The Light of God’s Countenance

“Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.” - Psalm 4:6

How easy it is to be deceived when we are not walking in the light of God’s Word. Charles Lindbergh tells about the time he was flying in a dense fog over Newfoundland. He noticed moisture beginning to freeze on the wings of his plane and thought, “This great adventure is going to come to an untimely end. What shall I do?” Then, he had a moment of inspiration. He pulled his plane up and out of the fog and burst into the dazzling sunlight. Have you ever felt like you were living in a fog? Friend, He has a word of encouragement for you. You can get near to the heart of God. His light can shine even in the darkest corner of your heart.

Ask God to shine His light into the darkness of your heart. Ask Him to reveal your doubts and fears. Ask Him to reveal your sin that lies covetously in your heart. Then get ready for a blessing. Draw up close, because when you repent, He’ll reach in with healing forgiveness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Surrendering Every Burden

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Many say they have committed their lives to the Lord, but have they really? The psalmist challenges us to commit our way to the Lord. The word “commit” in this passage has the idea of rolling a burden over to the Lord. 

Minnie A. Steele wrote a hymn in 1908 that I have often sung, titled “I Remember When My Burdens Rolled Away.” The first verse says, “I remember when my burdens rolled away; I had carried them for years, night and day. When I sought the blessed Lord, And I took Him at His word, Then at once all my burdens rolled away.” Well, she knew what she was talking about!

ACTION POINT:

Read Psalm 55:22 and once again roll over to the Lord your burdens. Surrender everything to Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Contentment in Jesus

“…and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.’” - Hebrews 13:5-6

As you face the new year, I want you to find your contentment in Jesus, your companionship in Jesus, and your confidence in Jesus. Then you’ll find your comfort and your courage in Jesus. When you are contented in Jesus and He is closer to you than any one on earth could possibly be; when you are confident in the midst of trials and testing that He will provide…then, and only then, will you know the courage that comes from His comforting presence.

Pray, “Lord, with all my heart, with all I am, I want to know you. I want our relationship to be close and my faith to grow. Cleanse me and make me new that I may be all that You want me to be this year.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When Opportunity Knocks

“I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” - John 10:9

We need to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year. You’re going to be tempted to rush into life because of the fast pace to which society is stepping. Many doors will open for you. Many doors will close. What will you do? Remember that through it all, Jesus Christ will be behind each and every door as you seek Him with all your heart. He has promised never to leave you, nor forsake you. When the devil comes and knocks at your heart’s door this next year, simply say, “Jesus, please go answer the door.” The Lord is there with us to take care of us.

When the door of opportunity knocks for you today, take a moment to reflect on His goodness, His mercy, and His faithfulness. Trust in Him to give you what you need.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Setting God-Given Goals

“We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” - Hebrews 2:1

Have you ever written some God–given goals to keep you from being a drifter? Without goals, you’re a ship without a rudder, a compass, a sail and an anchor. What kind of ship is that? One that is doomed to failure. Most people don’t plan to fail. They simply don’t plan. How can you tell whether or not your goal is a God–given goal? First, have you prayed over it and asked for God’s blessing? Second, does it create in you enough spiritual enthusiasm and excitement to see it fulfilled? Third, does it demand the very best in you? Fourth, does it touch every area of your life? There is no area of your life that is out–of–bounds from God.

Take time today—or surely this week—to write down some goals and even a mission statement focused on the following areas of your life: spiritual, physical, relational, intellectual, and financial.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Setting Sail for a New Year

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” - Proverbs 29:18

Helen Keller was born with sight, but became blind as a young child. Yet she had vision. A reporter asked Miss Keller, “Is there anything worse than losing your sight?” “Yes,” she said, “It is to have sight but no vision.” Do you have a vision for your life at the threshold of a new year? On New Year’s Day, I review the goals for my life. These are spiritual, relational, intellectual, physical, and financial goals. I pray over these and ask for God’s will to be done in each one. I hold them in an open hand and ask that God would give me wisdom as to the direction He wants for my life. I don’t want to be a man without vision. I don’t want you to be one, either.

Begin to think about some goals you would like for your life. Pray and seek the Lord’s face as you ponder the future.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

A Vision for Your Life in the New Year

“…which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…even Jesus.” - Hebrews 6:19-20

A New Year is like an ocean. There will be untested winds and waves. We’ll meet ships we never knew and we’ll have all kinds of opportunities as we sail into an uncharted sea. In our

quest to discover the good life this year, we must be careful that we do not drift into an aimless life. The worst thing that could happen to us this coming year is that we just let this year happen to us rather than charting a course and getting into God’s appointed harbor. More than likely, you won’t decide to drift. It’ll just happen. You’ll be coasting along at a good clip, and then before you know it you’re drifting away. . . that is, unless you have an anchor.

Take a few minutes to reflect on this past year. What were some things you did right... what were some things you would do differently this next year?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers