Devotions By Jan


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Blank Sign

sign unnamedScripture for Today: Isaiah 48:17 “This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.'”

I love walking the trails that meander through the hills surrounding San Juan Capistrano.  The peace and quiet of this gem of nature refreshes my soul!  I am just learning the trails and there are many choices of route.  I carefully look at each trail name so as not to lose my way.  I was surprised at this blank sign which gave me no help at all!

Our verse for today is a special reassurance that God is directing our steps.  The signs He displays put us on the best paths.  His signs are never blank.  They clearly point out His promises and commandments.  Following them gives the most enjoyable views and the straightest paths.  He wants to direct us to the path that is the absolute best!

There are plenty of blank signs around that do not help.  These are signs representing the arguments and pretensions of those without Christ (II Cor. 10:5).  They steer away from knowledge and obedience to the Lord.  They pretend to show a better way but are in fact blank, being hollow and deceptive philosophy (Col. 2:8).  They do not lead to a better life but a more arduous pathway.

Anytime I ignore His clear signs, I am settling for something that is less than best for me.  As my Creator, He knows what direction will bring me the most challenge, the most joy and the most satisfaction.  It is no mystery.  His signs are clearly marked in His Word.

Thank you Lord, that the path You have chosen is the very best one!


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Playing Pretend

blogunnamedScripture for Today: Proverbs 13:7 “One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”

Playing pretend with my grandson the other day was sweet.  He is not even 3 years old yet, but he understands the concept of pretend play.  We created different scenarios with one of his favorite characters, Curious George.  In the  world we created, everything was fun and perfect.  Everyone got along and could do exactly as they pleased.  Pretending is important for a child’s imaginative play.  Pretending as adults has very little value unless in the context of the arts.

Pretending in the church serves no positive purpose.  We often pretend to be something other than what we are in an attempt to seem spiritual.  If we are poor, we try to hide the fact.  If we are rich, we try to hide that too, although maybe less frequently!  Our verse for today is in contrast to the one before it.  “Righteousness guards the person of integrity…”  Being a person of integrity is being without pretense.

In attempting to look as if my act is together, I am in fact being unrighteous.  The Lord wants me to be authentic.  I struggle sometimes with being an imperfect wife, mother and grandmother.  Pretending to be perfect in every area is exhausting and frustrating.  I am thankful that the Lord sees through the pretense and loves me anyway.  No one around me is fooled either.  We are all flawed.  We all struggle.  Our relationship with Christ does not mean perfection for anyone.  It is in being authentic and sharing our struggles and victories that we encourage each other.

I may be discouraged but I do not need to pretend.  Thank you Lord, that You promise to complete in me what You have started.

 


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Revenge

gununnamedScripture for Today: Romans 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

This very bizarre gun is prominently displayed on the wall of my friend’s home hair salon.  With this gun, it is not just the prey that is hunted, but the hunter himself.  Her theme is the jungle, but maybe it is more than decoration.  Maybe it is a warning not to criticize her work!  In that unlikely scenario, everyone gets hurt!

Our verse for today is a clear command not to take revenge.  Like the self-directional gun, taking revenge can backfire.  Instead of finding peace and closure with the guilty one called to account, our brand of revenge can hold an element of bitterness.  Somehow, the hurt continues and the revenge seems to fall short.  That is because  taking revenge is taking a role that does not belong to us.

The revenge of the Lord is always timely and completely just.  When we leave room for Him to work, we can continue our lives without that wrong done to us consuming our hearts and minds.  We can feel lighthearted and free of the sense of injustice knowing that He will deal with that person.  There is peace in leaving that wrong in His hands.  He will repay that individual in a way we never could.  He promises.

God would not be a holy God if He did not act on His perfect sense of justice.  He will one day right every wrong, even the ones done in secret.  Nothing is hidden.  He will bring it all to light and right will prevail!

What comfort and peace to know that I can count on His justice!


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Hurricane

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

I am so glad I do not live in hurricane country.  We were in Florida one summer as a hurricane came through and I will never forget it!  We got up in the middle of the night and jumped in our car, hoping to race out of town ahead of it.  We did not feel the full force of those winds as we managed to get out, but even the beginning of it was impressive.  Those winds howled so that we could hardly stand!

There is one place in the midst of a hurricane where there is very little wind or rain, and that is at its very center.  The eye of the hurricane is where the storm’s minimum barometric center is found.  There, in a space typically 20-40 miles wide, there is utter calm in the middle of chaos.

Our verse for today describes a peace that is perfect.  The winds still howl and rage.  The rains continue to pelt the ground, but the one in that “eye of the storm” will not be affected.  That is the case for anyone who keeps their minds steadfast on the power and goodness of the Lord.  Absolute trust in God’s control will lead to absolute peace.

Keeping my mind steadfast on the Lord Jesus is not so easy.  Like Peter, I am distracted by the elements around me and start to sink (Matt. 14:31).  Jesus is so gracious to stretch out His hand and catch me.  His presence is my “eye of the storm” where I can have peace and calm despite my circumstances.

Thank you Lord, for the perfect peace I find in You.


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A Dog and His Bone

Scripture for Today: Philippians 4:6 “Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.”

Though this dog looks harmless enough, I would not want to get between him and his bone!  He must be in “doggy heaven” with such a treasure.  How many hours of fun he will have biting, tearing and gnawing at it.  However, there is lots of controversy about giving dogs bones.  There is discussion about raw versus cooked and which kinds are safe from splintering and causing problems.  But worrying a bone is something that seems a normal natural activity for a dog.

The phrase, “worrying a bone” reminded me of our verse for today.  We are told that we are not to worry, fret or be anxious about anything.  Instead, we are to turn those worries into prayers, thanking God in advance for how He will answer.  But like the dog with his bone, worrying just seems to come naturally.  It is so natural to worry that we need supernatural help to stop!

Worrying changes nothing, but praying can.  Prayer disposes my heart to trust Christ.  He already knows what worries are gnawing at me.  But He asks me to name those worries in the form of petitions.  What freedom can be mine when I give it all to Him!  He replaces that worry with His peace that guards my heart and mind.  Instead of being consumed with worry, I can get some distance from that problem.  I am no longer gnawing and picking at it.  My mind and heart are at rest, knowing I can trust His hand to work.

Lord, keep me from my natural inclination to worry.  Help me turn every anxious thought into heartfelt prayer.