Category Archives: Strong in Our Weakness

Faith / Trusting God, How do I get started?, Obeying God, Speaking, Strong in Our Weakness, Visions

We Can All Learn Something from How God Called Jeremiah

How many of us can learn from how God called Jeremiah to encourage and inspire us to follow God’s calling on our own lives?

When Jeremiah was called by God, he did not have confidence in himself. He did not have the experience to know how to do on his own power that for which he was called.  God basically told him, don’t think that way. Put your trust in me to direct your speech and your path.

God then called him to engage the people, warning Jeremiah that the people would fight against him. However, God warned / encouraged him not to be dismayed  in front of the people. God assured Jeremiah that though the people would fight against him, they would not overcome him as God would deliver him.

Imagine yourself in Jeremiah’s place, and God assuring you of these same promises for whatever He is calling you to do in His name. Let that encourage you. You are not doing it on your own!

Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

      1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

      4Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,

      5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

      6Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth.”

      7But the LORD said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.

      8“Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

9Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

      10“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”

The Almond Rod and Boiling Pot

      11The word of the LORD came to me saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a rod of an almond tree.” 12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

      13The word of the LORD came to me a second time saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. 15“For, behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD; “and they will come and they will set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls round about and against all the cities of Judah. 16“I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17“Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them. 18“Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. 19“They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Pray and thank God that He is with us to deliver us for whatever mission He calls upon us to do. Ask Him to show you and help you put full trust in Him to do what He asks of you.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Learning To Pray Effectively, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness

May the Lord Answer You In the Day of Trouble

Psalm 20 provides an example of a righteous prayer for victory over enemies. I always appreciate the focus in Psalms on praising and honoring God and not just a focus on what we want.

Psalm 20

1May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

2May He send you help from the sanctuary
And support you from Zion!

3May He remember all your meal offerings
And find your burnt offering acceptable!

4May He grant you your heart’s desires
And fulfill all your counsel!

5We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

7Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

8They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.

9Save, O Lord;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

Surely all of us have times in our lives when we are facing enemies. They may sometimes be other people who want to come against us personally, or perhaps people who dislike or persecute all Christians, and we must always remain prepared as we face our greatest enemy, Satan.

David consistently calls for joy while he prays for God’s help. He highlights victory as if it has already been achieved. It is not that God has already answered… it is because David trusts God completely. Even while he still experiences the difficult situations and still faces the enemy, David knows that God will answer.

When we come before God is prayer, asking humbly His help, let us remember to rejoice in knowing our loving Creator is in control and He hears our voice. As with David, as we petition God, let us also realize that He will answer. It may not always be how we expect, or when we expect,  but God will hear and answer righteous prayer.

To learn more about righteous prayer, study our teaching Learning to Pray Effectively.

Courage / Fear, Protector / Deliverer, Speaking, Strong in Our Weakness, Study the Word

Be Strong and Courageous

Moses’ introduction to the leadership role of the Israelite people is unforgettable. He represented the people before Pharaoh as God unleashed the 10 plagues on Egypt.  Then Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, through the wilderness and eventually to the promised land. He was there for many miracles including manna from heaven to feed the people and water from rocks to quench their thirst. Undeniably Moses had a special and very strong relationship with God.

When God called upon Joshua to lead the Israelites, it must have seemed quite a challenge to Joshua to follow a great leader like Moses. Joshua had been at Moses’ side for a long time and thus had experience in leading his people. Joshua was well prepared to fill the role. Still, God took time to provide Joshua with both clear instruction and encouragement to help him get off to a strong start.

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea[a] in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God provided Joshua with both clear instruction and encouragement, just as He did for Moses at the burning bush.  God did not want Joshua to doubt himself in the new role or be timid. After all, the first task was to lead Israel into battle.

God also did not say “Do whatever you want and you will succeed anyway.” God instructed Joshua on several elements critical to his success:

  • Be strong and courageous in following God’s direction.
  • Carefully obey all the instructions Moses gave you.
  • Study this Book of instruction continually… obey everything written in it
  • Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Whether God asks us to lead a million people or just to conduct ourselves through our daily lives, He calls us all to use the same formula for success. Be strong and courageous in following God. Study and obey His word carefully. Do not be afraid or discouraged no matter what we face for the Lord our God is with us.

Shalom. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness

The Lord Is My Rock, My Fortress, and My Savior

Psalm 18 is a psalm of David, a man after God’s own heart. He sang this song to God on the day God rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. This psalm encourages us that we can count on God’s help to overcome those who persecute us. The victory will not always be with a sword, but sometimes it will be and we will need to wield it properly to defend ourselves and God will help us. We can find refuge in the Lord.

Psalm 18

1 I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.

4 The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
5 The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears.

7 Then the earth quaked and trembled.
    The foundations of the mountains shook;
    they quaked because of his anger.
8 Smoke poured from his nostrils;
    fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
    Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
9 He opened the heavens and came down;
    dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
10 Mounted on a mighty angelic being,[b] he flew,
    soaring on the wings of the wind.
11 He shrouded himself in darkness,
    veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
12 Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him
    and rained down hail and burning coals.[c]
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded
    amid the hail and burning coals.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;
    great bolts of lightning flashed, and they were confused.
15 Then at your command, O Lord,
    at the blast of your breath,
the bottom of the sea could be seen,
    and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
    from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
    but the Lord supported me.
19 He led me to a place of safety;
    he rescued me because he delights in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me for doing right;
    he restored me because of my innocence.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
    I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
22 I have followed all his regulations;
    I have never abandoned his decrees.
23 I am blameless before God;
    I have kept myself from sin.
24 The Lord rewarded me for doing right.
    He has seen my innocence.

25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
    to those with integrity you show integrity.
26 To the pure you show yourself pure,
    but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You rescue the humble,
    but you humiliate the proud.
28 You light a lamp for me.
    The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29 In your strength I can crush an army;
    with my God I can scale any wall.

30 God’s way is perfect.
    All the Lord’s promises prove true.
    He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31 For who is God except the Lord?
    Who but our God is a solid rock?
32 God arms me with strength,
    and he makes my way perfect.
33 He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
    enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
    he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35 You have given me your shield of victory.
    Your right hand supports me;
    your help[d] has made me great.
36 You have made a wide path for my feet
    to keep them from slipping.

37 I chased my enemies and caught them;
    I did not stop until they were conquered.
38 I struck them down so they could not get up;
    they fell beneath my feet.
39 You have armed me with strength for the battle;
    you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
40 You placed my foot on their necks.
    I have destroyed all who hated me.
41 They called for help, but no one came to their rescue.
    They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
42 I ground them as fine as dust in the wind.
    I swept them into the gutter like dirt.
43 You gave me victory over my accusers.
    You appointed me ruler over nations;
    people I don’t even know now serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me, they submit;
    foreign nations cringe before me.
45 They all lose their courage
    and come trembling from their strongholds.

46 The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
    May the God of my salvation be exalted!
47 He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
    he subdues the nations under me
48     and rescues me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
    you save me from violent opponents.
49 For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
    I will sing praises to your name.
50 You give great victories to your king;
    you show unfailing love to your anointed,
    to David and all his descendants forever.

It is obvious that David experienced real persecution and fear for his life. Yet still he tried to live according to God’s instruction. He refused to reject God. I am greatly encouraged by David in that he consistently turned to God at his lowest and most difficult times in his life. His faith was greatest when his situation was most urgent.

Many of us face true persecution or other trials and difficulties. We must never turn away from God because of our circumstances lest we perish, but when we trust in Him and serve Him we will not perish even should we lose the earthly battle. God made a way for us to be reconciled with Him through the death of Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus as Lord and savior, believe He died for us, was buried, and rose again, and repent from our sins asking God to come into our hearts as Lord we find salvation through Christ.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Hope, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Strong in Our Weakness, Wickedness / Evil

Only Fools Say in Their Hearts “There Is No God”

I am truly inspired by the faith and hope that David had in God even when he was experiencing grief and suffering or witnessing evil. Psalm 14 shows David relying on God even while he sees the wickedness and evil in abundance around him.

Psalm 14

1 Only fools say in their hearts,
    “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
    not one of them does good!

2 The Lord looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.[a]
No one does good,
    not a single one!

4 Will those who do evil never learn?
    They eat up my people like bread
    and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord.
5 Terror will grip them,
    for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
    but the Lord will protect his people.

7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
    When the Lord restores his people,
    Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

David reminds us that only fools deny God’s existence. Creation itself cries out in testimony to the Creator. And those who insist there is no God then tend to lean on their own sin nature to guide them, which leads to corruption, selfishness, and all kinds of evil.

Some who reject God may seem to be respectful of life and help other people. But if you really dig into what drives them it is often the Christian beliefs that have so widely affected much of the world view for centuries. They will not even recognize its origins in Christianity.

As an example… someone who believes in Darwinian evolution instead of creation with man created in the image of God really has no logical position to explain why we should help others or why we should not be okay with murdering one another. The strong survive, right?  We are not special as humans, we are just “evolved” animals, right? Helping the weak and those in need is not a survival advantage consistent with evolutionary theory. Hitler conducting horrible mass executions, on the other hand… actually that is consistent with evolutionary theory. Evolutionary ideas played an important role in influencing Hitler as he tried to create the “master race”.

Even as we witness great suffering and evil around us and around the world, we can be encouraged that God will restore His people in His timing and His method. We can have faith and hope that God is in control and will protect us… will stand with us. Sometimes it is hard to see it as people are suffering such as those being executed for their faith in Jesus Christ but we can trust the promises of God. The righteous who accept Jesus as lord will find rest with God after they pass through this life. The wicked will find an eternity without God in hell.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Blessed, Comforter, Compassionate, Healer, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Loving / Kind, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness

He Will Turn Mourning Into Gladness

What good news to hear that the Lord binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to captives, provides comfort to those who mourn, and more. Read through Isaiah 61 and be encouraged if you are following Him. He is more than able to handle any situation in which you are involved.

Isaiah 61

Exaltation of the Afflicted

    1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;

      2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

      3To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

      4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.

      5Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

      6But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.

      7Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.

      8For I, the LORD, love justice,
I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
And I will faithfully give them their recompense
And make an everlasting covenant with them.

      9Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
All who see them will recognize them
Because they are the offspring whom the LORD has blessed.

      10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

      11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.

Give thanks to God for the blessings He provides and honor Him for who He is, creator of all and father. He cares for us who pursue Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Comforter, Encouragement, Grace / Forgiveness, Help / Serve Others, Interceding for Others, Peace / Rest, Strong in Our Weakness, Suffering / Adversity

Grace and Peace from God the Father and from Jesus

Take care not even to skip or skim over the sections of Paul’s letters identified as “introduction”. Let us study that as well for insight. There is much we can appreciate and apply in our lives here.

Paul gives glory to God rather than himself for his role as an apostle. He identifies his audience which is helpful in understanding context. In this case, his audience is the church… that is believers. You can study other engagements Paul has with non-believers to get a grasp on how he communicates differently with non-believers. In verse two, he again points to the Father and Christ and the powerful grace they provide and the peace that results. In verse 3, the focus is again on God the Father and Jesus Christ, highlighting the mercy and comfort we receive in our afflictions. Clearly, Paul is speaking to suffering and tough times affecting the church, and pointing them to look to God for comfort. A poignant reminder that we as believers can expect suffering and difficulty as well… and we too can look to God for comfort. Paul also points to the power of prayer from other believers and credits as tangibly helpful in bringing about God’s help through his tough times in Asia.

That’s a lot of information in an “introduction”!

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Introduction

     1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:

      2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

      3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 6But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; 7and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

      8For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.

Are you facing suffering and burdens that seem to overwhelm you? Do you know others who are? Pray for God to help you and others. Seek and find comfort in the Lord. In Him, we are to place our hope.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Learning To Pray Effectively, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Thankfulness

I Will Praise You, Lord, with All My Heart

David had a close relationship with God. He frequently sang praises to the Lord. He was not without trials or enemies, quite the opposite. David had many difficulties and trials… enemies trying to defeat him and kill him. David recognized the protecting hand of God in his life and sang praises to God for who He is and what He has already done. David also relies on God to continue to protect him. We should do the same.

Psalms 9

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
2 I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies retreated;
    they staggered and died when you appeared.
4 For you have judged in my favor;
    from your throne you have judged with fairness.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
    you have erased their names forever.
6 The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;
    the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.

7 But the Lord reigns forever,
    executing judgment from his throne.
8 He will judge the world with justice
    and rule the nations with fairness.
9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.[a]
    Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
12 For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.
    He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

13 Lord, have mercy on me.
    See how my enemies torment me.
    Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
14 Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,
    so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.
    Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.
16 The Lord is known for his justice.
    The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

17 The wicked will go down to the grave.[c]
    This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
18 But the needy will not be ignored forever;
    the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

19 Arise, O Lord!
    Do not let mere mortals defy you!
    Judge the nations!
20 Make them tremble in fear, O Lord.
    Let the nations know they are merely human.

We should challenge ourselves to regularly reflect on the character of God, thank Him and praise Him boldly and to others, and call on Him for help.

We must also remember that God is not just love but is also righteousness and judgment. He is to be loved and feared rather than ignored. We are held accountable for our action or inaction to live out the word of God in our lives. There are real consequences for this life and for our eternal destination with God (heaven) or without God (hell).

Take a few minutes now and pray. Give praise for what God has done and continues to do for you. Thank Him for His promises and protection. Let the hope you find in Him lift your spirits today. He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you need protection or defense from someone, ask Him. Put your faith in Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Hope, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Thankfulness

I Know the Plans I Have for You… Plans for Good

The God and Creator of the universe has plans for you and me. Let that sink in. Even when we are in the midst of difficult times, God’s plans for us are still there! Those who seek Him wholeheartedly will find Him and be rescued. Those who reject Him will face serious consequences.

God spoke to Israel through Jeremiah during a time when many had lost hope. They had been exiled to Babylon, removed from their homes and lands to a faraway place and scattered amongst a culture far from God.

Jeremiah 29:1-23

4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

15 You claim that the Lord has raised up prophets for you in Babylon. 16 But this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all those still living here in Jerusalem—your relatives who were not exiled to Babylon. 17 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I will send war, famine, and disease upon them and make them like bad figs, too rotten to eat. 18 Yes, I will pursue them with war, famine, and disease, and I will scatter them around the world. In every nation where I send them, I will make them an object of damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery. 19 For they refuse to listen to me, though I have spoken to them repeatedly through the prophets I sent. And you who are in exile have not listened either,” says the Lord.

20 Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord, all you captives there in Babylon. 21 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says about your prophets—Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah—who are telling you lies in my name: “I will turn them over to Nebuchadnezzar for execution before your eyes. 22 Their terrible fate will become proverbial, so that the Judean exiles will curse someone by saying, ‘May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned alive!’ 23 For these men have done terrible things among my people. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have lied in my name, saying things I did not command. I am a witness to this. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Throughout His word, God consistently reminds us that there is hope and salvation for those who wholeheartedly seek Him, but accountability and serious consequences for those who reject Him. Which path will you choose?

Take a few minutes and pray humbly before God. Even if you are facing difficulties and challenges, be encouraged and put your hope and faith in God. Thank Him that He has plans for you, plans to prosper you. Reflect on the greatness of our God.  Let that hope stay with you throughout your day.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Grace / Forgiveness, Idols / False Gods, Loving / Kind, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

God Disciplines His People to Call Them Back to Relationship with Him

God does not want to share His glory with false gods or anything that substitutes for a false god. One simple example of a substitute would be someone putting their trust in money and giving glory to their wealth as providing for them, protecting them, etc. instead of recognizing God’s hand of blessing in their life.

If we put our trust and faith in something other than God, then as His children, He will discipline us to help us come back to a relationship with Him and remove our faith in the “idol”. In Isaiah 48 we read about how God brought about captivity in Babylon for His people and then after the right time, set them free again.

His goal is to remain in a proper relationship with His people and maintain His name, or reputation. If I were to oversimplify it for a moment, it is not unlike when we punish our children to correct certain behavior. Maybe for us, it is sending them to their room or providing other consequences.  For God, we see it on a larger scale and with His people as a whole.

The best approach is to submit to God and God alone. Do not be stubborn and resist Him, putting our trust in anything else.

Isaiah 48

Israel’s Obstinacy

1“Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are named Israel
And who came forth from the loins of Judah,
Who swear by the name of the LORD
And invoke the God of Israel,
But not in truth nor in righteousness.

      2“For they call themselves after the holy city
And lean on the God of Israel;
The LORD of hosts is His name.

      3“I declared the former things long ago
And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

      4“Because I know that you are obstinate,
And your neck is an iron sinew
And your forehead bronze,

      5Therefore I declared them to you long ago,
Before they took place I proclaimed them to you,
So that you would not say, ‘My idol has done them,
And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.’

      6“You have heard; look at all this.
And you, will you not declare it?
I proclaim to you new things from this time,
Even hidden things which you have not known.

      7“They are created now and not long ago;
And before today you have not heard them,
So that you will not say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’

      8“You have not heard, you have not known.
Even from long ago your ear has not been open,
Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously;
And you have been called a rebel from birth.

      9“For the sake of My name I delay My wrath,
And for My praise I restrain it for you,
In order not to cut you off.

      10“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

      11“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
For how can My name be profaned?
And My glory I will not give to another.


Deliverance Promised

12“Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called;
I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.

      13“Surely My hand founded the earth,
And My right hand spread out the heavens;
When I call to them, they stand together.

      14“Assemble, all of you, and listen!
Who among them has declared these things?
The LORD loves him; he will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon,
And His arm will be against the Chaldeans.

      15“I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him,
I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.

      16“Come near to Me, listen to this:
From the first I have not spoken in secret,
From the time it took place, I was there.
And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

      17Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you in the way you should go.

      18“If only you had paid attention to My commandments!
Then your well-being would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

      19“Your descendants would have been like the sand,
And your offspring like its grains;
Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”

      20Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans!
Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this,
Send it out to the end of the earth;
Say, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.”

      21They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts.
He made the water flow out of the rock for them;
He split the rock and the water gushed forth.

      22“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.

Take a few minutes in prayer. Quietly ask God to show you any areas of your life  where you are putting your trust in something other than Him. Ask Him to help you surrender these parts of your life to Him fully. Give Him thanks that He cares for you.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.