Category: Devotions

A couple of days ago I asked God why does my life have to be so hard. Not too long after that I heard back "wisdom is often gained through difficulty." My mind immediately went to my prayer as a 6, 7 or 8 year old that God would make me wise like Solomon. I remember during a family bible study saying that I wanted to be like Solomon after we read about him in the bible. If you’re familiar with the story of Solomon, God asked Solomon in a dream what did he want. Rather than riches and fame, Solomon asked for the soundness of mind to rule over the children of Israel, or as we have commonly been told, wisdom and knowledge. (See 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1)

With great gifts come much responsibility. Because of his exceptional wisdom, Solomon was the most sought after man in all the world. But as I pondered the words God gave me, I was reminded of the story of the two mothers. In reading the story we think coming to a conclusion like "cut the baby in half" was an easy conclusion. Let’s be real here, I’m sure Solomon had to think this was a hard thing to say to these women who had been fighting over the remaining living child. How do you say cut a living baby in half to two mothers? But it was the gift of wisdom that God gave him, nurtured over the years of yielding to the spirit’s leading within him, that empowered him to say those words knowing that the true mother would be willing to live life without him versus his death. Now as I type, I also think of having to make the difficult decision to kill his brother to protect the promise of the kingdom. When Solomon’s brother Adonijah took the kingdom secretly from David and Solomon was subsequently named king, Adonijah asked Bathsheba to request Abishag for Adonijah as a wife. Solomon wisely enough saw through the ploy and made the call for his brother’s death.

I haven’t had any situations requiring me to "cut a baby in half" or put my brother to death, but I understand that lessons learned through enduring faith and patience qualify me for the wisdom I’ve sought. I have learned a great deal about people through my varied experiences and as a result, I have been able to see beyond the surface and tap into God’s voice for a specific situation. I definitely have moments when I regret that prayer that prayer, well both for wisdom and patience. I have heard "be careful what you pray for" ring loud and clear in my ears many times. What keeps me going now is the promised peace Jesus left us and remembering that Solomon lived in peace while he ruled. As wisdom would have it, the lesson is in knowing that the peace I have is in resting in God to see these situations through as they come to their appointed end. Another thing you and I can hold fast to is that trouble doesn’t last always! So this too shall pass.

I started reading this book many years ago. I signed up for the reading plan back in January on the Bible app and just got around to reading it again. These two devotions spoke SO MUCH to my feelings as of late and gave me such leave in how to go forward in life: seeing everything that happens to me as if it’s happening to Jesus and to really trust Him…trust Him to take care of me, trust that He is with me as He has said, to trust that I will not die, and to trust that as He’s told me, things will be better. I hope these bless you as they have blessed me.

The Compelling Majesty Of His Power

Paul said that he was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by “the love of Christ.” Very few of us really know what it means to be held in the grip of the love of God. We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. The one thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of God. “The love of Christ compels us . . . .” When you hear that coming from the life of a man or woman it is unmistakable. You will know that the Spirit of God is completely unhindered in that person’s life.

When we are born again by the Spirit of God, our testimony is based solely on what God has done for us, and rightly so. But that will change and be removed forever once you “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you . . .” (Acts 1:8).

Only then will you begin to realize what Jesus meant when He went on to say, “. . . you shall be witnesses to Me . . . .” Not witnesses to what Jesus can do—that is basic and understood—but “witnesses to Me . . . .” We will accept everything that happens as if it were happening to Him, whether we receive praise or blame, persecution or reward. No one is able to take this stand for Jesus Christ who is not totally compelled by the majesty of His power. It is the only thing that matters, and yet it is strange that it’s the last thing we as Christian workers realize. Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as mad or sane—he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for—to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of “the love of Christ.” This total surrender to “the love of Christ” is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. And it will always leave the mark of God’s holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.

Draw me, O Lord, into vital communion with Yourself. Press through till I am thrilled with Your presence. Cause me to be Yours in the expression of Your grace as well as in the experience of it.

Our Misgivings About Jesus

Have you ever said to yourself, “I am impressed with the wonderful truths of God’s Word, but He can’t really expect me to live up to that and work all those details into my life!” When it comes to confronting Jesus Christ on the basis of His qualities and abilities, our attitudes reflect religious superiority. We think His ideals are lofty and they impress us, but we believe He is not in touch with reality—that what He says cannot actually be done. Each of us thinks this about Jesus in one area of our life or another. These doubts or misgivings about Jesus begin as we consider questions that divert our focus away from God. While we talk of our dealings with Him, others ask us, “Where are you going to get enough money to live? How will you live and who will take care of you?” Or our misgivings begin within ourselves when we tell Jesus that our circumstances are just a little too difficult for Him. We say, “It’s easy to say, ‘Trust in the Lord,’ but a person has to live; and besides, Jesus has nothing with which to draw water—no means to be able to give us these things.” And beware of exhibiting religious deceit by saying, “Oh, I have no misgivings about Jesus, only misgivings about myself.” If we are honest, we will admit that we never have misgivings or doubts about ourselves, because we know exactly what we are capable or incapable of doing. But we do have misgivings about Jesus. And our pride is hurt even at the thought that He can do what we can’t.

My misgivings arise from the fact that I search within to find how He will do what He says. My doubts spring from the depths of my own inferiority. If I detect these misgivings in myself, I should bring them into the light and confess them openly—“Lord, I have had misgivings about You. I have not believed in Your abilities, but only my own. And I have not believed in Your almighty power apart from my finite understanding of it.”

O Lord, with what abundant relief I turn to You! I need You in unfathomable ways, and with what amazed relief and joy I find all I need in You.