JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Isaiah 40:3) “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength… they shall mount up with wings as eagles…
In (Psalm 103:5)… God promises to satisfy us with good things so that our youth is renewed… like the eagle.
It is both interesting as well as noteworthy… that eagles are mentioned and used as metaphors to illustrate scriptural truth numerous times in the Bible.
In my research of scripture I have found that the eagle is made mention of some 32 times across 20 different verses in the bible.
Each time it is used as a metaphor to help make or drive home a point concerning Gods strength, concern and care for Israel and the people of God.
After analyzing the 32 verses where the “eagle” is mentioned in the Bible… some clear symbolic themes emerge.
The eagle is portrayed as a swift and powerful bird of prey.
Its ability to swiftly strike from above and guard its young made it an apt metaphor describing in God protecting and disciplining Israel.
These eagle references reveal rich imagery that instills the qualities of strength, nobility, protection, and renewal to this regal bird.
Understanding these characteristics of eagles can help us to understand several biblical truths concerning Gods heart for His people.
Deuteronomy Chapter 32 refers to God as an “eagle fluttering over the young… spreading out His wings and bearing them up on His wings”.
It is a proven fact that the mother eagle will entice her young to follow her out of the nest with
food… the young eaglet will follow after her to the edge of the nest and as it gets more familiar
with “living on the edge of the nest”… it soon finds the instinctiveness to jump and to spread its
wings to learn how to fly.
And the metaphoric truth is… that God wants all of us to follow Him to the edge... to jump and fly
and soar like an eagle above the trials and temptations of this life.
In (Deuteronomy 32:11) the bible uses a metaphor… an illustration where we learn that God is willing to catch us, help us, and carry us until we can indeed… metaphorically fly like an eagle.
In (Exodus 19:4)… God reminds Moses… that “He bore the nation of Israel on eagle’s wings”.
(Psalm (91:4) say “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…
Both of these scriptures describe Gods everlasting concern for His children… from infancy to adult hood... its quite a picture of God’s great power, care, and concern for Israel of old… and you and I today.
Another such case is found in (Psalm 103:5) where it talks about “our youth being renewed as an eagle”.
How is the youth of an eagle renewed?
As eagles age, their feathers become worn and frayed from years of use.
They eventually lose the ability to fly well and hunt prey and the feathers need to be replaced.
Just like the eagle cannot get his new feathers until he gets rid of his old feathers… we too must put off… cast down… or lay aside the old and put on the new.
We must determine mentally… make the choice… that those old things will no longer be a part of our lives… and then we must replace them with what the Bible declares to be our new nature.
For example in (Ephesians 4:25) Paul says to “put away lying and speak every man truth with his neighbor”.
Lying is part of the old nature... speaking the truth is a characteristic of the new nature.
So we can mentally determine to put away lying… we shed those “old feathers” with all of their carnal sinful attributes.
In their place… we make a conscious mental decision to speak truth putting on the new man...
and practice living out the fruit of the Spirit… which Paul describes in (Galatians 5:22-23) as…“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”
These qualities reflect God’s character… and are the behaviours of those living according to God’s Spirit.
In doing so, we can then walk with God unencumbered by the old.
As we shed the old feathers and put on the new in their place… we are renewed like the eagle
We can walk with Him and not faint.
We can run with Him and not be weary.
We can be renewed and mount upor sore like an eagle.
In (Deuteronomy 32:11) the bible uses a metaphor… an illustration where we learn that God is willing to catch us, help us, and carry us until we can indeed… metaphorically fly like an eagle.
In (Exodus 19:4)… God reminds Moses… that “He bore the nation of Israel on eagle’s wings”.
(Psalm (91:4) say “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…
Both of these scriptures describe Gods everlasting concern for His children… from infancy to adult hood... its quite a picture of God’s great power, care, and concern for Israel of old… and you and I today.
Another such case is found in (Psalm 103:5) where it talks about “our youth being renewed as an eagle”.
How is the youth of an eagle renewed?
As eagles age, their feathers become worn and frayed from years of use.
They eventually lose the ability to fly well and hunt prey and the feathers need to be replaced.
Its a process as known as molting.
The molting process begins when the eagle plucks out these old feathers.
At first this can look destructive and painful but it sets the stage for new growth.
Over time fresh, vibrant feathers emerge in place of the shabby old ones.
The eagle’s strength and vigor returns as if they have been made young again.
In the same way, difficult seasons and trials in the spiritual life can feel destructive at first.
But they can pave the way for new depths of faith and intimacy with God if and when properly navigated.
The Psalms remind believers that God promises to continually renew their spiritual fervor.
Even in hard times, they can hope for revitalized passion and power like the youthful soaring of the eagle.
The molting process of the eagle is a great picture of spiritual renewal because it illustrates how God often uses difficulty to strip away old assumptions and habits that hinder our growth.
The molting process begins when the eagle plucks out these old feathers.
At first this can look destructive and painful but it sets the stage for new growth.
Over time fresh, vibrant feathers emerge in place of the shabby old ones.
The eagle’s strength and vigor returns as if they have been made young again.
In the same way, difficult seasons and trials in the spiritual life can feel destructive at first.
But they can pave the way for new depths of faith and intimacy with God if and when properly navigated.
The Psalms remind believers that God promises to continually renew their spiritual fervor.
Even in hard times, they can hope for revitalized passion and power like the youthful soaring of the eagle.
The molting process of the eagle is a great picture of spiritual renewal because it illustrates how God often uses difficulty to strip away old assumptions and habits that hinder our growth.
In a sense... to strip away the old feathers.
Out of the ashes of struggle... new life emerges… with greater vibrancy and strength than before.
By anchoring oneself to God’s faithful promises during the molting seasons of life… believers can experience deep renewal and soar to new heights in their walk with Christ.
The book of Isaiah says that… “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength… they shall mount up with wings as eagles… they shall run and not be weary… and they shall walk and not faint”.
Our “youth”… or specifically… our spiritual walk with God… can be renewed as we shed the old and take on the new.
(Ephesians 4:22-24) tells us to “put off your old selfwhich belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… and put on the new self… created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
There are a number of verses in the New Testament that refer to "putting off and putting on".
We are to put off the old man and put on the new man... (Ephesians 4:22-14)
Out of the ashes of struggle... new life emerges… with greater vibrancy and strength than before.
By anchoring oneself to God’s faithful promises during the molting seasons of life… believers can experience deep renewal and soar to new heights in their walk with Christ.
The book of Isaiah says that… “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength… they shall mount up with wings as eagles… they shall run and not be weary… and they shall walk and not faint”.
Our “youth”… or specifically… our spiritual walk with God… can be renewed as we shed the old and take on the new.
(Ephesians 4:22-24) tells us to “put off your old selfwhich belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt… be renewed in the spirit of your minds… and put on the new self… created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
There are a number of verses in the New Testament that refer to "putting off and putting on".
We are to put off the old man and put on the new man... (Ephesians 4:22-14)
Just like the eagle cannot get his new feathers until he gets rid of his old feathers… we too must put off… cast down… or lay aside the old and put on the new.
We must determine mentally… make the choice… that those old things will no longer be a part of our lives… and then we must replace them with what the Bible declares to be our new nature.
For example in (Ephesians 4:25) Paul says to “put away lying and speak every man truth with his neighbor”.
Lying is part of the old nature... speaking the truth is a characteristic of the new nature.
So we can mentally determine to put away lying… we shed those “old feathers” with all of their carnal sinful attributes.
In their place… we make a conscious mental decision to speak truth putting on the new man...
and practice living out the fruit of the Spirit… which Paul describes in (Galatians 5:22-23) as…“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”
These qualities reflect God’s character… and are the behaviours of those living according to God’s Spirit.
In doing so, we can then walk with God unencumbered by the old.
As we shed the old feathers and put on the new in their place… we are renewed like the eagle
We can walk with Him and not faint.
We can run with Him and not be weary.
We can be renewed and mount upor sore like an eagle.
We become "more than conquerors in Christ" (Romans 8:37)
Good day!
Good day!
(Psalm 118:24) “This is the day the Lord has made… we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
I recall reading the following somewhere and felt that it is applicable to my thoughts this morning.
“One of the strategies I employ each day is to block out enough time so that I’m not thinking of what I have to do next.
I find it best to wait until I can invest more than a few minutes in being with someone… so that the person/individual is not frustrated with my divided attention and tight schedule.”
There are so many distractions in the lives we are living today.
Distractions that rob us of time with others… time that we may not have tomorrow.
If you keep robbing your loved ones of time, there may come a day when they have no time for you.
Ask yourself, “Is this person worth more to me than the plan, project, problem, or pressure I’m dealing with?”
Learn to enjoy the moment and focus on the person you’re with.
Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to answer with more than a yes or no.
Listen carefully, ask additional questions and offer your opinion less.
This helps people feel you are engaging with them and caring about their replies.
You may be tempted to let your mind wander and let your thoughts flit into the future for a few seconds, but instantly push them back into the present by rejecting those concerns.
As I have said before… people don’t really care about how much you know as much as they want to know how much you care
When it comes to loving others… you need to focus and concentrate, concentrate, concentrate.
There is great pleasure in doing this after you get used to it.
As I am getting older I find that I enjoy listening… more than I do offering my own opinion.
It’s helped me become more sympathetic to the plight of others and thankful for the blessing of God that I have been allowed to experience as I… “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
Remember the great Commandment of our Lord… “Love the Lord your God with all you heart… with all your mind… with all your soul… and you neighbour as yourself”.
(James 4:14) tells us that life is a vapour… a mist that is here for a little while and vanishes.
Your loved ones… your friends… live with them in the moment… because you may not have that moment tomorrow.
This is the day… now is the time.
Good Day!
(2nd Corinthians 2:12) “A door was opened to me by the Lord.”
I once read an article sometime ago that said… “People who study entrepreneurs say they excel in something called ‘opportunity alertness.’
They look at the same circumstances as everyone else, but they ‘notice, opportunities that have hitherto been overlooked.’
They are ‘alert, waiting, continually receptive to something that may turn up.’”
Paul was such a person... He says “I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel… and a door was opened to me by the Lord”
He practiced “divine opportunity alertness.”
For Paul, walking through the doors God opened often led to hardship.
But you have to remember it was God that called Paul to this task, and these open doors of hardship were the foundation building blocks for the early church to grow.
However… they also led to great achievement.
Open doors don’t come with a meticulous set of instructions about precisely what you should do and exactly what will occur as a result.
To discover what’s on the other side of the open door, you have to go through it.
Will you experience fear… doubt?
Any time you attempt the untried, the unknown, and undone… you will experience a certain amount of apprehension, trepidation, worry doubt and fear.
That’s when you need to remind yourself that whatever awaits you on the other side of that door… God will be there.
Here are two things you need to keep in mind.
First, sometimes an open door doesn’t signify going to someplace
new… it can mean recognizing a new and previously undetected opportunity in an old place.
Second, open doors never exist solely for the advantage of the people offered them.
They are an opportunity to bless others (Genesis 12:1-3).
In (Genesis chapter 12), we find Abram, later known as Abraham, receiving a divine call from God.
The scene is set in the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia, where Abram lived with his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot.
One day God speaks to Abram, instructing him to leave his homeland, his relatives, and his father’s household, and to go to a land that God will show him.
This divine call marks the beginning of a significant journey for Abram … and sets the stage for the unfolding of God’s plan for him and his descendants.
Abram, Sarai, and Lot find themselves in a moment of decision and faith as they stand at the crossroads of obedience to God’s call.
The surroundings are likely bustling with the activities of daily life in Ur, but in the midst of it all… Abram hears the voice of God calling him to a new and unknown future…an open door if you will.
The scene is filled with tension, anticipation, and a sense of divine purpose as Abram contemplates leaving behind everything familiar to follow God’s leading.
As Abram responds in faith to God’s call... he sets out on a journey that will ultimately lead him to the land of Canaan where God promises to bless him and make him into a great nation.
This pivotal moment in Abram’s life sets the stage for the unfolding of God’s covenant with him and the fulfillment of God’s promises to bless all the nations of the earth through his descendants.
An open door never exists for your benefit alone.
Imagine the courage it must have taken for Abram to leave his country, his family, and all that was familiar to him, solely based on God’s promise.
It challenges us to reflect on our own faith journey.
Are we willing to step out in faith, even when we cannot see the full picture or know what the future holds?
This story from the life of Abram encourages us to have faith like Abram… to trust in God’s promises… and to be willing to follow His leading.
Even if it means leaving behind what is comfortable and familiar.
It’s a powerful reminder that when we take that leap of faith, God is faithful to fulfill His promises and lead us towards His blessings and purposes for our lives.
Has God opened a door for you?
If He has, don’t hesitate or vacillate… walk through it!
Good day!
Proverbs 24:32) “When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction.”
King Solomon is considered one of the wisest men who ever lived.
He wrote three books in the Bible and is quoted regularly.
He was a life-long learner and seeker of truth.
My text this morning sums up His motivation for life… “When I saw it, I considered it well… I looked on it and received instruction.”
Note the words “I considered it well.”
That should be your fixed attitude in life as well.
God’s plan for you is to keep learning, changing, growing, and maturing until you draw your last breath.
And that means always being open-minded to the things of God.
Consider the Pharisees.
They were 100 percent committed to their belief system.
They were also the best-educated people in society.
Yet they resisted Jesus and the truth He shared at every turn.
Why… for three very common reasons?
(1) Pride… their thinking was… “If what Jesus says is right, that makes us wrong.”
(2) Security… “If we accept what He is teaching, what will happen to our reputation and our income?”
(3) Tradition… “We have believed and done things this way for generations.”
Can you see where we’re going with this line of thought?
And can you see how it may apply to your life?
One pastor said, “It’s good to be saved and sanctified, as long as you are not saved, sanctified, and stuck!”
Spiritual growth requires two things… a hunger for truth and the humility to acknowledge that you still have more to learn.
Those are two qualities that God always honours.
“The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way” (Psalm 25:9).
It is absolutely imperative that we stay open minded when it comes to the truth of God Word.
If you haven’t learned it by now... you need to know that the ways of God can be so different from the ways of our humanistic carnal society of today.
In fact God says in (Isaiah 55:9) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are higher than your ways”.
And from the book of (Proverbs 14:12) and again in (Proverbs 16:25) King Solomon writes… “there is a way which seems right to man… but its the way of death”.
Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life”… if your not open to His way and His will and His plans… your going to have a difficult time in your journey of faith.
So always be open-minded to the things of God.
Good Day!
(Psalm 118:24) “This is the day the Lord has made… we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
I recall reading the following somewhere and felt that it is applicable to my thoughts this morning.
“One of the strategies I employ each day is to block enough time so that I’m not thinking of what I have to do next.
I find it best to wait until I can invest more than a few minutes in being with someone… so that the person is not frustrated with my divided attention and tight schedule.”
There are so many distractions in the lives we are living today.
Distractions that rob us of time with others… time that we may not have tomorrow.
If you keep robbing your loved ones of time, there may come a day when they have no time for you.
Ask yourself, “Is this person worth more to me than the plan, project, problem, or pressure I’m dealing with?”
Learn to enjoy the moment and focus on the person you’re with.
Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to answer with more than a yes or no.
Listen carefully, ask additional questions and offer your opinion less.
This helps people feel you are engaging with them and caring about their replies.
You may be tempted to let your mind wander and let your thoughts flit into the future for a few seconds, but instantly push them back into the present by rejecting those concerns.
As I have said before… people don’t really care about how much you know as much as they want to know how much you care
When it comes to loving others… you need to focus and concentrate, concentrate, concentrate.
There is great pleasure in doing this after you get used to it.
As I am getting older I find that I enjoy listening… more than I do offering my own opinion about the various issues of life that others are dealing with.
It’s helped me become more sympathetic to the plight of others and thankful for the blessing of God that I have been allowed to experience as I… “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
Remember the great Commandment of our Lord… “Love the Lord your God with all you heart… with all your mind… with all your soul… and you neighbour as yourself”.
(James 4:14) tells us that life is a vapour… a mist that is here for a little while and vanishes.
Your loved ones… your friends… live with them in the moment… because you may not have that moment tomorrow.
This is the day… now is the time.
Good Day!
(1st Corinthians 16:9) “A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
The New Living Translation states Paul’s words this way: “There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.”
This verse reminds us that God is in control and can open doors that no one can shut.
It speaks of God’s power to make a way for us to carry out His plans, even in the face of obstacles or resistance.
It’s a message of hope and encouragement, affirming that God’s will cannot be thwarted by human opposition.
This verse is a powerful reminder that God is bigger than any opposition we may face.
It encourages us to trust in His sovereignty and remain faithful in our service, knowing that He can and will open doors for us to be effective in our ministry work.
So, as you encounter challenges or resistance in your service to God, remember this verse and be encouraged that God is always at work, opening doors for His purposes to be fulfilled.
In doing the will of God, you should anticipate opposition from those who are not privy to what God has shared with you or instructed you to do.
Indeed, if you are accepted and applauded wherever you go, you should re-examine either the assignment you believe God has given you… or the way in which you are carrying it out.
Because one way or another… if you are committed to fulfilling the will of God… you will experience opposition, testing trials and yes in some cases (most cases) hardship!
But hold on now… you might be thinking didn’t Jesus say that His yoke was easy?
Yes, and He was talking about a comfortable-fitting yoke around the neck of a hardworking ox that plowed from morning until night.
The work was hard, but the yoke was comfortable.
That means when God calls you to do something difficult, He will provide you with the grace and resources to do it.
And remember… the attack of the enemy could be seen as a sign of respect.
It means you represent a threat to the kingdom of darkness… and as you get closer to your God-given goal… you need to realize that the way, the fight, the task, will get harder and harder to complete.
You can expect Satan’s attack to intensify.
But there is good news.
The intensity of the attack is an indicator of the blessing God has for you on the other side of the attack.
And one more thought.
Your greatest rewards will not come in this life… but in the life to come.
And that’s good because they won’t just be temporal, they will be eternal.
A hymnist wrote, “To him that over cometh a crown of life shall be… He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.”
Come on… the doors open… God has a task for you to fulfill that you were designed specifically by God to fulfill…
And with your hand in His… you can do this… don’t let fear intimidation and doubt stop you…
You are more than a conqueror in Christ! (Romans 8:37)
Good Day
(Revelation 3:8) “I have set before you an open door.”
In seeking to know God’s will, there are two things you should never do.
First, when the door is closed, don’t get impatient and force it open.
Second, don’t try to create your own door.
To succeed in what God has called you to do, follow the “open door policy.”
The Bible describes it this way…
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write… ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens'.
I know your works.
See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.
For you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name’” (Revelation 3:7-8)
Who does God open doors for?
(1) People who “have a little strength.”
This verse carries a powerful message of divine promise and opportunity emphasizing that God is aware of their efforts and is ready to guide them towards new beginnings and success.
Your mistakes don’t disqualify you as long as you’re willing to learn from them.
Your inadequacies don’t limit God if you allow them to make you more dependent on Him.
(2) People who “have kept My word.”
The people God opens doors for are governed by this guiding principle… “Whatever God’s Word says about it, that’s what I’m going to think, believe, and do.”
If it’s not on God’s blueprint, don’t build it. If it’s not in God’s recipe book, don’t mix it in.
(3) People who “have not denied My name.”
Regardless of rejection or ridicule, these people speak boldly about the things they value most in life, including their relationship with Jesus.
The obvious implication for the believers at Philadelphia… was to make the most of the opportunity that an open door would provide.
So to... Believes today ought also to be alert to the stewardships and opportunities that God provides us.
We should not waste the open doors that Jesus has opened.
We should appreciate that they have come from the One who has authority to provide those opportunities… and because the Lord has provided them,...they are important.
Let’s make the most of them!
Could it be that God has opened some doors of opportunity before you to walk thru… but doubt, hesitation, and fear of the unknown is keeping you from walking thru or following the Spirit into the unknown.
Know this… that God will not lead you where He cannot keep you!
He says… "I will never leave you or forsake you… I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth". (Hebrews 13:5)
God does not want you and I to live a life of “same old same old”.
The one thing that we are all guilty of us... is the love of living comfortable… and some times when walking thru open doors it may be uncomfortable for a season.
But new blessings are not found when we want to cling to the same old same old and the comfortable that we are familiar with.
Its only in letting go of the past and pressing forward through open doors of opportunity… that we experience the fulfillment of hopes and dreams that we have harbored in our hearts.
The Bible says in the book of (Hebrews 11:1) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for… the evidence not seen”
Know that you will never see the evidence of things hoped for... until you are ready and willing to walk through the open door of God.
He is standing on the other side of it ready to bless you and bring to fulfillment... all of His plans and promises that He has made in His word toward you and I.
Good day!