Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faith and Trust


by Leave a comment

Tiger Care

Scripture for Today: I Peter 5:6-7  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”

Meet Tiger, our spoiled cat.  He looks like he does not have a care in the world!  And with the way we look after him he really doesn’t!  It is to Tiger’s advantage to be an “indoor cat.”  There are plenty of feral cats that multiply in the vineyards behind the house.  They are not very pleasant being big, mean and riddled with disease.  Our ferocious Tiger is a real pussy cat.  He does not have to worry where his next meal is coming from or if he can find shelter from the rain.  But in some strange way he has to “be humbled.”  He has to be dependent on us rather than hang with the big cats!  But by doing so, all his needs are met.

Our verse for today talks about humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.  It means being indoors under His care.  His hand is mighty and powerful to take care of each and every need.  In being humble and submissive to Him I am in a place of receiving His care.  I am indoors.  I am sheltered, well fed and my needs are met.

What is so strange is that sometimes I want to hang with the big cats too.  The world has such a pull on me.  Like Eve, I can be deceived into thinking that God is somehow holding out on me, when in fact all my needs are met in Him.  To venture out into the world is to turn my back on His care.  Why ever do I do that?  He cares for me.

Thank you Lord, for Your perfect care.


by 2 Comments

Ripe Plantain

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

My husband wanted to help so I sent him out for some groceries, including bananas.  He mistakenly came home with these.  I do not have much experience with fresh plantains.  They did not look so good with their big black spots.  After looking at some recipes on line, I learned that the blacker they become on the outside, the more edible and sweet they were on the inside.  I let them get completely black and then opened them with some misgiving.  Sure enough, their flesh was beautiful on the inside and as sweet as could be!

I could not help but think of this verse.  Outwardly and with enough time, we are all wasting away.  We do what we can to minimize the effects of age, but eventually we look more and more beat up!  Our bodies break down but that does not have to be true for the inside.

Life can be full of hardship and struggle.  Like Paul we may feel that we are “hard pressed on every side” (verse 8) but that does not mean we despair.  We may feel crushed by the weight of our trials but we have hope.  I do not want to lose heart because God is at work creating me beautiful on the inside.  Within I am becoming more mature.  Inside I am becoming sweeter as I respond to the Lord in faith and perseverance.

Despite all the bruising, I can be confident that God is using it all to make me more like His Son.  Thank you Lord for this hope!  Keep me focused on what You are accomplishing on the inside.


by Leave a comment

Blurry Vision

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

I recently had my eyes checked by an optometrist.  I knew there would be issues as this was a visit that was long overdue.  It is never a comfortable experience as different lenses are tried and vision is blurry for some of them.  The doctor was very kind and gentle always repeating, “Is this comfortable?”  The question was not if I could read a particular line of letters but if I was comfortable doing so.  We were finally able to reach that level of vision and comfort and I left with a new prescription.

Our verse for today speaks of a vision that is never very comfortable.  It is a vision using “eyes of faith” and goes against our natural inclination.  It is a vision that sees what the human eye cannot, but it requires faith.  Faith is assurance about what we do not see naturally (Hebrews 11:1).  And it is not always a comfortable experience.

The popular expression, “seeing is believing,” is an idiom that first appeared in 1639.  But the idea behind it was certainly expressed by the apostle, Thomas, when hearing of the resurrection of Jesus!  He was not willing to believe until he had seen concrete evidence with his own eyes.  Jesus lovingly and graciously gave him that visual evidence but explained that there was special blessing for those who believed without seeing.

Walking by faith will never be as comfortable as walking by sight.  But it is the only way to “see” the blessings of His love, His faithfulness and His care.  I cannot see what is ahead, but my “spiritual eyes” see Him holding my hand!  His blessings are well worth whatever discomfort there may be!

Lord, help me to see You more clearly today!

 

 


by 2 Comments

Travel Insurance

Scripture for Today: Psalm 40:11 “Do not withhold Your mercy from me, Lord; may Your love and faithfulness always protect me.”

It is not uncommon for us to buy travel insurance when flying.  With the possibility of cancellations, health concerns, or accidents, it seems a good idea.  One time in particular we needed to file a claim and were glad we had purchased it.  But one important step is to know what the policy covers and what it does not!  Today I made some wrong assumptions, thinking a flight delay causing my husband to miss a connection would be part of our protection.  The name of our policy, “Trip Protector” was perhaps a misnomer.

Our verse for today is better than any insurance plan.  There is nothing that cannot be covered by God’s love and faithfulness for His children.  We do not pay for this protection nor do we earn it by our devotion to Him.  Thankfully, in His mercy He does not give us what we deserve.  We cannot lay claim to anything.  It is out of His love and faithfulness that He protects His own.

David wrote this psalm in praise to the One who is his help and deliverer (verse 17).  He experienced troubles so numerous he described them as being “without number.” (verse 12)  God’s protection does not mean that life is trouble free!  David was continually plagued with enemies.  He felt as if his sins were overtaking him.  But rather than stay in that place of fear and insecurity, he calls on the Lord and the Lord reassures him.

I will continue to buy insurance and take other safety measures, of course.  But my biggest source of coverage is His powerful hand.  I can trust His good and loving control.

Thank you Lord, that I can relax in Your merciful protection.


by Leave a comment

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!