- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3149
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
How do you measure your life? Do you look at your bank balance or your belongings or your family or your location?
We each look at our lives in different ways and we compare our lives with others – that is just normal.
God does not make comparisons based on earthly riches, ways or thinking but looks for what we actually need in our lives.
He examines us spiritually and sees where we are lacking. He examines us for the riches we are to get in Heaven and points us in the right direction.
If we focus on the world we die to the world. If we focus on God we live with Him.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3025
Joel 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
Making a show of praising God or submitting to God without truly meaning it in your heart is worthless in God’s sight because you are doing that for yourself and not for God.
Joel writes how we should secretly tear our hearts open to God instead of tearing our clothes so others can see what we do.
Make you requests know to God, but you don’t necessarily have to make them known in public.
God is listening most when you are most sincere.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3062
Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
When Moses was given the Ten Commandments we were told to seek God with all our heart, strength and soul. This is echoed throughout our bibles because it is so very important.
To seek God means more than just making sure you keep up with your devotions or your bible reading.
Seeking God means trying to make sure He is involved with every aspect of your life; not just in times of need or when you want to praise Him.
Make God part of every decision before you make them.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2838
Ezra 8:22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.”
When was the last time you said “God will help me” to someone and then went back to them and asked for help?
I know I have done this before on occasion and I know my faith is not all it should be at times.
Being ashamed of asking for help is one thing but being ashamed of God is entirely different.
Never think there is anything God cannot do, because He can do anything. It is often our own lack of faith which stops us. Ezra showed his faith and was rewarded!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3002
Exodus 4:12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.
If God wanted to control everything we do and say I think He would have chosen just about anyone to lead the children of Israel. Instead, he chose Moses for a reason.
God would like to be in control of your life but He is not going to the puppet master and leave you to be the puppet!
God needs us to be who we are and to live as we do, He just wants us to listen to His will so we can live the best way possible.
Give God the honour and glory by allowing Him to guide you every step forward.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2962
Luke 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
How many times have you tried to rehearse what to say for an important occasion only to get it all totally wrong or to be confused because somebody else did something wrong in your eyes?
As much as we think we can prepare for all occasions there will always be something we miss out on because each person thinks differently.
God wants us to learn His word and to be prepared for as much as we can be, but when the time comes we have to rely on Him for the final words.
Study and be prepared! But also be prepared to ask for help!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3055
2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
When God says He will give you the strength to get through something it is not going to be something you have to think too hard about.
God’s help is very real and something which continues to inspire me and strengthen me as well.
When we feel lacking in strength and wisdom, God is there to help and guide us so we can continue to spread His Gospel more effectively.
God’s power goes beyond any evil that can come up against us!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3016
Isaiah 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
God is not just something written down on paper but a very real and personal help for each of us! He wants to be able to help and guide us every step of our lives.
If we choose to walk in our own ways then it may well be difficult to hear God’s direction and will in our lives.
But if we are willing to surrender our lives to Him He is willing, able and faithful to guide us in the best possible future for us.
God is holding out His hand, will you grasp it and be led forward?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3000
Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
What an amazing promise made to Joshua when he took over guiding Israel after Moses died.
This is the same promise Christ gave to the disciples and continues to give to each one of us today – if only we would listen to what He says.
It is not a case of we don’t get the blessings unless we do something for God; He extends His love, mercy, grace and faithfulness to us right from the start.
… but we don’t hear it unless we listen …
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3151
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Have you ever thought why the bible uses ‘of good courage’ when talking about courage? From the beginning when the Children of Israel had to go it alone, God has been encouraging them.
He continues to encourage us in everything righteous. We continue to be encouraged by what others do and say as well.
But God gives the courage to stand up and do things. How can it be anything other than good courage when it is coming from God?
Be strong and stand up where God teaches you to stand up. Trust Him to give you the courage you need to do it right.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2966
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
I have found that where I used to boast about being able to do various things, I now tell others how God has made me able to do things.
Giving God the glory for the grace He has shown us and taught us is actually a very easy thing to do when you realise how much He has done for each of us.
God knew when to show us grace and mercy. He knew when to give us strength and courage. Each day we trust in Him we grow in Him.
The apostle learned to trust wholly in Jesus and so we should follow and trust as he did.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3046
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
What is it that makes you different from other people and how did you become different?
We have choices we make in our lives and those choices tend to define our lives as we continue to grow and learn and experience.
But each one of us continues to be different from the others. We each have our strengths and weaknesses which makes us unique in some way.
If we all learned from the same source, why are we so different? Because that is what God did, made us unique.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3055
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Hospitality goes further than just being there and supplying food and shelter for others. Jesus love is all encompassing meaning He loved people without limit and without prejudice.
We do tend to limit our love or define our love depending on the way others act or how they give back to us when we give to them. That is not Christ’s way. He gave without conditions.
Each of us has the ability to do various things, many times we can do things other people cannot do; these are just some of the gifts Christ has given us to use.
Sharing your abilities and time with others without prejudice and limiting conditions is what Jesus wants us to do.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2917
1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
How many times have you said you would be there for someone, support them, help them or look after them only to wonder why you ever said that and grumble about having to do it?
I know I have volunteered and then wondered why, or volunteered for something I don’t want to do, or been ‘volunteered’ by someone else to do things; but I try hard not to grumble.
Jesus taught the disciples the power of love and the right way to love their neighbours. He continues to encourage each of us to keep doing the same – love the people around us.
But the real love is shown by actions, actions without grumblings!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3046
Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
When Moses was reminding the people of Israel about the commandments God had given them it was not just the Ten Commandments but the whole list of them.
God was trying to get the people to turn away from their evil ways by sticking to the laws as best they could. When they couldn’t He gave them forfeits or sacrifices they had to do.
God does not want us to make up our own rules because we will make them so we can live more easily with them. God wants them to be right and that means sticking with them as given by Him.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3009
Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses
My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
After Moses died God spoke to Joshua to make sure he knew how important his role would be amongst the people; God charged him with keeping the law.
If you are a Christians leader in any way people expect you to keep God’s laws and if you do not they begin to have doubts of the importance of the law itself.
Knowing the law is one thing but keeping it will speak much louder than just telling others the words.
Be courageous and stand up for God’s laws.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2917
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
Understanding God comes from understanding the Bible and applying what we understand into our lives.
Knowing the rules and regulations in anything in life is not much good until you follow them, obey them and apply them into your life.
God has been very specific through the Bible and we need to know what He says about things.
But not matter how much we may get wrong, He still deserves all the praise for being right!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2987
Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
When Job was faced with so much trouble he did not blame God because he knew God was powerful enough to do anything. He knew God was a loving God who protected and did not turn His back on His people.
Job tried to make sure the people around him knew he still trusted God for everything and here he tells his friend God’s Word is worth more than earthly food.
I know what it is like to be hungry and I know what it’s like to have plenty food. I know what it is like to be hungry for God’s Word and to be filled with God’s word!
I too prefer God’s Word!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3092
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I love the taste of honey, especially when it is fresh from the comb and has all the flavours of the flowers around the hive.
It may not be the sweetest thing I know but the taste is so much better than sugar or syrup or other things we think of as being sweet.
God’s word is so much more than just a bunch of words in a book because it will rejuvenate us just as honey can.
Take in God’s Word and allow it to reach deep into your soul, refreshing you more than any other book.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2946
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
How many times have you been asked to taste some strange food? Did you like it despite what people said?
If we are not going to taste the Gospel we are never going to know how good it really is. Yes we can rely on what other people say, but in order to really know, we have to taste it for ourselves.
God wants each of us to make up our own minds about Him and His love for us. He wants each of us to get to know Him personally and not just trough someone else.
If you want to be close to God you have to first invite Him into your life!