Tag: Devotionals

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Restore All

29 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep His commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord, the God of their ancestors. ~ 2 Chronicles 34:29-33

The people of Israel weren’t living according to the Law of the LORD their God. In fact, they had fallen so far away from God that King Josiah had to renew the covenant with the LORD that his fathers had broken. King Josiah didn’t stop there. He didn’t just correct himself. He didn’t cleanse himself. No. King Josiah brought all of his people and had them renew the covenant with the LORD as well.

It wasn’t enough for King Josiah to be following God. It wasn’t enough for even just the Levites and priests to be renewed and restored to the covenant of the LORD. King Josiah understood that all of the land was under him, from the greatest to the least. All the people were under him, and if they were under him, their blood would be required at his hand. So, often, we’re put in a place of leadership that we take for granted. It doesn’t have to be over many people. It doesn’t even have to look like a place of leadership. It simply means that there are people who look to you to guide them in their lives. It could be as large as a body of souls that come to hear you preach and teach every Sunday. And it could be as small as one single soul looking up to you.

Each of us has at least one person looking to us for help, guidance, and advice. What we do to help that one or many will affect our eternity. Just as God warned Ezekiel that remaining silent when he saw someone in sin would place their blood on his head, so is it for us. We each have a purpose—a universal purpose to win souls. That’s not just the preacher’s job; that’s each and every Christian’s job. We’re to spread God’s Word. We’re to be the light in the darkness. Christ is to live through each of us.

Dear LORD, please forgive me for any time that I’ve fallen down on shepherding the people you have given to me. Please help me to stand firmly and confidently as King Josiah did. Help me not to overlook even the smallest influence I might have in someone’s life. Please help me to always be a light pointing others back to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Illness of Asa

12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. 13 Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors. ~ 2 Chronicles 16:12-13

Asa was king of Judah for 41 years. In his last three years as king of Judah, he was afflicted with a disease in his feet and never once saw relief or healing. King Asa sought the help of doctors, but never did he seek the LORD for help. Not even once. King Asa was regarded as a good king by the LORD. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest (2 Chronicles 14:1-6).

King Asa did many good things for the LORD, but when it came to faith for a healing from God, King Asa didn’t even ask. Why? It could be because of a lack of faith; it could be because he didn’t think it should be brought to God. Nevertheless, this is the same with us today. We do many good things for God. We preach and teach the good news. We show people the good things of God. God even blesses an entire group of people for our sake, but when it comes to praying for ourselves and seeking God for healing, we don’t. Many of us are doing many good things but missing out on our healing.

Dear LORD, help me to seek Your help in all things. Help me to never put anyone over You, but to always go to You first. Help me to seek You in all things. Help to never miss out on a healing or blessing simply because I never asked. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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We All Have A Gift

4 I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4-7NIV

Today, the Church is quite divided over spiritual matters. One says spiritual gifts were for a time; another says some spiritual gifts were for a time, while another says all spiritual gifts are for all times. Paul encouraged us that we don’t lack any spiritual gift. So, what does that mean? Paul listed multiple spiritual gifts later on in this same letter. That not only suggests but confirms that we aren’t lacking in any spiritual gift as we wait for the return of our LORD, Jesus Christ.

Spiritual gifts aren’t something God gave to us for just a season. It can’t be. Why? Because those gifts were given for the building up, strengthening, and empowering of His Church. If He took those away, we’re saying one of two things: either He weakened the Church, or the Church is perfect and doesn’t need His help in those areas anymore. Neither of these two things is true. The Devil is still on the earth, running free with much power and authority. He’s not a toothless lion; otherwise, he wouldn’t be someone we have to watch out for. That’s why Peter warned us that the Devil, our adversary, is prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

To be on the prowl is to be on the hunt. It’s to seek out prey for food. This isn’t a toothless defeated lion that Peter is warning us of. Therefore, how can we say we no longer have the spiritual gifts that strengthen, build up, and uphold the Church? The very body that he is seeking to destroy. We can’t. That’s a lie from the enemy to weaken his adversary so that he might easier overpower and devour us.

Spiritual gifts, according to Paul and Peter, are given to each person. Paul even tells us to earnestly seek the greater gifts. Why? Because he wants us to be strong and not weak. He wants us to be prepared in every possible way, just as he was so that when we get to the end of our race, we can stand confidently as he did and say,

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Dear LORD, help me to be like Paul and seek out not only the spiritual gifts you have given me but the greater gifts as well. Help me not to live in fear or doubt that these gifts are for me. Help me to live in the confidence of Your Truth and not the truth of an individual with biases and opinions. I don’t want to follow man, but You and You alone. Show me how to seek out my gifts and the greater gifts. Teach me how to use my gift for the furthering of Your Kingdom. May it be for Your glory and honor and not my own. May it bring You praise and point the world back to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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All Called

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” ~ Judges 6:14

Gideon was the least of his family, and his family was the weakest in Israel, yet the LORD called him to be a mighty warrior. Today is no different. We’re each called to a very specific purpose, and sometimes we don’t feel ready for it. We don’t feel like we’re enough, but that’s when we have to remember we’re just the vessel God is using. He is the one who is in control.

See, we may be weak, but with God, we’re strong. We may be fearful, but with God, we’re brave and courageous. We may be young and inexperienced, but with God, we’re wise and prepared for whatever He has in store for us. All we have to do is trust in Him. We have to look at ourselves the way that God looks at us.

How do we do that? Through prayer, worship, and fasting. When our focus is on God and the things of God, our outlook on life and ourselves begins to change. Why? Because when we focus on Light, the darkness begins to fade away. Light will always overcome darkness, no matter how things look.

Dear LORD, help me to have faith that You have a call and purpose for my life. Help me to know exactly what that call is. Lead me in the way that I should go so that I might not stray from the plans that You have for my life. I know that You are good and that You are for me and not against me; please help me to also believe it with all that is within me. Teach me to see myself the way that You see me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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The Silenced

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5

According to the WHO, around 73 million induced abortions take place worldwide each year. This means 6 out of 10 (60%) of all unintended pregnancies (that’s 3 out of 10 (30%) of all pregnancies) end in induced abortion. The elites scream depopulation, so the innocent are murdered before they even get to take their first breath.

I heard the testimony of a woman who used to work at Planned Parenthood, and she had to quit after witnessing an abortion. She watched in horror as the baby struggled and fought to get away from the suction device used to rip him or her from his or her mother’s womb.

They brainwash our children to believe that these innocent babies are just parasites. They fill them with hatred and apathy from a young age so that when they’re older, they’ll fall in line. What can the Church really do to combat this atrocity? Pray. We have one option as Christians, and that’s to pray for our nation. To pray for our children. To pray for the innocent lives that are being slaughtered at record numbers.

Dear LORD, please forgive me for turning a blind eye to this genocide that is being committed worldwide and masked as health care and a woman’s right to choose. Please open the blind eyes of those who are in support of this evil. Let them see that these unborn babies aren’t just lumps of cells or parasites in their mothers’ wombs but living babies that You formed. That You have given a purpose to. Please open the eyes of men and women around the world so that we might put an end to this genocide. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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The Weight of Humility

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the humble with salvation. ~ Psalms 149:4

Humility is a difficult thing for most of us to grasp. It’s much more than just humbling ourselves before God and admitting that we’ve sinned and can’t save ourselves. It’s more than just saying we need God’s help in our everyday lives. Humility is also about how we interact with those around us. That’s why pride is probably one of the strongest strongholds gripping the Church today.

Rarely does the Church today try to crucify our flesh. Here’s what I mean: we’re quick to be offended but not quick to apologize. We want to get even. We want to be petty. And believe you me, I’m not excluded from this. I’m right there in that group of the Church that struggle with this. The other night, a simple conversation got heated between me and a friend for literally no reason. I said something truthful, and she was more than offended and then proceeded to say something hurtful. But I bit my tongue. I even apologized for the thing I said, even though I wasn’t the one in the wrong. But let me tell you, that humble pie kept me up all night.

I didn’t sleep that entire night because I was so upset that I had to apologize (conviction of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 5:23-24). In fact, I can’t even lie; I was kinda happy that she called me the next day at a time when I couldn’t answer the phone. Why? Because my flesh wasn’t happy with what my spirit did.

It’s extremely hard to be a Christian. I don’t understand the idea of telling people that serving God makes things easier. Because it doesn’t. Serving God means that you now have to pick up your cross and follow Him. You have to crucify your flesh daily. That’s not an easy task. It’s in our human nature to want to get even. It’s in our human nature to want to be petty, but we have to remember that we aren’t our own. We’ve been bought by a price. We belong to Christ. And if we belong to Christ, then vengeance, getting even, and putting people in check is no longer our right. It now belongs to Him.

Dear LORD, please help me to continue to crucify my flesh. Help me to grow my spirit man, so that when I force my flesh into submission, it will be obedient. Please continue to humble me and remove the spirit of pride from gripping me. Teach me to not return reviling with reviling, or anger with anger, or hurt with hurt, but help me to overcome all of these things with love. Teach me to turn the other cheek so that I might be a light in this dark world and point others back to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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A Wise Man

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. ~ Proverbs 21:22

Wisdom is from God. And God gives wisdom to any of His people who ask for wisdom. Oftentimes, we think of wisdom as just knowledge, but wisdom is a little deeper than knowledge. I believe wisdom also entails being able to put that knowledge into action. See, if we know a lot of verses and can defend our faith in any argument, then we have a lot of knowledge, but unless we actually put those verses and faith into use, then we aren’t being wise.

That’s why a wise man can scale the city of the mighty and bring down that false stronghold that they’re putting their trust in. A wise person doesn’t just know Scripture but uses it. They put it into practice, and they take back what the enemy has stolen from them.

Spiritual warfare isn’t just prayer full of words that sound really good and powerful. It’s backing up those words with scripture and faith so that they have something firm to stand on.

Dear LORD, help me not to just be knowledgeable of Your Word, but help me to be wise and put that word into practice. Help me to see the power of Your Word, that it is living and breathing. That it’s not dead words for a time long ago but living words that have power for a time such as this. Help me to be wise in all things that I say and do. Guide me in my spiritual and physical journey. Show me the way You have planned out for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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The Snares of Fear

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” 18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. ~ Exodus 32:17-19NIV

Joshua was chosen to lead God’s people after Moses, but why? Some could say it was because he was Moses’ right-hand man. But again, why was that? Maybe it was because he hadn’t been defiled by the Golden Calf. Maybe it was because he never lost faith and was waiting outside the camp for Moses, while everyone else allowed their own fears to take over and cause them so that they sinned. Joshua seemed to never lose faith in the LORD regardless of how others around him acted and/or reacted.

It’s so easy to fall into the traps and snares of Fear when you’re going through a season of dwelling in the unknown. See, Joshua knew where Moses was. He was on the mountain. Joshua knew what Moses was doing. He was speaking to God, receiving the commands. Joshua even knew what he was supposed to be doing. He was to remain waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain. Nevertheless, he didn’t know how long that would take. He didn’t know the time Moses would return.

If they all knew the time Moses was going to come down the mountain, then they wouldn’t have been so frightened because they had a set time and place as comfort for them. The thing is, God doesn’t always work in the comfort of the known. Sometimes, He only gives you enough that you’re in a place where you have to whole-heartedly without any reservations trust in Him. Many of us are right here. We know that we have to wait, but what do we do while we wait? We pray.

Moses was a type of Christ. He was a deliverer. If we are in the same position as Joshua (which we all are because we are all awaiting the return of Christ, and the exact date of His return is unknown), what do we do while we wait? We win souls. We preach and teach the Gospel. We stay awake. We cry out, ‘Come, Jesus, come.’ Some of us are waiting for Moses to come down off the mountain in a specific area of our call. It’s a season of waiting for a response that we don’t know when it will come. What do we do? We teach and preach the Gospel. We make disciples of all nations. We seek the face of God. We fulfill the requirements of the call that is plain to us. We pray for the answer to come.

Dear LORD, when You remain silent during a season of our lives, help me to remain at the foot of the mountain. Help me to remain worshipping in Your presence, or at the very least, as close as I can get to Your presence. Help me to not be defeated or be afraid. Help me to not be overwhelmed or overcome by Fear; instead, help me to be perfected in Your perfect love so that Fear has no hold on me. Help me to remain faithful in the silence. Help me to remain faithful regardless of what season I’m in. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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A Prayer For Saul

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” ~ Acts 9:1-4NIV

We all know the story of Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. We know how a light flashed around him, a voice called to him, and he went blind. We know the story of Saul, but do we know why he was going to Damascus in the first place? Saul was a Pharisee. A man against the Church. A man seeking to destroy the teachings of Jesus and all who followed them.

Saul was on his way to Damascus to try to imprison and take back to Jerusalem all the followers of Christ that he could. His heart was bent on evil when Christ brought him to a halt on the road to Damascus. See, God’s desire isn’t that any should perish, but all come to acceptance. God doesn’t pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. No. God says that He sent His Son into the world to save the world. Not some of the r world, not half of the world, but all of the world. That was God’s desire.

So when He saw an opportunity to save a soul that thought he was doing the will of God by persecuting and silencing the Church, God took the opportunity. Today, God is still looking for the opportunity to save souls, regardless of their past. God’s desire is to redeem us. That’s why we who are saved must pray earnestly for those who persecute us. We must pray earnestly for those who curse us. We must pray earnestly for our unsaved loved ones as well. Who is to say if Steven crying out to forgive those men stoning him wasn’t heard by God and answered when He called to Saul that day?

Communism was rampant in Russia. The Christians were locked in prison and mercilessly tortured for their faith. Their children were killed in front of them. Their wives were beaten and raped. But even then, they prayed earnestly for those same men who tortured them. And when communism turned on those men, and they were locked up in prison, those same men they had persecuted treated them with love and kindness. They gave them their bread to eat as a tithe to the LORD. Communism no longer plagues Russia. Who is to say that Russia’s freedom today isn’t the fruit of the labor of those praying Christians?

Dear LORD, please forgive me for all of the hatred, anger, and unforgiveness I’ve stored up in my heart over the years. Help me to not hold grudges even when I have a good reason to, according to earthly standards. Please help me to forgive people and love people the way You forgive and love. Please forgive those who persecute me, curse me, and say all manner of evil against me. Please save their soul and have mercy on them. Please redeem them from darkness into Your everlasting Light. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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An Offering That Cost You Something

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ~ Romans 12:1

A common prayer in the Church is, “Use me, LORD,” but I don’t think we fully understand what this prayer means. See, God is willing to use anyone who is willing to be used. And often, we’ll be very quick to raise our hand and scream yes, I’m willing to be used. Then, we go back to our everyday lives. This isn’t what God wants. God wants a willing heart. What does that mean? King David wasn’t a perfect man by any means of the word, but he had a heart for God.

Yes, King David made many mistakes, but he always gave God His all. Not just coming to church on Sunday and maybe even raising a hand during worship. No. David gave his all, and when he was shamed by his wife, he said he would become even more undignified than that. When God dwelt in a tent, and he dwelt in a palace, he sought out a place for God’s house. He wanted desperately to build God a dwelling place, but he couldn’t. Did that stop David from giving something to God, though? No. David went and bought the ground that the future Temple would be built on. Not only did he buy it, he bought it at full price even when the owner told him he’d give it to him for free. Why didn’t David just take the land for free? Because he refused to give God an offering that cost him nothing.

Today, the Church can’t even give God more than 5 minutes before they fall asleep for the night. We can’t even make it all the way through His Word one time. We know about celebrities, cars, motorcycles, movies, video games, athletes, businessmen, etc., but we don’t know the first thing about God. Yet we pray, “Use me, LORD. Use me.” How can we pray a prayer like that and act as if we don’t even care about God? I can only imagine that’s like sending your father a letter to call you but keeping your phone off the hook so that the call can’t go through. It must feel devastating to God knowing that you gave mankind everything. You didn’t hold anything back, not even yourself, and mankind can’t even give you an hour of their day.

Dear LORD, help me to not pray empty words that sound good, but to always pray what my heart will back up. I don’t want to live my life as if You don’t matter. Please, Jesus, be the center of my life. Be the foundation on which I build my life. Help me not to be distracted by the things of this world; instead, help me to be focused on You and You alone. Please, God, don’t give up on me, though You have every right to. Please forgive me for treating You with no reverence or regard. And please help me to never do it again. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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