“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV) Have you ever struggled in making a decision? At one time or another, everyone faces a “do I or don’t I” situation. Just this week I needed to decide about a certain matter. It was nothing major, or at least I don’t believe so, but I still wanted to be sure I was making the right choice. I learned long ago that seemingly insignificant things may have a much greater impact than we expect. Let…
“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:46, ESV) I was visiting an older friend recently when she explained that she didn’t know what to do. She could no longer get on her knees to pray, and this really bothered her. I reassured her as best I could and offered her encouragement on ways to adapt to praying in a chair. I am sure she knows as well as I do that God hears our prayers whether we are kneeling, sitting, standing, or walking. But this had been her way of praying for many years, so it felt wrong to her to not pray on her knees. As we read the Gospels, it becomes very evident that Jesus spent long periods of time alone in prayer. Early morning or late in the evening, we find Him slipping away to a quiet place to pray. Luke 5:16 tells us, “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” Jesus removed Himself from the press of the crowds, and even His disciples, to strengthen Himself and intercede through prayer. Time alone with God is such a personal thing. In yesterday’s devotion we talked about making time for Him…
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6, ESV) It’s January, the beginning of a fresh new year. For many, it’s a time to reflect and reset. Some make resolutions while others set spiritual goals. Many start a new Bible reading chart, ready to check off the passages read each day. While some do carry through in their determination to “read more, pray more, and do more,” others grow overwhelmed by the fast pace of everyday life and falter in their goals. I think all of us desire to draw closer to God and to spend more time in His presence. But the busyness of our lives finds us constantly trying to play catch-up. Our resolve to do more for the Lord is sincere, but then something unforeseen upends our schedule. While we frantically try to fit everything in, sometimes what gets left out is our time with the Lord. And then we feel guilty. It’s only January, and some of us may have already fallen behind in our Bible reading, prayer, or other spiritual disciplines. What is the answer? How can we get back on track? First, let me remind you…
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 God began his work in my life the moment I was conceived. He continued to work in my life while I ran from him, turning a deaf ear to his whispers. He was working in my life when I faced heartbreak, loss, and suffering. He was also working when I was succeeding and prospering. God started the work, and I have seen repeatedly that He will also finish it.…
“But when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him.” Mark 6:49-50 NLT In this story found in Mark, we can see that the disciples are in quite a predicament. To understand how they ended up there we must go back in time. John the Baptist had just been beheaded and the disciples had buried his body. The disciples then told Jesus what had happened to his beloved cousin. Upon hearing the news, Jesus left the group to spend time alone. Upon arriving at his destination, Jesus sees a crowd gathering and begins to minister. Come evening, the disciples realized that they had no means of feeding the multitude so they suggested to Jesus that they send them on their way so they can find food for themselves. We know after this that Jesus performed a miracle, feeding a crowd of 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Afterward, Jesus sends the disciples on their way so that he may attempt to spend time alone again. While far from land, the disciples encounter a storm and find themselves battling strong winds…
In Exodus 25, God instructed the Israelites to build the Ark of the Covenant to house within the Tabernacle during their time in the wilderness. He provided detailed instructions for constructing the Ark: Here are the specifications: Two and a half cubits in length One and a half cubits in width One and a half cubits in height (a cubit is about eighteen inches) Overlayed inside and outside with gold Rings on each side for the staves—wooden rods used to carry the Ark The mercy seat sat on top, and two cherubim covered the mercy seat with their wings These specific instructions on the Ark’s outward appearance highlight the importance of external presentation. Similarly, Christians in the New Testament received guidance on appropriate dress and conduct. People often make assumptions based on appearance—your hairstyle, attire, demeanor, or even whether you make eye contact. These are just a few examples of how outward impressions shape perceptions. What people see on the outside can influence how they will accept your witness about what’s on the inside. Right or wrong, most people will observe your actions before they listen to your words. It’s human nature. God’s sole instruction for the Ark’s interior was…