Tag: Devotionals

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Running Late

35 While He was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And He allowed no one to follow Him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when He had entered, He said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But He put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with Him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand He said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And He strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. ~ Mark 5:35-43

Jairus’ daughter was on her deathbed when he ran to Jesus. On the way, Jesus even healed a woman on the way, but for this man, Jesus seemed to be running late. Jesus didn’t get there before his daughter died, so everybody told him to leave Jesus alone. Jesus, however, told him not to lose hope but only believe. This is like us today.

Today, many of our hopes, dreams, requests, promises, etc. seem to have died. People are telling us to let go, give up, move on, and stop bothering God about it. But sometimes, God wants us to push our faith to the limit. Sometimes a ‘no’ isn’t always a ‘no.’ Sometimes a ‘no’ is a ‘not right now.’ Sometimes we have to pray for resurrection. Resurrection of that dream and/or promise that died. That child that is living in sin and refuses to hear about God. That request that you’ve asked for time and time again but have yet to receive it. Don’t stop asking. Don’t give up. Seek God. Seek the resurrection of that dream/promise. It’s up to us to keep following Jesus and asking Him regardless of how it looks or what others say.

Dear LORD, please help me to keep going even when all seems lost. Help me to keep believing even when it seems like it’s too late. Please give me the faith to follow You regardless of how long it takes. Help me not to grow weary of doing good but to run this race set before me with strength and endurance. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Above All

14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~ Colossians 3:14-17

Above all, put on love. Why? Because it is love that binds everything together in perfect harmony. Without love in our hearts, it would be impossible for the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church in his first letter to them in the 13th chapter that love does not keep record of wrongs.

If love is reigning and ruling in your heart, and you’re wearing love like an outer garment, you will not dwell on the wrongs done to you. It doesn’t mean you won’t have the scars. Jesus kept His scars, but His wounds were healed. The scars are the memories.

You’ve been through a lot, but thank God, He brought you through. Then Paul goes on to say, “Be Thankful!” Three times in those last three verses, Paul admonishes his readers to be “Thankful.” A thankful heart is a forgiving heart. Start being thankful and know the joy of thanksgiving today. For it will be like water to your soul and medicine to your bones.

Dear LORD, thank You for always delivering me out of every situation that I’ve found myself in. Please fill me with Your never-ending love. Help me to love You and to love others. Help me to forgive the way that You forgive. Teach me to let go and rejoice in all things; in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Lay It Down

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~ Colossians 3:13NIV

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that you completely forget the horrible things that were done to you. It doesn’t mean that you excuse the person for the wrongs they perpetrated against you. It doesn’t mean that you understand why they did what they did. It doesn’t even mean that you have to become besties with them.

What is truly required is: An intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger. An intentional decision to release the person who has hurt you so deeply from their obligation to pay for what they did. To let go of the desire for that person to hurt as badly as you have been hurt.

You cannot say I forgive you, but I hope and pray you get your comeuppance. That is not the spirit of forgiveness.

Forgiveness will be ushered in when you let go of the hate, the rage, and the need for the revenge you feel whenever that person’s name is mentioned or whenever those feelings are triggered.

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Unforgiveness Debt

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ~ Colossians 3:12-13

We are each required to forgive one another without being asked. It says if you have a complaint against another person. In other words, they don’t even need to ask. You just need to forgive. Jesus Himself said that we need to forgive as His Heavenly Father has forgiven us. This isn’t a new revelation from Brother Paul. No, Paul was only echoing what Jesus had already taught.

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25

From the way it’s translated, it seems to me that God is patiently waiting for us to forgive others so that He can now forgive us. Jesus said forgive so that our Father in heaven may forgive you.

What is hindering our forgiveness? Our lack of forgiveness to others.

Now watch this. Jesus is inferring that unforgiveness is not only a precursor to your own forgiveness, but it seems to be a hindrance to answered prayers.

See what Jesus said?

WHEN YOU STAND PRAYING …

That word stand is a strong word meaning: Continue to be.

In other words, when you continue to be in prayer, not just some 3-minute prayer, but a continuous petition, and nothing is happening, check your forgiveness gauge. The Holy Spirit will bring it to your mind. Why? Because God is not going to answer your prayers if you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart. To whom much is given, much is required.

Dear LORD, please help to forgive those who have wronged me. Help me to let go of the pain and hurt that have gripped my heart. I know that I have been forgiven much, so help me to also forgive much. Help me to never hold someone accountable to their debt when You haven’t held me accountable to mine. As You have canceled my debt on the cross, help me to also cancel their debt on my cross, for I died with You in baptism, and I will rise with You on that Last Day. Thank You, LORD, for Your forgiveness, LORD God. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Fulfill All Things

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” ~ Matthew 3:13-17NIV

Jesus was Holy and perfect. He knew no sin, yet He had to have John baptize Him. Why? When John had that same question, Jesus told him that he needed to baptize Him so that He could fulfill all things. See, even though Jesus was without sin, He came in human form. He could die (which He did), and His body could even rot (which David prophesied, praising God that He would never let that happen).

So, what was He fulfilling? When the Israelites left Egypt, them passing through the parted Red Sea represented or foreshadowed baptism. After that, Moses went to Mount Sinai and was in the presence of God for 40 days and 40 nights, not eating or drinking, and He received the Law.

Jesus was fulfilling the Law of ceremonial washing. Before they could enter the Tent of Meeting to present an offering on the altar, the priests had to ceremonial bathe (Exodus 30:17-21). This was a type of foreshadowing of Baptism, as there are others.

So, what happened when Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial washing through baptism? The heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove. After this, Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. After He fasted, before He could break bread and eat, Satan came to Him and tempted Him with the three root sins that he tempted Eve with. Lust of the Flesh, Lust of the Eyes, and Pride of Life. He told Jesus to prove Himself by turning stone into bread (Lust of the Eyes). He told Jesus to prove Himself by throwing Himself down off the mountain (Pride of Life). Then He told Jesus to worship him, and he’d give Him the kingdoms of the earth (Lust of the Flesh). These are the same root sins that tripped up Eve in the Garden of Eden. Jesus had to overcome the three root sins that Adam failed to protect his wife from. Why? Because Jesus is the Last Adam. The first Adam brought death; the Last Adam brought Life.

That’s why He had to ceremonially wash the flesh because it had to ceremonially die. Paul said that we are baptized into Christ’s death, which is why we will rise with Him on the last day. So, in order to have the Spirit of the LORD rest upon Him and He could fast and overcome the temptations where Adam failed, He had to symbolically and spiritually kill His flesh.

Dear LORD, please help me to fulfill all things You have for my life, just as You fulfilled all things Your Heavenly Father set for Your life. Help me to keep in step with the Spirit. Help me to follow the path You’ve marked for my life. Help me to pick up my cross and follow You with everything that is within me. I give You my all. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Apathetic Slavery

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.” ~ Isaiah 39:5-8NIV

When Hezekiah’s life was on the line, he pleaded and begged. He sought God and repented of his sin. There was a change within him because it was his life that was directly affected, but when it came to his descendants being punished for his actions, he didn’t care. His actions would condemn his descendants, but because it wasn’t him, he believed it was a good word. Isn’t this us today?

The spirit and stronghold of apathy has gripped the Church, and it refuses to let go. We don’t care about an issue that’s banging down the doors of our fellow Christians because it isn’t directly affecting us. It isn’t banging down our door right now; we’re not concerned, so we don’t stand up and fight. There is nothing that will destroy the Church like apathy because, through apathy, anything can come in and enslave the Church.

Dear LORD, please give me a heart that cares. A heart that breaks for my fellow Christians. A heart that is never gripped by apathy. Please break my heart for what breaks Yours. Teach me to stand for what’s right, even if it doesn’t directly affect me. Help me to be a more faithful follower each and every day. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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Be Not Intimidated

18 “Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 20 Who of all the gods of these countries have been able to save their lands from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” ~ Isaiah 36:18-20NIV

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Israel in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah. Now, his Commander was at the wall speaking to Judah so that he might send Fear into their hearts. Isn’t that how the enemy works? He comes to you and starts speaking with the utmost confidence, “Did you see God save that one?” “Did you see God intervene on their behalf?” And if we’re not careful, Fear will walk right into our nation through a door that we opened for him.

See, the enemy will show you where other people failed. Where other people fell short. Where other people missed the mark. Then he’ll ask, why would you be any different? Why would God save you? There’s nothing special about you. But you have to remember that he’s the Father of Lies, so his minions that come to you to harass and intimidate you are well-versed in his lies as well. Don’t believe them.

When the lies of the enemy come your way, turn to God. Remind Him and yourself of those verses He promised you. Remind Him and yourself that you are His, and He alone can save and defend you. Stand strong and don’t give in to the intimidation of the enemy.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Not Intimidated.

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Seeking Holiness

3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6NLT

Paul tells us that God has an overall will for each and every one of us, and it’s not just to believe and be saved. It’s that we change and set off our filthy rags and seek Holiness. How do we do this?

By keeping away from sexual sin. Remember that every other sin is committed outside the body, but the sin of sexual immorality is a sin against the offender’s own body. So, keep away from it.

God wants us to be in control of our own bodies. Therefore, any addiction that you may have, from pornography to alcohol to cigarettes, are to be avoided at all cost if you want your relationship with God to grow and produce fruit.

If you’re diligent to do these things, God will hear you and answer your prayers.

Dear LORD, please give me self-control that I may overcome all sexual immorality in all of its forms and deceit. Teach me Your ways that I might grow in You. Help me to crucify my flesh daily that I might never be a slave to sin again. Teach me how to overcome through You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen

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Remain Faithful In The Silence

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. 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’re in the same position as Joshua, which we all are because we are all awaiting the return of Christ, whose 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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Bondage of Unforgiveness

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” ~ Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus was just teaching on forgiveness. He said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault. If he doesn’t listen, take one or two more. If he still doesn’t listen, tell it to the church, and if he still doesn’t listen, then treat him as you would a gentile or a tax collector.”

Then Peter gets this brilliant idea. Well, if he doesn’t listen to the church, then I can take matters into my own hands. So, he asked Jesus, “What is my limit to forgive? Is it seven times?” Peter’s probably thinking, “Yeah, it has to be seven times; on the eighth, I will draw my sword and chop off an ear.” But Jesus doesn’t agree with that logic. He says, “No, Peter, not seven times, but seventy-seven times seventy-seven times.”

In other words, Jesus is explaining that forgiveness is like love; it’s a debt that can never be repaid. If we are required to love even our enemies, then we have to forgive them first and foremost. Forgiveness is a prerequisite to love.

Dear LORD, please soften my heart. Please help me to forgive all who have hurt me. Help me to forgive all who have done me wrong. Help me not to remain a slave to the bondage of unforgiveness. Help me to love others the way You love them. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

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