Daily Devotions

 February 22
King David is the only man in the Bible said, by God, to be a man after His own heart. Some of us find that hard to understand when we look at David’s life and all the mistakes he made.  The good thing is if he was a man after God’s own heart, even with all his problems, we can be too. I believe we just need to take a closer look at what God was looking at in David’s life.

There are many references in Psalms that speak of David spending time with The Lord in the morning hours. This is very difficult thing for me to do as I usually work very late and my early morning hours usually start around 10 or 11. Please understand I believe the reference to morning refers to the first hours we are awake more than a specific time.  I do however need to add a caveat to that statement.  I have, from time to time, found myself awake in the very early morning hours either just before or just as the sun rises.  It is at those times it seems much easier to have fellowship with God, The Holy Spirit.  I know God does not sleep so it has nothing to do with that.  I believe it is simply a mental thing for us as humans.  Try it some day soon.  Make a point of getting up early and spend some time with God.

My favorite thing to do is get my coffee and head out to my porch and spend time with God.  Since the sun rises in the east and my porch faces west I am not afforded the warmth of the morning sun. That means in the winter I retreat to the comfort of the heat inside.  I truly enjoy having a cup of coffee, or several for that matter, with The Lord and I believe He enjoys it as well.

David became a man after God’s heart by spending time with Him, not by living a Holy Life.  God knew David’s heart even when he was making those mistakes.  God also knows your heart but you can not know His unless you spend QUALITY time with Him.

 February 21
The Word of God calls us to unity with all believers. A unity of our faith, not our doctrines. There is way to much man in our doctrines to allow us to come into agreement but the only thing in our faith is God.  That should be enough to come into unity about.

I have no idea how you feel about eternal security or loosing your salvation or speaking in tongues and it just doesn’t matter.  Paul said he preached Christ and Him crucified, that was good enough for God to have him write over half of the New Testament.  Where did all this other stuff come from anyway?

Do you believe there is no way to the Father except through Jesus as your personal Savior?  Do you believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a cruel death on a cross, shed His blood for the forgiveness of your sins, died, was buried, rose again, ascended to heaven to sit on the right hand of The Father to ever intercede for us?  You have to believe that in order to be a Christian and if we can all agree on those points why can we not come into unity with each other and run the devil out of town? The Word of God says I can put 1000 to flight and 2 can put 10,000 to flight. Taking that example can you imagine what would happen if all of God’s children would forget their differences and join together to whip the enemy?  Everyone would get saved and we could all go home to be with Jesus, that’s what.

What is stopping you?  What is more important, you doctrine or seeing eternal souls birthed into The Kingdom of God. If you answered that one right you have no excuse for finding every one you can to get into agreement with and winning souls.  If you answered it wrong you will simply have to talk with God about it one day, sooner or later.

 February 20
I was told a story about a grocery store where business fell off every winter and they had no clue as to why. After doing a lot of looking and digging they made a startling discovery. When it got really cold outside the manager would turn the heat up so the customers and workers would be comfortable. That made it to warm for the customers to wear their coats. When they took off their coats and put them in their shopping carts it left less room for groceries.  The manager turned the heat down, the customers left their coats on and they went back to buying their regular amount of groceries.

There is a similar situation in The Bible. Jesus stood on the bank watching the disciples fishing.  He yelled and ask if they had caught anything.  When they answered no He told them to throw the nets in on the other side of the boat. If you know the story you know they caught so many fish their net started to break and they had to call for help. What do you think would have happened if they had not been willing to make an adjustment? No question about it.  They would have come back to shore with no fish.

We have to make adjustments in our lives every day.  In the world an adjustment may result in a promotion or a raise in pay.  An adjustment in the world may also be something you can not do because it goes against The Word of God.  When God calls for you to make an adjustment it is always in your best interest to do it, right away. Making the adjustment can put you right in the middle of the flow of God’s blessings, not making it may leave you sitting on the bank watching.

Where do you want to be?  Are you willing to make the adjustments needed?

 February 19
Where is your conviction?  Most of you will jump right up and say in Jesus. Really?  Let me ask you a few pointed questions.

What is more important to you going to or watching a NASCAR race or spending time with God?
What is more important to you going to or watching a football game or spending time with God?
What is more important to you spending time with your family or spending time with God?

The place where you invest your time, energy and resources is where your conviction is.  There is nothing wrong with NASCAR or football and certainly not with your family.  You must spend time with your family and you need relaxation so racing and football are ok as well.  The problem comes when it is time to go to church or read your Bible and there are only 5 laps left in the race or the 2 minute warning has been given in the game.  That is when you have to decide where your convictions are. Take a look at your life and see where you invest your time, energy and resources.  I hope and pray God is on the top of your list and your family is second only behind God.  That job and all those toys and pleasures should come way down the list. 

Where are your convictions?

 February 18
This is a story by Alan Riley I pray it touches your heart as it did mine.

“He Did That For Me”
Alan Riley

Theologians have a fancy phrase for it… they call it “Substitutionary Atonement.” What it means in plain English is that Jesus died on the cross paying the penalty for sin. From the beginning of the church, there has been a clear understanding of what Christ’s death on the cross meant. It was not simply the unjust murder of an influential if somewhat unorthodox Jewish teacher on a Passover weekend. It was the only begotten Son of God willingly giving up His life to pay the price for sin. Your sin. My sin.

But for any truth to be a life-changing one, we must come to the place where it moves from being simple fact to being a truth that we embrace with our entire being. It is one thing to know that Jesus died for you, but another thing altogether for the full weight of that truth to become painfully clear to you. Someone once said this process involves making the 18-inch journey from your head to your heart.

I remember when I was 17 years old and a brand new Christian, so excited about my new-found faith. It was the Easter season, so the old movie “King of Kings” was on TV. When the movie showed the crucifixion, I was deeply moved as I saw Him beaten and mocked. As Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” tears began to roll down my face. How could they have done this to Jesus? Why would they want to crucify Him? Why didn’t He call down angels to destroy them all and save Him?

It was then for the first time in my walk with the Lord I clearly sensed the Holy Spirit speak to my heart, as clearly as if I had heard it audibly. Just five simple words that pieced my heart like a knife: “I did this for you.”

For the first time the full weight of that truth hit me like a ton of bricks. It was my sin that put Him there. He suffered and He died in my place. He did that for me.

Many years later I was reminded of that experience again, as I saw someone else experience the same thing. We went with a group from church to see the film “The Passion of the Christ.” I wept along with most everyone in the theatre as I watched a much more true to life depiction of Jesus’ suffering and death. As we were leaving the theatre, I noticed a member of our church – a 92 year-old retired physician who walked with two canes – make his way to a seat in the lobby and begin sobbing loudly. Several of us walked over to him. No one said anything for a few moments. The doctor struggled to regain enough composure to speak. When he finally did, he cried out through his tears, “That was for me!”

How long has it been since the reality of God’s grace and forgiveness reduced you to tears? When was the last time you wept over your sin and what it cost the Lord Jesus? For most of us it has been way too long.

I encourage you to get caught up – again, as if for the first time – in the awe and wonder of the fact that the only begotten Son of God would give His life for you.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life… my all.

 February 17
Have you ever felt like you have ask God something and His answer was “It’s none of your business”?  I have and I bet you have too, if you will admit it.  Well, don’t feel bad.  He told Peter the same thing.

Jesus had just told Peter what He wanted him to do.  Then He told him about how he was going to die.  Peter, being like so many of us, asked Christ if John was going to die as well.  Jesus said it was none of his business all he, Peter, needed to do was to worry about doing what Jesus had told him to do.

Don’t be concerned about what others are or should be doing.  Be concerned about what God has called you to do. I can promise you from personal experience.  If you concern yourself with what God wants you to do you will not have time to be concerned about others.

 February 16
Are you walking through some difficult times in your life right now?  If so start by reading yesterday’s Devotional through then read the rest of this one.

The Apostle Paul said he had learned to be happy in what ever situation he found himself.  Does that mean he was laughing when he was ship wrecked?  I don’t think so.  Do you think he was tickled pink when he and Silas were thrown in the dungeon?  I doubt it. If that is true then what was he talking about?

I believe Paul had found a place in his life where his happiness was found in his relationship with The Lord.  That would allow him to happy even if he were in a desperate situation.  I truly believe something my Pastor said some time back.  God is not concerned about you being happy.  He is concerned about your faithfulness, your happiness will come as a side effect or benefit from your faithfulness.  That is why Paul was happy no matter where he was.

It just did not matter to Paul where he was or what was going on around him.  He was faithful to God and so happiness was part of his life.  If you are looking for happiness in your life quit.  Learn to be faithful to God and let His peace reign in your life.  Get to a place where you can look at God and say it just doesn’t matter to me anymore.  As long as we have our relationship I will live right where I am if that is what you want or need from me.  You will be surprised how peaceful your life will become and how happy you will be.

 February 15
As you may or may not know I write these thoughts myself.  They are not generated by some kind of fancy software and are not part of a book I have written.  I also post them manually so once in a while you may receive very similar posts at different times.  This may be the case with todays thought as I believe I may have shared something with you about this before.

I have been told and have learned to understand a few things about animals, plants and trees during my life.  Today I want to share a thought with you about one of those things.

When a drought comes something happens to a tree in order for that particular tree to survive.  If this one thing does not happen the tree will die. I believe we, like that tree, will survive our dry times, if we will learn a lesson from the tree. When drought comes trees tend to drive their roots deeper into the earth for their water supply.  The longer the drought lasts, the deeper the roots grow.

When we experience dry times in our relationship with The Lord, and we will, we must grow our roots deeper, closer to God in order to survive. If you are experiencing a financial drought or famine drive your roots deeper. Find out what your action should be to depend entirely on God.  Do not turn to the world or your own understanding, this will only result in loss.

Issac planted seed in time of famine, directed by The Lord, and reaped 100 fold return that same year. That made absolutely no sense in the natural but we operate in the supernatural when we hook up with God and His plan. Getting a second job may not be what God wants you to do.  Perhaps you need to press into God, spend more time with Him and find out what His plan is. I can tell you from personal experience that His plan always works better than mine, or yours.

If it is dry in your life don’t be drawn away by the world’s way of doing things.  Press into God, drive your roots deep and watch how God comes through for you.  One other thing about those tress that drive their roots deep in a drought.  They always produce fruit, even when other tress are dying.  Want to produce fruit for His Kingdom?  Drive your roots deeper. In JESUS Name.

 February 14
After yesterday you may think this is a trick question but it is not. The first 17 verses of  2 Kings 6 tell a story of Elisha and his servant.  They were surrounded by enemy soldiers and the servant was afraid.  He was even a bit upset with Elisha for not being concerned.

Elisha knew there was no reason to be concerned but his servant could not see what Elisha saw.  Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of the servant that he might see the things of God.  When that happened the servant saw the enemy was actually surrounded by a bigger army of angels with horses and chariots of fire.

Perhaps you or someone you know is not able to find peace in a situation.  Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding to see what He is doing.  You will be amazed at the provision God gives and the trouble He goes to in order to protect you and give you peace.

 February 13
How did you answer that question?  Some will say “I am a son, a joint heir with Christ” and this would be true if you are a born again Christian.  A few will say “I am a servant” and fewer still will know the power of that statement.

Here is something you must understand about the difference between a servant and a son.  A son or daughter may not always know what the Father is doing.  Even though they are heirs to the family inheritance they may not be mature enough to understand what The Father is doing at all times or they simply may not be interested.  A servant, on the other hand, is always aware of what his master is doing.  Why?  Because he receives instructions everyday as to what needs to be done. Not every servant will know everything The Master is doing but he/she will always know what he needs to be involved in.

Do you want to know what The Father is doing?  Do you want to be involved and be part of what He is doing, a part of His signs and wonders?  A part of the end time revival that is bringing a flood of souls into The Kingdom.  Do you want to be able to lay hands on the sick and see them recover?  Then you have only one option. Become a servant.

Quit being satisfied with the stuff of your inheritance because you are a Son of God.  Become a servant and receive your instructions every day for what God wants you to do.  Be aware the next time you awake in the middle of the night it may well be God giving you orders and not the pizza you had for dinner.  Your orders may be to pray for someone in need at that very moment. Become a servant of The Most High God, Jesus did and look how The Father used Him.