Devotion #10

Hi, Everyone. Thank you for your support of this daily devotional. I pray today's will bless you. I look forward to your feedback. Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 28, 2007. The Lord is keeping my focus on water, again today. He led me to Isaiah 55:1-3, "Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David." There are so many concepts in those 3 verses in Isaiah 55, yet my focus is drawn to "come to the waters." I like that the word "waters" is plural. I believe this word encompasses the Word of God, the Presence of God, the Glory of God, and the Power of God. If I allow those waters to flow over me, I will be satisfied, fed, quenched, refreshed, and transformed. I went back to John 4 and stopped at verse 28, with the words, "the [Samaritan] woman left her waterpot, and went into the city..." Why did she leave her waterpot? It doesn't say. Even with the "living water" that Jesus had given her, she'd still need physical water. Maybe she was in such a hurry, so excited to tell others about Jesus, that she forgot to take it. Perhaps she believed that the spiritual living water would quench her physical need for water, as well. She had come to the well to draw water. That was her intent, focus, purpose. However, once she came to know Jesus as Savior, her mind was fixed on Him. Nothing else mattered. For me, the waterpot represents all the moments that I've lived, trying to be filled and satisfied by that which cannot satisfy. This is my moment to lay it down, to leave it. I don't need it anymore. I know that God will enable me, that "[my] ears will hear a word behind [me] saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever [I] turn to the right or to the left. And [I] will defile [my] graven images overlaid with silver, and [my] molten images plated with gold. [I] will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, 'Be gone!'" (Isaiah 30:21-22). Yes, I have graven and molten images that I need to destroy and scatter. They must go, or I will turn to them again, sooner or later. I have that churning feeling in the pit of my stomach, a response to that old "It won't work" voice of fear. A voice of fear is never from God, so I quiet my mind, and soon I hear Philippians 1:6, "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." I'm counting on that! Today, consider any "graven and molten images," things you may have been using to satisfy in ways they cannot. Make a conscious decision to lay them down, destroy and scatter them, and look to the One who can satisfy. Blessings, Mary

Hi, Mary I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy you devotions. Thank you so much for your thoughts. God Bless you and have a wonderful week. Karla

Thank you so much for responding, Karla. Sometimes I wonder if anyone's reading on this forum, as it only lists number of replies rather than number of views. Your reply encourages me. Blessings, Mary

Mary, Thank you so much for this devotion. I especially do want to,point out the part when you said a voice of fear is never from God. I am asking that all,of you hold me up in prayer because I have had some biopsys taken for cancer, I am fearful. I did ask for prayer at church and was annointed with oil as we do believe in Doctors but do believe that God can heal. God is still on the throne and he is still a healer! And he can take away all fear. In Jesus' Name SophiaMaria

Let's gather around Sophia, OH Friends, and agree with me in prayer, please: "Heavenly Father, I thank You for how You welcome us. Your Word says that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and we are doing that now, to intercede for our sister in Christ, Sophia. Father, I thank You that You know all about her. You know that Sophia has had a biopsy taken. Lord, You know that it is easy for us to fear cancer. We know that You have not given us a spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind. Fear is of the enemy, so we rebuke it in Jesus' name. We pray that Sophia will rest in You, because You are greater than fear, You're greater than the enemy, and You're greater than cancer. Jesus, You healed everyone who came to You in faith, when You walked on this earth as a perfect man, and You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Cancer is but a name, yet Your Name is greater; it is the Name above every other name, and cancer must bow to it! Holy Spirit, I ask that You wrap Sophia in the blanket of comfort that You bring. May she feel the presence of the Trinity so very strongly, and, no matter what, may Sophia KNOW that she is healed by Jehovah-Rapha (The God Who Heals). And Father, we look forward to praising You for the way You're going to answer this prayer, prayed in faith by those who love You and Your Word, for we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

You are in my prayers! I was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago so I well know the fear. I shed tears twice and then I just got this peace that God was in control. People in the medical field questioned me all the time about how could I be so calm. It gave me a voice for Him to tell them God is in control and He will equip me for whatever the outcome. I had the easiest cancer anyone could have. It was caught early and all I needed was surgery and radiatiion treatment. The radiation was the most difficult just because of the exhaustion, but God did indeed bless me with a wonderful hubby who took care of everything on the home front and a grand daughter that had just moved in with us who helped hubby and kept my spirits up always asking what she could do for me. So even if it should turn out to be cancer it can be a gift of sorts because I grew so much spiritually during this time. I think God used it to get my undivided attention. I will pray that your test comes back fine but if that is not God's will I pray He will provide for you as He did for me. If you want to PM me with any questions or fears please feel free to do so.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I needed to read this devotion. "The voice of fear is never from God". THAT IS THE TRUTH! Praise the lord, he is by my side!

Great to hear from you, Joy. You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome! Blessings, Mary