God Hears

 

When God says something will happen we can rest assured it will come to pass.  King David wanted to build a house for God, but God said it would not be David, but his son Solomon who would do it (1 Chronicles 28:3). 

 

Fast forward to 2 Chronicles 7:11 NKJV “Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house:  and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the Lord and in his own house.”  See.  God said Solomon would build the house of the Lord and Solomon really did finish it.

 

When the Lord calls someone to do something for His kingdom, He equips.  One of Solomon’s purposes from God was to complete the Lord’s house.  With God’s help, he not only did it, but he “successfully accomplished all that came into his heart”.  Everything God plants in our heart to do, He makes happen. 

 

It is so encouraging to know God can be trusted to follow through on whatever He promises.  So when we read 2 Chronicles 7:14 we should have great joy: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

God will hear, forgive and heal, if we choose to humble our self before Him.  As we agree with God about our sins, seek Him and turn from our old ways, He will hear and respond.  That was the case for me.  Once I humbled myself, confessed my sins, He answered me, forgave me and healed me.  All that’s left is for me to continue carrying out God’s purpose in my life, as He reveals it to me.  This I know: He is the One working it out through me.  My part is willing obedience to Him.

 

How about you?  Have you humbled yourself before the Lord?  Have you agreed with God about your sin?  Are you seeking His forgiveness?  Why wait?  He’s waiting.  He will answer when you turn to Him.

 Lord, thank you for hearing us when we humble our self before you.  Thank you for your forgiveness.  Thank you for being faithful to answer us.  Draw us near.  May we always hear you.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  
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The Lord will Answer His People

The Lord will be a shelter for His people… Joel 3:16 NKJV

The prophet Joel spoke of the “The Day of the Lord” coming. It is the Day of Judgment, when all the wrongs will be compensated.  It is a terrible and yet wonderful thing to behold.

Only those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.”

Then the Lord will be zealous for His land and pity His people. The Lord will answer His people.

The Lord will…

• Remove you from the northern army
• Cause the harvest to bloom
• Cause the rain
• Restore all the locusts have eaten
• Satisfy you
• Defend you
• Pour out His Spirit upon us
• Save those who call on the name of the Lord
• Cause victory for His people
• Strengthen His people
• Be a shelter for His people
• Pay back those who brought evil against His people
• Acquit Judah and Jerusalem of bloodshed
• Dwell in Zion

No matter what the circumstances look like, God is able to deliver us out of them. Look not at your foes. Look not at all you lack. Look not at the problems facing you.

Look, instead, to Jesus, the One who is able to rescue you.  God Almighty knows your troubles and has the power to save and deliver you. But it requires your trust. You must turn to Him, trust in His ability. Fear not, be glad and rejoice. For the Lord has done marvelous things!

Father, thank you for helping us through the difficult times in our life.  You provide a way out of every temptation.  You provide the strength we need to face all opposition.  We are ready to trust you. Deliver us Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

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How to Walk in the Spirit

Humble Self before God

It’s not about us.  This world does not exist to gratify our selfish desires, though many live as like it does.  The world and its entire people were created for God’s pleasure.  Psalm 149:4 NKJV “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.” The Bible teaches us in Mark 8:34 to deny self and think of others first, in doing so, we honor God and operate in a humble manner. We become humble rather than prideful.  Pride is something God hates (Proverbs 8:13).

 

Transform through God’s Love

In humility we are able to understand the love God has for us.  It is a love so deep, willing to sacrifice His own Son to die for our sins (John 3:16).  It is a love so pure and good it can not leave us to our own devices. It pursues us.  It changes us, draws us deeper into a more meaningful life.  It perfects us, if we’ll let it (1 John 4:18).

 

Sense God’s Hand Everywhere

Keeping our mind focused on God enables us to look for and expect to see God working behind every circumstance.  The more we see God’s hand, the deep our faith grows, further equipping us to walk in the Spirit.  Again, we must be willing to see (1 Samuel 12:16).  When we do see, praise God for what He’s doing.  An attitude of praise is helpful for remaining in the Spirit.

 

Conform My Will to His

Having the proper perspective on self and God enables us to submit to the will of God.  Upon realizing we are not the center of all existence, rather God is, and it becomes easier to submit to His authority (Romans 10:13).  All human authority was put there by God and we are obligated to submit to that authority as well (Romans 13:1).  As we do submit is it honoring to God.  It may also put in right relations with others (Ephesians 5:21).

 

While this short article does not explain everything about the Spirit, it should be a good guide to get you started.  Walking by the Spirit is about staying humble, considering others first, being transformed by God’s love, sensing His hand everything, and allowing our will to be molded to God’s will.

 Lord, thank you for your love, your Son, you Word and your Spirit.  Lead us in your truth.  Shape us in your image.  Equip us to walk in the Spirit.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

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10 Ways to Develop Spiritual Fruit in Your Life

1. Love others always. Jesus said “by this the world will know you are true disciples, if you love one another.”
2. Rejoice in the midst of trials. James 1:2 “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”
3. Think good thoughts. Philippians 4:8-9 “The God of peace will be with you.”
4. Practice patience.  James 1:4 “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.”
5. Let kindness rule. Proverbs 31:26 “She opens her mouth wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
6. Allow God’s goodness to guide you. Proverbs 2:20 “So you may walk in the way of goodness and keep the paths of righteousness.”
7. Hold fast to the truth.  2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith, and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
8. Shine brightly before all.  Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be known to men.  The Lord is at hand.”
9. Grow your faith with self-control. 2 Peter 1:5-7 “But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love.”
10. Acknowledge God in all things.  Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for making us yours. Thank you for filling us with a desire for you, your word, and your ways.  Thank you for providing everything we need to live a godly life until you return.  In your precious name we pray. Amen.

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Freedom or Captivity by Rebellion

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV 

Freedom is obtained when we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and allow His Spirit to reign as supreme authority over all parts of our life.  Doesn’t that sound easy?  Then why is it so difficult?  

Rebellion on our part is why it’s so difficult.  Any time we put our own way ahead of God’s way is rebellion.  Thinking we know what’s best puts us on a disaster course headed for the opposite of freedom — bondage.  The funny thing is we don’t even recognize our own rebellion.   

That’s why studying God’s Word is so important.  Look at what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV says about God’s Word,  “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.”  The Bible shows us who we really are, who He is and how He has every right to rule in authority over us.  After all He made us.   

Do you have any locked doors in your heart?  Those locked doors represent rebellion in our life.  The more we study God’s Word, the more He reveals places we thought were open to Him but are not.  Don’t live in rebellion any longer.  It’s time to shed God’s light on those dark places, so we can be set free.    

God’s given us His Spirit with the power to enable us to be all that God’s called us to be.  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV 

 

Lord God who made us, open our eyes to the places we have not yet invited you in.  Enable us to unlock the doors to every part of our heart.  You have complete, supreme authority to rule.  Your Spirit in us gives freedom, let it flow freely through all parts of our life that we may become all you intended for us to be.  In Jesus name Amen.

 

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Believe and You Will Receive

And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Mark 5:22-24 NKJV 

Can God’s work in our life be limited or restrained?   I think it can, but don’t misunderstand.  I’m not saying the all powerful and all knowing God can’t do a certain thing if He wanted to.  What I am saying is our choices make a difference in how God works in our life.   

Take for example one ruler of the synagogue, Jairus, in today’s verse.  He came to Jesus asking to have Jesus come and lay hands on His daughter so she would be healed.  What’s wrong with that request you might ask?  Nothing, however, think of this:  Jesus was God who could heal by speaking a word.  He didn’t really need to go to their house, touch the girl so she would be healed.  He could have just spoken the word and she would have been healed. 

Jairus asked Jesus to come to his house and in those days it took time to get anywhere.  If his daughter was severely ill to the point of death, you might think Jairus wouldn’t have wanted to waste time traveling to his house, but rather would request Jesus say the word so she may be healed, like the centurion did in Luke 7:7 NKJV: “But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” 

However, that’s one of the wonderful things about Jesus.  He meets us where we are.  If our faith only goes so far, that’s where He’ll meet us.  Over time, as we grow in His love our faith grows too.  I wonder how many times we’ve called out to God to help us, but our requests are so small compared to what God is really able to do.   

What have your prayer requests been like?  Are you asking for small things or big things?  We have a great big God who is able to do what we can not even imagine.  Think big.  As Mark 11:24 NKJV says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them”, believe and you will receive.   

Don’t think your small request is really limiting God, because He can work around your small faith.  Read the last part of Jairus’ story in Mark 5:35-43.  In a nutshell, God’s glory shines forth even more dramatically because the girl, who dies, is raised to life again!  Which would have been the greater miracle?  Healed by speaking a word while not being near the girl or being raised from the dead?  Everything has a purpose to demonstrate God’s glory.  In this case, Jairus’ small faith allowed God’s glory to shine forth to a greater degree. 

Lord God Almighty you are able to do things we can not even imagine.  Help our faith increase by asking you of what you are capable of.  Help us believe we will receive what we have asked for so your glory may shine forth in our lives.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

 

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How would you finish “If Only…?”

For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Mark 5:28 NKJV 

How many times have you said “If only…”?  If only ______(fill in the blank) I would be satisfied.  If only I were married, I’d be happy.  If only I got that job, I’d be significant. If only I had a baby, I’d have someone to love me.   

In most cases, when we use the “if only” statements in our thoughts we are playing unhealthy games.  The “if only” sentences above are just a few that show how misplaced focus can lead us down the wrong path.   But this devotion isn’t about the wrong path.  It’s about choosing the right path.  

Our example comes from Mark 5:25-34 today.  There was a woman with a “fountain of blood” flowing from her body for twelve years.  This poor woman had suffered many things from the hands of those who claimed to be doctors.  Although none of their treatments had helped her, she grew worse.  I don’t know about you, but I can hardly stand a week of flowing blood.  I don’t know how this poor woman dealt with twelve years of it! 

One day she heard about Jesus.  The Bible doesn’t tell us what she heard, but we can safely assume it might have been about how Jesus healed people.  Whatever she heard, it was enough to compel her to check it out for herself.  She came up behind Jesus in the crowd and touched His garment.  Her thought was “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”  

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  Isn’t that wonderful? Finally after twelve years of trying everything else, she is healed!   Everything other method was counterfeit.  Only one method could heal her condition.  What she faced is what we face.  All of us have the issue of sin in our life, which can only be healed by coming to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).   

Recorded in verse 34 is my favorite part: “And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.””  Her act of chasing after Jesus, to catch up to Him in the crowd, and to simply touch the hem of His robe was deliberate and active faith.  Jesus’ healing power was released because of her faith.   

Her “If only” was to touch His clothes to be made well.  Hers was a healthy “if only” because she focused on the One who could heal her.  She had enough faith to try again, after so many failures.  Her faith did not give up.  Her faith compelled her onward to Jesus our great Physician.  Her faith, according to Jesus, made her well.  

 

What kind of “If only” statements are you thinking about?  May your “if only” be the kind which leads you to Christ.  

 Lord thank you for your patience with us as we try so many things before we finally come to you.  Thank you for your healing touch.  May our faith be like this woman that we may be healed.  In Jesus’ name Amen. 

 

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Devine Influence Upon the Heart

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 NKJV

Before we discuss what we learn from this verse, let’s look at the meaning of a few of the words using a Strong’s Concordance and Bible Dictionary.

Corrupt G4550 Sapros meaning rotten, worthless (literally or morally) bad, corrupt.

Good G18 agathos “good” (in any sense often as a noun) benefit, good, goods, good things, well, intrinsic.

Edification G3619 oikodome architecture (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation, building, edify, edification, edifying.  Also from G3624 meaning dwelling home household and G1430 meaning doma, roof, and housetop.

Grace G5485 charis meaning graciousness (as gratifying) of manner or act (abstract or concrete), literal, figurative, spiritual, especially the devine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life including gratitude, acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace, gracious, joy, liberality, pleasure, thank, thanks, thankworthy.

Now this begin with some questions.

What truth is conveyed in this verse?

I see God uses words to influence our hearts, words should be used to build others up, and gratitude with joy help convey God’s grace to others.

What sin needs to be confessed?

For me I must confess the times when I have used words to hurt, belittle, criticize, to tear down, or to curse another human being.

What steps can I take to become more like Jesus?

1. Think about my words before I say them. Ask self if the words conform to the following:

T = Is it truthful and promote thanks?

H = Is it helpful?

I = Does is influence towards God?

N = Is is needed and nice?

K = Is it kind?

2. I will remember my words can be harmful or helpful.

3. I choose to allow God to influence my heart and my words.

What will these steps look like to others?

I will speak only words that are helpful, including gratefulness, acceptance, joyful, and beneficial to building others up.  This means more pleasant speech on my part.

When I am tempted to complain or grumble about someone, I will stop to remember my words have an impact.  I will choose to build up and not tear down.  This means less complaining and more thanksgiving.

How about you?  What did you find in God’s precious verse above?

Dear Jesus, teach me to impart grace to the hearer through the words of my mouth.  Lead me to speak only what will build up the hearer. Guard my mouth and instruct it to flow grace-filled, edifying words to build others up in the family of God. In your precious name, Amen.

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Remember and Believe

Read John 2:12-25

v17  His disciples remembered it was written “Zeal for your house has eaten me up.”  Psalm 69:9

v22  After Jesus was raised from dead, his disciples remembered that He had said this to them and they believed the scripture and the word Jesus said.

Blessed are those who believe without seeing.  These things are written that you may believe.  Jesus came to fulfill the word.  As the word was lived out before them, men believed.

In order to have remembered Psalm 69:9, the disciple must have read, heard it spoke or spoke about it with each other before this scene took place.

The Holy Spirit’s job is to bring to remembrance the things Jesus taught.

O’ Lord thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. With His help we can understand your word and remember your teachings. With His help we are able to live a godly life until you return.  Thank you for your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Bible Devotions on Humility
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According to your faith let it be to you.

Read Matthew 9:28-29
Do you believe that I (Jesus) am able to do this?

If God spoke the world into existence, can he not do all things? If he raised Jesus from the dead, is he not ruler over both the living and the dead? If he is able to cause change with a single spoken word, he is able to handle our most pressing concerns and troubles.

Believing in what we do not see and trusting in his words because of who he is. Yes, faith is an amazing gift.

Faith can move mountains. Faith can soften the hard hearts. Faith heals the incurable. Faith can do these things and more, when its placed in the One True God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

He came to show us the extent of his love. He lived among people to show them a better way to live. He taught the people what was going on in their heart, so they would recognize their need. He showed the people his power to heal, to feed, to care, to cleanse, to rebuild, to renew and to raise people from the dead. He came to lead us into an abundant life.

Father, thank you for Jesus.  Help us with our belief. May we stand firm in our faith knowing you are Author and Finisher of it.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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