November Devotionals - Week 4

November 30 ~ Matthew 6:19-21
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Have you ever known people who save their “good stuff” for a special occasion… like their best pajamas, or their “nice clothes.” Meanwhile, they wear the torn, tattered and frayed stuff every day while their good clothes hang in a closet or are folded in a drawer. I have known of people who died with beautiful things still hanging in the closet with tags on them… saved for another day. I’ve known of aunts and grandmothers who kept their “good pajamas” in the drawer “in case I have to go to the hospital.” How sad to save the “good stuff” for such an occasion!

But it’s not just clothes and possessions we store up for another day. We do this spiritually, too. We work hard to make lots of money while neglecting family and friends – and God. We “live it up” and enjoy our weekends and free time and have a blast, but we don’t serve others. We will go to Tunica and gamble all weekend long, but we don’t have an extra $100 to give to missions. We store up our “treasure” on earth and neglect the things of heaven.

What does this have to do with our heart? Everything! See, what your heart truly desires is what you will have. If your heart’s desire is to make lots of money and spend it on yourself, you will work hard to do just that. If your heart is for others and serving them… sharing what you have and serving God… you will make time for those things. If your heart is about appearances rather than substance, you’ll make a good show – but have nothing to show for it!

So what is your heart’s desire? What treasures are you storing? Are they earthly and expendable, or are they heavenly and eternal? The choice is ours… what sort of “good stuff” are you saving?”

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 29 ~ Matthew 5:8
God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

What does it mean to have a “pure heart?” If you read this passage in The Message, it says, “You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.” Do you see God in the outside world? Or are you a cynic? That means you look at people or things and see what’s wrong – or what could go wrong – rather than what is right. And we all do this from time to time… some of us more than others!

Our goal should be to see good in others rather than emphasize their negative traits… to see potential in unfortunate situations instead of ranting and raving about how awful or evil something is. This is part of recognizing that we are all God’s creatures and equally precious to Him. This is also recognizing God’s power to change any and all situations.

Yes, people make mistakes and fall short of what God desired for them – and so do you and I! Yes, there is evil in the world, and life often isn’t fair. But GOD is in control… and the closer we grow to Him, the more what we rationalize in our head matches our heart. The more attuned to God we become, the more we start to see people and situations with a pure heart, full of potential for God to work. This is not being simple or naïve… this is being faithful and confident in God to handle things we cannot – both seen and unseen! This is trusting His will for our lives.

So let me ask you again… do you see God in the outside world? Do you even LOOK for Him? The first step toward developing a pure heart may very well be to change your attitude! And to do this will take time spent in prayer and Bible study – listening to and looking for GOD! We all have work to do to develop a pure heart… isn’t this a great time to begin?


©2009 Debbie Robus

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.

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November 28 ~ Jeremiah 24:7
I will give them a desire to know me and to be my people. They will want me to be their God, and they will turn back to me with all their heart.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

When I was a junior high Sunday School teacher, there were lots of Sundays when I wondered if anything that was said or done in that class registered with any in attendance. The junior high years are tough ones for a lot of kids, and they have so much racing around in their minds – and learning more about God and/or the Bible isn’t high on the radar of many! Over and over, people told me, “You’re planting seeds.” A couple of people told me, “You may never know in this lifetime what impact your leading this class had, but it did make a difference for these kids.” And I felt that, if ONE kid was touched on ONE Sunday, I had faithfully served God in this capacity.

I didn’t have to wait that long to see evidence that God spoke to kids in those classes. I still see many of those former students from time to time, and I see the how God is working in their lives. Some wandered away… but I’m not worried. I know they love God in their heart, and they will want Him to be their God in a big way someday. I know that for others, God has been an ever-present help to them through high school – and now, college. One graduating senior sent me a note and said, “I wish we could return to the days when XYZ and I were harassing you in Sunday School.” It wasn’t much of an endorsement… but I’ll take it!

You don’t have to teach junior high Sunday School to plant a desire to know God in the hearts of others. You can model faith-filled, Godly behavior in other ways. You can serve God by serving others… and make a difference in their lives – a difference that might mean whether or not they choose to follow God for themselves. YOU can plant seeds of desire for God in the hearts of others. God will do the rest.

Do your part to share God’s love with others - then be patient. Step back and watch God work. You’ll be amazed at the results. And if someone you know has wandered away from God, keep praying for them and offering encouragement. Believe that they will turn back to Him with all their heart and trust God to do the rest.

2009 Debbie Robus

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November 27 ~ Jeremiah 20:12
LORD All-Powerful, you test those who do right, and you know every heart and mind. I have told you my complaints, so let me watch you take revenge on my enemies.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Recently, a jury in Little Rock found a man guilty of the murder of news anchor Anne Pressly. Many were astounded that this man received a sentence of life in prison, rather than the death penalty. Around the same time, a man at Ft. Hood, Texas, shot and killed 13 others… and survived. I have heard more than one person say, “He should have died, too,” or “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

Please understand, I am not defending murderers. I have no patience for people who brutalize and harm others in any way, shape, or form – or murder them. But I also believe that God knows the hearts of these people… and in His time, He will deal with them. He will mete out the revenge on them that they deserve. Whether I know of it or not doesn’t matter.

So often we want to take matters into our own hands. And the danger in this is that we don’t always know what is in another person’s heart. We don’t see “the big picture” that God sees. What if a person’s life is spared from death row, and he/she is offered the plan of salvation and accepts Jesus? I read just recently about a man serving a life sentence in prison who gave his life to Christ and is now witnessing to other inmates. He knows he will die as an inmate himself, but in the meantime, he is growing the Kingdom of Heaven. Might it be that God is using a once-evil situation for His purposes now?

By all accounts, Anne Pressly “did right” and was pure in heart and mind… yet she was brutally raped and murdered. The crime against her deserves God’s revenge. But that’s the point… the revenge is God’s to give! Meanwhile, He may be able to bring about something positive from something so horrible… and that is where we have to trust Him. We serve a God of second (and third, and fourth and more) chances… and what we would wish for God to give us, we have to be willing to accept when He offers to others. Give your complaints to God – then let Him decide what to do with them.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 26 ~ Isaiah 61:3
He sent me to give them flowers in place of their sorrow, olive oil in place of tears, and joyous praise in place of broken hearts. They will be called "Trees of Justice," planted by the LORD to honor his name.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

On a day when we pause to be thankful for so much, we must remember above all else to be thankful for Jesus Christ. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, He came “to heal the brokenhearted, and to announce freedom for prisoners and captives… to comfort those who mourn.” Jesus did come to free us from the captivity of sin. He came to heal our broken hearts and comfort us – to give us new life in Him. In Isaiah 61:10, we read, “I celebrate and shout because of my Lord God.” This truly is a day to celebrate and shout – a day to be thankful for a Savior who died for us and all of the blessings and privileges we enjoy because of what He has done in our lives.

We like to name so many things for which we are thankful during this season… and that is not a bad idea, because we are rich beyond measure. But let’s remember to be thankful – first and foremost – for Jesus Christ, and a loving Heavenly Father who sent His only Son to die for our sins. We are greatly blessed – let us pause and be thankful… not only today, but always.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 25 ~ Isaiah 59:13
We have rebelled and refused to follow you. Our hearts were deceitful, and so we lied; we planned to abuse others and turn our backs on you.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Have you ever heard of a “Devil-may-care” attitude? Have you ever wanted something so badly that you said, “I don’t care what I have to do to get it!”? Have you ever known someone who pursued their dreams and desires to the extent that they were ruthlessly willing to step over others to attain them? Did you realize that we all do this to some extent? Just the other day, I was so absorbed in my grocery shopping that I reached into the meat case to select a package of bacon and stepped right in front of someone else who was there. Now I will say, I thought this person had made her selection already. But I was so “in the zone,” that I didn’t realize she actually had backed away to let me make my choices. I quickly apologized and insisted I would wait while she finished choosing her bacon!

I know… that seems like a silly example. I had to ask myself… “For even a moment, did I think my time was more important than someone else’s?” We “inadvertently” pull out in front of people in our cars, step in front of someone in line, grab the last roll at dinner without asking, say hurtful or rude things, and more. We say we didn’t mean it, but if we examine ourselves more closely, we have to admit that we were so into ourselves at that moment that we really weren’t thinking about anyone or anything else.

Soon a “harmless” incident like cutting in line becomes habit, and the devil has an opening. He will use it to harden our hearts and make us more self-serving. Before we know it, we are deliberately taking advantage of others – and proud of it! We might even brag to our friends, “I never wait in line… I make up an excuse to move ahead of the others,” or “How could he be so stupid? I just had to tell him off and let him know what I thought!” We start to feel like we are superior – even to God. We start to bend the rules and mold the Scriptures to suit our whims and justify our behavior… “Well, God didn’t really mean that!”

From time to time, we all need to examine our hearts and see how we are doing. We need to make sure we are not deceiving ourselves – or others. We need to be sure we are not bending God’s word to suit our situations and justify our sinful behavior. In all things, when God examines our heart, what does He see? This should be what motivates us each day… to make sure God is pleased with what He finds. Have you examined your heart lately?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 24 ~ Proverbs 21:2
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Have you ever heard someone say about another person, “He/she just has such a good heart.” You know how I love Andy Griffith. Have you seen the episode where Barney wants to sing with the choir, but his voice is terribly off-key. But he has such a good heart, and nobody wants to hurt his feelings, so Andy and the choir cook up a scheme for Barney to sing into a “super-sensitive microphone” while a more adept singer actually performs for him from behind the curtain. Poor Barney even tries to help the choir director find the person who is singing off-key, totally unaware HE is the culprit. And when he hears the beautiful voice coming from the better singer, he thinks HIS voice actually sounds better in this special microphone. It’s a tangled web of deception – all created in the name of saving Barney’s feelings and protecting his heart.

So often we do all sorts of dances and gyrations to convince ourselves that what we are doing is the right thing – and that God will understand – when truly, we know better. Barney and Andy’s little dance may have been harmless enough, but in the end, Barney found out the truth. And isn’t that always the way? The old adages that “the truth WILL come out” and “honesty is the best policy” are both solid pieces of advice!Here are a few examples of thinking you are doing the right thing, when God is looking at your heart and your motives:

  • You’re at a party where underage teens are drinking, but because you aren’t drinking, you think it is okay to stay at the party.
  • You are in a store with someone who is shoplifting. You don’t shoplift, but you don’t call your friend on it, either. Your justification is that you didn’t do anything illegal… and you don’t want to make your friend mad by saying anything.
  • You let your underage kids have a party at your house and you allow them to consume alcohol. You rationalize that because you keep all of the kids there and nobody is driving, it’s okay.
  • You use your friend’s handicapped parking permit to claim a prime parking space when you go grocery shopping. Your justification is that you’re a senior citizen and you are entitled. Besides, there weren’t any other spaces available near the store.
  • You help yourself to pens, paper, paper clips, and more from your place of employment and take them home. The business has plenty, and no more than they pay you, you feel you are entitled to these “bonuses.”
  • You cover for your friend who is cheating on his/her significant other because you don’t want to get caught in the middle or hurt anyone’s feelings.
  • You chew out the refs at your kid’s Pee Wee basketball game in front of everyone because you feel they made a terrible call, and by golly, they need to be taken down a notch or two!

The point I am making is that sometimes, we feel completely justified… we have rationalized our behavior and/or our choices perfectly in our mind - and we have totally compartmentalized our thoughts and separated them from our conscience – or our heart! Deep within, we may even realize that what we are doing would not be pleasing to God – or may be wrong on some level. This is a great example of where the head and heart do not function the same!

The bottom line is that we should strive to act in a manner that we know in our heart pleases God. When we are in doubt about our actions, we should consult God first and ask Him if our choices line up with His will… and if He approves. Often God will speak to us from our heart and give us the answer. And no matter how hard it may be to accept – and act upon – the outcome will always be better, and God will help us navigate any difficulties along the way.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 23 ~ Psalm 139:23
Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking.

Proverbs 15:11
If the LORD can see everything in the world of the dead, he can see in our hearts.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

WHOA! I don’t know about you, but there are days I would really rather God not see everything I am thinking! And having said that, we have to ask ourselves, “What is wrong with this picture?” Surely God knows everything we are thinking. Yet when the devil gets hold of us, our thoughts are not always pleasing to God, are they? At least, I know mine aren’t! From the unkind thought I have about the driver who cuts me off in traffic to the envy I sometimes have when I see someone wearing a nice outfit to the frustration I experience when someone says or does something I don’t like – I allow the devil to creep into my heart and my thoughts… and sometimes it ain’t pretty!

The truth of this scripture is that the Psalmist is saying, “Go ahead, God… look at everything about me… see what isn’t pleasing to you…AND FIX IT!!!” Don’t be afraid for God to examine your heart. Certainly, we should all work harder to make sure what He sees there is pleasing. But the beauty of our relationship with God is that He is willing to help us change even the unpleasant things He finds in our heart. If we are willing to turn to God and completely give Him our heart, He will have mercy on us and show us how to correct “stinkin’ thinkin’!”

I’m going with the Psalmist on this one… “Bring it on, Lord! Look deep into every nook and cranny of my heart. Find the things I need to change. Forgive me for them. Then show me how to turn things around and head back toward You.” God already knows what we are thinking. The question is… do our thoughts please Him? If the answer is “not always,” are we ready and willing to change?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 22 ~ Psalm 84:2
Deep in my heart I long for your temple, and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

The older I get, the more I look forward to heaven. Now, you probably think that sounds pretty morbid… and no, I do not have a death wish! But the more I discover about God’s love for us and how He works in our lives, the more I want to know of Him! Yet, I realize we won’t have all of the answers until we get to Heaven!

At the same time, the anticipation of Heaven makes life on this earth sweeter. Does that make sense? See, just like this scripture, as God fills me with joy and I live a life that I hope pleases – and glorifies – Him, the more I enjoy my earthly life. This doesn’t diminish my anticipation of Heaven someday, but it does give me patience for the journey. God doesn’t want us to just mark time in this life as we wait for Him… He wants us to fully LIVE it!!!

I often tell younger people not to wish their lives away… and this is good advice for all of us. Instead of anticipating the future, God wants us to savor every single day. Deep in our hearts we may long for Heaven. But day-to-day, we should be filled with joyful songs for the blessings God gives us. We should live every minute to the fullest in service and honor to Him. What’s deep within YOUR heart these days?

©2009 Debbie Robus

November 2009 Devotionals - Week 3

November 21 ~ Psalm 42:2
In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face?

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

You know how you eat pizza, and a few hours later you find yourself so thirsty that you can’t seem to get enough water? Or maybe you have exercised or run several miles or exerted yourself in another way, and before you realize it, you feel like you are dying of thirst and will never be able to drink enough to feel quenched.

Have you ever thought about your relationship with God like this? Do you ever “thirst” for Him deeply within your heart? Do you ever feel like no matter how much time you spend with God in prayer, Bible study, and worship, it’s just not enough? Do you ever feel like you won’t truly have your thirst satisfied until you see God face-to-face in Heaven?

God doesn’t want us to be unsatisfied. But at the same time, God wants us to hunger and thirst after Him. “That doesn’t make sense!” you might be saying. Oh, but it does… God wants us to enjoy His blessings on this earth and to be filled with joy in our faith. At the same time, He wants us to be in constant desire of more of Him… more of His wisdom, more of His power in our lives, more of His love for others… more of His amazing grace and peace.

God wants us to be constantly growing in our relationship with Him until the day we die and meet Him in heaven. THEN we will truly be quenched! THEN, we will truly know EVERYTHING about our living God. Until that day, our hearts should be at once both filled with God’s abundance - and thirsting for more. Are you continually seeking more of God? How thirsty is your heart these days?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 20 ~ Psalm 37:4
Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart's desire.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

When you think of your “heart’s desire,” what comes to mind? Do you dream of nice cars and big houses, fancy clothes and expensive jewelry? Honestly, I don’t think this is what the Psalmist had in mind when he talked about your heart’s desire. Don’t misunderstand me… I’m not saying you should not be entitled to drive a nice car or live in a fancy home. God sometimes blesses His children with material wealth.

But while not all people will accumulate material possessions and wealth, everyone can be rich in the desires of the heart. And there is a difference. Your “heart’s desire” may very well be the material “stuff,” but the desires of your heart include joy, peace, comfort, confidence, courage, faith, and more… the satisfaction that a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ can bring. And these desires of the heart can belong to anyone who serves the Lord and follows His will.

This is more than a matter of semantics (word play). Our ultimate goal should be to satisfy our heart’s desire as it relates to our relationship with God. We should strive to do what He wants in order to be completely fulfilled in Him. Everything else – all of the “stuff” in life – is just icing on the cake. I’m betting that as you fulfill the true desires of your heart and enjoy the blessings of the Lord, the “stuff” won’t seem nearly as valuable – or important. What do you think?

©2009 Debbie Robus


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November 19 ~ Psalm 30:12
I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.

Psalm 33:21
You make our hearts glad because we trust you, the only God.

Psalm 34:2
With all my heart, I will praise the LORD. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

The other day, my husband and I saw a television commercial that featured the McCully family of Bigelow, Arkansas, standing in front of the home that was built for them last summer on ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. My husband asked, “How is Job doing these days?” Just to remind you, Job McCully is an eleven-year-old boy who received a life-saving lung transplant on December 11, 2007. Job was days… maybe even hours… away from death when he received his lung transplant. He survived cancer in 2002 at the age of 4, thanks to a bone marrow transplant, only to contract RSV and a killer lung infection in late 2006-early 2007. He spent pretty much all of the year 2007 in the hospital. In fact, Job spent one whole year and a few days in three different hospitals during the time he was waiting on – and receiving – his new lungs.

If you go to
www.caringbridge.org/ar/job and read posts, you will see that, no matter how hard the journey got, Job and his family NEVER stopped singing God’s praises and thanking Him from their hearts. The latest post on Job’s site is from his grandma, Glenda, who has been fighting her own battle with breast cancer. Glenda says, “Each morning I have to remind myself… don't start that until you have spent time with God, reading your Bible and praying.” She notes that on December 14, 2009, Job will return to St. Louis for a 2-year evaluation. In 2009, Job has only been hospitalized once – for a scary bout of H1N1 flu virus in October that struck him AND his older sister, Nicole. Thankfully, it was caught early, and both children recovered quickly.

Grandma Glenda recalls in the post that 2007 was a long year that seemed three or four years long. But she adds that it was a time when God did miraculous things for her family… and a time of intenseness with God that she wants to be ongoing – just without the sickness and pain.

What about you? Can you honestly say you desire a time of intenseness with God? In hour heart, do you understand that the way to attain this intenseness involves spending time with God, reading your Bible and praying? Do you know that it also involves giving God praise, even when you or someone you love is within hours of losing a physical battle to stay alive? Many times in 2007, Job’s mother was told, “Sign these ‘do not resuscitate’ papers – Job won’t live through the weekend.” Each time, she told them, “God is not telling me to sign, and until He does, I won’t do it,” and then she would walk away. THAT is intenseness. That is loving God and knowing Him with your whole heart!

I am thankful that God introduced me to the McCullys. I’ve learned so much about trusting Him and thanking Him in all circumstances from little Job and his family. I encourage you to visit Job’s site and see for yourself their example of hearts filled with the intenseness of God… His grace, mercy, joy and blessings. I pray that we would be intense in our faith… that we would thank God from our hearts and never, never stop praising Him!

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 18 ~ Psalm 22:25-31
When your people meet, you will fill my heart with your praises, LORD, and everyone will see me keep my promises to you. The poor will eat and be full, and all who worship you will be thankful and live in hope.

Everyone on this earth will remember you, LORD. People all over the world will turn and worship you, because you are in control, the ruler of all nations. All who are rich and have more than enough will bow down to you, Lord. Even those who are dying and almost in the grave will come and bow down.

In the future, everyone will worship and learn about you, our Lord. People not yet born will be told, "The Lord has saved us!"

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

What – or better yet, WHO – is in your heart? When you think of your relationship with Jesus Christ, do you feel optimistic, encouraged, and joyful? Do you envision a world where people in every country worship God and believe in His only Son, Jesus Christ? Do you see others on an equal playing field with you, as brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of their social standing, economic status, ethnicity, or appearance?

I have read Psalm 22 several times, in many translations… and what keeps coming to me is that the Psalmist is talking about heaven and the return of Christ in these verses and how it will be when we gather as a body of believers. It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? But can I tell you something? I don’t want to wait for heaven to start experiencing that sort of joy and confidence in Christ. I want my heart to be filled with Him – NOW!

The Lord HAS saved us! It’s time we started acting like it. It’s time we started sharing our heart with others, embracing one another in our faith, and living thankfully. There’s no time like the present to start… are you in?


©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 17 ~ Psalm 19:8
The LORD's instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly, and they give us light.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

We’ve all been there… you walk into a dark room, and you start feeling around on the wall for a light switch. Until you turn on the light, you are virtually helpless. Once the light is found, everything comes into focus.

The Lord’s instruction for our life is a lot like this. Without Him to guide us, we fumble in the dark. Once we start to pay attention to God’s word and spend time with Him in prayer and worship, we understand that He has a plan for our lives. When you are in step with God… when you are really listening to His commands and using them as a beacon to light your way, your heart will be filled with joy. Even when the way is difficult, you will be at peace, because you know you are on the right path.

The Lord’s instruction IS right. Make your heart glad… come out of the dark and bask in the light of His perfect will.


©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 16 ~ Psalm 9:1
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

As we approach Thanksgiving, I can’t think of a better verse to inspire us. A few people have already begun posting a “gratitude statement” each day on Facebook – something for which they are thankful. And truly, there aren’t enough days left in any of our lives for us to list EVERY wonder that the Lord has worked – and we should be thankful for all of them.

I’m not going to ask you to go on Facebook or another social networking site every day and list something for which you are thankful. But I do encourage you to stop at some point daily and think of the wonders the Lord has worked in your life. Maybe you will want to jot down a few blessings and wonders and reflect on them later. Maybe you will do this totally in your head.

Regardless of HOW you do this, just do it! Stop and take stock of the wonders the Lord has worked in your life – and then, most importantly, praise Him for them! Even on our worst days, we can find something in our lives that merits praise to God. If you haven’t praised Him yet today, what are you waiting for? Praise Him with all your heart…and be thankful for the wonders He has worked in your life.


©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 15 ~ Job 11:13
Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer...


(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

So often, we have situations where we feel helpless… we truly do not know what to do. Can I tell you something? It’s okay to feel this way… because we know Someone who has all the answers! God knows what to do… and all we have to do is surrender our situation to Him – pour out our heart – and let GOD handle things for us.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? I can assure you, this is one hard thing to do! See, we all want to fix things ourselves. We want to think that we are smart and capable, and that we can handle anything – and we CAN – but not without God!

So the next time someone hurts your feelings or you can’t pay your bills or you’re sick or suffering in some way – angry, confused, upset, scared – talk to God. Really, truly pour out your heart to Him and ask for help… and then patiently wait on His answer. God will show you what to do next. He may not fix your situation with the snap of a finger… but He will show you how to handle every situation.

Remember… we are not alone… God is always just a prayer away!

©2009 Debbie Robus

November 2009 Devotionals - Week 2

November 14 ~ 1 Chronicles 29:16-17
Our LORD God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone's heart, and you are pleased when people are honest.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Have you ever gone to church on Sunday when you would rather have stayed home? But you went to church anyway, thinking all the while you wished you were home, still in bed or sipping coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper. I’m not saying that anytime we wake up on Sunday and wish we could sleep in, we should skip church. But when we go to church wishing we were somewhere else, God knows what is in our heart. So maybe I am suggesting an “attitude adjustment” is in order on our part?

When we give to the church or charities or make any donation, and we do it because “it’s the thing to do,” or our friends are giving - or we feel obligated in any way - God knows our heart. When we pretend to be nice to people but talk about them behind their backs, God sees our heart. When we act one way in front of some people and another when they aren’t around, God sees this.

God knows our heart. He knows when we do things out of love and a desire to serve and honor Him. He sees when we are genuinely kind to others… when we give generously out of a desire to help others… when we strive to be moral and upright out of respect for Him – and for ourselves. And this pleases Him immensely.

Doesn’t it seem a little preposterous to think that God wouldn’t know our heart? Doesn’t it seem phony and disrespectful to try to pretend to Him that we feel one way when He knows good and well our feelings are the opposite? Do we really want to please God? Isn’t being honest and showing Him a genuine heart a good place to start? Open up to God and share your true self… He knows already, but He will be so pleased when you are real with Him. When you honor God and respect your relationship with Him in this manner, you be blessed with joy and satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.

©2009 Debbie Robus


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November 13 ~ 1 Chronicles 16:10
Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

We have no trouble cheering and celebrating when the home team wins a football game. Pretty well everybody in Arkansas and several surrounding states knows how to “call the Hogs!” Little girls (and a few not-so-little ones) go ga-ga over Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift… and people line up for days to see the American Idol tour. We “celebrate with all our heart” at these events and others.


But when we think of God, do we celebrate as fervently? Do we feel so excited and genuinely ecstatic that we want to jump for joy in our heart, if not with our physical body? When we worship, are we totally in the moment, forgetting everything from what we will do after church service to the pot roast we left in the oven to the friends we hung out with the night before?

Doesn’t God deserve better?

Let’s make an effort to give God the celebration and worship He deserves. I’m not saying we have to jump up and shout – or even wiggle our big toe! But let’s focus totally on Him when we pray, read the Bible, or gather together for a worship service. Let’s celebrate Him in the way we live our daily lives and demonstrate clearly to others Who we serve.

God DOES deserve better than we give Him. Let’s start making changes and truly celebrate and worship His holy name with all our heart.


©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 12 ~ 1 Kings 8:39
You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Suppose you are struggling to make ends meet. There always seems to be a whole lot more month than money. But in your heart, you desire to do great things for God… to accomplish things that you cannot physically afford. If you pray about this, and pour out your desires to God, don’t you think He will figure out a way for these things to be accomplished? Let’s be more specific. Our church is having a “Shoe Box Drive” to send decorated shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, toiletries, and more to needy children. Sounds like a great project, right? But what if your financial situation doesn’t match your desire to participate? How can you possibly help?

I believe that in this situation, you could pray and ask God to see that enough boxes were donated. Ask Him to soften the hearts of those who can afford to pack a shoe box. This would be one example of God looking at your heart and answering according to what He finds there, rather than on what you were physically able to accomplish. The same could be said for being a prayer warrior. When you don’t feel you can do anything else, you can certainly pray for others and their needs. This shows God your heart… your desire to serve, witness and make changes in His name.

God looks at our heart… and when He sees that what we harbor there is pure and loving and obedient, He is moved… and He does move! Keep a close check on your heart and its motives… be bold and ask God for great things from the depths of your heart… then sit back and watch Him work!


©2009 Debbie Robus


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November 11 ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Man, is this ever a hard lesson for us! We form our impressions of people in the first few seconds… and often, we don’t give them – or ourselves – a chance to decide otherwise! How many times have you met someone, and instantly you disliked something about him/her, only to find out later what a wonderful person he/she was.

Think about a coconut. On the outside, it looks pretty rough, doesn’t it! In fact, the hard, ugly brown shell is fairly impenetrable. But once you get inside, you find this wonderful milk and coconut “meat.” The heart is home to the good stuff! Imagine if God judged us by outward appearances. If God judged us by the things we said and how we looked and acted, most of us would be in pretty sad shape. Aren’t you glad He looks at the heart?

Let’s make sure our heart is right… that when God looks deep within us, He sees someone who is striving to serve Him and be obedient, even if it doesn’t always show on the outside. And let’s give others a second look. Let’s look at their heart and not make rash judgments. Surely if God judges us by our hearts, we should do the same for others. How are you evaluating others these days? Do you only see the “coconut shell” on the outside? What is in your heart?


©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 10 ~ 1 Samuel 12:20-24
Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the LORD and worship him with all your heart. Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble. But the LORD has chosen you to be his own people. He will always take care of you so that everyone will know how great he is.

I would be disobeying the LORD if I stopped praying for you! I will always teach you how to live right. You also must obey the LORD - you must worship him with all your heart and remember the great things he has done for you.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

When you were a child, did you ever do something wrong and then hide, hoping nobody would find you and discover what had happened? Or maybe you hoped your grandparents would come along and stick up for you. If only you could find someone to be on your side and protect you from punishment and disapproval! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life when you felt like you had messed things up so badly that God would never forgive you! Or maybe you feared that the “wrath of God” was about to rain down on you for your sins or misdeeds. And sometimes, in fear, we turn to people we think can help us… or worse yet, we turn to Satan. “Devil,” we say… “help me create a story to cover this. Give me an alibi… justify what I did, so that I can get out of this mess!”

The truth is, we go “looking for love in all the wrong places.” God is not standing with a whip and a chair, ready to beat us senseless for our sins. Hello! Jesus took every single one of those when He died on the cross. They are paid in full! If someone bought your lunch at a restaurant, you wouldn’t try to pay again, would you? So why do we think we have to pay over and over for the sins that Jesus bought with His own blood? This is not what God desires. All He wants is for us to love and worship Him out of the depths of our heart (that means with everything we have in us!). If we love with our whole heart, it will be harder and harder for us to sin… it just won’t feel right to us… it will go against everything we hold dear.

Our grandparents and others may be able to save us from certain troubles when we are children, but that doesn’t work well for very long. It’s time we grew up in our faith and trusted God for the promises He has given us… and loved Him with our whole heart. This is true protection and freedom… this is true safety and comfort… this is where the real blessings lie. Who has your heart today?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 9 ~ Deuteronomy 30:11-14
You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them. His commands aren't in heaven, so you can't excuse yourselves by saying, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are in heaven, and no one can go up to get them, then bring them down and explain them to us." And you can't say, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are across the sea, and someone must go across, then bring them back and explain them to us." No, these commands are nearby and you know them by heart. All you have to do is obey!

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

This is one of the hardest things for some people to grasp. How do we worship and obey a God we have never physically seen? How do we trust that what is written in the Bible is infallible… that the Bible really IS God’s word? How do we know for sure that following God’s commands will work… that this really IS the way to Heaven?

For me, this is where the heart comes into play. See, for nearly 35 years, I knew in my head that God was real and that the Bible was filled with guidance and perfect law for my life. I had heard this over and over from countless people. I had studied and prayed and attended church services and Sunday School classes. I had participated in Training Union on Sunday nights, “Bible drills,” youth classes and more.

But it wasn’t until I began to truly invite the Holy Spirit to penetrate my heart and I revisited a scripture verse… John 20:29, in which
…”Jesus said, ‘Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!’" I realized that Jesus was talking about you and ME! We have never seen Him, yet we believe, so we are blessed because of our faith!

As I meditated on this thought… and internalized it, I began to understand that yes, this IS all a leap of faith, but I learned something else. I learned to look for God in ordinary and unusual places… places besides just the Bible and my prayer time. I began to see His hand in the order and circumstances of my day… and in the timing and care of His children and the events of their lives. I began to see how much God blesses those who obey Him – and how hard things are for those who don’t. This is not because God punishes, but rather because He allows us to wander aimlessly if we choose… He allows us free will.

I don’t know about you, but I want every blessing God stands ready to give me. I want to obey Him – not out of fear or concern that He won’t bless – but out of love and adoration… gratefulness for all He has given me… and a deep desire of the heart to serve Him completely. If you love someone from the depths of your heart, you understand this desire. Who deserves our heartfelt love more than God? Are His commands in your heart? Won’t you make room for them and begin living in His abundance?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 8 ~ Deuteronomy 30:10
But you must decide once and for all to worship him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in The Book of God's Law.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

On the surface, you may be thinking… “This is an easy one… I’ve already done it!” And maybe you have – if so, God bless you! But think about it… have you truly decided to worship Him with all your heart and soul and obey His word completely? Or do you still disrespect your parents? Do you send out disrespectful messages about others via e-mail or make derogatory comments on social network sites? Do you party too much and ask forgiveness later? Do you use foul language – in person and/or on the Internet? Are you unkind and/or quick-tempered with others? What haven’t you given to God?

Last week I told you about a friend suggesting that I write about loving God with our head and our heart. We all know what the Bible says… we all know the Ten Commandments… and even the commandments of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves, and to love God with our heart, mind, soul and strength. And intellectually, we do this… and we say, “I love God with all of these things.” But deep in our heart… do we? Do we love Him enough to say, “Lord, whatever You desire from me, I’ll give you. I will live for You and love You even when it is hard, painful, or even grieves me. If I have to give up some old habits – or even my friends, I’ll do it. If I have to step out of my comfort zone and serve you by serving someone else, I will do that!

I didn’t notice in this passage anything about whether or not we like doing this, necessarily. This may come in time, but not all of the choices to follow God are easy ones. Still, we will never experience God and His plans for us – or His blessings – until we decide once and for all to worship Him completely with our heart and soul. What’s holding you back today? What else do you need to surrender to God?

©2009 Debbie Robus

November 2009 Devotionals

November 7 ~ Psalm 65
Our God, you deserve praise in Zion, where we keep our promises to you. Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer. Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us. You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you in your temple. We will enjoy your house, the sacred temple. Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice!

You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea. You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place. You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations.

People far away marvel at your fearsome deeds, and all who live under the sun celebrate and sing because of you. You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce much grain. You water all of its fields and level the lumpy ground. You send showers of rain to soften the soil and help the plants sprout. Wherever your footsteps touch the earth, a rich harvest is gathered. Desert pastures blossom, and mountains celebrate. Meadows are filled with sheep and goats; valleys overflow with grain and echo with joyful songs.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

I don’t know about you, but I tend to shortchange God. Oh, I don’t mean to do this…but I find that time after time, I ask God for things and then half-heartedly believe He will do them. This is not a conscious action on my part. But if we stop and take a hard look at our faith, I bet you are not all that different. I would be willing to bet that most of us underestimate God’s power to work in our lives… and His willingness – His desire – to do so!

Look at this Psalm again.
“Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us.” “You give hope to people everywhere on earth… You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations… You take care of the earth.” Is this the description of a small God?

Today, let’s agree to start living in expectancy – expecting God to do great things in our lives… expecting Him to do far and above what we ask or imagine. Let’s pray with confidence that God is hearing us and working in and through us, according to His perfect plan. Let’s rest in this… and be still and know that HE is our God. Feel Him working in your life today – and expect great things in the future!

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 6 ~ Job 35:12-13
God won't listen to the prayers of proud and evil people. If God All-Powerful refuses to answer their empty prayers, he will surely deny your impatient request to face him in court.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

This scripture is the comment of Job’s young friend Elihu, after he listened to Job rant and rave about how he was being persecuted and was suffering even though he had done nothing to deserve any of it. Job was angry with God and making wild demands of Him.

If you go back and read Job 33 and 34, you will see that Elihu made a long, eloquent speech and really put Job and his other friends in their places. And simply put, he is telling Job… “Buddy boy, you cannot tell God how to run the universe!” He’s also saying, “Pot, meet Kettle!” In other words, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t make demands of God… “Lord, help me cram for my test,” or “Father, please change my wife/girlfriend and make her start enjoying Monday night football!” or even “God, please melt away 25 pounds and get me back into my skinny clothes!” and then criticize Him when you feel He doesn’t answer – or answer in the ways you prefer!

When will we learn to stop telling God what to do? We need to pray thoughtfully and humbly! We need to be very careful that in everything we ask of God, we ask that it be done according to His will. We cannot possibly come even remotely close to orchestrating things in life like our Heavenly Father does… and we insult Him to even try! So pray about everything. All you need to ask of God is that His will be done in each request you present. Since His ways are perfect… suggesting anything else would be rather ridiculous! Trust God to answer… have faith and patience… and leave all judgment to Him.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 5 ~ Job 27:7-10
I pray that my enemies will suffer no less than the wicked. Such people are hopeless, and God All-Powerful will cut them down, without listening when they beg for mercy. And that is what God should do, because they don't like him or ever pray.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

This was the sentiment of a desperate Job. And let’s face it, we all say things under pressure or in desperate situations that we probably wouldn’t – and shouldn’t – say otherwise. If we are honest, some of us are pretty good at praying for our enemies to suffer like the wicked people we believe them to be. From that bully who makes your life miserable to the political candidate or elected official you don’t like, to members of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, we find ourselves wishing that God would cut them down.

The problem with all of this - aside from the obvious issue with praying for bad things to happen to people - is that we are passing judgment! Deciding who God should punish is not our job, but do we ever like to jump in and lend a hand! How can we possibly know the heart of another person? And how would we feel to think that others were praying for us to suffer at God’s hand?

Does this mean we are to accept “evil” people – or that we can’t pray about situations we feel are evil or wrong? Absolutely not! When we see something or someone that bothers us or causes us concern with his/her actions, we must pray. We must ask God to deal with this situation… BUT… we must ask Him to handle things according to His will, not our whims. This might just mean that God changes OUR attitude rather than the other guy! God’s ways are perfect… ours are human. We need to pray for our “enemies”… but not that they suffer. We don’t need to tell God what to do… we need to ask Him to exercise His will and handle these people and situations - as He knows is best. To do otherwise is to assume ourselves equal to God… and we all know better. Pray for your enemies… but ask God to decide what is best for them – and for us. Then trust His decisions and rest in his answers.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 4 ~ Isaiah 33:2
Please, LORD, be kind to us! We depend on you. Make us strong each morning, and come to save us when we are in trouble.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Recently, we experienced some serious flooding in parts of Arkansas. In Little Rock, a news anchor happened to be reporting live from a downtown street that was flooded. This was a situation where drivers couldn’t tell the street was flooded until the last minute. A vehicle headed toward the flooded area, and men on the street yelled for the driver to stop. But the rain was so heavy that the driver apparently didn’t hear the men, and she was soon submerged in the water and being pulled quickly toward a storm drain.

Someone in the vehicle was able to stick their head out the window and scream for help before the water got too high. By that time, the passersby were already making efforts to rescue those in the vehicle. And that is what happened. Firefighters and First Responders arrived, and the driver and her son were rescued just in the nick of time.The time came when there was nothing these two people in the vehicle could do but wait on others to rescue them. I can only imagine their panic! I am sure it took every ounce of strength they could muster just to wait patiently for the rescuers. And they most likely feared for their very lives.

We are like the people in the car. We plunge headlong into things that are disastrous…and often people are standing by and shouting to us to stop, but we don’t hear them. We depend on God to rescue us… to save us from trouble – and to give us strength and courage until help arrives. And more than once, I just bet God has rescued you in the nick of time. I bet his kindness and mercy have been your fortress and your strength! I know this has been the case for me on many occasions.

Today, as you pray for God to be kind to you and make you strong – or save you from trouble – remember to praise Him for the many times He has done exactly this. Thank Him for loving us so well… and ask Him to show you how to avoid the flooded streets of life and stay on high ground.

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 3 ~ Psalms 25:21
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

I pray long and hard for God to show me which scriptures to use for these devotionals. You might have noticed that since the end of the summer, our scriptures have basically been a study of prayer. I searched for scriptures throughout the Bible about varied aspects of prayer and the uses of prayer in different situations. This has become my guide for the daily devos. I find it amazing when someone e-mails me and says, “That was just for me today!” or “This had special meaning at this time in my life.” God knows what I can’t possibly know… who needs this very word each day.

So I didn’t take it lightly when just this past Sunday, a dear friend stopped me at church and said, “I want you to write about the heart… trusting God not only with your head, but also your heart and your strength!” Imagine what it was like for me to look at today’s scripture… “I obey you with all my heart…” I mentioned a few days earlier that scripture says we must “love appropriately” – and God gives us wisdom to discern things and to make good choices. But so many of us love God and trust Him with our head, because we know intellectually – and possibly from peer pressure – that this is the right thing to do. Loving and obeying God from the heart is a totally different matter!

Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In Mark 12:30, Jesus added a commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…”* But as my friend put it, “When you start to love God from the heart, that’s what really matters.” AND… she mentioned strength. See, if you love and obey the Lord with all of your heart, your head (and Satan) are going to say, “You KNOW that won’t work! You’re crazy to consider this. How can you trust God for such-and-such?” It will take strength to persevere against such odds.

I believe that when we fully love and obey God with our heart, even when our head says that what we are doing is illogical, God will give us strength to pull through the situation. BE SURE to do this prayerfully… don’t go off on a tangent doing wild things and believing that “God told me to do this.” He will only endorse and strengthen faithfulness to HIS guidance. So be sure you are in God’s will and listening closely for His voice. God sent me a message through my friend… I’m sure of that. He wanted to be sure that I told you about obeying Him with your heart today. I rarely bump into this person at church, so I know that God sent her, and I am so glad we talked. Who is God sending your way today? What messages… what strength…is He trying to give you? Are you obedient with the heart? Are you loving completely - with your mind, soul, heart and strength? Shouldn’t you?

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 2 ~ Psalms 86:17
Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies will feel like fools,
because you have helped and comforted me.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Have you ever watched a small child who is “performing?” Maybe he/she is singing a song for you or reciting a poem, and when it’s over, everyone applauds… especially the child! It really doesn’t matter how well the child performs… we have mercy on them and cheer anyway, even if words are forgotten, dance steps are missed, or the music is off-key.

For the child, it’s all about approval. If nobody applauded and cheered, he/she would become self-conscious and/or embarrassed and stop performing. In one way or another, “children” of all ages desire approval… this is human nature, and the approval is reassuring and comforting. We know we are not perfect, but the fact that others seem not to notice and applaud our efforts gives us motivation to continue trying (and hopefully improving).

Nobody knows better than God how much we need mercy. Nobody knows better than He how much we need His approval even when our “performance” is not so hot. We need His comfort and encouragement. We need to know that even when we are unlovable, God loves us anyway – and He does!

Today, I encourage you to ask God for mercy. None of us deserve it, but God grants it anyway, because He loves us beyond what we can ever comprehend. His mercy will help us to grow, be strengthened and encouraged. Soon our “performances” will improve… because God’s approval will be our motivation. Hear Him applauding you already! Hear His cheers of love and mercy as He lifts you beyond what you could ever accomplish on your own. Feel His beaming smile of approval and bask in its glow. Whenever the devil tries to tear you down, pray for mercy and rest in God’s grace. Then thank Him for loving you so well!

©2009 Debbie Robus

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November 1 ~ Colossians 4:2
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful.

(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)

Once a week, I take my grandmother to the beauty shop, and while she gets her hair done, I run her errands and shop for her groceries. She makes me a grocery list, and I can pretty well tell you what will be on it each week… milk, buttermilk, cornbread mix, chocolate chip cookies, Cokes, Three Musketeers. I could almost shop for her without a list. But then she will throw me a curve… one week it was a mop and a broom… another, she needed a clock. Still another, she needed a half gallon of vinegar and paper towels. If I want to be sure I get what she needs, I have to consult the list each week.

When we pray, we sometimes get into a “rhythm” – or is it a rut? – where we pray for the same things over and over… to the point we start to almost pray without thinking. “Lord, help me with my algebra.” “Lord, I need you to give my child wisdom and encouragement,” or “Father, please heal my body,” or even “God bless Mom and Dad and sister and brother, and cousin Joe, and Grandma and Grandpa, and the dog and cat…” - you get the picture.

This passage reminds us we need to keep alert. Our prayers need to be more than just the same old list over and over. We need to be totally in the moment when we pray… consciously, purposefully pouring out our heart to God… sincerely asking for His help and guidance. Just as importantly, we need to be deliberately and wholeheartedly thanking Him and praising Him... and this is where I believe we often fall down the worst. We praise God and thank Him during our prayer time… but the praise and thanks are hollow. They are spoken out of habit and routine more than out of our heart! We tend to just “go down the list.”

Today, let’s start the month off right. Let’s revamp our prayer time. Let’s keep alert and let our thanks and praise be heartfelt and completely sincere. Let’s pray in the moment - spontaneous, genuine, honest prayer that speaks of our deepest desires and needs. No more “going down the list.” No more taking God for granted! We must never give up praying, but our prayers must be honest and filled with heartfelt thanks. Will you make the commitment to stay alert as you pray? Will your prayers and praises reflect your heart?


©2009 Debbie Robus