Monthly Archives: October 2023

October 17, 2023 · 5:39 AM

Complete Faith

I grew up hearing the stories of George Mueller. He was a man of faith who lived in the early 1800’s and cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. One morning the head mistress of the 300 children in the orphanage told him that the kids were dressed for school, but they didn’t have anything for breakfast or any money to purchase it. George told the kids to sit at the tables and they put out their place settings. He then thanked the Lord for providing food. Just then the local baker knocked on the door. He said he couldn’t sleep and thought the kids could use some bread. He baked all night and brought it to them. As soon as he left, there was another knock at the door. A milkman said his cart broke down just outside and he needed to get rid of the milk before it went bad. George kept a prayer journal and in it had over 50,000 times when God answered his prayers.

In Joshua 3, the Israelites had left the desert and were ready to enter the Promised Land. After a three day fast, the people consecrated themselves before entering. While Joshua was praying, God said, “Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there’” (NLT). In order for them to be able cross the Jordan, they had to step into the mud and the water. When the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the water, God then stopped the river so they could pass through on dry ground. When everyone had crossed, the priests stepped out of the middle of the river and it began to flow again.

James 2 tells us how our faith and actions are interlinked. He used Abraham putting Isaac on the altar trusting God to provide as an example. In verse 22 it says, “You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.” In almost every example I can find, people acted in faith before God answered their prayer. Not only did they ask God to provide or to help, they sat the kids down to eat, they stepped into a raging river and they tied up their son and raised the knife. Faith and action are interlinked. What is the step of faith God wants for from you for the prayers you’re asking Him for to be answered? Don’t just pray and believe. Act! Let your actions make your faith complete.

Photo by Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 16, 2023 · 5:47 AM

Seeking God’s Plan

We recent,y had a guest speaker at church who is also a professor at a Christian college. He told the story of how one of his classes asked him, “What do you think Christians struggle with most?” He then posed it to the audience and fielded responses. Some said loving others, obedience, overcoming temptation, etc. All the usual suspects were called out. He then said he asked his class for two days to ponder the question. As he thought about it, there wasn’t an answer for Christians as a whole because Christianity is made up of unique individuals with their own propensities and struggles. As I’ve thought about my own personal answer to that question, I’ve also thought about us as a whole and how we are good about praising God, but then forgetting what He’s done in the past, as well as, making decisions without involving Him or seeking His plan for us.

In 1 Samuel 13 King Saul been king for a couple of years and had seen God miraculously deliver him and the army in battle. In this instance, he had attacked a garrison of the Philistine army and then called the warriors to him for battle. While the arrived, he waited for Samuel to arrive to sacrifice and to seek God’s guidance and blessing. He began to see the Philistine army arrive in force and panicked. He made the sacrifice himself and the kingdom was taken from him. He acted much like israel did when leaving Egypt. They had seen God’s hand deliver them with the plagues, yet they forgot and began to doubt God at the Red Sea. Psalm 106:12-13 says, “Then Israel believed in [the validity of] His words; They sang His praise. But they quickly forgot His works; They did not [patiently] wait for His counsel and purpose [to be revealed regarding them]” (AMP). In each of these instances the consequences of forgetting and acting without waiting on God had dire consequences.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (NLT). Is this something you struggle with too? The consequences are too dire for us to continue trying to execute our own plan without seeking what God’s plan is. There’s too much at stake when we forget what He’s done in the past for us. James 1:5 tells us He will give us wisdom if we seek Him for it. In Matthew 6 Jesus told us to seek God’s kingdom first then everything else will fall into place. Let’s work on keeping our eyes and hearts focused on God even when our current circumstances want to make us doubt and forget what He’s done for us in the past. Let’s ask Him what His plan is for us and then give Him the freedom to execute it because His plan and purpose for us is what’s going to succeed. You probably won’t overcome your struggle overnight, but you can focus on getting a little bit better each day.

Photo by Glitch on Unsplash

2 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 13, 2023 · 5:29 AM

Every Good Thing

One of the habits that my wife and I are developing is to stop and thank God on the spot when something good happens. We’re pretty good at praying and taking our needs to Him, but most of the time when He answers, we just celebrate and move on. We believe it’s important to recognize when God answers. What we know about God is that every good and perfect gift we receive comes from Him (James 1:17). When good things happen, it’s from God. Think back over the last week, month and year. How many good things has God given you? Take time to thank Him for all the good things He’s done and given you because every good thing comes from Him.

Here are some Bible verses on good things from God.

1. You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised.

Psalms 119:65 NLT

2. Lord, how wonderful you are! You have stored up so many good things for us, like a treasure chest heaped up and spilling over with blessings— all for those who honor and worship you! Everybody knows what you can do for those who turn and hide themselves in you.

Psalms 31:19 TPT

3. You satisfy my every desire with good things. You’ve supercharged my life so that I soar again like a flying eagle in the sky!

Psalms 103:5 TPT

4. As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:11 GNT

5. They all wait for You To give them their food in its appointed season. You give it to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are filled and satisfied with good [things].

Psalms 104:27-28 AMP

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

3 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

October 12, 2023 · 5:30 AM

A Breath Of Fresh Air

When I was a senior in high school, I was given the gift of the trip of a lifetime to go camping in the Canadian Rockies. I went with a small group of other high school students who had completed the same milestone in this scouting program. As we pulled up to our first camping spot somewhere near Banff, Alberta, I remember the view was incredible. One of the trip leaders got out of the van and said, “Boys, get out here and take a deep breath of this fresh, mountain air!” I remember taking that breath. The air was crisp and cool. I think one of us even coughed from taking such a deep breath. The leader said, “That’s right! Get that city air out of your lungs. You’re breathing fresh air up here.”

When You read the creation account in Genesis, you will read that God formed man out of the dust of the ground. He shaped him, gave him fingers and toes, arms and legs, a brain, a heart and even lungs. Man has everything he needed to live, but was still laying lifeless on the ground until God bent down and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. His lungs filled with air and man became a living being. I believe that every one of us have that breath of life in us, but it gets covered up by the polluted air we breathe in this world. One way to replace that polluted air is to read the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed” (TPT). When we breathe in the Word of God, we breathe in what God exhaled and our lungs are filled with fresh air.

What will we do with that fresh air? Will we let it become polluted again or will we use it to allow others to breath in fresh air? In 2 Timothy 1:16, Paul wrote, “So many times Onesiphorus was like a breath of fresh air to me and never seemed to be ashamed of my chains.” Even Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament needed someone to be a breath of fresh air to him encouraging him with the Words of God. If he needed it, how much more do the people around you? The problem is that we can only breathe out what we breathe in. What have you been breathing in? Is what you’re breathing out life giving? Is it fresh air to those around you? If not, spend more time in God’s Word asking Him to fill, your lungs with His breath of life so that you can be someone who is a breath of fresh air wherever you go.

Photo by Chong Wei on Unsplash

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 11, 2023 · 4:51 AM

The Good Shepherd

Shepherding isn’t as common as it was when the Bible was written. Because it’s not part of our every day life, we lose some of the imagery of the Bible when it refers to them. I read a book where a pastor went to live with Bedouin shepherds in the Middle East for a year to help him understand it more called, “While Shepherds Watch Their Flock”. In one of his stories he asked them what it took to be a shepherd. He got various responses, but one stood out. This gentleman said that you have to have a heart for it and the sheep. He then said that his own son didn’t have a heart for the sheep. He followed that up by saying that because of that, he didn’t deserve the sheep and that he would rather sell his flocks than to give them to someone who didn’t love them because they wouldn’t care for them.

In John 10 Jesus shared the parable of the good shepherd. This shepherd knew his sheep and they knew him. They also knew his voice and followed him. He also shared how the shepherd protects the sheep and is the door for the sheep to enter and go out through because the enemy steals, kills and destroys the sheep. Then in verse 14 Jesus made it plain by saying, “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]” (AMP). As a shepherd, He has a heart for you and I. He knows us by name, cares for us and protects us. As sheep, we must listen for His voice and follow where He leads to receive what we need from Him.

In Ezekiel 34:12 God said that as a shepherd cares for his sheep, so He cares for us. Then in verse 16a He says, “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the sick.” As sheep, we are in constant need of our shepherd. We tend to wander off, try to do things on our own and get hurt. God, our shepherd, is there looking for us to bring us back into His protection, guidance and care. When we’re hurt, He bandages us up. When we’re sick, He heals us. He also strengthens us when we are weak because His grace is sufficient for us. You are not alone while facing these. The enemy who Jesus referred to wants you to feel like the shepherd doesn’t care or can’t see you, but nothing is further from the truth. He has the heart of a shepherd because He is the Great Shepherd. Call out to Him today with your needs and let Him rescue you through a deep, personal relationship with Him.

Photo by peyman toodari on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 10, 2023 · 5:43 AM

Motivated By Love

Think of some things you’ve done and accomplished. What was the motivation behind them? What drove you to accomplish them? I’ve been motivated by money in order to get something done. I’ve been motivated to be the best so much that it pushed me to my limits. I’ve been motivated by wanting to prove people wrong. I’ve also been motivated by my pride so that I was seen and praised. However, to be motivated by love is completely different. That causes us to go above and beyond. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus told them that it was to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then He said that the second one was to love others as we love ourselves. Love for God and others should motivate our actions.

In 2 Samuel 9 King David asked if there was anyone left alive in the House of Saul whom he could show kindness to because of his love for Jonathan. They told him that one of Jonathan’s sons had survived, but he had become crippled while being carried from his home once word came out that the king and Jonathan had been killed. This son, Mephibosheth, had been living in fear since he was young that the new king would find him and kill him to end the line of Saul. When he was summoned to the king, I’m sure he was terrified as he arrived. However, love casts out fear, and what he discovered was a man motivated by love and not fear of losing his kingdom. He was invited to stay there and sit at the kings table all the days of his life. This act of love from David pulled Mephibosheth from a life of hiding and obscurity into the life he was born into. He lived a life of abundance from then on and David was blessed because of his act of love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us]” (AMP). We love because God loved us first. We are to be motivated by that love in everything we do. Going back to my initial question, what’s the motivation behind what you’re planning to do? If it’s anything other than love, it’s time to reconsider how being motivated by love would change your actions. It’s not easy to do everything with a love that unselfishly seeks the betterment of others. We have to fight our selfish nature that wants to do things that are motivated by making you feel better, that benefit you and or bring attention to you. That is the opposite of what the Bible is asking us to do. Our motivating factors should be a love that honors God and benefits Him or honors and benefits others. It’s not easy, but it’s right.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 9, 2023 · 5:43 AM

Yielding To God’s Process

In high school I was on the varsity basketball team. At the beginning of each season coach would run us a lot to condition our body. He would make us do jumping exercises too so we could increase our vertical leap. It was after we were worn out that we would begin shooting practice. He wanted us in mid game condition so we could learn to shoot while our boys was tired. After that, we went through our plays and then ran some more. Finally, we had to make 100 free throws before we could leave. Coach always pushed us hard because he understood that while we had skills and talent, there was a gap from where we were to where we could be. His job was to increase our skills and our endurance which meant he had to push us.

Early in the Gospels we read where Jesus called the disciples to follow Him. Some were fishing when He asked them to give up catching fish so they could learn to fish for men. Matthew was in his tax collection booth when Jesus called and redeemed him. Each one he called was asked to give up their life, their routine and their normal life in order to learn from Him. They lived a nomadic life while they listened to each sermon, watched the compassion Jesus had and asked questions around the campfire at night. Jesus pushed these 12 men to be more than they were. He taught them, trained them and gave them opportunities to put into practice what He did. When He went to Heaven, they grew even more and turned the world upside down. It didn’t make sense to the outside observer, but because they had spent time with Jesus and submitted to being disciples, they changed the world.

Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now all discipline seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it” (TPT). God sees potential in you and wants to help you reach that potential. There’s a gap between where you are right now and where you could be. In order to get there, you’re going to have to submit to His process of discipleship. You’re going to have to endure being uncomfortable, being pushed and stretched so that He can produce in you a harvest like you’ve never experienced. It starts with yielding to Him as the authority of your life. You must give Him control rather than just letting Him be a guide. Discipleship is sitting at His feet, learning from Him, giving up what you want for what He wants and accepting His plan over yours. Only then will you reach the potential He’s placed in you and bring in a harvest like never before.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 6, 2023 · 5:27 AM

Being Open

One of the things I talk with people about is the difference between open posture and closed posture, as well as asking open questions versus closed. In each of these cases, the open one gives you more of what you’re looking for. The same is true when it comes to our relationship with God. There is a difference in our lives when we’re open to the things He wants to do in our lives versus being closed to them. The person who is open to God experiences more fullness in their life because He’s able to accomplish more through those who are open. Think about Jonah. He was closed to what God wanted to do in his life and through him. By contrast, Mary, the mother of Jesus was open. She prayed, “Be it unto me according to your word.” Their lives were drastically different. Take time today to let God know you are open to His will, His plans and His Word.

Here are some Bible verses on being open.

1. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.

Psalms 51:15 AMP

2. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:45 NLT

3. Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.

Psalms 119:18 AMP

4. Open your homes to each other without complaining.

1 Peter 4:9 GNT

5. The one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is saying now to the churches.

Revelation 3:22 TPT

Photo by Brian Lundquist on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 5, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Moving Toward Your Destiny

I spend a lot of time thinking about the future. Not just the future, my future and the plans God has for me. I wonder when the dreams and plans He has for me will happen. I try to make plans and prepare myself for the things He wants to do through me. Then there are times when I think about my past. I think about the ugly details and can’t help but wonder if my past is the thing keeping me from the future God has for me. It’s easy to look behind me and then mentally disqualify myself. It’s usually in those moments I hear the still small voice say, “You can’t undo my calling on your life. Just keep being faithful in the little things.”

Peter is a disciple we like to pick on, but his faith enabled him to do things that were written about. There were moments when he had great revelation and times when Jesus rebuked him openly. Jesus once told Him that He would use him as the foundation to build His Church on. Yet Peter is also the person who denied even knowing Jesus. I’m sure he wrestled with the same thoughts I do. Had he messed up so badly that God changed His plan him? That’s why I love that Jesus imparted the blessing to him by asking Peter if he loved Him. When Peter said yes, Jesus comforted him and told him that the deal was still on by telling him to feed His sheep. His past didn’t matter. His heart did.

Psalm 139:5 says, “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me” (TPT). Man looks on the outward appearance of things looking to disqualify ourselves or someone else from their calling, but God looks at our heart and the plans He has for us. He prepares the way and opens the doors for us. He uses the mistakes of our past, no matter how bad they were, to help us reach broken people with authenticity. He speaks His blessings of approval over us like He did for Peter. Do you love Him? Then go do what He’s called you to do. Quit worrying about all these other things and focus on your love for Him. He’s already prepared your way, so get moving on it toward your destiny.

Photo courtesy of Joel Protasio on Unsplash

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.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

October 4, 2023 · 5:51 AM

Burning The Ships

One of the most well known stories of the New World (whether true or not) is about Hernan Cortez. You may remember him from your history class back in the day. The story goes that in 1519 he had plans to conquer Mexico. As his men left their ships he wanted them to understand there was no turning back to their previous life. There also wasn’t room for failure, so he destroyed the ships. He wanted them to fight with everything they had and to leave the past behind. They fought for years to conquer the land. With the help of Allie’s they created, the weapons they brought and their determination, they were able to defeat the Aztecs and pave the way for the Spanish forces to colonize Mexico. The story of Cortez burning the ships has been used throughout history to illustrate points because it illustrates so many things including leaving things behind.

The Bible shares the story of the patriarch of Israel. God approached Abram, as he was called at that time, to ask him to leave his father and mother. Abram was asked to travel to a distant land that he didn’t know about or even which direction it was. I don’t know if Abram had to think about it or gave an immediate yes, but he left his life behind to follow where God led. Along with his story, Hebrews 11 also tells the account of Moses. Verse 24 says that when he matured, he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Instead of clinging to his comfortable life, he stood up for the freedom of the Hebrews. His burn the ships moment came when he stood before Pharaoh and demanded that they be let go. Because of their faith and willingness to walk away, God used them in mighty ways.

In Matthew 10:39 Jesus said, “Those who cling to their lives will give up true life. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!” (TPT) What has God asked you to leave behind? Have you burned those ships or are you keeping an open door to them? We tend to try to leave a way back because it’s comfortable to us, but that way back impedes our progress. Jesus has asked us to give Him our whole heart and life. Surrendering to Him and His will is the on,y way to the abundant life He offers. It’s time we all had a burn the ships moment in our life where we commit fully to the life He called us to. We like to identify with the results of Abraham, Moses and others listed in Hebrews 11, but not with the cost. True discipleship, true Christianity, is to no longer cling to the things that hold us back and to fully surrender our lives to Him. Ask Him today to show you what things you need to let go of and then fully commit to living the life He’s called you to.

Photo by Nathan Trampe on Unsplash

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,