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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?
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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?
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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?
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March 28: John 8:21-30
Key Verse: John 8:24
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.
Devotion:
Sometimes when I read the bible the words linger because of my own situation or my own feelings. This is just one way in which God speaks to us and encourages us to do what is right in our lives. If we live a life which excludes Him, then we are living a life which will not allow us to have a good relationship with Him. There are so many ways in our Bibles in which Christ tried to tell the people how to change their lives without scolding them!
His loves for us runs so much deeper than we can imagine; a love which goes far beyond our understanding of life and love. Some people have asked me why I wear all my different ‘Jesus t-shirts’ and the truth is not just because I want to make a statement to others but also to remind myself daily that Christ is with me all the time.
All of us get carried away with things in our lives, and when we do we go off and do things which we may not normally do. When we get too involved with the world and it’s ways, we tend to get involved with more earthly things and sometimes give in to the temptations of the world around us. Having a daily reminder of how we can live a different life is good. Reading the Bible helps. Meeting with other Christians helps. Helping others helps. But, believing and trusting Christ is the biggest helper of all because that is what gives us the strength to carry on working against the world.
Jesus warning her is to the people and their earthly lives. If they do not believe and trust in Him they will get caught up in the world… Guess what. That applies to us nowadays too. This is not just a historical record of what has happened by a never ending reminder to us all how we should be living with Christ every day!
Points to Ponder:
Do you live apart from Christ?
Will you live a bit closer to Him today?
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March 27: Joshua 2:1-14
Key Verse: Joshua 2:9
and said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
Devotion:
Sometimes I wonder if The Lord will ever speak out loud to me; then I think back on all the times He has spoken softly to me through prayer, the bible and through others and I realise it is not the big events which count but the small, silent places in which God speaks to us which are the real treasures!
This story is about a moment in time when a country was living in fear because they had heard the people of God were going to come and take ownership of the land! They had heard the stories of how God had sustained His people and how He had done miracles for His people so they could have their way – His way. How could they ever hope to stand up against a God who is all powerful!
God chose a woman in the community to deliver the message back to Joshua about how fearful the people were – it was no ordinary circumstance through which the spies heard the news. But it was God using a prostitute to protect the spies and deliver the message. No matter who you are, what you have done or what you are involved with, God can use you to deliver the message He wants to the people He wants to hear the message… if you are willing to listen and obey!
Why did God choose this woman? I venture to guess it was because she would be able to tell a lie to the guards without flinching – maybe she had had to deliver a lie in the past to protect someone local and God knew she would be able to do it again… God is willing to use anyone who believes on Him and is willing to do what it takes to protect His people...
Points to Ponder:
Have you wondered when God will call you?
Will you answer and obey?
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March 26: John 11:1-16
Key Verse: John 11:15
and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.
Devotion:
This is one of those stories we need to remind us God can and does do anything. Jesus knew Lazarus was dead, but He also knew he would be brought back to life, not so much for his own sake but for the sake of the disciples so they would believe without question!
We tend to question so many things in our lives we get lost in all the thoughts and the wonderings; if we were able to put those feelings of hopelessness and being lost aside and fully rely on God, we too would be able to see the value in trusting Christ in everything. It is not our task to question if God can do something but to rely on Him when we know we cannot do anything, believing He is willing and able to do what we request.
Can you imagine what the scene was like with all the people mourning the death of the man Lazarus, asking why Jesus had not come to ‘fix’ him earlier and wondering what was going to happen now. Did some begin to have doubts? Did some of the disciples have doubts in the backs of their minds? Was Jesus doing thins just to make a point?
It is not our task to question God and take control in everything in life/ It is our job to simply trust Christ and to obey Him in everything! When we do that we are going to see the changes He can do in our lives and see just how much He loves us. It is when we see what He does for us we begin to have our eyes opened to greater things – that is where our faith and trust begins from...
Points to Ponder:
Do you seek physical proof before you trust and believe?
Will you trust and obey before casting doubt?
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March 25: Isaiah 7:10-14
Key Verse: Isaiah 7:12
But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’
Devotion:
If you were to read this verse by itself you may well conclude Ahaz is being good and not putting God to the test… but we need to know who is doing the asking! If someone is asking you to get the Lord to do something just to prove He is real or more powerful than earthly things, then we should ignore such requests and stick to what we know – nothing is impossible with God!
But what happens when God does the asking? What should we do? Do we ask for a sign and make it look like we don’t have faith in God? Or do we ignore the request and show God we don’t trust what He is saying to us! It’s a difficult choice when we look at it from different angles, but one thing is sure: when God asks us to do something we should be willing to say “Here I am, use me!”
God may ask some strange things of us from time to time, but we need to know it is God talking and not our foolish pride or arrogance. We get to know who is doing the asking by making sure we obey Him whenever He asks of us. Sometimes that will put us in difficult positions with our friends and neighbours, but God is the one who knows what the outcome will be and we need to have the faith He does know.
We are the ones who need to get used to listening to God and obeying. If we always turn a deaf ear to what God says, we will find it difficult to listen when He really is asking something very important of us. The more we get used to listening to God and answering Him when He calls, the more we get to understand how He already knows the future and knows what we need...
Points to Ponder:
Do you draw away from God when He asks something you don’t agree with?
Will you trust God no matter what?
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March 24: Jeremiah 26:8-11
Key Verse: Jeremiah 26:11
Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, ‘This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!’
Devotion:
One of the warnings Jesus gave to the disciples was they would have to face persecution when they went out to teach people the gospel. This stands true for each one of us who pick up the Lord’s mantle and try to spread the truth, His truth. The more we try to do so the more upset the evil one becomes and the more he will try to break things for us; but God will always be looking out for us!
When Jeremiah obeyed God I’m sure he could see how the crowds were against him and how it would eventually lead to conflict with the authorities. This may have been something which worried him more than we can pick up through the things which are written down in the Bible. I guess we get to find out the truth when we meet up with him and all the other prophets in Heaven one day!
The people were eager to find out the truth and they crowded round Jeremiah whilst he was teaching others. They were beginning to see the tyranny which they were living under – a tyranny which was in part built up by the very people who said they were standing for God. We tend to get this in our modern society and even in the modern churches – people get a bit too involved with earthly means of trying to improve church gatherings…
God wants us to live with Him and raise up more disciples who will be willing to continue on the work we are trying to do, disciples who are willing to go out and make more disciples. When we target earthly rewards in our churches, the people will be pointed towards earthly gains and not spiritual gains or heavenly gains! Think about what God wants and not what you think He should have!
Points to Ponder:
What do you think is important in church?
How could anything be more important than God’s children?
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March 23: John 5:31-35
Key Verse: John 5:34
Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
Devotion:
Have you ever wondered whether you are being called to teach others about God? The answer is yes! We are all called to pass on the Gospel to other people, how much we do and where we do it is another question we face and one which you have to find out from Christ. You may think you are not worthy or you cannot ever hope to be able to teach others like you vicar or priest can, but the way in which God uses you is going to be unique to you and nobody else.
When the disciples were learning things from Jesus, they came across many situations which were new to them and had no precedent in their lives. Each of them were individuals and each would continue to live very different lives, even though they had one common teacher. This is because God has created each of us as an individual, unique in our own ways – because the world needs unique people, and some part of this world needs your individual uniqueness!
John was born in unique circumstances and lived a life which would revolve around teaching people about the Christ who was to come after him. God made sure John was born in these circumstances and made sure he gave his testimony to all who were willing to listen. This was all part of God’s plan; and that plan includes you at this very moment!
Jesus did not need to learn things from humans in order to be able to do anything He did, but He chose to listen and share what He could and when He could. He became part of the community of people who follow God so they would be able to know more about God together. This is just one way in which we can share Christ: by being together with others and talking about our experiences and our lives.
Points to Ponder:
Do you have trouble thinking how to share Christ with others?
Have you tried just being you and talking about what Christ means to you?
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March 22: John 5:24-30
Key Verse: John 5:27
And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
Devotion:
One of the things the religious people found hardest to accept was that Jesus was and is the Son of God. No amount of words at the time would convince the people who did not want to believe. The disciples had little problem believing Him because they continued to see the miracles He did every day and knew what they were hearing was lining up with the scriptures they had heard their whole lives.
This is the great thing, Jesus continued to tell people the truth and continued to try and convince those who had issues how He was telling them the truth. Through their own pride in their religion the people disregarded what Jesus was saying because they were upholding their religion more than the truth. When we get caught up in things which we gain from, we too may overlook the truth because we lose what we think we had already gained – but what use is it to gain the worldly things and lose our eternal lives!
Jesus tried to make it simple for them by telling them exactly what they had to do – to believe on Him as being the Son of God because God had given Him authority over judging the people. Nothing like someone who disagrees with you to make you look for your own way out! That is not the way of truth but the way of self gain.
Jesus wants us to be humble, honest and gracious amongst other things and in order for that to happen we need to know the truth, believe that truth and promote that truth. This is just one step of being a disciple. The people here were forcing their own rules on the people instead of lifting up God’s truth and ways. This gave them earthly power, but lined them up to be judged by Christ and lose their right to eternal life.
Points to Ponder:
Do you seek the truth?
Do you follow the truth?