Today is a very special day for me.

Seventeen years ago, my family and I were in Kentucky on our way to visit my mom for her birthday. We had spent the night there, and during that time, the Lord began dealing with my heart about starting a devotional.

Now, I’ve never been one for writing. I had no desire to do it whatsoever. But the Lord wouldn’t stop prompting me—He just kept nudging me toward it. So I began to pray about it more and more. My husband was also praying, and he said to me, “Honey, whatever the Lord is calling you to do, then do that.”

Still, I came up with so many excuses and reasons why I couldn’t do it. But how many of you know that whom God calls, He also equips (Romans 8:30)? Praise the Lord!

For me, I always loved to sing. That’s been a big part of my life—just singing. Even now, I always seem to have a song for just about anything. Amen!

The next morning, we continued our trip to my mom’s house. While there, I sat down in her computer room and began the process of starting a page and figuring things out. And it was right there, on her birthday, that I wrote my very first devotional. Amen!

How wonderful is that? God is involved in every little detail of our lives—He is precise about it all. Amen!

Fast forward our family had lost our sweet Gizmo. So we felt it was time to welcome another puppy into our home. Erik found a beautiful Labrador, and we got up early and drove to pick him up right on the state line of Georgia and South Carolina. He was from a Christmas tree farm there.

When we arrived, the lady told us, “He was born on October 12th.”

Amen! I couldn’t believe it—that’s my mom’s birthday! It felt like that he was simply meant to be ours. We had no idea beforehand that it was his birthday, but we named him Benjamin, and he’s been the best dog ever since.

So today is a big celebration for our family:

• My sweet mom’s birthday
• Benjamin’s birthday
• And my writing anniversary

Needless to say, I’ve learned something important through all of this: when God speaks to your heart about doing something, it’s often the very thing you would never have chosen for yourself. But it’s the thing He has chosen for you. Amen!

He truly does take the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).

But also—what God calls you to do, He makes a way for. It will come easier than you expect. You’ll learn as you go. But more importantly, you’ll learn to lean on and trust in the Lord, because He has made us fearfully and wonderfully, and He has already equipped us.

So today, I pray that if God has been dealing with your heart about something, you’ll find the courage to step out of the boat—step out of your comfort zone—and simply say “yes” to the Lord. That’s the most important “yes” you will ever say in your life: yes to God’s will and God’s calling.

So be brave, my dear ones. Follow the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We may make our plans, but it is the Lord who directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

And always remember: obedience is better than sacrifice. Amen!”

“For it is in His name, Jesus’ name, that I do ask and pray..Amen and Amen..Be blessed today my dear sweet friends and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, Be a light for our Father, Much love to you all, Mandi ❤️