[Friday's Devotional] - The Essentials of Life: Rest that renews

Rest that renews

In Matthew 11:28-29 it says:

‘Come to me all you who are heavy and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.’ [NIV]

The society that we live in seems to promote the ‘busy hectic life’ and the ‘if you are not doing, you should at least be striving to be doing’ - but what are the implications for a busy life?  And where or how can we find rest?

Jesus was the ultimate example of busyness, never a dull moment for him as he taught, healed, travelled, socialised, ate and slept.  Yet Jesus had such an inner peace, that came from time alone with His Father.  Special times with His ‘Dad’ enabled Him to recharge his batteries and be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to continue His purpose here on earth.  A purpose that enables us all to have eternal life, and that same inner peace that Jesus demonstrated.

God encourages us to come to Him ‘as we are’, whether that be deeply burdened or consumed by busyness or weary.  He asks us to give Him our troubles and our heart, so that he can hold them in His hands and gently give us His rest and peace.  Will you give God your heart today?

Prayer:

Our dear Lord Jesus, thankyou that you know all my needs each day, help me to trust you for the essentials of life. May I seek your living waters; your life giving food; your presence; and a place of sanctuary in your arms. Lord I surrender my heart, my soul, my mind, my all to you today, so that I may know your infinite love.  Amen

Heidi Timms

[Thursday's Devotional] - The Essentials of Life: Never alone

Never alone

In Joshua 1:5 it says:

‘No-one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ [NIV]

Imagine how Joshua must have felt taking over the job of Moses.  He would have been frightened, wondering if he could live up to the ‘quality’ of Moses’ leadership, but also he may have felt alone in the huge responsibility of leading more than 2 million people into a strange new land and conquering it!

But God was on Joshua’s case – He spoke intimately to him and gave him the reassurance needed that He would NEVER leave Joshua or FORSAKE him.  What a comfort.  What a promise.

The amazing fact is that God is saying exactly the same to us now,  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  No matter what we are going through, whether joyful or sad, God will be with us.

We may not always feel his presence but God is promising that He will always be by our side. So if you are feeling lonely and desolate today, grab hold of Gods arms and embrace the love He has for you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,  thank  you that you have promised to be with me always. May I truly know this in all that I go through  today.  Help me to trust in you more and fully rely on your strength.  Amen

Heidi Timms

[Wednesday's Devotional] - The Essentials of Life: Food that sustains

Food that sustains

In Exodus 16:8 it says:

‘You will know that it was the Lord when He gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning.’ [NIV]

In Exodus, God provided all the food that the Israelites needed, they may have eaten the same food every day for forty years, but the fact is that God was in control and He provided in a miraculous way.

We may thank God for the food that we eat every day and pray for those who struggle to find enough food to eat, but Jesus was also concerned about the living food that He has to offer.

‘I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.’    John 6:51 [NIV]

Jesus knows that the only way for us to be truly fed and satisfied is to accept Him in our lives and become united in Him.

How physically hungry are you today?  Do you trust that God will provide?  How spiritually hungry are you in your life?  Do you believe that God is the giver of life through His son, Jesus Christ?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you that you provide for all my needs and I pray that when I am hungry you will send food to sustain me. Thank you that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, so that I may live. Help me today to depend on the spiritual food that you so lovingly give. Amen

Heidi Timms

[Tuesday's Devotional] - The Essentials of Life: Water that quenches

Water that quenches

In John 4:13-14 it says:

‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ [NIV]

When God created the world – He included water, when God formed man – He included water, when God sustains man – He includes water.  Our essential need for water is no accident, God knew what He was doing on both a physical and a spiritual level.

Jesus talks of our need to quench our souls with spiritual water.  So what does this mean to us?  How can we drink this water that Jesus gives?

• Spend time talking and listening to God, allowing Him to refresh you, build you and strengthen you with His love.
• Read the living word of the Bible, allowing God to reveal new things to you and shower your mind with His promises.
• Say sorry for the things you have done wrong, allowing God to cleanse you, heal you, renew you and fill you with His love that flows out to others.

Prayer:

Precious Father,  thank you for your spiritual water. May I come to you with an open heart and mind and ask that you would fill me afresh, so that your love may bubble up and touch the lives of all I meet today.  Amen.

Heidi Timms

[Monday's Devotional] - The Essentials of Life: God knows our needs

God knows our needs

In Philippians 4:19 it says:

‘And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.’ [NIV]

Do we take God at His word?  Do we really trust that God will provide for our needs? Or do we seek to rely on our own strength and resources?

Our Father in heaven is desperate for us to trust in Him for everything, He knows us better than we know ourselves, so definitely is the best person to provide us with what we need.  In reality it may not be what we want, but with God in charge, He can change our hearts to be in line with His heart.  All He asks is that we would have the courage to trust Him with our very needs and wait for the glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you that you love me so much, and always want what’s best for me. Help me, today, to trust in you for all my needs and to know that you will provide in the best way possible, according to your will.  Amen

Heidi Timms

[Friday's Devotional] - Rich oppressors

5     Rich oppressors

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Now listen you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you...  Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.  The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.  You have fattened yourself in the day of slaughter.  You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.  James 5: 1, 4 – 6 [NIV]

We are rich.  We are rich not only in the spiritual sense that God has adopted us as his children, but we are materially rich.  Consider this:

If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.  If you have money in the bank and spare change somewhere, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.  And if you can read this message, you are more blessed than more than 2 billion people in the world who cannot read at all. 

Sounding like an Old Testament prophet, James lays into people who, while living in luxury themselves, treat their workers with contempt.

Is he talking about me and you?  We are rich, but how do we use our riches?  Do we give some of our money away to help those who are struggling?  Do we shop in places where the goods have been made by workers who have not been exploited?  At some stage in the future we may be asked to give an account of how we used what we had been given.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the riches I have in Christ.  Help me use what I have to help other people and to extend your kingdom.

David Long

[Thursday's Devotional] - Boasting about tomorrow

4     Boasting about tomorrow

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Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money”.  Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 
James 4: 13-14 [NIV]

James takes issue with the businessman – not because he wants to make money, not because he plans for the future, but because he thinks the future is under his control.  He boasts about what he can do but he leaves God out of the equation.

Who knows what is going to happen in the future?  Some people have got it wrong in a spectacular fashion.  Here are a few of their predictions:

I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. 

[Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943]

We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out. 

[Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.]

Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible. 

[Lord Kelvin, President of the Royal Society, 1895.]

We can get so used to the daily routine of living our life that we forget that we have no ultimate control over it.  We get annoyed when the smooth running of our life is disrupted by a tailback on the motorway, a piece of technology which will not work or a domestic emergency or illness.

A Syrian Bishop put it like this: I don't know what the future holds, but I do know who holds the future.

We need to lead our lives in the full expectation that God may well break in at some stage and change the plans we have made.  He is God, after all.

Lord, help me not to be so attached to the plans I have made that I have no time for yours.

David Long

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Friendship with the world

3     Friendship with the world

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You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 
James 4:4-5 [NIV]

The Bible sees the church as fundamentally opposed to what it calls the world.  It all boils down to values – the church standing for self-denial and following Christ (Luke 9: 23), and the world standing for self-centredness and following the spirit of the age.

In our day, the world is characterised by materialism, and by the idea that under human control things will inevitably get better.  The world is implacably opposed to the gospel message and to any suggestion that there is anything wrong with the human condition.

Of course, each one of us started life in the world and we still live our lives immersed in its principles and culture.  Sometimes we don’t even realise that we are adopting its standards, and when we do, it can be difficult for us to disentangle ourselves.  So it can be all too easy for us to compartmentalise our lives and adopt one set of values at home and another at work.

Elaine Storkey writes: We can live in two quite different worlds.  In one we pray, worship, read Scripture and talk about Christianity. In the other we work, buy, watch TV and conduct our business.  And these worlds might barely coincide.

But look once again at James’ words.  He is passionate about this.  Adopting the world’s standards is adultery – it’s as good as hating God!  And in living comfortably with the world we become his enemies.  Here is a wake-up call for each of us.

Dear Father, please put your finger on one place in my life where I compromising with the world.  Show me what I can do to put things right.

David Long

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Faith and deeds

2     Faith and deeds

---

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
James 2: 14 – 17 [NIV]

Faith and belief are different things.  Belief is about assent or agreement; faith is about trust.  Belief is all about head-knowledge; faith is about action.  Belief says: “Yes, Jesus is the Son of God”.  Faith says: “Because Jesus is the Son of God I am going to walk in his footsteps.”

Alister McGrath writes: Faith is not just about believing that a ship exists - it is about stepping into it and entrusting ourselves to it.

This is what James is getting at.  True faith will always make a difference to who we are – mere belief will not.  As Christians, the practical outworking of our faith ought to point people to our belief even if we don’t have the opportunity to witness verbally.

And belief, by itself, will not save us.  James goes on to point out [verse 19] that even demons believe.  But they (of course) will not be saved.  However, neither will good works save us without belief.  Paul makes this plain in Ephesians Chapter 2:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no-one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 [NIV]

Faith must express itself through action – otherwise it is not faith.  The callous attitude James illustrates in the passage is not worthy of a follower of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, prompt me today to show someone that I am your disciple through my actions.

David Long

[Monday's Devotional] - Trials

This week, we will look at some passages in the letter of James.  James was the brother of Jesus.  His letter is very practical, and his style is unashamedly blunt.

1     Trials

---

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many different kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.  James 1: 2 - 4 [NIV]

Pure joy is not what comes to mind when we are tested.  Joy, of course, doesn’t necessarily mean pleasure, but it does mean something positive.

What tests your faith?  It could be illness, temptation, persecution, difficulties with a relationship or the death of a loved one.  And yet James insists that we look for the silver lining to the cloud and do not allow the troubles of this life to pull us down.  Trials result in perseverance, and perseverance in spiritual maturity – so good comes out of evil.

And many saints can testify that the difficult times in their lives open the door to a deeper faith, a new ministry or a new understanding.

One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Romans 8: 28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The Lord does not miss an opportunity to draw us closer to himself.  He works for our good through all things, all situations and through every trial.

George Muller wrote: The only way to get great faith is to pass through great trials.

Lord, give me eyes to see the light of your love even when I am in the deepest darkness.

David Long

[Friday's Devotional] - My prayers are made in anguish...

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.  Psalm 43:5 [ESV]

Yes, you can hear the distant triumph song now.  This refrain appears three times through Psalms 42 and 43.  It is used as a chorus and an encouragement.  More than that, it is a truth.  Things may be bad; depression may be hell and our world may be very black indeed. The truth to be hung on to throughout though is that God is our refuge and we shall praise him again.  The night will end.  Dawn will come, and ultimately God’s kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven.  Every tear will be wiped from our face (Revelation 21:4) and as I have quoted before: “all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well”.  (Julian of Norwich).

We have seen this week that depression is not an alien illness to God’s people.  The Psalmist suffered with it, as have many great saints of the church (which would be a set of devotionals in itself) and many saints today have known depression in lesser and greater extents.  So, here is my challenge to you if you have never suffered with the ‘illness of the strong’ (as some have called it).  How do you see people who have battled with depression? Do you, even subconsciously, see us as ‘damaged goods’ and people who ‘struggle with things’?  Would you have a question mark in your mind about accepting teaching or advice from a person who suffers with depression?

I know that I took a risk by admitting my illness on Monday, but I can’t encourage other Christians to be open about their suffering unless I am too.  We people with depression can’t be open about our pain in the church unless you accept us, and I mean really accept us, as equal members of the body of Christ with our own gifts and insights to bring.  If you are a fellow sufferer then I hope I have encouraged and affirmed you.  If you are not a sufferer then I hope I have taught and perhaps challenged you.  Either way, have a lovely Friday and weekend!  Make sure you do something nice as that is a part of getting and staying well.  As it is Friday, I have pasted a link below to a great Christian rock track.  Enjoy!

Guardian 'State of Mine'

Psalmist with a blues harp, knew about the deeper blues….

John Martin-Jones

[Thursday's Devotional] - Vindicate me, O God

Psalm 43 opens with a change of tempo.  There is a more upbeat feel now.  The Psalmist is able to imagine justice and restoration.  We’re on the way up!

Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  Psalm 43:1 [RSV]

Just the prayer itself is a sign of an improved spiritual and mental state.  The Psalmist clearly finds himself surrounded by people who don’t exactly have ‘Kingdom values’.  Descriptions such as ungodly and deceitful and unjust can sound like extreme descriptions to us.  We can read on thinking life must have been bad in 1000BC with all those dreadful people making life miserable for the Godly!  But I doubt that is the case though; I believe that the people living then where much like those living now.  People who would regard themselves as good and right thinking people, who would be shocked to hear themselves described as deceitful and unjust but who are, nonetheless.  I find it easy to think of people that I have known and worked with, nice people on the surface, but beneath the veneer they are deceitful and unjust.  They may not have set out to be.  They may have been duped by others into crooked thinking.  They may believe themselves to be doing right and sincerely believe that their mode of operation is good and just.  But the fact remains that they have become deceitful and unjust.  Being at the mercy of such people can lead to pain and depression of the worst sort.  Quite rightly the Psalmist does the only thing he can, he cries to God for help.

Until Christ comes again, there will be unjust and deceitful people to deal with.  They may well lead us to call out to God for deliverance from them.  Deliverance will and does come. Situations will change and the seemingly undefeatable forces arrayed against us will crumble away.  This can take time though, and old circumstances can be replaced by new, but also challenging ones.  This is all a part of being a member of God’s travelling pilgrim people who have no home in this world as we are not a part of it.

The best advice we can take when we find ourselves oppressed and depressed by people who are polluted by an ungodly zeitgeist (spirit of the age) is to cry out to God for help and deliverance.  It is a right, Godly and proactive response; as is praying for those who oppress you and longing for their freedom and salvation.  So take control of the situation today by praying for deliverance form the acts of people who treat you unjustly and by praying for your enemies too.

John Martin-Jones

[Wednesday's Devotional] - "Why have you forgotten me?"

There was a saying that used to float around in Christian circles ‘If you feel far from God, who has moved?’.  Well, as a saying it certainly has its place and it can be a very applicable challenge to some people that have put themselves in ungodly situations.  However, it isn’t a helpful question to a Christian suffering with depression, as feeling far from God is a symptom of depression for Christians.  The Psalmist really knew what feeling isolated from God is like.

These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Psalm 42:4 [NRSV]

The memory of earlier times, of feeling close to God and delighting in his presence; not only that but joyfully leading others in worship.  Now just a memory as the writer asks the darkest of questions… I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?” (Psalm 42:9).  We may know that God hasn’t abandoned us and that he really is as close as ever.  That is only of limited help if we don’t feel his presence.  We may find that the prayer life that we once held dear as a time of being with God and sharing with him, is now a dry formality.  Worse, perhaps, we may find it impossible to pray at all.  Relax, God is still there and he will walk with you through the dark time, even if you can’t feel him there.

Many of the greatest and Godliest people have suffered dark times, when they felt distant from God.  St. Teresa of Avila went through a very long period of depression and darkness.  Towards the end of which, she had a vision of God.  God said to her “This is how I always treat my friends”. “Then Lord” she replied. “It is not surprising that you have so few”.

Teresa did go on to walk closely with God again.  Sometimes we go through dark nights of the soul because God wants us to change our prayer life, or will bring us closer to him through it.  What is essential though, is that we hang on to God through it.  If we can’t pray as we did, if our quiet times seem lifeless then just pray as you can.  Send out bullet point prayers of thanksgiving and request as you go through the day.  Perhaps you might find it helpful to go out and take a walk and talk to God as you go, or just write down some things that you are thankful for when you return.  Through it all remember that you are going to feel close to God again.  In fact you are going to feel closer to him than ever before.

John Martin-Jones

[Tuesday's Devotional] - As with a deadly wound in my bones

I recently heard the wonderful Scottish preacher, Kenny Borthwick, speaking about a recent illness that had affected his lungs.  It had left him hospitalised and he feared for the future of his ministry.  While trying to make sense of the situation with God, he was wisely advised to read the book of Psalms until he “found his voice".  Kenny’s illness was physical, but it led him into a low place spiritually and mentally.

Conversely, stress and depression can lead to physical problems.  For me, I know that I am going ‘downhill’ when I get a strange sensation in my face.  The skin feels tight and it is as though it is being scratched with a nail.  If I carry on down, my next physical problem will be insomnia.  For others it is different. Lack of interest in food, or in a hobby, or in sex, or too much interest in sex are all well-known signs of stress that will lead to a depression.  So too is constant tearfulness (Psalm 42:3).  We are creatures of mind and body and whether our illness is physical or mental, the one will affect the other.  It is no coincidence that the Psalmist compares his anguish to a deadly wound.  I think that his mental pain was causing him physical pain too.

When Kenny Borthwick was suffering terrible physical pain, a wise friend told him to listen to his body’s pain.  After prayer he became much more aware of how much discomfort his body was in.  From then on he was able to start walking towards a healing of his whole person.  But here is the point.  Kenny is a gentle but deeply intelligent, spirit filled preacher and church leader.  He is a darling of the New Wine movement and his preaching has helped and inspired thousands of Christians.  Yet, despite all this, he freely admitted, to a full house of people at the conference, that he did not have the wit to listen to the suffering of his whole being.  I don’t either.  I feel the nail go across my face and push on, too busy to pay it any mind.  Then, if I am not careful the insomnia starts and the world goes black.

So a simple message today.  Listen to your pain.  Do something about it if you can by relieving yourself of what is causing it, but even if that seems impossible, listen to it and talk to your loving friends about it.  Above all bring it before God and ask him to walk with you in your pain.

John Martin-Jones

[Monday's Devotional] - "Where is your god?"

I suffer with depression. Don’t worry, I am not going to go on about me all week, but I do have it. I’ve had it, in various degrees, most of my adult life in fact. I am saying this to you at the beginning of the week because I now believe passionately that you can’t write about depression as an illness without being honest about how you stand in relation to it. Sadly, I have met a good number of people whose in depth knowledge betrays the fact that they have clearly suffered too at some point, but won’t admit it now. The stigma of ‘mental illness’ even makes people who no longer suffer uneasy about admitting that they once did.

My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?” Psalm 42:10 [HCSB]

Depression can be triggered by any number of factors, loss, trauma, stress and many other things can lead to the illness.  It has also been said that the basic cause of depression is not having your needs met.  Well it is certainly true that underlying  most of the triggers is a lack of something or someone.  Needs also come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  Justice is certainly a need and one thing that can cause depression is an injustice done to you that is not rectified or resolved.  In the world we will be exposed to people who have no knowledge of God, let alone his kingdom.  We may also suffer by being taunted or blamed for a situation that is certainly not of our making.  The effects can make us ill.

Well, here is where the good news starts.  Psalms 42 and 43 (they are probably one Psalm really) do not offer us a quick fix remedy, but they do give us a massive encouragement.  When we read a piece of scripture that echoes our own cries we feel encouraged and strengthened.  Like Bunyan’s Pilgrim as he travels through the valley of the shadow of death and hears a voice echoing his own prayer further up the valley, we know that we are not alone and that is encouragement in itself.  But infinitely better is the knowledge that God’s word to us includes the words of those who have walked through the shadow too and, by virtue of the fact that they kept their musings, must have come through the situation.  Best of all though is the fact that God the Son was mocked, misunderstood, unjustly blamed and knew what it was to have people ask where his god was.  He even asked the question himself.  But if you read on you will know that in the end, the lamb wins! You are not alone, keep looking up the valley! 

John Martin-Jones

[Friday's Devotional] - Rescue When Life Lets You Down

When we are very low, God is renowned for coming through for us.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph, thrown down an empty well by his jealous brothers, so he could die.  And see what God did:

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing—  and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. (Emphasis, mine)

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?  Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels  of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Genesis 37:23-28 [NIV]

We know how this ended.  Joseph later (see chapter 41) became the Prime Minister of the land of Egypt and he was used by God to save his brothers from famine.  God’s grace makes the difference between life and death!

Joseph had been given a vision by God that he would rule over his brothers and family (Genesis 37 vs. 1-11). This would happen in Egypt, though God didn’t give these details. However, Joseph didn’t have transport or means to get to Egypt and furthermore his brothers said “impossible” to God’s vision, and they hated him for it.

Friends, nobody can stop God’s plans.  Grace can make the despised, kings.  It will ensure that you reach your destiny.

Grace with Max Lucado, “Grace On The Fringe”

Farai Mutsambiwa

PS. If you have been reading the devotional links this week, you will by now have observed that Reverend Max Lucado is a well-respected man of God.  One of his latest books entitled The Christmas Candle, has just been turned into a film.  I believe this was shot in Gloucestershire, England and is due for UK release on 29 November 2013.  I recently watched the US premier event on TBN.  Highly recommended for family enjoyment this Christmas:

http://www.thechristmascandlemovie.com/

[Thursday's Devotional] - Understanding and Forgiving

It is difficult to forgive others when we are hurt.  However, when we understand God’s grace, it might take time, but we will get there.

One of my favourite stories in the bible is that of King David who understood God’s grace. David had committed sin, and this is what God said together with David’s response:

The Lord said to Gad, David’s seer,  “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”

So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice:  three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”  1 Chronicles 21:9-13[NIV]

You can read the rest of the story for what happened. In the meantime, you can listen to this.

Grace with Max Lucado, “Wet Feet”

Farai Mutsambiwa

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Put Yourself in the Shoes of Barabbas

Luke 23 records this:

For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.   So Pilate decided to grant their demand.   He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  Luke 23: 22-25 [NIV]

The first person to receive God’s grace through the death of Jesus on the cross, was Barabbas.  Think of it, seriously!  He was supposed to die for His sins, but it was felt, someone else (Jesus) with “greater sins” than his had to die that Friday.  And we all know that Jesus was innocent.

Grace with Max Lucado, “O Sweet Exchange”

Farai Mutsambiwa

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Grace and Accusation

I had been praying to God about some accusations and condemnation by Satan this year and He gave me this verse from Isaiah 54:

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 [KJV]

Today if you feel condemned, renew your mind by meditating on these words. Grace has washed us clean and before God, we are holy, righteous and blameless.

Grace with Max Lucado, “The God Who Stoops”

Farai Mutsambiwa

[Monday's Devotional] - Grace of God - Unmerited Favour Given to Us

We face a crafty, multi-headed and dangerous enemy, Satan.  He is the accuser of us all, and all the troubles of the world can be traced back to him.  Yes, to that fateful day he deceived Adam and Eve, in the Garden.

How can we completely overcome Him? One man summed it up: “If you can borrow my bullets to fit into your rifle when you have run out, by all means, you can have them.  We have to deal with this common enemy at all cost!”

Well, this week I have decided to borrow another man’s bullets and learn about God’s grace. I found this uplifting and revealing.

My advice is please spare some 30 minutes, every day this week, to listen to the links at the bottom of the devotionals.  I find lunch time, or first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening as the best time to enjoy my communion with the Lord.  Earphones may be of help.

Today, we learn that God’s grace that brought Jesus to this earth to pay for our sins, is unmerited. It cannot be paid for. We just need to receive it and thank Him for it.  Click on the link to the video below:

Grace with Max Lucado, “You Can Rest Now”

Farai Mutsambiwa

[Friday's Devotional] - Ruth 4: The future waits (verses 13-22)

Wherever we are in our journey, it is often hard to see the next step. We are told not to wish our lives away with what is coming next. It is all too easy to be fearful as you expect worse is around the corner or disappointed when the grand expectations you had do not work out.

As Ruth headed off to a foreign land, the land of her mother-in-law I doubt she would have expected to have remarried or had children. We can be fairly certain she did not expect to be the great-grandmother of David and a descendant of Jesus at the beginning of the story:

Boaz married Ruth, and the Lord blessed her with a son.  After his birth, the women said to Naomi:

Praise the Lord! Today he has given you a grandson to take care of you. We pray that the boy will grow up to be famous everywhere in Israel. He will make you happy and take care of you in your old age, because he is the son of your daughter-in-law. And she loves you more than seven sons of your own would love you.

Naomi loved the boy and took good care of him.  The neighborhood women named him Obed, but they called him “Naomi’s Boy.”

When Obed grew up he had a son named Jesse, who later became the father of King David.

Ruth 4:13-17 [CEV]

The truth is that life on earth will include obstacles and challenges. Some may seem to have lives full of pain, while others are seemingly easy. Some problems appear suddenly, others you see creeping up.

But joy and fulfilment happen in the same way. You can be suddenly overcome by joy or slowly gain satisfaction in a string of events or words.

Jeremiah 29:11 is well known, it says “”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” These words are difficult to hear or read when you are not feeling prospered or hopeful.  Spend some time thinking over your life and how God has fulfilled those plans in your past. He will do the same in the future too.

Lord, Thank you for the future you have prepared for me. Fill me with hope when I feel hopeless. Let me fill others with hope when they feel hopeless. Help me to always keep you in sight.

Anna Naish