Ten More Devotions

To help clean out my inbox, here are ten more devotions from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

Dependent on God -- a Testimony of His Power

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If you’re like most people, you don’t realize your dependency on God until you’re burned out from stress — either self-induced or caused by circumstances beyond your control. Why is that? Paul says it’s because we are fragile, but he doesn’t stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us! Maybe someone told you, “Oh, just tie a knot and hang on!” Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

Omnipotent God -- Held by His Love & Grace

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”
Jude 24

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you fussed and fumed through life’s challenges, wondering if the Sovereign Creator of the Universe was on vacation? I have a message for you: The God who hung the stars, the God who poured the oceans, the God who raised the mountains, the God who knew you before you were knit together in your mother’s womb, this sovereign God is your Savior. He is your King, and He is in control. When you are plucked from the depths of sin, you are placed in the very hand of God! You can’t climb up into the hand of God; you are placed into the hand of God. Hallelujah! Our efforts didn’t get us there. His grace placed us there. And His love will keep us there forever.

Brought Into Right Relationship With Our Creator

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When God brought us into this universe, He did not make us to abandon us. When God finished His first creation, He stepped back and said, “It is good.” But then sin came into the world, and we broke fellowship with our Creator. Because of His great love and mercy toward us, God sent His only Son to bring us back to Himself. Now, when we are saved, we become a new creation, and God says, “It is good.” When sin soiled your garments, God sent the righteous robes of His Son for you to wear. Now, you are washed in His blood, clean in His sight, and forever in His heart.

True Satisfaction is Found in the Lord

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23:1

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The Scottish-born naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, John Muir, once had a conversation with railroad magnate and industrialist, E. H. Harriman. “I am richer than you are,” declared Muir to the railroad baron. “And how is that true?” responded Harriman. “Because you don’t have all you want — and I do. Therefore I am richer than you,” answered Muir. Well, perhaps these two men were playing word games with one another. We don’t know if either man was truly satisfied with his life, but there's one thing of which I’m certain. Our search for satisfaction will not be found at the end of the rainbow in a pot of gold. It can only be found in Jesus.

What Would Jesus Do?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Did you know that the best argument for Christianity and the best argument against Christianity is in your life? That’s right. Not only are you to be a witness of and for Jesus, you are to be a part of the evidence of His reality. What would happen if every Christian began to walk as Jesus walked, talk as Jesus talked, and love as Jesus loved? The world would take notice.

Understanding Kingdom Authority

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
A police officer weighing 160 pounds may effectively stand before a tanker truck and, with an uplifted hand, say, “Stop, in the name of the law.” The police officer certainly couldn’t stop the truck with his physical force. He is appealing to an authority greater than himself — the law — to back him up. Your authority over Satan is the same way. Your authority does not rest in your strength. You cannot overcome Satan with your power but rather with Kingdom Authority from God. And you have that as a child of the King. You have His authority to overcome every attack of Satan.

God's Plan & Purpose for Your Life

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
1 John 3:2

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
If Jesus is Lord of your life, then not only is your entire life ordered, but so is every single step within your life. God has a plan for the plumber as well as the preacher, for the mechanic as well as the missionary. And if God, for instance, calls you to be a mechanic and you become a missionary, you are accepting second best! To find God’s will is the highest achievement in your life. Success is not spelled M-O-N-E-Y. Nor is it spelled F-A-M-E. Success is the continuous realization of the will of God — what God desires for your life. God does not make clones; He makes children! There is an ultimate purpose for your life as His child — to be like Jesus.

The Cleansing, Healing Work of the Holy Spirit

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for Thou art my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There are two kinds of wounds to the human psyche. One is sorrow; the other is guilt. Sorrow is a clean wound. Somehow your heart will heal as the Holy Spirit applies His healing balm. He will pour in “the oil of gladness.” Time and the grace of God will heal. But guilt is dirty and will never heal until it is confessed and cleansed by the antiseptic of Calvary. A slave only fears his master’s whip, but a son fears his father’s displeasure.

Working All Things Together & Toward His Return

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
God has not promised you smooth sailing, but He has promised you a safe landing. He has a purpose in allowing every circumstance into your life. You can bank on this: He’ll see you to the shore in every storm of life. Andrew Murray said, “God is willing to assume the full responsibility for the life totally yielded to Him.” One of these days your destiny will be fulfilled. And soon and very soon, He is going to step down from the mountain of His glory, and the trumpet will sound. And our little ship will leave the sea of time, and immediately we’ll be on the shores of eternity. When He comes, He’s coming for you! He’s coming for me!

No One Knows Your Needs Better...

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“. . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
Matthew 6:32

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
St. Augustine once said that we were created with a “God-shaped” void. I agree. Only God can meet the deepest longings of our hearts. There is nothing that can satisfy apart from your relationship with Him, but it's not because He is a heavy-handed dictator forcing you to accept life the way He dishes it out! Who knows what will satisfy your deepest needs better than the One who made you? As your Creator, He can see what your needs are going to be tomorrow and ten years from tomorrow. Don’t you think He knows what you need today?

Ten Devotions

To help clean out my inbox, here are ten devotions from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

Crown Him King of Kings

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
Psalm 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The kingdoms of this world are being moved around like checkers, but soon God is going to move His Son into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King of kings!” How many times have you prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Do you think God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven? Look around at the crime, rape, murder, child abuse, and blasphemy. Do you think that’s God’s will? Of course not. Do you think Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray a prayer that will not be answered? God is going to move Jesus into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King!”

Uprooting Toxic Bitterness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Bitterness is an emotional cancer that consumes many a person who once had the bloom of eternal springtime in his heart. Where does it come from? Usually from being hurt. Perhaps you were abused as a child, rejected by someone, fired from a job, or even bypassed at church. Bitterness sets in when the hurt goes unresolved. There is a solution. If you’ve been wronged and bitterness has become so strong that you can almost taste its bile within your mouth, then it’s time to pursue it with a holy vengeance. With the Spirit’s spade, root it out. Draw a circle that takes in those who have wronged you. Forgive them for Christ’s sake!

True Joy & Peace Comes From the Lord Alone

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”
Isaiah 26:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
You may admit that God is necessary, but do you honestly know that God is enough and that He is, in fact, more than enough? To find out if God is enough for you, let me ask you a couple of questions. Where do you obtain your joy? Is it from the Lord or from somewhere else? If your joy is from your health and it goes, then your joy will fly out the window. Many a believer has lost his health, his business, his family, his reputation, but has still maintained his joy because the source of genuine contentment and peace is in God. Indeed one may not know that God is enough until God is all one has.

Just Keep Praying

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Romans 8:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There’s an old song with the refrain, “Just keep on praying ‘til light breaks through.” When you don’t feel like praying, that’s when you need to. You need to pray until you do feel like praying. You see, you’re not praying by yourself. The Spirit is praying through you and for you, helping to present your petitions to the Father — petitions that perhaps you yourself are not even capable of expressing. Do not approach God with your hands full of the brass of your emotions. Rather, approach Him with hands and heart full of the sweet incense of His worth. Just keep praying.

It Is Not Ours to Ask, "Why?"

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.”
2 Samuel 22:31

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
When bewilderment enshrouds you and despair looms at your door, when trials storm the beaches of your life, you may want to ask God, “Why? Why? Why?” Friend, you may never understand why things are happening the way they are in your life, but that’s not your job. You see, it is not necessary for you to know why. That is God’s question. Your response is all that matters. When we can’t feel His hand, we must trust His heart. Our job is to simply trust and obey.

Heartfelt Soul Winning Brings a Bountiful Harvest

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what you’re doing in the morning when you have a quiet time? Weeding your garden. You’re weeding the garden of your mind, so that the good seed of the Word of God can multiply. Now, the next step is to plant the seed and cultivate His harvest. And, when you go out to win souls, water the crop with your tears. Read how the Lord’s heart broke over the people He longed to embrace and love unto Himself (see John 17). Learn this same sort of compassion in the garden God has given you to harvest for His kingdom.

Never Alone

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
John 14:18

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The late, great Christian psychiatrist from Switzerland, Dr. Paul Tournier, wrote that loneliness is the most devastating malady of this age. What is loneliness? Many confuse it with being alone. But you can be alone and not lonely. Your loneliness does not have to overwhelm you. After all is said and done, truly your only solace is found in Jesus. Why? Because He understands. John 1:10-11 tells us that the world neither received Him, nor knew Him. In many respects He lived a life of loneliness. “But," you may say, "I need somebody real.” Jesus is real. He is closer to you than anyone else can be or ever will be. What a friend we have in Jesus! We will never be separated from Him!

Release from the Ghosts of Guilt

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Jude 1:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Guilt dogs the footsteps of mankind. It gnaws. It growls. It eats away at the joy God intends for us. Is there no peace from guilt? Will the ghosts of our guilt always lurk nearby? Not with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of our Lord in us! The devil is the prosecuting attorney who is going to point his bony finger of accusation at you. But the Holy Spirit is not the accuser. He is the Convictor. In love, He convicts to lead us to confession. Then we can confidently come to God and ask for cleansing. No psychologist or psychiatrist can take away guilt. Only Christ Jesus can.

The Will of God

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.”
Mark 3:35

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Ian Thomas asked, “Which of these things in the life of Jesus is more spiritual?” When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount? When He raised Lazarus from the dead? When He washed His disciples’ feet? Or when He spat on the ground and made clay to anoint the blind man’s eyes? None was more spiritual than the other. Jesus did not divide His life up into little segments of spirituality. He was simply available to do whatever His Father willed. The will of God is not a road map. It is a relationship! You just simply set yourself apart to do the will of God.

Breaking Free From the Comparison Trap

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t even like? We try to keep up with the Jones family, but when we finally catch up with them, they refinance! Let me exhort you to get off that comparison treadmill and onto the pathway of serenity. You are accepted right now in Christ. God does not change you so He can love you. He loves you so He can change you! God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. If you are saved, you are in Christ. And where is He? He is seated in the heavenlies. You are also seated in those heavenly places, even though you still have your address on planet Earth. You are enthroned with Him.

The Voice of the Lord

Here is a devotion from Love Worth Finding Ministries for today.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth.”
Psalm 29:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Some people think it’s a waste of time to simply sit at God’s feet and listen. It is not a waste of time to wait on God any more than a woodchopper is wasting time when he sharpens his ax. Charles Hummel wrote a booklet, “Tyranny of the Urgent.” He said “When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him….Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service. Like the time-out in a football game, it enables us to catch our breath and fix new strategy…The need is not the call. The call must come from the Lord who knows our limitations.”