Philippians 4:6-7
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
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 know about you, but when I do “mindless” tasks like vacuuming or scrubbing the shower - and I have quiet time to think - my mind often races to some pretty crazy places. If I’m not careful, I can allow the devil to capture my thoughts. He will take me to places of worry… why does one person behave this way or that? Why did I say or do such a dumb thing? What if this or that happens? What will I do when I get too old to vacuum and scrub the shower? I know, I know… it’s all pretty ridiculous… and then I am mad at myself for allowing these thoughts to consume my time.
I’ve learned to begin my housekeeping and other “quiet time” chores with a conscious effort to pray through them. Instead of letting the devil control the “inner conversation,” I hold a discussion with God. Oh, sure… He already knows everything I’m thinking and feeling – and exactly what I will say to Him. But He listens anyway. In return, He calms me. He takes my “worries” and says, “I’ll handle these,” and I am free to fill my heart with His joy, grace, mercy and peace.
The more I understand about worry, the more it makes me angry when I succumb to this emotion for even a few minutes. Besides fear, I think the devil must utilize worry about as often as anything to trip us up and trouble us with frustration and a lack of faith. And I will tell you that it is incredibly easy to fall into his trap and develop a good case of the “worries” before you even know what hit you! But we must fight this. Our life in Christ should have no room for worry… but our prayer life should be filled with moments where we hand our worries to God and allow Him to handle them. And this is key… we must hand them off – and let them go!
The way I see it, we have a 50-50 proposition here. We can let the devil control us and allow worry to fester and grow within us, or we can give our worries to God in faith-filled prayer… and trust His outcome. The former will leave us feeling unsettled and unsure, if not downright miserable. The latter can result in everlasting peace. Now which one of these options sounds better to you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2012
Ephesians 3:8-10
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.
I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”
So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.
Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?
- Thank You, LORD, for your incredible wisdom. Today I pray that You will speak to us through Your word… that we will truly listen for Your voice… and that You will release all that You hold in store for us, according to Your will and what You determine we are able to handle. We praise You, LORD, for Your incredible gifts… Your grace, mercy and love. Amen.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 3, 2011
Psalm 116:1-2
I love you, LORD! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy loves a YouTube video from Sesame Street that features comedian Jon Stewart demonstrating the word “practice.” In this clip, Stewart reads the definition of the word “practice” several times, reiterating that practice means to do something over and over again until you get it right. When it comes to prayer, we could all use some practice!
The more I pray, the more I see God at work and experience His answers… feel His presence and His attention to even the tiniest details of my life. And I have to tell you, this motivates me to pray even more… to pray to God as long as I live!
I encourage you to give prayer some practice… to pray over and over again until you get it right… feel God’s attention and His answers. I am pretty sure you will find the same outcome as I did… and you will want to pray as long as you live, also.
We have everything to gain and nothing to lose. God is waiting to talk with us… to lavish His love and attention upon us. Won’t you “pick up the phone”, so to speak, and dial in to a connection with Him? See for yourself what blessings the “practice” of prayer can bring to you and those for whom you pray.
©2011 Debbie Robus
I love you, LORD! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy loves a YouTube video from Sesame Street that features comedian Jon Stewart demonstrating the word “practice.” In this clip, Stewart reads the definition of the word “practice” several times, reiterating that practice means to do something over and over again until you get it right. When it comes to prayer, we could all use some practice!
The more I pray, the more I see God at work and experience His answers… feel His presence and His attention to even the tiniest details of my life. And I have to tell you, this motivates me to pray even more… to pray to God as long as I live!
I encourage you to give prayer some practice… to pray over and over again until you get it right… feel God’s attention and His answers. I am pretty sure you will find the same outcome as I did… and you will want to pray as long as you live, also.
We have everything to gain and nothing to lose. God is waiting to talk with us… to lavish His love and attention upon us. Won’t you “pick up the phone”, so to speak, and dial in to a connection with Him? See for yourself what blessings the “practice” of prayer can bring to you and those for whom you pray.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 16, 2011
Luke 17:3-4
So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, "I am sorry," you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I confided to my pastor about a deep hurt I had experienced. He looked at me with amazement and said, “But I’ve seen you interact with this person, and you have such a loving relationship!” I replied, “Yes, because I forgave… I had to. Otherwise, this would have eaten me alive.” He just shook his head, touched my hand and said, “God bless you… you did the right thing.” Forgiveness is a daunting challenge for most of us… especially when we have been mistreated, insulted, deceived and/or wounded repeatedly. And I will tell you, I don’t always forgive easily or readily… even when I know I should.
The sad fact is that we expect Jesus to forgive us for infractions toward Him, when we cannot forgive those who offend us. We make promises to Jesus and fail to deliver… we turn our back on Him when it suits our need to impress someone or look important – or when doing what is right would not be quite as much fun… we wound Him deeply with our inability to stay faithful and serve as He desires. And yet, He forgives us… over and over again.
So we must forgive those who mistreat us or behave badly. I didn’t say we have to accept what they do… or ignore it. Jesus tells us that we must gently correct those who do this, which means you have every right to tell another person that you do not like how they are behaving… if you feel it is harmful to you, others, or themselves. We must be very careful to judge another person’s “sin,” but we are all pretty good gauges of behavior that is unacceptable toward us or others. If you have a friend or loved one who is abusing alcohol or drugs, you should say something.
If you know someone who is acting irresponsibly, failing to show up for school or work, not taking proper care of their children or their own health and hygiene, or even mistreating their pets, you have an obligation to confront them in a loving manner. Whether you affect a change is not the issue… only God can truly help them to change. But when these people come to you and ask you to forgive them – whether they have changed temporarily or forever – you must do so. And honestly, you must forgive them even when they don’t ask. We cannot ask God to forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others.
I know this is hard. I know that there are times we all want to just give up and walk away… and there is nothing wrong with taking a break for awhile and letting the dust settle. But ultimately, we are bound by our covenant with Jesus Christ to forgive others… over and over again, if necessary.Who is seeking your forgiveness today? Who do you need to ask to forgive you? Are you ready to be a true Disciple of Christ and accept the hard challenges? Do you need to begin by asking Jesus to forgive you yet again – or to help you forgive someone else? He will… and you must. What are you waiting for? Forgiveness is only a prayer away.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, "I am sorry," you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I confided to my pastor about a deep hurt I had experienced. He looked at me with amazement and said, “But I’ve seen you interact with this person, and you have such a loving relationship!” I replied, “Yes, because I forgave… I had to. Otherwise, this would have eaten me alive.” He just shook his head, touched my hand and said, “God bless you… you did the right thing.” Forgiveness is a daunting challenge for most of us… especially when we have been mistreated, insulted, deceived and/or wounded repeatedly. And I will tell you, I don’t always forgive easily or readily… even when I know I should.
The sad fact is that we expect Jesus to forgive us for infractions toward Him, when we cannot forgive those who offend us. We make promises to Jesus and fail to deliver… we turn our back on Him when it suits our need to impress someone or look important – or when doing what is right would not be quite as much fun… we wound Him deeply with our inability to stay faithful and serve as He desires. And yet, He forgives us… over and over again.
So we must forgive those who mistreat us or behave badly. I didn’t say we have to accept what they do… or ignore it. Jesus tells us that we must gently correct those who do this, which means you have every right to tell another person that you do not like how they are behaving… if you feel it is harmful to you, others, or themselves. We must be very careful to judge another person’s “sin,” but we are all pretty good gauges of behavior that is unacceptable toward us or others. If you have a friend or loved one who is abusing alcohol or drugs, you should say something.
If you know someone who is acting irresponsibly, failing to show up for school or work, not taking proper care of their children or their own health and hygiene, or even mistreating their pets, you have an obligation to confront them in a loving manner. Whether you affect a change is not the issue… only God can truly help them to change. But when these people come to you and ask you to forgive them – whether they have changed temporarily or forever – you must do so. And honestly, you must forgive them even when they don’t ask. We cannot ask God to forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others.
I know this is hard. I know that there are times we all want to just give up and walk away… and there is nothing wrong with taking a break for awhile and letting the dust settle. But ultimately, we are bound by our covenant with Jesus Christ to forgive others… over and over again, if necessary.Who is seeking your forgiveness today? Who do you need to ask to forgive you? Are you ready to be a true Disciple of Christ and accept the hard challenges? Do you need to begin by asking Jesus to forgive you yet again – or to help you forgive someone else? He will… and you must. What are you waiting for? Forgiveness is only a prayer away.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2011
James 5:13-15
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.
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.
Recently, it seems that I have encountered several situations that seemed somewhat hopeless… and the people involved in them felt incredibly helpless. “I don’t know what to do,” I’ve heard them say… and honestly, I’ve not had a concrete solution for them. I’ve seen e-mail requests that say, “The doctors say the only thing left to do is pray.” The truth is… in all of these situations, this should be the FIRST thing we do!
When all else fails, we turn to prayer… but the fact is that we should pray in the beginning. Even before the first sign of trouble, we should pray. And when there doesn’t seem to be any logical explanation for a person’s misbehaving, we should keep praying for them. When all efforts to “mend fences” and get along fail, we should keep praying. When doctors say, “We’re doing all we can,” we should keep asking God for His healing.
When we get good news, “Thank You, God” should be more than just a trite phrase we utter… we should sincerely stop and thank our Heavenly Father for His grace and mercy toward us and our situation. When we pray about any situation, we must trust that God will deliver the perfect outcome… and accept that it may not be the one we want or expect. But it will be the right one! God does not make mistakes!
Verse 15 says that “Believing prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet.” Believe this for yourself and your situations. Trust God to do the heavy lifting… all YOU have to do is lift your hands and ask Him for help… and offer Him praise for His answers.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.
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.
Recently, it seems that I have encountered several situations that seemed somewhat hopeless… and the people involved in them felt incredibly helpless. “I don’t know what to do,” I’ve heard them say… and honestly, I’ve not had a concrete solution for them. I’ve seen e-mail requests that say, “The doctors say the only thing left to do is pray.” The truth is… in all of these situations, this should be the FIRST thing we do!
When all else fails, we turn to prayer… but the fact is that we should pray in the beginning. Even before the first sign of trouble, we should pray. And when there doesn’t seem to be any logical explanation for a person’s misbehaving, we should keep praying for them. When all efforts to “mend fences” and get along fail, we should keep praying. When doctors say, “We’re doing all we can,” we should keep asking God for His healing.
When we get good news, “Thank You, God” should be more than just a trite phrase we utter… we should sincerely stop and thank our Heavenly Father for His grace and mercy toward us and our situation. When we pray about any situation, we must trust that God will deliver the perfect outcome… and accept that it may not be the one we want or expect. But it will be the right one! God does not make mistakes!
Verse 15 says that “Believing prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet.” Believe this for yourself and your situations. Trust God to do the heavy lifting… all YOU have to do is lift your hands and ask Him for help… and offer Him praise for His answers.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 10, 2011
Mark 14:37-38
He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
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.
Have you ever been in a situation where you asked someone to do something with you, and they said they didn’t have time, or they acted disinterested? Maybe you said to this person, “It will only take a few minutes.” And maybe that still seemed like too much of a commitment for them. Do you remember how you felt? Did this make you feel like you were insignificant… not important enough to that person for him/her to give you even a few minutes of time? Did you know we do this to Jesus all the time?
We are like Peter… ready for anything in God on one hand… and as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire on the other. We want God to be there for us the minute we “dial Him up” with a prayer. But let Him ask us for something… or present us with an opportunity to visit with Him for a few minutes or serve in His name… and we just don’t have the time. Quite often can’t stick it out with Him for a single hour… or even a few minutes.
So we check our watches and wonder how much longer the church service will last. We skim over our Bible study verses so we can say we read them… but we don’t really comprehend a word of it. We don’t stop to speak to someone at school or in a store – or even in the aisle at church – because we are in a hurry to get to whatever is on our own agenda.
Let’s be real… we can’t have it both ways. We either want a relationship with God or we don’t. There is no “middle ground.” When I stop and think how often I say, in essence, “I don’t have an hour for you today, Lord,” I feel sick. I fail to recognize that whatever time I spend with my Heavenly Father… he will multiply for me exponentially. I will have more than enough time for the things that I want to do for myself if I give God His time first. And honestly, a lot of what I thought was important may not seem so after spending time in His presence.
Where do you fit into this picture? Are you ready for anything in God… or are you the lazy dog sleeping by the fire? How are you spending your time? Can you spare an hour for your Master?
©2011 Debbie Robus
He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
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.
Have you ever been in a situation where you asked someone to do something with you, and they said they didn’t have time, or they acted disinterested? Maybe you said to this person, “It will only take a few minutes.” And maybe that still seemed like too much of a commitment for them. Do you remember how you felt? Did this make you feel like you were insignificant… not important enough to that person for him/her to give you even a few minutes of time? Did you know we do this to Jesus all the time?
We are like Peter… ready for anything in God on one hand… and as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire on the other. We want God to be there for us the minute we “dial Him up” with a prayer. But let Him ask us for something… or present us with an opportunity to visit with Him for a few minutes or serve in His name… and we just don’t have the time. Quite often can’t stick it out with Him for a single hour… or even a few minutes.
So we check our watches and wonder how much longer the church service will last. We skim over our Bible study verses so we can say we read them… but we don’t really comprehend a word of it. We don’t stop to speak to someone at school or in a store – or even in the aisle at church – because we are in a hurry to get to whatever is on our own agenda.
Let’s be real… we can’t have it both ways. We either want a relationship with God or we don’t. There is no “middle ground.” When I stop and think how often I say, in essence, “I don’t have an hour for you today, Lord,” I feel sick. I fail to recognize that whatever time I spend with my Heavenly Father… he will multiply for me exponentially. I will have more than enough time for the things that I want to do for myself if I give God His time first. And honestly, a lot of what I thought was important may not seem so after spending time in His presence.
Where do you fit into this picture? Are you ready for anything in God… or are you the lazy dog sleeping by the fire? How are you spending your time? Can you spare an hour for your Master?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 7, 2011
Romans 15:30-31
My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a week of heavy-duty prayer for me… for those whose lives are changing due to moves, illness, and even death… for others who are sick and suffering… and for some who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I know that my prayers are working – alongside those of other Christians who are also praying for these same people. There is POWER in prayer. Don’t you believe this? Do you pray for your friends and loved ones? Did you know that people are praying for YOU on a regular basis? How does that make you feel?
It is hard some days to find time to do everything that needs to be done… and quite often, prayer gets kicked to the curb as something that is “optional.” But this is really poor thinking on our part. Surely we want to live “by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit”… don’t we? Do we not want this for our friends and loved ones, also? Certainly, God knows our needs, desires, hurts, heartaches, joys and fears. But He wants to HEAR them expressed by us. He wants us to give them a VOICE! He wants us to physically come before Him and present everything in our lives for His consideration.
Imagine… if YOU pray for yourself and others… and others pray for YOU… then exponentially, the voices calling out to God on a regular basis are beyond what we can even imagine… and so are the blessings! There IS power in prayer… and as prayer warriors, we can call on God’s power to work in any situation! Have you tapped into the power of prayer today? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me. Pray that God will protect me from the unbelievers in Judea, and that his people in Jerusalem will be pleased with what I am doing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a week of heavy-duty prayer for me… for those whose lives are changing due to moves, illness, and even death… for others who are sick and suffering… and for some who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I know that my prayers are working – alongside those of other Christians who are also praying for these same people. There is POWER in prayer. Don’t you believe this? Do you pray for your friends and loved ones? Did you know that people are praying for YOU on a regular basis? How does that make you feel?
It is hard some days to find time to do everything that needs to be done… and quite often, prayer gets kicked to the curb as something that is “optional.” But this is really poor thinking on our part. Surely we want to live “by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit”… don’t we? Do we not want this for our friends and loved ones, also? Certainly, God knows our needs, desires, hurts, heartaches, joys and fears. But He wants to HEAR them expressed by us. He wants us to give them a VOICE! He wants us to physically come before Him and present everything in our lives for His consideration.
Imagine… if YOU pray for yourself and others… and others pray for YOU… then exponentially, the voices calling out to God on a regular basis are beyond what we can even imagine… and so are the blessings! There IS power in prayer… and as prayer warriors, we can call on God’s power to work in any situation! Have you tapped into the power of prayer today? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 12, 2011
Matthew 26:36-41
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever heard someone discuss a particular situation and say, “All we can do is pray.”? The truth of the matter is… prayer is often all that is needed. We tend to underestimate the power of our prayers… and I include myself when I say that for many of us, our prayer life needs some work! We are like James and John… we let “life” get in the way. We are too tired, too busy, or even too disinterested to make time for communication with God.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we can change the will of God with prayer any more than Jesus could… nor am I saying that God might have changed His mind, had James and John stayed awake and prayed with Jesus. But quite often, we gain more from praying even when we don’t get the outcome we desire. Notice I said it was our desired outcome, not God’s. To pray for God’s will, understanding that it may be different from our own, signifies a complete trust in His plans… and a surrender of our own.
At the same time, we really have no room to complain about any outcome if we didn’t pray at all. Prayer does change things. God hears our prayers. I believe that quite often, what God is really seeking from us in prayer is a total leap of faith and trust in His decision for the outcome. Many times we may feel helpless about things that are happening in our life or the lives of those for whom we care. Sometimes, all we feel we can do is pray. And often, our prayers are, indeed, enough… and all that God requires of us in that particular situation.
Once we begin to understand the power of prayer… and its importance for our lives and the lives of others in our circle… we may find it easier to make time to communicate with God. Sometimes, we don’t fully grasp this power and importance until we actually give prayer a try. Why not see for yourself how God responds to your prayers? Show Him that you trust His will for your life and are ready to seek it. You have nothing to lose… and you might just have everything to gain. Stay for awhile and talk to God… He’s waiting to hear from you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever heard someone discuss a particular situation and say, “All we can do is pray.”? The truth of the matter is… prayer is often all that is needed. We tend to underestimate the power of our prayers… and I include myself when I say that for many of us, our prayer life needs some work! We are like James and John… we let “life” get in the way. We are too tired, too busy, or even too disinterested to make time for communication with God.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying we can change the will of God with prayer any more than Jesus could… nor am I saying that God might have changed His mind, had James and John stayed awake and prayed with Jesus. But quite often, we gain more from praying even when we don’t get the outcome we desire. Notice I said it was our desired outcome, not God’s. To pray for God’s will, understanding that it may be different from our own, signifies a complete trust in His plans… and a surrender of our own.
At the same time, we really have no room to complain about any outcome if we didn’t pray at all. Prayer does change things. God hears our prayers. I believe that quite often, what God is really seeking from us in prayer is a total leap of faith and trust in His decision for the outcome. Many times we may feel helpless about things that are happening in our life or the lives of those for whom we care. Sometimes, all we feel we can do is pray. And often, our prayers are, indeed, enough… and all that God requires of us in that particular situation.
Once we begin to understand the power of prayer… and its importance for our lives and the lives of others in our circle… we may find it easier to make time to communicate with God. Sometimes, we don’t fully grasp this power and importance until we actually give prayer a try. Why not see for yourself how God responds to your prayers? Show Him that you trust His will for your life and are ready to seek it. You have nothing to lose… and you might just have everything to gain. Stay for awhile and talk to God… He’s waiting to hear from you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 3, 2010
Proverbs 27:11
My child, show good sense! Then I will be happy and able to answer anyone who criticizes me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage seemed hard to understand at first, and then I began to think about it in terms of recent events… particularly the general election. I am not going to “talk politics” here, but while many were elated over at least some of the outcomes, a lot of folks were disappointed. So what do we do when “our guy” loses? How do we react? I laughingly told one friend whose outcome was not as hoped that “I don’t know whether to cry or hit something.”
But honestly, while elections are important, the world isn’t coming to an end because one or more of our candidates didn’t win. And the real “acid test” of our faith and our Christian discipleship lies in how we react now. God wants us to show good sense and leave no room for criticism.
So if your candidates won, congratulations! I pray that you will conduct yourself with dignity and decency… that you won’t gloat over those on “the other side,” and that you will kindly and quietly go about helping your candidate work for the good of all people. I pray that you will ask God to show you how and where to concentrate your efforts in the days to come… to outline your role as His disciple and what you must do to accomplish His work.
If your candidate was on the short end of the vote, I pray that you will also behave with dignity and decency… gracious in defeat and ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on whatever God has in store for you next.
In the days leading up to the election, I did not pray for specific candidates to win… not even “my” candidates. I prayed that sensibility, responsibility, and decency would prevail… that God would allow candidates who could move our country forward and work together for common goals to be elected. I did pray that God would bless and care for each candidate and move in him/her according to His will and purposes.
Now, I have to be sensible and trust these outcomes. I know that God is just as much in control today as he was yesterday or the day before. I know that He has plans for each of us, regardless of the election results… and it’s our job to figure out what those plans are and get busy working on them! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and do your part? Are you ready to be sensible and make God proud?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My child, show good sense! Then I will be happy and able to answer anyone who criticizes me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This passage seemed hard to understand at first, and then I began to think about it in terms of recent events… particularly the general election. I am not going to “talk politics” here, but while many were elated over at least some of the outcomes, a lot of folks were disappointed. So what do we do when “our guy” loses? How do we react? I laughingly told one friend whose outcome was not as hoped that “I don’t know whether to cry or hit something.”
But honestly, while elections are important, the world isn’t coming to an end because one or more of our candidates didn’t win. And the real “acid test” of our faith and our Christian discipleship lies in how we react now. God wants us to show good sense and leave no room for criticism.
So if your candidates won, congratulations! I pray that you will conduct yourself with dignity and decency… that you won’t gloat over those on “the other side,” and that you will kindly and quietly go about helping your candidate work for the good of all people. I pray that you will ask God to show you how and where to concentrate your efforts in the days to come… to outline your role as His disciple and what you must do to accomplish His work.
If your candidate was on the short end of the vote, I pray that you will also behave with dignity and decency… gracious in defeat and ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on whatever God has in store for you next.
In the days leading up to the election, I did not pray for specific candidates to win… not even “my” candidates. I prayed that sensibility, responsibility, and decency would prevail… that God would allow candidates who could move our country forward and work together for common goals to be elected. I did pray that God would bless and care for each candidate and move in him/her according to His will and purposes.
Now, I have to be sensible and trust these outcomes. I know that God is just as much in control today as he was yesterday or the day before. I know that He has plans for each of us, regardless of the election results… and it’s our job to figure out what those plans are and get busy working on them! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and do your part? Are you ready to be sensible and make God proud?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 26, 2010
Psalm 138:8
You, LORD, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don't give up on us now!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When it comes to imitating Jesus, this scripture passage represents a tall order. If we are truly Christ’s disciples – if we truly imitate Him in our everyday lives, then we have to treat others with kindness. Our love must never fail. That also means we can’t give up on others.
Have you ever wanted to “wash your hands and walk away” from someone? “That’s it! I’ve had it! I’m done with So-and-So!” Oh, how all of us have wanted to utter that phrase … and many do exactly that. And I’m not saying we have to take repeated abuse from someone. We don’t have to be their best buddy, or even maintain continual contact with those who are unkind toward us or ungrateful, disrespectful, a constant mooch, or just plain unlovely. But we still have to love them.
We still have to pray for those who are hard to love. We still have to pray for the alcoholic or drug addict who can’t seem to get it together. We still have to pray for the bully in our class and the deadbeat dad. We still have to pray for those who are abusive or negative, and those who appear to simply be “losers” in life. Because at the end of the day, every single one of these people is as much a child of the LORD as you and I … and precious to Him. And what He has done for us, He can do for them … and He wants to do that and more!
So the LORD, whom we are asking to continue to treat us with kindness… the same LORD we are asking not to give up on us, is the very LORD who loves those we find difficult. We must love them and pray for them and offer reasonable encouragement and support. That doesn’t mean we have to be involved in their lives or their drama … that we have to give them money, or bail them out of troubles, or even necessarily give them our time and attention. But we have to give them our love and prayers … our kindness and the hope of better days and better ways through Jesus Christ.
It’s not always easy. I’ve literally had the door slammed in my face as I tried to help. I’ve been told my encouragement and witness was not welcome. I’ve felt the slings and arrows of others, and I’ve found it very hard to be kind and loving and to sincerely pray for those people. But I’ve seen the results of my efforts and how God can use us. I’ve seen the outcome make a positive turnaround – more than once. And I can assure you, I will never, ever give up on other people. As long as we are alive … and more importantly - JESUS is alive … there is hope and a chance for change.
Who do you need to offer prayers for today? Who do you need to encourage? Where could your kindness make a difference? Who have you felt like giving up on lately? This is the day to change your mind. This is the day to trust Jesus to make a difference … then get busy doing for others what He is doing for you. Sit back and watch Him work, and be amazed at the power of His love and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
You, LORD, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don't give up on us now!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When it comes to imitating Jesus, this scripture passage represents a tall order. If we are truly Christ’s disciples – if we truly imitate Him in our everyday lives, then we have to treat others with kindness. Our love must never fail. That also means we can’t give up on others.
Have you ever wanted to “wash your hands and walk away” from someone? “That’s it! I’ve had it! I’m done with So-and-So!” Oh, how all of us have wanted to utter that phrase … and many do exactly that. And I’m not saying we have to take repeated abuse from someone. We don’t have to be their best buddy, or even maintain continual contact with those who are unkind toward us or ungrateful, disrespectful, a constant mooch, or just plain unlovely. But we still have to love them.
We still have to pray for those who are hard to love. We still have to pray for the alcoholic or drug addict who can’t seem to get it together. We still have to pray for the bully in our class and the deadbeat dad. We still have to pray for those who are abusive or negative, and those who appear to simply be “losers” in life. Because at the end of the day, every single one of these people is as much a child of the LORD as you and I … and precious to Him. And what He has done for us, He can do for them … and He wants to do that and more!
So the LORD, whom we are asking to continue to treat us with kindness… the same LORD we are asking not to give up on us, is the very LORD who loves those we find difficult. We must love them and pray for them and offer reasonable encouragement and support. That doesn’t mean we have to be involved in their lives or their drama … that we have to give them money, or bail them out of troubles, or even necessarily give them our time and attention. But we have to give them our love and prayers … our kindness and the hope of better days and better ways through Jesus Christ.
It’s not always easy. I’ve literally had the door slammed in my face as I tried to help. I’ve been told my encouragement and witness was not welcome. I’ve felt the slings and arrows of others, and I’ve found it very hard to be kind and loving and to sincerely pray for those people. But I’ve seen the results of my efforts and how God can use us. I’ve seen the outcome make a positive turnaround – more than once. And I can assure you, I will never, ever give up on other people. As long as we are alive … and more importantly - JESUS is alive … there is hope and a chance for change.
Who do you need to offer prayers for today? Who do you need to encourage? Where could your kindness make a difference? Who have you felt like giving up on lately? This is the day to change your mind. This is the day to trust Jesus to make a difference … then get busy doing for others what He is doing for you. Sit back and watch Him work, and be amazed at the power of His love and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 17, 2010
1 John 1:6-7
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I attended a bridal shower for a friend. I had never met the hostess before, but she was warm and friendly, and we found we instantly had quite a few things in common. The conversation turned to Facebook, and how some people utilize it to communicate with others. She noted a childhood friend who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. This friend is using Facebook to keep her “friends” updated on her condition … posting comments about chemotherapy treatments, sharing photos of her newest hair scarves, and more.
On the other hand, the woman had a co-worker who became ill with cancer last March, but she chose not to tell anyone except a very small number of close friends and family. She endured her illness in secret, not allowing most people to visit her or even be advised of her condition. And in May, she died. The woman related that she felt badly that she did not know her co-worker was ill and suffering virtually in secret.
I was reminded of a friend whose mother became ill and didn’t want anyone to know. I asked, “If people don’t know she is ill, how can they know to pray for her healing?” I respect a person’s right to privacy. But at the same time I am reminded of what a former pastor once told me … “I can’t visit someone who is sick if I don’t know about them.” Frankly, if I am ill, I want all of the prayers I can get … don’t you?!
Looking at this passage another way … if we are claiming to have faith in God, but we pretend we have no needs … or we make a concerted effort to hide our situation out of embarrassment or a sense that we should be able to handle things on our own – or that some aspect of our life is too dark or ugly to admit to anyone else - we are not living by the truth. And certainly, if we are acting smugly and giving others the impression they cannot be “real” with us for fear of judgment or retribution, we are lying and failing to share in life with each other.
When Jesus died for our sins, He gave us a new life in Him – a life in which He charges us to go into the world and be His light – to offer hope and healing to others in His name, and to love unconditionally, with grace and mercy. This means we must welcome opportunities to pray for others and to share their concerns. We must offer others the promise of help in Jesus … reconciliation and restoration because of the cross. It’s somewhat the “go big or go home” concept. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can no longer hide in the shadows and darkness and live a lie. We must step up and step out … live and love in the light of God.
What about you? Where do you stand today? How “big” are you going with your faith and ministry?
©2010 Debbie Robus
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I attended a bridal shower for a friend. I had never met the hostess before, but she was warm and friendly, and we found we instantly had quite a few things in common. The conversation turned to Facebook, and how some people utilize it to communicate with others. She noted a childhood friend who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. This friend is using Facebook to keep her “friends” updated on her condition … posting comments about chemotherapy treatments, sharing photos of her newest hair scarves, and more.
On the other hand, the woman had a co-worker who became ill with cancer last March, but she chose not to tell anyone except a very small number of close friends and family. She endured her illness in secret, not allowing most people to visit her or even be advised of her condition. And in May, she died. The woman related that she felt badly that she did not know her co-worker was ill and suffering virtually in secret.
I was reminded of a friend whose mother became ill and didn’t want anyone to know. I asked, “If people don’t know she is ill, how can they know to pray for her healing?” I respect a person’s right to privacy. But at the same time I am reminded of what a former pastor once told me … “I can’t visit someone who is sick if I don’t know about them.” Frankly, if I am ill, I want all of the prayers I can get … don’t you?!
Looking at this passage another way … if we are claiming to have faith in God, but we pretend we have no needs … or we make a concerted effort to hide our situation out of embarrassment or a sense that we should be able to handle things on our own – or that some aspect of our life is too dark or ugly to admit to anyone else - we are not living by the truth. And certainly, if we are acting smugly and giving others the impression they cannot be “real” with us for fear of judgment or retribution, we are lying and failing to share in life with each other.
When Jesus died for our sins, He gave us a new life in Him – a life in which He charges us to go into the world and be His light – to offer hope and healing to others in His name, and to love unconditionally, with grace and mercy. This means we must welcome opportunities to pray for others and to share their concerns. We must offer others the promise of help in Jesus … reconciliation and restoration because of the cross. It’s somewhat the “go big or go home” concept. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can no longer hide in the shadows and darkness and live a lie. We must step up and step out … live and love in the light of God.
What about you? Where do you stand today? How “big” are you going with your faith and ministry?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 5, 2010
Acts 4:31
After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you asked most Christians, “Do you pray?” they would readily say, “Oh, yes!” If you asked them, “Does the earth shake when you pray?” most people would probably laugh at you – or look at you like you were crazy and walk away. Don’t miss my point. I’m not saying that we should expect the ground to shake every time we pray. But often we offer God “lip service,” and our prayers are more filled with ritual than the presence of the Holy Spirit! We are more concerned with “how” we pray than actual communion with God … and it shows!
During our prayer time, we need to be mindful of the Holy Spirit. We need to invite Him to fill us … and then we must recognize His presence. We need to pray with expectation! If you go back and read the verses leading up to Acts 4:31, you will see that Peter and John had been praying for courage. They were asking God to give them bravery as they shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, healed the sick and lame, and ministered in Jesus’ name. And they didn’t say, “If you give us opportunities to minister and heal” – they asked for bravery when they did these things. You could easily argue that their “bravery” was the very essence of the Holy Spirit manifested in them!
So my challenge to you this day – and to myself – is to pray with sincerity and expectation. Let’s acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through us to accomplish great things in the name of Jesus. Let’s be specific in our prayers, humble before God, grateful for His blessings, and confident that He is going to answer in mighty ways. Let’s expect the ground to shake (at least figuratively), and let’s step out in faith that God will fill us to overflowing with His Holy Spirit and use us to accomplish great things for His kingdom. No more “lip service” – it’s time for a whole lotta shakin’ to begin!
©2010 Debbie Robus
After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you asked most Christians, “Do you pray?” they would readily say, “Oh, yes!” If you asked them, “Does the earth shake when you pray?” most people would probably laugh at you – or look at you like you were crazy and walk away. Don’t miss my point. I’m not saying that we should expect the ground to shake every time we pray. But often we offer God “lip service,” and our prayers are more filled with ritual than the presence of the Holy Spirit! We are more concerned with “how” we pray than actual communion with God … and it shows!
During our prayer time, we need to be mindful of the Holy Spirit. We need to invite Him to fill us … and then we must recognize His presence. We need to pray with expectation! If you go back and read the verses leading up to Acts 4:31, you will see that Peter and John had been praying for courage. They were asking God to give them bravery as they shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ, healed the sick and lame, and ministered in Jesus’ name. And they didn’t say, “If you give us opportunities to minister and heal” – they asked for bravery when they did these things. You could easily argue that their “bravery” was the very essence of the Holy Spirit manifested in them!
So my challenge to you this day – and to myself – is to pray with sincerity and expectation. Let’s acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit to work in and through us to accomplish great things in the name of Jesus. Let’s be specific in our prayers, humble before God, grateful for His blessings, and confident that He is going to answer in mighty ways. Let’s expect the ground to shake (at least figuratively), and let’s step out in faith that God will fill us to overflowing with His Holy Spirit and use us to accomplish great things for His kingdom. No more “lip service” – it’s time for a whole lotta shakin’ to begin!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 3, 2010
Romans 15:30
My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I had a really good visit recently with my cousin, J.D., and he was telling me that he has begun spending two hours or more in prayer each morning. He readily admitted that he is blessed to have uninterrupted time to devote to prayer. But he also said repeatedly, “I’m telling you, it works!” Having said this, we both agreed that sometimes we Christians become too legalistic about such things as prayer. In other words, we decide that we have to pray a certain way for a certain length of time on certain days. We become slaves to the “law” of prayer – and we lose the holiness and power that genuine prayer and communion with God brings.
If you think that genuine prayer with and for others doesn’t work, I have J.D.’s permission to tell you differently. See, he reminded me today that “someone prayed for me for years.” I was that someone, although I know countless others prayed for him, too. I do not recall this particular incident, but J.D. says that when my dad died eleven years ago, I approached him at the cemetery, touched his arm, and said, “I’m praying for you.” At that time, J.D. was a serious crystal methamphetamine addict. Ultimately, he spent time in prison because of his addiction and associated activities. And while he was in prison, I continued to pray for him – even when he wrote letters and demanded that I stop praying and told me how much he hated the world … and God.
Today, J.D. is a full-time Holy Spirit-filled evangelist, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and leading worship wherever he gets an opportunity. He said he can hardly talk to anyone these days without saying, “I love you,” and meaning it. We laughed as I told him that nowadays, when I come up against a seemingly impossible situation, I remind myself and others, “If God can change J.D., He can change this!” J.D. wholeheartedly agreed … and anyone who spends a few minutes with him can see the joy he has found in his relationship with Jesus.
I will be the first to tell you that my prayer life could use some polishing. I need to be more diligent in my efforts to bring my own concerns and the needs of others before God. I need to make a more concerted effort to spend time in communion with God each day. I’m not saying there is a magic formula for all of us – and two hours a day may be far too difficult for many of us to set aside, while for others, much more time may be needed. But often, we hear people say, “All we can do is pray.” The fact is, often that is all we need to do, because in many circumstances, sincere prayer is enough! God will handle the rest.
By the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I challenge each of us to pray sincerely – with me and for me. I can’t even fathom the ramifications if we all got serious about our prayer life. The same God who changed my cousin J.D. is waiting to change zillions of other situations presented to Him in prayer. Are you willing to commit to this? Isn’t it worth a shot?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I had a really good visit recently with my cousin, J.D., and he was telling me that he has begun spending two hours or more in prayer each morning. He readily admitted that he is blessed to have uninterrupted time to devote to prayer. But he also said repeatedly, “I’m telling you, it works!” Having said this, we both agreed that sometimes we Christians become too legalistic about such things as prayer. In other words, we decide that we have to pray a certain way for a certain length of time on certain days. We become slaves to the “law” of prayer – and we lose the holiness and power that genuine prayer and communion with God brings.
If you think that genuine prayer with and for others doesn’t work, I have J.D.’s permission to tell you differently. See, he reminded me today that “someone prayed for me for years.” I was that someone, although I know countless others prayed for him, too. I do not recall this particular incident, but J.D. says that when my dad died eleven years ago, I approached him at the cemetery, touched his arm, and said, “I’m praying for you.” At that time, J.D. was a serious crystal methamphetamine addict. Ultimately, he spent time in prison because of his addiction and associated activities. And while he was in prison, I continued to pray for him – even when he wrote letters and demanded that I stop praying and told me how much he hated the world … and God.
Today, J.D. is a full-time Holy Spirit-filled evangelist, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and leading worship wherever he gets an opportunity. He said he can hardly talk to anyone these days without saying, “I love you,” and meaning it. We laughed as I told him that nowadays, when I come up against a seemingly impossible situation, I remind myself and others, “If God can change J.D., He can change this!” J.D. wholeheartedly agreed … and anyone who spends a few minutes with him can see the joy he has found in his relationship with Jesus.
I will be the first to tell you that my prayer life could use some polishing. I need to be more diligent in my efforts to bring my own concerns and the needs of others before God. I need to make a more concerted effort to spend time in communion with God each day. I’m not saying there is a magic formula for all of us – and two hours a day may be far too difficult for many of us to set aside, while for others, much more time may be needed. But often, we hear people say, “All we can do is pray.” The fact is, often that is all we need to do, because in many circumstances, sincere prayer is enough! God will handle the rest.
By the power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I challenge each of us to pray sincerely – with me and for me. I can’t even fathom the ramifications if we all got serious about our prayer life. The same God who changed my cousin J.D. is waiting to change zillions of other situations presented to Him in prayer. Are you willing to commit to this? Isn’t it worth a shot?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 29, 2010
June 29 ~ 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone were robbing you, and they said, “Give me all your money,” would you keep a little in your back pocket? Probably not! You would give this complete stranger everything you could think of – and quickly – hoping the robber wasn’t going to harm you! So why is it that we withhold some of our worries and cares from God, when we know that He is going to take care of us? Why do we doubt God so readily, which is exactly what we do when we withhold our concerns and burdens from Him?
I could go into my ideas on why we do this… but they really don’t matter. What matters is that we need to STOP! We need to give all our cares to God… from the small, seemingly silly ones all the way to the gigantic ones that seem insurmountable.
The lyrics to “Cast All Your Cares,” a song by Christian artist Gary Oliver, say, “When troubles come… all you have to do is call Him. When sickness comes… call Him… for He cares for you, and He knows what you’re going through. Why don’t you cast all your cares upon the Lord.” If you want to listen to the song, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxABJT59Vhk and hear this song in its entirety. Then make an effort to cast all your cares upon the Lord. God even wants those you feel would be small and ridiculous to anyone else. Those you feel there is no way they can be resolved… God wants them, too! Let’s give our cares to God and expect Him to handle them, according to His will. I believe we will be amazed, astounded, and totally blown away by His grace and mercy – and how well He truly does care for us in every way! What have you got to lose? Cast all your cares upon the Lord today, and watch what happens!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone were robbing you, and they said, “Give me all your money,” would you keep a little in your back pocket? Probably not! You would give this complete stranger everything you could think of – and quickly – hoping the robber wasn’t going to harm you! So why is it that we withhold some of our worries and cares from God, when we know that He is going to take care of us? Why do we doubt God so readily, which is exactly what we do when we withhold our concerns and burdens from Him?
I could go into my ideas on why we do this… but they really don’t matter. What matters is that we need to STOP! We need to give all our cares to God… from the small, seemingly silly ones all the way to the gigantic ones that seem insurmountable.
The lyrics to “Cast All Your Cares,” a song by Christian artist Gary Oliver, say, “When troubles come… all you have to do is call Him. When sickness comes… call Him… for He cares for you, and He knows what you’re going through. Why don’t you cast all your cares upon the Lord.” If you want to listen to the song, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxABJT59Vhk and hear this song in its entirety. Then make an effort to cast all your cares upon the Lord. God even wants those you feel would be small and ridiculous to anyone else. Those you feel there is no way they can be resolved… God wants them, too! Let’s give our cares to God and expect Him to handle them, according to His will. I believe we will be amazed, astounded, and totally blown away by His grace and mercy – and how well He truly does care for us in every way! What have you got to lose? Cast all your cares upon the Lord today, and watch what happens!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2010
June 20 ~ Haggai 2:5
...just as I promised your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Don't worry. My Spirit is right here with you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you remember a time in your life when you felt like you were out of options? Maybe you were failing a class, and you knew there was nothing you could do to bring your grade up in time. Maybe you were losing a loved one – even a pet – and you were told, “I’m sorry – we’ve done all we can do.” Maybe your relationship with a friend, spouse, or significant other was failing, and you realized there was no way to restore it. Or maybe you lost your job and had no prospects for another one – and no money to pay bills or even buy food. If you cannot come up with a single time when your options were exhausted – or severely limited, you are a rare gem! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life where you felt quite desperate.
I thank God that my “desperate” times have been few and far between. I’ve never missed a meal or been unable to pay bills. I never failed a class. But I remember distinctly the finality of death and a terminal diagnosis for loved ones. I know the overwhelming wash of desperation when the doctors are working frantically to revive a friend or family member and cannot. I understand completely the powerless feeling of watching someone you care about slide from your grip – and the “what-do-I-do-now?” feeling that follows.
But I also know the calming peace of getting a call to come immediately to the hospital…and feeling God’s presence – hearing Him say, “It will be okay… I’m right here with you.” I know the comfort and confidence of wondering what we will do if our house doesn’t sell and feeling God say, “I’m on it… don’t worry.” I am trusting God continually to handle things for me that are too big for me to handle – and believing that He will. I know that the same God who brought a nation out of bondage in Egypt will rescue me and those I love. I pray that you will know this, too.
Know that God is with you – every minute of every day. Call on Him to help you. Just say, “Lord, this is bigger than I am… but nothing is too big for You. Handle this for me, according to Your will. I’m trusting in Your power and expecting that You will orchestrate everything perfectly. I am thanking you now for showing up in my life each and every day.” Once you have given your problems, fears, and desperate situations to God… pay attention. Don’t go off half-cocked and assume all will be well. Listen for His voice – look for His guidance. Do your part to make things better… as He directs you. With God, all things really are possible… even when things seem “desperate.”
©2010 Debbie Robus
...just as I promised your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Don't worry. My Spirit is right here with you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you remember a time in your life when you felt like you were out of options? Maybe you were failing a class, and you knew there was nothing you could do to bring your grade up in time. Maybe you were losing a loved one – even a pet – and you were told, “I’m sorry – we’ve done all we can do.” Maybe your relationship with a friend, spouse, or significant other was failing, and you realized there was no way to restore it. Or maybe you lost your job and had no prospects for another one – and no money to pay bills or even buy food. If you cannot come up with a single time when your options were exhausted – or severely limited, you are a rare gem! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life where you felt quite desperate.
I thank God that my “desperate” times have been few and far between. I’ve never missed a meal or been unable to pay bills. I never failed a class. But I remember distinctly the finality of death and a terminal diagnosis for loved ones. I know the overwhelming wash of desperation when the doctors are working frantically to revive a friend or family member and cannot. I understand completely the powerless feeling of watching someone you care about slide from your grip – and the “what-do-I-do-now?” feeling that follows.
But I also know the calming peace of getting a call to come immediately to the hospital…and feeling God’s presence – hearing Him say, “It will be okay… I’m right here with you.” I know the comfort and confidence of wondering what we will do if our house doesn’t sell and feeling God say, “I’m on it… don’t worry.” I am trusting God continually to handle things for me that are too big for me to handle – and believing that He will. I know that the same God who brought a nation out of bondage in Egypt will rescue me and those I love. I pray that you will know this, too.
Know that God is with you – every minute of every day. Call on Him to help you. Just say, “Lord, this is bigger than I am… but nothing is too big for You. Handle this for me, according to Your will. I’m trusting in Your power and expecting that You will orchestrate everything perfectly. I am thanking you now for showing up in my life each and every day.” Once you have given your problems, fears, and desperate situations to God… pay attention. Don’t go off half-cocked and assume all will be well. Listen for His voice – look for His guidance. Do your part to make things better… as He directs you. With God, all things really are possible… even when things seem “desperate.”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 3, 2010
April 3 ~ Luke 24:2-7
When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, 'The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.' "
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Before you toss this as a duplicate of the previous devotional, stick with me for a few minutes. We’ve all seen movie scenes where someone goes to a cemetery and stands over a tombstone and talks to the person who is buried there… and you may have done this yourself. If we are rational, we realize that the person to whom we are speaking isn’t going to answer – and probably can’t even hear what we are saying. But somehow, we are drawn to the grave. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it may be therapeutic to stop and meditate at a gravesite. But expecting any response – or to find anything other than a mound of dirt and a marker – is unreasonable.
This is what makes the account of the women who visited Jesus’ tomb so remarkable. Jesus truly was NOT there! And the significance of this contrast to the graves of mere human beings is huge. Because the tomb could not hold Jesus… because of what He did for us and God’s power… the grave is not our final resting place. Because of Jesus and the sacrifices – and victories – He experienced on our behalf, the tomb will not hold us either – at least not our souls.
Jesus was raised from physical death. And because of that, we are raised from the death of sin – if we choose to believe in Him and the power of God to work in our lives. We do have a final resting place… but it’s not in a cemetery. We who have become followers of Christ will live in Heaven with God Almighty for all of eternity! This is very good news – not only for this Easter weekend, but forever. The tomb is empty – death is not the end – Hallelujah! Celebrate new life in Christ Jesus today – and always!
©2010 Debbie Robus
When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, 'The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.' "
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Before you toss this as a duplicate of the previous devotional, stick with me for a few minutes. We’ve all seen movie scenes where someone goes to a cemetery and stands over a tombstone and talks to the person who is buried there… and you may have done this yourself. If we are rational, we realize that the person to whom we are speaking isn’t going to answer – and probably can’t even hear what we are saying. But somehow, we are drawn to the grave. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it may be therapeutic to stop and meditate at a gravesite. But expecting any response – or to find anything other than a mound of dirt and a marker – is unreasonable.
This is what makes the account of the women who visited Jesus’ tomb so remarkable. Jesus truly was NOT there! And the significance of this contrast to the graves of mere human beings is huge. Because the tomb could not hold Jesus… because of what He did for us and God’s power… the grave is not our final resting place. Because of Jesus and the sacrifices – and victories – He experienced on our behalf, the tomb will not hold us either – at least not our souls.
Jesus was raised from physical death. And because of that, we are raised from the death of sin – if we choose to believe in Him and the power of God to work in our lives. We do have a final resting place… but it’s not in a cemetery. We who have become followers of Christ will live in Heaven with God Almighty for all of eternity! This is very good news – not only for this Easter weekend, but forever. The tomb is empty – death is not the end – Hallelujah! Celebrate new life in Christ Jesus today – and always!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 24, 2010
March 24 ~ John 10:17-18
The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably seen the TV game show, Let’s Make a Deal. Sometimes the host will tell a contestant. “You can have what is behind Door #1… OR… I will give you $1000 cash, and you can walk away now.” Sometimes what is behind Door #1 is lousy, but often it is a great prize, worth far more than $1000 – a car, a boat, new home furnishings, a fantastic trip, or even big bucks. But the contestant must choose… instant gratification, or the possibility of something far greater. The power to make this choice is totally within their hands.
Nobody made Jesus die on the cross for us – not even God! Do you get this? Even Jesus had free will. He could have supernaturally come down off the cross at any time and said, “Nope – don’t think so – I’m not doing this!” He could have spun around and wiped out all of the Roman soldiers who abused and tortured Him. He could have knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Find someone else, God… I can’t do this.” But He did it. He saw that by giving His life in this manner, He not only gained it back – He also gained the salvation of those who would follow Him… for all eternity. This was the most important choice ever made… and Jesus made it for US!
We have a choice, too. We choose to “give up” our old, sinful nature. In return, we receive a new life in Christ Jesus – and the privilege of spending eternity in His presence. When you start to feel the “cost” might be too high, consider Jesus. When you start to feel like you can’t part with your friends, your money, your addiction, your partying ways, your old bad habits of whatever sort and more, consider what Jesus sacrificed just so you could have a choice in the first place. Consider the concept that giving up your “old self” means gaining a new life… not necessarily an easy life or one filled with fun and excitement every minute of every day… but a blessed life in Christ. Think about your choice in terms of giving up short-term, “for-the-moment” satisfactions for the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty.
We have a choice… and believe it or not, we have the power. We can use it to choose life in Christ in exchange for our old nature, as God commands us to do. Or we can go our own way and choose to live for today only. We can “take the cash and run,” or choose what is behind Door #1, so to speak. The difference is that we KNOW what is “behind the door”… so why would we settle for less?
©2010 Debbie Robus
The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably seen the TV game show, Let’s Make a Deal. Sometimes the host will tell a contestant. “You can have what is behind Door #1… OR… I will give you $1000 cash, and you can walk away now.” Sometimes what is behind Door #1 is lousy, but often it is a great prize, worth far more than $1000 – a car, a boat, new home furnishings, a fantastic trip, or even big bucks. But the contestant must choose… instant gratification, or the possibility of something far greater. The power to make this choice is totally within their hands.
Nobody made Jesus die on the cross for us – not even God! Do you get this? Even Jesus had free will. He could have supernaturally come down off the cross at any time and said, “Nope – don’t think so – I’m not doing this!” He could have spun around and wiped out all of the Roman soldiers who abused and tortured Him. He could have knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Find someone else, God… I can’t do this.” But He did it. He saw that by giving His life in this manner, He not only gained it back – He also gained the salvation of those who would follow Him… for all eternity. This was the most important choice ever made… and Jesus made it for US!
We have a choice, too. We choose to “give up” our old, sinful nature. In return, we receive a new life in Christ Jesus – and the privilege of spending eternity in His presence. When you start to feel the “cost” might be too high, consider Jesus. When you start to feel like you can’t part with your friends, your money, your addiction, your partying ways, your old bad habits of whatever sort and more, consider what Jesus sacrificed just so you could have a choice in the first place. Consider the concept that giving up your “old self” means gaining a new life… not necessarily an easy life or one filled with fun and excitement every minute of every day… but a blessed life in Christ. Think about your choice in terms of giving up short-term, “for-the-moment” satisfactions for the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty.
We have a choice… and believe it or not, we have the power. We can use it to choose life in Christ in exchange for our old nature, as God commands us to do. Or we can go our own way and choose to live for today only. We can “take the cash and run,” or choose what is behind Door #1, so to speak. The difference is that we KNOW what is “behind the door”… so why would we settle for less?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 23, 2010
March 23 ~ Mark 14:27-28
Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, a friend of mine wrote to say that “Not Me” had cut the hair of one of her young sons. She said that “Not Me” visits often, along with “I Don’t Know.” Since no one would own up to cutting the little boy’s hair, all three of her children had to go to their rooms. Soon one of the children said, “MAYBE I know something about this.” It’s a funny story, if one that is too familiar to parents and teachers. It seems like “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” must live in a lot of houses from time to time!
What isn’t funny is that “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” also live among adults, quite often. We are quick to pass the buck, place blame on others, or claim, “The devil made me do it.” And in many cases, the devil surely did make us do things we should not - but in the offing, we frequently deny Jesus Christ. Oh, we don’t out-and-out say, “I don’t know Him.” We’re more subtle about it. But the end result is the same. We are just like Peter and the others… we don’t know Him.
See, we can’t say we know Jesus and lie, cheat and steal. We can’t say we know Jesus and mistreat others. We can’t say we know Jesus and use His name as a curse word – or ride the fence about such things as whether there is one God and one way to know Him. We can’t pick and choose when and how we serve Him, and we can’t live for the moment and expect God to save us later. We must learn from Peter and Judas and the other disciples. We must take responsibility for our thoughts and actions – and we must be very careful to live a life that honors God and does not disappoint or disrespect Him.
We have been given the greatest gift ever in Christ Jesus. We must acknowledge Jesus and His great love, grace and mercy by welcoming Him into our hearts and lives and giving Him “the best seat in the house.” “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” should never be welcome… it’s time to kick them - and the devil - to the curb for good!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, a friend of mine wrote to say that “Not Me” had cut the hair of one of her young sons. She said that “Not Me” visits often, along with “I Don’t Know.” Since no one would own up to cutting the little boy’s hair, all three of her children had to go to their rooms. Soon one of the children said, “MAYBE I know something about this.” It’s a funny story, if one that is too familiar to parents and teachers. It seems like “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” must live in a lot of houses from time to time!
What isn’t funny is that “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” also live among adults, quite often. We are quick to pass the buck, place blame on others, or claim, “The devil made me do it.” And in many cases, the devil surely did make us do things we should not - but in the offing, we frequently deny Jesus Christ. Oh, we don’t out-and-out say, “I don’t know Him.” We’re more subtle about it. But the end result is the same. We are just like Peter and the others… we don’t know Him.
See, we can’t say we know Jesus and lie, cheat and steal. We can’t say we know Jesus and mistreat others. We can’t say we know Jesus and use His name as a curse word – or ride the fence about such things as whether there is one God and one way to know Him. We can’t pick and choose when and how we serve Him, and we can’t live for the moment and expect God to save us later. We must learn from Peter and Judas and the other disciples. We must take responsibility for our thoughts and actions – and we must be very careful to live a life that honors God and does not disappoint or disrespect Him.
We have been given the greatest gift ever in Christ Jesus. We must acknowledge Jesus and His great love, grace and mercy by welcoming Him into our hearts and lives and giving Him “the best seat in the house.” “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” should never be welcome… it’s time to kick them - and the devil - to the curb for good!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 20, 2010
March 20 ~ Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree growing in God's house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law took a Mississippi River cruise several years ago with her aunt. Along the way, they saw a gingko tree, and my mother-in-law picked up a seed, brought it home, and planted it. Today, she has a beautiful tree in her front yard. She has carefully nurtured this gingko tree, and it stands almost two stories high now and produces leaves that turn a vivid yellow-gold in the fall. Recently, she asked my husband to prune a “second trunk” that was developing to give it an even nicer shape. As long as she is able, she will love and care for this tree, and it will thrive and continue to grow.
As crazy as this sounds, God cares about this gingko tree, too, just as He cares for all of His creations. But more importantly, as much as God cares about this tree, He cares for us even more. He “planted” us and has nurtured us along the way, and we can count on His love forever and ever at every stage of our journey. I know this is not NEWS to you, but think about this carefully for a while. God has nurtured you since even before you were a “seed” planted in your mother’s womb. He has planned for you, seen that your every need was met, and provided you with all you need to grow into the person He planned you to be. He sometimes “prunes” us for better growth by allowing us to go through a few things. And He LOVES you – forever and ever.
Don’t you feel a little more special today? Isn’t it wonderful to remind yourself just how much God loves you? Do you have a better understanding of how and why you can trust Him to always want the best for you? I don’t know about you, but I am pretty humbled by this. And when I see the beauty and perfection in even a yellow-leafed gingko tree and how carefully God planned for it, I am excited about what He has in store for me! Thank God today for loving you so well. Trust Him to continue to nurture you and care for you in the days to come – and to love you forever and ever.
©2010 Debbie Robus
But I am like an olive tree growing in God's house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law took a Mississippi River cruise several years ago with her aunt. Along the way, they saw a gingko tree, and my mother-in-law picked up a seed, brought it home, and planted it. Today, she has a beautiful tree in her front yard. She has carefully nurtured this gingko tree, and it stands almost two stories high now and produces leaves that turn a vivid yellow-gold in the fall. Recently, she asked my husband to prune a “second trunk” that was developing to give it an even nicer shape. As long as she is able, she will love and care for this tree, and it will thrive and continue to grow.
As crazy as this sounds, God cares about this gingko tree, too, just as He cares for all of His creations. But more importantly, as much as God cares about this tree, He cares for us even more. He “planted” us and has nurtured us along the way, and we can count on His love forever and ever at every stage of our journey. I know this is not NEWS to you, but think about this carefully for a while. God has nurtured you since even before you were a “seed” planted in your mother’s womb. He has planned for you, seen that your every need was met, and provided you with all you need to grow into the person He planned you to be. He sometimes “prunes” us for better growth by allowing us to go through a few things. And He LOVES you – forever and ever.
Don’t you feel a little more special today? Isn’t it wonderful to remind yourself just how much God loves you? Do you have a better understanding of how and why you can trust Him to always want the best for you? I don’t know about you, but I am pretty humbled by this. And when I see the beauty and perfection in even a yellow-leafed gingko tree and how carefully God planned for it, I am excited about what He has in store for me! Thank God today for loving you so well. Trust Him to continue to nurture you and care for you in the days to come – and to love you forever and ever.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2010
March 19 ~ Psalm 143:8
Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Babies are so fun when they first awaken in the morning. They are usually rested and fresh, and it’s as if they are starting all over – another day, new discoveries, and new adventures. The first hour in the morning with Timothy is often filled with giggles and gurgles, smiles and laughs, and anticipation of a big day ahead. He looks at us as if to say, “What are you going to show me today?”
Do you realize that we are God’s babies… and to Him, we awaken each morning new, fresh, and ready for guidance, adventure and discovery? What if we asked God each morning, “What are You going to show me today?” Do we trust Him to teach us more? We surely don’t know it all… and we never will. But have we really asked God to teach us each day? Have we trusted Him to have new things in store for us and to reveal them to us according to His will?
Let’s start with today. Let’s ask God, “What are you going to show me today?” Let’s trust Him to teach us new things and to reveal more of Himself to us. Let’s keep an open mind and heart – and pay attention! It’s going to be a wonderful day, because TODAY we are going to learn more about God’s love and trust Him. Are you ready to get started?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Babies are so fun when they first awaken in the morning. They are usually rested and fresh, and it’s as if they are starting all over – another day, new discoveries, and new adventures. The first hour in the morning with Timothy is often filled with giggles and gurgles, smiles and laughs, and anticipation of a big day ahead. He looks at us as if to say, “What are you going to show me today?”
Do you realize that we are God’s babies… and to Him, we awaken each morning new, fresh, and ready for guidance, adventure and discovery? What if we asked God each morning, “What are You going to show me today?” Do we trust Him to teach us more? We surely don’t know it all… and we never will. But have we really asked God to teach us each day? Have we trusted Him to have new things in store for us and to reveal them to us according to His will?
Let’s start with today. Let’s ask God, “What are you going to show me today?” Let’s trust Him to teach us new things and to reveal more of Himself to us. Let’s keep an open mind and heart – and pay attention! It’s going to be a wonderful day, because TODAY we are going to learn more about God’s love and trust Him. Are you ready to get started?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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