Tag: devotional

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Day 3: Victory

“But thanks be to God which giveth us the VICTORY through our LORD Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57

Who gives us the victory? The LORD Jesus Christ does! A few days ago, I asked on Facebook what are some trials that you are facing or have faced recently. I do not know if you read the responses or not, but I did. There was a myriad of          responses. Yes, some were similar, but yet there was still a wide variety.

Did you recognize one common thread in the responses on Facebook? It does not matter what age, or sex, or background we come from, if we are human, we will face trials. We will face obstacles in our lives. Christians will even face trials. So, if we are to overcome these obstacles in our lives … if we are to get the victory over them … we will need some trustworthy tactics. What better place to find them than in God’s Word! What does God’s Word tell us …

1. We need to realize that each of these battles are actually spiritual battles — Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” When someone says or does something to hurt us, what do we most often do? We lash back, right? Because they have hurt us. But, what we need to do is stop and recognize that what that person has said or done against us is not personal. It is a spiritual battle. A spiritual battle must be fought spiritually … not with physical retaliation.

2. We need to realize that the battle is the Lord’s to command — II Chronicles 20:15b “… for the battle is not your’s, but God’s.” Too often we are the problem. We step in and act before God has given us leave to do so. We throw words like arrows piercing anything and everyone in its path. The battle is the Lord’s, my friend. Let Him command our ways.

3. Like David, we must adorn ourselves with the armor of God, not man — Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Man’s armor will weigh us down. We will quickly tire and fall defeated. God’s armor gives strength, but we need His complete armor. Do not make the mistake of going forth to battle partially attired for it will only bring defeat!

4. We need to keep our stand — Exodus 14:13 “… Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew to you to day …” Sometimes we feel like we are down for the last count, but all we need to do is stand. Have you ever noticed that a standing position is an unmoving position? I had never thought about it before, but it is true. Moving positions are walking, jogging, trotting, running, or sprinting. Place your feet firmly and simply stand!

5. We are more than conquerors — Romans 8:37 “ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Two things to encourage ourselves in today here. One, we do not have to fight alone. Two, He will enable us to be MORE than conquerors!

Do not despair, my friend! God is still in command. Victory is just on the horizon. Follow His command and let VICTORY be your battle cry!

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Day 2: Liberty

“… where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is LIBERTY.” II Corinthians 3:17

Can you just hear the silence that followed Patrick Henry’s proclamation of, “Give me liberty, or give me death?” The silence was so strong that I am sure that if a pin were dropped, it would have been heard as if a bullet had been shot. There is a reason for this … a lot was weighing in the balance. Therefore, it was a very profound statement, was it not?

Liberty means the state of being free from restrictions. Where liberty can found, life can be found. Where no liberty is found, death is found. This is true both physically and spiritually. So, spiritually speaking this also is a very profound statement for us … if I do not have liberty (spiritually), I will suffer death (spiritually).

Where is liberty found? Well, our verse tells us that it is found in the Spirit. At the moment of salvation, we received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. God gave us His Spirit when He gave us life. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Yesterday we talked about that sacrifice that gave us our freedom, which in turn gives us our liberty.

Some people come to Christ for liberty thinking that once they have surrendered their lives to Him, that they will now live a peaceful, drama-free life. When that does not happen, they are very upset. What they fail to realize is that Christ may have paid that price for their liberty, but liberty must be lived out every single day of our lives. Many of us truly have the Holy Spirit living within us, but we live a dead, defeated life. That is not what God intended for us at all, my friend!

Yes, we will have struggles. Yes, we will get beaten up from time to time. Yes, we will have doubts and fears and people and things will pull us downward. But, we do not have to stay there. God has promised us liberty! We must act on it! That action is what helps us to proclaim to all those who see us that we live in liberty … through Christ!

We have had the privilege of going to New York City a few times because we have a supporting church there. We have not gotten to go to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close, but we have seen it from a distance. She stands so tall and so proud with her torch raised high. What is she proclaiming to all who see her? Liberty!

“In New York Harbor, stands a lady, with a torch raised to the sky; and all who see her, know she stand for Liberty for you and me. I’m so proud to be called an American, to be named with the brave and the free; I will honor our flag and our trust in God, and the Statue of Liberty. On lonely Golgotha, stood a cross, with my Lord raised to the sky; and all who kneel there, live forever as all the saved can testify. I’m so glad to be called a Christian, to be named with the ransomed and whole; as the statue liberates the citizen, so the cross liberates the soul. Oh, the cross is my Statues of Liberty, It was there that my soul was set sfree; unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged cross is my Statue of Liberty!” (written by the Gaithers)

Raise your torch high, my friend, that it may proclaim to all who see that you have chosen LIBERTY!

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Day 1: Freedom

“If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed.” John 8:36

As I sit here praying and meditating on this verse many things come to my mind. In fact, they are in an over-abundance! Yet, they continue to float and bounce around with no seeming order … and no seeming hurry to settle down. I like      decisiveness. I like clarity. I like black and white … no fuzzy pictures allowed! But, do you know what? God does not always bring the whole picture into focus at one time. I will move forward in trust that He knows what He is doing this month. He has a plan even though He has not revealed it completely to me yet. So, are you ready?

In just a few short days, we will be celebrating Independence Day aka July 4th, as it is often referred to as. Independence Day in the United States represents a freedom that was gained … through sacrifice. Am I correct? To be free means to not be subjected to the power and reign of another person or object.

Life, in general, brings its own bondage (control by others), but what we often do not recognize is that we face another bondage as well … a bondage to sin and Satan. It is true that as Christians God has saved us from that bondage of sin. He has destroyed the chains. If it is a done deal, why do we continue to allow sin to reign over us? I believe the Apostle Paul was wondering the same thing because he admonishes the Romans in chapter 6 verses 1 and 2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

The Galatians also must have been having issues with this very same thing because Paul then admonishes them to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 Let us face it, we all find ourselves faced with issues that drag us down, do we not? Some of those issues are sin and some are not, but even if they are not sin, they can cause us to sin through our actions and attitudes towards them.

I love Easter time as it is a time to reflect back on what Christ did for us that day there on Calvary. I love to hear the song sung, “It is Finished.” He finished the work there that day. Let us not go back and make Him suffer all over again because we cannot trust His work. He has set us FREE, my friend! Since He has set us free, we are FREE indeed [for sure; without a doubt; never to be changed]!

Proverbs 26:11 tells us that “a fool returneth to his folly” just “as a dog returneth to his vomit.” Are we doing that very same thing without realizing it? Are we continuing to live in bondage, when Christ so willingly set us free? We live near the original monument of the battle of Iwo Jima. We have watched the film numerous times. In that 36 day battle, there were over 26,000 casualties!! I do not know the total number who stormed those beaches and so valiantly fought there, but if you were to talk to them today and ask them to go back and fight that battle all over again, do you think they would do it? I wouldn’t! Once was enough, my friend! Let us not do the same thing in our spiritual lives. Our freedom from sin has been paid for. Let us accept that payment and let us live in freedom today!

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Day 30: The Difference

“And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Luke 1:22

What a wonderful month as we have followed David’s musings [reflections] in Psalm 37. I do not know about you, but I have been encouraged, I have been rebuked, I have had my toes stepped on, I have fallen on my face in repentance, and I have come forth stronger!

Did you just see what happened? David made a difference (in my life)! Did he make a difference in yours also? How did he make a difference? By having enough compassion [care] to share! What I think is so incredible about David’s musings in chapter after chapter in the Bible is that although he starts out all stressed out … hello, drama!! … he always ends by getting his focus right and rejoices in God’s power and God’s deliverance that is freely made available to not only him but you and I as well, my friend! God never leaves us stranded. He never leaves us helpless. Hallelujah!

Last Sunday morning I spoke to the ladies Sunday School class in Indiana and I shared this verse with them, as well as, five areas that we can make a difference in someone else’s life. I would like to share those few thoughts here in an               abbreviated manner.

1. We can make a difference through PRAYER (James 5:16) … How many of us like for others to pray for us? I am sure that all of us will have our hands raised right now. There IS power in PRAYER so find someone to pray for today!

2. We can make a difference through TIME (Matthew 6:33) … Each of us has 24 hours in a day. The key is how we prioritize those hours. My first desire is to grow closer to the Lord. My second is to balance my time for family, friends, ministry, and others.

3. We can make a difference through CARING (Psalm 142:4) … Compassion is having your hurt in my heart. Take time to care for others!

4. We can make a difference through our VISION (Proverbs 29:18) … We easily get caught up in our own world that we fail to have eyes to see the needs of others … not just to the unsaved, but often for the person that sits at the end of our pew! Help us, God, to see others as you see them!

5. We can make a difference by REACHING out to others (Acts 1:8) … Often we fail to realize that we a living witness to those we come in contact with every day. Do not pass these opportunities up! Seek God’s face … have Him show you someone that needs your touch today!

Please pray for me as I study and seek God’s face for each devotional next month in the month of July! I am a nobody. David was a nobody. But, God used him to make a difference and I want Him to use me to make a difference in someone else’s life as well. It is becoming clearer in my mind what direction I believe that God is leading me, so stay tuned! I am not sure how it all is going to flow, but I will leave you with one little hint … until tomorrow … “Freedom is not Free.”

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Day 29: The Way

“Wait on the LORD, and keep his WAY …” Psalm 37:34

There are two basic definitions for the word way. The first is a track or path. The second is the method or style of doing something. Both of these, I believe, can be applied to this verse for we are to keep God’s way … follow His path … and follow His example in that way. Let us look at some of those verses that speak of the way or the path that God wants for us.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

Proverbs 3:6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I have not expounded on these verses because I believe that they speak for themselves. In fact, I have memorized them at some time in my life. You may have also, but the question is, “Have you followed them?” Which one are you not following? Which one did the Holy Spirit prick your heart about? This is a good time for us to seek repentance and to get back on the path that God desires for us!

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Day 28: The Perfect

“Mark the PERFECT man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.” Psalm 37:37

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you tried, you just cannot seem to reach that perfect state? Well, I have good news for you! You will never be perfect (as defined by the world)! Hey, no stone throwing! That is good news! Why?    Because now you do not have to worry and struggle to meet that expectation.

By the way, where would that expectation even come from? Why would we even want to frustrate ourselves with such an unattainable feat? Because self or others aka human, fallible man makes us believe that we need to do so! It is a lie! My friend, do not be deceived!

The dictionary defines the word perfect as flawless, exemplary, or having the highest qualities or characteristics. I know that I said that this is a humanly impossible, unattainable state, but does that mean that we can be lazy (or the total opposite)? No! Definitely not! Why? Because biblically and spiritually perfect means a different thing, am I not correct? It means maturity. Now, this is something that we can attain! Yay!

Why would David tell us to “mark” or to take notice of “the perfect [mature] man?” Well, for starters have you watched a toddler or child and how they act? Very immature, correct? They pout and shout and can cause all sorts of havoc and  uproar when they do not get their way … or they are tired … or they are hungry … or they (add your own thoughts here).

David has spent a good bit of his time in this chapter telling us much about the evil man or the wicked man. Now he is telling us to look at the “perfect” or mature man. He is saying to watch or take notice … or notes, if necessary … of how this man acts. He wants us to see the great contrast … for there is a very marked contrast, my friend, just waiting for us to take note of. How many times have we wallowed in defeat with our heads and our bodies bowed low, when all we had to do is look up and take note?

I just got back earlier this week from flying up north to spend some first-time-ever time away with my sisters. It seems like the normal pattern for traveling by air is to hurry and wait. You hurry to the counter to get checked in only to have to wait in line. Then once checked in, you hurry off to TSA to what? Wait in line again! Then, if you are like me, you throw a red flag EVERY time that you go through the scanner (yes, I am telling the God’s honest truth!). So, then they pull you aside and pat you down and search your luggage … that you have to point to but not touch! Once all that is cleared, then you hurry off to the gate to then wait some more! While you wait, what do you normally do? I people watch and boy, howdy, you can see a lot of different people in an airport in a short period of time if you are watching!

I do not know about you, but I do not desire to act like a child during my adult years. Yet, I often find myself doing just that! Ugh! Is it just me or do you find yourself in my shoes as well? Let us take David’s advice and “mark the perfect man” … so that we too may learn the steps to becoming that perfect and mature child of God!

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Day 27: The Law

“The LAW of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 37:31

What is the law? It is a system of rules or guidelines which define correct procedure or behavior. Our lawbook, as  Christians, is the Bible. In addition to that, God gives us the Holy Spirit as our inner guide to direct and rule in our lives. What a blessed thing when we can allow that Holy Spirit to lead and guide us … to fill our hearts with right … to fill our hearts with God’s law.

Many things and even people will vie for that spot in our lives … that spot that controls us. How do we keep from following other ways and others? Well, Deuteronomy 6 has some good advice for us:

V. 4 “Here, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” — Listen up, child of God! There may be many gods, but there is only one true God!

V. 5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” — Where does your love lie today, my friend? Where your love is, there will your heart be also!

V. 6 “And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” — What are you filling your heart with? Are you filling it with things of the world or things of God? Do you spend time EVERY day praying, reading His Word,    studying His Word, fellowshipping with His saints, and attending His house every time the doors are open?

V. 7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” — How often do we talk about the things of God? How often do we share and discuss God’s Word with others … family, friends, and co-workers?

V. 8 “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” — Each day we have the opportunity to choose what goes into our days? Do you put God first? Or do you leave Him home on the shelf?

V. 9 “And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” — We have all heard the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.” This can be true with the things of God as well. Let us strive to keep our focus on Him today! May the law of our God be in our hearts today and every day!

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Day 26: The Wisdom

“The mouth of the righteous speaketh WISDOM, and his tongue talketh of judgment.” Psalm 37:30

When I chose the word wisdom from this verse for today’s devotional, so many verses on wisdom jumped right into my head! Did this happen to you also? If so, out of all of the verses which verse came to the forefront of your mind? Mine was James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Wow! That was a mouthful!

I would like for us to look a bit closer at this verse, but first, let us look at the definition of the word wisdom. Wisdom means the quality of having good knowledge, experience or judgment. Wisdom is also characterized by soundness. If we were to throw in some synonyms, we could include prudence, shrewdness, discernment, and insight.

In I Kings 3:12, God grants Solomon’s request for wisdom. Solomon could have asked anything of God, but he asked for wisdom. He could have asked for money, fame, or health but he asked for wisdom. Do you think that Solomon really    understood the depth of his request? Do you think that he realized that having wisdom from God was of far greater value than anything else that he could have asked for? I would like to think so! What about you?

You and I, my friend, need wisdom as well! We need to find ourselves in a place where all else pales besides the necessity of wisdom. We need wisdom in each and every aspect of our lives. Not just any wisdom will do though. No, we need “wisdom that is from above.” The wisdom that only God can give. The wisdom that is …

· Pure — not mixed with any other substance

· Peaceable — free from conflict

· Gentle — having or showing temperance (restraint); kind

· Easy to be intreated — not hard, or difficult, or painful when being implored or petitioned

· Full of mercy — compassion or forgiveness is shown when it is within one’s ability to do otherwise

· Full of good fruits — it produces quality results; results that are pleasing to God

· Without partiality — having no unfair bias

· Without hypocrisy — having no claim to practicing moral standards and beliefs which one’s behavior does not       conform

Again, wow! This! This is God’s wisdom! Man’s wisdom and judgment come nowhere near this. If we are wanting wisdom, as Solomon desired and asked for, we must also seek our wisdom from above! If we try to seek it any other place or try to speak it any other way, our mouths will reveal the truth. For when we speak wisdom, the true test is … is it “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of  mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy?”

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Day 25: The Preserving

“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are PRESERVED for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.” Psalm 37:28

Who loves to grow a garden? Is it a flower garden or a vegetable garden? I personally have not grown a garden (either flower or vegetable). First of all, because I have a black thumb! I grew up with my mom having a house full of plants (live ones) and also a garden. I have only been able to keep one live plant alive in my house and it is a start off of one of my grandmother’s so I do make a little more effort with it … although it has its moments as well.

We were just at our friend’s house while traveling for meetings and my husband asked her where her garden was this year. The last time that we were there we got to spend some time out in her garden picking from the fruits of her labors. We not only got to pick, but come supper time, we got to feast on it as well. Yum! This year she only has tomatoes though and they were not ripe yet. I was sharing with her about our fig bushes how big and healthy they are and how abundant the figs are on them this year. So, guess what she did? She gave me a case of pint jars. Why would I need jars? To preserve those figs when they ripen!

For a number of years in the fall time, we had some friends who would bring us bushels (yes, I said bushels!) of apples from the North Carolina mountains. Now, there is nothing better than a mountain apple. But, when I had so many at one time, I needed to preserve them. I did this in a number of ways. One was by making apple pie filling and freezing it. Yum! Another was by baking apple pound cake. Double yum! Yet another was making apple butter. Triple yum!

In this verse, David is reminding us that God has preserved His saints. To preserve means to maintain or more literally  retain. When I think of this, I immediately think of my salvation. God has not only saved me, but He has saved me for ETERNITY! He has retained [continues to keep possession of] my salvation. He has preserved my salvation. Hallelujah! Is not this shouting ground?

Once I am saved, I will ALWAYS be saved. I may sin, but it is not a sin unto the loss of my salvation. Christ died on the cross one time, my friend. He paid it ALL that day. Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.” I will continue to sin, while living in this house of flesh, and Christ will forgive me when I confess that sin to Him, but I do not have to get saved all over again. He did that work ONE time!

God not only preserves me (retains me), but He also preserves me (maintains me). My salvation is secure in His retaining and my life in Christ is also secure in His maintaining. Each and every day, I have the assurance that He is with me! Each and every day, I have the assurance that He will guide me! Each and every day, I have the assurance that He wants what is best for me! Each and every day, I have the assurance that God PRESERVES me! Is He preserving you also, my friend?

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Day 24: The Departing

“DEPART from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.” Psalm 37:27

Have you departed today? To depart means to leave … more specifically for a journey. This is interesting because I always saw the depart as a moving away from, but never as the beginning of something else. As I searched the scriptures for  other departings, guess what I found? I found that when someone departed, they were headed in a different direction … a new destination. Is not this exactly what God desires of us … to depart from (turn our back on) the world and to follow Him?

In today’s world, it seems like everyone is a “Christian.” Yet, it really breaks my heart to see so many who claim Christ as their Savior who do not love the things of God. There is no change in their life. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If they truly are a Christian (have been saved) for any length of time, there WILL be a change in their life. Can you imagine taking a bath and getting all cleaned up and then putting your old, sweaty, dirty clothes back on? Yuck! Yet, many do this every day spiritually.

James in chapter 3 gives us much instruction also on our tongue. The tongue is a very powerful tool. Not only that, but it is a very powerful indicator of our spiritual life as well. I am not talking about cursing, although we will get to that, but I am talking about “Christians” talking to others, non-Christians and Christians alike, with such hateful and bitter words. Recently I was exposed to this in someone else’s life and to be honest, I was in shock! James lays it on the line right here in verses 10-18 of chapter 3:

10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing, My brethren, these things ought not so to be! [my punctuation of exclamation]

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter:

12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17But the wisdom that is from above is frist pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Oh, my friend, please heed this! If you are still doing these things and say that you are a Christian, you are on the wrong path. Depart, my friend! Turn away! Get on the true path of life in Christ! Let Him change you today!