Category: Daily Devotionals

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me.  Psalm 119:19

High political leaders know they need ambassadors to represent them in other countries.  They look far and wide to discover the man or woman who will do the job well.  They must be well acquainted with the laws of their country, well acquainted with the wishes and strategies of the people in authority over them so that they will act successfully on their behalf.  Once chosen, there is a ‘sending’ and a mission that is unique to the country to which they’ve been called.

The ambassador leaves.  He makes his home in China, or Pakistan, or Kenya.  He does not look like anyone else nor truly live like anyone else there.  He abides by the laws of his new country but he is not a citizen.  He promotes and executes the policies of his country back home.  He speaks on behalf of the president, on behalf of the government, knowing that as he exerts his rule, his leaders back home back him up.  As long as he acts in accordance with his country’s principles, he is protected.

I am a sojourner.  Like David, I feel it.  I don’t track with the culture in which I live.  The values on earth are not in harmony with the values of heaven.  I’m an ambassador here, meant to represent my king and the laws of His kingdom.  As I rule my world with His principles, God has my back and I am protected.  I speak on behalf of God, act in His best interest, promote the laws of His kingdom.  No wonder David asks that God make his commandments known to Him.  To be in alignment with God’s precepts and live by them is to know peace and safety.  God is behind me and before me and when I’m finished representing Him here, when my time of influence has run its course, He will lead me safely home for permanent retirement in His kingdom.

My mission is clear today.  Help me rule well on your behalf.  Amen

Truth shall spring up from the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Psalm 85: 11

When the truth is questioned, do I dig my heels in because I belong to God, or am I adamant because it serves me?

I remember when Jesus’ identity was questioned.  He claimed that God was his Father.  The religious leaders were indignant, calling him a liar.  If Jesus had not been perfect, He could have easily risen up to defend himself the way we often do. “How dare you question my word!  I told you that God was my Father and I am His Son.  You apparently have no idea who you’re talking to!” Anyone other than Jesus would have been tempted to stand in the pride of his celebrity status.  This temptation would have bitten most children of men.

Jesus stood in truth because He obeyed a truth-telling God, not because by standing in truth, his identity would be validated.  His sense of self was not threatened in the least by others’ disbelief.  And, it was not strengthened by their belief.  If the masses rejected Him, His self-perception suffered no fractures.  There was no personal agenda at stake here other than his unwavering obedience to speak what God prompted Him to speak.

The truth can cause God’s children to rise up in so-called holy wars.  We call ourselves truth-tellers but our heart is disconnected from the right reason to be such.  If I speak the truth today, am I doing it because it benefits me in any way?  The real test is whether or not I am willing to be truthful when faced with potential persecution.  Motives become evident very quickly.

My own heart will continue to deceive me without the help of Your Spirit, Lord.  Amen

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.       Psalms 16:6

God never meant for me to be passive about my faith.  He has made promises but I must make them mine by walking them out.  There will be times that promises appear to be in threat so I must rise up to fight for faith.  There will be giants in my Canaan.  A life of faith does not mean a life of resting.  I must expect battles and get engaged.

Being an ambassador of God on this earth means ruling on behalf of the kingdom who commissioned me.  Though earth is not my home, I’m sent here to represent my King and bring the laws of His kingdom to earth.  This is a cooperative effort.  As I rule and do my part, God has my back.  As I stand in His promises, He fulfills them.  That’s why Moses was told to raise the rod over the Red Sea.  That’s why Joshua and the Israelites were told to march around the walls of Jericho.  They did their part and God brought the victory.

God gave Abram a blessing.  He promised him land in every direction his eyes can see and offspring greater than the sands of the sea.  But it didn’t come to pass without Abram’s involvement.  He was told to walk the length and breadth of the land – personally staking his claim.

Walking out God’s promises is to be my way of life.  When my children’s future appears to be tenuous, I get on my knees and stake my claim on God’s promises for them.  When the ministry is under spiritual attack, I go to a day of fasting and re-claim the promises surrounding my calling.  When my home is under attack; when anger, anxiety or depression swirl, when equipment begins to malfunction, when sleep is robbed, when people begin to act out without a cause, I do what Abram did.  I walk the lines of my property and sing.  I also take my “I Am” sheet with me and read it as I walk. The victory is mine as God engages with my faith walk.

Giants in the land were never there to cause me to faint.  They were there to teach me to live and fight for faith.

Too many obstacles?  I used to just abdicate.  Thank you for teaching me how to fight and for giving victory after victory.  As the stakes get higher, give me the grace to walk with more boldness.  In Jesus name, Amen 

Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.  Psalm 119:128

David doesn’t ride the fence.  There is no neutrality.  He loves truth.  He hates every false way.  He reminds me that I should show no ambivalence when it comes to good or evil either because there is no such thing as neutrality.  It’s sin or it’s not sin.  If Jesus wouldn’t do it, think it, or condone it, then it should be intolerable for me as well.

Is there something I find myself in the middle of today that seems sticky?  Perhaps if I were dealing with a stranger, I’d take a stand but because it’s a friend or family member, the waters muddy.  I know there are repercussions if I think differently from those who know me best.   To give myself a way out, I begin to rationalize.  “I shouldn’t make a big deal out of this.  It’s not like this is the end of the world if I give in.” Those thoughts signal a red flag.  The real issue is this ~ What would Jesus do if he were in my place?

What am I letting get by me today because I fear the consequences of speaking up?  If I can answer that question, and if I believe that this particular sellout falls in a harmless category, I am not thinking like Jesus.  To speak up every time I encounter sin is not the aim here.  It is to be willing to – if God nudges.  If there is a situation that causes me to shut my mouth up tight, then I fear man more than I fear God.  Psalm 118:6 comes to mind for me to internalize.  “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?”

You never ask your child to take a stand, suffer the consequences, without Your personal attention afterwards.  Just as angels came to Jesus in the wilderness to strengthen His heart, You come to me when I am isolated.  Amen

My soul, wait thou only upon God. Psalm 62:6

Calvin translates this verse, “My soul, be silent before God.” Rest calm and undisturbed. Your enemies are round about thee, but rest, my soul, in God. Your enemies are mighty, but HE IS Almighty; your troubles are grievous, but he is greater than your troubles, and he shall deliver you from them. Let not your soul be agitated. The wicked are like the troubled sea that cannot rest: don’t be like them. Be calm: let not a wave ruffle your untroubled spirit. Cast thy burden on the Lord, and then sleep on his bosom.”

What are you waiting on God for today? Part of the human spiritual experience is to pray for heaven to come down and wonder why things don’t happen sooner. When we’re in distress, our relationship with God can get battered by questions of His goodness and love.

After long periods of waiting, I have come to understand that much about my waiting room had little to do with me. It was about God preparing people and situations for what was next, lining up the dominoes to fall in succession.   Think of Joseph’s time in prison.  His final 2-year waiting period in his last prison cell probably didn’t have so much to do with Joseph as it did the ripening of times and seasons in Egypt. It was about Pharaoh entering a time of distress over his dreams.

I’m waiting in prayer today over some big things. So are you. What if I could peel back the invisible curtain between heavenly realms and my personal world? What if I could see God working in the lives of the people I love? I am convinced that I would see a very active Father, not a passive one. As for the ones I am praying for, God is wooing them but they may not discern it. He is speaking but their ears aren’t tuned to it.  He’s arranging divine encounters and He’ll make sure they won’t miss them.  He’s preparing the ground for their deliverance but they live totally unsuspecting.  And, He’s doing all of this eagerly – anticipating my joy when the miracle is unveiled.

There’s nothing more painful as a parent than to be blamed for doing nothing when, in fact, you’ve been very active. You’ve sought advice, you’ve suffered sleepless nights, you’ve problem solved and rehearsed the obstacles until your head hurts. The one who blames you just doesn’t know.  When I blame God, I am a blind, ignorant child. He is all-seeing, wise, and ever pro-active.

Passivity is not in your nature. I’ve been lied to. You are incessant in working all things for my good. Amen

Save

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 23:76

How many times have I described the Lord as ‘all I had left’ – after something of great value was taken away?   “I lost everything and God was all I had.”  Really?  It’s as if the real things of value were removed, leaving me with some stray object, God.

The truth is that I have God plus whatever else I enjoy.  God is my portion.  Housing, food, relationships, employment are all extras.

Have I been in a position when employment was removed and our family lived not knowing where our next meal would come from?  Yes.  Did I believe at the time that the Lord was my portion?  I don’t think my heart was alive enough to Him to internalize that.  However, our family lived in prayer for provision and God was faithful.

Have I been in a position to lose precious relationships, in death and in life?  Yes.  Did I experience God as my portion?  Thankfully, yes.  Some of the losses were so staggering that I don’t think I would have survived mentally and emotionally if God had not strengthened my soul and been my companion.

For anyone to really say, “All I need is God” and mean it, it must be tested in the wilderness of need.  I don’t wish that on anyone nor am I sadistic enough to crave any more wilderness lessons for myself.  However, should they come (and they probably will), each of us has the opportunity to press in to the One who satisfies our soul.

The psalmist who wrote Psalm 119 is full or promises.  His heart pours itself out like a young person in love, making vows for life.  One thing is clear though, he is not starry eyed and inexperienced.  He has suffered.  His proclamations of love are intense because the pain was intense.  His love language is made up of spiritual grit, a grit carved out of faith that was built in hard times.  So is mine if, when tested, I trust and don’t curse.

You are my portion, God.  I promise to keep your words for the days I have left on this earth.  Amen

I will run the path of your commands because you have already widened my heart. Psalm 119:32

I was once turned off by the words ‘command’ and ‘commandments’.  Like everyone, my life had saving thorns. I perceived God as a general who did nothing but bark orders.  His leadership was impersonal and He held the bar very high with no consideration for my strength or aptitude.  Oh, but finally I experienced joy after being led to the truth ~ a truth that was exhilarating.  If Hebrew had been a required subject in the Baptist Church where I attended as a child, I would have fallen in love with a Spiritual Director rather than a military archetype.

‘Command, in Hebrew, means ‘to direct and point the way.’ So, now contemplate the gorgeous expression of discipleship in today’s scripture. Oh Spiritual Director, I will run the paths You have pointed out to me because you have widened my heart to love Your ways.  It says it all, doesn’t it?

Ever had a spiritual director? A mentor?  Perhaps you were in a haze and although you knew the scriptures, you were unclear as to how to apply them. God’s Word was clumsy in your hands because of the complicated circumstances. You needed someone trustworthy to find, and then interpret, God’s directives in the midst of the fog.  How life-saving were the words of your counselor!  Their counsel made God’s path clear.

The Spirit of God is also a mentor.  He gives very specific instructions if I listen carefully. He interprets directions (commands) very uniquely, according to my present dilemma, and then graces me with the desire to follow them.  Though there are myriads of commandments, He feels no confusion about which ones apply to my situation at any given time.  He places a road sign on my pathway that says, “Take this way next, my child.”

Commandments are beacons in the night. Through them, crooked roads are made straight and a steep path becomes level and smooth.  Commands are directions for every critical juncture of life. What kind of divinity cares this much?  A guide, not a drill sergeant. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 31:21

You have change my initial negative reaction every time I saw the word ‘command’.  You have widened my heart to see Your goodness in all Your words.  Thank you for joy!  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Teach me, Oh Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.  Psalm 119:33

God’s instruction is not like sitting in a classroom with thirty other students.  It is not a generic kind of teaching.  It is customized strategically for me; like I was the only student in the room.

The word for teach, in Hebrew, is yara.  One of its meanings is to shoot an arrow.  So, my loving Father understands me through and through.  He made me, knows how I’m wired, knows where I struggle, knows my learning style, and delights to tutor me with customized bits of learning that come like arrows.  They penetrate my heart with such precision that I am stunned by their relevance to my situation and internal makeup.  They just ‘fit’ into the crevices of my heart like each precept was made just for me.

Each concept, taught by the Spirit, feels like putting together a child’s puzzle.  Each piece is big, colorful, and fun to handle.  I can see where it fits perfectly in the rest of the puzzle.  Jesus’ words ring in my ear.  “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  I can finally say that I know this is true because sitting at His feet, as His student, is exhilarating.  With such personalized teaching in a loving environment, who couldn’t thrive!

How can I make the promise to keep His Word to the end?  Only if I am confident of His love and grace to help me.  I know that whatever He asks of me, He will supernaturally enable me to do it.  What He asks is always too hard for me to do without Him but possible to do with Him.  It’s like asking a friend to go with me to do something I’m scared of doing.  I’m nervous about doing it alone.  We both know that the power of two makes bold adventurers.  If I consider that the second person is Jesus, what could possibly frighten me enough to send me into inertia?  Absolutely nothing.

Every morning, I ask that You speak to me with an arrow to my heart.  Precise, strategic, customized, and You do!  You are faithful to wrap my soul in the power of Your spoken words and I can feel the thrill of Your effect on me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Save

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand. Psalm 31:14-15

Anyone who has struggled with an anxiety issue knows how crippling it can be. Something triggers it and that ‘thing’ is different for everyone. It can be a fear of the dark, or something more defined and unique like a creaking of the floor outside a closed door, a thunderstorm, or a dreaded car coming up the driveway. Whatever sounds or smells triggered the original stressful event are the sounds and smells that stay with you for life. None of us are unaware of the PTSD our soldiers suffer from their time overseas. The sound of a balloon popping sounds like gunfire and sparks as much terror as though they were still on the battlefield.

In my thirties and early forties, I faced my own triggers, not by choice but out of necessity. They were performance related. What was the catalyst? The ticking of a clock backstage.

As a 14 year old teenager, I was performing in very stressful situations where I simply wasn’t prepared. An hour before going on stage, music was being thrown at me to perform. Little of it involved just sight-reading. That would have been easier. Most of it was improvisation ~ looking at a piece of music, transposing it, then modulating to other keys while crafting an intro and ending. It was never just one piece of music but five or six for one evening. Three to five thousand people were often attending. While backstage, I watched the clock. It felt like a bomb about to go off. “I have thirty minutes to learn this. Fifteen minutes. Seven minutes. Oh no, I’m not ready. But I have to be!” Then I would hear my name being announced, I would flip a switch in my head and walk out. You get the progression of fear, I’m sure. I felt like Job when he said, “That which I feared has come upon me.”

How creative is God when He is called upon to heal complicated issues? I found out when anxiety crippled me twenty years later. I cancelled concerts due to ‘illness’ but what people never saw was the thirty-year-old woman huddled in a ball on a nearby hotel floor. God came to my rescue. He assured me that He was Lord over the clock and Lord over all time. In fact, He operated outside of time and space and had me in His hands. In the space of several years, performance anxiety was replaced by a joy of knowing that I didn’t take the stage alone. I was not under pressure to perform without supernatural help. (I also learned to say ‘no’.) I gave my mind, memory, talent, and hands to the One who is all-powerful. Currently, I do not suffer from any stage related anxiety at all.  Praise be to God! I can see a clock and not even make a painful association

God’s healing is creative and personal. God’s healing is unlimited and love-driven. God’s healing was conceived long before the painful event ever happened to you or me. He is a God of intervention, not a God of passivity. Though life can catch up to us and momentarily pin us to the ground, God has already visited us here on His heavenly timetable. He has woven an intimate cocoon where He and His child can step out of time and rebuild what was shattered so long ago.

I love You more because of how You love me. I know that’s childish but You knew that’s how it would be. Thank you for giving me wings out of confinement. Amen