God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.- 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

“I feel so anxious all the time,” the woman’s eyes were downcast, ashamed of her admission.

“That’s hard. What do you do to try to counteract it?” I asked gently.

“Oh, I try to keep busy. I try to think about other things.” She had come for prayer after our church service.

“Have you tried using the Bible as a weapon?” I went on to encourage her to read aloud verses about God’s peace vs. anxiety. After we prayed together, she looked up.

“I feel so much more peaceful! I’m going to try what you suggested. Thank you!”

God gave me joy in helping and praying with her.

I recently took a short free spiritual gifts test online. It revealed my five spiritual gifts. At the top is exhortation which is the ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the spoken or written word and Bible truth. I’m delighted to use my writing skill to combine with this gift in the last several years of writing devotions. I can also use it when I pray and advise people.

What about you? Do you know your God-given spiritual gifts? Do you use them to serve Christ and others?

Dear Lord God, thank you for giving me a spiritual gift and helping me to use it for your glory.

Throughout this day: Read about spiritual gifts. Take a free online test. Pray and ask God how he would like you to use your gift.

Originally published here on May 20, 2026: https://thelife.com/devotionals/find-your-gift

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Ask me how we can have a voice call and pray together.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.- Colossians 3:23-24 NLT

“You are such a hard worker!” I was weeding a flower bed at a Bible camp alongside an elderly lady who gave me the unexpected compliment.

I used to be lazy as a kid and thought work was terrible. Younger Sheyvah tried to get things done the easiest way possible. I remember being shocked when my Bible college professor said that there would be work for us to do in eternity. What? That’s not my idea of eternal bliss!

Things have changed. Or rather God has changed me. He has taught me who my work is truly serving, and helped me be intentional about pleasing him.

At my job in a public school, I am willing to do anything that needs to be done. When someone in authority rubs me the wrong way, I need to remember that I am really working for the Lord of the universe, not a flawed person. My Daddy Above’s opinion is the only one that matters. He will reward me, so I don’t need to try to get recognition down here.

Dear Lord, thank you that you are my King and I am your servant. Humble me to work for you despite adverse conditions. Thank you for the wonderful glories to come in the new world.

Throughout this day: Think about your work, whether paid, volunteer or at home. No matter what it is, or who sees, remember that God is there. Ask him for the grace to work willingly for him with a joyful heart.

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Email: sheyvahrex@proton.me

Originally published here on May 11, 2026: https://thelife.com/devotionals/working-hard-or-hardly-working

Earning Points with God? Ep 55

How to Receive God's unconditional love and acceptance

You missed four days of devotions. You are not a good Christian. God must not be happy with you.

I stood looking out the rain-streaked window and felt like a terrible loser.

I should have combatted the lies of the enemy with the truth of God’s word.

I thought I would disappoint God if I didn’t read the Bible every day. I listened to the lies of the enemy that said I was not acceptable to God unless I earned “points” every day by reading the Bible and praying. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

I now know that I can’t earn God’s favor or his love and acceptance. He already loves me because he made me and paid an enormous price for me to be bought back from the devil. That price was his Son’s life. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God loves us not because we are lovable but because he is love, not because he needs to receive but because he delights to give.”

For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 1:9 NLT

We didn’t deserve to be saved from hell. It is all because of God’s love and grace. An acronym that can define grace is:

G: God’s

R: riches

A: at

C: Christ’s

E: expense.

Dear Lord, please help me receive your love and grace in my heart, and to rest in your favor. Thank you, that I don’t have to measure up to any standard before you will love, accept, and forgive me.

Today: Write down a lie you believe on one side of a card and a Bible verse to combat it on the other side. Say the verse aloud each time Satan or his evil ones tempt you to speak or believe the lie.

This is my devotion originally published April 25, 2026 here: https://thelife.com/devotionals/earning-points-with-god

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email me at sheyvahrex@proton.me

Aaaahhhh!

Ugh, I did it again! How can I be so stupid? I’m such a terrible mom! I’m an awful Christian.

The silence that fell after my outburst was thick with accusation. I breathed hard as I looked at my children across the room.

I had prayed for patience for years, but once again, had lost my temper with my four precious sons. The condemning thoughts and negative feelings came fast and furious. I confessed my sin of angry yelling to the boys and Father God. Fortunately, they forgave me. God forgave me because of what Jesus had done for me. Christ gave up his life as a sacrifice, so I didn’t have to be punished for my dreadful wickedness.

This was years ago. Although God set me free from yelling, I still must deal with anger. The next time I feel irritation rising, I will call out for God’s help to say “No” to unrighteous anger. He will aid me. His Holy Spirit longs to lend me his power. You too can gain victory over seemingly uncontrollable sins. The devil tries to convince us we’ll never change, but it’s a lie. We are helpless by ourselves, but God has the power to make us holy like Jesus.

God is so wonderful to offer his gift of salvation to all people. His grace teaches us to say no to the tempting sin we indulged in before. His grace teaches us to live pure lives right now. We are waiting for Jesus to appear. He gave his life to buy us back from the kingdom of darkness and to make us clean. He makes us eager to do what is holy.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.- Titus 2:11-14 New International Version of the Bible

Take God up on his promise to give us grace and mercy in our time of need. The results may surprise you.

Dear Father God, thank you for your gift of salvation and complete forgiveness. Help me lean on your power and not my own to receive your grace.

Today: Look up some verses about your freedom from sin at this link: https://www.openbible.info/topics/being_set_free_from_sin

and write them on a card. Read them aloud to encourage yourself that victory is possible through Christ.

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Grace and Mercy: Originally published on thelife.com April 7, 2026

https://thelife.com/devotionals/have-you-blown-it

“Goodbye Daddy! You can go to be with Jesus now. I love you. See you in heaven.” I was shouting through my tears on the phone. April 30, 2021, was the last time I spoke to my dad on Earth. He had had a massive heart attack. I tried to see him at the hospital, but they wouldn’t let me because of COVID. A few hours later, he slipped into eternity. I found it hard to process my grief while having to go to work and act normal. I wasn’t young, but I felt the sting of losing my daddy. We hadn’t ever been very close emotionally, and I grieved the loss. Over the years since then, I have learned to know and experience God as my Daddy in heaven and to trust him more.

We all go through painful periods in our lives. We have a choice; will we become bitter or better? With God’s help, we can become much better. He wants to make us more like Jesus. God is preparing us for important tasks in His kingdom. Let us praise Jesus with joy that he has counted us worthy to suffer. These trials are a brief blip in view of eternity. Everyone, not only Christians, experiences painful trials in this temporary life. But unlike our unbelieving friends, we have God’s Holy Spirit’s power to draw on.

Bill Bright, the founder of Cru/Power to Change, writes, “If you are experiencing difficulties in your life-physical illness, loss of loved ones, financial adversity- remember … James 1:2-4 [today’s passage]... Be happy, knowing that God will work in your life to accomplish His holy purpose.” (Promises, Day 12, New Life Publications. 1993)

My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.- James 1:2-4 (ERV)

Dear Jesus, I don’t like my trials, but I know from your Word that you are using them in my life. Help me to rejoice in you despite how I feel today.

Throughout this day: Check out this online devotion from Bill Bright. You can subscribe to receive it daily by email. https://www.cru.org/content/cru/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/devotionals/todays-promise/01/08.htmlOr consider buying the book: Promises: A Daily Guide to Supernatural Living by Bill Bright can be found on various sites online.

Originally published March 23, 2026. https://thelife.com/devotionals/trials-bring-joy

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My devotion originally published on March 10th, 2026 / Sheyvah Rex

“You’re not a good Christian because you committed that terrible sin yesterday,” the voice in my head was accusing.

“You confessed it to Me. I have already forgiven you. Walk in my love.”

I had a choice. Would I believe the voice of the enemy bringing me disgrace or the truth of God’s word bringing me forgiveness and joy? Would I hang my head in shame for my actions or rejoice that God forgave me because of Jesus’s blood spilled for my sin?

Although the enemy was attacking my thoughts and emotions, I knew a sure way to combat him. I chose to praise the Lord with my voice. The devil never appreciates hearing about the wonders of God’s love, and so he fled. Like David in today’s Psalm, we can hold our heads high even in the presence of our enemies because God hides us.

Over the years, I have struggled occasionally with feeling down or “blah”. I have learned that when I praise the Lord even when I don’t feel like it, the darkness leaves and my feelings become joyful. Jesus is always worthy of our praise. Worship and praise are powerful weapons against the enemy, bringing joy in hard trials.

Dear Father, please help me to choose to praise you even when I don’t feel like it. Thank you, that you are more powerful than the enemy, and he will run away when I exalt you.

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.- Psalm 27:5-6 (NLT)

Throughout this day: replace negative thoughts and emotions with praise. Sing along to this song: Victory Chant (Hail Jesus, You’re my King) https://youtu.be/rHTJZYOuHIc?si=EFCagBkLo_ytYdCN

https://thelife.com/devotionals/praising-for-joy

My lovely parents several months before Daddy died in 2021

“Ow!” Dad squealed. My mother attempted to clean up her husband in the small restroom. My father had had dementia for five years and lost control of his bodily functions in the last two years of his life. Stress comes in different forms. Caregiving is not for the faint of heart. Mom displayed her love for Dad not only in words but consistently cared for him even in the messy times. She showed humility and grace, which came from the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus said to love each other as he had loved us, he hadn’t yet gone to the cross and laid down his life for us. He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet. This was a job usually done by slaves. None of the disciples had chosen to wash the others’ feet. They were too busy arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus showed us all that he is the greatest servant leader.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.- John 13:34-35 (NLT)

The word for love in today’s verse is agape in Greek. This word means unconditional love, not based on feelings. What about us? Do we say we love people? Of course. But then when there is an opportunity to serve that person, do we do it? Willingly? Or do we perform the service grudgingly? Jesus said that showing true love would prove to the unbelievers that we are really following him.

Dear Lord, please help me to show true love practically to those around me.

Throughout this day: consider your relationships. Are you loving family, friends or co-workers unconditionally or only when and how it suits you?

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https://thelife.com/devotionals/true-love-serves Originally published February 23, 2026

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Please leave a comment or send me a message with prayer requests. God is powerful and He loves you very much whether you believe it or not.

“I haven’t seen you in years!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“Actually, I came to see you last week,” I smiled. “Do you want to go for a car ride to the beach and get a mocha?” An hour later, on our way back, she asked if we could drive by the beach and get a mocha. “We just did!” I reassured her.

Elizabeth had been part of our former church and had babysat our sons. Now she is in the dementia ward of a long-term care home and sees it as a prison. Her prayer request is always: “I pray that God gives me a human male companion so I can live with him and get out of this place. If not, then God please take me to your heavenly home.”

I feel God has given me the assignment of loving and visiting her regularly, especially as she has no family who will visit. Our verse today tells us not to love only with words but with actions. It is easy to say we love someone. It takes God’s help to invest time and money into loving someone with our deeds. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.- 1 John 3:18

Pray with me: Lord God, please help me to love with my actions, not just my words.

Throughout this day: look for ways to show practical love to those around you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you all that you need to fulfil his will.

Thank you for reading/watching/listening. I pray that you are drawn closer to our Lord. Please reach out for prayer if you have something for which you’d like me to pray. It is my delight and privilege to pray with and for you. I’m your host Sheyvah Rex and this is episode 50 of Perfect King’s Imperfect Princess! Today I shared my devotion Love in Action and Truth which was originally published February 5, 2026 on the life.com. Link in shownotes. https://thelife.com/devotionals/helpless-against-falling

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https://thelife.com/devotionals/love-in-action-and-truth