Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Strength and Power


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No Limits?

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 1:19 “so that you can know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.”

It is a mistaken idea that many people believe; that Germany has no speed limits.  It is true that sometimes there may be a stretch of autobahn without them, but it is more and more rare.  Like France, Germany has a limit of up to 130 kilometer an hour (81mpg).  It must be very frustrating for those drivers with powerful engines in their cars.

We like to think of having no limits.  With recent advances in technology and science, it seems we are pushing many of our limits.  For some, new inventions reaffirm a feeling of power and potential.  There is less and less a need for God when we feel like “gods” ourselves.

Our verse for today describes a power that is truly limitless.  When we compare our little achievements with the mighty power of the God of the universe, than we can see just how limited we are!  His power cannot be measured.  His power knows no limit.  The surpassing greatness of His power brings us to our knees in stupefied awe!  As Job 26:14 says, all of His creation demonstrates His power, yet it is but a whisper of what we hear of Him.  “Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

What is most amazing to me is that we as believers have this power working in and for us!  It is not our power but His, working according to His will.  When I come to the end of my resources, He offers His mighty strength!

Oh how I need Your power today!  Thank you Lord, that You have no limits!

 


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Plastic Wrap

plastic-wrap-on-paintScripture for Today: Psalm 63:7-8 “Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.  I cling to You. Your right hand upholds me.”

I finally gave in.  After years of fighting with plastic wrap, I finally bought a dispenser that allows me to roll it out and cut it easily.  If there had been a hidden camera in my kitchen, it would have caught me tearing at that plastic and throwing away countless yards of the stuff as it would cling to the wrong thing.  Seriously, plastic wrap seems to have a mind of its own!  It clings to itself, my hand, or the counter, but rarely where I am putting it.

Our verse for today is about a different kind of clinging.  When we realize just how needy we are, we can give ourselves permission to cling.  The problem is that sometimes we cling to the wrong thing.  When we cling to our own resources or to others, we continue to be needy.  However, when we cling to the Lord and His strength, we find ourselves upheld by His powerful right hand.  He is our help when all else fails.  Clinging to Him and His protection changes our attitude to one of joy and song.  He is never bothered by our clinging.  He does not shake us off.  He holds us up when we feel we are falling.  He is faithful to give the help we need.

I cannot cling to Him if my hands are full.  I need to let go of all my supposed resources and depend completely on Him.  He is big enough and strong enough to be all the help I need.  As the old hymn says, “Simply to Thy cross I cling.”  Lord, help me to really believe it!


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Jolly Green Giant

Scripture for Today: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

I can still remember the days when canned and frozen foods were not so prevalent in France twenty-five years ago.  Most everything had to be made from scratch.  Now, the Jolly Green Giant is everywhere.  What is lost in taste is compensated for in convenience.

I have always wondered why this giant was jolly.  In most fairy tales giants are depicted as mean and angry.  In God’s Word, the giant, Goliath, was a mighty warrior that defied the Lord Almighty and His people.  The other four giants mentioned in II Samuel 21 were not so jolly either.  Each one vehemently opposed the God of the universe.  None of these giants finished well having been defeated by God’s people.  In each victory God gave amazing strength to square off against these impossibly large warriors.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Our verse for today is a declaration by Paul of the strength God gives.  Because of this strength, Paul was able to face a particular giant; the giant of discontent.  The context speaks of learning to be content in any and every situation.  Paul could live a contented life only through the strength God gives.  His circumstances never held him back from being all that God wanted him to be.

Discontent can loom like a giant.  Overcoming feelings of dissatisfaction can seem nearly impossible.  The size of my longings for a different set of circumstances can blot out the joy of following the path the Lord has chosen for me.  But with the strength God offers, I can vanquish feelings of deprivation and dissatisfaction.

Thank you Lord, for Your strength to cut down to size any discontent I may feel today!

 

 

 

 

 


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Meteors

Scripture for Today: Psalm 103:11 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”

Pictured here is the Perseid meteor shower over Sieversdorf, Germany.  The light show happens annually between mid July and mid August.  This meteor shower is composed of fragments from the comet, Swift Tuttle.  These create what is called a “Perseid cloud” as a stream of debris is formed.   The unofficial name is, “the tears of Saint Lawrence” as the peak of activity coincides with the date of his martyrdom.  Rather than think of a man when looking up, I cannot help but think of the amazing creativity of our God.

Our verse for today compares the height of the heavens with the size and grandeur of God’s love for us.  The meteors burn up just fifty miles above our heads, but the distances when talking about the heavens are mind boggling.  How amazing that the vastness of the heavens is a picture of the size of God’s love for us!

It is so difficult to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love Christ has for me (Eph. 3:18).  It goes beyond my limited knowledge.  It eludes my finite comprehension.  Just as distances boggle my mind when gazing at the heavens, so His love for me boggles the mind.  How could He love me so much?  Does He not see my failings, my weaknesses and my black heart?  I am too small and insignificant to deserve this unconditional love.  But believing it changes everything.  His love and forgiveness makes me the “apple of His eye” (Psalm 17:8) and makes my life worth living.

Thank you Lord, for Your incredible surprising love.  Remind me today as I look up at the sky.


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Sipping Hot

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

I only enjoy coffee when it is “sipping hot!”  When it gets room temperature or cold, I can hardly swallow it.  It either gets reheated in the microwave or dumped out in the sink.  Iced coffee seems a good way to reuse it but I have never acquired that taste.  The heat and the steam rising from the cup and warming me is all part of the coffee-drinking experience!  Many French friends enjoy their coffee in a bowl so as to warm their hands in the morning!

The verse that comes immediately to mind is God’s reproach to the Church in Laodicea.  They were lukewarm in their deeds, neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:15-16).  The Lord wants us to remain hot or zealous for Him!  In our verse for today, Paul encourages the Roman church to never be lacking in zeal.  The context is our spiritual gifts used in the local church.

This fervor and zeal come from Him.  Just as the spiritual gifts are gifts of empowerment from His Spirit, so is this zeal.  When we try to manufacture zeal on our own, we run out of steam pretty quickly.  Our service becomes mechanical or ritualistic.  Our good works for the Lord come from a sense of obligation instead of being heartfelt.  We become lukewarm when we operate out of our own strength!

Not only does my zeal come from Him, but it needs to be an informed zeal that recognizes that my righteousness comes from Christ and not my own good works! (Romans 10:2)

I need some of that “spiritual fervor” today.  Lord, keep me zealous and energized for You.  I want to serve You but I cannot do it on my own.