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Anne Johnston

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Devotions

Giving Results in Miracles

2 Mins Read

“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” John 6:9

In the hands of Jesus a small boy’s lunch fed 5000 people, and they ended up with twelve baskets of leftovers. What a story the young lad must have had to tell when he returned home that day.
Jesus blesses small things. We may think our small donation to the Missionary Fund each month doesn’t accomplish much. But the Lord multiplies it over and over. Did you ever stop to think that every soul that is reached on the mission field is a result of your (and many others) faithful giving? We may never meet those people, but God blesses us for our part in their salvation.
What about our commitments to our local church week after week, month after month? We are making an investment in souls and can feel we have made a way for others to know Jesus Christ.
Giving births miracles. Let’s each do our small part.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you have provided us with all that we need and given us the ability to share with others.

Devotion by Anne Johnston

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Courage

2 Mins Read

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” Joshua 1:6
“Courage is the first of human qualities, because it is the quality that guarantees all others.” Winston Churchill
Moses was dead. He had guided the children of Israel for many years. Of the ones who had left Egypt with him only those who had been under twenty years old still lived, except for Caleb and Joshua.
God had chosen Joshua to be the leader as the people prepared to enter the promised land. Moses had instructed him well and now God tells him to be strong and of good courage, promising that He would be with him just as He had been with Moses.
In Verse 8, God tells him that if we will do all the things that Moses had written in the law, he would be prosperous and successful. That would require courage, as they began to possess the country that God had promised them.
We may not face the enemies Joshua faced, but we must be strong and of good courage to live for God in a world which is getting more wicked every day. The Bible gives us the instructions we need, and the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word in our hearts. He is everything we need.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your Word and for your Holy Spirit, which provides us with everything we need to live courageously.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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Pray First

2 Mins Read

“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.” Joshua 9:14
Who hasn’t received an e-mail or a phone call with an offer that sounded too good to be true, but was really just a scam. Many people have been deceived and have ended up losing a lot of money as a result.
God had just given Joshua and the Israelites great victories over Jericho and Ai. The men of Gibeon were filled with fear that they would be defeated as well, so they put their heads together and came up with a great idea. They came to Joshua, pretending to be from a great distance and desiring peace.
Joshua took their story at face value, and agreed to make peace with them. His big mistake was that he did not consult with the Lord first. Just think how he must have felt when he learned the truth and realized he had just been taken in by a scam.
As I read this story, I realized that many times we find ourselves in trouble, because we make decisions without praying about it first. Sometimes when we have had a time of victory and blessing, we may just coast along on that, and neglect to seek God about everything in our life. It is always important that we pray first, before making even minor decisions.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to always seek you first in every decision we make, because you know what is best for us.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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A Radiant Face

1 Min Read

“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” Psalm 34:5
Another translation of the Scriptures reads: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Have you ever watched someone receiving the Holy Spirit, their face just seems to glow with the presence of God? At that moment, they are completely shut in with the presence of God and are almost touching heaven. Their hearts are fully open to all that the Lord has for them, and their faces reflect His glory.
When we yield our all to Jesus, we have no reason to be ashamed. No matter what has transpired in our lives, what circumstances we have faced, when we repent and turn to Him, He forgives and He wipes it all away. We do not need to fear what others think about us. Our hearts have been cleansed by His precious blood, and He makes our face to shine with His glory.
Prayer: Lord may your glory be reflected on our faces, that others may desire to know You.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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Bread for Today

2 Mins Read

“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Exodus 16:4
When the children of Israel were traveling through the wilderness, God sent them food from heaven. They were instructed to gather it every day, just enough for what their family needed. The only exception was that there would be none falling on the Sabbath, so they had to gather twice as much the day before. The Scripture speaks of some who didn’t listen to this and went out to gather on the Sabbath, and found nothing.
Just as we need natural food every day to be strong and healthy, so our spiritual lives need the daily communication with the Lord by reading His Word and spending time in prayer. My son teaches his church that they need a “slot and a spot”. It is very beneficial to have a place and time where we shut ourselves in with the Lord and communicate with Him. We need this to face the problems and circumstances of life. How much better our day goes, when we seek Jesus in the morning.
Prayer: Lord I thank you for the privilege of coming before you every day, to listen to your voice, to read your Word and bring my requests and praise to You.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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To Tell or Not to Tell

2 Mins Read

“And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.” Matthew 9:30-31
Jesus had healed two blind men and He instructed them not to tell anyone about it. Can you imagine how happy these men were to have their sight given to them. Their whole life was changed, they could see the beauty around them. The things they had only known by touch, suddenly became visible. They could see the face of their loved ones and friends.
How would it be possible for them to keep quiet? It would be obvious to everyone they met that a miracle had taken place. Everyone would be questioning them as to what had happened. So, it was understandable that they began to tell everyone about Jesus and what He had done for them.
Jesus has done great things for us. The salvation He gives us is a greater miracle than receiving natural sight. Like the blind men, we should be telling our story to others, so that they too might know the joy we have.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for giving us spiritual sight, help us to proclaim it to the world around us.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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I Choose to Worship

2 Mins Read

“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.” Psalm 104:33-34
When the Lord created man in the beginning, He could have made us in such a way that we would be forced to do whatever He wanted. But instead He gave us a free will. He only gave Adam and Eve one rule to follow, and they broke that. How much different it would have been if they had made a choice to obey God rather than disobey Him.
Serving the Lord today is a choice we make. We decide to lay aside our own will and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything we do.
Worshipping and praising God is also a choice. In the different circumstances of our life, we decide—to grumble and complain about our lot, or to praise the Lord for His blessings and His guidance, knowing that He knows what is best for us. He will never allow anything to come our way, that He does not give us the strength to bear.
I choose to worship God, how about you?
Prayer: Jesus, you have met us so many times in the past, and we will praise and worship you, knowing that you will see us through every situation.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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Crown of Rejoicing

2 Mins Read

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” I Thessalonians 2:19
Winning souls for the Lord is a joint effort. When someone prays for a person, the Lord may direct someone else to invite that person to church. A Sunday school teacher or a minister brings forth the Word of God in a way that convicts them of their need of a Saviour.
Someone from the congregation may speak a word of welcome and encouragement to let them know that Jesus loves them. Others say a special prayer for them. These things working together with the tug of the Spirit of God cause the person to commit their life to the Lord.
There is no greater reward than to see someone whom we have had even a small influence on, commit their life to the Lord. How thrilling it is when we come in contact with them years later and see they are still living and working for the Lord.
Prayer: Lord Jesus may I always be seeking a way that I may help some soul find You, and serve you fully.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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A Song in My Heart

1 Min Read

O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.” Psalm 108:1
Singing is very much a part of worshipping the Lord. I hate it when I have a cold or sore throat and cannot sing in church without coughing, it just seems like the service is not the same. Sure, we can worship the Lord from our hearts, even though we cannot use our voice, but there is a special feeling when we join our voices with the rest of the children of God.
But, like the Psalmist, we can sing from our heart, even though no sound comes from our mouths, because our heart is fixed on the Lord. He knows our every thought and hears praise coming from our hearts, even though others around us cannot.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the song you have put in our hearts, a song of praise for all that you are and all that you have done for us.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

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