God Gives Mercy

Devotion:  Romans 9:15-23

God grants mercy daily to the saved as well as the unsaved.  What is this mercy that is new every single morning?  Is it different than the grace He bestows through salvation?  I believe it is; although they definitely overlap.

God’s grace is sufficient for salvation. and there is nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it.  We’ve all seen the acronym for grace which is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.”  It is free to all who call upon the Name of Jesus. Our Jesus is full of grace and longs for every person to come to repentance and their names to be written in the Lamb’s book of life.

“Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”  The Bible tells us God’s mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.  Our God has the power to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants.  He allows what He allows; however, He wants to be acknowledged and worshipped.  He created us for His own glory.

Father God who grants mercy, loves to bestow it upon the hopeless and helpless.  We are all hopeless and helpless without God.  He pardons our sins when we ask and bridges the gap between us and Him.  He has made a way for us to come into the Holy of Holies through the blood of HIs only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but by Him.

The grace and mercy that comes from our God is unwavering.  When people cannot find it in their hearts to bestow it upon you, God can and will because His amazing love doesn’t depend upon your performance.

Prayer in Motion:

Jesus, I just want to thank You for first loving me.  You drew me to Yourself out of your great love and mercy.  I trust You with all of my heart to lead me on the path that You have ordained for me.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

Joy and Delight

Devotion:  Jeremiah 15:16

What is your greatest joy and delight?  Is it a favorite place, the presence of family or friends, or is it a vacation spot?  Many of those things bring our flesh temporary joy, delight or both.  One of the things that brings me great joy and delight is hearing laughter from my family and friends.  It is music to my ears.  I love watching and listening to my husband and my grandson Eli laugh because both of them do not just laugh with their faces and voices but with their whole bodies.

The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like medicine.  It truly does.  I love to be around funny. people.  Maybe it’s because I love to laugh.  Laughter is so good for our souls.  I’m talking about healthy laughter, not laughter that mocks and makes fun of someone’s mishap.

We are all blessed to know genuinely funny people, folks that make you laugh until you can hardly breathe.  Ben’s brother and two of his male cousins make me laugh that way.  They used to come to our house for a week-end in the fall but circumstances change so they don’t get to come any more.  They make the atmosphere full of hilarity.  I always get my endorphins multiplied when I’m around all of them.

They can tell the funniest stories about growing up.  These are all guys who grew up in the South but also in the country.  My husband is a great story teller and I laugh even though I know how the stories go.

Can you imagine when we first see Jesus face to face?  Talk about joy. and delight that can never be taken away.  It will be joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me joy that can never be stolen from me.  I rejoice that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.  I love You Lord and thank You for the wonderful gift of salvation.

Resilience or Resistance?

Devotion:  Deuteronomy 31:6

Is it possible to be resilient in your faith, no matter what?  The Bible says “Resist the devil and he has to flee from you.”  In order to be resilient, we must put that verse into practice.  How do we act with resilience when our flesh wants to resist?  There is a difference between resisting the flesh and resisting the Holy Spirit.  One brings grief and pain and the other brings courage and strength.

Believers in Christ can be resistant and resilient all at the same time.  God’s Word tells us “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto Myself.”  In order to be resilient, we must resist our fleshly desires, die to ourselves, so that we might live for Christ.

When we choose to resist God’s Holy Spirit and walk in our flesh; we choose to give into our arch enemy, Satan.  We gain forgiveness when we confess and repent of our sins.  God is mindful that we are but flesh.  Because of His great love and mercy; He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.”

Becoming resilient takes dying to the flesh on a daily basis.  As long as we have life and breath; we will be tempted to sin; however, not beyond what we are able to resist by the power and strength of our Savior.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, the longer I serve You, the longer I desire to be more like You.  I long to be resilient and resistant on a daily basis.  I can only. do it by Your strength, not mine.  Help me Jesus.  Amen.

 

A Puddle or A Sea

Devotion: Deuteronomy 11:1-4

Puddles come in different sizes.  They have the possibility of being small or large, deep or shallow.  Puddles can grow or shrink. You can be splashed when someone drives by.

I keep seeing a small puddle of water about two feet from my dishwasher. It  probably falls from it when I open it to add just one more thing.  It’s always in the morning, in the same spot when I see it and stoop down to dry it up.  I’ve looked up to see if there is water on the ceiling.  Nope!

I vividly recall seeing my oldest son Joshua, at the age of three, walking through a big ole puddle in our drive way. He just could not resist.  The puddle was calling his name.  Josh loved the water, but of course there was mud all over him.  Puddles can be fun or exasperating.  It depends upon your age and your mindset.  From Joshua’s four year old perspective; the puddle was inviting him to a puddle party.

Let’s compare puddles to the parting of the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk through.  Both involve water.  One can be dried up with a swipe.  The other parted and the Israelites walked through on dry land while escaping Pharaoh and his army.  Almighty God accomplished the impossible for His people to escape their enemies. The water stood up at God’s command. Miraculous!  Nothing is impossible for our God.

Whether you see a puddle or a sea in front of you; listen for your God’s voice.  Watch with great expectation when you need a miracle. Have fun with the puddle.  When you come to the Red Sea and your enemy is hot on your heels; trust God to part it so you can walk through.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, I long for this Red Sea to part; however, I know You can and will part it at the right time.  I am trusting You with all of my heart. In Jesus precious Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

God Still Leads His People

Devotion:  Exodus 3:1-15

The Great I AM still leads His people, if we will listen and obey His voice.  He longs to lead us as a shepherd leads His sheep.  He tells us that His sheep hear His voice.  Where is it that He longs to lead us?  Into His presence.  He will lead us through oppression

Our God will lead us through ever step of our journey,  Many times we are distracted by little nuisance or intriguing thing.  Our minds are always filled with the desire to understand people and circumstances.   God’s ways are higher than our ways, so as we submit and allow Him to do the work He wants to accomplish in us.  It’s a life long process.  Some of us are slow learners.

Oppression is a hard thing to walk through.  People can be oppressed by their families, their bosses, their neighbors or even their friends, anyone who is out to make their lives miserable.

Being oppressed may be part of your journey; past, present or future; however, Satan knows what oppresses you but so does the Lord Jesus.  God will certainly bring you through it and can use it for your good, as well as for His honor and glory.

God sees your oppression and has sent a deliverer to rescue you, His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ.  He is always with us on this journey we call life.  He promised to never leave you or forsake you.  He is Emmanuel, God with us.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord, You came to deliver me from evil oppression.  The enemy of my soul tries his best to make me “feel” surrounded by oppression, the same way the Egyptians surrounded the Israelites.  Just as Moses through You brought redemption; Jesus, You brought me Your redemption.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

 

 

Build One Another Up

Devotion:  Jude 1:20-21

Faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  When morale is low in a work place, a home or even a church, what can be done to change the atmosphere?  As believers; we are to build one another up in our most holy faith.

How do we build up those who are non-believers?  We weave the truth of Scripture in our conversation.  It’s the truth that will set them free.  When you give out the truth of Scripture in love; honestly it’s difficult for non-believers to argue against its principles.

Sometimes, we are so busy defending our own stance and building our own self defense, we forget to defer to the One who has our best interest at heart.  He longs to produce a spirit of unity and peace, not dis-unity and confusion.

We are to be known as Christian’s by our unconditional love. Exhort all those who are struggling and need to hear what God wants them to know.  He has a lot to say to us through the reading of His Holy Word.

Believers are to encourage one another versus being those who stir up strife.  As far as possible, we are to be at peace with all men.  God says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

We seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto us.  God is our refuge and strength, a very. present help in times of trouble.  Our whole world is in trouble.  Go out and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all those that God places in your path.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord help me to promote Your peace and share the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I long to be one who builds others up in their most holy faith.  Show me Your ways oh Lord.  In Jesus precious Name I offer up this prayer.  Amen.

 

 

 

Care for One Another

Devotion:  Galatians 5:13

Who are you caring for?  If we live long enough; we will be caring for either our grandparents, our parent(s), or our siblings.  God tells us to be kind and compassionate toward one another.  It also tells us to “bear one another’s burdens and care for one another, be tender hearted and forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

We are also told to love our neighbors as ourselves.  God tells us as far as possible to be at peace with all men.  Jesus also tells us to “Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over, He will lay it in your lap.”

Our God has promised to supply all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. God says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”  We need to give out of a heart full of love versus obligation.

Do you love people enough to truly care for them, body, mind and spirit?  “If you behold your brother in need; take care of him or her, just like the good Samaritan.”  We are to love one another as Christ has loved us. We must remember to”Trust in the Lord with all of our heart and do not lean unto our own understanding.”

There are times, we do not understand when someone has mistreated us; however; we are to “love our enemies, bless those who curse us and say all manner of evil against us falsely.”  That’s easy to say but hard to do.  Only the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us can help us over come the flesh who wants to get even, when someone wrongs us or the people we love.  That would not be what Christ would do.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You for first loving me.  Help me to love and care for others as I love and care for myself.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

When the Conscience is Defiled

Devotion:  Titus 1:15-16

Today’s verse is good and sad all at the same time.  Verse 15 is an encouragement and an admonishment: The first part talks about the pure in heart:  Remember the verses from Psalm 24:4-5 that are a message to the pure;

“One who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to deceit
And has not sworn deceitfully.
⁵ He will receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.:

The second part of verse fifteen says, “Those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.”   That brings us heart break and sadness because the person is defiled in their mind and their conscience.  It affects everyone that’s close to them.

There are many un-pure “that have a form of godliness but deny the power therein.  In other words, they attend church regularly but through the week, they walk just like the world.  They blend in and refuse to “come out and be separate from the world;” because they long for acceptance more than holiness.  Believers are known by. their fruit, their “deeds” if you will.

Dear believing friend, we must walk our talk, live out our looking up.  Oh may we stay grounded in God’s Word and “pour out our hearts like water before the Lord, lift up our hands for the lives” of those who are currently unbelieving.

As Christians; we should never profess to know God; then turn around and deny Him by our outward deeds.  God says those ourward deeds render us “detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.”

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, please help me live out my looking up both now and always.  I never want “to exhibit a from of godliness but deny the power therein.”  Lord, I pray I would never bring shame or reproach to Your great Name. In Christ’s Name I offer up this prayer.  Amen.

 

 

Those Who Walk Away

Devotion:  1 John 2:19

It is one of the most painful things ever to watch someone who once professed Christ, walk away from their faith.  I do not believe they were ever truly believers.  How do we pray for them?  We pray that the eyes of their hearts would be turned to the Lord.

We also pray for mercy to be upon those who are far from Christ. “Turn them from darkness to light, the power of Satan to God, that he or she would find forgiveness of sin and a place among those sanctified by faith.”

One lady said; “We should also pray that God will not leave them alone in their distance or isolation from Him.”  God promises if He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.

The same lady said; “We must also know that sin is deceitful and Satan is in the business of hardening Christian’s hearts.”  Do not give up or lose heart in your fervent, effectual prayers for the prodigals or the lost.

God’s timing and ours may be years apart.  For Him, a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day.  Since we do not know the hour of their return, we must continue praying fervently and expectantly.

Only God knows anyone’s heart.  He tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.  I long for you and I to pray powerfully for those who are wandering and lost.  As you. are praying look to the One who created all of us for fellowship with Him.

Never give up on God’s ability to draw all men unto Himself.  We lift them up to Him and He will draw them to salvation.

Prayer in Motion:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of salvation.  I pray from the throne room of grace to find help as I wait upon You Lord.  I will gain new strength and mount up. with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.  In Jesus precious and Holy Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Who is On the Lord’s Side?

Devotion:  Revelation 3:15-16

This scripture reminds us not to be fence sitters.  Who is on the Lord’s side?  Christians must choose to not straggle any fence.  The circumstances you find yourself dwelling in are either black or white.  There are no grey areas.  We either respond in the right way or the wrong way.

We are never tempted beyond what He is able to rescue us.  He alone has made a way of escape.  Take His nail scarred hand in yours.  The Savior who saved us has supplied the strength and the courage to stand and see the salvation of the Lord.  We can be victorious though Christ who gives us strength.

The fourth verse to this old hymn is as follows:

Fierce may be the conflict, Strong may be the foe, But the King’s own army None can overthrow. Round His standard ranging Victory is secure, For His truth unchanging Makes the triumph sure.

 

Our God never changes.  His Word is faithful and true.  We can always cast our cares upon Him.  If we seek Him, we will find Him, when we search for Him with all of our hearts.  The Prince of darkness tries his best to pull us down into the sinking sand of this old world.  Will you be on the Lord’s side or give into your defeated foe?  The choice is yours

Prayer in Motion:

Lord of heaven and earth, I am on Your side.  You alone are my strength and shield.  I need You one hundred percent of the time ruling and reigning in my heart. “Come Jesus come.  We’ve been waiting so long; for your return to right every wrong.”  “I love You Lord, for Your mercy never fails me.  All my days are held in your hands.  From the moment that I wake up, until I lay my head.  I will sing of the goodness of God.”