John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
I can’t think of a greater blessing! We can be children of God.
This is not for everybody. You have to want it. It comes by faith in God and what He has done through Christ. It has to be received, if we believe in His provision for us on the cross. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, then we are God’s children.
Some people look at themselves as slaves of God. Then they get the attitude that it is hard to work for Him. They have an angry look on their face and act like serving God is the worst thing you could do.
Now I do admit that children are supposed to obey their parents. In that sense we must “serve” God. I know that on more than one occasion I accused my parents of treating me as their slave. The fact is, even when you have to do what you’re told, the parent-child relationship is far superior to that of a master and slave.
This verse tells me that I am not just treated like a child of God. He doesn’t just call me His son. It is much greater than that. I have the right – with all the responsibilities and privileges – to be a child of God. This is an amazing thought. God views us as full fledged sons and daughters. That is why He both blesses and disciplines us.
Spending time with our Father should be the most natural inclination. It should be where we want to go for love, support, encouragement, and strength. Spend time with the Lord today, knowing that He wants you to experience the best that being a part of His family has to offer.
Tags: Bible, blessings, calling, child of God, Christian, cross, devotion, encouragement, faith, family, hard work, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, obedience, parent, problems, provision, relationship, savior, slave, testimony
2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Sometimes it’s good to look back over your life to see where God has brought you from. I love to hear a testimony of a changed life. I have known drug addicts, gang members and people from the “underworld” who have given their lives to Christ and were changed by His power. I have met people who have been bound by addictions, hurt by abuse and oppressed under the weight of depression all set free by the blood of Jesus.
It is an encouragement to see the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. I, for one was insulated from most of these issues. I tend to relate more with Timothy. My grandparents were saved soon after they came over to America from Italy. My parents were raised in church, and followed Christ throughout their lives. When I came along, I had no choice – church was where our family went, whenever the doors were open.
Then, one day, at a children’s camp (Camp Woodhaven in West Boylston, MA) I personally received the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. I have tried to follow His leading ever since.
Sometimes I used to feel that I missed out on something, when I would hear the testimonies of how God saved people from an evil life. But when I grew older I realized the blessing of being born into a Christian home. God kept me from some of the things that could have destroyed me. I have a testimony of the Lord’s power to keep and protect a life from the darkness of the world.
So, whether you came to Christ from a life of great sin, or you were raised in church, be grateful to the Lord for His presence in your life. The fact is, we all need a Savior. No one is too far away from His love. Equally, no one is good enough to deserve His love. We all need the power of the cross to set us free. Praise God for His grace that He freely gives to all who seek Him.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, disciple, encouragement, evil, faith, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, praise, protection, sin, testimony, trust, world
Proverbs 8:25-26
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
This verse comes from a very beautiful section in the book of Proverbs. Here Solomon uses the writing style of personification to speak for wisdom.
We are told that before creation was begun God had already mapped out His wisdom. That is a comforting thought. God’s wisdom is not a response to any event. There is nothing that ever takes God by surprise. On the contrary, all of creation is an outgrowth of God’s wisdom.
I remember the day that I committed my life to the Lord, Jesus Christ. When that happened, the Lord didn’t sit down with the Holy Spirit and say, “Now we have to figure out how to fit Nick into the kingdom.” Before I was born, my life was designed exclusively with His plan in mind. My life was made to function best in His wisdom.
This is why seeking His wisdom should be your number one priority. God wants the very best for your life. He has a plan for you that was established before the mountains and rivers were created. Seek out the wisdom of God for your life. Only then can you know the complete joy of personal fulfillment.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, God's will, God's wisdom, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, praise, problems, response, seeking, wisdom
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Try as we might, we can never run away from God. What I have actually found is that people who try to run away from Him the hardest, end up running right into His arms. It is, as this Psalm puts so eloquently, impossible to flee from the presence of God.
If you are looking, His presence can be felt everywhere and in every situation. As a matter of fact, sometimes when I am hiking or camping in the most remote wilderness settings – far from any sign of civilization – I find His presence the strongest. The reality is that I can hear from the Lord the clearest when I am out in the wild.
It is an incredible blessing to know that the God of the universe is my constant companion. Wherever I go and whatever I do is in the company of His Holy Spirit. All I need is to ask and His guiding hand will take mine and lead me into His will for my life.
Go to Him today in the knowledge that He will never leave you or forsake you. Thank the Lord for His abiding presence in your life. Seek Him for His wisdom, strength, and guidance for the road ahead.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, light, path, praise, presence of the lord, trust
Psalm 46:4-6
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
Yesterday I posted about the fact that there is nothing certain in this world. Our trust, hope, and expectations must abide elsewhere. We need to fix our eyes on the heavenly kingdom.
No matter what kind of trouble this world faces, the power of God remains secure. The river of life will never fail. If we remain in Christ, then the things that shake this world around us will not affect our walk.
Rising gas prices, economic failures, terrorist threats, and global warming are just a few of the issues that have nations in turmoil. Through it all, the kingdom of God is still secure. No matter what happens I know that the grace of the Lord can still reach me. I can come to this river at any time for sustenance and refreshment.
We can face the uncertainty of life without fear. This only comes from the knowledge that our feet are securely in a kingdom that is not of this world.
Spend time meditating upon the faithfulness of God. Think about the times He has brought you through the difficulties you have faced in the past. This should inspire praise and worship before Him. Then, take your future and commit it into the Lord’s hands. Only then will you have true security.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, fear, glory, God's faithfulness, grace of God, heavenly kingdom, Holy Spirit, hope, praise, presence of the lord, problems, protection, security, strength, trouble, trust
Psalm 121:1-4
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Whether you are talking about the Rockies or the Appalachians, mountains and hills are a majestic sight. I can spend hours praising, worshiping, and praying to God when I am in the presence of such beauty. When I look at their splendor I cannot help but sense a power far greater than my own.
It is an awesome revelation that the God I am in relationship with is the Creator of those mountains. Greater still, He also created the stars I see wheeling over those peaks.
Yet, in spite of all that power, He wants to help me. Now that is a humbling thought! The God of the universe wants to be a part of my life.
Praise the Lord! He is my source and my strength. It is He who upholds and sustains me. I can rest in Him knowing that the path of my life is safe and secure in His loving hands.
Even though I get tired and fall asleep, the Lord does not have that weakness. That is a comforting thought. He is always awake and alert, watching over my life and helping it to conform to His Word.
Take the time today to thank God for His unfailing help and protection in your life. Give Him praise for His majesty and strength.
Tags: Bible, Christian, Creator, devotion, encouragement, God's faithfulness, help, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, mountain, mountaintop, outdoors, praise, presence of the lord, problems, protection, sleep, strength, trust, wilderness
Mark 2:23
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
On one of His journeys, the Lord and His disciples passed through a field of grain. As they went through they began to pick and eat some of the heads of wheat. This was something the Law of Moses allowed so that a traveler could have something to eat along the way.
This reminds me of a time when I was hiking a trail up Mt. Everett in southwestern Massachusetts. As I neared the top I suddenly came into a stand of high bush blueberries. Each bush was overflowing with ripe fruit. Without even bending over I was able to grab a handful at a time and pop them into my mouth. What a great snack God had provided!
God always desires to refresh the weary traveler. He provides a bounty in the wilderness. This is especially true along the path of life. God wants to keep your spirit fresh and vibrant.
Our job is to keep our eyes open and to look for these times of refreshing. They could happen anywhere and at any time.
Spend a few moments right now thanking God for His abundant provision. Give Him praise for the times of encouragement you have received in the past. Ask Him to give you a sensitive spirit so that you can recognize the signs of His presence all around you as you continue your journey.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, faith, God's faithfulness, goodness, Holy Spirit, mountain, overcoming, path, presence of the lord, refreshing, traveler
Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
We all make mistakes. The unfortunate thing is, that sometimes we compound these mistakes by going off into a totally wrong direction.
In this section of Scripture we find that Saul (later to become Paul the Apostle) has become self-deceived. He thought that by persecuting the church, he was in the center of God’s will for his life.
It took a wilderness journey and a voice from heaven to knock him off his horse and break through his defenses. Apparently there was no other way to get through to him. He needed to be shaken up in order for God to get his attention.
As we spend time in the wilderness we should be open for the Lord to wake us up and turn our lives around. Every once in a while God has a life altering event waiting for you just around the next corner. We need to be prepared and open for these heavenly interruptions.
As you go before the Lord today, make sure that you reaffirm your intention to obey Him no matter what comes your way. Let Him know that you will remain true to Him even if it calls for you to change your plans.
Tags: attention, Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, disciple, faith, God's faithfulness, God's will, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, light, mistakes, path, Paul, persecution, presence of the lord, Saul, self-deceived, wake up call
Psalm 36:5-6
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.
The majesty of nature is indescribable. I have taken pictures and videos of mountains, lakes, and rivers that have left me breathless. Yet when I return home and look at them, they don’t come close to the experience of actually being there. Nothing gives you the sense of wonder like standing in the wild and experiencing the real thing.
It is the same with God’s love, His faithfulness, His righteousness, and His justice. You can read about it in the Bible. You can tell about how God has poured them into your life. Yet, until someone actually experiences these things for themselves, they will never really understand the full impact.
God is a person. He can be described and read about. But there is only one way to fully appreciate His awesome majesty. You must come face to face with Him for yourself.
Take the time to enter the presence of the Lord. Worship and praise Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. Let His majesty overwhelm you the same as a view of mountains and lakes. Experience God today in the beauty of His holiness.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, experience, glory, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, holy worship, majesty, mountain, presence of the lord
Psalm 91:9-13
If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
One of the major themes throughout the Word of God is, “Fear not!” We can rest assured in the shelter of the Lord. We don’t need to worry over the path ahead. We know that the Lord has everything under control.
But there is a big “if.” If you make the Lord your dwelling place and refuge.
Would someone observing you for the first time say that you seem to live in the presence of God? Is your whole life wrapped up in seeking Him? Is He your refuge and dwelling place? Do you run to Him first in times of trouble?
These are the questions for you to ponder today as you are quiet in the presence of the Lord. If you cannot answer them affirmatively then you need to move closer to God. You need to seek the guidance of His Spirit to show you the path toward intimacy with the Lord.
Even if you can answer yes to the above – your relationship needs constant cultivation in order for it to keep from becoming stagnant. Go to the Lord today for a fresh touch of His presence. Receive what you need to get you through this day victoriously.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, Holy Spirit, holy worship, presence of the lord, protection, testimony, trust
The Spirit and the Word 