You Are God’s Holy Temple

Devotion:  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do I treat my body as the temple in whom the Holy Spirit dwells?  So many times I do not.  I’m not careful about what I eat.  I don’t drink enough water.  I do not get enough rest although I have; “Be still and know that I am God;”  all over my house.

I say I want to glorify God in all things, my thoughts, my words and my deeds.  Then why do I forget that I was bought with a price and I am not my own?  To refuse to acknowledge the Lord is disobedience to my Creator and Redeemer.  It is self seeking to want to please everyone else before I please Him.  I must choose to talk to Him before I say yes to another thing.

1 Corinthians 3:19-20 convicts us to examine ourselves, “Don’t you yourselves know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought at a price.  So glorify God with your body.”

There are many things happening in our lives individually as well as in the world; that try and persuade us to act in an unholy manner; false accusations, hardships brought on by our circumstances, betrayals, and rejection to name a few.  How will you and I choose to respond?  Have we poured into God’s Word that has the power to change our focus from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God?

Next time you are attacked; will you stop for a minute and ask the Savior to help you?  Submit to Him, cry out to Jesus and the devil has to flee. You can choose to operate in your flesh or give control over to God’s Holy Spirit.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, may I remember that I am Your temple. Your Holy Spirit dwells in me.  May I turn my eyes upon You Jesus and look full in Your wonderful face.  Help me Lord to submit to Your Holy Spirit versus my flesh.  I long to lean into You and allow You to be my strength and my strong tower.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

Waiting for the Father’s Promise

Devotion:  Acts 2:1-21

I’m the worst “waiter” and by that I mean waiting patiently.  It’s been my life long lesson to “wait upon the Lord.”  I so long to “renew my strength and mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.”

For whom did Jesus implore the disciples to wait upon?  “to be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”  He promised they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”  That’s a game changer for the disciples and for you dear friend.  The disciples were told to “stay in the city until they were empowered from on high.”

Let’s go to Acts 2 to see the promise fulfilled.  It happened on a High and Holy Day, the day of Pentecost.  While the disciples were gathered in one room, there was the sound of a violent rushing wind from heaven and it filled the whole house.  “Tongues like flames of fire rested on each one of them.  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.”

The disciples weren’t speaking jibber jabber-ish.  They were speaking in the tongues of people who spoke different languages.  The purpose of this miracle was so that other’s may hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Of course some were amazed and perplexed.  Others thought they were drunk with wine.

IT WAS GOD POURING OUT HIS HOLY SPIRIT so that everyone who called on the name of the Lord, would be saved.

Jesus had already been resurrected and was seated at the right hand of the Father.  God made Jesus Lord and Messiah!  The people who heard the gospel were pierced to the heart.  They asked what must they do?  Peter said “REPENT and be baptized.”  On that day three hundred people were baptized and added to the kingdom.

The Father’s promises are yes and amen.  They will always be fulfilled.

Prayer in Motion:

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him all creatures here below.  Praise Him above Ye Heavenly Host.  Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.”

 

 

 

Shepherd Your Flock

Devotion:  Ezekiel 34

Ezekiel does not hold back as he proclaims the truth boldly and pronounces judgment on these shepherds.  These overseers  took from the sheep but did not feed or care for them; therefore the sheep became unprotected.  No shepherd came seeking for them.  That is incredibly sad for any flock of sheep.

Woefully failing your job as a shepherd is a serious accusation.  There is hope for the sheep spoken in this chapter.  The Lord Himself says He will rescue these scattered sheep and return them to their own soil.

One of my favorite verses in this chapter is verse 16.  “I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.”  You see; the Lord who is your ultimate Shepherd, will take care of you.  He always has your best interest at heart.  He will come after you when you stray.  He will break your legs and even carry you on His shoulders when you are disobedient.  The Good Shepherd will always rescue you, even from yourself.

The Good Shepherd will send showers of blessing.  In John 10:14 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  Jesus laid down His life on the cross.  No one took His life from Him.  He laid it down on His own and then was resurrected on the third day for you and for me.

Verse 17 of John 10 Jesus declares that His sheep hear his voice and He knows us and we follow Him.  He grants us eternal life and we who believe on Him will never perish.  Luke 12:31-32 asks us to seek his kingdom and all these things will be provided for you.  He tells us not to be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.”

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Shepherd and Guardian of my soul.  I am not afraid of what man can do to me.  I trust You because You never leave me nor forsake me. I am eternally grateful for you attentiveness toward me.  I love You Lord.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Body, Many Parts

Devotion:  1 Corinthians 12:12t  

Unless they are malformed; most human babies are born with one head, two ears, one neck, two arms, two hands, ten fingers, two legs, two feet, and ten toes.  There is one body and many parts.  All are necessary in order for the body to function the way it was designed.

This passage talks about the unity and yet the diversity of the body of Christ.  I love Paul’s analogy and comparison of the foot saying to the hand; because I’m not a hand, I’m no longer going to be a part of this body.

What if the eye decided because it was not an ear; it would no longer be part of the body.  God has arranged each part of the body just as He wants it.  Not one part can say to another; I do not need you.  I can do all you are doing and more.

It’s the same in the church;  one body, many parts, many gifts distributed through out that body. We were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.  Many people deem themselves more important than others but according to these verses all parts are necessary.  One person is not more important than the other.  We each have our roles to fulfill.  

The purpose for this passage is that there would be no division in the body of Christ.  Jesus wants the members to have the same concern for each other.  If one member suffers, all will suffer with it.  If one is honored, all are honored with it.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, I love You and thank You for writing these words to show me how the body of Christ is to work.  May I do my part to keep the spirit of unity flowing in Your church.  In Jesus Name.  amen.

Pay Careful Attention

Devotion: Ephesians 5:15-32

How many things do we miss because we weren’t paying attention?  We are always looking at something, or looking for something.  If we have vision in both eyes, we have all sorts of view points, front, side and peripheral view points.

Remember when you used to believe your mama had eyes in the back of her head.  She would say, ‘I got my eyes on you.” Even though she did not have eyes in the back of her head; she was hyper-aware of all you were doing.  You were always on her mind so she missed little of what you were getting into.

Jesus truly does know all you are getting into.  Pay careful attention to how you walk, talk and run.  He longs to order your steps and direct your path.  Your Savior knew about you before the foundation of the world.  If you will listen closely, He will speak to your heart that your soul may hear,

“Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  God longs for His bride, (the church)  to be holy and blameless, without spot or stain.  He is the perfect Lamb of God and ultimately He came for you and for me.

One day, the One seated on the throne will say, “Look, I am making all things new.”  Pay careful attention to all that is going on around us.  It won’t be long until the Bride of Christ will see their redemption.  Our Redeemer draws nigh even now.  We wait for you Lord.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, come soon.  Come Lord Jesus, come.  I watch and wait for You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

Opinions

Devotion;  John 8:31-32

Opinions are a dime a dozen.  Everyone has one about any given subject.  However; when it comes to Scripture; She Reads Truth defines an opinion as an area of preference or extrapolation beyond Scripture.

Pastors, teachers and leaders must be very careful not to state their opinion about God’s Word as a fact.  Before one opens their mouth to preach, teach or share, they need to be certain their words align with God’s Word.

Meditate on God’s Word.  Study to show yourself approved unto God, a man who rightly divides the Word of truth.  You see God’s Word quickens our spirit to HIs Holy One.

Have you ever been listening to a message when suddenly your ears perk up to a statement that makes you wonder, “What does God say about that?”  Go check it out.  Look it up.  If it doesn’t line up with God’s Word, then go in love to confront the person who spoke it.  Confrontation can be hard even when it’s necessary.  At least the person confronting; as well as the person being confronted, knows where they stand, There is no question about the truth of what God says.

Will you be courageous enough to confront the one who has spoken their opinion as a fact?  God Himself will direct your path and order your steps.  Many of us shiver in our shoes when we begin to think of confronting another person.  God promises He will give you in that hour what you are to speak.  Do not be afraid, for the Lord your God is with you.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, make me strong and courageous in these days to speak the truth in love.  Your perfect love casts out fear.  I will not be afraid of what man can do to me.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

Be Holy in All Your Conduct

Devotion:  1 Peter 1: 13-20

There’s lots of scripture to support Holy living so I will share several that I found.  Scripture exegetes scripture.  Jesus talked much about being holy.in His Word.

Believers are called to Holy living.  So many want to blend in and look just like the world.  We are called to come out and be separate from the world but many of us want to look the same and act the same as non-believers.

2 Timothy 1:9 tells us; “Jesus saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

Ephesians 5 :1 tells us to be imitators of God.  We find in that same scripture; believers are not to engage in foolish talking or crude joking.  Neither are considered suitable for Christians.  There are many ”  off color” jokes that believers share without batting an eye.

My friend Elle shared that God had been dealing with her about using the word luck.  He was asking her to use blessing in place of the word luck.  We honestly are never just lucky.  We are always blessed.  We are to praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Leviticus 20:26 tells us “to be holy because I, the Lord am holy.  He says I have set you apart from the nations to be mine.”

Ephesians 5:15 tells us to “Pay careful attention, then, as to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, may I live Holy as You are Holy.  I want to be Holy and acceptable to You Jesus.  It’s in your name I pray Lord.  Amen

 

 

 

 

Jesus Prays

Devotion: John 17:20-26

Jesus wants us who are believers; to be one in the Spirit, like He and Father are one.  The Son wants those whom God has given Him to be with Him where He is, in order to see His glory.  Glorifying Jesus on earth as He is glorified in heaven is important.  That’s the main reason He created us.

Jesus says He wants to make His Father’s name made known to all those God has sent to Him.  He desires that the love God has shown to Jesus will be in all believers.

The Father and the Son does not wish for believers to have any disunity among them.  If we truly consider others more important than ourselves; we would truly have more unity in our world.  Do we care more about our interests or the interests of others?

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray; He taught them to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.  He also said, Thy Kingdom come, They will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread ad lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen.”

When Jesus prayed in the garden before He was to be crucified; He asked the Lord to take that cup from Him but then He prayed, “not my will but Yours be done.”

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, I want to pray prayers that are pleasing to You and effectual for the kingdom.  I want to learn from the prayers You prayed.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Saved by Grace

Devotion:  Ephesians 2:8-9

What does saved by grace mean?  So many people point to their works as evidence of their salvation.  Although we are created for good works, we can never be saved by them.  You’ve probably heard it many times.  Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

At one time we Gentiles in the flesh were called “uncircumcised.”  Paul said in Ephesians 2:13 about the Gentiles “We who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

In Hebrews 8:12 Jesus said he would forgive our wrongdoing and never again remember our sins.  That involves the grace of Jesus for sure.  If our foundation is in Christ Jesus; and it is; it’s only through Him that we are saved.

He also said;  “My grace is sufficient for my power is perfected in weakness.”  When we are weak He is strong.  Jesus is at the right hand of the Father; ever interceding for us.  What would we do without Him praying for us?

Christ’s mercy is new every single morning and His faithfulness is great.  Mercy and grace go hand in hand.  They both come from our Savior.  His grace and mercy are marvelous, infinite and matchless.  Both are freely bestowed on all who believe.

There is no other way by which men may be saved or kept except through the grace of our God.  We were created by God for His own glory.  He will never force Himself on anyone.  The Savior of the world will allow each person to choose Him or reject Him.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace by which I am saved.  I will never get over it as long as I shall live.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

Where Could I Go but to the Lord?

Devotion:  John 14:18

I fell to my knees in my closet and once again poured out my heart like water before the face of the Lord, on behalf of my oldest son.  My heart is still broken over his choices; however, I am still choosing to trust the Lord to restore his soul.

In different ways’; it seems God has plucked away many of those who use to have my back.  It seems no one has time to listen and truly pray with me.  Maybe they don’t know what to say or how to say what’s in their hearts.

To be abandoned by those who use to be so close is hard to bear.  The words they share, pierce right through to my soul.  I refuse to despair as those who have no hope, however like David; my soul is cast down within me.  That’s especially true of those you thought would give you encouragement through anything and everything.  Stating the obvious is not helpful to someone who is grieving because of their circumstances.

When you feel abandoned; where do you go but to the Lord.  If possible; get on your knees to battle with the Lord.  He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  He will speak the words your soul longs to hear.  Words like, “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”  “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  “I will not leave you comfortless.”  ” I love you with an everlasting love and underneath you are my everlasting arms.”  These words are so helpful when I feel abandoned and without comfort.

Go to the Lord first.

Below are the words to this old hymn.

“Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation so
Now won’t you tell me

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won’t you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Life here is grand with friends I love so dear
Comfort I get from God’s own word
Yet when I face that chilling hand of death
Won’t you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won’t you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord.”