Category: devotional

“The Lord Will Provide” Do you Really Believe it?

We use this phrase from time to time.
It is sometimes used as a blanket statement to instill hope.
We often cling to it in to times of trouble – “The Lord Will Provide!”
This phrase might be uttered from our lips in the direction of someone who is hurting, in dire straights or a person whose problems seem insurmountable – “Well, the Lord will provide!”…

meanI wonder sometimes if we truly mean what we say.   And what if we say those words with a half-heart and the Lord doesn’t provide for that person…could they end up blaming God, faith for their hurt?  What if we say those words and nothing happens?  What kind of testimony do we present to the world through half-hearted comments and insincerity of faith?  Are we doing more damage than good with our niceties and generalities?

These words seem to flow from our tongues very easily, almost as easily as the age old response of “I will pray for you”.  So, let me ask you (and me), does this phrase carry any weight?

What does it mean?  When we utter “The Lord will provide” do we infer with others who are enduring hardship that perhaps they should pray a little harder?  Is it said with a hint of apathy?  OR is there a heart-felt sincerity laced within our response?

I’m not saying this phrase isn’t true.  happen
I have seen the provisions of God.
I have witnessed miracles take place in people’s lives.
I know He IS there for you and for me.

But, as a follower of Christ, as God’s chosen people, perhaps we must recognize the weight of the words that we say.  There IS significance, there IS meaning behind our utterances and yepcliche’ “Christianese” phrases.  The big problem is that these phrases can lose their significance and meaning if we simply overuse them without thought or true heartfelt faith.  Anything can become routine or ritual – devoid of meaning if faith and belief are not sincere and present in them.  This is ESPECIALLY true of our words!

Questions to Ponder: 
What are my motives when consoling one who needs my support?
How can I avoid insincerity and polished phrases devoid of meaning?
Do I truly believe that the Lord will provide?
What kind of evidence is there of my claims?

Prayer: 
Lord, renew me today.
I desire to be Yours and yours alone!
Teach me to walk in Your ways even when the going is tough.
Help me to have faith in the midst of uncertainty and fear.
Help me to be Your light in my corner of the world today.
May the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)
-Amen.

Something more to ponder today.
To God be the glory!

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“Let Go and Let God”

What it means: 
We have concerns and worries in life – this is a constant.
Perhaps there are days when we have trouble sleeping at night because our minds are racing with all of the things that still need to be done at work.  We can often face anxiety attacks and troubles with our health if we allow these stresses and worries to consume us.
worry
Jesus talked about worry –
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

This is how we are to let go and let God – We have to be able to release the stress, the strain, the fear and worry.  It is one thing to say “I’m going to give it to God” and a completely different thing to ACTUALLY give it to Him.  We clutch these fears and worry ever so tightly and we rarely relinquish it because we are afraid to admit we don’t have the strength and we need help.

When we finally admit to ourselves that we have been holding back on giving God all of our cares and burdens (1 Peter 5:7)  we can then allow His Holy Presence into these deep recesses of our pride and heart.  It will hurt.  It will pain us to do so, but within this deep communion with Him we will begin to alleviate our worry and fear.  He is more than willing to take from us these burdens and fears.

What It Doesn’t Mean
Do not use this phrase as a crutch.  response
One could say “well, I’ve given it over to God so I do not have any more responsibilities to take care of”  – Nothing could be further from the truth.  We have this wonderful thing called “free will” which allows us to take control of our lives and make decisions.  We have a responsibility within our faith walk.  We either make good decisions or poor decisions.  Saying “Let Go and Let God” shouldn’t be a catch-all phrase for slacking in our relationship to Him.

It also doesn’t mean that life will suddenly become easier and these worries and problems will disappear.  We can relinquished our stranglehold on burdens, but they will still occur.  It seems like a contradiction but in truth we face them with a Higher perspective and within the lenses of His Kingdom.  “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”

Let Go And Let God? 
walkIn the right context – Yes.
But remember He longs to journey beside us.  He longs for our fellowship each day.  Allow Him access to your heart, to your life and His presence will provide the salve that you need in the midst of the storms you are facing right now.

Something more to ponder today!

To God be the glory!

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“Finding Refuge”

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  “Selah” -Psalm 46:1-3

How are you today?
Do you feel beat up, crushed, broken and worn out?
How is your spirit?
Are you running on empty today?

There is much in the world that never seems to turn out right.
There is so much pain and suffering in our world!
Sometimes I feel as if this world is hopeless and that evil has won.
Sometimes I turn on the tv and hear news stories or genocides, terror, natural disasters, political tensions and it all just seems to inundate our lives.  Is this all that we are?  With all of our progressive science and medicines and technologies we still see death, famine, disease and death.

Some would say that this is just life, they way it has always been.
I’m not happy with that simplistic answer.   It seems too apathetic to me, too jaded.
Innocent die every day in every corner of the world, and we could compartmentalize this and say, “well at least it’s OVER THERE, and not here…”  Really?  Are we not all human?  Are we not all connected to the very fabric of what makes us live on this earth?  I don’t presume to have the answers to the sickness of our world, but I do know that there is refuge.  I do know that there is hope.  I do know that we can must rise above this existence!

Finding the Strength to overcome? 
It comes from God – “God is our refuge AND strength...” (Psalm 46:1)
Is God something evident in our lives today?
Are we relying on His strength?
Is He accessible to you?
Do you call out to Him in your desire to find refuge from your problems, sickness and fears?

He is our ever-present help in times of trouble! (Psalm 46:1)
When we recognize Him for who He is, we can find the strength and courage to overcome.
When we seek out His refuge in our lives, it makes all the difference in the world.
In fact the writer of this particular Psalm states that even if the earth gives way and everything crumbles before us we don’t have to fear.  Why?  Because God is near.  God will be our strength.  God will be our refuges. The creator of the very earth that is crumbling before our feet is there to offer His help to us.

I don’t know what is going on in your life today, but I do know that there is a mighty God who wants to be included in it!  He wants to be your guide, your refuge, and your strength!  If you’re seeking refuge the deluge of life today, look no further…because God is there!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help me in my day to day, moment by moment.  Help me with the problems that I am facing today.  You know my situations and I am seeking refuge in your loving arms!  Grant me peace, allow me to feel your strength and guidance just now.  In your Holy name I pray these things.  -Amen.

Something more to ponder today, He can and will be your refuge in your times of trouble…do you trust Him?
God bless!

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Perspectives Day #3 Featuring Major Leti Crowell

Perspective on God’s Timing- Is He Slow or is He Patient?

Ingredients of the Soul

2 Peter 3:9 (New Living Translation)

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Value Meal

John Wesley says this about God; “Therefore “he is long-suffering:” he gives us space for repentance, without any inconvenience to himself.” How wonderful to know that God always wants the best for us. So what is the best for us and how is repentance best for us? He wants all His children to enter the Kingdom. I look at it this way, when I make a mistake, big or small it changes me for the worse and I feel horrible and full of remorse, so when I ask God to forgive me I not only ask Him to forgive me, I ask Him to change me and not back to how I was before my mistake but to change me and make me even better. It’s simple, I want to practice living my life here on earth as I will live it in heaven. God wants that for all of us, to change us for the better to not be destroyed and wind up in eternal hell but to have an eternal life in the kingdom of His Heaven. We can never understand God’s timing in the moment of our petitions to Him but we do come to realize His timing when our petitions have been answered. How wonderful to know that he is not being slow but being patient on our behalf His promise will happen in His time and when it does we must be ready.

Prayer

Dear God, How amazing it is to me that you are patient for us. A thousand years is to one day for you. You give us chance after chance to get it right. Thank you for sending your Son our only way to you so that we can confess our sins to Him. Amen.

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Come All Who Are Weary And Burdened…

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…”  Matthew 11:27-29

As a pastor I find these word of Jesus to be both refreshing and comforting.
We all face times in our lives when we feel anything but comforted and rested.  This passage isn’t really about physical rest though is it?  Jesus says that if we learn from Him we will find rest for our souls.

Questions:
“Say is your soul weary?”
Are you dealing with trouble far too heavy for you to care for on your own?
Is your soul, the very fiber of your being, worn out, discouraged, defeated, burned out?
Are you tired of doing it your way only to find another dead end?

If any of these questions resound in you today then perhaps it’s time to let go of the strangle hold that you have on your life and allow God to help you.  It isn’t about losing control of your identity, it is about gaining a deeper, richer identity in Christ.  Our paths lead to temporal successes and failures, God’s path leads us to eternal successes and victories.

Are you in need of rest for your soul?
Are you in need of some soul-care?
His path is not easy, but we will find comfort and peace in knowing that He is with us each step of the way.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.

Something more to ponder today…have you allowed God’s Yoke to be placed upon you?  His rest and peace for the soul is beyond measure!  Ponder that!

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