Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: God’s Strength and Power


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Mountains

Scripture for Today:  Isaiah 40:12-13  “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span?  And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales?”

The best thing about mountains is feeling so small!  I love living just two short hours from the Swiss Alps!  On a very clear day one can just see them from the vineyards behind the house.  Up close they are magnificent and the views from their summits seem to go on forever.  It always amazes me to think about how long they have towered above me and Who made them.  Their grandeur is only a small piece of God’s glory.

As wonderful as creation is, the Creator is infinitely more wonderful.  It is He that measures and limits the flow of water.  He is the one who decided the size of the universe.  The size of the earth and the weight of the mountains and hills are all decided by Him.  When I am gazing up at the Alps I am reminded of His greatness and control.

The next verse in this passage leads to a logical conclusion.  If God does all of this, who can direct Him or who can inform Him of anything?  The obvious answer is “No one.”  He is mighty, powerful and all-knowing.  He knows what He is doing with creation and He knows what He is doing in my life as well.

The mountains remind me.   I am so small and He is so big.  Is anything too hard for Him?  I am not the one to tell Him what to do.  I am not His counselor.  He is in control and His control is good.


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Master Mechanic

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 139:14  “I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it very well.”

So many times I have regretted learning nothing about car engines.  When living as a single it was certainly a disadvantage.  There were times I was stuck.  There were times when a mechanic would take advantage of my ignorance.

Even the smallest car problem would confuse me.  I remember when my 1963 VW bug decided to quit…..quit turning off that is!  The key continually turned in circles without turning off the engine!  I thought I would have to wait until the car ran out of gas!  The car was so old that its vibrations had pushed out a screw!

Our verse for today reminds us of how our bodies are so wonderfully made!  I may think a car engine is fearfully and wonderfully made.  But of course it does not compare to the complicated work of art that is our body.

I often wonder, as wonderful as His work is, why I seem to have defects.  With age, there is knocking in this engine!  There are new cracks here and there.   Like a car engine, things begin to break down.  However, He designed me that way for His purposes.  We are told that our bodies are frail vessels of earth so that any power in us can be seen as coming from Him (II Cor. 4:7).

I am fearfully and wonderfully made, yes.  But at the same time I am frail.  Rather than be discouraged about my weaknesses, I can keep positive knowing God uses them to show His power.  I am one of His little ones in this well known song:  “Little ones to Him belong.  They are weak but HE is strong.”


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Canes

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

The image of a cane can evoke a variety of reactions.  My friend in college understood that.  She had such severe limitations that she could never walk without her cane.  Rather than hope people did not notice it, she would wrap it in colorful ribbons each day to match her outfit!  Her smile and readiness to talk of the Lord being her support left a lasting impression on me.

It has been said that religion is just a crutch for the weak-minded.  What the world does not seem to understand is that there is no one who is not in need.  But there are those who recognize their need for a Savior.  They are the ones who in trusting Him have their paths straightened.

Our verse for today tells us we are not to lean on our own understanding but instead trust the Lord.  I need to recognize that my own understanding is woefully limited.  I cannot depend on my own reasoning.  It is not enough.

The famous song, “Lean On Me,” by Bill Withers has the phrase, “please, swallow your pride.”  It takes humility to recognize need.  Verse seven in this same chapter warns us not to be wise in our own eyes.  Leaning and relying on Him and His wisdom takes me down paths of righteousness and blessing.  Trusting in my own wisdom has me going around in circles or following dead ends.

Trusting Him can be so uncomfortable.  I do not always understand where He is leading.  But relying on Him is so much better than my feeble steps with a cane!


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Apples

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.”

There are hundreds of varieties of apples available in Alsace.  No wonder apple tartes are such a common dessert here!  Their names are just as beautiful as the fruit; Belle de Pontoise, Ariane, Nonpareil, and my favorite…Coeur de Boeuf  (Heart of Beef) just to name a few.  Their apple cider vinegar tastes wonderful and I have a new appreciation for homemade applesauce!

Our Scripture for today mentions an apple, but of course a different kind.  The apple of the eye refers to the central aperture of the eye.  The phrase, “apple of the eye” is used to describe someone who is loved and cherished.

We are the apple of His eye as we are loved and cherished.  One of the names of God conveys this truth; the name, “El Roi” meaning, “God Who Sees.”  It was first used with Hagar in Genesis 16.  Being the apple of His eye means that He not only sees but He cares.

David knew that he was the apple of God’s eye, loved and cherished.  In Psalm 139 he recognizes that God saw the slightest detail.  God even saw when David was sitting or standing (verse 2).

I never have to wonder if God sees.  I am always in His line of vision.  Our verse actually gives two images.  They both have the same idea of protection.  Nothing gets past the God who sees.  I am the apple of His eye and He loves me.  Nothing comes into my life without His knowledge and permission.

God sees when that sparrow falls. (Matt. 10:29)  As the apple of His eye I am worth so much more!  “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!”


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Memory

IMG_20130217_165438Scripture for Today:  Psalm 77:11  “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

The French have a saying about memory.  When one is forgetful they call their memory a strainer or colander, full of holes!  That makes sense as they also call a memory lapse a “trou” or hole.

I often think I will remember something forever, especially when it is monumental or marks me in some way.  I am surprised to later realize that I have forgotten it.  I am so thankful for all the photos that my husband takes.  They help to plug some of those holes so the memories do not drop out!

In our verse for today David is determined to remember what God has done for him.  Being human I am sure he had problems with his memory too.  The disciples sure did!  In Matthew 16 Jesus had to remind them of his feeding of the five thousand when they were worried about having no bread.  Their failure to remember stunted the growth of their faith.

I can certainly relate to the disciples.  I so easily forget all the miracles that God has done in my own life.  When faced with a new challenge or difficulty, the memory of what He has done in the past should prepare me to respond in faith.  It is important for me to remember.

The Israelites made altars of stone to remember.  David wrote his Psalms to remember.  One generation is to orally testify to the next to remember.  God’s Word is full of testimony to His deeds and miracles.  We all need helps to remember.  It is worth the effort as the memories strengthen our faith.

Lord, strengthen my faith today with memories of your miraculous work in me!