The following poem by Brenda Yancey sets the theme for today’s devotion.
HELP ME LORD by Brenda Yancey
Oh, gentle Savior, please hear my plea,
To Heaven’s door—thou art the key.
I am poor and weak and blind,
Help me, Lord thy grace to find.
I nee thee, Lord, to guide my life
In this old world of toil and strife,
Oh, precious Savior, please take my hand
So I can take the Christian stand.
Without Thee, Lord, I can but fail,
But, by Thy help I will prevail.
Help me, Lord, to live like Thee
So others can see Christ lives in me.
Thank you, Lord, for Thy saving grace,
Now I can dwell in that heavenly place,
Help me to be worthy of Thy love
Which comes so often from above.
So many times we hear the words, “Let go and let God,” but have we ever stopped to consider what those words really mean? Human nature being what it is we have a very difficult time getting self out of the way so God can work. To much of the time we are striving, struggling, pressing and pushing to promote ourselves and our ideals. As long as we are standing in the way it will be difficult if not impossible for God to work in our lives. I like to think God is standing by just waiting for us to give Him a chance to do wonderful things in our lives. He might be saying, “Lead follow or get out of the way.”
Life is full of ups and downs. We so often think we are in control of our destiny. We do everything we know to do to gain that higher moral plane. Each time we come upon an obstacle we struggle, push and pull a little harder to get over or by that which is blocking our path. When all we ever need to do is to “Let go and Let God.”
This concept is not only found in the secular world but is wide spread in the Christian world. We want the church to grow, but we won’t exercise any faith. The bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” We find in the book of Acts that God added three thousand souls to the church. To do that the church had to be in one accord and in daily prayer.
In our lives when we reach the point when there seems to be no solution to our problem, “Let Go and Let God.” If you have reached the end or your rope and the dark chasm of despair and loneliness is just below tie a knot in the rope and let God pull you up.
So today no matter how big or how small the problem, “LET GO AND LET GOD.”
You might be surprised at how He can work in your life.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
I find no fault in him
“I find in him no fault at all.” John 18:38
Pilate had more to do with Jesus than he wanted. In fact, he had rather someone else had all the responsibility that finally fell upon him. Of the things he said about Jesus, there are two statements, almost alike, that stand out above all others. They are both found in the gospel according to John. First in John 18:38, he said, “I find in him no fault at all.” In John 19:4, he said, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.”
When Pilate gave these two statements, he spoke a great truth. It would seem that he never fully embraced this fact in such a way as to receive this One as his personal Savior. This reminds us it is possible to know the truth, but still fail to act upon it. This governor was saying things about Jesus that cannot truthfully be said about any other. All of us have known some good people, good compared to others we know, but we could not truthfully say they were without fault.
Some things must be without fault to be valuable, or at least to have their full value. We are told that only a small percent of diamonds are perfect. In them, the slightest imperfection reduces their value greatly. A painting, to be a masterpiece, must be without flaw, or fault. Jesus to really be what He claimed to be and to do had to be without fault. If even one sin was found in Him, then He was not the Son of God. After Pilate had closely examined Him, he could only come to one conclusion: He was without fault.
There are several standards by which a man’s character may be judged. We measure him by what he is. Character is something you make or break yourself. Other men may, at least for a time, destroy your reputation, but if your character is destroyed, you do that yourself. If your character is not good you have no one to blame save yourself.
We measure men by their conversation. Our words either commend us or condemn us. This should cause us to be careful about what we say and how we say it. It is still a good policy to mediate on words before you use them.
Also we measure men by their conduct, their contribution, and their creed. When you measure Jesus by all these standards, still you have to say with Pilate, “I find no fault in him.” If He is all He claimed to be, just where does that leave us when we refuse to accept Him? Pilate thought literal water would wash His blood from his hands, but there will come a time when he will see the folly of his reasoning.
Pilate had more to do with Jesus than he wanted. In fact, he had rather someone else had all the responsibility that finally fell upon him. Of the things he said about Jesus, there are two statements, almost alike, that stand out above all others. They are both found in the gospel according to John. First in John 18:38, he said, “I find in him no fault at all.” In John 19:4, he said, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.”
When Pilate gave these two statements, he spoke a great truth. It would seem that he never fully embraced this fact in such a way as to receive this One as his personal Savior. This reminds us it is possible to know the truth, but still fail to act upon it. This governor was saying things about Jesus that cannot truthfully be said about any other. All of us have known some good people, good compared to others we know, but we could not truthfully say they were without fault.
Some things must be without fault to be valuable, or at least to have their full value. We are told that only a small percent of diamonds are perfect. In them, the slightest imperfection reduces their value greatly. A painting, to be a masterpiece, must be without flaw, or fault. Jesus to really be what He claimed to be and to do had to be without fault. If even one sin was found in Him, then He was not the Son of God. After Pilate had closely examined Him, he could only come to one conclusion: He was without fault.
There are several standards by which a man’s character may be judged. We measure him by what he is. Character is something you make or break yourself. Other men may, at least for a time, destroy your reputation, but if your character is destroyed, you do that yourself. If your character is not good you have no one to blame save yourself.
We measure men by their conversation. Our words either commend us or condemn us. This should cause us to be careful about what we say and how we say it. It is still a good policy to mediate on words before you use them.
Also we measure men by their conduct, their contribution, and their creed. When you measure Jesus by all these standards, still you have to say with Pilate, “I find no fault in him.” If He is all He claimed to be, just where does that leave us when we refuse to accept Him? Pilate thought literal water would wash His blood from his hands, but there will come a time when he will see the folly of his reasoning.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
My Best Friend
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called FAILURE, a loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY. You will have flats called JOBS. But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSERVERENCE, insurance called FAITH, a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.
The above quote was floating around the Internet so I thought it fit well with our devotion on finding God.
God has never left us we leave Him. He is right by our side. As a loving father he will pick us up when we fall off what ever we climb upon. He will guide us through stormy seas so that we may learn life lessons. God knows what is ahead and will guide us through the maize if we will but allow Him.
One thing must be made clear. Before we can follow His direction we must first know who He is. Contrary to popular belief not everyone knows the Lord. Oh many use his name, swear by him and try to persuade the world he is only necessary when someone dies or gets into trouble. Some even try to ease their conscience by going to church on Easter and Christmas. But they don’t know Him. They have only heard of him. In our world today few there be who want to know Jesus.
Jesus is a friend in the truest sense of the word.
So if you have not met my friend let me introduce you to one of the greatest friends I have ever known. One who has stood by me in good times and bad.
The bible says in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is exactly what Jesus did. He laid down his life for you and me. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in His should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John3:16 Is Jesus your friend?
In my life I have wandered away from Jesus at times. During those times I have found I have wandered into places and situations that were not desirable. Even at the lowest time all I had to do was look up and reach for His hand and He helped me up, dusted me off and put my feet back on solid ground. Those who don’t have a friend like that are in a sad state.
I will tell you this that God’s love is so great that no matter how dirty we get or how far away from him we wander He still loves us. Though you sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow so the bible says.
If you don’t know Jesus seek Him in your heart, confess Him with your mouth and He will come and dwell with you.
The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called FAILURE, a loop called CONFUSION, speed bumps called FRIENDS, red lights called ENEMIES, caution lights called FAMILY. You will have flats called JOBS. But, if you have a spare called DETERMINATION, an engine called PERSERVERENCE, insurance called FAITH, a driver called JESUS, you will make it to a place called SUCCESS.
The above quote was floating around the Internet so I thought it fit well with our devotion on finding God.
God has never left us we leave Him. He is right by our side. As a loving father he will pick us up when we fall off what ever we climb upon. He will guide us through stormy seas so that we may learn life lessons. God knows what is ahead and will guide us through the maize if we will but allow Him.
One thing must be made clear. Before we can follow His direction we must first know who He is. Contrary to popular belief not everyone knows the Lord. Oh many use his name, swear by him and try to persuade the world he is only necessary when someone dies or gets into trouble. Some even try to ease their conscience by going to church on Easter and Christmas. But they don’t know Him. They have only heard of him. In our world today few there be who want to know Jesus.
Jesus is a friend in the truest sense of the word.
So if you have not met my friend let me introduce you to one of the greatest friends I have ever known. One who has stood by me in good times and bad.
The bible says in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” That is exactly what Jesus did. He laid down his life for you and me. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in His should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John3:16 Is Jesus your friend?
In my life I have wandered away from Jesus at times. During those times I have found I have wandered into places and situations that were not desirable. Even at the lowest time all I had to do was look up and reach for His hand and He helped me up, dusted me off and put my feet back on solid ground. Those who don’t have a friend like that are in a sad state.
I will tell you this that God’s love is so great that no matter how dirty we get or how far away from him we wander He still loves us. Though you sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow so the bible says.
If you don’t know Jesus seek Him in your heart, confess Him with your mouth and He will come and dwell with you.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Who Is a Child of God
“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 7:21
A lot of people today claim to be Christians, but not as many are as claim to be. Jesus said, Just because someone calls themselves a Christian does not mean they are one. Many will miss heaven by 18 inches, the distance from the head to the heart. If you have not received Jesus into your heart and only have head knowledge you may be in trouble. Religion will not get you to heaven. “I am the way the truth and the light. No man cometh to the Father but through me.” Jesus said. Jesus is the way.
God has given us a test to measure if you are a child of God. It is found in I Tim 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith in purity.”
To be a child of God one must believe Jesus in the Christ; God’s Son. Those who don’t believe, God called liars. “Who is a liar but he denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that deineth the Father and the Son.” I John 2:22
A child of God is one who loves God. “We love Him because He first loved us.”
A child of God has real affection for God and is concerned about God’s work. The bible says in Matt 7:20, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” We don’t serve God to get something we want. We serve Him because we love Him and want to please Him.
We know we love God because we keep His commandments. The bible tells us plainly, “ He that saith I know Him and keep not His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” In I John2:5 we find these words, “We know we are saved because we keep His commandments.”
Here are some of God’s commandments: see if you are keeping them.
1. Witnessing or telling others about the Lord
2. Living a clean Christian live
3. Tithing so as not to rob God
4. Praying—do you pray only when you want something.
5. Studying—Studying to show thy self approved unto god, a workman that needth not be ashamed rightly diving the word of truth.
Are you a Child of God? If not you can be. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it shall be opened unto you.
A lot of people today claim to be Christians, but not as many are as claim to be. Jesus said, Just because someone calls themselves a Christian does not mean they are one. Many will miss heaven by 18 inches, the distance from the head to the heart. If you have not received Jesus into your heart and only have head knowledge you may be in trouble. Religion will not get you to heaven. “I am the way the truth and the light. No man cometh to the Father but through me.” Jesus said. Jesus is the way.
God has given us a test to measure if you are a child of God. It is found in I Tim 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith in purity.”
To be a child of God one must believe Jesus in the Christ; God’s Son. Those who don’t believe, God called liars. “Who is a liar but he denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that deineth the Father and the Son.” I John 2:22
A child of God is one who loves God. “We love Him because He first loved us.”
A child of God has real affection for God and is concerned about God’s work. The bible says in Matt 7:20, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” We don’t serve God to get something we want. We serve Him because we love Him and want to please Him.
We know we love God because we keep His commandments. The bible tells us plainly, “ He that saith I know Him and keep not His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” In I John2:5 we find these words, “We know we are saved because we keep His commandments.”
Here are some of God’s commandments: see if you are keeping them.
1. Witnessing or telling others about the Lord
2. Living a clean Christian live
3. Tithing so as not to rob God
4. Praying—do you pray only when you want something.
5. Studying—Studying to show thy self approved unto god, a workman that needth not be ashamed rightly diving the word of truth.
Are you a Child of God? If not you can be. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it shall be opened unto you.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Hindrances To Prayer
Hindrances to Prayer
In I Peter 3:7 Peter writes the words, “that your prayers be not hindered.” “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will no hear me.” So reads Psalm 66:18. Every child of God should pay close attention to these two statements. To do less has the potential of keeping us from God’s richest blessings. As Christians we need a prayer life and we need to have our prayers answered. If there is something amiss in our lives that are causing our prayers to go unanswered then maybe we need to look within ourselves and see what is causing the problem.
Jesus gave us an outline how we are to pray. He taught His disciples to ask for daily bread and expect to get it. He taught us to ask for daily forgiveness and deliverance for evil. He set the example we are to follow when we pray. Remember as He prayed in the garden He said, “I knew that thou hearest me always.” (John 11:42) Based on that we should believe the normal Christian life to be a life of regular, daily answer to prayer. But sadly far too many do not have a normal prayer life. The only time they pray is when they need something or get into trouble.
Peter taught that wrong relationship between husbands and wives could cause our prayers not to be answered. I Peter 3:1-7 admonishes us to take a close look at our home life. Do you find hindrances there? If so seek the answer from God’s Word about how to make a home life that is pleasing to God.
Jesus taught in Matthew 5:23,24 that wrongs unrighted, debts unpaid, and offended brothers unreconciled, all have a direct bearing on our prayer lives. There is a way to correct this flaw in our lives. Seek God and ask Him to show you how to make all things right. Ask for forgiveness from God. You do believe God will forgive you? He will only if you are willing to forgive others. If you hold a grudge and are unwilling to forgive your brother or sister God may be unwilling to hear and answer your prayers.
Unforgiveness greaves the heart o God. Jesus said, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:15)
One of the greatest hindrances to prayer in the church is covetousness. God truly hates this sin in His people. Yet many in the church today are eaten up with this cancer. They seek power, position, money material gain and possessions to be seen of men. Any church member who is guilty of this great sin not cannot expect to get his/her prayers answered and will hinder the growth of the church they attend. The spirit will be hindered and one that may need to get saved just might not get that chance. God’s record books will show how this sin is to be dealt with. How do you want God to judge you should your sin keep someone from meeting Jesus or causing the church Jesus died for to stagnate? If this sin is not removed from the Christian then God cannot hear their prayer.
If you have problem you need God’s help with all you have to do is ask. But first you must make sure you are in the right place, in the right frame of mind and right with God. Have you forgiven all who have wronged you? To get forgiven you must forgive.
God will do His part but He expects you to do your part.
In I Peter 3:7 Peter writes the words, “that your prayers be not hindered.” “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will no hear me.” So reads Psalm 66:18. Every child of God should pay close attention to these two statements. To do less has the potential of keeping us from God’s richest blessings. As Christians we need a prayer life and we need to have our prayers answered. If there is something amiss in our lives that are causing our prayers to go unanswered then maybe we need to look within ourselves and see what is causing the problem.
Jesus gave us an outline how we are to pray. He taught His disciples to ask for daily bread and expect to get it. He taught us to ask for daily forgiveness and deliverance for evil. He set the example we are to follow when we pray. Remember as He prayed in the garden He said, “I knew that thou hearest me always.” (John 11:42) Based on that we should believe the normal Christian life to be a life of regular, daily answer to prayer. But sadly far too many do not have a normal prayer life. The only time they pray is when they need something or get into trouble.
Peter taught that wrong relationship between husbands and wives could cause our prayers not to be answered. I Peter 3:1-7 admonishes us to take a close look at our home life. Do you find hindrances there? If so seek the answer from God’s Word about how to make a home life that is pleasing to God.
Jesus taught in Matthew 5:23,24 that wrongs unrighted, debts unpaid, and offended brothers unreconciled, all have a direct bearing on our prayer lives. There is a way to correct this flaw in our lives. Seek God and ask Him to show you how to make all things right. Ask for forgiveness from God. You do believe God will forgive you? He will only if you are willing to forgive others. If you hold a grudge and are unwilling to forgive your brother or sister God may be unwilling to hear and answer your prayers.
Unforgiveness greaves the heart o God. Jesus said, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt 6:15)
One of the greatest hindrances to prayer in the church is covetousness. God truly hates this sin in His people. Yet many in the church today are eaten up with this cancer. They seek power, position, money material gain and possessions to be seen of men. Any church member who is guilty of this great sin not cannot expect to get his/her prayers answered and will hinder the growth of the church they attend. The spirit will be hindered and one that may need to get saved just might not get that chance. God’s record books will show how this sin is to be dealt with. How do you want God to judge you should your sin keep someone from meeting Jesus or causing the church Jesus died for to stagnate? If this sin is not removed from the Christian then God cannot hear their prayer.
If you have problem you need God’s help with all you have to do is ask. But first you must make sure you are in the right place, in the right frame of mind and right with God. Have you forgiven all who have wronged you? To get forgiven you must forgive.
God will do His part but He expects you to do your part.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Making The Right Decisions
Making the Right Decision
1 Samuel 23:4, “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”
David was a mighty leader and one who made decisions that affected many. We are told in scripture nine different times David “enquired of the Lord”. In other words David went to God and asks Him what he was to do. Each of the times David went to god for guidance was after he was a great leader. One thing David shows us is to be a great leader you must be a good follower. David was a follower of God and always sought His leadership and guidance. David sought God’s advice from the mundane to the most important matters.
Many times we are faced with decisions that have challenges and our first inclination, epically if others are waiting or relying on for our answer, is to make hasty decisions based on the understanding of the moment. Even when David was faced with a life threatening decision he sought the Lord for direction before he moved. We should all develop a habit like that.
There is no doubt you may have sought God’s advice in a particular situation, whether it was a career change, relocation or other life changing action. You may have received clear direction for the last major decision you made. A fresh challenge has presented itself what should you do? Do like David, enquire of the Lord yet again. You can’t be too dependent on God. He never wearies of our questions. In fact he really wants to hear from us all the time.
You may never be faced with crisis like David when all his men turned against him and all the dependents of his soldiers were missing and thought dead. The encouragement example David set, He went to the Lord yet again, and the Lord answered him. He always answers those who inquire of him, and so he will answer you when you call upon him and inquire of him.
What a great God we have who is always near and hears our every prayer. Will guide our every footstep and shield us from every evil. All we have to do is ask. Jesus gave us this encouragement found in Mathew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Do like David and inquired of the LORD yet again.
1 Samuel 23:4, “Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”
David was a mighty leader and one who made decisions that affected many. We are told in scripture nine different times David “enquired of the Lord”. In other words David went to God and asks Him what he was to do. Each of the times David went to god for guidance was after he was a great leader. One thing David shows us is to be a great leader you must be a good follower. David was a follower of God and always sought His leadership and guidance. David sought God’s advice from the mundane to the most important matters.
Many times we are faced with decisions that have challenges and our first inclination, epically if others are waiting or relying on for our answer, is to make hasty decisions based on the understanding of the moment. Even when David was faced with a life threatening decision he sought the Lord for direction before he moved. We should all develop a habit like that.
There is no doubt you may have sought God’s advice in a particular situation, whether it was a career change, relocation or other life changing action. You may have received clear direction for the last major decision you made. A fresh challenge has presented itself what should you do? Do like David, enquire of the Lord yet again. You can’t be too dependent on God. He never wearies of our questions. In fact he really wants to hear from us all the time.
You may never be faced with crisis like David when all his men turned against him and all the dependents of his soldiers were missing and thought dead. The encouragement example David set, He went to the Lord yet again, and the Lord answered him. He always answers those who inquire of him, and so he will answer you when you call upon him and inquire of him.
What a great God we have who is always near and hears our every prayer. Will guide our every footstep and shield us from every evil. All we have to do is ask. Jesus gave us this encouragement found in Mathew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Do like David and inquired of the LORD yet again.
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