9 NOV 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 9 NOV 23 Thursday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.  You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.” Psalm 71: 20-21

There are times in our lives when you are living for the Lord that you will face trials, suffering, and betrayal.  The Lord Jesus himself faced all kinds of challenges and trials, he suffered and was ultimately put to death.  He told his followers that if they followed him there would be a cost and would have to carry their cross.  God would be with them and would bless them for suffering in His name.

Paul saw that the road to a blessed life was on the path of suffering.  It became a joy to him once he understood that each time he went through a trial he experienced a  special connection with the Lord.  He embraced it with joy and told all that follow Jesus to rejoice in suffering because it gives you the ability to endure, shape character, and find a powerful hope.  God would give you special grace during those times that would be sufficient.

Amid pain, suffering, or betrayal, you naturally want it to end versus continue.  You certainly don’t rejoice in it, right? In this life, we may never fully understand why God allows us to suffer, but we do grasp that it is not a surprise to Him. In his sovereignty, he uses it for his glory.   All of it will cause us to trust in God and his word. God is faithful to his promises and everything happens how he desires.  He intends victory for his people and will make it so.

David in Psalm 71 captures the story of his life which was a hot mess at times and was certainly not perfect.  He trusted God in every way and every circumstance and faced many trials that were more than he could handle.  He knew that God was the only one who could make sense of it, bring him comfort, protect him, deliver him, or restore him.  Knowing this changed his mindset and his heart to joy because his future was secure in God’s hands.

Do you need to be reminded of the future God has for you?

Reading Plan: Psalm 71; Ezra 7:11-26; Rev. 14:1-13; Matt. 14:1-12 

8 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 8 NOV 23 Wednesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.  Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.” Psalm 72: 1-2

It feels like we are in a perpetual election season since we have political leaders in cities, counties, states, and federal coming to the public to support their return to leadership or new people vying for the seat.  We all know a leader of some level because leaders are everywhere and in all parts of life regardless of vocation.  What are some of the traits we desire in a leader and why?

At least in politics, aspirants search statistics of the people and go after target groups that most likely will connect with them.  They study you and package speeches to entice you to vote for them based on what they think you want.  Do you study the candidates? Who are they as a person? How have they operated as a leader to this point? Do they hold the same values and are they virtuous people?

God himself raises people to be leaders in every part of life.  Some leaders have been developed to bring judgment on communities, states, and even nations because of the wickedness and sin of the people.  God raises a wicked leader to match the wickedness of the people.  That nation will crumble in due time.  God also raises up righteous leaders who have a love of holiness and justice.  

Those leaders establish godly and righteous judges and lawmakers who treat people in the right way, even the poor are cared for, and handled fairly, and oppressors are crushed.  Evil and wickedness are stamped out of existence in the land.   The people are refreshed to live in peace and flourish when the godly lead.  So as you get ready to vote again, do your homework on them see if any hold traits of a godly leader, then choose wisely.

Are you looking to establish godly leaders?

Reading Plan: Psalm 61, 62; Neh. 12:27-31a, 42b-47; Rev. 11:1-19; Matt. 13:44-52 

7 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 7 NOV 23 Tuesday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.  He is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.” Psalm 60:5-6

How many of you like to wait in line? It doesn’t matter what it is for, it could be for lunch, a movie, a sporting event, the DMV, or fill-in-the-blank.  We don’t like to wait for anything but want satisfaction now.  I remember being put on the waitlist at a restaurant for about thirty minutes.  As you wait to be seated, you chat with your spouse and kids or look at the menu to be ready to order when seated.

When you finally make it to the table and place your order, the waiter tells you that they are out of that item.  What goes through your mind? You might be disappointed or angry that you waited so long and now this.  You might consider leaving because of the dissatisfaction.  Well, whether it is an insignificant meal or a major issue, how we react tells us something about ourselves.

 We put our satisfaction in things that do not satisfy and leave us wanting.  When we don’t receive it, we get angry.  If you want real satisfaction, peace, and lasting joy, you have to find your satisfaction in God alone.  He is the only one worth waiting on, the only one that can provide peace, and satisfy your heart and mind.  David knows that he can wait quietly on God and make a connection with the Holy One.  

David explains that God is his hope, rock, fortress, and salvation, and knowing that calms his fears and anger.  Some people shake when they are afraid or angry, it can be hard to contain.  David must have experienced this at times and says that knowing God intimately keeps that shaking from happening.  Being quiet and waiting patiently on your real hope (God), will give you victory in times of trouble.

Who do you find satisfaction in during times of great trouble?

Reading Plan: Psalm 61, 62; Neh. 12:27-31a, 42b-47; Rev. 11:1-19; Matt. 13:44-52 

6 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 6 NOV 23 Monday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“My enemies have set a trap for me.  I am weary from distress.  They have dug a deep pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.  My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident.  No wonder I can sing your praises!” Psalm 57:6-7

There is a time for war and a time for peace, a quote from Ecclesiastes three.  We recently heard that from the Israeli Prime Minister as they entered the war against Hamas.  If we look at history and the Biblical accounts of Israel, we will see that mankind has faced evil, wickedness, and strife with each other.  The Psalms are a great resource since they deal with the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual pains that come with life’s problems.

David dealt with the stress of dealing with enemies and war which could be one end lies, hate, slander being hunted, sounds of war, and actual battle stress.  His accounts of those problems and how he dealt with them are a beautiful blessing to us.  Why? God knows you will face all kinds of pain, suffering, and tragedy in this life and desires to help us through and walk with us through it.  

The primary thing that David did when he was afraid, angry, or emotional was talk about with God.  Talking about what you are going through is a big deal and is what we do in counseling.  It helps to get it out even if you don’t have the words but recognize what emotions you are dealing with.  If you don’t process your pain, you will project it either on yourself or others.  Second, David recalled the truth about God as in his attributes, abilities, and their relationship.

He knew and believed, that he was going through this with God even though sometimes he thought he was alone in it.  He held onto the truth of God and his word and it changed his mindset to worship.  God gave him a song in heart and joy that was unceasing! Music in general is helpful as David himself calmed Saul with the harp, but worship truly brings the mind and spirit into a place that brings comfort, healing, and strength because it is about God.

Are you struggling with the stressors of war?

Reading Plan: Psalm 56, 57; Neh. 6:1-19; Rev. 10:1-11; Matt. 13:36-43 

4 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

 4 NOV 23 Saturday: A Closer Walk Devotional

“Jesus also used this illustration: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread.  Even though she put only a little in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.’” Matthew 13:33

What influence can one person have? How about you? We can see in our day how one person can have a great influence on others for good or evil.  Many people wish to be influencers for their fame and fortune or to benefit others.  When we see something that sparks a passion, we tell ourselves that we are nobody.  Why would anyone listen to me?

In the Scriptures, Jesus uses the simile of yeast to describe the wicked ways of the religious elite and the Kingdom of Heaven.  Both spread and permeate through society like it does in the dough.  On the positive side, the growth of the Kingdom and the multiplication of believers comes through the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit.  He works inside people by changing and preparing their hearts to receive the good news.

When the gospel is activated by faith, it begins to grow inside the person.  It can and does go from person to person rather quickly until an entire society grows in the knowledge of the Lord.  As believers, our life has meaning, purpose, and influence that can impact the people we know and those who are within our network.  The Holy Spirit uses our lives and relationships to affect the place we live and move in.  One person filled with the Holy Spirit, growing in their faith, can have a tremendous eternal impact.

Are you an influencer?

Reading Plan: Psalm 55; Neh. 4:1-23; Rev. 7:9-17; Matt. 13:31-35