Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faith and Trust


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Book Signing

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I highly recommend my friends’ book, Strangers Like Angels!  This saga, written by Alec and Jan Forman,  follows the first-hand account of their Land-Rover travels in the 70’s.  Their year-long adventures took them through the Sahara Desert, tropical rainforests in Africa, Europe, then Nepal and Afghanistan.  My book copy is especially valuable as it is signed by the authors!

In today’s verse Jesus is described as an author, the Author of our faith.  He is the One who creates and initiates.  He is the One who makes faith possible.  He is also the perfecter or finisher of our faith, carrying the story through to the very end.  He has written the conclusion and I already know the ending to my story.  It is not shrouded in mystery but revealed in His Word.  It is a triumphal ending where faith becomes sight and I will be with Him forever!

As the Author of my faith, He wrote the introduction.  He planned exactly who I am, the family He wanted me to have, and the way I would come to Him in faith for salvation.  But right now, I am living the unknown part, the chapters in between.  This is the part that can seem so uncertain.  Not only that, I want to tell Him what to write.  But as the Author of my faith, He is also its perfecter and there is no need to edit anything!  I can trust that He knows what He is doing with my life.

Thank you Lord, for authoring my story and my future.


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Deep Water

Scripture for Today: John 4:10 “Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

Did you know that over 60% of the earth is covered by deep water more than a mile in depth?  How wonderful it would be to scuba dive and enjoy all the varied colors of the coral and of the fish!  Even in the extreme depths far from sunlight there is life found in the cold sweeps and hydrothermal vents.  There is a whole other world when one goes deeper!

Today’s verse is from the story of the woman at the well.  Jesus offers her water that will so satisfy her that she will never thirst again.  The woman’s response is understandable.  She keeps the discussion on a physical rather than spiritual plane.  But if she had known who it was that was speaking to her she would have realized that there was a deeper meaning.  He wanted to satisfy her deeper longings and not only her physical need.

My requests and prayers to the Lord often stay on the physical plane.  It is understandable to ask Him for a physical healing.  He understands when I ask for help with finances or a miracle that would change my circumstances.  But He wants me to go deeper with Him.  He wants me to recognize and ask Him for what I cannot see or touch or measure.  He offers to fill me up with the fulness of Him.  He wants me to ask for His peace, His power and the assurance of His presence.  Filling these deeper needs carry me through all the rest!

Thank you Lord, for giving me what I truly need; more of You.

 


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Sleep Aid

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 3:24 “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

There all kinds of methods to help one fall asleep.  The newest of these are videos on YouTube done by a teenage boy!  They are viewed by half a million women who find that his role play of a whispering caring boyfriend is just what is needed to fall asleep!  The idea is to talk you down for the night and tuck you in with soothing words.  Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) explains that tingling static-like sensation that helps to relax and can lead to sleep.

Today’s verse describes a sleep that is sweet.  There is no fear of the ruin that can overtake the wicked (verse 25) as this is the sleep of the one who lives wisely, with sound judgement and discretion (verse 21).  Sleep is just one of the many benefits of wise living.  There are no worries about the consequences of foolish decisions to keep one awake.   And for the one who belongs to the Lord, there is the reassurance that He grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:2).  Sleep can be sweet when we are aware that the Lord is at our side (verse 26).

Sleep can often be an issue for me for a variety of reasons.  Thankfully, the Lord is at my side.  His reassurance of love and care can calm me down and soothe me to sleep better than any sleep aid!  He knows exactly what keeps me awake or what worries me.  He knows when my thoughts are racing for no good reason.  It is often the thought of Him that soothes me as well as my prayers to Him in the middle of the night.

Thank you Lord, for the gift of sweet sleep.

 

 


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Waiting in Line

Scripture for Today: Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

I have never met a person who enjoys waiting in line.  I know I do not, especially when I constantly check the time or shift position to be more comfortable.  I tell myself I have better things to do.  The time seems to drag, I am bored, frustrated and wishing I had brought something to occupy my mind.   But the wait is bearable when two things are true: the wait will be worth it and something worthwhile can happen during the wait.

In today’s verse David is waiting for the Lord to act on his behalf.  He is surrounded by enemies, the wicked and his foes (verse 2).  David remains confident while he waits because he believes he will again see the goodness of the Lord (verse 15).  To see the goodness of the Lord once more makes the waiting worthwhile.  And something David is doing while waiting is making that wait bearable; he is in the Temple gazing on the beauty of the Lord (verse 4).  That long wait is doable as David finds strength and takes heart in the Lord’s presence.

There are different ways to wait for God to answer my prayer.  I can question, doubt or tap my foot in impatience.  I can wonder if He hears me or if He even cares.   I can give up and stop asking.  Or, like David I can be strong through the wait and take heart.  It is worth the wait when I can be confident of again seeing proof of His goodness.  And the time waiting is never wasted when it is spent in His presence and in gazing on Him.

Lord, may I never doubt Your goodness and Your timing.  Help me wait with confidence!


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Lion or Kitten?

Scripture for Today: Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite characters from this 1939 film!  Even though he is the “King of the Forest” he does not think he is courageous.  He wants courage from the great Oz, not realizing that he already has it!  He mistakens his fear for lack of courage.  But courage can be defined as acting in the face of fear!

In today’s verse, Peter and John are showing courage.  They had been seized and thrown in prison by the rulers, elders and teachers of the law.  When appearing before them to give a defense, Peter, filled with the Spirit, stood fearlessly and preached Jesus.  Their accusers watching them were not only surprised but astonished that such unschooled and ordinary men would be showing such courage.  And they rightly concluded that these men had been with Jesus!  The Spirit God gives does not make us timid! (II Tim. 1:7)

I have not been called before the law to defend my faith in Christ.  But if it should ever happen, I believe God through His Spirit would give me the courage I need.  I may tremble inside but He would help me face my fears.  When I show courage in the face of any opposition, it is a sure sign that I have spent time with Jesus!  I am told to wait on the Lord and be of good courage (Psalm 27:14) because He is the One who will strengthen my heart!  Any courage I show would not come from me but from Him.

Thank you Lord, that you can make a lion out of this kitten!