October 31 ~ Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Most of us probably need to tattoo this scripture passage on our forearm, where we can see it throughout each and every day! We are all so human… and we so want to “drive the car” ourselves. God must sit back and chuckle at times – and groan others – over how ridiculous we are!
My great-nephew, Timothy, has a favorite toy that I’ve clipped to his crib. This toy is a stuffed horse, attached to a couple of stuffed baubles that have some sort of noisemaker inside them. Every time he touches the toy, it makes a clinking noise that he likes. This toy is clipped just barely within reach when Timothy lies in his crib. He works and works to grip the toy and cause it to make the noise he loves. Since he is teething, he would also love to put this toy horse in his mouth and chew on it. Unfortunately, he can’t quite reach the toy well enough to get a good – and sustained – grip on it, much less a taste! This frustrates him to no end! After awhile, he gets mad! He has learned to move around a bit, and if he would just scoot closer to the toy – or roll over toward it – he could reach it easily. But he doesn’t grasp that concept yet.
I’m thinking that this is how we are with God. He offers us so much, and we spin our wheels and try all sorts of gyrations to get what He has for us. But the very thing we could do to actually have what God is offering… peace, answers, comfort, direction, wisdom, and more… is just a prayer away. We reach out and ask… but we don’t follow through and give all of our cares and concerns to God. It’s as simple as “rolling over” and scooting closer to Him.
I’m betting that within the next few weeks, Timothy will figure out how to get to his toy. He will make the turn, scoot over, and draw closer. Will we do the same with God? Isn’t it time we did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 30 ~ 1 Kings 3:5-14
One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the LORD God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you."
Solomon answered: My father David, your servant, was honest and did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who is now king. LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader. And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
God said: Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you'll be greater than any other king. If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long time.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What are you asking God for these days? Are you asking Him for the desires of your head or of your heart? By this, I mean, are you asking God to bring you a certain love interest, or a new car… or even good grades? Are you asking God to give you a job – or to direct you to a better paying, more enjoyable one? Are you asking God to make your children behave better or your parents to be more cooperative?
“But I need these things!” you may be saying. HELLO! God knows what you need! Why not ask Him to give you wisdom, patience, understanding, and compassion. Why not ask God to direct you to the job that is right for you – and to give you peace and joy in your work? Why not ask God to help you with relationships – with your family, friends, and love interests? Why not ask God to provide for your needs – food, clothing, shelter… and yes, transportation.
Once we learn to ask God for the right things, everything else falls into place. Think about how you pray – and what you ask for. Realize fully that God’s ways and our ways are not always the same. Mysterious as they may seem, God’s ways are always perfect. It could be that He sees your potential for growth through the struggle(s) you are currently experiencing. It could be that He simply knows things we don’t about our lives, and a new car or wardrobe is not what you need.
It could also be that, like David, God is waiting for you to ask Him for the right things in the right way, and then He plans to give you your “head” desires, too. The difference is perspective – and priorities. Submit to God and ask Him to direct the events of your life according to His will. Trust Him to meet all of your needs. You will be amazed at how much better your life can be.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 29 ~ 1 Peter 4:7-8
Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What is tripping you up these days? Are you frustrated with a situation or a person? Are you holding a grudge? As I prayed recently, God reminded me that soldiers are dying in Afghanistan. Little children are battling H1N1, and adults are facing the loss of their homes and jobs… or their very lives to a deadly disease. Families are searching for missing loved ones, while others mourn the untimely death of one of their own. In other words, whatever little frustrations and aggravations of my day that cause me to stew and grumble are all very minor in the scheme of things. And I am grateful that I have no major troubles!
As I pray, I ask God to give me wisdom… to “love appropriately” – which means as Jesus loves (which is unconditionally). If someone or something has aggravated me, I must look at the person or situation with the eyes of Jesus… and chances are pretty good He doesn’t see things as I do! In other words… whatever is eating at you today, ask God to show you how to love the people involved according to His will. I’m betting that the situation and those involved will seem different to you. Sometimes the change that needs to occur in a situation is OUR attitude… not the other guy and his/hers!
Ask God how to change your heart about the frustrations and aggravations of your day. Ask Him to help you to love others as Jesus loves… and to let Him work through you. See for yourself what a difference this can make!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 28 ~ Philippians 1:10
I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
You can hardly turn on the television any more without hearing about someone who made a wrong relationship choice. From sitcoms to daytime talk shows to the evening news, there are stories of people choose with their heart and end up miserable… or worse!“I thought he/she was my friend,” you hear people say, as they deal with betrayal or mistreatment. “He/she was my business partner – I trusted him/her with my life!” Let’s be honest… making right choices is tough, and we are all human! That’s why we need to stay closely in tune with God. We need to continue to grow in love for Him, in worship, and in the study of His word.
In The Message, Philippians 1:9-11 reads… “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” Truly we do need to use our head and listen for God’s voice, so that we act reasonably, choose wisely, and “love appropriately” – not out of impulse, desire, or “sentimental gush.”
If you find that your relationships struggle… or that you seem to fall in and out of friends, love interests, jobs, commitments, or even churches(!)… maybe it’s time to grow up in the love of Christ. Maybe the answer is spending more time in prayer and study of God’s word and seeking His will. Maybe it’s time for your love of God to grow larger than the love of anything – and anyone – else! Now THAT’s a life that makes Jesus proud! Shouldn’t this be our ultimate goal?
2009 Debbie Robus
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October 27 ~ Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you think that Jesus is telling us in this passage not to pray in public? Is He saying, “Don’t pray over your meal in a restaurant, or ‘meet at the pole’ before school.”? Is he telling us not to pray before a football game or even aloud in church? The answer is “Absolutely, positively NOT!” There is nothing wrong with sincere prayer offered up in public.
What Jesus is warning against in this scripture is empty prayer – prayers done for show. If you are praying over your meal at a restaurant so that the people at the next table will see you and think you are really great Christians, you are wasting your breath. If you are attending “See You At The Pole” to meet your friends and “see and be seen,” you just as well not go. Even if you offer up a public prayer in church just because it’s time in the order of worship to do this, and you do not talk to God from the heart, you’d have been better off to skip on to the next item in the bulletin.
God doesn’t care about public displays of what great Christians we are. He cares about the heart. Silent prayers… prayers offered in a private corner of your bedroom or while you are alone in your car… prayers between only you and God… these are the prayers that truly convey what is in your heart. You can offer a heart-felt prayer in public… as if you and God are the only ones in the room… but in order to do this, you must be fully involved at that moment in communicating with God. If you are swayed or motivated by outside influences, God will know.
So think about your prayers. If you DO pray in public, be sure you are open, honest, sincere, and talking to God from your heart. And find a quiet time and space for private conversations with God. Pour out your heart to Him and feel His response.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 26 ~ James 5:17-18
Elijah was just as human as we are, and for three and a half years his prayers kept the rain from falling. But when he did pray for rain, it fell from the skies and made the crops grow.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m going to as So-and-So to pray for me – he/she has a ‘direct line’ to heaven!” This is meant as a joke… but really, it is no laughing matter. Read today’s passage again. “Elijah was just as human as we are…” No human being has a more “direct line” to God through prayer than any of us – not even Elijah! What makes the difference is the person’s level of faith!
See, sometimes we pray for things, but we don’t really expect God to deliver! We may ask for rain, but we think to ourselves, “Maybe it will… maybe it won’t” – or often we ask God for something - or for help in our situation - and then we move ahead believing that this will never happen.
The point is… we need to put some “meat” behind our prayers. We need to pray for things with the belief and the faith that God will answer us, according to His will. Does that mean we can pray for a new Mustang and God will give us one? No. Can we ask for a supermodel boyfriend or girlfriend or to become a pro athlete or major recording artist and believe this into existence? Not if God didn’t plan for us to have these things!
So why do we pray with faith and hope? Because God is able to do all things… mighty, powerful things... as He sees fit for us. Was there a chance that God might not bring the rain when Elijah asked for it? Sure! But Elijah trusted God to know what he and his people needed, and he believed that God would meet those needs. Are you believing that today? Are you praying with faith that God will answer?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 25 ~ Zechariah 10:1
I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds
and showers of rain to make fields produce.
So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
If our car breaks down, we don’t seek a painter or an orthodontist. If we get sick, we don’t go to the mechanic or a hairdresser. When we need groceries, we don’t go to the shoe store.
Have you ever noticed that often, when people need help with problems of the mind, body and soul, they look to everyone under the sun except the One who can really meet their needs? It may not be as extreme as going to the shoe store for groceries. But why is it we waste so much time trying to figure things out on our own – or asking others to help us, when what we really need is God? And this passage does a great job of spelling this out for us. In plain language, God says, “If I’m the one who controls the rain, so when you need it, you should ask me.”
When we have a problem we can’t solve, we need to go to God in prayer. He has the solutions. When we are sick… we may need a medical doctor… but we also need the Great Physician to show us which doctor to consult… and to guide the doctor’s treatment and care. When we are lonely, we don’t need to look for friends and love in all the wrong places. We need to tell God how we feel and ask Him to bring us the right companionship that lines up with His will for our life. In all things… in all needs… we need to start by talking to God. Let HIM show you how to proceed… who to consult… where to look for further answers. He controls the rain and everything else, so whatever we need, we should consult Him first and foremost.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 24 ~ 1 Kings 8:35-36
Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning, listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you promised them forever.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I know someone who has a saying… “Once you get on my ‘list’ – there is no eraser!” I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that God doesn’t say this about those of us who sin against Him! I am thrilled to know that when I turn toward Him and pray to Him for forgiveness, He is more than happy to oblige me… to “send the rain” where there was none.
On the other hand, I believe that those whose names are in the Book of Life – the list of those who have confessed Jesus as Savior, God will call home to live with Him in heaven. For this list, I believe there truly is no eraser. Does this mean I can live however I wish and take Eternity for granted? Absolutely NOT! If anything, I am more eager to please God and to serve Him. I am more committed to avoiding sin with everything I have in me. But I am also confident that my Father God loves me and wants me with Him for Eternity… and this is tremendous comfort to me. This assurance is even better than rain after a drought, because the promise is forever.
For my friend, being on their list with no eraser was a bad thing. With God… it depends on the list! I’m glad to know where I stand with Him… aren’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 23 ~ Matthew 6:9-13
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven.
Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
“I don’t know how to pray.” We’ve probably all said this at one time or another. And honestly, there are days and situations where we really don’t have a clue what to say to God. These are good times to just sit quietly and listen! But they are also times to remember the prayer that Jesus taught us – the one we all know by heart in some form as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
In this prayer, all that we need to say to God is covered. He is praised. He is recognized as all-powerful and worthy of our honor and glory. He is invited to dwell in us. He is asked to care for our every need and to forgive our sins. He is also asked to protect us from Satan and his evil. The traditional recitation of this prayer that we all know so well adds a final tribute… “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever… Amen!” This is fitting – there is nothing wrong with telling God often how amazing He is to us. Do you see that we have pretty well covered everything here? We have needs… we’ve asked God to meet them. We have sinned… we’ve confessed that, too. We are praying for others… we asked God to come and set up His kingdom, give us food for today, and protect us.
Does this mean we can simply recite “The Lord’s Prayer” each day and be done? NO! We need to talk to God about specifics… we need to intercede for others… we need to confess our sins. But sometimes, in certain circumstances and for various reasons, words don’t come to us. But our need to talk to God never goes away. So this is a great model… and a wonderful prayer to use as a starting point.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 22 ~ Proverbs 27:2
Don't brag about yourself -- let others praise you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the WeTV show “The Locator,” Troy Dunn and his team of investigators help reunite people… long lost relatives and friends, children and the mothers who gave them up for adoption, fathers who were never in the picture for some reason, and more. Troy and his investigators are good at what they do. On the show, he goes to great lengths to make sure that all parties are emotionally okay with the reunion. In the end, he shows up with one person or the other and says something to the effect that, “I have more information about your relative/friend.” Then as he starts to explain that he found the person being sought, he often adds something like… “In fact, he/she is here right now, walking up behind you.”
As the family reunites, you would expect Troy to stand around and accept pats on the back and big hugs from everyone - right? No… he quietly turns and walks away while the family or friends are busy hugging and getting reacquainted. He doesn’t even look back. He knows he has done his job, and while he IS paid for this service, his personal reward is the satisfaction of knowing he blessed someone else’s life and helped heal emotional wounds.
In our own lives, when we accomplish something, do something well, or especially when we do something nice for others… we need to let the action stand on its own merits. We need to avoid the temptation to say, “Look how I helped this person,” or “I bought that person a new coat,” or “I helped out with his bills last month,” or even, “I picked up the tab for everyone.” Mark 7:36-37 tells us that after healing the sick, Jesus told His disciples not to speak of the miracles. Even Jesus refrained from bragging – and He had reason to brag!
There is nothing wrong with being proud when you accomplish something – when you win a contest, come in first in a race, or your team wins the football game. Cheering your success is one thing… bragging about how great or wonderful you are or what an amazing job you did is another… and scripture proves it has no place in the life of a Christian. Don’t brag about yourself… let your actions speak for you. Even if no one else ever openly praises you or seems to recognize your accomplishments, God will know what you have done… and He will bless your efforts.
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos - Week 3
October 21 ~ Proverbs 25:14
Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s face it… most of us are familiar with broken promises. Some of you may feel they are a constant in your life. I don’t know a single person who enjoys being on the receiving end of a broken promise. Some are seemingly minor, like promising to show up at a party or a ballgame and not coming. Others are more serious, like promising to pay back a debt and not doing so or promising to tell the truth, then lying. The worst is promising God you will serve Him and follow His will… then living a life of sin and selfishness.
Whether a promise is “major or minor,” is not really the issue. The bottom line is that any time you promise something to someone, you have given your word. And as a Christian, your word is serious business. You are making a commitment to someone, and any failure to follow through discredits you and dishonors God. If you cannot fulfill your promise, do all you can to make things right. If you cannot make it to the party or ballgame, let your friend know. If you have trouble repaying a debt, go to the lender and work out something or at least let them know you have not forgotten you owe it. As Christians, we should always be truthful… even when the truth is unpleasant or difficult.
The GOOD NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He has promised us Eternal Life with Him because of Jesus Christ. He has promised to always be with us and never leave our side. He has promised to meet our needs and to bless us and keep us. And that will never change. Today my prayer is that you will thank God for His promises… and the assurance that He will never break them. I also pray that you will ask God to help you keep YOUR promises… to be the faithful, obedient, truthful servant He has called you to be… and to make you a person of your word.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 20 ~ Matthew 6:1
When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We’re all human… and human nature often makes us vulnerable and in need of approval from others. So when we do something for someone else, human nature causes us to want recognition from others… or a pat on the back for our good deeds. The mark of a mature Christian is humility, and security in our faith that gives us the confidence that even the recipient of our good deeds doesn’t need to know we were involved. Only the approval and recognition from God matters… and God’s approval and recognition are enough! In fact, as you can see from this scripture, to report our good deeds to others effectively negates the blessing… the “star in your crown,” so to speak!
Lately, I have been asking God to give me a sense of completeness in Him. I have asked that He help me to only desire HIS approval and HIS company. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my husband, my family and friends. I enjoy their company. But I don’t want to depend on another human being to complete me. I don’t want to feel that very human need to have others around validating me. I want GOD to validate me… and I want HIM to be more than enough. And when I am obedient to His will, I want His approval to be all that I seek.
Today, I pray that this would be your desire, too. We have all that we will ever need in our relationship with God. Jesus suffered, bled and died for this privilege. He gave His very life that ours might be complete in our Heavenly Father. When we truly get this, we won’t need the recognition or approval of others for our good deeds. God will truly complete us…He will be enough.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 19 ~ Isaiah 38:14
I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
My second teaching assignment was a one-year position to fill in for a kindergarten teacher who was going on maternity leave. In July before my position started in August, this teacher suffered a brain aneurysm and died within hours. She left behind a husband and a 6-year-old son. I never even got to meet her. From all I have been told, Becky was a beautiful, wonderful woman and a very good teacher. Someone cleared her things out of the classroom, and I began preparing for my school year. Once in awhile, I would find something that had been missed in the cleaning… a stray coffee cup… the umbrella hanging on the back of the closet door knob. It was a bit unsettling, but I turned these in at the office and kept working. More than once, I saw fellow teachers standing in my doorway, shaking their heads. I would hear them whisper, “Becky did it this way,” or “Becky would have a fit if she saw that!”
The worst was my next-door neighbor teacher, Vickie, who had been Becky’s best friend. I realize now that her grief overshadowed everything she said and did, but at the time, I couldn’t understand that. I was only 21, and I had never experienced such personal devastation or loss. So I internalized her digs and unkind remarks. I felt terribly abused by this woman. Nothing I said or did pleased her, and I knew she said things about me to other teachers and expressed her displeasure. I took it very personally. Over and over I prayed, “Please, God! Come and help me. Take this burden from me.”
The one-year assignment became permanent, and the following year was more of the same. Vickie was still mired in her grief… and she vented toward me! When Thanksgiving break came, she and her family traveled to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend. While there, a large dump truck roared through an intersection just as Vickie entered it and literally sliced the entire top off her car. She was killed instantly. Her mother and 7-year-old son – the same age as Becky’s son - were miraculously spared.
The next few weeks were dark ones for our school. We were now all mired in grief, and for most, it was a double whammy from losing two dear friends. I befriended the teacher who replaced my next-door neighbor, and I made a point to avoid the “Vickie did this” or “This was Vickie’s” statements that had hurt me so badly. When she found some of Vickie’s things that had been overlooked, I commiserated. I see now that God allowed me to help my new neighbor through HER transition into this classroom. I also came to realize that it didn’t matter WHO replaced these teachers… the perceived wrath and venting was really just grief that had no clear target.
I've never told anyone this, but at first I was angry with God… and I felt very guilty. “Lord, this is NOT how I meant for You to fix this!” I sometimes wished I had not prayed for help. How could God answer me in this way?! Over time I came to understand that…
My point is this… you are going to face things that seem unfair. You may even feel abused and mistreated. But GOD understands. Pray. Ask God to “come and help me.” Then let it go… let Him work... and trust His outcome.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 18 ~ Psalm 44:24
Why do you keep looking away? Don't forget our sufferings and all of our troubles.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you ever feel like God has just looked the other way and forgotten about you? First of all, I assure you that He has NOT! But I do understand that we can all feel this way from time to time. Recently, as I prayed, I told God, “I feel so helpless about this situation.” And in the next second, I felt God say to me, “You know better than that! You are NEVER helpless… I am always here to help you.”
In the times that we feel like God has looked away, we need to search our own heart and see where we have lost faith, if only momentarily. We need to confess our troubles to God (even though He knows them already – He wants to hear it from us!) and then GIVE them all to Him. We need to humbly admit that on our own, we are indeed helpless, but through Him, we can handle anything.
God has not forgotten our sufferings or our troubles… and He has not looked away. We have simply momentarily lost sight of how big He is and the fact that He can handle anything… and we have forgotten to let Him. Maybe today we need to give God our burdens and our cares again… and trust Him this time to handle them for us.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 17 ~ Psalm 119:121, 134
I did what was fair and right! Don't hand me over to those who want to mistreat me.
Verse 134: Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s say you are out with friends on a Friday night, and some of them start drinking. They offer you a drink, but you refuse. In fact, you refuse to ride in a car with them and try to persuade them not to drink and drive. But they insist they only had a couple of beers, and off they go. The car has an unfortunate meeting with a guard rail after the driver can’t negotiate a curve, and the driver wrecks. Thankfully no one is injured, but the car is a mess. Police and parents rush to interview anyone and everyone who might know something about this incident, and someone asks you, “Was anyone drinking?” What do you say? Do you lie and cover for your friends – and maybe protect your friendship? Or do you tell the truth, taking a chance that your friends will suffer consequences and never speak to you again?
The choice truly is a hard one. But think of it this way. Suppose you cover for your friends, and because basically all that happened was damage to the car, the friends feel invincible and drink and drive again. But this time the results are much different. Suppose someone is badly injured – or even killed. Can you live with the fact that you did not take action initially that might have prevented this? Of course, you will never know for sure whether admitting these friends were drinking would have resulted in prevention of the second event. Are you willing to take this risk?
So often we operate out of fear. If I do this… such-and-such will happen. If I don’t act, this other thing will result. If I do what is fair and right, I will lose my friends, or at the very least, they will pick on me and mistreat me. Someone will laugh - someone will criticize. I’ll lose my boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, friends or family members. I once reported a student for suspected child abuse, and the mother came to school a few days later, intending to “whip” me!
Right choices are often HARD! But hear the good news… God has our back! He will protect us when we make the hard choices. When we stand up for what is fair and right and honor Him with our choices and behavior, He will protect us. Obey God. Be fair and right in all things. Ask Him to help you make good choices, and to protect you from the consequences (and possible wrath) that ensues. Stand tall and proud in your choices, and know that God really does have your back when you do what is right.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 16 ~ Psalms 17:9
Don't let my brutal enemies attack from all sides and kill me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What “brutal enemies” are attacking you from all sides today? Is it a test you are studying for or a class you are struggling to pass? Is it your health, a relationship, a job, or money troubles? Is your family in a crisis of some sort? Is the devil attacking you with temptations – or convincing you to choose what he says is the “fun” of sin over a relationship with God?
Whatever you are facing, God can handle it for you. But you need to ask. I’m not saying God won’t protect you anyway, but He really wants to hear from you… He wants you to come before Him and humbly ASK for His help. In a way, it’s a matter of respect and reverence. So show God the respect and honor He deserves. Acknowledge His power, and ask for His help. Don’t let Satan’s brutal enemies attack from all sides… don’t risk Spiritual death at his hands. Trust God to help – ASK Him to do so – and believe that He will!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 15 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Did it ever occur to you to pray for “kings and others in power?” How about Osama Bin Laden – ever prayed for him? If you get a chance to read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I encourage you to do so. These novels by Khaled Hosseini helped me to understand the people of Afghanistan better and “humanized” them for me. We get so self-absorbed sometimes that we forget that real people have real lives halfway around the world in a completely different culture from ours… but they are nonetheless God’s precious children. Christianity is not just for Americans!
So we should pray for world leaders – regardless of their faith. Don’t we believe in a God who is able to do all things? Can’t He change the heart of a ruthless dictator just as well as a sinful American? Do you remember the little children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children?” In it, a verse says, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” I tell you, we do not have an exclusive on God! And we are called in scripture to pray for those in other lands – and their leaders… to thank God for them and to ask for His blessings upon them.
I guess the question today is, “How big is the God we serve?” Is He able to bring us into agreement and peaceful coexistence? Is He able to change the hearts of evil men and women? How big is your God today – and have you prayed for all of His children?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s face it… most of us are familiar with broken promises. Some of you may feel they are a constant in your life. I don’t know a single person who enjoys being on the receiving end of a broken promise. Some are seemingly minor, like promising to show up at a party or a ballgame and not coming. Others are more serious, like promising to pay back a debt and not doing so or promising to tell the truth, then lying. The worst is promising God you will serve Him and follow His will… then living a life of sin and selfishness.
Whether a promise is “major or minor,” is not really the issue. The bottom line is that any time you promise something to someone, you have given your word. And as a Christian, your word is serious business. You are making a commitment to someone, and any failure to follow through discredits you and dishonors God. If you cannot fulfill your promise, do all you can to make things right. If you cannot make it to the party or ballgame, let your friend know. If you have trouble repaying a debt, go to the lender and work out something or at least let them know you have not forgotten you owe it. As Christians, we should always be truthful… even when the truth is unpleasant or difficult.
The GOOD NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He has promised us Eternal Life with Him because of Jesus Christ. He has promised to always be with us and never leave our side. He has promised to meet our needs and to bless us and keep us. And that will never change. Today my prayer is that you will thank God for His promises… and the assurance that He will never break them. I also pray that you will ask God to help you keep YOUR promises… to be the faithful, obedient, truthful servant He has called you to be… and to make you a person of your word.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 20 ~ Matthew 6:1
When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We’re all human… and human nature often makes us vulnerable and in need of approval from others. So when we do something for someone else, human nature causes us to want recognition from others… or a pat on the back for our good deeds. The mark of a mature Christian is humility, and security in our faith that gives us the confidence that even the recipient of our good deeds doesn’t need to know we were involved. Only the approval and recognition from God matters… and God’s approval and recognition are enough! In fact, as you can see from this scripture, to report our good deeds to others effectively negates the blessing… the “star in your crown,” so to speak!
Lately, I have been asking God to give me a sense of completeness in Him. I have asked that He help me to only desire HIS approval and HIS company. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my husband, my family and friends. I enjoy their company. But I don’t want to depend on another human being to complete me. I don’t want to feel that very human need to have others around validating me. I want GOD to validate me… and I want HIM to be more than enough. And when I am obedient to His will, I want His approval to be all that I seek.
Today, I pray that this would be your desire, too. We have all that we will ever need in our relationship with God. Jesus suffered, bled and died for this privilege. He gave His very life that ours might be complete in our Heavenly Father. When we truly get this, we won’t need the recognition or approval of others for our good deeds. God will truly complete us…He will be enough.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 19 ~ Isaiah 38:14
I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
My second teaching assignment was a one-year position to fill in for a kindergarten teacher who was going on maternity leave. In July before my position started in August, this teacher suffered a brain aneurysm and died within hours. She left behind a husband and a 6-year-old son. I never even got to meet her. From all I have been told, Becky was a beautiful, wonderful woman and a very good teacher. Someone cleared her things out of the classroom, and I began preparing for my school year. Once in awhile, I would find something that had been missed in the cleaning… a stray coffee cup… the umbrella hanging on the back of the closet door knob. It was a bit unsettling, but I turned these in at the office and kept working. More than once, I saw fellow teachers standing in my doorway, shaking their heads. I would hear them whisper, “Becky did it this way,” or “Becky would have a fit if she saw that!”
The worst was my next-door neighbor teacher, Vickie, who had been Becky’s best friend. I realize now that her grief overshadowed everything she said and did, but at the time, I couldn’t understand that. I was only 21, and I had never experienced such personal devastation or loss. So I internalized her digs and unkind remarks. I felt terribly abused by this woman. Nothing I said or did pleased her, and I knew she said things about me to other teachers and expressed her displeasure. I took it very personally. Over and over I prayed, “Please, God! Come and help me. Take this burden from me.”
The one-year assignment became permanent, and the following year was more of the same. Vickie was still mired in her grief… and she vented toward me! When Thanksgiving break came, she and her family traveled to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend. While there, a large dump truck roared through an intersection just as Vickie entered it and literally sliced the entire top off her car. She was killed instantly. Her mother and 7-year-old son – the same age as Becky’s son - were miraculously spared.
The next few weeks were dark ones for our school. We were now all mired in grief, and for most, it was a double whammy from losing two dear friends. I befriended the teacher who replaced my next-door neighbor, and I made a point to avoid the “Vickie did this” or “This was Vickie’s” statements that had hurt me so badly. When she found some of Vickie’s things that had been overlooked, I commiserated. I see now that God allowed me to help my new neighbor through HER transition into this classroom. I also came to realize that it didn’t matter WHO replaced these teachers… the perceived wrath and venting was really just grief that had no clear target.
I've never told anyone this, but at first I was angry with God… and I felt very guilty. “Lord, this is NOT how I meant for You to fix this!” I sometimes wished I had not prayed for help. How could God answer me in this way?! Over time I came to understand that…
- We don’t get to dictate how God answers, but we must ask for help anyway.
- God may have seen that Vickie could never recover from her grief sufficiently. More likely, God knew other things I couldn’t about her circumstances, and calling her to heaven was the best option for Vickie. There was more going on here than just my prayers for relief and rescue. It’s not always just about us!
- We waste a lot of time feeling sorry for ourselves… feeling helpless and abused… when what we really need to do is to relax, be patient and give God time to work.
My point is this… you are going to face things that seem unfair. You may even feel abused and mistreated. But GOD understands. Pray. Ask God to “come and help me.” Then let it go… let Him work... and trust His outcome.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 18 ~ Psalm 44:24
Why do you keep looking away? Don't forget our sufferings and all of our troubles.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you ever feel like God has just looked the other way and forgotten about you? First of all, I assure you that He has NOT! But I do understand that we can all feel this way from time to time. Recently, as I prayed, I told God, “I feel so helpless about this situation.” And in the next second, I felt God say to me, “You know better than that! You are NEVER helpless… I am always here to help you.”
In the times that we feel like God has looked away, we need to search our own heart and see where we have lost faith, if only momentarily. We need to confess our troubles to God (even though He knows them already – He wants to hear it from us!) and then GIVE them all to Him. We need to humbly admit that on our own, we are indeed helpless, but through Him, we can handle anything.
God has not forgotten our sufferings or our troubles… and He has not looked away. We have simply momentarily lost sight of how big He is and the fact that He can handle anything… and we have forgotten to let Him. Maybe today we need to give God our burdens and our cares again… and trust Him this time to handle them for us.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 17 ~ Psalm 119:121, 134
I did what was fair and right! Don't hand me over to those who want to mistreat me.
Verse 134: Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s say you are out with friends on a Friday night, and some of them start drinking. They offer you a drink, but you refuse. In fact, you refuse to ride in a car with them and try to persuade them not to drink and drive. But they insist they only had a couple of beers, and off they go. The car has an unfortunate meeting with a guard rail after the driver can’t negotiate a curve, and the driver wrecks. Thankfully no one is injured, but the car is a mess. Police and parents rush to interview anyone and everyone who might know something about this incident, and someone asks you, “Was anyone drinking?” What do you say? Do you lie and cover for your friends – and maybe protect your friendship? Or do you tell the truth, taking a chance that your friends will suffer consequences and never speak to you again?
The choice truly is a hard one. But think of it this way. Suppose you cover for your friends, and because basically all that happened was damage to the car, the friends feel invincible and drink and drive again. But this time the results are much different. Suppose someone is badly injured – or even killed. Can you live with the fact that you did not take action initially that might have prevented this? Of course, you will never know for sure whether admitting these friends were drinking would have resulted in prevention of the second event. Are you willing to take this risk?
So often we operate out of fear. If I do this… such-and-such will happen. If I don’t act, this other thing will result. If I do what is fair and right, I will lose my friends, or at the very least, they will pick on me and mistreat me. Someone will laugh - someone will criticize. I’ll lose my boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, friends or family members. I once reported a student for suspected child abuse, and the mother came to school a few days later, intending to “whip” me!
Right choices are often HARD! But hear the good news… God has our back! He will protect us when we make the hard choices. When we stand up for what is fair and right and honor Him with our choices and behavior, He will protect us. Obey God. Be fair and right in all things. Ask Him to help you make good choices, and to protect you from the consequences (and possible wrath) that ensues. Stand tall and proud in your choices, and know that God really does have your back when you do what is right.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 16 ~ Psalms 17:9
Don't let my brutal enemies attack from all sides and kill me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What “brutal enemies” are attacking you from all sides today? Is it a test you are studying for or a class you are struggling to pass? Is it your health, a relationship, a job, or money troubles? Is your family in a crisis of some sort? Is the devil attacking you with temptations – or convincing you to choose what he says is the “fun” of sin over a relationship with God?
Whatever you are facing, God can handle it for you. But you need to ask. I’m not saying God won’t protect you anyway, but He really wants to hear from you… He wants you to come before Him and humbly ASK for His help. In a way, it’s a matter of respect and reverence. So show God the respect and honor He deserves. Acknowledge His power, and ask for His help. Don’t let Satan’s brutal enemies attack from all sides… don’t risk Spiritual death at his hands. Trust God to help – ASK Him to do so – and believe that He will!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 15 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Did it ever occur to you to pray for “kings and others in power?” How about Osama Bin Laden – ever prayed for him? If you get a chance to read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I encourage you to do so. These novels by Khaled Hosseini helped me to understand the people of Afghanistan better and “humanized” them for me. We get so self-absorbed sometimes that we forget that real people have real lives halfway around the world in a completely different culture from ours… but they are nonetheless God’s precious children. Christianity is not just for Americans!
So we should pray for world leaders – regardless of their faith. Don’t we believe in a God who is able to do all things? Can’t He change the heart of a ruthless dictator just as well as a sinful American? Do you remember the little children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children?” In it, a verse says, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” I tell you, we do not have an exclusive on God! And we are called in scripture to pray for those in other lands – and their leaders… to thank God for them and to ask for His blessings upon them.
I guess the question today is, “How big is the God we serve?” Is He able to bring us into agreement and peaceful coexistence? Is He able to change the hearts of evil men and women? How big is your God today – and have you prayed for all of His children?
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos - Week 2
October 14 ~ Jeremiah 29:7
Pray for peace in Babylonia and work hard to make it prosperous. The more successful that nation is, the better off you will be.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
From the time we are little kids, we learn to recite prayers… and in doing so, we learn patterns for our meditations. We pray for Mommy and Daddy, sisters and brothers, Grandmas and Grandpas, and the family pets. As we get older and start to mature, we may personalize our prayers even more… praying for friends and other loved ones and for special needs – both ours and those of others. If we are really advanced (!) we may even pray for our fellow church members, and possibly our church leaders!
I think where we probably fall the shortest is in our prayers for people in other lands that we’ve never even met. We may pray for “our soldiers” in the war and abroad… but do we pray for the people of the homeland where the war is being fought? Do we pray for the hungry and sick in Third World countries? Do we ask God to create opportunities for these people to be witnessed to with the Gospel, food, and a smile? Do we pray for people in inner cities of our own country and the homeless in other communities and our own home town?
Jeremiah is saying in this passage that in essence, as our prayers go for those outside our back yard, so goes the nation, and yes, the world. If we only pray for those we know, we really are not “going into the world” as Jesus commanded. He wants us to care about our family and our friends and neighbors… but we must care about – pray for and minister to – those outside our immediate circle and even beyond our borders. The more we serve and minister in these areas, the more God will bless them – and all of us!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 13 ~ Daniel 9:15-19
Our Lord God, with your own mighty arm you rescued us from Egypt and made yourself famous to this very day, but we have sinned terribly. In the past, you treated us with such kindness, that we now beg you to stop being so terribly angry with Jerusalem. After all, it is your chosen city built on your holy mountain, even though it has suffered public disgrace because of our sins and those of our ancestors.
I am your servant, Lord God, and I beg you to answer my prayers and bring honor to yourself by having pity on your temple that lies in ruins. Please show mercy to your chosen city, not because we deserve it, but because of your great kindness. Forgive us! Hurry and do something, not only for your city and your chosen people, but to bring honor to yourself.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Someone suggested to me not too long ago, “I don’t know why God doesn’t get fed up and just wipe us all off the earth and start over!” I’m so thankful that God is more patient than we are! But I know that our behavior grieves Him. I know He is sad about the death and destruction of war. I know He is saddened by the suffering of hungry children – and just as much, the lack of action by His children to do something about this. I know God’s heart is broken when we say and do things that are sinful.
More than this, I believe God is greatly grieved when we say unkind things about others – or skew the truth about them – in the name of Christianity. I heard a pastor say recently that we want to preach “politics” rather than the Gospel of Christ. We must be very careful not to do this. Everyone is entitled to a political opinion… and even to a personal opinion about other people. But we must be very careful not to express our thoughts under the umbrella of our faith, as in, “I vote with the Christians” or “That candidate’s party is not God’s chosen party.”
We must be just as careful not to claim that “God gave us that football win,” or “It was God’s will that such-and-such entertainer win an award or contest.” Whether it is God’s will or not, we must be very careful that we do not give others the impression that we are superior because we belong to God… or that God does not care for the “losing” team or contestants. Truly, God loves all of His children and wishes to bless each of them. Whether God chooses their team to win a football game or a particular person to excel and succeed in a certain manner has nothing to do with how much He loves them.
So often, we create problems where none exist… all in the name of our faith. We must be very careful not to do this. We seem to understand on some level how wars start on an international level, but we overlook the backbiting and dissention that goes on even in our own community. We don’t acknowledge or even understand that pitting one denomination against another… or even one athletic team against another… in the name of God is wrong and hurtful. Think carefully about what you say and how you act. If you have acted hurtfully or disrespectfully, ask God to forgive you and set you on the right path. Represent God well… serve Him with all your heart, and guard your thoughts and actions so that you act in a loving manner and don’t stir up trouble.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 12 ~ Daniel 9:3-14
Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the LORD my God: Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you. But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings. We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.
Everything you do is right, our Lord. But still we suffer public disgrace because we have been unfaithful and have sinned against you. This includes all of us, both far and near--the people of Judah, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as those you dragged away to foreign lands, and even our kings, our officials, and our ancestors. LORD God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you and rejected your teachings that came to us from your servants the prophets.
Everyone in Israel has stubbornly refused to obey your laws, and so those curses written by your servant Moses have fallen upon us. You warned us and our leaders that Jerusalem would suffer the worst disaster in human history, and you did exactly as you had threatened. We have not escaped any of the terrible curses written by Moses, and yet we have refused to beg you for mercy and to remind ourselves of how faithful you have always been. And when you finally punished us with this horrible disaster, that was also the right thing to do, because we deserved it so much.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Everybody likes to talk about how evil the world is today. But truly, the world is probably no more evil now than it was in Daniel’s day… we just have the Internet and CNN and other media to tell us within the hour what horrible things are happening throughout the world. And wandering away from God is nothing new, either. Sin really has been part of our lives since the Garden of Eden.
Recently, President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. In an e-mail he issued, President Obama stated:
“To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so
many of the transformative figures who'vebeen honored by this prize --
men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world
through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not
just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a
means to give momentum to a set of causes. That is why I've said that
I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all
peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These
challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime.
But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that
they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun
together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored
to continue our vital work in the years to come.”
Recommitting to work together for justice and world peace is a great thing… and we all should be ready to roll up our sleeves and help. But we should not do this just because we are Americans or because President Obama has thrown down the challenge… but because GOD has called us to do this… even from the time of Moses! How and where do we even start? I believe the simplest beginnings are often the most effective. So I am challenging each of us to say and/or do something positive for someone else today. Maybe you can post a positive comment to a friend on Facebook. Maybe you can give someone a ride to or from school/church or to the store. Maybe you can do something nice for an elderly person in your neighborhood or your church family.
Or maybe, you will further peace by keeping quiet when tempted to say something in anger or to make an unkind comment. Perhaps you will resist the urge to act out in a sinful manner. But more importantly, I pray that each of us will consciously choose today to do or say at least one positive thing. Once we get the ball rolling and start making the effort, these acts become easier and more natural to us. It’s a start… and God will see our efforts and bless them!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 11 ~ Joel 2:12
The LORD said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
It isn’t too late… these four words are powerful! You don’t have to just imagine that God is waiting for you… it’s a FACT! You drifted away, but He will welcome you back. You got into things you shouldn’t have… bad habits, sinful activities, poor judgment and bad relationships, and tons of wrong choices. In the human world, you may feel like you have blown it – that your situation is beyond repair.
Hear this passage loudly and clearly… “It isn’t too late. You can still return to me [God] with all your heart!” The next sentences say to start crying and mourning, and to go without eating. You don’t have to be nearly so drastic or dramatic. Just humble yourself before God and admit your shortcomings and sins. Ask Him to forgive you. Then feel his amazing, massive arms wrap around you and draw you to His chest in the best hug you’ve ever experienced. Feel His love and forgiveness… the hope of another chance. Hear Him say, “We’ll figure this out together. I’m just glad you are home.” With God, it isn’t too late… this is the best news you will receive – today or any other!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 10 ~ Psalms 74
Our God, why have you completely rejected us?
Why are you so angry with the ones you care for?
Remember the people you rescued long ago, the tribe you chose to be your very own. Think of Mount Zion, your home; walk over to the temple left in ruins forever by those who hate us. Your enemies roared like lions in your holy temple, and they have placed their banners there. It looks like a forest chopped to pieces. They used axes and hatchets to smash the carvings. They burned down your temple and badly disgraced it. They said to themselves, "We'll crush them!" Then they burned every one of your meeting places all over the country.
There are no more miracles and no more prophets. Who knows how long it will be like this? Our God, how much longer will our enemies sneer? Won't they ever stop insulting you? Why don't you punish them? Why are you holding back? Our God and King, you have ruled since ancient times; you have won victories everywhere on this earth. By your power you made a path through the sea, and you smashed the heads of sea monsters. You crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan, then fed him to wild creatures in the desert. You opened the ground for streams and springs and dried up mighty rivers. You rule the day and the night, and you put the moon and the sun in place. You made summer and winter and gave them to the earth.
Remember your enemies, LORD! They foolishly sneer and won't respect you. You treat us like pet doves, but they mistreat us. Don't keep forgetting us and letting us be fed to those wild animals. Remember the agreement you made with us. Violent enemies are hiding in every dark corner of the earth. Don't disappoint those in need or make them turn from you, but help the poor and homeless to shout your praises. Do something, God! Defend yourself. Remember how those fools sneer at you all day long. Don't forget the loud shouts of your enemies.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This Psalm was written by King David’s Music Director, Asaph. Let’s just say that Asaph was disillusioned. Things had happened in his life to discourage him and drag him down. And haven’t we all been like this at times? Haven’t we all had times when we wanted to say, “Do something, God!”
Some of you have maybe felt that way in school, when students or maybe even teachers or coaches seemed to pick on you and deal you grief. Surely we have all felt this way about war, the natural disasters that have plagued our world in recent years, and world hunger. It’s like Satan is attacking on all sides. We KNOW that God is powerful enough to take him out with a snap of the finger, so to speak, but here he still is! One of my pitfalls is a lack of patience with God for His timing. I want Him to answer my prayers – now! And in looking back over my life, I can see that my times of extreme frustration over what seemed like “unanswered prayers” were anything but that. In retrospect, I can see that God was working, and I am sure he wanted to say, “Just hold on to your pants, Missy… I’m in charge here!” Now, I knew He was in charge, but I just wanted to help Him along a little. And don’t we all do this from time to time?
So here’s my word for you today. It is perfectly okay to let God know you are frustrated (He knows already, but it’s still okay) and to ask Him for help. He wants you to do this… and to be honest about your feelings. But the God who smashed the heads of sea monsters and put the moon and sun in place can surely handle our problems. He can help us resolve conflicts, get a job, sell a house, pass a test, get well, survive disasters and heartaches, and much more. We need to all take a deep breath and learn to “have a little faith” – seriously! Believe me, God is not going to be brought down by His enemies. I’ve read the end of the story – God wins! Hang in there with Him, and you will win, too!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 9 ~ 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Suppose I hold back the rain or send locusts to eat the crops or make my people suffer with deadly diseases.
If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Now remember, this is Old Testament. Jesus had not yet come to earth and died on the cross for our sins. Life with God was a series of sacrifices and rewards. But… even though God has forgiven the sins of those of us who have asked… even though all who have invited Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to come into their lives are washed clean in the blood of Christ… God still blesses us when we turn to Him and stop sinning.
You may have heard the phrase, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” That is NOT a scripture in the Bible, but this passage comes pretty close to saying almost the same thing. The Lord does indeed help those who work hard to serve Him and be obedient to His will. And the more we honor Him with our service and obedience, the more He blesses us in return.
Halloween is coming. If you have ever passed out candy, you know there are some little “urchins” who knock on your door and seem rather greedy. Others are sweet and patient and polite. You may have found yourself wanting to reward the sweet, polite spooks and goblins with extra candy… and maybe even to hold back on those little grabbers who tried to stick their hand in the bucket and help themselves! It’s a lot the same way with us and God. Some of us are working hard to do what is right and to please Him, and God wants to heap extra blessings on us… while others are grabby and demanding (“You owe me, God!) and more than a little arrogant, and God seems to say, “I think I’ll hold onto his/her rewards a little while longer.”
I want you to get this… God has heaps and piles of blessings He wants to give each of us. But many of us are anything but deserving of His generosity. And some of us are wondering, “Why isn’t God helping me?” The answer may be as simple as turning around and facing Him, falling to your knees, and asking, “Will you forgive me and show me how I can serve You?” It’s worth a shot, isn’t it? What are YOU waiting for? Turn around today. See how fertile your “land” can become when you humble yourself before God.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 8 ~ Judges 21:2-4
After the war with Benjamin, the Israelites went to the place of worship at Bethel and sat there until sunset. They cried loudly and bitterly and prayed, "Our LORD, you are the God of Israel. Why did you let this happen? Now one of our tribes is almost gone."
Early the next morning, the Israelites built an altar and offered sacrifices to please the LORD and to ask his blessing.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
In order to understand this passage, I had to go back to Judges 19 and start reading… and believe me, it is a sordid tale that I bet many of you never realized was written in the Bible! Think of it this way… imagine Americans in 12 states fighting each other and virtually wiping out all of the people from one state… and – for real - God told you to do this! Would you be able to do it? More than that, would you be able to thank God and praise Him afterward… and continue to do what He called you to do?
Sometimes God calls us to do some very hard things. Most likely He will never call us to fight and kill our neighbors in other states. But still, you will face times in your life that you know that God is showing you a decision or an action you must make, and you really, really, really don’t want to do it. Maybe God shows you that you are in an unhealthy relationship that must end. Maybe God tells you that you need to change jobs… or move to another city. Maybe God tells you that, despite all of your best efforts to care for your parents or grandparents, they need to be in assisted living or a nursing home… or maybe He is saying, “That’s where YOU need to be!” Maybe God is saying, “You need to be serving in another ministry… a different Sunday School class or Bible study… or even a different church!”
When my grandfather had a stroke in August 1984 and was left unresponsive, the neurologist came into a waiting room and spoke to my grandmother and me. He explained that there was no brain activity, and that my grandfather was not going to survive… and he asked permission to turn off the respirator that was breathing for him. My grandmother agreed, knowing that this would be my grandfather’s wish. When my grandfather died a few minutes later, my grandmother, sister and I went in to see his body. My grandmother immediately began to pray aloud and thank God for her life with this man… 53 years of marriage… and for strength to endure this loss. And God has done just that. For the last 25 years, He has seen my grandmother through times of joy AND more terribly “hard times,” like the loss of her only son. We marvel at how she appears to take seemingly unbearable experiences relatively in stride. We are amazed by her faith.
The mark of a true Christian is the ability to do the hard things that God calls us to – or to endure those that God allows – and then to praise Him and continue serving afterward. We often have a very hard time believing that what God takes us to, He will take us through! And we surely have a hard time seeing that what’s on “the other side” might even be better… or that we will be able to praise God for this hard thing. But clearly, this is nothing new. God has been calling His children to do hard things – make difficult choices – for centuries. And He has always rewarded faithfulness.
Whatever “hard things” you face today, if God is leading your choices, He will be with you “on the other side of the fence.” And once you get there, remember to thank Him and give Him praise for walking with you.
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos
October 7 ~ Luke 6:12
About that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night there.
Luke 9:28
About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
You might be wondering what on earth JESUS needed to pray about! Maybe a better way to look at this is to consider that even Jesus spent time talking with God. He realized that a time of quiet meditation with Father God was important. And then He took His disciples and showed them how to engage in quiet prayer time. Clearly, quiet prayer time is important!
I will be the first to admit that I am not good at consistently spending time each day in quiet prayer… much like I am not good at making time for a daily workout. Other things get in the way. For you it may be school and after-school activities, church activities, your family, a job, your own children and family, or even poor health. But just like our body needs exercise, so does our soul… in the form of prayer.
I need to do better at both forms of exercise… and I am going to work on this. I’ve found a “system” that seems to work for me, and I am going to do better at implementing this “system.” For me, the best way to do this is to take a daily walk… and to pray while I’m walking! On bad-weather days, when I walk on the treadmill, I need to either turn off my DVR and spend that time in prayer, too. Or, I need to set aside other time to sit and quietly meditate on God and talk with Him. For you, the best time to pray might be right after you read these daily devotionals. You don’t have to pray for a certain length of time, but you don’t need to rush through it, either. Just sit quietly for however long God leads you, and talk to Him… listen to Him… meditate on the Father and what He has to tell you. We don’t have to go to a mountain to pray, but I think Jesus’ point in doing so was to emphasize the need to get away from the noise and busyness of life and set aside time each day to talk to God. If Jesus needed quiet prayer time, surely so do we.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 6 ~ Acts 6:2-7
The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, "We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables. My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching." This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people in Antioch. These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show that they had been chosen to do this work. God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
One human being can’t do it all. We each have a job to do, especially when it comes to serving Christ. The disciples were wise enough to realize that their efforts needed to be focused on praying and preaching. They needed someone else to settle disagreements and run the day-to-day business of ministry. The disciples placed hands on some Godly men, prayed, and anointed them to handle the “business” side of the church work.
What I want you to realize from this passage is that everyone has a purpose… and a ministry. No person can do everything alone. YOU have been called by God to serve in some capacity… even if you are a teenager or a senior citizen. God didn’t just call young adults to do the work. Teenagers can use the tools at their disposal – texting, Facebook, and more – to reach others for Christ. Or they can do mission work to help those in their community who are not able to do things around the home, mentor young children, and assist with church activities. Even shut-ins who are experiencing poor health can be called as prayer warriors. There is a job for everyone.
So let’s all get busy praying and asking God to show us where we fit into His plan for ministry. Feel His hands on you, anointing you to do whatever He has called you to do to serve in His name, further His work, and bring others into His kingdom. You have been chosen to do specific things for God. Do you know what they are?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 5 ~ Acts 4:29
Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Fear is a huge motivator. We fear all sorts of things – rejection, ridicule, loss, illness, pain and suffering, death. I come from a long line of worry worts! Some of my family members have made a career out of worry over anything and everything. When I was in college, I read a book by a man named Dale Carnegie called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (©1948 The Chaucer Press, Ltd). Carnegie listed the “Fundamental Facts You Should Know About Worry”:
About that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night there.
Luke 9:28
About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
You might be wondering what on earth JESUS needed to pray about! Maybe a better way to look at this is to consider that even Jesus spent time talking with God. He realized that a time of quiet meditation with Father God was important. And then He took His disciples and showed them how to engage in quiet prayer time. Clearly, quiet prayer time is important!
I will be the first to admit that I am not good at consistently spending time each day in quiet prayer… much like I am not good at making time for a daily workout. Other things get in the way. For you it may be school and after-school activities, church activities, your family, a job, your own children and family, or even poor health. But just like our body needs exercise, so does our soul… in the form of prayer.
I need to do better at both forms of exercise… and I am going to work on this. I’ve found a “system” that seems to work for me, and I am going to do better at implementing this “system.” For me, the best way to do this is to take a daily walk… and to pray while I’m walking! On bad-weather days, when I walk on the treadmill, I need to either turn off my DVR and spend that time in prayer, too. Or, I need to set aside other time to sit and quietly meditate on God and talk with Him. For you, the best time to pray might be right after you read these daily devotionals. You don’t have to pray for a certain length of time, but you don’t need to rush through it, either. Just sit quietly for however long God leads you, and talk to Him… listen to Him… meditate on the Father and what He has to tell you. We don’t have to go to a mountain to pray, but I think Jesus’ point in doing so was to emphasize the need to get away from the noise and busyness of life and set aside time each day to talk to God. If Jesus needed quiet prayer time, surely so do we.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 6 ~ Acts 6:2-7
The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, "We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables. My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching." This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people in Antioch. These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show that they had been chosen to do this work. God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
One human being can’t do it all. We each have a job to do, especially when it comes to serving Christ. The disciples were wise enough to realize that their efforts needed to be focused on praying and preaching. They needed someone else to settle disagreements and run the day-to-day business of ministry. The disciples placed hands on some Godly men, prayed, and anointed them to handle the “business” side of the church work.
What I want you to realize from this passage is that everyone has a purpose… and a ministry. No person can do everything alone. YOU have been called by God to serve in some capacity… even if you are a teenager or a senior citizen. God didn’t just call young adults to do the work. Teenagers can use the tools at their disposal – texting, Facebook, and more – to reach others for Christ. Or they can do mission work to help those in their community who are not able to do things around the home, mentor young children, and assist with church activities. Even shut-ins who are experiencing poor health can be called as prayer warriors. There is a job for everyone.
So let’s all get busy praying and asking God to show us where we fit into His plan for ministry. Feel His hands on you, anointing you to do whatever He has called you to do to serve in His name, further His work, and bring others into His kingdom. You have been chosen to do specific things for God. Do you know what they are?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 5 ~ Acts 4:29
Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Fear is a huge motivator. We fear all sorts of things – rejection, ridicule, loss, illness, pain and suffering, death. I come from a long line of worry worts! Some of my family members have made a career out of worry over anything and everything. When I was in college, I read a book by a man named Dale Carnegie called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (©1948 The Chaucer Press, Ltd). Carnegie listed the “Fundamental Facts You Should Know About Worry”:
- If you want to avoid worry, do what Sir William Osler did: Live in "day-tight compartments." Don't stew about the future. Just live each day until bedtime.
- The next time Trouble--with a Capital T--backs you up in a corner, try the magic formula of Willis H. Carrier:
a. Ask yourself, "What is the worst that can possibly happen if I can't solve my problem?
b. Prepare yourself mentally to accept the worst--if necessary.
c. Then calmly try to improve upon the worst--which you have already mentally agreed to accept. - Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you can pay for worry in terms of your health. "Those who do not know how to fight worry die young."
To this day, I have remembered the steps the “magic formula” in point #2. I find myself often asking, “What is the worst that can possibly happen?” and “Am I prepared to handle it?” Let’s say that living for Jesus could cost you your friends… won’t God bring you new ones? What if it costs you a significant other, a mate, or your parents? Can’t God bring other people or activities into your life to fill the emptiness? What if you give up old habits and bad influences to serve God… will He bless your efforts? Yes, bad things happen – and I don’t mean to be flip about the loss of relationships/family/friends. But generally, the “worst” that can happen isn’t that bad in the light of day. And in terms of serving God and His blessings, it’s nothing at all!
The disciples knew what spreading the Good News had cost Jesus. They saw first-hand the suffering and sacrifice… and yet Jesus kept preaching, and they were willing to follow. But they knew the key to making this all work was asking God to help them! So study these “Fundamental Facts You Should Know About Worry” and start trying them in your own life. BUT… remember to ask God to guide you. His help will make the difference in whether or not you are successful at conquering your fears and worries. God’s wisdom is the key to making this work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 4 ~ Acts 1:24-25
Then they all prayed, "Lord, you know what everyone is like! Show us the one you have chosen to be an apostle and to serve in place of Judas, who got what he deserved." They drew names, and Matthias was chosen to join the group of the eleven apostles.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We all make choices every day. Some are simple – like what to eat for lunch or dinner. Others are more difficult… choosing a career, a spouse, who to hire for a particular job, or which candidate would make the best leader. Many of the choices we have to make in life are beyond what we can wisely decide on our own. If we are smart, we will seek the guidance and advice of someone who is more experienced and wiser than we are. And if we are really smart, we will prayerfully ask God to help us with our decisions.
I find it very interesting that the disciples prayed for the Lord to show them who to pick to replace Judas, and then they drew names! Now, maybe the Lord told them to do it this way. And maybe Matthias was really His choice. But how many times do we ask God to show us what to do, and then in essence, we toss a coin to make our decision? How often do we truly ask God’s advice – and then wait to receive it, much less take it?
We need to learn to be more patient in our conversations with the Lord. We need to realize that His timing is perfect… and wait for a clear, distinct answer from Him for all of our needs. God will always answer on time. So if it seems like an answer isn’t coming as quickly as you had hoped, chill out and wait. God knows the need… and He will meet it when the time is right. Coin tosses at football games are one thing – but in the important questions of life, this will simply not suffice. Ask God to help you with all important decisions… and even some of those you feel aren’t so important… then wait for His answer. See how much better the outcomes can be for all concerned.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 3 ~ 2 Chronicles 6:41
Come to your new home, where we have already placed the sacred chest, which is the symbol of your strength. I pray that when the priests announce your power to save people, those who are faithful to you will celebrate what you've done for them.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever watched one of those shows where someone buys a house, makes upgrades and renovations, and then invites the previous owner back to see what was done? It doesn’t always go well. Often the previous owner is not pleased with the changes. But the new owner did not make the changes to please the previous owner. Those changes were done to please the new residents.
In our spiritual life, our heart, mind, and soul are our home… the place where we wish for the Holy Spirit to dwell. And unlike a physical dwelling, we want any changes we make to our “Spiritual home” to be pleasing to God, not us! We want the Holy Spirit to be delighted and glorified by our “improvements.” We should desire that the Holy Spirit would find our “home” a celebration of what God has done for us… and a platform for Him to bless and save others.
When I pray, I often say, “Come Holy Spirit.” I invite Him to dwell within me and to be a part of everything I say and do. I know that the Holy Spirit is always with me, but I like to think that this invitation is an acknowledgment of His presence and a recognition of His power to work in and through me. Today, I pray that you will invite the Holy Spirit to your “Spiritual home.” More importantly, I pray that He will be pleased with what He finds there… that your changes will honor and glorify our Heavenly Father and celebrate His power in and through your life.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 2 ~ Ephesians 6:18-20
Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people. Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news. I was sent to do this work, and that's the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever started a new workout program or diet? The first day, you are psyched… “This is gonna be great!” you may think… and you follow the plan to the letter, anticipating that buff/thinner/healthier you in the near future. Then the trouble starts – this really didn’t feel as good as you hoped. Dieting and/or working out were not nearly as much fun as you wanted them to be. Or maybe this was downright unpleasant. You might have even overdone it a bit and come up sick or injured. Maybe you were tempted to say, “That’s it… I’ll never do this again!”
In our Christian life, many of us start out all excited and ready for anything and everything. “Bring it on, Devil…” we may think… “we’re in God’s army now!” But let the first challenge occur… a shift in your friends because of your faith, feeling like your prayers were not answered – or weren’t answered as you wished, trying to do what is right and being “thrown under the bus” by others. Let things go even slightly awry, and we are ready to throw in the towel and give up on God. Let someone ridicule us or reject us, and we are ready to go back to our old ways and wallow in self-pity and misery.
Paul was thrown into jail for preaching the Good News of Jesus, yet he kept right on preaching and praying – and praising God! Even though he knew others were not living as they should, he continued to diligently and sincerely pray for them in the power of the Holy Spirit. This means he didn’t just recite a memorized prayer and say “God bless Joe or Sue…” – he PRAYED for others, immersing himself in the act of prayer and communion with God and humbly, fervently asking Him to meet the needs of others.
The bottom line is that for all of us, it sometimes seems like we just as well quit trying. Living for Jesus doesn’t come without a price. Sometimes this means that our friends, or even our family, desert us. Sometimes living for Jesus costs us our job, our lifestyle, and for some… our very lives. But the “price” for following and serving God is NOTHING compared to the price Jesus paid so that we could have this privilege. When you think of all He did for us, giving up is not an option.
Serving God is more than worth whatever we feel it “costs” us. I’m not saying we have to enjoy the challenges, but we need to embrace them and use them to encourage and motivate us, not drag us down. Be brave and bold, and share the Good News every chance you get. Pray fervently, stay positive, and keep fighting for Jesus… the One who never quits on us!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 1 ~ 2 Corinthians 1:11
Please help us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks for the blessings we receive in answer to all these prayers.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I have to admit, I am having mixed feelings these days about Facebook. Oh, sure… it’s been great to connect – and reconnect – with friends. I enjoy being able to share photos and information quickly with a large group of people… and to see their photos and keep up with their lives. But the looming concern over hackers determining my password and manipulating information – or a virus or malware getting past my anti-virus software and corrupting my computer – has turned me off in a big way. I am particularly leery of the games and “trimmings” offered by Facebook, most of which require access to personal information.
Having said all of this, I have found Facebook to be a great tool for one thing in particular – prayer. Sometimes friends will post a specific prayer request on Facebook, and I am happy to offer my support. But often, there is a hidden need expressed in comments and posts. And that is where the real opportunities lie. When someone posts that they are struggling to study for a test, or their child is sick, or things are hectic and challenging at work, there is a need for prayer included in the post! When someone talks about an impending wedding date, or taking a trip, or practicing for a cross-country meet, friends can pray for them.
When someone mentions an accomplishment or how wonderful a church service or youth meeting at church was – or how well the football team did… there is an opportunity to offer a prayer of thanks – for the blessing, team safety, a chance to worship together, or whatever suits the particular event.
Through something as hi-tech as Facebook, God can be glorified… and others can receive blessings. As you read your posts in the days ahead, look for hidden opportunities to pray… and give thanks for the blessings that will result.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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