Daily Devotional for October 16, 2016

Matthew 5:1-3
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

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.
         
I don’t even have to ask if you’ve ever been “at the end of your rope.”  We all have “been there – done that”…sometimes more than once!  But how often have you considered this a blessing?  I can assure you, there have been times when I have been out of viable options…when things looked about as bleak as they could be and there was no way to “fix” this…when I had no choice but to concede that “the handwriting was on the wall” – and I could not change anything.

As I look back on these times, I see that God made the difference.  He filled in the gaps and gave me hope.  He equipped me for whatever I was facing…and yes, at times, He shielded me from the devastation and grief over what I was experiencing.  Often, when we are at the end of our rope, God doles out the impact in [relatively] more manageable doses so that we are not overwhelmed…and I am so grateful for this blessing.

I don’t know what your “rope” looks like today – or where your hands are positioned.  But I do know that God has you in HIS grip…and He will never let you go. God is ready, willing, and able to give you more of Him to compensate for less of you.  Your job is to surrender and trust Him to supply your every need – and then some!

My prayer today is that we would all come to the point where we are able to recognize God’s blessings - even in what seems like the worst of circumstances. I pray that when we reach the end of our rope (and we all will at one time or another)…we are able to trust God to tie a knot and sustain us as only He can.  With less of us, there is room for more of God. And that is always a good thing…and a blessing.  Are you ready to let Him bless you in every circumstance?  Will this be the day that you let God control the rope?  

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for March 5, 2011

Psalm 40:11-17
You, LORD, never fail to have pity on me; your love and faithfulness always keep me secure. I have more troubles than I can count. My sins are all around me, and I can't find my way. My sins outnumber the hairs on my head, and I feel weak. Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and help me! Disappoint and confuse all who want me dead; turn away and disgrace all who want to hurt me. Embarrass and shame all of those who say, "Just look at you now!"


Our LORD, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them, so let them always say, "The LORD is wonderful!" I am poor and needy, but, LORD God, you care about me, and you come to my rescue. Please hurry and help.

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

I don’t know about you, but more than once I have felt like… “I have more troubles than I can count.” And recently, this has certainly been true for actor Charlie Sheen. Everyone seems to be talking about him and his situation… made worse by his television interviews and insistence that there is nothing wrong with him! The truth is, we do not know his heart… but he appears to be very sick and, as described in verse 2 of this Psalm, stuck in “a lonely pit full of mud and mire.”

Hopefully we will never find ourselves in a pit of the mud and mire of drug addiction and accompanying mental illness (if only temporarily). But when we do find ourselves in trouble, we know THE WAY out… and His name is Jesus!

I know I often say, “People are watching”… and they are. But people are also talking… sometimes about things that are not totally true – or at the very least, none of their business. I have heard more than one person say that they felt like everyone was talking about them and their “scandal” of sorts. My response is that we all only get about 15 minutes, and then people are on to the next big story of the day. More importantly, if you have squared your situation with God… if you have confessed any sins and wrongdoing on your part and asked for His forgiveness, then the talk and judgment of others does not matter.

If you have ever felt that you were in a situation where others were judging you – wrongfully, or even with some merit – you know how awful this feels. Don’t be that person for others… not even Charlie Sheen or others in the limelight. Ask God to lift them from the mud and the mire. Call on Him to place people in their path who can introduce them to THE WAY out of their troubles and set their feet on the Rock that is Jesus Christ!

Thank God for coming to your rescue and setting you upright again… for His forgiveness, grace and mercy. Praise Him for loving us so much… especially when we are poor and needy… and standing by to help in a hurry. There IS hope for all of us… and He stands ready to save. He will not disappoint those of us who turn to Him. Where are you looking these days?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 26, 2010

Hosea 6:3
Let's do our best to know the LORD. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.

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

When I was a little girl, the day after Christmas was sort of a “regrouping” day in our house. We put away our Christmas gifts… exchanged our old toothbrushes for the new ones Santa left in our stocking (our grandmother worked for a dentist!), and my dad carried out the crispy-critter Christmas tree. We put away the holiday décor and the card tables and extra chairs that we had used to accommodate family and friends the day before. We put things back in order and, in some ways, renewed ourselves.

As kids, we still had a week or so of vacation time left, but it felt good to start a new chapter, so to speak… to switch gears from the excitement and anticipation of Christmas to focusing on having fun and looking ahead to the New Year. We were certain that another Christmas was only 364 days away… and there many fun times and new adventures that awaited us in the meantime.

On the night of December 25th, someone wrote on Facebook, “The day we wait for all year long has come and gone.” For some, the day after Christmas is something of a letdown. The hoopla is over… the food that looked so inviting a few days ago now doesn’t look so tasty…everyone has gone home or back to work… and we’re left with a mess to clean up, decorations to pack away, and a mountain of trash to carry to the curb.

If this describes you, please read Hosea 6:3 again. The day after Christmas is not a time for letdown. The day after Christmas is when the story really begins. The day of Jesus’ birth is important… but the days after are what really matter. If the story ended with December 25th (or whatever day is really the birthday of our Savior), there wouldn’t be much of a story. But this is not the case.

We need to dig deeply and truly get to know the Lord. We need to study and understand every nuance of our Jesus… His teachings… His sacrifices on our behalf… and His directives for us as servants and disciples. We need to bask in the afterglow of Christmas, confident that Jesus’ love for us – and His return some day – are as certain as the next sunrise – or the next Christmas Day. Yes, Christmas is important… but what happens the day afterward – and in the days that follow – is where we get to truly shine for Jesus.

What will you do today? Will the next few days be a time of “letdown” for you, or will you hitch up your britches and get busy for Jesus? When others look at you, will they see someone who carries the message and spirit of Christmas throughout the year, or are you a “one-month wonder”? Do your best to get to know Jesus… and to serve Him well every day of the year… not just the first twenty-five days of December. Bask in the promise of what lies ahead as you live for Him… and be renewed and refreshed this day!

©2010 Debbie Robus