Simple Devotions

Tag: God’s promises

  • 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

  • a promise

    What gives you direction in life?

    The purpose of the Bible is so that we will know God and grow in a relationship with Him. This is how we decide if we want to be with Him eternally. If we fall in love with Him we will want this relationship forever. John 5:39

    We also learn in our reading of His word that it is about His law and the message of His love towards us the gospel. All one.

    The law is the gospel embodied and the gospel is the law unfolded.

    Another words when we read about who God is – He is the law. And who Christ Jesus is- He is the gospel.

    God is the root, His son is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.

    Let this understanding sink in.

    Once we understand that while yes Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. This means He is stepping in as God in flesh, never taking away from but giving Himself to anyone seeking a relationship with God. John 14:6

    When you become one with Him, there is a special promise given John 14:15-18 you will have the Spirit of truth.

    Because we open the door of our hearts to know Jesus Rev 3;20 we are given a heavenly gift.

    This begins the dwelling of the Father and the Son.

    We don’t get this promise, unless we submit to first knowing and accepting the law in the gospel. John 14:19-24.

    Now this is how we will have “direction” in life:

    “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” 

    Friends the promise is a choice. Don’t delay in taking the steps to know the truth of God’s Word.

    In Christ love, Amen

  • go.. go.. go..

    I received this testimony from a loved one and I know she will not mind if I share it.

    As she was getting ready for church, she was reflecting on how pleased she was with her choices over the past week. She purposed to not spend any extra funds this college quarter/semester on coffee runs; mindless eating out or stress shopping. However she had a gift card, and thought to treat herself that morning to her favorite drink before going to the campuses young adult church.

    Here’s where it gets interesting, she attends church on the 7th day Sabbath. It was how she was raised and while its natural to think “well if I don’t work, it’s all good” however more recently she also purposed to honor what God asked better, so while preparing to leave her room these words came to mind “you have six days in which to labor, buy or sell, but on the 7th day remember the Lord set it aside as a day of rest to be kept Holy..” as she considered this she knew she had a choice, I may not be working but I would be asking another to work”. This thought did not sit well with her. She decided right then to leave her card in her room and wait. Feeling good about her decision she headed to church.

    When she arrived to church the scripture of the service was :

    Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12

    She realized those earlier thoughts were divinely inspired.

    As she listened to the testimony of the speaker she felt certain that the Lord was making a call on her heart, her new found devotion towards Him was calling her to recommit her life to His will. A new place at 20 years old, knowing that at 14 when she was first baptized it was a different time, but now she knew things were different. The speaker was wrapping up the service and began making an alter call.

    He was pleading for the hearts of those there to come to Jesus completely, after a few more minutes he said he would count to three but continued persistently asking those there to come forward as the Lord was calling them.

    Praying the Holy Spirit would move on the hearts that needed to rededicate their lives to the Lord. She says at this point only one person went forward, she sat there “feeling the pull” but not wanting to go forward, she didn’t want to be the center of attention. She knew the invitation was for her, she felt it strongly, but she was waiting for the speaker to say three, it was so intense she was physically shaking. Her friend next to her notices and ask if she was ok, she tells her friend she was thinking about going forward. She knew she should go forward but was scared. She sat there hoping the speaker would count to three soon, and it would be over. Resisting the urge to stand up and go forward in front of the crowd. The speaker says again, “I know there’s someone here who needs to do this, the Lord is near and is waiting to see you stand up and walk with Him.”

    At this point she is pleading for him to say three and it will be over but instead then she hears these words inside her mind “go..go..go..” and it was then she stood up and walked forward.

    The room starts clapping in praise to God and as she went forward five more stood up to join her.

    Later she sends her mom a text message “so I guess I’m getting re baptized..” If I’m right in the recount of this story that’s a perfect 7 that came forward on the 7th day, Sabbath to give their lives to Christ, regardless, it was a special day for this young lady.

    And here’s why the power of prayer really is needed and works.

    Her mother has been prayerfully asking the Lord to place a desire in her daughters heart ~ to walk more closely with the Lord, that He would reveal Himself to her in the same way He did in her own life 32 years ago. That He would provide for her daughter the experience only He could in His transforming power of love.

    And that He would send her a man, who loves and serves God and would love her too.

    This is where I tell you .. I am that praying mother.

    And while I am watching from the side lines cheering on the team of Jesus, I know that my prayers matter and are heard, I sit in amazement of the wonders of His love. To God by the Glory!

    Yesterday Jesus walked in to her heart, took her hand and is leading her to love and serve the Heavenly Father as we all should.

    That’s the man I prayed for and that’s why she will always have what she needs and be loved forevermore.

    In Christ Love, Amen

  • His Word

    Daily writing prompt
    Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?
    View all responses

    The question “when have you felt loved..” is one I can answer by personal experience I have in reading and studying the Word of God. The Bible.

    Love is a word many use to describe an emotion. But the real use of the word is an action word. To understand what true love means is to know what it does.

    In the book of 1 Corinthians 13 it is written what love is and what it does. It’s also known as “the greatest gift”.

    In Romans 13:10 Love is described as the fulfillment of the law – to love your neighbor.

    1 John 4:7 says everyone who loves is born of God.

    As I sit here writing , thinking how I have felt it personally from Him ~ His words are love in the truth He teaches me. His words are life giving and freeing. This love He bestowed on the world when He gave Himself a sacrifice John 3:16-17 shows me in action what I mean to Him.

    His words of instructions leads me to safety.

    His love is everlasting not temporary but always – never ending.

    How do you describe a love that never ends a feeling that is a constant companion. His word brings rejoicing to my heart because in it I have seen how deeply He cares for His people. No one and no thing has ever given me all the feels.

    His words are the life, the way and the truth.

    His words are Love.

    In Christ LOVE, Amen

    In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

  • growth

    Over the summer I had a lot of new flowering plants around to water and care for, and the beautification it gave around the home outside was something I really enjoyed.

    Here’s an interesting perspective when you think about it, the plants and flowers which are pleasing to look at don’t grow by their own care or anxiety or effort.

    Instead it’s us that are overseeing to their needs daily.

    Another perspective is those plants in a natural habitat can thrive by the furnishing hand of God, who is the minister to their life.

    By it’s own power it cannot grow itself.

    It needs help from their surroundings. Air, sunshine and food.

    What these gifts of nature are to the plants, is likened to Christ to those who trust in Him. He is “the everlasting light” a “sun and shield” His is the living water, Bread of God which comes down from Heaven giving life to the world. John 6:33

    God enriched the whole world with grace as real as the air we breath. All who would choose to breathe His life giving air (Jesus) will live and grow – just like the flower which follows the sun beams that it may aide in it’s perfecting beauty, so should we turn to the Son of righteousness that heaven’s light may shine on us so our characters may developed into the likeness of Christ.

    May the Spirit of the Lord God be upon us today that we would be trees of righteousness planted by the Lord, so that He may be glorified.

    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