The Connection Corner

Bathe it in Prayer

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

The moonlight shimmered on the lake, and the silence around Inspiration Point felt sacred. The summer had been busy, filled with the laughter of campers and the rhythm of camp activities. Yet, tonight was different. Sitting on the wooden bench, I stared at the stars, wrestling with a quiet stirring in my heart.

For weeks, something had been pulling me to this moment. After a long prayer, the realization came like a soft whisper: it was time to transfer schools.

Now let me tell you, I did not jump up and shout hallelujah. I sat there stunned. That school held everything familiar—my friends, my rhythm, my memories. But I knew in my bones that God was speaking to me.

Little did I know, the decision had been bathed in prayer for two years by my mother who quietly interceded for me. God had orchestrated this moment perfectly, weaving together years of prayer and a night of surrender under the stars.

Now, that clarity did not make the road easy. Saying goodbye stung, but it was the voice of the Lord. He meant business and I was resolute. I knew I had not been living for the Lord, and this was from His sweet throne of grace. That peace never left me.

Looking back, the change led to growth beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I went from being the party girl to praise and worship leader and missionary.

So here is what I have learned, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart: when it is time to leap, leap big. But first, bathe your decision in prayer. Soak it, steep it, let it sit with God long enough that your heart knows what your head might not.

The peace that follows? That is your green light, and when it comes, do not just tiptoe forward. Run. Trust the One who goes before you.

June 6, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward

Loved by a Good Father

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Looking back, I never understood the idea of ‘missing out’ on having a son to throw a ball with. My dad was different. He was excited to have a daughter to teach. He is the reason I fell in love with sports!

My dad, a 6’4 gentle giant standing, is one of the kindest and strongest men I know. From blending my baby food for daycare to tucking away extra bows so I’d always look cute, he has invested in me from a very young age.

I have two brothers, yet I have always been the athlete of the family. From a young age, Dad taught me to play catch with a Velcro mitt and introduced me to basketball. The joy in his face when he saw me progressing and beating him at his own game is something I will never forget.

Dad’s love was not just about cheering at a game; it was an entire investment in who I could become. He nurtured my talents, big and small, and believed in me more than I believed in myself.

When I think of what it means to be a godly man, I immediately think of him. He reminded me that my gifts come from Jesus. He taught me sportsmanship in working hard and handling setbacks with a positive attitude.

He never raised his voice and always disciplined us in love. In sports, He always made sure I had the best equipment like bats, knee pads and cleats.

Reflecting on his constant encouragement, I see parallels with God. Like my earthly father, God, the Father of Lights, desires to give good gifts to His children and equip them for success in all aspects of their lives.

So remember that God is a good Father, and He wants to help you, not just on the court, but in everything you face today.

June 5, 2025/by Bri Dunn

More Than Just a Job

Daily Devotional, Sarah Hall

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

He had never been one to sit still.

Right out of high school, Cliff went straight to work at the GE factory. It was hard work—long hours, heavy lifting—but it felt good to build a life with his own hands. He stayed there for twenty years.

Until one day, it was over.

The shutdown had been looming for months, but nothing prepared him for that final walk out. There would be no more clocking in and no more steady paycheck. There was just a clean locker and a lot of unanswered questions.

He tried to stay ahead of it. He sent out applications and made phone calls, but doors stayed shut. When he sat down at the kitchen table that night, Cliff felt like he had let his family down.

He remembered something his pastor had said about trusting God to meet their needs, so he said a simple prayer. Just, “Lord, I need help.”

The next morning, the phone rang. It was his pastor. The janitor at church had just retired, and they needed someone to step in. They were also starting a building project and needed help managing it. It meant more hours, more responsibility, and more pay than Cliff had made at the factory.

He said yes.

At first, it just felt like a job. But over time, he began to see the fingerprints of God everywhere. It was there in the quiet early mornings before the lights came on and in the way people worshiped in a clean, welcoming space that felt safe.

And he realized something: this was ministry.

God does not waste any space He gives us to stand in. Whether you hold a Bible or a broom, you have a platform to serve people and point them to Jesus.

Believe me, you do not have to chase something “bigger” to make an impact.

Just be faithful where you are.

That is where He works best.

June 4, 2025/by Sarah Hall