Isaiah talks about the zeal of the Lord six times in the Bible. God’s zeal…His passion, intensity, and fire for His people is evident in the countless times that He intervened on their behalf….achieving miracles only God could perform. The zeal of the Lord Almighty is still working on our behalf today…carrying out His will for His people.
Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional
John 3:19 ” This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
In this verse Jesus so wisely observed the world’s value system both then and now. For what we treat as precious and dear, are what we value. Are they things of virtue and truth, or things of sin and wickedness? Jesus came into the world to shed illumination on our spiritual darkness…that we love evil rather than good and falsehood rather than speaking the truth.(Psalm 52:3) He declared in John 7:7, ” The world hates Me because I testify that what it does is evil.” Pray that the spiritual darkness that is enveloping the world may be lifted and banished as we seek the light.
Zechariah 1:3 ” ‘Return to Me’, declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you’…”
Job 22:23 says, “If you return to the Almighty you will be restored.” The responsibility lies on our shoulders…the decision, squarely on us. For only we can resolve to turn around and come back to the Lord. God’s position has never changed…it’s us that have wandered so far away. But if we only turn our hearts back to Him, He will restore and rebuild our lives that are in shambles.
Philemon 7 ” Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. “
What happens when you encourage someone? They hear those words of inspiration and their spirit is renewed and energized. And as their spirit is lifted, that encouragement gives them the courage to persevere through the challenges they face. Never refuse the chance to encourage someone…it may be the one word they need to hang on.
Romans 15: 32 ” So that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.”
When we come together as God’s family, my spirit and yours are refreshed. (I Cor. 16:18) The Lord has opportunity to minster through you and me to touch others with encouragement when we meet together. He can also move corporately throughout to refresh…exhorting, inspiring, and spurring on. But when you decide not to go to Church or Bible Study or Prayer Group for selfish reasons, you are denying others the blessing of giving and receiving hope and inspiration through your absence. Never believe that you don’t matter in the Family of God, for you are a very important and intricate part of the spiritual community called the Body.
Proverbs 11:25 ” A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
Everyone can use encouragement…everyone likes words of appreciation. This week I was explaining to a group of ladies the purpose of this Devotional. Over 4 years ago, the Lord challenged me to become a modern-day Barnabas…an encourager of others. And in today’s world of negativity – I would challenge you also to become that man or woman of God that strengthens those around you…renewing souls with encouragement and gratitude…reviving and renewing those who are discouraged and down-trodden. A kind word could be life changing to someone around you today….resolve to be a Barnabas.
Proverbs 15:2 ” The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. “
God first wants to work in you, before He works through you. Remember that your journey with the Lord is a marathon not a sprint when you get impatient. Don’t lose hope in the middle of God shaping you into what you need to be…for only then you can be the most effective for His unique plan and purpose in your life.
Nehemiah 2:4 ” The King said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the King…”
King Artaxerxes asked Nehemiah what he wanted…but before he responded, Nehemiah prayed. It could be called an “as we go” prayer. This type of supplication doesn’t need to be long… just the length of a deep breath. It doesn’t need to be in depth…a simple “Give me wisdom, Lord!” will suffice. The Lord is with us always…His presence there in the middle of all situations…so why don’t we take a moment to seek His guidance before blurting out something we may later regret.
Nehemiah 1:4 ” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah’s tears were for the ruined city of Jerusalem. His burden for it was immense, for the Lord had laid on him the obligation and passion to rebuild the walls. A burden is a faithful focus of prayer over a long length of time…personal burdens being for family and children. But God also burdens us with other outside issues…things that when we hear about them, we react and ask, “What can I do God?” But the problem arises when we react to everything…and our efforts become scattered and ineffective. We try to do it all, and instead become frustrated, and discouraged. We can’t do everything for everyone…but we can do something. And the wisdom lies in discerning the burden from the emotion.
Revelation 15: 14 ” I looked, an there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”
There is coming a great and mighty day when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to judge the Nations. He will swing His sickle, for the harvest is ripe. The Son of Man will return on the clouds…the reaper prepared for the harvest…the sickle in His hand.
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