Repeated Pattern

Read Joshua 8

To fully appreciate what’s happening in chapter 8 you might need to revisit chapters 6 and 7.  Here’s a quick recap.

Chapter 6 – The children of Israel took Jericho following God’s strange instructions.  Everything was to be burned except the silver, gold and iron items were for the Lord’s treasury.  But one man kept some beautiful garments, silver and gold for himself.

Chapter 7 – The children of Israel came to Ai and decided to spy it out like they did in the past.  The spies said it would be easy and only needed a few men to take the city.  Joshua listened to men, without consulting the Lord. They were defeated.  Joshua cries out to the Lord.  But God says get up the people sinned. Sanctify them.  So they had to deal with the sin by putting to death those that sinned.

Chapter 8 – The Lord gives Joshua the plan.  They get to keep the spoil this time.  The Lord is with Joshua every step of the way.  Following God’s instructions they take Ai and the booty.  Joshua builds an alter to the Lord and writes God’s Law on the stones.  He also reads the whole law to the people.

As you read these chapters over several days, and reread them, you might discover as I did a process emerge.  Obedience, false confidence, failure, obedience pattern is repeated through out the Bible.  It’s not just these three chapters.  Take David for example he’s known as a man after God’s own heart, yet he committed murder and adultery.  Take Peter, so sure he was ready to die for the Lord, yet moments later he finds himself denying the Lord three times.  Take Saul as another example, he was overly zealous as a Pharisee that he persecuted Jesus’ followers, until he was knocked off his horse by the Lord.  We see it again and again.

Have you noticed this pattern happens in your own life? We can become secure and confident in our relationship with the Lord, we may start to think we know the way.  We slowly start doing things on our power rather than consulting the Lord.  Sadly, that leads us back into bondage of sin and failure.

How do we break that pattern?  By remembering who we are and what Jesus Christ has done for us.  We need to examine our thoughts and motives and make them obedient to Christ.  If you’re not able to spot sin in your life, it might be time to ask the Lord to help you see the truth.  For if we say we are without sin, we make God out to be a liar.  For the Good Word tells us “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Lord Jesus, thank you for saving us from our sin and paying the penalty for us.  Help us to stay on track with you and accept your truth. You are faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

A Song for Children of Israel

Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:19 NKJV

God gave Moses a song to teach the children of Israel so they would be reminded of their depravity and God’s greatness.   Read Deuteronomy 32:1-12 .

It starts by saying heaven and earth shall listen and hear.  It describes this teaching is the nourishment we need to grow.  Next it outlines some of the things that make God great:

• He is the Rock
• His work is perfect
• His ways are justice
• A God of truth
• He is righteous and upright

The focus shifts away from God and turns to the people.  What does it say about the people?

• They corrupted themselves.
• They are blemished
• They are perverse and crooked.
• They are foolish and unwise.

The songs turns back to God, admonishing the people to consider history.  Ask your father and ask your elders what God did in the past.  The rest of the verses up to verse 12 outline all God did for the children of Israel.

• He found him in a desert land.
• He encircled him.
• He instructed him.
• He kept him as the apple of His eye.
• The Lord alone led him.

To see the greatness of God, we need to see our own perverseness.  Let’s review a few definitions:

• Corrupt: to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions. Morally degenerate and perverted; Depraved, putrid, tainted, to become rotten or spoiled.

• Crooked: not straight, dishonest.

• Perverse: turned away from what is right or good; corrupt.  Obstinate in opposing what is right, reasonable or acceptable; wrongheaded.

Do these definitions help us see our stubbornness toward God?  The preceding verses highlighted God and His abilities.  God’s ways are perfect. He is truth.  He is righteous and upright.  God is all that and more.  Yet, we are obstinate in opposing what is right.  We stubbornly choose to continue in our self-sufficiency, in the strength of our determination or willpower.  A day is coming when we discover we cannot carry on in our power any longer.  We grow weary and burdened from our self-inflicted march leading to hopelessness and despair.

But God is patient.  He waits for us to come to our senses.  He has given us everything we need to live a godly life filled with abundance by His grace.  God uses everything to work out His perfect plan.  Oddly enough our poor decisions play a key role, for some need to live apart from God in order to know more fully the mercy and grace He offers when they are read to receive it.

If you had a deadly but treatable disease, would you not take advantage of medical treatments to cure the disease?

The Bible tells us we all are infected with a deadly disease called sin.  The wages of sin is death.  But the good news is there’s a free cure – Jesus Christ.  For the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.  For those our sins may be as scarlet, He washes them white as snow.  He removes our sin as far as the East is from the West.  He remembers our sin no more.  Jesus died to pay for our sin, so we wouldn’t have to.  That’s how much He loves us!

How do I receive this cure?

Believe Jesus died for your sins that God raised Him from the dead and confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and you will be saved.

Pray something like….

Dear God, I know now I am a sinner. Jesus died in my place to pay for my sins.  As you raised Him from the dead, raise me to a new life in you.  Jesus is Lord. In His name I pray. Amen.

Believe you have received and you shall have eternal life.  If you prayed that prayer from your heart, welcome to the family of God.  You have just passed from death to life. Congratulations!

Don’t stop there. Continue to read God’s word to learn more about your Savior and His plan for you.

Lord God Almighty, you love us with an everlasting and unchangeable love.  Thank you for your willingness to make a way for us to know you.  Thank you for dying in our place so we could be made alive in you.  Thank you for your teaching to guide in how we should live.  Continue your good work in us until it complete on the day Christ returns.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade.  Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Repent with Sincerity

Remember what 2 Chronicles 7:14 said? There are four steps leading to healing. Humble ourselves, pray and seek God were the first three steps. These steps prepared us for the action step.

The fourth step in healing is repentance. Don’t let the word “repent” scare you. It simply means turning from and turning to something. It’s a decision to change your mind. It means to stop one way and start another. God asks us to turn from ungodly ways and turn to Him.

So let’s look at what we need to turn from as 2 Timothy 3:2-5 outlines:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Pastor Rick Warren took these items and looked each word up in the Greek to seek further meaning. We’ll use his list (taken from January 10-11, 2009 sermon) as our checklist below. Rate how frequently you see these appearing in your life. Use the following scale: 1 for not at all, 2 for occasionally, 3 more than I’d like, 4 becoming a habit, and 5 all the time.

Self-absorbed	1 2 3 4 5
Money focused	1 2 3 4 5
Self promoting	1 2 3 4 5
Status conscious	1 2 3 4 5
God-insulting	1 2 3 4 5
Rude, disrespectful	1 2 3 4 5
Unappreciative	1 2 3 4 5
Crude and profane	1 2 3 4 5
Unkind and heartless	1 2 3 4 5
Unwilling to forgive	1 2 3 4 5
Slanders and gossips	1 2 3 4 5
Impulsive and uncontrolled	1 2 3 4 5
Loves violence	1 2 3 4 5
Cynical, hate do-gooders	1 2 3 4 5
Double-dealing	1 2 3 4 5
Reckless and rash, irresponsible	1 2 3 4 5
Puffed up with pride	1 2 3 4 5
Choosing pleasure over God	1 2 3 4 5
Fake spirituality	1 2 3 4 5

If you rated any item more than a 1, stop. Pray and ask God to help you repent of this ungodly behavior. Confess it and ask for forgiveness.

Acts 3:19 NKJV says “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Now who doesn’t want their sins blotted out and times of refreshing to come?

Act now. Turn from your ungodly ways and turn to God Himself. In this turning you are repenting. If repentance comes with sincerity, it is well pleasing to God and He will be glorified.

Lord Almighty, your Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come. May your word settle deep without our hearts that we may be convicted of ungodly behaviors to confess them and be freed from them. Forgive us our sins and send your times of refreshing. In Jesus’ name Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Genesis 12 – Faithful

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The Lord tells Abram to leave his country, family and father’s house. In return the Lord said he would make Abram a great nation, make his name great and bless him. He also said he was blessing Abram so Abram could bless others. Along with that the Lord said anyone who curses you will be cursed. All the families of the earth will be blessed through Abram. What was Abram’s response? He departed as the Lord had spoken to him. He responded in quick obedience.

Later in the land of Canaan and Shechem, the Lord says I’m giving this land to your descendants. What was Abram’s response? He built an alter to his Lord and kept moving. He worshipped the Lord. He obeyed the Lord.

Now with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east, Abram builds another alter to the Lord and calls upon His name. What was Abram’s response? He sought the Lord’s counsel. Then he journeyed south.

Next we see Abram in Egypt during a famine. Abram fearing for his own life decides to lie about Sarai being his wife. He thought the Egyptians would kill him to take her. He starts handling things on his own rather than calling on the Lord. (See verse 10 through 16) What happened? Abram was obedient up to this point. What caused him to not trust the Lord?

But what encourages me the most is how God chose to continue using Abram, despite his lack of faith, his need to control things, his self-preservation, fear and his lying and scheming. God still worked despite Abram’s missteps.

And so it is with us. We may be obedient one time and disobedient the next, just like Abram. But God still uses us. He still works in us and through us to accomplish His great purposes.

God is not looking for the perfect. He’s looking for the faithful; those who will trust Him no matter what. But even if we do slip up and depend on our own strength once in awhile, God doesn’t leave us there. He draws us back into His care.

Lord, thank you for being willing to put up with less than perfect followers. Thank you for drawing us near time and time again. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. She is creator of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com , YourBibleWitnessAtWork.com, and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Neglecting Our Calling Due to Pride

Read Jonah.

 

Even godly folks have times of pride.  Jonah is another example of what pride can do in our life. He apparently was a godly man, for he heard the call of God.  He knew his mission and purpose.  Yet, he tried to run away from God.  He tried to forget God existed.  He stubbornly chose to go the opposite direction God called him.   But God has His ways of drawing us back to Him.

 

On a ship headed in the wrong direction, God sends a mighty storm to get Jonah’s attention.  Jonah was fast asleep, while the rest of ship’s passengers were in turmoil because of the storm.  They woke Jonah up and cast lots (something like rolling dice) to determine whose fault it was for the storm upon them.  God has a wonderful sense of humor because the lots fell on Jonah. 

 

The men start drilling Jonah with questions:  “What’s your occupation?  What is your country? And what people are you of?” Jonah replies: “I am a Hebrew: and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”  Can you imagine answering like that?  Here you are running from the very thing God called you to do and with pride you answer their question.

 

Later, Jonah tells the crew to throw him over board to stop the storm.  God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.  While inside the fish for three days and nights, Jonah has time to reconsider his ways.  He calls out to God because of his affliction.  He recounts God miracles and he re-commits himself to God’s purpose.  So, the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.  There’s God’s humor again.  Can you picture a giant fish up-chucking a man on the beach?

 

Later still in the story, Jonah goes to Nineveh, speaks what God tells him and the entire village repents.  This is a wonderful thing, yet Jonah is angry.  Jonah spits out these words “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country?  Therefore I fled to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm.  Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”  Wow, Jonah is angry because he knows God is going to save the people of Nineveh!  If that isn’t pride I don’t know what is.  Jonah felt superior over these people.  He had judged them guilty and condemned them but God had other plans which made Jonah mad.

 

So Jonah goes out of the city to pout.  God goes with him and causes a plant to grow up over Jonah’s head for protection from the sun.  Look at God’s mercy even though Jonah is acting like a spoiled child.  God tests Jonah again by causing a worm to damage the plant.  Jonah fails the test by becoming angry over the loss of the plant.  God says to Jonah “Is it right to be angry about the plant?” To which Jonah replies, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”  His pride made him stubborn. Even witnessing the salvation of 120,000 people, Jonah was displeased with God, consumed with the “tragedy” of his own way not transpiring the way he wanted it.

 

There is no evidence to indicate Jonah ever overcame his pride. However, by learning from his example and allowing God to have His way in us, we can overcome pride in our life.

 

What we learned from Jonah’s example:

1. Pride will hold back the purposes of God.  It doesn’t stop God’s purposes, but it may delay them a little. 
2. There is no place we can go to hide from God.
3. Pride makes us hypocritical.  We can claim to “fear the Lord”, but if our actions don’t not match our faith, we are a lousy witness for God.
4. Our pride will expose us to trials, temptations, and trouble as God intervenes to get us back on course.
5. Pride warps our thinking and turns the gracious, mercy and loving-kindness of God into something despised. 
6. Pride makes us stubborn, unable and unwilling to see God’s way is right.
7. Pride also causes us to focus on the small, insignificant things.

 

 

Dear Lord, you are so merciful, gentle and kind even to the most prideful.  Help us to recognize and cast out pride in our own life.  Draw us near that we may humbly accept your plan and purpose for us.  In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

 

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Rules versus Righteousness

  

“They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.”” Acts 23:14 NKJV

As I pondered over this verse I thought of rules versus righteousness. There were about forty Jews who took this oath to kill Paul. These men were angry enough to take a pledge to kill someone.  But to let anger drive you to make hasty decisions you will regret later is not only foolishness but it is sin.  The Bible teaches “in your anger do not sin” (Psalm 4:4 NIV). 

According to these Jews the rules had to be followed.  Anyone who rejected the rules would be punished.  Isn’t that just like man? We make a rule and expect others to follow it.  When they don’t, we say they deserve punishment.  If God wanted us to follow rules, He wouldn’t have sent His Son, Jesus.  For God said, “This is my Son, whom I love and I am well pleased.  Listen to Him.” (Matthew 17:5 NIV)

These Jews were so bent on following a rule of taking an oath they were blind to how wrong their planned action was.   Paul did nothing worthy of death, yet these men were willing to deny them self food and water until they killed him. Killing someone without cause is wrong.  Jesus took this a step further saying even being angry at your brethren without cause puts us in danger of judgment (Matthew 5:22 NKJV).  

The thing is we usually think we have a just cause, don’t we?  That’s where righteousness comes in. Righteousness defined by Merriam Webster is acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin and morally right or justifiable.  The Bible teaches us in Psalm 14:3 NKJV “They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one”.  No one is good, except God.  Our righteousness is worthless in His sight.  The only righteousness that is worth its weight in gold comes from God Himself.  These Jews were not practicing righteousness that comes from God, but what comes from man.  If they were following God, I’m sure they would have remembered Exodus 21:14 NKJV “But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.”

Next time anger tries to over take you, stop and ask your self “Why am I angry?”, “Am I trying to get someone to follow my rule?”, “Am I acting in accord with God’s Word?” Submit to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).   God’s righteousness is what we need, not rules. 

 Lord thank you for your precious word and your Holy Spirit who reveals your truth to us.  Thank you for your righteousness that sets us free from rules and brings us into relationship with you.  Help us in every way grow into your likeness.  In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.  © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Accepting His Will

 

So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:14 NKJV

 

Why is it so hard to accept the will of the Lord?  One reason is we can’t understand why pain and suffering are part of the Lord’s will.  When we study God’s word, it is pretty clear we will have tribulations.

 

James 1:2-3 NKJV “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

 

John 16:33 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

 

Romans 8:17 NKJV “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

 

Trials, testing, and tribulation are part of life.  But all of it God uses for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

 

Another reason for not accepting the Lord’s will is stubbornness or self-centeredness.  Again, studying God’s word reveals we are not the only stubborn ones.  Even God’s chosen ones, the Israelites, were stubborn.

 

Exodus 32:9 NKJV “And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!”

 

2 Chronicles 30:8 NKJV “Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.”

 

Acts 7:51 NKJV “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

 

Let’s face it we want our way most of the time.  I have found when I am least willing to accept God’s will it is due to my own immaturity.   If thoughts like “I deserve it”, “It’s not fair”, “I have a right to…” are present, you can be sure you are out of God’s will.  Self-serving thoughts are not part of God’s will.

 

What did Jesus teach?  He told us to deny self, pick up our cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34).  He said if someone strikes you on the cheek, turn and give them the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39).  Jesus is our role model.  He laid down His life for us.  We in turn lay down our claim/desire to have things our way.

 

Ignorance is another reason for not accepting God’s will.  It is pretty hard to accept something you have never heard of before.  This is an easy one to correct.  Start reading God’s word.  Join a small group so you can talk with others about questions you may have about what you have read.  Pray God will open your eyes.

 

When Judgment Day comes, ignorance will not be an excuse that saves your hide. 

Romans 1:20-21 NKJV “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Creation points to God.  The stars of above, the ocean depth, the uncountable grains of sand on the beaches, and even the tree branches that reach heavenward all point to a creator.  The world we live in shows obvious signs of a “designer”.  It didn’t just happen by chance.  I saw a bumper sticker the other day saying “THE BIG BANG THEORY: GOD SPOKE AND BANG IT HAPPENED”. The evidence of God is all around us.  It’s even within us.  If you studied human anatomy for any length of time you would find evidence of God in how the body works.  We were made to know God, because He has put eternity in our hearts. (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

We have looked at a few reasons for not accepting God’s will.  What’s holding you back?  If trials have stopped you in your tracks, trust God to use it for good.  If self-centeredness or stubbornness is the issue, pray for God to give you a desire to follow him.  If ignorance holds you back, read God’s word.

 

Jesus gives us peace beyond what the world offers.  You just need to trust and obey, there’s no better way.

 Lord thank you for your life-giving word. Give us a desire to follow hard after you.  Help us be God-center rather than self-absorbed. Give us endurance to get through the tough spots in life.  Help us see life from your perspective.  In Jesus’ name Amen.   © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

God Gave

 

Are you following the truth?  God gave us many things to help us discover the truth.  Let’s take a look at some of them. 

 

God gave us a brain.  He expects us to use it.  Isaiah 1:18 NKJV says “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool”.  Psalm 34:8 NKJV tells us to taste and see the Lord is good.

 

God gave us His word.  Psalm 68:11 says “The Lord gave the word”.  He expects us to study it and discover His truth like the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 NKJV “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”  In addition, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV tells us “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

God gave His Son to die for us.  Psalm 53:3 NKJV says “Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”  Romans 6:23 NKJV says “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Through one man, Adam, sin entered mankind.  Another man, the Son of God, paid the price for our sin so we wouldn’t have to (Romans 5:12-17). John 14:6 NKJV says “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

God gave His Holy Spirit to those who believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for their sins.  First Corinthians 2:14 tell us the natural man thinks the things of God are foolishness and he can not know them for they are spiritually discerned. John 16:13 NKJV says “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” The Spirit is given so we might know the things that have been given to us freely by God (1 Corinthians 2:12). 

 

So are you ready?  Are you ready to use your brain, receive His Word, accept His sacrifice for your sins and receive His Holy Spirit? 

 

Step into God’s glorious truth today.  Today is the day of Salvation.  If you haven’t received Jesus as your Savior, pray something like this:

 Jesus, I believe the Word of God.  I now understand I am not saved by my own goodness.  Please come into my life and make my sins as white as wool. Give me your Holy Spirit to lead me in all truth.  In your name I pray. Amen.  © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Everything for Good?

 

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 NJKV

 

What an extreme idea!  God uses everything for good to those who love Him.  If everything is used for my beneficial good, then surely I will be filled with a great confidence in God working out the details. 

 

Sadly, a lot of times hurts from those we love drives us deeper in despair.  Where is the good when the harsh words are flying?  It is during those times we forget God’s promise to bring good out of everything.  When we are hurt, we just want to get out of the pain, so our focus is on fleeing.  Our focus is on the short-term gain of removing the pain. 

 

Sometimes God does great things in the short-term.  One time, God saved me from accidentally running over a mother pushing her baby’s stroller in a crosswalk, when I didn’t see them!  But most of the time, God is working on developing the fruit of the Spirit or in other words His character in us.  This is a long-term process, not short-term.

 

Think about a peach.  Does it simply pop out of the branch one day?  No.  It takes time to grow.  It starts out as a blossom, which is pollinated by a bee.  It turns into a small bud and over several weeks, as the tree provides nourishment, it grows into what we know is a peach. 

 

We are just like that peach.  We are God’s blossoms pollinated by His Word through the Holy Spirit.  When we start seeing evidence of our changed life we enter the budding phase.  With proper nourishment from the Tree of Life (God’s Word), over time we grow more like Jesus Christ. 

 

God creator of the universe, who has every day of our life written in His book before He ever made us, uses all things in our life to develop His fruit, His character in us.  Can He use my mistakes?  Absolutely He’ll help us make better choices next time.  Can He use the wrong things done to me?  You know He does when He teaches us to forgive those who hurt us and bless those you use us. Can He use my wrong motives? Sure He can, as He reveals His pure motives we learn to trust Him.  Can He use my financial burden?  Yes.  He helps us see all things come from Him.  Can He use my grieving over a death? You bet He will use it to guide our thoughts to eternity.  Can He use a toddler’s temper tantrum? No doubt He uses these to help us grow our patience.

 

It is really about how we think about all that goes on in our life.  Philippians 4:8 teaches us to keep our thoughts fixed on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy.  We are to meditate on these things.  The tough part is most of the time things masquerade in bad situations, negative attitudes, self-centered behavior and other evil of our day.

 

The challenge to us believers is to take God at His Word, to trust some how some way He will bring good out of it.  We may not see the good right away.  It may take time, just like the peach took time to grow.  Hang in there through the tough stuff, having confidence in God’s ability to bring good from it. In the end, we know God will bring good to those who love Him. 

 

Lord thank you for bringing good out of all things.  Help us to trust in your timing.  Enable us to keep our thoughts fixed on you as you develop the fruit of the Spirit in us.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Now I know for Certain

 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” Acts 12:11 NKJV 

God knows exactly what each of us needs to truly believe.  In Peter’s case, he was able to walk with Jesus Christ for 3 years and was given the power to heal people (Acts 9:33-35) and raise them from the dead (Acts 9:36-41).  He also received a vision regarding the definition of clean food to relieve his fears of associating with Gentiles and he was miraculously delivered from prison (Acts 12).  All these things lead Peter to conclude: “Now I know for certain”. 

 

It was the same for me.  The Lord forgave me of great sin, removed my bitter/resentful/angry heart and replaced it with a tender heart of love.  He answered even my smallest prayers.   He renewed my marriage and blessed us with a second son.  He has blessed me with many godly encouragers in my life and this writing ministry.  He speaks to me through His Word, by impressions and through repeated confirmations.  All these things have led me to say, like Peter, “Now I know for certain” the Lord is true, just and right and all He allows is used for His glory, even the bad things. 

 

What do you need in order to believe in Jesus? 

 

God already knows and is working on revealing it to you in His perfect timing.  If you struggle with some unanswered questions, ask God to help you trust Him.  The answer will come at just the right time.  Then you will be able to say “Now I know for certain”.

 Lord, bless those who are struggling today with answers to their prayers.  Continue your good work in them.  Draw them to a deeper understanding of you, so they may say “Now I know for certain”.  In Jesus’ name Amen.   

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.