07/13/2026
This morning during my devotions, I was reading James 1:19–27. It begins with the familiar reminder to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger—words many of us have heard countless times.
But the verse that really stood out to me today was James 1:27:
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." (ESV)
That very last part of this verse—"to keep oneself unstained from the world"—that painted such a vivid picture in my mind.
I imagined myself standing in the middle of a blank canvas while the world constantly threw color at me. The shows we watch. The music we listen to. Greed. Pride. The desires of the flesh. Selfish ambitions. Fear. Anxiety. One splash at a time, it's so easy to become stained by the things around us. To kill our witness.
The truth is, I fall short every single day.
But then Jesus entered my picture.
I saw Him standing in front of me with a shield that covered me from head to toe.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped." — Psalm 28:7
That image was such a beautiful reminder that I don't have to fight this battle alone. Every day I can choose to stay close to the One who protects, strengthens, forgives, and renews me.
I'm so thankful that when the world tries to leave its mark on me, Jesus is there—my strength, my shield, and my Savior, keeping me clean. ❤️
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