Dema's Devotions

[dema]

I read this morning that when we talk about feelings, they become stronger. I do believe that, as in most things, there is balance. Locking up feelings can lead to them festering. However, when it comes to general malaise or general happiness, I agree with the advice, "Talk about the ones you want to have increase."

In this freedom Christ has made us free, stand fast then, and do not be hamperedand held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galations 5:1.

[dema]

We can’t see God. And when He speaks it is in a still small voice – so like the little voice that runs on and on in our head all the time anyway. And yet, over and over the Bible says we have to believe; we MUST believe.
Mark 11 (New American Standard Bible)
23"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

And if we believe, all things are possible to us.

Mark 9 (New International Version)
23" …said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

How many things are possible?

All things!

The movie Matrix illustrates several facets of my view of the power of God. The characters learned to jump further and further as they learned to believe that they could. They had to convince themselves before they could convince the program. And the more they practiced – both thinking and doing - the better they got. The movie also illustrated the power of negative believing. One of the characters was lying on a bed in the ship, but when he died in the program - he died. His believing is what actually killed him.

Believing will also change situations in this world, the real, tangible world. All things are possible to him that believes.

What sets apart the heros of all time? Vision. And what is vision?
Believing.

Shakespeare said:
"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once. "

Giving in to fear - not being momentarily afraid, but embracing fear - robs us of that vision. And undermines our believing.

How do we recognize the still small voice of God?

John 14 (New International Version)
27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

If our direction is from God, then there will be peace in it. We need to control our fear, so that we can receive the power and the love and the peace of our Lord.

2 Timothy 1 (English Standard Version)
7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Be still. Think about God. Think about the works of our heavenly Father. And let the peace of God guide you.

[dema]

Repenting

Luke 17 (New International Version)
3So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

I once thought that “repent” meant "to be sorry". The root means "to feel regret". Later I heard a sermon that said it is "to turn away from". So, I researched the word. Religious sources do indeed define “repent” as “to turn away from” and secular sources list this definition first.

If your brother sins and he quits doing that sin, then forgive him. Even if he slips up seven times in a single day, forgive him, as long as he continually, in his heart, is trying to change.

Luke 3 (New American Standard Bible)
3And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;

Forgveness is given in response to a change. Our hearts need to change in order to be forgiven by God. The hearts of those who sin against us should change also. But be careful about saying, “He’s not sorry so I don’t have to forgive him” or worse, “She hasn’t changed, so I don’t have to forgive her.”

Because forgiveness is required for us to be forgiven.

Mark 11 (New American Standard Bible)
25"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.
26["But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

Lack of forgiveness damages our hearts. And our relationships. Unforgiveness hurts us – ourselves.

Jesus came to change us, to reform us.

Matthew 9 (Young's Literal Translation)
13but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

And that includes teaching us about forgiveness, and about our own need to change.

[dema]

Serve the Lord



The whole saga of Exodus began with the demand that the Israelites be allowed to serve the Lord.



Exodus 10 (American Standard Version)
7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve Jehovah your God; but who are they that shall go?

11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve Jehovah; for that is what ye desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.

26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind: for thereof must we take to serve Jehovah our God; and we know not with what we must serve Jehovah, until we come thither.



The Hebrews were slaves who were to be freed when they went into the wilderness to serve the Lord.



It is a part of the great commandment:



Deuteronomy 10 (American Standard Version)
12 And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,



It's a whole hearted committment - not an idle promise - to serve the Lord.



Joshua 24 (English Standard Version)
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.

21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”



They could and did serve the Lord and he did forgive them and bless them. The Israelites were always blessed when they served.



Exodus 23 (American Standard Version)
25 And ye shall serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee



Health is a promise which comes with serving.



2 Chronicles 30 (English Standard Version)
8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

Serving takes away the wrath of God for our sins. And we all do sin.



We are to serve with respect, and be joyful:



Psalm 2 (English Standard Version)
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.

With singing and gladness:



Psalm 100 (English Standard Version)
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!



We serve by praise, thanksgiving and worship. We serve by praying and singing to God. By just being in his presence and experiencing his company.



Psalm 102 (English Standard Version)
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.



We are to serve enthusiastically, knowing that serving the Lord gives us our greatest reward:



Colossians 3 (American Standard Version)
23 whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;

24 knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.



Serving God is a privilege that leads us to receiving great promises.

[dema]

Receiving

God wants to give us everything. Yet, there are laws. Laws of His making, but laws just the same. When God takes His divine prerogative and overcomes these laws, there is a miracle. But, we do not live from miracle to miracle.

The Bible tells us of many divine laws. We have all seen the secular application of 'believe and ye shall receive'. How many charlatans have succeeded at at least temporary riches due to pure Chutzpah? Confidence is convincing. We want to buy from a salesperson who believes in their product. Troops follow a leader who walks with faith. The laws of believing work in all venues.

Another law is give and ye shall receive.

Malachi 3 (New American Standard Bible)
8"Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9"You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
10"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
11"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.

Many times our giving reveals our lack of believing. God rewards the giver. I have seen this so much in my own life. Giving mends our hearts as well as opening us up to heavenly gifts.

11"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.

Everyone that I know has had experience with the devourer. I can tell you from personal experience - I have been blessed in unexpected ways, and I have not suffered lack. I tithed from my unemployment, and I tithed from my first official paycheck from my new company. I was given a special break professionally, and I have passed on a similar break to someone else. Giving takes many forms. But, if you wish to receive financially, you should give financially - or at least with that which has direct financial value.

One cannot outgive God. The laws of receiving are laws. It isn't a miracle when God comes through, just like it isn't a miracle when you get a paycheck. (Though there are times when some of us might debate the last statement.)

And don't cop out on, "I can't afford it" or "God doesn't need my little bit."

Luke 21 (New American Standard Bible)
2And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins.
3And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them;
4for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."

God will give according to how you give, but better:

Luke 6 (New American Standard Bible)
38"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Imagine this. You are in the time when barter was used more than money. This verse is talking about grain as the medium of exchange. You hold out your bag and it is filled generously. Then the man says, "Shake it down." and you do. Then he fills it up again. And he takes the bag from you and shakes it and then folds the tops over and pushes so that all the air comes out. And he does it again. Finally, you leave, streaming grain behind you from the abundance still slipping off the top.

This is the way God wants to bless you.

There is a third law involved with receiving heavenly gifts, and that is the law of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving also involves believing, because we are to thank God BEFORE we receive.

Philippians 4 (New American Standard Bible)
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When the peace comes, faith has arrived.

[dema]

Psalm 46 (English Standard Version)
10 "Be still, and know that I am God. …"

The verse tells us to do two things:
 Be Still
 Know that God is God.

What is God? What does the word ‘God’ mean? What is a god? What is God?

Here is the entire verse:

Psalm 46 (English Standard Version)
10 "Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"

God is exalted. He is above EVERYTHING.

God is powerful.

Ephesians 1 (New International Version)
18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

God is mighty and strong. And God is able.

2 Corinthians 9 (New American Standard Bible)
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Have faith. Believe. All things are possible.

Mark 9 (New American Standard Bible)
23And Jesus said to him, … All things are possible to him who believes."

[dema]

This is one of my favorite passages. But today I’m seeing it a little differently.
Romans 8:28-39
New International Version (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
God works things for good. Works – makes an effort for a purpose. All things weren’t good or God wouldn’t have to make an effort for a purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
This is the ultimate solace. God IS for us. And God is sovereign. And yet it seems like so much is against us – and so often. Free will. God IS for us – but God respects free will. We need to make sure that our own free will is totally at God’s disposal.
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
When things go wrong, we were seldom perfect – if ever. There is always something we could have done better. Something that would have maybe avoided the issue. Oh, this is the tool of Satan. God doesn’t want us to be perfect. When we are weak, then he is strong. But the issue is that if we can figure out a formula that would have worked – then WE have control. Personal control. And if WE did it wrong then God didn’t. We need to let the whole process go. It isn’t ours. And shame and blame separate us from God. And anything that separates us from God is the enemy.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Our own thoughts are the only thing that can actually separate us from the love of Christ.
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Trouble – we did wrong? We were involved in wrong? Hardship – we are poor. We didn’t do it right and now we are in bankruptcy or foreclosure or relying on the kindness of strangers? Persecution? Is it our fault – did we do it wrong? Why am I a victim? Why do the predators come after me? I must have done it wrong? I must have… I am not worthy of God. Shame, blame – I hide from God. Famine? Why is God not caring for me? Nakedness – I am ashamed – I am naked and ashamed. Danger, violence….
36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[b]
37 No,
NO! No, no, no, no, no, no. God did not punish us. God is not angry with us. He sent Christ so we would KNOW that God wants us to freely come to him. We are washed white as snow. We are loved. We are cherished. Oh, God wants you to throw your spiritual arms around him. Jesus died to make you welcome in God’s loving arms.
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
Whether we live for Jesus, or whether we die… whether we die in accidents or from disease … we are NOT separated
neither angels nor demons,[
Evil things may come upon you – but they cannot separate you unless you let them.
c neither the present nor the future,
Nothing that is happening or any dread of what will happen can separate you unless YOU let it separate you.
nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing, nothing, nothing – nothing but your own free will can separate you from the love of God through Christ Jesus – and it is the only thing that death cannot take from you.

[dema]

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Attributed to Niebuhr