Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast
Jessi Morgan in 2023 had a traumatic experience that shaped how she views life and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has laid it on her heart to share her experiences and inspire others to put God first in every aspect of their life like she finally did in hers. Having her daughter born 4 months early really made Jessi lean on the Lord for comfort and guidance. And today she stands here starting her own 10-15 minute podcast focusing on weekly devotionals about what God can do for you and what He's done for her.
Jessi Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast
When God calls you first - Othniel
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Have you ever felt completely unqualified for something God was calling you to do? That's exactly what this week's devotional explores as we examine the story of Othniel, Israel's first judge.
Tucked away in less than six verses of Judges 3, Othniel's story might seem forgettable compared to the more dramatic tales of Samson or Deborah. But there's something powerful about being first—something that sets the tone for everything that follows. Othniel didn't have an impressive resume or extraordinary talents mentioned in Scripture. He was simply from Caleb's lineage, filled with God's Spirit, and willing to say yes when God called.
This devotional hits close to home as I share my own journey of obedience that led to this very podcast.
The beautiful truth we discover is that God doesn't need your impressive background or large social media following. He simply needs your willingness to be filled with His Spirit and move when He calls. Whether you're sensing a nudge toward ministry, a new career path, or simply reaching out to someone in need, remember: "The people you're meant to touch aren't waiting on a superstar. They're waiting on you." Your calling doesn't require the spotlight—just your obedience.
Ready to embrace your own "Othniel moment"? Listen now, and discover how God qualifies the called rather than calling the qualified. Then share this message with someone who needs to hear they're enough—just as they are—for whatever God is asking them to do.
Key passage: Judges 3:1-11
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Hello, you're listening to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart Podcast, episode 52. This week's devotional is titled when God Calls you First. Study of Judges. Let's go. Hi, I'm Jesse Morgan. I used to just share home decor and renovation tips on social media, but now I'm sharing something even closer to my heart my journey and love for Jesus Christ, my Savior. Welcome to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Hot Podcast.
Speaker 1:This is a weekly devotional. I started back in May 2024, but the inspiration for it came much earlier. It was rooted in a faith journey that began when my daughter was born four months early in 2023. Through that challenging time, god worked in ways that truly amazed me. On this podcast, I share personal stories of faith, woven together with scripture to show just how incredible God's word can be in our everyday lives. My hope is that through these stories, you'll be encouraged, uplifted and reminded of God's love and presence, no matter what you're going through. So I invite you to spend less than 15 minutes with me each week as we reflect on these devotionals together. Let's all pray within when God Calls you First. Episode 52, key Passages Judges 3, 1-11. Hello, hello, welcome back to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart. Hello, hello, welcome back to the Jesse Morgan Devotions for the Christian Heart.
Speaker 1:We are diving into Judges Chapter 3, today or this week, and I'm really excited to walk through it with you. This week we're talking about the very first judge God raised up for Israel, othniel. Now listen, at first I was tempted to breeze past him because his story was only mentioned in about like six verses or less. I was like, okay, quick mention of Othniel, then we'll head to Ehud, because, let's be honest, we love us. Some Ehud stories, deborah Samson. Some Ehud stories, deborah Samson, you name it. But something made me pause. I realized Othniel set the tone. He may not have had the most detailed backstory, but he was the first, and there's something powerful about being the first. Being the first comes with weight, with pressure, with expectation, and I couldn't just skip over that.
Speaker 1:Judges 3, first part of it, tells us that Israel fell into sin again. They forgot the Lord and turned to idols, intermarrying with other nations and totally abandoning the foundation laid during Joshua's time, and because of that, god allowed the king of Aram to oppress them for eight years. The people of Israel cried out for help and God answered. He raised up Othniel to deliver them. Here's what stood out to me. Othniel didn't come from some superstar, like resume or achievements. He was from the line of Caleb, not even Caleb's son, just his lineage, younger brother per se. And yet God chose him. Scripture says Othniel was filled with the spirit of the Lord and that he delivered Israel, in verses three, nine through 11. That's it, not a long list of achievements, just two things delivered and filled with the Spirit. And you know what that made me think of? It reminded me of Jesus, the ultimate deliverer. These judges, in a way that we're going to be studying, were early shadows of Christ, temporary solutions for broken people, pointing forward to one who could finally and really come eternally to deliver us too from sin. They didn't just have eternal salvation to offer, these judges, but these judges were signs of what was coming. And it all started with Othniel. So, friend, maybe you feel like you're not the best pick, maybe you don't have the resume, the experience, the numbers, the platform, but guess what? Neither did Othniel, and yet God called him. And now a little of my own story just to tie it, you know, connect it a little bit.
Speaker 1:Many of you know that this podcast came from a very personal space In 2023,. My daughter was born at 23 weeks. For four months she was in the hospital Two surgeries, many blood transfusions, infections. It was a season I wouldn't wish on anyone. But God met me there. So during those long hospital days I threw myself into God's word. I did a devotional study on Daniel one day, david the next. Just going back and forth Writing my thoughts out helped me stay grounded. I shared those notes with my mom, my dad and my Aunt Lily every single day through a group chat. Then my best friends Adrian and Lorna. Then this sweet woman I met at the hospital whose girls were also in the NICU. Before I knew it, I had a little devotional text thread list going on. Eventually reading it all got hard, so I started sending voice notes daily.
Speaker 1:And when my daughter finally came home in January 2024, I felt God nudged me again Share this, share this. At first I thought it would be like a blog post. I already had a blog for home decor, so that just made sense, right. But God kept nudging me and nudging me until I finally said, okay, maybe it's a podcast. Let me tell you. I was terrified, girl was terrified. I was terrified, girl was terrified. I didn't know the first thing about podcasting how to edit, what mic to buy, where to host it none of that. But God gave me a timeline. He said have your first episode ready by the time your new sitter starts. So, between being a full-time mom with a preemie searching for childcare and preparing to return to work in May, I got to work and, by God's grace, the Perfect Sitter started in April. That gave me just enough time to get everything set up, record, learn the tech stuff and hit publish by mid-May. And here we are Now.
Speaker 1:I know my story is a little more drawn out than Oathneel's, but listen, I am nobody special. I don't have a massive following. I've got about 1100 followers on Instagram, my TikTok Quiet YouTube, handful of views. And still God called me, just like he called Oathneel. Oathneel didn't need thousands of Instagram likes to qualify for the call. He didn't need an impressive background. He just needed to say yes and be filled with the spirit, and that's my encouragement to you today Be your own, oathneel.
Speaker 1:Don't wait for someone else to tell you you're good enough. Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle. You don't need the spotlight to walk in your purpose. Social media is a tool, not a definition of your worth. You are not too small. You are not too late. You are not unqualified.
Speaker 1:If God is nudging your heart, move, because the people you're meant to touch aren't waiting on a superstar. They're waiting on you. So take that step, be obedient and let God do the rest. Let's pray, heavenly Father. Thank you for calling us, even when we feel unqualified. Thank you for the reminder that you use ordinary people to do extraordinary things, just like Othniel, helping us to be. Help us to be willing, help us to be filled with your spirit, help us to trust that you are enough when we feel like we're not. Thank you for every listener tuning in today. Lord, bless them, guide them, strengthen them to be their own, othniel, in the places you've assigned them. Lord, we love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen, love you all Till next time.
Speaker 1:Well, that wraps up this week's episode. I hope these devotions help you draw closer to God each day. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who might need the same message, and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a weekly episode. Also, if you feel compelled, leaving a nice review would be so appreciated as well. For more information or to reach out, check the show notes or visit jessimorganhomecom or find me on Instagram at jessimorganlife. Remember God's timing is always perfect. Keep trusting him Until next time.
Speaker 1:This is Jessi Morgan praying on. Jessi Morgan Devotions behind the scenes starting right now. Hey, hey, what's up? Everyone Another behind the scenes just to reflect a little bit and just share some things. I will say.
Speaker 1:This week's devotional I struggled. This week's devotional, I struggled, I struggled to get it done. I struggled with the topic at hand and I'm telling you it was just, I was really having a tough time. I didn't know what to talk about, how to describe Oath Neil, how to deal with this first judge, and I was close to being like, oh my gosh, maybe I just don't do a podcast episode this week, because I just don't want to do something that's not authentic and real. And I was like Lord, I need help. And you know what? I had to just get a lot of inspiration from looking at some of the key themes and topics of both Neil's story. I called my parents and I didn't tell them that I was struggling, I just told them. I just asked them a question what inspires you, mom, and who's the? You just things, and and just to get some juices flowing a little bit, because my parents are just always so inspirational, my dad as well.
Speaker 1:It's just been a week of a lot going on in our family and we have been. Satan has really tried me and my husband this week and you know, this past, like seven days has been very trying and it's just had a lot of my plate with work. Work has been a lot of stress Not all terrible, but you know just a lot going on and I just have had so much on my plate that I have like I just was not focused enough. I just wasn't inspired at first with this devotional this week's, and literally within the 11th hour, it's like I just sat down and I just prayed about it and God came to me and literally this podcast was done in the 11th hour.
Speaker 1:But you know what I'm so proud of it. I'm so proud of it because you know what it really speaks to me too and I realized that I'm good enough. I'm good enough. God nudged me to go for it. I'm going to go for it. I'm good enough and I really need to stop letting other people tell me that I'm good enough to do something.
Speaker 1:I think in my previous years and previous days in my career, I used to wait for people to tell me to go apply for something, and now I'm like, no, I need to apply, I'm good enough and God's going to bless me. Let me pray to God, Let me get his blessing on it, let me get his take on it, let me study the word, Let me figure it out, and if all points, all things are pointing towards me to move forward with something, I'm going to do it because God believes I can. I am my own Othniel, you know. So I encourage you with that. Having a tough week, you're questioning yourself. Make sure that you sit in front of the Lord and spend time with God, and then you'll know your worth, not somebody else, not a system, not a job, you know. So just encourage you with that. Love you all, till next time. Bye, thank you.
