Prayer Focus - Dreams
Day 2
Pray for:
One dream you have for yourself
One dream you have for your family
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 101
"I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will You come to me?
I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me, he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence." ( vs. 2 - 7 )
What a challenging call this is for us to live differently. It calls us to be careful how we live our lives and to be different from the people around us. Not many people in our society value living carefully anymore. It is almost looked down upon to try to watch what we do. Our society prides itself on being open and free. We want to be free to do and say whatever we want even if it hurts others in some way. Yet God has called us to check ourselves; to deny ourselves and to follow certain guidelines so that we will have something better in the long run. Sin often feels good in the here and now, but it is later that we regret and reap consequences that are not always pleasant. Self-control on the other hand is almost always difficult and uncomfortable in the immediate and yet it produces wonderful results that we look back on with gratitude.
Let's look at a few of the things set out for us to watch out for in the verses of this psalm. First, it mentions walking in our homes with blameless hearts. I think this is especially interesting, because it is in our homes that we most often let our true selves come out. It is here that we are not so guarded and we indulge in behavior that we would never do in public. It is important to think about this and evaluate if we have a double standard in our lives. We should be the same in our homes as we are everywhere else.
Then we are called to not set any vile thing before our eyes. When I read this, it makes me think about the movies and shows we watch and the books and magazines we look at. Are we being righteous in this area or are we trying to be "relevant" by watching what is popular even if it has questionable content? Do we really need to fill our minds with some of the stuff that we do? Once something has entered our mind, it is almost impossible to get those thoughts and pictures out. A good question I ask myself is - "Could I imagine Jesus watching and enjoying this?" Even news can fill us with negative and vile images. I like to look at all the current news stories on the Internet and do so nightly, but even this is not always a productive activity for me. It tends to make me very down and upset. I also waste a lot of time reading these negative articles when I could be doing something more productive like spending time with my girls or getting some sleep.
The next stanza of the psalm talks of staying away from men of perverse heart and from evil in general. It speaks to us of watching the company we keep. This is also not a popular concept in our world today. We tend to want to hang out with whoever we want to. We want to do what we want and become who we want to become. There is often little thought to plans beyond our desires. We are often draw to people with wild lives. Look at the celebrities that we hold up and esteem by buying their albums, watching their movies, or reading about. Our heroes today are more often than not, not people of strong character. They are not people that most of us would want our children to become like.
The issues of slander and pride are also addressed here. God says He will silence those who slander their neighbors, even if it is in secret, and He also states that He will not endure proud hearts and haughty eyes. In another part of the scriptures, it states that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble ( James 4:6 ). This is very concerning as pride and slander are commonplace. We are even considered unusual if we do not talk about others. It is difficult to get through a day with out hearing gossip and often we are immersed in it before we even realize what is going on. Our society also looks up to and admires a certain amount of pride. We strive to be independent and confident. Often this goes over board and we become self righteous and arrogant.
Finally, the passage talks about deceit and lying. It says that we will not be able to dwell with God or stand in His presence if we practice deceit or speak falsely. How can we stay away from doing this, however, when it is almost expected that we will lie in certain situations. People will even ask us to lie for them and we have found many ways to defend our deceit. We are thought to be odd if we say no to others when they ask us to lie for them and we are often ridiculed if we take a stand for honesty; often by friends and family members.
What a high calling this psalm is to us. We are challenged to change and stand out in so many ways. It seems overwhelming just thinking about it. But God promises that His eyes will be on the faithful and that He can and will take care of us. If we lead a blameless life, God will come to us and provide for us. It must be possible or the scriptures would not for call us to do it. We can with Christ. We can if it is important to us. It all comes down to our heart. If our heart is right and we are striving with all we have to obey God, He will make up the difference. He will see our faith and count it as righteousness as He did with Abraham (Galatians 3:6). Let us then sing of God's greatness and be careful to live a blameless life. It is worth it.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We want to lead a blameless life. Help us to put aside all of these sinful ways and embrace You. It will be alright to walk a different road than those around us. It will be worth it. Help us to fear You and not men. You are the one worth following. You are the true one. We praise You and sing of Your love and justice.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I act the same in my home as I do elsewhere? Do I have any double standards? What do I struggle the most with at home? Why? How can I change?
2. Am I careful about what I look at? How are my standards when it comes to movies and TV? How are my standards with what I read and the magazines that I look at? Am I spending too much time on the Internet and am I unproductive/unrighteous in any way with this area? What do I need to change? What is going well?
3. Do I stay away from people that are a bad influence on me? Why or why not? Am I drawn to people that are not very godly? Why or why not? Who are my heroes? Why? How do I feel about this concept of watching who I associate with?
4. Do I slander others, even if it is just in my mind (in secret)? Do I engage in gossip or listen to it? What harm does this do? How can I change? Am I prideful or arrogant in any ways? Do I look down on anyone? Why? How can I deal with this?
5. Am I deceitful in any way? Why? How do I justify this? Do I lie? Do I feel there is a difference between "big" and "little" lies? Why or why not? How does God feel about this? How can I stop lying and stop being deceitful if this is something I do?
Showing posts with label God's principles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's principles. Show all posts
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Daily Devotional - 10/7/15
Prayer Focus - Needs
Day 5
Pray for:
One thing that you need to be grateful for but find it difficult to be
One person that you need to apologize to, resolve a conflict with, or forgive
One dream that you need to surrender to God
One challenge that you need to face and deal with
One health issue that you need to deal with
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your voice today and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 97
"All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols ...
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name." ( vs. 7a, 10 - 12 )
We have a tendency to rely on things other than God. This can be equated to worshipping them. I know in my life I am tempted to think money will take care of my troubles. I sometimes think that if I had enough money, then my life would be better. I would not have to work and drive so much. I would have more time with my children and could be a better mother. Many thoughts run through my head, especially when I have to pay bills. Another thing that I often look to for comfort is relationships. I think that if my relationships were closer, I would be happier. If my husband and I were better friends then that would fix all my issues. Or maybe if my children were more obedient, everything would be solved. There are many others too, such as success, and self-development. Career has taken up a lot of my time and focus before too. When I look to all of these things to comfort or take care of me, I am in effect making them gods. I am looking to them to provide what only God can provide. In the end, they can do nothing, and I am sad and disillusioned again. They cannot save, and even rich people are miserable at times. We just need to look at the lives of the rich and famous to see that they are not satisfied. I end up, as this scripture says, put to shame.
It doesn't have to be this way though. I can make God my God and worship Him only. I can do this by memorizing the promises in His word that He will take care of me and by putting His words into practice day in and day out. I need to hate evil. It is okay to hate sometimes, if it is for the right things. I can not tolerate evil. I can not defend evil. I must hate it, for then I will be regarded as faithful, and God will protect me. Light and joy will be shed on me and I will receive the promises that God has woven into His word for those that walk in His ways. I need to hate evil, not because I am better than anyone else, but because I love God. And just because I hate evil, it does not mean I hate people. It is possible to hate sin and love the sinner; possible, not easy. Too many people fail at this and so we have a bad reputation for hating others when we stand up for what is right. Let us live correctly and have lives full of love and joy so that everyone will be drawn to God, and then as they learn that God loves them and as they learn to love God, the sinfulness will drop off like so many grave clothes. God can do this. Let us focus on love!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
You are the only true God. Help us to let go of all of the false gods that clamor for our attention. They will only bring us to shame while You will bring us life and life to the fullest. You are so good to us and we rejoice in Your blessings. Help us to hate evil. Help us to hate sin and love sinners. Help us to become what You want us to become, and help us rejoice in You always.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What things become my gods? What do I turn to for happiness and fulfillment other than God? Why? How does this affect me?
2. How do I see these things leading to shame in my life? How can I change my priorities and put God in the place He deserves to be?
3. Do I hate evil? Do I ever defend evil? Are there certain things I know the Scriptures say is sin that I accept or that I think are okay? Why?
4. How do I feel about hating what God hates? Why do I think God hates these things and calls certain things evil? How do these things affect us?
5. Do I think God will guard and protect me if I am faithful to Him and His commands? Why or why not? When have I seen God guard and protect me? How did that feel? Do I feel like I am in the light and do I have joy or do I feel that I am in darkness and do I have more sadness than joy? Can I relate this in anyway to my faithfulness? Why or why not?
Day 5
Pray for:
One thing that you need to be grateful for but find it difficult to be
One person that you need to apologize to, resolve a conflict with, or forgive
One dream that you need to surrender to God
One challenge that you need to face and deal with
One health issue that you need to deal with
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your voice today and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 97
"All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols ...
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name." ( vs. 7a, 10 - 12 )
We have a tendency to rely on things other than God. This can be equated to worshipping them. I know in my life I am tempted to think money will take care of my troubles. I sometimes think that if I had enough money, then my life would be better. I would not have to work and drive so much. I would have more time with my children and could be a better mother. Many thoughts run through my head, especially when I have to pay bills. Another thing that I often look to for comfort is relationships. I think that if my relationships were closer, I would be happier. If my husband and I were better friends then that would fix all my issues. Or maybe if my children were more obedient, everything would be solved. There are many others too, such as success, and self-development. Career has taken up a lot of my time and focus before too. When I look to all of these things to comfort or take care of me, I am in effect making them gods. I am looking to them to provide what only God can provide. In the end, they can do nothing, and I am sad and disillusioned again. They cannot save, and even rich people are miserable at times. We just need to look at the lives of the rich and famous to see that they are not satisfied. I end up, as this scripture says, put to shame.
It doesn't have to be this way though. I can make God my God and worship Him only. I can do this by memorizing the promises in His word that He will take care of me and by putting His words into practice day in and day out. I need to hate evil. It is okay to hate sometimes, if it is for the right things. I can not tolerate evil. I can not defend evil. I must hate it, for then I will be regarded as faithful, and God will protect me. Light and joy will be shed on me and I will receive the promises that God has woven into His word for those that walk in His ways. I need to hate evil, not because I am better than anyone else, but because I love God. And just because I hate evil, it does not mean I hate people. It is possible to hate sin and love the sinner; possible, not easy. Too many people fail at this and so we have a bad reputation for hating others when we stand up for what is right. Let us live correctly and have lives full of love and joy so that everyone will be drawn to God, and then as they learn that God loves them and as they learn to love God, the sinfulness will drop off like so many grave clothes. God can do this. Let us focus on love!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
You are the only true God. Help us to let go of all of the false gods that clamor for our attention. They will only bring us to shame while You will bring us life and life to the fullest. You are so good to us and we rejoice in Your blessings. Help us to hate evil. Help us to hate sin and love sinners. Help us to become what You want us to become, and help us rejoice in You always.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What things become my gods? What do I turn to for happiness and fulfillment other than God? Why? How does this affect me?
2. How do I see these things leading to shame in my life? How can I change my priorities and put God in the place He deserves to be?
3. Do I hate evil? Do I ever defend evil? Are there certain things I know the Scriptures say is sin that I accept or that I think are okay? Why?
4. How do I feel about hating what God hates? Why do I think God hates these things and calls certain things evil? How do these things affect us?
5. Do I think God will guard and protect me if I am faithful to Him and His commands? Why or why not? When have I seen God guard and protect me? How did that feel? Do I feel like I am in the light and do I have joy or do I feel that I am in darkness and do I have more sadness than joy? Can I relate this in anyway to my faithfulness? Why or why not?
Friday, October 2, 2015
Daily Devotional - 10/2/15
Prayer Focus - Wants
Day 7
Pray for:
One thing that you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream that you want to see happen in your life
One issue in your character that you want to see changed
One regret that you want to move past
One person that you want to get to know better
One health issue that you want to see improved in someone (can be yourself)
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 92
"It is good to praise the Lord...
For You make me glad by Your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O Lord, how profound Your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
But You, O Lord, are exalted forever.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is not wickedness in Him." (vs. 1a, 4 - 8, 12 - 15)
It is good to praise the Lord. I am grateful to know and understand this. Some people will never understand and this is hard for us. It is sad and oftentimes even heartbreaking, but we must remain faithful and remember that even Jesus was deserted by His closest friends in the end. They did not fully understand what He was about and what He came for. He knew that but He still did what He had to for those of us who would believe. We can not be down heartened as if it was our fault when someone we love is not following God. Everyone has free choice and some choose to sear their consciences and pursue other gods. Some deny that there is anything beyond what they can see. They live only for the here and now. But God is real, whether we choose to believe in Him or not. He will be exalted. We just need to keep holding this out.
If we choose to follow God and be righteous, we will flourish. It is an eternal principle. We may not grow rich or live free from struggles, but we will grow and still bear fruit in our old age. What a wonderful promise, that although our bodies are aging and dying, our souls and our spiritual lives become more and more beautiful if we devote ourselves to God. I want to flourish. I do not want to grow old and set in my ways. I want to be new and fresh and beautiful inside. I hope this for all of us. So let us praise the Lord, for this is good.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We praise You for this is good. You have been very good to us. Help us to always understand and seek You. Help us to know gratitude and be able to see all the works of Your hand in our life and in the lives of others. We want to grow strong and tall like the trees. We want to flourish in Your house. We want to still bear fruit in our old age. We know that we will find this only in You. We long to be close to You and be transformed.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I praise God? Why or why not? What do I have to praise God for? Can I make a list of 10, 20, or 30 plus things that God deserves praise for?
2. How do I feel when people do not understand my faith? Do I love the people anyway or do I get angry and dismissive? Do I pray for those who reject my faith?
3. Do I feel like I am growing spiritually? Why or why not? How can I go after this? What am I doing that helps? What am I doing that hinders me?
4. How long have I been following God? Do I still have the love I originally did? If it is not as strong, why do I feel like it has faded? What can I do to get back my "first love"?
5. Am I bearing fruit? What does that mean to me? What evidence is there that my faith is growing and being more productive?
Day 7
Pray for:
One thing that you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream that you want to see happen in your life
One issue in your character that you want to see changed
One regret that you want to move past
One person that you want to get to know better
One health issue that you want to see improved in someone (can be yourself)
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 92
"It is good to praise the Lord...
For You make me glad by Your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O Lord, how profound Your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
But You, O Lord, are exalted forever.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is not wickedness in Him." (vs. 1a, 4 - 8, 12 - 15)
It is good to praise the Lord. I am grateful to know and understand this. Some people will never understand and this is hard for us. It is sad and oftentimes even heartbreaking, but we must remain faithful and remember that even Jesus was deserted by His closest friends in the end. They did not fully understand what He was about and what He came for. He knew that but He still did what He had to for those of us who would believe. We can not be down heartened as if it was our fault when someone we love is not following God. Everyone has free choice and some choose to sear their consciences and pursue other gods. Some deny that there is anything beyond what they can see. They live only for the here and now. But God is real, whether we choose to believe in Him or not. He will be exalted. We just need to keep holding this out.
If we choose to follow God and be righteous, we will flourish. It is an eternal principle. We may not grow rich or live free from struggles, but we will grow and still bear fruit in our old age. What a wonderful promise, that although our bodies are aging and dying, our souls and our spiritual lives become more and more beautiful if we devote ourselves to God. I want to flourish. I do not want to grow old and set in my ways. I want to be new and fresh and beautiful inside. I hope this for all of us. So let us praise the Lord, for this is good.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We praise You for this is good. You have been very good to us. Help us to always understand and seek You. Help us to know gratitude and be able to see all the works of Your hand in our life and in the lives of others. We want to grow strong and tall like the trees. We want to flourish in Your house. We want to still bear fruit in our old age. We know that we will find this only in You. We long to be close to You and be transformed.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I praise God? Why or why not? What do I have to praise God for? Can I make a list of 10, 20, or 30 plus things that God deserves praise for?
2. How do I feel when people do not understand my faith? Do I love the people anyway or do I get angry and dismissive? Do I pray for those who reject my faith?
3. Do I feel like I am growing spiritually? Why or why not? How can I go after this? What am I doing that helps? What am I doing that hinders me?
4. How long have I been following God? Do I still have the love I originally did? If it is not as strong, why do I feel like it has faded? What can I do to get back my "first love"?
5. Am I bearing fruit? What does that mean to me? What evidence is there that my faith is growing and being more productive?
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/29/15
Prayer Focus - Wants
Day 4
Pray for:
One thing you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream you have for your life
One issue in your character that you would like to see changed
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 89
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness. For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel." ( vs. 14 - 18 )
Righteousness and justice form the foundation of the throne of God. He is righteous and just. How good it is to know that there is a standard that never changes. Although we do not necessarily like everything about it, it is steadfast and I think that we long for that type of consistency. We hate it when things are not fair. It is good to know that God is fair, and that justice will win out one day. It is also good to know that God does not forget our hard work and all of the good things that we have done. ("God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10) Someday we will reap what we have sown. ("Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6: 7-9)
What is even better than God being righteous and justice, however, is that God is loving and faithful. He is so much so, that it goes before Him. These qualities trumpet His coming. When I think about the world, I still see God; even with all the evil that is here. Sometimes people will say, "How can there be a God when there is bad things happening?" I think, "If there is no God, that is all that would be happening!" God is in all the kindness and beauty that is still here on Earth. When I see a beautiful sunset, I see God. When I look at my children playing and laughing, I see God. When I receive a kindness or am able to give to someone, I feel God's presence. God is good, always good.
We will be blessed if we can believe and hold onto this; when we can acclaim God. We will receive what we have faith in. God does not change, but we can be blinded to Him. Sometimes my students do not like me. They think I am mean and hard. They have not been able to see who I really am, because they do not cooperate with the rules of the class, or they perceive my pushing them to be excellent and to achieve as meanness. No matter how kind and loving I may be, they will never see it. They are blinded by their own perceptions and rebelliousness. I have not changed. This is how it is with God. If we are rebellious and resentful about being transformed, we will see God as a harsh taskmaster. If we follow God's laws and make Him our strength, and if we are willing to be changed, God will be our most treasured glory and strength. The choice is ours.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
You are good. You do bless us. Help us to see You; to see the real You and for us to not be deceived by our rebelliousness. You are righteous and just. You are loving and faithful. We are grateful that You are not like us. You are so praiseworthy. Thank You for our lives and for Your promises. Help us to live up to Your desires for us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. How do I see God as righteous? Am I righteous? What does this mean to me? How can I be righteous in my day to day living?
2. Do I value justice? How do I see God as just? Am I just? What does this mean to me? How can I learn to be more just and to value justice more?
3. How do I see God as loving? What does that mean to me? Am I loving? What evidence is there to support my answer? How can I be more loving?
4. How do I see God as faithful? What does that mean to me? Am I faithful to God? Am I faithful to others? Why or why not? How can I become more faithful to God and to others?
5. How do I acclaim God? What is my view of Him? Do I have a true perspective or am I tainted by bitterness or bad experiences? How can I work through any issues I have so that I can be able to see God as He truly is? How will this change my life?
Day 4
Pray for:
One thing you want to understand about God
One characteristic you want to develop that will help you to be more loving towards others
One dream you have for your life
One issue in your character that you would like to see changed
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 89
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness. For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel." ( vs. 14 - 18 )
Righteousness and justice form the foundation of the throne of God. He is righteous and just. How good it is to know that there is a standard that never changes. Although we do not necessarily like everything about it, it is steadfast and I think that we long for that type of consistency. We hate it when things are not fair. It is good to know that God is fair, and that justice will win out one day. It is also good to know that God does not forget our hard work and all of the good things that we have done. ("God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10) Someday we will reap what we have sown. ("Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6: 7-9)
What is even better than God being righteous and justice, however, is that God is loving and faithful. He is so much so, that it goes before Him. These qualities trumpet His coming. When I think about the world, I still see God; even with all the evil that is here. Sometimes people will say, "How can there be a God when there is bad things happening?" I think, "If there is no God, that is all that would be happening!" God is in all the kindness and beauty that is still here on Earth. When I see a beautiful sunset, I see God. When I look at my children playing and laughing, I see God. When I receive a kindness or am able to give to someone, I feel God's presence. God is good, always good.
We will be blessed if we can believe and hold onto this; when we can acclaim God. We will receive what we have faith in. God does not change, but we can be blinded to Him. Sometimes my students do not like me. They think I am mean and hard. They have not been able to see who I really am, because they do not cooperate with the rules of the class, or they perceive my pushing them to be excellent and to achieve as meanness. No matter how kind and loving I may be, they will never see it. They are blinded by their own perceptions and rebelliousness. I have not changed. This is how it is with God. If we are rebellious and resentful about being transformed, we will see God as a harsh taskmaster. If we follow God's laws and make Him our strength, and if we are willing to be changed, God will be our most treasured glory and strength. The choice is ours.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
You are good. You do bless us. Help us to see You; to see the real You and for us to not be deceived by our rebelliousness. You are righteous and just. You are loving and faithful. We are grateful that You are not like us. You are so praiseworthy. Thank You for our lives and for Your promises. Help us to live up to Your desires for us.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. How do I see God as righteous? Am I righteous? What does this mean to me? How can I be righteous in my day to day living?
2. Do I value justice? How do I see God as just? Am I just? What does this mean to me? How can I learn to be more just and to value justice more?
3. How do I see God as loving? What does that mean to me? Am I loving? What evidence is there to support my answer? How can I be more loving?
4. How do I see God as faithful? What does that mean to me? Am I faithful to God? Am I faithful to others? Why or why not? How can I become more faithful to God and to others?
5. How do I acclaim God? What is my view of Him? Do I have a true perspective or am I tainted by bitterness or bad experiences? How can I work through any issues I have so that I can be able to see God as He truly is? How will this change my life?
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/24/15 (1/24/10)
Prayer Focus - Personal Transformation
Day 6
Pray for:
One thing that you want to see improved in your relationship with God - (Love God)
One thing that you want to see improved in the way you relate to others - (with all your heart)
One past hurt that you want to see healed and overcome - (with all your soul)
One skill or topic you want to learn - (with all your mind)
One thing that you want to see improved about your health - (with all your strength)
One thing you want to do to help others around you - (Love your neighbor)
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 84
"My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." ( vs. 2)
It is so hard to live in this world sometimes. The never ending bad news and the ever present failure that we live with. My heart often longs for something better; that perfect world with no pain or sorrow. Where there is no yelling and people do what is right because that is their hearts desire. Where people long to be kind and loving and respect others. Where I am different; better. This is not to be found on this fallen earth though; this dream is reserved for that someday place, the courts of God.
"Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion." (vs. 4-7)
It is possible to have some peace here, though. God has commanded us to rejoice in Him always. So in spite of all that is wrong, we can be full of joy. We can have a place here as well; a refuge. Of course, we have our relationship with God, but sometimes we need God with flesh on Him. For this, God has given us His house, His kingdom. The church is not just a beautiful building with stained glass windows. It is the living and breathing body of Christ. It is the kingdom of God on earth that will continue on up in heaven where all the saints will rejoice someday. We can praise God that we have a home in the church. It is our piece of heaven here and our family. It helps us set our hearts on this pilgrimage called life. We cannot be solo Christians. I know, I have tried many times. We all get a little crazy when we isolate ourselves. We were meant for relationships, whether we want to admit it or not. This is where we will grow and become more like Christ as we deal with fulfilling our purpose together. I want to be like the person in the psalm. I want to go from strength to strength and turn the valley of sufferings in my life and the lives of others into beautiful places for peaceful respite. I know I am not there. I have to start small, say maybe making some phone calls to others once in awhile, but I can do it. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
"Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You." (vs 10-12)
Someday we will be in paradise, whatever that is like. But for now, it is good to be a nothing and be with God. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God. It will be worth it someday. It is worth it now. We must not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:7-10). "No good thing does God withhold from him whose walk is blameless." (vs. 11b) Let us walk right so we will make it there.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Better is one day with You than all the world can offer. We long for You. This old world gets us down. We can not make it on our own. We get so weary. But You are able. You do not slumber or sleep. You are in control. Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright. Help us to keep our priorities right and help us to cling to Your kingdom so that we will be strengthened for the path we must travel. We want to bring blessings to the world and let them know You. We want to turn the valleys of sorrows we encounter into valleys of joy. Make us into this type of person who can spread joy and the knowledge of You throughout the world. We long to make a difference.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I long to be with God? Why or why not? What keeps me from seeing my need for God? When do I long for Him the most? How can I increase my desire for spending time with Him?
2. Am I a part of the kingdom of God? What does that mean in my life? Do I have a church home? How can I find one? Am I tied in with those in my church home, if I have one? How can I get more involved?
3. Am I set on pilgrimage? Am I focused on my purpose as a Christian and member of the house of God or am I caught up running after what the world offers? What would those closest to me say? How can I get my self back on track if I am off? If I am set on pilgrimage, how can I help get others involved as well?
4. Am I making things better for those around me or do I cause more problems than I solve? Am I making the valleys of suffering in my life and others into valleys of joy? How can I do this? How will the world be better if I do this?
5 Am I going from strength to strength? Am I growing and getting better day by day? How can I change if I answered no to any of these questions? What areas do I need to work on? Am I finding my strength in God? Would I rather be with Him than anywhere else? Why or why not?
Day 6
Pray for:
One thing that you want to see improved in your relationship with God - (Love God)
One thing that you want to see improved in the way you relate to others - (with all your heart)
One past hurt that you want to see healed and overcome - (with all your soul)
One skill or topic you want to learn - (with all your mind)
One thing that you want to see improved about your health - (with all your strength)
One thing you want to do to help others around you - (Love your neighbor)
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to Your ever present voice and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 84
"My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." ( vs. 2)
It is so hard to live in this world sometimes. The never ending bad news and the ever present failure that we live with. My heart often longs for something better; that perfect world with no pain or sorrow. Where there is no yelling and people do what is right because that is their hearts desire. Where people long to be kind and loving and respect others. Where I am different; better. This is not to be found on this fallen earth though; this dream is reserved for that someday place, the courts of God.
"Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion." (vs. 4-7)
It is possible to have some peace here, though. God has commanded us to rejoice in Him always. So in spite of all that is wrong, we can be full of joy. We can have a place here as well; a refuge. Of course, we have our relationship with God, but sometimes we need God with flesh on Him. For this, God has given us His house, His kingdom. The church is not just a beautiful building with stained glass windows. It is the living and breathing body of Christ. It is the kingdom of God on earth that will continue on up in heaven where all the saints will rejoice someday. We can praise God that we have a home in the church. It is our piece of heaven here and our family. It helps us set our hearts on this pilgrimage called life. We cannot be solo Christians. I know, I have tried many times. We all get a little crazy when we isolate ourselves. We were meant for relationships, whether we want to admit it or not. This is where we will grow and become more like Christ as we deal with fulfilling our purpose together. I want to be like the person in the psalm. I want to go from strength to strength and turn the valley of sufferings in my life and the lives of others into beautiful places for peaceful respite. I know I am not there. I have to start small, say maybe making some phone calls to others once in awhile, but I can do it. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
"Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You." (vs 10-12)
Someday we will be in paradise, whatever that is like. But for now, it is good to be a nothing and be with God. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God. It will be worth it someday. It is worth it now. We must not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:7-10). "No good thing does God withhold from him whose walk is blameless." (vs. 11b) Let us walk right so we will make it there.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Better is one day with You than all the world can offer. We long for You. This old world gets us down. We can not make it on our own. We get so weary. But You are able. You do not slumber or sleep. You are in control. Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright. Help us to keep our priorities right and help us to cling to Your kingdom so that we will be strengthened for the path we must travel. We want to bring blessings to the world and let them know You. We want to turn the valleys of sorrows we encounter into valleys of joy. Make us into this type of person who can spread joy and the knowledge of You throughout the world. We long to make a difference.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I long to be with God? Why or why not? What keeps me from seeing my need for God? When do I long for Him the most? How can I increase my desire for spending time with Him?
2. Am I a part of the kingdom of God? What does that mean in my life? Do I have a church home? How can I find one? Am I tied in with those in my church home, if I have one? How can I get more involved?
3. Am I set on pilgrimage? Am I focused on my purpose as a Christian and member of the house of God or am I caught up running after what the world offers? What would those closest to me say? How can I get my self back on track if I am off? If I am set on pilgrimage, how can I help get others involved as well?
4. Am I making things better for those around me or do I cause more problems than I solve? Am I making the valleys of suffering in my life and others into valleys of joy? How can I do this? How will the world be better if I do this?
5 Am I going from strength to strength? Am I growing and getting better day by day? How can I change if I answered no to any of these questions? What areas do I need to work on? Am I finding my strength in God? Would I rather be with Him than anywhere else? Why or why not?
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Daily Devotional - 9/13/15 (11/13/09)
Prayer Focus - Needs
Day 2
Pray for:
One thing that is needed in the world
One thing that is needed in your country
Focus on how the fulfilled need will help impact people's:
spiritual lives
physical lives
emotional lives
mental lives
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 73
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." ( vs. 1-2 )
"This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning...When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when You arise, O Lord, You will despise them as fantasies." ( vs. 13-14, 16-20 )
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ( vs. 21-26 )
Day 2
Pray for:
One thing that is needed in the world
One thing that is needed in your country
Focus on how the fulfilled need will help impact people's:
spiritual lives
physical lives
emotional lives
mental lives
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 73
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." ( vs. 1-2 )
"This is what the wicked are like - always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning...When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when You arise, O Lord, You will despise them as fantasies." ( vs. 13-14, 16-20 )
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ( vs. 21-26 )
It is easy to lose sight of what is truly important in life. We know it should be God, but when we look around at others and compare ourselves with them, especially those that are not following God, we can end up dissatisfied with our lot. Those who are chasing after what the world has to offer can achieve quite a bit and I believe that Satan rewards them to help lead others astray. We can envy many things about them. We can look at their schedules, which often have more free time and leisure activities, and be frustrated because we always feel so busy. We can look at their financial success and feel like failures. We forget to look at the unethical methods they often use to get ahead or the wake of destruction that is left behind when they solely focus on money. We can look at their fancy houses, clothes, and the like and then wonder why we are having such a hard time and why we are struggling and trying to do things God's way. Sometimes we feel like God is not being fair. But God never promised wealth and success. God promised spiritual rewards. He would like to give us these things but it is not a guarantee. What is most important to God is where we are at spiritually and what will ultimately get us to heaven to be with Him for eternity.
If we lose sight of this we can easily slip. It is not hard to get to this point and when we do, we become like "brute beasts". We start envying. We lose all of our dignity and integrity. We often do things that we will later regret. This is not what we really want nor is it what God wants for us. At this point, we need to get our focus back. We need to turn to God and enter His sanctuary. We need to remember what will happen to all those who do not know Him. They will not endure. Whatever they are enjoying is for this life only. When we die, we take nothing with us. Naked we came and naked we go. Without God, they will leave it all here and enter eternity impoverished. They will be like a dream that is despised in the morning.
I don't want to be a bad dream to God. I want to be a good memory, and not even a memory, a good and faithful servant who is always with Him, serving Him for eternity. The amazing thing is, with God, this is possible. God is still with us, even when we are faltering. He is holding our hand and guiding us in the way that we should go. Everything may fail but God will not. God is our strength forever.
"But as for me, it is good to be near God." (vs. 28a)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We know You are good. We have always known this in our souls, yet we slip so easily. We are like Peter who took his eyes off you when he was walking on the water. We sink. We begin to look at those around us and begin to envy their prosperity and ease. Help us to enter into Your sanctuary on a daily basis so that we will remember their final destiny. Help us to remember what life is all about and that the eternal is what truly matters. We ask to not be like brute beasts but like those that have integrity and uprightness. We do not want to be a bad dream to You. We do not want to be despised when You awake. We do not want to be swept away by terrors or cast down to ruin. Help us to live for eternity and to live clearly and simply. You are here guiding us. Help us to not fight Your guidance, but to embrace it. We thank You for being our strength and our portion forever. You are all we have. There is nothing better than You. We desire nothing else than to please You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What things cause me to envy the most? What circumstances and people cause me the most trouble? How can I combat this?
2. Do I ever feel that I am trying so hard and yet it is all in vain? Do I feel this way when I am forgetting all the good things that God has done for me? How can I rekindle my gratitude?
3. How can I enter into the sanctuary of God on a daily basis? What places and settings help me to remember my spiritual perspective and get back to being grounded in what is important again? How can I incorporate these things into my daily life?
4. How is God guiding me? Am I receptive to His leading through His word, others, and my inner conscience? How can I become more receptive?
5. Am I being still so that I can remember that God is God and allow myself to hear His voice? Do I think about eternity and cultivate this long term perspective? How can I think more long term when it comes to my relationship with God and my goals?
Friday, August 21, 2015
Daily Devotional for 8/21/15 (10/21/09)
Prayer Focus - Friends
Day 7
Pray for:
One friend that you feel close to
One friend that has become distant and you would like to be closer to
One friend from long ago
One new friend
One friend that has hurt you
One friend that has always been there for you
One friend that you have lost touch with and have no idea where they are
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 51
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions." (vs. 1)
"Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge." (vs. 4)
"Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (vs. 6 - 7)
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." (vs. 10 - 12)
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (vs. 16 - 17)
In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper; Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight You; (vs. 18 -19a)
True religion is something totally different than what most of us think. Often we think of going to church and a bunch of dos and don'ts. Definitely there are things that should and shouldn't be done but it all seems to boil down to love. What is the greatest commandment? Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). This is what Jesus said summed it all up - Love.
God is love. Do we remember this?
I think we forget. We think - God is a taskmaster. God is far away. God does not care. God is not fair. God is mean. God hates. God just wants me to obey. But is this really true? Does God want our sacrifices? Will our hard work save us? Can we ever be good enough?
The answer to all these types of questions are no. No, no, no. God is love. God wants truth. God wants integrity. God wants us to come back and say, "Thank You. Do not cast me away from You." God wants us broken and contrite. Ready to be something different. Ready to turn away from all the secrets within us. Bottom line, God wants us to be with Him and He knows what that will take.
I think when we look deep into ourselves, we know this as well. There is an aching part in us that just wants to be known, loved, and changed. I think we long for transformation. We long to be clean - to be free from what ever it is that is binding us and keeping us from life.
But even though we know this, there is a barrier to us reaching the healing we seek. I believe this barrier is sin. Sometimes we think we are so clever. We do things we know are wrong and think it will never be found out. We think no one can really see what is going on within us. Well, that is not really true is it? God sees everything. God already knows, and sooner or later everyone else usually finds out too.
When I was a child, I used to think it would be a great parenting tool to have cameras in every room so that a parent could see what was going on at all times. Now of course, that is possible now but it wasn't back in the 70's. I was grateful back then that nothing like that existed because I did a lot of things in secret that I didn't what anyone seeing. It was quite a revelation to me when I finally realized that God saw everything and that He had seen every single thing I had ever done in secret. I was quite ashamed and embarrassed.
So in order to be transformed and healed, and since all the things we have done have been seen anyway, we need to deal with them. We need to seek repentance. We have to get these secrets out into the open and get help. We need to stop doing wrong and start doing right. That is what I had to do.
I had to come to grips with the fact that God wanted me. He wants us, all of us, and He wants us to be true believers. He wants our hearts, not just our outward acquiescence. But I didn't know how to get from where I was to where I needed to be? This is where Psalm 51 is essential. It is the cry for forgiveness and restoration that we all need to cry.
When I was finally trying to get my life right with God, I had a mentor who was working with me in my life. He knew just about everything about me and he gave me a key assignment. He challenged me to memorize this Psalm and repeat it as often as I could. He felt that when I could truly pray this Psalm from my heart, then I would probably be ready to become a Christian.
I would finally be ready to become a Christian, because I would finally be ready to deal with the sin in my life. My heart would be ready to change because it would have released the things that were at that time controlling it. Sin hardens us. Sin hardens and breaks us. This world is broken. I was broken. Sin breaks our communion with God, others, and even ourselves. It cuts us off from our heart and it sears our consciences. It destroys whatever good is in us and it destroys the good in this world. We can not be close to God and be in sin as well. It is impossible.
I was so hard at this point in my life from all the sin I had indulged in that I needed a transformation. I needed a new heart, and new spirit. I needed to come to God on His terms, not mine.
I took my friend's challenge and eventually I had a breakthrough. God did have mercy on me. He did restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. God was faithful and created a pure heart within me. I had not been pure in a long time but now I was and I could be completely different. Instead of being religious, I could be righteous - right with God. I could have integrity. I could have truth. I could walk without fear of what I was hiding.
God was and is faithful. Thirty some years later, I am still walking this walk and striving to keep this prayer and all of God's word in my heart so that I will not sin against Him.
I praise God that He did restore and in His timing, He did make me prosper. He has given me so much and I would never have known all the good He had in store if I had not been willing to get on my knees and pray.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Have mercy on us we pray. Forgive us our sins. Cleanse us. Only You can do this. We thank You for forgiving us. We thank You for Your mercy and grace. We thank you for even caring at all. We know that we are completely unworthy. Please grant us a willing spirit to sustain us. Grant us joy as well so that we may live and be the examples that You deserve. We know that in Your good pleasure, You can make us prosper. We look forward to that day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What do I think God really wants from me? Why? Do I have a correct perspective of God? Why or why not? How can I get a more accurate view?
2. Do I realize how much I sin against God? Am I turning to Him for forgiveness? Do I realize that when I sin against others, I am sinning against God? Does this help me to stop sinning or could this help me? How can I remind myself of this fact?
3. Do I feel burdened by past sins? Have I been forgiven? How do I know? Do I need to discuss anything with another person to help deal with a habitual sin?
4. What does repentance mean to me? What do I do when I have done something wrong? How do I deal with it? Is this the best thing to do or could I do something differently?
5. Am I turning to God for a pure heart, a steadfast spirit, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart? Which of these is the hardest for me to maintain?
Day 7
Pray for:
One friend that you feel close to
One friend that has become distant and you would like to be closer to
One friend from long ago
One new friend
One friend that has hurt you
One friend that has always been there for you
One friend that you have lost touch with and have no idea where they are
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Please open my ears to hear and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 51
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions." (vs. 1)
"Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge." (vs. 4)
"Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." (vs. 6 - 7)
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." (vs. 10 - 12)
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (vs. 16 - 17)
In Your good pleasure make Zion prosper; Build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight You; (vs. 18 -19a)
True religion is something totally different than what most of us think. Often we think of going to church and a bunch of dos and don'ts. Definitely there are things that should and shouldn't be done but it all seems to boil down to love. What is the greatest commandment? Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). This is what Jesus said summed it all up - Love.
God is love. Do we remember this?
I think we forget. We think - God is a taskmaster. God is far away. God does not care. God is not fair. God is mean. God hates. God just wants me to obey. But is this really true? Does God want our sacrifices? Will our hard work save us? Can we ever be good enough?
The answer to all these types of questions are no. No, no, no. God is love. God wants truth. God wants integrity. God wants us to come back and say, "Thank You. Do not cast me away from You." God wants us broken and contrite. Ready to be something different. Ready to turn away from all the secrets within us. Bottom line, God wants us to be with Him and He knows what that will take.
I think when we look deep into ourselves, we know this as well. There is an aching part in us that just wants to be known, loved, and changed. I think we long for transformation. We long to be clean - to be free from what ever it is that is binding us and keeping us from life.
But even though we know this, there is a barrier to us reaching the healing we seek. I believe this barrier is sin. Sometimes we think we are so clever. We do things we know are wrong and think it will never be found out. We think no one can really see what is going on within us. Well, that is not really true is it? God sees everything. God already knows, and sooner or later everyone else usually finds out too.
When I was a child, I used to think it would be a great parenting tool to have cameras in every room so that a parent could see what was going on at all times. Now of course, that is possible now but it wasn't back in the 70's. I was grateful back then that nothing like that existed because I did a lot of things in secret that I didn't what anyone seeing. It was quite a revelation to me when I finally realized that God saw everything and that He had seen every single thing I had ever done in secret. I was quite ashamed and embarrassed.
So in order to be transformed and healed, and since all the things we have done have been seen anyway, we need to deal with them. We need to seek repentance. We have to get these secrets out into the open and get help. We need to stop doing wrong and start doing right. That is what I had to do.
I had to come to grips with the fact that God wanted me. He wants us, all of us, and He wants us to be true believers. He wants our hearts, not just our outward acquiescence. But I didn't know how to get from where I was to where I needed to be? This is where Psalm 51 is essential. It is the cry for forgiveness and restoration that we all need to cry.
When I was finally trying to get my life right with God, I had a mentor who was working with me in my life. He knew just about everything about me and he gave me a key assignment. He challenged me to memorize this Psalm and repeat it as often as I could. He felt that when I could truly pray this Psalm from my heart, then I would probably be ready to become a Christian.
I would finally be ready to become a Christian, because I would finally be ready to deal with the sin in my life. My heart would be ready to change because it would have released the things that were at that time controlling it. Sin hardens us. Sin hardens and breaks us. This world is broken. I was broken. Sin breaks our communion with God, others, and even ourselves. It cuts us off from our heart and it sears our consciences. It destroys whatever good is in us and it destroys the good in this world. We can not be close to God and be in sin as well. It is impossible.
I was so hard at this point in my life from all the sin I had indulged in that I needed a transformation. I needed a new heart, and new spirit. I needed to come to God on His terms, not mine.
I took my friend's challenge and eventually I had a breakthrough. God did have mercy on me. He did restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. God was faithful and created a pure heart within me. I had not been pure in a long time but now I was and I could be completely different. Instead of being religious, I could be righteous - right with God. I could have integrity. I could have truth. I could walk without fear of what I was hiding.
God was and is faithful. Thirty some years later, I am still walking this walk and striving to keep this prayer and all of God's word in my heart so that I will not sin against Him.
I praise God that He did restore and in His timing, He did make me prosper. He has given me so much and I would never have known all the good He had in store if I had not been willing to get on my knees and pray.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Have mercy on us we pray. Forgive us our sins. Cleanse us. Only You can do this. We thank You for forgiving us. We thank You for Your mercy and grace. We thank you for even caring at all. We know that we are completely unworthy. Please grant us a willing spirit to sustain us. Grant us joy as well so that we may live and be the examples that You deserve. We know that in Your good pleasure, You can make us prosper. We look forward to that day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What do I think God really wants from me? Why? Do I have a correct perspective of God? Why or why not? How can I get a more accurate view?
2. Do I realize how much I sin against God? Am I turning to Him for forgiveness? Do I realize that when I sin against others, I am sinning against God? Does this help me to stop sinning or could this help me? How can I remind myself of this fact?
3. Do I feel burdened by past sins? Have I been forgiven? How do I know? Do I need to discuss anything with another person to help deal with a habitual sin?
4. What does repentance mean to me? What do I do when I have done something wrong? How do I deal with it? Is this the best thing to do or could I do something differently?
5. Am I turning to God for a pure heart, a steadfast spirit, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart? Which of these is the hardest for me to maintain?
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Daily Devotional - 9/15/10 (10/15/09)
Prayer Focus - Friends
Day 1
Pray for:
One friend that you feel close to
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Help me to listen to You each and every day and please grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 45
"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (vs. 7)
I believe we all want to be great and make a difference in this world. If you ask any child what they want to be when they grow up, they have great dreams. They don't plan on having a life of failure and mediocrity. It is only as we age and face failure and difficulties that we start to lose our dreams of making a difference. Even God, Himself has great dreams for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29: 11). So if it really is okay to have grand dreams of world impact, how will we accomplish it?
The world has one idea. There is the dog eat dog business model - the feeding with the sharks mentality where it is survival of the fittest and each man is out for himself. Then there is God's way. When Jesus' disciples were arguing over who would be greatest, Jesus' did not get mad at them for the question, but rather He pointed out their lack of righteous perspective on the matter. He told them they needed to become like little children to be great and they needed to become servants in order to lead. He told them the first would be last and the last would be first and that to truly be first, one would have to be the slave of all ( Matt 18:1-4 & Matt 20:20-28). Leadership and greatness for one who follows God comes in a completely different manner than it does for those in the world. Yet this is what it will truly make the greatest impact in the long run and the legacy that this type of leadership leaves will follow us into eternity. Jesus made a difference. He stood out. He changed the whole world. The original disciples turned the whole world upside down as well. It is okay to make a difference and want to be great as long as we go about it God's way and become servants.
In this psalm, we learn two more of the keys to greatness. They are to love righteousness and hate wickedness. We need to get our focus aligned with God and love what He loves and hate what He hates. We need to go beyond thinking that it would be nice to be a good person and beyond disliking when people are irritating and rude. We need to love and hate. We need to get passionate about life. I, personally, am such a middle of the road kind of person. I don't like to make waves but yet this is very unChristlike. He wasn't a mild mannered guy. He loved and hated. He laughed and cried. He was fully alive. We need to open up ourselves to this and stop being afraid to live if we want to experience true greatness and purpose.
When we are finally willing to fully embrace this philosophy, then God will set us apart from our companions. He will set us apart and above them by anointing us with the oil of joy. Joy comes when we do right. Joy comes from stepping out and doing something. We need to stop worrying about whether it will be right or wrong, and just jump into the fray of life and saying, "I am here. I am here. I will do something. I will speak. I will serve. I will get in and get dirty. I am getting off the sidelines and I am living." Joy will come bursting forth. Jesus came to give life and life to the fullest. We need to embrace this. We need to leave the past. Stop looking back and build a life anew with what we have, with our spouses and children. We can do all things with Christ. We truly can.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We praise You for giving us the desire to make a difference. We want our lives to count for something and we ask You to help us to see how we can achieve that. Focus our eyes and our hearts on Your way. You and Your Son have had the greatest impact on the world and we are called to do even greater things than what Jesus has done. It seems impossible, but if we really start living and doing and feeling, You will be able to work through us. Free us from all that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance. Let us be clear channels for Your power to flow through. Allow us to love righteousness and hate wickedness. Help us to overcome our fear and do this so that we may receive the anointing of joy. You are the truth and the way and the life. We know. We desire to do Your will; increase our desire. We are letting go of the past and starting anew, today and everyday, we pray this. Father, hear our prayer.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What were my dreams when I was young? Have I given up on them? Do I have new dreams to make a difference?
2. Do I love righteousness? What part of righteousness is the most difficult for me to embrace and love?
3. Do I hate wickedness? What is the hardest for me to hate about wickedness? Is there some sin that I accept, tolerate, or even like? What should I do about this?
4. What is my idea about how to become great? What is my idea about leadership? Am I a servant of others?
5. How is my joy level? Could renewing my dreams and embracing life increase it?
Day 1
Pray for:
One friend that you feel close to
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Help me to listen to You each and every day and please grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 45
"You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (vs. 7)
I believe we all want to be great and make a difference in this world. If you ask any child what they want to be when they grow up, they have great dreams. They don't plan on having a life of failure and mediocrity. It is only as we age and face failure and difficulties that we start to lose our dreams of making a difference. Even God, Himself has great dreams for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29: 11). So if it really is okay to have grand dreams of world impact, how will we accomplish it?
The world has one idea. There is the dog eat dog business model - the feeding with the sharks mentality where it is survival of the fittest and each man is out for himself. Then there is God's way. When Jesus' disciples were arguing over who would be greatest, Jesus' did not get mad at them for the question, but rather He pointed out their lack of righteous perspective on the matter. He told them they needed to become like little children to be great and they needed to become servants in order to lead. He told them the first would be last and the last would be first and that to truly be first, one would have to be the slave of all ( Matt 18:1-4 & Matt 20:20-28). Leadership and greatness for one who follows God comes in a completely different manner than it does for those in the world. Yet this is what it will truly make the greatest impact in the long run and the legacy that this type of leadership leaves will follow us into eternity. Jesus made a difference. He stood out. He changed the whole world. The original disciples turned the whole world upside down as well. It is okay to make a difference and want to be great as long as we go about it God's way and become servants.
In this psalm, we learn two more of the keys to greatness. They are to love righteousness and hate wickedness. We need to get our focus aligned with God and love what He loves and hate what He hates. We need to go beyond thinking that it would be nice to be a good person and beyond disliking when people are irritating and rude. We need to love and hate. We need to get passionate about life. I, personally, am such a middle of the road kind of person. I don't like to make waves but yet this is very unChristlike. He wasn't a mild mannered guy. He loved and hated. He laughed and cried. He was fully alive. We need to open up ourselves to this and stop being afraid to live if we want to experience true greatness and purpose.
When we are finally willing to fully embrace this philosophy, then God will set us apart from our companions. He will set us apart and above them by anointing us with the oil of joy. Joy comes when we do right. Joy comes from stepping out and doing something. We need to stop worrying about whether it will be right or wrong, and just jump into the fray of life and saying, "I am here. I am here. I will do something. I will speak. I will serve. I will get in and get dirty. I am getting off the sidelines and I am living." Joy will come bursting forth. Jesus came to give life and life to the fullest. We need to embrace this. We need to leave the past. Stop looking back and build a life anew with what we have, with our spouses and children. We can do all things with Christ. We truly can.
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
We praise You for giving us the desire to make a difference. We want our lives to count for something and we ask You to help us to see how we can achieve that. Focus our eyes and our hearts on Your way. You and Your Son have had the greatest impact on the world and we are called to do even greater things than what Jesus has done. It seems impossible, but if we really start living and doing and feeling, You will be able to work through us. Free us from all that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us and let us run with perseverance. Let us be clear channels for Your power to flow through. Allow us to love righteousness and hate wickedness. Help us to overcome our fear and do this so that we may receive the anointing of joy. You are the truth and the way and the life. We know. We desire to do Your will; increase our desire. We are letting go of the past and starting anew, today and everyday, we pray this. Father, hear our prayer.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. What were my dreams when I was young? Have I given up on them? Do I have new dreams to make a difference?
2. Do I love righteousness? What part of righteousness is the most difficult for me to embrace and love?
3. Do I hate wickedness? What is the hardest for me to hate about wickedness? Is there some sin that I accept, tolerate, or even like? What should I do about this?
4. What is my idea about how to become great? What is my idea about leadership? Am I a servant of others?
5. How is my joy level? Could renewing my dreams and embracing life increase it?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Daily Devotional - 9/11/10 (10/11/09)
Prayer Focus - Family
Day 4
Pray for:
One family member that you feel close to
One family member that you are not close to
One family member that lives far away from you
One family member that lives near you
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Help me to listen to You each and every day and please grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 41
"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; He will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness." (vs. 1-3)
We need to have regard for the weak. When I tend to think of "the weak", I tend to think of the elderly or those who are down and out, perhaps those who I might consider to be "struggling" in some manner. As I consider this passage though and go a bit deeper, I am forced to look at what my stereotypes and prejudices are. Who is weak really? Lately, I would have to admit that it is me. I am the one who is "struggling". I am the one who is having trouble with so many things. I do not like to admit that I am weak. I think many of us do not like this. All of our lives we have been building up our walls to protect and guard ourselves so that we will be strong. Often, if we have been terrorized as children, we have built up very high walls so that no one will ever think we are weak again. We feel that our weakness will be used against us because it was in the past. We even begin to look down on anyone we consider open or vulnerable and we feel that displays of emotion are a sign of weakness as well and we dislike them immensely. Because we have been robbed of this ourselves, we resent it in others and it angers us. We become rocks and islands because as Simon and Garfunkel so eloquently put it, "a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries."
But once again, this is not God's way. First of all, we are to rejoice in our sufferings and weaknesses because they allow God to work fully through us (Romans 5:1-5, II Cor 12:8-10). Then we are to see that it is our pride that makes us want to appear strong. God just wants us to be ourselves and He views us as His children. Our children are obviously not as strong as we are. They are weak. God knows we are weak and He wants to take care of us. He even carries us when we can go on no further. I love the story of the footprints that so vividly expresses that sediment of Him carrying us through our most difficult times in life. Finally, God wants us to depend on Him in everything. Then, when we have been strengthened, we are to turn back and help others to be strengthened and comforted as well (Luke 22:31-32).
So I will admit that I am weak and that I also need to have regard for where I am at. I need to get myself strengthened, so that I can in turn strengthen those who need me. That would be my children, my husband, and my students. In many ways, these people are weak and I must view them differently than I have been doing. My children are weak because they are young. I expect so much out of them and often get frustrated by their misbehavior. Much of this is my fault, as I need to be more consistent in my discipline and training of them, but I must also remember that they are children. I must remember the proverb (Proverbs 22:15) that states that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drives it far from them."
It is not strange that my children are foolish and morally weak right now. That is a natural part of being a child. I must not take it so personally, and I must also see, therefore, how important it is for me to train and instruct them so that I can help them to out grow it. If I do nothing to help them get rid of the inherent folly in their souls, then I am truly leading them down a path of destruction. As a teacher, I have seen many children that have never been lead away from their natural folly. They fail and fail miserably, even if they are brilliant. Folly must be removed through love and consistent training. I must have regard for these, my children, and help them. I must not get mad but I must train. Both are imperative.
Then there is my husband. He is weak right now because of his illness. I must have regard for him and be there for him more than I ever have. Sometimes it is exhausting to be a caregiver and I am glad for the times when my husband is not that sick. Some people get no respite and it is easy to get overwhelmed and angry at the one who is ill. We must remember if we find ourselves in this position to have regard for the weak. We must find the refreshing and strength we need so that we may be able to go back and give the proper care to our loved ones in the way that will be most beneficial to them.
Finally, I have my students. Many are educationally disadvantaged and many of them have difficult home lives as well that might make them emotionally weak. God has placed me in these students' lives for a reason. I have much to give to them. I have educational skills and learning and most importantly, I have a relationship with God I can share in some way. I need to have regard for each of these children placed in my classes and give them whatever I can to help them grow academically and as individuals as well. They look to me to set them an example and to give them hope in an often hopeless world. Many times I might be the only one believing in them. I must have regard for them and give them my best. I am responsible.
It seems overwhelming when I contemplate all of this, but I love the promises that come with that small statement to have regard for the weak. God will delivers us. The Lord will protect and preserve our lives. God will fill us up so that we can pour out blessings to others (II Cor 9:6-11). The Lord will bless us in the land and will not give us up to our enemies. God will even help our health to be better. So many wonderful promises await us if we can just have regard for the weak. We will in turn be made strong. We can do it. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). We need to be confident in this and we can be, if we have integrity. Our integrity and obedience to the will of God will enable us. We can be sure of that because God is faithful.
In my integrity, You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever." (vs. 12)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Help us to have regard for the weak. We know that at times we are weak and at times we do not want to admit it. Help us to see ourselves correctly and to turn to You for strengthening. We need Your strength so that we can go out and in turn strengthen others. We fail and we are so weak but You are strong. You say that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Allow Your power to be fully developed in us and help us to have regard for the other people in our lives who are weak in some way. Help us to remember our children and their weaknesses. Help us to be kind and loving despite their failures and help us to train our children so that it will go well for them. They are so precious and such a great responsibility. Help us to keep them a priority in our lives so that we can give them the best we have to offer.
Help us to have regard for our spouses in their weakness and our family members. If any of them are sick, help us to be there for them completely. Often those we should love the most are the most difficult for us. Grant us the strength to do all we ask. Only You can provide us what we need to do what You ask. We run to You, for You can do it. In our integrity, You uphold us. Increase our integrity and our obedience. Help us Lord to have regard for the weak.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Am I weak or strong right now? How do I know?
2. Who are the weak in my life? Am I having regard for them? What would that look like?
3. How am I doing with my children? Am I training them for the future? Am I teaching them about God and His ways beyond taking them to church?
4. How is my relationship with my spouse? Am I having regard for him or her? What are they weak in right now? How can I support them?
5. Am I a person of integrity? Why or why not? What does this mean to me? How can I change so that I will have more integrity?
Day 4
Pray for:
One family member that you feel close to
One family member that you are not close to
One family member that lives far away from you
One family member that lives near you
Pray about:
Their physical needs
Their mental needs
Their emotional needs
Their spiritual needs
Dear Lord - Help me to listen to You each and every day and please grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 41
"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; He will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness." (vs. 1-3)
We need to have regard for the weak. When I tend to think of "the weak", I tend to think of the elderly or those who are down and out, perhaps those who I might consider to be "struggling" in some manner. As I consider this passage though and go a bit deeper, I am forced to look at what my stereotypes and prejudices are. Who is weak really? Lately, I would have to admit that it is me. I am the one who is "struggling". I am the one who is having trouble with so many things. I do not like to admit that I am weak. I think many of us do not like this. All of our lives we have been building up our walls to protect and guard ourselves so that we will be strong. Often, if we have been terrorized as children, we have built up very high walls so that no one will ever think we are weak again. We feel that our weakness will be used against us because it was in the past. We even begin to look down on anyone we consider open or vulnerable and we feel that displays of emotion are a sign of weakness as well and we dislike them immensely. Because we have been robbed of this ourselves, we resent it in others and it angers us. We become rocks and islands because as Simon and Garfunkel so eloquently put it, "a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries."
But once again, this is not God's way. First of all, we are to rejoice in our sufferings and weaknesses because they allow God to work fully through us (Romans 5:1-5, II Cor 12:8-10). Then we are to see that it is our pride that makes us want to appear strong. God just wants us to be ourselves and He views us as His children. Our children are obviously not as strong as we are. They are weak. God knows we are weak and He wants to take care of us. He even carries us when we can go on no further. I love the story of the footprints that so vividly expresses that sediment of Him carrying us through our most difficult times in life. Finally, God wants us to depend on Him in everything. Then, when we have been strengthened, we are to turn back and help others to be strengthened and comforted as well (Luke 22:31-32).
So I will admit that I am weak and that I also need to have regard for where I am at. I need to get myself strengthened, so that I can in turn strengthen those who need me. That would be my children, my husband, and my students. In many ways, these people are weak and I must view them differently than I have been doing. My children are weak because they are young. I expect so much out of them and often get frustrated by their misbehavior. Much of this is my fault, as I need to be more consistent in my discipline and training of them, but I must also remember that they are children. I must remember the proverb (Proverbs 22:15) that states that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drives it far from them."
It is not strange that my children are foolish and morally weak right now. That is a natural part of being a child. I must not take it so personally, and I must also see, therefore, how important it is for me to train and instruct them so that I can help them to out grow it. If I do nothing to help them get rid of the inherent folly in their souls, then I am truly leading them down a path of destruction. As a teacher, I have seen many children that have never been lead away from their natural folly. They fail and fail miserably, even if they are brilliant. Folly must be removed through love and consistent training. I must have regard for these, my children, and help them. I must not get mad but I must train. Both are imperative.
Then there is my husband. He is weak right now because of his illness. I must have regard for him and be there for him more than I ever have. Sometimes it is exhausting to be a caregiver and I am glad for the times when my husband is not that sick. Some people get no respite and it is easy to get overwhelmed and angry at the one who is ill. We must remember if we find ourselves in this position to have regard for the weak. We must find the refreshing and strength we need so that we may be able to go back and give the proper care to our loved ones in the way that will be most beneficial to them.
Finally, I have my students. Many are educationally disadvantaged and many of them have difficult home lives as well that might make them emotionally weak. God has placed me in these students' lives for a reason. I have much to give to them. I have educational skills and learning and most importantly, I have a relationship with God I can share in some way. I need to have regard for each of these children placed in my classes and give them whatever I can to help them grow academically and as individuals as well. They look to me to set them an example and to give them hope in an often hopeless world. Many times I might be the only one believing in them. I must have regard for them and give them my best. I am responsible.
It seems overwhelming when I contemplate all of this, but I love the promises that come with that small statement to have regard for the weak. God will delivers us. The Lord will protect and preserve our lives. God will fill us up so that we can pour out blessings to others (II Cor 9:6-11). The Lord will bless us in the land and will not give us up to our enemies. God will even help our health to be better. So many wonderful promises await us if we can just have regard for the weak. We will in turn be made strong. We can do it. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). We need to be confident in this and we can be, if we have integrity. Our integrity and obedience to the will of God will enable us. We can be sure of that because God is faithful.
In my integrity, You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever." (vs. 12)
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Help us to have regard for the weak. We know that at times we are weak and at times we do not want to admit it. Help us to see ourselves correctly and to turn to You for strengthening. We need Your strength so that we can go out and in turn strengthen others. We fail and we are so weak but You are strong. You say that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Allow Your power to be fully developed in us and help us to have regard for the other people in our lives who are weak in some way. Help us to remember our children and their weaknesses. Help us to be kind and loving despite their failures and help us to train our children so that it will go well for them. They are so precious and such a great responsibility. Help us to keep them a priority in our lives so that we can give them the best we have to offer.
Help us to have regard for our spouses in their weakness and our family members. If any of them are sick, help us to be there for them completely. Often those we should love the most are the most difficult for us. Grant us the strength to do all we ask. Only You can provide us what we need to do what You ask. We run to You, for You can do it. In our integrity, You uphold us. Increase our integrity and our obedience. Help us Lord to have regard for the weak.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Am I weak or strong right now? How do I know?
2. Who are the weak in my life? Am I having regard for them? What would that look like?
3. How am I doing with my children? Am I training them for the future? Am I teaching them about God and His ways beyond taking them to church?
4. How is my relationship with my spouse? Am I having regard for him or her? What are they weak in right now? How can I support them?
5. Am I a person of integrity? Why or why not? What does this mean to me? How can I change so that I will have more integrity?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Daily Devotional - 8/29/10 (9/29/09)
Prayer Focus - 9's
Pray for:
Nine things you are grateful for
Nine people that are on your heart or that need prayers
Nine places that are important to you
Nine characteristics to grow in
Nine characteristics/habits to get rid of
Dear Lord - Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 29
"Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." (vs. 1-2)
God is glorious. God deserves my worship and praise. I am amazed at all of the grand things He has done. A few years ago, I read a book entitled, The Gold of Exodus, by Howard Blum. It tells the story of two Americans who went in search of the true Mount Sinai by following the trail of Moses. The archaeological finds that the two adventurers discover are astounding. If you like Biblical archeology, this is a good book to pick up, but if not, I am mentioning it because it made me stand in awe of God. There are pictures of chariot wheels found at the bottom of the Red Sea. Perhaps from Pharaoh’s army? These are found near a submerged land bridge at the point where Moses and the Israelites probably passed over. There are so many other strange finds in their story as well. This, to me, is so exciting. Again and again, stories and facts found in the Bible have been proved to be true over the years. Archeology has backed up many passages. It inspires me to see the power of God. He is able to do all that He has written in His word, and this is what the Bible is. It is the word of God and it is powerful.
"The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic." (vs. 4)
The Bible is the voice or "Word of God" as it is often called and is the only truly living and active document (Hebrews 4:12-13). Everything is laid bare before God and He knows us. He has set out how we work best in this guidance manual. The Bible is the only true “self-help” book, if I can even call it that, because it is really a “God-help-us” book. Anything that works outside of the Bible does so because it is based on a Biblical principle. I am totally convinced of this. I have seen it in my studies of psychology (the subject I majored in in college). I have seen it in the teaching and discipline principles taught in the teaching courses I took for my teaching credential. I have seen it everywhere.
I am not surprised though, because God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1, Hebrews 11:3, Psalms 33:6 & 9). He knows where wisdom resides. Nothing is hidden from Him (Job 28: 12-28). There are no secrets from God. If something works, it is His, whether it is used appropriately or not. Often the world or Satan takes one of God's principles and twists it around or else takes God out of the picture. The principle still works because it is like a law that God has instituted, similar to the law of gravity. Apples still fall to the earth whether we believe in God or not. His principles work and are faithful, whether we are or not. So, we need to take a look at everything and take it back to God and His word. The Bible says to tests everything and then hold onto the good ( I Thess 5:19-21).
" The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace." (vs. 11)
And in the end, if we cling to God’s word and obey it, there will be strength and peace. I know. I know this is true, because there were moments today when I was completely at peace. How good it felt. In the midst of the craziness of this past week, a moment of calm was welcoming. I knew that the calm and peace came only from God, as nothing circumstantially had changed. I was still exhausted to some degree. I was still loaded down with work that I had to do at the school where I teach. When I came home from work, the house was still messy and my husband was still ill. My children were still struggling to obey, but today, I was able to handle most of it better.
I think a turning point came this morning when I became very upset with my daughter over her not helping me get everything ready for us to go. As usual, I went on and on about it, to her disgust. Finally, I forced myself to stop talking and I just drove to work in silence. As I drove and tried to pray, my heart changed. I meditated on some of my favorite verses and I became resolved to work out this problem. We ended up having a good talk and both of us recommitted to doing better in our relationship. It was good for us to part ways at school reunited again. I know this came about because of God and His word. He says it never comes back empty.
His word can work wonders in our lives if we will learn it and put it into our hearts so that we can meditate on it. From my obedience to the verses I thought about, and my repentance or change in action, I was able to gain the strength and peace that God offers us. There is a catch, though. God offers these promises to His people, not just to anyone. While God loves everyone, not everyone is in a covenant relationship with Him. We must enter into a relationship with Him to reap the rewards.
A covenant, just like my relationship with my daughter, goes two ways. There are things that are expected of us and there are things that we can expect from God. He offers promises that are reserved for "His People." Let us strive to be His people and let us strive to respect and honor, by obedience, the voice of the Lord. It is all-powerful and God is even so much more. If His voice can shake the earth, then what can all of Him do? Whatever it is we need, praise God for He can do it!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Help us to remember how glorious and powerful You are. We get so lost day to day. Your principles are so consistent. You are so faithful. We want to remember and honor You. We want to obey Your word for in it are the words of life. Help us to be Your people. We long for Your peace and strength in our lives. We know that You alone can truly fill us up.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I stand amazed at what God has done and created? Do I believe what is written in the Bible? Why or why not?
2. How is my study of God's word? Am I making time for it? Compared to the other reading I do, for work or pleasure, is my Bible study equal to this?
3. Am I putting into practice what I read in the Bible or is my study more of an academic pursuit? How can I put more into practice? What have I been thinking about changing lately due to my Bible study?
4. Am I experiencing God's strength and peace? Why or why not?
5. Would I consider myself one of "His people"? Why or why not? How can I be sure of this? How does it make me feel to know that can belong to God? Why?
Pray for:
Nine things you are grateful for
Nine people that are on your heart or that need prayers
Nine places that are important to you
Nine characteristics to grow in
Nine characteristics/habits to get rid of
Dear Lord - Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see and grant me the strength to obey.
Psalms 29
"Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness." (vs. 1-2)
God is glorious. God deserves my worship and praise. I am amazed at all of the grand things He has done. A few years ago, I read a book entitled, The Gold of Exodus, by Howard Blum. It tells the story of two Americans who went in search of the true Mount Sinai by following the trail of Moses. The archaeological finds that the two adventurers discover are astounding. If you like Biblical archeology, this is a good book to pick up, but if not, I am mentioning it because it made me stand in awe of God. There are pictures of chariot wheels found at the bottom of the Red Sea. Perhaps from Pharaoh’s army? These are found near a submerged land bridge at the point where Moses and the Israelites probably passed over. There are so many other strange finds in their story as well. This, to me, is so exciting. Again and again, stories and facts found in the Bible have been proved to be true over the years. Archeology has backed up many passages. It inspires me to see the power of God. He is able to do all that He has written in His word, and this is what the Bible is. It is the word of God and it is powerful.
"The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic." (vs. 4)
The Bible is the voice or "Word of God" as it is often called and is the only truly living and active document (Hebrews 4:12-13). Everything is laid bare before God and He knows us. He has set out how we work best in this guidance manual. The Bible is the only true “self-help” book, if I can even call it that, because it is really a “God-help-us” book. Anything that works outside of the Bible does so because it is based on a Biblical principle. I am totally convinced of this. I have seen it in my studies of psychology (the subject I majored in in college). I have seen it in the teaching and discipline principles taught in the teaching courses I took for my teaching credential. I have seen it everywhere.
I am not surprised though, because God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1, Hebrews 11:3, Psalms 33:6 & 9). He knows where wisdom resides. Nothing is hidden from Him (Job 28: 12-28). There are no secrets from God. If something works, it is His, whether it is used appropriately or not. Often the world or Satan takes one of God's principles and twists it around or else takes God out of the picture. The principle still works because it is like a law that God has instituted, similar to the law of gravity. Apples still fall to the earth whether we believe in God or not. His principles work and are faithful, whether we are or not. So, we need to take a look at everything and take it back to God and His word. The Bible says to tests everything and then hold onto the good ( I Thess 5:19-21).
" The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace." (vs. 11)
And in the end, if we cling to God’s word and obey it, there will be strength and peace. I know. I know this is true, because there were moments today when I was completely at peace. How good it felt. In the midst of the craziness of this past week, a moment of calm was welcoming. I knew that the calm and peace came only from God, as nothing circumstantially had changed. I was still exhausted to some degree. I was still loaded down with work that I had to do at the school where I teach. When I came home from work, the house was still messy and my husband was still ill. My children were still struggling to obey, but today, I was able to handle most of it better.
I think a turning point came this morning when I became very upset with my daughter over her not helping me get everything ready for us to go. As usual, I went on and on about it, to her disgust. Finally, I forced myself to stop talking and I just drove to work in silence. As I drove and tried to pray, my heart changed. I meditated on some of my favorite verses and I became resolved to work out this problem. We ended up having a good talk and both of us recommitted to doing better in our relationship. It was good for us to part ways at school reunited again. I know this came about because of God and His word. He says it never comes back empty.
His word can work wonders in our lives if we will learn it and put it into our hearts so that we can meditate on it. From my obedience to the verses I thought about, and my repentance or change in action, I was able to gain the strength and peace that God offers us. There is a catch, though. God offers these promises to His people, not just to anyone. While God loves everyone, not everyone is in a covenant relationship with Him. We must enter into a relationship with Him to reap the rewards.
A covenant, just like my relationship with my daughter, goes two ways. There are things that are expected of us and there are things that we can expect from God. He offers promises that are reserved for "His People." Let us strive to be His people and let us strive to respect and honor, by obedience, the voice of the Lord. It is all-powerful and God is even so much more. If His voice can shake the earth, then what can all of Him do? Whatever it is we need, praise God for He can do it!
Prayer for the Day
Dear Lord,
Help us to remember how glorious and powerful You are. We get so lost day to day. Your principles are so consistent. You are so faithful. We want to remember and honor You. We want to obey Your word for in it are the words of life. Help us to be Your people. We long for Your peace and strength in our lives. We know that You alone can truly fill us up.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
QFT
1. Do I stand amazed at what God has done and created? Do I believe what is written in the Bible? Why or why not?
2. How is my study of God's word? Am I making time for it? Compared to the other reading I do, for work or pleasure, is my Bible study equal to this?
3. Am I putting into practice what I read in the Bible or is my study more of an academic pursuit? How can I put more into practice? What have I been thinking about changing lately due to my Bible study?
4. Am I experiencing God's strength and peace? Why or why not?
5. Would I consider myself one of "His people"? Why or why not? How can I be sure of this? How does it make me feel to know that can belong to God? Why?
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