Devotion

Every Morning

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Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

The truth of this verse brings me great joy and peace. When I have a bad day, the closing of my eyes in the evening is like the turning of a page. The opening of my eyes in the morning is the new chapter. Though people may remember my sins, God’s mercy is neverending. When I confess my sins, in the name of Jesus, God never fails to forgive me. He never fails to refresh me. He never fails to pick me up. Though I am a sinner and mess up each day, God never turns His back on me. His faithfulness is great and awesome and endures forever.

Father, I praise You for You are a God of second chances. You renew me and sustain me. You show awesome mercy and grace through Jesus. Thank You for Your steadfast love. In Jesus name, Amen.

My Words

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Psalm 19:14 ESV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

This is a prayer that I often pray before I preach and for good reason. I want to be faithful to the Word with the words I say, for He is the only Rock and Redeemer, worthy of all glory and praise. But not just when I preach. I need to pray this prayer at different times as well, for God is worthy of all glory and praise at ALL times. Therefore, I need to pray this prayer not just for the audible words that I speak in a sermon, but for any words that come from my mouth and heart. But not just audible words, but words in any form at any time.

Imagine if brothers and sisters in Christ kept this in mind and heart, and prayed this prayer each day. Imagine if people prayed these words before writing an email or posting on social media. Imagine if people prayed this prayer before speaking with their spouse, friend, coworker, or children. Imagine if people sought God’s glory through the words that they use in each moment of their lives and with EVERY person.

Yes! That is my prayer, and not just at sermon time.

God help me. May my words be acceptable to You in each and every encounter, that others may see You and give You the glory. Amen.

Seeking

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Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
[1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

What you seek, see, hear, and talk about affects your whole being.

I see a lot of political posts on social media and I find myself getting drawn in and thus worked up over the inflated or false images and rhetoric I see and read, and I do not like what it does to my being. I do not like it because none of it brings me the peace, only anxiety and discord with others.

But I want more.

Therefore, I need to redirect my seeking and not allow the world to drawn me into despair and disunity. I need and want to seek that which is from above, Jesus, and not the things that are on the earth. For that which is from the world, is sin-filled and will never last, and therefore it will never give lasting peace. Politics, that which is of the earth, will never bring unity or peace, only Jesus will. And so, just give me Jesus.

Just give me Jesus.

Treasure

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Matthew 6:21 ESV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A treasure is something that has value. No, not dollar sign value, but importance in your life and for your life. For some, and sadly, their treasurer has a dollar sign, but dollar sign values shift and thus will never last. A true treasure is something that has lasting value, and when I say “lasting” I mean something that cannot be measured. Jesus is the only treasure that fits the bill (and no, that is not a reference to a monetary bill). He is the only Son of God, who died and rose and now lives forever, and because he lives, through faith in him, so will you. That is lasting value and therefore Jesus is the only true treasure.

Feeding

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But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” [Matthew 14:16 ESV]

The disciples thought it would be easier to send the people away to find something to eat and, in part, they were right. It would have been easier, for them (the disciples), but what about the people who were hungry? So Jesus says, “…you give them something to eat.” Obviously they themselves were incapable of feeding the people but they knew the one who could. In the same way I could sit here, “sending you away”, telling you to go to church or read your Bible or come to Bible study, and be fed. But if I know the one who can feed you now (and I do), why would I send you on a holy scavenger hunt to find the Bread of Life for yourself? Jesus gave himself to people immediately and so, here it is:

YOU are a sinner, but,

JESUS died for the forgiveness of your sins and rose from the dead to give you New Life.

JESUS is the bread of life that will never run out.

JESUS is Lord and Savior. And,

JESUS will return to bring you home.

Chew on that and enjoy, now 😊

Purpose

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Esther 4:14 ESV
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

A Jewish girl drafted into the king’s harem with the chance of becoming queen, Esther was thrust to the forefront of God’s plans. Esther did not choose this nor would she have sought to be included, but Esther soon learned that what was happening had a holy purpose.

When I think of the book of Esther, this is the verse that comes to mind. It is a verse that, contextually, speaks volumes to what God was doing to bring glory to His name. It is also a verse that speaks volumes to mine (and I also know your) life as well. For you see, as with Esther, God doesn’t ask for your opinion or seek your consent. God simply acts and calls for you to trust Him.

Have you considered that God has brought you to your station in life for a holy purpose? Has a Mordecai come into your life and suggested a course of action? Have you felt a holy nudging to serve in your church? Have you wondered why certain events in your life are turning out the way they are? Child of God, …who knows whether you have not come to the (God’s) kingdom for such a time as this?” Who knows whether God is acting in your life for His glory. I will tell you who knows, God knows.

So listen…

Tuesday Devotions ~ Psalm 44

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“O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old”

I saw a social media meme recently that caught my attention:

“Many folks are praying for God to heal our land, but I think he’s still waiting for people to humble themselves, repent and turn from their wicked ways.”

I see a lot of truth in that statement. There are people crying out for healing but yet, not willing to turn to God; to repent; to leave behind their sinful ways. They have heard the stories from their parents and remember, but they want their cake and eat it too. As in verses 9 – 16, I hear people lamenting and wondering why God has turned His back on this nation. And then in verse 17, people claim they are being faithful, and have not forgotten God. But is that true?

And finally, in verse 23, the psalmist, on behalf of the people, is calling God to wake up and remember them. But I can’t help but wonder if people today need to wake up and remember God; to wake up and remember what they have heard with their ears from their fathers, to wake and remember who they are and whose they are.

So maybe the prayer is not for God to heal this nation, in the sense of taking away conflict and hate. Maybe the prayer needs to be for renewed hearts, hearts of stone being replaced with hearts of flesh. Maybe the prayer is that people would humble themselves and thus cry out in faith, “Rise up, come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!” A steadfast love that God has shown through Jesus Christ.

Yes, let us pray that prayer.

LET US PRAY: Father God, this world is messed up. We want a good life, one free of conflict, disease, hate, fighting and division. We want peace and harmony, but often we are not willing to humble ourselves and admit that we are the problem. So instead of looking inside, we look outside and point our fingers at others. Father God, send Your Holy Spirit to convict hearts and turn Your children back to You. Renew hearts to see You for who You are and to know Your love, grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. Bring healing to this nation but God, would You please begin with me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Thursday devotions ~ Psalm 40

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In reading Psalm 40, this poem took a life of it’s own. I love it when the Spirit takes hold and does something like this. To God be ALL glory.

I waited for the Lord,
and he heard my cry.
I waited for the Lord,
in Him I do rely.

He raised me up.
He established my feet.
He set me secure.
He makes me complete.

O blessed is the one,
who trusts in the Lord.
My heart he does hold,
and Him I so adore.

That’s why,

I wait for the Lord,
for he’s always true.
I wait for the Lord,
O please let me review.

The Lord is so awesome.
And He is mighty too.
The Lord is so faithful.
He makes all things new.

So wait for the Lord.
Wait ever patiently.
For the Lord will give you,
oh so abundantly.

LET US PRAY: Redeemer God, You have put a New Song in my heart as You have redeemed this sinner. You have given me peace through Jesus’ death on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins. You have given me hope through Jesus’ resurrection, that I too may be raised to New Life. And so, I wait for You, anxiously, I wait for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Daily devotions

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This morning, you may have noticed a devotion posted by me. I have been writing daily devotions in a Facebook group I created in Feb 2022. I also have been emailing these to people, not on social media.

Starting today, I am also going to post these devotions here on this blog. Please feel free to share these for the glory of God. I simply want to increase exposure to these since God has placed these writings on my heart.

Wednesday devotions ~ Psalm 39

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Another individual lament but here we have the psalmist seeking to hold his tongue. There is some sort of suffering going on as we saw in the previous Psalm. It also appears that, once again, the reason for the suffering is due to some sin (vs 7-8). And so the psalmist calls out in faith and confesses his sins, placing his trust in the Lord.

But verse 1 – 3 are of interest to me here. Consider again what he says, “I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” The psalmist wants to speak out but not before his enemies lest he dishonor the Lord by saying something that they would take the wrong way. Even in his suffering the psalmist is concerned about God’s glory. He goes on to say in verse 2 that he kept silent but eventually he could not hold it in, “My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:” And then he speaks to the Lord, not in the presence of his enemies.

I have said time and again that God can handle your lamenting. He can handle your crying out to Him. God can handle your questions and frustrations. But what we learn here is the timing and who you are with. When you are with those who do not know God, your lamenting appears unfaithful and an attack upon God. It in no way brings God glory. But when you are with brothers and sisters in Christ, they can lament with you and pray over you. They understand because they have been there. They know the Lord and thus they also seek to glorify Him.

Be careful in whose presence you’re in when you lament. Remain mute and silent in the presence of outsiders, but lament with your brothers and sisters that they may lift you up and glorify God.

LET US PRAY: Father God, many a time I want to speak out and lament to You. Grant me discernment that I may not bring dishonor to Your name but rather glorify You through my suffering. And, when others in my church family are suffering, may I not desert them but rather be a holy sounding board for them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.