April 1: Ezekiel 37:21-23
Key Verse: Ezekiel 37:22
I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
Devotion:
I sometimes wonder what the prophets thought when they were told by God they had to deliver good or bad news – often news which the people would find hard to understand or believe. God will always try to give us a good path to follow, but because we live in the world and are bound by earthly rules and regulations, we often get lost before we can go in the direct God wants us to.
The people of Israel were caught up in many different things because they were in a new country and they were split up into groups or factions; not because they wanted to fight but because of their own desires to be in their own tribal areas. Each group was now in a different area and they no longer had the common focus of following the cloud of smoke or the pillar of light. Instead all manner of things were gaining their attention...
When we focus on things outside of our lives with God we are going to get persuaded from time to time to go off on a tangent to the way God wants us to walk. This is the temptations of the world and the evil one will do all he can to try and make those temptations as big and appealing as possible!
God’s intention was to make Israel an example to the world so people would be encouraged to find God in amongst the failings of the world. Jesus came to open the doors so we can all find a way of avoiding the worldly things. We still have that direction and as disciples we should be the example through which people can see Christ rather than the world!
Points to Ponder:
What sort of example are you in your community?
Will you try to reflect Jesus’ light more in your community?
March 31: Psalm 18:1-6
Key Verse: Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
Devotion:
I love reading the Psalms because of the connection I feel through the words of king David; and not it is not because we share the same name! Each of us have had to face things in our lives, some more terrible and feared than others, but still we have had to face things. This is not God tempting us or keeping us on track, this is the evil one working his own ways to try and keep us away from our God in Heaven!
The psalmist starts off by declaring his love to God and reminding us all God alone is the Rock upon which we can stand. I don’t know if you have ever stood in sinking sand but it is a feeling which you will probably not forget: the feeling of a slow impending doom as you literally feel like you are being sucked into the ground every time you move. You feel like there is nothing you can do for yourself, but someone standing close by can be your saviour.
Christ came to be our Saviour, to be the one who can stop the impending doom of the results of our sins in our lives. The more we sin, the more we seem to sink deeper into the evil ones territory. Quite simply standing still and waiting for God is the best you can do. You don’t have to stand quietly and do nothing. You can call out and plead with God – because He is listening!
As the psalmist puts it: “I called to the Lord… and He heard my voice!” This is what sets Him apart from everything else in this world. When we call, God listens and He will answer. If we need Him, He will come. We are more valued than the sparrows, the ones who are taken care of by God, the ones who fly freely in the air and feed on the seeds provided by God and drink the water provided by Him too.
Points to Ponder:
What do you do when there is trouble ahead?
Will you call out to Him and wait?
March 30: John 8:51-59
Key Verse: John 8:53
Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?’
Devotion:
What sort of things do you cling to in your life? Do you always make sure you do a particular thing every day, or make sure you always go to sleep at a particular time? There are many things we do in our lives and some of them give us comfort because we get used to doing them. The people of Israel had got used to doing things in a particular manner because they tried to obey what God had said. Unfortunately what they were actually doing was upholding their rules and regulations more than what God was asking of them!
We too can get caught up in earthly things and lose sight of the things God is trying to get us to do. As disciples of Christ we should be always willing to listen to Him and accept any changes He has for us in our lives – after all He is the one who knows us best of all!
The Pharisees continued to make sure the people followed their rules, making a few of their own along the way to keep people in line with what they thought God meant. There-in lies another issue we have. We like to think we know God and we make up rules or ways of doing things because we think we know what God wants for everyone. The only people we can really apply that to is our own selves. God tells us what he wants, from us, as an individual.
We are all different and we are all made unique. God does not expect us to all be the same and do everything the same way. He wants us to live our lives for Him and be encouraged to be individuals for and with Him. Don’t be limited by what the world says or what the world does – God has His own plan for you as an individual.
Points to Ponder:
Do you listen to God?
How do you share what God says to you?
March 29: Psalm 56:1-7
Key Verse: Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Devotion:
One of the biggest things we face in life is peer pressure and this is at its worst when seen through gossip and social media! Who could have dreamt how such a fun-filled idea could possible turn into ones worst nightmare? I think I have been very fortunate not to get embroiled in too much gossip and social media hates in my life, but I know some people who have been on the constant receiving end just because they are different!
God has made each one of us different and has designed a place in this world for us to be; how we go about getting to that safe place with Him is where the issues have to be faced because we are all different. What one person does may not suit another person and that should be fine. Christ teaches us to love our neighbours, the people around us; but still we face the onslaught!
One of the things I have always tried to teach my family and my friends is that God is the one who is in control and He is not bound by the gossip or social media or anything else for that matter. When we feel overwhelmed we should be reaching out to Him in person. Does that mean we have to be careful in what we say to God to make sure we don’t gossip etc? Quite the opposite!
God wants you to be able to be free to talk to Him about anything which is on your mind. If you feel the world needs to be slapped because of what it has done to you, then take it to God and tell Him. When you are honest and open with God, He can reach you in ways you have not thought about. But if you keep all of that pressure inside of you, it’s going to burst out at some stage!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you talk to God?
How often do you tell Him how you really feel?