Daily Devotional

Son, sometimes I withdraw from you in order to test you, so that you can see what is really in your heart. If you believe that I am your God forever and ever then I will guide you until you die. You will not need to defend yourself for I am able to save and rescue you.

 

Lord, help me to trust in Your power, and to be able to say, “I want to make it clear to everyone that I will never serve the gods of this world. I would be willing to die than serve or worship any god except You. For there is no other god who can rescue me like You can!”

 

Son, when you seek Me wholeheartedly, and faithfully carry out the work I have asked you to do, you will be successful. So be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged for there is a power far greater on your side! You have Me to help you and to fight your battles for you!

 

I am telling you the truth: if your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible. Remember, if two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, I will do it for you. When there are two or three of you gathered together; I am there.

 

Lord, when You withdraw from me I ask that You help me to not become proud. I do not want to be humbled by You. Your words greatly encourage me, and I will tell everyone about Your unfailing love.

 

 

Daily Devotional

Son, I have heard your prayer, and want you to understand what is in man’s heart today. Ask yourself what is the benefit if a man becomes rich and famous by lying and deceit? In the end they will lose it all.

 

Son, where are the men today who are defending truth, humility and justice? Men whose passion is aroused when justice is done? Men who hate what is evil and will worship Me at any cost? Men who refuse to see life from a human point of view? Men who are determined not to defile themselves?

 

What I want are men who are always ready to help in times of trouble. Men who do not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Men who know how and when to be still with Me. Men who know that I am God! These men will do awe-inspiring deeds for Me. Their words are filled with grace and understanding. They have an unusual aptitude for understanding, and use it with wisdom to make balanced judgments.

 

Son when I have men like this – I will change any family, city, country!

 

 

Daily Devotional

Son, most of the people of your country do not listen to Me. Some of them say they hear Me, but they are not really listening, and they do not understand what I have said. Their hearts are hard and therefore they cannot hear. They have closed their eyes to the things I am doing and have become blind. They talk as though they are My children, but they fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing My word. There is no place in their hearts for Me, and they are consumed by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth. Therefore, I cannot help them!

 

To those who do listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. My strong arm will give them success in everything they do. When they are in trouble they will not be afraid, for they can cry out to me, “Help me Lord!” I will immediately reach out and grab them. I will tell them to take courage, for I am here, and they will not doubt Me.

 

Son, I need to tell you about the President of your country. He is not doing what is pleasing in My sight and all heaven is disturbed by it. He needs to watch out, because My fierce anger has been turned against him. I am about to humble him for he has encouraged the people to sin. He has been utterly unfaithful to Me. He thinks the gods of other countries will help him. But instead, they will lead to his ruin and the ruin of your great country. He thinks he has the power to shut My doors so that no one can worship Me. He has set up pagan gods in every corner of the country. Soon he will know that he has aroused My anger.

 

Lord, when I am discouraged and grieved I will go to Your word, for it is the source of all my joy. I put all my hope in You; for you are my Savior and my God!

Daily Devotional

Lord, this week I had conversation with two men, one my age and one young man. Both said the same thing to me, “I can’t believe in a God that predestines people to hell.”

 

The young man had just spent 10 years as a marine and had done three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is struggling to cope with this country and all the things he has seen and done. The other has had two wives die on him, and lost his business. How do I respond to them, Lord?

 

Son, My word holds true and can be trusted. I merely spoke, and the heavens were created. I breathed the word, and all the stars were born. When I spoke, the world began! It all started at My command. People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from My mouth. I made the hearts of these two men, so I understand them. Therefore son, follow Me, and I will show you how to answer these men through My words. Say only what I tell you to say.

 

Remember, I watch over all who fear Me. Those who rely on My unfailing love; I will rescue and keep them alive in times of famine. My unfailing love will surround them; for their hope is in Me alone. Those who trust Me will have all they need. Those who trust in Me will lack no good thing. My eyes watch over those who are Mine. My ears are open to their cries for help. When I hear My people call for help, I will rescue them from all their troubles. My righteous children will face many troubles, but I will come to their rescue each time. I have redeemed those who serve Me. No one who takes refuge in Me will ever be condemned. When they see this, THEN THEY WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD!!

 

Lord, Your joy is for those who have chosen You and are deeply committed to Your ways. I prayed to You and You answered me, by freeing me from all my fears. In my desperation I prayed, and You listened, and saved me from all my troubles. Thank You that You surround and defend all who trust in You.

 

Daily Devotional

Son, I have made Myself known to your country, and they have rejected Me. I have heard every contemptuous word spoken against Me. I have heard it all! Their hatred for Me and My people is revealed by their actions. Therefore, I will judge them and punish them for all their acts of anger, envy, and hatred.

 

I will protect My Holy Name on which these people have worked to bring shame. Because they have put their trust in their own knowledge and strength, instead of Me, they have missed their opportunity that I wanted to give them. Your leaders should have remembered how I blessed leaders of the past when they relied on Me. Now I will show them, and the world, just how Holy My great Name is! Then everyone will know that I am the Lord.

 

Son, My eyes search the whole earth looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to Me. These people are obvious because they come to Me for protection and they do what is right. They rejoice in My unfailing love. They know I see all their troubles, and have confidence that I care about the problems they face. They know their future is in My hands and that I will rescue them. They know I will bless and protect them; for they are loyal to Me. The world will see what I do for My children.

 

Lord, I will confess all my sins to You and will stop trying to hide them from You. I know that  unconfessed sin drains my strength. It affects my whole body, and I will have no peace. But when I confess my sin to You-You will forgive me and all my guilt will be gone. Therefore, I can pray to You, and You will be my hiding place of protection from the troubles that are coming. I know You will guide me and my family along the best pathway for our lives. You will be our Advisor and watch over us. O Lord, what joy there is for those whose sin is forgiven, and put out of Your sight!

Kingdom Thinking – Part 22

Deuteronomy 28:13 “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”

 

A question that I have on my mind is: How are we (true believers) training our children? Our children are a heritage from the Lord and with that blessing there comes tremendous responsibility.

 

I often hear how children who have grown up in the church and have gone off to higher education soon lose their faith. This brings another question to my mind and that is: Did they have a faith to begin with to even lose? Or perhaps put another way: Was the faith that they professed a preference (something you prefer over something else) or was it a conviction? There is a difference between the two.

 

We might ask: What is the difference between a faith that is a conviction and one that is preference? In Daniel chapter 2 we see Daniel interpreting the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had about a statue and what it meant.

 

In chapter 3 we see a statue being built with the instructions “As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. If one does not bow down and worship the consequences are quite drastic: “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:5-6

 

Three young men: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who had been taken captive along with Daniel, were not going to deny their faith. They must have been taught this as young boys by their parents, and before being captured by this pagan king who demanded this loyalty. This loyalty only belongs to Jehovah, the great I AM.

 

These three men were taken and thrown into the fiery furnace that the king had heated up seven times hotter than usual because of the answer the three men gave to the king. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

 

What boldness, courage and conviction that these three men had! In this testimony of these three men we see a faith that was a conviction and not a preference. There are four things that we can learn from this to see whether or not our faith is a conviction or a preference.

 

  1. First, we see that their faith was unchangeable. No matter how much pressure Nebuchadnezzar placed upon them they did not recant or change. If we find that under pressure from our authorities, or our peers, etc. that we can change what we believe, then I would have to that – that kind of faith is a preference and not a conviction. (verse 15)
  2. Secondly, they were willing to stand alone. There could have been at least 500 Jews in Babylon at that time. Where were these Jews and what were they doing? They must have been bowing the knee as required by the king. We do not like standing alone, but if we must we must. (verse 12)
  3. Thirdly, a faith that is a conviction is non-negotiable. When we read verses 16-18 we see that Nebuchadnezzar was trying to negotiate with them but to no gain. If our faith is negotiable then it is a preference and not a conviction.
  4. Fourthly, a faith that is a conviction does not need to be assured of success before taking a stand. We find that often we can be intimidated by the opposing party (whatever that might be) and so we do not take a stand if it seems that we are the minority. It would be nice to have others stand with us, but if they do not, then the men and women of conviction are willing to stand alone on what they profess to believe.

 

How do we instill this type of faith in our children? First, we instill it by our example. What do our children see in us? Do they see a faith that is a conviction or one that is preference?

 

Luke 6:40 tells us:  “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  In other words, where we are spiritually is how we raise our own children.

 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us:  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

 

If God has called us to rule and reign with Him then we need to be teaching our children the same. What a responsibility we have!

 

Hugh Welchel said: “Our salvation is not just a bus ticket to heaven, but an invitation to participate in God’s redemptive plan to rescue humanity and the physical universe.”

 

Daily Devotional

Son, when I speak, My voice echoes above the sea. My voice is powerful and majestic. With just one word from Me I can split the mightiest of trees. When I speak it is like bolts of lightning that makes the earth quake, and in My Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

 

Son, I am making you a watchman for the people. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for Me. For I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live.

 

People will come pretending to be sincere and sit before you listening to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their hearts seek only after money, they hear what you say, but they don’t act on it! But when all these terrible things begin to happen, as they certainly will-then they will know a prophet has been among them.

 

Tell the leaders of your country that sorrow awaits them. They rule the people with harshness and cruelty. They starve their people of the knowledge of Me. Now I consider them My enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has, and will happen!

 

Soon I will brake the chains of slavery and rescue My people from these leaders who have enslaved them. Then My people will know that I am the Lord, that I am with them, and that they are Mine. I will strengthen My people and bless them with My peace. I will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain; all of these things are gone forever. I am coming soon. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Yes, I am coming soon!

 

Lord, Your favor will last forever! Therefore, I thank You, and I will not be silent. I will do all that You have told me to do.

 

Daily Devotional

Son, My prophesies make it very clear who I am and what I am about to do. So listen to what I tell you, “The leaders of your country have become proud and arrogant, and have set themselves higher than everyone else. They care nothing for what I have done or for what My hands have made. So I will begin to judge them, and all My judgments are valid and just.”

 

“Your nation boasts of its self-made prosperity, and does not seek Me. Your leaders speak friendly words; while all the time they are planning evil in their hearts. They deceive people into believing that they have the right answers.  Soon, I will avenge the murder of My children, and open My book of accounts, even the Book of Life. I will judge everyone who has lived according to what they have done, and anyone whose name is not found recorded in My Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.”

 

Son, there is still time for My people to humble themselves and pray. If My people have a change of heart, and humble themselves before Me, then I will not completely destroy this country. My people must learn the difference between serving Me and serving earthly rulers.

 

Lord, You are my light and my salvation! I will not be afraid! You will protect me and my family from the danger that is coming. The one thing I seek, is to hear You say, “Come and talk with Me.” Show and teach me how to live this life You have given me. Lead me along Your right path for my life. Lord, I trust You with all my heart because You have helped me in the past. I know You will help me today and tomorrow. Therefore, my heart is filled with joy and I am thankful.

Daily Devotional

Lord, why do You seem so far away when I seek Your answers? Each morning I call to You, and at night I know You hear my voice, but my soul is not at rest. Lord, You have been my God from the moment I was born. I know that You do not ignore me, and I know that You have never turned Your back on me, but have listened to all my cries for understanding.

 

I know that there is no God like You in all of heaven and earth. I know that I sin and act wickedly. But, You said that if I turn to You with my whole heart and soul, and pray, then Your ears will be attentive to my prayers to You. I know that You keep Your promises and show unfailing love to all who walk before You in wholehearted devotion. Lord, hear and grant what I ask of You. Give me understanding of what is going on.

 

Son, the time has come when the whole earth will acknowledge Me. All the families of the world will bow down and worship Me, the One who who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. But, first a man will be allowed to speak great blasphemies against Me. He will be given authority to do whatever he wants for forty-two months. He will be allowed to wage war against My holy people and to conquer them. He will be given authority to rule over every tribe, people, language and nation. He will have control over everything that is sold or bought. Everyone will be required to belong to his system; the system that is now starting to take place. But, those who belong to his system will drink the cup of My anger. Their future will be one of torment, fire and burning sulfur. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night.

 

Son, My holy people must ENDURE persecution patiently, OBEYING My commands and MAINTAINING their faith in Me.

 

Daily Devotional

Son, I looked for a leader in your country who would rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards your land. I searched for a leader who would stand in the gap of the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy your land, but I found no one.

 

Because there is no leader in your country, there is a great rebellion against Me. My design for family is treated with contempt, babies are aborted, orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed. People do obscene things, and murder and extortion are everywhere. The leaders of the people never even think of Me or My word. My Name has been dishonored among the nations because of their actions, and soon they will know that I am the Lord. Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! Your country has brought all this on itself because they have forgotten Me and turned their back on Me.

 

Your leaders and the people must bear the consequences of all their actions. I tried to cleanse them, but they refused. So they will remain filthy until my fury against them has been satisfied. The time has come, and I won’t hold back. I will not change My mind, and I will have no pity on them. They will be judged on the basis of all their wicked actions; they will waste away because of their sins.

 

Son, the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with My household. If judgment begins with My household, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed My Good News! Don’t be fooled by what they say, “This day will not come in our life time.” But I say, “This day will come when there is a great rebellion against Me.”

 

Let Me reveal to you a wonderful secret. Some of My children will not die, but will be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, WHEN THE LAST TRUMPET IS BLOWN. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever, and they who are living will also be transformed. For their dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. I will come down from heaven with a COMMANDING SHOUT OF THE ARCHANGEL, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, those who are still alive and remain on the earth, will all be caught up in the clouds to meet Me in the air. Then you will be with Me forever. So encourage each other with these words.

 

Lord, help me to tell Your people to be prepared for what is coming. The very things that You said are found in Revelation chapter 10. Therefore, Your children need to be prepared for what happens prior to chapter 10. To some this will bring fear and anxiety in their lives, but You have told us ahead of time, so that we can be prepared and use it for our advantage.

 

Lord, Your word is perfect, and will revive My soul. Your word is trustworthy, making wise the simple.  Your commandments are right and bring joy to my heart. Your commands are clear, giving insight for living and knowing the future. There is a great reward for those who obey Your commands.