I Have Had It!

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3 

Recently I was chatting with someone who was very much down on life, themself, their job, their weight, their future, their finances and nothing I found hardly say was going to cheer them up. This person had dug a huge pity party hole and was so deep they almost were stuck and could not escape. Like emotional quicksand their focus was clearly on Satan’s agenda, certainly not God’s. 

If you are honest you probably have been in a similar situation. You feel like there is no way out, things will not change, and this ordeal of life has you so immersed in mind games and depression you just don’t know what to do.  So what do you do when these horrendous blues sneak up on you?Certainly don’t run to a bottle of booze, pills, cutting, or try to end life as those are tactics of the enemy to try to destroy a wonderful human being God has plans for using. Stop, breathe, turn off all devices, talk to God, and sing some praises to God. I have included a song at end of devotion today to help.

PRAYER: Father use me in the lives of others to help them be lifted up from the enemies plans to destroy them. Help me when I feel down to do a good deed for another thus aggravating Satan. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Click link below for a mighty worship song:

https://youtu.be/ZI6585ekuhg

                               PS One day a few years ago I got a random email from someone who found my God’s Lemonade Stand Card at one of the concourse chapels in Dallas Fort Worth Airport. They had been considering  suicide and said it was a miracle when they looked over and found my card. Thank you Jesus! 

 

He Is A Big God So Hang On!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

In this world the Bible reminds you there will be tribulation but REJOICE for He has overcome the world. How do you rejoice when you get humanly scared, upset, or worried?

This world is oh so temporary and there will be times things don’t go as we think they should. You may have fear in your heart over stuff in the news so turn off the news. Get outside and go for a walk and talk to God on your walk.

This present world is NOT your real home although many people lose sight of that fact and seem to be living more for this world in the human flesh they now wear, but soon either Jesus will return or you will die and be in Heaven if you have trusted Him as your savior. Earthly squabbles and tension are just not worth high blood pressure or a heart attack. Live for God, trust Him, above all keep praying and showing love even to your enemies many who are totally lost without a shepherd.

PRAYER: Father no doubt you are the one each day I need to run to each day and not run to the morning news or obsess over those who don’t like me or think like me. Help me Lord I believe you are working things out and can’t wait to see your glory be revealed here on Earth. In Jesus’ name.Amen.

Lean Into God's Word Not 'Pop Ups'

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”John 10:27

How many times are you bound and determined to have a decent alone time with God. Maybe you utilize your computer for help in  the Bible so it is still there in front of you. Everyone knows how popups tend to distract you sort of like sin can distract you. 

I have all the best intentions in the world most days to start my day in the Word and usually bounce around the method I use. A devotion on an APP or a devotion in a paper book. Perhaps watching a certain sermon on TV on a Christian channel. There is not a set right or wrong way or a prescribed time you have to do this. Don't make it into a chore or you will not get anything from your time alone. 

The main thing is to shut off distractions. Make hearing from God more important than hearing from Apple News popups or the latest You Tube pop up or celebrity news. It is a spiritual discipline to set your mind on things "above' and keep focused. Talk to God if you have trouble with this and confess you need help to stay on task and not get off on another tangent. Don't allow the 'pop-ups' of life to take you away from the most important thing that being, time spent with God. 

PRAYER: I need you Lord I need you. Every hour I need you. Help me Father to stay on course during my day. Many things can try to pull me away on all the devices around me. Help me get rid of the clutter so I can clearly hear your voice. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Hate Is A Very Strong Word

 

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?1 John 4:20

The latest buzz word that has entered our world is ‘cancel culture’ and it came about as a result of the main stream and social media attempting to control thought. They cancelled those they disagreed with starting with a sitting President who they wanted to silence. A very dangerous place to tread in a country founded on God and freedom. 

There may be those who deny this happened but that is just what the enemy wants to do is to get others thinking this is not real but sadly it is. For instance the word hate has become synonymous with simply disagreeing with someone. That certainly is not hate simply a different opinion but the false narrative continues to march on trying to mold thoughts and actions. 

Now is the time to drop the ugliness towards people you disagree with and realize this is a battle with the enemy, straight from the pit of hell. Turn off the political commentators, keep news feeds off and become an expert in love found only in God’s word. 

PRAYER: Lord help me to be kind to those who unfriend me, avoid me, hurt my feelings, or don’t think the same way all due to Satan trying to divide and destroy. I claim America for Jesus and ask that all attempts to take away freedom and turn us into anti Christian country will be thwarted and destroyed. Open the eyes of those who don’t see this happening and are getting sucked in. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click link below and worship God in song:https://youtu.be/ZI6585ekuhg

Stop It Devil!

 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.James 4:7

Arguments, dissent, division, ill feelings, aggravation are things not from God. In certain situations you could find yourself in a slump and have maybe let your emotions control when there is lightbulb moment and alas you realize Satan is the one causing you to get stuck and remain in gloom and doom. 

The real enemy is never a person but is the powers of darkness trying to make you get off course in your walk with God. If all of us could stop, pause, and realize the value in our relationships and how the enemy is a destroyer and sets out to get you to stumble. Run your race with your eyes on the the cross of Jesus Christ. 

Your senses need to be spiritually trained in recognizing good and evil and trying to be a representative of God’s kingdom and not engaging in battles that divide. Recently politics has caused squabbles among friend and family. Value your family and friends and stay away from things that divide and destroy. Pray for those who you would rather hate. God is in control. Now go love your brother. 

PRAYER: I yearn to be an example for you and to resist the temptation to argue and debate, and want to walk in love regardless if I agree totally with a person. I need your help Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God At The Bottom Of The Laundry Basket Or In The Junk Drawer

 

For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy:“I live in a high and holy place,but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,to revive the spirit of the lowlyand to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 57:15(NIV, Bible Gateway)

If you are ADHD or just can't focus it may be hard to get up each morning and purpose that you WILL spend time with God. Before turning on TV, before getting sidetracked with errands, before getting on the phone, before checking social media. It takes discipline for sure. 

Where is God in your life? Is He in the bottom of your dirty clothes pile in the laundry room in a basket? Perhaps He has found His way into the bottom of your junk drawer? Is He like that missing sock you simply have misplaced? 

Maybe it is time to REALLY change things up and come up with a workable plan to not be distracted from the most important part of your day. It is good to select a place to have a quiet time daily and every now and then get out and get away to a park where you can sit at a picnic table and talk to God. Maybe leave your cell phone off. Decide today something is going to be different. Put God on your day planner and then go for it and give Him time that He deserves plus it will help your spiritual walk than news or stock updates ever will. Your choice. 

PRAYER: Love I love you but I confess many days I just get strung out all over the place with things that are beckoning for me to give them attention. I choose to give you attention Lord and not let the tyranny of the news daily updates take me away. I want to be in the world but not of the world. Help me. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

#Biblegatewayblogger

Staying Focused

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.Philippians 4:8 Bible Gateway

Do you have trouble staying focused on good things or do you find yourself going in the gutter of wrong thinking? 

For yours truly it is essential to keep my mind active and occupied on what today’s verse refers to. Don’t worry about a son’s furlough, a 96 year old mother’s hospitalization or a host of other issues Satan likes to throw in my face. Satan gets you where he knows you are weak. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” That is a great verse to commit to memory as you literally do have to take captive thoughts and stop imagining things. Just pray and trust God to heal your thinking. 

PRAYER: I want to be a vessel that can be used by you to help other people but it is difficult to do when the enemy has tortured me with wrong thinking that only sends me downhill. Lord Jesus I choose to meditate on scripture and reject conjured up stinking thinking. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

#Biblegatewayblogger