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.