Rest

TODAY’S VERSE
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.”
Psalms 62:1

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever had something that was irreplaceable? Something that worked so good that nothing could take it’s place? David felt that way about God. When his soul was weary, David came to God alone. Nothing else could fill the void that he felt. We can search the world over to find something that will satisfy the yearning in our soul, but nothing will meet your need the way a relationship with God through Christ will. Jesus said it best, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Are you looking for something to fill the hole in your heart? Are you restless, confused, troubled or weary? Come to God today. He will fill your heart with love, purpose and meaning. He will give you rest for your soul.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I am so glad that I can come to You for all my needs. You know my heart. You know how weary I get at times. You know how heavy my life can be. I come to You today dear Father and ask you to give me rest.
AMEN

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Give What You Have

TODAY’S VERSE
“Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’”
Acts 3:6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
A man was crippled sitting in the Temple Gate and was asking for money. When the Apostles Peter and John came by the man asked them for money. Instead of giving the man money, Peter was moved by God to pronounce a healing for the man. He said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” I believe that God has called you and I to respond to those in need in a similar way. We are to give to those in need what we have. What was it that Peter had? First we see that Peter had obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It was God that orchestrated the healing. He nudged Peter to do this act of kindness and Peter obeyed. Second we see that Peter had faith. Pronouncing the command of “get up and walk” was an act of faith. Peter trusted God to do what He had told him to do. Third we see that Peter had authority. Peter commanded the man to be healed because Christ gave him the authority to act on His behalf. Today you may be challenged to help others. If you are like Peter and your pockets are empty, do not despair. Give them what you do have. Give them love, hope, kindness, mercy, grace and life. Command a blessing upon them in the name of Jesus. You are an ambassador of Christ, go forward in obedience, faith and authority.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I want to be used by You to help others. Please guide me by Your Holy Spirit. Show me what You want me to do and then help me be obedient and have the faith to act in the authority. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Quench The Thirst Of Your Soul

TODAY’S VERSE
“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’ – The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’ So the people came streaming from the village to see him.”
John 4:13-14, 28-29

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a beautiful picture God is painting for us. Here is a woman who is coming to the well for water during the heat of the day. She must have been an outcast for why else come alone in the heat? Why not come early in the cool of the morning with the other women? Regardless, she comes for water for her physical thirst and Jesus offers her water for her soul. Water that quenches our real thirst. And she gets it! So much so, that she leaves the water at the well and runs and tells everyone in the village about Jesus and how she thinks He might be the Messiah. Today, what is it that your heart thirsts for? Is to be heard and understood? Is it to be affirmed or blessed? Do you want to be loved? Do you need to be forgiven? Perhaps you long to be included or to be chosen? Perhaps it is just to be safe? Whatever the longing of your heart, Jesus has the living water that can quench your thirst. His love for you is the living water you have been looking for. Come to Him today. Drink of His love, forgiveness, understanding, affirmation and blessing. When you do, you too will be telling everyone, “Come and see this Jesus who knows me and quenches the thirst of my soul.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, You know the longings of my heart. You know my needs, my fears, my desires. I come to you today to be filled. Fill me with your living water. Holy Spirit come and quench the desires of my heart. In Jesus Name.
AMEN
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Unworldly Peace

TODAY’S VERSE
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I was prepared to write on this passage and then I read an e-mail from someone who reads this devotional everyday. She asked for help with her crisis of faith. She has suffered the death of both of her children, one eighteen years ago and the other one just recently. Her e-mail touched my heart deeply and made me stop and consider what I would write about this passage. I could pretend I didn’t read her e-mail and be matter-of-fact or I could try to share something that is sensitive to her and the many others who have suffered unbearable pain. With the pain from such a loss I would be asking, “Jesus what are you talking about? Where is my peace of mind and heart?” But then I need to take Jesus words in the context they were written. Read the whole chapter and you will see that Jesus has just introduced a whole other reality. It was a cosmic introduction to the blending of this world and the next. Jesus was getting ready to go back to His father. He was about ready to face an unbearable death and spiritual suffering we cannot imagine. He was only moments from when He too would say, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” And yet, with deep empathy Jesus tells us, in the first verse of this chapter, not to be troubled because He was about to prepare another reality for us. It was obvious His disciples did not understand, so He tells them that He is going to give us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and help us in this world till we reach the next. And then Jesus shares today’s verse, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” He was right. The world cannot give us peace during our dark nights of the soul. Neither can religion. Only in blending this world and the next can we even begin to make any sense of our suffering here. Only in a larger reality can we find any peace in this dimension. Jesus came so we could live in both. I pray that today you will be able to have a glimpse of this world in light of the next and see that Jesus is the Lord of both. And may that reality begin a process of peace even in your darkest hour.
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, there are times when I ask, “Where is the peace in the darkest nights of the soul? Where is the comfort in such unbearable pain?” And, yet today I see that You who suffered such pain and anguish, has taken the harsh realities of this world and blended them the next life. Please help my heart live in both realities. Help me today begin to experience the peace that You are talking about.
AMEN

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Clothe Me With Joy

TODAY’S VERSE
“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
Psalms 30:11-12

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We go through seasons. Good times, bad times, times of sorrow and times of joy. I went through a season of depression and this passage from Psalms brought me comfort many times. I identified with David when he wrote in this same passage, “I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy.” I knew that God knew what I was going through so I claimed that He would turn my mourning into joyful dancing. I took solace when David wrote, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Through time, prayer, and counseling, the Lord did bring me to the other side. What are you mourning? What has broken your heart? What has you depressed or distraught? Bring it to Him today. I would not trifle with your sorrow. I would not minimize your pain. I only come today to offer you hope. Only God can turn your mourning into dancing. That may seem so far from where you are right now, but it is not too far for God. Light slowly penetrates the back of a dark cave. The sound of laughter at camp seems so faint when you are in the back side of the forest. But know this, there is light for you. There will be joy for you in the morning. I pray that God’s grace will fill you with this truth and complete a healing process in you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I don’t even know how to pray for my sorrow. I don’t know how to release the deep pain I feel. I come today crying out for your mercy. I thank you that weeping may last into the night but joy will come in the morning. Holy Spirit, I give you my heart, mend it, bring it back to life with your breath of love. Please begin a process in me to turn my mourning into dancing.
AMEN

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The Father Loves Me

TODAY’S VERSE
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
I john 3:1

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I don’t know how John could have contained himself when he wrote this verse. It has to be one of the most celebratory verses in the entire Bible. John understood the significance of being a child of God and implores us to understand it too. With the excitement of a child on Christmas morning John exclaims, “See how very much our father loves us!” Can you see it? There are four points to notice, First, “How very much”. God’s love for us is unfathomable. John wants us to see and examine the concept that God loves us very much, and to really believe it. Second, is the phrase, “Our”. John is getting personal. He isn’t talking about a God beyond our grasp, an impersonal Deity. Rather John is saying that this is our Father, which leads to the third point. God is our “Father”. Not a dysfunctional or absentee parent. He is our loving, faithful and trustworthy Father. Finally, John shares with us that this Father, who calls us His children, also “loves” us very much. Knowing this should change everything. When you love someone and know that they love you, you trust them. You want to be with them. You want to share in their life. I pray that we will grasp with the Apostle John, how wonderful it is to know that the Father loves us. Rest assured, we have been called, “Children of God,” and this is what we are!  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for loving us and making us your children. What a privilege to know you. What a joy to be your child. My your love fill my heart and guide my thoughts today. In Jesus name.
AMEN

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Lay Your Burden Down

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”’
Matthew 11:28

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Some days are harder than others. There are so many things that can get us down. Long hours at work, difficult relationships, financial difficulties, medical conditions, emotional stress and family responsibilities are just a few of the pressures that can weigh us down.
Jesus knew the human condition. All around Him He witnessed human suffering. He worked tirelessly to help those that were sick and oppressed. More importantly, He left behind a system to replace His efforts and to expand His influence. He gave us the Church, sent the Holy Spirit and took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. The church works on His behalf to help us, the Holy Spirit indwells us in order to guide and comfort us and Jesus Himself intercedes for us with the Father. So when Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” He meant it. What burden do you have? What is weighing you down? Bring it to Jesus. He will comfort you, He will guide you, He will give you rest. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I bring to you my burdens. You know my situation. I cannot make it without you. Comfort my heart today. Guide me. Give me strength. Help me carry on. I give you my burdens; please give me Your rest.
AMEN

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Strength In Our Inner Being

TODAY’S VERSE
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.”
Ephesians 3:16

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are complicated creatures. We think and communicate on many different levels. Our thinking is a combination of many drives, emotions, assumptions, beliefs, instincts and memories, creating a labyrinth of inner voices. We can be talking to someone and at the same time have an inner dialog going on guiding our conversation. We are so much more than what comes out of our mouth. This is our inner being. Paul knew about this. He was a man who experienced the battles that war for who we are on the inside. This is why he prayed that God would strengthen us. He knew if you and I were to have any real spiritual life with God, we would need God’s strength in the person of the Spirit to reside in us and to help us. Paul prayed that God would strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our inner being. Imagine, the God who created the divine order of the universe wants to do the same in our inner being. He wants to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our inner being so what goes on the inside of our mind is congruent to what goes on in our life. Today, make God the Lord of your inner being. Give Him all the inner turmoil, confusion, struggles, strife, fears and pain and ask Him to take control and strengthen you with His power through His Holy Spirit.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, You know my inner being. You understand me better than I do. I need your strength in my inner being to help me live the way you want me to. I pray that today, through your power, you would produce your Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in my inner being. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Get Comfort, Give Comfort

TODAY’S VERSE
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
II Corinthians 1:3-4

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Why is it so important that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that we have to be perfect? Because there are no perfect people! But trouble comes when we expect ourselves and others to be perfect. Perfect people don’t have problems so we feel “pressured” to be perfect and cannot admit our problems. When problems are not presented to God and each other, we cannot be comforted, or if in private desperation we cry out to God and see relief, we cannot share our testimony because we would have to admit to the problem in the first place. That means that we cannot comfort others! What a loss to the person needing help and the blessing for us in helping others. We would miss the whole point of what Paul is talking about. In his book “Abba’s Child”, Brennan Manning shares the insight that Mike Yacinelli, author and co-founder of Youth Specialties, had after he went on a spiritual retreat. Mike writes, “Finally, I accepted my brokenness. I never came to terms with that. I knew I was a sinner. I knew that I continually disappointed God, but I could never accept that part of me. It was a part of me that embarrassed me. I continually felt the need to apologize, to run from my weaknesses, to deny who I was and concentrate on what I should be. I was broken, yes, but I was continually trying never to be broken again – or at least to get to the place where I was very seldom broken. It became clear to me that I had totally misunderstood the Christian faith. I came to see that it was in my brokenness, in my powerlessness, in my weakness that Jesus was made strong. It was in the embracing of my brokenness that I could identify with other’s brokenness.” Might we learn the same lesson that Mike did. Might we cry out to God and be comforted and then invite others to experience the same kind of comfort we received. This is the true Christian experience.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I admit that I have troubles. I bring them to you for comfort. Help me in return, not to have false shame, but rather embrace my humanness and Your grace and comfort others in the way you comfort me.
AMEN

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Be Real

TODAY’S VERSE
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:8-9

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Why would John write, “If we claim we have no sin”? Who would ever claim that? Who in their right mind would think that they do not sin? The truth is that those of us in the church are close to doing that very thing. We come to a point where we feel we need to live a certain way in order to be a follower of Christ. Now while there is virtue in trying to live a righteous life we will never be sinless. So there becomes a temptation to try and hide any “sins” that we may have. There seems to be fear of humiliation or a shame that comes with “falling from Grace”. This makes it hard for Christians to be honest and open with each other. Perhaps John’s message today would be something like, “There are no perfect people in the Church, so don’t pretend you are without sin. Go ahead and confess to God and each other. Christ is faithful to forgive you.”

In order to be real, we need to come to God and confess our sins, admit our needs and get the help we need. It is in sharing our struggles and helping each other that we experience true Christianity. Then we help others in the way we were helped. This is what people are looking for. They will think, “Finally, someone who is real! Someone who knows what I am going through and can help me.” The sooner the community knows that there are no perfect people allowed at church, the sooner they will feel comfortable enough to come. The sooner you and I will invite them to experience the same grace, love and forgiveness that we feel.

PRAYER
Father, you know my situation. You know my shortcomings. Help me keep it real with you. Help me confess my sins so that I might experience your freedom and forgiveness. And then Father, help me help others, in the same way you have helped me. Bring revival Lord to my church. Help us embrace our shortcomings, confess them one to another and accept your forgiveness. Might we be a witness of your grace throughout our community and to all who enter our doors.
AMEN

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