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March 22, 2024 · 5:36 AM

Being Assured

Doubt is one of our enemy’s greatest weapons. Since the Garden of Eden he has tried to plant doubt in our minds. Doubt that what God said is true. Doubt that you are really saved. Doubt that God hears you when you pray. The list goes on. Doubt is not from God. He wants us to be assured that His Word is true, that our salvation is sure and that He hears us when we pray. He gives us assurances all throughout the Bible so that we may know these things and be fully convinced. When doubt arises, as it does with all of us at times, combat it with the Word of God. Faith and assurance come from God. Take those thoughts of doubt captive and bring them into submission to the Word of God.

Here are some Bible verses on our assurances.

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

James 1:3 AMP

2. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV

3. 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].

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

4. I’ve written this letter to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you will be assured and know without a doubt that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13 TPT

5. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

Colossians 1:23 NLT

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March 21, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Keeping A Clear Mind

I’m bad about losing my cool when things don’t go the way I planned. I like to look at a goal, see the steps that need to take place and then take those steps. When something unplanned happens along that journey, I start to stress out, think of the worst case scenario and complain. On the other side of the coin, when I come to my senses and have a clear mind, I have a great ability to improvise. I can make connections where there don’t seem to be any and get things back on track no matter how far off they are. It’s really a matter of self control in those times when my plans go awry. My wife usually has to be reminded that it’s not the end of the world and to step back, clear my mind and reassess.

Joseph, who was Jacob’s son, had a dream that went awry too. After expressing his dream that one day his mom, dad and brothers would all bow to him, he was sold as a slave where no one would bow to him. Instead of panicking, he held onto the dream. When he was accused of trying to rape his master’s wife, he was thrown in prison, even farther away from the realization of his dream. We never read where Joseph panicked or complained. We simply read of a person who did what was required of him in whatever situation he was in. He kept a clear mind no matter how crazy life got, and God’s plan still prevailed no matter what his circumstances were telling him.

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul reminded Timothy that no matter what, he should go,d true to his calling to preach the Word. Then he gave him insight that things will get messy and people won’t listen to his message. In verse 5, he wrote, “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you” (NLT). He was reminding him and us to do the work we were called to do no matter what things look like or how bad they get. Each of us have a ministry that God has given us. If we get distracted by the things going on around us, we will fail to do it. However, if we keep a clear mind, stay the course and continue working, we will carry out all God has created us to do.

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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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March 20, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Inwardly Strengthened

When I was around six years old, my parents put me in sports at the YMCA. Even though I had been raised in church, that is the first place I remember seeing or hearing the phrase, “spirit, mind and body”. We either used to recite their mission statement at practice or I saw it often. I had to look it up now, but it says, “To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.” That’s still a pretty good thing that each of us need to work on. Sometimes we’re concerned about our physical health, but we starve our spiritual health. Other times we focus on our mental health while we neglect our physical health. To be whole and healthy though, we really need to make sure we’re keeping all three healthy and strong.

In Ephesians 3, Paul writes an incredible prayer for the believers in Ephesus, but I believe it’s for us too as he expected his letters to be passed between the churches. In verse 16, he starts this prayer saying, “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (NLT). Here he’s praying for spiritual and mental strength for us. According to the next couple of verses, it’s so that Christ will dwell in our hearts as we trust in Him, our roots will grow down into God’s love to keep us strong and that we will be able to understand how wide, long and high God’s love is. Receiving those things begins with us being empowered in our spirit and mind through the Holy Spirit. No wonder he told Timothy that physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise has so much more (1 Timothy 4:8).

A healthier, stronger, more whole you begins with being empowered inwardly by God’s Spirit. We need to pray this prayer over our own lives often, and also make sure that we’re doing things that will strengthen our inner being. We spend a lot of time and money making sure our physical body is in shape, but we can’t do that at the cost of neglecting our spirit and mind. It’s our spirit that will live forever, not our physical body. As Paul said, both are important and have value, but one is more valuable. Bible studies, devotionals, prayer groups, church services all contribute to being inwardly strengthened, but if you only do it once a week, it will have the same value as going to the gym once a week. It’s time that each of us are empowered inwardly by the Holy Spirit. Once we understand God’s love in a greater way through that empowerment, we can make God’s love known and love others better.

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I’m traveling today and am posting a previously written devotion that I hope speaks to you.

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March 19, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Waiting In The Chaos

In the battle for Texas’ independence, people were energized to help the Texans after the battle of the Alamo. “Remember the Alamo,” became a popular saying that fired people up. Sam Houston was mustering an army to chase down Santa Ana. He had a few opportunities to fight with him, but chose to wait rather than to engage in battle. People, especially those in his army, were tired of waiting. They wanted to fight that instant. However, Sam Houston said that he had seen the battlefield in his mind and he refused to fight until he saw it in real life. People became disgruntled in the waiting. They didn’t join to follow Santa Ana around. They wanted action. When the approached the San Jacinto area, Sam Houston saw his battlefield, engaged in battle and won Texas’ independence.

In Exodus we read how the Israelites wanted freedom from Egypt. God heard their cries and sent Moses. After a series of plagues, Pharaoh finally agreed to set them free. In Exodus 14, he changed his mind and chased after them. The people were frightened because they had the Red Sea on one side and an attacking army on the other. In verses 13-14 Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (NLT). In a moment of fear and with no way out, God wanted them to be still and wait while he took care of everything. They didn’t have to figure it out on their own. They simply had to be still while God fought for them.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” It’s hard to wait when you need answers now. It’s hard not to fear when you’re facing insurmountable odds. It’s hard to be patient when you need God’s help now. However, the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s. We must learn to be brave in spite of what we see and what we’re being told. God is working things out and has a plan. Sometimes He works things out the way we expect and some times He works them out in unexpected ways. No matter what we know that He is working all things out for your good. Be patient and wait for Him. His plan is best and His pattern seems to be that He shows up in just the right time.

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March 18, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Absurd Faith

There is a church in Cairo, Egypt I used to visit when I lived there. They told me the story of a member of their church who stood up to the Ottoman’s as they were conquering Egypt. He was a man of great faith whom they nicknamed the Blind Shoemaker. They called him that because He saw a woman and began to lusted after her. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus said, “If your right eye seduces you to fall into sin, then go blind in your right eye! For you’re better off losing sight in one eye than to have your whole body thrown into hell” (TPT). He took that Scripture quite literally and blinded himself. He didn’t just take on eye out, he took both out. I remember almost laughing at the absurdity of that story when I heard it. As I’ve grown and my faith has deepened, I admire his faith now.

I’m in Rome today as I write this. As we were walking through the streets, we began to talk about the Apostle Paul and Peter who once were here. Paul was beheaded here in this city because of his faith. Peter was crucified because he refused to quit sharing his faith. One by one, when you look up the disciples and other members of the early Church, you find that they were tortured for their faith. Being dipped in boiling oil, facing an ax, being publicly humiliated, nor crucifixion could weaken their stance. They believed in the words that Jesus taught them so much that they were willing to lay down their life for it. I’m sure the Romans and others thought it was absurd that they would rather die and go through excruciating pain rather than to recant their faith.

In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways.” When I read this in light of the early Christians who have gone before, it causes me to ponder how deep my faith really is. Am I willing to share and experience the cross as Jesus and His disciples did? Am I truly surrendering my ways for His? The mark of a disciple is surrender. He are to submit to his way of life rather than our own. We are to follow Him in a culture that is against what we believe o matter the ridicule we might face. Are there parts of your life you’re still holding onto rather than nailing them to the cross or plucking them out? It may seem absurd at the moment, but the more of ourselves we get rid of, the more of Him and the life He give we can receive.

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March 15, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Standing On The Promises

When I was growing up, we used to sing a hymn called “Standing on The Promises of God” by Russell Kelso Carter. My favorite part of the song is the second verse. It says, “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.” I can’t count how many time the ground I was standing on fell out from underneath me, my life got flipped upside down or my well thought out plans failed. In those times when my mind wants to go to despair, I force it to think of God’s promises that cannot fail. They give my comfort, clarity and hope. Here are some of my favorite promises in the Bible that I stand on.

1. 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.

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

2. Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation. I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 TPT

3. Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 GNT

4. Be determined and confident. Do not be afraid of them. Your God, the Lord himself, will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 GNT

5. But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 GNT

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March 14, 2024 · 5:30 AM

God’s Timing

We once gave my son got a 3-D puzzle of Big Ben, the famous clock at Westminster Palace. This particular puzzle had a working clock on one side. After we built the clock, he asked if we could set the clock to London time. I then moved the hour hand six hours ahead. He said, “Wow! London is six hours faster than us?” Now, whenever he goes by the clock, he announces what time it is in London so we’ll know the difference in their time and ours.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that God has a different time than I do. It’s not as simple as a six hour difference though. He doesn’t look at time by the hour like we do. He looks at circumstances and how they line up to tell time. Whenever I pray for something, I’m typically looking at my circumstances and ask God to intervene in that moment. God’s timing doesn’t just look at what I want in that moment, he looks at the ripple effect and how that affects other moments.

Like a child wanting something at the store, I often demand that God answer right now! To me, what I’m asking for is urgent, but I’m learning that God has a plan and will answer in His time and in His way. In Psalm 69, David is praying desperately for God to answer him. He felt like he was drowning in his circumstances and he cried out to God to save him. Then in verse 13, he changed his tone. He prayed, “Answer me, God, at a time you choose” (GNT). He understood that God’s time was different than His and He trusted God’s wisdom over His desires. It’s a prayer we all need to learn so we can trust His timing.

Photo credit: Chris Hendrix

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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March 13, 2024 · 5:34 AM

Asking For Understanding

One morning, as I was commuting to work, I was flipping through the stations on the radio. One of the stations caught my attention as they set up their next bit. They called it “Dumb Question Amnesty”. Listers we’re encouraged to call in anonymously with a question about something everyone seemed to know, but you didn’t. There was a promise of not laughing at you or judging you on the air. The caller that morning was a female who had a date laugh at her and never called her back after their dinner. The man had taken her to a nice restaurant and as she looked at the menu, she saw something she wasn’t sure about and asked him what it was. He never answered, but only laughed at her. She wanted to know what type of fish filet mignon was. You could hear the silence on the radio as I’m sure they had to mute their microphones before they let her know it was a cut of beef.

All throughout the Gospels we read where Jesus was teaching a parable to the crowds, then later the disciples would privately ask Him what it meant. Each time Jesus would take the time to explain it to them. There were times, like in Mark 9, where Jesus was telling them about how He would die and be raised to life. In those moments, sometimes the Gospels tell us that they didn’t understand and they tried to figure it out on their own. In this instance in Mark 9:32, it says, “But the disciples didn’t have a clue what he meant and were too embarrassed to ask him to explain it” (TPT). Because they were too embarrassed to ask for understanding, His death was a complete shock and they devastated rather than excited for the resurrection. In hindsight everything made sense, but in the moment, their embarrassment kept them from understanding.

In Proverbs 2:3-4, Solomon is writing to his son saying, “Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures” (NLT). He understood that his teachings were deep and encouraged his son to ask for understanding. Then in verse 6 his wisdom directs his son and us what to do in those moments where we don’t understand. He said, “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” If you don’t understand something in the Bible or in life, cry out to the Lord for understanding and wisdom. There’s no embarrassment in asking and no reason to stay in the dark. God freely gives us wisdom and understanding when we ask for it as George Washington Carver once did. He said, “I asked God to tell me the mystery of the universe. But God told me that knowledge was reserved for Him alone. So I said, ‘Then tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ And he told me.” What will you ask God to help you understand today? Don’t be embarrassed to ask for understanding.

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March 12, 2024 · 10:30 AM

Practicing Obedience

I was driving home late one night when I noticed a car pulled off the road. The hood was up and there was a guy standing there looking at the engine. I immediately heard the Lord tell me to pull over and help. I thought of all the reasons why I shouldn’t, told myself it wasn’t God and kept driving. As I got to a red light about a mile up the road, I kept hearing the Lord tell me to help him. Then all of a sudden his hazard lights started blinking. I knew very few people were going to come down that road that late, and I knew what God was asking, so I made a u-turn. I’ve dismissed God’s voice enough in my life to know the regret that was coming if I didn’t obey. It turns out his car broke down over an hour away from home and his phone was dying. I was able to help him get a tow truck so he didn’t have to stay stranded.

What God asks us to do doesn’t always make sense in the moment. In John 2 Jesus was at a wedding and they ran out of wine. His mother tells the attendants to do whatever He says. He looks right at them and tells them to fill the stone jars with water. That’s an easy request. So they comply. Then he told them to dip some of that water out and take it to the master of ceremonies. That one didn’t make sense. They had just filled it with water. They hadn’t run out of water. They had run out of wine. The Bible doesn’t tell us if they hesitated or pushed back, but putting myself in their shoes, I might have. Nonetheless, they obeyed and found out quickly that Jesus had turned the water into wine. Everything worked out when they moved beyond hearing the voice of Jesus and obeyed.

James 1:22 says, “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice” (GNT). How many times have you felt you heard God ask you to do something only to dismiss it? You’re not alone. We’ve all done it. There’s a difference in listening to God’s voice and acting on it. Listening is easy. Action is hard at times. I pray every day that God would put me in someone’s path who needs a word of encouragement, hope to believe God hears their prayers or who needs to be blessed. By praying that, it causes me to listen for His voice throughout the day. When He points out a random stranger, I have to put it into practice or dismiss it. We all have that same choice daily. Will you obey that voice today or will you rationalize it away? Let’s look for ways today to practice obeying God’s voice by purposefully listening for His voice and determining to obey it no matter what.

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March 11, 2024 · 5:30 AM

A Season Of Restoration

Over a decade ago fires ravaged through Texas after a long summer drought. I know people who lost their houses, their cars and heirlooms. They were left with the charred remains of their property and their lives. It was devastating for so many. However, I remember driving through some of the burned areas the following spring. Trees that had been burned up had fresh shoots growing out of them. Flowers began to peek through the ashes on the ground. It was a beautiful sight to see as this new life began to spring up through all the devastation. I’ll never forget how the green was juxtaposed against the black everywhere. I immediately thought of the Scripture in Isaiah 61:3 that says God gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

If you don’t know, Job is the oldest book in the Bible. It’s the story of a man who lost everything in a day. His kids were killed in an accident, his livelihood was stolen by raiders and his food was destroyed in a storm. Just about everything unimaginable happened in an instant. The rest of the book is conversations between he and his friends looking for answers, looking to blame someone and questioning God. Then God shows up reminding them that we won’t always have the answers here because we don’t understand God’s ways. Then God restores what was taken from him because of his faithfulness in the time of devastation. It’s incredible that the first book written in the Bible is about pain and loss while revealing God’s restorative nature.

Job 14:7-9 says, “There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout. Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground, with water it will sprout like a young plant” (GNT). You may feel like Job today as you go through an unimaginable situation, pain or loss. You may look around your life and only see the burnt remains of what was everything you held dear. I’m here today to remind you of the restorative nature of God. What looks like an end is really a beginning. What looks like devastation is actually fertile soil for new life and growth. There is hope. God can create life in areas that have lain dormant and dead for years. He will give you beauty for your ashes, joy for your mourning and a garment of praise for your spirit of heaviness. You’re entering a season of restoration.

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