Jesus stands at the entrance to your heart today. He has been patiently waiting…knocking softly but persistently every time panic has overwhelmed you this past few weeks. His voice is calm and reassuring on the other side of that door…like a light shining forth filled with truth, hope and love. But the decision must be yours and yours alone, for the door has only one latch and it’s on your side of the door. But if you do decide to open that door today, rest assured that all you’ll need to do is crack the door…for then, all of heaven will pull it open.
Tag: daily encouraging devotions
Jeremiah 32:27 ” I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?”
Where do you stand with the question posed in this verse? Is anything too hard for God? Maybe you look around today, listening to all the dire statistics and warnings about the COVID 19 Virus and think to yourself, “This is beyond God’s capabilities to change anything.” And you’d be in good company, for initially when Abraham and Sarah were told they would conceive a baby together…they both laughed in disbelief. But then it tells us in Romans 4: 18-19, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead – since he was about a hundred years old – and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” It goes on to say, “Yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God…being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised.” So again I ask you this question, “Is there anything too difficult for God?” Keep the faith and be like Jeremiah when he proclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.”
Hebrews 12:5-6 ” And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because He disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.’ “
For many of us, we have been enduring the hardships of social distancing and mandatory self-isolation for several weeks now. We are struggling against loneliness, persevering against boredom, and attempting to quell the growing frustration inside. The verses today talk about discipline, suffering, and correction the Lord ordains for the moral and spiritual nurturing of His children, and that it is always designed for their good. So how then can we look at this unique time in our lives in a favorable light not a negative one? It can start by simply asking God, “What do You want to teach me during this time, and how can I most benefit from it?” The other thing to remember is – don’t despise the Lord’s discipline and don’t resent His correction, (Proverbs 3:11-12) and you will come out on the other side of this as a more positive, hopeful, and encouraged person.
Psalm 19: 1-4 ” The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
We all have blind spots. Areas of our life we can’t see, or chose not to see. Sometimes it’s intentional, sometimes it’s due to ignorance that we can’t see what’s right in front of our faces. This Psalm of David is quite blunt…you can’t help but see the majesty of God around you. For everywhere you look is displayed His glorious work of creation. And creation doesn’t need words to proclaim God’s glory to the world…we need simply to gaze up into the starry sky, glance at the blooming flowers, and listen to the bird’s singing to understand.
Psalm 48:14 ” For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”
We’re receiving guidance from many different entities right now…from the CDC, the Federal Government, and the State Government…not to mention all the local Health Departments. And all these parties involved are attempting to manage and direct us during this pandemic to the best of their ability. But as Believers, we need to also look to Godly guidance. God’s direction through His Word can not only guide us, but watch over us, and speak to us. (Proverbs 6:22) His Word leads and directs our course as we listen and obey…for it tell us in Isaiah 58:11, “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden , like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Philippians 2:4 ” Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Unfortunately, one of our least lovely traits have been highlighted by the Corona Virus…it’s called selfishness. We’ve seen it across the United States…people more concerned for their own welfare, with blatant disregard for others. (I still shake my head in amazement for the toilet paper hoarding.) But the Scripture above is very clear – we are to think of others. I Corinthians 10:24 goes on to say, “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” There is no place in a Believers life for selfishness and greed…”for love is not self-seeking.” (I Corinthians 13:5) And I know mandatory isolation doesn’t help becoming self-absorbed…but today, look beyond yourself. Focus your concern outward to others and show them the love that’s talked about in the 13th Chapter of I Corinthians.
Luke 12:22 ” Then Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, or what you will wear.’ “
I dare say that many of us have spent a great deal of time lately worrying. And what I’ve discovered is that worrying is exhausting…both mentally, physically, and spiritually. But what I also must admit – is that worrying is very counter-productive, doesn’t change anything, and only produces apprehension within me. But there’s something else worrying creates and Psalm 37:8 talks about it…”Do not fret – it leads only to evil.” The Greek word for “evil” here means harm and/or unbelief. In other words, when I worry, I’m telling God I don’t trust Him. Ouch! In this verse Jesus was telling His disciples to focus on Him, not the temporal…to concentrate on the eternal, not the material. Oswald Chambers summed this up well when he wrote, “God doesn’t give us overcoming life…He gives us life as we overcome.”
I Kings 4:29 ” God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”
God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart…a heart full of prudence and plain old common sense. I love the word prudence! To many it’s rather an old fashion word…but the meaning is very basic – good sense. Years back, a Doctor nicknamed me Prudence for how I conducted myself and worked with patients, and I took it as a compliment! During these difficult times we can all use wisdom, insight, and understanding from the Lord, and the good news is He’s willing to give it to us, for in James 1:5 it tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Acts 7:48 ” However the Most High does not live in houses made by man.”
Just as God cannot be contained (I Kings 8:27)… that even the highest heavens cannot hold Him (II Chronicles 2:6) so the Church is not limited by the building or four walls that surround it. For right now the Church is made up of people that can’t meet together…but the Church still exists and can still make an impact for the Lord. That’s because the Body of Christ, the Church, can still pray and reach out to others with the love of our Lord. For just as the tomb couldn’t hold Jesus…the Church cannot be contained either.
Jeremiah 16:21 ” Therefore I will teach them – this time I will teach them My power and might. Then they will know that My name is the Lord.”
When Moses asked God by Who he should tell the Israelite nation had sent him, God replied, “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14) This declaration is found over 6,000 times in the Old Testament and is the personal name of God by which He reveals Himself. For within the meaning is the timelessness and very foundation of all existence…by the Maker and Creator of all things. So in this verse in Jeremiah, God is making Himself known in order that we may recognize Him for Who He is…the all powerful, all sufficient, Almighty God.
Safetypinlove 