Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Many people talk about the shield of faith. Unfortunately there are few who actually pick it up and use it. It requires more than just a mental assent to the Word of God. It requires a walk with the God of the Word.
We must first realize that His Word is flawless. There is no trickery or deceit in Him. He says what He means and means what He says. I must hold God’s Word above the word of any other.
But it doesn’t stop there, even though most Christians think that is enough to lay hold of the shield. There’s more.
If His Word is flawless, and if I believe that Word, then I will walk the way that Word teaches without hesitation. I will believe that God’s way is perfect and live accordingly. It is simple logic. If I don’t do what the book says, then I don’t trust the book completely.
It is the first half of this verse that is the foundation for the second half. If I believe God’s Word and walk in His way then am I protected by His shield.
Spend some time with the God of the Word today. Prayerfully meditate upon what He says. Let the mind of the Lord renew your mind. Let His desire change the way you live your life. Then you can expect His shield to protect your path.
Tags: armor of God, believing, Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, God's word, meditate, overcoming, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, protection, shield of faith, trust, victory
Hebrews 6:7
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
Your life is like a field, bearing crops for the Lord’s use. We plant the seed of the Word of God. Then our lives yield the Fruit of the Spirit. This is what the Lord desires of us.
There are many factors that affect our fruitfulness. Just like growing plants in the physical, our spiritual fruit require care. There are a lot of things that can destroy the crop if left unchecked.
Prayerlessness is one of the things that can devastate a spiritual harvest. However, spending time with the Lord in a wilderness setting – alone and undisturbed – will bring forth a bountiful harvest.
Spending time in the presence of God is like spring showers on dry, thirsty ground. It will provide the nutrients needed to bear an abundant harvest of righteousness. Always remember that the fruit cannot be forced, they must be grown. It takes the daily presence of God to change our lives into what we should be.
Take the opportunity given to you this day to spend quality time in the presence of the Lord. Let His grace permeate the good soil of your heart. Let the seed of the Word germinate and take root in you. Be the kind of farmland that produces a bumper crop for your King.
Tags: Bible, Christian, crops, devotion, disciple, encouragement, farm, field, fruit, fruit of the Spirit, harvest, Holy Spirit, holy worship, prayer, prayerlessness, presence of the lord, righteousness, spiritual
Matthew 26:39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
This is one of the most simple yet profound prayers in the Bible. It is during these times of struggle that we dispense with the “religious protocol” of prayer. We forget about the intricate prayer charts or King James English. Our goal is to get right to the heart of the prayer – HELP!!!
It was no different for Jesus. He wasted no time on introductions. However, there is one difference between His prayer and many of ours. This is seen in His attitude. Rather than trying to convince the Father to work out His plan in an easier way, our Lord immediately bowed His knee to the revealed will of God.
This is the example we need to follow. How often do we try to convince God to do things our way? Instead, our goal should be to learn the kind of submission that brings us right into the center of God’s will for us.
Are there things that God wants you to do that you are having a hard time yielding to? Take this time to follow Christ’s lead. Surrender your whole life to God. Submit yourself by saying, in your own way, “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Make this time today your garden of Gethsemane with the Lord.
Tags: attitude, Bible, Christian, devotion, encouragement, faith, garden, garden of prayer, Gethsemane, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, prayer, presence of the lord, submission, yielding
Matthew 26:36-38
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
This is the time in Jesus’ life that leads up to His betrayal and arrest. He knew that the cross was before Him. He came to earth knowing that He was to die for the sins of all people.
When it comes down to the hard choices, knowing your path and walking it out can be very different. Now that the hour was at hand, the Lord needed the strength to see it through. In order to receive what He needed from the Father, Jesus did what He always knew would bring Him an answer. He spent time with God the Father in a private place, far away from any distractions.
This was not to be a time for crowds of people. He even left most of His disciples at the entrance to the garden. The only ones to stay with Him were Peter, James, and John. He would spend the night agonizing over what was ahead.
Let this today be your garden of prayer. God is waiting for you to cry out to Him. Only the Lord can give you the strength you need for the road ahead. Whether you know the dangers or not, let the peace of God rule in you this day. Find your rest in His presence.
Tags: Bible, choices, Christ, Christian, cross, devotion, distractions, encouragement, faith, garden, garden of prayer, Gethsemane, God's will, Jesus Christ, overcoming, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, problems, solitude, strength, trust
Exodus 3:4-6
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Yesterday I posted about the “burning bush” experience that God wants us to have with Him. Today I want to take it a step further. The first thing I notice, is that God did not reveal Himself until He knew that He had Moses attention.
Sometimes I like to go out hiking or camping in the woods. While I’m there, I usually take the time to pray and seek the Lord. The reason I love to meet with God in the wilderness is that there are no distractions.
We live in a world where there’s a whirlwind of activity around us. We desperately need to take the time and get alone with God in a solitary place. Only then will God have the freedom to speak with us on the level He desires.
The next thing is that God instructs Moses to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. God wants nothing to insulate Moses from His holiness. So often we want a buffer between us and God. We want the Pastor to pray for us and tell us what to do. The truth is that we need to see ourselves as holy – set apart for the exclusive use of God.
Take the time right now to bask in the holiness of the Lord. Begin to see yourself as set apart for His plan. Lay down your desires upon the altar of God. In that way you are opening the door for a “burning bush” of your own.
Tags: alone with God, attention, Bible, burning bush, camping, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, fellowship, glory, God's faithfulness, hiking, holiness, holy ground, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Moses, prayer, presence of the lord, set apart, wilderness
The Spirit and the Word 