Prudence

Devotion:  Proverbs 8:1-12

Prudence; now there’s a word you don’t use or hear very often.  To be prudent is acting with or showing care and thought for the future.  I’m such a care free simple person; I forget to exercise prudence, let alone understand what it really means.

May we seek the Lord while He may be found and call unto Him while He is near. How can we exercise prudence?  We can exercise it in our spending, as well as our time with the Lord.  What takes precedence in your life?  Seriousy?  Is it facebook?  Is it television or the internet?  I challenge you to record the hours you spend on either of those and compare to the time you. spend with God.  Chart it for a whole week.

Where does God fit in?   I long for you and me to exercise using prudence with our God time.  It truly is the more excellent way.  Think about which is more profitable for your own soul?  Our Savior is waiting to spend time with you.  He’s got so much to tell you.  Open His Word.  Ask Him to speak to your heart and then take time to listen for His still small voice.

No matter how old you are or your lack of exercising prudence, there is still time to learn to practice it in every area of your life.  God hasn’t given up on you.  He will help you through the process to progress in using this new discipline.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, will You help me learn to exercise prudence in all areas of my life?  I want to display it for your honor and glory.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

Where’s Your Focus?

Devotion:   Hebrews 12:2

Distraction after distraction seems to consume our time.  How are we to focus with so many things vying for our attention?  Family priorities, God time; work and church responsibilities, as well as the people we need to check on.  t to impossibleIt’s a lot to keep up. with.

I honestly. believe I need a person to manage me and my. schedule.   If you know me; that would be a next to impossible.  Ask my. husband.  I think he may have given up after almost fifty years of marriage.

I long to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.   God knows I need help with my focus.  Do you?   I envy those of you who can hold your focus and stay the course.  I honestly need help in this area, to prioritize.  Today. I lift my eyes to the hills from where my help comes.    My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.

Each human being is fearfully and wonderfully made.   He has great and mighty things in store for you and for me.  I long to draw nearer to Him and He will draw nearer to me.  As a seventy one year old woman, I can tell you life comes at you  fast.

Our time here on earth is limited.   The people of God asked Him to teach them to number their days, so that they may present to Him a heart of wisdom.  The lesson I believe God wants me to learn; is that my need for focus has to come from recognizing my need for Him.   He is my teacher and trainer in this discipline of focus.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, would You please teach me and train me in this discipline of focus.  May I lean not unto my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge You and I know and trust that You will direct my path and order my steps.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

The Love of God

Devotion:   Romans 8:35-39

Let this beloved old hymn permeate your soul today.  Search online for the melody and then pour it out before the Lord your God all day long.   If you will meditate upon the love of God; I promise it will encourage you:

“The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

Could we with ink the ocean fil
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade

To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

Hallelujah 3x

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.”

A former pastor of mine; “Owen Duncan;”  frequently used this quote.   “If that don’t bless you, your wood is wet.”  It lights a fire in my bones to love others as He first loved me.  Will you go out and share the love of God with those you see today?  Determine in your heart to love the rude, the haughty and the proud.   “Love covers a multitude of sins.”  “You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you.”

Prayer in.Motion:

Lord, today, I choose to pour out the love with which You first loved me, even on those who are difficult to love as well as those who freely exhibit their love.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Going The Extra Mile

Devotion:  Matthew 5:41

Jesus asks us to go the extra mile.  When anyone asks us to walk one mile; we are to be willing to go two.  What does that look like in today’s world?  Maybe it’s going to visit a homebound person,  picking up groceries for them, taking them to an appointment.  Going the extra mile is a God ordained opportunity placed in front of you.

If you do a good deed that is not God ordained, you will quickly find yourself drained of the energy God intended for you.

There are those opportunities that we are called to discern whether to do them or not.  Many are good opportunities; however, are they God ordained opportunities?  If you seek Him; you will find Him when you search for Him with all of your heart.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.   God designed you to serve Him and fulfill the plans He has for you.  Everything else will suck the life out of you.  Your kind intentions can be the most sincere, but some of those intentions were not meant for you to perform.

So, when should you go the extra mile?  If you have the gift of mercy and service, this can be quite tricky to discern.   I have a dear friend named Steve Mode who asks the Lord; red light, green light Lord?   He declares God always shows him in alll. areas of his life.

Remember when Gideon put out a fleece before the Lord.  I have to warn you,  my Dad said we shouldn’t do that since Christ died for us.  I’ve only done it a hand-full of times; just when I had to know which direction  to go.   God has always diligently shown me the path He ordained for me.   “If. we seek Him, we will. find Him when we search for Him with our whole heart, even regarding going the extra mile.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, may I always discern when to go the extra mile for anyone at any time.   Thank You for directing. my path a nd. ordering my steps.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Who is This Jesus?

Devotion:   Philippians 2:4-11

There are many Scriptures that tell us who Jesus is and what He claims He can do.  In today’s passage;  Paul is asking us in verse five to have the same attitude (or mind) that was in Christ Jesus. What?  How in the world can we have the same attitude that Christ displayed?  Is it even possible for us to obey Paul’s mandate?

As we meditate on these verses, remember Christ Himself did not regard equality with His Father a thing to be grasped.  What? Our perfect, spotless, sinless Jesus humbled Himself under the authority of His Father.  How?  By emptying Himself of any pride or ego, nothing of Himself, giving all the glory, honor, and praise to His Father. Jesus was fully God and fully man.  He was tempted in all ways as we are, yet without sin.

Our Savior took on the form of a bond-servant.  A bond-servant was a slave for all the days of his life and was marked/branded for his master’s ownership.  The master of a bond-slave loved this servant like a family member; took care of him and provided for all of his nees.

Ponder the fact that even though Christ humbled Himself, taking on the form of man and died a death He did not deserve, for the sins of the whole world; within three days; He was resurrected from that grave.  His hands and feet still bear the marks for our salvation.  This Bond-slave rose victoriously and ever lives to make intercession for us.   Praise His Holy Name.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You seems trite,  for saving a wretch like me.  I am Your bond-slave, ready to hear and obey Your voice.  Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening.   In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

Long Days, Short Years

Devotion:  Psalm. 90:12

I heard a lady say today; when referring to raising children, “The days are long but the years are short.”  That is a harsh reality for moms whose kids are graduating from high school or college.   A mom doesn’t soon forget the long nights of feeding and rocking her babies when they are well and when they are sick.  It’s especially challenging for working mamas or those who work and go to school.

I can only imagine being a single mom.  That has to be so incredibly overwhelmingly difficult. I’m sure they feel like they may not survive but then they do, only to realize the truth of the above statement.

Prayer for Single Moms:

God, please help those single moms who work so hard to provide for their children.  Keep them on their feet.   Be a shield and protector about them.  Make them strong and courageous.  Encourage them.   Champion them.    Use others to be a help to them.

I remember when my first son left home, I  worried a lot.  Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night with a start.  Little did I know so many years later, I would understand why.

That whole statement that the days are long and the years are short can apply to older children who are living with irresponsible parents and by that I mean, they are alcoholics or drug addicts.  These minors are forced to become care givers of themselves and their younger siblings.  It’s just not right!  It’s not fair. It’s absolutely despicable.

Prayer in Motion:

Pray for moms who are so tired they can hardly drag.  Pray for children who have to deal with irresponsible parents.  Both are so hard.  Jesus we trust You to make a way where there seems to be no way for these tired moms, and then moms who are caught up in drugs and alcohol and do not take proper care of their children.   I pray You will bring these addicted parents to the end of themselves, so they will get the help they need. In Jesus Name.  Amen

 

 

Enduring Love

Devotion:  Psalm 136

The following are words to a refrain from an old hymn.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song

I would encourage you to pull up this song on the internet.  Ask God to show you today how His love endures forever; for you.  He who knew you before the foundation of the earth and loves you through every wonderful thing as well as every woeful thing.  God’s amazing grace and love is for us every single day.

When we put our eyes on all that is going on in this world; in our own personal lives; we become sad and fearful.   We must be crucified with Christ and not live like the world, no longer we who live but Christ lives in us.

The love of Christ lives in you.   Do people recognize Christ in you?    Do you love the people Christ has put in front of you?  If you love your people and see them walking in open sin; you will tell them it’s time to repent.  It’s a hard message but I’m asking God to help you and me be strong and courageous to speak truth in love.

Is it more loving to say nothing to keep the peace or to confront the sin of one you love?   I know there is a time to be quiet and a time to speak out.    God will direct. your path and order your steps to know how and when to speak the truth in love.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, thank You. that Your mercy. and love endures forever.  You love us unconditionally; however, You also expect us to tell the truth in love.  Help me to do just that.  in Jesus Name.   Amen.

 

Epignosis

Devotion:  Colossians 1:9-10

[Epignosis] sound like a horrible disease doesn’t it?  It is actually Greek for knowledge.  We all need a big dose of [epignosis].   According to Strongs Concordance it denotes exact or full knowledge, discernment and recognition.  The last part of the definition states: “a fuller knowledge, a greater participation by the knower in the object known.”

I am honestly surprised that I’ve never seen a church by this name {EPIGNOSIS}   Should that not be the ultimate goal of every believer, to develop a fuller knowledge, a greater participation by (us) the knower with the Lord we know?  I long to make that my goal for as long as I have life and breath.

Dear reader, I pray you have the same longing to develop a fuller knowledge and a greater participation with the Lord.  Are you a knower of God’s voice?  Are you excited to know and participate in what He wants to speak to you and do through you?

The journey with Jesus may not be easy, but the comfort of knowing He is with you to be your help and strength, provides peace and contentment like no other.  I’d rather have Jesus than numerous body guards.   He is re qmy Defender, Protector and Provider and on top of all of that; He is my Savior.   I can’t imagine life without Him.

I long for epignosis,  to see Christ more clearly and hear His voice more quickly.  He provides the way, the truth and the life for every person created by His Father and that includes you my friend.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, help me to long for the knowledge of You and Your Word above all else.  Teach me to number my days so that I may present to You a heart of wisdom.  Thank You for all the great and mighty. things You have done, are doing and will continue to do.   In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask With Reverence

Devotion:  James 4:2

Job never lost his faith and his hope in God. however, he did begin to question the Lord’s providence in his life.  He had experienced so much loss; financially, physically and emotionally.  He began to question God.  God’s replies were well thought out and provoking.  He. answered Job’s questions with His own questions.

When I teach;  I teach. with lots of questions.  Questions can dig around into your very soul.  Every question that is not a yes or no question (and sometimes even those when you are searching for answers.) makes you examine your own heart and mind in order for the truth to be revealed.

The Bible tells us the heart is desperately. wicked, deceitful above all else.   We must ask ourselves, how must I answer the God questions as I live before God and man?  God created us to have a clean heart before Him.  The way to have a clean heart is only through the blood of Jesus.   Nothing but His precious blood can wash us and make us as white as snow.

I believe you can ask God anything at all, if you ask in reverence and awe of who He is.  I heard a girl one time call God dude.  I know Jesus was fully God and fully man.  In my humble opinion calling Him. dude is very irreverent.

He tells us when you seek Him you will find Him when you. search for him with all of your heart.  The word search implies asking questions.  Ask and then listen for the still small voice of. your Jesus.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, direct my path and order my. steps according to your Word.  Thank You. for being intimately. acquainted with all of my. ways.  My hope is in You.  My. trust is in You.  You are my everything twenty four seven.  I cling to You Lord.  In Jesus Mighty Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Days of Our Lives (2)

Devotion:  Psalm 139:16

You have to be old to remember this television soap opera.   It may possibly still be on.  When I was in High School, my sister and I would come home and watch one Dark Shadows. It was very weird and got more weird as time went on. Isn’t that awful?  Such a time waster.  Remember, we did not have cell phones, lap tops or any of today’s technology.

God tells us in His Word that He ordained our days before there one of them.  He knows the beginning from the end, the first and the last of every life.  He also knows what goes on from the beginning of our day until we lay down at night.   That should be very comforting to us.   We are held in the palm of His righteous right hand, protected, cared for and loved.

There’s an old hymn that says; “Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.  Everyday with Jesus,  I love Him more and more.   Jesus saves and keeps me and He’s the One I’m living for.  Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”

Can you honestly say that everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before?  I think it depends upon your perspective.  Are we counting it all joy when we encounter various trials and tribulations?  Godt is did not promise that life would be easy or a bed of roses.  I think we believe that is how it’s supposed to be bu nothing could be further from the truth.

Let’s ask God to be our help and our strength, help all. the days of our. lives.

Prayer in Motion

Lord Jesus I am so blessed that you know all the days of my life.  I know You are in full control of every. single one of them.  Thank You!  In Jesus Name.  Amen.