Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. (Matthew 12:13, Holy Bible, King James Version) Jesus saw a man who needed healing. He spoke to the man, told him what to do, and the…
They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as Eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31, Holy Bible, King James Version)
Long lines form at airport security, in motor vehicle offices, at pharmacies, grocers, and retail stores. Waiting extends to restaurants and gas pumps. Chairs are filled in reception areas of health providers. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Wasted minutes, sometimes hours.
Waiting on God is different. It renews strength to the weary. Pray, trust, and be refreshed while you wait.
Prayer: Lord, waiting in my daily routine has made me impatient for Your response to my prayers. Refresh me while I wait for your promises. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 Holy Bible King James Version)
I ran my fingers along the left and right arrows next to “Open Here” on the translucent cover of a ream of printer paper. I twisted and poked. Nothing budged. In my frustration, I dropped the package. When I picked it up, my hands were on the opposite end. Another set of similar arrows and instructions: Open Here. When I touched the sealed place, the package opened immediately. There was no need to search for a sharp instrument to cut the cover when I found the right place—the door—to success.
If you can’t find Jesus, maybe you’re looking at the wrong end of things. Maybe you’re overanalyzing. When you hear His voice, open the door. He will take charge after that.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for knocking on my door. Welcome. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:10, Holy Bible, King James Version.)
On this seventh day of January, New Year’s resolutions are broken as minutes tick toward another hour, another day, another month. A wise man speaks from ancient Scripture with a reminder that the past repeats itself and blends with the present. A mix of old and new doesn’t dwell on failures. Jesus gives hope for a brighter future in the words he spoke centuries later.
Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20, Holy Bible, King James Version)
His promises are for today, tomorrow next week, next month. They are old, new and eternal.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your promises give me hope. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil,to give you a future and a hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11, Holy Bible, New King James)
A new year brings hopes and dreams of a brighter future. Both are encouraging, but it takes plans to accomplish individual goals. Now, day five of 2017, I continue to write my goals in a daily planner. Each morning, I mark my accomplishments for the previous day or rewrite the missed goals.
I’ve left blank lines for the plans God has for my future. I can only record them as gratitudes after they happen.
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to the plans You have for my future. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me, (Holy Bible, Psalm 51:10, King James Version).
January is the month of returns and renewal. Returns remove clutter of unwanted gifts, from wrong size to wrong color, to wrong style in exchange for useful items. Lines are long, but the wait is rewarding when the shopper receives a refund or a more desirable replacement.
Renewal is not so easy. It takes strength and courage to exchange a wrong attitude for a right spirit and create a clean heart.
Prayer: Lord, this is a new year—a time to renew my dedication to You. Help me follow the prayer of the psalmist who understood that renewal begins with the heart. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Chose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15 Holy Bible King James)
It’s easy to make a New Year’s resolution but not keep it because you are your own scorekeeper. Joshua made a critical choice, not a resolution, and he kept it. In Joshua’s final presentation to the descendants of Israel, he spoke of his faithful journeys with Moses. Joshua told of how he pledged his commitment to continue following the Lord. He went a step further. He asked others to make a choice—a commitment. Like Joshua, a decision to serve God is your choice. If it’s only a resolution, you keep score. If it’s a commitment, the Lord will keep score.
Prayer: Eternal God, I thank you for Joshua’s faith. His commitment to follow You is a great example of leadership. I commit myself to follow You today. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42, Holy Bible, New King James)
This follows the scene of the magnitude conversion of 3,000 people in one day at the Jewish celebration of Pentecost. Apostle Peter had made it plain to those who witnessed the gift of the Holy Ghost falling on believers who had gathered in an upper room that this new covenant was the promise of Jesus.
The new converts were attentive to the apostles’ teaching and prayed together in steadfast fellowship. It kept them strong then. It will keep you strong now.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for those who teach and pray with likeminded believers who follow the apostles’ doctrine. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. (Psalm 71:14, Holy Bible, New King James Version)
You’ve heard it all.
• “Never lose hope.”
• “Hope will make a way.”
• “Don’t give up. There’s still hope.”
• “When hope is gone, there’s nothing left.”
What is hope? It’s the expectation that when we can’t fix things ourselves and faith fails, God will bridge the gap so we can praise Him even more.
Prayer: Lord, my hope is in You. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore