Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: Hope


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Shaken

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 16:8-9  “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell in security.”

I have lived through my share of earthquakes, being from California.  They are unsettling, to say the least.  Thankfully, I have never experienced injury or damage.  For whatever reason, most of the ones I have lived through have been when the weather was very hot.  We used to call it, “Shake and Bake!”

There was one earthquake in particular I remember.  The epicenter apparently was a lot closer to the television studio than to us.  The newscaster dove under his desk during an aftershock that we did not feel.  How strange to see the cameras still rolling and no one there!

Our verse for today is a beautiful affirmation of the fact that our lives are in God’s hands.  No evil or natural disaster is going to thwart His plan for our individual lives.  Whether it is a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake, we do not need to live in fear.  In faith we realize His comforting presence, regardless of the circumstances.

For the believer who trusts God’s plan and control, there is gladness, rejoicing, and security.  Instead of fear, there is confidence which cannot be shaken.  We know that He is good.  We know that our eternal home is real.  We set Him continually before us and look to Him in faith.

When I see any kind of natural disaster, terrorist act, or any evil plot of man, I am reminded that life is fragile and temporary.  A sudden catastrophe could rock my world.  But I can stay strong in my faith.  Because of Him, I will not be shaken!


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Laughter

IMG_20121025_135857Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 17:22  “A joyful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

I remember the old TV commercial with the phrase, “I wanna be like Mike.”  Well, I wanna be like these two ladies.  They are pushing ninety and can still be silly and fun!  Oh, they have their problems, many of which are physical.  But they have kept their sense of humor intact.  They have both walked with the Lord for a long time.  Because of years of Bible study with them I have had a front row seat to their faith.  They are a joy to be around because they do not complain.  Instead they choose the medicine of a joyful heart.

The phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” has been around a long time.  Research has shown there are many health benefits to laughter, including increased blood flow, better immune response, lowered blood sugar, and relaxation.   Isn’t it nice to see science catch up with Scripture written centuries ago!

For a believer, joy is the natural result of a close relationship with the Lord.  Psalm 16:11 tells us that in His presence is fullness of joy!  Being in His presence is a choice.  That means joy is a choice too.

Habakkuk understood that joy is a choice.  When everything was going wrong with crops and livestock, he said in 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

When everything is going wrong with my circumstances I can still find joy when I choose His presence.  There is joy in the realization of His love.  There is joy in the thought of His salvation and the future that awaits!

No broken spirit or dry bones for me!  I choose joy!


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Good Weight!

Scripture for Today:  II Corinthians 4:17  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

There is good weight and bad weight.  The weight gain of every newborn is carefully monitored and desired for good health.  Weight gain following a serious illness is cause for rejoicing!  Every horse jockey is daily concerned with his weight gain or weight loss.

I have in mind what a good weight is for myself.  I do not often see that number on the scale!  I do have the choice of weighing in on the other scale in our house, the metric one.  That one at least will give me a smaller number as it is in kilos!  In any case, weight gain is normally something one tries to avoid.  It seems to be harder and harder with age to keep those numbers from climbing!

Our verse today mentions another kind of weight and it is all good; the weight of glory!  This is a weight one would like to see increase.  But the weight of glory in Heaven grows in direct relation to our afflictions here on earth.  The hard times are working for us.  Life’s sorrows are achieving that weight of glory!

All the trials and difficult times one experiences are but for a moment  They are a temporary condition.  And as hard as they feel, they are considered  “light” in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits.  Our pain is never wasted.  Our sorrow is not for nothing.  One day everything will be glorious.  One day there will be only recompense and joy.

As the old hymn says, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.  Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Him.”


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Cheerleaders

IMG_20130219_095627Scripture for Today:  Romans 15:4  “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

When our daughters were young they were thrilled to wear these cheerleading outfits.  At that time my husband taught at a public high school.  He had these outfits professionally made so the girls could cheer along with the “real” cheerleaders at sporting events.  They were quite the hit!

Anytime spirit lagged among the spectators, all the girls had to do was look cute and shake their pom-poms and the crowd would find their voice again!  With just a little encouragement from the girls, the crowd would cheer.

Our verse for today gives us another source of encouragement; Scripture.  We need its encouragement to hold on to our hope.  We need the encouragement of Scripture to endure.  Our spirits sometimes lag.  We get discouraged waiting for that answer to prayer or His promise to be fulfilled.

God’s Word is so much more than a pep talk though.  His Word is a love letter where the Lord reveals His heart as well as His plan for me.  He so often points me to just the right passage to encourage me when I am down.  He speaks to me through His Word when I am tired and feel like giving up.  He knows just what I am feeling.

Nothing in this world can give me the same kind of encouragement to hope that God’s Word does.  Hope in what is certain, true and unchangeable is a sure hope and not some flimsy wishful thinking.

God’s Word cheers me on.  He is on my side and He wants me to succeed.  He gives me daily encouragement to keep on keeping on!  Thank you, Lord!


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The Turtle

Scripture for Today:  Romans 5: 3-4  “…but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:”

While growing up our family had a turtle hanging out in our back yard.   I don’t remember how he came to be there, but I do remember using him like a garbage disposal.  He took care of all the vegetable scraps.  It was fun to watch him eat lettuce, although it seemed he took forever to do it.

We also grew up with cats.  Because our turtle was so slow, our cats would often corner him.  Of course, there was no way he could out run them but he survived these encounters by stopping and withdrawing into his shell.  Sometimes it would take a long time but eventually, the cats would lose interest and leave him alone.

Our verse today is an encouragement in facing the hard times in life.  They corner us and often there is no way to avoid them.  Yet, the Lord promises a positive outcome: perseverance.  That patient endurance forms a godly character in me.  The more difficult my situation, the more likely I am to think about the hope of eternity.

God gave the turtle a wonderful coping mechanism in that shell.  He could easily wait out the cat’s assault.  By His presence God provides me with a similar way to cope.  He is my refuge.  He is my hiding place.  He provides shelter.  Through Him I can endure and wait it out.

It is God who gives perseverance and encouragement (Rom.15:5).  I do not know what tomorrow may bring.  But I do know that He is there and He will give me what I need to persevere.  At the first sign of trouble, may I hide myself in Him.