God doesn’t need our eloquent speeches or superior thinking wisdom when talking to someone about Jesus. He simply needs us to allow the Holy Spirit to direct the conversation. This chat can be simple and heartfelt without pretentiousness or force. Because,if you think about it, it’s not about you at all…it’s about them trusting in the saving power of Jesus.
Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional
II Coronicles 20:15 “…this is what the Lord says to you:’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ “
We look at the insurmountable struggle in front of us with a sense of dread and hopelessness, knowing we’re not up to the battle. But the Lord is not asking us to do the fighting at all. He wants us to simply watch while He contends on our behalf. So, take your eyes off the battle, and put them on Him.
Psalm 40:6 ” Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.”
When a slave had fulfilled his servitude, but wanted to remain in the household, they would pierce his ear with an awl against the doorpost. This was a sign that he was now a permanent slave, staying by his free will. The Lord doesn’t desire animal sacrifices and offerings from you, what He wants is the total surrender of your heart and life to Him. The pierced ear of the permanent slave was an outward sign of an inner commitment to his master… have you made that same commitment to your Master?
I Peter 5:7 ” Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
My son is back in the USA from a trip overseas. I can’t say much, but I can tell you that the underground Church in China have 9,000 new Bibles thanks to a group of very brave men. As he was leaving, the Lord reminded me of when he and his brother were young. My ex-husband had decided to move 500 miles away to go back to college, and the boys thought it would be a great adventure to go with him. For 6 months I had no communication and no idea where they were. I finally did track them down through the school district, but it was of little comfort. That Sunday I went up to the altar at church and literally turned both my hands palm side down and gave my boys to the Lord. I knew He loved them much more than I ever could, and that He would watch over and care for them if I couldn’t. So as he flew off for this uncertain trip, I once again gave him to the Lord for safe keeping.
Philippians 4:9 ” And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
We look at this verse and suddenly we’re a little kid looking through the Sears Christmas catalog exclaiming…” I want this, and this, and this, OH, and this!!” It says that God will fully supply all your needs, but what we think are needs and what He thinks may differ greatly. Our needs could be just selfish wants, therefore, if we allow the Lord to supply all our needs we will lack nothing in accordance to His kindness and patience towards us. These magnificent riches of His glory will be made known to us, and we shall not want.
Proverbs 31:1 ” The sayings of King Lemuel – an oracle his mother taught him.”
The virtues of a “Proverbs 31 Woman” King Lemuel had learned from his mother. She instructed him as a young boy in the God-inspired virtues of a woman he should look for as a wife. She taught him though to honor and respect all women. A Godly woman’s influence over her young son will shape his character forever. It will determine how he treats girls in school, at work, in public and private. It is a sobering responsiblity raising boys in the world today. With all the negative and debase attitudes they see on TV, and hear in music lyrics, a Godly mother’s positive influence will shape her son’s views of women for a lifetime.
Exodus 15: 26 “…for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
If a close friend approached you right now with a beautifully wrapped present and said, “Here’s a gift that I specially picked out just for you that I know you can use.” Would you turn it down? Most of us would be tearing at the wrapping paper almost before the last word was out of their mouth! So it continues to perplex me as I see sick people refuse this gift called healing. Having worked as a Nurse for over 30 years, the Lord has given me a unique understanding of this which I’d like to share with you. There are some who enjoy being ill. They get positive strokes and attention from their illness thus don’t want to be healed and lose the attention. The illness defines who they are. Then there are those who love to be miserable…or make someone else miserable. They have a “victim” mentality and can recite to you dates and details of past illnesses and hurts. Misery and bitterness are so intertwined in their life that they know nothing else and would be lost without it. Finally, there are those who refuse to give up what’s making them sick in the first place….alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, over eating, noncompliance in medications,and not watching their blood pressure or blood sugar all are hindrances to receiving healing. He’s offering the gift, the question is, will you receive it?
Jeremiah 29:7 ” Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
There are times when we feel like refugees in a strange land. Alienated and alone, we sulk in our situation, letting everyone know how unhappy we are. So the very last thing we want to do is ask God to bless the uncomfortable place we’re at. But that’s just what the Lord is asking us to do…to speak Shalom – peace and prosperity into the situation. For if it succeeds and thrives we can only but benefit.
Luke 8:50 ” Fear not, just believe…”
We lie in bed at night with the “what ifs” reeling around in our heads. They are always the worst case scenarios for whatever is worrying us at the time. God hard-wired us humans to recognize danger, it’s called fight or flight, and it keeps us safe. But when we allow fear and anxiety to rule over our lives we suffer. These emotions aren’t new, in the Old Testament the Lord commanded the children of Israel many times… “Do not be afraid.” And in the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly said… “Fear not.” to the crowds. So what are we to do? Fear and anxiety can be channeled for the positive in our lives. They can challenge us to be wise, prudent, and a good steward of our resources. They can cause us to look at our current situations and make changes for the better. …and Jesus said, “Fear not.”
Matthew 15: 27 “Yes, Lord,”she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Jesus had been trying to politely ignore the Canaanite woman. He was telling her things she already knew …that He had come to the Jews, not the Gentiles. But she had seen Him heal others and she was determined that He heal her daughter. Undaunted by His rebuke, she replied…My faith in You and what I’ve seen you do is such that I am certain that all my daughter needs is just a crumb of Your healing power, not a loaf, not even a slice, just a crumb! Jesus saw and then reacted to her faith statement by telling her that because of her great faith and resolve her daughter was healed. Whether it’s a crumb or a mustard seed of faith, you too can move mountains, for nothing is impossible.
Safetypinlove 