How To Say Thanks To God

To begin with, God is very worthy of our thanks. He watches over us and keeps us safe and whole. He provides, through Jesus, access to Him and to life everlasting. There is a short chapter in the bible that gives us good insight here.

In Psalm 117 we see that for these things we should give God praise! Everyone should exalt Him for His work. If we live our lives to Him, giving Him praise in all we do, others will see that. As He manifests himself in our lives, others will give Him praise as well. This is our life and our mission.

Praise God, the Most High Ruler of the universe!

Prayer
Father, we praise and thank You in our praise for all You have done for us. You are worthy of our lives, of our all out, all in commitment to You. Please be with Your people today to make this a truth in each of our lives. In Jesus name. Amen.

Run To The Roar

In 1 Peter 5:8 we are warned to be watchful because our enemy the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. If you are like me, when you first read this, you go, “Huh?” In the context of the verse Peter is talking about those not in the position of leadership (he had just addressed the leaders) should remain humble. God will resist the proud (doesn’t sound good, right?) but will exalt the humble. An interesting point hear is that the word devil is used, meaning false accuser. The passage also says the same things are happening to people around us that are not believers. It is as if they are supposed to see an example in us of how to get through these struggles, which is what God promises will happen. We will be delivered. So what shall we do to resist?

Well, I am pretty sure we don’t run away. Peter here says resist him, steadfast in the belief and trust (faith) in God. James said in James 4:7 to resist the devil and he will flee. Sounds like if we believe in and trust in God, we win. So what shall we do?

I say we run to the roar…

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You as the Most High King of the universe. We thank You that You work in us and through us in the midst of tough times. We thank You that You make our enemies flee from us. Please help us to have the courage to run to the roar and resist the devil in the name of Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.

Building Unaware

I have a friend that has repeatedly said to me that they do not believe the bible is a true accounting, that Jesus is God, or that there is anything beyond the human being and the human spirit. Interestingly enough this person has asked me and the prayer team at my church to pray to my God for physical and mental healing. They has reported to me that the prayers are working and her serious illness is noticeably healing quickly. My point is this person is denying the very God from whom they hope to receive help. The bigger point is, this person is building something from this, but what?

Every day whether we are consciously aware participants or not, we are building. Our words and our actions become a part of a stack of timed events, once after the other. That never goes away. In essence, we are building our own story, our own time stack, our own book of our life. One day it will be read in heaven for all to see. That is what we are building, whether we do it on purpose or not. The great news for believers is God gives us a way to improve the things we messed up by granting us forgiveness and washing them with the words of Jesus, and covering them with His blood. Pretty good deal for us, really, if we take it.

What are you building?

Prayer
Father, King of the universe, we love You. Thank You for covering for us in the mistakes we make and for helping us to have the power to stop making them. I ask today father that you would reach out to those that need You that have not yet accepted that they do. Let them know You are there and that You love them. Father, in these challenging times, we have enemy activity that disguises itself in many ways, acting as if it is there to help us get and have things, protect us, etc. Sometimes the claims are true. Often they are not. I ask that you do as it says in scripture, and bring the evil plans to nothing, showing these cruel enemies for what they are. Deliver Your people again Father. In Jesus name. Amen.

Cheers From The Crowd

I remember growing up playing sports that I was not the best at that I really wanted one thing – cheers from the crowd. Looking back I guess I just wanted someone to tell me I had done good. I wanted it to matter that I showed up. For me, I no longer care about the crowds, but I do care about being encouraged. That happened for me today.

In 1 John 2 we have a series of encouragements to us from John. The words say what it takes to serve God or to be a follower. We have to be like Jesus. As I read this passage this morning, I grieved a little because I know I fall very short of that mark. But as I read on I realized that John was not saying these things to condemn anyone. He was telling us what the mark was and then began to offer encouragement that God will not walk away, and that we can make it. The next time you read this passage, don’t feel condemned. Instead, imagin John on the sidelines, and he is shouting.

“Come on, you can do this thing! I know you can! Go, go, go!!!”

Prayer
Father, I thank You that You hear us. I thank You that You never walk away. I thank You that You are right by our side saying, “You can do this!” We love You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Comfort For Fathers

Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly.(John10:10)” As a father, this is comforting to me. We fathers want good for our children. There is no greater joy for a father than to know that his children have a good life. Until I was a father, my understanding of what Jesus said was not as full. God is our Father. His compassion for us, and His joy at seeing us have a more abundant life, far surpasses anything that I could possibly feel or understand. It only makes sense then that this would be one of the reasons that Jesus came, and will return.

In life we face many, many challenges. There are spiritual forces that try to keep us from this abundant life, which is what Jesus said at the beginning of John 10:10, “The thief comes not but to kill, steal, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that more abundantly.” So this thief, which is all of the spiritual darkness comes against us and our children. How then does this show up in our lives? The thief (spiritual darkness) uses people many times, and comes directly other times. As fathers we can know that we can call upon God to deliver us and our children.

In Psalm 59 we see a story where the enemy of the psalmist comes against him to destroy and cast down. Sound familiar? What is the response we are to have? The psalmist prays to God, just like us. He asks God to destroy the enemies, but not to kill them. He asks that God destroy their attempts to cause us harm, to take from us, and to make a public spectacle of what them and their works that all may know that God is still God. He trusts in God to do this when we ask.

That is a father’s comfort. God will cast down our enemies and make a spectacle of them in the sight of us and others, that all may know that we serve a living and true God. God has our back.

Prayer
Father, King of the universe, today above all days, I want to wish You a Happy Father’s Day. Thank You for being our Dad. Thank You for watching over us and our children and families. We pray that You destroy our enemies and the enemies of our children and families. Do not kill them. Destroy their works against us. Bring their plans to nothing. Make a public showing of them that all may know that You alone are the One, true Living God. In Jesus name. Amen.

God Is With Us Everywhere

In reflecting on the sabbath this morning I thought about God being with me. It is typical for people to think about God being with them when they go to fellowship or church. In the past I have thought that I was going to where God was. I no longer believe that to be correct.

In Psalms 139 the psalmist is reflecting on his personal relationship with God. In verse 8 he says that if he ascends to heaven, God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit – God) is with him. He then says if he descends to hell, God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit – God) is still with him. So, God is always with us. When we do Good, God is there. When we blow it and do what God would prefer we did not do, He is still with us. It makes me sad to think that there have been things that I have done that I took God with me to do. The good news is, the psalmist, both in 139 and elsewhere, encourages us to seek God for cleansing and forgiveness that we might reunite ourselves with being on the good path.

It is up to us.

Where will we take God this week?

Prayer
Father, thank You for being willing to go with me everywhere that I go. I ask You to forgive me for those places I have gone that I should not, either physically or mentally, and for taking You there. Please help me, and all of us, make better choices to serve You in truth and holiness. In Jesus name. Amen.

Let Me Know Your Thoughts

For a few months now I have been placing these posts here, and many people have signed up. I thought it might be a good time to get some customer feedback. Originally this site was to be the product of two people, but it ended up just one. As a result I have only been adding the devotionals here. What I would like to know is if this is helpful to you. If you would be so kind, please go to the Contact Form page under the Contact Us link and give us some feedback.

Would you like video content?

Would you like to have a place to be interactive?

What more would yo like to see here?

I normally have that form shut down except to members, but it is open for the next few days to see what comes up for people.

Please, let me know your thoughts…

-Doc

Simple Is Good

Here in the Midwest of the United States we had some strong storms go through last night, but not as rough as predicted. In troubled times like storms in the sky, it is easy for us to call out to God. I am thankful that we made it through. As I thought about how I am grateful when God delivers us, it seemed to me that this is yet another example of something to be thankful for in life. As I prayed to God, I was asking how to keep that attitude toward Him and all that has been in our lives. In a still small voice I heard, “Tell someone thank you every day.” Wow. That seemed simple.

The more I thought about that today, the more it made sense. It would force me to thank another person earnestly for adding something to my life. I would hear those words, and hearing them would begin to position my mind to want to hear them again.It would give me an attitude of thankfulness that would permeate everything I think or do. This includes God. This has become one of my new daily goals.

Thank you for reading this.

Prayer
Father, thank You for Your wisdom which You give if we ask. Thank You for Your healing, Your provision, Your loving kindness that helps us to go on. Thank You for today. In Jesus name. Amen.

How To Start

For those of my readers that come here every day, my apologies for posting so late. When I awoke this morning I had an opportunity to pray, but was quickly drawn into the battle of the day. As the dust began to settle this afternoon, I realized that the task I try to early, this post, had been left unattended. That caused me to think about how we start spiritual warfare. How should we begin the battle?

In Lamentations 3:22-24 we see that the writer comes to the conclusion that God’s mercies are new every morning. In reading the entire text we see a sad picture of someone cast out by his people, and even mocked by them. As he laments, he realizes that he is yet alive because God is on his side holding him up. That is when he decides to hope in the Lord because every day God’s mercy is new. How do we get it? WE ask.

In Psalm 63 the psalmist says, “…early will I rise to seek You.” Isaiah said in Isaiah 26:9 to God that his spirit would seek God early. In Psalm 119:62 the psalmist states that he will rise at midnight(early in the Jewish day) to seek God. Hmmm. There seems to be a recurring theme. To start each day, to start the battle, we need to do first things first. Spiritual things are the first things.

Prayer
Father, thank You for Your mercies being new every day. I thank You that You hear us always. Help us to be able to do Your things first. Help us to see what You are doing, and do that, to hear what you are saying and say that, that many might experience the fullness of the kingdom. In Jesus name. Amen.

When Buildings Show Up

When it is time for something to change, I can be one of those people that can get impatient. Sometimes all I know is I want what I want when I want it. That can be a recipe for failure because God works in His time – eternity – not ours. No one likes to hear that, I don’t think. I know I don’t, but it is true. It is not only true in our spiritual life, it is true in the every day physical world as well.

Have you ever driven by some place regularly and watched as a house was being built. It seems like nothing is happening for the longest time. Materials begin to accumulate. There is a hole in the ground. Then there is a block structure in the hole. Then it has the sub-floor. Then, all of a sudden, what looks like a house magically appears as the shell goes up quickly. Then it seems to take forever before it is done. First, the foundation is a hard fought battle. Then there is a rather quick change with the shell. Then it seems to take a life time to finish every detail for the house to be complete. Sound familiar? That same process takes place for us spiritually. We have to have everything in place before we put on the roof, for example. We always start with the tedious foundation. We have to be patient and work with God to get to us as a finished work. It takes a lifetime.

Prayer
Father, please help us to be patient and trust in You. Please help us to believe that You are there every step of the way. Help us to know that You always finish what You start. In Jesus name. Amen.