A Devotion May Be Someone's Only Bible

Spirit & Trust

Trust is hard. It’s easy to say there is trust but actually taking the step – making the leap into mid-air without a visible net is the most difficult thing man can do. But with the Spirit of God our leap lands us safe in His palm.

Waiting

“This is your captain speaking. We are seventh in line for takeoff.”

“This is your captain speaking. We are fifth in line for takeoff.”

“This is your captain speaking. We are second in line for takeoff.”

We wait. And we wait some more. Life offers many opportunities for waiting, which provides time for growth in our lives. We gain strength and patience as we wait. We also learn contentment and courage. 

As we wait, we can complain, whine, and be miserable. Or we can search for good, joy, and opportunities to serve the Lord.

We can write a note to one who needs reminding she is appreciated and loved. We can send a get-well card to one who is housebound. Or we could also take a much-needed nap.

And no, I’m not writing this as I sit on an airplane, waiting for takeoff. I have seven loads of laundry waiting for their turn in the washing machine and the dryer. So, I might as well make what could be a chore into a fun activity as I wait for the Lord.

Take a moment to thank God for the many opportunities during which He allows you to wait. Ask Him to help you use your time wisely so you can bring praise, honor, and glory to Him.

What do you do during your periods of waiting?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and 822640.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



Dieting for God

I once fasted, but not from food.

I suddenly found myself saddled with two car payments. Knowing I couldn’t afford both, I had a decision to make. One of the vehicles would have to go. One was a new Chevrolet Tracker I had just purchased. The other was a used Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The solution came not in selling one but in drawing out my retirement so I could pay one of them off. I chose the Tracker and then gave it to my daughter, who was about to leave for college.

The decision to give up the Tracker was difficult. I planned to use it on my monthly hiking escapades in the mountains. Love, however, led me to give it up for a higher purpose.

Fasting requires letting go. Often, food is in question. It was when Jesus addressed the religious hypocrites who thought they did such an excellent job at it. Like most of what they did, they did this with ulterior motives. They wanted others to notice them.

Dieting from food for a time or certain foods has never been my forte, but God has shown me a few other things I need to take a break from. Sin is one. Instead of seeing how close I can come to sin without sinning, I need to stay as far away from it as possible. God has given us a new nature, and we must avoid the “old person” with a passion. Christian baptism symbolizes our intention to die to the old way of living, walking instead in obedience to Christ’s commands.

When we choose to diet for God, it should also be because we want to draw closer to Him. Good and not-so-good attractions that attempt to distract us from God pepper this world. Giving up whatever prevents us from clinging close to His side is always a good diet.

Dieting for God is an individual choice. God won’t force us to diet for Him. We must voluntarily let go of those things that keep us from a closer walk with him.

What can you let go of that will move you closer to God?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and dbreen.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)

 



Him Too

“Lord, please help that man find You, and help the police find him.”

That was the prayer of my then seven-year-old daughter on the night a stranger tried to get her nine-year-old brother in the car with him earlier that afternoon.

The children played in front of the house where we lived in a small cul-de-sac of a middle-class neighborhood. The man had driven into the cul-de-sac and attempted to get my son into his car. Both children immediately ran, but only after my daughter got the license plate number. After making sure they were both okay, I notified the police. In a short time, an officer was at the door. He gathered the information, including the children’s description of the man and his car, and assured me they would do everything possible to catch him.

The words my daughter prayed that night cut to my heart. I confess to having many thoughts toward the stranger, but not one had been about his salvation. I was immediately convicted as the Holy Spirit whispered, “I died for him as much as I died for you.” My daughter’s concern for his spiritual well-being preceded her request that the police find him.

Police apprehended him later the following night in our neighborhood. He only spent a few hours in jail before police released him on bond. I wish I could say he was tried and convicted, but ultimately, attorneys decided they didn’t have enough evidence for a trial.

I learned a lot about trusting God. Even though the justice system let us down, I knew the man would ultimately answer to God. I prayed for him and asked God not to let him victimize anyone else. And yes, to save him.

That incident occurred many years ago. My children are now adults, but I will never forget my daughter’s prayer or its impact on me. Yes indeed, Jesus did die for all.

Who is the person, perhaps even an enemy, whose salvation you should pray for?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and RyanMcGuire.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



Do Not Step in the Exhaust

When our car passed a horse-drawn buggy moving along the state highway, my three-year-old granddaughter said, “Look, there are some of those ‘Almond’ people.”

I chuckled at her incorrect terminology but even more at the hand-painted sign on the back of the buggy: Energy efficient. Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in the exhaust.

Seeing the horse’s tail swaying as he trotted along made me miss the smell of new-mown hay after an April rain. The evening lowing of cattle and a cowbell gently ringing always lulled me to sleep when I was a girl back on Dad’s ranch.

Most of us have longed for the good old days when life was simpler and our culture had not lost its sense of morality. In 1860, a citizen of Virginia could be fined $250 for using a curse word in public. How far our society has moved since then. When society promotes a different standard, using the media as their vehicle, I lament that stepping in their exhaust is almost unavoidable.

Change is inevitable, leaving many people confused and wondering what remains that is stable and sound. I find the answer to that question in the pages of my Bible, which tells me God’s Word is settled forever in heaven.

For many years, I have turned to those supernaturally inspired pages to find comfort, strength, guidance, and hope that does not disappoint. God’s Word is a chariot that lifts and carries me through and over life’s stormy seas. We’ll find no confusion there—only a solid foundation for our lives.

How are you handling society’s moral lapse? 

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and doungtepro.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



Trusting God

“Mom, when I look in the mirror, all I see is black.”

It was five in the morning when my son knocked on the door, rousing me to tell me he needed help. That morning, he confessed he was an alcoholic and hooked on cocaine. He knew after looking in the mirror that if he didn’t seek help, his addiction would kill him.

As he lay beside me, I told him that the day he was born was one of the happiest of my life. I would do everything I could to help him if he was ready. He was twenty-four years old and had to choose to seek help. 

I left him at rehab that day. Many thoughts and emotions danced through my head. As the go-to person when someone had a problem, I was frustrated that I had no power or control over the situation. I couldn’t fix it. 

I found guidance and strength in Paul’s words. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. These spiritual truths helped me realize no amount of worrying would change the situation. I needed to trust God and let Him handle it. The best thing I could do for my son was to pray.

As a Christian, these were familiar concepts, but we often have the knowledge and fail to practice what we know. 

One practical way to give God my circumstances is to write the issue on paper and put it in a small wooden box—my faith box. This simple act helps me release the situation and give it to God. 

Ten years later, my son is healthy, happy, and working toward a degree in counseling.

How do you give your circumstances to God?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Myriams-Fotos.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)



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