What is God’s greatest call on your life? What does He want you to do more than anything else?
Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This is probably one of the most important concepts for any Christian to understand. It is God’s greatest desire for His people. It’s for them to come into relationship with Him. It’s not just about going to Him when we need help, but to simply spend time with Him – to walk with the Lord.
If you read the beginning of Genesis you will find that God walked regularly with Adam before the fall. Great men of faith, like Enoch, Abraham, and Moses walked with God. That’s His desire for us as well.
Walking with someone assumes certain things. It means that you have agreed to go in the same direction. You’re also going the same speed. In order for this to happen in the spiritual, we need to spend time with the Lord to get to know His heart. What direction is He going, and how quickly?
There is another key word in this verse – humbly. I am not the one setting the pace for this walk. I must yield my will to His. It’s unfortunate that so much of our time in prayer is spent trying to get God to walk in our direction and at our speed. No wonder there are so many frustrated Christians. We must learn that it’s God’s plan that’s important. I must pick up His plan if I want to succeed in this life.
Take the time today to humble yourself before God. Lay your plans at His feet. Let the Lord know that you’re willing to let Him set the pace for your life. Then you can go forward in the security that your destination is the one that God has planned out for you.
Tags: Abraham, Adam, Bible, Christ, Christian, destiny, devotion, direction, disciple, encouragement, Enoch, faith, fellowship, Genesis, God's will, humble, intimacy, Jesus Christ, Moses, overcoming, path, presence of the lord, relationship, speed, time with God, walk with God
Mark 16:12-13
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples at various times and in different ways. In this verse He shows up as a man walking in the country. He wanted to meet with these disciples in a quiet, unhurried setting.
Please realize that as you go through your daily routine, Christ can appear at any time. By His Spirit He speaks, guides, clarifies and corrects. You need to be expecting to hear from Him.
When the disciples returned from their trip, no one believed that they had seen Christ. Even today it is hard for some to think that you can meet with with Christ during the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They think you have to be in a church or in your “prayer closet” for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. The simple fact is, the Lord will show up anyplace there is a listening heart.
Listen for His voice today. We know that He will be found by those who earnestly seek Him. Do what it takes to quiet yourself before Him. That is how you prepare yourself to hear from the Lord.
Spend time in His presence as you walk out your day. Let Him guide you by His hand. Keep your spiritual ears open to His Word for you.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christ, Christian, church, daily routine, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, intimacy, Jesus Christ, listening heart, prayer closet, prepare, presence of the lord, resurrection
Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”
At one point in Jesus’ ministry, His disciples came to Him with a question. They understood the power of Christ was based upon His prayer life. They wanted to learn how to walk in that kind of intimacy with God. So, they came to Jesus for His word on the matter.
Of course, the Lord was more than willing to show the disciples the starting point for a rich relationship with God. Yes, I said starting point. The so called Lord’s Prayer is not the ultimate prayer we can offer. It is the first baby step that Christ gave to His followers so that they might walk the path of prayer.
This short glimpse into the realm of prayer is the foundation for all of the things we converse with God about. It is so rich in truth that I will have many future posts dedicated to this teaching of Christ. But for now, I want to talk about the focus of this prayer – the One to whom it is addressed.
OUR FATHER! Some of the most amazing words in Scripture. Jesus didn’t say, “My Father.” He called God “Our Father.” This is something that the people of God need a fresh revelation of. The God of Heaven, Creator of the universe, Savior of all mankind, allows me to call Him “Father.”
There is a lot of blessing tied up in that name. He is not a god far off and unconcerned with our needs. Our Father cares about us, no matter how great or small the matter we bring before Him. He is not a god looking for a reason to destroy us for any little fault. Our Father loves us and wants the best for us – leading us with His hand of mercy and grace.
Spend some quality time getting to know our Father today. Meditate upon this all encompassing truth. Let it reshape your prayer life so that it is something you look forward to each day.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, faith, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's love, intimacy, Jesus Christ, Lord's Prayer, Our Father, prayer, prayer life, prepare, presence of the lord, relationship
A lot of people are going to churches to “worship” today. How much of it is truly worship? What is worship?
Philippians 3:3
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.
There is a chorus by Hillsong –
“Standing here, in Your presence, thinking of the good things You have done.
Waiting here, patiently, just to here Your still small voice again.
Holy, righteous, faithful til the end, Savior, Healer, Redeemer, and Friend.
I will worship you for who You are, I will worship you for who You are, I will worship you for who You are – Jesus!”
This is the essence of worship. Not clapping, shouting, preaching or praying. It is simply standing in the presence of a holy God and acknowledging who He is. Most of the time worship is done in silence.
Praise is public and exciting. Worship is one on one with the God of the universe. It is where I humble myself before Him and offer Him the glory that is due Him. The Greek word used for worship in the New Testament literally means to lean forward like you do when you are about to kiss someone.
It is a time of intimacy with God. Worship is coming into the presence of God, and meeting with Him spirit to Spirit. Don’t be satisfied with the status quo, Sunday morning experience. Press into that intimate place with God. Truly enter the spirit of worship and let your inner man find the fulfillment you were created for.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, church, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's love, Hillsong, holy God, Holy Spirit, holy worship, intimacy, praise, prayer, presence of the lord, Sunday morning
Isaiah 42:10-11
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.
Being on a mountaintop always gives me an exhilarating feeling. It is hard thing to describe all the sensations that accompany it. I cannot fully express them to someone who has never seen the clouds blowing by beneath their feet, or felt the wind whipping over the peak, or stood in awe to see the breathtaking landscape spread out before them. Just being there evokes such a feeling on the inside that I want to burst out in praise to my God.
Sometimes, when I am alone on a peak, I will sing or pray out loud to the Lord. At those times, the presence of the Spirit of God is undeniable. I challenge you to look for those opportunities. We must seek out the times when God makes His presence especially real to us.
Maybe you have never heard yourself pray, praise God, or sing out loud before. Don’t let timidity stop you from experiencing a breakthrough in your Christian walk. Try it out the next time you find yourself alone in God’s presence, even if it feels a little uncomfortable at first. You will find that there is an awesome revelation of God when you praise Him audibly. Experience it for yourself. See the joy and freedom that fills your heart as you open up in His amazing presence.
If this has helped you, write me a comment about what you experienced.
Tags: awe, Bible, breakthrough, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, fear, fellowship, freedom, higher, Holy Spirit, holy worship, joy, mountain, mountaintop, out loud, overcoming, power, praise, presence of the lord, shout, shout to the Lord, victory
Revelation 7:17
“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
This is one of the most interesting Scriptures. The Lamb who is also a Shepherd. What a great illustration of the Christ who took on our weaknesses. He is worthy to lead us, since He has walked where we live.
Christ is our perfect Shepherd. He knows the paths of our lives. He understands the best route to take. He knows when our soul needs rest, refreshment, and nourishment. We must learn to trust Him daily for our every need. We must trust His plan for our lives if we want fulfillment.
I want my life to count for something. Only under the guidance of the “Good Shepherd” will that come to pass.
If I follow the Lord’s plan for my life, then He will lead me to the right places along the way. Yes, sometimes the road will be difficult. But He also knows the rest stops as well. He will bring us to places of refreshment and restoration that we need if we are to make it to the end.
I must learn to trust in His plan for my life. He knows the way a lot better than I do. Once I can acknowledge that, life gets so much more fulfilling.
Whether you have in the past or not – place your life at Jesus’ feet today. Let Him work it out to His glory. Put your expectation in Him to bring you to your destiny.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, fellowship, God's faithfulness, good shepherd, guidance, Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, path, presence of the lord, protection, trust
Job 38:8-11
“Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?’”
God created the seas, rivers, and lakes all for us. He made the world a beautiful place for us to enjoy. Many times I have thought myself blessed as I sat and meditated by a peaceful lake – knowing that only about a hundred people a year even see this sight. Who was there watching when He established that body of water for His pleasure?
We serve a very creative God. He loves beauty and variety. He has made each lake and stream different. Sometimes we need to just stop and look around at the details that make each scene unique.
I don’t know how close you live to green outdoor areas. Hopefully there are parks or other type places nearby where you can go from time to time. In any case, don’t ever get to the point where the outdoors is just a place to play. Never lose your fascination with the sights, smells, and sounds of the green spaces around you – it speaks volumes to us about who God is.
We must be sensitive to the beauty that is around us. Don’t just take it for granted. Even a small garden can be a place of rest and refreshment in your spirit. Give God thanks today for the glory of His Creation. Be thankful that He allows us to share in the enjoyment of what His hands have done.
Tags: beauty, Bible, Christian, creative, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's love, holy worship, joy, lake, outdoors, peaceful, praise, prayer, presence of the lord, refresh, spirit, testimony, thankful, water
Ezekiel 1:1
In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
I find that there is something about being by a river that refreshes you. The noise of the rushing water has a soothing effect on the senses. Many people use the sound of water as a background noise in their homes. It seems to have the ability to calm everything down.
At this time in Ezekiel’s life, he was in the wilderness by the Kebar River. He was there as an exile from his own country. Yet, he was able to focus in on God. It says clearly that as he was by that river, he saw visions of God.
No matter what you are going through, you need to find a place that is conducive to meeting with God. You should learn the places and conditions that calm your soul. These are the places that will really benefit your time in God’s presence.
The Lord can take a quiet, undistracted heart and renew vision, impart faith, and give direction. You may never see the heavens open up like Ezekiel did, but all it will take is one word from God to turn your whole world around.
Spend some time in His presence today quietly listening to hear His voice. Be open to the soft, gentle leading of His Spirit. Allow yourself to be renewed and refreshed in His presence.
Tags: Bible, calm, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, Ezekiel, faith, fellowship, focus, God's faithfulness, God's word, Holy Spirit, holy worship, presence of the lord, refresh, renew, river, vision
Revelation 1:9-10
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.
When John wrote this he was in a penal colony on the wilderness island of Patmos. This was not a pleasant island getaway. His only companions were guards and criminals. Survival was a daily issue for him.
Yet, in spite of the harsh surroundings, he took time out of each week to have a special time of worship before the Lord. He called it “The Lord’s Day.” It was a day that he had set aside to hear from God – and God revealed Himself to John.
The result of this time of worship was the book of Revelation. It is the only book of the Bible that guarantees a blessing to any one who reads it and takes it to heart.
It doesn’t matter who you are or what your schedule is like. It is important to regularly set aside some time that is exclusively the Lord’s. This is a time where you put aside your goals for a while in order to hear from Him.
Of all the benefits gained from being a child of God, don’t miss out on the best one. Take time to hear from God. Set aside a day that is the Lord’s day. Even better, use that day to fellowship, worship, and praise with others in the Body of Christ. It will reap great rewards.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, John, Lord's Day, overcoming, Patmos, praise, prepare, presence of the lord, revelation, schedule, victory
Psalm 42:8
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me – a prayer to the God of my life.
This is a beautiful picture of the love of God. What does it mean that He directs it? In Hebrew, that word direct is a military term. It means to command. Just like what a general gives to a soldier. God commands His love to reach out to us.
Think about that. His love is under direct orders to show up in our lives. Whether we know it or not, He loves us.
But there is something even more incredible about it. The Scripture say that it is by day that He commands his love. There is something that I have heard many parents say.
“My children are wonderful, especially when they’re asleep!”
I remember when my children were little. It was so easy to feel a warmth and love for them when I watched them asleep in bed. All of the messes, conflicts, and misbehaviors seemed to melt away in those moments.
In that sense it would be easy for God to love us at night, while we are sleeping. But that is not the case. He commands His love by day, when we are awake. While we are up and doing whatever we are doing is when He commands His love to us.
This is a very comforting thought – that God loves us wherever we are and whatever we are doing. It is all based upon His love and not my performance. He commanded His love toward us while we were still His enemies.
Let this truth motivate you to press in to the Presence of the Lord. Spend some quality time with the One who truly wants to be with you. Let His love flow through you and out to a world that is in desperate need of knowing it.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's love, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, joy, love, prayer, presence of the lord, sleeping, unconditional
The Spirit and the Word 