by | Devotionals
How To Trust God and God Alone
God and God Alone
from The Confident Woman Devotional- Joyce Meyer
Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (AMP)
Once I found myself worried about what I would do if Dave died. How could I run the ministry on my own? After several days of this mental attack, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “If Dave died, you would keep doing exactly what you are doing, because I am the One holding you up, not Dave.” I obviously needed Dave and was dependent on him for many things, but God wanted to establish in my heart from the beginning our ministry that with or without Dave or anyone else for that matter, I could do what God had asked me to do as long as I had Him.
Every individual needs to believe this same thing. God is all you have to have. Many other things are nice and comforting, but God is the only presence we can never do without. The Bible says that Joseph’s brothers hated him, but God gave him favor everywhere he went (Genesis 39:21). It just doesn’t matter who is against you as long as God is for you.
Comments:
Do you find yourself asking these questions? What if this happens? What if they leave? Where will I go? What will I do?
I have struggled with abandonment for many years. Only over the last two years have I realized it was a problem for me. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t allow myself to get close to people. I feared they would leave. Then what would I do? It wasn’t until I completely gave my heart to God and said “I am okay” that I realized I really would be ok.
I am learning that people are going to come in and out of my life. It won’t always be easy. There will be tears, sadness, and perhaps more tears, but God will still be there when the tears are done.
Remember, “it doesn’t matter who is against you as long as God is for you.”
Prayer from Joyce:
Lord, it is an amazing comfort to know that there’s nothing I can go through where You won’t be with me. I ask You to imprint this truth deep into my heart and soul and mind. Amen.
Do you trust that God is completely for you?
by | Devotionals, Faith Lived Out
Three Steps To Finding Guidance Through Impatience
Three Steps To Finding Guidance Through Impatience
from Come Away My Beloved – Francis J. Roberts
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Psalm 37:23
My child, hear My voice, and give no heed to the voice of the stranger. My paths are straight, and they are narrow, but you shall have no difficulty finding them if you watch Me. I am guiding you. You need not look to people for direction. You may learn much by fellowship with the saints, but never allow any to take the role that is rightfully Mine – to direct your steps. As it is written, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” – not by the preacher, not by some Christian worker, but by the Lord.
Trust Me to do it, and give Me the time and the opportunity to do it. Be not hasty, and lean not upon your own intelligence.
Rest in Me. I shall bring to pass My perfect will in your life as you believe and live in faith.
Comments:
How often do you look to others for guidance before seeking God’s direction? This is an area God is constantly growing me in. It’s easier to talk to someone sitting right in front of you, or call a friend on the phone for advice first, than it is to sit and talk to God. But that doesn’t make it the way it should be.
That doesn’t mean we cannot receive spiritual wisdom from those around us, but we must take the right steps first.
- Ask God.
- Talk to others.
- Go back to God.
I love this part in the devotion: Trust Me to do it, and give Me the time and the opportunity to do it. Be not hasty, and lean not upon your own intelligence. I too often lean upon my own intelligence, then quickly find myself question that intelligence with a what was I thinking slap to the forehead.
We must go to God and believe that He will answer us in due time. Sometimes I find myself going to God for direction and immediately turning around and taking the issue to someone. I haven’t even given Him time to answer me. I can imagine Him shaking His head at my impatience.
Next time you find yourself asking others for direction, ask yourself if you have talked with God about it first.
Do you struggle with impatience in this area?
by | Devotionals
I want to try something new. I would like to make Thursdays a place where devotions can be shared. I invite you to not only read the devotions I will post, but I would love for you to send those devotionals that are close to your heart and I will post them.
Here’s the first one:
The Need For Greater Faith
The Need For Greater Faith
from Come Away My Beloved – Francis J. Roberts
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. – James 1:5
My child, do not expect the trials to be lighter than in the past. Why should you think the tests would be less severe? I test all things, and there are areas of your life that as yet I have not touched. Do not look for respite. The days ahead may call for greater endurance and more robust faith than you ever needed before. Welcome this, for you must surely know how precious are the lessons learned through such experiences. Even if you are unable to fully anticipate them with joy, you can certainly gain an appropriate appreciation of them in retrospect.
Apply your heart to learn wisdom. This goal transcends every other aim, and any other good that comes out of a pressure period is an added blessing in excess.
Seek Me above all else.
Comments:
God says, “do not look for respite.” In other words, “don’t plan to rest in between tests.” Just seeing those words makes me tired. Sometimes I find myself asking God to let me catch my breath before the next thing comes along. I’m sure He just smiles and nods his head saying, “If only you knew what I have saved you from.”
I have a friend that is in the midst of some serious tests. She fights every day to keep her joy, her energy, her strength, her peace of mind. But it is in this time that God is calling her to “greater endurance” than ever needed before. I have no doubt, with God’s strength, that she will make it through this. Watching her struggles has called me to pray more. Something good is coming out of the whole situation.
What in your life right now calls for greater faith?
