Christianity Oasis Forum

[dema]

Not an easy one right now. So many prayers. Sometimes God doesn't swoop down and create major miracles. Sometimes events are governed by free will and bad choices. But God does promise to bring good. Good doesn't mean best. Best sometimes requires good choices.

Romans 8:28
English Standard Version (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.



Day 7 – God’s Gifts


We need to be totally linked with God. Down to our core, we need to be wrapped up with our heavenly father. When it is, life will go so much better. God has capabilities we do not have.



Luke 18 (New International Version)

27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."



And He wants to give generously to us.



Mark 11 (New International Version)

24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.


But, believing for something requires that we trust in God. And also that we trust ourselves to be asking correctly – many of us do not receive because we do not trust ourselves.



The following two sets of verses are linked in my mind.



Proverbs 3 (English Standard Version)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.


Notice who directs the paths when you trust. Not you.


Psalm 37 (New International Version)

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.


Two points - God is not asking in these verses for lip service or for a sinless existence. He is asking for a committed and involved relationship with Him. Some people believe that being Good is not being Bad. Not so. Being 'Good' is an active, positive thing.

God is asking us for trust, delight, joy. He is asking us to let us let Him lead.

[lyl1114]

AMEN!

[dema]

seems that every one of these devotionals is challenging at a time like this. You can read below first.

"without dread of disaster"

"dwell secure"

Proverbs 1:33
Amplified Bible (AMP)

33 But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil.


If we LISTEN we can be at peace. If we listen to WISDOM we can be at peace. Wisdom comes from God. I truly believe that seeking wisdom is seeking God. The FOOL says in his heart there is no God. If we live at peace, then we won't be living in fear. The brave man only dies once, the coward dies a thousand deaths.


Day 8 - Peace

We should be ruled by peace, and not by fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 (English Standard Version)

7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Self-control is outward peace. Having the spirit of self-control is also having inward peace.

Philippians 4 (English Standard Version)

7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


We choose peace. It isn’t always easy. It takes tuning into God.



Proverbs 1 (English Standard Version)
33but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."


God performs miracles when we are enough at peace to be led.

[dema]

Day 9 - Our Thoughts

Life isn’t easy. It isn’t supposed to be. But, the greatest struggle is in our own minds. God has given us power in this battle of the thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10 (English Standard Version)
4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

We win this conflict by taking control of our own thoughts. It is nearly impossible to ‘not think’. If you tell yourself to not think about chocolate, the temptation will dog you all day. But, God has given us the answer. Instead of ‘not thinking’, He tells us to take positive action.

Philippians 4 (New International Version)
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Rejoice! Praise God! Think about excellent and wonderful things! Make yourself a thanksgiving list. Sing more songs. Dance more dances. Win the battle of the mind.

[dema]

Day 10 - Do Good

The Bible says that we are saved by faith, but then it talks about our obligation to Christ. If we accept Jesus as Lord, then He is our Master, our Boss. Salvation may mean that He will never fire us from our job, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a job. We do.

James 2 (New American Standard Bible)
26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

What works are we supposed to do? Need will present itself.

1 John 3 (New International Version)
17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

I quote part of the above scripture a lot. If our hearts don’t condemn us – then we have confidence in God. Taken in context, this passage says a lot more. If we are fulfilling our obligations as a servant of Christ, then our hearts will be set at rest. If your heart is not at rest, go do something good for somebody else.

Acting with love and generosity towards others will heal our hearts.

Galatians 6 (New American Standard Bible)
10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

We do not need to be perfect, but rather to trust in the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 12 (New American Standard Bible)
9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses…

We are God's vessels. God is the gardener. We are pots made by the exalted potter. While we may focus on our brokenness and think that we are useless, I have no doubt that He could plow a wonderful garden with even a shard of broken pottery. Our Lord will use us if we let Him.

Remember, God is omnipotent. He will grow us if we will let go and let Him.

Romans 8 (New American Standard Bible)
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

[realtmg]

Amen.
If we love Him, we will want to do His will for that day.
Listen to Him and talk with Him.
He can be your best friend.
Thanks Dema.

GBu

Real

[dema]

Day 11 – Believing

Jesus came to help people. But, He had expectations of those people just as God has expectations of us. A father took his son to Jesus for healing after the disciples were unable to heal the child.
Mark 9 (New American Standard Bible)
22"It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!"
23And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Jesus pointed out the problem very quickly. “If You can.” The father didn’t believe. Contrast this with the Centurion who told Jesus that there was no need for Him to go to the Centurion daughter, just speak the word and it would be done.

Jesus questioned blind men before healing them:

Matthew 9 (New American Standard Bible)
28When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
29Then He touched their eyes, saying, "It shall be done to you according to your faith."
30And their eyes were opened.

And the Samaritan woman’s child was healed only after she persisted in her requests to the point that Jesus said:

Matthew 15 (New American Standard Bible)
28Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.

Jesus was very clear that there is great power in believing.
Mark 11 (New American Standard Bible)
23"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

All things are possible when we believe.

[dema]

Day 4 - Testimony

There are some interesting twists with some of the words used in Christianity. One of these is the word “Testimony”. The root word of testimony is ‘witness’. But, in order to witness, you really need to have had your faith tested.

2 Corinthians 3 (New American Standard Bible)
2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

How do our hearts become a testimony to our faith? What is faith?

Matthew 6 (New American Standard Bible)
25,27 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food... Who of you can add a single hour to his life?

We’ve all been tempted to worry. We’ve all been tested as to whether we will have faith or fear. And, if we have had faith, if we passed the test of trusting God for results, then our lives will themselves be a witness.

Philippians 4 (New International Version)
19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

It has been described to me that these promises are a signed check handed to us by God. We endorse and deposit the check by claiming the the promises and thanking God before we actually see the results. Repeat the promises to yourself followed by a thank you several times a day. Let your faith and lack of fear be a testimony to others. And soon you will have the promised answers to tell about as well.

[dema]

Day 24 - Hope

Romans 15 (New American Standard Bible)
4For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, for us as Christians, is a teaching tool. It teaches us that God does come through on His promises – though sometimes a lot later than was anticipated. Have patience. Be comforted. Hope.

After Abraham had patiently endured, he received the promised son. By the time this child arrived, the circumstances were so bizarre that they named him “Isaac”, which means “laughter”.

Hebrews 11 (New American Standard Bible)
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith is to believe in something for which there is no proof. If there is proof – it is not faith.

Hope means to desire with expectation of fulfillment.

Faith is calm and steady - hope is passionate.

Psalm 71 (New American Standard Bible)
5For You are my hope;
O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.

The hope that the Bible describes in these passages has both the passion of hope and the strength of faith.

Hebrews 6 (New American Standard Bible)
19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast …,

This kind of hope, is so sure of itself, that praise for the unrealized fulfillment is natural.

Psalm 71 (New American Standard Bible)
14But as for me, I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.

In his passionate misery, David speaks again and again of hope.

Proverbs 13 (New American Standard Bible)
12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Some of us can testify to the sick heart part of that verse. But we must have faith that God will do as He has promised.

Ever notice that old Christians tend to be calm Christians? People who have been through trials during a long period and who have seen God’s grace in these times grow in their confidence in God.

New Christians have to start out by faith. And then they start seeing promises in the scripture and hope with enthusiasm.

Romans 5 (New American Standard Bible)
2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in HOPE of the glory of God.
3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, HOPE;
5and HOPE does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Some tribulations seem to last forever. But, hardship builds character. And a proven character learns a deeper and more meaningful hope. And this hope – this hope has love as its base. And this deep and loving hope is not disappointed.

1 Corinthians 13 (New American Standard Bible)
13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Hope, believe - but don't dwell. Get your mind on Love and let God do His job.

[dema]

Day 25 - Abundance

Matthew 6 (New International Version)
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God wants us to have abundance in many areas of our lives. The promises of God are freely given - or are they? We don't have to do anything to earn them. We don't have to be good enough to deserve them. But we do turn on and off the hose of abundance. (Fountain of abundance sounds better, and I'm sure there are other phrases with more alliteration - but hose is more appropriate.)

God says He'll give us what we ask for. Why don't we get it?

The verses in which God’s promises are described generally have instructions in them as well. If we wish to have things given to us, we need to seek God.

When life isn’t going the way we wish, we need to read the instructions.

Mark 11 (New International Version)
22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Uh-oh - another catch.

Look at the instructions in this passage one by one.

Have faith in God.
Say it.
Don't doubt.
Believe.
Ask
Believe that you have received.
Pray
Forgive

All these instructions seemed so positive until the last one. If we want to have everything that God has to offer, we have to forgive.

Our abundance depends upon our thoughts as well as our actions. Our heart, our place of deepest belief, interfaces with our thoughts first and then with our mouth.

Matthew 12 (New American Standard Bible)
34"…For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

We cannot harbor unbelief without it sneaking out into the world.

Proverbs 6 (New American Standard Bible)
2If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,
Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

God wants us to have abundance. But our words and thoughts and actions determine whether we receive it.

3 John 1 (New American Standard Bible)
2Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

Oops, another catch - the soul needs to prosper. Gotta feed that soul. One feeds the soul with the Word of God, with believing, with good thoughts, with love to one another. One poisons the soul with bad confessions and unforgiveness. Grudges and hate wither the soul.

God has laws - believe and ye shall receive. Give and it shall be given unto you. Ask and it shall be given. Doubt and the sea will toss you around. Speak, think and act on what you want, according to God’s plan, and all of heaven and earth will not be able to stand against you.

[dema]

Day 22 - Romans 8

I don't have time or inspiration for a devotional this morning. That's when I turn to an old favorite and follow it with a couple of quick prayers of thanksgiving. Though, someone famous, can't remember who, always cut his sleep short and spent an extra hour in prayer when he had too much to accomplish. He took his example from Jesus.

Romans 8 (New American Standard Bible)
1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Being set free from sin means being set free from the addictions that come with sin. AA and other groups use the 12 point program that includes faith. Jesus frees us when we relinquish. When we trust Him and let go.

15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

We don’t need to keep doing what we don’t want to do. We can cry, “Daddy, Help!”
Abba means Daddy.

16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

If we are God’s children, then we are God’s children. When we have children, we don’t get to just take the good and leave the bad. Our Father loves us for all that we are.

17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Things happen for a reason. Our banks gave bad loans and so people defaulted on those loans – cause and effect. The repercussions of our actions don’t go away just because we pray – however, God can make good come out of all things. I really don’t understand how anything good can possibly come out of child abuse, but the evangelist Joyce Meyer has grown out of such an environment and built an effective ministry from her life experiences. God can make good out of anything.

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Is this not hope all by itself? What else do we need?

32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Pause – take it in.

33Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Meditate on this.

35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

This next “but” is also translated as “Nay!” No! We aren’t sheep for the slaughter. Jesus died for our sins has made us conquerors. We are victorious!!!

37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Take it in. Breathe it in. It is a wonderful passage.

[dema]

Day 46 – The Heart

The heart, as expressed in the Bible, is the core of the self.

The heart can be evil:

Genesis 8 (New American Standard Bible)
21The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

The heart speaks;

Genesis 17 (New American Standard Bible)
17Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?

Psalm 14 (English Standard Version)
1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

(It doesn't look like the heart speaks very wisely.)

The heart can be glad and it can be stubborn:

Exodus 4 (English Standard Version)
14Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
21And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

It can hate:

Leviticus 19 (English Standard Version)
17 "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.

Be discouraged:

Numbers 32 (English Standard Version)
7Why will you discourage the heart of the people of Israel from going over into the land that the LORD has given them? 8Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land. 9For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land that the LORD had given them.

It can fear:

Deuteronomy 5 (New American Standard Bible)
29'Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!

It can love:

Deuteronomy 6 (New International Version)
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

It can be proud:

Deuteronomy 8 (New American Standard Bible)
14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
17"Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.'

The heart is the core of our beings. It is where we feel our deepest emotions. And it is from the heart that we make our most important decisions.

Romans 10 (New American Standard Bible)
9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

We are saved when we believe in our inner most being that Jesus is Lord, when we believe so that it engages our emotions and touches our core. And we are to seal this belief by making the decision to speak it out loud. We must be internally touched by God’s love and gift, and changed forever.