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Thanksgiving is clearly the greatest holiday ever created in America—and not just because of the great food and football games.
A few years ago I had a new revelation while writing Thanksgiving notes to some friends. In past years, I would say something like, “I’m thankful for YOU this Thanksgiving.” That certainly was true enough, but it missed an important point: I wasn’t only thankful for these friends on one day of the year, but rather was grateful for them all year long.
Suddenly my mind was flooded with Paul’s words to his friends in Philippi: “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God” (Philippians 1:3 MSG).
Isn’t that cool? At the mere thought of his friends, Paul had a “Thanksgiving moment.” Even when distance or jail cells prevented him from seeing them face to face, his Thanksgiving rose to God whenever he even thought of these people he loved so much.
I hope you have friends and loved ones who brighten your life like that. Whenever someone mentions their name or the Lord brings them to mind during your prayer times, you light up inside. You find yourself welling up with gratitude that such a person would be a part of your life.
This year I found myself realizing in a whole new way that if you have good friends and are a person of prayer, you can experience Thanksgiving anytime. There may not be any turkey or football, and your loved ones may not be physically present with you at the time. But you can “break out in exclamations of thanks” nevertheless.
Let’s be honest, though: We all know people who don’t bring such a cheery reaction when they come to mind. Rather than sparking joyous praise, they bring us concern or sadness or even a tinge of anger when they come to mind. This could be someone who has wronged us, who we’ve not yet forgiven. Or perhaps it’s a spouse or child who’s not living like we think they should.
Fortunately, Paul has an answer for this kind of situation too—when instead of thankfulness, we feel burdened down when we think about how another person is doing. Just a few verses after the words above, Paul adds one of the most beautiful promises in the entire Bible: “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).
Look at how these two verses work together: In verse 3 Paul describes his great joy and thankfulness every time he remembers his fellow believers in Philippi.
But in verse 6, he reveals the secret of why he could rejoice even when some people weren’t doing very well: He knew God was still at work! Instead of remaining distraught about the circumstances of such people, Paul knew He could commit them into the Lord’s loving hands, confident in His ability to change their heart and turn things around for them.
Do you see how your whole perspective changes when you look at the people in your life through this two-fold lens in Philippians 1? Every day—and every moment of every day—can become a time of spontaneous Thanksgiving. So you don’t have to wait another 364 days—let the hallelujahs ring out now!
I’ve never really liked the phrase “giving back.” Maybe it’s because we’re often called to show kindness to complete strangers and people who aren’t in a position to give us anything in return. Although we’re possibly “giving back” to God in some way, we’re usually not reimbursing people for anything they’ve first given us.
Yet this Thanksgiving I find myself reflecting on the responsibilities we all have when we realize how blessed we are. On this day when we recount the blessings we’ve received from God, it’s also a great time to ask ourselves how we can BE a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2).
One day King David woke up with this same quest on his mind: (2 Samuel 9:3)
If you know David’s story, he had experienced lots of hardships on his way to becoming king and fulfilling his destiny. As part of God’s training process, he had overcome lions, bears, giants, and a deranged, homicidal king. At times he had to run for his life, living in caves and other dark places.
But by the time we get to this episode in 2 Samuel 9, David was feeling overwhelmed by how much God had blessed him. He recognized that he had abundantly received “the kindness of God.” And as a natural by-product, he wanted to find someone to share the blessings with.
Sounds something like Thanksgiving, doesn’t it?
David had a particular desire to bless those from the lineage of his former enemy, King Saul. What a great example this is for us. Perhaps there’s someone you need to reach out to who was once your nemesis. Maybe there was friction or suspicion in the past, but it’s time to overcome all of that with kindness and generosity.
Remember the Pilgrims and the Native Americans? Talk about cultural differences! But what if we could reenact that same kind of spirit in our cities today, where police officers and the black community sat down to break bread and share their resources together?
In David’s case, the options were pretty limited. It turned out that the only person left of Saul descendants was a bitter, crippled man named Mephibosheth. This son of Jonathan was living in a desolate place called Lo Debar, and his self-image was so low that he considered himself no better than a “dead dog” (v. 8).
Just the kind of person you should invite to your home for Thanksgiving, don’t you think?!
Remember: When you’re looking for people to show kindness to, they might not be the easiest people to love! In fact, you can count on the fact that the people who need love the most will be the hardest to love.
But love them anyway.
Mephibosheth was described to David in such a way that the king might have been reluctant to get involved with such an unsavory character. Yet David immediately had the man brought to Jerusalem to eat at the king’s table—just as if Mephibosheth was one of David’s own sons (v. 11).
Thanksgiving is a time for families, of course. But it also can be a great time to invite someone else to sit at your table, as David did with Mephiboseth.
I hope you are feeling blessed today. If so, is there someone you can show the kindness of God?
Thanks Living
By Pastor Johnny R. Almond
If you present your peace offering as a thanksgiving offering ...
Leviticus 7:12 NLT
I give you faith. I charm you to Myself and I take great pleasure in lavishing kindness on you. Faith is the key that started My powerful grace engine in your life. I know your egocentricity, judgmentalism, pessimism, and impatience—yet I still love you unconditionally. With your first step of childlike faith, I made you everlastingly Mine. Be eternally grateful. Give Me credit for all the good in your life. Do more than give thanks—live thanks.
I give you Myself. I engineer circumstances in your best interest. You can count on My Invariable Presence. I am your Permanent Address and the Solution to your greatest needs. I am All You Ever Really Need in Life. Here is My formula for incomprehensible peace—pray about everything, tell Me your needs, say thanks for all I do; peace flooding your mind and heart, relax.
I give you family. To counteract loneliness, I give you a home. Husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father, brother, sister—all are My idea. Unique personalities enrich life. Celebrate Love by loving.
I give you friends. Friends are two bodies with one soul; the church of Christ is composed of millions of individuals with one heart. Offer thanks by being loyal to teammates in fair and foul weather.
I give you joy. Marvel at beauty. Treasure My Eternal Word. Pay attention to human voices. Relish food. Dance to the rhythm of Life. Smell the wake-up call of coffee. Feel friendly hugs of love. Let My Holy Spirit control your instincts. Make heart music for My listening enjoyment. Sing grateful hymns for companions to hear. Enjoy!
I give you purpose to be here after. You are My work of art. Focus on honoring your Master, and experience life’s highest significance.
I set your table with daily bread. I give you all you need from day to day as you prioritize My kingdom. Bow your head—say grace.
I give you forever. The Power that raised Jesus from the grave guarantees your beautiful and bright destiny. No artist can paint heaven; no composer can write its lovely symphony. I give you hints of glory—sunrises, flowers, butterflies, and springs. If a dove feather-brushed Earth on round trips to the nearest star until the planet you call home wore away to nothing, eternity would just be dawning—so would your carol of praise.
Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—book available on Amazon
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
This devotional based on day 63 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity
Have you ever had a time when you realized your perspective was totally misguided? Perhaps you saw a relationship incorrectly, or you misjudged the leadership of your church. Or maybe you sunk into despair as you read news headlines about your nation or the world.
I recently was challenged when I read the life-changing vision Isaiah had after King Uzziah died:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:1-3).
Uzziah had been a good king, but he had a rather bad ending (2 Chronicles 26). And just as today, the political changes in ancient times often made people apprehensive.
But Isaiah saw beyond the troubling headlines of his day to a much more important reality: The Lord was sitting on the throne of heaven. He was high and lifted up, with a vantage point much better than ours.
Nothing on earth was going to change the majestic scene in heaven.
Lately I’ve been stunned by the angelic song: “The whole earth is full of His glory!” I’ve read this over and over, even checking it out in various translations.
How could the seraphim declare that the whole world was ALREADY full of God’s glory?
If we could get a glimpse into heaven today, I’m sure we would hear this same song being sung. In the earthly realm, we see Democrats and Republicans waging war. Terrorists seem to be multiplying. The economy goes up and down. Racial tensions won’t seem to go away.
As an optimist, I’ve often cited Bible verses promising that God’s glory would one day fill the earth (Habakkuk 2:14, Numbers 14:21). But while my perspective has generally been limited to “the sweet by and by,” the heavenly creatures saw God’s pervasive glory as a present-tense reality.
Pause and consider how your life would change if you regularly sang the seraphim’s song. Wouldn’t there be a profound transformation if you realized that the glory of the Lord was filling your home, your office, your church, your community, and your nation?
And think about the new level of peace and hopefulness you’d experience if you believed—really believed—that God was ultimately in control of the universe. No election can alter that fact. So let’s all take a deep breath and determine that we will entrust ourselves to Him, no matter what’s going on around us.
When Isaiah saw the Lord on His throne and recognized that His glory was already filling the earth, the political and economic news of his day suddenly faded in importance. And rather than setting himself up as a judge over the leadership changes around him, the prophet found himself repenting of his sins, humbling himself, and listening for a new mandate from God’s throne room.
“My eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts,” Isaiah said (v. 5). A vision like that will change everything, no matter what is happening in the world around us.
God over All
The LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.
JOSHUA 2:11 NLT
God is God of all. He is the Transcendent God of the highest heavens, incalculably and unimaginably distant from the planet you call home. He is also the Immanent, down-to-Earth God, intimately closer to us than our hands and feet and breath. He is the God of the abstract and of the concrete. Wisdom rethinks the philosophical and accomplishes the practical.
God is God in all. He is God of eternity and the hereafter. He is also God of time and the here and now. Faith counts on the glorious hereafter He plans for you—and pauses to ponder what we are here after.
God is God through all. He is God of our ecstatic highs and of our agonizing lows. He is God of our mountaintop celebrations and our valley heartbreaks. Hope clings to God as we ride life’s roller coaster taking us through our days toward our destiny.
God is God after all. He is God of heavenly worship above and of earthly worry and weariness below. Humility reverences God as the Absolute Sovereign of the universe.
God is God to all. He is God of his holy angels and of our human associates. He directs cherubim and seraphim; He brings the right people into our lives to help and encourage us. Obedience responds in service in angelic fashion, faithfully and kindly ministering to people of faith.
God is God above all. He is God of incomprehensible mystery and of infinite meaning. We are not totally, irrevocably responsible for everything—that is God’s job. Uncommon sense resigns as general manager of the universe.
God is God for all. He is God of orbiting planets and of ordinary people. He directs traffic patterns of constellations and holds together trusting human hearts. Kindness relates to people in their divinely designed orbits.
God is God over all. He is God of intergalactic stars and of imperfect saints. Love permits the One who breathed galaxies into existence to reign over all the kingdoms of our life. Believing God is in charge, saints struggle on.
Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—book available on Amazon
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
This devotional based on day 110 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity
One of the fascinating aspects of each election cycle is to watch both Democrats and Republicans imply that God is certainly on their side of the issues. Meanwhile, theologians debate whether God is a Calvinist or Arminian. And sometimes entire nations—especially the United States—portray themselves as being on the side of God and righteousness.
So how can we tell whose side is God really on?
There’s a great story in Joshua 5:13-15 that should give us cause for concern on this subject. The scene takes place shortly before Joshua is planning to lead the Israelites against the formidable city of Jericho. This was the first step in his campaign to take possession of the Promised Land, and Joshua was facing some anxiety.
As he was gazing at Jericho in preparation for the coming events, Joshua was suddenly confronted with a mighty angel of the Lord, with his sword drawn for battle. The angel clearly would be a formidable warrior, and Joshua certainly hoped he had come to fight on the side of the Israelites.
“Are You for us or for our adversaries?” was his logical question for the angel (v. 13).
However, the angel didn’t frame his answer the way Joshua might have hoped: “No,” the angel replied, “but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come” (v. 14).
Do you see the irony here? Joshua hadn’t asked a yes or no question. He wanted to know—as we all do—whether God was going to fight on his side or his enemy’s side.
But God never comes to take sides—He comes to take over! The angel’s reply let Joshua see an important insight about spiritual or political battles: Instead of trying to get God to fight on our side, we had better humble ourselves to make sure we are aligning ourselves with His side.
Joshua got the message loud and clear. Falling on his face to the earth, he worshiped God and said, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Liking this response, the Commander of the Lord’s army told Joshua to take off his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground (vs. 14-15).
What a great model for us as well. The Bible declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). But the surest way to know that God is truly “for us” is to make sure our highest objective is to seek His kingdom and accomplish His will. When we’re willing to do that, Jericho will be no match for us.
If the recent election was won by the political candidate you supported, here’s my advice: Don’t stop praying!
And if your preferred candidate lost the recent election, here’s my advice: Don’t stop praying!
Rather than either gloating in victory or moaning in defeat, it’s now more important than ever to seek God’s grace and favor on the nation. That will only happen when we lay aside our personal assumptions and agendas, seeking His kingdom and glory above all.
Jesus Speaks: Holding Fast in a World of Compromise
By Mike Baker, J.K. Jones and Jim Probst (InterVarsity Press)
The three authors are Pastor Mike Baker and two of his pastoral staff—J.K. Jones and Jim Probst—at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill.
The book references the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 plus another one—yours. That eighth church shows up in Appendix 2. The book’s basic emphasis is holiness, and the authors accentuate it by using the churches’ personalities—both positive and negative.
The authors also discuss personal holiness, examining what it means to be ready to become and be holy.
The book is interspersed with devotionals. A helpful set of discussion starters for group study parallels the chapters.
Jesus Speaks is a wonderful book for Christians interested in learning more about holiness or anyone involved in a study of Revelation.
Skip Holman, minister of discipleship
Northeast Baptist Church
San Antonio
Review: Designed to Lead
- November 9, 2016
- By Skip Holman
Designed to Lead
By Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck (Broadman & Holman)
Eric Geiger, co-author of Simple Church, and Kevin Peck, pastor of Austin Stone Community Church, have written a consummate work on leadership from a biblical perspective.
To quote the authors: “The Great Commission is Plan A; Jesus has no Plan B.”
The book deals with four levels of leadership and development within each of them—a volunteer who works with others, a leader who works through others, a director who works through teams and senior leaders who work through key leaders.
The book addresses discipleship, vision, strategy, collaboration, people development and overseeing resources, along with ministry-specific competencies, a person’s unique skills within a ministry area.
The heart of this book is discipleship—growing leaders and all that entails. You also will enjoy the appendix on discipleship from the perspective of Jesus.
Designed to Lead is a wonderful read for anyone interested in leading and developing leaders.
Skip Holman, minister of discipleship
Northeast Baptist Church
San Antonio
I recently studied the life of the Old Testament prophet Daniel and discovered that he had lived under the reign of 10 different kings. That got me thinking about my own life…
It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’m so old that I was born during the final years of Harry Truman’s administration! Wow. That seems like ancient history.
Donald Trump will be the thirteenth American president in my lifetime. Some of our presidents have been good, some have been bad, but none have been perfect.
Somehow America has survived our very flawed leaders, and Daniel’s story has helped give me perspective and hope for our future.
The people of Daniel’s generation had no opportunity to vote on their leaders. Instead of being able to change the course of history through political campaigns, he had to trust that “[God] removes kings and raises up kings”—even rulers like Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus, and Darius (Daniel 2:21).
Rather than put his hope in any of these human leaders, Daniel took comfort in an entirely different kingdom. Even though he was greatly alarmed by events on earth at times, he came to see that “the Ancient of Days” would ultimately sit on the throne of heaven, ruling over an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:9-27).
You've probably heard the famous story of "The Blind Men & the Elephant," a fable that has spread across the world in various versions. People find it fascinating that each of these men could be both right and wrong at the same time. They were correct about what they perceived, yet each of them had perceptions that were incomplete.
We see this principle at work all the time, both in politics and in the church. People tend to feel very certain about what they have experienced, and rightfully so. Those from minority groups are more likely to have experienced racial prejudice, and that is very real to them. Meanwhile, those in the white majority often have a hard time believing that racial discrimination is still much of a problem a full century and a half after the Emancipation Proclamation.
We all have a limited view of the “elephants” in the room, don’t we? Smug about what we think we “know,” we don’t recognize that we can be right and wrong at the same time. As a result, we tend to adopt half truths, not realizing that the other half may be in error.
Unless we keep this principle in mind, we’ll be much too prone to attribute nearly messianic qualities to our preferred political leaders, willfully blind to their flaws. If you’re an American, I hope you voted in the recently election. But I also hope you did so prayerfully and with your eyes wide open.
God is the only One who sees the whole picture. Yes, we can experience more and more of the Lord as we read His Word and draw near to Him in prayer. But nevertheless, the Bible says, “we know in part and we prophecy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). In eternity, we will have a much fuller view of the elephant, but “now we see in a mirror, dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Although the fog of human events may often obscure this fact, someone is still seated on heaven’s throne (Revelation 4:1-2). We’ll find great solace when we accept His invitation to “come up here” and take a look.
A Prayer for Election Day
By Pastor Johnny Almond
Lord of the nations,
After a long and tiring presidential race with vicious contention, intense debate and sad divisiveness; with election day approaching in only a few hours — we approach You, Almighty God, with a heartfelt prayer for the nation we love, the country of our birth.
Wondering what turnaround it might take to restore peace and quiet, justice and kindness to our land, we recall a verse from a very old Book we’ve read and heard quoted countless times—
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land. [2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV]
Could this if-then formula, conscientiously practiced by people of faith, make America great—and good—again?
Are these ancient words powerful enough to transform society by changing hearts submissive to your Holy Spirit?
Would widespread application of this verse help us be better neighbors, cancel selfishness with sacrifice, and make us stronger together by replacing the love of power with the power of love?
Lord Jesus Christ, called by your name we search our souls and ask ourselves personal questions—Are we willing to humbly dismount our high horse of judgmentalism and realize we’re not God? Are we sincerely hoping for your will to be done in the results of this national election? Are we seeking your face, or just trying to save our own? Are we convicted of our own wrongdoing and shortcomings, and willing to repent of evil in our lives?
Heavenly Father, please hear our prayer and bless us by forgiving our sins and restoring our land to be
a nation of citizens free from fear, free from want, free to speak our mind, and free to worship our God.
In the name of the One on whose shoulders rests the government of the universe, the Prince of Peace, Amen.
Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—book available on Amazon
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
Moses was 120 years old when he died,
yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.
Deuteronomy 34:7 NLT
The number of our years is increasing. Gray hairs are multiplying, and bodily aches humiliate more often. It is wise to pause now and then to deeply consider the meaning of our life. With heaven’s help, we can grow older gracefully.
Though our physical eyesight may deteriorate, our vision of eternal realities can grow more perceptive day by day. It is life’s noblest goal to know God more intimately—to develop closer familiarity with Christ, so our vigor will not weaken and our spiritual eyesight will not dim. We cannot see our Savior now, yet we love and trust him. His Presence in our life brings laughter and singing. Life is imperfectly focused now, but the day will come when we will see with perfect clarity. Until that glorious time of total redemption, we should pray to see the Lord more clearly with each passing day.
Time subtracts from physical stamina as our birthdays add up, but emotional muscles need not atrophy. Relying on God’s unlimited power reinforces us for future challenges. When we encounter aggravation, we should keep in mind that trying times are parentheses in the sentence of life. Adversity is God’s university—we should not withdraw. Time educates for eternity. Trouble is temporary. Heaven’s support is as certain as sunrise. God’s grace is more than enough to see us through the aging process.
God will be our Hiding Place, whatever the threat or trauma. He inspires nocturnal melodies, calms our anxious heart, and strengthens our weary arms when we feel like walking away from heavy responsibilities. When our natural strength is gone, supernatural strength is available. When hard times push us to our knees, we should pray harder. Holding God’s hand, we can walk with a spring in our step.
To live joyfully, we must open the eyes of our heart to see the beauties of the world and God’s loving Providence in our circumstances. To catch a glimpse of the bright tomorrow God has planned, we must let Light beyond light flood our inner being. To accomplish what God placed his hand on our shoulder to do, we must flex our spiritual muscles.
God gives us ambition to implement his commands. He gives us energy and ability to obey his orders. He raised Christ from the grave, and He is able to renew our resolve to please our Creator—never mind our age! As we grow older, with God’s help we can grow bolder.
Pastor Johnny R. Almond
Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity -- book available on Amazon
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
This devotional based on day 108 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity
Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or simply a member of the Apathetic Party, I feel an urgency to bring something to your attention. In the fog of the election season and all its political ads and pundits, it’s easy to overlook root issues that must be addressed before Election Day.
Although I don’t usually write much about the devil and demons, the current situation demands an exception. Whether you are for Hillary, Trump, or someone else, there’s an important matter not mentioned in any of the party platforms…
Before the final votes, we need to pray against our national spiritual fog.
Our central problem isn’t the Democrats or Republicans, but rather the demons and strongholds--and the spiritual apathy that allows them to remain.
The candidates all have their "demons." And let’s face it: American has its demons, and this has led to our crazy match-up of candidates.
The apostle Paul told the Ephesians that their real battles were not a matter of flesh and blood. Likewise, I’m sure he would remind us today that our struggle isn’t primarily between political ideologies:
We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).
Thankfully, Paul also wrote that Jesus is positioned higher than any of these unseen enemies:
He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church (Ephesians 1:21-21 NLT).
You see, our prayers have spiritual authority to lift the demonic fog that’s blinding so many people’s eyes to the real issues facing our nation. Romans 11:8 calls this fog “a spirit of stupor,” and it’s extremely dangerous to have an election unless that spell is broken.
Before it’s too late, will you join me in praying for our country? Will you join me in humbling ourselves before the Lord and repenting of our national sins and narcissism?
It gets down to this: Instead of just having the right outcome in the election, we need the right hearts and a spiritual revival. Rather than just choosing the best person to be President, we need to look to King Jesus for “the wisdom that comes from heaven” (James 3:17).
When we submit ourselves to God, the Bible says we can resist the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7). That’s really good news, isn’t it?
May our nation submit to God once again, starting with those of us who profess to follow Jesus as our Lord (1 Peter 4:17).
Then let the national house-cleaning begin!
Equilibrium Equation
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25 KJV
When everything in our world is falling to pieces, if we turn to God we can stay unshakably calm. Life can hurt. Circumstances are sometimes painfully difficult. On earth we will fight many battles—but we can take heart, because we share triumph with Jesus. We are not the first the world ever mistreated; it hated its Creator! We should not be surprised when skeptics misunderstand and ostracize us. In spite of scorn and abuse, we are challenged to remain Christ’s willing subject. The King of hearts reigns mercifully. God is our Eternal Refuge—all is well.
When situations unravel and we feel we’re about to come apart at the seams, we can turn to God and be unflaggingly courageous. Undergirding life’s chaos and confusion are the everlasting arms, so we can let all our worries evaporate in the sunlight of His love. Our Father encircles us with unfailing care, so we are safe and secure. Whatever happens, God will always hold you together.
When our days become a daze, and there are more projects and problems and puzzles than we can handle, we can turn to God and find unlimited capability to carry on. Our life’s highest quest it to walk in Jesus’ steps. Whatever shoes we need, God will provide. He gives running shoes for the faith race so we can keep on when we feel like dropping out, and outrun the tempter. He furnishes steel-toed shoes for heavy construction work to protect us in arduous challenges. He dresses us in dancing shoes so we can worship with exhilaration. He gives us combat boots for spiritual warfare to ensure victory. He outfits us with hiking shoes to climb “impossible” mountains. God works best through us when we sense our weakness. When we rely on him, we find that his grace is all we need.
When daily demands are a balancing act between job, family, exercise, others’ expectations, bill paying, car repairs, unknown future, unexpected emergencies, and a hundred details emerging from our to do list, we can turn to God and know unequaled cheer. Whatever demands and pressures life brings, He is our Strength, so there’s no need to let fear or frustration get the best of us. God gives us what we need right when we need it. We do not have to be overwhelmed by circumstances, when we revel in inner-stances.
Celebrating God’s Presence with every heartbeat—we prayerfully maintain an attitude of gratitude, refuse to extinguish the Spirit Flame, scrupulously avoid evil, learn to really live, and march in step with heaven’s drumbeat.
Counting on God’s guarantee of ultimate victory, we relax.
Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—book available on Amazon
This devotional based on day 107 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
On January 25, 1969, I experienced the miracle of the new birth when I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
If you’ve never been born again, the experience Jesus described to the religious leader Nicodemus in John 3:1-8, you’re really missing out—not just in this life, but in eternity as well. There’s no other way to become a “new creation,” where “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
However, lately I’ve been meeting lots of people who’ve already experienced the new birth, yet now they need something else: a new beginning.
You’ve probably met these folks too. They tell you something like, “I got saved back in 1995, and everything changed.” However, the more you get to know these well-meaning believers, the more apparent it becomes that something’s drastically missing. Maybe Jesus forgave their sins and stamped their ticket to heaven many years ago, but now they seem stuck in a dreary, unappealing religiosity.
Other religious folks eagerly tell you about the day they got “filled with the Holy Ghost.” But although that may have been a glorious day, now you can’t help but wonder if their filling with the Holy Ghost somehow leaked over the years. The love, joy, peace, and other fruit that’s evidence of being filled with the Spirit is nowhere to be found in their life anymore (see Galatians 5:22-23). Perhaps it’s time for a Holy Spirit “refill.”
I’m not trying to be mean. But these observations are unmistakable and troubling.
The reality is that we all need new beginnings at various points in our lives. The Bible is filled with stories of mighty heroes of the faith who needed a fresh start at one point or another:
- Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 when everything changed for them at the birth of their child Isaac (Genesis 21:5, 17:17).
- Jacob experienced a new beginning when he saw a ladder reaching to an open heaven (Genesis 28:10-22), and then his life was transformed even more when he wrestled all night with God (Genesis 32:24-32).
- Joseph suddenly went from the prison to the palace and became the Prime Minister over all of Egypt (Genesis 41:14).
- Moses’ life was radically changed at age 80 when God spoke to him from the burning bush in the backside of the desert (Exodus 3:1-22).
- Gideon was living in fear and self-preservation right before the Angel of the Lord appeared and commissioned him as a “mighty man of valor” to defeat the Midianites (Judges 6:11:24).
- David desperately needed a new beginning after his adultery and murder were exposed (2 Samuel 12, Psalm 51).
- Elijah was weary, depressed, and practically suicidal before God gave him a new purpose in life: mentoring the next generation (1 Kings 19:1-21).
- Paul’s experience on the Damascus Road would surely be considered a new birth. But he later experienced several new beginnings too: when Barnabas got him involved in the church at Antioch (Acts 11:25-26) and when the Holy Spirit commissioned him and Barnabas to plant churches across the Roman Empire (Acts 13:1-4).
This is just a small sampling of the Bible’s stories about people who experienced a new beginning. If the Lord was willing to give these people a fresh start, don’t you think He’s able to give YOU one as well?
In the Gospels, Jesus triggered new beginnings everywhere He went. The list includes the woman at the well (John 4:1-30), the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3-11), Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11:1-44), Jesus’ discouraged disciples receiving new hope after cowering behind locked doors in the wake of His cross (John 20:19-23)—and many more.
Do you see the message here? Even though I’m thrilled if you’ve experienced the new birth, it may be time for a new beginning as well. The good news is that God gladly offers to provide one when we ask Him (Isaiah 42:9, 43:19).
That means you don’t need to live a purposeless life or remain stuck in quicksand. Nor do you have to flounder in a sea of frustration and hopelessness.
But let me be clear: New beginnings aren’t always easy and pain-free. You could be required to make a geographical relocation and leave friends and loved ones behind (Genesis 12:1-4). You may need to wrestle with God until your hip is out of joint, or He could totally reroute your life by speaking to you from a burning bush.
You shouldn’t be surprised if you have to strip off some graveclothes, as happened with Lazarus (John 11:44). And don’t forget about Elijah if your new beginning starts in a cloud of depression while you’re having a “personal retreat” in a dark, damp cave.
Finally, let me ask: Has God already given you some instructions for launching your new beginning? If so, this is no time to procrastinate or be bound by fear.
You see… the best way to get a fresh start is to get started! Even if you don’t know where the path will lead, today you could take a step of faith that dramatically impacts your future.
Although the prophet Elijah is famous for his mighty prayers, I’ve always been more intrigued by the prayer God ignored.
James 5:17-18 recounts Elijah’s amazing feat in praying for Israel’s rain to stop for three and a half years, then praying for the rain to suddenly be restored. In-between those two monumental events, Elijah found time to supernaturally multiply a widow’s food, raise her son from the dead, and call down fire from the sky on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 17 & 18).
Pretty impressive stuff. The Bible says nothing is impossible for God, and it seemed as if nothing was impossible for Elijah either.
But there was one prayer that didn’t get answered. Elijah prayed this just as earnestly as any of his other prayers, if not more so. Yet the Lord ignored him.
The surprising scene occurred when Queen Jezebel threatened his life and Elijah escaped into the wilderness: “He prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life’” (1 Kings 19:4).
The prophet prayed that he would die.
Perhaps you’ve never prayed a prayer like this—or won’t admit that you have. But at times some of the rest of us have prayed this, and we can learn some important lessons from Elijah’s story.
Based on Elijah’s track record of answered prayer, we might have assumed God would simply say okay and grant his request. If his other requests were so easily granted, why wouldn’t the Lord give him what he wanted this time?
The answer is this: As we see later in the chapter, God still had plans for Elijah. Yet those plans were hard to see while Elijah was hiding out in the cave and feeling sorry for himself.
It’s interesting that before giving the prophet his new commission, the Lord made sure he got some rest and nourishment (1 Kings 19:5-8). The story shows how our state of mind can be negatively influenced not just by difficult circumstances, but also by things like fatigue and poor nutrition.
Next, God whispered to Elijah with a “still small voice,” cutting through all the noise and hoopla that had been surrounding him (1 Kings 19:11-12). If you’re feeling depressed and hopeless today, nothing will help you more than to tune out the noisy distractions and hear God speak to you again.
One of the other causes of Elijah’s hopelessness was his sense of loneliness, feeling that there was no one left but him to follow in the ways of the Lord. Twice he told God about his woeful aloneness:
I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life (1 Kings 19:10, 19:14).
Have you ever felt disconnected from family, friends, or the community of believers? Or perhaps you’ve felt all alone in some of the battles you’ve been facing. This is a depressing place to be.
But God pointed out that Elijah’s perspective was all wrong! While the prophet felt like he was the only one left to stand for righteousness, the Lord told him, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18).
How could Elijah feel so alone at a time when the Lord still had 7,000 faithful followers? Maybe you’ve felt this way in a megachurch or at a conference or concert. Sometimes the loneliest feeling of all is to be surrounded by thousands, yet not truly connected to anyone.
Elijah clearly tended to be a loner in his personality type, but even loners need to be connected. God took care of this with the final step in the prophet’s restoration, giving him a new relationship that was central to his new commission and purpose.
When the prophet felt as if his life’s purpose was over, the Lord gave him a new mission and vision. Elijah first was told to anoint some new kings, but then the pivotal moment came when God said he must anoint Elisha “as prophet in your place” (1 Kings 19:16).
The prophet’s new commission was to train his replacement! How would you respond to a mandate like that?
Elijah didn’t initially seem too happy about training someone to replace him. But isn’t this what true ministry is all about? Isn’t the primary task of every leader to equip others for their role in God’s kingdom? (See Ephesians 4:11-12.)
To sum up this story, God ignored Elijah’s request to die. Instead, He showed him a new purpose—one that ultimately had more significance than anything he had done before.
Fortunately, Elijah’s story didn’t end until a “double portion” of his spirit rested upon his successor, Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-15).
Think about that for a moment. What if the Lord said to you, “I don’t want your life to end until there’s a double portion of blessings resting upon your kids and those you mentor in the next generation”? Nothing is as important as that.
So it’s okay if you take some time to rest and get nourished, even if you have to hang out in a cave for a while. But then listen for God’s voice and His new commission in your life. And don’t be surprised if it has something to do with training your replacement and equipping the next generation.
As long as you still have breath, God still has plans.
I wasn’t prepared for what God spoke to me as I prayed with a friend recently. It was just a single word, with no explanation given or needed.
“STALE.”
I wish I could tell you that this word from God was meant for my friend. But I knew it was an arrow pointed directly at me.
Everyone knows what staleness is like. The cracker or potato chip that once was crisp and tasty is now bland and tasteless, somewhat like eating cardboard.
Ordinarily people simply throw things away that have become stale. “This product is past the expiration date,” they say, “so I’m just going to toss it.”
Dictionaries give lots of interesting descriptions of staleness: dry, hardened, flat, musty, stagnant, boring, tedious, or having lost novelty, interest, or freshness.
Have you ever become stale in some area of your life? Perhaps stale in your relationship with the Lord, your marriage, your career, or your ministry?
Unless the proper precautions are taken, things that once were tasty and appealing can become unpalatable and disgusting as time goes by.
Surely I’m not the only one this has ever happened to.
Thanks to The Message paraphrase, I have a Biblical reference on the subject of staleness. Jesus told the Christians in Laodicea:
“I know you inside and out...You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant” (Revelation 3:15-16).
What a sad condition these believers found themselves in. Jesus said they were lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. They were existing at room temperature—pretty much like a corpse!
And when we become lukewarm, we inevitably end up stale and stagnant as well. Life loses its zest, and everything begins to taste like a stale potato chip.
Sometimes stale potato chips, crackers, or nuts can regain freshness when you put them in the oven for a while. In the same way, God has ways to make stale things fresh again. He can bring revival to your spiritual life and new vitality to your marriage or job.
One day every bit of our staleness will be remedied by the one who says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). But the good news is that we don’t need to wait until Jesus returns to experience “newness of life” (Romans 6:4, 7:6).
Don’t give up. You haven’t reached your expiration date yet. Today can be the day when your life starts becoming crisp and tasty once again.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you.
He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
We step into the future confidently, knowing there is no surprise to God. God is our Vanguard—so there’s no need to worry about the future. He is already there; He knows what is coming. When tomorrow arrives, He will be there for us.
The Good Shepherd faithfully walks ahead—we listen for My voice and follow His lead. Jesus precedes us, so we can be certain that sunrise will bring strength for all of life’s challenges. He walks ahead of us and shows us the way, one step at a time. We give Christ control of each moment as it comes by deciding to obey Him. We rest in green meadows and by quiet streams by trusting Him unquestioningly even in dark valleys. Whatever the emergency coming our way, heaven is ready.
We step into the future capably, realizing there is no real success without God. God is our Vitality—Center of Gravity in all seasons, Song in sad times, Solid Rock when everything nailed down comes loose, Physician when we are sin-sick, Creator who perfectly understands us, and Almighty God who stands under us.
There’s no need to let shadows intimidate us or let fear unnerve us. Our Father’s eyes watch over sparrows and supervise our journey beyond the stars. In hope, we smile through our tears; by faith, we dance through our troubles.
We step into the future courageously, believing there is no superior force above God. God is our Valor—injecting adrenaline into our timid soul, encouraging us in our nagging doubt. Because of His Presence with us, we can live without terror, cowardice, flinching, dismay, or despondency. All the demons in hell cannot conquer our heart—it is sacred territory, God’s home. We can do all our Master orders through the invigorating power of Christ. We can defeat any spiritual enemy by the protective
love of Jesus, our Shield. Hiding in Ultimate Reality, we sing eternity’s song even when we feel like crying. Focused on the cross, we keep running Faith Marathon even when tempted to drop out.
We step into the future cheerfully, understanding there is no song without God. God is our Vision—Sovereign holding tomorrow in His hands, Meaning behind life’s mysteries, and Highest Dream of our heart. He is the God of Abraham’s moving experiences, Isaac’s laughter, and Jacob’s struggles. He is our Stability in transition, Best Answer to prayer, and Truest Riches. Love blesses us with all we need today and all we will need tomorrow—counting on God’s promises coming true, we keep believing in a bright future.
Johnny R. Almond
Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith
Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity – book available from Amazon
http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/
This devotional based on day 106 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity
I saw a new word this week, at least a new word for me – backstory. The definition is obvious – “a story that tells what led up to the main story.” In church we call this a testimony. I’m not surprised that the media opted for “backstory” over “testimony.” My “backstory” is interesting, exciting, diverse, and much too involved to include here. With a Pastor for a father I grew up in church. As another said, “My drug problem was that I was drug to church several times each week.” Testimonies were things we heard from youth evangelists and speakers who came to our church and shared their “backstories.” Mostly I remember their stories being approximately 90% of what led up to their “main story” (drugs, alcohol abuse, jail time, gang involvement, teenage sexual activities, etc.). The “main story” then was always covered in about 10% of their presentation. Frankly, I had friends who bought into the 90%. I chose the “path less traveled” – the 10%. While I appreciate the stories of those whose negative “backstory” was overcome, resulting in a positive “main story,” I’m thankful my “backstory” was heavily influenced by Christian parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, counselors, coaches, and friends. Due to my age, many of these folks have moved on to complete their “main story,” and are now enjoying their heavenly story, but if I could speak to them, I would do so in the words of the Apostle Paul, who had a tragic “backstory,” and overcame it to have a fantastic “main story,” “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians1:3).
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