Walking by Faith in Devo Style

Psalm 95:1-6

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

 For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.

 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Before you commence filling your bodies with unrealistic amounts of turkey and stuffing, let’s begin the day right. Take a moment today to fix your eyes on the Lord and thank him for everything that He is and has done. If you’re someone who has had a difficult year and can’t seem to find any reason to be grateful, Psalm 95:1-6 provides us with some very helpful prayer starters. 

The amazing thing is that when we think of gratitude we think only of the things we have received, instead of the One who has given them: the Lord we serve. If you had the opportunity to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you know that this bond with God is not just that of servitude but of family. God becomes our father, we are His children, and that is definitely something to be grateful for. If you can’t be thankful for something now, be thankful for what is to come: an eternity in Heaven with our Father.

Now that we have covered the big topic, let’s narrow it down a little more. This Thanksgiving we should be thankful for God’s love exhibited in our midst. Psalm 107:1 says “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I want to draw your attention to Hurricane Sandy. Now, how in the world are we supposed to be thankful for the destruction it caused? The gratitude comes in the aftermath of this storm. To see New Yorkers come together and help each other in a relief effort is kind of amazing considering the New Yorker mindset. From donating clothes to food to even blood, the response to get New York back on its feet has been unbelievable. I’m sure no one expected the extent of the damage from Sandy but God’s hand was at work after it and still is. This Thanksgiving I am thankful for the lives of all those who survived Hurricane Sandy in some of the hardest hit areas and I am thankful for the love of God in the relief efforts.

This Thanksgiving, before the turkey and mash potatoes get a gravy bath all over your plate, stop and think of everything the Lord has done for us this year, and everything He is. Our God is great and never stops taking care of us. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments or in my ask box and inspire others to stop and take a look at their blessing as well. Thanks for reading and supporting! God bless all of you and have a highly caloric and prayer-filled Thanksgiving.

-J

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Sorry, my friends for being away for so long, school gets too busy to write a public display of devotion the way I used to, and forcing it in made it feel like a chore to me rather than something I loved doing. We’ve got a small time window before chaos starts again, so I’m taking it. 

Lately, I’ve had the topic of integrity weighing heavily on my heart. In the past couple of months I’ve been faced with situations where there was a clear choice in front of me: God’s way and my way. The funny thing about it is that whenever we choose our way we think we’re happy but that feeling always has a tiny hint of guilt behind it. We don’t want to choose God’s way; something about our human nature fights against it. We want to be pleased all the time so when we adapt the “who cares” attitude we spiral downwards like a snowball becoming an avalanche, making choice after choice according to our own will. I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this. Either you’re going through it now or have gone through it before.  Here’s the thing though, choosing God’s way feels a million times better. The happiness that we strive for has a more overall lasting feeling than the temporary joy we experience from our own will. Choosing to live on the “yolo” side of life may be fun but living on Yahweh’s side of life is definitely better. 

The problem is that we feel like we have to live like the world. They tell us “it’s stupid being a virgin,” “alcohol will make you forget your worries,” “cursing up a storm is the only way to release your frustrations”, and a million other things more; but what makes you set apart as a Christian if you look and act just like everyone else? Romans 12:2 says “DO NOT conform any longer to the pattern of this world…” and yet we find ourselves doing the same things as everyone else, and making the same bad choices.  Francesca Battistelli sings, “It’s your life, watcha gonna do? The World is watching you. Every day the choices you make, say what you are and who your heart beats for.”   Sometimes when you’re choosing your will, it’s not your will at all but the world’s will. Choosing God’s will means sometimes being mocked, and it means denying that urge inside of you. God tells us, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”  John 15:19

When you make a conscious choice for God way alone, soon enough His will becomes your will; you do things because you know He would be please and you realize that you don’t want to go back. God’s will is truly good, pleasing, and perfect, but for you to experience it you have to deny yourself. Are you willing to take the chance? After all, like Switchfoot says, “It’s your life. Are you who you want to be?” But better yet, are you who God wants you to be?  

-J

“…I’m sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have had otherwise.” -C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

In our lives we do a lot of the one thing  many of us hate most: wait. However, God can use waiting as a molding process. When one door closes, sometimes all we can do is wait in the hallways.  In that waiting and in that silence, we can hear what God is trying to tell us until the next door opens. Often times we aren’t ready for what God has prepared for us next, therefore He has to mold us into the version of ourselves that is necessary to walk through that door.  If you are stuck currently waiting for something to happen in your life, trust God and listen. You won’t be there forever because God has something better planned for you, just wait for his divine timing. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Wait patiently in the hallway, because good is on its way.

-J
(10/11/12)

“So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba so of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.” -2 Samuel 20:2

It only takes one person in the midst of confusion to cause a shift either for better our worse. When a voice of reason rises up, we have to be discerning in our choice to follow or not. In the debate over the greater claim of David, the men of Israel were up against the men of Judah. Suddenly we have a random voice in the crowd, “Sheda” desribed as a troublemaker, suggests that Israel leave because they have no claim on David. Because of this, the men of Israel abandoned David, but Judah remained. When a suggestion is made, will you follow blindly or will you stay and make a wise decision? It’s always easier to follow the crowd than to stick with what you truly believe in (the men of Israel were more numerous than Judah, thus more powerful). God calls us to make our decisions with wisdom and discernment before following what just seems like the easier option. We are also called to live against the grain even if it’s more difficult. “Enter through the narror gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13). We must be careful with easy ways out and enticing offers. “For false Christs and face prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to decieve..” (Matthew 24:24). Don’t fall for the tricks of the world and the deceptions of ‘troublemakers.’  Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment in your decisions and he will give it to you.

-J
(10/5/12)

“And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, ‘The king is grieving for his son.’” -2 Samuel 19:2

In our lives, sometimes the greatest victories come with the greatest sacrifices; it is up to us to choose which we will focus on. David’s men won the war but couldn’t even celebrate their victory because David was mourning the loss of his son, who was their enemy. Too often we hold on to aspects of our life gone wrong. For example, we get upset when we lose friends even though they were a negative influence in our lives. God knows what he’s doing, especially when he takes something away from us. Your mourning may be  blinding you from the greater victory underneath. David took the joy away from everyone who should have been celebrating their win. He lingered on the bad and ignored the good. Our human instinct is to dwell on the bad even when ead day is filled with victories and blessings. Take some time out of each day to reflect on the blessings God has given you. In the midst of chaos and stressful days, remember what God has already done for you and consider the great things he will continue to do. Take on the mind set of Psalm 77:11-12, and say in the mindst of chaos and sacrifice, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works, and consider all your mighty deed.” Your life is fill of victories but if you spend your time mourning over your losses, you will miss the great things God has done and will continue to do.

-J
(10/3/12)

For those following these devotionals, thank you for taking time out of your day to read them and thanks for the support.

“But the men said, ‘You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won’t care about us. Even if half of us die, they won’t care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city.’”-2 Samuel 18:3

Sometimes, the only way you can help someone is from a distance. Depending on the situation, getting too close you will end up putting yourself at risk of slipping into your own distruction. That doesn’t men you just forget about the people that matter; it  means that you don’t end up making the situation worse by falling into the same hole. David was off to war but it was brought to his attention that he was what the enemy was after and that going to battle would prove fatal. You are what the enemy is after; Satan wants to overtake you. Don’t get too close to the point where he will be able to extend his hand and cause you to fall. When a battle rages before you either in your life or the life of someone else, hand the situation over to God because he is the greatest defense we have. Don’t go into it alone. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to stay at a safe distance from the things that can pull you down and lure you in, and let God deal with them. It’s best to let the calvary of angels charge in, rather than trying to take matters into our own (imperfect) hands. “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14) We don’t need to charge head first into our battles what’s more important is to just trust in God every step of the way. For He says “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Psalm 110:1). You don’t have to be this fearsome warrior; God just wants you to be a faithful son/daughter, he will take care of the rest.

-J
(10/1/12)

“Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithopel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” -2 Samuel 17: 14

God’s omnipotence and omnipresence are truly amazing. He works behind enemy lines before the attack even happens. God knew that Absalom wanted David dead but David was under the Lord’s protection. Evil cannot reach the children of God without him having a say in it. Psalm 36:7 says “The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive and he will be blessed on earth; you will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.” Before Absalom could ever reach David, God was playing a part in protecting him. Our God loves us so much and watched over us, regardless of the plan of others for our lives. If you are feeling attacked and overwhelmed remember that God’s hand is moving and making a way for you. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground outside your father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all number. So don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). You mean so much to the Lord; sometimes all he really wants us to do is just trust him. In the midst of the chaos in your life, God may be trying to say, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” We feel like all our defenses need to be up to take on the incoming storm, but God speaks up again saying “I’m way ahead of you.” Have faith in God’s omnipresence and remember that every attack that comes to you has to go through him first.

-J
(9/29/12) 

“But the king said, ‘What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?”” -2 Samuel 16:10

“Too often we ask to hear from God but choose to ignore the answer if we don’t like it. A second impulse we have is to go on the defensive when people speak against us. David acted extremely maturely in the light of these two situations. Shimei, a die hard Saul supporter, started hurling curses and rocks at David. Instead of taking Zeruiah’s offer to behead Shimei, as tempting as that sounded, David just let the man carry on. David would have been no different than anyone else if he took the easy way out. Besides Shimei’s curse could have been from the Lord, in which case, what right did he have to silence him? When people rise against you, there are two options: you can go on the defensive and strike back, or you can take it and leave them be. It’s difficult because our natural impulse is to counter the attack on us but when we do so, we become just like everyone else. Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” We need to change our mindset when these situations arise before us. Take a deep breath, let the person say what they have to, don’t answer back with anger, and try to understand what the Lord is trying to teach you. “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).  

-J
(9/28/12)

“Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.” -2 Samuel 15:3-4

Absalom was a true politician; he worked his way into the hearts of the people by telling them exactly what they wanted to hear. He was very clever to the point of near seduction; there was something very dark and corrupted about the way he went about slinking his way into the public eye. Our world is full of Absaloms trying to get our support by making us false promises. Now, in the midst of an election we are showered with campaign slogans, promises that will never be kept and reasons why we should vote a certain way. It’s easy to get swept away and convinced by fancy words and seductive promises. It works the same way with temptation towards sin. We are told exactly what we want to hear. Temptation comes like a politician with a silver tongue or lustful romance filled with sweet nothings. We must have wisdom and dicernment to keep alert and away from poor decisions. It is easy to fall into sin when we are slowly being enticed to the idea. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Satan is going to go for the easiest prey, those who seem to be already slipping into his traps. Stay alert and careful that this doens’t become you. If you find yourself falling for the seduction of sin and the empty promises of the world, catch yourself and step away the edge. Stand strong against the world’s sirens song with wisdom and discernment, and don’t become prey.

-J
(9/26/12) 

“The woman said, ‘Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son?” -2 Samuel 14:13

These hypathetical,”I have this friend” situtions keep getting placed before David as a way of getting  him to understand his own life and actions. Sometimes we have to hear it from someone else and gain a new perspective to actually understand what we’re going through. God sends people in our lives to open up our eyes and to help us take our own advice. It’s so easy to preach it, so easy to comfort others, but then when it comes to us taking action, everything we said to others seems to go out the window. We pose the same question to the Lord over and over but already know the answer. We know what we should do but fail to do it. David could have made a way to bring Absalom home, but instead he just stayed home  longing for his return. If you can make a difference, do it; don’t just sit there wishing something would happen. “Be the change you want to see in the world” (a quote often attributed to Ghandi). James 4:17 says “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” This verse is a wake up call, and a well deserved one. We are people of action, but when it comes to important things we freeze up. David remained longing for his son when he could have brought him home. You may be hoping your life would change or that your loved one would come to the Lord. It’s never going to happen if you don’t do anything about it. Have faith and take the first step. 

-J
(9/29/12) 

“But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he loved her.” -2 Samuel 13:14-15

As humans, we let thoughts and emotions overwhelm us and take over our actions. When we do our own will, we feel empowered and in control but that is exactly when we show how out of control we are. After it all, we come out feelign worse than when we began. Amnon only thought of how much he wanted Tamar that he didn’t think of the consequences of his actions. When he got her, he ended up hating her; his impulsive decision was all for naught. Amnon lacked one very important fruit of the spirit, self-control, amongst many others. We don’t realize how important this quality is until the lack of it leads to our down fall. We think that power comes from getting what we want, when we want, however we want it. We are a very purpose driven, goal striving, ‘out-of-my-way’ society, but we turn into monsters in our quest, especially when out goal is corrupted. There is nothing wrong with being motivated and determined, the problem is when you strive after your goal at the expense of others and forfeit all righteousness. It is in those moments that we have to ask “is it worth it?” The bible says, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Proverbs 25:28). You may think that the power is all yours when you do your own will, but in reality, all you’re doing is just opening doors for Satan to enter in and take over. When you exhibit self-control you also exhibit your trust in God and his “good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Before you act, ask yourself “are you choosing the side of righteousness?”

-J

(9/24/12)

“David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” -2 Samuel 12:5-6

Nathan comes to David with a story about a rich man with many sheep and a poor man with only one. In the story, the rich man takes that lamb of the poor man. Hearing this, David was infuriated and wanted to punish  the rich man with death; too bad the rich man was him. Nathan’s story just proves that David knew better in his adulterous situation and carried on with it. Sometimes it takes a whole new perspective to show us how wrong we are. Don’t let things reach the point where you are unknowingly condemning yourself to death. Start off with God and keep surrendering your situation into his hands. We know better but we still choose to act upon our impulses; eventually, it will all catch up with us. Give your situation to God and save yourself the rude awakening of your own condemnation. Consider 1 John 3:6, “No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” If you are consciously choosing to sin over righteousness then maybe you’re in desperate need for an incounter with the Lord. We have to become true followers of Christ because “if we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth” (1 John 1:16). Leave your sins behind and step into God’s light by choosing the right we know we should do over the wrong we know we shouldn’t. Set the situation before the Lord and let him show you the path to follow. 

-J
(9/23/12)

“In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.’” -2 Samuel 11:14-15 

David was a man of action, which would seem like a good thing but his impulses may have been his greatest flaw. He sees Bathsheba, decides he wants her, and ends up getting her pregnant. Now he is left with the tricky situation of dealing with it. Plan A is that, instead of taking responsibility, he was going to send Uriah home, in which case Uriah would sleep with Bathsheba and the pregnancy would easily be explained. Seemed simple enough, and clever too; however, that plan failed when Uriah decided to sleep in the castle as an act of loyalty to his fellow soldiers. David takes desperate measures and moves to Plan B: kill Uriah without getting his hands dirty. So basically David sent Uriah to the front lines and let him die. We might be thinking how horrible David was but we aren’t much better ourselves. We, as humans, are notorious for covering up our sins and forcing situations to work which are never meant to. We make excuses for our actions in order to keep our hands from getting dirty, but we just end up making it worse. David ended up adding manipulator and murderer on top of adulterer to his list of sins. When the urge to act on impulse arises, take a moment and give the situation to God. Let him lead you rather than jumping without looking. Romans 12:9 says “Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.” When you see yourself start slipping into the web of sin, run as fast as you can to the Lord and he will free you from that which lures you in. “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear” (1 Cor 10:13), however, the choice is yours on how you will react in difficult situations. 

-J

(9/22/12)

” David thought, ‘I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.’ So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.” -2 Samuel 10:2

David’s heart was in the right place as he seemed to spread kindness all over the place. This kindness and sympathy was a direct translation of his gratitude and love. Although his kindness wasn’t recieved by Hanun in the way in which he intended, he still did his part to give back. David couldn’t have become king alone; he had some help along the way. Sometimes, all we do is take; we forget to show our gratitude in return. Unlike many of us, David gave back in any way he could to honor his friends who helped him, even if his actions weren’t well recieved; he did his part. God places people in our lives to guide and comfort us in our time of need. He expects nothing in return but he deserves so much more. God deserves our thanks and our praise. Often times, the best way to show the Lord that you are grateful is by showing kindness to the vessels he uses to reveal his love onto us. In gratitude, your actions can make a difference and leave you blameless. Nowadays, it seems like thanking someone is against our nature. We have so much difficulty saying “thank you” and even more difficulty showing our gratitude. We see this in Luke 17:11-19 when Jesus cures 10 lepers and only one returns to thank him. Be the “one” that returns; show gratitude to those who have helped you no matter how it will be recieved. Most of all, give thanks to the Lord who provides for us, because he is the one who deserves all of our praise.

-J
(9/20/12)

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” -2 Samuel 9:7

Jonathan’s son was rejected and crippled but David sought him out to take care of him in order to pay forward his love for Jonathan. Mephibosheth (what a name) became an outcast when Saul and Jonathan died; and when David took the throne, he fled. He was even more of an outcast because of his physical disability, but he didn’t remain a reject for very long. As a result of Jonathan’s love and faithfulness, David showed kindness to Mephibosheth. From this chapter, I see two very distinct messages. The first is to parents and future parents (which is most of us). Our lives can shape the future of our children even if we aren’t aware of it. We can either give them an inheritance of blessings or of curses. Jonathan was Saul’s son (the man who fell out of God’s favor). He could have passed a defeated mindset to his son, but Jonathan exuded only kindness, and it was kindness that was given to Mephibosheth. Your actions matter to those who come after. The second message is one of restoration. When life knocks you down and leaves your heart crippled, God can show you a kindness that no human ever will. He has the power to restore all that was taken from you.  God can take you from being an outcast and turn you into a permanent guest at his table. He wants to pour his kindness over you. For the Lord says in Jeremiah 30:17 “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because they called you an outcast: ‘It’s Zion, for whom no one cares!’” If you replaced the word “Zion” with your name, know that God cares for you and heals all wounds. He will restore everything to you that the world has taken away.

-J
(9/19/12)

“…The LORD gave David victories wherever he went.” -2 Samuel 8:6b &14b

The beginning of this chapter is difficult to swallow because we just see brutish acts, but these were David’s enemies and God’s enemies. Of course, we are not going to go out an tear down those who oppose us, but we can gain a glimmer of hope from these verses. David went around conquering and gaining victory after victory because the Lord was on his side. Wherever David went, he had victory, because wherever David went, he had God. Place God first in your life and wherever you go, He will make a way for you. When people rise up against, He will see you through. When work gets overwhelming, he will give you peace. Trust him and he will make a path for you to walk on, even when it seems like there is no way out. God says in Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” If He brought you there, He will see you through. So keep moving forward with God by your side and you will see victories open up before you. Let Him lead you through and watch as your situation changes before you. “Be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). Be patient and faithful for He will open doors for you and will make your enemies “a footstool for your feet.” Trust in him and prepare for victories, but when you get there, remember who saw you through and give him the thanks he deserves.

-J
(9/18/12)

“This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling place. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers who I commanded…, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’” -2 Samuel 7:5-7

David looked around at his palace walls and figured that God deserved a beautiful dwelling place too. As generous and thoughtful as that was, it wasn’t necessary . God doesn’t need beautiful halls or walls made of cedar to reign. He wants to give you a home, not the other way around. God finds a home in our hearts and never minds our mess; He intends to help clean it up. He lives where His people can access Him, moveing freely amongst us. Sometimes we act like God is only whithin the 4 walls of a church building. When we praise, we get so into the message but then go back to our old lives as soon as we step out of the door, as if God’s presence remains there. When we mess up, we go running back to church as if we can only find forgiveness in that building. However God tells us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” God’s presence isn’t bound by buildings; it roams freely amongst us and is within reach through His omnipresence. Just because He is everywhere doesn’t mean don’t go to church. We are relational beings and need a sense of community. There is a lot to learn from the message given by another person. Just don’t think that a building dedicated to the Lord is His only dwelling place. God wants to live in each of us, He just awaits an invitation. He wants to give you a safe place and keep you from the oppression of your enemies. Allow God to make your heart his home and let his presence walk with you daily, not just Sunday.

-J

(9/17/12)

“David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I wil celebrate before the LORD.’” -2 Samuel 6:21

Micah, David’s wife was embarrassed by David’s worship, but David wasn’t worshiping for her, he was worshiping the Lord. Too often we base our worship off of what others are doing: “I will only raise my hands if someone else is doing it” or “I will only answer this alter call if someone else goes first.” Many of us have these internal monologues way too often. We worship the Creator of heaven and earth, so why are we so self-conscious? In the midst of all that creativity, do you think he wants uniform worship? No, he wants genuine worship and if that for you means standing perfectly still then by all means, worship in that manner. However, if that means raising your hands to our God and dancing around like crazy, then don’t let the thoughts of men stop you. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). Don’t let anyone hold you back; sing God your song, dance to him with joy and worship him with all your heart in untainted love.

-J

(9/15/12)

‎”The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.’ They thought, ‘David cannot get in here.’ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.” -2 Samuel 5:6-7

The first thing on David’s agenda as king was to take back God’s holy city. Of course, it’s current occupants were not too fond of giving it up. The Jebusites fully believed that they could ward off David, and they may have been right if God wasn’t on his side. They were wrong about one thing: thinking that they could keep God out. The Lord is the one who goes before us in battles if we trust him to lead. None can defeat Him and when He decides to enter in, there’s no stopping Him. We get so afraid when opposition comes but the Lord says, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet” (Psalm 110:1). All we have to do is trust in the Lord our God and He will bring us victory. When other’s try to keep us from our blessing, “what, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). No opposition in the world can surpass God’s glory and power. The Jebusites may have defended themselves with all their force, but God had different plans. If your life seems to be going crazy and it seems that everyone is against you, don’t worry because God’s plan isn’t done yet. He still has more to do. He will get you into the places where they say you “cannot get in,” and the Lord will “make your enemies a footstoll for your feet.” Trust in his mighty power because he fights on your side, and “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us” (Romans 8:37).

-J

(9/14/12)

“David answered Recab and his brother Baanah…, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!’” -2 Samuel 4:9-11

Sometimes we like cutting corners in order to get ahead. We just want to reach our faster. Recab and Bannah thought that killing Ish-Bosheth (son of Saul) would be the solution to all their problem, bringing the war to an end, but they sought victory by playing dirty. Thinking that David would be pleased with them, they killed Ish-Bosheth and brought his head to David; to their surprise, David was furious. David was a man of righteousness; his victories came from the Lord, not others. This world is going to give you opportunities to lie or cheat and get away with it too. It is up to us to resist the temptation. Sometimes, your quickest short cut can be your greatest downfall. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). We are called to walk on the longer more difficult path, because, although the journey is rough, the end result will be worth it. Don’t try to create your own solution; attempting to make things work that don’t belong. You’ll end up going now where fast with only your sins for company. Instead, give your situation to God and he will help you to victory. No cutting corners, no sketchy way, just success in righteousness. Don’t give the world a reason to point fingers at you. Run the race in its entirety with the Lord God by your side.

-J
(9/13/12)