Recent Devotions
“And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate! And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,” I Chronicles 11:17-18. In the lower part of the farm where I grew up there was a spring. Cool clear crystal water flowed from it all year long. If…
“But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and…
“Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great…
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“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;” (Luke 12:35, KJV) I have probably read this verse or heard the phrase “gird your loins” hundreds of times, but today the English Standard Version struck me different. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,” (Luke 12:35, ESV) As a woman, I pack a lot. Whether it’s a “bible bag” for church, bags to go to the beach or multiple bags for a long trip. I usually pack for myself, my boys and for all of those unexpected things. I almost always pack too much. The “just in case”…
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him (Psalm 28:7). Its resonance sweeps through the mind, and in a heart a place it finds. Its intention though I may not see, but what’s in the song, is now in me. Sometimes it’s a whisper, peaceful. Sometimes it’s a voice, alluring, blissful. Other times with powerful force, an emotion is struck and it stops my course. A single tear or a fountain flows, all because the song knows.…
I bought my husband a sweatshirt that says, “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.” If I cannot see from someone else’s viewpoint, I may never understand that person. When we understand “why,” “what” makes sense. In an uncertain world, too often I pray with my eyes clouded by the conditions around me. However, as a child of God, I should pray with godly vision and view my children’s lives through Jesus’ eyes. This will change my prayers from fearful pleas into expectant communication. What view did Jesus manifest in His prayers? Faith: “Jesus…
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“I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3 in the New International Version of the Holy Bible). I think all of us remember being asked by our parents to apologize for hurting someone or doing something wrong. Sometimes it was said under our breath and without conviction but we managed to mumble the words, “I’m sorry.” Have you ever apologized to God without really meaning it? God requires an attitude of penitence like, David, the writer of this Psalm describes. It’s the kind of apology or repentance that comes from deep down in your heart where only God can see it. This plea for God’s mercy was a big first step for David who had committed the terrible sins of adultery, lying and murder (see 2 Samuel 11-12). What makes this prayer acceptable to God was David’s complete honesty about his sin. He saw his mistakes clearly and admitted the seriousness of his offense against God. Inner honesty like that gets God’s attention and His pardon.
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Prayer: Lord, I come before you today in complete humility. I must confess that I find it hard to be honest about my sins. My heart resists acknowledging my wrong doing. Help me to be willing to throw myself upon Your mercy confessing all of my faults and failures. Cleanse me, O Lord! In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Devotion by: Julie Long
