Day 66 Your Rod And Staff Comfort Me! (Part 2 of 3)

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4b NKJ

Before I speak to the definition and purpose of the staff I want us to fully embrace a truth so that we understand how Jesus, our Good Shepherd, uses the staff (Holy Spirit) to lead and guide us from green pasture to green pasture and from still waters to still waters. And I want us to embrace the truth that in following His lead we will be given safe passage to our new home in Heaven. If we have said yes to Jesus Christ we will go to heaven, but there is a journey we have to take on this earth before we get there. He is our Shepherd who was chosen to lead us on this journey called life. It is in understanding this truth that will make it easier for us to accept the Shepherd’s guidance when He uses the staff (Holy Spirit) to guide us, rescue us, and care for us. So today we will look at the role of the shepherd and the difference between a shepherd in the natural, and Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.

Imagine for a moment what it was like for a young boy who had been chosen to be the shepherd in his family. Though it was an honor to be chosen, the boy knew the assignment was not an easy one. He knew he would face hardship and danger on the journey and the only thing he could rely on were the instructions of his father, his rod and staff, and his ability to execute his father’s instructions in using them. He knew how important it was to fully adhere to his father’s instructions if he was going to lead the sheep safely home after the journey was over. But for the love of his father and for the sheep he gladly accepted his assigned position as the chosen shepherd.

During his time with his father he listens closely as his father trains him how to care for the sheep. He is given instructions on how to lead the sheep from green pasture to green pasture, and from still waters to still waters. He is trained how to defend the sheep and he learns how to fight off the predators that would attack his flock. He is given instructions on how to lead the sheep with the staff and shown how to rescue a sheep if it got caught in the thicket. He is trained how to use the rod as a weapon against any adversary he might encounter. The father takes the boy to a ewe that has just given birth and tells him that if the lamb gets separated from its mother, he is to use the crook of the staff to return the lamb. This is done to ensure that the mother will not reject it, due to the smell of human hands.

The father then takes the boy on a journey in search of the wood that he will craft his rod and staff from. When they return from the journey the father instructs him on how to carefully carve his rod and staff because these are his instruments of care and protection for the sheep. His father takes great care in teaching the boy everything he needs to know so the boy is fully equipped for his job of being the shepherd. Like the boy Jesus was chosen by the Father to become our Shepherd. Throughout His ministry He said that He did nothing on His own, but only what the Father had instructed Him. But a very interesting difference between a shepherd in the natural, and Jesus as our Shepherd, is that Jesus actually became a sheep before He became our Shepherd. A shepherd in the natural couldn’t become a sheep if he tried. He could have love and compassion for the sheep only from the experience of being a shepherd and seeing the sheep’s need for care and protection.

Jesus on the other hand learned compassion for His sheep by actually becoming one of them and then suffering everything a sheep would ever suffer; so that He would fully understand what it was like to be a sheep. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Revelation 5:12b says, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:13b says, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

In order to fully identify with our sufferings Jesus came to earth as a man (sheep) walked as we walk, endured what we endure, was tempted as we are tempted, and suffered as we suffer! He gave up His rightful place in Heaven and walked the journey as a sheep, being led by His Shepherd, the Father, so that He would fully understand His position as our Good Shepherd. It brings tears to my eyes as I think of how much he loved us that He would make such an incredible sacrifice for us! To become our Shepherd He laid down His own life and was slaughtered as a lamb!


Prayer: Today I want to encourage you to pray as you are led by the Spirit. I write prayers as I feel the Spirit leads, but today the leading was to tell you to pray on your own. The words the Lord gave me in this devotion brought me to my knees as I embraced the very things I asked you to embrace. I cried a flood of tears as I realized how I have not fully grasped the truth about who Jesus is as our Good Shepherd. Though I have embraced it throughout my life, reading what He gave me to pen today revealed areas in my own life; where I do not fully understand Him as my Shepherd. It is with great love for us that He gave His life for us! This is what we need to pray in order to fully comprehend the enormity of His sacrifice. This is what will empower us to accept His leading as our Shepherd.

Day 65 Your Rod And Your Staff Comfort Me! (Part 1 of 3)

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4b NKJ

I am breaking this verse into two parts because a shepherd carried both a rod and a staff. Both instruments were used by the shepherd for the care and protection of the sheep. It is important to understand this as we look at who Jesus Christ is as our Good Shepherd and how He uses the rod (His Word) and the staff (His Spirit) to protect and care for us. David wrote this verse right after he wrote about the valley of the shadow of death, choosing not to fear evil, and reminding himself that God was with him. He was reminding himself that just as he had the equipment to safely guide and protect his sheep, he had to trust that God would use His rod and staff to do the same for him. David was comforted because he knew God would not fail him as his Shepherd. We have to believe the same thing about Jesus. Now here is something interesting to think about. In the natural David had the authority to use the rod, the ability to use it, and the skill to use it, but unless in that moment of danger he chose to overcome his fears and use it; he would put his sheep at risk of being stolen or killed. This would have resulted in his mission of shepherding the flock being destroyed!

What passage of Scripture comes to mind when you read that? Do you remember what Jesus said in John 10:10? “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Do you remember that when Jesus was in the desert of temptation He didn’t overcome the devil with His might or power? He overcame him by using the rod (Word of God) as His weapon. The devil did everything in his power to deceive Jesus but Jesus overcame because He chose to use His authority, ability, and skill with the Word of God, to fight the devil when he tried to tempt Him. What does the Bible say is our offensive weapon against the devil? Ephesians 6:17 says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” Through Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we have been given authority to overcome the devil. If we are going to defeat the devil in his attempt to steal, kill, and destroy our lives, we have to put our trust in our Good Shepherd, the way David put his trust in God. Then it is our responsibility to exercise that authority, by becoming skilled at using our rod. (Weapon of warfare, which is the Word of God)

In the natural the shepherd’s rod was a piece of wood with a lump of wood at the end. It was used to fight off any animal or person who threatened his flock. But the shepherd also used the rod to correct the sheep when they strayed from the flock. It wasn’t used as a weapon against the sheep because it would have wounded or killed the sheep just like it did the predators. But when a sheep went astray they would throw the rod in the direction of the sheep. The sound of it whizzing through the air and hitting the ground would make the sheep turn around. It is important to understand that sometimes people say God uses His rod of correction (His Word) against us to bring us into submission through punishing us. This is inaccurate. He uses the rod of correction (His Word) to restore us to right thinking in reminding us who we are as new creations in Christ. When we go astray He uses it in the same way the shepherd uses the rod with his sheep. He sends forth His rod (Word) so we hear it and turn back towards Him.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-30) Whenever we go astray He speaks! If we know His voice and listen, we turn around! The problem is that many people do not know His voice because they do not spend time with Him, meditating in His Word. So when He speaks they ignore Him and continue to walk away. True submission to our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is in taking the time to know and listen to His voice.

We must understand that throughout Scripture God used His rod (Word) to instruct His people in the way they should go. From instructing Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, etc., God performed His Word in defeating the devil in his attempt to destroy His people, by speaking His Word through His people. We have to have a proper understanding of the rod because it is not an instrument of punishment used against us by God. Though in the Old Testament God punished His people; at the Cross God put His entire wrath of punishment on Jesus! He took the stripes on His back when He was beaten before He went to the Cross! Think about it. We can only find comfort in the rod (the Word) when we accept what Jesus Christ did for us at the Cross. Then we use the rod (the Word) to battle the lies of the devil when he tries to deceive us. I want to encourage you to meditate on this and ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding so you will be strengthened in your inner man and prepared to follow Jesus’ voice so you can fight against the devil when he tries to wage war against you.

Prayer: May I come to know your voice as You speak to me through Your Word. I believe by faith that as I listen to You, my Good Shepherd, You will protect me with Your rod (Word). Your rod brings me comfort and I am strengthened by it. I choose to meditate in Your Word so I will become skilled at using it to fight the enemy when he tries to deceive me or lead me astray. I praise You for being my Good Shepherd and for being faithful to guide me and protect me. Amen

Day 64 A Shadow Of Death Cannot Kill Us Or Destroy Us!

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;” Psalm 23:4a NKJ

This is probably the most impactful of all the verses in Psalm 23. David makes a transition in this verse that is important for us to realize if we are going to experience victory during the valley experiences in our lives. He goes from recounting all the things which God, His shepherd, does for him; to acknowledging the reality of him having to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Then he makes a decision to fear no evil, and reminds himself that God is with him. Did you know that the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a real place? It is a stretch of land between Jerusalem and Jericho. It is a treacherous canyon that the shepherds in David’s day had to traverse in order to lead their sheep to green pastures in the springtime. There isn’t anything written specifically about David going through the valley but with the reference to it in Psalm 23, it is obvious he knew it well. The Valley of the Shadow of Death was a place of transition that wasn’t always easy to get through, but one that had to be walked at times.

Jesus also knew the Valley of the Shadow of Death. This is the region where He was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil, though the exact location isn’t known. It is the valley he had to walk from Jericho to Jerusalem with His disciples as well. Jesus Christ himself walked through this valley on the way to the Cross! After He walked through this valley, He went to the Cross, died, and was resurrected! Through this act of love for us He conquered death and all forms of death for us as believers. Death to a believer is now only a shadow that cannot harm us. Though our physical bodies will die, we won’t ever die, because we have eternal life through Jesus Christ!

After Jesus returned to Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit as our helper. Like the shepherds we have to walk through valleys of transition in order to get to the green pastures and still waters. But when we walk through these transitional valleys we do not have to walk in fear. With the Holy Spirit operating in us during life’s transitions, we can walk in power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) Since our Shepherd, Jesus Christ walked through the valley of the shadow of death; He made a way for us to walk through our valleys in the safety of His presence, with His light shining the way on the paths we have to walk. All of us know that the transitions in life are difficult and can be a place of fear if we succumb to the enemy’s lies that we are going to be destroyed in them. For instance the death of a loved one, divorce, the diagnosis of disease, miscarriage, job loss, the end of a friendship, an addiction, etc. are all valleys that could lead us to adopt a mindset of fear and worry. But with Jesus as our Shepherd we are assured safe passage through; if we choose like David did, to acknowledge it, refuse to fear it, and to remind ourselves that God is always with us.

If you are like me, you would rather be in the green pastures of life or near the still waters, but the reality is that sometimes we find ourselves in the valleys, needing to make a transition due to circumstance. The valleys of life are frustrating, threatening, stressful, dark, and severe at times; but we do not walk these valleys alone. Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and we have to remind ourselves of that truth and follow His leading if we are going to make it through the valleys safely. And it is also important for us to understand that it is only the “valley of the shadow of death” we walk through, not the valley of death. At the Cross Jesus took on all forms of death! God hit Jesus with every ounce of wrath He had and every form of pain, torture, abuse, anger, frustration, etc. that we would ever face, was placed on Him. At the moment of his death the impact was felt throughout the heavens and the earth! The heavens and earth trembled and shook! The temple curtain tore and the dead came forth from tombs!

All of eternity was affected by the impact of the nails that pierced His body. And when the last breath left Him all eternity was changed forever! Can you see it? Do you comprehend it? We only walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and the shadow cannot destroy us! Think of it this way. Walk in front of a train, car, or bus, and they can kill you or destroy your life. But walk in the shadow of any of those and you will NOT be harmed! A shadow has no power except for the power you give it in your own mind, by thinking what could have happened! The devil does everything he can to get our focus off of Jesus and onto the shadow of the circumstances we face during the transitions we go through. But in Jesus we are assured safe passage to the green pastures and the still waters! It is our responsibility to do as David did in this passage. We have to make the decision to put our trust and faith in knowing Jesus will never leave us or forsake us and choose to battle the thoughts of fear and worry that bombard our minds!

I want to encourage you to meditate on this passage. If you have the tendency to fear the shadow of death during the difficult transitions in your life, make the decision today to remind yourself that Jesus took this on at the Cross. Remind yourself that the shadow of death cannot kill you, destroy you, or defeat you. Tell the devil he is a liar! Put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ your Shepherd, and believe by faith that He is with you and that He will never leave you or forsake you!

Prayer: I believe by faith that as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me. You will lead me, protect me, and provide for me as I walk through it. You are my Shepherd and I choose to follow You! I know that You will give me safe passage to the green pastures and still waters. I praise You for taking on all forms of death at the Cross so that death is now only a shadow that cannot harm me. Amen

Day 63 Peace, Restoration, And Righteousness Come through Jesus Christ!

“He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2b-3 NKJ

“He leads me beside the still waters.” - Have you ever stood at the edge of a lake or pond in the early morning hours before anything has disturbed the water? It is a breathtaking experience! I imagine that for David still waters signified a place of peace where he and his sheep could drink unthreatened by predators. It was a place where they could have their thirst quenched so they would be prepared for the next stretch of their journey. I imagine it was also a place of reflection where David communed with God. I say this because when a shepherd is herding sheep they are constantly on the move and they have to be vigilant in making sure the sheep were safe. At the water’s edge the sheep were all in one place and were focused on drinking; so it was probably one of the times David could relax.

I often think of the beauty of our New Covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ when I read this verse. Unlike David, we have the stillness of the Living Water, Jesus Christ inside of us. We no longer have to strive for peace or thirst for the opportunity to commune with God. Both have been given to us through Jesus Christ. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” And in John 7:37-38 Jesus said, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” When we accept what Jesus did for us at the Cross the rivers of living water flow out of our heart. Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ makes all striving cease! Communing with God and peace of mind belong to us through our covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

“He restores my soul;” – Notice that it was after David wrote “He leads me beside the still waters” that he wrote “He restores my soul;” So being near the water’s edge was a time of refreshing for David. It was the place he was rejuvenated and strengthened. The same is true for us when we spend time meditating in the Word and looking into the perfect law of liberty, Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus where we are rejuvenated and strengthened. James 1:27 says, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” The perfect law of liberty isn’t a set of rules we follow. The perfect law of liberty is Jesus Christ and when we continue in Him, our lives are blessed in what we do. Our soul is made up of our mind, will, and emotions and that is where most of our battles take place. When we fix our eyes on Jesus as our perfect law of liberty He restores our soul and fills us with peace. He rejuvenates us and strengthens us for the journey of faith.

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” – After David spent time at the water’s edge he herded the sheep once again and set out on the next part of the journey. His trust was in God to lead, protect, and provide for him along the way. But again what David had to do in his own strength, we do through the power of Jesus Christ working in and through us. Many people miss this in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ. They are like David and go from water’s edge to water’s edge looking for their souls to be restored. The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 42:1-2 describes this kind of striving best. He says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” When people strive to stay on the path of righteousness through trying to live a perfect and holy life, it leads to exhaustion and their soul once again thirsts for God. In Jesus we thirst no more!

When He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, we are filled to the fullness of His Gospel and He gives us everything we need for the journey of faith. Paul says it best in Ephesians 3:14-19. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

I want to encourage you to meditate on these verses and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if you fully understand what Jesus did for you on the Cross. Ask Him to reveal if there are areas of your life where you are still striving to find peace and strength through your own efforts of trying to commune with God. If your souls still longs for God and is anxious, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what it means to have the living waters of Christ inside of you. May you come to a full understanding of the benefits that came to you through your Covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: May I come to a full understanding of what it means to live and move and have my being in You. Quiet my soul through the power of Your Holy Spirit so I will stop striving to commune with You through my own strength. Grant me wisdom to understand the fullness of the Gospel that dwells in me through my relationship with You. I praise You for being faithful to reveal the Truth of who I am in You. Amen

Day 62 The Fullness Of Jesus Christ As Our Shepherd Is Revealed In Psalm 23!

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;” Psalm 23:1-2a NKJ

I love Psalm 23 and I believe it is an important passage for us to meditate on. Within the lines of the Scriptures is a treasure chest full of jewels of wisdom, for us to adorn our lives with daily. I am going to break it up into 6 devotions that detail the role of Jesus as our Shepherd. As we will see a shepherd is responsible for the well being of the sheep. He leads, guides, provides, protects, and cares for the sheep’s every need. When we learn to embrace our role as sheep and trust in our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, we will have our needs met and be equipped to fulfill our God given purpose in life.

“The LORD is my shepherd;”- I often think about David and what it must have been like for him to be a shepherd. He was the youngest member of his family and was put in charge of his father’s flocks. He was out in the pastures all alone, day and night, with only the sheep as his companions. But David discovered something in his alone time that we can all learn from. Though he himself was a shepherd and a protector of the flock; he knew the only way he could keep himself and the sheep safe, was to acknowledge his own need for a shepherd. Many of us think of God as our Savior and our Father, but deny Him the right to be our Shepherd. I know for me this was a pride issue of not wanting to identify myself as a sheep. I no longer think that way and my life has become so much more peaceful as the result. Today I understand the importance of having Christ as the Shepherd of my life, and I do not resist being a sheep who follows His every word and direction.

“I shall not want.” – Can you even imagine what a young boy who is all alone in a pasture full of sheep might want? He must have wanted conversation or someone to laugh with or share stories with. There must have been times he wanted to be held and comforted when he heard the howl of the wolves at night. He probably wanted to be praised for a job well done when he successfully retrieved a lost sheep or killed a predator. I imagine that he had many wants, but notice he wrote “I shall not want”. It’s not that he didn’t have wants, but he learned that it was more important to trust in His Shepherd to provide his needs at the time, than to focus on what he wanted. Just like a sheep, David came to rely on his shepherd to lead and guide him and to provide for him. And just like his sheep, David learned that it was his shepherd who knew what he needed and when he needed it. So he chose to follow God’s direction, just like the sheep followed him, and God provided for him. Later we will discover that in doing this, David’ wants (heart’s desires) were given to him as well.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures;” – In choosing to put his trust in God David learned to listen to God when He told him what to do. How often do we fight God when He tells us what to do? I know I have battled Him many times, but in times when I chose to listen to Him; He revealed Himself to me in ways I could have never imagined! God did the same thing for David. It was in the green pastures where David developed many of his skills and discovered his gifts and talents. He became a skilled warrior, a musician, a poet, and a writer of psalms. When we make the choice to spend our down time with God, God will be faithful to us and reveal our gifts and talents, just like He did for David. And when we spend our down time meditating in God’s Word, we will become warriors too. We all face giants in our lives, but unless we spend our down time, perfecting the skills of being a spiritual warrior, we will not be able to slay those giants the way David did Goliath. The message for us is: don’t resist when God wants our time because He is trying to reveal our gifts and talents, and He is trying to equip us for the battles we will face in life!

To fully understand the truths found in Psalm 23 it is also important for us to meditate on the parable of the talents in Luke 19. To those who were faithful with their talents Jesus said, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.” Because David was faithful as a shepherd, and spent his time learning from God during his down times, God made him a king. When Samuel told Saul why God chose David, he said that David was a man after God’s own heart. Sometimes it is difficult for us to comprehend what God has in store for us when we are faithful with the little things He has entrusted to us. We want the big blessings right now, but God knows that in order for us to be faithful with the big blessings, we have to learn to be faithful with the small ones first.

We have to learn how to manage our time and choose to spend it with Him. We have to be willing to be led and directed by our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We have to discover our gifts and talents. We need to become disciplined in the skills of a spiritual warrior so we know how to fight the spiritual battles in life. We have to obey where He tells us to go and refrain from going where He tells us to avoid. We have to choose to stay within the boundaries He has set for us, knowing if we cross them, we will make ourselves vulnerable to the enemy who lies in wait for us. We have to have a heart after God more than a desire to fulfill our flesh. When we do these things God will give us authority and blessings greater than anything we could ever think or imagine!

Prayer: May I learn to embrace my role as a sheep and may I learn to trust my Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the way David learned to trust in You. I believe by faith that as I trust in You as my source, you will not only provide for my needs, but You will also grant me the desires of my heart. Help me to see the importance of spending time with You so I can learn from You. I believe by faith that when I do You will reveal my gifts and talents, and You will equip me to fight the spiritual battles I face each day. I praise you for loving me and I choose to follow You each day. Amen

Day 61 How To Experience Victory When Trouble Comes!

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 NKJ

Growing up I thought my parents gave me the wrong middle name because teachers and other people in authority, always told me my middle name was trouble. It seemed that no matter where trouble was, I was there. Sometimes I was an innocent party and other times I was the instigator of the trouble. But it didn’t matter what the scenario, I seemed to find trouble, like a bee finds nectar. What always amazed me though was how faithful God was to deliver me each and every time from the trouble. In writing this devotion I looked up the meaning of my real middle name, which is Ann, and to my delight I found out it is of Hebrew origin and it means “favored grace”! Now that is definitely a more accurate name for me than trouble. Each time I was ever in trouble God in His great mercy showed me favored grace, and delivered me out of my troubles. And what I want you to know is that He will do the same for you!

Today I want to talk to you about two kinds of people and show you how different mindsets determine how we respond when trouble comes our way. The first person is the person who tries to muscle through it on their own only to end up angry, exhausted, and frustrated at God and others. A quote from the great theologian Dr. Seuss gives us a picture of this kind of person. “I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" Of course Dr. Seuss was not a theologian but this is a wonderful word picture of the person who tries to battle trouble in their own strength.

If this person had a theme song it would be, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” and their favorite quotes would come from cartoon characters like Elmer Fudd, “It’ll NEVER WORK”! They view the glass as half empty and life as burdensome and full of troubles they have to accept. When you talk to them they tell you a million reasons why they can’t do something and no matter how you try to encourage them, they deny your words. Do you know anyone like this? Pray for them!

The next person is the one who understands that in this life they will have many troubles, but they take heart because they understand that Jesus overcame the world at the Cross. They understand that their strength comes from their hope in Christ alone to deliver them from their troubles. Whether unforeseen and caused by others, or whether they got into them all on their own, they know the One who saves them! Their theme song would be The Battle Hymn of the Republic, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning Of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, So with you My grace shall deal": Let the Hero born of woman Crush the serpent with His heel, Since God is marching on.”

They have a quiet confidence and know who they are and whose they are! They shut out the voices of their enemies and their own voice of doubt, and they stand strong in their faith; waiting for the Lord’s rescue! Though many troubles come they take each one to the Cross! They remind the devil of his defeat and tell their own mind to align with the Truth of God’s Word! This causes their spirit to be revived in the midst of their troubles and hope arises in their hearts once again! They are strengthened in their inner man and shout victorious praise before their physical eyes see victory! They believe by faith that what God promises He performs!

My question to all of us today is which kind of person are we? If you are the first person I want you to know there is hope. Spend time with the Lord and wait on Him. Meditate in His Word and pray for the eyes of your understanding to be opened. Search for wisdom as a precious treasure worth finding! If you are the second kind of person find brothers and sisters in Christ who are more like the first person. Encourage them! Build them up! Pray for them! Live the testimony before them that they will want to know where your strength comes from!

Prayer: I praise You for being with me in the midst of my troubles and for reviving my strength to stand until it passes! I praise you for stretching out your hand against those who attack me and for saving me from the true adversary, the devil. I believe by faith that NO weapon formed against me shall prosper! I believe by faith that You do perfect the things which concern me, and that Your mercy does endure forever! I am the work of Your hand and You have promised to never leave me or forsake me! Amen

Day 60 From Grief To Joy Through Jesus Christ And The Finished Work Of The Cross!

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 NKJ

Every one of us knows what it is like to experience loss. Whether it is the death of a loved one, the loss of a marriage to divorce, the loss of a relationship due to conflict, the loss of a job due to downsizing, we know what loss feels like. I have experienced all of these losses and many more. Each time I experience loss I grieve for a season and each season of grief is different. The bigger the loss the more time I spend in the grief process. There is no magic potion to drink that can minimize the grief and no 30 day grief recovery program.

So if there isn’t a quick fix for the grief process what can we do to ensure we get through it without being consumed by it? The answer is found in this passage. We once again fix our eyes on Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross. Before His death Jesus suffered every pain, sorrow, and loss that we have suffered, or ever will suffer. He understands us is a way that no one else can. And only He knows how to guide us through the grieving process, and for each one of us that process is different.

It is important to understand that each of us has been created with a unique personality by Him that plays a part in how we deal with grief. Our coping skills are different due to our past experiences, our present knowledge, and our ability to look to the future with hopeful expectation. For instance I have always been a person who deals with grief quite quickly and I bounce back faster than most people. A friend of mine on the other hand doesn’t bounce back fast and she needs more time in the grieving process. I used to think something was wrong with her because she seemed to stay in it too long. She used to think something was wrong with me because she thought I was just living in denial, and not taking the time to heal. We were both wrong because we both focused on Jesus and the finished work of the Cross,so it couldn’t be something we did wrong.

If we hadn’t looked to Jesus as our strength and our guide, and if we didn’t look to the finished work of the Cross as our promise; then one of us might have been wrong. But we did! So God was faithful to both of us, it was just the timing that was different. This is so important to understand because only God knows the timing and if we can accept that, then we won’t fight against Him while He is doing a work in us during our times of grief. He promises to console us, to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for our spirit of heaviness. Our responsibility is to believe by faith that He will, and to put our hope and trust in Him, until we see our reality catch up to His truth!

Notice what we are called when we believe God’s promises by faith and wait patiently for them to manifest in our lives. We are called trees of Righteousness and the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified in and through us! So how do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the finished work of the Cross, when the grieving process can be so hard to cope with? The answer can be found in Psalm 1:2-3. It says, “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.” Psalm 1:2-3

This is not talking about meditating on the 600 + laws in the Bible, because as we know the law doesn’t do one thing to bring us peace. That is why Jesus had to go to the Cross. It is talking about meditating on Jesus and the finished work of the Cross because at the Cross Jesus took on all of our grief and pain. Our delight is to be in Jesus and on the understanding of the finished work of the Cross. When this is our focus we will not wither during the grieving process and the fruit of the Spirit will manifest in its due season. This is when the testimony of God’s faithfulness will prosper and we will have the opportunity to glorify Him by the testimony of His faithfulness! I want to encourage you to spend time meditating on these passages. If you are in the grieving process right now fix your eyes on Jesus. If you know someone who is in it, be an encouragement to them. If you have come through the grieving process victorious share your testimony so others can see the faithfulness of the Lord!

Prayer: I praise You for promising to lead and guide me through my times of grief. I praise you for consoling me and for giving me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for my mourning, and the garment of praise for my spirit of heaviness! I believe by faith that as I fix my eyes on You and the finished work of the Cross, I will experience these promises and I will be able to glorify you with my testimony of your faithfulness! Amen

Day 59 The Paparazzi Are Watching, What Are They Reporting?

“But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him. So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him. Mark 3:7-10 NKJ

Imagine what it would be like if Jesus walked the earth today healing the sick, casting out demons, delivering the oppressed, and preaching the Good News! He would have more Paparazzi following Him around than any Hollywood star could ever think of having. He would be drawing crowds greater than any music group could fathom. He would be written up in every magazine and featured on every television station around the world. Some would love Him and some would hate Him. Some would praise His works and some would criticize them. But you have to admit His life would draw the attention of the world! Though they may give negative reports, the evidence of His life and work would speak for itself. And He wouldn’t be doing these acts for the praise and attention of man; He would be doing them because it is what the Father told Him to do.

With this in mind my question to all of us is: What kind of buzz has our Christian life created in our world that would make people take notice of Christ in us? Are the identifying character traits of Christ evident to the people around us? Is the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in our lives and are people asking us why we are so full of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness? Are we so faithful and self –controlled that people want to know how we do it? Is the miraculous power of God working through us and are the lives of people we come into contact with, being changed? Is the Paparazzi following the lives of people in Christianity, and if so, what are they reporting?

The answer is that the Paparazzi are following people in the Christian faith but unfortunately there is more bad press being reported, than good press. Not only are the Paparazzi following the Christian faith but researchers are as well. The divorce rate in the church is now at the same rate as the world. (Barna Group) The sexual abuse rate in Christian homes is overwhelming. ("Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches" by Carolyn Holderread Heggen) Today’s Christian teens are almost equal to non-Christian teens when it comes to engaging in risky behavior. (Barna Group) There are many more reports being published by researchers and the Paparazzi are reporting every negative finding as well. With this understanding it is important for us to spend time asking the Lord to help us turn things around. It is possible but it is going to take a concentrated effort on all of our parts to do it. We start within our own homes and then branch out into our neighborhoods, cities, states, and then the world.

We have the message of hope within us, Jesus Christ, and that message needs to be displayed in our lives for the world to see, if we are going to make an impact in the world. Remember what the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 1:27, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Can you see it? So how do we accomplish this mission? First we follow what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:4-7. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

We also must embrace our identity as new creations in Christ! We must reject the lies of the enemy and our own minds that tell us we are no good and have no chance at making an impact on the world for the Gospel’s sake. We seek God for guidance and align ourselves with the truth of His Word, remembering His promise in Isaiah 55:11-12. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “ For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” God does perform His Word in our lives as we walk in it.

It is important to understand that as long as we are on the earth we will face persecution, but when we are persecuted it should be for righteousness sake, not for evidence based on facts. In Matthew 5:10-11 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” The Paparazzi and researchers will give bad reports but it is best if those reports cannot be substantiated. I want to encourage you to meditate in the Word and prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to grant you wisdom and understanding in these areas. Ask Him to reveal how you can become a witness whose testimony gets noticed. He is faithful and He will answer your prayers.

Prayer: Your Word says that as You are in Heaven so am I on this earth, so let my life be a living example of your power and greatness. As I meditate on Your character let me be a reflection of it to those around me. Help me to understand what Christ in me the hope of glory really means. I praise You for continually reminding me of who I am in You and for entrusting me with the message of the Gospel. Amen

Day 58 Don’t Major On The Minors, Remember The Devil’s In The Details!

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20 NKJ

The slang term “the devil is in the details” is often used to describe the small details of a task or plan that make it difficult and challenging. In other words when one focuses on the small details too much it can prolong an otherwise simple assignment. It can bring unnecessary confusion and divide those who are called to carry out the assignment. Typically when someone uses this term they are giving caution and saying, “don’t major on the minors or you will prolong our mission.”

I have attended countless church services and have witnessed all kinds of worship and service styles. I have been in churches where the only instruments allowed were pianos, violins, and organs. And I have been in churches whose stage looked more like a rock venue than a church sanctuary. I have been in churches where you stand up for worship and prayer at the command of the worship leader. And I have been in churches where they give you complete freedom to dance and move about at your own will during worship. And you can stand up or kneel when you pray. I have attended services where communion was served on silver platters with a feet washing ceremony that followed. And I have attended services where they taught the congregation to take communion on their own at home.

I could write a book on the number of differences between church services, but the question is: Is one church right and another church wrong? Are these major issues the body of Christ needs to address and become unified on? Or are they simply minor differences that really have no effect at all on the message of the Gospel, and when focused on, only bring division in the body of Christ? Ask any two people and you will probably get a different answer depending on how they were raised or what they were taught. Ask a person in their 80’s if drums should be a part of the church service and why they feel the way they do; then ask a 19 year old the same question. They would have drastically different views on the matter.

What I want you to begin to pray about is this: Do you major on minor details when it comes to church and the way the service should be executed? Do you judge people in other denominations who worship differently than you do? Is your time spent more on the details of doctrine or is your time spent more on following Jesus’ commission to go and make disciples of men? A disciple by definition is a learner or follower. Jesus did not say that we are to disciple men in what we believe to be truth, He said to disciple men in the Truth. John 14:6-7 says, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Notice He didn’t say no one can come to the father except through submersion in baptism, or except through worshipping on a certain day, or except through only allowing string instruments, etc. He said, “No one can come to the Father except through me.” When Christ is the center focal point of making disciples then the new disciple will find freedom in worshipping God the way the Spirit moves them. This doesn’t mean we don’t have order in a service, it just means we don’t impose the order of our service as a means to salvation or intimacy with God. It means we don’t judge a person who chooses a different form of worship than we do. It means we don’t condemn a person who takes communion in a different way than we do. Ultimately it means we love our neighbor with a Christ centered love!

Romans 13:8-10 says, “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. “For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”

I want to encourage you to spend time in prayer and meditation asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten you to what Jesus meant when He said to go and make disciples of men. If you have mental blocks because of your beliefs about salvation, church service, doctrinal teachings, etc. ask the Holy Spirit to remove them. If you have judged or condemned your neighbor who believes differently and you have not loved them with a Christ centered love, ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart so you can love. God is faithful and He will grant you wisdom and discernment as you seek Him in these areas.

Prayer: Let me not major on the minor details any longer. Let me not bring confusion to the body of Christ or the unsaved world, by focusing on minor details that have nothing to do with salvation or intimacy with You. Let my sole focus be on the ministry of Jesus and the finished work of the Cross. I praise you for giving me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. I believe by faith that as my focus becomes solely centered on You I will be able to make disciples of men as You have instructed me to. Amen

Day 57 What Designer Jeans Teach Us About God!

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

A recent trend in fashion around the world is taking an old worn out pair of jeans and turning them into a fashion masterpiece. What most men and women see as worthless, the designer sees as valuable! A designer takes the faded pair of jeans, full of rips and tears, decorates them with jewels and colored thread; then they sew their name on them and call them works of art. Some of these jeans sell for thousands of dollars, where before they would have sold for $1.00 or $2.00 at a thrift store. I always marvel when I discover one of these pair of jeans for sale and wonder what went through the mind of the designer when they decided to make them.

When I see a person who has come into or come back to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, I often think of those designer jeans. The trauma a person goes through in life whether inflicted on them by others or whether they inflict it on themselves, leaves rips and tears in their soul. Their mind, will, and emotions, are affected by the trauma they experienced. Some of these people even have visible scars, piercings, or tattoos on their physical body as evidence of the life they lived during the traumatic years. We can only see their outward appearance and the way they communicate. If they came out of a lifestyle of crime, drugs, gangs, or other hardcore activities, many people have a hard time seeing their value and worth. But when God looks at them He sees incredible value!

He is the master designer who sees beyond the surface of their lives and looks at their heart, just like the designer of the jeans looked beyond the appearance of the jeans, and saw the jeans potential. He knows that if they will allow Him to redesign them, He can turn their life into a masterful work of art! He also knows that when they give their testimony, it will draw the attention of the world, just like those jeans do when they are on display at a fashion show. And just like the people who come to understand the value of those jeans and want more of what the designer has to offer, the people hearing their testimony will want more of what the true Designer has to offer! The difference is that the person giving the testimony gets the opportunity to introduce the people to the Designer Himself!

I am living proof of this. I lived a hard life during my teen years and when I came back into a relationship with God many “religious” people judged me for the life I lived. They didn’t see my value and worth. All they saw was a person, who had done drugs, lived a promiscuous life, one who had abortions and a child out of wedlock, and one who cussed like a sailor. They judged me and deemed me worthless for ministry because of my past. God on the other hand, saw incredible value in me and redesigned my life into a masterpiece work of art.

Today when I give my testimony lives change! I am not ashamed of the rips and tears anymore because God took them and redesigned them for His purpose! I have seen teenagers get off drugs and come out of promiscuous lifestyles. I have seen women and teens change their mind about having an abortion. I have given people hope and helped them discover their purpose. I have seen miracles, signs, and wonders take place in the people’s lives who hear my testimony. And the greatest joy in my life is when I get to introduce those people to the master Designer, Jesus Christ!

There is no greater accomplishment in this life than to proclaim the awesome power of God to change and transform lives! It beats any award you could ever receive or any promotion you could ever get. Every day when I look in the mirror I no longer view the rips and tears of my life as negative. I see what the master Designer sees. I see incredible worth and value! Maybe you have parts of you past life that you are ashamed of or are afraid to talk about. I want to encourage you to allow God to redesign your life so He can use your testimony to bring Him glory and to introduce people to a relationship with Him. Maybe you are the person who has judged others by their appearance or their lifestyle and you never saw them as valuable for Kingdom work before. I want to encourage you to ask God to give you His heart for these people. Reach out to them and sit with them. Ask them to share what God has done in their lives. We are all God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, and when we embrace that truth our lives, and the lives of those around us, change forever!

Prayer: Thank You for being the Master Designer of my life and for placing incredible value on me. I praise You for taking all the rips and tears of my soul and turning them into a masterpiece work of art for the world to see. May I see what You see in me and in others and not judge by what my eyes see or my mind remembers. I believe by faith that when I give my testimony of Your great love and power to change lives, people will want to know You, and I will get to introduce them to You. Thank You for loving me so much and for calling me according to Your purpose! Amen

Day 56 What Are You Magnifying In Your Life?

“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3 NKJ

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30 NKJ

“And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46-47 NKJ

Do you remember when you were a child and used a magnifying glass for the first time? I remember taking the magnifying glass and looking at ants, rocks, worms, and other things. I would look at them under the magnifying glass for a moment and then take it away and look at them without it. Then one time someone told me that if I held the magnifying glass over a piece of paper for an extended period of time, the rays of sunlight would burn a hole in the paper. Sure enough when I tried it, it worked! My eyes lit up, my heart skipped a beat, and I thought I was quite the magician! Over the years those memories faded and I never thought of the magnifying glass again, until one day when I was driving in the car with my husband.

We were talking about what it means to magnify the Lord and the difference between people who magnify the Lord, and those who magnify the issues of life. He said, “Holly it is important to understand that what we magnify, we glorify.” “If we magnify the Lord, we glorify the Lord. If we magnify our problems, we glorify the devil.” Then he said, “the reason the magnifying glass could burn a hole in the paper is because with the magnifying glass you directed the rays of sunlight to a focal point on the piece of paper. In other words, you drew from the strength of the Sun and that strength produced a powerful force of nature that caused the paper to burn.”

After our conversation I reflected on what he said and began to spend time in the Word and in prayer, because I knew there was a powerful message of truth that I needed to understand. As I studied and prayed I gained wisdom from the Lord that has made a powerful impact on what I spend my time focused on and what I magnify! The issues of life are great! The trials and tribulations of life are burdensome! Relationships are difficult! Disease and sickness surround us! Natural disasters occur every day! Wars and rumors of wars are taking place around the world! And the sun shines on them all. But an even greater force of strength shines on them all and that force is the SON, Jesus Christ!

When we magnify the Son when facing the issues of life, we draw from His strength and His power to change our circumstances in the natural. The light that shines through Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross pierces the darkness of our soul! When we understand this, we are able to do as Mary did and have our spirit rejoice in God our Savior; who makes what seems impossible, possible! And when we magnify what Jesus did for us on the Cross we glorify God and His ability to supernaturally change our circumstances in the natural. Nehemiah 9:19 says, “Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; Nor the pillar of fire by night, To show them light, And the way they should go.”

It is important to remind ourselves that the same God who led the children of Israel through the wilderness is the same God who leads us through the wildernesses of our lives. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” As you know the children of Israel who magnified the issues of life and did not believe God, did not inherit the Promised Land, but those who magnified the Lord and believed, did! Even Moses and Aaron who led them all the way through did not inherit the Promised Land because of their unbelief. “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20:12

So let us believe in faith together and magnify the Lord! Let us praise the Lord our God and magnify Him with thanksgiving! Let us believe by faith in our soul (mind, will, and emotions) so our spirits rejoice together in God our Savior! Let us magnify the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, and draw from His power and strength! Let us sing praises in the midst of our circumstance and know that what He has promised, He will perform! Let us believe without wavering and know that God is faithful to His people! Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Prayer: I will magnify the Lord, oh my soul, and wait patiently on Him! I will rejoice in His promises and stand strong in my faith! Through my decision to magnify You oh Lord, Your power and strength are mine! I believe by faith that You are in the midst of the issues of my life, performing Your Word on my behalf! Blessed be Your name and blessed are the days of my life as I magnify You and bring glory to Your name! Amen

Day 55 Who Gets The First Fruits Of Your Day?

“In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].” Psalm 5:3 AMP

“But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress.” Psalm 59:16 AMP

“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.” Psalm 143:8 AMP

It's 5:00 a.m. and the alarm clock goes off. I jump out of bed ready to enter another hectic day full of appointments and responsibilities. I run to the kitchen and turn on the coffee pot, then head into the kids rooms to wake them up. I make a mad dash to the shower knowing I have to be downtown at a meeting by 9:00. I take a quick shower and get ready. I run into the kitchen and assemble the lunches for the kids. I referee the fight going on at the breakfast table over who gets the prize in the cereal box. My husband tries to talk to me but I have no time to discuss what kind of printer we should buy, so I cut him off.

After breakfast I hurry the kids out the door and load them into the car so I can take them to school. Traffic is horrible and I have a feeling I am going to be late. The pressure gets to me and I shout at the kids who are squabbling over who gets to play the game system first when they get home. We pull into the school parking lot and I tell them they better be good at school because nobody is playing the game system if I get a bad report. I exit the school parking lot and head downtown. With rush hour traffic at a standstill I honk my horn trying to get the car in front of me to move.

Then I begin to make a mental list of everything I have to do when I get home. There’s laundry, dinner, basketball practice for the boys at two locations, baths, homework, grocery shopping, taxes, phone calls, and yard work. The thoughts are overwhelming and I begin to get tense thinking about it. Finally I can’t take the thoughts anymore and I cry out to God to quiet the madness of daily life because I just can’t handle all the pressure!

Does this scenario sound familiar? Though this is not an actual account, it is an accurate picture of what modern day life looks like in most households. Daily life can be overwhelming but in these Scriptures the Psalmist gives us the antidote for the sickness we feel in the pit of our stomach from the pressure. He reminds us to spend the first moments of our day praying, praising, and seeking God’s direction for our day. We cannot change the reality of responsibilities and commitments, but we can change how we approach them by heeding the Psalmist’s advice.

When we pray mountains move! When we praise our countenance changes! When we watch and wait for God, He comes to speak to us! When we remind ourselves that He is our defense, tensions diminish! When we listen for God’s voice our spirit is quieted! When we seek God’s direction our burdens are lifted! When we lift up our inner self to Him, we are strengthened by His power!

In order to deal with the pressures of daily life we need to give God the first fruits of our day! This is the only way we will not be overwhelmed by the thoughts of what the day holds. I learned a long time ago to set my alarm clock an hour early so I would have the time to spend with the Lord. It is important to know that at the time I hated mornings! You couldn’t get me out of bed early if you put a stick of dynamite under my bed! But when the Holy Spirit spoke to me one day something changed in me! I no longer hated the morning hours and in fact, I came to love them. It wasn’t a certain time of day I loved; it was the feeling of being empowered during the day that I loved! Today it is hard to get me to sleep past 4:00 a.m. I am up spending time with God, and then I spend time penning His messages for His people. It is one of the most amazing transformations I have ever experienced in my Christian walk!

If this is not a part of your daily routine I want to encourage you to try it! I guarantee God will not disappoint you! It may take a few days or weeks to get used to getting up early, but within a short time it will become a habit. If you already do this I want to encourage you to find friends in your life who do not do this and who are overwhelmed by life. Share your testimony with them and ask them if they would like to try it. Be an encouragement to them if they do. Send them emails giving them examples of things they can do in their quiet time. From the blessings God has given you, become a blessing to others.

Prayer: I commit myself to spending the first part of my day with You oh Lord. I believe by faith that when I do, You will meet with me and strengthen me for my day. I praise You for choosing to give me the first fruits of Your day and I desire to give You the first fruits of mine! Let my life be a testimony to those around me as I make this decision to spend the first part on my day with You. Amen

Day 54 Sometimes We Are Called To Bring Correction!

One of the questions I get asked about the most is what are we called to do when we see a brother or sister gossiping about another believer, and how do we approach them about the matter? In this devotion we are going to look at several Scriptures that address the person who spreads gossip or brings discord in the body of Christ with their tongue. As you know the tongue of such a person is destructive and brings about strife. This is one of the most common transgressions present in the body of Christ today and it does the most harm. Synonyms for the word transgression are: wrongdoing, misbehavior, disobedience, indiscretion, and offense. This person needs to be corrected in love by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, because many times they do not understand the harm they are doing with their tongue. It takes a great act of love to address this person but unless we correct them; they will continue to divide the body of Christ and frustrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we do not correct them we are walking in a transgression ourselves, which is just as damaging to the body of Christ.

In my research I have discovered common traits that exist in most people who initiate gossip and whose tongue has become a weapon that they use against fellow believers. They speak of other people when they are not present and they speak as one who knows intimate details of people’s lives. They criticize and tear others down with their words. They magnify the faults of others in order to deflect attention from their own faults. They speak with authority which puts the hearer in an awkward position, because they do not know how to counter what they are saying. They are usually masters of speech and know how to control a conversation. They either speak lies or they embellish the truth to serve their own purpose.

So how do we address this person? When you approach them you need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit operating in you and your intention needs to be for loving correction, not punishment. The goal is to help them be restored, not destroyed. It cannot be done in your own strength because you are not battling flesh and blood. This is a spiritual force of darkness and it needs to be addressed in the Spirit and in love. It is important to understand what is taking place with this type of person so you know how to approach them. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 explains it best. It says, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” These people have been taken captive in their thoughts and are doing the will of the enemy by bringing division in the body of Christ with their tongue. Let’s look at the Scriptures that give reference to the tongue of such a person.

“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJ

“He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace. A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:12-14 NKJ

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” Proverbs 13:1-3 NKJ

”An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Proverbs 16:27-28 NKJ

“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19 NKJ

The brother or sister in Christ who has a tongue of discord and dissension is not only hurting fellow believers they are hurting themselves. If you saw a fellow believer standing on a cliff getting ready to jump, would you stand there and watch them destroy their life and the lives of those around them? Would you say they should have known better and ignore their imminent destruction? No you would do everything possible to help them! This is the same compassion we need to have with fellow believers who cause strife with their tongue. I understand that approaching such a person is difficult, but the Spirit of God will direct you if you find yourself having to do it. If you are the person who has a tongue of discord seek wisdom from the Lord and seek help from fellow believers before you destroy yourself and others. If you know a person like this, pray for them and ask God to reveal how and when you are to approach them. God is faithful and He will answer your prayers.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth always bring peace. Help me to guard my tongue from speaking words of discord and dissension. Help me to seek wisdom before I speak so I do not divide the body of Christ with my tongue. I believe by faith that as I walk in Your counsel I will have a mouth full of truth and peace. Then I will be able to aid my brother or sister who is walking in these same transgressions. I praise you for being faithful and I worship you in Spirit and in Truth. Amen

Other passages for you to look up on your own are Proverbs 26:20-28, 1 Peter 3:10, Ephesians 4:29-32, James 3:10-12, and 2 Timothy2. There are many more passages that speak about the tongue and I want to encourage you to do study on your own so the Holy Spirit can teach you personally.

Day 53 Pursue The Things That Make For Peace & Edify One Another

“Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” Roman 14:1-4
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Romans 14:12-13
“Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” Romans 14:16-19
“Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” Romans 14:22

In the United States alone there are over 600 different church denominations and this number sky rockets if you include all the different sects and groups around the world, who call themselves Christian organizations. Each one has been established to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a great thing! But each denomination also has doctrines of man that they expect their members to abide by and each one claims to have “the truth” in regards to how a Christian should live. Some say a woman shouldn’t speak in a public assembly and another says you have to go to church on a certain day. One says you can’t dance and another says you have can’t eat meat. One says you have to be submerged in water when baptized and another says you have to pray a certain prayer in order to receive Christ.

Paul gives clear instruction in this passage that this kind of teaching only brings division to the body of Christ and causes people to stumble in their faith. If this is the case then why is this kind of teaching still taking place today? And why are so many Christians attacking other Christians who adhere to different doctrinal beliefs? Is there any way to bring unity to the body of Christ that will destroy this kind of infighting among the church of Jesus Christ? These passages I have quoted answer all these questions and my prayer is that as you meditate on them you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit so you can walk in the wisdom of the Lord.

There is only one true doctrine and that is Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross period! Nothing more and nothing less! Everything else that we choose to adhere to in our own personal walk should be kept between us and God and not imposed on each other. If you don’t want to eat meat, come to my house and I will fix you the most amazing tofu dish you have ever eaten. I won’t throw a pork chop on your plate and then have a debate with you about it. If you don’t want to cut your hair I won’t keep telling you how great you would look with a short hairstyle. If you want to dance I won’t tie your feet to the floor at a wedding and tell you all the reasons why dancing is wrong. In doing this I am fulfilling Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

This is what we have to do if we are going to further the unblemished Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word unblemished means not tarnished in any way. Synonyms of unblemished are spotless, immaculate, impeccable, perfect, pure, and unsullied. Jesus Christ is the only one who is unblemished! If we are going to be able to fulfill Paul’s instruction we have to remind ourselves of this truth and refer to 1 Peter 1;18-19 when we are in doubt. It says, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

My prayer for you today is that the Holy Spirit will grant you wisdom and understanding if you have judged another believer in how they walk out their relationship with God. Or if you have condemned yourself for the things which you have adhered to and then changed your mind over the years is Romans 1:14, “Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” I want to encourage you to spend time in the Word and in prayer so that the Spirit of God can speak to you in regards to Paul’s instruction in Roman 14. As you believe by faith in the Holy Spirits ability to teach you all things, you will grow in wisdom and understanding.

Prayer: I believe by faith that Jesus Christ and the finished work of the Cross is the true doctrine for salvation. Cleanse me of any limiting or false beliefs that I have adopted in regards to how one must live as a Christian. Let me not judge my brothers and sisters in Christ who believe differently about things that have nothing to do with Salvation. But instead let me love them with the love of Christ in me and only focus on things that make for peace and things that will edify them. I praise you for granting me wisdom and understanding by the power of the Spirit which you have given me to teach me all things. Amen.

Day 52 God’s Valentine’s Day Message Just For You!

When I was growing up I loved Valentine’s candy and my favorite ones were the hearts with sayings on them. I just loved to open up the box and look at what was written on each one. Even though I knew it would be the same messages that I read the year before I didn’t care. Something just came alive in me each time I read them again. I would visualize the image of my true love saying those things while walking hand in hand with me. For a moment I was whisked away into a fantasy world of love and romance. I have to admit I still love to read those heart messages when I see them in the store and in fact, I bought them for my children this year.

For this devotional I want you to get an image of those heart message candies in your mind, but I want you to imagine what God would write on them if He were the creator of those candies. I am going to share messages I know He would write, but I want you to spend time with Him and ask Him to speak messages of love directly to you as well. Take time and open up the Bible and read His love letter as if it was the first time reading it! Let the Words written on the pages come alive on the inside of you just like I did as a child when I read the messages on those candies. I am going to list the Scripture references at the end of the devotional because the most important thing for you to hear is God’s spoken Word, not the chapter and verse where I found them.

You are my beloved child! You are one with Me in Spirit! You are My forgiven one! You are My friend! I have chosen you! You are complete in Me! You are My anointed one! You are My new creation! You are My workmanship! You are righteous in Me! I have given you My divine nature! I dearly love you! I have made you more than a conqueror! You are My living stone! You are the fragrance of My knowledge! You are created in My image! I will move Heaven and earth for you! I love to sing over you!

Not only has the Spirit of God asked me to write His Words of love to you in this form, He has also asked me to pen a Valentine’s love letter just for you. I want you to know that as I write it He is speaking it to me as well. So as you read it please do not think of these words as being from the pen of man. Hear the voice of God speaking directly to you and embrace His Words of love.

My Dear and Precious Valentine,

Oh how I love you and how I delight in knowing you are mine! I created the heavens and the earth so that we could be together one day! But even before I created the heavens and the earth I anticipated the day you would fall in love with Me and choose to be My bride! From the moment I saw you in My mind’s eye I knew you were the one for Me! There is no one on earth who compares to you! I am in awe when I look at you and see you becoming everything you were created to be. I delight in knowing that you have chosen Me and that you want to spend the rest of your life on earth, and eternity with Me. I promise to always be here for you. I promise to be faithful to you and I will never leave you or abandon you. Nothing will ever separate you from My love!

My sweet Valentine I know that this life we live together may be rough at times because until we are together in eternity, we have to be together in this fallen world. But I want you to find strength in knowing I will always protect you. If you are ever afraid just call on Me and I will speak words of peace to quiet your fears. I want you to know that I find joy in being your knight-in-shining armor! It brings Me pleasure to come to your rescue! And My precious Valentine I know there are people on this earth who may hurt you or abandon you, but I never will! Through the good times and bad I will always be here! And I want you to know that if you ever have a bad day and feel like running away or hiding from Me, please don’t! Please come home to Me and snuggle up close to Me for awhile! Cry on My shoulder and let Me comfort you. And if you ever have a day when you are angry and need to vent, please come to Me for I truly understand your frustration! I have been through everything you will ever face in this life on earth and I have overcome it all. So I know how to lead you through every trial you will ever experience.

My beloved precious Valentine I want you to know how much it pleases Me to spend time with you. I love to gaze into your eyes! I love to hear your voice! I love your smile and your laugh! I love everything about you! You are perfect in My eyes! I take delight in knowing that we will be together forever. I hope you know just how precious you are to Me! I am so in love with you! Did you know that I love to sing over you? Do you know that I love to give you good and perfect gifts every day of the year! It brings Me pleasure to know the desires of your heart and to give them to you! I also love to surprise you when you least expect it, and to see the joy on your face when I do! All of my thoughts towards you are good and My plans for us together are perfect! I love you My Precious Valentine! Thank you for choosing to be My Valentine today and every day!

Love,
God

Romans 1:12-13, Romans 6:17, Colossians 1:13-14, John 15:15, Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 2:9, Colossians 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 1:21, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 6:18, 2 Peter 1:4, Colossians 3:12, Romans 8:37, 1 Peter 2:5, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Genesis 1:27, Mark 11:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17

Day 51 The Beauty Of God’s Mercy Is In The Finished Work of The Cross!

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:21 – 26 NKJ

What is your reaction when you wake up the day after disaster has struck your life? Is your mind consumed with thoughts of doubt, worry, and fear? Or is it full of memories of God’s mercy and compassion in light of what Jesus did for you at the Cross? Do you ask God why He has caused or allowed this disaster? Or do you remind yourself that God is in the midst of your disaster, full of mercy and compassion, ready to rebuild your life? For years I was the one full of doubt, fear, and worry, and I was the one who shook my fist at God and asked Him how He could allow such tragedy to befall me. I would replay Old Testament stories like the story of Job and say things like “Well God gives and God takes away, so I guess I have to accept that God brought this about to teach me a lesson.”

Then one day when reading Lamentations 3 something changed as the Holy Spirit began to give me wisdom and understanding in regards to my New Covenant relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. While it is true that God brought calamity to the lives of people in the Old Testament and He dealt harshly with them at times, this is not the way he deals with us today. At the Cross Jesus took on all the wrath and anger of God towards His people, and He paid the price for all the punishment that we rightfully deserve! All calamities that rightfully belonged to us Jesus died for! And when Jesus stepped out of the tomb He became the embodiment of God’s mercy, grace, and compassion for eternity!

The Holy Spirit then spoke to me and told me that when I read the Old Testament I need to read it with the illumination of the Cross as my reference. He told me to go back and read stories like Job and Jeremiah’s words in Lamentation 3, and look for Christ’s New Covenant testimony. I obeyed and what I discovered changed my thought process in the midst of life’s disasters forever! I no longer identify myself with the people of the Old Testament; I identify myself with the message of the Gospel in the lives of the people of the Old Testament.

For example: Job 1:21 says, “And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” I used to read this and adopt a “woe is me” mindset which caused me to dwell on the disaster as a part of God’s divine plan for my life. With the new revelation from the Holy Spirit and with the illumination of the Cross as my reference, I now quote the second part of that verse. “Blessed be the name of the Lord, in the midst of this disaster, for at the Cross Christ paid the price for me and He will deliver me from this disaster!”

In reference to lamentations 3, I use to read the first part of the passage and recount all the things that have happened in my life where tragedy struck, and I would adopt a “this is the way God deals with me” mindset. This mindset led me to shake my fist at God and ask Him how He could allow such tragedy to befall me. With the new revelation from the Holy Spirit and with the illumination of the Cross as my reference, I now quote verses 21 -26. I then remind myself where my hope comes from and I quote Colossians 1:27, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Are you beginning to see the difference? One mindset leads to doubt, fear, and worry. The other mindset leads to faith, hope, and joyful expectation of what God is doing in the midst of the disaster. Now when I wake up the morning after disaster has struck my life, I recall the mercy and compassion of God by reminding myself of the finished work of the Cross! I remind myself that Christ in me is the hope of glory that will get me through the disaster, and I am filled with praises of God’s faithfulness! I also remind myself that God is no longer just my portion, but rather, the fullness of God through Jesus Christ is within me. Ephesians 3:19 says, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” I want to encourage you to spend time asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding in regards to the finished work of the Cross. Ask Him to illuminate the Old Testament Scriptures with the light that comes from the finished work of the Cross!

Prayer: I praise You for Your mercy and compassion that was given to me for eternity through the sacrifice of Your Son on the Cross! I will remind myself of the meaning of the finished work of the Cross when I read the Old Testament so I can see all Your benefits that come with the New Covenant relationship through Jesus! When disaster strikes my life I will set my mind on Jesus Christ as my propitiation. Great is Your faithfulness oh Lord my God! Amen

Day 50 Do You Have Faith In Spite Of?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJ

Believing in faith when things are moving in the direction of our prayers, hopes, dreams, and desires, is easy. But what happens when there is a shift in circumstances and it doesn’t look like our prayers are going to be answered, or that God is going to fulfill His promises to us? I have always thought of myself as one who is strong in my faith, but I must admit the trials we have faced over the last few years have put my faith to the test. Each time a trial has come I have stood at a crossroads and had a choice to make. I could remind myself of God’s faithfulness and stand strong in my faith, or I could doubt God, and grow weak in my faith. At times I have had to battle the doubt filled thoughts to the point of lamenting before the Lord, asking Him to strengthen me in my weakness. Each time He was faithful and I was once again able to stand strong in my faith.

Maybe you can identify with me because you have been standing in faith for something, but you have grown weary at times when a shift in circumstances has come your way. Today I want to encourage you with the wisdom I have gained during these times of trial so that you will be built up in your faith and filled with hope. May you be strengthened in your inner man as I remind you of God’s faithfulness to His people, and may you know that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and since you are His people, He is faithful to you as well. Though your circumstances may change God never does and He is in the midst of your trials, completing the work He began in you. Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Do you have faith in spite of no visual evidence? We all know the story of Noah, but what most people don’t know is the fact that up until the flood it had never rained on the earth. The Bible says that water came up out of the earth in the form of mist and dew. They had never seen a rain cloud or heard thunder or seen lightening. So imagine what opposition Noah faced from the people who surrounded him and from his own thoughts, when he obeyed God and stood in faith during the 120 years it took him to build the ark. But he did and Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Do you have faith in spite of not knowing the exact direction you should go to follow a vision God has given you? Imagine what it must have been like for Abraham when God told him to pack up his belongings and his household and head off into an unknown land. People in his life must have thought he was crazy when he set out on his journey. But Abraham obeyed God and God was faithful as he walked in obedience. Hebrews 11:8-10 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Do you have faith in spite of family rejection and opposition? All of us know what it is like to face opposition from family. You would think that our family would be the most supportive and encouraging, but this is not the case most of the time. The story of Joseph is a great example of what it’s like to face opposition from family. He was sold into slavery, thrown into prison, and totally rejected by his family. But God was faithful and He blessed Joseph despite his family’s opposition. I want to encourage you to read the story in Genesis 37 – 50 and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding if you face family opposition or persecution.

I want to encourage you to read Hebrews 11 and then read the accounts of each person’s life listed. These are the heroes of the faith who through faith and patience inherited the promises of God. These people stood in faith in spite of circumstances. Some stood strong in their faith, while other wavered at times. It is important to understand that wavering is not wrong as long as you seek God in the midst of it. Then make the decision to believe His truth over your reality until your circumstances catch up with His truth. Also read the New Testament accounts of people who stood in faith in spite of circumstances like Paul, Jesus, Stephen, Peter, John, Peter, Phillip, and many others. Ask God to strengthen you as you read these testimonies of faith and make the decision to stand strong in your faith until you see your reality catch up to the truth.

Prayer: I praise You for giving me examples of people just like me who stood in faith and believed Your Word over their reality. I choose to align my thoughts with Your Word and when doubt or wavering comes, I will open Your Word and encourage myself in You. I believe by faith and I am filled with hope as I stand strong in my times of waiting. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. I believe by faith even when my eyes do not see because my faith is the evidence of things not yet seen. Amen

Day 49 What Does It Mean To Lay Down My Life For My Friend?

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:12-13 NKJ

I have many friends and with my words I would say that I love them and that I would lay down my life for them. I would even say that I would lay down my life for a stranger if the situation required it. But is this a literal command from Jesus or something even greater? What did Jesus mean in this verse and how do we put action to our words, in regards to loving people to the point of laying down our life for them? This question always plagued me until the day I read Luke 10:20 – 37.

Jesus was asked what was required for a person to receive eternal life. Verses 20 – 29 says, “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?””

Jesus then goes on to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan to give an illustration of what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and what it means to love our neighbor as our self. The sacrificial love of the Samaritan is demonstrated in our lives through the actions that the love of Christ prompts in us. So the true act of laying down our life for a friend is in the love of Christ working in and through us to meet the needs of God’s people. And we have a choice to make. Do we ignore their need and walk around them like the priest and Levite did, or do we meet their need like the Samaritan did? And how do we know what their need is?

Again it is the love of God in us that prompts us to know and meet the needs of His people. It could be a spiritual need that we can meet in sharing the Gospel. It could be an emotional need that we can meet with a word of encouragement. It could be a physical need that we can meet by providing goods or finances. It could be a correctional need that we can meet by helping our friend come to a place of repentance for a fault they are in. There are many needs and only one person can meet those needs and that person is Jesus Christ. In order to fulfill Jesus’ commission to love each other as He loves us, to the point of laying down our life for our friends; we have to understand this truth. We can do nothing in our own strength.

Paul understood this best and tells us the key to success in walking out the commission of laying down our lives for our friends. In Galatians 2: 20 he says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” When we embrace this truth we will be able to direct the focus of our minds to loving God with all that is within us and then His Spirit will prompt us in discerning how to meet the needs of His people.

So the true act of laying down our lives for our friends is in embracing what Jesus did for us on the Cross when He laid down His life for us. Understanding this sacrificial love is what will empower us to lay down our life and meet the needs of God’s people. I want to encourage you to spend time in prayer and meditation so God can reveal the areas of your heart and mind that may not be solely focused on loving Him with all that is within you. Ask Him to give you the heart of the Samaritan so you can begin to allow the Holy Spirit to help you discern the needs of His people, and to show you how to meet them. If you will do these things then God will be faithful and He will reveal Himself to you in an intimate way that will change your life and the lives of the people around you forever.

Prayer: Let me come to the place of fully understanding Your great and mighty love for me through embracing what Christ did for me at the Cross. As I meditate on this sacrificial love may I fully embrace that Christ in me is the hope of glory that You want me to share with others. One way of sharing this hope is through meeting their needs. May my mind be fixed on You so that I do not miss the opportunity to be the Samaritan in the lives of the people around me. I praise You for loving me so much that You would sacrifice Your own Son so that I could live, and so my life can be a testimony of that love. Amen