Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

HomeWord - Feb. 20, 2009

Extravagant Waste
This devotional was written by Leslie Snyder

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.  When the disciples saw this, they were indignant.  "Why this waste?" they asked.  "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."  Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  Matthew 26:6-10

Not long ago our family was enjoying a night free of outside activities.  The kids were playing games, reading, and doing homework, my husband was kicked back in the recliner watching TV and I was lying down on the couch, feet up and relishing the slower pace.   It was then I felt something cold being spread across my toes.  I opened my eyes to see our three-year-old son carefully "painting" my toenails with his sister's sparkly blue gel body glitter.  Surprised, I asked him what he was doing.  "I'm painting your toes, Mama," came the straightforward reply.  He was, in fact, intently working on his "design" which started at my toes and ended up covering my entire foot.  What amazed me, however, was not his action so much as the devotion that covered his face.  When my husband started to intervene with expressions of how Jesse was "wasting" the girls' glitter, Wisdom jumped in and stopped him.  For, this was more than just playing dress up and wasting his sisters' makeup, this was an act of love from a young son to his dearly loved Mama.

It was that night that I embraced the humanity depicted in the Scripture above.  Truly, the scene invites us to close our eyes and allow our imaginations to dive in and listen to the mixture of conversation and laughter of Jesus and his followers; to smell the freshly-made bread and pungent aroma of cooked lamb; to see Jesus reclining on the floor next to a low table lit with oil candles and covered with bowls of dates, figs, and olives; and to imagine the unusual mixture of guests of fishermen, tax collectors, Pharisees, men, women, servants and Jesus.  The room must have been filled with energy and wonder. 

Enter the woman.  Oblivious to the activity around her, she focuses intently on the Object of her devotion, the One who set her free.  Her tears flow freely as the perfume runs down Jesus' hair, face, shoulders and body.  "What waste!" her objectors retort but are quickly hushed by Jesus as He accepts the gift of her love and devotion.  Extravagant waste?  Maybe.  Extravagant devotion?  Absolutely.

Going Deeper:  Sometimes we hold back our expression of love to Jesus for fear of the reaction of those around us.  What would your devotion look like if we did the same as the woman?

Further Reading: John 12: 1-8; Mark 14:1-9; Luke 7:36-50

Leslie Snyder is a youth and family ministry veteran currently serving in the Kansas City area with her husband and three kids.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

2/22
Is That You, Neighbor?
READ: Luke 6:27-36
And who is my neighbor? -Luke 10:29

An English yachtsman sailing in the Caribbean, 4,000 miles from home, lost his mast in a storm. He had been adrift for 2 days, and was taking water in 20-foot waves, when his desperate SOS was picked up. According to Ananova news service, 90 minutes later he was rescued by the captain of a 116,000-ton superliner.

Only when he was pulled out of the water did the rescued sailor discover that the captain who had responded to his call for help was a neighbor from his Hampshire village of Warsash. The rescued man later asked, "What are the chances of being rescued in the middle of nowhere by your neighbor?"

Jesus saw neighbors in unlikely places. When an expert in Jewish law asked Him to define the neighbor we are to love, Jesus drew a big circle. He told the story of a merciful Samaritan to show that a neighbor is the friend, stranger, or enemy who needs the help we can give (Luke 10).

To distinguish ourselves as Jesus' people, we need to show kindness even to those who wish us harm (Luke 6:32-34). Only then will we reflect the heart of the One who, while we were still His enemies, paid the ultimate price to come to our rescue.  - Mart De Haan

How many lives shall I touch today?
How many neighbors will pass my way?
I can bless so many and help so much
If I meet each one with a Christlike touch. -Jones


Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.

Guidance Through The Valley

Who is in control of your life? Who directs your plans, dreams, and goals? We all are influenced by something-our egos, our greed, our pride, our circumstances, our relationships. But only the Lord, the One who created us and every living thing, has the right to claim ownership on our lives.

In Psalm 23 David declares, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want" (Psalm 23:1). David acknowledges God as his shepherd-the one who governs and manages his life, the one who is the owner of his life-and He is the best manager we could ever have. A sheep's life isn't easy-but no matter what our circumstances, our Shepherd provides His guidance and comfort.

We are never in need because our Shepherd cares for us. He provides us rest when we cannot carry on in our own strength. He quenches our thirst. He restores us and forgives us when we are broken and weak. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul" (Psalm 23:2-3).

Even in our darkest days, our Shepherd will remain with us: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). With the Shepherd leading us, we have nothing to fear-not the disappointments of life, the dark days, not even death itself. Whatever valley we go through, God is leading us to higher ground.

In the midst of those who attack us, we can find joy in the Lord because we have been anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit. "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" (Psalm 23:5). Only our Shepherd can provide us with this Spirit-filled, joyful life that empowers us when our enemies attack. The Bible tells us, "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

We will never lack for anything because our Creator's goodness and mercy will be our constant companions throughout life and for eternity. "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6). This doesn't mean that we are guaranteed financial wealth, perfect health, or a pain-free life. But our Shepherd knows the deepest needs of our souls, and He alone knows how to fill them.

Psalm 116 tells us, "The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 116:6-9).

Our Shepherd is truly like none other-He even gave His own life for us. Jesus tells us, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Trust Him alone to take care of your safety, your needs, your relationships. He is never off the clock-He is always providing, always caring, and always watching over us. There is no other shepherd that compares to Him. He alone can give us the comfort and restoration that we need.

The sheep's only responsibility is to follow the shepherd. And our Good Shepherd wants our obedience to Him. If you have been a wayward sheep, surrender to Him today. If you have been a fearful sheep, scared of the wolves that hunt you, give your anxieties to your Shepherd. Not only can He turn our lives around, but He will show us the way-the safe way, the better way, the right way.

Think about the many ways the Shepherd cares for you, and list them below. Spend time praising God for His guidance, provision, and comfort. Thank the Good Shepherd for laying down His life for His sheep. Submit your life to His leadership today. 

****

Everybody wants to be loved by somebody... But what really is true love? Michael Youssef explores this topic in our free resource this month-"The Truth About Love." Download it today.

By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world. Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

Do You Really Love Him?
She has done a good work for Me -Mark 14:6

If what we call love doesn't take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I'm not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things- things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? "She has done a good work for Me."

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

God Bless

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 22, 2009

Choosing The Hard Thing

READ: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. -2 Corinthians 4:8

On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech at Rice University in Houston, Texas, about the difficult challenges facing the nation. He also shared his passion for the United States to place a man on the moon.

In balancing the needs of his people with the desire to conquer space, Kennedy said, "We choose to go to the moon in this decade. We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard." The nation responded. Seven years later, Neil Armstrong took a "giant leap for mankind" in July of 1969, by walking on the moon.

Today's world is filled with energy-saving devices that make life easier, but there is something to be said for embracing life's challenges. The apostle Paul found serving Christ hard, but he didn't see it as a cause for discouragement. He continued to focus on Christ, and wrote, "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair" (2 Cor. 4:. Paul knew that "He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you" (v.14). The goal was worth the pain.

By the grace of God, may we commit to serving Jesus-not just when it's easy, but when it's hard.  - Bill Crowder

For Further Study
Learn more about dealing with difficulties in life.
Read Joseph: Overcoming Life's Challenges on
the Web at www.discoveryseries.org/q0715


Jesus gave His all to save us-are we giving our all to serve Him?


Confirmed by Others
By Os Hillman

"The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD" (1 Sam 3:19-20).

When I was 14 years old I was an exceptional junior golfer. This is not pride on my part, but merely a fact. I had already broken 70 several times and had three hole-in-ones. I competed in the US Junior Amateur and eventually turned pro after attending college on a four year golf scholarship. Those who knew me affirmed the gift and calling that appeared to be on my life. I turned professional for about three years, but God later redirected my life into business and vocational ministry. All of these experiences have combined over many years to contribute to the calling I am living out today.

As we mature in our natural and spiritual lives, God uses our parents, teachers, uncles, coaches and pastors to affirm the gifts and callings that are on our lives. At the time, it often seems like these people are trying to get in the way of what we want to do. However, God uses authority figures to provide key direction during the early teen and twenty-something years. He is using these people to help guide us to the ultimate destiny He has for our lives.

When we are young, we are often more impressionable than at any other time in our lives. The young person who can allow wisdom to rule over immaturity and impatience is a rare individual. However, if you are able to receive from the people God puts in your life at this stage, you will be so far ahead of your peers and you will be amazed.

"God is continually preparing His heroes, and when the opportunity is right, He puts them into position in an instant. He works so fast, the world wonders where they came from," said A. B. Simpson.

Let God do the foundation work so that he can advance you to His ultimate destiny He has for your life.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

His Stuff

You have probably noticed that over the last few days of devotionals, we have been focusing on material blessings and how we should view those blessings.

1 Chronicles 29:14-16 is very helpful to see God's perspective,

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this?  For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.  For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.  "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own."

In these verses, King David is actually talking to the Lord as an offering is being received, and resources are being collected for the building of the temple (something his son Solomon is going to achieve).

We see that David recognized that everything he had, everything the people had, literally belonged to God.  They were just giving God back something that belonged to Him in the first place.

I am going to let you in on a little secret:  You and I are just stewards, and one day the Owner will call us into account for how we handled His stuff.  Every one of us will give an account for our stewardship of His possessions.

While He gives us richly all things to enjoy, He is going to ask you if you did what He told you to do with His stuff.  It is not our stuff.

Material treasure is a stewardship, and we must do what the Owner wants with it.  This means we have a responsibility to be listening for the Owner's voice and following His instructions with His goods. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance
Be still, and know that I am God . . . -Psalm 46:10

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for- love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men- will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.

If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, "because you have kept My command to persevere . . ." ( Revelation 3:10 ).

Continue to persevere spiritually.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 23, 2009

Waiting For The Harvest
READ: Mark 4:26-29
First the blade, then the head, after that the full grain . . . . The harvest has come. -Mark 4:28-29

In the book What's Gone Wrong With the Harvest? James Engel and Wilbert Norton illustrate on a graph how people often go through a series of preconversion stages before stepping over the line of faith and receiving Jesus as their Savior.

When we hear individuals share their conversion experience, we may conclude that faith happened all at once. But their salvation frequently carries an extended back-story of spiritual pilgrimage before they made that decision. They needed time to reflect on the gospel. For them, coming to the Savior was a process.

This is similar to the process of farming: Months of waiting come to an end and workers stream into the fields to help with the harvest. One of our Lord's parables illustrates how faith-like a crop-needs time to develop. Responding to the gospel is like a seed that grows "first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain," until finally, "the harvest has come" (Mark 4:28-29).

Because people may need time and multiple exposures to the gospel before they are ready to make a decision, we need to be sensitive to where they are in their faith-journey. In the meantime, we can cultivate spiritual interest, pray for them, and wait for the harvest!  - Dennis Fisher

Have you thought of where you're going
When this earthly life is past?
Will the seed that you are sowing
Bring a harvest that will last? -Jacobson


We sow the seed-God produces the harvest.

The Trinity's Teamwork
By Os Hillman

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isa 64:.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up three distinct aspects of the God-head. Each of these persons form the trinity and contribute to the overall work of God. The trinity reveals God's belief in teamwork. Even God brought a team together to accomplish His purposes. The Leadership Bible gives us further insight into the distinct roles the Trinity plays.

The three Persons of the Godhead are never independent but always work together in concert. Scripture records the work of the divine trinity in the creation cosmos (see Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:15-17), but this perfect and harmonious interaction was especially evident in how God made it possible for people who were formerly alienated from him to be transformed into his beloved children.

Paul first spoke of the work of the Father in accomplishing our salvation in verses 3-6. The Father chose us before the creation of the world and sent his Son into the world so that through him we could be adopted into his family. Second, the apostle focused on the work of the Son in verses 7-12. Christ's blood sacrifice on our behalf paid the penalty for our sins so that we could enjoy forgiveness and lay hold of God's purpose for our lives. Third, the work of the Holy Spirit, identified in verses 13-14, seals and guarantees our spiritual inheritance. Thus, the Father initiated our salvation, The Son accomplished it and the Holy Spirit made it real in our lives. At the end of each of these three sections the phrase 'to the praise of his glory' appears. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit perform distinct roles, but they work together in perfect harmony and agreement.*

This three-fold team of the trinity is committed to bringing you into full maturity in Jesus Christ. May the Father, Son and Holy Spirit take your feet of clay and build a solid foundation for the praise of His Son. 

The Leadership Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 1998 p.1378
Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

Spiritual Treasure

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul tells us,

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

If you look at this chapter, Paul helps us understand that this treasure is ministry, the gospel, the Word of God, and the light and the glory of God, God's presence.

Paul wants us to understand that God has placed in us an incredible spiritual treasure...a treasure residing in these earthen vessels...our bodies.  The treasure is in you and me!

But that treasure needs to be poured out.

I can't help but think that Paul was thinking of two particular earthen vessels that were used in his day.  One was the vessel of mercy and the other the vessel of honor. 

One place you would find the vessel of honor was around the home.  People would use the water to wash their feet after traveling the dusty roads before they would enter your house, or they would use the water to quench their thirst.  Like the vessel of honor, we are to wash the feet of our family, to humbly serve them and to help quench their thirst for more of God.

The vessel of mercy looked identical to the vessel of honor, but it was located in public places like the town square, so that any traveler coming through that arid land would be guaranteed to find a fresh drink of water.  It was placed where the needs were.  We need to take mercy where mercy is needed most-out onto the highways of humanity.

You are an earthen vessel filled with His spiritual treasure, so start pouring it out-in your home and out where the people are. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Determination to Serve

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . . -Matthew 20:28
Jesus also said, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27). Paul's idea of service was the same as our Lord's- ". . . ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" ( 2 Corinthians 4:5 ). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a "doormat" for others- called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, "I know how to be abased . . ." (Philippians 4:12 ). Paul's idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul's service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.

Paul's understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . ." ( 1 Timothy 1:13 ). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 24, 2009

Managing The Mess
READ: Ruth 1:15-22
Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me? -Ruth 1:21

When we meet Naomi in the Scriptures, her life is a mess. She and her husband had gone to Moab searching for food during a famine. While in that land, their two sons married Moabite women, and life was good-until her husband and sons died and she was stuck, widowed in a foreign land.

Though honest about her pain, Naomi obviously had a sense of who was in control: "The Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me" (Ruth 1:21).

The Hebrew word for "Almighty" (Shaddai) indicates God's sufficiency for any situation. The word "Lord" (Yahweh) refers to His faithfulness as the loving covenant-keeping God. I love how Naomi put these two names together. In the midst of her complaint, she never lost sight of the fact that her God was a capable and faithful God. And, sure enough, He proved His capability to deliver her and His faithfulness to care for her to the very end.

If there seems to be no way out of your despair, remember that Naomi's God is your God as well. And He specializes in managing our messes to good and glorious outcomes. Thankfully, He is both capable and faithful. So, when your life is a mess, remember who your God is!  - Joe Stowell

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last. -von Schlegel

Stand back and watch the Lord manage your mess into a glorious outcome.

John the Baptist was the Greatest
By Os Hillman

"I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matt 11:11-12).

John the Baptist did no miracles. Elijah performed miracle after miracle. Daniel interpreted dreams for kings and he and his friends impacted an entire nation. Jeremiah and Isaiah were two of Israel's greatest prophetic voices. Jesus built his church through the twelve disciples. But Jesus made a profound declaration about this man who performed no miracles - He is the greatest among all the prophets.

Why did Jesus make such a claim? Because he did one very important thing - he fulfilled his purpose on earth in every way.

The disciples asked John the Baptist, "Are you the one we have been waiting for? John responded quickly, "No." Then he made a profound statement: "A man can receive only what God gives him" (John 3:27). He had a complete understanding of why he was placed on earth.

Jesus proclaimed John the Baptist was the greatest because he (John) knew and fulfilled his purpose. The angel Gabriel described John's purpose to his father: "And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

His purpose was absolutely necessary to be achieved in order to prepare the way for Jesus. Do you know why God made you? Are you fulfilling the destiny He has planned for you since the foundation of the earth?

Understanding your work life purpose is key to receiving your inheritance. Paul said no matter what kind of work you do, if God has called you to do it, you will receive an inheritance for doing it. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-25).

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

You're Not Stuck

1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The word temptation in this verse also means test or trial.  With that in mind, here are a couple of thoughts to encourage you today. 

1.      Whatever test, trial, or temptation you are facing today, it is "common to man."  That means that you are not the only one who has gone through whatever you are facing.   

It is comforting to know that others have faced similar problems before us and made it through!

2.   God makes a way of escape with the trial or temptation.  That means you're not stuck!  Before your difficulty ever arose, God designed a way of escape.  And that means of escape comes with the problem.

So if you find yourself embroiled in trials, tests, or temptations today, start looking for God's way of escape-it exists.  Trust Him to guide you safely through and out of your difficulties!   

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Delight of Sacrifice
I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls . . . -2 Corinthians 12:15
Once "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit," we deliberately begin to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ's interests and purposes in others' lives (Romans 5:5 ). And Jesus has an interest in every individual person. We have no right in Christian service to be guided by our own interests and desires. In fact, this is one of the greatest tests of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, Jesus (see John 15:13 ). I don't throw my life away, but I willingly and deliberately lay it down for Him and His interests in other people. And I do this for no cause or purpose of my own. Paul spent his life for only one purpose- that he might win people to Jesus Christ. Paul always attracted people to his Lord, but never to himself. He said, "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" ( 1 Corinthians 9:22  ).

When someone thinks that to develop a holy life he must always be alone with God, he is no longer of any use to others. This is like putting himself on a pedestal and isolating himself from the rest of society. Paul was a holy person, but wherever he went Jesus Christ was always allowed to help Himself to his life. Many of us are interested only in our own goals, and Jesus cannot help Himself to our lives. But if we are totally surrendered to Him, we have no goals of our own to serve. Paul said that he knew how to be a "doormat" without resenting it, because the motivation of his life was devotion to Jesus. We tend to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which allow us more spiritual freedom than total surrender to Him would allow. Freedom was not Paul's motive at all. In fact, he stated, "I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren . . ." ( Romans 9:3  ). Had Paul lost his ability to reason? Not at all! For someone who is in love, this is not an overstatement. And Paul was in love with Jesus Christ.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 25, 2009

Okello's Story, Our Story
READ: Luke 5:12-16
[Jesus] put out His hand and touched [the leper]. -Luke 5:13

My friend Roxanne has had some impressive jobs in her life. She has covered the Olympics as a reporter. She has worked in Washington, DC, for noted people and companies. For years, she has written articles about top Christian athletes. But none of those jobs can compare with what she is doing now: giving the love of Jesus to children in Uganda.

What are her days like? Consider the rainy Thursday when she walked the muddy pathway to a cancer ward. Once inside, she scooped up little Okello, whose arms bore sores from poor IV care and whose body raged with a high fever. She carried him to the office of the only cancer doctor in the building and stayed with him until he got help and his condition stabilized.

Jesus, our example, spent His entire ministry among the suffering, healing them and bringing them the good news of God's love (Luke 7:21-22).

How significant are the jobs we do? Sure, it's vital to make a living to support ourselves and our families. But is there something we can do to help relieve the suffering in our world of pain? We may not be able to move to Uganda like Roxanne, but we can all find ways to assist someone. In whose life will you make a difference?  - Dave Branon

God uses us to show His love
To people caught in life's despair;
Our deeds of kindness open doors
To talk of God and His great care. -Sper


One measure of our likeness to Christ is our sensitivity to the suffering of others.

But Master...
By Os Hillman

Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets" (Luke 5:5).

Have you ever argued with God? One of the first sermons Jesus ever gave was from a boat. It was Simon Peter's boat. Jesus used a businessman's business to preach the Gospel. However, Peter had to first make his business available to the Master. When he did, something wonderful happened to his business.

You see, Peter's fishing business was in a slump. They had just fished all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, Peter made his boat available to Jesus to use as He wished. Jesus used it to preach to the multitudes. After Jesus used Peter's boat for His purposes Jesus did something interesting for Peter. He blessed his business. However, Peter almost missed the blessing because he began to argue with Jesus. Peter was looking at the market conditions instead of the instruction of Jesus. Something inside of him made him reconsider Jesus' instruction. Jesus rewarded his obedience. "When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink?" (Luke 5:6-7).

We see a number of Kingdom principles we can apply in our work lives in this story. 1) We must be willing to let God use our work life for His purposes. 2) We must not look at circumstances and argue with Jesus when His instruction seems to contradict what we have seen or experienced already. 3) We must obey the Lord.

When we obey the Lord we might just see Jesus use us for His glory and bless our obedience.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

Agreeing With God's Word

When the twelve spies returned from searching the promised land, they said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we" (Numbers 13:31).

That was the report they brought back-at least ten of them that is.  The other two, Joshua and Caleb, had this to say,

"Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us.  Do not fear them" (Numbers 14:9).

They all saw the same things in the land of Canaan, but only Joshua and Caleb chose to agree with God.  The Lord had previously told them that He would give them victory and that they would be able to drive out the inhabitants of the land.

The ten spies (along with all Israel) died without ever possessing what God had promised.  Only two men from that generation entered into Canaan and possessed the land.  I think you can guess who they were-Joshua and Caleb.  The only two who agreed with the declarations of God.

Check out what you have been saying.  Do your words agree with God or not? 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Destitution of Service
. . . though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved -2 Corinthians 12:15
Natural human love expects something in return. But Paul is saying, "It doesn't really matter to me whether you love me or not. I am willing to be completely destitute anyway; willing to be poverty-stricken, not just for your sakes, but also that I may be able to get you to God." "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 8:9 ). And Paul's idea of service was the same as our Lord's. He did not care how high the cost was to himself- he would gladly pay it. It was a joyful thing to Paul.

The institutional church's idea of a servant of God is not at all like Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of others. Jesus Christ actually "out-socialized" the socialists. He said that in His kingdom the greatest one would be the servant of all (see Matthew 23:11 ). The real test of a saint is not one's willingness to preach the gospel, but one's willingness to do something like washing the disciples' feet- that is, being willing to do those things that seem unimportant in human estimation but count as everything to God. It was Paul's delight to spend his life for God's interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. But before we will serve, we stop to ponder our personal and financial concerns- "What if God wants me to go over there? And what about my salary? What is the climate like there? Who will take care of me? A person must consider all these things." All that is an indication that we have reservations about serving God. But the apostle Paul had no conditions or reservations. Paul focused his life on Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 26, 2009

A Sad Split

READ: Malachi 2:10-16
Let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. -Malachi 2:15

The drama played out in a nest of bald eagles monitored by a webcam. A beloved eagle family, viewed by many via the Internet, was breaking up. After raising several offspring in previous seasons, the mother again laid new eggs in the spring. But then a young female invaded their happy home. When Dad started cavorting with her, Mom disappeared and the life in the abandoned eggs died.

In an Internet chat room, questions and accusations flew wildly. Everyone who loved the pair was distraught. Biologists warned the amateur eagle enthusiasts not to attribute human values to birds. But everyone did. We all wanted the original couple to reunite. Everyone seemed to "know" that the family unit is sacred.

As chat room members expressed their sadness, I wondered if they knew that God feels much the same way about human family breakups. I also wondered about myself: Why did I feel more sadness over the eagles than over the fractured human families in my community? Clearly, I need to revise my priorities.

In Malachi 2, we see God's view of marriage. It symbolizes His covenant with His people (v.11). He takes it very seriously-and so should we.  - Julie Ackerman Link

Thinking It Over
In Malachi 2:11, what is "profaned" and how?
How does Malachi 2:15 echo Genesis 2:24?
Why is this important? (Mal. 2:15-16).

Put Christ first if you want your marriage to last.

Going Against Public Opinion
By Os Hillman

"On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, 'No! He is to be called John.' They said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who has that name.'" (Luke 1:59-61).

Have you ever had to go against public opinion or advice from family members or peers? Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. It was time to name the child. Tradition said the name would be in honor of a family member. The family members were insistent. When Elizabeth didn't agree with them, they appealed to Zechariah who supported Elizabeth.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were told by the angel Gabriel the name was to be "John." They were being obedient to the Lord's command which went against tradition and public opinion.

We live in a day when leaders are often driven more by public opinion than what is right. We are each called to live a life based on obedience-based decisions, not public opinion. Living a life of obedience will often go against the tide of public opinion. Jesus lived a life based on a purity of purpose and mission. The Pharisees wanted Him to conform to the rules of religious tradition. The result was He died because He lived to obey an audience of One, not public opinion.

Are you challenged to live a life of conviction versus pleasing others? Be true to what God has called you to do no matter the cost.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

Unlikely Vessels

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says,

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

God delights in calling and using those the world passes by and counts as nothing.  One old preacher said, "God isn't looking for golden vessels, God isn't looking for silver vessels, God is looking for yielded vessels."  I think that is true.

It is amazing what God can do through someone's life who doesn't have to have the credit.

You may feel like you do not have much to offer.  If that is the case, then you are perfect!  When God does great things through you, then He will get the credit.  People will know it was Him and not you!

God is looking for yielded vessels that He can use in a dynamic, community-altering way.

Why not say today, "Here I am Lord, use me;" and after praying that simple prayer, get ready.  God may bring some amazing opportunities your way to step out and be used for His glory. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Our Misgivings About Jesus
The woman said to Him, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw [water] with, and the well is deep' -John 4:11

Have you ever said to yourself, "I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God's Word, but He can't really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!" When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality- that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, "Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?" Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, "It's easy to say, 'Trust in the Lord,' but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water- no means to be able to give us these things." And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, "Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself." If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can't.

My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly- "Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it."

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 27, 2009

Quiet Times
READ: Psalm 23:1-3; Mark 6:30-32
Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10

My friend Mary told me that she had always valued the time she spent fishing with her dad. Not being a fishing aficionado myself, I was curious about what she found so enjoyable. "I just like being with my dad," she said. "So you just fish and talk?" I asked her. "Oh, no, we don't really talk," she said. "We just fish."

It wasn't the conversation-it was the company.

Did you ever think about how much time we spend talking? In what we like to call our "quiet time" with God, we usually fill in any silence with our prayers. But do we ever practice just being "still"?

God said, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). When Jesus noticed that the disciples were so busy that they didn't even have time to eat, He told them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). When we leave the distractions of life behind, we can more easily rest and refocus on God.

Are you allowing quiet moments alone with God to be a part of your life? Do you desire for Him to restore your soul? (Ps. 23:1-3). Let Him teach you how to "be still." And listen when Jesus invites you: "Come aside with Me and rest a while."  - Cindy Hess Kasper

The quiet times we spend with God
In solitude and prayer
Will strengthen and restore our souls
And help us sense His care. -Sper

Quiet times with God store up power for future emergencies.

Filled with the Holy Spirit
By Os Hillman

"Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit'"(Acts 9:1).

Billy Graham, the great evangelist, shared a personal story about the role of the Holy Spirit in his life-long ministry and how he came to see the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

In my own life there have been times when I have also had the sense of being filled with the Spirit, knowing that some special strength was added for some task I was being called to perform. We sailed for England in 1954 for a crusade that was to last for three months. While on the ship, I experienced a definite sense of oppression. Satan seemed to have assembled a formidable array of his artillery against me. Not only was I oppressed, I was overtaken by a sense of depression, accomplished by a frightening feeling of inadequacy for the task that lay ahead. Almost night and day I prayed. I knew in a new way what Paul was telling us when he spoke about 'praying without ceasing.' Then one day in a prayer meeting with my wife and colleagues, a break came. As I wept before the Lord, I was filled with deep assurance that power belonged to God and He was faithful. I had been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ when I was saved, but I believe God gave me a special anointing on the way to England. From that moment on I was confident that God the Holy Sprit was in control for the tasks that lay ahead. That proved true.*

As a believer, God has provided the Holy Spirit for you and I so that we can experience the power of the gospel that allows us to live the Christian life.

Today, if you have not done so, invite the Holy Spirit to fill your life to overflowing so that you can be a witness in your workplace, city and nation. 

*Elmer Towns, Understanding the Deeper Life, Revell, Old Tappan, NJ 1988, pp. 214, 215

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.


The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

The Road to Perfect and Complete

I want us to focus our attention today on James 1:2-4,

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

What I want to look at today is how God seeks to bring us to maturity by building patience into our lives.  If there is one thing I have learned in my Christian walk, it is that God is not in as much of a hurry as I am!

Now, what is patience?  Patience is the long-lasting quality of your faith.  If you let go of your patience, your faith falls to the floor.

The end result God is looking for is that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  The word perfect here means mature.  God is developing maturity in us by working on our patience.

I have a dear friend who has a great church.  They endeavored to build another building on their property and it ended up being a major undertaking.  In fact, it turned out to be the most difficult thing he had ever done.  I mean, it took a strip out of his hide.

Eventually it got built, but you know what my friend says about it?  He says, "You see that building?  I didn't build that building.  It built me."

Going through those trials, facing those difficulties, having his faith tested, having to trust God when it seemed like there was a lack of finances, having to hold onto God's Word when he was a laughing stock with some people, all of that built character in him as he stood the test.

I have a question for you:  Has anything been building you lately?  If so, rejoice, because God is working maturity in you! 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Impoverished Ministry of Jesus

Where then do You get that living water? -John 4:11
"The well is deep"- and even a great deal deeper than the Samaritan woman knew! ( John 4:11 ). Think of the depths of human nature and human life; think of the depth of the "wells" in you. Have you been limiting, or impoverishing, the ministry of Jesus to the point that He is unable to work in your life? Suppose that you have a deep "well" of hurt and trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, "Let not your heart be troubled . . ." (John 14:1  ). Would your response be to shrug your shoulders and say, "But, Lord, the well is too deep, and even You can't draw up quietness and comfort out of it." Actually, that is correct. Jesus doesn't bring anything up from the wells of human nature- He brings them down from above. We limit the Holy One of Israel by remembering only what we have allowed Him to do for us in the past, and also by saying, "Of course, I cannot expect God to do this particular thing." The thing that approaches the very limits of His power is the very thing we as disciples of Jesus ought to believe He will do. We impoverish and weaken His ministry in us the moment we forget He is almighty. The impoverishment is in us, not in Him. We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.

The reason some of us are such poor examples of Christianity is that we have failed to recognize that Christ is almighty. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment or surrender to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances, we impoverish His ministry by saying, "Of course, He can't do anything about this." We struggle to reach the bottom of our own well, trying to get water for ourselves. Beware of sitting back, and saying, "It can't be done." You will know it can be done if you will look to Jesus. The well of your incompleteness runs deep, but make the effort to look away from yourself and to look toward Him.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals February 28, 2009

Fever Pitch
READ: Matthew 22:34-40
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. -Matthew 22:39

In the movie Fever Pitch, Ben Wrightman is crazy about the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He rarely misses a game during the spring and summer months.

One winter, Ben falls in love with a young woman named Lindsey and wins her heart. Then spring rolls around, and she finds out that he's a different person during baseball season. He has no time for her unless she goes to the games with him.

When Lindsey ends her relationship with Ben because of his fanaticism, he talks with a young friend, who says, "You love the Sox. But tell me, have they ever loved you back?" Those words cause Ben to analyze his priorities and to give more time to the woman he loves, who loves him back.

We pour our lives into hobbies, pleasures, activities, work-many good things. But two things should always be thought about when making our choices. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37,39).

When it seems our life is getting out of balance, the question, "Has that hobby or activity or thing ever loved me back?" may help to keep us in check. Loving God and loving people are what really count.  - Anne Cetas

Follow with reverent steps the great example
Of Him whose holy work was doing good:
So shall the wide earth seem our Father's temple,
Each loving life a psalm of gratitude. -Whittier

We show our love for God when we share His love with others.

The Judas Test
By Os Hillman

"If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God" (Ps. 55:12-14).

Betrayal is one of the most difficult tests that we will ever face because it involves being wounded by someone we trust. It's hard not to become bitter when a friend or family member wounds us. It takes a lot of Christ-like grace to forgive a traitor.

You have probably faced the Judas Test yourself. Everyday you and I work in a marketplace that is rife with betrayal, deception, duplicity, and treachery. Perhaps you have been betrayed by your boss or a coworker. Or perhaps somebody betrayed a confidence or stabbed you in the back. It may have even been someone you've gone to church with or prayed with - someone you trusted as a brother in Christ.
The Judas kiss stings worse than a slap across the face. Almost every leader I know has experienced that sting at one time or another. Yet God is watching to see how we respond to the Judas Test. If we pass the test, He can then take us to the next level, the next test. If we fail, we'll probably have to repeat the test until we learn to forgive.

The Judas Test is God's graduate level course in faith, designed to reveal the truth about ourselves: Are we willing to trust Him enough to forgive the Judases in our lives? The book of Hebrews warns, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" (Heb 12:15). When we refuse to forgive we risk infecting others with a "bitter root" of resentment.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

The Elk River Story
City Experiences Spiritual Climate Change
Imagine a community where the mayor openly expresses Christian faith, pastors and business leaders come together to pray regularly, 100+ youth make a commitment to Jesus Christ, a bank sees 70 physical healings and 100 people accept Jesus during business hours, and inmates at the county jail experience God's miraculous transformation. Such a community exists near Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read first-hand accounts of these stories and more. Order or Learn More 

It Will All Work Out

Ephesians 1:11 is a powerful verse with a vital lesson,

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Over the 30 years of my Christian life, I have come to have great confidence in God's ability to work things out.  No matter what is going on or how obscured my understanding of a situation is, I believe God is always working things according to His great sovereign plan.

It is as if there is this giant tapestry that God is weaving, and my life is a part of it.  I sometimes get caught up with the temporal things and the stuff that is happening, but God reminds me, "Hey, nothing is taking Me by surprise.  I'm weaving all of these things into this great pattern.  Your mistakes, the stuff that happens to you, it is all going to turn out alright!"

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing occurs to God?  The thing you are embroiled in right now did not take God by surprise.  He did not look at your situation and say, "Oh no!  I didn't figure on that!  Gabriel, do you have any suggestions?  What are we going to do?"

I know that sometimes in my microscopic view of things I have said, "Lord, such and such has got to happen."  And God has replied, "Well, you don't have the big picture."  Then, as time went on, God pulled the camera back, and I got the wide view, and I realized God was up to something very cool-totally apart from what I thought "had to happen."

Whatever your situation, you can rest assured that God has plans to work things out.  God is working all things after the counsel of His own will.  So relax!  Even if your present circumstances have totally taken you by surprise, God saw it coming and made provision far ahead of time.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

Strength Against The Enemy

As Christians, we will face opposition because of our faith. A neighbor might snub us, for example, or a co-worker may ridicule us. In the middle of these attacks, we may be tempted to call them the enemy. But our true enemy is spiritual in nature.

Are you under a spiritual attack today? Perhaps Satan is tempting you to sin. Or maybe he is using a broken relationship to grow seeds of bitterness in your soul. Whatever tactics the enemy uses to try to trip us, we have no reason to fear because we have God on our side.

In Psalm 27, we see that David trusted God to provide His protection and strength. "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident" (Psalm 27:1-3).

David was able to go into battle with confidence because he began his battle in prayer. When we call upon God's power instead of fearing our circumstances, we are on the path to victory. The more time we spend in prayer and worship of our Savior, the less we will feel afraid. The only way to be a successful spiritual warrior is to start as a successful worshiper: "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord" (Psalm 27:6).

When we forget to seek Him on a daily basis, we become easy prey for the enemy. The enemy is always present, ready to trip us up or to lure us down the wrong path. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:.

We desperately need God's guidance to lead us in the right direction. Yet when we neglect our relationship with God, we become insensitive to His voice. We need to remember David's cry: "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek" (Psalm 27:.

There are times when God will call us to act immediately during a battle. But there are other times when He wants us to wait upon Him, so that He may act on our behalf. What seems like a frustrating delay is God's preparation for a great blessing to come. "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:13-14).

Sometimes it takes as much courage to wait upon God as it does to act in His name. As we wait before the Lord in worship and as we walk with Him daily, He puts His strength in our hearts. "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, ESV).

As we look at David's example in Psalm 27, we see that he worshiped God, walked with God, and waited upon God. How close is this strategy to your own battle plan? We need to remain in a constant state of readiness, recognizing that the only way to find victory is through God. Confess to God today the times when you have neglected the worship that He deserves. Seek forgiveness for the times you ignored His voice. Confess your impatience during His calls for waiting. Seek to follow God wholeheartedly-not only during times of battle, but also in a daily walk with Him.

*****

The circumstances of life do not have to get you down.  Learn how you can turn negative situations into ones of hope and promise in our free resource this month-"When Life Gets You Down, Look Up!" Download it today.


By Passionately Proclaiming Uncompromising Truth, Leading The Way is revolutionizing lives at home and around the world. Discover more at www.leadingtheway.org.

GOD BLESS

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals March 1, 2009

The Need For Nourishment

READ: Psalm 37:1-11
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. -Psalm 37:3

Our grandson Cameron was born 6 weeks prematurely. Undersized and in danger, he became a resident of the hospital's neonatal unit for about 2 weeks until he gained enough weight to go home. His biggest challenge was that, in the physical exercise of eating, he burned more calories than he was taking in. This obviously hindered his development. It seemed that the little guy took two steps backward for every step of progress he made.

No medicine or treatment could solve the problem; he just needed the strength-giving fortification of nourishment.

As followers of Christ, we are constantly finding our emotional and spiritual reserves drained by the challenges of life in a fallen world. In such times, we need nourishment to strengthen us. In Psalm 37, David encouraged us to strengthen our hearts by feeding our souls. He wrote, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness" (v.3).

When weakness afflicts us, the reassurance of God's never-ending faithfulness can enable us to carry on in His name. His faithful care is the nourishment we need, giving us, as the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" says, "strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow."  - Bill Crowder

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! -Chisholm
© Renewal 1951. W.M. Runyan. Hope Publishing.


Feed on God's faithfulness to find the strength you need.


Learning the Art of Forgiveness
By Os Hillman

"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (Luke 11:4).

"I'm sorry for speaking to you harshly last night," I said. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me to add the second and most important part of my admission. "Will you forgive me?" Without this request we have only partially repented of our sin. It is important to humble ourselves before those we sin against. This is repentance. If we only say we are sorry we are only stating remorse for our actions.

Jesus modeled this in the Lords Prayer: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (Luke 11:4). When I owned my advertising agency I once filed a lawsuit against a client who refused to pay a $140,000 bill. However, the Lord instructed me that because I had also sinned in the situation, I was to drop the suit. My next move was to talk to my former client. I tried phoning him, but he wouldn't return my calls. Finally, I reached his secretary and said, "I want you to take this message down and give it to your boss, word for word - no changes: 'I have sinned against you. I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I ask your forgiveness for filing the lawsuit against you. You are no longer obligated to pay the balance you owe me if you don't feel you owe it.'"

I could hear the secretary begin to cry on the other end of the line. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. About an hour later, my former client called. We hadn't spoken for six months. We reconciled the relationship.

The next few years were incredibly difficult because of the financial setback I suffered, but God provided for my needs. Looking back, I realize that this was my Judas Test. I passed the test when I let go of my resentment and asked to be forgiven, and God was glorified in the situation.

Contact Os Hillman at www.marketplaceleaders.org.

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The Remnant

Today, I want you to read Romans 11:2-5,

God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.  Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?  But what does the divine response say to him?  "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

When Elijah pleads with God, he is physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted.  Jezebel is after his head and he has run into the wilderness.  He is sitting down under a tree, and he is crying to God, "I'm the only one.  Nobody else is serving You."

But God says, "Hey, wait a minute, Tiger.  I have seven thousand more who haven't bowed their knee to the false idol.  You're not the only one."

God is saying, "I have a remnant."  And then Paul brings it right into present day, and says, "Just like God had a remnant then, God has a remnant today."

A remnant is a small group that has remained.  That is where the word remnant comes from.  It comes from the root "to remain."  God always has a remnant.  A remnant that remains faithful, committed, on course, obedient to God.  That does not get discouraged, quit, or give up because of life's many turns.

Life has its share of setbacks and unexpected turns, and many people give up because of those setbacks.  But those who stay on course and remain faithful will experience God's richer blessings.

God blesses all of His children.  But those who stay the course are rewarded for their faithfulness.

So stay on track, hold course, stay steady, and remain faithful.  Be a part of the remnant.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God

The Piercing Question
READ:
Do you love Me? -John 21:17

Peter's response to this piercing question is considerably different from the bold defiance he exhibited only a few days before when he declared, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" ( Matthew 26:35 ; also see Matthew 26:33-34 ). Our natural individuality, or our natural self, boldly speaks out and declares its feelings. But the true love within our inner spiritual self can be discovered only by experiencing the hurt of this question of Jesus Christ. Peter loved Jesus in the way any natural man loves a good person. Yet that is nothing but emotional love. It may reach deeply into our natural self, but it never penetrates to the spirit of a person. True love never simply declares itself. Jesus said, "Whoever confesses Me before men [that is, confesses his love by everything he does, not merely by his words], him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God" ( Luke 12:8  ).

Unless we are experiencing the hurt of facing every deception about ourselves, we have hindered the work of the Word of God in our lives. The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable. It hurts not only on the natural level, but also on the deeper spiritual level. "For the Word of God is living and powerful . . . , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit . . ."- to the point that no deception can remain ( Hebrews 4:12). When the Lord asks us this question, it is impossible to think and respond properly, because when the Lord speaks directly to us, the pain is too intense. It causes such a tremendous hurt that any part of our life which may be out of line with His will can feel the pain. There is never any mistaking the pain of the Lord's Word by His children, but the moment that pain is felt is the very moment at which God reveals His

GOD BLESS