Tag: hope

Christian

That’s Not What I Expected!

Cindy Dawson

Sometimes God has a plan that is nothing like our expectations.  If only we would trust Him, but instead we think we know what He should do. Learn how God just might do things in a completely different way than you expect!

Meet Naaman, the Commander of the Army of the King of Syria, a valiant soldier and highly regarded by the King. Naaman was wealthy and respected by everyone; he had prestige and servants, and he lived in grand style. I’m sure he had the best clothes, a beautiful home, and (you get the picture). Oh, he did have one little problem. He had leprosy.

His wife had her own personal servant girl, of course. Fortunately for Naaman, she was an Israelite. Even though she had been captured by a band of Syrian raiders, this little girl had compassion for her master. 

She said to her mistress,

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3

Naaman reported this to the king. The king, anxious to see his best general cured of this egregious disease, sent Naaman to the King of Israel.

“So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.” 2 Kings 5:5 NLT

Naaman expected the King to cure him of his leprosy, but that is not what God had in mind. In fact, when the King of Israel discovered what Naaman wanted, he panicked, thinking the King of Syria was trying to pick a fight. (See how this is not going as expected?)

When Elisha, the prophet, heard about this, he sent for Naaman. So Naaman gathered his entourage, his horses and chariots, and paraded to Elisha’s door.

Naaman must have thought pretty highly of himself, making a grand arrival with all those horses and chariots, and lots of money. But Elisha doesn’t even bother to come out and greet him! Instead, Elisha sends out a messenger who says,

“Go wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman expected the Prophet of God to dramatically wave his hands in the air and call on his God to cure him in some spectacular display. But once again, he did not get what he expected. 

Naaman expected to be treated with honor and respect, and when he was insulted, he refused to do what Elisha said and stomped off in a rage.

I know what you’re thinking: What!? How can Naaman be so stubborn? Doesn’t he want to be cured? 

But don’t we do the same thing? We pray for something, but it isn’t answered the way we expect. So we think our prayer isn’t being answered at all. Or, maybe we don’t like the way it is being answered.

It isn’t surprising that Naaman got angry. The Jordan River is a dirty, muddy river. You wouldn’t want to bathe in it either, especially if you tend to think rather highly of yourself. (Ouch!)

Only after his servants convince him, does Naaman agree to go and dip himself in the dirty river. When he followed God’s plan, he was completely cured, and his skin became like that of a young boy. Things turned out even better than he expected!

Naaman exclaimed,

“Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (v 15)

And he vowed to never worship any other god but the Lord.

Read the whole story of Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5. (There’s a lot more to the story!)

And remember: God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we expect!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

All Scripture from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Understanding the Bible: Why You Should Read All 66 Books

Cindy Dawson

If you want to know the Bible, you have to read the Bible, all of it, not just your favorite parts. If you don’t know the Bible well, you are vulnerable to deception. And that is exactly why so many Christians are deceived by false teaching.

The Bible consists of 66 books: The Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books). If we are to understand the whole counsel of God’s Word, we must read and study all of it.

Every book of the Bible contributes to our knowledge of God. The Old Testament contains well over 400 verses and allusions that point to the coming Messiah. 

You can read the whole Bible in one year by reading for about 15 minutes per day. This is not difficult to do! I highly recommend it! I have been doing this since 2019, when my pastor shared a one-year Bible reading plan. It changed my life!

It seems like most Christians would rather read a book by a well-known minister rather than read their Bible, but remember this: Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. You will be surprised by how much you will learn!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV (emphasis mine)

In Psalm 119, King David wrote:

“I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.” vv15-16 (emphasis mine)

“Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.” v 24

“Your word, Lord, is eternal;
    it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations” vv89-90

“If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.” v92

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.” v105

“You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.” v114

“Great peace have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.” v165

Read the full chapter HERE.

No wonder God called David “a man after my own heart”! (Acts 13:22)

Ask God to give you a love for His Word.

God bless you, friends, as you seek to know Him more!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

God’s Protection, Psalm 91

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Friday, 6/12/26

“Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:3-4 NIV

This word picture of God’s protection is rich with meaning. It warms my heart and encourages my soul every time I read it. The “fowler’s snare” is a metaphor for hidden danger, unexpected spiritual traps, and the deceptive schemes of the enemy. Pestilence brings to mind a deadly disease that spreads over a wide area.

“A mother bird will spread her wings over her babies to protect them from storms and predators. She will allow herself to be wounded to protect them. She keeps them warm and sheltered, and the baby birds feel safe in her embrace. Such is God’s fierce love for humanity.” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Samantha Kennedy on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

When I Am Afraid

Cindy Dawson

A Personal Story for Thursday, 6/11/26

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8 NIV 

Many years ago, when my son was a baby, I found a long snake skin in my home on two different occasions. I prayed this verse over and over every night until I fell asleep. We lived in this house for nine years and never saw a live snake. The Lord kept us safe. This is what I learned:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Why I Memorize Scripture

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 6/10/26

“Nobody can take away from you those texts from the Bible which you have learned by heart.” Corrie ten Boom

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo: Getty Images on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Bible and Scripture, Encouragement

Overcoming Anxiety with Faith and Prayer

Cindy Dawson

A Personal Testimony for Sunday, 6/7/26

One side effect of trauma is severe anxiety. That anxiety may vary in severity, sometimes controllable, sometimes out of your control.

Recently, I had to pick up my daughter, her husband, and her baby at the Nashville International Airport. The airport has changed a lot since the last time I picked someone up at arrivals.

They had moved the Cell Phone Waiting Area, and I couldn’t find it. Lost in heavy city traffic, I became extremely anxious. Not ordinary anxiety, but intense anxiety where your heart starts beating rapidly, and fear threatens to control your thoughts.

Immediately, I remembered Philippians 4:6-7.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I started to sing the message of this Scripture to the tune of How Great Thou Art. Start the music!

🎶 Oh Lord, My God, I will not be anxious.

For I will pray, and offer up my praise.

With heartfelt thanks, I turn to You, my Savior.

And the peace of God

Will guard my heart and mind.

This peace You give

Transcends all understanding.

It stills my thoughts and heals my anxious soul.

Oh Lord, My God, I will not be anxious.

For I will pray, and offer up my praise.

With heartfelt thanks, I turn to You, my Savior.

The peace of God will guard my heart and mind.

This peace You give transcends all understanding.

It stills my thoughts and heals my anxious soul.

(repeat until calm)

I don’t know how I came up with this idea. It just popped into my mind, which could only be attributed to the grace of our faithful God, who knows how to rescue His children in times of need. I calmed down, and the next thing I knew, I had my daughter and her precious family in the car, and we were headed to my home!

“I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;” Psalm 34:1, 4-5 NLT Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Did the Holocaust Really Happen?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 6/3/26

“The same day [April 12, 1945] I saw my first horror camp. It was near the town of Gotha. I have never felt able to describe my emotional reactions when I first came face to face with indisputable evidence of Nazi brutality and ruthless disregard of every shred of decency. Up to that time I had known about it only generally or through secondary sources. I am certain, however that I have never at any other time experienced an equal sense of shock.”

 “I visited every nook and cranny of the [concentration] camp because I felt it my duty to be in a position from then on to testify firsthand about these things in case there ever grew up at home the belief or assumption that the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda. I sent communications to both Washington and London, urging the two governments to send instantly to Germany a random group of newspaper editors and representative groups from the national legislatures. I felt that the evidence should be immediately placed before the American and British publics in a fashion that would leave no room for cynical doubt.”

Of all these [Displaced Persons] the Jews were in the most deplorable condition. For years they had been beaten, starved, and tortured.”

General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, WWII

General Eisenhower foresaw a day when the horrors of the Holocaust might be denied. He invited the media to document the scene. He compelled Germans living in the surrounding towns and any soldier not fighting at the front to witness the atrocities for themselves. They did.

The proof is readily available.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Finding Faith in Life’s Journey

Cindy Dawson
Henry and I walk by this 200-year-old tree every day. It inspires me to ponder life’s mysteries. If you look closely, you can see my granddaughter standing in front of the tree.
Oh Mighty Tree

Oh mighty tree!
The stories you could tell.
You've seen many mighty stotms.
And yet you never fell.

I strive to be like you,
Strong in every way
With roots that grow deep down,
I will firmly stand.

I keep my hurts within.
But they can never win.
For God is on my side.
From Him I cannot hide.

He knows my every thought,
And yet He loves me still.
He holds my shaking hand.
He knows what He has planned.

I put my trust in Jesus.
He has never let me down.
His Word forever leads me.
And someday I’ll wear a crown!

I pray that you will trust Him.
He is worthy of our praise.
He will lead and guide you,
forever and always!

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20 NIV

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Oh God, I Need You

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Monday, 6/1/26

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV (emphasis mine)

When I feel too weak to do what God has called me to do, there is only one thing to do. I approach the throne of grace to find help in my time of need.

May God bless you abundantly as you seek Him.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Fear No Evil

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 5/31/26

“Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me” Psalm 23:4a NIV

Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, said,

“Now, I know in my experience that Jesus’ light is stronger than the biggest darkness.”

She would know. She survived Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, where her father and sister were killed. May Corrie’s testimony give you courage.

“God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog