Give me light in the darkness lest I die.
Psalm 13:3
David was in a dark time in his life. His beloved son, Absalom, had turned on him. He had stolen away David's kingdom, turned the people against him, and now sought his father's very life. David was on the run, hiding from his Absalom's hatred and Absalom's henchmen.
Without question, this was the darkest time in David's life. He had no one to blame but himself. His sin with Bathsheba... his failure to properly deal with family problems (Absalom's sister was raped by a half-brother, Amnon; Absalom ended up killing Amnon in response)... and his reluctance to discipline and mentor Absalom all contributed to this horrible time in his life.
WHAT TO DO IN THE DARKNESS?
What do you do when you are in a dark time in life? What do you do when that dark time is due, perhaps in large part, to your own failures? Can you have victory even in the darkness? YES!! But you must do three things that David did in Psalm 3.
1. BELIEVE THE TRUTH (Psalm 3:1-4). There is help for you in God. He will be your shield and the One who will lift your head. He will answer your prayers as you call out to Him. Don't call once and quit just because He does not answer on the first ring. Call and keep calling. He will answer at the proper time. He promised!!
Remember, the devil is a liar. Do not believe his lies. God is for you, not against you. Get your heart right with Him. Confess your sins and seek His face. He will help you and bring light to your darkness.
2. REST IN THE LORD (Psalm 3:5-6). Big problems often steal away our peace. We tend to walk in fear when our enemies and our problems are increasing and surrounding us. Yet in the midst of terrible trouble, David slept peacefully. How? He turned his problems over to the Lord. He cast his burdens on Him.
Peace is your birthright as a child of God. You experience supernatural peace when you get your mind and heart off your troubles and onto the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 says, "And You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Fix your mind on Jesus in the midst of your problems. Lean hard on Him. Think only on that which is true and honorable and right (Phil. 4:8). Put your life in His hands, and trust Him with the results.
3. RELY ON HIS DELIVERANCE (Psalm 3:7-8). Salvation belongs to God. He will deliver you from the darkness as you trust in Him. Wait on His timing. In the last letter Paul ever wrote, he said, "The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever" (2 Tim. 4:18).
I know when you are in the darkness, time moves slowly. A day is like a thousand years.
But take courage, my friend. Your life is not over. God will arise at the proper time... and your enemies will scatter (Ps. 68:1). You can and will have victory in the darkness as you cling to God and His word. David was delivered from Absalom... and you will be delivered too if you simply trust Him.
From: CrossWalk Devotionals
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Supreme Worth of God’s Word
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Early Light Devotional, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Early Light Devotional, Focus on God, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Youth Devotionals
READ | 2 Timothy 3:16-17
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with God’s words. The Holy Spirit oversaw the writing of His message to be sure it was relevant, reliable, and without error.
The Scriptures contain the Lord’s complete revelation about His character, kingdom, and plan of salvation. Consider the variety and importance of the topics covered in this timeless book: the creation of our world; the fall of man; the presence and power of sin; the penalty owed for transgression; future judgment; Satan’s program; our need for a Savior; His offer of forgiveness; the redemption of mankind; the history of faith; and wisdom for living. Questions about life’s meaning, man’s purpose, the source of evil, and life after death are also answered.
All sections of the Word are valuable and interconnected. For example, the gospels tell about redemption, while the Old Testament contains prophecies about the Messiah who would come to save us. John 1:29 proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who would take away our sins; Leviticus and Numbers help us understand this concept through descriptions of the sacrificial system. The first book of the Bible teaches us that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). And in the New Testament, we learn that everyone’s salvation is by faith alone, and not through works (Eph. 2:8-9).
God gave us the Bible so we might know Him personally, be adopted into His family, and bring glory to His name. Make it your goal to become more familiar with the most important book ever written.
From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with God’s words. The Holy Spirit oversaw the writing of His message to be sure it was relevant, reliable, and without error.
The Scriptures contain the Lord’s complete revelation about His character, kingdom, and plan of salvation. Consider the variety and importance of the topics covered in this timeless book: the creation of our world; the fall of man; the presence and power of sin; the penalty owed for transgression; future judgment; Satan’s program; our need for a Savior; His offer of forgiveness; the redemption of mankind; the history of faith; and wisdom for living. Questions about life’s meaning, man’s purpose, the source of evil, and life after death are also answered.
All sections of the Word are valuable and interconnected. For example, the gospels tell about redemption, while the Old Testament contains prophecies about the Messiah who would come to save us. John 1:29 proclaimed that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who would take away our sins; Leviticus and Numbers help us understand this concept through descriptions of the sacrificial system. The first book of the Bible teaches us that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). And in the New Testament, we learn that everyone’s salvation is by faith alone, and not through works (Eph. 2:8-9).
God gave us the Bible so we might know Him personally, be adopted into His family, and bring glory to His name. Make it your goal to become more familiar with the most important book ever written.
From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals
God’s Mighty Angels
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Instant Daily Devotion, Max Lucado, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Instant Daily Devotion, Max Lucado, Youth Devotionals
“The angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.”
Hebrews 1:14
Chiffon wings and meringue sweetness? Perhaps for angels in the gift books and specialty shops, but God’s angels are marked by indescribable strength. Paul says Christ “will come with his mighty angels” (2 Thess. 1:7 NLT). From the word translated mighty, we have the English word dynamic. Angels pack dynamic force. It took only one angel to slay the firstborn of Egypt and only one angel to close the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. David called angels “mighty creatures who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands” (Ps. 103:20 NLT).
No need for you to talk to angels; they won’t listen. Their ears incline only to God’s voice. They are “spirits who serve God,” responding to his command and following only his directions. Jesus said they “always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10 NIV). Only one sound matters to angels—God’s voice.
From: Max Lucado
Hebrews 1:14
Chiffon wings and meringue sweetness? Perhaps for angels in the gift books and specialty shops, but God’s angels are marked by indescribable strength. Paul says Christ “will come with his mighty angels” (2 Thess. 1:7 NLT). From the word translated mighty, we have the English word dynamic. Angels pack dynamic force. It took only one angel to slay the firstborn of Egypt and only one angel to close the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. David called angels “mighty creatures who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands” (Ps. 103:20 NLT).
No need for you to talk to angels; they won’t listen. Their ears incline only to God’s voice. They are “spirits who serve God,” responding to his command and following only his directions. Jesus said they “always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:10 NIV). Only one sound matters to angels—God’s voice.
From: Max Lucado
The Key of the Greater Work
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Instant Daily Devotion, RBC, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Utmost For His Highest, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Daily Spiritual Encouragement, Instant Daily Devotion, RBC, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, Utmost For His Highest, Youth Devotionals
. . . I say to you, he who believes in Me, . . . greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father — John 14:12
Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a "wise" man does not (see Matthew 11:25 ).
Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, "I am of no use where I am," because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . ." (John 14:13 ). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" ( Matthew 9:38 ).
There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.
From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest
Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some commonsense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God’s work. In the teachings of Jesus Christ, prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God. The way fruit remains firm is through prayer, but remember that it is prayer based on the agony of Christ in redemption, not on my own agony. We must go to God as His child, because only a child gets his prayers answered; a "wise" man does not (see Matthew 11:25 ).
Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, "I am of no use where I am," because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him. And He promises, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . ." (John 14:13 ). Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness. We must learn to work according to God’s direction, and He says to pray. "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" ( Matthew 9:38 ).
There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.
From: RBC - Utmost For His Highest
The Driftwood Principle
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Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, UpperRoom Devotionals, Youth Devotionals
Labels: Bible Devotionals, Christian Lifestyles, Daily Devotions, Instant Daily Devotion, Reality of Faith, Spiritual Reminder, UpperRoom Devotionals, Youth Devotionals
Mortals . . . look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV)
MY father and I were looking for driftwood along the rugged shore of the Pacific Ocean near our home. He used the wood to make clocks and tables. Eager to help, I ran from one pile of wood to another, dragging out large pieces. None of these was what my father was looking for.
Finally, after an hour of tromping up and down the beach, my father stooped down to look at a tangled pile of debris. "It's perfect," he said, holding up a twisted root.
I couldn't believe what I saw. "Why'd you pick this old, dirty, piece of junk?"
"You can't just look at what it is now," said my father. "You need to see what it can become." The bird's-eye-maple clock hanging on my wall reminds me not to judge by appearances - because God does not.
From the passage in 1 Samuel, we know that the Lord does not look at outward appearances but rather looks at the heart. Isn't it great to know that God looks at us not only for who we are but also for who we can become?
Prayer
Lord, teach me to see others and myself through your eyes. Amen.
From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Dwayne K. Buhler
- 1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV)
MY father and I were looking for driftwood along the rugged shore of the Pacific Ocean near our home. He used the wood to make clocks and tables. Eager to help, I ran from one pile of wood to another, dragging out large pieces. None of these was what my father was looking for.
Finally, after an hour of tromping up and down the beach, my father stooped down to look at a tangled pile of debris. "It's perfect," he said, holding up a twisted root.
I couldn't believe what I saw. "Why'd you pick this old, dirty, piece of junk?"
"You can't just look at what it is now," said my father. "You need to see what it can become." The bird's-eye-maple clock hanging on my wall reminds me not to judge by appearances - because God does not.
From the passage in 1 Samuel, we know that the Lord does not look at outward appearances but rather looks at the heart. Isn't it great to know that God looks at us not only for who we are but also for who we can become?
Prayer
Lord, teach me to see others and myself through your eyes. Amen.
From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Dwayne K. Buhler
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