Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 85:1-2   To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. "LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.  (2)  Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah." Psalm 85:6-7    "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  (7)  Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation." If I may put this in my words, it seems the Psalmist is saying: "Lord, you brought us out of the bondage in which we cause ourselves to be taken. We know you have forgiven our sins. We know your hand is upon us, but Lord, we are missing the joy in our hearts. We need that joy and fellowship with you." In verse 5, the question is asked concerning God's anger. "Wilt thou be angry with us for ever?" In their own thoughts and minds, the people are still thinking God's anger is upon them. "Will you not revive us, Lord?"  I remember r...

1  Corinthians 2:3-5     “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching   was   not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” We have all probably had the experience of someone encouraging us to do something that was out of the ordinary and not socially popular. They may have used all kinds of flowery speech to motivate us. However, they would be moving on and not have to endure the long-term effects of whatever change they were coaching us in. Paul was reminding the church at Corinth that he had been there for the hard times and was in this for the long haul. While verse three may describe Paul’s condition, he is not simply reminding them of that. He begins by telling them “I was with you.” The people we feel closest to and have the most confidence are those that have sto...

Psalm 84:5-8    "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  (6)  Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  (7)  They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  (8)  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah." We all want blessings from God, don't we? Most of us pray daily and in those prayers, we ask God for His favour upon us in some manner or another. "Help us to feel better. Help our children in their struggles. Bless our friends who are troubled and stressed. Help us get this job. Help us make the best of this job." The list goes on and on each day. It seems each day we hear of more people who are struggling and in need. Where do we go when we feel a need or know of someone in need? Do we not say, "I'll pray for you." What are we confessing at that moment when we say we will pray? We are saying ...

MATTHEW 6:25-34  (25) Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (26) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (27) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (28) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; (29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (31) Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentil...

1  Corinthians 2:1-2     “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul did not simply take it upon himself to preach Jesus to the Corinthians. He was compelled by the Lord to do so (Act 18:5). Neither did he take it upon himself to remain there for over a year. The Lord spoke to Paul and encouraged him in his ministry to the brethren at Corinth (Act 18:9-11). In the phrase “when I came to you” Paul is reminding them that this was the will and work of God. As servants today, we need to spread the gospel of Jesus as we are pressed in the spirit. We need to expect God to open doors for us to bear witness of Him. When those doors are opened, we need to be ready to step through them. We should study the word of God (2Ti 2:15) and be ready to give an answer for our hope (1Pe 3:15).  However...