Simple Devotions

Tag: christianity

  • the last one

    Daily writing prompt
    If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be?
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    I’ve heard it many times, what someone wouldn’t give to have one more day .. or just a little more time.

    Maybe I have felt this way about a time in parenting where I wasn’t as patient, it would be nice to have the knowledge I have today as an empty nester now.

    This prompt brings me to a powerful point, we don’t know how much time we have left and there are no do -overs.

    But here’s what I do know.

    God knows all.

    I’ve been reading daily about the faithfulness of God todays was in I Thess 5:24

    So because I believe that He is the one who called me to salvation then I have to trust He will help me to live for Him in body, mind and spirit.

    He will keep me blameless because of His ultimate sacrifice until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the One who called me.

    And here’s what I must remember about Him.

    He is faithful to the end and will do what He said He would.

    So looking back and wanting do over’s in this life is not something I have a need for any longer.

    That’s why I decided to share today that the only way to live with no regrets is to live surrendered to the will of the Lord.

    He knows every temptation you deal with and none are new and He still loves you.

    But don’t confuse this with living in sin and doing what you want, no His love is for you is to not live there any longer.

    He wants to save you from it.

    In fact the Old Testament examples and warnings are written for our benefit that we will not repeat the same things they did back then.

    As well as pointing forward to how Jesus was the way, looking back to learn means we have more light to walk in.

    The darkness of this world would keep us stumbling and is why we need His light.

    His word says He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength but will provide a way of escape. 1 Corth 10:13

    However having an attitude of confidence in ourselves thinking we are standing firm and that we can do anything we want and it won’t affect our salvation..this is foolishness.

    The Lord is the only reason we have salvation.

    It’s His to give therefore we need to remain humble looking constantly to Him for it.

    The confidence we need in this life is believing that He will complete the work He began in us. Phil 1:6

    And this friends is how I try to live, I don’t look back and wish to re-live a year in my life because I am pressing forward to the prize ahead.

    Are you looking forward to Heaven?

    You should , He really wants you there too.

    Say this prayer with me :

    Lord Jesus I know that I am not worthy of the goodness You are willing to give me, I need forgiveness of all I have done wrong in my life.

    Please cover me with the sacrifice of your love and create within me a heart that seeks you all the days I have left here on earth, prepare me for Your Heavenly Kingdom. Help me trust that one day You will wipe every tear and heal every hurt explaining to me the truth about all I have lived through, I open my heart to you only Lord God please come in and make me Yours. In Jesus Your sons Holy name I ask all this -Amen

    In Christ love, amen

  • worry’bout yerself

    If you have spent anytime scrolling memes or videos online there’s this one that shows a 3 year old toddler trying to buckle herself in her car seat and the parent is trying to help her.

    She is bent on doing the task herself and tells the adult to “worry ’bout yerself..” the parent says ” let me help you..” she then repeats the words ..”no..you worry ’bout yerself” in her little lisped voice.

    This is a great depiction of how human kind struggles with allowing the Creator to help them, but that’s not the point I want to share today. I was thinking about how 2 Peter 3:18 applies to this scenario.

    There are those with good intentions who try to “help” others on their walk with the Lord and it comes across as coercion, meaning pushy. The word expresses that we need to be on our guard against becoming independent from God, but instead staying grounded and purposed in learning from Him.

    God’s love is not forced. We are not the Holy Spirit, we should never try to take the place of Him either.

    Because God’s salvation in Christ is a free gift to us, we also should share it in the same way.

    Jesus the son of God was taught by the Father to love and give compassion toward all humanity freely.

    He was set apart to do the will of God in perfect harmony with all of God’s love as the leading force. {Read that again.}

    It was His love through Jesus that drove Jesus to labor in all righteousness. Jesus never told someone they needed healing or they needed forgiveness. He offered it freely.

    God’s love should compel us in the same way.

    He felt the burden of leading souls in love.

    To share God – means to be helpful not pushy. To be a conduit for service to others but only so they will see love in action.

    God never gives up on us therefore we should never give up on human kind.

    Being thoughtful and loving in ways that are helpful.

    Forced ideas of bible truth on someone goes against Gods character. God didn’t force Adam and Eve to stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He also didn’t force people into the ark to be saved fro the flood in Genius.

    We need to remember our approach should meet His.

    It’s more important that we “worry’ bout ” growing in knowledge of His Word, which will teach us how to speak love in the truth of the Gospel. Remember you have your own eye to be concerned with. Luke 6:42

    Our mission should be to stay in the Word of God so that He will lead us in all knowledge to help others graciously. Eph 4:15

    In Christ love, amen

  • kind words

    Sweet kind words are like rain to dry ground, refreshing and nourishing the heart and mind.

    The Word of God teaches us how to be refreshing and nourishing to others in a surrendered spirit.

    I just read a story about a Pastor who was in a hurry to teach a class at his church but was running late and as he was driving another car cut him off and his response towards the driver was not kind. What we can call a very mild case of road rage.

    He finally gets to class and begins teaching -as he scans the faces his eyes land on the driver whom he was angry with.

    The point is this, both were headed the same direction.

    Friends we are all traveling towards an eternal kingdom of Christ Jesus, if “love of self” gets in the way it will bring unrest.

    Unrest serves no purpose and will not be allowed there.

    Jesus himself never rose to applause or became dejected by critics and disappointment in others. But many who profess to be His followers have anxious troubled hearts as they have not made a complete surrender to His will because it means not having it their way.

    If we are to gain victory over sin in this life we must be of the same mind of Christ.

    This means we need to not allow our selfish nature to rule us, but instead fill our lives with Gods love and follow Jesus ways.

    Matthew 11: 25-30

    Jesus will give us rest and in turn we will be filled with thoughts of kindness. Let us surrender our ways for His today and always.

    In Christ love, Amen

    .

  • the spoiler speeds & the plunder hastens

    Daily writing prompt
    What is something you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?
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    The older you get the wiser you are supposed to be..but the Word says : Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Proverbs 4:5

    Don’t wait till your older.

    We are told to pay attention to the word of God – for it is a safeguard for His people.

    I have shared 133 post here about this, because staying in His Word and learning from it teaches us the truth and gives us light to walk through the false narratives and misleading spirits of darkness.

    Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from coming to the knowledge of the Bible, for in it reveals plainly his deceptions.

    In the final moments of earths history we are presently experiencing the midnight hour – the struggle between Christ and His followers.

    As the title says – and bible warns, the last great delusion is soon to open before us.

    The antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight.

    It will so closely resemble the truth that it will be impossible to distinguish between EXCEPT by the Holy Scriptures.

    Those who know the truth will be tested to obey the deceivers rules.

    Only by abiding in God will they be able to stand, which essentially means by His Word, knowing Jesus character, His government and purposes and living in accordance with them.

    None but those who have fortified the mind with the truth of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.

    Are your feet firmly planted on the rock of Gods imputable word?

    Are we prepared to stand firm in the defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Revelation 12:17

    Friends get wisdom. Proverbs 4

    In Christ love, amen

  • walk in the light

    Have you ever tried walking in the dark?

    It doesn’t work out so well, it takes longer to go from one place to another and can result in a stubbed toe.

    As your feeling your way along in a familiar place it can be ok if your not in a hurry however you appreciate having some light to guide you as it gets you to where you are trying to go faster.

    So if this is the case why would we choose to walk without light?

    God the One who created and gives light, sent His son Jesus as the “light of the world “ – why would we try to walk through our days here without Him ? Is it inconvenient or do we think – I got this, I’ll catch up with Him later Or is it a faith issue?

    There’s a passage in Deu 32 where Moses is talking to the Lord and The Lord responds all that His children have done and it is because they have no faith.

    This hits when you think about all that the Israelite nation experienced during this time with Moses in the wilderness and still they had no faith. Are we just like them chasing foolish idols?

    Idols are whatever the heart wants.

    If we don’t believe we have need of Him then this is equivalent to us stumbling around in the dark. We need light to walk here.

    A sad spiritual reality is that those who do believe still choose to walk in their own ways because being surrendered to His will is not what they love first. They want what they want and they don’t want to feel guilty about it. So they continue to pretend to believe in Gods grace, His mercy and His love. They may even say what is right but continue to live selfishly. This is what walking in darkness looks like.

    What does walking in the light look like?

    Slowing down to look for the truth. This is the beginning of wisdom. It’s also where peace lives, when you are still before Him.

    Seeking the truth means change and change means confession which leads to surrender.

    “Lord I need You, I can’t walk well because I can’t see.”

    These words will give light, which He gives freely.

    He is the light we desperately need to walk in.

    In Christ love, amen

  • 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

  • school of trials

    Those whose purpose it is to serve God in their lives will walk in His light, they will endure all kinds of tribulations.

    Why? Ephesians 6:12 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

    Even so we are able have fellowship with those whom also serve Jesus Christ the Son of God who cleanses us from all sin, this class of believers help one another battle, in prayers encouraging each other to stay on the path of right doing.

    Living to serve God through Christ examples means enduring burdens. Jesus is the only one who redeems however sin still exist to remove God’s children from the choice to accept His son’s offering.

    His redemption was given that in faith those who believe would be saved. Jesus is the new covenant – which the evil one of the world hates, yet if we who live in the world would take heed to the words of truth that gives life accepting Gods gift of life to us, we will learn that Christ Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world.

    This gift is to everyone, many will not receive it because it requires belief and also works, some say it doesn’t matter and we only need to confess we are sinners to be saved but they continue to live in sin filled lifestyle.

    This will not work out for them.

    He who says I know Jesus but does not keep HIs commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3

    And to those who understand the cost of Christ who educate and discipline themselves through the school of trial for the sake of Jesus Christ their reward is great, because they chose heavenly rewards over earthly ones.

    They chose eternal life, not life here.

    As the title of this post says, the school of trials will mean enduring opposition; hatred – and yet still following Christ.

    These are those who come out of great tribulation, whom washed their filthy garments ( confessing they are sinners ) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb ( accepting The Saviors blood for their sins.) They will stand in the presence of God and joyfully serve Him day and night in His temple (in His presence.)

    These are those who stayed in class and learned from the teacher The Lord Jesus Christ.

    Don’t be tardy, late or absent friends accept the invitation.

    In Christ love, amen

  • battlefield for the mind

    John 16:33 Jesus is speaking about the times of tribulation and how the way is already prepared, how it plays out both good and the bad.

    It’s not something we get to change, it was done on the cross.

    However this is the hope of salvation and because we live in a sin filled world it will be hard, however the Lord prepared the way for us to overcome it.

    It is His will that we know He has defeated the evil one and has overcome the great conflict, therefore He does not want us to be intimidated and discouraged by the assaults of the serpent.

    He being Christ Jesus has won.

    We must learn this truth to accept the peace He supplies – He who made us all equal, He wants to bring together in one body – the body of believers of God’s son Jesus Christ the Lord.

    Putting away hostility toward each other at the cross.

    It is in Christ we have access to God the Father – through the Holy Spirit, this means we are no-longer stranger or foreigners living outside the will of God and with out hope.

    Because of Jesus we can be in one accord.

    We don’t need to look any farther then Jesus the son of God for peace of mind – there is no other who has laid down His life in love who gives forgiveness not earned.

    There is no other who has the Creator God divine authority to be our Lord and Savior. No other who will rescue us from this place.

    The battle today is over your belief system – your mind.

    So what do you believe is true, is it from traditions or is it reasoning of what you have seen or heard?

    The truth is Jesus will explain Himself in the Word (His Bible), He will reason with you – the real battle is will you believe Him or will you listen to the spirit of the enemy?

    What you believe and whom you believe will decide your own fate.

    Abiding in the Spirit of truth is peace and safety.

    Friends – Yes ! God loves His children and wants to save all, there is only one way – through Christ Jesus.

  • losing sight

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you handle fear and self-doubt?
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    And I can personally attest to the benefits of trusting the Word of God to help me in times of uncertainty.

    But did you know the acronym for fear?

    “future events appearing real” – it’s not actually true, it has the appearance in our mind that it is- but it’s yet to happen.

    When I lose sight of this and forget that I have the answers, I am just like those who followed Jesus and yet witnessed great and mighty miracles He did only to forget this because trouble came.

    Instead of remembering the promises of Gods word, I get fixated on the problems in my life.

    Check out this example in John 6:15-21 Jesus walks on water.

    Do we understand why He did this?

    The men in the boat were in need of help and are focused on the problem at hand, but Jesus walks up.

    This is my take away, He showed them He was always near, and yet they forgot to ask for help from Him.

    They lost sight of what they just experienced at the hands of Jesus, He fed five thousand with five little loaves of bread and two small fish. John 6:9

    They forgot who they belonged to, they were focused on their problems not their miracle working Savior.

    I’m guilty of this, all of us are but the next time if we would stop with our self doubt and the fear – and instead pray for help – it could be as easy as Him walking up. But no matter know we are never alone, He is always near.

    We must not lose sight every time things go side ways. Problems are a part of life but in this life we have a helper, His name is Jesus.

    Instead of living on shaky ground – remember our Salvation is Jesus, He is the rock on which we stand.

    And that friends is how we don’t lose sight, we focus on The One who walked on water.

    In Christ love, amen

  • what is sin?

    Can you answer this simply?

    Was your first thought of what you’ve done or what others are doing wrong?

    The question is not “who does sin”- it is “what is sin” ?

    If I am right in how you answered, then you will soon be relieved to know that the Word of God explains simply what sin is. Especially for those seeking the truth.

    And if you don’t agree with the answers below, then I challenge you to bring “receipts” show me where the Word says otherwise.

    Because what I will share is not what the world believes ~ but what the Word says of the true children God who believe.

    God’s true children abide in Him, His Word and His Ways. 1John 3

    He makes them strong in the confidence of their hope and they are not ashamed before Him because His is their teacher.

    He is righteous and everyone who practices the act of right doing is born of Him. It is God’s will that all who love Him – are called children of God.

    In this respect we are to be like Him, not a “god” but Holy like Him.

    What is Holy? God is Holy.

    What makes a man Holy- God’s presence abiding in them.

    Surrendering daily to walk with Him – this gives hope to whoever seeks Him that they will be purified by His presence from a sin filled life.

    So, what is sin? What does sin do?
    Are you beginning to see the connection yet?

    Sin is lawlessness.

    God is the Law ~ read the 10 commandments. Exodus 20

    Now read where Jesus says which laws are important. Matt 22

    He says the first is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Again, incase you missed this, He did not change anything from the original TEN ~ He fulfilled them.

    The first four commandments are how to love the Lord your God, the next six commandments are how to love your neighbor.

    And if you are being honest you already know you have not done this perfectly.

    We have all fallen short. Romans 3:23

    But Jesus.

    He did all perfectly and because of His strength, we can give our free will to Him, offer our lives in surrender to do His good will, and become stronger daily.

    Friends the only way to not transgress against God- is to abide with Him. This is the only strength we need to be concerned with.

    Make Him your first choice daily, He made you His ultimate choice.

    In Christ love, amen

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s a moment that made you realize you were stronger than you thought?
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