Devotions By Jan

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Baby Steps

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:23 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Learning to walk has its ups and downs!  Our second grandson is getting ready to take his first steps.  It is a slow process, holding on to what is stable in order to be eventually stable one’s self.  What an adventure to find balance and courageously take that first step!  There is plenty of swaying and lots of plopping on the floor, but eventually his steps become firmer.  The hand is relinquished and a new independence is found!

Our verse for today is a promise for the one who delights in the Lord.  This is a conditional promise, addressed to the believer who relishes his relationship with God.  Delighting in the Lord describes a dependent relationship where one does not let go of His hand.  Unlike the development of a baby, the believer is to become progressively more dependent.  Letting go of His hand and going our own way puts us at risk of falling.

Life is not without its stumbles.  We learn greater trust and dependence when stumbling.  But falling down hard is not part of His plan for His children.  He is there at our sides to insure that it does not happen.  Unfortunately, it happens anyway as we let go of His hand to go our own way.

When I suddenly find myself sprawled on the ground asking myself, “What happened?” He stretches out His hand to lift me up.  Hopefully, the next time I think to wander off, I will hold on to His hand more tightly instead.

Lord, it is a delight to walk with You.  Keep me holding on to Your hand today.


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Insomnia

Scripture for Today: Psalm 121:3-4 “He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep.”

I am not sure what this stork is doing up in the middle of the night.  It certainly is not normal.  I am not sure what I am doing up in the middle of the night.  Thankfully, it is not normal for me either.  New mothers especially can be prone to insomnia.  Listening for that newborn’s cry can make one’s own sleep illusive.  Perhaps this is what the image of the stork represents, awake in the light of the moon.  A new mother is a focused and watchful mother, heeding every whimper and cry.

Our verse for today reassures us of the watchful care of our Heavenly Father.  He is awake and vigilant at all times, needing no sleep.  His care is constant and we never have to wonder if He is aware.  Nothing gets past Him.  He is never inattentive to the needs of His children.  This short psalm of eight verses reaffirms five times that He watches over us.  He keeps us from harm and watches over our comings and goings.

Being aware of His care and watchfulness gives me a real sense of peace throughout my day.  He is the Source of my help (verse 1) and He runs to me at my first feeble cry.  Like a new mother, He is listening for my cry for help.  But unlike a new mother, He is the Maker of heaven and earth with all the power to help and protect me.  I can trust that care and entrust to Him my very life.

Lord, thank you for Your watchful care.  I am amazed that You love me that much!

 


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Happiest Place on Earth

Scripture for Today: Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

It is quite a claim Disneyland makes; to be the happiest place on earth.  Being from Southern California, I have had ample opportunity to check out this claim.  In general, my experiences have been positive despite crowds, rainy days or high prices.  There is something sweet and magical about the park.  One can temporarily escape the harsh realities of life and enjoy a different make-believe world.  But I am not sure it is my happiest place.

Our verse for today describes a different place; God’s presence.  There one can be filled with joy and experience eternal pleasures!  Unlike Disneyland, it is not a make-believe place, but a reality.  In His presence I can truly take a break from all that is harsh and ugly in life.  The pleasures I find in sweet communion with my Creator are not temporary fixes but eternal and a foretaste of what is to come.

The best thing about this place of joy is that it is not limited to one locale.  It is perhaps easier to focus on His presence with other believers on a Sunday morning, but in fact there are no parameters to His presence.  I can be in this “happy place” no matter where I am and regardless of my circumstances.  His joy is a deep-seated calm and confidence of His control despite what is happening around me.  Remaining and abiding in His presence means I can feel complete joy (John 15:11) as opposed to any other kind!

Thank you Lord, for the joy of Your sweet presence.  Help me to stay there all day long!


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Losing the Thread

eGZ4MGVoMTI=_o_cross-stitch---threading-the-needle-the-half-cross-Scripture for Today: Acts 10:43 “All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness through His name.” 

There is nothing more annoying than to be in the middle of a sewing project and to lose the thread.  Everything stops while I struggle to wet the end of that thread and reinsert it into that impossibly small needle opening.  I can lose my motivation to continue when this happens.

The same thing can happen when I lose the thread of a story.  I lose my motivation to keep reading.  When what I am reading seems random and disjointed, I put down the book in frustration.  The phrase, “losing the thread,” was coined in the mid 1900’s.  The thread represents an idea that connects various parts of a narrative together.

God’s Word has a very important thread.  Our verse for today is part of a discourse by the apostle, Peter.  He saw very clearly that the thread is Jesus Christ.  From the very beginning in Genesis 3:15 the coming of Christ was foretold.  Not only was His coming redemption repeated by the prophets, but even the sacrificial system was an image of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

I love seeing Jesus in the Messianic Psalms.  I get excited to see so many details of Christ’s earthly life prophesied and then fulfilled!  Jesus Himself is the thread that runs through the centuries during which the Bible was written.  In the Old Testament everything points forward to Him.  In the New Testament everything points back to His redeeming work.

There is no other subject more worthy!  That is because it is in Him that I find forgiveness of sin.  That crushing weight of guilt and regret can lift off my shoulders.

Lord, may Your forgiveness be the thread in my life as well.

 


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Slow in Coming!

Scripture for Today: II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Our third grandson is officially late in making his entrance into this world, at least according to the doctor’s best guess.  Everyday we wait with bated breath thinking, “Is this the day?”  We are all on pins and needles.  Everything is in readiness and we have even been able to get some extra projects done.  The time seems to drag by and even slow down as we wait and wait.  Maybe it will be today!

It occurred to me that just as we wait for the coming of a baby with breathless excitement, so we are to wait for Christ’s coming.  Our verse for today refers to His second coming.  The time can seem long as we wait.  It can especially seem long when living in a difficult and arduous time.  There will be sweet relief from all kinds of pain when Christ arrives.  For those who do not belong to Him, the day will bring judgement rather than relief.  But for those who long for His return there is a special recompense (II Tim. 4:8)

There are many people who mock the idea of Christ’s return to earth.  “Where is this coming?” they ask. (II Peter 3:4)  He is slow in arriving, but our verse explains why that is.  He waits, showing love and patience for more men to come to Him in repentance and so be spared His judgement.

The words of this old hymn often come to mind, “Oh Lord Jesus how long, how long, ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth!”  Maybe it will be today!