February 28, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (10)

Friday February 28

“The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich.”                                                                Pr 10:22

INSTRUMENT RATED (10)

Instrument rated for finances. Just when you get ahead a little bit, your car breaks down, your house needs a new roof, and your furnace gives up the ghost. We all experience it. But the instrument-rated believer can fly through financial storms because he has absolute confidence in his gauges and radio. If he looks at them and doubts their accuracy, he’s in serious difficulty. This must all be settled on the ground while he is going through the checklist. He must not take off into the storm if all is not in good order. When it comes to money matters, check your craft. Do you know what the Bible really says about your finances? To fly through or above a financial storm, you must practice biblical stewardship, know what God has promised to you, and stand on it in faith. “Give, and it shall be given unto you” (Lk 6:38). Giving is an act of obedience. It honors God. But there are some things God will not do. He will not be generous with you if you have been stingy with Him or others. The Bible says, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich.” You ask, “How rich does God want me to be?” That depends on four things: your spiritual maturity, your God-given assignment in life, your willingness to put God in first place when it comes to finances, and exercising your faith. Giving is like sowing (See 2Co 9:6). When a seed is sown it produces a harvest. But the farmer has to go and get that harvest. Similarly, faith, plus obedience, draws the harvest of God’s blessing into your life.

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 27, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (9)

Thursday February 27

“I am the Lord that healeth thee.”                                                                            Ex 15:26

INSTRUMENT RATED (9)

Instrument rated for sickness. Many a healthy person has been cut down in the prime of life by cancer, heart attack, stroke, or some other debilitating disease. But there’s a way to be ready for this storm, a way not paved with fear, a way so prepared you that you can hear the diagnosis of your doctor and still have a sense of God’s peace in your heart. You know what your instrument panel, the Bible, says about it. You know what to do, how to act, and what to say. You’ve been prepared for this moment. Now, if a pilot hasn’t faithfully maintained his aircraft, then it will go down in the storm no matter what his instrument panel tells him. So if you have taken good care of your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then you can go to God with confidence, standing on His Word and asking Him to heal you. Eventually we will die of something, but you don’t have to die before your time. God has promised us “long life” (Ps 91:16) The Bible says, “He…healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Mt 8:16-17 NKJV). You say, “I know some good Christians who prayed for healing, and didn’t get it.” That’s true. “Will explain later!” But as long as you’re living you must stand on the Word of God, which says, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 26, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (8)

Wednesday February 26

“Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Eph 6:4 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (8)

Instrument rated for parenthood. Parents today face unique problems that no other generation has. But God’s Word is timeless, so: (1) Enforce discipline. “Whom the Lord loves He corrects” (Pr 3:12 NKJV). A famous evangelist says when he was growing up his mother had a belt that hung on the wall of their home with a text written above it: “I need thee every hour.” Teach your child that every decision has consequences. And don’t rescue them from their consequences, for life won’t let them off the hook when they do wrong. (2) Teach them God’s ways. “Train up a child in the way that he should go: and…he will not depart from it” (Pr 22:6). Give your child a taste of the things of God when they are young, and when they’re older the world won’t be able to satisfy their taste. (3) Commit them to the Lord. This isn’t easy; it’s like allowing them to take the family car out for the first time. But there comes a point where God, not you, must speak to them and guide them. They’’ either learn the easy way or the hard way. And even if they do go astray, God promises they’ll come back again (See Jer 31:16-17). So pray, “Lord, they’re Yours now. I’ve taught them and set an example, now I give them to You. Deal with them according to Your perfect will.” Does that mean everything will be okay from that point on? Maybe, and maybe not. But like the pilot who flies according to his instruments, you must stand on the Word of Good for your children.

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 25, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (7)

Tuesday February 25

“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.”                                                        Ecc 9:9 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (7)

Instrument rated for marriage. Today Christian marriages are falling apart at the same rate as non-Christian marriages. And those who go through it need our love, not our condemnation. But clearly, something’s wrong that needs to be put right! Two of the leading causes of divorce are financial stress and pornography. When you become overextended by purchasing things you can’t afford and don’t need, you’re headed into trouble. And when you open your mind to sexual fantasy, you entertain images your mate can’t live up to, and your relationship begins to deteriorate. Solomon writes, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.” (SS 2:15 NKJV). Notice the word “tender.” When we fail to treat one another tenderly, graciously, lovingly, considerately, and with respect, the plane we’re flying in together takes a nosedive. A neglected partner is vulnerable to anyone who comes along. Resentment wells up and takes over. If God’s Word doesn’t work in your home and in your marriage, then it won’t work anywhere else! An instrument-rated Christian understands that a secret to having a good marriage is not just in finding the right person- but in becoming the right person. And that can only happen when you make a daily commitment to living by the principles of God’s Word and demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit (See Gal 5:22). The story is told of one spouse who said to the other, “I never knew what real happiness was until I met you-now it’s too late.” Unless you want that to be your story, start tending the home fires.

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 24, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (6)

 Monday February 24

“Lead me, O Lord…make straight your way before me.”                                 Ps 5:8 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (6)

Instrument rated for direction. The compass has always been the pilot’s best friend. Most planes are equipped with two. How can you know the will of God? “Aman named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, ‘The Holy Spirit declares, “So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.”’ When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But he said, ‘Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.’ When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done’” (Ac 21:10-14 NLT) Notice, the confusion was not over God’s will. That was clear. It was over fear concerning Paul’s life. Here we have a perfect example of letting our emotions get in the way of our spirit. It is by our spirit, not our mind, and certainly not our emotions, that we understand the ways and directions of the Lord. “For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Ro 8:14). You must not be led by “voices, dreams, and ‘fleeces’” (See Jdg 637-40). Sometimes these things support and confirm what you sense in your spirit to be God’s will, but they are never to be the sole deciding factor. Your compass is God’s Word!

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 23, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (5)

Sunday February 23

“The Father seeketh such to worship him.”                                                                  Jn 4:23

INSTRUMENT RATED (5)

Instrument rated for discouragement. God has promised to give you “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isa 61:3). Satan can’t stand it when someone other than himself is receiving praise and honor, so the spirit of heaviness will lift when you begin to praise your God. It will fall off you like a garment. The weight will be gone. Your pity party will turn to a scene of gladness. Here’s something remarkable: Jesus said, “The Father seeketh such to worship him…in spirit and in truth” (Jn 4:23-24). When you begin to worship God-instead of you seeking Him, He starts seeking you! And since He knows where to find you at all times, He blesses you, strengthens you and causes you to rise above your discouragement. You can literally praise your way through the storm! When an instructor is teaching a new student to fly, he constantly reminds the student to keep the nose of the plane up. New students are likely to keep the nose of the plane down so they can better see where they are going. Also, the plane has a natural tendency to fall-if you let it. When you keep your head up and your eyes on Jesus, your heart begins to rejoice even in the toughest test. It takes effort, but it’s worth it. Remember, you don’t always win every fight in the first round. But if you hang in there and keep answering the bell with praise, you will be victorious. Why? Because the fight was fixed by Jesus a long time ago.

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 22, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (4)

Saturday February 22

“Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”                                                            Isa 41:10 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (4)

Instrument rated for depression. Depression can cause you to do some crazy things, like walk away from a good job or a healthy marriage, or turn to drugs and alcohol. The dictionary defines depression as “to be flattened vertically or dispirited.” Now you know why sometimes you don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. The word “depression” is not mentioned in Scripture. The closest definition to it is “heaviness.” “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop” (Pr 12:25). The toughest battles you will ever fight will be those with your own mind. What’s the answer? Start speaking God’s Word-out loud! “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5-6 NKJV). Pastor Sarah Utterbach points out: “People say, ‘The Lord has promised never to leave me or forsake me,” then they go right back to discussing their problem. In doing so they invalidate the power of what God said. The Holy Spirit is authorized to act on God ‘s Word when you begin to say what God has said.” When you dwell on your problem, it’s like a pilot flying by sight and senses. But when you agree with God’s Word and begin to stand on it, you’re flying by your instrument panel. So get into God’s Word, get God’s Word into you, and start speaking it over your situation. “My word…will not return to me empty…but will…achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11 NIV).

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 21, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (3)

Friday February 21

“In this world you will have trouble.”                                                                      Jn 16:33 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (3)

Instrument rated for trouble. Pastors and counselors constantly “pick up the pieces” of the broken lives of those who thought trouble would never come their way, so they didn’t prepare for it. Paul wrote, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed” (2Co 4:8). Believers live in the same world as nonbelievers, but they handle it differently. That’s because they have a different source, a different strategy, and a different spirit. God’s promise is: “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” (Ps 91:15). Some people dwell only on troubles. Others dwell only on deliverance. The secret of victory is in accepting that trouble will come, but knowing you’re instrument rated to get through it because you’ve taken the time and training required to handle it scripturally. People say, “If only I’d known this was going to happen I’d have been ready for it.” It’s foolish to go looking for trouble , but it’s even more foolish to not be prepared for it. A wife hears her husband say, “I’m in love with someone else.” A call comes from the police telling you that your son has been caught on a drug bust. Your tearful teenage daughter tells you she’s pregnant. Get ready for trouble, because trouble is getting ready for you! In such times the instrument-rated believer turns to their unfailing source: God’s Word. “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee…In famine (recession) he shall(deliver) thee…At destruction…thou shalt laugh” (Job 5:19-22).

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 20, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (2)

Thursday February 20

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Ps 119:130 NKJV

INSTRUMENT RATED (2)

In order for you to be instrument rated, an instructor will accompany you on your training missions. The instructor will place a long-billed cap on your head, so that all you can see is the instrument panel in front of you. That’s because this is all you’ll be able to see when you’re flying in storm conditions. You must learn to work your instruments and radio, doing many turns and being able to bring the plane down within a few feet of the landing strip. And you must do all this without ever looking to see where you are, without the confirmation of your senses. This simulated blindness, causing confusion to the average person, is soon overcome by disciplined training. The flights “under the hood,” as the procedure’s called, become merely routine flights. What happens when unprepared Christians are plunged into darkness by the trials of life? They begin to question what’s happening. Everything was going well; all they could see ahead was fair weather. But now they’ve lost their sense of direction because they have not spent time in God’s Word. They have not been taught to trust God regardless of what they see or feel, so they get discouraged, sometimes backslide, and sometimes even blame God and get swallowed up in bitterness. Paul writes to Timothy, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth” (2Ti 2:15 AMP).

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

February 19, 2014. INSTRUMENT RATED (1)

Wednesday February 19

“The precepts of the Lord are right…giving light to the eyes.”

Ps 19:8 NIV

INSTRUMENT RATED (1)

In their effort to steer around one storm, many pilots end up in another that’s even worse. But the instrument-rated pilot can fly directly into it. He can be totally socked in, yet watch his instruments and fly without fear. But in order, to do this he must have many hours of training in simulated storm conditions. Trouble, to him, is normal. He has gone through it many times and knows what to do in an emergency. He knows how to use his radio and receive help from the radar centers. He knows how to stay on the radio beams that are crisscrossing the skies for his safety. The mountain that suddenly looms before him first shows up on the controller’s radar scope, so the controller can guide the straying plane around it. Actually, if a pilot’s instrument is not rated, it’s illegal for him to be in a storm. Why? Because if he hasn’t taken the time, or felt it is important to do his homework and be prepared-the billions of dollars’ worth of navigation is no use to him. How do you prepare for the storms of life? By spending time in God’s word. In-depth knowledge of your Bible is necessary if you’re to be “certified” to navigate life’s storms. If you wait until trouble comes to find a Scripture to help you, you have waited too long. One Bible teacher says, “If your mouth will feed your heart faith when you don’t need it, your heart will feed your mouth faith when you do.”

This word is taken from Daily Devotional: The Word for you Today.

FEBRUARY 18, 2014. PREACH THE WORD IN ALL SEASONS

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season.2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the Word in All Seasons

In modern American culture, we think like consumers. We look for special deals. We want great products at rock-bottom prices. We expect to be treated as if the customer is king. Unfortunately this sometimes extends to our churchgoing. We want to feel comfortable. The music should meet our preferences. The ministries should meet our needs. The church should give us the best value or outcome for our input.

Christians treating their faith like a consumer product is not a new phenomenon. Some in the Ephesian church also had this attitude. They wanted preaching that tickled their ears and satisfied their felt needs (vv. 3–4). Paul, though, warned Timothy to be committed to sound doctrine and to proclaiming it at all times under all conditions. Since the right time had arrived in God’s plan and the mystery of Christ had been revealed, all times are now right for sharing the gospel and preaching and teaching the Word.

Paul framed the charge to his young pastor friend with high solemnity. He called God and Jesus as witnesses and contextualized his words in terms of God’s kingdom and Jesus’ return (v. 1). The charge itself is found in verse 2. Timothy’s main task is to “preach the word,” divided into several smaller tasks of correcting, rebuking, and encouraging.

This should be done with great care—instructing others in Scripture is a serious responsibility—and patiently, indicating that ministry means ongoing relationships. It should also be done consistently or at all times, not based on convenience or when people feel like it.

Furthermore, obedience to this charge won’t be easy (v. 5). Preaching the Word will mean being under pressure and enduring hardship. Even so, all times are the right time to obey and pursue our calling from God.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 17, 2014. GOD’S SALVATION CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME

MONDAY FEBRUARY 17

At just the right time, when we were still powerless,Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

God’s Salvation Came at the Right Time

The old saying declares that death and taxes are life’s only certainties. But Christian believers have another: “We will all be changed,” Paul wrote (1 Cor. 15:50–57). “The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” He meant that one day we will be raised from the dead. Our future is eternal life, following in the footsteps of Jesus, “the firstborn from the dead” (Rev. 1:5). Death will be swallowed up through the victory won by our Lord Jesus Christ!

Christ triumphed over death within God’s plan and timing, as the New Testament repeatedly proclaims. In today’s passage, Paul affirmed that Christ did what He did “at just the right time” (v. 6; Mark 1:15; Gal. 4:4–5). Even to God, who is Himself above time, not all times are the same. Within time and human history, His plan unfolds at the right time for events to happen.

The essence of the gospel is found in these verses—we were helpless, and Jesus died to save us. From a human perspective, this is amazing. Giving one’s life for another is the pinnacle of sacrificial love (v. 7).

From a divine perspective, this is more than amazing. Jesus’ death wasn’t just one life for another, but the life of God’s one and only Son for the lives of those who choose to believe on Him. More than helpless, we were sinners and therefore God’s enemies (vv. 8, 10). Yet His blood justified us, saved us from wrath, and reconciled us to Him (vv. 9, 11).

The good news of the gospel, what God did “at just the right time” in history, is proof that His purposes will be done in our individual lives as well—“at just the right time!”

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 16, 2014. WAITING ON GOD’S TIMING FOR JESUS’ MISSION

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16

My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. John 7:6

Waiting on God’s Timing for Jesus’ Mission

All sorts of things, important or not, are all about timing. Passing a restaurant billboard as your stomach growls. Catching her eyes across a crowded room. Being the seventh caller and winning the prize. Hearing a sermon just when you’re encountering that exact temptation. Seeing a shooting star. Running into a friend on a day you really needed some encouragement.

For Christ’s mission of redemption, God’s timing was crucial. One wonders what it was like for the eternal Son of God to experience the flow of time as a human being. However it felt, Jesus was committed to perfectly obeying the timing of His Fat her’s plan, as we see in today’s narrative. Knowing the right time to do the right thing was important for Him as well as for us (see Feb. 5).

Jesus’ brothers (born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus’ birth) advised Him to go to Judea for the Festival of Tabernacles in order to gain more public exposure (vv. 3–4). Whether they were recommending a marketing strategy or, as it turned out, insincerely mocking Him (v. 5), the brothers showed a complete lack of understanding. Doing miracles to gain attention and “promote a career” as a miracle-working rabbi was not at all what Jesus was about.

Instead, Jesus was all about obeying God and submitting to His plan. “My time is not yet here,” He told His brothers, “for you any time will do” (v. 6). He knew that His person and message spurred controversy among the people and hatred from the leaders, and the time to bring things to a head had not yet come (vv. 7–8). “My time” specifically referred to His coming death and resurrection. Later (see the rest of John 7), Jesus did go to Jerusalem in secret, and then began teaching publicly about halfway through the festival.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 15, 2014. ALL TIMES ARE TIMES TO TRUST THE LORD

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

All Times Are Times to Trust the Lord

In Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts, author Jerry Bridges admitted: “For many years in my own pilgrimage . . . I was a prisoner to my feelings. I mistakenly thought I could not trust God unless I felt like trusting Him (which I almost never did in times of adversity). Now I am learning that trusting God is first of all a matter of the will and is not dependent on my feelings. I choose to trust God, and my feelings eventually follow.”

Why should we trust God? Because He is trustworthy. Our emotions might not say so. Circumstances might not say so. But His Word says that He is always faithful. Therefore, as Psalm 62 proclaims, all times are times to trust the Lord. The key is verse 8: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."

David painted a vivid picture of God’s character in this psalm. He is our refuge, our salvation, our source of hope, and our source of rest. He is a fortress and a mighty rock. He is the One who protects us, rescues us, and wins the victory for us. We are perfectly safe in saying to Him, “my times are in your hands” (Ps. 31:15).

We don’t know the occasion or background for this psalm, but David was under attack (vv. 3–4). Perhaps enemies were plotting against his throne. Perhaps they were people close to him, for he described them as treacherously saying one thing but doing another. He felt like a “tottering fence,” about to collapse under the pressure.

Instead, he took refuge in the Lord. Having done so, he could “find rest” (vv. 1, 5). Faith and trust in God bring to one’s heart a peace that transcends human understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 14, 2014. ALL TIMES ARE TIMES TO PRAISE THE LORD

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 14

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1

All Times Are Times to Praise the Lord

Throughout the history of the church, music has been a powerful means for praising the Lord. A modern classic is the song “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin, which exults: “From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea, creation’s revealing your majesty . . . / Indescribable, uncontainable, you placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing, God.”

Amen! Psalm 34 demonstrates that all times are times to praise the Lord. David said: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (v. 1). Praise is an activity in God’s time that it’s always time for, regardless of circumstances. So the psalmist invited others to join in: “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together” (v. 3).

The congregation’s praise isn’t whistling in the dark or a manufactured emotion. The spirit of praise is founded upon God’s loving faithfulness to His people (v. 5). We can count on Him to hear, save, and deliver us (vv. 4–7). A “poor man” knows that he is utterly dependent on God. Even the lion, king of beasts, might go hungry, but “those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (v. 10). In response, we are to fear the Lord (v. 9), meaning to show Him appropriate reverence and awe, as well as to delight in Him (v. 8).

We often think of praise as response to blessings, but it’s not limited to that. According to the superscription for this psalm, for example, it was written during a time when David was fleeing from Saul. He went so far as to take temporary refuge among the Philistines, feigning insanity to deceive his hosts (see 1 Sam. 21:10–15). Though David escaped, it doesn’t really look to us like an occasion for exalting the Lord—but Psalm 34 shows otherwise.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 13, 2014. TIME TO BUILD GOD’S HOUSE AND PUT HIM FIRST

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13

Give careful thought to your ways. Haggai 1:5

Time to Build God’s House and Put Him First

In 538 B.C., emperor Cyrus of Persia issued a decree permitting exiled Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple. The first wave of returnees, under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra, laid the temple’s foundation by 536 B.C. But then progress stalled, as Samaritans and others who had moved in during the years of Jewish captivity opposed the rebuilding.

By the time of Haggai, however, external adversaries were not the main reason why the temple had not been rebuilt. The people had become self centered and spiritually lazy. Beginning in 520 B.C., Haggai prophesied specifically to the Jewish leaders and scolded them for wrong priorities.

The people had been saying it was not yet time to rebuild the temple (v. 2), but this was just an excuse. Enough years had passed since Nehemiah’s time that they were no longer in survival mode. They had actually become rather well established, as indicated by the fact that they lived in “paneled houses” (v. 4). Next to their own nice homes, the ruins of the temple served as a stark reminder of their laxness toward the covenant. As in the case of Solomon, whose palace was more extravagant than the temple he had constructed (1 Kings 6:38; 7:1), buildings served as a spiritual barometer. Through Haggai, God told the people to stop and think: “Give careful thought to your ways” (v. 5). They should already know their choices were dishonoring Him, since He had warned them by keeping them struggling against drought and famine (v. 6; Deut. 28:38–39). They had been busy with their own affairs and neglected their duties toward God. Haggai wasn’t the only one bringing this message, as Zechariah ministered around the same time. We know their ministry met with success, because the temple was rebuilt by 516 B.C.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 12, 2014. AFTER A SPIRITUAL DROUGHT, TIME FOR REVIVAL

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12

If you seek him, he will be found by you.2 Chronicles 15:2

After a Spiritual Drought, Time for Revival

A well-known early twentieth-century hymn prays: “God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy pow’r. / Crown Thine ancient Church’s story; bring her bud to glorious flow’r. / Grant us wisdom; grant us courage for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.”

When such prayers are made frequently and passionately, God often responds by sending a season of revival. This was certainly the case in today’s reading, when a time of spiritual drought was followed by a time of spiritual revival. That ’s the good news. The bad news is that a revival is by definition preceded by a time of sinning, and that was the case here as well. Thankfully,God had long ago anticipated this very sequence of events (Deut. 4:25–31).

King Asa had been doing “what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chron. 14:2), but he was swimming against the current of his times. God, though, encouraged him to act boldly for righteousness, first with a military victory (2 Chron. 14:9–13), and in today’s reading with a prophetic word from Azariah, who is otherwise unknown (vv. 1–7).

Asa had already made a few modest reforms, and now he obeyed God, took courage, and acted even more zealously to combat Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness. He destroyed the people’s pagan idols and restored the altar of the Lord in the temple. The people “saw that the Lord his God was with him” and the revival gained momentum (v. 9). The nation of Judah came together for a national assembly, during which they offered sacrifices, worshiped the one true God, and wholeheartedly renewed their side of the covenant (v. 12). As He had promised, “They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them” (v. 15).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 11, 2014. WAITING ON GOD’S TIMING FOR VICTORY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11

Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! Joshua 6:16

Waiting on God’s Timing for Victory

The city of Jericho might be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Its existence as a walled or fortified city dates back to at least 3200 b.c., and its origins have been traced by archaeologists to at least 7000 b.c. The name “Jericho” means “moon city,” probably indicating that it was a center of moon worship. The people there had made the classic mistake of worshiping a created object rather than the Creator. For Joshua and the people of Israel to defeat this ancient city and its ancient pagan religion would be a significant spiritual victory. So God made sure that this battle took place on His terms and the victory won according to His plans. In many ways this is the archetypal biblical narrative of a plan that didn’t make sense, humanly speaking. In the end, though, God’s timing is perfect, even when our understanding is not. Because the plans and intentions of the Israelites were obvious, Jericho was shut up tight, its people safe behind the walls— or so they thought. They must have wondered what those Israelite people were doing, marching quietly around the city for six days. Many of the Israelites might have wondered the same thing! But God had promised a victory, and they followed Joshua in faith. They were led by the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant (v. 8), a reminder (they were good at forgetting) of the God who had brought them this far already. On the seventh day, the Israelites carried out the rest of God’s plan. They sounded the trumpets and shouted, and the walls of Jericho collapsed (Heb. 11:30). They went in and, as commanded, spared no one but Rahab and took spoils only for the Lord’s treasury. God had won the victory over the Canaanite gods, just as He had over the Egyptian gods.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 10, 2014. THE TEACHER (2)

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10

“The Spirit will…make it known to you.” Jn 16:15 NIV

THE TEACHER (2)

The Holy Spirit, Who is your Teacher: (1) Wants you to search God’s Word for answers and directions. He doesn’t want you to be passive and simply accept whatever comes into your life. He wants you to turn to His Word for insight; to find divine solutions to the human problems confronting you day in and day out. He wants you to stand on His word instead of lying down and saying, “I guess this is just the way it’s got to be.” Your Bible is a road map that will never steer you the wrong way. It’s a sword you can fight with, and win every time. “Meditate in it day and night…do according to all that is written in it. For then you will…have good success” (Jos 1:8 NKJV). (2) Wants you to grow by following in the footsteps of Jesus. The word discipline comes from the Greek word mathetes, which means “a learned or student.” In Jesus’ day, disciples not only learned from the teacher’s lectures, but also by observing and experiencing every aspect of the teacher’s life. That’s how Jesus trained His twelve disciples. And finally the time came when He could say to them, “The works that I do shall [you] do also” (Jn 14:12). Peter, James, and John, “the inner circle,” had a more intimate relationship with Christ. That was not because He loved them more, but that He had a particular plan in mind for them. What’s God’s plan for you? That’s what the battle in your life is about. Satan will do all he can to put distance between you and God. Don’t let him!

 Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 9, 2014. THE TEACHER (1)

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9

“The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things.” Jn 14:26 NKJV

THE TEACHER (1)

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the greatest Teacher of all. Here’s why: (1) Because He will interact with you. When you are interested enough to ask questions, the learning process has really begun. Your questions don’t bother God is they come from a hungry heart. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, , and ye shall find” (Mt 7:7). It’s okay to be inquisitive. God doesn’t want you to be passive and just accept everything that comes into your life. He wants you to question Him so that you can find clarity and direction. (2) Because He wants to teach you how to live. That means showing up every day for class, and not just every once in a while. It means trusting that the Teacher knows what He’s talking about, and that the knowledge you’re receiving will equip you to go out and succeed in life. You may not see much value in what a teacher is telling you right now, or think it relates to you personally. Perhaps you’re only interested in passing the test, graduating, and getting out of school. No, passing tests only proves you have a good memory, not that you’ve really learned! A good teacher’s goal is to create in you: (2) a hunger for knowledge; (b) an ability to seek out and understand things when he or she is no longer around; (c) a willingness to put what you’ve learned into practice. You say, “How can I know I’m truly learning?” John answers, “Continue to live in Christ, as [he] taught you” (1 Jn 2:27 NCV).

Taken from The Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 8, 2014. KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVING

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 8

“Teaching them more about prayer, he used…story.” Lk 11:5 NLT

KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVING

Your need moves God’s heart, but your faith moves Him to action. So keep praying and believing. Jesus gives us two illustrations of this: (1) “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves…he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and [we] are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” (Lk 11:5-8 NLT). Why will God answer your prayer? To protect His reputation as One who makes covenants and keeps them. (2) “Thee was a judge in a certain city…A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice’…The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said…’I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly!” (Lk 18:2-8 NLT). Bottom line: the God you serve is just, compassionate, able and willing to meet your needs, so keep praying and believing.

Taken from The Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 7, 2014. WAITING FOR THINGS TO CHANGE (2)

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

“I will wait, till my change comes.” Job 14:14 NKJV

WAITING FOR THINGS TO CHANGE (2)

Before you quit and give up in discouragement, consider the long and difficult process by which a butterfly emerges from its cocoon. If you try to rush God’s purpose and process in your life, you’ll produce something deformed—something that can’t get off the ground and fly. Perhaps you’re thinking, “I can’t wait for this to be over.” That’s understandable. Job couldn’t either. HE said, “All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” But by God’s grace he survived, and ended up with twice as much as he lost. So hold on, your change is coming! God won’t give up on you, so don’t give up on Him! There’s a work going on in you right now. Something is dying that has to die, so that something better can be brought to life. Let it happen. Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego told king, “We will not bow down to you” (See Da 3:18). Don’t bow to temptation, or to manipulation, or to ungodly persuasion. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, or surrender to selfish ambition and self-promotion. Don’t bow to the spirit of anxiousness and impatience. Continue to walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that “[God] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we are able to ask or think” (See Eph 3:20). They say, “Good things come to those who wait.” The determining factor is Who you’re waiting for.   God says there’s a purpose for all these things (See Ecc 3:1). Wait, God will make the pieces fit together. He won’t disappoint you.

Taken from The Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 6, 2014. WAITING FOR THINGS TO CHANGE (1)

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help?” Hab 1:2 NIV

WAITING FOR THINGS TO CHANGE (1)

Are you waiting for your vision to start coming to pass, or to find a solution to a problem you’re facing, or for the first signs of fulfillment to a promise God has made you? You’re not the first person to struggle with the idea of waiting, and you won’t be the last. Furthermore, when you get what you’re waiting for now, you’ll begin waiting for something else. If there’s one word that defines Christian living, it’s—waiting. God said to the prophet Habakkuk, “The revelation awaits an appointed time…and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Hab 2:3 NIV). Why did God say that? Because He was answering the Prophet’s question, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” Look at the patriarch Job. Covered in boils and totally bankrupt, he says, “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes” (Job 14:144 NKJV). Waiting for things to change is not easy. So what should you do while you’re waiting? Pour yourself into the job at hand; otherwise you’ll shortchange your own future. James writes, “Be patient…See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too,  be patient and stand firm” (Jas 5:7-8 NIV). What God has in store for you is worth any price you have to pay and any season of waiting you have to go through.

Taken from The Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 5, 2014. AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

“I saw the Lord sitting on a throne.” Isa 6:1 NKJV

AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD

Isaiah describes a life-changing encounter he had with God at the start of his ministry: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up…Above it stood seraphim…And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King’…Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal…from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’ Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send , who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people’” (Isa 6: 1-9 NKJV). An encounter with God always brings three things: (1) A sense of His holiness and our lowliness. (2) AN acknowledgment of our inadequacy. (3) Humility, and a hunger for more of Him. The wear and tear of daily life dulls the sharp edge of our spiritual sensibilities. And measuring our holiness by those around us just lulls us into thinking we’re living a committed life when we’re not. So God calls us to an encounter with Him to cleanse us, empower us, and send us to fulfill his purposes.

Taken from The Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 4, 2014. GOD APPOINTS TIMES FOR RHYTHMS OF LIFE

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 4

These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies. Leviticus 23:4

God Appoints Times for Rhythms of Life

To commemorate the end of hostilities in World War I, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day, to be celebrated with parades and public festivals. In 1954, Congress renamed the holiday Veterans Day. The purpose, according to the Veterans Administration, is “to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” Veterans Day is a time to remember. Our calendar includes such times and seasons, and Israel’s calendar did, too. God appointed recurring festivals and “sacred assemblies” to mark the rhythms of their public or congregational life. The creation narrative had already reminded them of this (see Feb. 2), and now the Mosaic Law set up specific feasts and holy days. These included a weekly Sabbath, an annual Passover festival, and a rare Year of Jubilee (every 50 years). Three annual religious festivals anchored the nation’s calendar (Ex. 23:14–17). These appointed times were serious business. God promised that when Israel strayed from obedience to His prescribed days and seasons, especially the Sabbath, then redeeming those times would become part of the justice of the punishment. The land would have its Sabbaths— the people could participate in God’s guarantee or suffer the consequences (Lev. 26:34–35). The phrase “sacred assemblies” in verse 4 highlights the main purpose and character of these appointed times as centered around worship. The focus was clearly to be on God. For example, the Sabbath, as a day of rest, reflected God’s actions in creation (Gen. 2:2–3; Ex. 20:8–11). Similarly, the Passover, or Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorated the Exodus from Egypt, when God had worked mighty wonders and freed His people from slavery. The Passover lamb would later become a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice (see 1 Cor. 5:7).

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional

FEBRUARY 3, 2014. GOD APPOINTS TIMES FOR SPECIFIC EVENTS

MONDAY FEBRUARY 3

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14

God Appoints Times for Specific Events

Laughter is an extraordinarily flexible act of communication. It often indicates joy, happiness, or humor; but depending on the culture, circumstances, and individual, it might also signal embarrassment, grief, or even despair. A laugh can be crazy, sarcastic, skeptical, or relieved. It might convey surprise, scorn, agreement, or pleasure. It all depends. In today’s narrative, Sarah’s laughter signified doubt or faithlessness (v. 12). It might also have been bitter, cynical, or just sad. She had overheard one of the visiting strangers tell her husband that “about this time next year” she would have a son (v. 10). Given that Sarah was past the age of childbearing—or in plain language, she had already been through menopause—and that she had been barren her whole life thus far, she laughed for obvious reasons. Yet the stranger condemned her doubt and insisted on his prediction (v. 14), which Abraham received as a promise from the Lord Himself. Both he and his wife would have remembered God’s recent similar promise (Gen. 17:21). The issue was whether they would respond in faith—Abraham did, but Sarah did not. Later, though, she would laugh in faith and joy because God kept His promise and gave her a son (Gen. 21:6–7). This narrative teaches that God can appoint times for specific events, such as the birth of a baby. This doesn’t mean that God chooses to script all events in this way, but it does mean that He is able to do so if He wills it. We don’t know the details of how He works, but we can still affirm this truth. Abraham and Sarah were told that Isaac would be born at a certain time, and he was (Gen. 21:2). Isaac’s birth was completely impossible from a human perspective, but God’s plans and timing don’t depend on human wisdom or limitations.

Taken from the Word for You Today Devotional