Devotionals

John 12:20-36 (TPT) True Seekers
20 Now there were a number of foreigners from among the nations who were worshipers at the feast. 21 They went to Philip (who came from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee) and they asked him, “Would you take us to see Jesus? We want to see him.” 22 So Philip went to find Andrew, and then they both went to inform Jesus.

23 He replied to them, “Now is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.

25 “The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever! 26 If you want to be my disciple, follow me and you will go where I am going. And if you truly follow me as my disciple, the Father will shower his favor upon your life.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: In our passage today, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death. He must lay down his life, so that we may enjoy new life in Him. We must detach from the life the world proclaims as victorious in order to actually follow the Lord. Isn’t it interesting how we have literally been forced to disconnect from so many worldly activities and influences right now? It’s for our good that we have done so. And, it provides us much needed time to connect to Christ. Let Christ refresh your spiritual life in the Father’s favor.

Prayer: Lord, there is so much I want to learn from you, so many ways I need your comfort, today, but the most important thing I can articulate in the moment is to say thank you! I want to be a life-grain that produces a harvest with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 12:1-11 (NLT) Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate [reclined] with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Jesus—the Light of Truth—is welcome in the home of his friends; they love him and find ways to worship and serve their Lord and King. Mary anoints the feet of Jesus; the fragrance of the King fills the house. They enjoy the presence of peace as they listen to their Creator share his heart and love for them. Jesus came as the glorious ray of Truth humanity needed in order to walk out of the darkness and into the love of God. Unfortunately, when we do not humble ourselves, repent of sin, and turn from our wicked ways, we seek to diminish the Light. In fact, darkness always deals with the Truth in one way…it seeks to kill it. Welcome Jesus into the home of your heart and let him speak Truth to your soul. Let the fragrance of the King linger upon you.

Prayer: Lord, may the fragrance of you, my King, permeate my home, my heart, and my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 24:9-10 Glorious King, Cont.
9 
So wake up, you living gateways, and rejoice!
Fling wide, you ageless doors of destiny!
Here he comes; the King of Glory is ready to come in.
10 
You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?”
He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts!
Yes, he is the King of Glory!

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: We must pray for the hearts of those who do not know the Glorious King. May the gates of unbelieving hearts be opened and may people begin to welcome the King of Glory to enter and be the Lord of their lives. Remember, Scripture assures us one day at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:10-11). Welcome the King of Glory!

Prayer: I pray for every heart to know you; every life to bow before your glory.

Psalm 24:7-8 The Glorious King, Cont.
David’s poetic praise to God
7 
So wake up, you living gateways!
Lift up your heads, you ageless doors of destiny!
Welcome the King of Glory,
for he is about to come through you.
8 
You ask, “Who is this Glory-King?”
The Lord, armed and ready for battle,
the Mighty One, invincible in every way!

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: If someone is described as invincible, it means he or she is incapable of being overcome or destroyed. As frail human beings we are capable of many things—many triumphs—but no one is truly invincible apart from Jesus Christ. He is the Mighty Lord who cannot be defeated. The Spirit of this King lives in every believer, so, don’t allow the enemy to mess with your thoughts or destroy your trust in God as your Protector. You are strong—more than a conquerer—because Christ is in/with you and he is ready for battle. You are covered by the blood of Jesus as he wages war with evil.

Prayer: Lord, as I open my heart up to you each day, may you shine through me. Please help me to be a living gateway. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 91:14-16
14
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: God is Love and he has chosen to extend love to humanity. Many people in the world may say they love God, yet I wonder if they understand how God interprets human love for him. “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23). This is a beautiful image of salvation. We call upon the name of the Lord, the Spirit of Christ fills us with love and a desire to obey the Word, and we can forever enjoy fellowship with Almighty God. This is the life Jesus died to provide. We are never promised a trouble-free life. We are promised that the Lord will rescue, honor, and save those who love him. Be a God-Lover!

Prayer: Lord, I know without one doubt that you love me. You reveal it in so many ways each day. In return, help me to obey your Word and love you the way you deserve. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 91:8-13
9 
If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 
no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 
For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 
They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: The word “if” is a very powerful two letter word. In fact, many theologians believe the word “if” has the potential of being one of the most powerful words in Scripture. This word “if” conveys a conditional sentence. Look at our passage for today. “If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter…” then God deploys angels to watch over you and protect you. We must choose to love and trust God with our lives; to exercise our faith by casting down wrong thoughts and fear presented by evil. Please understand, “if” you believe God’s Word with your whole being and live revealing that trust, then you have activated God’s power and promise for you to receive. Praise God for his love!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for deploying your angels to hold me up and protect me. May your angels encamp around me and my loved ones, today, and protect us from evil. May those who do not call you Lord, turn to do so today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 91:1-8
1 
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
3 
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
4 
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
8 
Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: God has promised to be our Shelter. He wants to be the One to whom we run when we are afraid. If you feel afraid during this time of the dread disease, please ask God to take those fears and increase your faith. Then trust him to act on his promise. He will take your soul to a place of rest beyond the reach of evil.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my shelter. I place my trust in you alone! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 130:7-8
7 
O Israel (people of God), keep hoping, keep trusting, and keep waiting on the Lord,
for he is tenderhearted, kind, and forgiving.
He has a thousand ways to set you free!
8 
He himself will redeem you;
he will ransom you from the cruel slavery of your sins!

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Loyalty is revealed through our actions. Scripture teaches we are to love God with our whole being; God commands the action of loyalty. God is perfectly loyal, so when we place our hope in him we have acted wisely. He demonstrates his loyalty by how he loves his human family. Our passage reminds us God is tenderhearted, kind, and forgiving. We always need forgiveness, don’t we? Even when we are isolated or quarantined, evil knows our address. As long as we have choices of any kind, we will find sin (failure to love God or others) as one of the options. God is Good and even during this time he is seeking to deliver us from evil. Stay positive and keep trusting the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for challenging me all the time to look in at the attitude of my heart. I can never get away from my true self no matter how isolated I am. Set me free and help me love like you. Turn my vantage point toward your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 130:5-6
5 
I am counting on the Lord;
    yes, I am counting on him.
    I have put my hope in his word.
6 
I long for the Lord
    more than sentries long for the dawn,
    yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: We must trust God’s Word; we have every reason to do so. Within the pages of Scripture, God reveals his unfailing love for his sinful human creation. The Lord desires to have a relationship with humanity that is built upon trust in his goodness and hope in his love for us. God’s Word actually imparts hope to our souls; it contains the promises of God that he will rescue us from anything that seeks to destroy us if we will humbly turn to him. When we long or hope for something, we wait expectantly for it. Hope in the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word and for imparting hope to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

March 26, 2020

Psalm 130:1-4
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 
From the depths of despair, O Lord,
    I call for your help.
2 
Hear my cry, O Lord.
    Pay attention to my prayer.
3 
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
    who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 
But you offer forgiveness,
    that we might learn to fear (reverence) you.
Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Despair is the absence of Hope. We were never created to live in despair. God, the source of all Hope, wants to fill us completely with joy and peace as we trust him, but we must pray (Romans 15:13). Prayer connects us with Almighty God. Pray for God’s mercy and grace to flow over his children; the blood of Jesus to protect those marked by the Spirit. Pray for help and wisdom as you navigate through this time of isolation; may you listen to the Voice of the Spirit. Pray for God to impart wisdom to our national and state leaders. Pray for God to heal the sick and protect our medical and emergency teams. Pray for the world to turn to Christ for salvation. Pray, there is much more to pray about…God is listening!

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the blood of Jesus and power outflowing his resurrection. I pray to see the manifestation of your miraculous presence in this world now! In Jesus’ name. Amen.