July 11, 2023 · 5:43 AM

Water In The Wilderness

When I was young, I loved the poem “Footprints In The Sand”. It tells of a person looking back on their life and seeing two sets of footprints. In the hardest times, there was only one set in the sand. They questioned why the Lord would leave them during the hardest times, but He replied that there was one because He carried them. Having been through some difficult times, I’ve learned that God doesn’t carry us in those times. I’ve also learned that it is normal to feel alone and even abandoned by God when we’re in the wilderness. What I do like in the poem is the idea of reflecting on the past. When we look back at the hardest times, we can see we were never abandoned by God, nor were we alone. He often uses those times to draw us close and even shows up in unexpected ways to meet our needs. The wilderness is often the path to growth.

In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah had literally had a mountain top experience. God had met him on Mount Carmel and sent fire from Heaven to burn his sacrifice. Israel began to turn from their false gods to serve the Lord. However, Jezebel wasn’t happy and wanted to kill him for it. His fear led him into the wilderness where depression took over. He wanted to die and felt alone. While he was sleeping an angel brought him food and water. He rested and the angel brought more. From there, he continued deeper into the wilderness and stayed in a cave where it was dark. Again God called to him and asked him what he was doing. He gave God a sob story about how bad his life was. God then called him out of the cave in the wilderness where he saw an mighty wind, an earthquake and a fire. All great signs, but God wasn’t in them. Then there was a still, small voice that God was in. Elijah found God in the smallest of moments in the wilderness rather than in big ones.

Isaiah 35:4-6 says, “Tell everyone who is discouraged, ‘Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.’ The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear. The lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy. Streams of water will flow through the desert” (GNT). If you’re in the wilderness right now wondering where God is, He is on the way to rescue you! He will cause stress to flow in your difficult time and make it a place of growth. You may be struggling to see Him now or even feel Him, but He is there caring for you and leading you through this time. When you look back at this period you will see how the still, small voice led you to a place of abundance. You are not forgotten. You are not forsaken. You are not alone. There is water in your wilderness.

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July 10, 2023 · 5:47 AM

Peer Pressure

We’ve been talking to our Sunday School class about peer pressure. They’re a bunch of middle school kids, but I told them that peer pressure never goes away. Even as adults were constantly pulled to worry about what others think and to do things that please the crowd. We also discussed how the longer it takes you to do something that God asks you to, the harder it is to overcome peer pressure that wants you to do something else. I don’t know why there’s this thing in us that wants to go along with the crowd, but it’s in there for most people. There’s a fear that people will make fun of us or reject us if we don’t go along. However, the road to Heaven is straight and narrow with only a few who are willing to not go with the crowd down the broad and wide path to destruction. We must learn to obey God no matter what the crowd thinks.

In Mark 14, Jesus was about two days away from being crucified. He was having dinner at someone’s house when a woman came into the room. She had an alabaster jar full of expensive perfume with her. Quickly she broke open the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head. The disciples and those at the table began to pressure her and scold her saying she just wasted that bottle. They told her she should have sold it and helped the poor. She didn’t try to defend herself as the crowd attacked her for her act of obedience. That’s when Jesus stepped in and spoke up. He rebuked them for shaming her and said that she had done what she could and had pre-anointed Him for burial. Then He said that wherever the Gospel would be preached throughout the world, her act of obedience would be remembered and discussed.

In Acts 5:29 Peter told the leaders, “We must obey God rather than men” (ESV). They were trying to pressure him to quit preaching in Jesus name. You may not be brought before a court like Peter, but you will be asked to obey God in front of other people. They may try to convince you that what you’re doing is a waste or try to shame you, but we must remember that it’s more important to do what God asks. At the end of your life, you will stand before God and give account. I think of that when I’m struggling between obeying and worrying about what others think. It’s more important to please God instead of others. I don’t know what God is asking you to do. I don’t know what forms fear and rejection will take to try to stop you. However, we must push past that fear and act quickly like the woman with the perfume. When we do, it will release a beautiful smell to Heaven that God will breathe in and He will defend us from the peer pressure.

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July 7, 2023 · 5:34 AM

Matters Of The Heart

Ive heard it said that your outer world will always be a reflection of your inner world. What’s in your heart will always find a way to the surface. Jesus said that the words we say are a reflection of our heart. Proverbs says that we are who we are based on what we think in our heart. It’s no wonder that when David sinned, He asked God to create a new heart in him. He didn’t want to be the person who committed adultery and then murderer. He knew he needed to become who God wanted him to be. The truth is we all need to become who God wants us to be and it begins in our heart.

Here are some Bible verses on the importance of the heart.

1. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 ESV

2. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7 ESV

3. A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body, But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 AMP

4. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23 TPT

5. For your heart will always pursue what you esteem as your treasure.

Matthew 6:21 TPT

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July 6, 2023 · 5:30 AM

Equipped And Ready

Gideon is one of those stories in the Bible that I go back to over and over again. He was scared of his enemies, so he was hiding when the angel appeared to him. The angel then greets him with, “Mighty Hero! The Lord is with you” (NLT). I’m sure Gideon had a confused look on his face and then looked around for the hero. He then asked a great question any of us would have asked. If the Lord is with me, why are things so bad? He didn’t get an answer though. Instead, the angel calls on him to save Israel from the very enemy he’s hiding from.

In Judges 6:14 the angel of the Lord said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” I love this response because it is a great picture of who God is. He calls us to do things in our own strength and giftings. When we see ourselves in the mirror, we think who we are and what we have is not enough. God sees beyond our fears and insecurities though. He sees who we can become if we would trust that He’s with us and will pick up the slack for the things we lack if we will simply step out with what we have already been given.

I believe every one of us are called to do something. There is a purpose and a plan that God has for each of our lives. It’s up to us to trust Him to be with us, and to walk in that calling. It’s time for us to quit looking at ourselves with these human eyes so we can trust what God sees in us with His eyes. It’s in our weaknesses and inabilities that His strength is made perfect. He only asks that we trust Him enough to do the things He called us to. If God has confidence in you, I think it’s time you had it too. Through Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. You are a mighty, valiant hero ready and equipped to do what He called you to.

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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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July 5, 2023 · 5:37 AM

Bothering Jesus

I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to bother famous people. If I see them in public, I’ll usually make eye contact and nod instead of trying to go up to them because they get it all the time. Several years ago I was at a conference put on by a household name. You could pay $150 to get a professional photo with them, but I had already spent a ton on the conference, plus flight and hotel. They told us that if we couldn’t afford it, we could ask them for a photo when we saw this person walking around. Sure enough they happened to walk right past me with their entourage. I called out, “Could I get a quick photo with you?” They stopped, but didn’t turn around to face me. A person in the entourage said, “They’re a busy person who can’t be bothered. We can’t stop and take photos with anyone who asks. You should sign up for one.” I bit my tongue in that moment, but lost a lot of respect for them.

In Mark 10, Jesus and His disciples were sitting around talking. A group of parents noticed Him and thought that they would take their kids over to be blessed by the Messiah. As they approached, the disciples jumped up and stood in their way. They scolded the parents for bothering Jesus. Verse 14 says, “When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children’” (NLT). It turns out He wasn’t bothered at all by these people who simply wanted to request a blessing.

I’m afraid that you and I feel like we’re bothering Jesus at times with our prayers or requests. We don’t take them to Him because He has enough people bothering Him. If that’s you, I want to remind you what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The phrase “all of you” jumps out. Jesus is inviting you and me to come to Him with our problems and burdens. He’s not too busy for us, nor is He overwhelmed by everyone else. It’s time to quit thinking you’re a bother to Him and to quit carrying that heavy load. It’s not yours to carry. He has a burden for you that is light and easy to carry, but you must approach Him. You are not a bother. You are His child.

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July 4, 2023 · 5:38 AM

Partnering In Prayer

I’ve had friends reach out for prayer for things because they know I’ll agree with them in that moment. I’ve also had friends reach out and ask for prayer saying, “The last time you prayed, God answered.” I’ve seen people healed, loved ones come to the Lord, children get adopted and more. I’ve also seen my prayers feel like they’ve fallen flat without an answer. I’ve fasted and prayed and have seen God move in what seemed like an unmovable situation. I wish I knew why some prayers go unanswered while others seem to be answered right away. No matter what they outcome, I still make my requests known to God. I still partner with others in prayer.

In Mark 9, a father brought his child to the disciples for prayer. After praying for him in front of the crowd, nothing happened. Arguing began to break out over it. Jesus walked up and asked what was going on. They explained the situation and brought the boy to Jesus. The father asked Jesus to help the boy if He could. Jesus then said that anything was possible for those who believed. He then asked, if the father believed. The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (NLT) Jesus then brought relief to the boy and his father. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t do it, Jesus replied that some things happen only through prayer and fasting.

In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” There’s power in the prayer of agreement. There’s power in fasting. There’s power in your faith. If you’ve been seeking an answer to prayer, don’t just keep repeating it. Ask God to help your unbelief no matter how strong you feel your faith is. Spend some time fasting and praying over it. Most importantly, partner in prayer with other people of faith. I believe faith gets multiplied when we pray together and invite God’s presence into the room. I believe God answers prayer today. Whatever you have need of, don’t stop asking. Don’t stop seeking. Don’t stop knocking. The effectual, fervent prayer avails much.

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July 3, 2023 · 5:43 AM

Occupational Ministry

There are times when we all forget that our occupation is often a call from God. We look at pastors, missionaries and the like and think that they’re fulfilling their calling, but miss the fact that God has wired each of us differently for different occupations. When I feel this way, I thunk of Casper Ten Boom, Corrie’s father. He was a watch maker in Holland. He worked all the time, but didn’t have a lot of money because he didn’t charge the poor for his services, gave money to those who needed it and took in foster children. His occupation provided means to share the Gospel. So when the Nazis invaded, his watch shop was used as the front door to the Underground Railroad to move Jews to safety. God used him to save hundreds because he was willing to save a few before there ever was a war.

When Jesus called the disciples, there were at their jobs. Several were fisherman who were cleaning their nets when He called them to follow Him. Dorcas was a seamstress in the New Testament who used her skills to make winter clothing for the poor. Pricilla and Aquila were tent makers who heard the good news about Jesus and gave their hearts to him. They continued making tents. Paul even joined them in making tents as he preached. When the Jews were expelled from Rome, Paul took them to Corinth to use their skills as tent makers and teachers. They trained Apollos, another mighty preacher who won the lost. The Bible is full of people whom God used in their occupation to share His love with others. Do you see your occupation as an opportunity for ministry or just a means to an end?

In Mark 16:10 Jesus says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (NLT). He shared this after telling a parable about a worker. Many of us want greater responsibilities and greater resources, but what are you doing with what you have right now? If you’re not using what you have now for His purposes, you won’t do it later. What is God asking you to do today in your occupation or with your current income? How you can benefit His kingdom with what you have and where you are? Start doing that, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem to you. Then God will open up greater doors of opportunity for you. Most of the people God uses have non-ministry occupations. Your job is not just a paycheck. It’s an opportunity to make a difference.

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June 30, 2023 · 5:41 AM

Building Endurance

In the Bible, the Greek word for endurance is hypomone. Strong’s Concordance defines it as, “The characteristic of a person who is not swerved from their deliberate purpose and their loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials.” Over and over the Bible says we must have this kind of endurance. We must be the type of person who keeps our eyes and mind on the things above and not lose our focus when things come against us. Our nature is to be like Peter where we take our eyes off Jesus and look at the storm around us. Like Peter, we can lose our footing if that happens, but God is gracious and helps us back up so we can continue. If you’re going through trials, remember your purpose and reset your focus. You’re building an endurance that is necessary to your faith.

Here are some Bible verses on endurance.

1. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

Colossians 1:11 NLT

2. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.

Hebrews 10:36 AMP

3. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

2 Peter 1:5-7 NLT

4. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT

5. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].

James 1:3 AMP

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June 29, 2023 · 5:40 AM

Waiting On The Lord

If you know me, I live a very busy life. I’m constantly on the run doing things and going places. My days are fairly structured so I can fit everything in that I need to. The problem is living like that over long periods of time can be exhausting both physically and mentally. It feels like you’re burning the candle at both ends. Some days, I wake up and pray, “Can’t I just sleep in today, Lord?” What I’ve found though, is that I get refreshed and recharged as I spend time in God’s presence, waiting on Him to speak, trusting that He will come through for me and putting my hope in Him.

There are so many things in life to worry or stress about. If I’m not careful, I can let them overwhelm me and render me ineffective. The best way I’ve found to combat those is to pray without ceasing (having a dedicated prayer time, but continuing the conversation throughout my day), spending quality time in God’s Word (thinking about what God is saying, why He put that information in the Bible and how I can apply it) and spending quiet time in His presence (quieting my mind and thoughts in a place and time with no distractions). If doing these things are not a priority, life can overtake you easily and you will be exhausted, stressed and feeling like you can’t go on.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (NLT). Every one of us experiences being weary and tired, but not every one of us experiences new strength. It takes being dedicated and intentional about your time to wait on the Lord doing the things I mentioned above. They don’t just happen. You must plan them into your day and make those times sacred so that nothing is more important. If you find yourself exhausted today from running around nonstop, find some time (30 minutes to an hour) to wait on the Lord. If you just thought, “I don’t have that kind of time in my day,” neither did I, so I started waking up an hour earlier. Waiting on the Lord has to become the most important thing to you, even more important than some sleep.

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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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June 28, 2023 · 5:39 AM

The King’s Table

In 2012, I had just started writing. In order to learn more, I signed up for a writer’s conference in San Diego. When I checked in at registration, the lady opened my packet and said, “Here’s your invitation to breakfast with author of “The Shack” William Paul Young. Here is your ticket to meet with the most connected man in America, Peter Strople. And here is your invitation to breakfast with church statistician George Barna.” Confused, I told her I didn’t pay for those. She replied,Lowell, they’re in here. Enjoy the blessing.” I honestly felt unworthy of it and tried to reject the offers. There were better writers there, people with thousands more readers and those who would have given anything to sit down with these people. In the end, I accepted the blessing and those meeting changed my life because I sat down at the table with them.

In 2 Samuel 9, King David remembered his promise to Jonathan to take care of his descendants. When he found out Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was still alive, he sent for him. Mephibosheth was scared because normally kings killed the descendants of other kings, but David assured him he was safe. He had been living in the land of Lo Debar which means “the land of nothing”. Now, David was inviting him to eat at the king’s table. Mephibosheth refused and referred to himself as a dead dog, but David insisted. He then blessed Mephibosheth by giving him all of King Saul’s property and servants to work the fields. Verse 13 says, “So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. And he was lame in both feet” (AMP). Instead of disqualifying himself, he accepted the blessing of eating at the king’s table.

Psalm 23:5 says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows.” God has prepared a table full of blessings for you. Have you been disqualifying yourself and missing out on the blessing? We can easily see why others deserve a seat, but we find reasons why we’re not worthy or able to sit at the king’s table. God is bidding you to come and dine. Don’t dismiss the blessings He’s trying to give you. There’s a seat for you that He has prepared. He wants to anoint you, refresh you and cause your cup to overflow. Quit finding reasons to not sit down. It will change your life. Accept the blessings God has for you by telling Him that you want to sit and dine with Him always. He will take you from the land of nothing into a land of abundance when you quit disqualifying yourself and sit at His table.

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