My Appointment With God

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

What is on your calendar or to do list for today? If it is like most people it is very crowded with activities. On this list of things that need to be accomplished did you remember to put 'have a quiet time' or is there absolutely no time for that? I know the days I make time for sitting and being still with God first, the day goes much better.

I heard once that the word 'busy' could be turned into an acronym 'Being Under Satan's Yoke' and oh isn't that the truth? If Satan keeps you so busy with what we feel is so urgent. before you know it God is pushed aside. 

Do you desire to be with God each morning? If you do not perhaps pray and ask God to help you desire Him more. We need Jesus in our lives each and every day. The closer we are to God the less the struggles of daily life will weigh us down. 

PRAYER: I thank you Lord for my time alone with you. I know it breaks your heart when I rush into my day and do not give you any time. Forgive me and help me not judge others but only concern myself for my quiet time. In Jesus' name. Amen.

PUT IT DOWN…..PICK IT UP

 Where is most of your time spent? These days it may be on our electronic devices. Seems as though the world is revolving around technology and to the point some may feel they can not escape from it. You need to almost purposely make yourself take a break. On WGN TV news there was a segment about a camp in California where people too saturated by their devices had to make up their minds to get away and unplug. This is a camp where people can learn to do that.

My challenge to everyone reading this today, on a device of course, is to make up your mind after you read this devotion of course, to get away from the world of computers for a while. If you work it is hard to do this but if you have a choice make up your mind you will let your mind take a rest for a while. Look around you and see how many people have their phones in their hands. Sort of similar to a life saving device. Let's see if we can't let the word of God be that device for a while and perhaps all the time.

Put down the phone and pick up the word of God. If it is on your phone then pick up a hard copy of the Bible and go somewhere quiet and open it up and read it. Check out what it says in Isaiah 30:15 (NIV) 'This is what the Sovereign Lord the Holy one of Israel says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'

Start today and take a tech break with your Bible.

PRAYER: I need to be still Lord and let my mind rest from all the data flowing into it from so many sources. Help me Lord as I seek to prioritize my time better to sit and be quiet in your presence. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ON A MISSION FOR PEACE

I do not live in Manhattan, Boston, LA, Chicago, or any other number of huge metropolitan areas but I still find myself occasionally needing to break away and get rid of the "clutter" of life that can often distract me and weigh me down. Things such as constant noise, people everywhere, too much technology, too many emails, too many wrong phone numbers. I am not intending on becoming a grinch by any means because I indeed am a people person. My point is all of us need time to sit back and be quiet and still and "recharge". On the other hand there are those in our world yearning for someone to talk to or wishing they had a car or means to get out and about.

For those of you reading who need to get away and "recharge" the first thing I need to say is the best way to start off each and every day is to take time for God. Write Him first in your busy schedule. Perhaps lunchtime on a park bench somewhere or seated in your car works for you. Whatever, make sure time with God is not squeezed out.

Isaiah 30:15(NIV) says 'This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation and in quietness and trust is your strength but you would have none of it."' 1 Peter 3:4(NLT) says 'You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.'

Let's all try to let our aim in life be to maintain peace in all circumstances. To achieve this you need to get alone with God for His strength.

PRAYER: Today I choose peace and quiet. I choose to be intentional about getting alone and being still and spending time with you. Show me ways to do this Father. In Jesus' name. Amen.

DISCONNECT AND REIGNITE

The world we live in of 2013, at least in the United States, needs to take a disconnect and decompress break at times. When computers run slow we freak out. When the satellite dish gets interrupted by a storm we wish for cable. If power causes things to "go down" we are beside ourselves. Look around you and observe people. How many people are humped over and have their faces stuck in their mobile device? How many drivers do you pass and see their scary addictive behavior of texting and driving? It is kind of nice to get away from all this. One of my favorite old commercials is one where a guy is in the wilderness trying to park his truck somewhere where there is not a cell phone signal. As the saying goes for one cell phone company, "More bars in more places' we sometimes need "less bars in less places and therefore more relaxed and happy faces".

The pace of life requires us to be intentional about setting aside peaceful quiet times. My favorite thing to do is go up to my favorite state park nearby and relax, pray and end with a hike. No mobile devices just me, the birds, the sky, a squirrel or two, and God.

Has anyone reading this lost their zeal for spiritual things? You just do not feel close to God or Jesus anymore or maybe never did? Church may be a drudgery for you. God wants you to have joy in your life. Maybe it is time to "reignite" the fire or passion for Jesus or light it for the first time.

To get excited about Jesus you need to make sure your heart is pure and that you are regularly reading his word. Satan does all in his power to get so many distractions around us in order to squeeze out any time for Jesus. We are so caught up in things we think are important when in effect the only thing really important is what we are doing down here for eternity. Our time on this earth is relatively short in the big scheme of things.

James 4:8 says 'Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.' To come near you need to humble yourselves before God and be sincere in seeking Him. Hebrews 3:15(NIV) says 'As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."'

My friend do you want to be able to hear from God and be able to have a calm peaceful spirit? You can. Start your day each and every day with prayer, which is simply just talking to God. Make time for Him each and every day some way. Get alone and get quiet whenever you are able to help you "reignite" that passion for things of the Lord.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord that you hear my prayers. At times I am so rushed that I just forget about you. I know that hurts you and makes you sad Lord.I know you have a wonderful plan for me yet at times I just ignore you. Help me as I diligently try to seek your face daily and resist the temptations the enemy throws at me to forget about you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Click link and enjoy a wonderful worship song.

http://youtu.be/JiD0_Krgbo4

BE STILL, IF YOU CAN

Sometimes in order to hear from God you have to be still. This might mean changing your schedule for some peaceful quiet time and getting away if you are able. If you work full time you may have to be creative. One job I had I used to go outside the building to a little stream that ran behind the office and sat there and enjoyed the quiet on my short lunch break. Parks are nice places to go as well.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, especially in major cities,
the pace can be quite frantic and fast paced. Bosses want something
yesterday! Work, work, work and then needing time to unwind. It is
crucial especially for the believer.

Psalm 46:10(NIV) is one of my favorite verses and it simply says 'Be
still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I
will be exalted upon the Earth.'

Parents who try to get their young children in all sorts of activities
at the same time I feel are doing them a terrible disservice. Go to
piano, then off to dance, then soccer practice, next to art class and
so on. These young ones are hardly having time for a normal family
life and can certainly not have time for God.

If you are a Christian parent are you teaching your young children
about quiet times and peace? It is good to start it early. Even take
away some of the electronics for a while. In all those activities do
not leave out alone time with God. That goes for adults too.

I challenge you to find a creative way each day to have a time alone with God.

PRAYER: Thanks Lord for the gift of quietness. Help me use my time here on Earth wisely. Forgive me for the days I rush off and

NO GUILT TRIP INTENDED

 

Are you able to squeeze time with God into your very busy day? Just five minutes. Can you do that? My intent is not to send you off on a "guilt trip" as the only type of trip fun to take is usually a vacation trip or something fun. Guilt trips are not fun. The point is we have so many obligations and commitments in our busy days. Even those who are not employed for a pay check still contribute to society and especially those busy stay home moms out there. But with all of our busyness it seems I hear that the first thing to get squeezed out or forgotten is spending time reading the Bible. It even happens to "yours truly". Just because I write devotions does not mean I am perfect. Far from it. Time with the Lord has to be intentional. Do not wait to go on a spiritual retreat, although they are wonderful, and I have one coming up in early October in the mountains of North Carolina with Moms in Prayer International. Have a daily "retreat" with the Lord. You might have to be creative. The enemy is going to come up against you as he knows you gain power to defeat him when you study and read God's word.

"But Becky I have to really hustle to get out of the door in the morning. I need to watch the news and check my Facebook status." There you go. Two major things not necessary to do and are taking time from the one thing you really need to do. So many feel Sunday is all they need. Even well meaning church goers and those who claim to be Christians often see no need to dig any deeper than what they are "fed" each Sunday. Many of those people then would not even be reading this devotion. Many are stuck in denominational ruts where maybe they never saw any need to go beyond their one hour on Sunday. Perhaps you live with a person like that. Beating them over the head with the Bible will only drive them further away. The Holy Spirit is the one who needs to touch them. As Bible teacher Joyce Meyer says " Do not be Holy Spirit Junior" as it just will not work. If you do not stay knowledgeable of God's word you can be easily deceived by Satan. He is a liar and the Father of lies it says in John 8:44 and John 10:10 and has tricked many people into believing what they think is true. He is operating at full speed ahead in our world today in case you have not noticed.

Try these tips to start. Get a devotional book that is brief and to the point. (God's Lemonade Stand will hopefully and prayerfully be in book form before the end of 2014). Remove those hindrances from your morning that take you away from "God time" and are not all that important, or in other words the world will still spin if you forget to do them. Things such as checking on friends on Facebook, watching the morning shows, and reading the paper. Put them "after" the Bible and see if you don't feel better and have more time. If you are at work before your day starts open your Bible and read a Psalm or Proverb or sign up to get a daily devotion sent to you at work if your work place allows this on your free time.

Proverbs 18:10(NKJV) says 'The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.' That name is above every other name and it is Jesus Christ. You learn about Him and get closer to Him by reading His word daily and living each day for Him. He is not just a Sunday Jesus. Start today and make Him the first priority of your day.

PRAYER: Thanks Jesus for loving me. Forgive me when I have ignored you and given my time to every other thing but forget about you. I desire to prioritize my day to get strong in you by reading your word The Bible. In Jesus' name.Amen.