Monthly Archives: October 2017

Teach Me

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IMG_1425I can’t imagine life without the Word of God. I’ve seen videos of people, in nations where the Bible is forbidden, literally weeping and kissing the Word when they receive a written copy. 

It made me stop and think how different my life would be if the Bible was illegal here in America. Would I have enough of the Word within me to sustain me? Would you? 

God’s Word is living and active, and as Psalm 119:93 points out … it gives us new life when we follow it’s teachings. The Word of God has the power to transform us, from the inside out.  

Do you rely on someone else to “teach” you God’s Word? Don’t get me wrong, God has blessed us with some amazing teachers in our time. I am very thankful for their wisdom and the time they have invested to research the Word and feed my spirit. Yet, how many of these teachings do we apply to our lives? If all we do is hear the Word without putting what we learn into practice, we remain spiritual bottle fed babies. God wants to feed you meat!

If Bible Study is something you find boring or confusing I’d like to make a few suggestions:

(1) Take notes during church: Through the week, go back and review those notes. Look up the scripture references used during the sermon. Read them in the context they were written. (Another words, read several verses before and after.) Invest in a good commentary or use one of my favorites (Matthew Henry’s Commentary) which is free on: https://www.biblegateway.com. 

(2) Study scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) admonishes us: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  There is a big difference between reading and studying. Apply the practice of asking: who, what, where, when, how and why, to fully understand what the writer of the passage is trying to convey. 

(3) Memorize scripture: Many of the scriptures I hold dear today are verses I memorized as a teen. Whatever the battle, God brings them to remembrance when I need them. Memorization is how we “hide” God’s Word in our hearts.

(4) Pray scripture: God promises in Isaiah 55:11 that His Word will not return void. There is power in praying the Word over our situations. If you are facing a struggle, do a “Bible word search” regarding your issue, and write out a prayer using those verses.

(5) Join a study group: Get involved with a Bible study group. Not only will you learn from each other, you will build lasting relationships with like minded believers, who will become a source of strength in your life.  

The Bible is our instruction manual. Once you begin to see the difference it makes in your walk with God, you will develop a love for it. No other book compares to the life-changing Word of God. My prayer for you today is that God will make the pages of His Word come alive in you. 

 

 

The Power of Confession

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IMG_1422Since Jesus is my ‘High Priest’ I never really thought about the need to confess my sins to others, except in cases where I wronged someone.

Confession takes humility and trust. Do you have people of integrity in your life you can trust enough to bare your soul? My Pastor often talks about the need to have 4 or more Christian friends in your life. 

If you’ve ever had a confidence betrayed, trust may not come easy for you. I understand. God does too. He doesn’t ask us to confess our sins to each other to shame us. So why does He advise us to do this? For our healing. When we confess our sins to Jesus we are forgiven. Our confession to others has nothing to do with forgiveness, unless of course we are asking someone to forgive us for a sin against them. I remember many times as a teen going to my Dad to tell him I had disobeyed him. It wasn’t because I was afraid he would find out; it was because the guilt I felt was worse than my fear of punishment.

Guilt and shame are a heavy burden to bare alone. God knows how therapeutic it is to share our faults with one another, in an environment of trust. I wonder how many therapists would still be in business if we took James 5:16 to heart. (Not that there is anything wrong with seeing a therapist.)

This scripture also confirms the power of agreement in prayer. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” -Matthew 18:18-20 (NKJV) If you are struggling with a particular sin you just can’t seem to overcome, it may be time to call in reinforcements. You do not have to suffer alone. 

Another benefit of confession is accountability. When we share our sins with others we make ourselves accountable to them. We are not only asking for prayer support, but in essence we are giving them permission to follow up with us, to make sure we are walking in victory. 

Additionally, God wants to use your story to impact others. Revelation 12:11 tells us, “They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony.” Your story is powerful! If you allow shame to keep you silent you miss the opportunity to help others. I know from experience the joy of seeing someone moved by the transparency of sharing my testimony. Others need hope that they too can overcome.  

In closing, the power of confession brings healing, deliverance, accountability and influence. Find a trustworthy brother or sister in Christ and begin to build the kind of relationship that fosters authenticity. And remember, to have a friend, you have to be a friend. 

 

 

 

 

 

His Plans Stand Firm

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IMG_1421Do you know God’s not shocked or shaken by anything you say or do? He saw every thought and action, before you ever took a breath. (Psalm 139:16, Isaiah 66:18, Hebrews 4:2) Unlike humanity, God isn’t constrained by time. Given this knowledge the Bible also tells us Jesus was slain before the foundation of the World. (Revelation 13:8) It’s mind boggling, right? He KNEW we would be evil, yet He not only created us but provided our redemption. 

Have you ever seen a movie based on a book you’ve read? I generally find the movie disappointing. I can’t ‘read’ the thoughts of actors on film, the way they are generally revealed in writing. God doesn’t have that dilemma. When He sees our life He sees past, present and future; He knows our intent and motives. Still, He assures us, His plans stand firm forever, His intentions can never be shaken. (Psalm 33:11)

I admit, this has often puzzled me. People often ask, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” If He knows someone is going to commit an atrocity, why allow them to be born in the first place? Just because God knows something, doesn’t mean He approves of it. As parents, we know before our children are born that they will do things we do not approve of. No matter how wonderful our parenting skills are, we know they will choose to be disobedient at times. Does this knowledge keep us from having children? Of course not. Love drives us to endure the hardships of parenting.

The better question might be, “Why does God allow good things to happen?” Knowing that the heart of mankind … all of mankind … is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), He still chooses to bless us with life.

This life is simply the womb of eternity.

A few years ago God gave me a nugget of truth I cherish. This life is simply the womb of eternity. It is not an end but a beginning. God endures the hardship of parenting creation in order to spend eternity with those who choose Him.  His plans do not change. He created you with eternity in mind. His intentions are not shaken by your sin. He waits patiently for you to repent, in order for your fellowship with Him to be restored. God chose you, because He knew you would respond. 

 

 

Generational Blessings

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I find it very comforting to know that God is faithful to His covenant to multiple generations. We often hear about generational curses, but what about generational blessings? IMG_1420

Honestly, I don’t know much about the spiritual condition of my ancestors, beyond my grandparents, but I know I have battled some serious strongholds in my life that I believe were generational curses. Thankfully, my parents and grandparents began a new legacy for our family, one of God’s favor and blessing. One, I hope to pass on to my son and future generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9 brought me great comfort this morning. I have been struggling with depression and negativity the past few days. I’d love to be one of those people who have a natural bend toward positivity and joy, but in all honesty, I am not. I still have a lot of work to do in the “battlefield of the mind.”

It’s times like this I have to make a desision. Am I going to believe my thoughts and negative emotions, or am I going to believe God? It’s a no-brainer. God’s Word IS faithful and true. It is the ultimate measure of truth.

Have you ever dug into God’s Word to discover the promises of a covenant relationship with Him? Trust me … we (and our descendants) get the better end of this deal! Whatever situation you are facing, God’s Word offers a promise and a solution. Not only has He given us eternal life, we have the promise of His constant presence in this life. (Hebrews 13:5)  We have His promise of healing, (Isaiah 53:5) of protection, (Psalm 9:9) of provision, (Luke 12:22-31) of unending, unmerited love, (Jeremiah 31:3) etc., etc., etc. I could go on and on, but that would require a book, rather than a devotional blog. But, I challenge YOU to continue. What blessing of God are you thankful for today? Share the scripture that backs it up in the comments.

PRAY: Father, thank You for Your Faithfulness! Thank You that I am blessed because of the covenant You had with my ancestors, and my descendants will be blessed by Your covenant with me for a thousand generations. I release generational blessings over my family blood line, and I break generational curses. I boldly declare, “As for me and my house, we SHALL serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) Father, when I am weak, You are strong. Remind me when I have my eyes on my circumstances to change my focus to Your Word. 

 

Determine My Steps

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IMG_1418Have you ever been lost? I mean, REALLY lost? It’s a terrifying feeling. You would think with the technology we have today, this wouldn’t be an issue. I have found myself in this predicament twice in my life. Somehow my GPS was as clueless as I was.  

The Bible talks a lot about direction. I challenge you today; do a Biblical word search on the following words: path, road, direction and lead.  

When we get in our cars we have a destination in mind and a planned path to get there. Are we as strategic with our life? Do we really believe God has a specific plan for our lives? If so, it would stand to reason that we need a spiritual GPS to guide us. We have one … The Holy Spirit!

IMG_1419Do you seek God’s direction in your decisions? Don’t leave life to chance. It’s too important. Ask God to lead, guide and direct you, daily. Seek His will before making any major decisions. The more intimate our relationship with God becomes, the easier it is to hear His voice. This doesn’t mean we always get it right. And that’s okay. God is capable of rerouting us. 

The Word say, “Broad is the road that leads to destruction.” (Matthew 7:13) Nothing is more frustrating than ending up at a dead end or getting stuck in a roundabout. It reminds me of those wind up toys for kids. Once they run into a wall they continue to hit it over and over again until they finally unwind.

Let’s seek to get it right the first time.

PRAY: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Show me the right path Lord, and point out the road You have chosen for me. Lead, guide and direct my steps. Redirect me when I get off track. Give me wisdom and discernment. Protect me from deception. Father, I thank You that I do not have to travel this journey alone. You are with me! Your attention to detail is beyond comprehension. I trust You, Lord. Determine my steps.