Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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Hide and Seek

IMG_20160322_090333Scripture for Today:  Colossians 3:3-4 “For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

It is not too difficult playing hide and seek with my grandson!  He is so sure no one can see him if he cannot see you.  In his mind all he has to do is hide his eyes to be totally hidden!  My two older grandsons have graduated to actually hiding from the one who is “it” in some pretty obvious places.  Hiding behind a curtain, pillow, lamp or a dog brings to mind the phrase, “Hiding in plain sight!”

Today’s verse talks about the life of a believer being hidden with Christ in God.  When we come to Christ for forgiveness, we die to our old life. Former habits and ways of thinking are a thing of the past.  Desires and goals change.  In Christ we become a “new creation” (II Cor. 5:17).  But even more than that, our real life, our true life is found in Christ.  It is hidden there, safe and secure.  No one can touch our souls.  And one day, our true lives will no longer be hidden but will be revealed, sharing in His glory.

I love life.  I am blessed with many wonderful gifts from His hand.  But at the same time, I feel that there is something lacking.  This life is not my true one.  Everything around me will pass away (I John 2:17).  As wonderful as this world is, it does not compare to the perfect world and life that is coming!  What He has prepared is something so much better than anything seen, heard or imagined here (I Cor. 2:9)

Thank you Lord, that You are my life.

 


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Victim or Victor?

Scripture for Today:  I Corinthians 15:55-57  “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The enemies of Jesus thought they had won.  Satan thought he had won.  Jesus was dead and buried.  To all appearances Jesus was the victim and He had lost.  For three long sad days all seemed finished.  It was over.  But then……Jesus arose a Victor!  The power of sin and death could not hold Him.

As if this were not amazing enough, there is more!  Our verse for today explains that WE share in His victory!  God gives those who place their faith in Jesus the same victory over sin and death!  No longer are we victims but victors!  Jesus is OUR resurrection.  He is OUR life.  Because of what He accomplished, we will live eternally in a resurrected body like His!  We are looking forward to our own resurrection.

I am forever thankful to no longer be a victim.  No matter what man may do to me, my soul is kept safe and my future is secure.  What enemy can take that away from me?  No one (John 10:28).   Who could ever condemn me?  No one (Rom. 8:34).

There are times in life where we feel we are in that same three-day waiting period.  We feel like a victim.  All seems dark and sad.  There is failure and discouragement, guilt and shame.  Satan seems to have triumphed.  But then……we share in Christ’s victory!  We are on the winning side!  We are victors because He shares His victory with us!

Thank you, Lord, that You fought and won for me!


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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!


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Puddle Jumping

Scripture for Today: John 21:7b “…As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.”

Puddle splashing and little boys go together!  My grandsons happily jump into the biggest puddle they can find with both feet, hoping to make as big a splash as possible.  With the recent rains and flooding in Southern California, there are plenty of opportunities.  At their age it is a supervised controlled activity, but I imagine when they are older, shoes, socks and pants will be well soaked.

Today’s verse has someone jumping in the water.  The disciples were not too sure who exactly it was on the shore telling them how to fish.  But in following His instruction, these experienced fishermen realized that their huge haul was a miracle.  With John’s declaration, impetuous Peter jumps into the water to meet the Lord!  He is excited to brave the wet and cold in order to reach Jesus first.  If it meant getting wet and soggy he was willing.  That cold water was surely a shock to the system for Peter, especially after fishing all night.  But after the humiliation of his recent denial, Peter may have been anxious to prove his love and faithfulness with that jump.

Jumping in with both feet into something cold, wet and uncomfortable does not appeal to me.  But often, the Lord puts those trials or puddles directly in my path.  That path could lead to a deeper more intimate relationship with Him.  If going through that difficulty can result in a closer more loving relationship, than maybe I should “consider it joy” (James 1:2) and jump in with both feet!

Lord, help me live life with joy, regardless of the puddles.


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Wishing on a Star

Scripture for Today: Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Star light, star bright, The first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.”  This nursery rhyme from the late 1800’s still comes to mind when I see a bright star or planet shining on a clear night.  But I am sure those Magi from the east were not thinking of wishing on His star (Matt. 2:1).  Instead, they faithfully followed the star in order to worship the One born King of the Jews.

“Wishing on a star” pretty much describes the thinking of those who place their confidence in anyone but Jesus.  It is a poor flimsy substitute for real hope.  Hope for the believer is faith in what is sure.  Our hope is only as good as its object and that makes our hope in Jesus unshakable.  A star will not save.  A star cannot fulfill promises and save souls.  But a star can and often does move us to worship the Creator, as it did for the Magi.  His own hands stretched out the heavens (Isaiah 45:12).

Because of Christ’s birth, I have hope.  I not only have hope, I am overflowing with it as I trust Him.  He promises to fill me with all joy and peace as I live in that hope and trust.  The coming of Jesus is hope realized as He made a way to live eternally with Him.  There is a bright future ahead because of that hope.  The darkness of my despair is dispelled by the heavenly light of His presence!

Thank you Lord, for Christmas and for being my hope.