JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(James 4:2) “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
Many of our failures in life result from our failure to pray.
When we honestly examine our walk with God on this journey of
Faith… the biggest mistake we often see is the failure to spend adequate time with God in prayer and Bible study… a forsaken prayer altar and an unopened Bible.
Unfortunately the old cliché “A week with out prayer… makes one weak”… carries a lot of truth and its happening far too often in your life.
James bottom-lined it: “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
One Christian leader wrote, “As a burned-out, frustrated young Christian, I came to the realization one day that living in my own strength was useless.
I needed to take my problems to God.
In other words, I needed to pray more!”
From the writings of (Matthew 7:7), Jesus told us… “Keep on asking and it will be given you… keep on seeking and you will find… keep on knocking… and the door will be opened to you”.
Too often… it’s only when we reach the end of our rope that we turn to God in prayer.
And even then, when our prayers are not instantly answered… we tend to quit… we give up.
Over and over in scripture, we are told to “wait on God.”
Why?
Because while we’re waiting… God is working.
Sometimes He is working on the thing we have asked Him for.
Other times He is working on us.
In such times He may be correcting our desires and attitudes… or repositioning us… directing us toward His will.
Don’t just pray… pray persistently!
Don’t stress out trying to make things happen on your own.
Give it all to God as you pray.
Remember (Jeremiah 29:13)… “when you seek me with all your heart… you will find Me”.
So put your heart into your praying… wait quietly in God’s presence and let Him speak to you.
You will be delightfully surprised at how He answers your prayers.
And remember as well… Jesus said “Seek ye first… the Kingdom of God… and all these things will be added unto you”
What were the things He was referring to?
Are they not food, clothing and shelter?
(Matthew 6:25-34) 25 “Therefore I tell you… do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Can any one of you by worrying… add a single hour to your life?
“And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the flowers of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon… in all of his splendor… was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire… will He not much more clothe you…you of little faith?
So do not worry saying… ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own”.
There you have it… Gods promise to take care of you… but you need to seek Him.
You need to spend time with Him in prayer and the study of His word to get to know Him more.
Good Day
(Mark 16:17-18) “In My name they will lay hands on the sick… and they will recover.”
(Daniel 11:32) tells us “The people that know their God shall do exploits”.
Part of the great commission that says “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel” is… “they shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:18)
Yet we are hesitant to take God at His word and respond in faith to do so!
Why is that?
Is it because we are afraid that if the sick don’t recover we will look foolish or be labeled something negative?
And all I can think of is… are we trying to do so in our own strength or in the power of God that is released in us thru the Holy Spirit!
I am not God… neither are you!
We only lay hands on the sick because the Word of God tells us to do so!
The rest is up to Him!
Research has revealed much about “the power of touch”… and that it has the power to fight viruses, reduce stress, enhance sleep, and assist us in recovering more quickly from injury.
One research study found that a thirty-minute massage three times a week… lowers stress by 34 percent.
The power of touch, even on a human level, is an astonishing thing.
But when you add the power of God… it opens the way for something supernatural.
I am tired of the world telling us that God does not heal any more…
I am tired of listening to the voices of the doubting telling us that it is impossible…
I am tired of the faithless telling me that there is no God and that miracles are just circumstances of false diagnosis.
(Acts 28:8) “And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery.
Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him”
Laying hands on the sick or on those called to ministry… was a regular practice in the New Testament church.
And you don’t have to be an ordained minister to do it.
If you are a believer who has placed your trust in Christ… you’re qualified.
Jesus said… “all things are possible to them that believe” (Mark 9:23)
He also said “these signs shall follow them that believe” (Mark 16:17-18)
Could God do it without us?
Of course… but He has given us the privilege of being conduits of His power.
By laying hands on someone you do two things… you identify yourself as a Believer in Christ… and you impart the power of God unto others... power released by the Holy Spirit.
Who knows how many miraculous moments we have sacrificed because we haven’t acted in a bold biblical way by laying hands on and praying for someone who is sick… or commissioning someone who is called… or encouraging someone who simply needs a comforting hand on their shoulder.
When we are emptied of ourselves and willing to be obedient to the unction of the Holy Spirit and obediently lay hands on one another… miracles can happen…
Not by any power we have resident in us…
But by allowing the Holy Spirit to move thru us… to impact the life of another by and thru the power of God… released thru the Holy Spirit.
And when we do that… motivated by love for our fellow man… it releases the power of God to move and work in their lives.
Don’t just take my word for it… but trust Gods Word that tells us to do it!
I dare you to believe God and release your inhibitions to being motivated by faith…
And remember that… “faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence there of not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)
Remember Gods word says in (Hebrews 11:6) “with out faith it is impossible to please God”.
“Greater works than these shall ye do”… (John 14:12)…that’s what Jesus told the disciple would take place after that the Holy Spirit comes upon them!
What did Jesus tell the ruler that came to him asking Him to heal His daughter?
In (Marks Gospel Chapter 5 and verse 36) “While the request was being made of Jesus… others came to the ruler saying ‘your daughter has died… its to late… don’t bother the Master now… its too late’
But Jesus hearing them said to him…only believe!’”
Today God is telling you and I to… “Only believe”… “doubt not”… but believe that the things you are asking for will happen! (Mark 9:23)
So get out there today… lay hands on the sick and the infirm… be obedient to the Word of God and then leave the rest up to God.
Good Day!
(Ephesians 1:18-19) “I pray…that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Like a proud parent, our heavenly Father loves it when we carry out impossible things by and thru His power and for His glory… and when you live in raw reliance upon Christ and His power… you will do things that otherwise cannot be done.
The writer of Hebrews tells us… “with out faith it is impossible to please God”.
He also tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for… the evidence thereof not seen”.
When you think about it… in and of ourselves… we are incapable of loving God or doing the greater works Jesus said we would do. (John 14:12)
(1st John 4:19) tells us “not that we loved God… but He loved us first”
This verse tells us that our love for God… is rooted in His unconditional love for us… which is demonstrated throughout the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
This verse suggests that true love is reciprocal… originating from Gods love… and encourages believers to reciprocate that love… by loving others as well.
We cannot fabricate love for Him… we can only respond to His love for us.
Knowing this sets us free from the legalistic pressure of having to act, or do or muster up, or stir up an emotion… that being love for God.
The love of God… and the “power of God” is released thru “the power of the Holy Spirit” whom lives in us”
All those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).
The Holy Spirit still works in and through believers to accomplish His will.
His power leads us, convicts us, teaches us, and equips us to do His work and spread the gospel.
The Holy Spirit’s powerful indwelling is an amazing gift… given by the love of God that we should never take lightly.
Religion focuses on doing things for God.
But true Christianity is all about receiving what Christ has done for us on the cross.
What we do for God is a reflection and a response to what He has done for us.
Lets face it folks… we all love miracles… we just dislike being in a circumstance where we need one.
But that is a precondition… and the love of God unlocks the power of God in our lives to overcome circumstances in our lives.
(2nd Corinthians 5:14) states "For the love of Christ constrains us…”
This verse emphasizes that the love of Christ... is a driving force behind the actions and motivations of
believers.
It suggests that understanding Christ's sacrificial love leads to a transformation in how one lives and
It suggests that understanding Christ's sacrificial love leads to a transformation in how one lives and
interacts with others.
That’s why Paul writes (Romans 12:12) “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer”.
(1st Thessalonians 5:16-18) “Rejoice at all times… pray without ceasing… give thanks in every circumstance… for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
It’s at these times that we witness and experience… “His incomparably great power”
You will never experience the power of God until you’re in a situation that requires it.
If you want to experience the miracle working power of His Spirit… step into a situation that requires His power.
Pursue a God-ordained dream you cannot achieve in your own power, strength and wisdom.
That’s why Paul wrote… “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… His incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18)
That power is the same as the mighty strength He (God) exerted… when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:18-20).
Today, God wants you to experience “his incomparably great power” in your life today.
Power granted through His great love for us… love that causes us to respond to Him in love.
God is good all the time!
Good Day!
That’s why Paul writes (Romans 12:12) “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer”.
(1st Thessalonians 5:16-18) “Rejoice at all times… pray without ceasing… give thanks in every circumstance… for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.
It’s at these times that we witness and experience… “His incomparably great power”
You will never experience the power of God until you’re in a situation that requires it.
If you want to experience the miracle working power of His Spirit… step into a situation that requires His power.
Pursue a God-ordained dream you cannot achieve in your own power, strength and wisdom.
That’s why Paul wrote… “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… His incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18)
That power is the same as the mighty strength He (God) exerted… when he raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:18-20).
Today, God wants you to experience “his incomparably great power” in your life today.
Power granted through His great love for us… love that causes us to respond to Him in love.
God is good all the time!
Good Day!
(Psalm 91:1) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
During World War II… Britain built air-raid shelters to defend against the bombs that were being launched against them by German forces.
Often there were several on the same street.
An English pastor that survived the attacks tells of standing in one of the bunkers that was crowded and full of shelter seekers when the bombs were falling all around.
Turning to a man beside him, he asked, “How come this shelter is so crowded and the others have hardly any people in them”?
The man replied, “Pastor, we all know that you’re a man of God… and if He is going to save anybody… He will probably save you… that’s why we are in this shelter.”
Reflecting on it later, the pastor said, “Many of those people didn’t attend church and the name of Jesus was a swear word in their vocabulary.
They wanted Gods protection… but not His Lordship.”
My friend each of us must each refuse to live that way!
Commit your life to God and enjoy His protective care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year, for your entire life.
The bible says… “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress… my God… in Him I will trust.’
Surely He shall deliver you…He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge…
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you”.
Perhaps your one of those whom want Gods protection and provision yet you balk at giving Him “lordship” over your life…
There are just far to many today that “have a form of religion but deny the power there of” (2nd Timothy 3:5)
They want the blessing of God with out paying the price as it were.
But friend of mine Jesus said… “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you”
It’s one thing to know about God… it’s another to know God.
Knowing God and enjoying His continued care and blessing is only experienced when we “abide in the shadow of the Almighty”.
As we hide under the shadow of His love.
Paul writes to Timothy saying… “In the last days men will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God”.
So ask your self today… do I love God for what I can get out of it… or do I love him for his selfless love and favour for me?
I’m not here to judge you today but I am here to challenge you and help you “take a look at yourself and your motives”
Are you truly one of His… does your speech and your life style betray what you believe and who you belong to?
You’re the only one that can answer that today… but know that He truly wants to build a relationship with you and give you the keys to eternity.
Jesus provided that for you on the cross long ago… and He still provides for you and I as He seated at the right hand of God the father today interceding for you and I… (Romans 8:34)
Good Day!
(Psalm 23:2) ”He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.”
When you find yourself saying, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up”… you may need to change some of your priorities and adjust your lifestyle.
(Psalm 139:14) says… “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”!
Now knowing that God is no respecter of persons and knowing that we were all fashioned by the hand of the creator… we can assume with confidence that the same statement applies to each of us as well!
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made”!
God designed your body to give you warnings when you’re pushing too hard… like an ache here or a pain there.
Unfortunately many of us ignore these warnings until we become too sick to ignore them any longer.
And because we live in the most medicated generation in history, we take prescriptions, pills, and potions… hoping that’s the answer.
But it’s a short-term cure.
We can’t ignore God’s direction to take time to rest and not pay a price for it.
Nobody had a greater purpose or a more important mission than Jesus and His disciples.
Yet He instructed them to take time out for rest and relaxation.
(Mark 6:31) tells us… “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat… so Jesus said to them ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’”.
This verse highlights Jesus invitation to His disciples to take a break from their busy ministry work and find rest in solitude.
It emphasizes the importance of rest and reflection amidst the chaos of life.
I wonder folks.
How many of you reading this devotion today are as guilty as I am of never taking time to rest, recoup, relax and regenerate.
I remember my dad saying to me “I’ll have lots of time to rest when I am in the grave but for now… there is too much to do… gotta make hay while the sun shines”.
I used to live with the fear that if I take time to rest or relax… people might think less of me… or that I am lazy living off of the generosity of others.
Or I used to think that if I take some time off… I’d lose wages or income that I can’t afford to miss out on.
But folks you can’t keep burning both ends of the candle… cause eventually you will burn out.
We should never be so busy that it negatively affects our health and hurts family relationships.
When you find yourself thinking… “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up”… then you are already living an “unsustainable life”.
Stop putting off making the changes you need to make.
Don’t wait until something happens, like a health problem or a family problem that forces you to slow down.
Make changes now to live the kind of life God wants you to live.
When you live God’s way, you will discover a new level of peace in your life… “He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures… He leads me beside still and restful waters.” (Psalm 23:2)
Jesus said “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:28)
There is a rest for the people who trust God.
A rest from striving to survive in this life that grants no favours to most… and a rest from the taskmaster of this world called sin!
(Hebrews 4:9-11) tells us “there is a rest for the people who trust God”
Thank God for His grace!
Everyone burdened by sin and striving to earn salvation through works… should heed Christ’s invitation and accept His rest… breaking free from sin… and placing all hope in His death and resurrection.
Also, believers should recognize that Christ’s yoke is easy.
When we follow His humble guidance by obeying His teachings and following Him… seeking him in every aspect of life… He tells us In (Matthew 6:33) “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you”
What would be added unto us?
Shelter, clothing, food… all the necessities of life that we strive to attain.
(Matthew 11:28) Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your soul”.
Good Day!
.
(Proverbs 3:5-6) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding…In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths”.
God has established a paradigm to help us escape the trap of worry.
It’s a cause-and-effect principle that is real and consistent and as much a part of creation as the laws of gravity.
In a sense its as simple as… “If we will… He will”
There are three direct commands given to the child of God.
They are our responsibility to… “Trust… do not lean… and acknowledge….”
Then God promises to make straight our pathway thru this life with its complicated variables, trials, tests and temptations.
It’s part of a simple declaration of God’s promise,
His part of the covenant He made with humanity… “call on Me and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3)
As we trust Him instead of our own perspectives and opinions, relying on our human worldly wisdom that is manipulated by sin and carnal desire… He promises to “make our paths straight.”
This word picture alludes to the practice of building highways and roads.
When building roads… obstacles have to be removed, valleys, gorges and rough terrain have to be filled… hills have to be leveled, mountains have to be tunneled thru… and pathways have to be cleared.
Figuratively, the phrase means “to facilitate progress” or “to turn plans into reality.”
As we trust God and deepen our personal, experiential knowledge of Him… He will facilitate our progress through life and help us successfully follow the path He has marked out for us
(Psalm 139:16) states “your eyes saw my unformed body… and all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them ever came to be”.
This verse emphasizes Gods intimate knowledge and sovereign care over our lives, highlighting that He is aware of us even before our birth and that He has a plan for each of our days.
It reflects on the themes of Gods omnipotence… His unlimited and very great power.
It reflects as well His omniscience or His ability as God to know everything past present and future… confirming His involvement in our creation and purpose in life.
As I’ve shared many times in the past… “if we will God will”… and He promises that He has a distinct plan for each of our lives.
(Jeremiah 29:11) “For I know the plans that I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and give you a future not plans for evil”
Now that we have analyzed the three vital parts of this Proverb, “Trust… do not lean… and acknowledge…” let’s put the verses back together in an extended paraphrase.
“Throw yourself completely upon the Lord… casting all your cares… both present and future needs on Him… who is your intimate Savior and God… and find in Him your security and safety. Do this with all your mind… and emotions… and will”.
In order to make this possible… you must refuse to trust yourself or support yourself with the crutch of human ingenuity.
Instead... study the Lord.
Learn about His character… discover the difference between His plans for you and the world.
Be amazed by His love and concern for you in each one of your circumstances.
Then He…having been granted full control of your life… will smooth out and make straight your paths, removing obstacles along the way.
That’s His promise in this deal of salvation for humanity.
Again…“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding…In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths”.
Good Day
(Romans 13:14) “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires”.
In a very real sense the Christian life is a “put on.”
In (Romans 13:14) the Apostle Paul instructs believers to… “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires”.
The phrase “put on Christ”… means to figuratively… “clothe oneself with the Lord Jesus Christ”… the purpose being … to reveal the glory of God to the world.
Paul was talking about putting on spiritual clothing.
Those who clothe themselves with the Lord Jesus… are believers who do not focus on gratifying the desires of the sinful nature.
In the preceding verses Paul had encouraged the saints to “wake from sleep” (Romans 13:11-12)… and “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light”.
Paul paints a vivid picture of moving into the new life in Christ… as trading the darkness of night… for the light of day.
As believers… we must not only wake up and throw off or put off our night clothes… but also must get dressed in the appropriate outfit for the new day.
Our “old clothes” were the deeds of darkness… but the proper new daytime attire for the solder of Christ… is God’s armor of light as described in (Ephesians 6:11–18).
The expression “putting on Christ”… occurs again in (Galatians 3:27)
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ… have put on Christ”.
As in (Romans 13:14) “putting on Christ”… speaks of having clothed oneself with a new nature.
A new nature imparted by God… being “born again from above”
(Ephesians 4:24) Believers are taught “to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”
We put on Christ when our old ways are nailed to the cross… and we wear the grace and forgiveness of Jesus… as a glorious garment for all the world to see.
To the church in Colossae, (Colossians 3:10)… Paul echoes the teaching… “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him”.
The spiritual garment no Christian should ever be without… is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Putting on Christ… means letting the Lord be our armor… embracing Him over and over… daily trusting Him in faith, thankfulness, and obedience…
Never to be forsaken of Him, and “always being seen in us”… through our holiness and through our gentleness”.
(Romans 8:29) tells us that “putting on Christ”… means to follow Him in discipleship… letting our lives be transformed and conformed to the image of Jesus
Rather than adapting ourselves to the pattern of this world… we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” and the modification of our behavior… into the model of Christ’s life on earth.
(Romans 12:2) tells us “being transformed by the renewing of our mind”
This transformation… this change requires “putting off the old self and putting on the new” throughout our daily living (Ephesians 4:22–24) and (Colossians 3:12).
To achieve this transformation, (Romans 3:22)… (1st Corinthians 1:30) and (2nd Corinthians 5:21)… tells us… teaches us… that we can rely wholly on “our righteous standing before God”… made possible in Jesus Christ
(Ephesians 2:8) “For by grace ye are saved thru faith and that not of yourselves but it is the gift of God … not of works lest any man should boast about it.
Putting on Christ means abiding in Jesus and living to please Him.
John Wesley described it as… “a strong and beautiful expression… for the most intimate union with Him… and being clothed with all the graces which were in Him”
We are clothed in Christ when we become so closely united with Jesus that others see Him and not us.
We have truly become a reflection of Him.
So yes… Christianity is a put on… and each of us must actively engage in “putting on Christ… the hope of glory”
Good Day!