Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faith and Trust


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Moeraki Boulders

Scripture for Today: I Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one beside You; there is no Rock like our God.”

These strange spherical boulders on the Koekohe Beach in New Zealand have fired the imagination for years.  The varied names given them include: eel pots, hooligan gallstones, giant gobstoppers, alien brains, bowling balls of the giants and dinosaur eggs!  There are over fifty of them and the biggest one weighs seven tons!  Their strange appearance makes for a unique landscape.  They are made of mud, fine silt and clay, cemented together by calcite, layer upon layer over many years.

Today’s verse is part of Hannah’s prayer as she dedicates her young son, Samuel, to full-time service in the temple.  This is the child she had prayed for so ardently, being barren and snubbed.  Although she was giving up Samuel, her heart rejoiced being vindicated before her enemies (verse 1).  She felt delight at God’s deliverance and praises Him for being her holy and unique Rock.  Throughout Scripture our God is pictured as a Rock.  What an image of His strength and permanence!  Layer upon layer of faithfulness to His Word makes for a sure foundation.

I never need to worry whether my Rock will be there tomorrow or the day after.  He is immoveable and unchanging.  He is my strength, and my refuge.  Being my Rock, He is a place of strength and refreshment for my flagging spirit.  The surface of this rock has a cool touch when I am too warm from stress and anxiety.  But that same rock surface is warm from the sun and comforting when I am feeling cool and indifferent.  I know He is faithful to meet my every need as I have “proved Him ore and ore.”

Lord, be my Rock today.


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How Are You Feeling?

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 56:3-4  “When I am afraid, I will trust in You, In God whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”

The red gurnard is a very distinct bottom-dwelling fish and his feelings matter!  From his three lower pectoral fins hang what looks like narrow finger-like growths.  These appendages have sensory organs and it is with them that he feels for his food in the sand.  He never has to look with those large eyes but depends on feeling for small fish and crustaceans in the sediment.

With what is going on in our world today, the temptation is to be carried away by our feelings.  In today’s verse, David was certainly tempted to give in to fear.  He had been seized by the Philistines in Gath and feared for his life.  But throughout this psalm, David turns to God in confident trust to beat back the fear.  And the psalm finishes with praise for deliverance from his enemies.

My feelings can overwhelm me during these days of riotous protest.  I feel a profound sadness at injustice in our world.  There is gnawing unrest in my heart when I watch the unsettling news.  I feel nervous trepidation for what may come next.  That is why this psalm is such a comfort.  Placing my trust in the Lord calms me down and gives me a measure of peace.  Feeling peace in my heart during such unrest makes it a supernatural peace that can only come from Him.  My eyes cannot help but see all the disheartening trouble in our country but I can take heart as HE has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

Thank you Lord, that I can feel your peace, even when there is such unrest.

 

 

 


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Remote Control Mix-Up

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 37:5  “Commit your way to the Lord;  trust in Him and He will do this.”

This array of remote controls is impressive!  I cannot imagine trying to keep them all straight.  Seriously, I would probably mix them up to the point of inadvertently turning on or off the wrong thing.  Even with the few we have, I have been mixed up, pointing the fan remote at the television and wondering why nothing happened!  All these controls must give one a sense of command.  With voice recognition we can tell lights to come on or heating to turn off.  It is a powerful feeling to have the environment obey one’s every command!

Today’s verse teaches believers to give up control of our lives to the Lord.  There are plenty of things over which we have no control.  But for those things we do, we are to entrust even those to Him.  This is not a natural reaction to a problem.  In fact, in facing a difficulty beyond one’s control, the first inclination is to somehow find a sense of control.  But committing one’s way to the Lord is yielding it all to Him.  It is an intentional decision to allow the Lord His perfect way and to relinquish control.

My basic problem in yielding those controls to Him is a lack of trust.  Why ever do I think I can do a better job of it than He can?  Trusting in myself and my own limited understanding may keep control in my feeble hands but His way is always better.  Even when His way is difficult, I can trust that He knows what He is doing.  Nothing is random and I can be confident that He does have a plan.

Thank you, Lord, for your wise and loving control.


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Splinter-Free

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 36:6 “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.”

I do not suppose that this lizard worries about getting splinters from the rough surface of this door!  With his thick, tough reptile skin he can move all over that weathered wood and never be bothered.  I, on the other hand, would not want to push or lean on the wood for fear of splinters piercing my skin!  I still have memories of my childhood and that painful process of splinter removal!

Today’s verse describes a hand that leans on a flimsy splintered reed of a staff and so is pierced.  The King of Assyria was absolutely right to say that leaning on Egypt for help against his attack would be no help at all for King Hezekiah and the Israelites.  But then he goes on to insult their dependence on the Lord God! (verse 7)  King Hezekiah turns to the Lord in His temple and to the prophet, Isaiah.  He prays that God will vindicate His name.  And the Lord does, delivering them with a miraculous victory!

When I am experiencing a crisis, my first thought needs to be His help.  He may direct me to all kinds of good sources of aid, but I want my dependence to be on Him and His power to work.  Putting my weight on any other kind of support may just give me those “splinters.”  But He will always answer my cries.  Nothing is beyond His strength.  And when He answers, His name is once again vindicated in my life and for all who are watching!

Lord, keep me depending on You!

 


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Essential Oils

Scripture for Today: Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”

Why are essential oils called, “essential?”  For some, it’s because they are concentrated down to the essence of the odor, characteristics and taste of the plant.  Others believe they are essential oils being essential to life.  In either case, to become essential is to be reduce to a highly concentrated form.  An example is one ounce of peppermint oil which takes sixteen pounds of fresh peppermint leaves to produce.

Today’s verse reduces all of life down to one concentrated desire on David’s part.  He views his relationship to the Lord as the most essential component to his well-being.  All of David’s attention is on the Lord.  Above all else he wants to enjoy His presence.  David asks of the Lord only one thing.  Nothing is quite as important than spending time in His presence and enjoying His beauty.  All else pales in comparison to the importance of his relationship to the Lover of his soul.

There is lots of talk today regarding what services in our world are “essential services.”  Some are obvious and some seem to be up for interpretation.   But one thing is essential to life here and to life eternally.  I can regain my health, my finances and my social connections, but what good is any of it if I forfeit my soul? (Mark 8:36)  I need Him.  The Lord is essential.  When everything else is stripped away, HE is still there.  His presence and beauty are essential to my life.  If I learn nothing else from life, may it be this!

Lord, You are my life.