Devotions

Revelation 21:5-7: “And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.  All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.’” [NLT]

Behold God is making everything new. Behold God is giving to all who are thirsty without cost. Behold God is giving to all who overcome an inheritance and a relationship as a son or daughter. And who is he who overcomes? John tells us in his letter that it is the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God is the overcomer.

These are glorious words that thrill the soul, but the words that truly caught my attention in those verses from Revelation are the words ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ 

Trustworthy and true. Our God is ABSOLUTELY trustworthy and true. This will happen.

So much in this life disappoints. We elect politicians who make glorious promises, yet these promises are seldom kept. Merchandisers make wonderful claims about their products, yet most of the products fall short. Even family and friends can disappoint us with vows that are broken.

But God is different. God is ABSOLUTELY trustworthy and true, and because there is not even a shadow of turning with Him, His words, His promises are ABSOLUTELY trustworthy and true. He IS making everything new!

Revelation 21:1-4: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’” [NLT]

That, beloved, is our future, the future of all those who claim salvation by the blood of Jesus God’s Son. That is what lies ahead for us.

Gas prices may continue to rise. People may lose their jobs. Food prices may continue to climb. It may get hard to stay even. We may even lose ground. Tribulation may be the buzzword of the next decade. Those things are fearful to contemplate.

We love our three children and their spouses and our grandchildren and greats.  When I look at them, I am anxious at times; anxious that this world is not going to be a very pleasant place for them.

If I keep my eye on the things I hear on the news, my anxiety can easily turn to fear. Instead, I must look past that great word tribulation to the words I see in Revelation 21 – A new heaven and a new earth, God dwelling with us, no more death or mourning or crying or pain.

I must see that new order God has promised and know that while the old order might claim today, it cannot claim forever.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” [Psalm 139: 23-24 NLT]

This song of David is a reminder of God’s care and knowledge of us. David reminds us that God created our inmost being, knit us together in our mother’s womb, and that all the days ordained for us were written in God’s book before we ever experienced even one of them.

It reminds us that God’s thoughts are always with us whether we are sitting down or rising up, but the phrase that always stands out to me are David’s closing words – a prayer for God to search him and know his heart, to test him and know his anxious thoughts.

David understood that our thoughts influence our heart. Disquieting times (like we are in now) often create disquieting thoughts. Disquieting thoughts create heart problems. My thinking has a direct influence on my heart relationship with my Father God. David asked God to search his heart. He was asking him to take a good hard look at his relationship.

Then he asked God to test and know his anxious thoughts. God knew David’s thoughts, what David is asking is for God to help David know his thought patterns and recognize anything that might influence his heart relationship. (Show me O God, the things I need to change in how I think and how I relate to You.)

Sometimes the things we take into our thought life can be unsettling, making our hearts anxious or worried. It is then we need to ask God to show us the things we need to change so that our relationship with Him is kept vibrant and fruitful.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:6-7 NLT]

God asks us to not be anxious about anything, but to pray and present our request to Him, all the while being thankful for all He has done, is doing and will do in our lives. He promises us that when we do that, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I’ve noticed one other thing about the birdfeeders in our backyard. Each evening several pairs of wild doves come by. They land in the feeder and immediately all the other birds scatter while the doves eat their fill. After they have eaten, they fly onto the fence and settle down. They preen themselves for a while, and then they sit side-by-side for an hour or so resting in the shade of the evening.

As I watch them each evening, I’m reminded that doves are a symbol of peace. I have no idea where these doves come from, they are wild birds that found our feeder and seem to enjoy our yard. They scatter everything else as they descend and then they simply rest with us.

I do not understand how the peace of God works. I know that things often do not immediately change when I present my cares, anxieties, and requests to God. Oftentimes, the circumstances remain the same.  Yet somehow, by that act of obedience in placing it all before Him, peace descends and scatters all my worries, and takes up its residence with me, just as these doves do every evening.

His promises are sure.

Matthew 6:25-27: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” [NLT]

When I got up this morning my backyard was full of adorable little birds waiting for Bob to replenish the birdfeeders. They had completely cleaned them out last night. They didn’t seem to be anxious when they departed last night about whether there would be more to eat today. They left for their rest and now are back again, somehow knowing that Bob will be filling up their plates once more.

They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet they are fed. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded His listeners that they are so much more valuable than the birds of the air to our Father God. We are not to worry about this life; after all He pointed out, if we can’t add even a single hour to it, what good is worrying anyway.

I can quote that verse from heart. I understand it with my head all the time; it is just plain common sense. What good is worrying about life when you really have no control on its most basic factor—its length?

Understanding it with my heart is a different matter. It is very easy to understand when life is rolling along at a steady, even keel. It is very difficult to appropriate in my heart when life is not steady or even when storms arise or problems sprout up. Then not worrying becomes more difficult at the exact time it becomes more necessary.

My backyard is full of little birds partaking of the daily supply Bob provides. I’m working in my heart to nudge out the worry and anxiety that seem to want to take root, reminding myself that as Bob cares for those little birds, my Father cares for me.

According to Webster’s dictionary, contentment is synonymous with being happy, pleased, satisfied, comfortable, and at ease.  Of course, we are all familiar with the famous contentment Scripture found in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (That Scripture came up in a recent Bible Study I attended.)

As I was reading that I realized a marvelous truth found in that Scripture. To be content in whatever circumstance is not something that happens naturally. It is something to learn. “I have learned” Paul said, “to be content.”

I must admit that there are some things I learn easily, while others require a great deal of effort. Contentment is one of those that comes both easily and requires effort depending on the circumstances. I suppose it is that way for all of us.

Most of the time I am content. I don’t need a lot of “things.” Clothes, shoes, the latest gadgets, the newest cars, I find I can do without. I am content with what I have.

But there are times when I face disappointment, when outcomes are not what I expect them to be, that contentment flies out the window and discontent flies in. I fuss, fume, and sometimes say things I shouldn’t. I pester God to change His mind, but God rarely does. Most of time I end up having to repent or apologize or both.

In those times I learn a little more about being content. Probably not enough, however, and knowing my personality, I’ll probably have another go-around with this attitude in the future. It is a lesson I am positive God wants me to learn.

I am participating in a 10-week discipleship program Sunday nights at church – and loving every minute of it! Week Three of the program was on prayer. Last Monday, we practiced what we learned.

The three groups participating in the program got together for a “prayer experience.” While it started off a bit quiet and hesitant – it didn’t stay that way. By the end of the evening, we were praising God with tears and laughter and then praying for each other. Driving home I kept thinking how wonderful it would be to do that every week.

Prayer is a wonderful experience, but it does require sacrifice. The writer to Hebrews calls it a sacrifice of praise. “Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.” [Hebrews 13:5 HCSB]

In the Old Testament, believers brought literal sacrifices (animals, grain, wine, etc.) to the temple. It was part of the Levitical system. In the New, however, our sacrifice is one that flows out of a heart made new by the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross.

It is a sacrifice of praise offered continually. Still, prayer does require sacrifice – a sacrifice of time, a quieting of the soul before God, thanksgiving for all He has done, praise for all He is. Amen

If there is a job I hate, it is cleaning the shower. We replaced our shower not long after we moved in, the one that was here originally had been ruined by the previous owners and was impossible to clean. The new one was great – for a while. Then it, too, became more difficult to clean. I experimented with different types of cleaners – some so obnoxious I wore a mask when using them.

Then I found one that said all I needed to do was spray it on once a week, let it sit for 8-12 hours and then rinse it off. The label indicated I might have to use it daily in the beginning to get the shower clean, but once it was, it required only a weekly application.

I thought it was too good to be true. But I’ve been using it for four months and my shower-cleaning duties have become much easier. I spray it on in the morning after my shower – and thankfully it doesn’t have a strong odor – and then rinse it off before Bob showers at night. So easy! But I know that if I ignore the weekly application, I am going to be right back where I began.

It may be silly, but every week when I apply that cleaner I am reminded of Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” [NLT]

It is not enough to occasionally do the spiritual disciplines necessary to keep our hearts clean, we must be diligent to regularly come to God and ask Him to reveal to us anything that displeases Him.

Thank you LORD.

I was talking to a precious lady at a recent Senior Potluck. We are about the same age, we both have health challenges, and we both love the LORD. We both share the same desires for the future. We want to have clarity of mind to be able to testify about our Wonderful LORD and have a body that will allow us to be active in ministry until our LORD calls us home to Him.

I know for me, also, that means going about these things despite the pain that accompanies my days. When I was young, I looked forward to “getting over” those times of discomfort and pain that would hit me occasionally. I got over colds. I got over the flu. I got over a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Now I realize there is no “getting over” an aging body. Each day is a challenge to ignore the pain and fatigue and keep moving. Sometimes I can do that, and sometimes I must simply give in and rest, hoping tomorrow will be better.

The Bible does not ignore the challenges of old age and the fact that strength does fade. Psalm 71 is a prayer for God’s continuing faithfulness: “And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.” [vs 8-10 NLT]

But Psalm 92 is God’s promise that He will remain faithful – that those who are planted in the House of the LORD “will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare: ‘The Lord is just; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” [vs 13-15 HCSB]

Amen & Amen

I joined a discipleship program at church. It’s a program called “Rooted” and lasts for ten weeks. There is a weekly meeting with a small group and daily devotional readings. At the end of each devotional are questions. I am so enjoying the small group! I really like the daily devotional. But those questions!

There are just a couple after each day’s devotion along with a direction to write a prayer. Wouldn’t you think that after being a Christian for more than five decades and reading my Bible cover to cover multiple times, that it would be a snap to answer those questions? Instead, I struggle.

How would you answer the very first question after the very first devotion, “What false or incomplete images of God do you have?” and the second, “What new thoughts do you have about God?”

I thought … ALL my images and thoughts about God are “incomplete!”  I only have a small finite understanding about our Infinite God! I also realized that I need to continue (yes, even after five decades) to dig deeper into the images and thoughts about God that He wants to reveal to me. I need to be eager to still learn and grow.

 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” [2Timothy 2:15 HCSB]