Monthly Archives: September 2023

September 15, 2023 · 4:46 AM

Trusting God’s Faithfulness

One of my favorite hymns has always been “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. We sang it all the times when I was young. As an adult, I’ve come to trust and rely on the faithfulness of God. In the original language of the Old Testament, the word faithfulness means to be steady or steadfast. In a world where change is rewarded, it’s good to have something steady to hold onto. When life gets flipped upside down, you can count on the faithfulness of God to be your rock. He doesn’t change with the times or culture. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Like the North Star in a sea of turbulence, He is there faithful and steady to guide us if we will keep our eyes on Him. There’s nothing you or anyone else can do to keep Him from being faithful to His Word. If you need an anchor today, call out to Him. He will be faithful to answer and guide you.

Here are some Bible verses on God’s Faithfulness.

1. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT

2. Remember that the Lord your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 GNT

3. Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word].

Hebrews 10:23 AMP

4. But if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 TPT

5. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and keep you safe from the Evil One.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 GNT

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September 14, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Closing Wounds

If you know me or have followed this site for a while, you know my story. I was deeply wounded by the person I trusted most in the world. For years, I held onto that pain to the point that it was keeping me from living the life God wanted me to. Then God spoke to me through an evangelist. He said, “It’s in your scars that others will find their healing.” I spent months going back through the wound so I could let it go and forgive. I needed to let God bring healing into my own life first before He could use it to heal others.

I think that one of the greatest tragedies in life isn’t that people hurt us, it’s that we carry those wounds with us to the point that they limit us. When we allow our identity to be found in our wounds, we minimize who we are in Christ. Doing that keeps the wound open and we walk through life with this raw emotion that allows us to stay hurt which keeps us from making deep connections with people. We then hide behind the pain of the past and use it to keep people at a distance, but that’s not God’s way of doing things. He wants to close our wounds and heal us by helping us forgive.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us” (TPT). When we let go of our wounds, they begin to heal. When they heal, they create scars. People don’t find healing in our wounds, they find healing in our scars for they are proof of God’s work in our life. They carry in them the hope for someone else that their wounds will one day be closed.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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September 13, 2023 · 5:37 AM

Understanding Later

As a parent, you often have to make hard choices for your kids. There may be certain music you won’t let them listen to or movies you won’t let them watch. There are games you prevent them from playing that all their friends are playing. It could be a party or get together that you keep them home from. You’re doing it for their good and their future, but many times they don’t understand. They accuse you of all kinds of things when you make tough decisions. You hope that one day they will understand and appreciate what you did for them even though it was uncomfortable at the time.

I’m sure Joseph didn’t understand when he was attacked by his brothers, sold into slavery and put in prison in a foreign country. At the end of the story we see that all his troubles were about maturing him and putting him in position to save his family. His great grandfather faced some difficulties as well. Abraham was asked to move away from his family and the life he had always known. He wasn’t even sure where he was headed until he got there. God’s promise to him was 25 years slow in the making as well. Because he obeyed and was uncomfortable during a season, he was able to see and live in the land God would give his descendants. All throughout the Bible we see where God asked people to do uncomfortable things without them understanding in the moment. He was asking them to trust Him with their future.

In John 13, Jesus and the disciples were in the room about to have the Passover dinner when Jesus put on an apron, got a bowl of water and began washing their feet. Peter protested and didn’t want the Messiah to do such a lowly task. In verse 7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (GNT). We usually don’t understand much of what God does for us in the moment. It’s often uncomfortable or even painful, but He has a plan. In every case where I went through difficult situations and I look back on it years later, I can see the hand of God protecting me, positioning me and growing my faith. If you’re there now, trust His plan and know that while you do not understand now what He’s doing, you will later on in this life or the next.

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September 12, 2023 · 5:45 AM

Getting More Followers

During the pandemic a girl on TikTok licked a toilet seat on an airplane to get more views. Let that sink in. Later on she went on Dr. Phil’s show who asked her why and she said, “I was really annoyed that Corona was getting more publicity than me.” She went on to say that did it for clout. She, like so many of us on social media, become addicted to likes, views and follows. We have assigned value to people based on these things. The more of them you get, the more you’re considered an influencer. Because it feeds our ego, if people start losing followers, people start to do crazy things like licking a toilet seat on an airplane to get them back. This isn’t a phenomenon that’s just started. It’s been around for thousands of years.

In John 12, Jesus had been in ministry for 3 years and crowds followed Him. They wanted to see the next great miracle or even be a part of it like when He fed the 5,000. He continued to point people to God and repentance throughout His ministry. The Pharisees were livid that they were losing followers and clout and plotted to kill Him over it. Verse 43 says, “For they loved the glory that men could give them rather than the glory that came from God!” (TPT) Sounds familiar. However, we can contrast that with John the Baptist, who in John 3 was approached by his followers who were upset because people were leaving their ministry and “flocking to Jesus.” In verse 30 he replied, “It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease.” He understood that we must get people to follow Jesus rather than us.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (NIV). Are you trying to get followers for yourself or for Jesus? Are you following people or following Jesus? These questions get to the heart of our ego and remind us of what our purpose is. We can easily get caught up in the madness of trying to get more followers and then start doing ridiculous things when we lose them. If our goal is to follow Jesus and to get others to follow Him more than they follow us, then it’s hard to fall into that trap. John the Baptist understood the assignment. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with clout, being an influencer and getting millions of views as long as it’s not controlling your perceived worth and driving your life. Don’t just try to get people to follow you. Get them to follow Jesus instead.

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September 11, 2023 · 6:13 AM

Releasing Anxiety

I heard a stat the other day where a survey said that 84% of Americans are stressed out or anxious constantly. These feelings usually come from a worry or fear of the future. We play out scenarios in our head of things that are coming, but it’s only the worst case scenarios. We are also stressed by not being able to control situations or outcomes. These things get our mind caught in a loop of thoughts that produce a stress and anxiety that we can’t escape. It’s tough to break this cycle of bondage. We often don’t look at stress or anxiety as bondage, but that’s what it is because it immobilizes us, takes over our mind and keeps us from living out God’s plan for us.

In John 14, Jesus was giving the disciples some final words before He was crucified. He knew what the future held, but they didn’t. He knew they would panic and scatter so he wanted to reassure them. He started off the chapter by saying, “Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me” (GNT). In times where we’re feeling overwhelmed, trust in God and His plan. His will is going to happen no matter what, and it’s a good plan. Just as He was reassuring the disciples here, He wants us to be reassured He’s in control. He spent this entire chapter trying to get them to think long term rather than to focus on the moment. Then concluded in verse 27 with, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.” He put a bookend on the conversation reminding them of His peace and to not worry or be anxious over what’s going to happen.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lord’s will is going to be done.” There is nothing you or I or anyone else can do to prevent God’s will from happening. You can’t mess up His plan either because He causes everything to workout for good. When the cycle of anxiety and stress try to put you in its prison cell, put on the Helmet of Salvation and begin to pray, “Lord, I know you are in control. I give this situation to you in exchange for your peace. Give me wisdom in what to do so that I accomplish your plan for this. Give me the mind of Christ so that I won’t be worried, upset or afraid. I know you have a plan. Use me in whatever way you want. Amen.” Releasing what you can’t control to the One who can control is how we find peace. His will is going to be accomplished no matter what. Give it to Him and ask Him to use you in it. He will exchange His peace for your anxiety and stress.

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September 8, 2023 · 5:31 AM

God’s Rewards

Did you know that God will give out rewards in Heaven? We often think of a reward as money given for finding something lost, but it’s more than that. The dictionary also says it’s a consequence for a behavior or a return on investment. I believe these are more in line with what God has for us. In the very beginning God created the Law of Sowing and Reaping. What we sow on earth, we will reap in eternity. God offers rewards for many things in the Bible. Will the things you’re doing today bring you a reward in Heaven? If there are behaviors and actions that are important enough to God that He will reward them, they should be important to us enough that we strive for them.

Here are some Bible verses on the rewards God gives.

1. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done.

1 Corinthians 3:8 GNT

2. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

Hebrews 10:35 NLT

3. No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 GNT

4. He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

Matthew 10:41 AMP

5. But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.

Jeremiah 17:10 NLT

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September 7, 2023 · 5:30 AM

A Useless Life

Have you ever considered what your epitaph might say? There are some pretty unique ones out there like Merv Griffin’s that says, “I will not be right back after this message.” Others are more sentimental expressing love for family. Some denote anger because they felt abandoned in their final days by those they loved. Epitaphs can be as unique as the individual, but I shave never seen one that reads, “Here lies a person who lived a useless life.” However, the truth is that what’s not done for eternity and others is often useless. The last thing I would ever want is to have lived my life only to get to Heaven and find out my life had been useless for God’s Kingdom.

The book of Titus is not a book most of us know well. However, in it Paul gives instructions on the importance of discipleship and teaching others how to live for God. In his closing statements, in Titus 3:14, Paul writes, “Our people must learn to spend their time doing good, in order to provide for real needs; they should not live useless lives” (GNT). Another translation says, “unproductive lives.” God’s idea of a productive and useful life is one that helps others find Him, provides for those in need and brings people into a mature faith. I know that doesn’t encompass all of it, but Paul’s message to Titus was that he should be doing these things and helping other believers to do them as well.

1 Corinthians 3:13 says, “And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.” That Fire will reveal whether we lived useful or useless lives. Every one of us will stand before Jesus on that day with our lives and the things we did presented to Him as an offering. Will the things you’re doing now survive that fire? We must live our lives with that fire in mind. There’s an old poem by C.T. Studd that reminds us, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” If you haven’t been living with the end in mind, you can start today and still have an offering that will survive that fire and show your life wasn’t useless.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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September 6, 2023 · 5:36 AM

Embracing Your Uniqueness

In September of 2020, Nathan Apodaca’s truck broke down on his way to work. He grabbed his long board and a bottle of Ocean Spray cran-raspberry juice and kept going. He decided to video himself riding and drinking for his TikTok account. He added “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac and became a viral sensation with 35 million views. Then 134,000 other people copied it within a month trying to go viral too. If you watch Tik Tok or Reels from Facebook or Instagram, as soon as someone does a video that catches people’s attention, a lot of others do their own version trying to get views. The trend seems to be pressuring people to be copies rather than originals.

Psalm 139:13-14 says, “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex! Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. It simply amazes me to think about it! How thoroughly you know me, Lord!” (TPT) In Jeremiah 1:5 God said, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations” (NLT). Then in Ephesians 2:10 it says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” All of these verses tell me that God created you as a unique individual with a unique plan for your life. Don’t spend your life copying someone else’s life.

In Galatians 6:4 we’re told, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” God created you with a specific purpose and job to do. It’s when we get caught up in the comparison game that we start trying to copy what others are doing. Don’t fall for that lie that tries to distract you from your purpose. My friend’s dad used to say, “You were born unique. You need to die unique.” Embrace your uniqueness. Embrace your strengths and weaknesses and run the race God called you to run. Just like a real race, you must stay out of the other runner’s lanes. God gave you your own lane to run in so you would complete the work that’s as unique as you are. It’s time we all embraced our uniqueness.

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September 5, 2023 · 5:42 AM

God’s Peace

Finding peace in our lives is something we’re all after. It’s stressful to live in turmoil. However, there are two different kinds of peace. There is a peace that God gives and a peace that the world gives. Worldly peace is purely circumstantial. It’s only around when things are good. As soon as something bad happens, the peace inside leaves. This kind of peace is temporary because it’s dependent on you being able to control your circumstances. It’s the opposite with the peace God gives. With His peace you can have peace in the worst of circumstances. There can be chaos all around you and you’re not afraid, nor are you disturbed by it. You can rest in the strongest of storms because you know that He is in control.

In 1 Samuel 17, the battle lines were drawn between Israel and the Philistines. There were the normal nerves of war on both sides until Goliath stepped onto the battlefield. He was their champion and stood almost ten feet tall. Israel lost their peace and began to panic as he taunted them. For forty days they lived without peace as Goliath stepped out. When David arrived and he saw Goliath, he didn’t fear. His peace came from the Lord. He knew the battle belonged to God and not on any soldier. Even as he stepped out to fight Goliath, the Israelite army had fear and were resigned to being beaten. David knew who he was and who he belonged to. He knew God would give the victory as he swung his sling and released the rock. His peace came from God and he won the victory that day.

In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge]” (AMP). Jesus is offering you a peace that can calm you in any circumstances and help you no matter what you’re facing. It requires you to look beyond what’s happening right now in front of you and to look to Him instead. It trusts Him no matter what the outcome is because He is in control. Don’t let your current situation trouble you the way the Israelites were troubled on the battlefield. Receive God’s peace and walk in victory like David did. God gives strength and courage for whatever battle you’re in and His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:7).

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September 4, 2023 · 5:44 AM

Imperfect Conditions

One of the things we know but forget to take into account is that we live in an imperfect world. Yet somehow we still look for the perfect in it. We look for the perfect situation financially so we can give. We look for the perfect schedule to help someone, or even the perfect situation to begin something new. We say, “If I had more money, a better schedule or all my ducks in a row then I would…” Those are excuses to delay while you wait on everything to be perfect. The problem is that perfect never comes and we’re left sitting on the starting line with a lifetime of would’ve, could’ve should’ve. The hardest steps in doing anything is always the first. After that, you have momentum helping you.

In the book of Ezra, the Israelites were in captivity in Persia where they had been for decades. In the first year of the new king’s reign, God put it on his heart to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem that the previous king tore down. God stirred the hearts of many leaders and priests to return. Even though they had the backing of the king, they were afraid of the locals as they rebuilt the altar first. This fear of others and the felling that the timing wasn’t right caused a two year delay before they began to work on the foundation. When they completed the foundation, their enemies showed up, but because they had momentum, they rejected their enemies and started building. Then in Zachariah 4:10 the Lord said, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand” (NLT). God rejoices when we begin doing things for Him, no matter how small a step we take.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything” (GNT). There will never be perfect conditions to do what God has called you to. There will never be enough time, enough money or enough support from others to get started. The enemy uses this “logical” thinking to keep so many Christians standing on the starting line without ever beginning the work God has given them. Don’t take a ready, set, go approach to doing what God has laid on your heart. Instead take a go, set, ready approach. The Lord rejoices to see you begin. Everything that has ever been done for the Lord started with one small step of faith. They didn’t have the perfect conditions either. The difference is they didn’t let fear stop them. They took a step and planted seeds with imperfect conditions. It’s your turn to take that step.

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