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This Makes Me Smile
It makes me smile to think about where and when Christ spoke the words in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the Poor.”
When did Jesus say these words? He had just returned from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. “He was led by the Spirit in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). What was His first Spirit-anointed task following His victory over Satan’s temptations? He went home…to Nazareth. I love that. And get this—“as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.”
This is a good place for us to pause and ask ourselves, is it our custom to gather with believers to read and hear the Scripture?
Are we raising our children with the custom of gathering with believers to hear the Word of God?
If it was what God’s anointed Lord Jesus did, it’s what I want to do. I would have hated to have missed Jesus speaking in the synagogue because I didn’t feel like going that day. I’d hate to miss Jesus speaking today which is one reason I gather with believers to worship and hear the reading and teaching of His Word. Do you?
Jesus, I praise You, ANOINTED Lord and Savior. Thank You for Your words and example of a Spirit-led life. May I follow Your example today and always.
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Do We Have Enough Holy Reverence?
“Hey, buddy.” We’re often quite chummy with people, calling them “buddy”. Some parents even call their children, “buddy”. In reference to Jesus, there are people who quote Matthew 11:19, that Jesus was a friend (buddy?) of sinners. But let’s not forget that Jesus is the gloriously exalted LORD who is seated at the right hand of God. Prayerfully picture the scene recorded in Daniel 7:9-10.
“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands were attending Him; and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him. The court sat, and the books were opened and were presented before Him.”
The Son of Man, Jesus, is not our “buddy”. He is our Lord seated at the right hand of the Ancient of Days.
ANCIENT OF DAYS, glorious One, and Son of God, forgive me when I fail to show You holy reverence. Help me honor You today and every day.
Learn how to contend for the faith in the times in which we live through Debbie’s Bible study of Jude, Contend Earnestly for the Faith. Purchase a copy HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos, podcasts, and listening guides HERE.
When Waves of Hopelessness Pound Your Heart
You need hope. I need hope. Our loved ones need hope. Where do we find it? Do we practice “self-talk” and tell ourselves we are “happy and fine” when we aren’t? Or do we kneel, look up in praise, and cry out to the One who has gone before us to heaven and who intercedes for us?
Hebrews 6:19 describes our relationship with Jesus and why we can have genuine hope. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered…”
Our hope in Jesus is an anchor for our soul. Personalize that truth. My hope in Jesus is an anchor for my soul. Think about that. It’s amazing. We don’t have to be carried by waves of hopelessness into an ocean of despair. Yes, waves of hopelessness may at times seem like they will overwhelm us. But when you feel that way, place your hope in the Savior. You are not going to drift beyond His sight or hand. He’s got you. Our hope in Christ is an anchor for our soul.
Jesus, sweet Savior, thank You for being the One in whom my soul is anchored; for being the ANCHOR OF MY SOUL. I praise You that I will never drift from Your hold.
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Let’s Be Amazed
Throughout the Bible, the word “amazed” is used to describe people’s reactions to God. Mark 1:22 records that people “were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”.
The New Testament word “amazed” means astonished, thrown into wonderment. Jesus’ teachings astonished people.
Matthew 12:23 records that when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute so that he could see and talk, “All the crowds were amazed and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can He?’”
When Jesus rose from the dead, they were amazed (“thrown into wonderment”) Mark 16:5-6.
Oh that we be amazed, astonished, and thrown into wonderment at our Lord.
Keep your eyes open friend, for how Jesus is working in your life and in the lives of others. You might just find yourself amazed.
Lord Jesus, I praise You, AMAZING Lord. You work in ways beyond my reach and power; in ways only You can work. Help me to be ever mindful of the lives You are transforming, of how You are transforming my life. May my eyes be open to all You are doing, and may I remain continually in awe of You.
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Why You Can Stop Fretting
“I don’t know where this is going.”
Have you ever said or thought those words in regard to the unrest in our world, nation, or perhaps your family or a personal situation? The past may be a blur and the future uncertain.
It’s no wonder we may feel uneasy at times. Yet in the midst of our ever-changing world, believers have this hope and promise: Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He’s right here with us, just like He was with us yesterday and just like He will be with us tomorrow. Revelation 1:8 records Jesus’ words of assurance to us,
“’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’”
Our Lord was with us in the past. He’s with us at this moment. He’ll be with us tomorrow. We have an ever-present Lord to see us through our days.
Breathe a sigh of relief, thank Him, and confidently move forward in your day thanking Him for His presence with you.
Christ Jesus, ALPHA AND OMEGA, I praise You, the One who is and who was and who is to come. The One who is with me at this moment. I love You.
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Praise Almighty God
The Bible provides several examples of the Lord revealing Himself to people. One such example is when Abram, later known as Abraham, was 99 years old. The Lord appeared to him and introduced Himself as the Lord Almighty. Read the account in Genesis 17:1-2: “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly.”
The Old Testament word for “Almighty” means “most powerful”. The New Testament word means “he who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all.” Together, these words reveal that the Almighty is the most powerful being who holds sway over all things.
God wanted Abraham to know His power and ability to hold sway over his life. God wants us to know, too.
ALMIGHTY GOD, I praise You, the most powerful One who holds sway over all things. Hold sway over my heart today so that I walk blamelessly before You.
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When We Question God’s Power
Whether we’re shopping for a car or a computer, we typically ask, “How powerful is it?” Why do we ask? We want to know if what we’re considering buying can do what we want and need.
We may not say or even realize it, but sometimes we may question God’s power. For example, we pray about something and then we worry.
If we really believed that nothing is impossible with God, then worry wouldn’t have a place in our lives.
Today is a good day to remember 1 Chronicles 29:11, that God is all powerful and we can confidently place our trust in Him. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”
Let that be our prayer. Let that be our mindset as we live out our day.
Lord, You are great, ALL POWERFUL, and the One to whom glory, victory, and majesty belong. Help me walk out my faith and trust in You today rather than fret over details.
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Take Comfort Knowing Jesus Is Alive in Heaven
Have you ever been startled to see someone you didn’t expect? My husband has startled me and I assure you, I jumped. Considering how we may have been startled by a person we didn’t expect, can you imagine how startling it was for the disciple John to unexpectedly see Jesus in heaven? John was on the island of Patmos when he was suddenly taken to heaven and saw Christ. What was his response? He fell at Jesus’ feet like a dead man. Revelation 1:18 records what Jesus said to John,
“I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore…”
John had seen Jesus die on the cross and be buried. He had seen the resurrected Christ. He had seen Jesus ascend in the clouds into heaven. But to see Jesus alive in heaven and hear Jesus explain He is alive forevermore had to be startling. If your today looks unbearable and you dread tomorrow, don’t. A day of glorious eternal life awaits you, believer. You will see Jesus.
Lord Jesus, I praise You. Thank You for dying for me so I can be ALIVE FOREVERMORE with You.
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Finger Pointing, Rock Slinging Reversal
Peace between people. Is it possible? It appears not to be. Why? Because although we aren’t perfect, we expect others to be perfect. Remember when the Jews were itching to stone a woman caught in adultery? The rocks were in their hands. Their self-righteous arms were wound for the throw. But when Jesus confronted them, when He invited the one who was sin-free to throw the first stone, they slinked away (John 8:7-9).
What did Jesus then do? If you said, stone her because she was guilty and deserving of punishment, you’re both right and wrong. You’re correct in saying she was deserving of death according to the Law. You are incorrect about Jesus’ response. He told her He didn’t condemn her and for her to go and sin no more. Amazing! Jesus extends the same grace to us.
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).
There it is. We are not to sin, but when we do, we can be mindfully grateful that Jesus is our Advocate just as He was for the adulterous woman.
Lord Jesus, I praise You, my ADVOCATE. Quicken my heart to take seriously Your command to sin no more.
Would you like to experience God’s sufficient grace and peace in your life? Check out Debbie’s Bible study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos by clicking HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts by clicking HERE.
Why Self Effort Never Works
Do you get frustrated when you “blow it” in regard to your Christian walk? I do. Almost every day, I’m mindful of something I should have done or could have done that would have brought honor to Christ. The reminder in 2 Corinthians 3:5helps me in those times. It says, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.”
The word “adequacy” in this verse means sufficiency, ability, or competency. Here we find a key to help us accomplish our desire to live “for” Christ. We can’t live “for” Him in our own strength. Rather, we need to let Christ live His life in and through us. His adequacy is the key.
Our ability to be and our ability to do that to which God calls us comes from Christ in us.
Instead of trying to live the Christian life in our own strength, we can pray, “Fill me with Your Spirit so I walk by Your adequacy.” That is our hope-filled prayer.
Thank You, Jesus, that You are in me and more than ADEQUATE for everything pertaining to life and godliness.
We don’t have to walk our Christian journey alone. Jesus sent us a Helper—the Holy Spirit. To learn more about Christ’s gift, listen to this free podcast teaching: Listen UP! 31 Points Every Christian Should Know About the Holy Spirit.