Genesis 3:1
The serpent was the craftiest of all
the creatures the Lord God had made. So the serpent came to the woman.
“Really?” he asked. “None of the fruit in the garden? God says you
mustn’t eat any of it?”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
I saw a cartoon today that
featured four women sitting poolside – cold drinks in hand. The first
one said, “It’s windy today!” The second said, “No, it’s Thursday!”
The third said, “So am I!”, and the fourth said, “Waiter…another round!”
This is what happens when we don’t listen well…or we hear from
the wrong source! When there is a lot of “white noise” – or we are not
fully “dialed in” to the Voice we are trying to hear – the devil takes
full advantage. He says, “Over here! Listen to ME!”
So when God
says, “Don’t judge others,” the devil says, “He didn’t mean those
‘people of Wal-Mart!’ Even GOD would admit that they look ridiculous
and deserved to be ridiculed!” When God says, “That person is my child,
just like you…his/her thoughts and feelings are important to me”…the
devil says, “There’s no way that this person could matter to God as much
as you…he/she is dirty and/or poor…he/she is skinny/fat/ugly, from
another race or ethnicity, practices an alternative lifestyle, and/or
supports candidates and platforms from the ‘other’ party!”
When
God says, “Your body is my temple. You offend me when you overeat,
smoke, drink too much, use drugs recreationally, and participate in
other abuses…” the devil says, “Oh…that’s only if you do these things to
EXCESS! A little won’t hurt anything!” When God says, “I should be
more important to you than anything or anyone else”…the devil tells you,
“God wants you to enjoy your life…He didn’t intend for you to sacrifice
your family and friends, your job, or your belongings! He expects you
to take care of yourself…then give Him what you can!”
When God
tells us “It’s Thursday,” we often hear the devil say, “I’m thirsty”…and
we “order another drink!” We are not hearing from God…we really don’t
even know where He fits into our lives. We have become so distracted by
the “white noise”…and the devil has gladly created this chaos to
confuse us! It’s time to “dial in” to God again…to turn back the noise
and the distractions, and to focus on Him, so that we are always certain
that we hear His voice when He speaks to us.
Our fellowship
with God doesn’t just happen…we have to make the effort to stay
connected…and sometimes, this takes a lot of work on our part. How are
you doing these days? Are you sure you are hearing from God…or has that
crafty ole devil stolen your attention?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label tools of the devil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tools of the devil. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 10, 2012
Matthew 16:23
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, "Impossible, Master! That can never be!"
But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
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 I probably struggle with offense as much – or more – than anything else the devil throws at me. I am an easy mark, I guess. And maybe you are, too! When we are offended, Satan claps and laughs. I know that offense is one of the most frequently discussed topics in the New Testament. Jesus reminds us over and again not to be offended. But that doesn’t stop the devil from trying to ruffle our feathers… and he has a pretty hefty success rate – at least with me!
Recently I read a devotional that spoke of offense as a self-centered behavior. When we are offended, we think of ourselves. When we begin to focus more on God and less on ourselves, we cannot be offended. The offense means nothing to us. I really want that… don’t you? I want to be so focused on God and serving Him… living a full life in Christ and His teachings… that I have no time or energy for dwelling on offenses.
Does this mean that people will no longer offend me or insult me? Does this mean that Satan will stop trying to use offense to trip me up and make me a little neurotic? Absolutely not! But I can lean on God and ask Him to strengthen my resolve to ignore these ploys. I can ask Him to deepen my focus on Jesus and fill my heart and mind with thoughts of Him… until there is absolutely NO room for thoughts of the offense.
I’m with Peter… I would have been offended at the thought of the Romans abusing Jesus. And you may feel your feelings of offense are justified. You may feel, “I was wronged”… and maybe you were. But dwelling on the offense gets us nowhere. It makes us miserable and really doesn’t hurt the offender in the least. Truly the only offense you should acknowledge is that of Satan… and only long enough to tell him to “beat it!” and to turn to Jesus for strength and courage.
Don’t let the devil win – even if only momentarily. Kick him to the curb… along with all of his attempts to drag you down in offense. When you feel wronged or offended, stop and pray for deliverance. Ask God to strengthen you… to take the offense… to give you confidence and courage. Then move on and get busy doing the work you have been called to as Jesus’ disciple. Hold your head high and say, “I will not let the devil have the last laugh.” Focus on Christ… fill your head and heart with thoughts of Him… and leave no room for any of the devil’s tools. Be able to truly say, “No offense taken… and mean it!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 21, 2012
1 Peter 5:7-10
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
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 keep a little calendar on my desk called “365 Days of Humor for Women.” There is a quote for each day of the year. Today’s quote was, “Some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.” That’s pretty funny stuff on the surface. The sad part is that some of us choose to be “the statue” pretty much every day of the year! And that’s how we get into trouble. See, the devil can move about easily in our suggestive realm. So when we speak negatively, we just as well open the door and say, “Come on in, buddy, and sit a spell!”
We give the devil room to work when we continually harbor negative thoughts. Part of keeping our guard up is making a concerted effort to see the good in all situations and people. I know it’s hard. I’ve been “the statue” more days than I care to acknowledge… and to a large degree it’s often been my own doing! Joel Osteen likes to say, “You can be a victim, or a victor!”
The choice is ours. We can take those “statue” days and turn them into opportunities to do better… for ourselves and by others. When someone mistreats you, make a vow to treat that person or someone else even better. When life throws you a curve ball, ask God to show you how to find your way to a bigger opportunity… or to give you His solution to your present dilemma.
Whatever images, suggestions, visions, dreams, impressions, feelings and thoughts that don’t contribute directly to our faith need to be blasted into the stratosphere. We need to fill our hearts and minds with those things that line up with God’s will for our lives… to continually seek to turn negative thoughts and events into positive ones (with God’s help), and to always ask Him “What would you have me learn from this?” Sure, there will still be “statue” events. But how we handle them will speak volumes about how big our faith in God is to set us upright, dust us off, and get us going in the right direction again.
Are you awake and alert these days… carefully guarding your thoughts and actions against the devil’s efforts to get a foothold? Or are you napping on the job? Have you set yourself up to experience the powerful “last word” of God… or would you rather be a “statue?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
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 keep a little calendar on my desk called “365 Days of Humor for Women.” There is a quote for each day of the year. Today’s quote was, “Some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue.” That’s pretty funny stuff on the surface. The sad part is that some of us choose to be “the statue” pretty much every day of the year! And that’s how we get into trouble. See, the devil can move about easily in our suggestive realm. So when we speak negatively, we just as well open the door and say, “Come on in, buddy, and sit a spell!”
We give the devil room to work when we continually harbor negative thoughts. Part of keeping our guard up is making a concerted effort to see the good in all situations and people. I know it’s hard. I’ve been “the statue” more days than I care to acknowledge… and to a large degree it’s often been my own doing! Joel Osteen likes to say, “You can be a victim, or a victor!”
The choice is ours. We can take those “statue” days and turn them into opportunities to do better… for ourselves and by others. When someone mistreats you, make a vow to treat that person or someone else even better. When life throws you a curve ball, ask God to show you how to find your way to a bigger opportunity… or to give you His solution to your present dilemma.
Whatever images, suggestions, visions, dreams, impressions, feelings and thoughts that don’t contribute directly to our faith need to be blasted into the stratosphere. We need to fill our hearts and minds with those things that line up with God’s will for our lives… to continually seek to turn negative thoughts and events into positive ones (with God’s help), and to always ask Him “What would you have me learn from this?” Sure, there will still be “statue” events. But how we handle them will speak volumes about how big our faith in God is to set us upright, dust us off, and get us going in the right direction again.
Are you awake and alert these days… carefully guarding your thoughts and actions against the devil’s efforts to get a foothold? Or are you napping on the job? Have you set yourself up to experience the powerful “last word” of God… or would you rather be a “statue?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 9, 2012
Galatians 5:16
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Dictionary.com defines the word “selfish” as… “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” My “daily humor” calendar quote for today was… “What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk!” Selfish people are often spoiled… and rotten in more ways than one!
Let’s be perfectly frank here… true Disciples of Christ do not have time to be selfish. At the same time, Satan has all the time in the world to try to con us into doing exactly this! He will tell us that it’s okay to think about ourselves for once. He will remind us that we deserve to be happy, pampered, at the top of the heap, given special treatment… or to do as we please, regardless of how it affects others. He will make whatever is tempting us so alluring and enticing that we will feel like we simply have to have it!
If you think for one minute that the devil doesn’t have a lot of power, you are sadly mistaken! And if you think that digging into the Word of God, cloaking yourself in prayer and growing closer to the Holy Spirit will make him go away, you are in for a rude awakening. As long as you are selfish and spoiled, the devil doesn’t really care… he’s got you right where he wants you. But start listening for God’s voice… start letting the Holy Spirit guide your heart… and your real challenges have just begun?
So why bother? Why not just be selfish and get what we want (or what we think we want), and forget about having to deal with all the mess that Satan will try to make of our lives if we stand up to him? Because Satan is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to live by the Holy Spirit… to walk the path that He shows us… we grow stronger in our ability to stand up to Satan’s challenges. We learn to lean more on God and less on ourselves… and we actually find that our desires become more like His and less selfish. And that… as they say… is where the magic happens!
One of the biggest and most selfish desires we have is to say whatever is on our mind as soon as we think it. In many ways, death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the power to speak great joy into the lives of others… or great pain. And which do you think the devil prefers? By learning to listen to the Holy Spirit… by operating in His desires instead of ours… we learn to control our mouth… and all other actions and behaviors begin to change, as well.
Controlling our tongue is a very hard thing. Checking our words… stopping to think about what we say before we say it…does not come naturally for most of us. The only way we have any chance of accomplishing this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us… by giving our selfish desires over to Him and working to fulfill His desires instead. The first step is to want to walk in the Holy Spirit… to choose to surrender selfish desires. Once we determine to do this, we are in the right mindset to ask God to help us accomplish it.
If we could begin to operate in the desires of the Holy Spirit… if we could begin to control the words we speak and make sure they are pleasing to Him… we could see great changes in our own lives and the lives of others. We could start to surrender our selfish desires in all areas of life for good. We would still be pampered… but when God does the pampering, the results are never spoiled. Isn’t it time we changed directions and began seeking the desires of the King of Kings… the One who can truly give us the deepest desires of His heart… and ours? Are you ready to go from “spoiled rotten” to “royally blessed”?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Dictionary.com defines the word “selfish” as… “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” My “daily humor” calendar quote for today was… “What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk!” Selfish people are often spoiled… and rotten in more ways than one!
Let’s be perfectly frank here… true Disciples of Christ do not have time to be selfish. At the same time, Satan has all the time in the world to try to con us into doing exactly this! He will tell us that it’s okay to think about ourselves for once. He will remind us that we deserve to be happy, pampered, at the top of the heap, given special treatment… or to do as we please, regardless of how it affects others. He will make whatever is tempting us so alluring and enticing that we will feel like we simply have to have it!
If you think for one minute that the devil doesn’t have a lot of power, you are sadly mistaken! And if you think that digging into the Word of God, cloaking yourself in prayer and growing closer to the Holy Spirit will make him go away, you are in for a rude awakening. As long as you are selfish and spoiled, the devil doesn’t really care… he’s got you right where he wants you. But start listening for God’s voice… start letting the Holy Spirit guide your heart… and your real challenges have just begun?
So why bother? Why not just be selfish and get what we want (or what we think we want), and forget about having to deal with all the mess that Satan will try to make of our lives if we stand up to him? Because Satan is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to live by the Holy Spirit… to walk the path that He shows us… we grow stronger in our ability to stand up to Satan’s challenges. We learn to lean more on God and less on ourselves… and we actually find that our desires become more like His and less selfish. And that… as they say… is where the magic happens!
One of the biggest and most selfish desires we have is to say whatever is on our mind as soon as we think it. In many ways, death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the power to speak great joy into the lives of others… or great pain. And which do you think the devil prefers? By learning to listen to the Holy Spirit… by operating in His desires instead of ours… we learn to control our mouth… and all other actions and behaviors begin to change, as well.
Controlling our tongue is a very hard thing. Checking our words… stopping to think about what we say before we say it…does not come naturally for most of us. The only way we have any chance of accomplishing this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us… by giving our selfish desires over to Him and working to fulfill His desires instead. The first step is to want to walk in the Holy Spirit… to choose to surrender selfish desires. Once we determine to do this, we are in the right mindset to ask God to help us accomplish it.
If we could begin to operate in the desires of the Holy Spirit… if we could begin to control the words we speak and make sure they are pleasing to Him… we could see great changes in our own lives and the lives of others. We could start to surrender our selfish desires in all areas of life for good. We would still be pampered… but when God does the pampering, the results are never spoiled. Isn’t it time we changed directions and began seeking the desires of the King of Kings… the One who can truly give us the deepest desires of His heart… and ours? Are you ready to go from “spoiled rotten” to “royally blessed”?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2011
Psalm 142:1-3
I pray to you, LORD. I beg for mercy. I tell you all of my worries and my troubles, and whenever I feel low, you are there to guide me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone tells you they have no worries and troubles, they are probably lying! “But faith-filled Christians give their troubles to God, don’t they?” you may be saying. In fact, this passage tells us to give all of our worries and troubles to God, and He will guide us. Yes, we are supposed to do this… and yes, God answers. But that won’t stop the devil from trying to give us more challenges! In fact, the more we depend on God, the more Satan is probably going to pester us and test our faith.
The Good News is that God will never tire of hearing our cries for help. He will never be too busy or too overwhelmed to answer us… to guide us and lift our burdens. I was talking with someone who is going through some major family crises, and he said, “This is the worst possible time… right here before Christmas.” I reminded him that the devil doesn’t take a vacation! People get sick and/or die during the holidays. Final exams stress us out in the early weeks of December. The chaos of shopping/decorating/partying till we drop exhausts us and makes many of us broke and cranky. And this is a horribly lonely and sad month for many folks… for a variety of reasons. Still, God is busy working away… hearing our prayers, steering us in the right direction, and offering His comfort and peace.
Today I want you to stop and recognize that you can never outdo God. You can never offer Him more than He can handle on your behalf. You have the best defense in the world against the wickedness of the devil at your disposal - a close communication and relationship with your Heavenly Father.
Take some time to share your worries and troubles with God, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Allow Him to help you with each and every challenge. When your life is going well, thank God for His blessings. And thank Him for being with you to confront whatever challenges may lie ahead. Operate in full confidence that God never takes a vacation, either… and the devil is no match for His love, grace and mercy over each of us.
©2011 Debbie Robus
I pray to you, LORD. I beg for mercy. I tell you all of my worries and my troubles, and whenever I feel low, you are there to guide me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If someone tells you they have no worries and troubles, they are probably lying! “But faith-filled Christians give their troubles to God, don’t they?” you may be saying. In fact, this passage tells us to give all of our worries and troubles to God, and He will guide us. Yes, we are supposed to do this… and yes, God answers. But that won’t stop the devil from trying to give us more challenges! In fact, the more we depend on God, the more Satan is probably going to pester us and test our faith.
The Good News is that God will never tire of hearing our cries for help. He will never be too busy or too overwhelmed to answer us… to guide us and lift our burdens. I was talking with someone who is going through some major family crises, and he said, “This is the worst possible time… right here before Christmas.” I reminded him that the devil doesn’t take a vacation! People get sick and/or die during the holidays. Final exams stress us out in the early weeks of December. The chaos of shopping/decorating/partying till we drop exhausts us and makes many of us broke and cranky. And this is a horribly lonely and sad month for many folks… for a variety of reasons. Still, God is busy working away… hearing our prayers, steering us in the right direction, and offering His comfort and peace.
Today I want you to stop and recognize that you can never outdo God. You can never offer Him more than He can handle on your behalf. You have the best defense in the world against the wickedness of the devil at your disposal - a close communication and relationship with your Heavenly Father.
Take some time to share your worries and troubles with God, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Allow Him to help you with each and every challenge. When your life is going well, thank God for His blessings. And thank Him for being with you to confront whatever challenges may lie ahead. Operate in full confidence that God never takes a vacation, either… and the devil is no match for His love, grace and mercy over each of us.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 17, 2011
Psalm 77:2-15
I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by. I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.
Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."
Once again I'll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
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 someone said something to me that caused me to question myself. The person expressed an opinion about how I had handled a business matter, and all of a sudden, I was filled with doubt. I thought I had done the right thing… in fact, I was sure of it. Yet the comments of one person caused me to second-guess what I already knew.
I shared the conversation with my husband, and he said, “That’s only one person’s opinion.” I reviewed some written guidelines I had been given and found that I had complied with all of them. Yet I was bothered for several hours by this encounter… until I realized that I was wasting time… and Satan was laughing. Then I got mad… and I spent some time in prayer and got over myself!
For the record, I wasn’t mad at the person with whom I spoke… or even the devil for causing me some angst. It was more a case of being mad at myself for allowing this! When I first felt unsettled about the conversation, I should have stopped everything and talked to God about it. And God tried to use my husband to tell me I was wasting time. But I still had to wring my hands for awhile and go over some scenarios in my head for how to fix things.
Here’s the deal… the next time frustration, doubt and second-guessing about anything creeps into your thought process – even something seemingly insignificant or of a highly secular manner – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and PRAY! Remind yourself that God never stops working on your behalf. He always has your back. He is the God who makes things happen and pulls people out of the worst kind of trouble. Surely He can manage the doubt and worry the devil wants to give you! Don’t you think God could do a better job than you could of handling such things? Shouldn’t you at least give Him a try and find out for yourself?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by. I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.
Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."
Once again I'll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
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 someone said something to me that caused me to question myself. The person expressed an opinion about how I had handled a business matter, and all of a sudden, I was filled with doubt. I thought I had done the right thing… in fact, I was sure of it. Yet the comments of one person caused me to second-guess what I already knew.
I shared the conversation with my husband, and he said, “That’s only one person’s opinion.” I reviewed some written guidelines I had been given and found that I had complied with all of them. Yet I was bothered for several hours by this encounter… until I realized that I was wasting time… and Satan was laughing. Then I got mad… and I spent some time in prayer and got over myself!
For the record, I wasn’t mad at the person with whom I spoke… or even the devil for causing me some angst. It was more a case of being mad at myself for allowing this! When I first felt unsettled about the conversation, I should have stopped everything and talked to God about it. And God tried to use my husband to tell me I was wasting time. But I still had to wring my hands for awhile and go over some scenarios in my head for how to fix things.
Here’s the deal… the next time frustration, doubt and second-guessing about anything creeps into your thought process – even something seemingly insignificant or of a highly secular manner – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and PRAY! Remind yourself that God never stops working on your behalf. He always has your back. He is the God who makes things happen and pulls people out of the worst kind of trouble. Surely He can manage the doubt and worry the devil wants to give you! Don’t you think God could do a better job than you could of handling such things? Shouldn’t you at least give Him a try and find out for yourself?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 5, 2011
Psalm 25:17-18, 21
My awful worries keep growing. Rescue me from sadness. See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If fear is one of the devil’s biggest tools, worry is the vehicle in which he delivers it. We worry about everything – what we will wear, who likes us or doesn’t, how we will make a living and put food on the table, what will happen to us when we grow old, and so much more. And I’m sorry to say that I am right there with everyone else much of the time.
I think what makes me the maddest is understanding how much this thrills Satan. I don’t want to give him even a split second of joy. So why can’t I stop worrying? Why can’t you?
Here’s the deal… as long as we let worry have a place in our lives, we have not “let go and let God” have control. Believe me, I know it’s hard. But I am committed to making a change… to surrendering to God’s control and letting him have my worries and any resulting troubles, misery and sadness. As the Apostle Paul pointed out, this will be a “daily surrender,” but I am ready to do whatever it takes… aren’t you?
Let’s make this the year we trust God to save us and put aside our worries. Let’s obey Him with all our heart and feel the joy and peace that can come from resting in His rescue and forgiveness. I’m more than ready for this journey… are you coming with me?
©2011 Debbie Robus
My awful worries keep growing. Rescue me from sadness. See my troubles and misery and forgive my sins.
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If fear is one of the devil’s biggest tools, worry is the vehicle in which he delivers it. We worry about everything – what we will wear, who likes us or doesn’t, how we will make a living and put food on the table, what will happen to us when we grow old, and so much more. And I’m sorry to say that I am right there with everyone else much of the time.
I think what makes me the maddest is understanding how much this thrills Satan. I don’t want to give him even a split second of joy. So why can’t I stop worrying? Why can’t you?
Here’s the deal… as long as we let worry have a place in our lives, we have not “let go and let God” have control. Believe me, I know it’s hard. But I am committed to making a change… to surrendering to God’s control and letting him have my worries and any resulting troubles, misery and sadness. As the Apostle Paul pointed out, this will be a “daily surrender,” but I am ready to do whatever it takes… aren’t you?
Let’s make this the year we trust God to save us and put aside our worries. Let’s obey Him with all our heart and feel the joy and peace that can come from resting in His rescue and forgiveness. I’m more than ready for this journey… are you coming with me?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 5, 2011
Psalm 7:12
Whenever your enemies refuse to change their ways, you sharpen your sword and string your bow.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever asked someone why they were putting up with a situation that was hurtful, frustrating… or even potentially dangerous… and the reply was, “It’s just easier to go along than to make waves.”? This is how people become the “doormat” for others… or tolerate abuse…or get themselves into messy situations that seem to have no solution.
Maybe you find yourself in one of these situations. Maybe you have decided that things will never change… and there is nothing you can do. And you would be partly right – there is nothing you can do! But GOD can do plenty!
Today, we need to give our hopeless – and helpless – situations to God. We need to recognize that other people and/or the situations themselves are not the enemy… their driving force is Satan! HE is the one who is wreaking havoc in so many lives, and we must “sharpen our sword and string our bow” in the name of the Lord against him.
How do we do this? Prayer… and lots of it… is our first line of defense. As we make hard choices and step out in faith – and away from the offending situation or behavior(s) – is daunting… but not impossible if we earnestly seek God’s power and protection. Believing that things can change by the power and grace of God may test the level of our faith… but we are up to the challenge!
We must not let the devil have his way. We can’t keep cowering in the corner like a trapped animal. It’s time to shore up our arsenal of tools to combat Satan’s efforts… and to call on God to defeat him. Are you ready to roll?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Whenever your enemies refuse to change their ways, you sharpen your sword and string your bow.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever asked someone why they were putting up with a situation that was hurtful, frustrating… or even potentially dangerous… and the reply was, “It’s just easier to go along than to make waves.”? This is how people become the “doormat” for others… or tolerate abuse…or get themselves into messy situations that seem to have no solution.
Maybe you find yourself in one of these situations. Maybe you have decided that things will never change… and there is nothing you can do. And you would be partly right – there is nothing you can do! But GOD can do plenty!
Today, we need to give our hopeless – and helpless – situations to God. We need to recognize that other people and/or the situations themselves are not the enemy… their driving force is Satan! HE is the one who is wreaking havoc in so many lives, and we must “sharpen our sword and string our bow” in the name of the Lord against him.
How do we do this? Prayer… and lots of it… is our first line of defense. As we make hard choices and step out in faith – and away from the offending situation or behavior(s) – is daunting… but not impossible if we earnestly seek God’s power and protection. Believing that things can change by the power and grace of God may test the level of our faith… but we are up to the challenge!
We must not let the devil have his way. We can’t keep cowering in the corner like a trapped animal. It’s time to shore up our arsenal of tools to combat Satan’s efforts… and to call on God to defeat him. Are you ready to roll?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 6, 2010
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the last few months, I’ve become more aware of the use of the word “hate.” We so casually say, “Oh, I hate such-and-such.” Or “So-and-so hates me!” And maybe we don’t literally mean “hate” – but use of this word leaves room for a lot of misinterpretation… and the Bible warns us not to operate in hate. In truth, this word shouldn’t be in our vocabulary!
Newton’s law of motion says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For hate, the equal/opposite reaction is love. For negativity, this reaction is positivity. It’s time for us to “spin the dial”, so to speak. It’s time for us to start operating in love and positives rather than hate and negativity. Instead of seeing the glass half empty, we need to see it half full.
We must learn to look for the good in others. We must learn to see them as children of God, not the devil’s agents. We must try to find a positive side to situations we deem hopeless or unpleasant. One exercise that has helped me lately is to view others through the eyes of a parent. Every single person we encounter was once someone’s precious baby. We all know how cute and adorable babies are… how we overlook their flaws and stand ready to gently correct them and forgive them.
If you will stop and picture the person or persons involved in a situation you are drawn to “hate” as a once innocent baby or toddler, you will be more apt to find a loving solution. How would you correct the youngster? How much would you be willing to tolerate and “love away?” What is different now? Sure, the older we get, the more responsible we must become for our actions. But the principle of finding a loving solution still applies.
In everything we do, we are called to look at others with God’s eyes… to see HIS child – the one He loves – and to find a peaceful solution to the problem. Operating in hate is a tool of the devil… not our Heavenly Father. Who are you emulating these days? Whose tools are in your arsenal?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the last few months, I’ve become more aware of the use of the word “hate.” We so casually say, “Oh, I hate such-and-such.” Or “So-and-so hates me!” And maybe we don’t literally mean “hate” – but use of this word leaves room for a lot of misinterpretation… and the Bible warns us not to operate in hate. In truth, this word shouldn’t be in our vocabulary!
Newton’s law of motion says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For hate, the equal/opposite reaction is love. For negativity, this reaction is positivity. It’s time for us to “spin the dial”, so to speak. It’s time for us to start operating in love and positives rather than hate and negativity. Instead of seeing the glass half empty, we need to see it half full.
We must learn to look for the good in others. We must learn to see them as children of God, not the devil’s agents. We must try to find a positive side to situations we deem hopeless or unpleasant. One exercise that has helped me lately is to view others through the eyes of a parent. Every single person we encounter was once someone’s precious baby. We all know how cute and adorable babies are… how we overlook their flaws and stand ready to gently correct them and forgive them.
If you will stop and picture the person or persons involved in a situation you are drawn to “hate” as a once innocent baby or toddler, you will be more apt to find a loving solution. How would you correct the youngster? How much would you be willing to tolerate and “love away?” What is different now? Sure, the older we get, the more responsible we must become for our actions. But the principle of finding a loving solution still applies.
In everything we do, we are called to look at others with God’s eyes… to see HIS child – the one He loves – and to find a peaceful solution to the problem. Operating in hate is a tool of the devil… not our Heavenly Father. Who are you emulating these days? Whose tools are in your arsenal?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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