Simple Devotions

Tag: Believing in Jesus Christ

  • nothing between

    I was raised to understand the God of the Universe who created all things and then made man in His image is also The One who wants nothing between Himself and His children.

    I know this is true because I have experienced a continued favor in my life. Because of this I raised my three children to know He loves them just the same, and at the young ages when we would load up to go anywhere in the car – I would ask them ” do you have your seatbelts on?” They would say ” yes ” and then I would tell them “ok now lets put on our spiritual seatbelts ” and we would stop and pray.

    I believe that in this life we are subject to all kinds of possible accidents and it’s those accidents that would discourages us from believing that God cares, I’ve heard it said often “if God is love…”

    What we fail to understand is there is this great conflict of { Good verses Evil} this is very much the reason for all the tribulations; trials and heartache.

    This is not because God doesn’t care or love – just like driving safely doesn’t keep you from all the possibilities of an accident. We are subjected to other drivers, their distractions; their lifestyle choices.

    There is a great need for you to trust and obey the Word of God. In order to survive the daily assault’s by the evil one. If you believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you have become an enemy to the liar and deceiver. You are at war daily to stay closer to the path of righteousness.

    But you need not fear, only respect and trust that whatever is born of God {confessed sinners made new } overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ( 1 John 5:4)

    We also need to realize Jesus ~ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. ( Galatians 1:4)

    He who came and died for you will hear the desire of the humble; He will prepare your heart; He will hear.

    Friends, don’t stop praying let nothing come between you and the Savior – the reward is great.

    In Christ love, amen

  • Joy comes in the morning..

    The question is : How did you receive your name and what does it mean.

    On the day I was born, my father went to call his mom on the hospitals payphone, ” mom it’s a girl!” the conversation was “a girl?! well what are you going to call her, you were going to name a boy after you son..?” he realized immediately that I was going to be called Dawn – because I was born at sunrise. He later told me it was fitting because it was a turning point in his life.

    The name dawn represents the certainty of God’s mercy and faithfulness, often highlighting God’s rescue or the arrival of His light.

    Psalms 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

    The term is frequently associated with the resurrection of Jesus and the dawn of a new, redemptive era. 

    This was how my dad viewed this time in his life. Previous to my birth he was caught up in Vietnam right out of high school after serving in the Navy he came home to numb his mind and live his life how he wanted, he bought a motorcycle, grew out his hair and frequented bars where he eventually would meet my mom. A little while later there’s a picture of my mom wearing a lavender dress holding the hand of my older sister and about 9 months along with me.

    Here’s the thing all of us have a backstory and even if our parents didn’t plan it, God did. 

    Why do I say this?  Because the Word of God says so. He is the life giver. This is why we should never feel like we are not wanted.

    The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. He gives life and He knows each life intimately.  In Psalms 139 it says God knows everything about us even before we were formed. In other parts of the Bible records that those He chose and set apart He ordained for those jobs.

    So looking back at the time it would seem I was an unplanned accident and those in their circle would agree this was the case,  but not God. 

    Regardless of my beginnings my Heavenly Father had plans for me and gave my life purpose. I know my name is a calling.

    Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you”.

    Lamentations 3:22-23: Mentions new mercies every morning even in trying times.

    But here’s another reason I believe this, one morning I was awaken to the words:

    “You are called, you are set apart and you are chosen.” 

    I heard it so clearly that I knew it was the Lord letting me know He had a purpose for my life.  Never have I ever felt so sure of anything.  I begin searching the Word to understand what this would look like and here’s what I found:

    It looks like surrendering your life, to walk with Him.

    It looks like renewal, the leaving the past in the past.

    It looks like being a vessel for the Lord to use whenever and wherever. Like a build board on the highway.

    And it means having purpose and looking forward to the Kingdom of God.

    So here a question for you, what do you think your purpose is?

    If you have not accepted the invitation to learn from Christ the Lord, there’s no better way because His favor is forever and His joy truly does come in the morning.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • whoever calls

    In Romans 10 we read about needing the gospel.

    Especially Israel, while they have a zeal for God, it is not according to God’s righteousness which is established in Christ Jesus, but according to their own righteousness. This is the same for spiritual Israel. Those who try to earn their way into heaven instead of depending on what God has already done for them.

    The blessing of salvation is for every soul. Nothing but our own choice can prevent any one person from becoming a partaker of the promise in Christ by the gospel.

    This is what the scripture says: ” Anyone who believes in Him (Christ Jesus) will never be disappointed.” [ v. 11] There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. The same God is Lord of all and responds to anyone who calls on Him for help. The Word also says whoever calls on the Lord will be saved. [v.13]

    God does not compel us to give up unbelief, no this is a free will decision and before us are light and darkness, truth and error.

    It is for us to decide which we will accept. The human mind has the ability to know right from wrong – we were created in this way.

    Which means the evidence and free will given will be how an individual chooses to call upon Christ, abiding in the way, the truth and life or not calling upon Christ and thus denying Him.

    The Lord says: ” All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people..”

    Today you can call out and He will hear you.

    Heavenly Father~I pray You will forgive us for sinning against You. I pray that whomever is reading this will look to You for the answers and trust in Your outstretched hands towards them through Christ Jesus the Lord. That they would ask You to give them the ability to weigh out the evidence of Your Words and compare scripture with scripture, and that the truth stand out to them and set them free from the lies of the enemy. and when we doubt and create within us a heart that desires trust more fully in You to know Your truth, empowering us to walk in obedience to it. May all this be in accordance to Your will. In Christ Name, Amen

  • healing

    Do you believe in the power of God’s Word?

    Have you read the story of the bleeding women who reached out to touch the garment of Jesus? If not you need to. Luke 8:42-48

    Or the faith of a gentile women Matt 15:21-28 who spoke with Jesus about needing healing for her daughter who was not even in the right to ask. The dialog is very interesting, Jesus was increasing understanding of what faith is even as she asked.

    What about Luke 7:1-10 the faith of a centurion? My favorite part is verse 7 ” say the word and my servant will be healed.” No faith was found so great , not even in Israel (God’s chosen people)

    I believe that when God causes healing to happen, it is because it will bring glory to Him which means those who witness this will let others know who He is.

    I have seen this and know it to be true. I also know that many who have asked and not received healing, are in other ways provided for and in His plan are given what is needed.

    The true test is to be obedient and trust Him.

    Healing is experienced in many forms, I want to share something to tie up lose end in our belief system about being “good enough” or obedient enough that God would hear our prayers..”

    We know and have experienced many victories in life – but some have not.

    Elijah was a prophet who did a major work for the Lord, his story really starts in 1 Kings 17 – he experienced great faith building moments but still had a moment of weakness when he didn’t rely on Gods provision. He ran. But only once. After this lesson the ministry of Elijah was to go where and do what God asked. God would eventually take Elijah up to Heaven on a chariot of fire. That is incredible to think about.

    You see God met him where he ran, He sent His angels to minister to him and then He went Himself and showed Elijah a great lesson.

    This lesson is for us to learn as well.

    When we get fearful in times of needs, we must remember that healing in His way is the only healing any of us should ever pray for. We only need to be still and listen for Him. Don’t run ahead. Just wait patiently and listen for His voice.

    “Be still and Know that I AM God.”

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • Hidden

    “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

    Did you know that every promise in God’s word is ours ?

    In Matthew 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” we are to live.

    When we are tempted to be selfish or act wickedly, we are able to look to the power of the word. All its strength is ours for the victory over sin.

    Here’s more proof 119:9 How can we cleanse our way? By taking the words advice because His word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. v.105

    Christ is ready to set us free from sin, we continually struggle with all kinds of cherished sins, even ones we don’t acknowledge as sins. However we don’t need to be overwhelmed or in any way overcome by our current sin situation. Remember it was sinners that Christ came to save.

    It’s not by being better or doing good daily that we reconcile ourselves to God BUT it’s His wonderful love is reconciling the world to Himself. 2 Cor 5:19

    He is even now knocking on our hearts. Revelation 3:20

    In Song of Soloman 4:15 the word of God is described as a “fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams of Lebanon.” So in our hearts that once tasted the love of Christ, continues to cry out for more and as you take it in you will receive richer and more abundant measure. Every revelation of God to the soul increases the capacity to know and to love.

    Because to know Him is to love Him.

    Do you feel the Lord knocking on Your heart today?

    Answer Him. It will be the best decision you ever made.

    In Christ Love, Amen