Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Strength and Power


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Towers

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.”

These towers were all over the island of Sardinia, off the coast of Italy.  I was there recently, singing with my French Gospel Chorale.  Our guide explained how vulnerable the island was to multiple attacks over the centuries.  Archeologists have found the ruins of seven thousand towers, although they believe there were originally as many as ten thousand.  Most of the ones still standing today are more recent from the 1500’s and served a similar function of defense and communication.

I love the description in today’s verse that portrays the Lord’s name as a fortified tower.  We never have to worry about this tower being in disrepair or in pieces.  It stands tall and beckons the believer to run to it for safety and security.  There may even be a small window like the one pictured, from which we can watch the Lord take down our enemies!  There is opposition to His name now, but one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess His name (Phil. 2:10-11).

The righteous can run to it for safety.  The righteous?  Can that mean me?  I am given Christ’s righteousness as a gift.  I can run to that tower with confidence that I will not be turned away or mistaken as the enemy.  In fact, it is in believing in that precious name of Jesus that I am saved from the punishment of all my wrong doing.  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13).  Whatever opposition I face, He is there to protect me and fight for me.  His name and presence are stronger than any of my feeble attempts.

Lord, keep me running to Your arms.

 


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Stretched

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

I cringe when I look at this image!  This rubber band is stretched to the limit and about to snap.  The resulting tension of a stretched elastic is a good thing.  It serves to hold things in place.  But too much stretching causes the rubber band to break and everything scatters.

Sometimes I feel like that stretched rubber band.  I am trying to do too much and I feel the tension everywhere in my tensed muscles.  I am only just holding it all together.  But if I were to snap, I would hurt myself and often others as well.  The breaking point may show itself in anger, unkind words, or tears.  It is not pretty.

Our verse for today gives me assurance that God is able to handle it all.  His blessing in my life keeps me from getting to that snapping, breaking point.  It is true that often, one can not help but be stretched by the many demands and obligations in life.  But He promises that in all things and at all times I will have what is needed to cope.  When I turn to Him, He gives me just what is needed.  I can continue doing what He has given me to do for Him.

I love the “alls” in this verse!  It has such a wide scope.  Every good work can include words or deeds done in His name (Col. 3:17).  When I am feeling overwhelmed and ready to snap, I realize that I am not able, but He is.

Thank you Lord, for Your abundant blessing that keeps me from being too stretched!

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.


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Assisted Living

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119:173 “May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.”

Many retirement homes have the choice of Independent Living or Assisted Living.  For now, my Mother continues to live with the Independent Living program, even at her advanced age.  However, I am anticipating the day when she makes use of the services offered in the Assisted Living program.  I sometimes do not understand her reluctance to accept more help.  Probably it comes from a fierce independent spirit that fears relinquishing any control.  On one level it is an admirable quality.  But on another level, it can be frustrating to see a quality of life that is often not as positive as it could be.  Help is there and available to make life easier.  But the desire to be independent is oh so strong!

In the spiritual realm there is also the tendency to not ask for help.  There is an issue of pride that pushes one to try and “go it alone.”  But His hand is there.  His help is available.  He awaits my cry for help.  But I often do not realize my need for “assisted living.”  I just do not see what could be possible with Him.  I am too content with what I can accomplish on my own.

David recognized in Psalm 40:17 that he was poor and needy.  With this humility he was able to turn to the Lord, ask for help, and receive it.  If a mighty king and warrior can recognize his need for help, than surely I need to as well.  Who does not need assistance?  Why am I so reticent to ask?

Thank you Lord, that You are so patient with me and my independent spirit.  I am no good on my own.  I need your help today!

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.


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Hitting the Wall

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 18:29 “Indeed, with Your help I can charge against an army; by my God’s power I can jump over a wall.

“The Great Wall of China comes to mind as the best example of an impressive wall.  Not only does it run 13,000 miles in its entirety, but sections of the wall have been around since the 7th century!  It was built to prevent attack from barbarian nomads but in fact it has been scaled many times.  Perhaps its most important role is a psychological one, serving as a barrier between Chinese culture and the rest of the world.  My husband had the privilege of running alongside part of this wall while visiting the country with his Chinese Mother.

Our verse for today speaks of a wall that is scaled with the power God gives.  For David, the troops and wall were literal.  The context of this psalm is praise to God for his deliverance from King Saul.  He calls God his fortress, his rock and his shield.  But not only is God his protector but He also empowers him to advance and attack!  A wall that looks insurmountable is no barrier with God’s power!

There are walls in my life that certainly look insurmountable.  I do not have a king chasing after me but my walls could be psychological.  Whatever seems impossible to face, impossible to finish or impossible to forget can be my wall.  But I have the same power that David had.  God’s Spirit lives within me giving me the ability to fight through and succeed.  He is my force.  He is not going to allow me to hit the wall, but to jump over it!

There is nothing too hard for You, Lord.  Help me to remember that today.

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.


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Tin Man

Scripture for Today: Galatians 5:16 & 25 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Poor Tin Man.  He could not go long without his oil.  He would get progressively stiff and squeaky until he stopped walking altogether.  Thankfully, Dorothy was ever ready to help with her can of oil.  I sometimes feel like the Tin Man after getting up from long periods of sitting!  There are creaks, cricks and cracks upon rising.

Our verse for today talks about living and walking by God’s Spirit.  All those who belong to Jesus have the Holy Spirit residing in them.  His Spirit is His seal of ownership on us (II Cor. 1:22).  We have life now and eternally because of Him.  But “walking” by the Spirit implies something more.

The Spirit in Scripture is often symbolized by oil (I Samuel 16:13).  Just as the Tin Man needed oil to move and walk, so we are made to have that dependance on the “oil” of God’s Spirit.  We are to walk or obey by the Spirit.  Without Him, our obedience is slow and creaky.  Without the oil of His Spirit, we can barely move in response to His commandments.  We come to a virtual standstill as we just cannot obey on our own.  We desperately need the “oil” of His Spirit.

The Lord does not ask anything of me that He does not empower me to do.  His power, His presence and the fruit of His Spirit lubricate my joints and make it happen.  I need to go to Him continually for that oil as I dry up every day.  Walking in obedience feels so right when done through His Spirit!

Lord, help me walk well today!

Look familiar?  This is a summer re-post due to ministry schedule.