Remember God’s Greatness. Rejoice in God’s Goodness. Rely on God’s Grace

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

If you’re saved, if you know the Lord, it doesn’t matter if gasoline goes to three dollars a gallon or if Wall Street hits bottom. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ, it doesn’t matter if they take away your fine house. The Bible says: “You can rejoice in the Lord your God!” Remember God’s greatness. Rejoice in God’s goodness. And rely on God’s grace.

Habakkuk has come to the conclusion of his conversation with the Lord, expressing his frustration and dismay at the way things were going in his beloved land. Truly, It was God’s land, for He had called the Hebrews to Himself centuries ago.

Here is the conclusion Habakkuk comes to: “I will joy in the God of my salvation. God the Lord is my strength.”  Here’s where we must arrive: “The Lord is my strength. He will make my feet like hinds’ feet. He will make me to walk upon my high places.”

Habakkuk began by asking, “Why? Why, Lord, why?” God never did answer why. He just said, “I’m going reveal Who: Me. I am your strength. I am your strength! I will make you like a sure-footed gazelle, and you can live on your high places.”

ACTION POINT:

When Habakkuk wrote his book, he said, “It’s for an appointed time.” I believe it was for today. Then he said, “Tell the minister of music not to stop singing.” Don’t let an election steal your song! Keep on singing! Keep on praising! Keep on believing! Keep on loving! Our God reigns! “And the just will live by his faith.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Don’t Let An Election Steal Your Song

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:3-4

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Habakkuk says that in a day such as ours, the just are going to live “by faith.” Put your faith in God’s facts—that He is king evermore. That’s the way you’re going to live in this day and this age. Why? Because faith is that quality that keeps us going in dark days. Faith sees beyond the physical to the spiritual. Faith sees beyond the present to the future. Faith sees beyond the temporary to the eternal. Faith does not judge by the appearances of the hour.

Don’t you lose your faith. Faith cannot fail. Sin cannot win. Faith is the only message that will see us through, and it’s the only force that can change anything. Let me say that again. Faith is the only message that will see us through. It’s the only force that can change anything.

ACTION POINT:

If we want a better land and a better life, we have to live by faith. Government cannot make us better; only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do that.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Praying Over Your Vote

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Therefore, to Him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT;

You’re going to vote before long. I trust God every one of you will vote.  Dr. Francis Schaeffer, brilliant mind, one of the foremost Christian thinkers of our time, has given 5 principles to keep in mind when you vote. These principles don’t deal with personalities or parties. They are principles.

1. The dignity of human life. 

2. The importance of the traditional family. 

3. Religious freedom of speech in schools, both public and private. 

4. Human rights and the need for justice in our world. 

5. The compassionate use of accumulated wealth. 

These five principles ought to be in the heart and mind of every child of God. Pray over these and based on God’s Word make your determination . God will give you wisdom in this matter. 

ACTION POINT:

Pray it from your heart, “God, bless America, and God, give us space to repent.  And may the one of Your choosing be elected President to lead us.”  Remember, “to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” 

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. - John 1:1-18

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, - Colossians 1:15-22

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us- - 1 John 1:1-2

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:6-11

He was, is and will be, the alpha, the omega, the beginning and the end!

He dwelt among us!

He was sent by Almighty God!

He was fully God and fully man!

He took your sin because He alone could satisfy the payment!

God's wrath meant for you was the cost of sin!

There is no other who offers salvation!

He is life!

He conquered death and hell!!

You've Never Passed This Way Before

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp

3 and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.

4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before." - Joshua 3:1-4

Consecrate yourself.

Definition of consecrate

Set apart, dedicate to a sacred purpose

We all have new paths. 

Whether it be new jobs, new spouses, new homes, new churches, or new health issues.

Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." - Joshua 3:5

De-clutter your life, be available to the Lord's will, and most if all be humble.

Don't hang onto fear!

Step out, in Faith!

fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  - Isaiah 41:10

Anticipate the future.

God will do amazing things!

9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"- 

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

6 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.

7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.

9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'" - Haggai 2:6-9

Activate your faith.

6 And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God." - Joshua 3:6-9

 finished passing over the Jordan. - Joshua 3:15-17

God will deliver you even if it seems impossible!!!

God speaks, will you listen?

1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  - Isaiah 43:1-2

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. - Joshua 1:5-7

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

Receive your victory.

10 And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. - Joshua 3:10-11

15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),

16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. - Joshua 3:15-17

Thanks Pastor Kevin!!!!

Secret Faults

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” Psalm 19:12 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I read an account of Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel. In the story, he was painting in a corner behind everyone’s view, and someone said to him, “Forget that area, nobody can see it anyway.” But Michelangelo replied, “I know it’s there.” What you are in secret is what you are—nothing more, nothing less. Through the years I’ve spoken with men and women who travel a lot, and in almost every motel there are R-rated and X-rated films available. “Nobody’s in here but me,” they say. Are you sure? Jesus is in that room. What you are in that room when you think no one is around is what you really are.

ACTION POINT:

Do you struggle with the secret sins of the flesh? Read Isaiah 29:15, Ezekiel 8:12, and Ecclesiastes 12:14. Then pray Psalm 19:12.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Held by His Omnipotent Hand

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

I’ve heard people say, “Pray for us that we’ll hold out faithful to the end.” I think I know what they mean, but I always smile. I picture Noah’s ark, and I can see Noah and his wife and family. Rather than being on the inside, they’re holding on to some slimy pegs on the outside of the ark. And Noah says to Mrs. Noah, “Honey, pray for me that I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” But God said to Noah, “Come into the ark,” and the same God that shut the water out, shut Noah in. Now Noah may have fallen down inside that ark, but he never fell out of it. It’s not that we hold on to Him, but that He holds on to us.

ACTION POINT:

Spend some time today simply praising God for His faithfulness, His steadfastness, and His unconditional love for you.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers