Daily Bible Reading - Friday March 27th
Reading the scriptures in the New Testament makes me look back in my own life when I was so called “wandering in the desert". I know we’ve all been through that one time or another. The Lord always seems to bring us out of the “desert". We just can’t forget where we were and how we got out. Everything seems to go back to the WLS but for me that was the beginning of getting out of the desert, not wandering around anymore, my life has meaning and purpose now. I just can’t forget where I was and how I got where I am now, all with the Lords help. When we do forget where we came from we sometimes forget how far we’ve come and begin to get proud and that’s not good, I don’t ever want to forget where I was and how I got where I am and even still where I am headed now. When I look back over the last year or so, it’s amazing how far the Lord really has brought me and I can actually see a brighter future, all because the Lord brought me out of wandering in the desert.
Reading the devotional again just fits right into what we are reading and talking about. When we let the spirit into our hearts and let Him dwell there God will turn around any situation we are for the good. Situations we’ve prayed about for years God can turn around, things in our lives that have looked so impossible God will begin to break free and restore. Dreams that you thought were lost forever He will begin to move to bring those dreams to pass. God is such an awesome God.
Today’s Reading
Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 12:1
Daily Devotional
II Corinthians 3:17, AMP
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)"
When you make Jesus the Lord of your of life, something supernatural takes place on the inside of you. The Spirit of God actually makes His home in your heart. And the Bible tells us that where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! When you allow that truth to sink into your mind and heart, when you get into agreement with God and begin to declare that you are free, then you will see that freedom manifest in every area of your life.
God will begin to turn around situations that you’ve been praying about for years. He’ll restore relationships that you thought were impossible. He’ll bring health and wholeness back into your body. Those dreams, those promises that are on the inside of you, they may look too big, but God will set you free to pursue those dreams. He’ll set you up to overcome every obstacle. He’ll empower you to defeat every enemy so that you can move forward in freedom and victory in every area of your life!
Today's thought: Thank You for Your Spirit that lives inside me and gives me life. Help me to know You and Your power so that I can live in the freedom You have for me.
I Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Love that devotion!!!! Gives a person HOPE... EXCITING HOPE!!! If you've ever been truly "bound" by something and been set free it makes this devotional even the more touching and inspiring!
Long story but I went 7 years one time struggling HARD with something, praying that the Lord would take it from me... I did every good thing I knew to do to get freedom over and over again, to no avail, but when the Lord decided it was time, I was truly set free from it and then I asked the Lord, "why now"... and He spoke so clearly to my spirit and said, "because this way you know it was ME!" It was His way of showing His almighty power to me, showing that He truly does have our lives in his hands! oh GLORY I get thrilled all over again about that! I DID know it was Him... 7 years is a long long time to struggle with something! And it was a great lesson to me, one I have never never forgotten! I have always thought I must be a really really stubborn person for it to have taken seven years to get the victory! ~ha
Deut 8:6 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today so that you may live and increase!
How many times did He instruct his people to do what He said? Over and over and over again!
Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
The Psalm reading really touched my heart today... when it talked about bearing up under burdens that we did not create ourselves. I sure have created my own burdens a plenty over my life but I also have suffered many that I had did not create... I hadn't thought about that for some time but know the Lord used the word today to let me know that He cares about EVERY burden we bear whether born of our own making or the ones we are suffering for His sake or others.
Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Boy the word is a sharper than a two edged sword at times! ~ha
Peggy ~ I have been thinking about what surrender and submission means in my life... this is what keeps coming up to me over and over and over as my practical example of surrender and submission... it has been every time I swallowed my own desire and hosted a particular group of folks that continually trampled over common courtesy! for years and years and years... I have had to choose to say I will do this the "right" way even though I want to say NO NO NO!!! I wanted to do far less than my best because they didn't deserve it! BUT I also knew I needed to give my very best to my Lord that had given His very best to me! I still fail sometimes in my "heart" when this situation comes up but I am getting better at "surrendering and submitting" quicker than I used to.. and with some less turmoil to my spirit... I still do not like the way things are done in this but I also know what is required of me and have to again "choose" to do the right thing...it seems it will be a life long process. It is not easy to lay down our will! Even if it means we will suffer for it. But my precious Lord suffered things He did NOT want to endure for my sake! I know you know all this and know it is not easy. I am praying that you find the answer to "your" need for surrender and submission in your life as I am still finding it in mine. I love you dear friend.
Boy the word is so encompassing! So much to glean from it! So much it can teach us when we lend an ear to it!
Have a good day all!
Bec
I think the frustrating part of my walk is that I "know" things (head knowledge) but I don't "live" things (heart knowledge). Shelia understands this conflict (she had the same issue....we come from remarkably similar backgrounds) and is having me study certain scriptures and take time to pray about myself. (Don't like that part at all!)
I think it boils down to love and trust. Again...head vs. heart. Until I choose to fully understand the true God (not the false god I have created) I am unable to fully love and trust Him (and unable to FULLY surrender).
Everything is beginning to come full circle and it terrifies me. I'm not afraid of God, just afraid of change... my false ideas of God are familiar....but not true. So it is a challenge. One that I do know that God is big enough to handle....now if I can just get out of His way. Like Bec said....so I will know that it is HIM that gives me freedom (love & trust).
Loved Psalms 69:6....May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the Lord Almighty; May those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.
If my struggles can help one person (in the future), then they will have been worth every minute. I know that Satan intended it for evil, but that the Lord intended it for good, and I sure know who wins!!
Thanks for listening to my ramblings....and thank you for your faithfulness and prayers. Love you!
Life isn't about about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
