Pastor Mary Haley

Isaiah 29:17-21 New Life Version

In his prophetic word from the Lord, Isaiah describes the new world God will create for his people. It will be a world that is entirely different than the world in which we live now. Violence and hatred will have no place in God’s Kingdom. In fact, the new world will reveal the joy, compassion, and justice of God. It will be governed by his flawless and perfect character of love. The focus for everyone will be upon Jesus the Light of Truth and every knee will bow to worship him.

In my study today, I am reminded that God is always seeking to bring justice. He knows all about the wrong things that have happened to us because of the work of evil. He is not unaware and one day he will deal with it; he will right every wrong. I am not sure how he plans to do that, but I look forward to the day when evil has been destroyed and Truth enthroned.

Isaiah 29:17-21

18 In that day those who cannot hear will hear the words of a book. And the eyes of the blind will see out of the darkness. 19 Those who have suffered will be happier in the Lord. Those who are in need will have joy in the Holy One of Israel. 20 For those who show no pity will come to an end. And those who laugh at the truth will be stopped. All who want to be sinful will be cut off. 21 Those who say something to make a man seem to be in the wrong, and who trap the one who acts as a judge at the gate, and who tell lies to cause a good man to be punished, will be cut off.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the justice you have extended to me in Christ Jesus. You have saved me from the penalty of my own sin. I know one day, you will provide a world that is fueled by joy. It will be so amazing! Thank you for your plan. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 Peter 3:11-18 The Message (MSG)

The other night John and I drove and took friends to a Christmas Dinner Party in downtown St. Petersburg. John was driving and I was sitting way in the back to accommodate our guests (our SUV has three rows of seats). Sadly, many times when I sit in the back of a vehicle I suffer with motion sickness. So, I asked John to drive very carefully; no quick movements, turns, or sudden stops (lol…miracles do happen!). Anyway, I was determined to pray and keep looking forward. He said, “Mar, I may not be aware. How will I know if you start getting sick due to my driving? Give me a secret phrase, so we will not concern our friends.” I said, “Ok. I will say, ‘Did you see that?’”

As I sit here studying our passage this morning, I am reminded how many times in our sin-sick world the Lord places things before His creation as a way to say, “Did you see that?” In other words, God is always working to get our attention to the signs of the time and the sickness of the human soul apart from the work of Christ. We must not allow the sickness of the world to overpower or misdirect us; keep looking in the direction of the Word. Wake up! If your focus each day is on Christ, you are going to be looking in the opposite direction the unbelieving world is looking. What is important to you doesn’t make the list of unbelievers. In fact, devoted believers will be hope-filled, peace-living, joy-driven people whom the unredeemed, angry, and flesh-driven world cannot comprehend. Never forget, the things of the flesh are opposed to the things of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). Jesus is behind the wheel and is driving on the journey through this sick world and we are going to be experiencing all kinds of things—pressure will build as he reshapes his children in the image of Christ and works to bring salvation to the whole world. But, stay obedient to the Word and keep looking for Jesus, because you are going to see some amazing miracles as promised by God.

2 Peter 3:11-18

11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

Prayer: Lord, this is such an amazing time to be alive and I thank you for the promises you have given that keeps me moving forward with hope, peace, and joy in your love. You are so good! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 146:5-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

Are you good with keeping a promise? A promise is a word that one will do or refrain from doing something specified. From a biblical perspective, a promise is a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom the promise is made a right to expect or to claim the performance of that word/act. I really try to keep every promise, but over my lifetime I have suffered a few failures. God never fails to keep his promises and they are always filled with his goodness; above anything we could possibly ask, think, or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Peter teaches, “Through His shining-greatness and perfect life, He has given us promises. These promises are of great worth and no amount of money can buy them. Through these promises you can have God’s own life in you now that you have gotten away from the sinful things of the world which came from wrong desires of the flesh” (2 Peter 1:4).

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds God’s people they can find joy if they place their hope in the promises of God. Why? Because unlike us—his human creation—God is always good for his Word. He keeps every promise not just for a moment, but forever. We can partake in the divine nature God has promised, but we must desire God more than we desire the satisfaction of our flesh. In our obedience, we bow before God’s authority and step into everything the Lord has promised. The result of obedience is JOY unspeakable!

Psalm 146:5-10

5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He made heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them.
He keeps every promise forever.

7 He gives justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.
The Lord frees the prisoners.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.
The Lord loves the godly.

9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us.
He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

10 The Lord will reign forever.
He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always keeping your promises to me. I know I can place my hope in your flawless character and extravagant love. Like the psalmist, I praise you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 12:33-37 The Message (MSG)

Yesterday, I had the great joy of sharing a discussion with a gentlemen who stopped by the church. Our Connect2Christ Church building used to be home to a series of banks and this man worked for one of the early banks. He wanted to see how we had remodeled the bank building; he was impressed with the appearance and how welcoming it had become. However pleasant the physical appearance may be of the church, it is the heart of the Body that I care most about. Is the building filled with the tangible presence of God as revealed through the love and nurture of the people? Do the people in the building reflect the character and attitude of Christ as they lay down their lives to help others experience Jesus? Have the people formed relationships built upon mercy, but passionate to know the Truth and live it? If not, the physical building might look good, but the inside substance of the building will be diseased and powerless. I thank God everyday for the debt-free C2C building, but I praise God for the heart of the people who come to worship God there, as well as seek to exalt him in their lives!

In our passage today, Jesus has an encounter with the Pharisees in which he takes issue. They reject Jesus as the Messiah and they spew all kinds of fake info about him to the people. Jesus is not passive to the Pharisee’s insults or attacks and he speaks truth about their evil thoughts and attitudes. He puts them in their place and cautions them about their words and how those words tell God a whole lot about the disease that lives within them. The Pharisees care about the appearance and political correctness of things, but Jesus does not. He cares about what spills forth from our hearts through our words.

Matthew 12:33-37

33 “If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.

34-37 “You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the love I have for you and your people. Keep our hearts growing and producing healthy fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

FYI: It has come to my attention the Scripture reference from yesterday’s devotion was incorrect. The passage and verse I used came from Psalm 21:13. Now, I thought I was seeing a bit better since my eye surgery, but I can tell I need more prayers! lol…laughter is good medicine!

Psalm 21:20

This morning as I am praying and enjoying fellowship with God, I am keenly aware of my need for his strength. In fact, I will go so far as to say the strength I already possess and the increase of strength I desperately need for today all come from God in the first place. Scripture encourages us to recognize this divine strength within us and to be strong in it (Eph. 6:10). We are not to boast in our own strength, but to accept the reality that our flesh is very weak (Mark 14:38). If we are willing to confess our need for God and rest upon his strength we find help in our greatest time of need. The Apostle Paul was dealing with a “thorn in the flesh” and he begged Jesus three times to remove it, but Jesus told him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” (2 Cor. 12:8). Paul’s testimony becomes a life lesson for us.

In our passage today, David has tasted yet another victory over evil. His enemies came to take him down, but the strength of God caused David to rise in victory. God’s strength was released as David recognized his need and called for help. This is the blessing of God’s presence with his children. So, not only are we promised strength in our weakness, we are invited to be filled with joy as he comes to be a present help. We all need the strength of Almighty God to live out each day for his glory. So, call upon the name of the Lord and ask him to be your strength in whatever area of your flesh that is experiencing weakness. He has promised grace and strength for the humble. Stand there by faith and thank him!

Psalm 21:20

Show your strength, Lord,
so that we may sing
and praise your power.

Prayer: Lord, I am in need of your strength, today. I know nothing in my weak flesh can battle the evil sent to defeat me. Therefore, I stand in your strength. May your strength be made perfect in my life, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Isaiah 11:1-5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The Lord offers his children the fullness of his peace: spiritual rest, security, and stability as we abide in his holy presence. The peace of God emanates outward; it begins as a seed in our hearts and grows as an expression of the new life Jesus brings. We need to identify our fears and take them captive, because the enemy uses that fear and wrong thinking to rob us of this promise from God. According to the Apostle Paul, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). Are you taking advantage of the peace the Lord offers you?

Let us take time today to praise Jesus Messiah for his ministry in the past, the power of the Word in the present, and the promise of a future that is governed by the standard of Peace he sets forth.

Isaiah 11:1-5 Peace at Last

11 Like a branch that sprouts
from a stump,
someone from David’s family
will someday be king.

2 The Spirit of the Lord
will be with him
to give him understanding,
wisdom, and insight.
He will be powerful,
and he will know
and honor the Lord.

3 His greatest joy will be
to obey the Lord.
This king won’t judge
by appearances
or listen to rumors.

4 The poor and the needy
will be treated with fairness
and with justice.
His word will be law
everywhere in the land,
and criminals
will be put to death.

5 Honesty and fairness
will be his royal robes.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the security you offer me. I want the fulness of your peace. Help me to stay in that place and forbid fear or wrong thinking to have any power in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 16:33 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Hope is defined as confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment. Where do you place your hope? During this time when we celebrate the First Advent or Coming of Christ and look forward to his return, we need to make sure our hope is in the Prince of Peace rather than in the things of this world. Even when things are going well in the world, it cannot impart perfect peace to us. Therefore, the Lord has provided the Spirit to help us stay in a place of peace even as the Spirit reveals times of tribulation yet to come. We must be listening and watching all the time; we must guard our peace.

In our passage today, Jesus is talking to his disciples and he is sharing about the difficulties and struggles they will face because they have chosen to follow him. He does not sugar coat anything; they will face hard and pressing times in the world. However, Jesus offers his perfect peace; the disciples are to be courageous because he has deprived the world of the power to harm them. No devil in hell can stop you, harm you, or rob you of peace as you place your hope in Christ.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Prayer: Lord, thank you for allowing me to be filled and governed by your peace. May I stay in that place of peace with you and rest hopefully in your care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 72:1-7 The Passion Translation (TPT)

There are many good things I still look forward to experiencing in life, how about you? God is so loving that each day is like a wonderful gift that opens up many opportunities to experience his goodness. In our passage today, Solomon also looks forward to the goodness of God. He prays for the arrival of the righteous King who will rule the world in divine justice. As he prays, he describes the Messiah who will one day rule the world and reign with his righteous prosperity and Lordship of peace. Among the things I still look forward to experiencing is living in the manifested Kingdom of God on earth in which there will be no more tears, sorrow, sickness, or pain. Peace will consume us. The very thought fills me with joy!

Psalm 72:1-7 The Righteous King

1 O God, make the king a godly judge like you

and give the king’s son the gift of justice too.

2 Help him to give true justice to your people,

honorably and equally to all.

3 Then the mountains of influence will be fruitful,

and from your righteousness

prosperity and peace will flow to all the people.

4 May the poor and humble have an advocate with the king.

May he consider the children of the poor

and crush the cruel oppressor.

5 The sun and moon will stop shining

before your lovers will stop worshiping;

for ages upon ages the people will love and adore you!

6 Your favor will fall like rain upon our surrendered lives,[b]

like showers reviving the earth.

7 In the days of his reign the righteous will spring forth

with the abundance of peace and prosperity forevermore.

Prayer: Lord, you have made a way to connect me with your heart and live in fellowship. You have so blessed me with your goodness. I look forward to the day when you rule in the Kingdom of peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 124 The Passion Translation (TPT)

As believers, if we will consider our lives carefully, we will find God has always been watching over us; guiding, helping and defending through every twist and turn. What if God had not been there for you? Where would you be? Although that is a sobering thought to consider, it is a necessary process to put things into perspective when resting in the promises of God. If you cannot see the faithfulness of God in the past, how will you ever be able to recognize the faithfulness of God in your present and future?

Our faith needs to be constantly encouraged and our minds need to be refreshed by remembering just how faithful God is to his children. Life happens and fear arrives, but God is faithfully present in bringing help to us. Oh, how I praise God for the continual connections he makes to bring provision when I need it most. We fail, but God is faithful to restore us and help us with new beginnings. Oh, how I praise God for new beginnings, amen? Sometimes people disappoint, reject, and abandon us, but God is faithful to defend us from the destructive work of sin in the world. Oh, how I praise God for always being in my corner, cheering me on, and enriching my life. Bottom line: God gives us the victory in all things! David recognized God’s faithfulness. Do you?

Psalm 124 Victory

A song of the stairway, by King David

1 What if God had not been on our side? Let all Israel admit this!

2–3 What if God had not been there for us?
Our enemies, in their violent anger,
would have swallowed us up alive!

4–5 The nations, with their flood of rage, would have swept us away
and we would have drowned,
perished beneath their torrent of terror!

6 We can praise God over and over that he never left us!
God wouldn’t allow the terror of our enemies to defeat us.

7 We are free from the hunter’s trap;
their snare is broken and we have escaped!

8 For the same God who made everything,
our Creator and our mighty maker,
he himself is our helper and defender!

Prayer: Lord, I do recognize your faithfulness in my life. You are always there for me and even when you push me I am grateful, because I know you bring only good things. Thank you for faithfully loving me! May you feel loved and appreciated by how I choose to live my life for you by loving others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 11:32-40 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Faith brings the power of God to the aid of his obedient children. No other power on earth is as strong as the power of God to fulfill His promises to those willing to walk by faith and rest in his care. Believers are to place their faith in the God in Whom all things are possible, right? What does God’s impossible power look like in the world?

The Word reveals many things, but here’s just one example to consider. Gravity is a very powerful force on the earth, but clearly the power of Christ overpowered gravity as he walked on water. Peter—a disciple—had a word from the Lord of heaven and earth, “Come to me.” Peter was looking for assurance that Jesus was God in the flesh, so the Lord invited him to that moment of revelation to demonstrate divine power. Interestingly, Peter—who initially used his faith to move on the Word from Christ to “come” had the power to walk on water when his faith was entirely focused on Christ instead of the strong wind and waves (Mat 14:22-23). When Peter began to focus on his fear rather than the faithfulness of God to his Word, the power of his faith dwindled. As Peter became vulnerable to natural law, he cried out to the Lord, “Save me!” Jesus grabbed Peter and responded, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?” Do you ever doubt the power of God to fulfill his Word?

Faith is entirely based upon the authority of Jesus; his name and his power over all things even natural law. In our passage today, we will read more about the champions of faith: those who never surrendered their faith in the promised Word of God.

Hebrews 11:32-40 More Faith Champions

32 And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, 34 put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. In their weakness their faith imparted power to make them strong![a] Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array.[b] 35 Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power.

Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured,[c] and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection!

36 Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. 37 Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. 38 They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were.

39 These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised them. 40 But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness! This is so that they could be brought to finished perfection alongside of us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the continual encouragement your Word is to my faith. I need these examples and I need to spend time pondering how they relate to my life. I can see the potential of my faith in action as I stay focused. Please help me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.