Devotions Archives - Tracy Joy Jones

Wearing Your Own Armor by Tracy Joy Jones

Wear Your Own Armor

I first met the incomparable Meg Wilson at a writer’s retreat by the sea. Meg and I were the only early risers, eager to see the sunrise. So each morning, we traipsed down to the beach together, and there on the seashore, God used Meg to change my life. At the time, I was struggling with some really difficult heart issues and questions about my future and what God had for me. One of those issues had to do with who I was called to be in the kingdom of God. As you probably know, I’ve preached for my parent’s …

When I Thought I Lost Me

“When I thought I lost me, you knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to your love. You picked up all the pieces and put me back together. You are the defender of my heart.” There was a time when “Defender” by Jesus Culture played on constant repeat in my headphones. Something about the idea of losing myself, and God knowing where I left me felt so achingly poignant and true. I was battling health issues and riding the up and down seesaw of hormones that didn’t want to find a level place to be. I thought I was …

The Message on the Mirror

I have a problem. I can’t clean the mirror in my closet, and it desperately needs it. Over the past year or so, I started writing on the mirror the promises that God had given me. I read them every time I look in the mirror. I see the promises instead of my outfit. I see God’s encouragement to keep going instead of my doubts. I’ve tried to convince myself to just erase the words and write them again after the mirror is clean, and yet I can’t make myself do it. Each challenge and promise were written during moments …

109 Lbs of Disappointment

A few months ago, I read the story of a lady who had lost 109 lbs on WW (used to be Weight Watchers) over the course of a year and a half. 109 lbs is an amazing achievement, and she looks incredible. But the thing that impacted me the most about her story was when she said there was hardly a day on her journey when she wasn’t disappointed by what she saw on the scale. Some days she thought she should have lost more, other days she’d gained weight. Drop and gain, drop and gain. But she kept on …

Little Miracles

Between the cracks of the sidewalk leading to my home and the metal edging lining my front flower bed, a tangle of green emerges with the spring sunshine. It’s unsightly and irritating, but there is an easy solution for weeds. It’s been a long hard winter and after several late freezes, every sunny day is a neighborhood party. The home improvement stores fill to capacity with shoppers, the trays of flowers disappear like donuts in a kindergarten class. Everyone is desperate for new life and a fresh start after Covid and winter and lock-ins. But after a brief breath of …

May the Words of my Mouth

Each time God begins a new chapter in my life, the urge to write or preach about it is almost overwhelming. My close friends will tell you, I am an open book. It is how I have both committed to live my life and who I am called to be in the world. And yet, for the last few years, I have felt the hand of God muzzling me. Over and over I have tried to write down the things that He was speaking and doing in my heart, and I have felt His restraint. It’s to the point now …