Tag Archives: God's Word

Another Quick Devotion?- 6/24/21

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And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 6:13 NKJV

We must remember that in order for us to be rescued from the perils that we were once slaves to, we should know just what exactly we were first rescued from. There is a lot of bad stuff out there and if we as Christians keep giving into it there might be a reason that it feels the holy spirit leaves a person’s life. Not completely abandoning the person, but it is a time where God goes “okay, it’s time for you to take me seriously again… whenever you want to, I’ll be here.”

I’ve experienced that time and time again before and worse before that. Giving into my old ways, not caring what other people might think. But there are always consequences, especially if a believer after a while does so and keeps doing so with reckless abandon! We must take the Lord seriously.

We also must not pray to look good. That was the flaw of the Pharisees during the New Testament. They loved “showy” prayer and yet God was not in them. We must adjust our praying so that He is glorified and we must talk directly to Him before we might have to speak in public, let’s say.

No pride. If pride then no glory. And let’s remember what we were delivered from so we can be strong during those temptations, AMEN

Devotions Psalms 2:7-9 5/27/21

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“I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Psalms NKJV

Ever felt that it is right to rebel, against society, against what our parents or what people in this world say is “right” according to them? In everyone we have each done our own things to rebel while others said what we were doing was not good.

It’s too easy to feel that pull and break away from the crowd and follow your own path. Believe me I’ve done so as a teenager in my own life.

A source I found online seems to directly speak about Psalm 2 as an overview. I had trouble pinning down what this entire chapter was about personally so here is someone’s idea below:

“Psalm 2 is a celebration of the unquestionable supremacy of God and his Messiah over all the rebellious forces of humanity. To attempt rebellion against God is absurd, because God has already decided the matter and has invested his power and authority into a human king, his Messiah.” ~ bitesizedexegesis.com

So God is supreme over all of humanity. That is deep and it states a lot in just that one paragraph describing the 2nd Psalm. To hear He is supreme over even the rebellious sides of humanity sounds kind of like He has an umbrella of protection over in this case Israel. They all dwell under Him whether they want to live for Him or not.

God does have the final say over our lives. The question is: Do we have to respond to live faithfully?

Yes though I admit I have “run off” and done my own things as well. We must not conform to the world but to God’s ways: There is no greater path than the one that is straight and narrow!

This section of the chapter also talks of David (according to the book of Acts, this book is actually written by David) begetting the nations as inheritance.

“Beget” usually means someone that is birthed by reproduction, but it seems to be used here to mean spiritually given an inheritance. To be “begotten” so that there is now a relationship with the Lord and anything asked if by His will would be a blessing.

God wants us to live for Him. Through His son Jesus we can have that relationship to have access to His will and live in Him for the rest of our lives until the ends of the earth come. Let’s submit to the supreme One who only wants to guide us in life and loves us deeply.

That is my will in Him today and I hope it is yours or will be yours as well!

Devotions Psalms 23

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The famous Shepherd Psalm. What is so beautiful about this passage, the entirety of the chapter is it not only paints a beautiful picture of calmness and serenity in the peace of God but that it is written during times of trouble.

The writer David was being pursued to being murdered by King Saul. But in all of this he was at peace in knowing that his heart was with the Lord no matter what.

To live wholeheartedly for Christ isn’t just practice per se it’s actually not even “practice” in a way at all. It’s giving up on what we expect and putting complete and total faith in Jesus Christ. Trust and to remember He is good no matter what should happen even if it might end up tragic.

Let’s break it down verse by verse!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. What could this mean??

It means to desire the world or at least desire things in the world at all times. We should even if we may or may not be believers not be enslaved to either our old selves and only want old sins or to live not in Christ but have a heart that reflects a person that is in the world.

We shall not want. We should desire at least wanting to live for the Lord.

He (has) me lie down in green pastures. Doesn’t that sound peaceful? It sounds like the pastures are almost like a calm bed to lie in after a day’s work and the lying down makes one feel so good. Like a bed of relief! Or a place of peace.

…”Leads me beside still waters.” In the original version of my text it says “the” still waters.

In case all of this imagery is making one wonder David was a shepherd. He here is talking about being like a sheep and all of these things being as if he is being guided by a “Shepherd’ only this Shepherd being described is God.

So much being described is what a shepherd does for not only the flock but the care towards each individual sheep of that flock.

Could these still waters mean that the great Shepherd is guiding people towards a peaceful place. A place to be restored by the water. The water that is needed for living life? Here it could be that not only is it good for physical restoration but spiritual.

“…restores my soul; (and) leads me in the paths of righteousness“

What is your belief in that? Can God actually take a person who merely believes with all their heart and lead them in righteousness. It can only be by one way!

“…for His name’s sake.“ Wow this feel’s prophetic in a way! I don’t think I rarely ever hear a book of the Old Testament say that God has a name. That is astounding! But David probably didn’t know that that name was (Jesus. The good shepherd).

David was talking also about how He is restored in Him. But we could say we can apply this to now. Living for goodness that is God through the Lord.

“Truly, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” Whoa, is this about hardships or is this just some imagery? “I won’t fear evil for You’re with me.”

Was David facing possible death from King Saul’s hands? Then why was he at such peace in the midst of all those circumstances?

I used to be afraid of many things. I didn’t know how to deal with them until I started to be a stronger person in faith. This was not really because of any specific ritual or thinking patterns… I started to pray to the Lord and then scares about things as seemingly little as very stormy weather had me over time experience the peace and living while keeping my soul focus off those storms and praying that He would keep me safe. That is kind of like Peter from the bible only he took his eyes off of someone to trust and then sunk like a stone in the water because of the stormy terrors around him.

Are you afraid of the circumstances going on around in this world? Pray. Maybe God will open something for you in your life.

Devotions- Psalm 91 *Part 2 5/25/21*

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Wow this entire chapter covers a lot! It goes from wanting to be sheltered and be under the shadow of holiness and to depend on Him and praise the Lord.

The writer says as we depend on the shadow of the Almighty, he says that God is his refuge and strength. And puts his full trust in Him.

The next section is interesting I had to explore a couple of words (and one definition out of curiosity: Ever assume you know the definition and then you look it up? I’m not always right in that, haha!).

The first word I looked up was “fowler.” It said basically the word meant a hunter of birds.

Why is that significant…? Hmm. Well later in the chapter not much into the passage it describes the Lord as one who takes us under His wings. That is sweet … but what does that mean?

It means that He will be like a wildfowl or bird that treats us like one of its own, gathering us under its wing. Like a mother bird or something like that being protective.

We should also be guarded and protected ourselves! We must have something to protect us out in this world (the Word of God). It could mean we should have a way to share but to stay guarded in case people “fire” back at us with questions. “Are you really a Christian? What is it that you people are crazy about? Huh, you love me? You don’t even know me!”

Some might be so harsh they are deeply discouraging. Some may be strong in delivering the enemy’s attack, by that I mean Satan.

We must hold fast and share and love and show others the way no matter what harsh or teasing things may happen in this world today. It is kind of a battleground nowadays but this is also all just the Lord’s battle. We must not be harsh but loving, we must not throw terrible words at others just to “stir the pot” and show real godliness, we must keep our hearts away from what we used to do and live in Him so that they know who Christ is and see by your example!

We must deeply search our hearts plucking out anything that either goes against HIs truth or His way.

We must be clean like Christ and live in the Holy Spirit day to day and see ourselves the way God sees us… so that we can deliver others while showing His salvation. Let’s be doers not just speakers of the Word today!

Devotions- 5/17/21

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“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3

Has anyone ever been with people who are only out to do harm? I sort of did when I was a kid. At the very least I was with people who mocked others, caused a ruckus, and even got in trouble at school by the authority. The teachers, maybe even the principal!

It is a terrible thing to follow people who want to go out with evil intentions. Plus the bible also says not to conform to this world… do not be like the world and at least a little more like Christ.

That is one reason it is good to at least try to devote time for church. There you (usually but not always) will find people who might be the best at trying to guide you towards the right path.

There are all kinds of things there that are “good” as well. There is bible study by hopefully great teachers who will guide you after deeply studying the word themelves.

We should also learn self-discipline. There are so many terrible vices out there, just evil things that are really just Satan’s pull to lure you in and keep you away from the goodness of God. We must remember that even if we think it might be no big deal, it is not! (Out with the old, in with the new, hehe)

But as we grow and mature more into Christ every day we learn to set aside our time to live for Him and obey His word. I can think of a former church member who has told me such deep lessons.

She said to have key verses. Memorize them when you can. As you grow those verses become not just things to have in the mind but will be become a part of you then, will be like a part of who you are!

That is why we should be part of or attend a “counsel” of the opposite of the ungodly.

In God’s eyes, He probably wonders why though we might self-abate and put ourselves down because of sin. Well if He does see us and we know Christ or have experienced His love He sees someone complete, perfect (somehow… I still can’t get over this, haha! God who am I that You should love me?).

When we follow Christ with all our hearts we realize we have a foundation like a strong root firmly in the ground that was different than what was there when we began our walk in life. Mine was like sand. There was no footing no way to get anywhere until I one day followed Jesus. But to live in something greater than our personal expectations is so worth following.

Have goals for Him daily. Work for Him. Live in Him. All He wants us to live by the Holy Spirit and have a relationship with Him through His son. And He will prosper us spiritually in ways we might not even imagine….

Reader’s Note: I am excited about this new sub-category. I hope you enjoy the many things that appear here. And have a great day.