Devotional for the day

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 28, 2009

Nailed To The Cross

READ: Colossians 2:9-17
[Jesus] has made [you] alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. -Colossians 2:13

It was a touching church service. Our pastor talked about Jesus taking our sins upon Himself and dying in our place to take our punishment. He asked if anyone still felt guilt over confessed sins and was therefore not enjoying the forgiveness of God.

We were to write the sin or sins on a piece of paper, walk to the front of the church, and nail the paper to the cross that was placed there. Many went forward, and you could hear the pounding of nails for several minutes. That act didn't give us forgiveness, of course, but it was a physical reminder that Jesus had already taken those sins on Himself as He hung on the cross and died.

That's what the apostle Paul taught the church at Colosse. The people were being influenced by false teachers who presented Christ as less than adequate for their needs. But Paul explained that Jesus paid the price for our sins. He said, "The handwriting of requirements that was against us, . . . He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col. 2:14).

If we confess our sin to God, seeking His cleansing, He will forgive (1 John 1:9). We don't need to hold on to the guilt. Our sins have been nailed to the cross; they've been taken away. Jesus has forgiven them all.  - Anne Cetas

Lord, give me courage to confess,
To bare my sinful heart to Thee;
Thy full forgiveness I would know
And from this weight of guilt be free. -D. De Haan

Guilt is a burden God never intended His children to bear.

Affair-Proof Your Marriage with Positive Affirmation

The first way to affair-proof your marriage is to season your marriage with affirming communication.

In Song of Solomon 7:1-6 we read of how Solomon affirmed his bride,

How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O prince's daughter!  The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.  Your navel is a rounded goblet; it lacks no blended beverage.  Your waist is a heap of wheat set about with lilies.  Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.  Your neck is like an ivory tower, your eyes like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim.  Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.  Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses.  How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!

Solomon knew it was vital for him to compliment his bride's body, because, as you read in chapter 1, it is evident that it was an area of insecurity for her.

This Shulamite was a country girl.  She said, "Do not look on me for I am dark."  She was tan from working out in the vineyards.  And compared with the fair-skinned, pampered ladies of the court, she felt very insecure.

So Solomon very wisely builds her up in the area where she feels most insecure.

Speak affirming words to your mate rather than tear him or her down.  If your spouse is starved for positive affirmation, and it does not come from you, it opens a door of temptation.  The devil will send someone to give insincere compliments, and if a person is starved for it, they gravitate towards it.

Praise one another lavishly.  It is an important thing to do.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: 1 Kings 20:1-43

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. - Ezekiel 33:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
One morning, after a night of heavy wind, a young boy discovered a fallen baby bird in the backyard. That day his family stayed clear, hoping the mother bird would come to the rescue. As the day wore on, however, and no mother bird appeared, the baby bird grew lethargic and quiet. The boy's parents warned that this night would likely be the bird's last. Yet in the morning, the family was surprised to see an adult bird tending to the fledgling. Expected doom had been averted!
The theme of judgment was clear at the end of chapter 19. So when we begin reading in chapter 20 about the Aramean king mustering his army and making belittling claims against Israel, we might reasonably expect that the end was near for Ahab. Yet as we read on, we are met with a surprise. Twice (and at impossible odds) God granted victory to Ahab and his army (vv. 13-21, 26-30). Moreover, God continued to send His prophets to speak God's word to Ahab.

Scripture tells us that God did this for a particular reason: so that "you will know that I am the Lord" (vv. 13, 28). Do you see the mercy and goodness of God, extended even to a wicked and rebellious king? God's offer of restoration and relationship remains far longer than we might expect! Rather than utterly destroy Ahab, God offered yet another chance for repentance.

Yet in the end, the judgment theme sounds again (vv. 35-43). God had given ample opportunities for Ahab to turn in repentance and humility toward God, but instead, Ahab refused to humble himself before the Lord and made a treaty with Ben-Hadad in violation of God's commands (see Deut. 20:10-20). While God continued to send prophets to Ahab, not once did Ahab seek out God's wisdom and guidance. Ahab's life would end in destruction as God promised, but his downfall was not because of an unmerciful God, but rather because of his own unrepentant heart.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is your image of God? Do you see Him as an angry judge eager to condemn, hesitant to forgive? If so, face the challenge of today's reading which shows Him as a patient God who takes "no pleasure in the death of the wicked," but desires to grant life and forgiveness (Ezek. 33:11). If God continued to extend His call for relationship with Ahab, surely He does the same for you. Make today the day you come humbly before God, asking for forgiveness for your sin, trusting in the work of Christ.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 29, 2009

Beware Of Jumping To Conclusions

READ: Joshua 22:10-34
Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. -Ecclesiastes 7:9

The e-mail contained nothing but Bible verses, and it came from someone I didn't know very well at a time when there was disagreement among members of a church committee I was on. I assumed that the verses were aimed at me in an accusing way, and I was angry that someone who didn't know all the issues involved would use Scripture to attack me.

Before I could retaliate, my husband, Jay, suggested I give her the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst. "Perhaps there's an innocent explanation," he said. I couldn't imagine what it would be, but I followed his advice and called. "Thank you so much for calling," she said. "My computer has a virus and it spewed out e-mails using pieces of our Sunday school lesson to random people in my address book." Gulp. I'm thankful that God used Jay to keep me from creating a problem where none existed.

By jumping to a conclusion that was logical but untrue, I came dangerously close to unnecessary conflict. The Israelites did the same thing. They were ready to go to war because they wrongly assumed that the altar built by their brothers was a sign of rebellion against God (Josh. 22:9-34). To avoid making wrong judgments, we must be careful to get the facts right.  - Julie Ackerman Link

When you're forming your opinions,
Do it carefully-go slow;
Hasty judgments oft are followed
By regretting-that I know. -Anon.

To avoid an embarrassing fall, don't jump to a wrong conclusion.

Affair-Proof Your Marriage with Companionship

Today I want to give you the second way to affair-proof your marriage.  And that is by being a companion to your spouse, spending time together just enjoying each other's company.

Back in Song of Solomon 7 we read this in verses 10-13,

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.  Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field; let us lodge in the villages.  Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom.  There I will give you my love.  The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved.

Notice that Solomon and his bride just hung out together.  It was a vital part of their relationship.  And so must it be for any thriving marriage.           

If you have drifted apart, I suggest you each make a list of things you like to do, or things that you might like to try.  It could be anything from antique hunting, going to garage sales, taking walks, bicycling, fishing, going to museums, watching football, shopping, gardening, snorkeling, reading, sky diving, cooking, hiking, puzzles, photography, whatever.

Once you have made your lists, compare them and see where things overlap.  Then find two or three things, and endeavor to do those things together.  Have fun together.

Set time apart to do at least one activity together every couple of weeks.  If you have kids, get a babysitter so it is just the two of you.  It will be the best gift you could give your children.

If you do not do things together, you will find yourselves drifting apart.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 Kings 21:1-29
Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. - 1 Peter 4:12

TODAY IN THE WORD
Anyone who has observed children playing has seen this typical scene: one child has a toy that another child wants; if the first child won't share, the second child either takes the toy by force or retreats to a corner to covet and sulk until he gets his way.
It's not an attractive picture, but it's what we see from Ahab in today's reading: a childish response of covetousness and sulking over a vineyard he wanted but couldn't have. Only in this case, the miffed Ahab and Jezebel exercise lethal force to take what they want. An innocent man is murdered just so that Ahab can have his vineyard. Naboth is an example of the injustice that God's people often face. Naboth was not simply being bull-headed by refusing to sell or trade his vineyard to Ahab. There was a divine command about not parting with one's inheritance except under extreme circumstances (Num. 36:7-9). Naboth stood for God's word and received gross injustice: a false accusation of blasphemy and a painful death. It's a foreshadowing of Jesus, who Himself experienced the greatest injustice of all, and warned that His loyal followers would experience persecution as well (Mark 13:9-13).

But this is not where today's passage ends. Naboth was dead and Ahab happily occupied his new vineyard-and then God's word arrived. Elijah was sent to deliver the news: God had seen everything. Twice Ahab's life and actions were summarized as one who had "sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord" (vv. 20, 25). As a result, gruesome disaster would be Ahab's punishment.

God sees the injustice of our world and He does not turn His back. The wicked may try to hide their deeds or make them appear just, but our omniscient God is not fooled, and His justice will ultimately prevail. True believers can expect injustice, but they can also trust that God will one day set it all right.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
It's a common objection: How could a good God let evil things happen in the world? Though a difficult question to answer in full, Scripture does show us that God is not ignorant of the world's evil, and through Christ's own suffering the injustice of the world will eventually be remedied in full. Look up 1 Peter 4:12-13 to see God's further encouragement that our hardships are in fact a way that we participate in Christ's suffering. Then write out those verses on an index card and commit them to memory this week.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals September 30, 2009

Struggling To Kneel

READ: Colossians 4:1-12
Always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. -Col. 4:12

Just before John Ashcroft was being sworn in as a US senator, he met with family and friends for prayer. As they gathered around him, he saw his dad trying to get up from the couch where he sat. Since his father was in frail health, Ashcroft told him, "That's okay, Dad. You don't have to stand up to pray for me." His father replied, "I'm not struggling to stand up. I'm struggling to kneel."

His father's effort reminds me of the exertion it sometimes takes to intercede for a fellow believer. In Colossians, Paul refers to Epaphras as a bondservant who is "always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Col. 4:12). "Laboring fervently" is the translation of a Greek word from which we get our word agony. It was used of wrestlers who in the Greek gymnastic games strained to overcome an opponent.

Epaphras interceded for other believers to become mature in their walk with the Savior. Asking God to overcome obstacles to spiritual growth in the lives of others requires our concentration and discipline. Are we willing to labor "fervently" in prayer to ask God to meet the needs of our loved ones?  - Dennis Fisher

There's a holy, high vocation
Needing workers everywhere;
'Tis the highest form of service,
'Tis the ministry of prayer. -Woodworth

Intercessory prayer is life's real work.
 
Affair-Proof Your Marriage Through Intimacy

In the last two devotionals, we have learned that we can affair-proof our marriages through positive affirmation and companionship.  The third way to affair-proof your marriage is by making intimacy a priority.     

Let me take you back to the Scripture we read yesterday, Song of Solomon 7:10-13,

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.  Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field; let us lodge in the villages.  Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom.  There I will give you my love.  The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved.

These verses paint a beautiful picture of intimacy between a husband and wife.  Couples need to have physical intimacy.  In fact, the New Testament commands the husband and wife not to deprive one another except by mutual consent, and then only if they are going to fast and pray.

So how do you create an atmosphere of intimacy?  It starts with affirming your spouse.  Notice that Solomon has been affirming his wife, complimenting her, building her up.

Now guys, you need to understand that women are wired differently than you.  In order for a woman to be intimate, she needs to speak and be spoken to.  You have to create an atmosphere for intimacy.

For most husbands, they just catch a glimpse of their wife in the shower and they are ready to go.  But for women, it starts differently than that.  She is aroused by words, sincere words, and it usually starts around breakfast time.

Take time today to create an atmosphere of intimacy.  If you do, you will be on your way to experiencing true intimacy, as we will see in tomorrow's devotional.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 Kings 22:1-40
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. - Isaiah 40:8

TODAY IN THE WORD
A wise man, dispensing advice about financial investing, once said: "The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging." King Ahab may not have been looking for financial counsel, but he should have heeded this advice. Today's passage presents Ahab in a hole of another sort: the continual rejection of God's word.
Joined by King Jehoshaphat from Judah, Ahab asked for assistance with a military campaign against Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat initially agreed to help, but then wisely asked for "the counsel of the Lord" (v. 5). Ahab's court prophets offered sycophantic support, telling Ahab what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat wasn't fooled by this charade and called for a "prophet of the Lord" (v. 6). The remainder of the passage offers a number of lessons about God's word as the true prophet Micaiah is juxtaposed with the false prophets of Ahab's court.

First, a misapplication of God's word will not convey truth. Zedekiah's enacted parable about the "goring" of the Arameans (vv. 10-11) was likely based on God's earlier promise in Deuteronomy 33:17. Nevertheless, this misapplication of God's word did not make it an accurate prophecy.

Second, we see the assumption that we control God's word corrected. Some characters in the text presumed that a prophet was free to offer whatever word he wanted (vv. 8, 13). But Micaiah's response set the matter straight: "As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me" (v. 14). A true word of God comes from God alone, not from human ideas and desires.

Third, God's word is unfailing. Everything Micaiah had predicted came true (v. 38). Ahab tried to avoid his predicted death via a clever disguise, but a "random" arrow found its way to Ahab nonetheless. Fourth, opposing God's word leads to destruction. Ahab was given ample disclosure about God's intentions and his imminent destruction if he went to battle. In a profound act of folly, Ahab continued to pursue his own plan-and was killed.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The need for a true word of God, along with a humble acceptance of it, is a prominent topic in today's reading. Pray today for the leaders of your church to preach God's word in its fullness, neither domesticating its message nor manipulating it for personal gain. Pray also for your congregation, that together you would respond to God's word in true obedience. Then send an encouraging note to your pastor telling him that you are praying for him, that God's word would be truthfully and fully spoken through his ministry.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 1, 2009

The Measure Of Love

READ: John 15:9-17
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. -John 15:13

On October 2, 1954, First Lieutenant James O. Conway was taking off from Boston Logan Airport, flying a plane that carried a load of munitions. When his plane became airborne, he suddenly lost power over Boston's bay. In an instant, Conway faced a brutal choice-eject from the plane and save his own life, or crash the plane into the bay causing his own death.

If he ejected, however, the plane would crash into an East Boston neighborhood filled with homes and families. Amazingly, Conway chose to crash the plane into the bay-giving his life for the lives of others.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." The willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect others shows a heart that cares more about the needs of others than the needs of one's self. Someone once said that "the measure of love is what one is willing to give up for it." God the Father loved so much that He gave up His Son. Christ loved so much that He gave up His life-even taking our sins on Himself and dying in our place.

The measure of God's love for you is great. Have you accepted His love personally?  - Bill Crowder

When Jesus gave His life for me,
Enduring all the agony
Upon the cross of Calvary,
He showed the love of God. -Sper

Nothing speaks more clearly of God's love than the cross of Christ.

 
Affair-Proof Your Marriage Through Intimacy-Part 2

Yesterday we learned the first step in experiencing intimacy in marriage...by creating an atmosphere for that intimacy.  Today, I want us to see the results of that deliberate effort.

As we mentioned yesterday, Solomon has been complimenting his wife and affirming her.  Look at her response to that affirmation in Song of Solomon 7:10,

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.

She is digging it!  She is saying, "He really loves me!"  Solomon's affirmation of his bride has created this atmosphere of intimacy.  And look what she says next in verse 11,

Come, my beloved, let us go forth to the field; let us lodge in the villages.

She is grabbing Solomon's hand and saying, "Let's get a hotel room!"  Then there are verses 12-13,

Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom.  There I will give you my love.  The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved.

Friend, catch what is going on.  Solomon has affirmed his wife saying, "Honey, you are beautiful!  I am so glad I married you.  I married out of my league.  You are wonderful.  Your body is great.  I am so happy!"

Her response?  "Wow, he loves me.  I'll tell you what, let's go away and have a little love vacation.  Let's take a few days off."  That is enough to get any husband inspired to rent a hotel room!

If you want to affair-proof your marriage, make intimacy a priority!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: 1 Kings 22:41-53
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. - Proverbs 16:25

TODAY IN THE WORD
In the ancient world, writing of any length was done not in books but on scrolls of parchment which could be rolled up for storage and unrolled for reading. Consequently, there was usually a limit to how many lines of text could fit on a single scroll. If an author needed more space, a second scroll was used.
Coming to the end of 1 Kings, it's important to recognize that this book marks the end of a scroll, not the story (2 Kings will continue the tale). Nevertheless, the ending of 1 Kings provides an apt summary of the wisdom and the folly of the entire book by offering concluding remarks on two final kings, Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah.

After studying the abysmal life of Ahab since 1 Kings 15:35, the report on Jehoshaphat is refreshing: "In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (v. 43). Jehoshaphat even removed the shrine prostitutes left over from previous regimes. Finally, we say, some wisdom after all the folly of Ahab!

Not so fast. Although Jehoshaphat got high marks, not all was well. The high places were not totally removed, and an attempt at a new shipping enterprise ended in disaster (cf. Solomon's fleet in 1 Kings 9:26-28).

Finally, there's Jehoshaphat's peace with Israel. It may seem innocuous enough, but the broader context shows that peace with Israel meant a marriage alliance between Ahab's daughter and Jehoshaphat's son (2 Kings 8:18). That marriage nearly ended the southern kingdom (see 2 Kings 11). Godliness was there in Jehoshaphat, but so was foolish compromise.

Then there was Ahaziah, Ahab's son. The book of 1 Kings ends on a bleak note: "he did evil in the eyes of the Lord," provoking God to anger (vv. 52-53). Two kings, each tripped up by the folly of either compromise or idolatry. One might wish for a happier ending, but God was not done with His people. It will take another book, though, to finish the tale.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Take the opportunity to review the lessons you have learned from 1 Kings. What has God revealed to you this month about His ways or character? What new insights have you learned about yourself or the way God is calling you to live? Jot some of these down in a place you can return to over the years, then take a moment to offer a prayer of thanks for God's revealing Word, asking for the desire and strength to live out these new truths in your own life.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 2, 2009

Expectancy

READ: Matthew 7:7-11

If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! -Matthew 7:11

With a handful of Cheerios, I tip-toed across the deck in my backyard trying to sneak up on the fish in the pond. Perhaps it was my shadow on the water . . . or maybe I wasn't as sneaky as I thought. As I approached the railing, 15 enormous goldfish raced toward me, their large mouths frantically opening and closing in eager anticipation of an expected treat.

So, why did the fish so furiously flap their fins? Because my mere presence set off a conditioned response in their tiny fish brains that told them I had something special to give them.

If only we always had such a response to God and His desire to give us good gifts-a response based on our past experience with Him that flows from a deep-seated knowledge of His character.

Missionary William Carey stated: "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." God desires to equip us perfectly for what He wants us to do, and He invites us to "come boldly" to find mercy and grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

When we as God's children are living in faith, we can have an exciting expectancy and a quiet confidence that God will give us exactly what we need, when we need it (Matt. 7:8-11).  - Cindy Hess Kasper

When with expectancy we pray
According to God's will,
We'll see Him working in our lives
His purpose to fulfill. -Sper

Prayer without expectancy is unbelief in disguise.

The Eighth Commandment of Marriage:  Be a Person of Integrity

Exodus 20:15 gives us the eighth commandment for marriage,

You shall not steal.

You may be wondering how stealing applies to marriage.  Simple.  Not to steal is to be a person of integrity.

If you are always cheating or cutting corners, it will be hard for your spouse to respect you.  Your uprightness should make your marriage partner feel proud.  Your spouse and your family ought to testify of your integrity.  This is really one of the things at the heart of a good marriage.

If you are married to somebody, and you know they cheat their customers, it is just hard to respect that person.  You cannot respect someone who does not have integrity.

This is a big issue that many people fly right by.  But it is vital to a healthy and vibrant marriage because it is hard to fully give yourself to someone who does not have integrity.

If you find that your spouse is holding back, if you feel like he or she does not respect you, take a look inside and see if you are compromising with your integrity.  Do you cheat on your taxes?  Do you tell that "little white lie" to protect yourself or gain an advantage?

Do you represent yourself one way, when in fact in your heart you believe something totally different?  Are you like the man Solomon speaks of in Proverbs 23:7?

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.  "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

If this is an issue in your life, take it to God today.  He will help you become the person of integrity He desires you to be.  And when you do, you will find your spouse will come to respect you, and your marriage will be strengthened!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Psalm 86
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. - Psalm 86:9

TODAY IN THE WORD
One music professor described Johann Sebastian Bach as "arguably the greatest composer in the history of Western music and a man whose staunch Lutheran faith informed his life, his career, and his view of music. He believed that music was a 'refreshment of spirit,' as some of the title pages of his works stated. He believed that music was a powerful tool for the proclamation of the gospel, as his cantatas, Passions, organ chorales, and other compositions clearly show. And ultimately, he believed that music brought glory to God, as the initials SDG (Soli Deo Gloria, 'To God alone be glory') at the end of most of his scores bear witness."
Soli Deo Gloria. Giving God glory is at the center of the worship-filled life. A familiar statement of faith reminds us that the purpose of humanity is "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." But what does this really mean? How can we bring glory to the One who is already infinitely glorious? The goal in our study this month is to deepen our understanding of what it means to glorify God and to motivate us toward more disciplined and passionate living for His glory. The devotions are divided into three main sections. Initially, we'll consider biblical passages on praise and worship, since exalting God's name is certainly one way to bring Him glory. Second, we'll take a look at what kinds of actions glorify the Lord and why. Finally, we'll examine passages from the Gospel of John for lessons from the life of Christ about what it means to glorify God.

In Psalm 86, the writer is weak, trusting, in trouble, and needs mercy, while God is forgiving, loving, compassionate, patient, and faithful. David longed for the joy, strength, and mercy that only God can give. At the very center of the psalm (vv. 8-10), we find His transcendence, incomparable greatness, and right to universal worship. "I will glorify your name forever" is the only possible response (v. 12)!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In order to pray as David did in today's psalm, we need to cultivate a knowledge and appreciation of God's attributes and character. David's praise flowed from a deep knowledge of Scripture and a deep love for the Lord. If God is indeed to be glorified in our lives, we need to pursue the same spiritual unity of head and heart found in the psalms of David. One way to unite your Bible study and prayer time is to pray through this psalm, using the words of Scripture to express the desires of your heart.


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 3, 2009

Music Of The Soul
READ: Ephesians 5:15-21
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. -Ephesians 5:19

In his book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Oliver Sacks devotes a chapter to the therapeutic role of music with people suffering from Alzheimer's. He writes of watching people with advanced dementia respond to songs that bring back memories that had seemed lost to them: "Faces assume expression as the old music is recognized and its emotional power felt. One or two people, perhaps, start to sing along, others join them and soon the entire group-many of them virtually speechless before-is singing together, as much as they are able."

I have seen this occur at Sunday morning services in the Alzheimer's care facility where my wife's mother lives. Perhaps you've experienced it with a loved one whose mind is clouded, and a song calls forth an awareness from deep within.

Paul encouraged the Christians in Ephesus to "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:18-19). Songs that glorify God can reach the deepest level where the meaning never fades. More than words, harmony, or conscious thought, such music is good for the heart and soul.  - David C. McCasland

There's wondrous music in my soul
Since Jesus' blood has made me whole;
Now my heart sings His songs of praise
For all His blessings all my days. -Hess

A heart in tune with God can't help but sing His praise.

The Ninth Commandment of Marriage:  Be Truthful

The ninth commandment for marriage speaks to the heart of any marriage, trust.  It is found in Exodus 20:16,

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Someone who would lie about their neighbor, for whatever reason, is not going to make a good marriage partner.  Honesty and trust are at the heart of a good marriage.

If you take advantage of people for your own gain, speaking untruthfully to get ahead, you are not a person to be trusted.  And you ultimately are the loser.

I am reminded of the guy who was in a fender bender, and he feigned an injury, pretended like he hurt his arm and his shoulder.  As a result, the poor little lady who had run into his car was subjected to a truly horrible situation.  She was grilled by attorneys, had to give depositions, and ended up in court.

But this guy continued trying to take her for all she was worth.  He didn't care because he knew she had money.  He didn't care if she had to give up her house.  He was looking at an opportunity to get rich.

The attorney for the lady's insurance company put him on the stand and said, "I would like to know, since the accident, since you injured your arm and your shoulder, how far can you now raise your arm?"

With great pain etched on his face, he said, "Well...'bout here.  That's it.  Just to here."  Then the attorney asked, "Well, how far could you lift it before the accident?"  The guy responded, raising his arm with ease, "I could lift it up to here."

Needless to say, he lost.

Anyone who is not truthful will ultimately lose.  And if your spouse will lie to someone else, he or she will lie to you. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!
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Read: 1 Chronicles 16:23-36
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name . . . Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. - 1 Chronicles 16:29

TODAY IN THE WORD
The second half of Romans 1 describes the progressive effects of sin on human thought and action and the growing moral corruption and degradation that follows from a refusal to worship the Creator (Rom. 1:18-32). Based on the natural world alone, people should know enough to seek Him and are "without excuse" for their rejection and suppression of the truth. How did Paul describe the root sin? "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened . . . [They] exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images" or idols.
To glorify God, then, is to recognize His worthiness to be worshiped-and to fail to glorify God is to worship something else, which is sure to be wrong. Today's reading, a psalm of David composed for the occasion of the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (parts of this song are found in Psalms 96, 105, and 106), shows us the proper recognition that God is worthy and the proper response of worshiping and giving glory to God. Everything that He is and does calls forth praise, so much so that only willful sin can blind us to His incomparable greatness.

The key verse in the passage reads: "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name" (v. 29). "Ascribe" basically means to recognize the truth of something, to name it for what it is, and the truth is that honor and glory and worship are "due his name." We are to see and proclaim the truth of who God is-His strength, splendor, holiness, and lovingkindness. "The Lord reigns," pure and simple (v. 31). The destiny of history is for all nations to praise Him (vv. 23-28), eagerly joined by all of creation (vv. 30-33; cf. Rom. 8:19-22). God is the Creator, the King, the Everlasting One. His love endures forever, and His justice and power will carry the day.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Joy stands out clearly in today's reading as a quality closely associated with God's glory. He is joy, and when we glorify Him we feel joyful. We are glad, we rejoice, we give thanks, we cry out our praises, we fall on our faces, we dance like David, we raise our hands. The nations sing, the seas resound, and the fields are jubilant. Are God's power, wisdom, and love just dry theological facts for you? The poetry of Scripture, especially the Psalms, can help infuse these facts with joy!


GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 4, 2009

Distortion

READ: 1 Corinthians 2
Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. -1 Corinthians 2:5

Cartographers (mapmakers) deal with the problem of distortion when they display the round shape of the earth on the flat surface of a map. Since there is no perfect way to do this, some world maps depict Greenland as larger than Australia.

Christians have to deal with the problem of distortion as well. When we try to understand the spiritual realm within the limitations of the physical world, we can end up exaggerating minor things and minimizing important things.

The New Testament often addresses the distortion that results when the ideas of popular teachers become more important to us than what God says. God's purpose, said the apostle Paul, is "love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5). Sound teaching does not distort God's Word or divide the church. Rather, it unites believers and builds up the body of Christ to care for one another and to do the work of God in the world (1 Cor. 12:25).

All human attempts to explain God are inadequate, and can even distort our priorities, confuse our thinking, and flatten our understanding of the spiritual life. To keep from distorting God's truth, we must rely on God's power rather than man's wisdom (1 Cor. 2:5).  - Julie Ackerman Link

This mortal life is far too brief,
Eternity too vast,
To follow human sophistries
And lose the soul at last. -Clayburn

To detect error, expose it to the light of God's truth.

The Tenth Commandment of Marriage:  Be Content with What You Have

Today we come to the final commandment for marriage.  That commandment is based on the tenth commandment given to the nation of Israel in Exodus 20:17,

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

This command is very direct.  Do not covet.  Don't be discontent with what you have.  Do not make what you don't have the focus of your life.  Accentuate what you do have and what God has blessed you and your spouse with.

You do this by celebrating your husband's or wife's strengths and giftings rather than thinking, "Oh, I wish he was this way," or, "I wish she had that."

If Janet compared me to her brothers, I would be in big trouble.  Her brothers are these "Mr. Fix-It" guys who can do anything mechanical.  If you are with me and our car breaks down on a desolate road, we are going to be in some serious trouble.  I can pray, but do not expect me to fix the car.

Her brothers are another story.  One just built a house from the ground up; and if anything mechanical breaks down, he can fix it.

While I am not a Mr. Fix-It, there are other things I am good at.  I am so grateful that Janet wants to pull those out of me and give wings to those gifts.  And I want to do the same thing for her.

You will always get into trouble if you think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.  Just water your own grass.  Because on the other side of the fence, it's just Astroturf anyway.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!


Read: Psalm 69:30-36
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. - Psalm 69:30

TODAY IN THE WORD
Musician Israel Houghton has a passion for worship that is visible throughout his work as a church worship leader and Grammy Award-winning recording artist. He recently told an interviewer: "I believe I am existing in this generation to help the church worldwide see that we don't have to wall ourselves off and say, 'This is how we do it, so we're just going to do it like this.' Worship is not for us. It's not about, 'What can I get out of this moment?' It's about offering. It's about sacrifice." His recent album, The Power of One, clearly shows this vision, including the idea that worshiping God goes hand in hand with seeking justice and caring for people.
Giving glory to God is often accomplished in music. Psalms like Psalm 69 might start with questions, complaints, or cries for help, but they always end with praise, expressions of faith, and descriptions of God's greatness. Very often these are framed as praise for acts of God not yet done, but treated as if they were already accomplished. That's exactly the sort of thing going on in today's reading, providing the rich background for David's declaration: "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving" (v. 30).

We see here at least four results from a God-glorifying attitude of faith and praise. First, God is pleased (v. 31). It might have been possible for the Israelites to offer insincere animal sacrifices, but insincere praise is a contradiction in terms. True praise comes from our hearts and gladdens the heart of God. Second, the poor are encouraged (v. 32). The word "poor" here means spiritually needy-and we are all spiritually needy! What makes us glad, or, what do we "see"? God's deliverance and people's praise. Third, prayers are answered (vv. 33, 35-36). God faithfully hears and responds to our petitions and intercessions. Fourth and finally, nature joins in with our praise (v. 34). The entire earth is waiting to be called to worship!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What are your favorite hymns and songs of praise? Perhaps some were sung in your church last Sunday; perhaps some are playing on your CD player right now. No doubt the words of these songs, like David's, are filled with affirmations of our neediness and God's greatness. No doubt the music of these songs lifts up our hearts to our loving "Abba" and strengthens our faith. As your heart joins in with the spirit and truth of the words and music in these songs, God is pleased and glorified.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 5, 2009

Goats For Jesus

READ: 1 John 3:16-20

Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? -1 John 3:17

When Dave and Joy Mueller felt God prompting them to move to Sudan as missionaries, all they knew was that they would be helping to build a hospital in that war-ravaged land. How could they know that goats would be in their future?

As Joy began working with the women, she discovered that many were widows because of the devastating civil war and had no way to earn a living. So Joy had an idea. If she could provide just one pregnant goat to a woman, that person would have milk and a source of income. To keep the program going, the woman would give the newborn kid back to Joy-but all other products from the goat would be used to support the woman's family. The baby goat would eventually go to another family. The gift of goats given in Jesus' name would change the life of numerous Sudanese women-and open the door for Joy to explain the gospel.

What is your equivalent to goats? What can you give a neighbor, a friend, or even someone you don't know? Is it a ride? An offer to do yardwork? A gift of material resources?

As believers in Christ, we have the responsibility to care for the needs of others (1 John 3:17). Our acts of love reveal that Jesus resides in our hearts, and giving to those in need may help us tell others about Him.  - Dave Branon

O Lord, my heart is filled with love
For others who have urgent needs
So help me share in every way
What I can give through words and deeds. -Hess

God gives us all we need, so let's give to others in their need.

God's Eyes

In Hebrews 4:13, there is a powerful statement concerning God,

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

In this verse, we are taught that God sees what we do, and He sees the intent of what we do.  That leads to one thing:  total accountability.

There is no getting out of giving an account for our lives before God.  We will all stand before Him.  And at that time, there will be no shifting; there will be no saying one thing and thinking something else inside.  Everything will be laid bare.

God sees everything all the time.  Everything is open and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.  You just can't get away from God.

The Scripture says in Proverbs 15:3, The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

But God also sees the very intent of our heart.  When Samuel was sent by God to anoint a new king over Israel, and he was at the house of Jesse, Jesse had his big strapping son pass by.  As Samuel looked at this guy he thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed."

But God said, "I rejected this one.  For the Lord does not see as man sees.  Man looks on the outward appearance.  But the Lord looks upon the heart."

Our intent can be right, but we can really mess up.  God looks on our heart, and if our intent is right, He judges us according to our intent, not according to the mistakes we may have made.  But, if the intent of our heart was not pure, God judges us according to that.

Live today...and every day...knowing that the Lord looks on the heart.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: Isaiah 24
From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One." - Isaiah 24:16

TODAY IN THE WORD
Every day, President Barack Obama is handed a purple folder with ten letters written by ordinary Americans. Many of the letters deal with the current economic downturn and the struggles people are experiencing. A small business owner wrote of his fears that he would be forced to lay off employees. A homeowner described her family's difficulties in making mortgage payments after her husband lost his job and had to accept one that paid much less. The White House press secretary said, "They help him focus on the real problems people are facing."
What a privilege to have the attention of one of the most powerful men in the world! Do we hold our access to the Lord in such high esteem? What an incredible honor to have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God! When the story of history has been fully unfolded, the ends of the earth will be singing His praises, "Glory to the Righteous One" (v. 16).

In Isaiah 24, we see that fulfilling God's promises and establishing His kingdom include the necessity of judgment on sin. Because He is powerful, it will be done, and nothing can stop it. Because He is just, He will not show favoritism based on social position or economic status (v. 2). And because He is holy, sin and disobedience will result in punishment (vv. 5-6). Such things cannot simply be passed over-the guilt of human rebellion against Him is very real (vv. 20-22). The judgment is vividly described with images of burning, withering, destruction, and desolation (vv. 7-13).

Even in the midst of this, a faithful remnant of God's followers exists, shouting for joy and acclaiming His majesty (vv. 14-16). Shouldn't they be weeping over such terrible events? No, they rejoice because sin is defeated. They rejoice in the accomplishment of God's justice and the triumph of His holiness.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Enmeshed as we are in the day-to-day events of history, it's sometimes hard to keep the big picture in mind. Sometimes it looks as though injustice is winning the day or unrighteousness has the upper hand in our nation or in the world. But it isn't so! Whether we can understand it or not, God's sovereign will for history is being done and His victory is guaranteed. The "end of the story" is never in doubt. Amen!

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct 6, 2009

Worth Dying For
READ: Philippians 1:19-26
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. -Philippians 1:21

Sophie Scholl was a young German woman during the 1940s. She saw the deterioration of her country under the iron rule of the Nazi regime, and she determined to make a difference. She and her brother, with a small group of friends, began to peacefully protest not only the actions but the values that the Nazis had forced upon the nation.

Sophie and others were arrested and executed for speaking out against the evil in their land. Although she wasn't anxious to die, she saw that the conditions in her country had to be addressed-even if it meant her death.

Sophie's story raises a critical question for us as well. What would we be willing to die for? Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian, and Ed McCully gave their lives in the jungles of South America because they were committed to spreading the gospel. Elliot revealed the heart that drove such sacrifice when he wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." The apostle Paul put it this way: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21).

Some things really are worth dying for-and in them we gain the reward of the One who declares, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21,23)  - Bill Crowder

Forbid it, Lord, that I should be
Afraid of persecution's frown;
For You have promised faithful ones
That they shall wear the victor's crown. -Bosch

Those who faithfully bear the cross in this life will wear the crown in the life to come.

God's Heart

It is easy for us to think of Christ as this majestic, powerful figure in the heavens, unfazed by what is going on in our lives.  But Hebrews 4:15 paints a very different picture,

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus sympathizes with you?  The King James Version says He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.  God is not aloof, distant, and unconcerned, and He does not look at you through some clinical, cold eye.  He is moved; He is touched!

I want to show you a verse that, to me, is quite amazing.  It is Isaiah 63:9, and it is talking about God and His people.  It says,

In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.

When you suffer, God suffers.  He is not untouched; He is not unmoved; He is not unsympathetic.

Then there is Jeremiah 31 where God says (speaking of Israel as one single person), I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him.  I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.

Finally, look at Psalm 145:8-9,

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.  The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

God feels and sympathizes.  He is moved and touched and afflicted as you walk through the difficulties of life.  He understands.  And He yearns to give you tender mercy.

That is the compassionate and gracious heart of God!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and
click here to listen to Bayless Conley at OnePlace.com.

FEATURED RESOURCE

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. - Psalm 63:1

TODAY IN THE WORD
There is a worldwide water crisis, and it's growing. According to the United Nations, about 3.9 billion people, or nearly half the world's population, will be experiencing severe fresh water shortages by the year 2030. Even now, the majority of diseases in developing countries are linked to an insufficient supply of clean water, with children as the group hit hardest.
Water is life, meaning that thirst is a desire for life (v. 1). Earthly things are a dry and empty desert, unable to provide any spiritual fulfillment. David was lost in a "dry and weary land" from which it seemed God was absent. God's presence was the water and meaning and joy of David's life. Indeed, God's love was valued as "better than life."

David remembered what it was like to worship the Lord in the sanctuary (vv. 2-5). He knew well that God is powerful, glorious, and loving. Though spiritually thirsty and missing His presence, he affirmed that this delight would be renewed: "My lips will glorify you . . . My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

The vow to praise and glorify God was not just for public worship, but for the psalmist's private life as well (vv. 6-8). Whether singing in congregational worship or awake in the depths of the night, David's faith was the same. He knew God would help, protect, and uphold him. Like a mother bird, He would keep David safe under His wings (v. 7; cf. Matt. 23:37).

By recalling these key spiritual truths, the king could rekindle a spirit of faith and praise, even when he was going through tough times and God had not yet restored a refreshing sense of His presence. David understood that to know who God is means to enjoy who He is, and to enjoy who He is means to bring Him glory. "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever" turn out to be not two actions, but one.
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Desiring the presence of God in our lives, and expressing that desire, is one way to bring Him glory. Why? Because expressing a longing for God's presence shows that we value it above all else in our lives-to us He is the "pearl of great price" (Matt. 13:45-46). This desire also glorifies God because it is a desire born of faith. To long for His presence even when it feels as though He is absent shows our bedrock belief in His faithful lovingkindness.

GOD BLESS!

[Judy Harder]

Daily Devotionals Oct. 7, 2009

Are You Distracted?

READ: Luke 10:38-42
Martha was distracted with much serving. -Luke 10:40

In data collected from over 20,000 Christians in 139 countries, The Obstacles to Growth Survey found that, on average, more than 40 percent of Christians around the world say they "often" or "always" rush from task to task. About 60 percent of Christians say that it's "often" or "always" true that the busyness of life gets in the way of developing their relationship with God. It's clear that busyness does distract us from our fellowship with Him.

It seems that Martha too allowed busyness to distract her from spending time with Jesus. When she welcomed Him and His disciples into her home, she was occupied with preparing the food, washing their feet, and making sure they were comfortable. All of these things had to be done, but Luke seems to intimate that Martha's busyness in preparation degenerated into busywork that distracted her from reflecting on Jesus' words and enjoying time with Him (Luke 10:38-42).

What about us? Are we rushing from task to task, allowing the busyness of life and even work for Jesus to distract us from enjoying sweet fellowship with Him? Let's ask God to help us diminish our distractions by making Jesus our focus.  - Marvin Williams

Lord, I don't want to miss out on moments of intimacy with You. Help me not to be so busy
that I fail to devote time each day to prayer
and reading Your Word. Amen.

If you are too busy for God, you are too busy.

God's Provision for Your Failure

Psalm 37:23-24 states,

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.

When you first read these verses, it is easy to focus on the truth that God orders the steps of a good man, someone who is following God.  That is certainly a comforting, motivating, and powerful truth.

But I want to point you to the second sentence,  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.

What an amazing statement!  Even when your steps are being ordered by the Lord, you can still goof up!  God affirms that you may be seeking to walk with Him and you can still mess up, there is always that human factor.

Our flesh gets in the way.  Sometimes we make wrong decisions.  Sometimes we can be a bit stubborn.  And sometimes we blow it, even when that is the last thing we want to do!

Here is what I want you to grasp today:  Even if you mess things up, even if you stumble and fall, God will not utterly abandon you.  He will support you, and He will lift you up with His hand.

The Bible says in the book of Deuteronomy that God is our refuge and our strength and that underneath us are His everlasting arms.  That brings me a lot of comfort.

You and I may stumble, you and I may fall, but we are not going to stay down, because God's arms and His hands are underneath us, and they will uphold us.

Thank God for that! 

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

Godly Wisdom for a Great Marriage

Although it's God's plan for husband and wife to flourish in their marriage, it won't happen by accident. A great marriage takes work. In this 4-part series, Bayless and Janet explore God's Word relating to marriage and share personal insight from over 25 years of experience. You will learn about the specific roles that God gives to both husbands and wives along with how God's commandments can be applied to strengthen and improve your marriage, and much more!

Read: Revelation 4
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. - Revelation 4:11

TODAY IN THE WORD
The popular praise song, "Mighty to Save" (a phrase from Zephaniah 3:17) begins: "Everyone needs compassion / A love that's never failing / Let mercy fall on me / Everyone needs forgiveness / The kindness of a Savior / The hope of nations / Savior, He can move the mountains / My God is mighty to save / He is mighty to save / Forever, Author of salvation / He rose and conquered the grave / Jesus conquered the grave."
Our Sovereign Lord is all-powerful over life, death, and everything in between! When we acknowledge His sovereignty, we bring Him glory. As Paul wrote: "At the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10-11). At the start of John's vision, as seen in today's reading, he found himself in the throne room of heaven. He described what he saw with images and symbols, including a rainbow, jewels, lightning flashes, thunder crashes, blazing lamps, and a crystal sea. The general impression is one of incredible light and beauty and power.

Circling God's throne are twenty-four elders seated on twenty-four smaller thrones. These seem to be representatives of believing humanity. Their white robes indicate that they have been forgiven and cleansed in Christ (as in Rev. 7:14), while their golden crowns symbolize rewards received for obedience and perseverance (as in James 1:12). Also around God's throne are four living creatures, probably angelic beings. Their many eyes represent their attentiveness, vigilance, and God-given knowledge of all things. Both the elders and the living creatures praise the Lord, giving Him glory as the Ruler and Sovereign of everything that exists. The four living creatures exalt His holiness, power, and eternality (v. , while the twenty-four elders take as their theme His worthiness to be worshiped and His work of creation (v. 11). He is the focal point of history!
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TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One day the climax of history will arrive and everyone on earth, indeed the earth itself, will worship the Lord: "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water' " (Rev. 14:6-7).

GOD BLESS!