Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

December 7

Dependence on God—A Witness of His Power

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

If you're like most people, you don't realize your dependency on God until you're burned out from stress—either self-induced or caused by circumstances beyond your control.

Why is that?

Paul says it's because we are fragile. But he doesn't stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us!

Maybe someone told you, "Oh, just tie a knot and hang on!" Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

Get a piece of rope and tie a knot in it. Let it sit on your desk this week as a reminder that God is more than just a knot at the end of the rope. He is the Savior of the World!

[Judy Harder]

December 8

Let Jesus Lead the Way

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

Who knows you better than the One who created you? Who cares more for you than the One Who died for you? Who leads you more carefully than the One Who knows the end from the beginning? There is no greater picture of courage than the picture of Jesus Christ—the Savior Who lays down His life. You can know security because the One Who loves you is compassionate, caring, and courageous. Jesus knows you. He cares for you. He wants to lead you into the abundant life.

Are you willing to lay down your life for the sake of the Lord?

[Judy Harder]

December 9

Free to Choose

"What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose." Psalm 25:12

You are free to choose. You are not free, however, not to choose. After you make a choice, your choice chooses for you.

There are consequences for your choices—always. If you choose to step off the roof of a ten-story building, you are not then free to choose the consequence of your choice. Your choice has chosen for you.

What if you make a bad choice? What is God's reaction? First, He is in control. Your choices will not take Him by surprise. Thanks to God, He can prevail over our bad choices to restore us into fellowship with Himself!

Have you made a choice in your past that has brought you consequences reverberating even today? Share this insight with someone who is younger in the faith than you.

[Judy Harder]

December 10

Follow Someone with a Limp

"For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:29

Someone has said, "If you are looking for a leader to follow, find someone with a limp." The wounded in life are those who have learned difficult lessons through suffering. Do not resist the Shepherd's rod of correction.

Is the wounding painful? Indeed. Does it seem that you will not be able to bear it? Most certainly. Then why would He subject us to such pain? Because you have a Father who loves you so much that He is willing to hurt you to heal you. What you need to focus on is not your pain, but your Savior. God didn't save you to take you to heaven. That's a fringe benefit. God saved you to make you holy—as He is holy.

Read Hebrews 12:1-13. What application can you make from this passage for your life today?

[Judy Harder]

December 11

Listening for His Voice

"Hearken unto Me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of My mouth." Proverbs 7:24

The United States Government doesn't teach Treasury agents to detect counterfeit bills by having them study fakes. They show these agents real dollars over and over and over until they have the pattern memorized. Then when a counterfeit is put in front of them, they recognize it instantly because it doesn't fit the pattern their eyes are looking for.

Do you know the voice of the Lord? The only way you can be sure that it is His voice you are hearing is to hear it so often that a stranger's voice is instantly recognizable. It is far wiser to spend time learning the One True Voice than it is trying to learn to detect a multitude of false voices.

Spend at least 15 minutes today being silent before God and listening for His voice.

[Judy Harder]

December 12

Off the Defense and Onto the Offense

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

If I had to identify the major misconception about believers today, it would be that they spend too much time getting out of trouble with God, instead of getting into righteousness!

We are living on the defensive instead of the offensive. We need to move beyond the defensive line of Christianity, and move on to the offense—advancing the Kingdom, fulfilling the Great Commission, and telling others about Jesus. Our Shepherd will never lead us where His strength cannot keep us. He will never lead us down a path that He hasn't first walked down Himself.

Are you sharing His love and words of salvation with someone who's lost? If not, begin today to move beyond your comfort zone and see the hand of God move.

[Judy Harder]

December 13

Burdens and Trials a Necessity?

"Knowing this,that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:3

A man had a grandfather clock. One day he felt sorry for the grandfather clock because it had a weight on it. And that weight was always pulling on the clock. The man said, "Oh, Mr. Clock, you've held this weight so long, I'm going to remove it and let you rest."

The clock protested, saying, "Don't take that weight from me. That's what keeps me going."

I n the same way, the trials and tests of life are there for your endurance. They're to keep you going, keep you trusting, keep you praying, and keep you depending upon God.

When was the last time you shared with someone that they needed to be thankful for their trials? When was the last time you told yourself?

DECEMBER 14

Light of Hope in a Dark World

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."  Isaiah 9:2

Imagine being in a cave without a flashlight. Can you see any shadows? You cannot even see your hand! Shadows are only visible in the presence of light.

Regardless of how dark, how large, how absolutely ominous a shadow appears, it is only there because there is light. David says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Why? Because "Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

Jesus has taken the sting out of sin and the fear out of the grave. He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to give us confidence that He will always be with us and watch over us.

There are many today who are grieving because of a loss—the loss of a loved one, a job, a wayward child.  Pray for them. Send them a note of hope and include 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

[Judy Harder]

December 15

The Lord Ever-Present

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4

The One who created the valley is there with you! He has prepared the way through the valley. It is not a place of permanence, but a place of passage. He knows every twist and turn, every changing shadow, every den where danger lurks—that One is with you!

Focus on the light and not the darkness. God has made you to walk through shadows. When the shadow approaches, you must walk through. The One greater than death is in you! He is your Jehovah Shamah—the Lord ever-present. His grace is greater. His peace is purer. His devotion is dearer. Where Satan casts a shadow, our Sovereign Lord reigns supreme.

This is a day of hope. Meditate on 1 John 4:4 throughout the day and ask God to give you a divine appointment to share this beloved truth with someone today.

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 16

"For Thou Art With Me"

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

There's nothing, my friend, that will bring you more face-to-face with God than going through the dark valleys of life. When you are there, you are going to cling to His garments and hold onto His hand. You won't stray far from the fold in the dark.

Do you believe that He is with you? The ultimate Sovereign is your loving Savior. You will not have to cross Jordan alone. You will not appear before the judgment of the Holy God alone. You are not going to die alone.           

What a joyful promise! You are not alone! Write these words on a card and post it in a place where you can see it all the time:

"I am not alone. God is with me."

[Judy Harder]

DECEMBER 17

Recognize the Devil's Lies and Claim the Promises of God

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

The devil wants you to live your life from an empty cup. He wants you to think that God's cup of grace has dried up for you. He wants you to be disenchanted with God. Most especially, he wants you to feel that God is a cosmic killjoy...that God is always thinking of ways to rob you of joy and peace. Satan knows that if you start to feel negatively about God, then he can have his way with you in other areas.

Take courage. Be strong. Jesus has won the victory for you! Send those lies back to the pit where they came from and claim the promises of God.

Wish someone the peace and joy of the Lord today.