Devotionals

June 17, 2019

Ephesians 4:7-16 New Living Translation (NLT)

The standard for Christian maturity is Christ, so the Holy Spirit brings supernatural transforming work to make us like Christ in our character.  The Spirit works through all of us in order to bring us to unity in the faith.  In other words, we help one another grow up.  Every member has a part to play; Christian service to the body is everyone’s calling.  Each of us needs to be operating in wisdom, so our faith is not shaken and we are not vulnerable to the work of the enemy.  Wise Christians know better than to allow themselves to be isolated from the body, because spiritual strength comes in numbers and together we identify and stand against the work of evil.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul teaches the early church at Ephesus about the gracious gifts of Christ and the need to help other believers grow in love, truth, and wisdom.

Read more

June 14, 2019

Proverbs 3:19-26 Good News Translation (GNT)

Do you spend time reading God’s Word and enjoying his presence each morning?  Is it a priority that cannot be displaced?  If everyday we will allow the Word to remind us of God’s infinite wisdom, greatness, power, and love for us, it will change how we view life and, therefore, how we process our feelings and circumstances. We will not allow negative situations or emotions to dictate our lives, because Almighty God already has that place in our thoughts and hearts; we have made him Lord.  If the Lord, who loves you, created the earth by his wisdom, does fear or worry deserve your time or energy?  When we know the Truth, we will not allow those fleeting or hiding negative occupants of fear or worry to displace our loyalty to our Primary Resident—Messiah.  Why would we take our focus off from the Savior and Creator of all good things in order to entertain the unwelcome guests of fear and worry?  Maybe the reason we struggle with life is because we are not spending time allowing God’s Word of wisdom to become the foundation of everything we think and believe. 

In our reading this morning, the Psalmist reminds us to remain focused on Almighty God; it is wisdom. Christ is returning soon for those who call him Lord.  Scripture teaches the Last Days will be difficult (1 Timothy 3:1). “People will faint from fear as they wait for what is coming over the whole earth, for the powers in space will be driven from their courses. Then the Son of Man will appear, coming in a cloud with great power and glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your salvation is near” (Luke 21:26-28).   Be ready for the Lord’s return.  Read and obey the Word—make the Lord at home in your heart—so the Spirit of wisdom will rule your life.

Read more

June 13, 2019

Proverbs 3:13-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

Charles Dickens once said, “There is a wisdom of the head and a wisdom of the heart.”  Wisdom is to be valued, because wisdom comes from God.  When we begin to understand the Source of wisdom, as well as the work of the Word and life experiences to reveal wisdom, we will begin to recognize God’s blessing and favor over our lives.  Listening to God is the first key to gaining wisdom, because it is His desire to take care of us.  Wisdom is a tremendously valuable gift the Holy Spirit cultivates in us; the profitable, precious, and prosperous gift from God for his children. 

Scripture teaches in the last days, people will live for themselves and what they think will make them happy, but that is not wisdom.  God’s sons and daughters will live by heart wisdom and in so doing the blessing and favor of God will radiate in those lives guided by the Word.  Live today in the wisdom of God and be joyful!

Read more

June 12, 2019

Luke 1:26-38 New Life Version (NLV)

Our Scripture this week is drawing our attention to the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit who brings us into the realm of God when our minds, wills, and emotions are actually willing to stop fighting the reality of Truth.  We fight to understand everything with our natural senses and God’s mystery of salvation is only received and revealed by the Holy Spirit.  How powerful is the Holy Spirit?  

Well, in our passage today, the Spirit comes upon Mary and the power of the Most High covers her and she becomes pregnant with Messiah; no man involved.  Pretty powerful, right?  The kind of news the angel delivered from God to Mary cannot be receive in the natural, because it makes no sense to us.  But, it is nonetheless Truth about the power of God over the natural realm. We must surrender our limited human understanding in order to receive his unlimited divine wisdom and provision. 

Read more

June 11, 2019

1 Corinthians 2:12-16 New Life Version (NLV)

Our passage today fills me with joy, because it reminds me again how the Christ follower must engage in a spiritual life of discovery.  The definition of discover is to find something or someone unexpectedly in the course of a search.  Think about it, today we have amazing spiritual discoveries to make in Christ!  

Jesus teaches, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matt 6:33). The Kingdom of God is within each believer.  Here the Word of God is setting us up for success by giving us directions for living each day.  The world doesn’t understand the Word or the guidance of the Spirit, because it is a gift for believers. 

Life brings challenges for sure, but it also brings exciting discoveries.  If with every day we live, we seek the Truth of God’s Kingdom, God will provide everything we need for that day—which is our classroom for learning to trust God.  If we did not have the Spirit, we would never know what lies deep within us.  Therefore, we would live at a superficial level never pressing in for the fathomless love and goodness of God.  As we walk out our faith in the power of the Spirit, we grow up into Christ—his thoughts and plans become our soul reality.  What an awesome God we serve!  So, rejoice, and discover something new in the Spirit today!

Read more

June 10, 2019

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Do you ever feel inadequate? Sometimes, as believers, we are called to do certain things that seem terribly above our natural ability and certainly beyond our comfort zones. Yet, God does not check our resume nor our skill set to call us into Kingdom action. He looks for the presence of the Holy Spirit in us; he checks our hearts and reviews our motives. In the Spirit, we can be and do all things to which God calls us. He knows that all too well, but we have to learn to trust God’s power.

Yesterday, we celebrated Pentecost; the coming of the Holy Spirit to bring power to the believers for sharing the gospel message. So, when you are tempted to feel inadequate, don’t shrink back and be disobedient to the call. Simply, stop looking at yourself and start calling on the Spirit to take the lead. He is well able to guide you and me to serve the heart of the Father. 

Read more

June 7, 2019

Galatians 6:7-10 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Personal responsibility as a Christ follower is a big deal, because we grow and harvest what we sow or allow to be planted in our lives.  We either sow to the Spirit or we sow to the selfish flesh.  The seed of selfishness and the soil of the earth are under the dominion of Satan who exists around us; he is in the world.  The seed of the Word and the righteous soil of the Kingdom are under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ and he lives in us.  Who’s more powerful?  God in you, of course!  We must choose wisely, because our choice for what we sow declares our master.   Remember, as I shared yesterday, we cannot flow in the power of the Spirit and selfishness at the same time.

I confess sometimes I grow weary waiting on the good seeds I have planted to grow, but Scripture warns us we are not to grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9).  So, when I feel weary I correct my attitude and get back on the path to bless others.  I have to work to get myself off my mind! lol! Could that be God’s purpose in delaying the harvest?  Could he be giving us time to grow in righteousness?  Maybe he is testing us to see if we will continue to plant the Word in our hearts, trust, and wait for the righteous harvest God has promised.  Whatever the case, Father knows best.

Read more

June 6, 2019

Galatians 5:16-25 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Yesterday, we explored the meaning of “Let go and let God.” If we are honest, every human being craves freedom, satisfaction, and power of some kind; we like to hold onto certain things that make us feel “good,” don’t we? Letting go may feel like we are sacrificing something good for us. Remember, the Lord has given us freedom, so how will we use it?  We like being able to stand in a place of independence, influence, or power and honestly, in Christ, we were created to do so. Yet, our will has to be supported by righteous attitudes in our minds, righteous motives in our hearts, and the power needs to be used to exalt Christ not our flesh. Sometimes believers experience an internal war, because our flesh craves something the Spirit is not free to give because the Anointed One says it is contrary to God’s will for our lives.  We cannot flow in the power of the Spirit and selfishness at the same time.

Today, the Apostle Paul teaches us about the benefit of letting go and embracing the realm and reign of God. Only when we flow in the Spirit will our lives produce an eternal and holy victory. The Spirit wants us to connect in power and oneness with God.  In fact, the Spirit craves that oneness in the holiness of God.  Not everything we may have a desire to say or do will bring a holy victory; not everything is good according to Christ the Anointed One.  In fact, we are free, yet that freedom misused can cause us to forfeit the Kingdom realm of God.

Read more

June 5, 2019

Luke 9:23-27 The Voice

“Let go and let God” is a phrase I have frequently heard believers use when they are encouraging others to consciously surrender his or her free will, as a servant, for the will of God.  Sometimes people interpret that as just giving up, doing nothing, and thinking God is going to bring all things to pass with no effort, work, or change on our part.  This is not truth, but rather a fantasy.  If you and I are going to “Let go and let God,” we are going to make a continual effort to set down the agenda’s we may have for our lives and pick up God’s will.  That means I may need to allow Jesus to reposition me, transform me, and lead me into his will and quite honestly that is not an easy thing to endure.  Our flesh is at war with the Spirit, remember?  Letting go involves a cross, because it calls for sacrifice.  It may even test our faith, but it is biblical to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, anyway.  When we commit to “Let go and let God,” we are committing to follow the Word at all costs even when it feels risky, frightening, or goes counter cultural.  So, if you really want the will of God which heals and restores us in love, by all means “Let go!”

Read more

June 4, 2019

Acts 26:19-23 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Jesus Messiah is a life-changer.  He brings new life to open hearts and calls us to follow him into abundant living.  When we are willing to surrender our stubborn wills and mindsets, he brings transformation to our attitudes, priorities, choices, etc.  Getting our attention is part of God’s work of salvation.  I imagine sometimes getting our attention is quite a task.

Jesus Messiah is the life-changer for Saul (Apostle Paul) who met Jesus on the Road to Damascus.  Saul was going to persecute Christians, but Jesus got his attention and sent him in a new direction.  From that day on, Saul would become Paul; a man with a life-changing story.  God sent him to the Gentile or non-Jewish nations to be a witness to the resurrection of Christ.  God’s directive and Paul’s obedience provided salvation for me and you. 

In our passage today, Paul is presenting his case in court; Paul has been put in prison for his witness of the Living Christ.  Our take away today comes as a reminder. We must receive the love and forgiveness of God through Jesus and demonstrate our connection to Christ with our changed lives. Behold old sinful ways of living are to pass away and we are to live each day in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Read more