your daily crossroad
Stir Up The Power!
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Peter 1:4, 6-7)
I recently read, There are times when you know what God has called you to do, but you just don’t feel you have the inner resources you need to do it. Somehow you’ve simply run dry. You know the Word says that “out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). But, during those times, you can’t even find the creek bank, much less the river.
The Word of God tells us how to handle those situations through a clear command: “Stir up the gift inside you.”
You stir yourself up! Everything you need is already in you. Jesus put it there. Everything you’ll ever need to accomplish what God has called you to do has been placed inside you by God Almighty.
Faith is in there. Power is in there. Love is in there. Believe that. Speak it out. Say it to yourself now, right out loud:
“In the Name of Jesus, I stir up the gift that’s within me by faith. I’m stirring up my faith. I’m not going to wait until I feel stirred up. I’m stepping out by faith and expecting my feelings to follow!
“I’m stirring up the love of God that’s in me. I’m stirring up the power. I’m stirring up myself and running the devil out of my affairs. I’m stirring myself up in the Spirit of the living God! I am stirred up!” Amen!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Timothy 1:1-8
Thankfulness
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Tomorrow, we will spend the day eating good things and hopefully, thanking the Lord for each morsel. As Christians, a day like Thanksgiving with its elaborate feasting is a merely a feeble preview of the feast that we will enjoy for eternity in Heaven. It’s a physical picture of the spiritual bounty that awaits us. At some point tomorrow, most of us will declare ourselves ‘stuffed!’ And while we Americans are familiar with physical fullness, there is always a hunger and thirst within us for spiritual fulfillment. We each have a deep desire for our hearts to feel fully valued, loved and loaded with holy purpose. That thirst will at long last be finally and forever satisfied in the person and presence of Jesus Christ.
For Christians, we have that purpose, value and love now, but struggle to fully feel and remember it while still living in this broken world. Our imperfect bodies, struggles with sin, and the suffering of this world drain our souls and send us into a battle to remember who we are and Whose we are. I was struggling to remember this the other day. I was driving along pondering the seemingly endless struggle over my physical insecurities and looked out my window at a gorgeous pink sunset the Lord had laid before me. His voice spoke to my heart and reminded me that I am more beautiful and more wonderfully made than that sunset. And for the moment, the eternal perspective won. But the battle began anew the next morning when I got up to get dressed. Our life here will be full of these small battles between acknowledging our brokenness and remembering our redemption. In heaven, the brokenness will be forever gone and all that will remain is to be filled to the brim with the glory of the Lord.
Don’t let your gratitude tomorrow be short-lived or superficial. Let it be a spiritual reset, putting your heart into a grateful posture so that your actions come out of thankfulness for what the Lord has done in you instead of focused on what remains to be sanctified. When we operate from a grateful heart, our perspective and battle posture will be much improved. If we thank the Lord for all the battles won in the past and for the war that He has already won, we are better prepared to fight discontentment and selfishness. Eat and fellowship tomorrow thanking the Lord for the good things He has laid before you now and the even better things that He has laid in store for you in eternity. He has indeed given us good things and He’s not through yet.
This brought tears to my eyes as I read it this morning. I felt I had to share every bit of it. My prayer today, going into tomorrow and every day after will be, don’t let my gratitude be short lived or superficial. Let it be a spiritual reset, putting my heart into a grateful posture so that my actions come out of thankfulness for what the Lord has done in me instead of focusing on what remains to be sanctified. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Amen. (Psalm 136:1)
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 107
Fame and Humility
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
Many of us are obsessed with fame—either with being famous ourselves or with following every detail of famous people’s lives. International book or film tours. Late-night show appearances. Millions of followers on Twitter.
In a recent study in the US, researchers ranked the names of famous individuals using a specially developed algorithm that scoured the Internet. Jesus topped the list as the most famous person in history.
Yet Jesus was never concerned about obtaining celebrity status. When He was here on earth, He never sought fame (Matt. 9:30; John 6:15)—although fame found Him all the same as news about Him quickly traveled throughout the region of Galilee (Mark 1:28; Luke 4:37).
Wherever Jesus went, crowds soon gathered. The miracles He performed drew people to Him. But when they tried to make Him a king by force, He slipped away by Himself (John 6:15). United in purpose with His Father, He repeatedly deferred to the Father’s will and timing (4:34; 8:29; 12:23). “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).
Fame was never Jesus’s goal. His purpose was simple. As the Son of God, He humbly, obediently, and voluntarily offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins.
Today’s Reading is Philippians 2:1-11
Be Still
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
I recently read, we are being instructed in this verse to let go, to be quiet, and to be physically & mentally still. For most of us stillness, silence, and serenity are difficult to find. Even when we are able to find it externally, it can still be difficult to cultivate stillness internally. Life is busy and so are our minds!
It is not only tough to make the time to be still; it’s tough to create stillness in our mind and body. The idea of being still goes against what we naturally, and culturally, do. Our inclination is to step on the gas and go full speed ahead, believing that doing more, and having more, makes us more complete. Instead, God is telling us here to hit the brakes and be still. If we are busy being busy, God’s voice can be nearly impossible to hear, but the problem is that many times we view being still with God as inactivity. It is critical to our faith to realize that the more we are deliberately still:
* the better we recognize God’s activity,
* the smaller our issues seem,
* the bigger God appears,
When was the last time you released the pressing issues in your life to God? When was the last time you relaxed in the presence of God? Can you set aside just a few minutes today to “be still” before God, and to listen for His voice?
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 3:5-6
Speak No Guile
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (1 Peter 3:10)
I recently read, In the apostle Peter’s first letter, he told the followers of Jesus, “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called. . . . For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:9–11).
The psalmist David wrote, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3). That’s a great prayer for the beginning of each day and in every situation when we want to strike back with words.
Lord, guard our words today so we may not harm others by what we say. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Amen.
May we start each day with this on our lips that we may live by example and lead others to Christ. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Provers 18:21). Be mindful of what you say, you have the power to build up or tear down, what will you choose today.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Peter 3:8-12
Attitude of Gratitude
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)
While there will always be things to complain about, if we look carefully there are always blessings to be thankful for. When Paul describes our newness in Christ, “thankfulness” is the only characteristic mentioned more than once. In fact it is mentioned three times. “Be thankful,” he says in Colossians 3:15. Sing to God “with gratitude in your hearts” (v. 16). And whatever you do, be sure to be “giving thanks to God the Father” (v. 17). Paul’s instruction to be thankful is astonishing when we consider that he wrote this letter from prison!
Today, let’s make the choice to have an attitude of thankfulness.
Lord, teach me the liberating joy of being thankful! Help me to find the blessings that are locked up in the things I complain about and to regularly express my gratitude to You and others. Amen.
I recently read this and again, I needed this today. God always has a way of meeting me right where I am.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Colossians 3:12-17
What A Friend!
The Maker of all things is the Maker of all human beings, and each of us is deemed worthy of His individual attention and love. God demonstrated that love in person on the gnarly hills of Israel and ultimately on the cross.
When Jesus visited earth in the form of a servant, He showed that the hand of God is not too big for the smallest person in the world. It is a hand engraved with our individual names and engraved also with wounds, the cost to God of loving us so much.
Now, when I find myself wallowing in self-pity, overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness that is articulated so well in books like Job and Ecclesiastes, I turn to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s stories and deeds. If I conclude that my existence “under the sun” (Eccl. 1:3) makes no difference to God, I contradict one of the main reasons God came to earth. To the question Do I matter? Jesus is indeed the answer.
Father, when we are overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness and pain, we can run only to You. Jesus showed us how much we matter to You, and we thank You! Amen.
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O, what peace we often forfeit
O, what needless pain we bear–
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
–Joseph Scriven
Together!
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:6)
The apostle Paul recognized the power of Christians working together in many of his letters to the early churches. He urged the Roman believers to accept each other the way Christ had accepted them and said, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5–6).
Unity with other believers enables us to broadcast God’s greatness and also helps us to endure persecution. Knowing that the Philippians would pay a price for their faith, Paul encouraged them to strive “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God” (Phil. 1:27–28).
Satan loves to divide and conquer, but his efforts fail when, with God’s help, ”Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
Today’s Reading is Romans 15:1-7
Fishers of Men
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
I recently read. Simon and his friends were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus arrived and called them to follow Him. He gave them a new purpose. No longer would they fish for fish. As Jesus told them, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).
With this new purpose set for their lives, these men were taught and trained by Jesus so that, after His ascension, they could be used by God to capture the hearts of people with the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ. Today, we follow in their steps as we share the good news of Christ’s love and salvation.
May our lives both declare and exhibit this love that can change the lives, purposes, and eternal destinies of others.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Mark 1:16-22
Fasting
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. (Joel 2:12-13)
The beauty of Christ’s far-reaching redemption is illustrated at the start of verse 12. “Turn ye even to me” Even now. The God of all heaven and earth wants you and me, even now. Even at our worst, even when we’ve turned our back on Him, abandoned and betrayed Him. Even now, He wants us to return to Him. And revealing His cards, He even tells us what will happen when we do. He will not send calamity upon us as our just deserts for rejecting Him. He tells us to return to Him for He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Even now, He is abounding in love for you, Sinner. At your worst, He will be slow to anger, even compassionate and gracious toward you. Return, not for the beating which you so richly deserve, but for the mercy, grace and lavish love that He longs to pour out on your head.
Fast in repentance and meditate not on what your body is lacking but what your soul lacks. Weep over the sin that drew you away from such a great Love. Rend your heart in grief over what you have done and return that He may heal your wounds, draw you close and demonstrate His abounding love for you.
I recently read this and wanted to share the importance of fasting with you. I pray it provokes you to fast and draw closer to God. Together, prayer and fasting will transform your life and your relationship with The Lord. If you feel you are not strong enough right now to fast on your own, find an accountability partner to fast and pray with you and for you. We are to lift each other up on our leaning side.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Joel 2:12-13
The Rock!
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
Psalm 61:2 continues to be at the forefront of my mind, it has been on my heart throughout the day yesterday and again when I woke this morning so when I came across this devotion I knew it was worth sharing. I don’t know who needs this word today but I do and I pray it also meets someone right where they are today. Thank You Lord for meeting me right where I am and being faithful through your word to uplift me and encourage me today. No matter what comes you are the rock that is higher than I. You are my strong tower and I and my family are safe.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 18:1-2
Turn to Him!
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. (Psalm 110:7)
Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear, and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.
Father, at this moment I turn to You for strength in my weakness, energy for my weariness, and faith in my doubt. Amen
When I read this I couldn’t help but think how fitting it is to start this week out with such an encouraging word. Not only are we facing an election that may have some fearing and doubting or maybe your just feeling weak, weary and or helpless. We all need to be reminded that if we let Him, God will give you the strength you need to go on and He will lift up your head, He will comfort you and strengthen you no matter what your facing, go to Him and trust Him. He is my strength in weakness, energy for my weariness and faith in my doubt. Amen! Look up!
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 61
Serve with a Clean Heart!
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)
I recently read. We might claim to love others without selfish ambition or vain conceit, but the true state of our hearts isn’t revealed until we put our love into action. Though at times we may feel tempted to grumble, know that as a follower of Christ, our call is to put our love for our friends into practice—with a clean heart.
May we find ways to serve our family, friends, and neighbors for God’s glory.
Read Luke 22:22–27 and consider how you can pattern yourself after Jesus the servant, looking especially at the words, “But I am among you as he that serveth.”
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 1:27-2:4
In Christ Alone!
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)
In five days, the Presidential election will occur and we will find out which sinner in need of grace will be the next leader of our country. If you’ve been following this election closely, as I have, you likely are struggling to understand how it is that in a country our size, we seem to be incapable of finding any candidates more trustworthy or respectable than the two before us.
But, depending on your standing with the Lord, you ought to be able to take some comfort from Paul’s words here about the government. No authority can exist apart from God’s will. And for those of us who belong to the Lord, we can take comfort in knowing that, even if these leaders we dread come in to power, their power can reach only as far as the Lord allows. Our God is infinitely more powerful and infinitely more loving than any politician ever could be. He sees and knows each of us as an individual, but He also sees and knows our country.
God has used leaders in the past to both judge and bless a country and only He knows the future of our country under its next leader. But for the Christian, while we must submit on some level to the government God allows, we can rest knowing that the true authority belongs to Christ and Him only.
It can be easy to get caught up in the political drama, to panic about the future of our country’s laws, taxes and morality, but when we panic, we are forgetting Who is truly in control. I love the lyrics of “In Christ Alone.” The first verse says, “In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.”
Regardless of who is elected President next week, we have to remember that our hope ought to be in Christ and Christ alone. Not in the Republican, Democrat or Independent party. Not in a candidate or a court. In Christ alone can we have solid ground, heights of love and depths of peace. The last line of that verse stood out to me today: When strivings cease. We have to stop striving to find the king or leader that we think will make all things right. He already exists and He is already on the throne. We just have to stop striving and kneel before the King of kings of Lord of lords and worship Him for all that He is and all that He gives.
I realize this is a bit lengthy but as I read it this morning I couldn’t help but feel it needed to be shared and pondered. What a great reminder, especially right now when all hope seems lost, remember, in Christ alone, amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:38-39
Run to Him!
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
There are moments in our lives when God calls to us and says, “Run to Me!” Something troubling is on our heels. The faster and farther we go, the more closely it pursues us. We can’t shake it. We’re too afraid to turn and confront the trouble on our own. But the reality is that we aren’t on our own. God is there, ready to help and comfort us. All we have to do is turn away from whatever scares us, and move in His direction. His Word says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10).
Dear Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. I need the kind of peace that only You can give. Help me to turn to You when I am troubled. Amen.
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 18:4-12