Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Faithfulness


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Energy Drinks

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

I am amazed at all the energy drinks flooding the market!  The amount of sugar and caffeine they contain can have you flying high all day.  They promise mental and physical stimulation.  Some even purport to increase muscle strength and endurance, although there is no scientific proof to support the claim.  There are some concerns over possible health risks so I personally don’t drink them.  I am more into coffee which as the saying goes, “makes people do stupid things faster and with more energy.”

Would that spiritual energy could be found in a simple drink!  Today’s verse encourages believers to be zealous in their service to the Lord.  Our spiritual fervor is to be high so as to persevere and not give up when the hard times come.  We are to keep fueled, tanked up, or aflame, not burning out.  That enthusiasm we started with is to continue pushing us forward.

How do I keep to that level of zeal?  How do I resist lagging behind and taking it easy?  When I do not see results from my service, I lose my enthusiasm.  When I do not see that it makes much difference, I can easily lose heart.  There is only one way to be refueled and rediscover that joy and motivation to serve Him.  It is by asking for the Spirit’s filling (Eph. 5:18).  His filling gives me strength to keep on keeping on!  His power provides that excitement and motivation to advance His agenda today.  His filling even helps me to face Mondays!

I do not need to fill up with an energy drink.  I need to fill up with His Spirit!  Thank you Lord, for being the source of my zeal and fervor.


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Rappelling

Scripture for Today: John 10:28-29 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Climbing up was frightening.  But rappelling down was fun!  It felt a bit like I imagined flying to be!  All the stress of finding footholds and keeping my balance were not quite as important as I let the harness, rope and anchor do the work for me.  At the time I did not understand how the equipment worked, but I did have confidence in the instructor.  I was able to relax and enjoy that breathtaking descent!

Today’s verse is a life-changing reassurance from the Lord.  No one who belongs to Him can be snatched out of His hand.  No one is more powerful as He is greater than all.  In His powerful hand we are safe and secure.  Eternal life has been given to the believer who comes to Him in faith.  Though this life may be cut short, no one can touch the soul.

If my Savior does not allow anything to compromise my eternal security, than I can be absolutely sure of the smaller challenges too.  He is not going to let me go.  He will not relax His grip on me.  Nothing that happens in my life is outside His loving control.  I am never in a free fall.  His hands are more secure than any rock climbing harness.  Being sure of this allows me to enjoy the ride!  He is never ever going let me go.

Thank you Lord, that I can relax in the love and safety of Your hands.


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Baby Book Memories

babyIMG_20160412_184735Scripture for Today: Psalm 106:7 “When our fathers were in Egypt they gave no thought to Your miracles; they did not remember Your many kindnesses and they rebelled by the sea, the Red sea.”

Thumbing through my children’s baby books was not something I had done for years.  Dates, times, and numbers carefully noted brought back a rush of memories. Pictured here is a congratulations from President Ronald Reagan in response to the birth announcement I sent him!  With the arrival of each of my three children, I tended to be progressively careless about noting facts.  The first born’s book is bulging but the third baby’s book is pathetically thin.  At the time I thought I would always remember.

The miracles the Israelites experienced would surely be remembered!  They had lived through and been protected from the plagues in Egypt.  But when the next obstacle confronted them, they gave no thought to what God had just done for them. God was kind and gracious to deliver them from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea.  But apparently not everyone was too enthusiastic to enter those waters.  Today’s verse says that some were rebellious.  However, when they saw the miracle, they believed His promises and sang His praise (verse 12).  But, they soon forgot what He had done (verse 13).

I relate to these people.  I have seen God do some incredible things in my life.  His provision for us over the years has been nothing short of miraculous!  He has moved government officials to overlook our mistakes.  He has provided opportunities that I could never have scripted for myself.  Yet, when faced with a new challenge, I give no thought to His past miracles.  I do not remember.

Lord, keep my faith strong.  Help me remember all Your miracles and respond with trust and praise!

 


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Paragliding

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

How thrilling it must be to experience paragliding!  It amazes me to see these giant colorful “birds” floating effortlessly above.  They can reach incredible heights and cover long distances using the air currents and shifting their body weight.  The pilot will often use a variometer to find and stay in the core of a thermal.  It helps him realize when he is in sinking air and when he needs to find rising air.

Today’s verse is such a reassuring promise of the Lord’s sustaining power.  As my Creator He carries me at just the right moments.  He knows when I am losing altitude and lifts me up to where I need to be.  This sustaining power carries me right into my old age, allowing me to live life elevated!

How comforting to know that God rescues me when I am starting to fall.  But I can avoid that sinking feeling altogether with my own “variometer;” God’s Word.  His Word lets me know where those thermal air currents are.  His Word lets me know when I am losing my cruising altitude.  It is in following His instructions for life that I can stay aloft.  Without understanding and following His way, I risk slowing down and even falling.  But oh the benefits of obeying!  Life is less complicated.

There is nothing so reassuring as being carried in His strong arms.  I can relax knowing that He has my back!  I can even enjoy the ride and those beautiful vistas.

Thank you Lord, for carrying me today!

 


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Planning

pencilindexScripture for Today: Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

This pencil is just a little bit special.  If you look closely, you will see that there is an eraser on both ends!  This must be what I am figuratively using right now, as my own plans seem to be in a constant state of change.  That is pretty normal when taking care of a fifteen month old baby.  His needs take priority over any plans I might have envisioned for the day.  I might have planned to shower.  I might have planned to sleep.  I certainly did not plan on a crying meltdown!

Today’s verse reveals the Lord’s plans for His own.  He is good, merciful, loving and compassionate.  It only follows that His plans are good as well.  He sees the beginning and He sees the end.  He knows the outcome that we cannot know.  But His plans will include hard times that grow our faith and glorify Him.  He erases our ideas of what is good and replaces them with what He knows is best.  He is the only One who has the power and the control to do that.  He is the only One I can trust to do that.

In looking back, I can see that His plans have been for the best.  I do not regret His eraser.  If left to my self and my own warped desires, I  am pretty sure I would have made a mess of things.  His way leads to a life that is richly blessed with His presence and love.  With His plans, there is always hope and an incredible future!

Lord, help me to trust Your plan for today!