I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Freedom
Philippians 4

 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. v13

While the devotion explicitly focuses on physical needs and material desires.  Yet for me there is a broader implication.  Every person will experience up and downs in life, times of plenty and times of want - whether this be financial provision, health, relationships, etc.  Paul reminds us that God is what carries us through these peaks and valleys.

In the last days, God writes to the church in Smyrna and sums it up this way:

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! Revelations 2:9

Even when we have success, it is not through our own hands.  See post here and the reference to Deuteronomy 8:

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."  But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. v17-18

Earlier in Philippians Paul refers to his worldly gains as garbage in comparison to Christ:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

Additional references on material focus here and via John 10:10.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, what an awesome God.  You provide everything that I need and in an abundance that is indescribable.  Thank You Jesus for providing abundantly and to the full.  I am not worth such blessing.  I am easily distracted and consumed by the world - please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
  

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

The Games We Play
Romans 8

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[ because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. v5-11

It is amazing how I listening to David Platt's series "Abide" and today's devotion focuses on governing the mind through the Spirit.

I am reminded of Pastor Scott's sermon how we find happiness.   He used the Sermon on the Mount for the series and specifically for this sermon he focused on Matthew 5:6:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You designed us to crave and You alone can fulfill our desires and cravings...You provide for all our needs and You bless us when we come to You.  I have experienced this in my own life - what an awesome God You are. I am not worth all the ways You have blessed me...I continue to battle with fits of rage...please forgive me Jesus.  Thank You for Your grace and patience that You have dispensed already but I need more!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Strengthen her bone density.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Demons - Dec 16, 2015
Ephesians 6

The devotion today and through verses below Paul speaks of the darkness that is all around us in the world.  He encourages us to be strong "in the Lord and in His mighty power".

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. v10-18

Paul provides guidance in these verses about HOW to "be strong in the Lord" - faith in God, and the Holy Spirit.  For more specifics, David Platt has provided excellent guidance through a sermon series "Abide" and the core of how to "put on the full armor of God" starts with renewal of the mind in Romans 12:2.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are - You have heard my prayers and delivered...Thank You Jesus!  You have strengthened Lisa and myself.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of how You bless me again and again...You are so full of grace for me yet I am often not full of grace for others, in particular Zach.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others and dispense grace towards them as You do for me.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Please give her a good doctor's appt this morning with an "all-clear" about her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Our Fathers Acceptance
Psalms 139

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. v6

Today's devotion encourages me to focus daily on renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2).  God is indeed the source of all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and if we focus on Him and our relationship with Him we can be assured that we are equipped for God's plan for us...indeed as the devotion states we are freed from fear, the need of approval, acceptance, etc....we KNOW God love us and that is sufficient to carry us.  

See also posts here on knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an incredible God You are...You are worthy of ALL of my attention...yet I am easily distracted...and I very often lack grace and patience of others...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin...help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

His Will Be Done
Haggai 1

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”  v9-11

The prophet Haggai's message from the Lord is quite appropriate for today's devotion because in the book of Haggai, although the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem after being in exile in Babylon, they fail to focus on God's glory and He who rescued them, and instead focus on their own desires. Of course if we fail to focus on the glory of God, He knows how to get our attention! 

See also posts here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are...full of compassion, mercy, patience, etc. for me...yet I am wholly undeserving!  I lack patience for others...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You - this is why exist!  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

A Saving Voice Needs a Willing Mind
Philippians 4

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. v8

Today's devotional triggers thoughts about how I came to be a believer....many people come to believe in Jesus through crisis and by seeing how God rescues them grow in their relationship with Jesus.  Yet I came to Jesus not so much through crisis but through a desire to live with a higher purpose...I was doing OK but felt God's hand.  Unfortunately, even with crisis in my life I never REALLY got to know Jesus (see also yesterday's post).  I am extremely grateful for Christ's patience with me as I got to know Him better by trying to make "every effort".  

We MUST be rooted in Christ during all times to be prepared for the times when we are tested.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are that You are my protector and I can trust in You to protect me in all things at all times.  You are for me and jealous FOR me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God - I fail to be bold in Your service in many ways - including sharing the Good News of You to others...forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and all side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin and serve You! Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Satan is as deadly as Cancer
Ephesians 6

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. v12

There is certainly no doubt that evil is real, on the "prowl", powerful, and very deceptive - we must protect ourselves.  The devotion today devotes little focus on how.  Yet the verses before and after verse 12 speak directly to how we can protect ourselves and Romans 12 and other verses get more specific in this regard.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

...

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:13-18

...
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

 ...

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We MUST be in the word, stay rooted to Him, etc. - see also Deuteronomy 6, John 15.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are my protector, in all things and all circumstances.  Thank You for You protect me daily...I know You are slow to anger and abounding in love...Thank You!  I am not worth such protection and love yet You are full of mercy anyway.  I often fail to be the man You intend for me - I should be sharing the Good News about You all the time yet I don't - please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be more bold.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You!  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.

The Main Thing
John 5

Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. v19-20

The theme the author pursues is one of living as Christ does by following Him, His desires, and His will.  This only comes when we are rooted in Him and know Him.  Another theme I see that is implied in today's devotion is parenting - the verse in John specifically refers to God the Father and Jesus as the Son but I believe this also refers to earthly fathers and sons (or daughters).  In my role as a father, I must be Jesus to my sons because I am the primary influence in their life.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love you and I love what You have done for me - You have modeled Fatherhood for me by being the Heavenly Father that I desire to be for my own sons....how great You are!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love myself...I fail to be bold in my faith...to share the gospel, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus - help me turn from such sin towards You.   Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and You! Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Same Is Not the Enemy
Hebrews 13

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. v8

Worry and stress are bad habits that indicate my trust in earthly matters - I MUST lean on and trust in Him for ALL things.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are great and You bless me well beyond what I deserve and You always provide in all matters...I am never in want because of You. Yet I worry and stress anyway...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer, including the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Passion
1 Timothy 4

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. v14

The devotion today focuses on passion in life, and more importantly on God's abounding love and passion for us.  If we even dwell on God's love and passion for us and if we seek Him out and glorify/please Him, we will lead a blessed life.

The devotion also talks about how our passion in life enables us to accomplish things...yet missing from the devotion is how passion for God is the secret ingredient for all things....to ensure we set out to accomplish the right things...to be in God's will.  Again, we exist to glorify God.

My reference to 1 Timothy emphasizes my second point about the devotion that we are to develop and use our spiritual gifts - see also the following:

• 2 Timothy 1 
• 1 Corinthians 12
• Study and scriptural references on spiritual gifts

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have such abounding love and passion for us....as well as grace, compassion and mercy...Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessings - I often fail to dispense grace and love as You do - please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength and also love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith, and develop and use my spiritual gifts.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and most importantly serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Satan Hates to be Seen
Hebrews 1

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. v3

Today's devotion encourages us to feed ourselves not just by food, water but also by the Word of God which as the above scripture states "sustains all things".  Part of the sustenance that God provides is protection from Satan for Just as Jesus was evil to repel Satan in the wilderness by quoting scripture (see Matthew 4), we too will defeat sin in our lives by being rooted in God and His word (John 15).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and You are the ultimate sustainer and protector...I need no other provider, no other God except You.  Yet too often I worry - please forgive me Jesus.  Thank You for how You have been so gracious and patient with me but I continue to worry and be impatient.  Forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the remaining side effects from chemo and radiation.   Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, Dustin, and You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[W]hatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Noble
Philippians 4

[W]hatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. v8

Today's devotion is a powerful reminder that God calls us up...and we must stand up to be the men God calls us to be...there is an earthly price but a heavenly reward.


As we are called up, we know that God is holy so we must be holy (1 Peter 1:16)....We must desire to make our heavenly Father proud (see also post yesterday).  We are also Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) as He calls us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring others to Him (Matthew 28:16-20).

Key to thinking about "such things" as referenced in the Philippians verse is a renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2) through scripture , reading, prayer, relationships with other believers, and through service to others and Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the definition of noble...in all ways and even this definition falls short of Your greatness.  You lived solely to please Your Father and to save Your children...yet out of Your humility came greatness that we should all aspire to...You call us up...to be more like You, to please You, and to bring others to You.  Thank for being such a savior and guide - I am not worth such a God.  I wimp out often...procrastination, excuses, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You, and follow You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer, including the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me be the husband, father, son, and man You intend for me.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, Dustin, and You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in.

Dad Son Relationship
Isaiah 5

The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. v7

This morning's devotion gave me a new found appreciation for the role God plays as my heavenly father. As I desire for my son to make me proud when he demonstrates Godly qualities, God has this same desire for me.  As a believer, I've always known that I wanted to please God but this morning this has taken on a new meaning - and I have a greater desire to make my Father in Heaven proud both as son of Him and as a earthly father of Zach and Dustin.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

...

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

My Prayer:Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - author of all creation, full of compassion, mercy, love, etc., and the best Father anyone could ever ask for.  Thank You for being everything that I could ever ask for and need in a Father.  You are always there, have guidance for all the days in my life, never let me down, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such a Father.  I disappoint...my worry, stress, anxiety, etc. continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be the father You intend for me.  Help me be the son You intend for me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

To Catch a Thief
Psalm 119

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. v105

Today's devotion once again focuses on sin and how it "easily entangles" us (Hebrews 12).  As the devotion states, we should be able to identify Satan, and my recent posts point to how scripture (in our heart) serves as a key defense against Satan.  Prayer and the assistance of my brothers and sisters in Christ are also key defenses.

A key way that Satan has been able to distract me is through worry - worry about the future.  Although I should plan for the future, I should not worry - these are two separate and mutually exclusive actions.  You can do both but you should not do both.  I fall down by doing both.  Forgive me Jesus!  I know You have blessed me despite my worry - thank You Jesus!  Please help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me take encouragement from Your words, such as those from the Psalms.  I know that "no word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37)"; I also know that if I "[c]ome near to God, ...he will come near to [me] (James 4:8)". 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know You will never leave me or forsake me.  Thank You for being a God that loves me so much - You love me despite my brokenness.  Help me overcome my worry and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer, including the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me trust in You and not worry. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

Putting Out the Spirits Fire
1 Thessalonians 5

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. v19-22

As I have posted recently, Satan is all around us and on the "prowl". The only way to defeat sin is through Jesus Christ. 

A vivid example of how Jesus defeats Satan and sin is from Matthew 4 (see also Mark 1 and Luke 4) where Jesus is tested in the wilderness but uses scripture (Deuteronomy) to guard His heart.

See also Proverbs 3 as referenced here and other references here about the importance of staying near to God to guard our heart.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:5-8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, creator of all things, capable of all things, knowing of all things and full of mercy and compassion for me...I am not worth such a gracious God...I continue to be full of worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me guard my heart by staying near to You, Your Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the remaining side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow?

Satan Exposed
Hosea 4

The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer.  How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow? v16

According to this perspective, "through Hosea the Lord tells the story of Israel’s disobedience, His discipline, and His steadfast, faithful love...."

The story of Israel's disobedience in Hosea (and throughout the Old Testament) is the story of all believers and it reinforces both the need for Jesus to enter the world and the unimaginable love of God to "give His one and only son....John 3:16)".  There was only so much the Israelites and all of humanity could do to be saved from what we truly deserved ("For the wages of sin is death....Romans 6:23)...Jesus had to die in our place and the Father had to send Him for this purpose.

Today's devotional speaks to my stubbornness...my need to have control...my way, my arrogance....a dangerous path indeed and one that is not only sinful but also one that can lead to complete destruction.  Jesus cares for me like no earthly father can...I must allow Him to pasture me like a lamb in a meadow.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my heavenly father and You are my provider...of all my needs, physical, emotional, spiritual, etc.  I need not look anywhere else...I am deeply grateful for how You provide always...yet often I fail to trust You and I trust in my own powers...and of course this fails and then I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me trust in You alone to pasture me like a lamb in the meadow.  Give Lisa strength. Give me strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Taking the Hit
Acts 20

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. v24

Today's devotion focuses on sacrifice as a demonstration that we are willing to serve God and expect God's greater reward.  Yet another theme of this devotion that was implied and should have been more explicit is one of control.  I have had difficulties turning control of my life over to God and He has graciously molded me in this area, demonstrating immense patience, compassion, mercy, etc. in the process - Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...You are merciful and patient with me, even though I am not deserving.  Again Jesus Thank You.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love and dispense grace to others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion...

Misplaced Passions
Proverbs 3

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion...v21

As I posted a couple of days ago, sin is real, on the "prowl" and it wants to and can "devour" us.  God is where I should place my full trust and faith as my protector.  I have my God, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church, including my brothers and sisters in Christ, to protect me and my family.  Help me be the Spiritual Leader of my household to protect my family from sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and ONLY You have and can protect myself and my family from sin...yet I often place my faith in my own abilities or I get lazy and fall down in my duties as Spiritual Leader of the household.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the remaining side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

You Have a Gift to Give

Ephesians 3

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. v7

The devotion today is a powerful reminder that grace is not meant to be kept but instead is meant to be given...to others just as freely as it was given to me.  Core to this message is that we all have something to give...grace.  Of course, God gives each of us different spiritual gifts, but we have at least one in common and that is the gift of grace and the ability to allow grace to flow through us to others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - so full of patience, grace, compassion, mercy, etc...Thank You Jesus but I am not deserving of such blessings.  I often fail to give others grace and I know this disappoints You so please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 The Wannabe God
1 Peter 5

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. v8

I have previously posted on the need to stay alert and of sober mind as encouraged by Peter.  No doubt, Satan is real and we need protection.  Protection is afforded through God alone - and God arms us with His Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, etc.  

The Bible provides many vivid examples of how God protects us, including how God protected Jesus from Satan in the wilderness, how God protected Daniel from the lion's den, etc.

God is real, able to defeat sin and death, and He always protects us - see also references to other posts here.

Thank You God for how You protect us!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - full of love, compassion, mercy, etc.  You protect me even though I am not deserving of such mercy - I have sinned in my life and I know that wages of sin are death.  But You have rescued me and You continue to rescue me - thank You Jesus!  Worry is still active in my life so please forgive me Jesus.  I know You tell me not to worry.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.

Arrival
Psalm 139

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

God knows me, even better than I know myself.  He of course, then, knows what is best for me - His will and purpose for me is perfect, as is everything about God.  Paul refers to life as a race (1 Corinthians 9), with the prize being Heaven and eternity with Jesus.  I must submit to Him and His will for my life - this is my race.  When I do, He promises to bless me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - I know You are with me every day and all of the time.  You are with me when I sit and when I rise.  You know everything about me, including my sin...and You are for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please cure and heal Lisa of her cancer, including all of the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.

Relating to the Rascals
Philippians 2

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. v5-7

I sometimes puff myself up by thinking of others (good or bad) in relation to myself - sinful! As the scripture above from Philippians indicates, Jesus did not seek advantage or glory for himself; instead he sought out those whom He knew needed the love and compassion of Jesus...and He served those who needed it. 

We not only need to serve, we need to seek out those who share the most powerful bond of all - love of Jesus Christ.  This is what drew the early believers in Acts together:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  Acts 2:42-47

We not only pray, encourage and support one another but we also "sharpen" each other and help each other grow in Christ:

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You sought me out...knowing how broken I am...You suffered and died for me, then rose from the grave, defeating both sin and death, giving me the gift of forgiveness for my sins and eternity in Heaven with You.  What a great God and thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift.  I am full of pride and I know this is sinful.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Help me overcome my stress and anxiety - all while forgiving me for my worry.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and help her fully and quickly recover from the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

God’s Influence in Us
Ephesians 1

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. v18-21

God provides His children the Holy Spirit and I suspect many believers fail to grasp, myself included, the "incomparable great power" available to believers. It is easy to fall back into habits that focus on faith and trust in earthly powers but this is not only sinful but also fruitless as the powers of this world will come and go - God does not.


Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

...

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:44

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a God that is worthy of my praise as Your power is incomparable and You make it available to me through the Holy Spirit.  And I have seen this power at work in my life and in the lives around me...You are an awesome God.  Thank You for coming to earth to save me and for the Holy Spirit...and so much more...I am not worth such love and blessing.  I continue to have faith in earthly powers that come and go.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.   Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me lover others as You do.  Help grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[J]ust as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Imitation
Matthew 20

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” v25-28.

Today's devotional focuses on Christ's call for humility and to serve.  From the devotional:

In a man’s world, authority and service often have an inverse relationship. The more authority, position, and power one possess the more that man is served. These guys get new titles and assistants, new offices and parking spots, and heaps of flattery and accommodation. In some cultures men don’t even need power or position to earn servitude.

Jesus breaks the rules to serve in person. Watch Him in the gospels, He encourages, He makes breakfast, He hugs kids, He touches, he heals, He shows up.

For me there are two messages here...I need to demonstrate and model Jesus for my sons and for all that know I am a believer.  As part of modeling Jesus, I must die to self (deny myself), serve others, pick up my cross and follow Jesus.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that is not only worthy of my praise, but also my full attention and devotion.  I must learn Your ways, commit them to my heart and be more like You...for my own good, for the good of my family and for the glory of You so that I can draw attention and bring others to You.  I love You Jesus. You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am often thinking of myself, worrying, etc.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me treasure my wife!  Help me be humble and serve others, including Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me lead effectively with You as my model.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Battlefield of Coasting
Proverbs 16

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. v18

The key sentence for me in this morning's devotional is the following: "If there is one aspect of spiritual battle that remains more hidden than others among Christians, it’s coasting."

Coasting not only implies arrogance as the devotional suggests, but also being passive about what God calls you to do and then not doing it because you simply are not in action about God's call.  Coasting comes into play for me because I procrastinate.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always in action...acting on behalf of all Your children and calling them to You...dispensing grace, compassion, love, etc.  What a great God You are....You provide the Holy Spirit, Your Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the church, all as weapons in my battle against coasting...Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus as I do worry and procrastinate.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be in action (according to Your will!) and avoid coasting!  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and relieve her of the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Holy Spirit Impact
2 Corinthians 12

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. v9

The devotional encourages us to dispense grace and mercy in the same we receive it from Christ.  I love how this works as Pastor Jason spoke on this very topic yesterday...albeit in the context of adoption.  The devotional provides as an example the relationship of parents with their children vs Christ and His children....again not a coincidence as this topic is heavy on my heart as we try and help Zach work his way through his through his teenage years.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, mercy, compassion, patience, etc...for me.  I know You chose me, knowing everything about me, sin and all, then You willingly became flesh and suffered and died for me.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such a sacrifice.  I am lazy, my prayer life falls short and I am often short on mercy with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and all of the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5
Night Vision

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. v8-9

From the devotion, the key takeaway is this:

Notice that he doesn’t give just anyone living wisdom for the fight. He looks for the difference between the intellectual understanding and practical application.  We all know lots of guys, pastors, and full-time theologians who have been given the Intel that God provides and are still getting slaughtered by the enemy. The Bible says the more spiritually undivided you are the better your Intel gets. More integrity, more clarity, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright…. Is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”

Francis Chan uses 2 Peter 1 to emphasize how Jesus wants us to "make every effort"...to be in action.  Help me be in action...help me make every effort.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are....You make every effort all the time...for all of Your children...including myself!  Thank You Jesus!  Forgive me for not making every effort.  Help me turn from my laziness and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me make every effort.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer, including all of these side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.



 

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5
My Face or His Face

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. v5-6

The below statements in the devotional really speak to me in how I often feel "entitled".

Will you be the man that says, “I deserve better than this?” Or will you be God’s man who says, “I’m willing to wait for your timing on this one Lord,” The languages of entitlement, conditions and selfishness are not spoken in the land of humility. They are foreign tongues that make sense only to those men given first to pride, masking their fears of being truly great by wasting their influence and affluence on themselves.

Feeling entitled and prideful is sinful - nuf ced.  I need to be humble - the last shall be first.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You left the side of God in Heaven to come to earth for me, then suffered and died for me.  You lived a life of humility, serving others, being full of love, compassion, mercy, etc. You did all of this so others could have forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven with You.  How awesome are You!  Thank You Jesus for the most incredible gift of all time!  I am not worth such gift yet You provide it out of pure grace.  Once again thank You Jesus.  Forgive me for my pride and arrogance.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and then love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and help her shake lingering side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3 NIV
Time to Contribute

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. v5-6 (NIV)

As I wrestle with questions about how God wants me to serve Him in ministry, this statement in the devotional cuts to the heart: "Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. ".  

I often feel that I know what my paths should be yet I should focus solely on what God sees as my path.  "Lean not on your own understanding" is key here because I often lean on my own understanding.  "Make your paths straight" is also key because I often feel blocked in my career yet if I view how my career unfolds from God's perspective I am more likely to see how God's path is unblocked.

See also postings here and in particular this post from Acts 5.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are an INCREDIBLE God whose wisdom far surpasses that of man.  I am deeply thankful that You provide Your Word, Your Holy Spirit, the church, brothers and sisters in Christ, and of course that I can spend time with You to discern Your words and will for my life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings...I often lean on my own understanding and I have other sin of selfishness, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and help her recover from side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your Message today and every day. 

Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

Proverbs 13
Holy Spirit Relationship

Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. v15

We don't realize that we tell and live lies all the time...and one of the most deceitful lies we can tell is the rationalization of sin...we either think or say that it is OK.  It's not...we need to be "cut to the heart" as they were in Acts 2 when Peter spoke after the Holy Spirit appeared at Pentecost.  

Proverbs 13:1 is critical here in my view:  

"A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes."  

This verse underscores how important it is to heed the father's advice and for me it's about Jesus, my Heavenly Father.  I can only have good judgement when I heed and take to heart Jesus' teachings for me.  I must understand, apply and obey His teachings...only in this way can I live true as the devotional encourages us to do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are that You provide Your Holy Spirit, Your Word, Lisa, my family, my church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. all to help guide and teach me in Your Word.  What blessings!  Thank You Jesus.  I am lost without You and all of the help and support I get from You.  I need You in my life.  Forgive me for not being all of the man You intend for me as a husband, father, worker, son, etc.  Help me turn from my laziness towards You.  Help me be the man You intend for me in all roles.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer.  Please heal her of the side effects of chemo and radiation...quickly!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22
Surgical Strike

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” v31-32

I know that there are areas of my where sin persists..."dark corners" of my life as the devotional puts it.  I do try and rationalize my sin and I also know that God knows when I sin...that nothing is hidden and there are times when I knowingly sin AS I am sinning...I deserve death (Romans 6)...not just for my recent sin but for ALL of the sin I have committed in my life.  Yet God knows all about my sin, He came for me, then suffered and died for me...me specifically.  He blesses me beyond what I deserve.  

Please forgive me and welcome me back to Your arms Jesus!  Help me defeat sin in my life.  Help strengthen my faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are an amazing God that You walked as a man, experienced temptation and difficulty just as I do...yet You never sinned and then You beat both sin and death, rising from the grave!  You are full of compassion and love for me...even though I am not deserving.  Jesus please forgive me!  Thank You for all of the blessings You pour out for me but please forgive me for my lust and sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day. 

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked him only to test his faith, for he already had in his mind what he was going to do."

Loaves and Fishes
John 6

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked him only to test his faith, for he already had in his mind what he was going to do."  v5

Jesus challenges us to be bold and to know that He is with us - that we should not feel as if we are doing things in our own strength or using earthly strength alone.

When God called Moses to rescue the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, Moses resisted, claiming he did not feel equipped...God response:

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. Exodus 4:14-15

Like Moses, I also need a reminder that God is with me and that He will equip me for the work He intends for me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have the strength and power to do anything and You are with Your children always, providing for their every need, protecting them, and equipping them to perform Your plans.  You are all I need.  Thank You for being my God.  Yet I often act as if I don't recognize that You are all I need...please forgive me, for my worry!  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please do help me recognize that You are all I need...help me recognize this all the time!  Help me be bold in my service to You. 

“And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

Inwardly Certain
1 John 5

^“And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” v15 

I desire this confidence...to be inwardly certain.  The devotion references David and Peter, both of whom stood on the solid rock foundation of Christ Jesus as they rushed into earthly danger. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You created the Heavens, the earth, and everything in between, including all inhabitants.  Yet You came to earth in human form to suffer and die for me...personally.  To be so powerful yet so full of love and compassion.  There is no other God except You Jesus.  I am no deserving of such a God.  Thank You for how You have blessed me but please forgive me for my worry.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin...help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me be inwardly certain. I love You Jesus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

The Darkness Within

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

Today's devotional focuses on the extent to which all of us get caught up in sin - even though we may not even be aware.  I know for myself that I am easily distracted...I worry too much and this causes me to be distracted.  I also too often focus on the world even though I know that is sinful and God's desire for me - as it indicates in today's scripture - is to focus on Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have done SO much in my heart and in m life, blessing me beyond what I could imagine is possible.  I am blessed with You in my heart and my life...Thank for for calling me one of Your children and for guiding and protecting me.  Yet I am easily distracted by the world and I too often worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me fix my eyes on You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Revelation 22

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. v18-19

The Bible is God's word and indeed God Himself - perfect in all ways.  John is relaying the message from Jesus that we must be careful to quote or use the Bible partially, or to add to the Bible.  This message is elsewhere (with study credit to John McArthur*)
- *Deuteronomy 4:2 > Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
- *Deuteronomy 12:32 > See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
- *Proverbs 30:5-6 > Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- *Jeremiah 26:2 > This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.

See also Luke 1:37, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 2:10

We must study the Word and focus on knowing ALL of it...this is God's desire.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your Word is perfect as it reveals Your Character and I love studying Your Word and spending time with You.  You are my God and my guide...my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for being so patient with me and so full of mercy and compassion.  Please forgive me for my laziness in not being the man You intend for me...at work, at home, as a father, etc.  Help me overcome such sloth and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help my desire for You grow and grow.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.