Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Holiness


by Leave a comment

Incense

105214Scripture for Today: Psalm 141:2 “May my prayer be set before You like incense, may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”

This wooden figure is very much like the nutcracker, but in fact, it is an incense burner!  I love the beautiful wood craftsmanship of the Germans!  It almost makes me want to burn incense…almost.  I never got used to the smell of incense although my dorm roommates thought it was wonderful back in college days.

Burning incense has long been part of religious observances in Greece, Egypt, China and India.  It is also currently used in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and in some Lutheran churches.  In the Old Testament, burning incense was part of worship in the tabernacle and temple (Ex. 30:34).  Now, because of Christ’s sacrifice we can approach God with confidence and without the many rituals of the Law (Heb. 10:19-22).

In our verse for today, David sees his prayers rising to God like the smoke of incense.  Any way we can visualize spiritual truths is helpful in worship.  Of course, burning incense does not make us more pleasing to God.  But burning incense is a great way to “see” our prayers reaching His ears, just as lifting our hands can help us feel worshipful and closer to Him.

In Heaven there will be golden bowls of incense presented to Jesus in worship (Rev. 5:8).  The incense represents the prayers of God’s people.  Accompanied by harp music and a new song, the incense of our prayers will proclaim Jesus as the Lamb, worthy of all glory and honor!  What a beautiful thought that my prayer might be in one of those golden bowls of incense!

Lord, may my prayers always be worshipful and a sweet aroma to You.

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


by 2 Comments

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.


by Leave a comment

Tantrums

TANTRUMScripture for Today: Genesis 4:7 “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

This sweet little girl is losing it!  What toddler has not gone through the temper tantrum stage?  The angry emotions become too much to handle and spill out.  It can be frustrating or cute depending on how much sleep the parent has had.  But there is a place where temper tantrums are encouraged; the Tantrum Club for women in London.  There, one can scream, shout, rant and rave, jump up and down and bash things.  The club welcomes this behavior with support because as they say, “You deserve it!”

Our verse for today is spoken to Cain as a warning from the Lord.  Cain’s emotions have reached the boiling point.  Much more serious than a child’s tantrum, his anger is about to erupt in violence.  God does not tell Cain to swallow or suppress his emotions.  He tells Cain that he must rule over them in order to avoid sinful behavior.  As strong as his anger was, Cain always had a choice.

I often rationalize that I deserve to feel the way I do.  It is understandable.  But I do not have to be the victim of my emotions.  They do not have to lead me to sin, not if I can rule over them.  There is always a choice whether or not to give in to the anger or frustration.  My problem is that I cannot rule over my emotions on my own.  There is often a tantrum going on inside.  How thankful I am to have the fruit of God’s Spirit, offering me self-control.

Lord, rule over my emotions today!

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


by Leave a comment

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.


by Leave a comment

Swallow’s Nest

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 84:3-4 “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, My King and My God.”

There is a city ordinance in San Juan Capistrano, California, that prohibits knocking down a swallow’s nest!  Their bird droppings may be annoying, but they are protected.  The return of the swallows in March is celebrated every year with a parade and their likeness is sold in the town’s souvenir shop.  These swallows build their mud nests clinging to the ruins of the Great Stone Church of the Mission.  The arches of the vaulted ruins are bare and exposed, making it the perfect place for their nests.

Our verse for today speaks of another perfect place for a nest.  The swallow builds her nest near God’s altar.  When one thinks of a nest, there is the thought of comfort, care and protection.  A nest represents home and hearth.  The altar of God represents His presence.  It is a place of adoration and worship.  The psalmist cannot even mention the word “altar” without praising His name!  The context of this verse goes on to say that there is happiness when dwelling in His presence.

A nest may be built of all sorts of bits and pieces.  It could include mud, feathers, twigs and leaves.  But the most important factor is its proximity to God’s altar.  My nest could be feathered well with all kinds of creature comforts, but does it include God’s presence?  Dwelling in His presence means there is happiness and praise for Him (verse 4).

I want my nest to be His dwelling place.  Lord, may my home be marked by happiness, satisfaction and praise to You!

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