Have you ever been in Abraham’s sandals? God has given you a promise which you have fervently held on to, maybe for a long time,but it continues to look so hopeless. It says that Abraham also realistically knew that he and his wife were way beyond childbearing age, yet he neither weakened or waived in his belief that God would come through somehow. And so I encourage you today…regardless of what the situation looks like, know that God is in complete control and has the power to do what He has promised, for with God ALL things are possible.
Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional
Proverbs 28:10 ” He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”
I’ve been around farmers all my life, from being born and raised on a farm in Illinois, to being married to a man who was in agribusiness most of his life. Those that work the soil are a special breed…they are true stewards of “His land”, and take the responsibly seriously. This might be why the writer of this Proverb used a farmer to contrast with those who continually run after empty, worthless things. A farmer is disciplined, and realistic, with insight and wisdom to get the very best out of his land without depleting it in the process. While a daydreamer with visions of grandeur will always chase after that next big thing that’s forever just out of reach.
Ezekiel 22:30 ” I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
There are people around you today with broken down walls. They have gaping holes that need repair, but helplessly they watch the enemy breach them. So what erodes at our walls? Things like depression, chronic illness, grief, or addictions all pound against it. Before long despondency and apathy take over and we give up. This is when standing in the gap for someone becomes so very important. By interceding in prayer on their behalf and offering encouragement and support you can give hope to the hopeless. And by standing in that void of their broken down wall you have made it secure against the enemies siege.
Psalm 119:109 ” Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.”
The Psalmist was being very honest with God…Lord I know I mess up on a daily basis, and put myself in harm’s way by thinking I know more than You, or demanding that I get my own way. I also unfortunately realize this is not Your will for my life. So though this world pushes and pulls me in all kinds of directions, I will not lose sight of your law… And I also understand that I must first KNOW Your law in order to not forget Your law.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 ” But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
The other night the Lord gave me a vision of a lone tree standing in the mist of utter destruction for as far as the eye could see. You could tell by the missing limbs and scarred bark that it had been through quite a storm. My mind’s eye was immediately drawn to all the devastation and chaos around, when the Lord instead had me focus on the tree. ” Was this tree just planted here?” the Lord asked. “No!” I answered. “You can tell that it has weathered a massive storm.” Then He whispered,” As it will be in a believer’s life…storms will come into your life, you may be hurt and even scarred in the middle of the fury, but with roots deep in the bedrock of Faith you can withstand the devastating storm. And with each storm you endure, your Faith will grow deeper and deeper in Me.”
Luke 10:41 ” ‘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.’ “
This verse comes from a very familiar story…Jesus and the disciples have come into Bethany, where Martha has invited them in for a meal. She is distracted and worried about feeding 13 hungry men, while her sister Mary sits at the feet of Jesus listening. Martha’s focus becomes the meal not the Messiah. Getting the food on the table takes her attention away from who will be sitting at the place of honor eating it. Distraction and worry give way to frustration and anger. “Don’t you care Lord?” Mary laments. I can just see Jesus smiling and shaking His head saying “Martha, Martha, there is but one necessity and Mary has selected it.” But what exactly did Mary choose? She chose time with the Lord. And so I encourage you to not allow distraction, worry, and the things of this world to rob you of this “better” thing. Mary chose what was eternal…what would you choose?
I Corinthians 14:12 “So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spirtual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”
Spiritual gifts are given as a result of God’s grace and not by any effort or merit on our part. These gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to teach,serve and encourage others…not us. Each one of us is given a “pattern” of gifts unique to our talents and passions. That word pattern is similar to how each shot-gun has a unique shell pattern, and brings me to my little story.
My father was a firm beliver that his three girls should learn to handle guns, and so many a Sunday afternoon were spent shooting clay pigeons. As we became older, boys started coming around, and if we liked them, they’d be invited for Sunday Dinner. After Dinner our Dad would ask the young buck if he’d like to shoot a few clay pigeons. They would all jump at the chance to show off to us girls, and being the good hosts, we always let the boy shoot first…then we’d take over! Depending on how the young man reacted determined whether we’d date him again or not. We laugh about it now, but several future husbands passed the clay pigeon test.
Acts 21: 12-13 ” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered.’Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ “
Paul’s friends were beseeching him not to go to Jerusalem and certain arrest. His friends reactions were very human and kind of selfish…they wanted Paul safe. But the Holy Spirit was also speaking to Paul, and he knew this is where he had to be.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak things into our lives that we absolutely know are true, but when we share them with others they discourage and plead with us to reconsider. At that point you have to make the decision of who you will listen to ..God or man. Therefore, Listen carefully, if you know it’s from the Holy Spirit, don’t allow others to dissuade you from fulfilling your ministry.
Psalm 1:1 ” Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”
The temptations of this world are sneaky, they won’t hit you over the head and drag you off to their lair. Instead,they start by just enticing you as you innocently stroll past. But if you chose to keep walking past again and again, before long that allurement has you stopped dead in your tracks, mesmerized and drawn in by it. Soon you’re dwelling in the middle of the temptation and it has become a way of life. This verse states that blessed or happy is the man who does not allow temptation to become sin. Happy is that person who just keeps walking!
Daniel 6: 3 ” Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”
Daniel did such a great job at work that he excelled above all others. So exceptional was his character, work ethic, and spirit within him that the king had taken notice. What a testimony in the work place Daniel had! It’s easy to be that super-spirtual person in church on Sunday, but the ugly truth usually comes out of us in the cold , harsh light of our work place. The reality of what comes out of our mouths and how we conduct ourselves will speak volumes to our co-workers. I encourage you to take your exceptional qualities to work tomorrow…you will be noticed!
Safetypinlove 