Devotions By Jan


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Early Riser

Scripture for Today: Psalm 127:2 “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.”

It goes without saying that “the early bird gets the worm.”  Yet I feel compelled to say it when I see this photo!  For his worms I wonder if that early bird stays up late too.  Perhaps the bird does not sleep so well wondering where to nab his next worm in the morning.  There are other birds out there to compete with after all.

Our verse for today was written by Solomon who has lots to say about vanity.  It is vain to make life all about acquisition.  He should know as he did not deny himself any possession or pleasure (Eccl. 2:10-11).  Yet when he surveyed all that he had toiled to achieve, it was meaningless.  God chooses to bless His loved ones and does so apart from our own toil, even in sleep.

The Bible is full of verses on being a good conscientious worker and not a sluggard.  But toiling incessantly is not the goal of life.  Living with constant stress is not God’s plan.  This world is so fast-paced seeming never to stop.  One is always in a hurry to do more, be more and produce more.  But when I put God’s Kingdom above everything else, God blesses me with everything needed (Matt. 6:33).  There is no point to burning the candle at both ends.  I can take that eight hours of sleep and not feel guilty.  I belong to Him and I trust His care and provision.  I can rest easy knowing He is faithful to provide.

Thank you Lord, that there will be sweet sleep tonight, knowing You love me.

 

 

 


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Road Rage

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:14 “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

Road rage is unfortunately pretty common on the Southern California freeways.  Perhaps we can all learn from this chill dog!  But it can start slowly with mounting frustration at the inconsiderate or unsafe behavior of others.  The body tenses and the mutterings begin.  From there it can escalate into yelling and cursing, complete with hand gestures!  Rolling down the window and getting personal is never a good thing.  Stopping the car is even worse and getting out to confront is a sign of complete loss of control.  Road rage was on the news again this morning showing two grown business men resorting to blows!

Our verse for today pictures that mounting anger as a breach in a dam.  It begins slowly as a small trickle but can mount so quickly, pressuring that wall of restraint to the breaking point!  Letting it all out and losing control may give temporary relief.  But the resulting damage can last a lifetime.

My anger may be completely justified.  But allowing it to build and burst will cause pain for which I will need to apologize when calm is restored.  Anger is not so much the issue as the loss of control it can bring when left unchecked.  There is a way to experience anger without sin (Eph. 4:26) but they usually go hand in hand with me.  The anger robs my self-control if I allow it to seethe.  Time, unwillingness to forgive, and seeking revenge all work against me.  Usually, I am more hurt than the one with whom I am angry!  If my anger is controlling my thoughts and emotions than surely, the Holy Spirit is not in the picture.  His control gives self-control.

Lord, make this an “anger free” day!

 

 


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Bleeding Grapevine

Scripture for Today: John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Did you know that grapevines “bleed?”  At the very site of a pruning cut in the wood, the sap will gently seep, sometimes up to two weeks.  After being dormant all winter, it is the first sign of a vineyard reawakening.  It is no cause for concern and can even help the vine.  The process can push out trapped air bubbles avoiding interrupted water flow later in the season.  Calling this process, “bleeding,” almost makes me think that pruning might be painful for that vine!

Our verse for today describes our dependent relationship with the Father and Son.  We bear fruit when we are connected to Him just as branches do connected to the vine.  There are seasons when it does not look like much is happening.  But God, our Gardener, does everything to make us fruitful, all in His perfect timing.  He knows when to start and when to stop.  He knows just how far back He needs to cut.  Pruning can seem drastic and losing sap through the “open wound” can seem counter-productive.  But He knows what He is doing, using the hard times in our lives to make us even more fruitful.

There are times I know I am “bleeding” and it hurts.  It is especially in those times of transition and change that I can feel those shears working on me.  But I can trust the hands of my Gardener.  He will not put me through more than I can bear (I Cor. 10:13).

Lord, make me fruitful for You, even if it hurts.


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Muscle Cramp

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 38:17 “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my sins behind Your back.”

Nothing stops a person so completely in their tracks than a muscle cramp!  When it happens to me I do not care what I look like when I hit the ground and cry out in agony!  The pain, though temporary, can be so intense and feels like it will last forever!  That involuntary contraction is incredibly strong and the only relief seems to be in massaging it.

Our suffering may stop us in our tracks.  Like King Hezekiah, sometimes all we can do is turn our head to the wall and cry.  Our verse for today was written by King Hezekiah after his illness and recovery.  He acknowledges that there was benefit in his suffering.  He learned humility (verse 15) as a result of the “anguish of his soul.”  He understood that the Lord acted out of love and not malice towards him.

Suffering in any form can shake our faith to its core.  When we do not see the outcome we want, the suffering can well transform itself into an anguish of the soul.  It is too easy to doubt God’s love and wonder if He really cares.  But God always acts out of love for His own.  He works that suffering into a benefit that is of eternal value although I may not see it.  He wants me to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

The ultimate suffering would be to spend eternity without Him.  I can never doubt His love because He spared me that suffering when He forgave my sins.

Thank you Lord, for sparing me the worse kind of suffering!

 

 


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Flickering Lights

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of the darkness,’ make His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

Our new bathroom lights were flickering this morning as I tried to apply my make-up.  At the same time that I called out to my husband, he called out to me that the lights in the kitchen were flickering as well!  It turns out that every light in the house flickered annoyingly.  We felt a little reassured to discover that our neighbors were experiencing the same thing.  In fact, friends on Facebook were reporting the same thing in neighboring cities.

Our verse for today describes a light that banishes darkness in the heart of the believer.  It is a light that is meant to grow stronger as we progressively learn of God’s glory in the person of His Son, Jesus.  God’s revelation through His Word enlightens our understanding of who He is.  His light reveals, delights and fascinates as He slowly unfolds His character to us!  How beautiful He is!

What a privilege and grace to have His light shine in our hearts!  The light of the Gospel displays Christ’s glory (verse 4).  This is something that Satan keeps from unbelievers by blinding their minds.  The darkened mind of the unbeliever remains unenlightened until he accepts that Gospel message.

My utmost desire is to allow His light to be seen by others.  But I am afraid that sometimes my light flickers with inconsistency.  My selfishness and pride get in the way of accomplishing those good works designed to be that light pointing to Him (Matt. 5:16).

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!”  Lord, may Your light in me be clearly seen today!