen through talking with God. Don't give up, please. Together, we can keep at it.

We can receive God's blessings through almost anyone. Even you could be that blessing for someone. If you specifically feel led by God, He might just use you to help a person you know, and a stranger. It's so important to learn how to listen to God. He might be moving your heart to touch another heart out there. You can bless people by giving, helping, encouraging, or assisting them. It's limitless, and I wish more people would be open to it. We can become so engrossed in our own lives that we forget. But if we truly open our hearts, wonderful things can happen. With God, we can help change someone's life. 

Only with Him, can we experience His blessings. And He gives them out. I hope you find some of His blessings today and throughout. So, I pray, may His blessings flow abundantly to you when you need them. His gifts are many, and He is a generous God. Now, I don't mean He's going to make you rich with money. But He'll make you rich in His love, faith, and hope. And I pray you'll be gifted with much of those and are able to share them with others. He loves you so much. I'm sure He'll bless you in some way. So, take His blessings and offer them freely to others. You might just change a heart or two for His Kingdom.

His abundant blessings. 

"May He grant you your heart's desire and fulfill your whole plan!" - Psalm 20:4 NASB

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Devotional: Seeing Flowers Fade

As much as we want flowers to stay alive, they often fade away. All plants appear to age and withdraw from life at some point in their existence. Their fragile beauty is something that I keep in my heart. And I look forward to them blooming each spring and summer. But can I completely count on them? No, unfortunately. Many earthly things can destroy them, and they can fade indefinitely. You know what doesn't fade? God's Word. It cannot be destroyed. His Word stands forever. Nothing can take His Word. Absolutely nothing.

Because God's Word is eternal, I can rely on it. We can all hold His words within our heart, mind, and soul. He can also speak into existence anything with His powerful voice. He can create with His words. He can do anything! His words that also were spoken through His Word - the Bible, will happen. They will take place in history. His words are unchanging, too. They won't fade, I promise. They cannot. This is something that encourages me, especially during my hard times. I know that I can hold onto hope with His words. 

Sometimes, though, we might want to hold tightly to what we see in the world. Earthly things seem tangible. And they might but won't last long. I know that God's creation is beautiful and inspiring. I, too, look forward to the flowers blooming. But we may find ourselves in a place that's devoid of flowers. And if we do, we can remember God's Word. It can give us what we need during that time. Flowers can bring beauty into our lives, but they cannot always heal us. That's when we need to switch to His life-giving words.

Take the time today to read God's Word. He may want to speak with you. Today, I pray that you receive wisdom and peace from reading His words. If you listen intently, you may hear His voice. It may even come as a soft whisper or as strong thunder. I truly, highly encourage memorizing some verses, too. Remember, God's Word will stand forever. The enemy may try to destroy it every chance he gets, but he'll fail. Nothing can, or ever will, make God's Word fade. I can promise that. I can also promise that He can speak to you through it.

Seeing flowers fade. God's Word eternal.

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." - Isaiah 40:8 NASB

Many blessings,

- Grace Thorson

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 24 - Devotional: Christ Is Within Us

Christ came down to earth as a baby. When you think about it, He could've done things differently. He didn't have to be born. But He did. His start was humble. But He also had a goal. To defeat death and win. To save us from our sins. To ultimately, live within us. Because of His miraculous birth, He resides within each believer. We're not empty. We're filled with His love and grace. In fact, it's His light that shines from within that very spot inside us. Others can also see Him in us. And around us in all we do to bring Him glory. 

I know that the days I feel lonely, I can remember that Christ is within me. I'm never alone. To feel whole, all I have to do is read His word, pray, and spend time in His creation outdoors. And hopefully, as my life feels filled up with daily connection, I can shine His light. This light we have is powerful. It can bring love, hope, and peace to many. In order to do it, we need to serve Christ in everything we do. Even the little things in life can offer someone an opening to His light. To remind them that they, too, aren't alone.

So, when you're doing really anything, just remember that Christ is within you. And He's strong. With faith, you can move mountains. That's how strong He is. He can do anything. If God wills, you can reach anyone. Do anything to bring Him glory. But I feel like it's good to start out small. Allowing your light to grow. Someday, it could be so bright that others can't help but feel at peace around you. They'll know that what you have inside is something that they want. And you can give it to them. His light is free to give to anyone.

Even if we put the manger away for next Christmas, we can still remember that we have Jesus within our hearts. What He did. What He accomplished. And that His light is with you. It'll never glow dim. It's a light that can be shared with others. For me, I'm sad that Christmas is over, but I know that I'll still carry the light from His life within me. Even into the new year. In fact, I think it'll be present in many people's lives as we proceed forward. So, may even His light within you shine brightly like the star over the manger. 

The star's light guiding others to Him. Because Christ is within us.

"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." - John 1:9 NIV

Do you need prayer? Leave a comment, and I'll pray for you.

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 19 - Book Giveaway: Christmas At Sugar Plum Manor

 

Giveaway: For Christmas, I'm giving away a new copy of Christmas At Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White. It's a novella. I was going to do a book review along with this giveaway but ran out of time. Instead, I'll post the synopsis for the book, so that you can see what it's about. I read a couple of chapters from the book, and I really like it so far. It also seems to have lots of good reviews on Amazon. Whoever wins, I hope you like the book. Good luck!

Synopsis:

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family's misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

How To Enter: All you have to do is leave a comment here on this blog post. Just make sure you have a way for me to contact you if you win the giveaway. If you have any questions, let me know! Have fun! Giveaway ends January 7th. Thank you! Merry Christmas! 💓

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 17 - Devotional: Seek Out His Peace

Peace. It's that overwhelming (in a good way) feeling that washes over us. We especially need it when our world isn't... well, peaceful. For myself, I've had many instances where I needed peace in my life. But I do think there seems to be a distinction between worldly peace and God's peace. I've encountered both. The temporary peace we find is nice, but it doesn't last long. The peace from Christ is different. I've experienced it as His strength, bravery, and faith. It's also so calming, safe, and doesn't waver in the face of difficulty. 

Christ's peace is so wonderful that I seek it out when I can, especially when I'm troubled. I would also describe this peace as special in that it's deep, spiritual, and powerful. Like I mentioned above, it seems to wash over us. And we need this when our lives are hard, scary, and unsure. I just... love His peace, because it brings me closer to Him. I can imagine His peace as a beautiful force. One that can change a person's state within their mind and heart. And when you do feel His peace, it's hard to not crave it. It's quenching.

To find His peace for yourself, you have to seek it out through scripture. As well as through prayer. I've also found it when I walked within His creations in nature. And you'll know when it comes to you. It's a calm, serene, and comforting feeling that puts us at ease. However, there is also temporary peace. Temporary peace is when we don't seek Him out for it and find it through worldly means. It often doesn't last. Getting a verse from the Bible that speaks to us is one way to receive that peace from Him. As mentioned, prayer, too.

I'm so thankful for Christ's peace. It's an amazing gift. When I face fear or anxiety, I know I can rely on Him for His peace - the gift that I seek out constantly. I'm sure that many in this world need His peace, and I hope that they find it at some point in their lives. It's not something to miss for anyone. His peace is supernatural. It's hard to fathom at times. He provides us with peace that somehow calms our bodies, heart, and soul. I'm so glad He offers it to us as a gift, and I know I'll continue to seek Him out. Thank you, Jesus!

Seek out His peace.

"Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful." - John 14:27 NASB

Do you need prayer? Leave a comment, and I'll pray for you.

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 7 - More Than Christmas Decorations

I decorated early for Christmas this year. It brings me joy when I see my tree up, and my other decorations around me. It was an extremely hard year, so I wanted to start Christmas right away. I'm so glad I did. I especially enjoy turning off the lamp and admiring the soft glow of the Christmas lights. It's even more fun when I'm watching a holiday movie on my tv, and my surroundings feel so festive. Did you decorate early this year? Let me know, if you did, or did not. I usually wait until Thanksgiving is over, but not this time. I'm happy I started early, though. It really gave my mental health a significant boost of goodness.

For decorations, I don't have a huge amount. So, it was kind of easy to put them up. I also have a certain place for each one. The red lights go around the window, the pink tree sits in front of it, and the other decor is to the left and right. But I have sentiment tied to most of the decor I retrieve from my dusty plastic containers. And as I placed the decorations out; I was struck with a reminiscent feeling. There are people who were once in my life but no longer are. These gifts remind me of their love, and I wish so badly they could be here in my life again. They were such great comfort. That's one of the reasons I like Christmas.

The little Christmas building that says, "Antiques," is actually from my Grandma. After she passed, I was offered to pick out a piece from her Christmas village. I remember liking her village she would set up each season. I picked this one particularly because I love antiques. I used to go looking at antiques when I was younger, and it's something I'd like to do again. With the building, I always put it up, and light it with the other lights. It's something that brings me close to her, and our shared love for the holidays. In fact, a lot of my past Christmases were tied to her. I spent much of my time with her during those days. 💕

As I close this blog post about Christmas decorations, I'm struck with the ever-constant worry about losing others. But I can't do that. Instead, I celebrate who is in my life, and by who left a beautiful mark in my heart. It did, however, make me realize how important time is. Spend it with the ones you care about, make new memories with them, take lots of photos, and share in the love. Time is precious. Don't worry about the gifts, just surround yourself with the ones you love. Time is one of the greatest gifts we have. Spend it wisely, and I'm learning to do that myself. Now, I put aside time for the important things, like love.

Christmas decorations became more than just decor, they became a part of me. A real, true reflection of the love I felt in the past, and the love I feel now. For me, they're more than Christmas decorations. They bring me near the people I love. 💓

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 3 - What Christmas Means To Me

Christmas Blog Advent: Day 3 - What Christmas Means To Me

Christmas means a lot to me. Ever since I was little, I thought it to be the most magical holiday. It was everything. The lights. The atmosphere. The snow. I loved it all. I was in awe of it as a child, and honestly, I still am. There is just something about it. Seeing family and friends, sharing gifts, and eating home-cooked food are precious during this season. In fact, I hold onto the many memories of time passed. I can fondly look back to when I would look at the ornaments on the tree with rapture. The lights glistening. ✨

When I was young, I enjoyed playing with my ornaments. The tree was their home, a different place from ours. In this special world, the ornaments came alive. I couldn't resist playing with them. I was in my own story, but a Christmas one. Christmas is not about things or gifts, I know, but my love language is gifts. It's not just the gifts or things that are nice; I often tie the love and memory behind the gifts I receive. So, the ornaments have a special meaning to me, and still have, as I miss the people who are no longer with us.

Now, that I'm grown, I obviously don't play with the ornaments. I still like to hang them onto the tree and recount the love I feel from them. I often step back and admire the beauty and unity they create on the tree. It becomes a tree of love. I know that as I age, the more people I'll lose. And taking the time to hang ornaments with them is important. I take in the soft music, the sound of the furnace roaring, the sparkling lights on the tree, and the conversations from nostalgia. This is the place that I feel the most love.

I guess you could say that Christmas brings family and love to me. All the memories. All the growing up. My parents tried to make this holiday something to cherish. They did, and I do. I even decorated my home early this year. I couldn't wait. It brings me joy. I also love to buy gifts for people, and I usually start my shopping in October. I take the time to carefully pick a present for my loved ones. I like to see them open the presents from me. Seeing the pure delight in their eyes brings me both comfort and merriment. It's so fun.

Of course, the true meaning of Christmas is Christ. We celebrate this holiday because of Him. He became a baby, so that we could have His love within us. Love to share with others, whether friend or stranger. Ultimately, He did it because He loves us. And we're supposed to take His love and give it to people. We aren't meant to hoard it. Whatever that love looks like, express it, whether it's an ornament for someone, or making cookies to eat. In any way you can, give love this Christmas. That's what Christmas should mean to us.

That's what Christmas means to me.

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson