"JESUS THE CHRIST" December 18-25, 2009 DEVOTIONAL “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13 KJV I do not begin to understand; I do not begin to cope with this life, but through Christ I achieve living. I achieve His will by constantly being dependent on His well, that is, His wellspring of life. In order to take my orders from on high, I must take my nourishment from His mighty throne. I must rely on His very vestibule for nourishment. His manifestation is my salvation. Constant dependence. Continual prayer. Habitual cohabitation. That is how I survive. That is how I conquer. To live any other way is not living but dying, and once you have died to self, really died, self becomes oppressed for the Living One, for the Will and the Way and the Light. To walk this path alone is to be alone, but to walk this path with Him is pure joy. Constant refreshing bestows my lips and makes my tongue thirsty for nothing but His love. Cravings that once could never be satisfied now illuminate my body and become the very fabric on which I stand. Once He entered me I wanted Him to stay. Once He decided to stay I wanted more of Him. Once He came in increasing waves I needed to get closer to Him. Once we become closer than I needed brothers to understand Him. After this happened, words fail to capture life with the Master. He is not the Master because He dominates, He is the Master because He is the master Servant. My home became His home, and He cleaned it, restored it, rebuilt the foundation, and now He maintains its growth. Live in me forever Lord, and I do so living in Your eternity, in Your forever, which starts today and ends never. “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith…” C.H. Spurgeon (The Forgotten Spurgeon, Iain Murray, pg. 420). Douglas James Smith Originally Written March 22, 2001 © 2001
________________________________________________________________________________
"A CORD OF THREE"
October 24 – 30, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:10, NIV).
Make sure those around you enhance God’s work in your life, not take it away. If you are surrounded by people who prevent you from doing the work of our Lord, then you must stop and ask if they are the right people to be around. “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV).
Ask the Lord for insight. Ask Him to reveal if something is preventing you from accomplishing His tasks, but be open to hear His answer too. He may suggest it is you and not them. Then you know the struggle is internal. But if it clearly is others around you ask God to show you how to maneuver around these human obstacles. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV).
In Christ there is always a solution, regardless of the source of your problem. Do not give up hope and do not act harshly when faced with hardships. Carry out your God given commands with precision and timing when you have a green light to move forward, “‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armor-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” (1 Samuel 14:7 NIV).
As you begin to step in faith toward Christ’s goodness, begin to surround yourself with people who motivate Christ’s good work in you. “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel” (Proverbs 27:9 NIV). Remember, let those around you enhance God’s work in your life, not take it away.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV).
Douglas James Smith
Originally Written March 26, 2001
© 2001
________________________________________________________________________________
HIS CREATION
October 17 – 23, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:6 KJV).
A magnificent work of art is never created quickly, without bother. On the contrary, great masterpieces take laborious hours of sweat to create. We as humans are no different, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We ultimately can become God’s masterpieces, but we must let ourselves be molded and shaped in His hands to become what He wants, “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NIV).
For the Alpha and Omega, Who has been around forever and Who will be around forever, taking superlative effort to engage His creation into performance should be expected. He is never hasty. He has time on His side. Do not rush the Lord or become fidgety when things in life do not appear, or disappear, as contemptuously as we would like. Be mindful of His every movement in your life and remember, he notices every detail that needs refinement, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb” (Psalms 139:13 NIV).
Characteristics that are overlooked by us are glaring in His eyes. They speak to Him of our necessary reliance on His good nature. He knows how badly we need Him. He sees all our flaws that call out for His repairing hand, and He also has a plan to cultivate a new creation in us that one day will break through our current skin and fly us through the pearly gates,
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).
By Douglas James Smith
Originally Written March 29, 2001
© 2001
________________________________________________________________________________
SOUL TIES
October 10 – 16, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1, NKJV).
This Scripture above is a beautiful example of a godly soul tie but in life we can also have a tendency to connect to ungodly people in the depths of our soul and be “knit” to their soul. This will hold us back from the Lord’s plan for our lives and the negative effects can last years after that person has exited our life. This soul tie must be broken off or its binding power will keep you from the Lord. “Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62, NIV).
The difficulty can be seen in the very character of these destructive soul ties. They can control us because there is something in our life that goes against God. Each one is a stronghold, an area the enemy has staked a claim. Satan has rights over you when you allow these ties to bind to ungodly sources. Christ’s forgiveness and cleansing blood are denied from working wholly inside your being by leaving these doors open for the enemy to walk into and guide your life. Christ would have you bound to nothing except the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11, NKJV).
In His perfect love we are made whole and complete in His sight, “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18, NIV), but we must allow Him to move through all areas of our life in order to feel this completeness. We must break the power of these corrosive soul ties to release the power of Christ, “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, NIV). Christ would like nothing more than open vessels to carry out His will, but if your vessel is carrying baggage from past sins, or past relationships, then you limit how deep you can travel in His waters. These ties of life keep you knit to the harbor of death. Christ’s glory is seen many miles out to sea, where nothing but His waters, His Son, and His atmosphere resound. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." (Luke 17:6, NIV). “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
By Douglas James Smith
Originally written March 26th, 2001
© 2001
________________________________________________________________________________
THE HUMBLE RIVER OF LOVE
September 26-October 2, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1st Corinthians 8:1, NIV).
Prideful knowledge must prove to others it is knowledgeable, it must continually exhibit its intellectual strength to maintain its dominance. This, of course, often comes at the expense of putting down another in order to puff itself up. This puffery is not based on truth or the Truth. Rather, it uses intellectual games to inflate self and assert dominance. It is not seeking truth but pride, and pride must control others to assure its darkness within does not become exposed. So this knowledge that puffs itself up feeds the appetite of pride, and pride leads to control. Stay away from knowledge driven puffery, the pride it brings, and the control it must maintain, but instead seek good knowledge, "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge" (Proverbs 18:15, ASV).
‘But love builds up, that is, love’s focus is to build others up, to see them come to spiritual maturity. Love will invest its time in others for the single purpose of building Christ’s kingdom, for showing others how to walk closer to God. Love’s focus is external and selfless; Puffed up knowledge’s focus is internal and selfish. This kind of knowledge sees personal advancement while love sees Christ’s advancement. The most powerful example of love was found hanging on a cross, bleeding our sins. Let us show this same love and build up Christ’s Kingdom today, tomorrow and for eternity.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:3-9, NKJV).
To quote a wise woman, “He humbled himself for love; he died on the cross for love. There is such power in humility.”
Douglas James Smith
Originally Written February 25, 2002
© 2002
________________________________________________________________________________
"REJOICE AND BE GLAD"
September 19-25, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
Sing a new song; come rejoice in the land. It does not matter what trial lies ahead of you. It does not matter what tribulation you have just walked through. What matters is your heart, your innermost feelings. If you can let Christ triumph inside of you then you will triumph over this world. Open your heart, sing to Him freely, and rejoice, for you have a reason to in Christ.
In the most desperate of times, even if you are too weak to sing out loud, you can still sing in your soul.When David heard news of the death of he and Bathsheba’s baby “he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped” (2 Samuel 12:20, NIV). That is a heart after the Lord. So we too can lift up praises to Heaven and Heaven will hear them. Christ is enthroned up there looking down on this world. If you sing to Him He will hear it. So often we only think to sing when all is going well, when life has dealt us prosperity. Yes, this is the right time to sing, but I urge you, I plead, sing in the valleys, sing in the deserts, in desolate areas and you will find an oasis in Christ’s love. Let your heart be molded to His transfiguration and living will become easier.
Sure the tough times are always biting at our feet, but if we put our focus on our steps, on the pain in life, then that is all we will see. Instead, sing to Christ, truly rejoice in His mighty Name, and your head will be tilted upward along with your spirit, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3, KJV).
You will see His grace when trouble is before you. You will see and exist in His presence when others would have lost hope. Christ is the answer. You need nothing more than Him. If you truly have Him, if you truly know Him, singing of His wonders takes those burdens off your back and places them gently, but firmly, in His hands. David rejoices in Psalm 144:9-10 and says, “I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David from the deadly sword”.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NIV).
Title comes from Psalm 118:24
________________________________________________________________________________
THE PREPARATION OF THE TEARING DOWN
September 12-18, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27, NIV).
Many think preparation has to do with the building up of, but I often think it has to do with the tearing down of, of flesh and self. Remember, the nails pierced the flesh of Christ; today we are that flesh. Now we should not see this as a negative transformation that will mean the death of all we enjoy, instead we should see it is a liberating force that cuts away the bondage holding us back from a loving relationship with our Lord. While those nails in Christ's hands signified His death, they also signified our life through His shed blood. When we let our flesh (or sin, for what is flesh but sin?) be torn down by the Holy Spirit the fruit will be freedom, peace, joy, fulfillment and a host of other blessings.
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17, NIV). So He prepares us by tearing down that which stands in opposition to His will. Once we are sufficiently whittled away to nothingness He can build anew that which is pleasing to Him. When we prepare a room for the Lord in the house of our heart we must empty that room so he can move in.
”For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13, NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"CLEAVE UNTO HIM'
September 5-11, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)
When the Lord tries to move in your life through the Holy Spirit do not try to harness and therefore limit Him. If He is moving then there is somewhere He is trying to move you to."When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it” (Joshua 3:3, NIV). When the Lord moves, follow Him!
We will never find out where that glorious spot is unless we allow Him free rein in our lives.“By faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:14, NIV). Though this journey may take us through some rough patches, maybe even a desert or two, the end result will be Heavenly.
While it is in Heaven that His will resides it is on earth that a significant part of that will is carried out. Let us do our part as I know the Lord will do His part if only we “cleave unto him” (Deuteronomy 30:20, KJV). We love You Jesus so let our actions add up to the sum of Your parts as we dredge forward to Your glory. Amen.
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8, KJV). “By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (Galatians 5:5, NIV).
The title "Cleave Unto Him" comes from Deuteronomy 30:20, KJV)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
GOD'S VINEYARD
August 29 - September 4, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
”I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if itdies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24, NIV). “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, NIV).
A seed is to a flower as death is to life. The root, the very foundation of a flower, comes from the seed that was planted by the gardener in fertile soil. In the same way, death to self is the root connecting to life with Christ. You cannot walk with Christ if you walk in self will, envy, strife, jealousy, flesh, or sin. Christ is the redeemer from all these worldly trappings because the paths He walks upon are far from the paths of sin and this world.
He has the garden, He knows where the best soil lies and where the sun shines in just the right volume, not too little to deprave and not too much to scorch. Let Him plant you in His garden and tend to your every need. He will water and protect you, delivering from harm’s way. He knows what you need before you ask. You “will be like atree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:8, NIV).
Get delivered today by asking for His help to die to self. Asking gives Him the glory because it is His good pleasure to make us grow in the garden. Do not be content with a shallow spiritual walk. Let Him plant you in the vineyard and allow Christ to become your root. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV). Die to self and be alive in Christ Jesus the gardener of all good things.
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:3, NIV).
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THE BLESSINGS OF THANKFULNESS
August 22 - 29, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“… although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21, NKJV).
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well” (Luke 14:15-19, NKJV).
How does mood affect our taste? If we are served the perfect meal but feel the atmosphere is not what we had envisioned for the evening will we enjoy it as much as if we chose the environment? In the same way, if the Lord blesses us with a prize gift but we receive it with an unthankful heart will we use and appreciate that gift to the fullness of the Lord’s intentions? Of course not!
Change that heart to thankfulness and even the tiniest of scraps from our Lord’s table will grow to feed the multitudes: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up into heaven, he gave thanks…” (Matthew 14:19, NIV). The scraps will be seen as the most precious treasures ever received and they will be cherished and prepared in a way pleasing to the Lord.
Forget about what is set before you and look to the Lord. Set your heart and eyes on eternal chapters our Lord will write upon your heart and whisper in your ear sweetness from Heaven. Look to Him and receive. Never take Him for granted, but rather thank and praise Him in all situations.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm, 100:4, NKJV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THE DEEDS OF FAITH
August 15 - 21, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
“Faith without deeds” (James 2:26, NIV) is like a canvas without paint. One can say, “I have faith,” but without deeds we know they are a liar, because “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26, NIV).
This claim of faith is like someone claiming they are an artist because they have a canvas, but an artist is not simply one who has the tools of an artist, they must also have the evidence of being an artist - the fruit. A true artist will have many paintings in their studio, even if no one sees those paintings they are still an artist. This is the same with faith. Those of faith apply it to their life and they have many deeds of faith to back up their assertion. “Show me your faith without deed, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (James 2:18, NIV).
Can you identify active faith in your life or are you one of the faith claimers who has boastful words without any actions to back up the claim? “You can see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone” (James 2:24, NIV). If you are like me you will see times of faith and times of doubt spotted throughout life’s decisions but we are to work toward a richer life in Christ where the Holy Spirit leads us to trust more in Him and less in self.
We must strive to have faith like Abraham, who “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (James 2:23, NIV). Abraham’s “faith and actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22, NIV). So in the quietness of this day, I challenge you to examine your life and see what you can put on God’s altar in faith for His glory.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, NIV).
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
August 8 - 14, 2009
“When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God” (Genesis 5:1, NIV).
You are not average. If Christ is in you, then you clearly are not average. There is nothing average about He who creates or any of His creations. Banish the word average from your mind when thinking about our Maker and do the same when thinking about yourself.
Never underestimate the capacity in your life to fulfill the things of God. If the world has beaten you down and told you how little you are worth, know that your worth to God in Heaven is not measurable with our understanding. He values our lives so deeply that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for our sins (John 3:16) so we could enjoy eternity worshipping Him.
The way you are, the face you have, the body you own, the mind you have been given, all these things are precious in the sight of God. Do not let the world beat you down, telling you lies about your worth. The One who knows true worth has put a value on your head far above what we basal humans can understand.
All of Heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved (Luke 15:7). That tells me that the eyes that read this page have a home, they have friendship from above. You are a magnificent creation. There is something in you made in the likeness of God. Whether you believe this or not, it is undeniable that Christ’s love for you far exceeds that which any of us can comprehend. You are not average, you are a Christ creation.
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NIV).
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS: THE HIGHS AND LOWS
July 25 - 31, 2009
“But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven” (Deuteronomy 11:11, NIV).
It is in the valley that we determine what mountain we will climb. If you are walking in the valley today, then you can choose which mountain you are going to overcome. Look around and you will see many hills and some mountains in your life. While at the base of a mountain it looks so mighty that climbing it seems unthinkable, and though it may leave you out of breath, tired and sore, once you reach the peak the view is august.
There are few creatures in God’s Kingdom that have ever been to the heights of a mountain. Two that come to mind are the bald eagle and the mountain goat. Mountain goats scale the rocky cliffs using their prowess to navigate the extraordinary mass before them. Whereas bald eagles grab hold of wind currents with their wings and soar to the heights. While at times they flap their wings with internal strength, more importantly they seek to use God’s elements for their advantage. They ride the very breath of Heaven, using a strength not their own.
Some Christians are like the mountain goats and use only internal strength to scale what is before them. While they can become experts at navigating difficulty, seldom do they reach the top and most live on the rugged cliffs. The bald eagle Christian tries a different approach. They use their own God given strength at times, but when able they choose to grab hold of something better to propel upward. Once they have a hold of the wind of the Spirit, they can stop exerting their own muscles and let God do the work.
The eagle, in all its glory, can do things even the most skilled mountain goat could never hope to achieve. It can soar high above the peak looking down below to where the mountain goat exists. It can go to other mountain peaks without having to visit the valley again. Most importantly, and unequivocally, the eagle has learned to rely on God’s strength and not its own.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).
"I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength" (Isaiah 12:2, NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
A NEW JERUSALEM WITHIN
July 18 - 24, 2009
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8, NIV).
Let us create a new Jerusalem for Jesus in our hearts. Let us create a city inside the walls of our spirits where Jesus can come and fellowship with His kingdom. Let us create a Holy site with consecrated ground in the middle of our existence. For Jesus we must make ourselves pure and allow His Holy oil to flow within our walls. We must provide a sanctuary made of pure gold where the Christ child can come and teach us His ways.
The world is a dirty vile place not worthy of our King. The soil has no right to ask for Christ’s footsteps anymore, so we who follow diligently must tend to our gardens and make our paths straight so the Christ child will come to our inner city to walk the streets of our soul. Christ has immeasurable talents that He desires to bestow on His creations, but too many of us have impurities and imperfections that stop His majesty from flowing into our daily walk. We must allow Him to remove the sin and garbage from our midst so He can build His bride into a shining testimony for this world to see.
We are weak but He is strong. Let His strength reinforce the walls of our heart. We must allow his glory to walk with us. He is the protector of our souls. As Christ builds His New Jerusalem in the everyday person’s heart, allow Him to make your life into a jewel.
"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" (Revelation 21:2, NIV).
EDIFYING SAINTS AND SINNERS
July 11 - 17, 2009
“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19, KJV).
Living in Christ is living in life. Our life can be victorious in one of two ways; it can be won through Christ to build His kingdom or it can be won by the enemy to build his kingdom. There is no middle ground. We are either for Him or against Him. If it is not Christ living in us then what is it? It is obvious to me, is it obvious to you? To build His kingdom we are to be bound to His will, for how else can we carry our cross?, and we are to lead others to His will rather than becoming a stumbling block.
If our faith is enough to get us into the Kingdom then our words should be like Jesus’ words, giving life and not taking, building a righteous foundation and not shaking it. Most of all they should be wholly inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. When we find ourselves troubled in this area, and perhaps His Spirit is tugging at you right now over something you said that tore at someone rather than mending them, consider finding inspiring Scriptures and memorizing them, measuring your daily words against the Word for refinement. These should get you started:
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice” (Isaiah 42:3, NIV). Do your words break bruised reeds? Do they snuff out smoldering wicks in others? Or do your actions and words bring forth justice through your faithfulness? If not, may I suggest that like me there is a little, if not great, work left to do before you resemble your Creator.
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2, NIV). Do you continually look to Christ’s star for an example as to where you are to worship and where you are to devote your time and energy? If you find your time wasted by bringing others down, do as these wise men did and look to Christ’s light for direction. Follow His example and bring praises to Abba through your words.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29, KJV).
Douglas James Smith
Originally Written March 22, 2001
© 2001
July 4 - 10, 2009
I do not want better, I just want Christ. My situation can improve or disintegrate, it matters not as long as my Jesus is with me. For if He is with me who can stand against me? With Him by my side I have all my essentials: peace, forgiveness, hope, trust, love, endurance, stamina, strength, power, anointing, authority, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, revelation….
Wherever He goes I will follow. I ask you today, do you follow Christ or do you ask Him to follow you? The obvious answer is to think we all follow Christ, but do we? Do we wait to hear His opinion on a matter before we make a decision? Do we consult His intelligence before we advance?
In life, there are many obstacles the enemy has placed before us with the intent of stealing Christ’s fellowship away from us. The war is against Christ, we are just the pawns. There is nothing more important in your life than a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. Every action and motive should be to improve that relationship because the enemy is going to use every trick and deceitful lie to move your focus away from Jesus. If he can do that he will smile.
Do not let the enemy smile on you today, make your single focus Jesus Christ and the edification of this vital relationship, which is the heart to your spiritual health. Just as any heart pumps blood to the rest of the body, so too Jesus pumps His Blood through our entire spiritual body in an attempt to make us healthy. When we focus on anything but Jesus, our spiritual heart slowly stops pumping life through us.
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37, NIV).
Douglas James Smith
April 3rd, 2001 and April 16th, 2001
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly" (Psalm 85:8, NIV).
He offers hope, He offers love, He offers beautiful forgiveness. Why would you not come to live in His dwelling place? Why would you be stubborn and foolish about this life you have been given? Is what you hold dear so fulfilling that letting it go terminates your meaning for existence? Be humble and bold then ask Christ to root out all idols, all flesh and all sin. Take His hand and let Him walk through your life and pull out the weeds that have grown so thick. He is kind and gentle and only wants to improve your weak and feeble condition.
At the best of times the worst of times are upon us so we must continually delve into His being and pull out what we need for today’s fight, allowing us to overcome this rugged battle. In Him all things are possible and without Him spiritual death is undeniable. Does anything seem more important than spending an eternity with Christ? Take that thing, that sin, and cast it into the river of forgiveness that every man, woman and child continually walks beside. This is a river that has the ability to cleanse our lives with a simple action in our mind and a powerful action of our heart.
Allow the Lord to work in deep and mysterious ways only visible to spiritual eyes. Take hold of that sin and take authority over it so it does not spell the demise of your life eternal and stop you from becoming one of His beautiful forgiven saints.
"As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight" (Psalm 16:3, NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
June 20-26, 2009
“And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4, NIV)
A righteous person’s path no one can follow. Just as Christ walked the highway of hope to become a sole source of light in this dark world, the things He did through obedience will never happen again and certainly had never happened before. He was called to this world out of Heaven, and He came here predestined for glory, to be misjudged by humans, and to die on a cross. No one can follow those footsteps. No one can walk that path to the cross again. He fulfilled the call.
In life, so many of us wish to walk the path reserved for another. If we attempt to do so, not only will we fail miserably, but we will also miss what the Lord has in store for our own life. If Jesus tried to follow in the footsteps of one before Him (although no one, not even Adam, was before Christ) He would have missed the opportunities His Father afforded Him through the cross. Jesus, however, did not try to follow anyone before Him. He did as His Father led and we are to do the same. We need to allow the Holy Spirit rights over our life so He has room to guide us. There will be a unique journey reserved for our experience that only we can walk through. No one before or after us will have all the choices that face our daily walk in Christ.
Now if we fail, another may be asked to pick up where we left off, but that person will only adopt one tributary of the many streams of our life. So when you look at your life ahead, do not compare yourself to others, do not be envious, jealous, or petty. To fulfill your life’s call is divine, whatever it is. It is important to Christ, so let it be important to you. If you want to be a somebody, follow Christ: if you want to be a nobody, follow a human.
“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.” (1 Corinthians 7:17, NIV)
The title, “In Paths Of Righteousness”, comes from Psalm 23:3, NIV
__________________________________________________________________________________________
June 5 - 12, 2009
"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17, NIV). "Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart" (Ephesians 6:6, NIV).
I do not know the perfect will of God at all times but I do know how to trust Him and follow His ways, which are perfect. I do know when my heart is at rest and not at peace. I do know when I have the blessing of my Father rather than the comfort of this world. I do know how to please His will and stifle the enemy. I do know peace and I wish to live in it every day.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18, NIV). “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Pslams 29:11, KJV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THE WOUNDS OF LIFE
May 30 - June 5, 2009
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6, NIV).
Is trust so simple that even a child can do it? Of course! Children have an easier time trusting than adults. So what happens in the aging process; why do adults have such a difficult time trusting? Not only do we become skeptical of other people, but Christians continually fail to trust God, the Creator of the Universe.
Could it be that through the course of life the emotional wounds we gather stop the flow of trust? We start operating out of our past wounds; we become bound when we remember the ills put on us by those in our life. We then to try to safeguard ourselves from any further emotional injury by building a nice little unscalable wall around our life. What we do not see is that just as that wall keeps intruders out, stopping them from inflicting any damage to our soul, it also puts us in a prison of sorts because we do not enter into proper fellowship where we sow into the lives of others.
Perhaps the greatest example of a person who lived the free life is Paul the apostle. He was bound and chained, beaten and scourged, yet his soul was free. He had every earthly reason to doubt His Father yet he tarried on and believed in the goodness and power of God. The letters he wrote while in chains have changed the lives of billions of people (Colossians 4:18), but where would we be if Paul failed to trust God? Where will you be if you fail to trust God? Let Him heal you from past wounds and learn to trust Him with your future wounds too, for if you hold back, you will certainly wound others and suffocate your own soul.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7, NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THERE IS SIN IN ME
May 23-29, 2009
The world says, "Why take ownership of sin when we can blame someone else? Why burden ourselves with guilt when there is a scapegoat for our conscience?" But it is not until we confess our sins before Jesus Christ that we can ask for forgiveness from Him. We cannot accept His cleansing blood until our heart and mind and lips confess our ill fated actions. If we deny sin, and deny ownership of that sin, then Christ will deny He ever knew us at the pearly gates (Revelation 21:21) because he did not know us: "But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:9, NKJV).
How can we become intimate with Him if our sin acts as a great wall dividing us from His presence? Sin will keep us bound to a corrupt world, living in bondage under unforgiving human rules. Forgiveness allows entrance into Heaven and into Christ’s presence, but we must first confess and ask forgiveness for our selfish deeds. Do not let pettiness, ego, pride, or even guilt stop Christ from moving in your midst. Open yourself up to Him, to His ways, and lean on Him for support and He will never let you down. Though it is tough to remember all the sin harbored in our heart, it is better to confess it for a season than pay its price on our own for eternity.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG"
May 16 - 22, 2009
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Romans 5:3-5, NIV).
If it were not for struggle and trial, tribulation and testing, dying and rebirthing, and all such glorious difficulties, we would not have need for our Father or to know Jesus in any intimate way. It is through the dark days of life that we learn about the light of Christ. If those dark days were gone we would be ignorant about the Light. Reinhard Bonnke wrote, “Light is invisible. You only know light is there at all when it strikes an object” (Bonnke, Mark my Words, February 14th’s entry). I know that we are to be that object reflecting the Lord’s Light in a world of darkness. Those who are full of darkness will not reflect the light, but we disciples or, as I read today in Philippians (4:3, NIV) we “yokefellow”, can and do reflect the Light in a world of darkness that persecutes us until the day of our physical death.
I see the world’s persecution of us as the proof that we are effective, for the devil does not waste his resources on ineffective Christians; he goes after those who are threatening his kingdom and his territory. Scripture says, “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19, NKJV) and we are to “suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29, NKJV). It was gracious Amy Carmichael who wrote that ‘He who is near to his Captain is sure to be a target for the archers’ (Carmichael, His Thoughts Said. . . His Father Said). Well Lord, if standing close to You means I become more of a target then so be it, because I know that when I call You will answer, when I am hunted You will hide me in Your wing, and my weakness gives me Your strength (II Corinthians 12:10). So let every trouble allow me to know You double.
”But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13, NIV).
© 2002
VERTICAL WITH GOD
May 9 - 15, 2009
Dedicated to the Memory of my dear friend, the Reverend Paul Schoch, who this past month went Home.
"Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3, NIV).
Today God has a will for you, it will rise with the sun and leave with it's setting: it is God’s purpose for your life this day. Tomorrow there will be another will, another purpose, for you to find. It will only be around for that one day, to be found and hopefully not lost in that short period of time. In a sense, every day is the same and every day is different, holding a new jewel for us to find. Sadly, many people are deceived and they wait for some future epoch at which time they believe God will display His will to them. What they do not know is that this method, this outlook, will cause them to miss God’s will for today. Their jewel will be lost in the sands of time because while they wait in anticipation what they wait for passes them by each and every day.
God does not want us holding our breath for the day we are healed or the day of some fantastical moment. Instead, He wants us to find the treasure He has provided for us with each new sunrise. When our focus is finding God daily and fellowshipping with Him then the thought of a future hope (verses a very real present hope) no longer holds us captive because we are finding fulfillment daily. I am reminded of the great words of wisdom sown into my life through a personal letter given by the dear Reverend Paul Schoch, “If you keep vertical with God He will take care of life’s horizontals.” Perhaps the Lord will sow these words into your life too.
"Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, NIV).
© 2001
THE WOLF, SHEEP AND BEAR
May 2 - 8, 2009
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10, NIV).
The enemy is dressed as one of three things: a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing; a sheep dressed in wolf’s clothing; or a bear dressed to kill. The enemy is a tricky soul, known as the great deceiver. When he comes knocking on the door of your soul as a sheep dressed in wolf’s clothing he is simply trying to scare you into doing wrong. He knows he has no real power to harm, much like a sheep. His only offense is to make you believe lies. He presents these lies under the masquerade of a wolf, which is his attempt to scare you into believing his empty words. Here, the enemy’s only power comes when you believe his lies. Combat this with faith in Christ.
The second costume, a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothes, is far more of a real threat to you than the first and the enemy knows this fact. That is why he comes disguised as a harmless sheep. He attempts to make you follow him into a seemingly harmless, but clearly wrong, path. If you follow you compromise. You know you should not be on this path but you are fooled into believing it is harmless even though you know it is wrong. Once you follow, then he throws off the sheep’s costume and bites with the wolf’s fangs. The protection of the Lord is not with us here since we knowingly stepped out of God’s will. Your best defense is to know the Lord’s voice and to do His will uncompromisingly.
The bear is a bear. He is scary and he is big. The threat is real and the danger is high. Here, the deceiver knows his power and he knows his might. The only hope is to hide in the recesses of the Lord and allow Him to fight on our behalf. Do what God says, when God says, and how God says, at all times and at all cost. If I could summarize I would say this; the problem with listening to the enemy is that you are no longer listening to the Lord.
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV).
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAY!
April 25 - May 1, 2009
"During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission" (Hebrews 5:7, NIV).
Prayer is a fortress. Done successfully, it locks down His will. It simplifies life. Each moment in prayer is a moment with the Creator. Your heart lays sprawled at His feet, open to His eyes, and sometimes to our own. Intentions are revealed and explored. Prayer. A simple word known to many but this simple word has anything but simple execution. Prayer warriors devote their whole lives to its fulfillment, yet most find little time in their daily routine to hunt for this treasure. If you do not have prayer, then you do not have Christ, or at least not the Christ I know. Every moment in prayer is an honor, and every moment in prayer helps those moments outside of prayer. It is a catalyst to life, giving momentum towards Christ’s will. Pray for the sick. Pray for the needy. Pray for your life, your children, your family. Does it matter what journey your life is upon? Prayer is essential. Does it matter where you are going or where you have been? Prayer is essential. The closer you get to God the more time you will spend praying. Reserve your life for Him and in that life reserve space for prayer. Pray first and foremost for His will to “be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NIV). Pray!
© 2001
__________________________________________________________________________________________
WALKING IN FAITH IN A WORLD OF DOUBT
April 18-24, 2009
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6, NIV).
In the most desperate of times Christ has an answer. He asks first for faith and trust before we receive. He is all and He knows all, so why do we fret? To the One who created the world it is a simple task to create a solution for our mundane problems. So then comes the question, do we hear accurately from Him? Do we decipher His voice from our own and from the enemy? “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV). When we learn to act upon His righteous words our level of faith increases, and so does the need to ever more continually rely on His grace. He is forever hovering over us, watching carefully over our every step, making sure we never need to stumble, but picking us up when we do. Unplug your ears and hear His crisp, clean, clear voice today. Give Him any problem you have, nothing is too big or too small to cast upon His goodness, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV). When life drives you down into the gutters let the life of Christ surround you like a fine misty cloud. Let His presence engulf you, drown in His breakers or you will drown in the world. As you cascade into His ever changing atmosphere, remember how you got there and do it again tomorrow. He never wants us to leave the place of full reliance on Him. He never wants us to have to go through trials without His abiding love. Dig deep into your heart and pull out the truth that is Jesus Christ. Pull out His love and understanding, His wisdom and knowledge. Keep Him at the forefront of your vision and hold onto His ways in your daily walk. His ways are good, perfect, and right.
“Ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV).
THE OBEDIENCE OF THE CROSS
April 13, 2009, Easter Monday
DEVOTIONAL
"He has risen!" (Mark 16:6, NIV).
Grab a hold of Him because those who are holding onto Jesus and obeying Him cannot help but be lifted out of the mud and mire. Christ held on to the promise that He would be raised from the dead, "for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40, NIV) but first "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8, NKJV). If we want Christ to rise further and dig deeper and become a wider foundation for us then God will put before us steps of obedience to follow. These may be hard steps, perhaps difficult and steep, but they will take us to the cross where we too can lay down our life. Those who do so will find a glorious Christ rising from within their very being bringing a river of life to drink from daily. Yes, Christ had the promise, but He still had to "humble Himself... to the point of death" and only then did He receive. He had to be obedient.
"Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt" (Jeremiah 31:4, NKJV).
© 2009
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THE GIFT OF SACRIFICE
April 12, 2009, Easter Sunday
DEVOTIONAL
"Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2, NIV).
Easter is about sacrifice. Jesus rose from the dead because He first gave a beautiful sacrifice. He did not just sacrifice a life, Jesus gave the One and only perfect life as a sacrificial offering for our sins. God allowed the best, the choicest, the most supreme life to be given and to be taken for our benefit. Are we following in those footsteps? Jesus said, "whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27, NKJV). Are we giving the very best we have to offer and letting it be taken away from us willfully? Or are we fighting with all our might to hold on to the very thing our Lord is asking us to sacrifice? Perhaps we do not see from Christ's perspective that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35, KJV). Have we become a "taking" Christian, always looking out for what God may give to us next and never offering Him anything? Come find that beautiful path, the path of sacrifice, where we live and get life through giving to our brothers, our sisters, and even to our enemies as unto the Lord. Though sacrifice will cost you much, stinginess will cost you all.
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:17, 18, NKJV). "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21, NIV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
"GOOD" FRIDAY
April 10, 2009, Good Friday
DEVOTIONAL
“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:45, NKJV).
Why do we call it "Good Friday" when we celebrate Christ's death? Was it good for Christ to be nailed to a tree? Well, yes, it was good in that the tree He hung from produced good fruit because we know "every good tree bears good fruit" (Matthew 7:17, NKJV), but that day was the most unbearable day any flesh has encountered since time began. History might have alternatively named the day "Cross Friday" or "Blood Friday" because of the horrors of hanging Christ on a tree. It most certainly did not feel "good" to die a sinner's death (Matthew 27:22, 23, NIV), to have His Father turn away from Him (Matthew 27:45, NIV), to have His beard plucked out (Isaiah 50:6, NIV), to wear a crown of thorns (Matthew 27:29, NIV), or perhaps worst of all, to be mocked by those He came to serve (Matthew 27:27-31, NIV).
Yet still we call it "Good Friday" and not "Cross Friday" because it was good for us to have our sins forgiven. It was good for us to have a sacrificial Lamb die for our rejection of Him (is that not ultimately what sin is, a rejection of Him?). Indeed, it is Good Friday because on that day the enemy was defeated, the world changed, and forgiveness of sin was made available to all. It is called Good Friday because the day is seen through the eyes of a sinner and all the good it has brought to our lives is realized from that perspective. The benefit is ours; Christ was sinless and did not need forgiveness. He did not die for Himself, Christ died for you. He died for the filthy vessel called Douglas James Smith that was headed for an eternity in hell. BUT, He has risen not just from the Cross but also in me and has set a new Heavenly course. Christ's death was "good". Thank Him for it this Friday and ask for the forgiveness of your sins and use the gift of His blood.
"Truly this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54, NKJV).
__________________________________________________________________________________________
THE THREE LITTLE MICE
April 4 - April 10, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
"Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV).
The rich man grew in power and treasure, year after year, decade after decade. His pile had grown so mighty and proud that people came from many towns away, some to admire his treasure and some to admire his power, all gawking and gazing at such an impressive sight. But what they did not know, what nobody knew, except three little mice, was that this rich man, this man of power and influence and prestige, was a slave to his treasures and a servant to his power. Morning and night he worked and sweated, he labored and toiled. For his love had become an obsession, a regression, a self compression. Those around him praised him and congratulated him continuously, adulating his self sacrifices, never seeing his vices. But the three little mice who squeaked in and out of his big house saw all the holes in his walls.
"His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4, NKJV).
© 2002
__________________________________________________________________________________________
WALKING WITH LOVE
March 28 - April 3, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
"I appeal to you on the basis of love" (Philemon 1:9, NIV).
Let Love pour into you, then let Love pour out of you. Become a channel for the Lord to traverse, a riverbed for His waters. Allow your daily walk to be so God like that He permeates from your very existence. Draw closer to Him and He will draw close to you (see James 4:8, NKJV). When He does, let yourself be melded together with His fine characteristics so that your character and His become one. Christ walked with the Lord in all He did, His actions were indecipherable from God’s will. His words were God’s words. Allow Christ’s example to sink deep into your belly.
The only way Christ lived the perfect example to all humanity was by making His ways God’s ways through God's power. Let this power become the power you use on a daily basis. When He draws near to you let His love pour into you and then transfer that love to others. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34, NIV). Develop these Godly characteristics and deny your human ways, deny your flesh, your instinct. Show others the love Christ has shown us: "Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12, NIV). Draw up a bath of His waters and sink into Him. Be so consumed by the Lord that His consumption sets fire in your eyes and releases Holy waters in your belly. "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:38, NIV). Be Christ like.
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35, NKJV). "God is love" (1 John 4:8, NIV) so we must "walk in love" (2 John 1:6, NIV) and "do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14, NIV) because "love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8, NIV) especially when we "love each other" (1 Thessalonians 4:9, NIV) by being "united in love" (Colossians 2:2, NIV).
"Now remain in my love" (John 15:9, NIV)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
PLAN ON THE LORD
March 21 - 27, 2009
DEVOTIONAL
THE TRUTH OF PRIDE
March 14 - 20, 2009
"His pride led to his downfall." 2 Chronicles 26:16, NIV
Isaiah 43:14, NIV, "This is what the LORD says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they took pride." However, it does not need to be this way for our God has proved he is a merciful God: "Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah" (2 Chronicles 32:26, NIV).
SEEK THE LORD, AVOID THE PROWLER
March 7 - 13, 2009
"Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" 1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version).
The devil is not a million miles away. He lives next door, waiting for an invitation to enter your home. He sits there, perched, hoping someone will leave the front door wide open, or at least unlocked. He is an opportunist so be sure not to give him an opportunity. Do not even give him an inch or he will take a mile and that mile will end at your grave. Oh how compromise gives inches away by the yard. The foolish do not know what they do when they leave the Lord on the sidewalk, outside in the cold of their heart. For, if the Lord is not in you, then who can come against you? Anyone I tell you, anyone! But "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NKJV). If he crosses the threshold what you can be sure of is the enemy’s inroads. He will be busy laying down strongholds, feeding your every desire with fleshly cravings. However, if the Lord has washed you white as snow, when your spring comes, do not let the old sins take root again and destroy the garden of the Lord in you. Make your beliefs firmly established in Him. Read His Word every day! Read His life giving Word with your heart. Be open to His Spirit, His gentle touch, and let Him lead you. He only desires good for you, not harm. "As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper" (2 Chronicles 26:5, NKJV). Put your eyes, your focus, and your heart on Him at all times, at all cost. Is not your own life worth saving?
What are you a magnet for? Is it sin? Is it God? Is it life? Is it lust? Perhaps you are not a magnet but a speck of metal being pulled towards a larger magnet. Whatever the case, you must be sure to go through the Refiner’s fire so your flesh offering to the Lord is anything but flesh. "For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined" (Psalm 66:10, NKJV). Burn off those impurities. Burn off those deathly desires. Let the Lord burn and keep you pure, or, perhaps for some of you, make you pure for the first time. Allow yourself to become a pure drink offering to the Lord. Allow His work deep in your life, in those areas secret to all but He and you. When you come out of the kiln you will be a new creation, your fibres rearranged to make you in the likeness of Christ. After you have walked in your new life, be sure to never go back to your old ways. Be scarce to them. Make your old haunts a stranger to you, old, evil, acquaintances a faded, foggy memory. Be sure to tell the Lord His desires have become your desires; His will, your will. "Teach me to do Thy good pleasure, for Thou art my God - Thy Spirit is good, lead me into a land of uprightness" (Psalm 143:10, Young's Literal Translation). In all your purification, which is cause for much celebration, remember "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you" (1 Peter 4:12, NKJV). "These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:7, NIV).
"If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 8:19 to 20, NIV).
Have you decided the Lord's will in your life? Have you made decisions that limit God and His effectualness on your life? Do you hold things of this world so close that they keep God at bay? What sin have you that is more important, more necessary, than the love and forgiveness found in Christ? I beg you, let go of the flesh and grab hold of Christ, and do not turn back lest you be turned into a pillar of salt. The world can only take you to the grave but Christ can, and will, take you to Heaven, a place He calls home. And you too can be a place Christ calls home, a place where He dwells and has fellowship continually. Let yourself be inspired by the Lord God Almighty. Let Him fill you completely, so waters are running out of you. Clean, pure waters the Lord has sanctified and set apart for His own glory. "On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37 to 38, NIV). Glean from the Bible whatever you can daily, but most of all never leave His presence, never leave His will. Step outside His love for a moment and I assure you the enemy will have snares laid down for your despair, but if you make Him your home you will have peace living inside of you.
