Monthly Archives: September 2024

In the early 2000’s I became a NASCAR fan. I had watched several races with some friends and fell in love with the strategies involved in winning a race. After watching several races, my friend told me I needed to pick a driver and a team. I decided I like the number 16 Roush-Fenway Ford driven by Greg Biffle. A while later we got tickets to a race weekend and enjoyed the spectacle that was put on. They said Biffle was going to sign autographs on race day, but you had to get there early to get tickets. Traffic prevented that. I watched him sign autographs with several others who didn’t get tickets. I then positioned myself behind the trailer he was signing in. When he came out, I was the only one back there. He signed my hat, got in his golf cart and drove away. None of those other spectators got his autograph because they stayed out front.

1 Samuel 3:1-3 says, “The word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.Yet it happened at that time, as Eli was lying down in his own place…and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was” (AMP). I love this story because it points out a truth we so often miss. Eli stayed in his own place and Samuel was staying in the sanctuary. Samuel knew where the presence of God was at the time, and he positioned himself to hear from Him. When God spoke to Samuel, it took Eli a while to understand what was going on because he had been more concerned about his own comfort than hearing from God. He was waiting for God to come to him instead of positioning himself close to God.

James 4:8 tell us, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (NLT). There are many times when I wonder where God is and why I haven’t heard from Him. I think we all go through that. Instead of questioning where God is, I’ve learned to question where I am. Have I positioned myself to hear from Him? Am I doing things that draw me closer to Him or am I just sitting around waiting on Him? If it’s been a while since you’ve heard from God, look at where you’ve positioned yourself. Are you in a quiet place in silence waiting on Him? Are you spending time digesting Scripture? God has promised to draw close to us after we draw close to Him. Think back to the things you were doing when you felt His presence most. Are you doing those things still? If so, have they become routine? God’s desire is to meet with us and to speak with us. We must be willing to get in a position and place to hear from Him though.

Photo by Ben White 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.

Several years ago I was flying standby to Israel with a pilot friend of mine. We got to the gate and saw that I was number 15 on the standby list. He said, “I’ve been doing this a long time and you’re not going to be getting on this flight today.” I felt in my spirit that I was so I replied, “Have faith. It’s going to happen.” He said, li hate to burst your bubble, but I’ve never seen it happen. You’re not going today.” I said, li have faith. Let’s see what happens.” The people lined up and boarded the plane. He said, “I told you,” but they hadn’t closed the gate. Just then they green lighted the entire standby list up to my name. A plane carrying a bunch of people to get on that flight was delayed and opened the door. God made a way when there seemed to be no way.

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to send a leader from each tribe into the Promised Land to verify what He said was true. They came back bearing fruit showing what God said was true. However, they said there were giants in the land who were stronger than they were and wouldn’t be able to defeat them. Verse 30 says, “Caleb silenced the people who were complaining against Moses, and said, ‘We should attack now and take the land; we are strong enough to conquer it” (GNT). The others changed their tune and started saying the land wouldn’t support them and turned the group’s mentality so that they chose not to advance into the blessing God prepared for them. 40 years later, God allowed Caleb and Joshua the privilege of going in because of their faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]” (AMP). A big part of following Jesus is trusting His Word over what you see. You can let what you see steal the title deed from the Promised Land or you can stand on faith that sees beyond your physical senses and advance. The choice is always yours based on whose report you believe. Every promise of God will have obstacles and processes to receive it. By faith you will overcome and receive if you’re willing to trust Him and go through them. Don’t be stuck in the wilderness because of fear. Step out in faith and fight for what He’s promised.

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

After Adam and Eve sinned, shame entered the world. That shame caused them to try to cover up their sin and also to try to hide from God. Today, it still does the same thing to us. It speaks in our mind to tell us we’re not worthy of God’s grace. It says that We don’t deserve His forgiveness. It builds a wall in our relationship with Him and with others. It makes us feel as if we are the on,y one who has done this and that no one else could possibly understand in its effort to isolate us. Shame is something we all deal with on some level. It affects our behavior and attacks our identity. It knows if it can get you to question whose you are then it has the power to change how you act.

In John 13, Jesus had just been arrested in front of the disciples. Earlier that night, Peter had told Him he would fight to the death for Him. However, as Peter watched from a distance, he was questioned by a little girl saying he was a disciple. In that moment, he denied knowing Jesus. Two more times he swore he didn’t know Jesus, a rooster crowed and then Jesus turned to look at him. Peter ram outside and wept bitterly in his shame. Even after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them, shame had a hold on Peter. He went back to his old life of fishing. It took Jesus asking him to admit he loved Him three times to break the power of shame. Peter had to quit listening to the voice of shame telling him he was unworthy to be a follower and replaced that voice with the voice of Jesus saying, “Feed my sheep.” Listening to the voice of Jesus gave him his identity back.

In John 14:26 Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you” (GNT). Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us overcome shame. He reminds us of the words of Jesus that says you are His child. I love that the next verse says He will also give us peace. That peace shuts down the voice of shame. That peace helps us rest in the assurance that we can rest in His grace rather than to try to earn it. His promise to us to give us peace and the voice of the Holy Spirit are powerful tools to help you fight against shame that wants to make its home in your mind. Be like Peter and choose to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that reminds you of your identity in Him. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that says your past is not held against you because it has been cast into the Sea of Forgiveness. You have an ally in the Holy Spirit on your side to help you beat shame.

Photo by Jessica Mangano on Unsplash