Past Devotions - Back to Devotion
July 27th
I Will Restore to You
Written by Michelle Smythers
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the
caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat
in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt
wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in
the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never
be ashamed.
Joel 3:25-27
Look at the first four words of these scriptures - And I will restore. God doesn't tell His people
that He might help them, it just depends on their circumstances. He clearly says "I will". Think
about those two small words with endless possibilities.
The world today is full of sorrow, emptiness, depression and loss. The devil is doing all he can
to tear down God's people. He is causing greed (locust) to eat at people and they are taking more
than their share from others to gain more for themselves. Depression and emptiness
(cankerworm) is working into lives, leading people to make poor decisions that can destroy
families. Alcohol and drugs (caterpiller) and 'helping people cope' but leading down a long road
of struggle and searching. A bad economy (palmerworm) is causing jobless people so much
stress that it is leading to health, marriage and financial problems. All of these problems can be
overwhelming and seem hopeless, but just remember God said 'I WILL RESTORE'.
Although times are tough, problems are great and some situations seem hopeless, we serve a
Mighty and All-powerful God. Maybe you have lost your job, your home, your family or maybe
you've lost everything. God can still restore everything. In verse 26, God says "And you shall
eat in plenty, and be satisfied". He didn't say He would give us enough to get by, He says we
will have plenty and be satisfied. But pay attention to what He says next - "Praise the name of
the Lord your God". When times are tough, don't loose your praise. It is a huge part of your
victory. He works best when He hears and sees our praise. When your are down to nothing and
don't know how you're going to make it, think about at least one blessing in your life. Maybe
you've lost your home, but you still have a place to stay until you can get back on your feet.
Maybe you've had to take a low paying job, but it's better than no job at all. Maybe your loved
one is struggling with drugs or alcohol, your prayers may be the thread that is keeping them
from going over the edge. No matter what our situation is, we can't give up. God can still
restore everything to us. But my experience with God shows me that He doesn't just give - He
gives more than I expect.
In this passage of scriptures God says "I am the Lord your God" letting us know that it is His
power that can restore your loss, no matter who or what it is. But twice in this passage He says
"my people shall never be ashamed". Our situations may sometimes hit us in our pride, but
God says we will never be ashamed. So no matter what you are facing today, take this scripture
to heart. Whatever your loss, God has promised to restore it. And He always keeps His
promises!
August 2nd
Our Work
Written by Janet Scott
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might: Ecclesiastes 9:10a
While I was sitting at the table after breakfast one morning a few days ago working on my
laptop, my granddaughters were sitting at the table coloring. Abby is 4 and Patience is 2 and
Abby was naming off colors for Patience. Abby handed her a crayon and said, "green" and
Patience said, "duhreen" and Abby said, "no green" and Patience said, "duhreen" so once again
Abby corrected her and said a little more firmly, "green!" And Patience said, "duhreen". With a
very heavy sigh Abby turned and looked at me and said, "I CAN'T WORK LIKE THIS!"
Do you ever get to the point where your daily routine becomes rather ho-hum or frustrating?
Somehow it just doesn't excite you or some days you just wonder why you have the job you
have, or maybe why you don't have a job. If you are a stay at home Mom, sometimes the
"world" can say and do things to make you feel like you aren't doing enough! I have been a stay
at home Mom and for me it was the best job I ever had!
Whatever it is you do, it's important! God has a reason for every job you do and
for every time you don't have a job! I have been a stay at home Mom who home schooled, I did
reservations for a resort in MI, I owned my own hair and tanning salon, I was also the Group
Sales Manager for a resort in MI for a while before I came to TN to do youth ministry. For a
while when I first moved here I went several months without any job at all and really struggled
financially. Strange as it may seem I can now see how all of those things prepared me for what
I do today!
Trust me, I know how terrible some jobs can be! There were days I absolutely
hated my job as Group sales manager, I felt like I worked in Sodom and Gomorrah and yet
every aspect of that job was preparing me for what God had for me to do here! And, when I
didn't have a job I knew it was a season where God wanted me to just focus on my relationship
with Him and trust that He would provide the right job at the right time but I needed to grow
spiritually first!
Whatever God has called you to do right now, trust Him it is important! God always has a plan!
He has a purpose for everything He brings your way so as the verse says, do it with all your
might. Take pride in it so you can learn everything He has for you to learn so you are ready for
that next step up in life!
Quote:
"The only things that stand between a person and what they want in life are the
will to try it and the faith to believe it's possible." -Rich Devos
August 9th
A New Thing
Written by Michelle Smythers
Click to listen to Rev. Susan Thomas sermon I will do a new thing
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make
a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
Are you tired of the old things in your life? I know I am. Tired of wondering when is God going
to answer my prayers, how is He going to provide in my situation, and even sometimes
wondering if He is really listening when I pray and cry out to Him. But then, just as fast as the
fear, worry and doubt come, God's peace comes to calm me. I'm sure I'm not the only one that
has said "I'm just not gonna worry about it anymore" but it's not long until the devil is
whispering "Are you crazy? God sure is taking His sweet time. Are you sure he really cares
about you?"
When Sister Thomas preached the Sunday after the women's conference, her message really
touched my heart. She preached about the dry, desert place and the new beginning that God is
going to give. But the new beginning is our choice. We have to forget the past, understand the
present and look to the future. Those three simple steps are not so simple. In order to forget
the past, we need to let go of hurt that someone may have caused us. We have to let go of the
regret that we have lost a significant income. We have to let go of the grief of losing someone
special. Look at your present situation. Do you understand why you are in the desert place that
you are? Sometimes to understand this, we have to face the fact that we made some bad
choices. Sometimes things are beyond our control and that makes it harder to understand. But
dig down deep in your heart, look at your situation with an open mind and heart. Realize that
sometimes there are changes we need to make ourself and some changes that only God can
make. Find the difference. Do your part to make changes and then let go of your control so God
can change what He needs to. Now look to the future. What do you see? Do you see God
opening a door that only He can? Do you see a better job coming your way? Do you see your
family's needs being met? Do you see that one you've prayed for so long surrendering all to
God? That should be our goal, see what will be not what is.
God's Word is so full of promises that sometimes we overlook them or think they are not for
us. No matter what our situation is, there is a promise of a new beginning. You don't have to
get everything in order before God will work for you. Leave all of your worry, regret, pain and
fear with Him. Leave it. Don't put it there and pick it up in a couple of hours. Leave it. Ask God
to show you the new beginning that His word promises in Isaiah. Ask Him to make a way in
your wilderness. Ask Him for the rivers in your desert. His Word promises it and He doesn't go
back on His Word.
August 23rd
TENDER WORDS TO THE TIRED HEART
by Max Lucado
Brook Besor. Don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of the place. Most haven’t, but more need to.
The Brook Besor narrative deserves shelf space in the library of the worn-out. It speaks tender
words to the tired heart.
The story emerges from the ruins of Ziklag. David and his six hundred soldiers return from the
Philistine war front to find utter devastation. A raiding band of Amalekites had swept down on
the village, looted it, and taken the women and children hostage. The sorrow of the men
mutates into anger, not against the Amalekites, but against David. After all, hadn’t he led them
into battle? Hadn’t he left the women and children unprotected? Isn’t he to blame? Then he
needs to die. So they start grabbing stones.
This could be his worst hour.
But he makes it one of his best.
David redirects the men’s anger toward the enemy. They set out in pursuit of the Amalekites.
Keep the men’s weariness in mind. They still bear the trail dust of a long campaign and haven’t
entirely extinguished their anger at David. They don’t know the Amalekites’ hideout, and, if
not for the sake of their loved ones, they might give up.
Indeed, two hundred do. The army reaches a brook called Besor, and they dismount. Soldiers
wade in the creek and splash water on their faces, sink tired toes in cool mud, and stretch out
on the grass. Hearing the command to move on, two hundred choose to rest. “You go on
without us,” they say.
How tired does a person have to be to abandon the hunt for his own family?
The church has its quorum of such folks. Good people. Godly people. Only hours or years ago
they marched with deep resolve. But now fatigue consumes them. They’re exhausted. So beat-
up and worn down that they can’t summon the strength to save their own flesh and blood. Old
age has sucked their oxygen. Or maybe it was a deflating string of defeats. Divorce can leave
you at the brook. Addiction can as well. Whatever the reason, the church has its share of
people who just sit and rest.
And the church must decide. What do we do with the Brook Besor people? Berate them? Shame
them? Give them a rest but measure the minutes? Or do we do what David did? David let them
stay.
He and the remaining four hundred fighters resume the chase.
David and his men swoop down upon the enemy like hawks on rats. Every Israelite woman and
child is rescued. Every Amalekite either bites the dust or hits the trail, leaving precious
plunder behind. David goes from scapegoat to hero, and the whooping and hollering begin.
And what about the two hundred men who had rested?
You might feel the way some of David’s men felt: “Because they did not go with us, we will not
give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children” (1
Sam. 30:22).
A Molotov cocktail of emotions is stirred, lit, and handed to David. Here’s how he defuses it:
“Don’t do that after what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and given us the enemy
who attacked us. Who will listen to what you say? The share will be the same for the one who
stayed with the supplies as for the one who went into battle. All will share alike.” (30:23–24
NCV)
Note David’s words: they “stayed with the supplies,” as if this had been their job. They hadn’t
asked to guard supplies; they wanted to rest. But David dignifies their decision to stay.
David did many mighty deeds in his life. He did many foolish deeds in his life. But perhaps the
noblest was this rarely discussed deed: he honored the tired soldiers at Brook Besor.
Someday somebody will read what David did and name their church the Congregation at Brook
Besor. Isn’t that what the church is intended to be? A place for soldiers to recover their
strength?
If you are listed among them, here is what you need to know: it’s okay to rest. Jesus is your
David. He fights when you cannot. He goes where you cannot. He’s not angry if you sit. Did he
not invite, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest” (Mark 6:31 MSG)?
Brook Besor blesses rest.
Brook Besor also cautions against arrogance. David knew the victory was a gift. Let’s remember
the same. Salvation comes like the Egyptian in the desert, a delightful surprise on the path.
Unearned. Undeserved. Who are the strong to criticize the tired?
Are you weary? Catch your breath. We need your strength.
Are you strong? Reserve passing judgment on the tired. Odds are, you’ll need to plop down
yourself. And when you do, Brook Besor is a good story to know.
August 30th
WHAT IF THINGS ONLY GET WORSE
by Max Lucado
Christ tells us that they will. He predicts spiritual bailouts, ecological turmoil, and worldwide
persecution. Yet in the midst of it all, he contends bravery is still an option. (Matt. 24:4-14)
Things are going to get bad, really bad, before they get better. And when conditions worsen,
“See to it that you are not alarmed” (Matt. 24:6 NIV). Jesus chose a stout term for alarmed that
he used on no other occasion. It means “to wail, to cry aloud,” as if Jesus counseled the
disciples, “Don’t freak out when bad stuff happens.”
“See to it…” Bosses and teachers are known to use that phrase. “See to it that you fill out the
reports.” Or “Your essay is due tomorrow. See to it that you finish your work.” The words call
for additional attention, special focus, extra resolve. Isn’t this what Christ is asking of us? In
this dangerous day, on this Faberge’-fragile globe, with financial collapse on the news and
terrorists on the loose, we have every reason to retreat into bunkers of dread and woe.
But Christ says to us, “See to it that you are not alarmed.” (NIV)
“Keep your head and don’t panic” (MSG).
“See that you are not troubled” (NKJV).
And remember: “All these [challenging times] are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:8
NIV), and birth pangs aren’t all bad. (Easy for me to say.) Birth pains signal the onset of the
final push. The pediatrician assures the mom-to-be, “It’s going to hurt for a time, but it’s going
to get better.” Jesus assures us of the same. Global conflicts indicate our date on the maternity
calendar. We are in the final hours, just a few pushes from delivery, a few brief ticks of eternity’
s clock from the great crowning of creation. A whole new world is coming!
_________________________________
From Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2009) Max Lucado
Grace
Written by Michelle Smythers
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
We have heard that God's grace is sufficient, but how does that help us? Grace is described as
'unmerited (not earned, not deserved) help given to people by God; a virtue (strength, courage)
coming from God'. So when you change the words in this verse with this definition, it may
seem a little clearer. 'My help strength, and courage is sufficient (adequate to accomplish a
purpose or meet a need) for you: for my strength is made perfect (exact, precise, complete) in
weakness (an instance or period of being weak).'
We all face times of being weak. We don't even have to be facing a large battle. We could just
feel exhausted from work or everyday life, filled with too much to do and too little time. Jesus
didn't say 'My grace is sufficient if the devil is trying to rob you of your life and you've done all
you can, so I'll step in and take control.' When we are exhausted from work or rushing through
life, we can get strength from God. But when the devil comes in and is hitting us from all sides,
we don't have to back down and let him do what he wants because we are not strong enough to
fight him. We can call on God for any need and He will come and give us the help, strength, and
courage we need to get through our weakness. The key word is through. He is not going to give
us strength to stay where we are forever. When God extends His grace to us, that gives us the
promise that He will make us strong enough to come out of our trial and have a great
testimony.
The second part of this verse says, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me. This doesn't mean that we need to go around and
brag about all the problems we are facing. Sometimes, the more you talk about your problems,
the more the devil can attack your mind. He can use others to put negative thoughts in your
mind and then you dwell on what God hasn't done yet and wonder or doubt if He will really
come through for you. But this part means we don't have to be afraid of going through trials
and times of being weak because this gives Jesus the opportunity to bring peace and rest to us.
We can give everything to Him and let Him carry us as we rest in His arms. And even though
God doesn't have to prove anything to us, He will use our trials to prove that He is in control.
People may look at us while we are going through a trial and say How can you act like you
don't have any problems? Don't you realize how serious this is? But we can look at them and
stand firm in knowing and sharing with them that Christ's power is resting on us and He is
taking care of our trial and us at the same time. He won't leave us while He deals with our
problem and then come to us and say 'Ok, you can move forward now'. He helps us deal with
our problems while He holds us close.
Sometimes God's mercy and grace are taken for granted. I know I have taken it for granted.
When I think about His grace helping me through battles, I realize that God can't help me
unless I ask Him to. But once I ask for His mercy (compassion), He is faithful to me and will
give me His grace (help) so that with Him I can face anything that the devil brings against me.
The best part about it is that I can walk with God now and it won't be long until I will be able to
back and say 'Do you see how God turned the whole situation into good? He didn't do it just for
me but others can see that it had to be God and now they have a hunger for the same peace and
strength that I have'.
Take a look at your life. Are you taking God's mercy and grace for granted too? Do you realize
the power God has and is offering to you? Do you realize the peace you can have as you rest
with Him? Think about Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.