Deut. 25:17-19 God Keeps His Promises - Devotional Scripture

Trials in this life are not the exception; they are the norm. Judges 3:1 tells us that God purposely left enemies in the land in order to test Israel so they would learn how to fight battles. Sometimes the enemy doesn’t fight fair.  He seems to take pleasure in hitting us when we are down, when we’re weak, weary and have no strength. 

This happened to the Israelites as they came out of Egypt (Ex. 17).  Amalek attacked God’s people from behind.  They went after the stragglers in the group, the ones that were weak and exhausted.  Moses called on Joshua to lead the Israelites into battle while he stationed himself on top of a hill to pray. As Moses lifted his hands and prayed, the Israelites triumphed in the battle. In the end, God won the battle for His people.

After the battle was over God told Moses to write this account in a book as a permanent reminder that when we fight under God’s power and strength we will be victorious (Ex. 17:14).  He told the people in Deut. 25:17-19:

"Never forget what the Amalekites did to you as you came from Egypt.  They attacked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were straggling behind. They had no fear of God.  Therefore, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies in the land he is giving you as a special possession, you must destroy the Amalekites and erase their memory from under heaven. Never forget this! "

Four hundred years later, God kept His promise.  When the Israelites were at rest in the land that He had given them, God told King Saul to go and attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy them (1 Samuel 15:2-3).

God keeps His promises. God says, there will always be war and we shouldn’t be surprised by it. But, just like He enabled the Israelites to win the battle, He will give you His power and strength to win the battles of your life and to walk in victory. Therefore, look to the Lord and fight the good fight knowing you are not alone in the battlefield.

Isaiah 55:8-9, Admit God Can Do Whatever He Wants - Devotional Scripture

Job had been through an incredibly difficult time…We were told in the beginning that the reason for Job’s troubles was God’s choice to allow Job to be tested. The concept of God allowing a difficult time to come for any other reason than for judgment was simply beyond Job’s understanding of God. This made Job frustrated with God.

Finally, God steps in to clear things up.  God begins to ask Job a series of questions (Job 38-41) to show Job just how inadequate his understanding of God was.  Job had been upset because he had wanted God to start acting the way he thought God ought to act.  But God’s whole point was to show Job that He, God, was much bigger than Job’s limited concept of Him.

Job’s breakthrough came when he admitted something like, “Okay, You are God and You can do whatever you choose to do, and I submit to Your will,” (Job 42:2).  When you completely surrender to God, admitting He can do whatever He wants with you, then you begin to truly know Him.

Have you been feeling frustrated with God lately?  Could it be that you think God ought to be doing something a certain way?  When you realize He loves you as much as He does, there’s no need to be afraid of surrendering yourself to Him. – Steve Edmondson, Calvary Chapel of Fullerton.

Proverbs 3:13 Get Wisdom and be happy - Devotional Scripture

Everyone wants to be happy. God made us to be eternally happy.  He has established this world in such a way that doing good through faith in Christ will always lead to greater happiness.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13

 

The key to lasting happiness is to gain wisdom. Wisdom is to know what to do and be able to apply that knowledge to the situations of life.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.   Psalm 111:10. 

The fear of the Lord means we are so in love with our Father that we don’t want to do anything that would grieve Him. It is when we understand just how much He loves us that wisdom truly begins.  Those who fear the Lord will want to spend time with Him.  They will have insight and wisdom in a way others won’t.  Their desire will be to please their Father and they will trust His ways over their own.  As we spend time in His Word and obey His commands we gain wisdom and understanding of what to do in situations and we use good judgment making decisions in our lives.

This weekend’s challenge is to begin to get wisdom. The first essential thing you must do to get wisdom is come to Jesus. You must believe the He is your Lord and Savior. That He died for your sins and rose three days later and is now seated in heaven with His Father.  Second, since wisdom is found in the Word of God, you must get into the Word and do what it says. The third thing we should do to get wisdom is pray. Wisdom is a gift of God, therefore, we should pray to God to give us wisdom.

Listen and Obey Jeremiah 35 - Devotional Scripture

In Jeremiah 35, we see a powerful illustration of obedience. While the rest of the people of Israel were breaking its covenant with God, the Rechabites were steadfast in their commitment they made to their ancestor hundreds of years ago who gave a command to the family. God uses them as an example of the type of obedience He desires from His people. In this chapter, Jeremiah offered wine to the Rechabites but they wouldn’t drink it.

But they said, “We will not drink wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.’” Jeremiah 35:6

The Rechabites were obedient to a man, who was only their earthly father; but the Jews were disobedient to the eternal God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the one that holds their breath in His hands. God isn’t telling anybody else not to drink wine.  He’s just saying, "Here is a group of people listening and obeying their fathers. Here are people of their word that when tempted, they will not disobey because they are going to stand true to their promise.  And yet I have spoken to you over and over again to turn from you evil way and you won't listen to Me.” (Jeremiah 35:14-15)

The king of Judah didn’t want to listen to God, he didn’t want to obey God but he wanted Jeremiah to pray for them. (Jer. 37:3).  Do we simply want God there to get us what we need, to deliver us and care for us but we don’t want to obey Him? Than we don't know who God is.  He is God and there is no other. He is the one that judges in righteousness.   And He tells us we are to live by His every word.  If you want to live a life not where you are desperately crying for prayer but where you are walking in His peace and His joy, knowing and understanding your God and His will, than you’ve got to be in His Word and commit to follow it. This weekend’s challenge is to get into the Word of God, do whatever He says and live by His every word.

Jeremiah 32:27 Is Anything Too Difficult For Me - Devotional Scripture

 

At this time, Jeremiah is under arrest for prophesying to the people of Judah. He told the people they were about to be taken into captivity because they would not listen to God. The king of Judah didn’t want to hear this truth.  He wanted his ears to be tickled with false promises of peace.

Outside the walls of the city was the king of Babylon and he was about to destroy the city and take the people into captivity. At this time, God tells Jeremiah that the captivity will not last long.  The difficulty is going to pass. God will bring His people back to the land and they will again buy land and build houses. (See Jeremiah 32:7-15)

God has so overwhelmed Jeremiah with this information that he trembles in his faith. The situation looks impossible. Jeremiah couldn’t see how God was going to bring them back to their land and restore them. God tells Jeremiah,

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me? Jeremiah 32:27

 

This is what we need to remember in every difficulty.  When we are sitting in the shambles of life, when it seems like everything has absolutely fallen apart; in every trial, we need to stop and say, “God, You have said that nothing is too difficult for you.” Because the answer to the question “Is anything too difficult for Me?” is no, nothing is too difficult for God. We have a God who delights in impossibilities. It's His specialty.

So what do we do? Where do we go? How do we find relief? How do we find hope? The answer is found in Jeremiah 33:2-3,

Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

When we are overwhelmed, when we tremble in our faith, when all we see is impossibilities, we need to call on the Lord knowing that He will answer us and trust that He will show us mighty things we did not know.

 

Serving God Not Man, Eph. 6:7 - Weekend Challenge - Devotional Scripture

"In Ephesians 6, Paul talks to servants and masters. He reminds both groups that we serve one Master who is in heaven. So we need to do everything with sincerity of heart, integrity, and respect because we are serving and working for Christ Himself. . . . What a privilege to serve God in everything we do, whether answering a phone or driving a car or doing housework or running a business. Let us work with a smile today, remembering that no matter what we are doing, we are serving God." Our Daily Bread - June 23, 2016

This weekend’s challenge is to smile in everything you do, remembering that you are serving God not man.

Put Others First - Phil 2:3-4 - Devotional Scripture

"It is all too easy - whether in business, family, or church - to view others from the perspective of how they can benefit us. We value them for what we can get from them, rather than focusing on  how we can serve them in Jesus's name." - Our Daily Bread - June 9, 2016

This weekend's challenge is to purposefully and intentionally put others first.  Look for opportunities to be compassionate when you don't feel like being compassionate.  Show love to others and serve them when all you really want to do is serve yourself.  Give up your right to be right and let the discussion go.  Show grace to others realizing that you have no idea what they are going through.

It is easy to say I'm going to put others first but it's quite another thing to do it. We can't do it in our own strength.  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that it can be practiced. This weekend, as opportunities arise to practice selflessness, ask God to help you put aside your own agenda and think of others first.


 

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those Rejoice - Devotional Scripture

 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are to weep with those who weep. At times, all we need to do is be close to those who are weeping and in that we let them know we care.   We don’t have to preach at them or speak something profound to them. We just need to weep with them without questioning God’s goodness in the process.

Sometimes, it is harder to rejoice with those who are rejoicing than it is to weep with those who are weeping.  One of the problems is that when something good happens to others, we often compare our lives to them and wonder why they get all the breaks.  Paul says, "Set your own troubles aside for a moment and rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Ps. 139:23-24 Heart Inspection - Devotional Scripture

Earlier this week I shared how we can be positionally pure in heart through God’s cleansing (Matt. 5:8).  But this verse also has a practical application. The word phrase “shall see” means to gaze with wide-open eyes at something remarkable. The practical application of this verse is that the pure in heart shall see God moving in the circumstances of their lives. They will see His will being unfolded in their lives and they will see His hand of provision in their everyday experience. The pure in heart view life through the eyes of faith and they are blessed and filled with joy.   

How do we make this practical purity a reality in our lives? We need to give God free access to our heart.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

This weekend’s challenge is to allow God to inspect your heart. Ask God to show you anything in your life that is keeping you from seeing Him in your day to day circumstances. Ask Him if you need an attitude adjustment about something or someone. Maybe you are doing something that you know is displeasing to God and yet you continue to nurture it and act as if it will do you no harm. Be willing to lay  your heart open before the Lord and  He will reveal to you any wicked way in you so He can transform you to be more like Him and be who you really are in Christ; pure in heart.

Matthew 5:8 - Pure in Heart - Devotional Scriputure

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Matthew 5:8

This was the key verse at a women’s event I attended last weekend. God makes a remarkable promise in this verse; the pure in heart shall see God. The question is; do I have a pure heart?

When we think of purity, we might think of a righteous person whose motives are pure and has no flaws. If that is what this text is talking about than we are all hopeless because none of us are righteous.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). But that is not what Jesus is saying. He is speaking about the heart of a person whose sins have been forgiven and whose heart has been made new.  God is the only one who makes our hearts pure and He did it by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins.

The pure in heart are those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.  At the moment of my salvation God declared that I have been washed clean.  He sees me as a saint. God has put His seal on me and declares that I am His (2 Cor. 1:22). He has made me positionally pure not by any works that I have done but by His redeeming work on the cross and one day I shall see God.

Have you had your heart cleansed? Can you unequivocally say that you have come to that point in your life where you have been humbled by your sin, mourned over it, confessed it to God and had your sin washed away?  If so, your heart has been made pure and you shall see God. If you've never come to that point in your life than God wants to wash your sins away.  He wants to make you pure in heart.

Eph. 5:18-20 Thankful Heart - Devotional Scripture

Last weekend’s challenge was to capture your negative thoughts and Phil. 4:6-8 them.  This weekend’s challenge is to have a grateful heart.  Instead of dwelling on the negative, begin to thank God for all the blessings He has given you. Instead of complaining, start praising.

". . . but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."—Ephesians 5:18-20

Having a grateful heart changes our perspective.  Expressing our thanks helps us remember that God is large and in charge. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Our minds should be so filled with thanksgiving that we are constantly singing and making music in our hearts to the Lord.

This weekend, be on the lookout for blessings, making each day a treasure hunt. As the Lord reveals a blessing to you, express your gratitude by thanking and praising Him.

Isaiah 30 - Returning and Resting - Devotional Scripture

Throughout history the people of Israel have been known as a people of independence and great resourcefulness. They take great pride in being able to get out of sticky situations on their own.  Yet, this attitude of relying on our own abilities to get out of jams can get us into trouble. That is the situation in Isaiah 30. Knowing that they were about to be invaded by the Assyrians, instead of seeking God and His solution, the Jews formed an alliance with the Egyptians. Trying to protect themselves and save themselves they relied on their own abilities and carried out their own plans.  They sought advice from everyone but God. God called them stubborn, rebellious children.

 

 

"Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!   Isaiah 30:1-2

 

 God warned the people that turning to Egypt for military strength could not save them but they would not listen.

 

 

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it”

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT)

 

To return to God and rest in Him is to trust in His promises. When we trust God, we don't have to rely on ourselves to fix the problem. We don't have to run all about trying to protect or guard ourselves.  We can just rest in Him.

Our strength is found in quietness. We don't need to argue for our side when God is on our side. We can be quiet before Him and before others confidently knowing God’s got our back. We aren't given to despair or fear, because we trust God's promises. You know He can and will come through, and you have a deep confidence in the God who loves you.

This is where we find true strength. There is no person walking this earth more powerful than a child of God boldly and properly trusting the promise of God. People cannot shake you or break you when you trust the One who made you. Your salvation lies in returning to God and resting on Him. Your strength lies in quiet trust in God rather than frenzied flight to Egypt.   Look to the Strong for strength and trust in Him for your salvation. 

 

Phil. 4:6-8 - The Antidote To Your Fretting - Devotional Scripture

 

What is on your mind today?  Is there a fretful thought, fear or anxiety weighting you down? If so, Phil. 4 that thing! 

First, talk to God about it. Communicate your thoughts and fears to the Lord and thank Him in advance for answering your prayer knowing that He is going to bring the right and perfect answer to you.

Then, stop the negative thinking. If it's a strong, powerful thought you may have to literally put your hand in the air and say "STOP!" Change what you’re dwelling on and think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.  If you can't think of anything the meets all of these conditions than think on Jesus because He is ALL of these things. Combat your negative thoughts with the truth of God's word, sing your favorite worship song or your favorite REFIT® song.

You CAN control your thought life.

What is on your mind today?  Is there a fretful thought, fear or anxiety weighting you down? If so, Phil. 4 that thing! 

First, talk to God about it. Communicate your thoughts and fears to the Lord and thank Him in advance for answering your prayer knowing that He is going to bring the right and perfect answer to you.

Then, stop the negative thinking. If it's a strong, powerful thought you may have to literally put your hand in the air and say "STOP!" Change what you’re dwelling on and think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.  If you can't think of anything the meets all of these conditions than think on Jesus because He is ALL of these things. Combat your negative thoughts with the truth of God's word or sing your favorite worship song.

You CAN control your thought life.  Don’t waste another minute being held captive by your thoughts.  Enjoy your weekend!
 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."  

Philippians 4:6-8

James 4:1-4 The Cause of Quarrels & Fights - Devotional Scripture

 

In James 4:1-4, James explains that all this fighting comes from our selfish desires for pleasure that battles within us. Many times we want these desires so bad that we will fight and quarrel in order get them.

Link, my daughter’s adopted dog is a perfect picture of this text. Link was dropped off at a clinic with a broken back. He was a malnourished, abandoned and abused dog that didn’t like anyone. Heather took him home and nurtured him back to health.  Link struggles with fear issues, but once he trusts you he is the must lovable, playful dog you will ever meet. 

Link also has some strong selfish desires.  He craves the pleasure of sleep and he does not like it when he is instructed to get out of bed. This desire for sleep is so powerful that he becomes angry at anyone who gets in the way of his craving to stay in bed and he will growl ferociously at them.

Like Link, the strong selfish desires within us are constantly struggling to be satisfied.  We want what we want and if don’t get it we get mad and are willing to trample and fight anyone who seems to obstruct our progress.

Instead of aggressively grabbing what we want, we should submit ourselves to God, ask Him to help us get rid of our selfish desires and trust Him to give us good things. God delights in granting your heart’s desires.  When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He says He’ll give us the desires of our hearts (Ps. 37:4)

 

2 Corinthians 1:10 - He is our Deliverer Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow - Devotional Scripture

In 2 Cor. 1:8-9, we learn that Paul's trouble was so severe and beyond his natural powers of endurance that he thought he would never live through it. In verse 10, Paul remembered God’s faithfulness.  God delivered him in the past, He does deliver us in the present and He will deliver us in the future.

I can't remember all the things that bothered me 10 years age, 5 years ago or even last year because God delivered me and saw me through the difficulty. One of the biggest obstacles in our spiritual growth is that we don't judge Him faithful.  We have a tendency to forget how He saw us through hard times in the past.

The truth is He has delivered you; therefore give Him your thanks.  He is delivering you; therefore give Him your trust.  He will deliver you; therefore praise Him now for the mercy and grace that you have not yet experienced but He will grant you in the future.

He is our deliverer yesterday, today and tomorrow.  This side of heaven you may not know about all the times he has saved you from death, tragedy and a broken heart but you can be thankful for His faithfulness and you can depend on Him.

2 Cor. 1:8-9 Trust God Not Yourself - Devotional Scripture

 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.  Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.                            2 Corinthians 1:8-9

God allowed Paul to be brought to a place of extremity.  The trouble was so severe that Paul felt completely weighed down.  It was so beyond his natural powers of endurance that he thought he would never live through it. God brought Paul to this place so he would rely solely on the Lord God. Like Paul, most of us try to solve our problems with our own strength. Therefore, as He did with Paul, God brings us to the end of ourselves in order that we will have no other choice but to call upon Him and find in Him greater strength than we could ever find in our own ability.

It’s a glorious day when we finally come to the end of ourselves and realize we don’t’ need to go to another counselor, enroll in another program or read another self-help book but instead say, “All I need is you, Lord. I’m going to cling to you.  I’m going to depend on You. I need you to govern my life, to guide me, to strengthen me and to lift me up.”

Proverbs 4:23 Guard Your Heart - Devotional Scripture

What you believe in your heart affects the way you live. We must guard our hearts with all diligence, because it is out of the heart that the issues of life spring forth.

This weekend I didn’t do a very good job of guarding my heart.  An old wound from an unwelcome and unexpected place caused me to go into a downward spiral.  Instead of taking my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4), I chose to let my thoughts run rampant and that opened the door for an all-out attack from the enemy. He began using his old tactics to trap me and hold me captive and soon my peace and joy were gone and I felt depressed and worthless. Thank God I have a husband, who could see what was happening and pointed out that I was not guarding my heart.

That woke me up from the trance the enemy had me in and with God’s power, I was able to stand firm in His truth.  He gave me the strength to capture my thoughts, believe in His truth and apply it to my circumstances. It was a rough road.  It’s a lot harder for me to stand back up and believe God than it is to stay on the ground and wallow in self-pity and unbelief.  After much warfare, the enemy's grip finally loosened and I was able to stand in agreement with God; with that came His peace and His joy.

By guarding your heart, you stay locked on to God's will and when you are in God's will you have His joy in abundance, His strength holding you up and His peace guarding your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

John 14:6 There is Only One Way - Devotional Scripture

 

You can’t get to heaven by being a good person, or because your prayed a prayer, or because you were baptized or because you attend church. While these are all good things, none of them can save you.  It is God, not people, who provides the requirements for entering into heaven and we don’t get to tell Him what should be included in those requirements. 

When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me”, He wasn’t being prideful.  He was being truthful. The book of Hebrews explains that Jesus fulfilled every one of God’s requirements for a Savior.  No other religious leader comes close to meeting God's requirements.

God kept the way to heaven very exclusive. Eternal life is made possible only through Jesus Christ. Entrance into heaven is very exclusive but at the same time it is very inclusive.  Anyone anywhere can be saved. His word says,

 If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

To receive God’s free gift of salvation, we must look to Jesus and Jesus alone. We must trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as our payment for sin and in His resurrection.

John 15:12-13 - Someone's Got To Die - Devotional Scripture

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:12-13

The concept of laying down our lives for another doesn’t just mean we are willing to die in their place.  It also means daily dying to ourselves by putting others first. So often, I don’t do that. Instead, I hold on to my right to be right.  I demand my way.  My flesh wants to cry out, “But that person is wrong.  It will kill me if I don’t defend myself.”, but Jesus says, “Good. Die. Let it go.” 

Jesus is our perfect example of laying down one’s life. At the cross He could have said, “I’m not going to die, I’ve got my rights, I’ve got to make a defense, I’ve got to be understood, I’ve got to have my way!” But He didn’t.  He chose to die because He knew without death there could be no reconciliation between God and man.

The only way you will have reconciliation between you and that son or daughter that is estranged from you, between you and the mother and father that doesn’t understand you, between you and the friend that betrayed you or between you and the spouse that hurt you - someone has to die.

I have gone through times, and maybe so have you, where you have been determined not to die, you are going to have your way and your of point of view is going to be heard. It always ends up a bloody mess. We need to just let go, give it up and just die and watch and see what will happen. The sooner you choose to die the sooner there will be reconciliation and resurrection in that relationship. Let go of the axe you are grinding, the battle you are fighting or the grudge you are holding. Just give it up.  Instead choose to die to self and say whatever; Lord.  I trust you. I’m going to follow you like you told me to.  I’m going to die to my way so that You might take the lead because only then will I find freedom and live the full, satisfying, abundant life that You promise to those who believe.

Indugling the Flesh - Devotional Scripture

 

My husband and I spent last weekend at the coast.  In Yachats, OR, there is a coffee shop that serves the most amazing coffee and home baked scones. I planned on eating a scone and having a “fufu” coffee every morning.  Throughout the entire weekend, I ate things that are not part of my normal diet.  I was definitely indulging my flesh.  Everything was going great until Saturday night.  It was at that point that all that I had been eating caught up to stomach and I felt horrible. The next morning I went back to having oats for breakfast and salad for lunch and I started feeling better.

On the way home, I pondered the similarities between eating healthy and walking in obedience to Christ.  When I choose to indulge my flesh, and eat yummy scones all day, although it is pleasing for a time, it leaves me feeling sluggish and sick to my stomach and I’m not able to take delight in the day.  On the other hand, when I choose to eat healthy, I feel great and I have energy to enjoy the blessing of God. 

In the same way, when I choose to gratify my flesh and say, do or think whatever I want, I feel depressed, sad and angry and life is not satisfying. But when I choose to walk in obedience to Christ I am able to fully experience His blessing and my life is filled with love, joy and peace.  

 “. . . If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you.”  Genesis 4:7

 “. . . blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28

“Sin may try to entice us by tempting us with a new experience, convincing us that living right doesn’t matter, or appealing to our physical senses.”

“Dear God, at times I let down my guard and indulge in sin. Please help me to listen to Your warnings and obey Your Word. Protect me from my own impulses and conform me to Your image. Thank You for Your work in me” - Excerpts from, April 12, 2016 Our Daily Bread.

Rev. 12:11 - In Christ, You Are an Overcomer - Devotional Scripture

Yesterday, Dave and I met with our bank to discuss a business venture.  After the meeting my mind was blown.  I needed to gather a ton of information and get it to the bank by the end of this week in order to meet our deadline. There were several forms, applications and agreements that were required to be completed and created in just a few days. This left me feeling anxious and irritable. 

When I woke up this morning I was still anxious and stressed about the pile of forms and application that were before me.  I knew I needed to make it a priority to spend  time with God today. I forced myself to set aside all the forms and applications and sit at His feet. My bible study reminded me that when you are in a battle you need to remember who you are fighting.  My struggle was not against flesh-and-blood or the paperwork that lay before me.  It was against Satan, the ruler and great deceiver of the this world.

The good news is Satan is a defeated foe.  At the cross, God judged him and overthrew him and his hosts (John 12:31, 16:11). Rev. 12:11 lists two things we have at our disposal to overcome and conqueror the enemy: the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11). Christ’s death, His blood, silences the accusations of the deceiver because He paid the price for our sins. Your testimony of God’s grace in your life sends the enemy packing.

My homework ended by saying: “When Satan reminds you of what you have done, remind him of what Christ has done.  Spend time thanking Jesus for salvation and praying against the Enemy’s lying, scheming, deceiving ways in your life and the lives of those around you.  Pray for discernment to see how he is attacking you and for courage to stand firm in your faith.” –The Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick.

After spending time with God and praying these truths into my life, my peace and joy returned and the anxiousness was gone. Surprisingly, I didn’t immediately go back to the pile of paperwork that was on my desk.  Instead, I walked outside and picked some Irises to brighten up my office.

Psalm 1:3 - Bringing Forth Fruit - Devotional Scripture

 

 

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.   Psalm 1:3

In this verse a Christian is compared to a tree that bears fruit. In Galatians 5:22-23, we read that the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  I think it’s safe to say we all want these qualities in our lives.

When I tried to obtain these qualities by my own strength or by my own efforts I found that it didn’t last long nor resonate in all areas of my life. The qualities didn’t have a lasting impact in my life until I believed in Jesus and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  Then, the Holy Spirit took up residence inside of me and I had His power to develop these qualities.

When you are filled with the Spirit you are like a tree firmly planted by the rivers water that produces much fruit. Your life is full of love, joy and peace.  When people walk buy and pick off of your tree, you don’t even notice because you have so much fruit on your tree.  Sometimes people will pick and pick off your tree. If you don’t take the time to be “refilled” your tree becomes bare and it’s painful and exasperating experience.  When I get irritable, impatient, or I don’t want to act lovingly in a situation, I know my tree is bare.

The key to bearing much fruit is walking by the Spirit and not gratifying your flesh. As we are led by the Spirit and walk in obedience to Christ these qualities naturally build and multiply in our lives.  You will have so much fruit on your tree that when someone picks from it you won’t even feel it. 

Prov. 3:5-6 Trust the Lord and not Your Own Heart - Devotional Scripture

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

I read an article today from the website, Lies Young Women Believe.  The title of the article was, “Whatever You Do Don’t Follow Your Heart.” Jer. 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  Our hearts are wicked and they will lie to us.  Just because we think it or feel it does not mean it’s true. We can’t trust our own hearts but we can trust the Maker of our hearts. There is a promise that goes with this verse.  When we trust God more than we trust ourselves and acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our steps.

 

My husband and I have been involved in a business transaction for the past few months.  For us, it’s a big venture and we have stepped way out of our comfort zone.  We don’t really have any experience with this type of transaction, but God has been going before us.  He keeps putting just the right people in our path and has set up just the right circumstances to guide us through this venture.

 

My dad, who is a wise businessman, called me this morning to check on our progress. He wanted to ensure we had all the paperwork in order and we had spoken to all the right people necessary to make this transaction run smoothly.  At the end of our conversation he was amazed at the personal connections and circumstances that had transpired in the last few months.  He told me, you know what all this means, right?  God’s hand is upon you and on this venture.  You are getting wisdom and help in areas that most people don’t get to experience in this type of transaction.  God has been guiding your path. 

 

As we trust in God will our hearts, He will make our paths straight. He may accomplish this through His word, through the wisdom of others, through the marvelous converging of circumstances, through His peace that surpasses all understanding or He may use a combination of these things. But rest assured; “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).”