Devotionals

God’s supernatural law has put the world and all of creation into a system of order. These things function by God’s Word or ordinances; he sustains the universe with himself—Life and Light. The kosmos [the whole of creation] is filled with the Light and Life of God. Therefore, only God has the ultimate authority and sustained victory over chaos [biblical definition is darkness], my friends! God is the Ruling Lord of Creation.

However, throughout time humanity has made a practice of trying to alter God’s order or standard by seeing themselves disconnected or separate from his world, word, and authority. This false mindset has resulted in the spread of chaos [darkness]. We are not disconnected from creation and for this reason God gave human beings dominion and responsibility [stewardship] over the earth (Gen 1:26-28). Life is about God’s purposes; therefore, nothing human beings enact will change what God has put into place and motion. Humans will self-slaughter before they will change the will and purposes of God.

So, as believers, we must demonstrate the proper stewardship of God’s order. We cannot force our views on others, but we can live in the love, will, and strength of the eternal Lord and King. That means we live by the royal laws set out for human beings—we live like Christ while in the world—and, we are known by our wholehearted love and dependence upon God, our unconditional love in action for others, and accept our responsibility to care for the earth. This is where the blessing of God is found. Search no further! Christ the Lord is the eternal King and he has already spoken!

Psalm 93
1 
The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.
    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world stands firm
    and cannot be shaken.
2 
Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.
    You yourself are from the everlasting past.
3 
The floods have risen up, O Lord.
    The floods have roared like thunder;
    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
4 
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
    mightier than the breakers on the shore—
    the Lord above is mightier than these!
5 
Your royal laws cannot be changed.
    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our King. We thank you for the order you have put into place and we pray for the world to get into agreement with you. We will continue to stand against the darkness and work to take care of your world. You are the holy One and we worship you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

During David’s reign, he prepared a special place in the tent of meeting [tabernacle] for the Ark of the Covenant. When Solomon was appointed King, he built the Temple, the priests moved the Ark from the tent of meeting, and placed it in the Most Holy Place (1 Kings 8:1). When the Ark was brought into the Temple, a cloud of God’s shekhinah [glorious presence] settled there. God had always promised to meet with his people and Solomon prayed the Temple would now be that place.

In our passage today, King Solomon prays as the Ark arrives. He and the people dedicate the Temple in Jerusalem to the Lord. Praise fills Solomon’s prayer. He thanks God for his faithfulness to the covenant, his unending love for the people, his abiding presence with them, and his willingness to forgive sin. Everything about the Temple was made as a reflection of the Christ.

At one time, God met with his people in the Temple, but now God meets his people in Jesus Christ. God does not live in temples made by human hands (Act 17:24). Because of Jesus, God now lives in believers—human temples in the Hand of God. Solomon’s Temple could not contain God—even the heavens cannot contain God—but miraculously obedient hearts can commune and enjoy him. So, you can meet with this indwelling God anytime and any day; he is listening for your prayers.

1 Kings 8:22-30 NLT Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, 23 and he prayed,

“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

25 “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 26 Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.

27 “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 28 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. 29 May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 30 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your abiding presence and your willingness to always listen and answer our prayers. We have come to meet with you, today. Please hear our individual hearts as we pray. In Jesus’ name.

How long have you known Christ as your personal Savior? For some of us, it has been many years and for others perhaps a year or less. Yet, for however long believers have known the Rescuer, one thing is certain—we know he truly loves us and works everyday for our well-being and wholeness.

Part of Christ’s work is also allowing us to share in his suffering [physical/mental hardships or distress]. Now, that may not sound like love to you, but suffering is most certainly a faith and trust builder. God uses human suffering—something that exists in this fallen world—to move his children closer to himself and into a place of wholeness. Sometimes, we suffer simply because the grace of God rests on us in Christ.

In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews expresses the need for perseverance when it comes to the Christian faith walk. He urges these early believers [and us] to protect their faith and trust in God with patient endurance, because following Christ comes with a cost. Random hardships remain a part of every Christ follower’s life; the kingdom of the world and the Kingdom of God clash and it results in suffering.

When we find ourselves in a place of suffering, God promises to make it work for our good. Therefore, we need to remember God may use suffering to bring us into something better…because, the best—Christ’s final victory—is yet to come!

Hebrews 10:32-39 NLT
32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
37 
“For in just a little while,
    the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 
And my righteous ones will live by faith.
    But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Prayer: Lord, we know if we choose to live governed by your love and standard, we will be living countercultural to the world. Help us to remain faithful and obedient to your ways of living. We commit ourselves to you, Lord; we want to live for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today, we prayerfully meditate on the EXTREME WARNING from the writer of Hebrews. There seems to be two common interpretations of this passage: 1. many believe it is a warning for saved Christians about the consequences of their sin, 2. while others believe it is a warning for those who reject salvation in Christ for the world of sin.

Jesus, Himself, declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me” – John 14:6, and so, today’s passage is a dire warning for ALL of humanity to cling to Jesus and turn from sin.

We, as Christians, know that apart from Christ “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved,” – Acts 4:12. This means that the Blood of Christ took the place of the old covenant sacrifice to atone for our sins once and for all. We are beyond blessed by this One sacrifice. So, we need to become quicker to turn from our sins, to repent daily, and to be in constant communication with the Holy Spirit asking for divine wisdom and guidance in righteousness and away from worldly living so we focus our time, words, thoughts, actions, etc. on our growing and intimate relationship with Jesus.

The writer references verses 35 and 36 from Deuteronomy 32, which is known as the Song of Moses. These Words that God spoke through Moses were about His vindication and His promise to His people. God is faithful and compassionate to His people, to those who choose to be faithful and obedient to Him. Friends, when the time comes for you and me to meet Jesus face-to-face, we should not be afraid of being within His hands as long as we are living for Him, we should be ready to run to Him so He can say, “well done my good and faithful servant” – Matthew 25

Hebrews 10:26-31 (NLT)

26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”[a]

He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”[b]

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for forgiving me of my sins. Help me, Holy Spirit, to walk out my salvation each and every day through the impartation of Your wisdom and guidance. Convict me to know when I am sinning and to quickly turn back to You for forgiveness. I want our relationship to continue to grow and I know that means there is no room for sinful living. Point out any areas that need your cleansing and please refine me anew. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Our faith is built on Christ’s resurrection that brings new life; this is our spiritual hope. It is Christ who gives our spiritually dry and lifeless ‘bones’ [life without hope and help] the vitality of Almighty God. God uses the life of the Spirit to transform us and make us a brand new creation. Christ transforms us so we can move in synchronicity with the Spirit as we serve our new Master in powerful ways.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the church at Colossus, as well as all believers, that Christ disarmed the devil at the cross of Christ. Yet, what does that really mean? Jesus himself said Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, so he does have the power to attack (John 10:10). We know Satan looks for every opportunity to remove believers from God’s mission by hindering Kingdom work; because Christ’s followers are a threat to Satan’s purposes. Therefore, we must resist the work of Satan, pray for deliverance, and put on the armor of God to shield ourselves from the fiery darts of Satan (Eph 6:10-20).

Christ’s power is much greater than Satan’s power, so we do not need to live afraid. We do need to allow the Spirit to separate us from the world’s ways (imagery of circumcision), because Satan leads people toward destruction by causing them to self-slaughter one choice at a time. Satan really doesn’t have power unless we give him our power; so, pay attention to your choices carefully. Every decision and choice is either righteous [honoring to God and his principles] or unrighteous [dishonoring to God and permeated with the aroma of evil]. There is no middle ground; we are at a crossroad. Praise God, one day we will not have to deal with Satan at all; Christ will defeat him once and for all.

Colossians 2:6-15 NLT Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.[c] 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed [stripped off] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your sinless nature in exchange for our sinful one. Holy Spirit, we need your help to strip the world off from us, so we can live for your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Instability is the result of a fallen world. We cannot expect stability from the world, because it has rejected the Creator. We cannot expect stability from human beings if they, too, have rejected their Lord. It would be a challenge to be confident in our present world, but believers are not of this world; we are citizens of heaven, working for our Lord, while awaiting our journey home.

Biblical confidence is something that is not shaken by inner instability or external instability, it is the result of a fallen world. We cannot expect stability from the world, because it has rejected the Creator. We cannot expect stability from human beings if they, too, have rejected their Lord. It would be a challenge to be confident in our present world, but believers are not of this world; we are citizens of heaven, working for our Lord, while awaiting our journey home.

Biblical confidence is something that is not shaken by inner instability or external variability for that matter. It is a decision and mindset to trust and get our security from Christ. This kind of trust leads to confident Kingdom living; so, we find our security in the proper Source. This connection is one of victory, because God always fulfills his promise to bring good things into our lives. He wants us to taste his goodness!

In our passage today, David reminds us we are safe in the care of God; only the Lord can make us feel secure. As we cling to the Word of God and apply it to our lives, our confidence grows and the root of God’s love connects us firmly to the Truth of his goodness. Nothing can come between God and his beloved, unless we allow it. Nothing can come between you and God, unless you place your greatest confidence in someone or something else. Stay focused on Jesus, because he is the only One who has promised to bring us redemption from sin and death. Jesus will show you the true way of life, bring you joy, and live with you for eternity. His plan for you is not of this world!

Psalms 16:1-11 NLT
1
Keep me safe, O God,
    for I have come to you for refuge.
2 
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 
The godly people in the land
    are my true heroes!
    I take pleasure in them!
4 
Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
    I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
    or even speak the names of their gods.
5 
Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
    You guard all that is mine.
6 
The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
    What a wonderful inheritance!
7 
I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 
I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
9 
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.[praise]
    My body rests in safety.
10 
For you will not leave my soul among the dead
    or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 
You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for guiding our lives and bringing us into a place of divine stability in your love. We do not need to be tossed to and fro, we can be fixed and unshakable in your presence, so we can eat from the table of your grace. Grant us today, the joy of your presence, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture is full of so many things God has promised through the Messiah. Is it wrong to expect God to do BIG things since he has told us to ask? After all, we serve a BIG God who delights when we take him at his Word. What do you expect from Jesus?
Lately, I have had one expectation; that he be with me every single day and, through the Spirit, help me to discern and accomplish the things that are necessary before me. The Good News of the Gospel is “God with Us!” I desperately need God—my Helper—and to fellowship in his love.

In our passage today, Jesus goes to the synagogue—one that he grew up attending and he is handed a scroll of Scripture to read. He reads with great authority and clarity which unsettles people, because he is reading about himself and his commission from the Father. He is filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ ministry has begun: to set people free from addictions, cleansing them from sin, opening spiritual eyes to experience the Father, liberating people from their own self-restricting prisons, and providing doors of opportunities for people who cannot find their way.

The people listening know Jesus as Joseph and Mary’s son, but they know nothing about Jesus as Messiah and they are resistant to learn. They do not expect great things; just the usual readings and rituals. Jesus continues his conversation with the people, by reminding them about Elijah and the Woman of Zarephath—a Gentile who believed God and received abundance in the midst of unfathomable odds.

Jesus is God and he is passionate about saving his world. If we really know Jesus, we will understand how much he loves the world and does not want anyone to perish without receiving his salvation. In Christ’s words and actions we find the Truth that sets us free. So, when someone begins to tell you their problems, please tell them you serve a BIG God who can do all things and introduce them to Jesus!

Luke 4:16-30 NLT
16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 
    and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

22 Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

23 Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24 But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.

25 “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 27 And many in Israel had leprosy in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”

28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always going above and beyond my expectations. You take such great care of your children; always ready to lend your strength and grace. Help us to abide and stay in a place of oneness with you, so we may enjoy the fellowship you desire with us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We all love and welcome the Lord’s justice working in our behalf against evil. When we face injustice at the hands of others it is painful; because everyone suffers when we fall victim to the sinful works of evil. Wickedness has a ripple effect on the souls of people and we can find ourselves suffering in our relationship with God and/or others. Yet, we can never lose track of the goodness of God to keep us strong in the middle of our suffering and we must praise the Lord for the stability he alone can bring the lives of his worshipers. If you are suffering because of injustice, you do not suffer alone. Jesus is the Suffering Servant who is always with you; he will never leave or forsake you (Deut 31:6; Is 53:4-9).

Not only is our all-knowing God aware of the actions of the wicked against his people, he notices the very thoughts of those who give power to evil. His thoughts are high above human thoughts (Is 55:8-9). Therefore, the wicked may think they are getting away with deeds of injustice and evil, but our passage today reminds us otherwise. There is a time of judgment coming based on the motives of the heart (which includes the thought life), as well as the deeds of the flesh. What the wicked have sown against others will be what they one day reap themselves (Gal 6:7).

As believers, we must trust God when our faith, souls, and physical bodies are attacked, because the Lord has promised to be our vindicator and will bring justice in time. The wicked will give an account for their evil deeds and will pay the divine penalty for them. Justice will always overcome corruption and those who believe in Christ worship and serve the God of Justice!

Keep in mind the work of wickedness results in broken lives; the work of the righteous brings forth greater faith, reconciliation, growth, and blessing. The Lord uses all things—instruction and discipline—to bring us into a place of sustained well-being. However, these challenging times are certainly opportunities for believers to press into the Lord by faith to be covered by his righteous Right Hand.

Psalm 94:11 AMP 
11
The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (meaning: empty and futile—only a breath).
12 Blessed (meaning: happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,
13 That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage.
15 For justice will return to the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land where there is] silence.
18 When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this passage from the psalter, today. We praise you for never leaving us and knowing what we suffer in this fallen world. Thank you for keeping us strong and filled with joy even in the face of adversity. Thank you for keeping our footing on solid ground and surrounding us with your mercy and love. You, O Lord, are a delight for our souls during the good times and even in the challenging times. Our faith looks up to you! In Jesus’ name. Amen,

Do you ever just get tickled with the timing of things going on in your life and how it seems to align with Scripture as you read it? We shouldn’t be surprised by this, because the Word is alive and the Lord is always seeking to share life with us. But, the Word made me smile today, because John and I continue to move forward to rebuild/repair our home following the storm. Clearly, God is building John and Mary, as well as our home and I am so grateful!

Well, today the psalmist sings about the Lord building our houses…our lives! God must be in the center of our home. Now, before our home was flooded, we had a cross or Bible in every single room; however, this is not what the psalmist seeks to convey with his praise. Instead, this worshiper asks us if we consult the Lord with every detail of our lives; do we invite him to guide our decisions? To intervene in our conflicts in order to bring peace? To understand human effort is not enough all by itself. The Lord wants to be our first Love, an essential and active member of the Family, and the Overseer of every Home.

“Unless” is a very important word as part of verse 1 making it a conditional sentence. Essentially, unless we put God in his rightful place in our lives and home, our human efforts will be futile to bring lasting meaning or protection. God is the only one who can bless our lives and homes. We need to work smarter not harder by bringing everything to God and gain wisdom!

Psalm 127 NLT A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.
1 
Unless the Lord builds a house,
    the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
    guarding it with sentries will do no good.
2 
It is useless for you to work so hard
    from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
    for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for building our lives and grooming us by your wisdom. We love you and want you to build us in your character; to be strengthened by your work. Thank you for your abundant grace and blessing. Continue to protect us and restore us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Over the past month, John and I have transferred our earthly belongings from one place to another; from our flooded home to the dry abode of family and friends. The transfer was exhausting and without all the loving support of friends, we would have felt helpless. So, we were filled with gratitude to have a secure place for them. It brought us a sense of peace as this transfer took place.

However, the peacefulness we experienced in the transfer of belongings cannot compare to the peace into which God transfers us. From the moment we accept Christ’s salvation, nothing can separate us from the loving presence of God (Ro 8:39). We have the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts with his peace-making and saving love (Acts 2:17-21). No weapon the enemy tries to use to destroy us will ever prosper, if we abide [dwell and remain] in Christ. We must choose to abide in the righteous realm with Christ.

Believers are a part of a spiritual transfer; we are transferred from the realm of sin and death we inherited from Adam into the realm of life and peace we share with Christ. We changed sides and now live with allegiance to Christ! The blood of Jesus transfers us into a state of blessing and grace, my friends! He died for us, so he could live in us and we could know the Father and the Spirit. Now, our duty is to live in a state of surrender to the lordship of Christ and the power of the Godhead he alone can bring our lives. So rejoice!

Romans 5:6-11 NLT
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying for us while we were still sinners and transferring us into your marvelous grace. We were helpless to bring salvation to our own lives, so you did it for us. Our gratitude abounds for your love. Thank you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.