John 4:4-7
Now he [Jesus] had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
It is interesting to see that The Lord took on Himself the same physical limitations that we have. When He exerted Himself in the heat of the day, it produced hunger and thirst in Him. He knows what we go through.
Walking the road to Sychar made Jesus thirsty. In the part of the world the Lord walked in, the heat could get downright oppressive. Water drawn from deep down in a well was cold and refreshing. Jesus knew that His body needed that kind of a lift.
I was on a hike once where I ran out of water. It was a hot day and I began to dehydrate as I tried to get to the next source of water. I remember the pain as my muscles started cramping up, and each step was painful. It felt like Heaven on earth when I finally arrived at a tiny trickle of water across the trail that I could use to rehydrate my body and fill my canteens.
Of course, as important as water is to our physical well-being, there is a deeper truth. As He continued talking to the woman, Jesus related the need to spiritual water. Think about how thirsty you get when you walk under the blazing sun. You can then understand how thirsty your soul must get traveling through this world filled with problems. You need to do something that offers spiritual refreshment.
Spending time in the Word and listening to the Lord, is like a cold drink to your soul. Refresh your inner man today. Take a nice long drink at the well of the Lord.
Tags: Bible, Christian, cross, dehydrate, devotion, disciple, distractions, drink, encouragement, faith, Holy Spirit, holy worship, listening, overcoming, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, soul, spiritual drink, thirsty, well, woman at the well
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
2 Peter 1:17-18
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
Peter is remembering back to a time when he and two other apostles received a special revelation up on a mountaintop. Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes, taking on the glory that was His from eternity past. He became robed in the majesty that was His before the foundations of the world were established. Peter calls that place the “sacred mountain.”
Where are your sacred mountains? Where are those special places where God’s Word to you changed your life? With me, I remember kneeling next to a bed at a Christian summer camp. There was also a time where God spoke to me about entering full-time ministry. There have been many such times that I can look back on.
The problem I have is that my memory is so short. It is easy for me to forget these deep encounters with God. Unless I record them, I will eventually lose the impact of my meetings with Him. I need to take the time to record these life-changing moments in my journal.
In yesterday’s post I talked about the need to record things. It is especially true when we have life changing encounters with God. These are times that must be kept for our future. To remind us of what we heard. So that when the trials and challenges come, we will remember why we are taking this road. It keeps us on track, spiritually speaking.
It is important that we find a way to remember these special times. Make sure you keep a journal and record your encounters with the Lord. Years later you will be grateful that you did.
Tags: Bible, changed life, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, glory, God's faithfulness, God's word, Jesus Christ, journal, journaling, mountain, mountaintop, presence of the lord, remember, revelation, testimony, transfiguration
Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
Spending time with the Lord is always an adventure. You never know when or how God will speak to you. As you seek the Him, you will find more and more that He will speak to you, filling you with revelation. You will hear from Him concerning your personal walk with Him, your home life, your ministry, your career, etc. He may tell you new ventures to launch or old things to cut out of your life. The point is, whenever you hear a clear word from God for your life, write it down!
So often we miss out on God’s best because we forget what we heard, or we alter it along the way. It is good to be able to look back in a journal and see the conversations we’ve had with the Lord. Make a point to have a journal with you as you spend time with the Lord – and use it to record what you have learned.
Keep your eyes and ears open. God will speak to someone who is prepared to listen. Keeping a journal shows that you value the voice of the Lord. If you have never tried it, begin today recording what you learn in your private times with Him. The rewards are well worth the extra effort.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, forgetting, God's will, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, journal, journaling, overcoming, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, record, remember, writing
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
About a year ago, I bought my wife a GPS unit to help her get around. It is amazing to think that there are satellites circling the earth that can pinpoint your location to within a couple of feet.
She used to always call me when she was lost and needing directions. Now, by using the unit, she always knows where she is and how to get where she is going to. She even knows how long it will take to get there.
It is comforting to know that thousands of years before this technology was developed, God was already guiding His people. The Holy Spirit is more accurate than any GPS unit. He can keep us on track throughout all the twists and turns of life.
There is one requirement, however. With a GPS unit, you have to look at it from time to time if it is going to benefit you. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. He wants to be your guide. But if you never spend time with Him, you will never hear the words of direction you need to navigate through life.
Spend some time today with the best guide in existence. Quiet your heart in the Lord’s presence. Let His voice become plain to you. Listen for the guidance you need for the road ahead. Then rejoice in Him for the Holy Spirit who is always with you.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, disciple, encouragement, faith, God's voice, God's will, GPS, guidance, heart, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, lost, path, prayer, presence of the lord
Luke 8:13
“Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”
Roots and rocks are not a good combination, especially if you are a plant. One of the places that has very rocky soil is the state of Maine. One day, as I was hiking in Maine, I came across a strange sight. It took me a while to figure out what I was seeing.
I was hiking down a mountain on a series of switchbacks that went back and forth across the slope. The ground, which up to that point had been a normal brown color, suddenly had a ten foot wide streak of dark chocolate dirt across the trail.
When my foot hit this new dirt, I began to slide, uncontrollably, downhill. When I was finally able to stop myself, I began to look for the cause of this. What I realized was that a huge tree, that had grown in the dirt on top of a rock, had literally slid down the side of the mountain in a rainstorm the night before. Its roots had not held because they could not get very deep.
I took this as a spiritual lesson to me. If you have no root system, you may grow up for a while. Eventually, however, you will now be able to hang on in the storms of life. To be secure you must be firmly grounded in Christ.
Take the time today to add depth to your root system. Spend time in the presence of the Lord building your relationship with Him. Let Him speak to your heart as you wait upon Him. With the strength you gain from your times with the Lord, you need never fear the road ahead.
Tags: Bible, Christian, depth, devotion, encouragement, faith, God's faithfulness, hang on, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Maine, mountain, overcoming, path, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, rock, rocky soil, rooted, roots, strength, testing
Ephesians 3:17b-19
…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
In this verse Paul is letting us in on a prayer that he frequently sent up to God. It is an interesting prayer because in it Paul is praying for power.
A prayer for power – I’ve heard a lot of those. God’s people are always praying for power. We want the power for healing and miracles. We want the power of the Lord to increase our finances and give us influence with those in authority. We all want the life changing, victorious power of the Holy Spirit to be at work in us. What exactly was Paul’s desire for the power of God to do in their lives?
It is actually something that I never hear the modern church pray for in regards to power. He wanted the supernatural power of God so that they could grasp the love of God. That is how absolutely beyond our experience this love is. It takes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to grasp it.
So, in short, I cannot love God without knowing God. (God is love) I cannot know God and His love without His power at work in me. He has to reveal His love to me. Why is that so important?
Paul is clear as to why he wants them to know God’s love in a supernatural way. So that they may be filled with the fullness of God. Another interesting thought…I have heard many believers pray for the fullness of God’s power in them. Yet, I never heard them pray for the power to understand and know His love. Maybe that’s why the church in America is not where it should be. We want power without love.
Christ is our example. Power and love in perfect unity and balance. That is what we must seek. Press in to the power. Seek the power to grasp the love of God. Only then will you be truly equipped to walk in the fullness of what God has for you.
Tags: authority, Bible, Christ, Christian, devotion, encouragement, established, faith, filled, fullness of God, glory, God's love, God's will, healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, miracles, overcoming, power, prayer, presence of the lord, rooted, 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 