DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: TRUST AND DEPEND

 

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." -DEUTERONOMY 29:29

As a Christian we are most concerned with obeying and glorifying our Savior with all of our life. How do we know what God wants, what He loves, and what He has gifted us to do? This is a lifelong process of seeking what the Lord has revealed. Several places in scripture point to the truth that it is God who gives us knowledge and understanding of all things. The understanding that is present within us is provided by God. God speaks directly through His word and the prayerful consideration of the commands and instructions given. But we also acknowledge that there are some things that just are God's knowledge that we will never know. Life can be confusing and frustrating, even when you feel you are simply following the Lord. Confusing events of the past and the uncertainty of the future are not surprises to God. Our comfort and assurance is that it is truly God that is in control. His control practically means that He is intimately involved in the unknown details. True success and faithfulness is just depending and trusting the Lord with what is unknown and obeying what is known. Let's live in the Word and Prayer to seek a deeper understanding of what is known (revealed) and to trust our mighty God more with what is unknown. 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: REJOICING AND SPREADING GOD'S LOVE

 

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us" -1 John 4:18-19 ESV

    God is the great initiator of love in the life of those that have been redeemed and saved. In the moment of salvation, every true Christian was convicted of their personal sin, and understood clearly that they could not save themselves. As the conviction revealed sin, it also revealed God's great act of love in sending God the Son to die on the cross as a substitute for sinners to receive the forgiveness of sin necessary for salvation. The work of God to redeem through Jesus is God's redemptive love unleashed. The work was in Christ not only in death but resurrection, His ascension, and eventual return to establish God's eternal kingdom. This love that draws the sinner to trust in the one and only way of salvation has a transformative effect that leads to a ministry of love. As Christians, we are held by reverence and awe for the one true God because He loved us first. His work of love and constant presence of love that we find in communion with Him moves us to a deeper and profound understanding of love. Understanding true love  is in the revealing of the characteristics of God. What great comfort we have that God's love is able to cast out fear? There are many reasons to have fear in life if we see the world through the eyes of unredeemed perceptions. But in light of God's love for us we know that we are secure in Him, forever. 
      God's revealing and initiating true love leads to an awakening of love for that carries us with confidence into all of life's circumstances.  This confidence is a new outlook on life and relationships. Through this type of love we are compassionate and active in living out love. Grounded by love and growing in the truth of God's word, we are moved into action to stand firm but determined to serve others. Sacrificial love unifies us with the example of Christ in perfect union of His life, death, burial, and resurrection to new life. We sacrifice to love in order to promote the goodness and glory of God. All credit and glory must go to God for our acts of love, because He first loved us. Let's pursue a deeper understanding of God's love through prayer and consuming of God's words that move us to love others with truthful conviction. Loving others is love from God and love for God. Loving God above all else determines the ability of our holy affections to prevail over all distractions and hinderances. 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: PRAYING PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

 "So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD." -Joshua 9:14 ESV

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." -Romans 12:12 ESV

What a gift we have in prayer! The ability to approach our Savior and Lord with praise and even our struggles is a blessing of redemption. Because we have been perfectly restored in Christ to a righteous position before God, we can seek divine help personally and intimately. If faithfulness to the purposes of God is the goal for the Christian life, then prayer becomes a constant practice in discovering what is truly right in the eyes of God. Wise counsel is found in the Word of God and is properly understood by the revealing of the Spirit of God. Prayerful consideration of God's Word seeks to receive instruction and guidance from the Lord accurately. This Joshua verse refers to the Gibeonite deception that took place under the leadership of Joshua. There are many lessons from this passage, but clearly we see a warning in this example to not presume anything when make decisions as the people of God. They had seen and experienced God's work in their lives many times prior to this encounter. So they clearly understood from the past a need to hear from God and be directed by God. However, they were still deceived. They seemed to take for granted what they were seeing and hearing from the Gibeonites rather than really thinking it through with the Lord's help. The possibility of deception makes seeking God's counsel important past, present, and future. Praying at all times is emphasized by the Apostle Paul for general instruction to the church in the New Testament. In the church age, we have the presence of God dwelling in our hearts through God the Holy Spirit. Prayer keeps us connected and sensitive to the way of righteousness in seeking to be obedient to the Lord.  There is a saying that we must "stay prayed up." This is good advice that has biblical foundation, if I understand correctly. Since prayer is to be continuous, we are never done with prayer. Conversation with God is to be always present for guidance, assurance, and confirmation of His Will. Prayer is never wrong and we are changed in prayer. Because prayer is a part of God's Will for us, it pleases Him when we are devoted to it personally and collectively. 

    Prayer seems to be an indicator of spiritual maturity that takes discipline to stay loyal in regular practice. The expression of persisting in prayer seems to be very helpful to describe the holy labor involved. This type of labor however is able to increase vitality rather than being an effort that drains us. So continuous effort to pray and the inner surrender of the heart to focus on the Lord is essential. In order to actually pray one must turn decisively toward God in thought and will. Merely closing your eyes and reciting holy words is the temptation of routine that strays from the actual purpose. The heart must be conditioned through routine to surrender and seek the Lord and rest in His presence. The discipline of the mind and heart to express desires and requests and words of praise with constant awareness of the Saviors presence is the task at hand in prayer. Awareness will prepare the heart to receive the answers to prayer, as well. Whether the answer is confirmation and direction or correction and redirection, the praying believer is ready. Let's pray with awareness and eager expectation today and moving forward. Always pray. Praying past, present, and future says... I have prayed... I am praying... I will continue in prayer. 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Stewardship from God

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints." -Colossians 1:24-26 ESV

 All that we have and all that we do comes from God's provisions. In the Christian life, the purpose of all things is to bring glory to the triune God. God has saved us and called us through our one and only Savior Jesus Christ. Because of our salvation in Christ we overflow with love and gratitude for the purposes and works of God that we have the privilege of being a part of. This passage is a great reminder that the follower of Christ must be diligent to carry out the continued work of God. The work is joining God's work through our specific callings. We are called to specific purposes with our specific circumstances out of the grace of God. Understanding the responsibility of serving the Lord with all that He has provided is important for daily devotion to Him. This allows us to see the world and the details of our lives as important for the will of God to be revealed to those around us. Joy comes because we are also communing with the Lord in a worshipful manner when we utilize our gifts and placement to live out and speak the Word of God. If our concentration is on fulfilling our calling then we can rejoice in the knowledge of pleasing the Lord no matter our circumstances. Nothing pleases God more than His people serving for His glory. The challenge today is seeing who you are in Christ and what has been provided to you for the Glory of God. Believer, live to make the Word of God fully known today!

Devotional Thoughts: The Breaking Point

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Life is full of moments when enough is enough. This can be in the small things and the significant things. Could it be that the breaking points we encounter are vital instruments in which God moves us into a particular action or direction. This is when we hit that rock bottom moment when change must happen. IT MUST. We are desperate for change because we are discontent with the current outcomes we are experiencing. An easy example is when we change our diets to become more healthy. Maybe we have gone through a long stretch of eating all the good stuff that is not really that good for us. We must change in order to feel better and become healthy again. Spiritually, we all have to change at times in order to live a life that is faithful to the One who has saved us. The spiritual rock bottom would have to be the circumstance in which God revealed to us that we needed a Savior, and we trusted in Jesus. That moment of conversion was a breaking point in which we came to the understanding that we had enough of the life apart from Christ. The former life was leading to death and destruction, and now the life in Christ is life secured. That initial breaking point leads to a refinement process that encounters many other breaking points. Some of these are small and some can be pretty significant. The transforming event of conversion is the greatest change of all, but along the journey of spiritual growth many victories are celebrated. Each time we overcome the influence of sin and turn towards the righteousness of God, we have come to the point of change after a breaking point. Sometimes the Lord provides this godly grief that breaks the callous demeanor we have put on towards sin. Once we have become sensitive to sin, we are then equipped and motivated to overcome sin to please the Lord that has saved us. Our salvation provides a joyous purpose to dwell in the presence of the Lord, and reject any tolerance of personal sin in our life. Sure it is still a battle every day not to give in to temptation. Our deepest desire, however, is to walk towards holiness each day that we may dwell in the presence of God forever. Praise God for leading me to the breaking points that lead me to repentance and urgent pursuit of faithfulness to Him. This is the place of joy and contentment. 

“One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to inquire in his temple.” -Psalm 27:4

“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

Devotional Thoughts: Rising to the Occasion

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    Doing the right thing at the right time is being ready to act when a particular occasion arises. This is an ability that is celebrated in many ways. Those that achieve any type of excellence, has been able to do the right things at the right time. In order for this to happen, a person must have an awareness of what is coming in order to be ready. A Christian must possess awareness to do the right things at the right times for the glory of God. As we spend time in bible study, prayer, and worship, we are preparing ourselves to act in obedience to God’s will in the moment. We must be ready to be proactive in our service to the Lord. Our excellence is not in personal achievement, but by bringing glory to God and building His kingdom. What is in this moment that is an opportunity to serve the Lord? What is happening now that is an occasion for doing the right thing to build the kingdom of God? We must be sensitive to the current moment and possess enough foresight to anticipate our good works in the future. If every follower of Jesus decisively prepared for action, rising to the occasion would bring a revolution. The comforting part of being a Christian is that we are simply making ourselves available for the good work. We put forth effort, but the Lord provides all that we need to execute for His glory. Preparation is important for continual trust in the equipping nature of God. So let us engage with God continually for joyful communion and anticipation of joyful service. 

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:16-20

Life Adjustments and the Presence of God

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Life is full of adjustments. In fact, life could be one long string of constant adjustments. As I have recently been going through many adjustments that come with moving to a new town, I have been pray through how God is present during the changes that occur. God’s guidance should obviously be the reason for changes that happen in the life of a Christian, but I also believe that He is present throughout the process is some special ways. What are the characteristics of God, that we know from scripture, that are helpful during times of adjustments? There have been two that have been dominant in my thinking. He is our refuge. He is our rock.

The fact that God is our refuge means He is a place of protection or shelter. Even in times of good and exciting adjustments, there is a need for God to be a refuge. The unknowns that often come with life change or adjustments makes it vital for habits to be formed that actively turn to the Lord in acknowledgement of your need for Him. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Seeking the place of secure shelter that is the presence of God should be our automatic response. Prayer, public worship, private worship, and reading scripture are all spiritual disciples that are actively seeking the shelter of God. Those of us with a “fix it” mindset must find a way to stop trying to simply figure out the unknowns through more effort. More effort is good with guidance that we find when we first seek God as our refuge. More effort without acknowledging our need for God is dangerous and futile for those that have trusted in Jesus as Savior. So we must stop. We must simply pause and engage with the Lord as a place to go for all that we need to navigate our circumstance for the glory of God. 

The fact that God is our rock provides confidence that seeking Him is not in vain. This is because of His nature. He is a massive and unshakeable foundation. When discerning the unknowns, it is good to have stability. Our confidence to move forward is fueled by what we know for sure. That God is who he says He is in His Word. So as we seek His shelter, we are seeking protection from the One who is unchanging and unfazed by the circumstances of our life that are “unknowns" to us. God knows our unknowns. He must be our constant from beginning to end each day. 

Whatever your current adjustments are, I must ask, where are you turning? What provides you with confidence, assurance, rest, and guidance when you are in uncertain times? We must allow God to be who He always is. Our refuge and our rock.  He is always present. 

“I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.”  -Psalms 18:1-3

“ For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” -Psalms 62:1-2

“On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” -Psalms 62:7