Month: March 2025

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Choosing Faith Without Hesitating

Cats of different colors, eating food off concrete in an open outdoor space.
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)—Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

“Come; don’t be scared.” I spoke in a gentle tone to the black-and-white cat hunkered behind a car tire. “I just want to love on you.”

I held out my fingers for a sniff but received only a head tilt from the Puerto Rican feline. Next, I danced my fingers along the sidewalk. Its eyes followed and tail swished. Still, it remained partially hidden, unsure of the human.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hesitant like this cat. In my prayer life, I’ve held back requests because mine seem to pale in comparison to others’ or seem to be too personal to share. I’ve even felt disinclined to pray for myself. I’ve been timid and reticent…yet curious like this cat. What would’ve happened if I shared my prayer requests instead of holding them inside, if I’d let faith lead instead of doubt? The answer: “far more…than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

Sadly, hesitation separates us from God. It says we’re unsure of him. The good news is, God doesn’t want to keep us at arm’s length. He desires to draw us near to him and to reveal his power: to heal the sick, to comfort prisoners, to bless the weary, to bring joy to the hurt.

To know God better, we can dig deeper into our curiosity and step toward him. We can pray, worship, study the Word, love each other, and confess our sins. Choosing faith without hesitating, we allow him to love on us sooner and we walk the path of delighting in his ways.

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Boasting in Weakness

A color drawing of a cross on green hills and a sky of golden yellow clouds. The text reads: I boast in my weakness because I believe God's grace is sufficient. 2 Cor. 12:9. #writingaffirmation amydagit.com
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)—But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Do you ever feel awkward sharing your writing with others? I sure do. Especially when I write devotionals and share intimate moments of my life, that is, those occasions when I display weakness.

After reading this verse, though, I feel better about sharing. When I write and share about my weaknesses, I am boasting in God’s power and the effect it’s had on my life. Moreover, through examples of my weaknesses, God can strengthen the faith of others and draw them nearer to him.

Think about his power the next time you’re biting your lip, wondering if you want to share a personal moment with an audience. Whose life might he change by drawing upon your weakness to perform his work? Indeed, by his grace, our weakness is powerful.

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Trusting in the Fabric of His Plan

Exodus 15:20 (ESV)—Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.

Throughout San Juan, music flows through the doors of restaurants and bars. Music pours from speakers the residents carry.

At one point, while I sat with my husband at an outdoor tea and coffee kiosk, one customer’s speaker played soft guitar strains and Latin beats flowed from another’s. And after visiting for a few days, I realized that music blending together in the streets is part of the island’s fabric of the life.

In several parts of the Bible, dancing due to victories over enemies is part of the fabric of life. Take, for example, the prophet Miriam’s song and dance in Exodus 15:20: “Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.”

However, as charming as this scene is, her dancing didn’t come immediately. First, she had to learn to trust God with her troubles. For instance, Miriam learned the hard way that God appointed his servant Moses. Her attempt at gaining more power ended in leprosy and seven days of banishment from the Israelite camp (Numbers 12).

Better the former than the latter, right? Well, we can’t have one without the other.

Our relationship with him involves both troubles in our lives and trust in his blend of music for our lives. His love for us comes in comfort and peace during trials. It comes in the form of encouragement from family and friends. For these situations, we can still worship by bowing down in humility to the One who has designed for us a plan.

Indeed, not every situation is going to make us want to dance. But some are, and for these, God deserves our raised hands, our songs of praise, our bodies swaying to the fabric of his plan.

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Celebrating the Holy Spirit

The Front Bar at La Factoria in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. A bar lined with seats, a mirror on the back wall.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV)—All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

At first, La Factoria seems to be a hole-in-the-wall bar, dimly lit with a few tables pressing against a side wall, a pair of booths along the back wall, and Latin music playing from the speakers. However, step back one room, and people sit at a wine bar, chatting while listening to percussive rhythms. Wander into the next room and dancers vie for a spot on the salsa-dancing floor while a live band plays. Roam through another door and dancers move to electronic beats in a night-club-like setting, and finally, venture through the crowds to the very last bar and find a more intimate setting with seating for ten.

Though each bar has its own rhythm, La Factoria as a whole “celebrates the mix of old and contemporary that defines Puerto Rico as a bridge between Latin and Anglo American cultures” (https://lafactoriavsj.com). Likewise, each spiritual gift, or “[variety] of service,” uniquely celebrates the Holy Spirit with “the same Lord” empowering each spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:5).

This bridge of empowerment of which Paul spoke connects believers to a community that celebrates the body of Christ. Indeed, our celebration of the Holy Spirit extols the glory of God’s plan and encourages others believers. Moreover, the body of Christ benefits each time we use our spiritual gifts.

So, whether we’re listening to music in a quiet room or salsa dancing on a black-and-white floor, our gifts laud the best of what the Holy Spirit has to offer us.