30 Days of Devotion

One of my passions is to share what God is doing and speaking to me through writing. Devotional writing and encouragement is a favorite of mine and I have really lacked recently due to just the busyness of life and ministry. I feel that God has given me a desire to write and it is amazing to hear random people I have never met send me messages about what they read of my blog.

This has led me to realize that I need to be more committed to writing and place a higher priority on it. Over the next 30 days beginning on March 1st I am setting myself the goal to write 1 devotional a day on this blog. I pray that these devotionals will be an encouragement to you and draw you closer to Jesus Christ. I hope you join me on these 30 days of devotion. See you tomorrow :)

Paradise

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43

As I am studying for the upcoming Labels Retreat I am find myself having a deeper understanding of the grace of God. Try to picture yourself on the cross as Jesus would have been. There are robbers on each side of you. The crowd is mocking you, your body is broken, and your limbs are pierced. You know you must die for the sins of the world but the pain and agony is intense. Then one of the robbers gets it. He repents and puts his faith in a man almost dead on a cross. Can you imagine what joy that must have brought Jesus right before his death? He was able to restore life to a dead person right before he himself would die. Jesus took a man who was labeled a robber and a criminal and labeled him forgiven and free.

John Calvin says, "We ought not to enter into curious and subtle arguments about the place of paradise. Let us rest satisfied with knowing that those who are engrafted by faith into the body of Christ are partakers of that life, and thus enjoy after death a blessed and joyful rest, until the perfect glory of the heavenly life is fully manifested by the coming of Christ."

Today reflect on that Paradise. If you have put your faith and trust in Christ, if you have accepted his grace and forgiveness in your life know that you will be with him in Paradise. Just like the thief on the cross, no matter what we have done Christ has died to set us free.

Spiritual Inventory

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart." - 2 Chronicles 25:2

Have you ever taken a "Spiritual Inventory?" Often times in life we get caught in the motions. We often times do things but don't even know why we do them. Have you ever taken a moment to think about your motives? You see, there is a difference between a right heart and a whole heart. God desires a whole heart. He wants all of us. He expects nothing less than wholehearted devotion. In 2 Chronicles 25 we find the story of King Amaziah who does what was right in the eyes of the LORD yet was halfhearted which led to steady degeneration rather than radical reversal.

A few chapters later you see King Hezekiah, a man serving the LORD with a whole heart. My prayer for you is that you will take time for a "spiritual inventory." Change begins when we are honest with ourselves so the question is, "will you be honest with yourself?" Allow God to give you a heart fully devoted to him.

"Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."
- 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Where is God?

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." - Habakkuk 1:5

When the LORD spoke this to Habakkuk it wasn't good news. If you are like me I guarantee you have been in Habakkuk's shoes. When the circumstances looked hopeless, when violence and destruction was running rampant and God seemed to be nowhere in sight he cried out with the words,

"O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you Violence! and you will not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2

Have you ever been disappointed when God doesn't seem to be answering prayers? Are you ever frustrated at God when it seems that sin is going unpunished and there is no justice for the oppressed? This is how Habakkuk felt and in the verses 2-4 of chapter 1 he lets God know how he feels. God's response comes in verse 5.

The LORD responds by saying I am working, actually I am going to use a more wicked nation to punish a less wicked one. Habakkuk cannot understand why God would do this and often times we can't understand why God works the way he does. In our lives circumstances and situations often leave us questioning God which is ok as long as we are ok with God's response to us. Habakkuk learned some very important lessons and truths that changed him and strengthened his faith. God is just and merciful and will punish all the wicked at the right time. His timing is perfect and no matter what the circumstances are he is working everything out for His glory and our betterment.

At the end of the book we see a radically changed Habakkuk. He began by informing God how to run his world and ended by trusting that God knows best and will bring about justice. Amid suffering and loss, Habakkuk has learned that he can trust God, and with that trust comes great joy, not in circumstances but in God himself.

"God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on high places."
Habakkuk 3:19