Living In An Unstable World Part 2
Keep A Soft Heart
Are you feeling discouraged and need someone to pray for you?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EST.
Do you notice how easy it is to get a hard heart? God’s value system is so often in direct contrast to the values of our world.
God knows that our hearts will be pulled in directions away from Him. He also knows that when we go with that pull we will find our hearts hardening. We will become aware of a nagging sense of dissatisfaction and impatience with life and with those around us. He cautions us…
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3: 12 & 13).
Many times we don’t even notice the hard crust that settles around our hearts.
We compromise in “little” things and think it won’t matter. Yet for the believer, there is inner frustration when we allow things into our hearts and minds that we know are in contrast to God. When we ignore that we find our heart moving toward unbelief. God calls us to be vigilant about keeping our heart soft. It’s not always easy but it is always worth it.
1) Keep tabs on sin in your life. It slows down your reflex to God.
Be sensitive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit in your life. Don’t cancel out the warning when your conscience bothers you. It’s easy to justify “small” wrong doings as we live in this world’s economy. Yet the toll it takes on a believer’s heart is simply not worth the momentary satisfaction.
2) Guard your heart against unbelief.
If you find yourself justifying wrong doing and telling yourself it’s just small or it’s justified because of someone else’s actions toward you … be careful. This path will take you down a road of unbelief. The joy and blessing comes in the obedience to the ways of God. He warns us that these compromises are deceitful and the end is a hard heart.
3) Don’t blame God in the midst of hard times.
Run to God when the storms of life come. Let His arms of comfort enfold you. Let His Spirit empower you with wisdom and help from God as you ask Him about each step in the midst of difficult days.
4) Give encouragement daily and seek it as well.
We sharpen each other’s faith as we share together.
Father God,
Keep my heart soft. Don’t let me allow sin to slow down my reflex to You. I need You in my life. Increase my faith and help me to encourage someone else today to stay firm in their faith too. Guide me and hold me close to Your heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: What steps can you take you keep your heart soft to God’s leading? What happens in ones life that causes one’s heart to become insensitive to God’s guidance?
About the Author Gail Rogers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Praising God for Answered Prayer, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Wise Men Came
Who or what are you following this New year? Would you like to talk to someone about how you can follow Christ more closely?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EST.
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…Magi came from the East…” (Matthew 1:1).
They came to our door every January 6th during our 15 years in Germany. Three boys dressed in robes to resemble a regal status, paper crowns with somewhat tarnished gilt edges, a tall staff in one hand and a tin cup in the other. They sang a traditional song which told of the visit’s purpose: collecting money for the less fortunate.
These kings came to collect. Their forebears traveled far to give. The original Wise Men—likely pagan astrologers or magicians—made a long trek to find and worship One about whom they knew little, just that he was to be king.
Although they figure prominently in every Christmas scene, we know so little about them. Only that they followed a star, were undeterred in their quest, gave extravagant gifts and worshipped the Christ.
What about us at the beginning of this New Year? What or whom am I following? How faithful is my search for truth? What gifts am I prepared to give as symbols of my worship of the Christ? Will I one day be called a Wise Woman?
The Christmas tree is down, the decorations packed away, the candles extinguished. But the call to follow the Star of Bethlehem, to worship the King is ever present. Help me,God, to not only search for you but be confident in the truth that You can be found.
Questions: What search have I been on in recent months? What new discoveries have I made about God?
About the Author Marilyn Ehle
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Religion Renewed, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Joy Every Day
Is your life full of pain and you have lost your joy a long time ago? We care and want to pray for you.
While a prisoner in Rome, Paul wrote the Philippians a letter that sounds like a shout of victory. Its theme is joy and rejoicing in the Lord.
Paul knew the secret of victory over anxiety and depression. After telling the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always, he advised them not to worry about anything, but to bring everything in prayer to the Lord with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). Thus, instead of being worried and depressed, the Christian would have God’s peace (4:7).
Paul was well acquainted with victory through rejoicing in the Lord. When he and Silas were evangelizing in Philippi, they were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned.
In chains in the rat-infested dungeon, they prayed and sang praises to the Lord. Suddenly an earthquake shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open; the prisoners were loosed from their shackles.
Similarly, we are loosed from the shackles of depression, anxiety, fears, and worries as we pray and rejoice in the Lord. For how can the flesh keep us down when we are up in the Spirit?
If you rejoice in the Lord every morning, think what a difference it would make in your life. Practice this when you awaken. Tell the Lord you love Him. Then thank and praise Him for every blessing you can think of. Thank Him for who He is. Rejoicing in the Lord will soon be a habit.
The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say I again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
Heavenly Father,
When rejoicing feels foreign in my circumstances I ask that Your Holy Spirit would remind me to choose thankfulness. Help me to focus on who You are and on Your strength and might and wisdom that is available to me. Today I WILL rejoice in You, my God and my Savior. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Questions: What difficult circumstances are keeping you from rejoicing in the Lord today? How can you turn from feeling downhearted to rejoicing even though the circumstances have not changed?
About the Author Dr Muriel Larson
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Package, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Gentle and Humble
Would you like to be more gentle and humble? Here is an Online Bible Study about knowing Jesus better and learning to be more like Him.
“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29, NLT).
If anyone has the right to NOT be humble, it’s Jesus. This is the guy who fed thousands with just a loaf of bread and a fish, turned water into wine, walked on water, and raised people from the dead. Not a good enough resume? How about this: Through Him all things were made, and from Him all the light that shines emanates! (John 1)
Jesus is God, but nevertheless He “gave up his divine privileges” and “took the humble position of a slave” (Philippians 2:7).
Jesus also has the right to NOT be gentle as he looks around and sees such immorality and lack of faith in the world. Jesus sighed in exasperation at the lack of faith that he saw around him. (Mark 8:12) Yet Jesus is rightly described as being “gentle and humble in heart”. (Matthew 11:29)
We may have many reasons to be proud. Perhaps we have a successful business, or have been blessed with a wonderful family, or have been gifted with a special talent in music or art. Despite this we must remain humble, because “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
And we may have many reasons to be ruthless. Maybe someone treated us unfairly, or we’ve had a really bad day. But “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
The path to humility and gentleness is clear. The signs all point in the same direction: Allow Jesus to teach us to become more like Him. “I have set you an example,” says Jesus, “that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). It may not happen overnight… or over many nights. But by diligently remaining focused on God’s Word and patiently pondering the life of Christ, it will certainly, perhaps little by little, begin to happen. You too can become humble and gentle at heart.
Father God,
Teach me to be more like you. May I be humble and gentle today in my dealings with others. Amen.
Questions: What does “being humble at heart” mean to you?
About this Author Darren Hewer
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Help That’s Really Help, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
What Really Matters in Life?
Are you hurting? Feeling sad, lonely or desperate? Do you struggle with thoughts of suicide?
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.” With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that was devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months.
Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.
As I read his book, I found it inspiring and causing me to think about what I would say under a similar assignment. Throughout history people have tried to determine what really matters in life. Socrates said it was knowledge; Aristotle said self realization and Epicurus said it was pleasure. I know that for me it is a moving target. What mattered to be in my younger years and especially before I became a Christian are totally different from what matters now.
Years back, I would focus on the material things….Power, position and possessions. But now my focus is on family, faith friends and relationships. As Paul said to the church at Corinth, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Randy’s last lecture was like that. It was a one of a kind lecture that made the world stop and pay attention. Knowing he had only weeks to live, he said ““We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
As I read his book I thought, what wisdom would I impart to the world if I knew it was my last chance? If I knew I was going to vanish tomorrow, what would I want as my legacy? Randy’s lecture was not about dying; it was about living…. living a life that really leaves a legacy and one that makes a difference for the better in the lives of people left behind. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment because “time is all you have…and you may find one day that you have less than you think.” It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.
The older I get, the more I realize that it’s the little things that count, but little things can move mountains when they inspire and motivate people.
Lord, help me to focus less on this life and more on the life to come.
Questions: What is priority in your life today? Does God fit into your dreams for the future?
About the Author John Grant
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The One and Only, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Little Choices
Do you desperately want to make some changes for the New Year but don’t know how? Some of the mentors on this site would love to pray for you.
The tiny wrinkles around my eyes seemed to appear almost overnight. One day I was very aware of them and knew I had better get that eye cream I was hearing about. I’d better try the “triple action”! I was amazed at the results…and in such a short time! This was good.
The waistband on my jeans felt tight. Could it be those wonderful cappuccinos I was regularly enjoying? I was amazed at the results… and in such a short time! This was not good.
I didn’t like the sand paper edge that seemed to spring up in a friendship of mine. I asked the Lord for patience and grace to bite my tongue. I was amazed at the results… and in such a short time! This was good.
Little decisions or changes peppered throughout the day push the edge of results to the negative or the positive.
It’s the same in your spiritual journey. Little changes… conscious little choices that push your walk with God in one direction or another. Little choices to let God in or to hold Him at a distance. Little choices of attitude; little choices of purity in thoughts or choices of entertainment. Little choices. Invite Him into them. You will be amazed at the results… and in such a short time!
“Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
This New Year don’t make grand resolutions that will fade in a few short weeks. Choose daily to let God be a part of the little choices…choose to be amazed …and in such a short time!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You can create what is right and good in this heart of mine. Thank you that I can count on You to renew a right attitude within me. I am not making grand New Year’s resolutions that will fade, but I am asking You to help me make the right daily choices in the little things of life. I want to be changed in this New Year. I want You to renew right attitudes in me daily. Amaze me with the results, Father, as You guide me in the small things of my day. Thank you that I can face this New Year with freshness and anticipation because You are holding my hand! You will help me in the little things of life. For this I give You my praise! In Jesus name I pray, Amen
Questions: What changes do you feel need to happen in your life? Are you allowing God to be part of your daily little choices …your New Year’s resolutions?
About the Author Gail Rogers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Principles of Prosperity, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
A Different Kind of Resolution
Has your world shattered and left you with no hope for the coming New Year? Would you like to talk with someone?
Kathy thought about the approaching New Year as she filed away the boxes of last year’s paperwork. There were things she would like to do differently in this new year. Oh, there were the usual things most of her friends were claiming as their New Year’s Resolutions:
• Lose weight
• Stop smoking
• Take more time for relationships
• Set goals
The list went on. The office was filled with laughter and the prospect of hope for change that a new year would bring. Yet Kathy knew, in a week or so, the chatter would turn to the broken resolutions and very few of the hoped for changes would become a reality.
She wanted something more for her life.
That night Kathy picked up her Bible and read Psalm 25. It was full of hope and an expectation of change that only God could bring to her life. She read it through a couple of times and underlined some verses that seemed to jump off the page, bringing fresh hope to her heart.
“Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long” (Psalm 25:4&5).
The second time she read it through it struck her… here was her New Year’s resolution!
This would be the prayer of her heart everyday in this New Year. She grabbed a recipe card and wrote out the words, letting them soak into her soul. This was the change she wanted in her life…to keep her focus daily on the path God wanted her to walk in hope and in faith.
Take a little time over the next few days and read through Psalm 25 yourself. Consider reading it every day for a week and ask God to make the promise of hope come alive to your heart. Write verse 4 & 5 on a card or a stickie note and place it where you will see it regularly. Memorize it and let it soak into your soul and change your life.
Father God,
Thank you for the promise of hope You bring to my heart and my life. I do lift up my soul and my life to You now. I want to trust in You more fully this year. Tune my ears to hear Your voice more clearly. Teach me Your path and guide me in Your truth. In these changing days I need to discern Your ways for me. Help me to put my hope in You, not just occasionally or when I am in a hard place, but every day all day long. Thank you that You are God, my Savior! I ask this in the strong name of Jesus, amen.
Questions: What are your resolutions for the coming New Year? Take some time to read Psalm 25 and use some of those ideas to help you with your resolutions.
About this Author Gail Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Walking with Integrity, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Releasing Your Regrets
Are you hanging on to your regrets? Talk to a mentor about that.
“People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 (NLT).
How often do you play the “if only” game?
• If only I had it to do over.
• If only I had listened sooner.
• If only I could erase the past.
• If only I could forgive myself.
Because no one is perfect, we all have regrets. We’ve all made bad choices, said foolish things, wasted time, and hurt ourselves and others.
How do you release those regrets?
Here are some strategies that don’t work:
1. We bury them. Burying the past doesn’t work. Like creatures from a horror movie, unresolved regrets come back to haunt us over and over. Minimizing (“It wasn’t a big deal”), rationalizing (“Everyone does it”), and compromising (lowering your standards) are ways we try to bury our regrets.
2. We blame others. This tactic is as old as Adam and Eve. When Adam sinned, he took it like a man – he blamed his wife! We use blame to balance out our guilt.
3. We beat ourselves. We try to pay for our guilt unconsciously through illness, depression, setting ourselves up for failure, and other forms of self-punishment. The problem with beating up on yourself is this: your conscience never knows when to stop! Many spend their entire lives in self-condemnation.
What does God want me to do with my regrets?
• Admit my guilt. Own up to it. Don’t make excuses. The Bible says, “People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NLT).
• Accept Christ’s forgiveness. He’s waiting to clean your slate. Ask him to clear your conscience, and then remember “there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT).
• Forgive yourself and focus on the future. “Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19 HCSB).
Questions: Are there things from your past that you need to let go of? That you need to hand over to God? Try the steps given above for getting over your regrets.
About this Author Rick Warren
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Promises and the Promiser, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Can we Skip Christmas?
Are you in a desperate situation? Are you in absolute despair? If you just need a listening ear, we invite you to share with us.
The smell of freshly baked gingerbread came from the kitchen and the lights on the tree glowed as I sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the moment. But it hasn’t always been this way. There was a time when I simply did not want to have Christmas at all.
Just dragging the tree out and decorating the house left me feeling like my body was encased in cement. Here was a season of hope and I felt numb. I could hardly wait to package up the tree, box up the decorations and put them in storage. I could always try and imagine that the New Year would be better.
For some, Christmas time is a hard season. Hurtful memories and reminders come from childhood memories, an unfaithful spouse, a broken home, a death, still waiting to conceive a child, or a loved one fighting for our country. Whatever the reason, the feeling sits in the pit of the stomach.
I can’t candy coat it. We have to realize the reality for what it is. Yet I can say, because I‘ve been there, that there is hope! I believe it…I’ve lived it! Your life, your walk may seem in despair today … but from my heart to yours… I know YOU CAN DO THIS! This isn’t the time to throw in the towel or give up.
May I share 3 things with you that I learned in my journey through days of despair?
1. Don’t give up!
Believe that there is a very special reason you are here. Do you know that a God of Love created you, very specifically? Listen to these verses from Psalm 139: 13, 14, 16b (CEV), “You are the One who put me together inside my mother’s body and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt….even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.”
God believes in YOU. He took the time to specially create your own DNA and place you on planet earth. Outside circumstances come into our lives that are not marvelous, but it doesn’t change the fact that God wants us to move ahead. He wants to walk with us through the hard parts. He thinks you are that important and now is the time to start believing it.
You have a gift to open this Christmas. It is spelled with 4 letters — H O P E. You can’t put a price on that. It is the gift God want to give you.
2. Don’t forget to take care of yourself!
When hopelessness threatens to swallow you do something for yourself that will encourage you. In times of despair for me I went to the library for books, went for a walk to think or pray, started to make a list of goals and dreams, or simply changed my furniture around. You will find what is healthy just for you. A friend gave me a journal book and I started to write down some thoughts and tried to put things in perspective. Maybe it is time to set an appointment to see your medical doctor. Take care of YOU! You are cherished by God who made you His treasure. The Psalmists continues to say in Psalm 139: 24b…”but lead me in the way that time has proven true.” Grab hold of God’s heart. He really does care and wants to walk you through this. HOLD ON!!!!
3. Don’t be exclusive!
One of the easiest things is to curl up and let the world around go on without us. It feels like you can’t deal with anything. I know. That is when you need to reach out for help. I had to do that and now I am blessed with some good memories and some new dreams started. One Christmas when I was alone I helped at a dinner where people came who had nowhere to go. It helped to reach out to others. In the quietness of your room allow yourself the freedom to grieve. Just don’t stay there. It is ok to ask for help. Reach out.
Life can sometimes seem very low but don’t give up. There is always Hope. Circumstances may not change right away, but the gift of God’s Hope and His peace is forever.
Psalm 119: 142-144 (CEV) “You will always do right, and your teachings are true. I am in deep distress, but I love your teachings. Your rules are always fair. Help me to understand them and live”.
Today my body doesn’t feel like cement, and even though there are still scars and hurtful memories, they don’t control me. God has taken the deep distress of those hard days and did as He promised in His Word: “He always does right” and brings new life out of the broken pieces.
From my heart to yours …please never give up. There is hope. Grab hold of it offered from the hand of God and watch your journey begin.
YOU CAN DO THIS!
Questions: Are you struggling with painful memories right now? What will be your first step you can take to help you get out of your despair?
About his Author Linda Goodhand Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Challenge to End Well, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Home for Christmas
Has your world shattered and left you with no hope for your marriage?
“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
When my daughter was four we had an opportunity to live in England for 9 months. It was a wonderful experience. Our assignment was up in December so we packed up our household to ship it back to the States; packed a suitcase for each of us and headed off to Germany to visit some friends we had made during a work assignment before our daughter was born. We celebrated an early English Christmas with our new friends in England and then celebrated an early German/American Christmas with our friends in Germany.
As it turned out, we arrived in the USA on Christmas Eve with no luggage and no rental car. We were all very travel weary and not too happy to be “stranded” with what we had on our persons and not many options available on Christmas Eve to get some basics such as clean underwear, pajamas, etc. The airline and motel graciously gave us toothbrushes, etc but most stores are not open on Christmas Day so we were stuck. We had planned to take a rental car to visit my family but there were no rental cars to be had that Christmas Eve. Somehow our reservation got lost.
We dragged our travel weary bodies to a nice hotel near the airport and decided to make the best of things. My brother offered to come and get us but we turned down his offer not wanting to disrupt his holiday with a long road trip.
Christmas morning we treated ourselves to a nice breakfast at the hotel dining room. On the way back to our room, I was overcome with nausea and spent the rest of the day flat in bed.
Here we were on Christmas day with no change of clothes, no family, no tree, and no gifts for my daughter. Rather than get upset, I decided to count my blessings. We were safe, we had just had an adventure of a lifetime, we had good food to eat, a nice place to stay and our basic needs were met. How many people in the world would gladly change places with us at that moment?
Later that day the car rental company found a car for us, I was feeling better and the weather was just perfect for heading north so before the day was over we were able to be with my family for this special day.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Christmas is a special time but it isn’t about gifts, decorations and all the external things. Christmas is realizing that Jesus came to bring us hope…not just a fleeting hope…but a genuine hope that He will work all things together for good to them who are called according to his purpose. He promised to supply our needs and He did. What more could I need or want?
Father God,
Thank you for the promise of Your provision. Even when things don’t look hopeful help me to anticipate Your help and strength and to see Your blessings where I am today. In Your name, amen.
Questions: How do you respond when things don’t go according to plan?
About this Author: Joyce Gardenour
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, 24-Hour Faith, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
