Category: Devotional

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I Think He Might Like You

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. — John 17:24

Imagine hitting it off with someone only to find out that they are being shipped off to war the next day. You really like this person even though you just met them and you think things between you could work. You receive a letters from this person while they are away at war. You read and re-read those letters. Everyday you pray that they are safe and that they will return home quickly.

I would dare to say that the situation described above is probably not love. It’s probably only to the level of liking or maybe really liking or at most very immature love. Image the power of mature love.

1 John 4 tells us that God is love. He is perfect love. He is the model for what love looks like. Jesus’s prayer right before He went to the cross in John 17:24 was for those that were given to Him to be with Him where He is. Just think about what that is an invitation to. Love was the reason that Jesus died on the cross so that we could have intimate fellow with the God. I guess I could say I misspoke early because God loves you more than you could know!

Originally posted January 17, 2010.

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The Argument You Can’t Lose

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” — John 9:25

It used to really bother me in English class when the teacher would ask a question where they wanted to know what you thought about what someone else was thinking but then they would say you were wrong when you answered. An example might be, “Why do you think the author was trying to symbolize with the color red?” By the nature of the question, any answer I give is correct because it’s asking what I think. I could say that I didn’t think the author was trying to symbolize anything and be correct.

Now let’s say that you’re sharing your faith with someone. You tell them some verses and they flat out tell you that they don’t believe that. Now what?

Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved by grace. No where does the Bible say that we can win someone over to God with a good argument. In fact 2 Timothy 2:23 tells us to stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. There is one thing you can share that no one can argue and that’s your personal testimony.

If you read the rest of the account in John 9 you will find that Jesus healed a man who was blind from birth. The Pharisees try to get the man who was blind to say that Jesus was a sinner but the man responded in a way that the Pharisees couldn’t argue. He said, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Next time you’re sharing your faith, share all the amazing things God has done for you.

Originally posted January 16, 2010.

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Step Forward in Confidence

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

You probably recognize this verse or at the very least recognize the song that was inspired by this verse. It’s so short and simple but yet so profound. An illustration might make it easier to understand.

Imagine that you are in a cave. There is absolutely no light. You can put your hand right up to your nose and still not see it. Now image that you need to find your way out of the cave but there are deep ravines you need to walk by. What do you do?

The world we live in is a dark place filled with traps that can trip up unsuspecting Christians. That’s where the Bible comes in. It’s called a lamp unto our feet. Problems arise when you stop looking at the path that God has illuminated for us and start worrying about what comes after that and get off the path.

Instead of staring off into a dark uncertainty, follow the path that God has illuminated even if it’s only one step at a time. Then you can step forward with confidence.

Originally posted January 15, 2010.

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Seek First

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33

My wife and I have an amazing house but it can be easy to take it for granted. When we step back and look at our house and how it became ours, it was and still is a miracle.

Our real estate agent had shown us several houses. None of them were great and some of them were only okay at best. It was hard to get excited about spending a lot of money on something we knew we wouldn’t be very happy with. One day our agent told me about a house she was aware of that wasn’t on the market yet. The owners of the house were thinking of selling it so they could build a dream house. So we decided to look at the house our agent suggested along with several others.

There was only one house we looked at that day that we even liked and it was the house our agent told us about. In fact we more than just liked it, we loved it. That house had everything we wanted but it was more than we wanted to pay. Our agent told us that the sellers knew that it was more than we wanted to pay but suggested we should still make an offer and see what happens. We prayed about it for a week and went to look at the house a second time. We decided to make an offer. It was a reasonable offer but it was less than the sellers were hoping for. The sellers countered our offer so we had some more praying to do. We felt at peace about a new offer so we countered with it. This offer was the highest we felt led to make and we believed God was telling us to walk away if they want anything higher. The next day I got a call from our agent and she told me they countered again and it was only $1,250 over our last offer. When it comes to buying a house, $1,250 is the equivalent of take a penny, leave a penny trays by cash registers. Regardless I had to trust God for the number He gave us and apologize to the agent but decline that counter offer. As hard as it was to decline when there was only a $1,250 difference, it was even harder when our agent offered to pay half so it was only $625 over our last offer but my response was the same.

We were walking away from our dream home over a mere $625 and we had nothing to fall back on. I was preparing myself to start looking at houses again when I got another phone call from our agent some time later. She said the sellers took back their counter offer and the house is yours for your last counter offer price. I was speechless but managed to say we’ll take it.

We honestly could have found a way to pay the extra $625 or $1,250 but I’m glad we trusted God and put it in His hands. We have the extra assurance of knowing that our amazing miracle house was part of God’s plan for us. We would have been called fools for walking away from our dream house over a mere $625 but I would rather be considered a fool than to have something I know God doesn’t want for me.

You may not have any doubts about what you are capable of by your own efforts. Why not see what God can do if you give him a chance (Ephesians 3:20-21)?

Originally posted January 14, 2010.

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Still Ticking

Be still, and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10a, NKJV

A few weeks ago I decided to do something I’ve never done before. I went to a small cabin in the middle of the woods to spend a few days alone with God.

One of the first things I wrote in my journal after arriving was, “The sound of a clock ticking amidst the silence is deafening.” With every second there was a constant reminder of the solitude I had chosen. It wasn’t until the following day that noisy little mechanical clock on the wall helped me learn a simple but important lesson.

The next morning I woke up to rain which unfortunately continued all day. I found myself standing by the window listening to the rain fall hoping it would stop long enough for me to go outside if even just for a little while. As I stood there God whispered, “Do you still hear the ticking?” It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I couldn’t. What once was overpowering was now silent to my ears because I had inadvertently distracted myself with something else. As I stood by the window straining my ears to hear, I again found the ticking noise.

During that time away in the small cabin, there were several things which distracted me from the sound of the clock. There was the sound of the heater and fridge. There were the small critters outside the window who quickly became my friend when they realized I controlled whether there was food in their feeder. There was of course the sound of the rain. None of these things were bad but each of them in their own unique way caused me to lose track of the ticking sound which never once stopped nor missed a beat.

I of course didn’t go to a small cabin in the middle of the woods to listen to a clock but I can’t help but wonder how often God’s voice gets drowned out by the distractions of everyday life. After returning from the cabin I can say I’m way more aware when I enter a room with a mechanical clock and I pray we are even more aware of when God is trying to speak to us.

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Running on Empty

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. — John 15:5

A couple years ago my Grandpa on my Mom’s side died. I was very close with my Grandpa in fact he’s the reason I love to fish. A month or two after he passed away I had a dream with him in it that I would like to share.

In the dream Grandpa and I were going fishing. I loved fishing with my Grandpa. Some of my fondest memories are of my Grandpa and I fishing together. This time we were fishing on Eagle Lake which was a lake we fished often when we fished down in the cites. The boat was already in the water and I was in the drivers seat. Grandpa didn’t always let me drive but I loved the special occasions when I was able to. I pick out a spot on the other side of the lake where we should start fishing and I start driving there. As we are making our way there I look down and notice that the gas gauge says we’re almost out of gas. The lake isn’t huge so I figure we can make it and we do. I start casting and casting and never get a bite. I decide it’s time to find a new spot and it’s on the other side of the lake. I anxiously watch the gas gauge as we’re driving there and we make it. I start casting and casting again and still I never get a bite. This happened a few times in the dream and each time I pick a spot on the opposite side of the lake. Each time I watch the gas gauge hoping we would make it and do. Eventually I wake.

I think that dream is a perfect illustration of how our Christian walk can go at times. How often do we try to make it through a day, week, month, or even a year without spending some quality time with God so we can be recharged? It funny that I don’t even remember if my Grandpa picked up a fishing rod in the dream. I do remember that he never said a word. He just looked at me with a big grin on his face. How often is God looking at us in the same way? Today no matter how full you think your tank is, I encourage you to spend some extra time with God refueling.

Originally posted January 13, 2010.

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Praying the Word

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:12-14

It’s kind of weird to think about but when you are praying according to God’s will, you are basically repeating back to God what He’s telling you to say. It’s not our job to understand it but to be obedient.

If you are like most Christians, there will be times when you don’t know what to pray. There will be other times when you just don’t feel like praying. There are a number of things you could do in these situations like praying in the Spirit but today I would like to encourage you to pray the Word.

There are prayers all over the scriptures like today’s passage. You can also find a verse that really speaks to you and meditate on it, changing into your own words and pray/declare it back to God. An example might be when you’re going through a tough time, praying: “Greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).”

The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17) so today while you’re praying, increase your faith.

Originally posted January 12, 2010.

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Hey Y’all Been With Jesus

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13

If you decided to start your own business, you’d be very careful who you chose to bring on board with you. You would try to surround yourself with the best so that you would look better to the industry and potential clients.

Jesus has a different way of doing things. Jesus overlooked the religiously educated in favor of simple fishermen who had little to no education. Why would Jesus do something like that? For situation like today’s passage. Peter and John did not get the credit in the eyes of the men who were questioning. Jesus did. The men realized that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men but they also recognized the way Peter and John spoke with courage and authority.

You can probably tell when you run into somebody from the south by their accent. Some people try to cover up their accent. There are a variety of reasons like they’re embarrassed about it or for career reasons. Sadly some Christians try to do the same. People can tell there something different about you by what you don’t say and don’t do. People will know what that difference is by what you do say and do. Don’t be afraid to let people see that you’ve been with Jesus. Remember to let your y’alls out!

Originally posted January 11, 2010.

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In the Fire

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”  He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”  Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,  and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. — Daniel 3:24-27

A fact of life is that things will not always go the way you want them to. How you handle that fact will say a lot about your relationship with God.

The most common reaction to difficult times is to want it to be over. If you’re a Christian you will probably pray that God would deliver you from the difficult time. Sometimes in God’s grace He does deliver you but what happens when He doesn’t.

I love Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s response to the king when they were ordered to bow down to the idol. It’s found in Daniel 3:16-18. Basically they said, “We’re not going to because our God will save us. But even if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow before your idol.” Now that’s confidence!

Sometimes God will save you from the flames but other times He will stand by your side while you’re in the flames together. If you are walking in the flames right now, just know that you are not alone! The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Originally posted January 10, 2010.

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There’s Just Something About Mary

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:38-42

It’s easy to let life fly by while you’re working your way down a checklist which is also known as your life. Your routine might vary slightly day to day but only because of the different activities you’ve tried to squeeze in. Whenever you encounter an empty spot in your schedule, you try and find something to fill it. And if you’re like most people you can identify with Martha at least some of the time.

We don’t know a lot about Martha because she is only mentioned in the Bible a few times but from this passage it seems like she’s a busybody. If you yourself are not a busybody, you probably know someone who is. They can never seem to sit down and relax. There’s nothing wrong with working. In fact the Bible warns against being idle. Jesus had an important message for Martha that I think we need to hear too.

Are you preoccupied with the cares and worries of this life? Do you worry about things that ultimately don’t matter? Jesus told Martha that she did. She opened her home to Jesus and His disciples. She was doing a “good” thing but lost sight of the fact that she had the Christ in her home. Next time you lose sight of what’s important and life seems like it’s slipping away, set aside some extra time to sit at the Lord’s feet and soak in His presence. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10).

Originally posted January 9, 2010.