November 14 ~ 1 Chronicles 29:16-17
Our LORD God, we have brought all these things for building a temple to honor you. They belong to you, and you gave them to us. But we are happy, because everyone has voluntarily given you these things. You know what is in everyone's heart, and you are pleased when people are honest.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever gone to church on Sunday when you would rather have stayed home? But you went to church anyway, thinking all the while you wished you were home, still in bed or sipping coffee and reading the Sunday newspaper. I’m not saying that anytime we wake up on Sunday and wish we could sleep in, we should skip church. But when we go to church wishing we were somewhere else, God knows what is in our heart. So maybe I am suggesting an “attitude adjustment” is in order on our part?
When we give to the church or charities or make any donation, and we do it because “it’s the thing to do,” or our friends are giving - or we feel obligated in any way - God knows our heart. When we pretend to be nice to people but talk about them behind their backs, God sees our heart. When we act one way in front of some people and another when they aren’t around, God sees this.
God knows our heart. He knows when we do things out of love and a desire to serve and honor Him. He sees when we are genuinely kind to others… when we give generously out of a desire to help others… when we strive to be moral and upright out of respect for Him – and for ourselves. And this pleases Him immensely.
Doesn’t it seem a little preposterous to think that God wouldn’t know our heart? Doesn’t it seem phony and disrespectful to try to pretend to Him that we feel one way when He knows good and well our feelings are the opposite? Do we really want to please God? Isn’t being honest and showing Him a genuine heart a good place to start? Open up to God and share your true self… He knows already, but He will be so pleased when you are real with Him. When you honor God and respect your relationship with Him in this manner, you be blessed with joy and satisfaction in knowing you did the right thing.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 13 ~ 1 Chronicles 16:10
Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We have no trouble cheering and celebrating when the home team wins a football game. Pretty well everybody in Arkansas and several surrounding states knows how to “call the Hogs!” Little girls (and a few not-so-little ones) go ga-ga over Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift… and people line up for days to see the American Idol tour. We “celebrate with all our heart” at these events and others.
But when we think of God, do we celebrate as fervently? Do we feel so excited and genuinely ecstatic that we want to jump for joy in our heart, if not with our physical body? When we worship, are we totally in the moment, forgetting everything from what we will do after church service to the pot roast we left in the oven to the friends we hung out with the night before?
Doesn’t God deserve better?
Let’s make an effort to give God the celebration and worship He deserves. I’m not saying we have to jump up and shout – or even wiggle our big toe! But let’s focus totally on Him when we pray, read the Bible, or gather together for a worship service. Let’s celebrate Him in the way we live our daily lives and demonstrate clearly to others Who we serve.
God DOES deserve better than we give Him. Let’s start making changes and truly celebrate and worship His holy name with all our heart.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 12 ~ 1 Kings 8:39
You know what is in everyone's heart. So from your home in heaven answer their prayers, according to the way they live and what is in their hearts.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Suppose you are struggling to make ends meet. There always seems to be a whole lot more month than money. But in your heart, you desire to do great things for God… to accomplish things that you cannot physically afford. If you pray about this, and pour out your desires to God, don’t you think He will figure out a way for these things to be accomplished? Let’s be more specific. Our church is having a “Shoe Box Drive” to send decorated shoe boxes filled with toys, school supplies, toiletries, and more to needy children. Sounds like a great project, right? But what if your financial situation doesn’t match your desire to participate? How can you possibly help?
I believe that in this situation, you could pray and ask God to see that enough boxes were donated. Ask Him to soften the hearts of those who can afford to pack a shoe box. This would be one example of God looking at your heart and answering according to what He finds there, rather than on what you were physically able to accomplish. The same could be said for being a prayer warrior. When you don’t feel you can do anything else, you can certainly pray for others and their needs. This shows God your heart… your desire to serve, witness and make changes in His name.
God looks at our heart… and when He sees that what we harbor there is pure and loving and obedient, He is moved… and He does move! Keep a close check on your heart and its motives… be bold and ask God for great things from the depths of your heart… then sit back and watch Him work!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 11 ~ 1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Man, is this ever a hard lesson for us! We form our impressions of people in the first few seconds… and often, we don’t give them – or ourselves – a chance to decide otherwise! How many times have you met someone, and instantly you disliked something about him/her, only to find out later what a wonderful person he/she was.
Think about a coconut. On the outside, it looks pretty rough, doesn’t it! In fact, the hard, ugly brown shell is fairly impenetrable. But once you get inside, you find this wonderful milk and coconut “meat.” The heart is home to the good stuff! Imagine if God judged us by outward appearances. If God judged us by the things we said and how we looked and acted, most of us would be in pretty sad shape. Aren’t you glad He looks at the heart?
Let’s make sure our heart is right… that when God looks deep within us, He sees someone who is striving to serve Him and be obedient, even if it doesn’t always show on the outside. And let’s give others a second look. Let’s look at their heart and not make rash judgments. Surely if God judges us by our hearts, we should do the same for others. How are you evaluating others these days? Do you only see the “coconut shell” on the outside? What is in your heart?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 10 ~ 1 Samuel 12:20-24
Even though what you did was wrong, you don't need to be afraid. But you must always follow the LORD and worship him with all your heart. Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble. But the LORD has chosen you to be his own people. He will always take care of you so that everyone will know how great he is.
I would be disobeying the LORD if I stopped praying for you! I will always teach you how to live right. You also must obey the LORD - you must worship him with all your heart and remember the great things he has done for you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
When you were a child, did you ever do something wrong and then hide, hoping nobody would find you and discover what had happened? Or maybe you hoped your grandparents would come along and stick up for you. If only you could find someone to be on your side and protect you from punishment and disapproval! If you are like most people, there has been at least one time in your life when you felt like you had messed things up so badly that God would never forgive you! Or maybe you feared that the “wrath of God” was about to rain down on you for your sins or misdeeds. And sometimes, in fear, we turn to people we think can help us… or worse yet, we turn to Satan. “Devil,” we say… “help me create a story to cover this. Give me an alibi… justify what I did, so that I can get out of this mess!”
The truth is, we go “looking for love in all the wrong places.” God is not standing with a whip and a chair, ready to beat us senseless for our sins. Hello! Jesus took every single one of those when He died on the cross. They are paid in full! If someone bought your lunch at a restaurant, you wouldn’t try to pay again, would you? So why do we think we have to pay over and over for the sins that Jesus bought with His own blood? This is not what God desires. All He wants is for us to love and worship Him out of the depths of our heart (that means with everything we have in us!). If we love with our whole heart, it will be harder and harder for us to sin… it just won’t feel right to us… it will go against everything we hold dear.
Our grandparents and others may be able to save us from certain troubles when we are children, but that doesn’t work well for very long. It’s time we grew up in our faith and trusted God for the promises He has given us… and loved Him with our whole heart. This is true protection and freedom… this is true safety and comfort… this is where the real blessings lie. Who has your heart today?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 9 ~ Deuteronomy 30:11-14
You know God's laws, and it isn't impossible to obey them. His commands aren't in heaven, so you can't excuse yourselves by saying, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are in heaven, and no one can go up to get them, then bring them down and explain them to us." And you can't say, "How can we obey the LORD's commands? They are across the sea, and someone must go across, then bring them back and explain them to us." No, these commands are nearby and you know them by heart. All you have to do is obey!
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This is one of the hardest things for some people to grasp. How do we worship and obey a God we have never physically seen? How do we trust that what is written in the Bible is infallible… that the Bible really IS God’s word? How do we know for sure that following God’s commands will work… that this really IS the way to Heaven?
For me, this is where the heart comes into play. See, for nearly 35 years, I knew in my head that God was real and that the Bible was filled with guidance and perfect law for my life. I had heard this over and over from countless people. I had studied and prayed and attended church services and Sunday School classes. I had participated in Training Union on Sunday nights, “Bible drills,” youth classes and more.
But it wasn’t until I began to truly invite the Holy Spirit to penetrate my heart and I revisited a scripture verse… John 20:29, in which…”Jesus said, ‘Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!’" I realized that Jesus was talking about you and ME! We have never seen Him, yet we believe, so we are blessed because of our faith!
As I meditated on this thought… and internalized it, I began to understand that yes, this IS all a leap of faith, but I learned something else. I learned to look for God in ordinary and unusual places… places besides just the Bible and my prayer time. I began to see His hand in the order and circumstances of my day… and in the timing and care of His children and the events of their lives. I began to see how much God blesses those who obey Him – and how hard things are for those who don’t. This is not because God punishes, but rather because He allows us to wander aimlessly if we choose… He allows us free will.
I don’t know about you, but I want every blessing God stands ready to give me. I want to obey Him – not out of fear or concern that He won’t bless – but out of love and adoration… gratefulness for all He has given me… and a deep desire of the heart to serve Him completely. If you love someone from the depths of your heart, you understand this desire. Who deserves our heartfelt love more than God? Are His commands in your heart? Won’t you make room for them and begin living in His abundance?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 8 ~ Deuteronomy 30:10
But you must decide once and for all to worship him with all your heart and soul and to obey everything in The Book of God's Law.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the surface, you may be thinking… “This is an easy one… I’ve already done it!” And maybe you have – if so, God bless you! But think about it… have you truly decided to worship Him with all your heart and soul and obey His word completely? Or do you still disrespect your parents? Do you send out disrespectful messages about others via e-mail or make derogatory comments on social network sites? Do you party too much and ask forgiveness later? Do you use foul language – in person and/or on the Internet? Are you unkind and/or quick-tempered with others? What haven’t you given to God?
Last week I told you about a friend suggesting that I write about loving God with our head and our heart. We all know what the Bible says… we all know the Ten Commandments… and even the commandments of Jesus to love others as we love ourselves, and to love God with our heart, mind, soul and strength. And intellectually, we do this… and we say, “I love God with all of these things.” But deep in our heart… do we? Do we love Him enough to say, “Lord, whatever You desire from me, I’ll give you. I will live for You and love You even when it is hard, painful, or even grieves me. If I have to give up some old habits – or even my friends, I’ll do it. If I have to step out of my comfort zone and serve you by serving someone else, I will do that!
I didn’t notice in this passage anything about whether or not we like doing this, necessarily. This may come in time, but not all of the choices to follow God are easy ones. Still, we will never experience God and His plans for us – or His blessings – until we decide once and for all to worship Him completely with our heart and soul. What’s holding you back today? What else do you need to surrender to God?
©2009 Debbie Robus
November 2009 Devotionals
November 7 ~ Psalm 65
Our God, you deserve praise in Zion, where we keep our promises to you. Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer. Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us. You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you in your temple. We will enjoy your house, the sacred temple. Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice!
You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea. You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place. You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations.
People far away marvel at your fearsome deeds, and all who live under the sun celebrate and sing because of you. You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce much grain. You water all of its fields and level the lumpy ground. You send showers of rain to soften the soil and help the plants sprout. Wherever your footsteps touch the earth, a rich harvest is gathered. Desert pastures blossom, and mountains celebrate. Meadows are filled with sheep and goats; valleys overflow with grain and echo with joyful songs.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I don’t know about you, but I tend to shortchange God. Oh, I don’t mean to do this…but I find that time after time, I ask God for things and then half-heartedly believe He will do them. This is not a conscious action on my part. But if we stop and take a hard look at our faith, I bet you are not all that different. I would be willing to bet that most of us underestimate God’s power to work in our lives… and His willingness – His desire – to do so!
Look at this Psalm again. “Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us.” “You give hope to people everywhere on earth… You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations… You take care of the earth.” Is this the description of a small God?
Today, let’s agree to start living in expectancy – expecting God to do great things in our lives… expecting Him to do far and above what we ask or imagine. Let’s pray with confidence that God is hearing us and working in and through us, according to His perfect plan. Let’s rest in this… and be still and know that HE is our God. Feel Him working in your life today – and expect great things in the future!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 6 ~ Job 35:12-13
God won't listen to the prayers of proud and evil people. If God All-Powerful refuses to answer their empty prayers, he will surely deny your impatient request to face him in court.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This scripture is the comment of Job’s young friend Elihu, after he listened to Job rant and rave about how he was being persecuted and was suffering even though he had done nothing to deserve any of it. Job was angry with God and making wild demands of Him.
If you go back and read Job 33 and 34, you will see that Elihu made a long, eloquent speech and really put Job and his other friends in their places. And simply put, he is telling Job… “Buddy boy, you cannot tell God how to run the universe!” He’s also saying, “Pot, meet Kettle!” In other words, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t make demands of God… “Lord, help me cram for my test,” or “Father, please change my wife/girlfriend and make her start enjoying Monday night football!” or even “God, please melt away 25 pounds and get me back into my skinny clothes!” and then criticize Him when you feel He doesn’t answer – or answer in the ways you prefer!
When will we learn to stop telling God what to do? We need to pray thoughtfully and humbly! We need to be very careful that in everything we ask of God, we ask that it be done according to His will. We cannot possibly come even remotely close to orchestrating things in life like our Heavenly Father does… and we insult Him to even try! So pray about everything. All you need to ask of God is that His will be done in each request you present. Since His ways are perfect… suggesting anything else would be rather ridiculous! Trust God to answer… have faith and patience… and leave all judgment to Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 5 ~ Job 27:7-10
I pray that my enemies will suffer no less than the wicked. Such people are hopeless, and God All-Powerful will cut them down, without listening when they beg for mercy. And that is what God should do, because they don't like him or ever pray.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This was the sentiment of a desperate Job. And let’s face it, we all say things under pressure or in desperate situations that we probably wouldn’t – and shouldn’t – say otherwise. If we are honest, some of us are pretty good at praying for our enemies to suffer like the wicked people we believe them to be. From that bully who makes your life miserable to the political candidate or elected official you don’t like, to members of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, we find ourselves wishing that God would cut them down.
The problem with all of this - aside from the obvious issue with praying for bad things to happen to people - is that we are passing judgment! Deciding who God should punish is not our job, but do we ever like to jump in and lend a hand! How can we possibly know the heart of another person? And how would we feel to think that others were praying for us to suffer at God’s hand?
Does this mean we are to accept “evil” people – or that we can’t pray about situations we feel are evil or wrong? Absolutely not! When we see something or someone that bothers us or causes us concern with his/her actions, we must pray. We must ask God to deal with this situation… BUT… we must ask Him to handle things according to His will, not our whims. This might just mean that God changes OUR attitude rather than the other guy! God’s ways are perfect… ours are human. We need to pray for our “enemies”… but not that they suffer. We don’t need to tell God what to do… we need to ask Him to exercise His will and handle these people and situations - as He knows is best. To do otherwise is to assume ourselves equal to God… and we all know better. Pray for your enemies… but ask God to decide what is best for them – and for us. Then trust His decisions and rest in his answers.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 4 ~ Isaiah 33:2
Please, LORD, be kind to us! We depend on you. Make us strong each morning, and come to save us when we are in trouble.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Recently, we experienced some serious flooding in parts of Arkansas. In Little Rock, a news anchor happened to be reporting live from a downtown street that was flooded. This was a situation where drivers couldn’t tell the street was flooded until the last minute. A vehicle headed toward the flooded area, and men on the street yelled for the driver to stop. But the rain was so heavy that the driver apparently didn’t hear the men, and she was soon submerged in the water and being pulled quickly toward a storm drain.
Someone in the vehicle was able to stick their head out the window and scream for help before the water got too high. By that time, the passersby were already making efforts to rescue those in the vehicle. And that is what happened. Firefighters and First Responders arrived, and the driver and her son were rescued just in the nick of time.The time came when there was nothing these two people in the vehicle could do but wait on others to rescue them. I can only imagine their panic! I am sure it took every ounce of strength they could muster just to wait patiently for the rescuers. And they most likely feared for their very lives.
We are like the people in the car. We plunge headlong into things that are disastrous…and often people are standing by and shouting to us to stop, but we don’t hear them. We depend on God to rescue us… to save us from trouble – and to give us strength and courage until help arrives. And more than once, I just bet God has rescued you in the nick of time. I bet his kindness and mercy have been your fortress and your strength! I know this has been the case for me on many occasions.
Today, as you pray for God to be kind to you and make you strong – or save you from trouble – remember to praise Him for the many times He has done exactly this. Thank Him for loving us so well… and ask Him to show you how to avoid the flooded streets of life and stay on high ground.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 3 ~ Psalms 25:21
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I pray long and hard for God to show me which scriptures to use for these devotionals. You might have noticed that since the end of the summer, our scriptures have basically been a study of prayer. I searched for scriptures throughout the Bible about varied aspects of prayer and the uses of prayer in different situations. This has become my guide for the daily devos. I find it amazing when someone e-mails me and says, “That was just for me today!” or “This had special meaning at this time in my life.” God knows what I can’t possibly know… who needs this very word each day.
So I didn’t take it lightly when just this past Sunday, a dear friend stopped me at church and said, “I want you to write about the heart… trusting God not only with your head, but also your heart and your strength!” Imagine what it was like for me to look at today’s scripture… “I obey you with all my heart…” I mentioned a few days earlier that scripture says we must “love appropriately” – and God gives us wisdom to discern things and to make good choices. But so many of us love God and trust Him with our head, because we know intellectually – and possibly from peer pressure – that this is the right thing to do. Loving and obeying God from the heart is a totally different matter!
Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In Mark 12:30, Jesus added a commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…”* But as my friend put it, “When you start to love God from the heart, that’s what really matters.” AND… she mentioned strength. See, if you love and obey the Lord with all of your heart, your head (and Satan) are going to say, “You KNOW that won’t work! You’re crazy to consider this. How can you trust God for such-and-such?” It will take strength to persevere against such odds.
I believe that when we fully love and obey God with our heart, even when our head says that what we are doing is illogical, God will give us strength to pull through the situation. BE SURE to do this prayerfully… don’t go off on a tangent doing wild things and believing that “God told me to do this.” He will only endorse and strengthen faithfulness to HIS guidance. So be sure you are in God’s will and listening closely for His voice. God sent me a message through my friend… I’m sure of that. He wanted to be sure that I told you about obeying Him with your heart today. I rarely bump into this person at church, so I know that God sent her, and I am so glad we talked. Who is God sending your way today? What messages… what strength…is He trying to give you? Are you obedient with the heart? Are you loving completely - with your mind, soul, heart and strength? Shouldn’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 2 ~ Psalms 86:17
Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies will feel like fools,
because you have helped and comforted me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever watched a small child who is “performing?” Maybe he/she is singing a song for you or reciting a poem, and when it’s over, everyone applauds… especially the child! It really doesn’t matter how well the child performs… we have mercy on them and cheer anyway, even if words are forgotten, dance steps are missed, or the music is off-key.
For the child, it’s all about approval. If nobody applauded and cheered, he/she would become self-conscious and/or embarrassed and stop performing. In one way or another, “children” of all ages desire approval… this is human nature, and the approval is reassuring and comforting. We know we are not perfect, but the fact that others seem not to notice and applaud our efforts gives us motivation to continue trying (and hopefully improving).
Nobody knows better than God how much we need mercy. Nobody knows better than He how much we need His approval even when our “performance” is not so hot. We need His comfort and encouragement. We need to know that even when we are unlovable, God loves us anyway – and He does!
Today, I encourage you to ask God for mercy. None of us deserve it, but God grants it anyway, because He loves us beyond what we can ever comprehend. His mercy will help us to grow, be strengthened and encouraged. Soon our “performances” will improve… because God’s approval will be our motivation. Hear Him applauding you already! Hear His cheers of love and mercy as He lifts you beyond what you could ever accomplish on your own. Feel His beaming smile of approval and bask in its glow. Whenever the devil tries to tear you down, pray for mercy and rest in God’s grace. Then thank Him for loving you so well!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 1 ~ Colossians 4:2
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Once a week, I take my grandmother to the beauty shop, and while she gets her hair done, I run her errands and shop for her groceries. She makes me a grocery list, and I can pretty well tell you what will be on it each week… milk, buttermilk, cornbread mix, chocolate chip cookies, Cokes, Three Musketeers. I could almost shop for her without a list. But then she will throw me a curve… one week it was a mop and a broom… another, she needed a clock. Still another, she needed a half gallon of vinegar and paper towels. If I want to be sure I get what she needs, I have to consult the list each week.
When we pray, we sometimes get into a “rhythm” – or is it a rut? – where we pray for the same things over and over… to the point we start to almost pray without thinking. “Lord, help me with my algebra.” “Lord, I need you to give my child wisdom and encouragement,” or “Father, please heal my body,” or even “God bless Mom and Dad and sister and brother, and cousin Joe, and Grandma and Grandpa, and the dog and cat…” - you get the picture.
This passage reminds us we need to keep alert. Our prayers need to be more than just the same old list over and over. We need to be totally in the moment when we pray… consciously, purposefully pouring out our heart to God… sincerely asking for His help and guidance. Just as importantly, we need to be deliberately and wholeheartedly thanking Him and praising Him... and this is where I believe we often fall down the worst. We praise God and thank Him during our prayer time… but the praise and thanks are hollow. They are spoken out of habit and routine more than out of our heart! We tend to just “go down the list.”
Today, let’s start the month off right. Let’s revamp our prayer time. Let’s keep alert and let our thanks and praise be heartfelt and completely sincere. Let’s pray in the moment - spontaneous, genuine, honest prayer that speaks of our deepest desires and needs. No more “going down the list.” No more taking God for granted! We must never give up praying, but our prayers must be honest and filled with heartfelt thanks. Will you make the commitment to stay alert as you pray? Will your prayers and praises reflect your heart?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Our God, you deserve praise in Zion, where we keep our promises to you. Everyone will come to you because you answer prayer. Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us. You bless your chosen ones, and you invite them to live near you in your temple. We will enjoy your house, the sacred temple. Our God, you save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice!
You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea. You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place. You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations.
People far away marvel at your fearsome deeds, and all who live under the sun celebrate and sing because of you. You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce much grain. You water all of its fields and level the lumpy ground. You send showers of rain to soften the soil and help the plants sprout. Wherever your footsteps touch the earth, a rich harvest is gathered. Desert pastures blossom, and mountains celebrate. Meadows are filled with sheep and goats; valleys overflow with grain and echo with joyful songs.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I don’t know about you, but I tend to shortchange God. Oh, I don’t mean to do this…but I find that time after time, I ask God for things and then half-heartedly believe He will do them. This is not a conscious action on my part. But if we stop and take a hard look at our faith, I bet you are not all that different. I would be willing to bet that most of us underestimate God’s power to work in our lives… and His willingness – His desire – to do so!
Look at this Psalm again. “Our terrible sins get us down, but you forgive us.” “You give hope to people everywhere on earth… You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations… You take care of the earth.” Is this the description of a small God?
Today, let’s agree to start living in expectancy – expecting God to do great things in our lives… expecting Him to do far and above what we ask or imagine. Let’s pray with confidence that God is hearing us and working in and through us, according to His perfect plan. Let’s rest in this… and be still and know that HE is our God. Feel Him working in your life today – and expect great things in the future!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 6 ~ Job 35:12-13
God won't listen to the prayers of proud and evil people. If God All-Powerful refuses to answer their empty prayers, he will surely deny your impatient request to face him in court.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This scripture is the comment of Job’s young friend Elihu, after he listened to Job rant and rave about how he was being persecuted and was suffering even though he had done nothing to deserve any of it. Job was angry with God and making wild demands of Him.
If you go back and read Job 33 and 34, you will see that Elihu made a long, eloquent speech and really put Job and his other friends in their places. And simply put, he is telling Job… “Buddy boy, you cannot tell God how to run the universe!” He’s also saying, “Pot, meet Kettle!” In other words, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t make demands of God… “Lord, help me cram for my test,” or “Father, please change my wife/girlfriend and make her start enjoying Monday night football!” or even “God, please melt away 25 pounds and get me back into my skinny clothes!” and then criticize Him when you feel He doesn’t answer – or answer in the ways you prefer!
When will we learn to stop telling God what to do? We need to pray thoughtfully and humbly! We need to be very careful that in everything we ask of God, we ask that it be done according to His will. We cannot possibly come even remotely close to orchestrating things in life like our Heavenly Father does… and we insult Him to even try! So pray about everything. All you need to ask of God is that His will be done in each request you present. Since His ways are perfect… suggesting anything else would be rather ridiculous! Trust God to answer… have faith and patience… and leave all judgment to Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 5 ~ Job 27:7-10
I pray that my enemies will suffer no less than the wicked. Such people are hopeless, and God All-Powerful will cut them down, without listening when they beg for mercy. And that is what God should do, because they don't like him or ever pray.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This was the sentiment of a desperate Job. And let’s face it, we all say things under pressure or in desperate situations that we probably wouldn’t – and shouldn’t – say otherwise. If we are honest, some of us are pretty good at praying for our enemies to suffer like the wicked people we believe them to be. From that bully who makes your life miserable to the political candidate or elected official you don’t like, to members of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and the Taliban, we find ourselves wishing that God would cut them down.
The problem with all of this - aside from the obvious issue with praying for bad things to happen to people - is that we are passing judgment! Deciding who God should punish is not our job, but do we ever like to jump in and lend a hand! How can we possibly know the heart of another person? And how would we feel to think that others were praying for us to suffer at God’s hand?
Does this mean we are to accept “evil” people – or that we can’t pray about situations we feel are evil or wrong? Absolutely not! When we see something or someone that bothers us or causes us concern with his/her actions, we must pray. We must ask God to deal with this situation… BUT… we must ask Him to handle things according to His will, not our whims. This might just mean that God changes OUR attitude rather than the other guy! God’s ways are perfect… ours are human. We need to pray for our “enemies”… but not that they suffer. We don’t need to tell God what to do… we need to ask Him to exercise His will and handle these people and situations - as He knows is best. To do otherwise is to assume ourselves equal to God… and we all know better. Pray for your enemies… but ask God to decide what is best for them – and for us. Then trust His decisions and rest in his answers.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 4 ~ Isaiah 33:2
Please, LORD, be kind to us! We depend on you. Make us strong each morning, and come to save us when we are in trouble.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Recently, we experienced some serious flooding in parts of Arkansas. In Little Rock, a news anchor happened to be reporting live from a downtown street that was flooded. This was a situation where drivers couldn’t tell the street was flooded until the last minute. A vehicle headed toward the flooded area, and men on the street yelled for the driver to stop. But the rain was so heavy that the driver apparently didn’t hear the men, and she was soon submerged in the water and being pulled quickly toward a storm drain.
Someone in the vehicle was able to stick their head out the window and scream for help before the water got too high. By that time, the passersby were already making efforts to rescue those in the vehicle. And that is what happened. Firefighters and First Responders arrived, and the driver and her son were rescued just in the nick of time.The time came when there was nothing these two people in the vehicle could do but wait on others to rescue them. I can only imagine their panic! I am sure it took every ounce of strength they could muster just to wait patiently for the rescuers. And they most likely feared for their very lives.
We are like the people in the car. We plunge headlong into things that are disastrous…and often people are standing by and shouting to us to stop, but we don’t hear them. We depend on God to rescue us… to save us from trouble – and to give us strength and courage until help arrives. And more than once, I just bet God has rescued you in the nick of time. I bet his kindness and mercy have been your fortress and your strength! I know this has been the case for me on many occasions.
Today, as you pray for God to be kind to you and make you strong – or save you from trouble – remember to praise Him for the many times He has done exactly this. Thank Him for loving us so well… and ask Him to show you how to avoid the flooded streets of life and stay on high ground.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 3 ~ Psalms 25:21
I obey you with all my heart, and I trust you, knowing that you will save me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I pray long and hard for God to show me which scriptures to use for these devotionals. You might have noticed that since the end of the summer, our scriptures have basically been a study of prayer. I searched for scriptures throughout the Bible about varied aspects of prayer and the uses of prayer in different situations. This has become my guide for the daily devos. I find it amazing when someone e-mails me and says, “That was just for me today!” or “This had special meaning at this time in my life.” God knows what I can’t possibly know… who needs this very word each day.
So I didn’t take it lightly when just this past Sunday, a dear friend stopped me at church and said, “I want you to write about the heart… trusting God not only with your head, but also your heart and your strength!” Imagine what it was like for me to look at today’s scripture… “I obey you with all my heart…” I mentioned a few days earlier that scripture says we must “love appropriately” – and God gives us wisdom to discern things and to make good choices. But so many of us love God and trust Him with our head, because we know intellectually – and possibly from peer pressure – that this is the right thing to do. Loving and obeying God from the heart is a totally different matter!
Deuteronomy 6:5 says “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In Mark 12:30, Jesus added a commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength…”* But as my friend put it, “When you start to love God from the heart, that’s what really matters.” AND… she mentioned strength. See, if you love and obey the Lord with all of your heart, your head (and Satan) are going to say, “You KNOW that won’t work! You’re crazy to consider this. How can you trust God for such-and-such?” It will take strength to persevere against such odds.
I believe that when we fully love and obey God with our heart, even when our head says that what we are doing is illogical, God will give us strength to pull through the situation. BE SURE to do this prayerfully… don’t go off on a tangent doing wild things and believing that “God told me to do this.” He will only endorse and strengthen faithfulness to HIS guidance. So be sure you are in God’s will and listening closely for His voice. God sent me a message through my friend… I’m sure of that. He wanted to be sure that I told you about obeying Him with your heart today. I rarely bump into this person at church, so I know that God sent her, and I am so glad we talked. Who is God sending your way today? What messages… what strength…is He trying to give you? Are you obedient with the heart? Are you loving completely - with your mind, soul, heart and strength? Shouldn’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 2 ~ Psalms 86:17
Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies will feel like fools,
because you have helped and comforted me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever watched a small child who is “performing?” Maybe he/she is singing a song for you or reciting a poem, and when it’s over, everyone applauds… especially the child! It really doesn’t matter how well the child performs… we have mercy on them and cheer anyway, even if words are forgotten, dance steps are missed, or the music is off-key.
For the child, it’s all about approval. If nobody applauded and cheered, he/she would become self-conscious and/or embarrassed and stop performing. In one way or another, “children” of all ages desire approval… this is human nature, and the approval is reassuring and comforting. We know we are not perfect, but the fact that others seem not to notice and applaud our efforts gives us motivation to continue trying (and hopefully improving).
Nobody knows better than God how much we need mercy. Nobody knows better than He how much we need His approval even when our “performance” is not so hot. We need His comfort and encouragement. We need to know that even when we are unlovable, God loves us anyway – and He does!
Today, I encourage you to ask God for mercy. None of us deserve it, but God grants it anyway, because He loves us beyond what we can ever comprehend. His mercy will help us to grow, be strengthened and encouraged. Soon our “performances” will improve… because God’s approval will be our motivation. Hear Him applauding you already! Hear His cheers of love and mercy as He lifts you beyond what you could ever accomplish on your own. Feel His beaming smile of approval and bask in its glow. Whenever the devil tries to tear you down, pray for mercy and rest in God’s grace. Then thank Him for loving you so well!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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November 1 ~ Colossians 4:2
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Once a week, I take my grandmother to the beauty shop, and while she gets her hair done, I run her errands and shop for her groceries. She makes me a grocery list, and I can pretty well tell you what will be on it each week… milk, buttermilk, cornbread mix, chocolate chip cookies, Cokes, Three Musketeers. I could almost shop for her without a list. But then she will throw me a curve… one week it was a mop and a broom… another, she needed a clock. Still another, she needed a half gallon of vinegar and paper towels. If I want to be sure I get what she needs, I have to consult the list each week.
When we pray, we sometimes get into a “rhythm” – or is it a rut? – where we pray for the same things over and over… to the point we start to almost pray without thinking. “Lord, help me with my algebra.” “Lord, I need you to give my child wisdom and encouragement,” or “Father, please heal my body,” or even “God bless Mom and Dad and sister and brother, and cousin Joe, and Grandma and Grandpa, and the dog and cat…” - you get the picture.
This passage reminds us we need to keep alert. Our prayers need to be more than just the same old list over and over. We need to be totally in the moment when we pray… consciously, purposefully pouring out our heart to God… sincerely asking for His help and guidance. Just as importantly, we need to be deliberately and wholeheartedly thanking Him and praising Him... and this is where I believe we often fall down the worst. We praise God and thank Him during our prayer time… but the praise and thanks are hollow. They are spoken out of habit and routine more than out of our heart! We tend to just “go down the list.”
Today, let’s start the month off right. Let’s revamp our prayer time. Let’s keep alert and let our thanks and praise be heartfelt and completely sincere. Let’s pray in the moment - spontaneous, genuine, honest prayer that speaks of our deepest desires and needs. No more “going down the list.” No more taking God for granted! We must never give up praying, but our prayers must be honest and filled with heartfelt thanks. Will you make the commitment to stay alert as you pray? Will your prayers and praises reflect your heart?
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos - Week 4
October 31 ~ Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Most of us probably need to tattoo this scripture passage on our forearm, where we can see it throughout each and every day! We are all so human… and we so want to “drive the car” ourselves. God must sit back and chuckle at times – and groan others – over how ridiculous we are!
My great-nephew, Timothy, has a favorite toy that I’ve clipped to his crib. This toy is a stuffed horse, attached to a couple of stuffed baubles that have some sort of noisemaker inside them. Every time he touches the toy, it makes a clinking noise that he likes. This toy is clipped just barely within reach when Timothy lies in his crib. He works and works to grip the toy and cause it to make the noise he loves. Since he is teething, he would also love to put this toy horse in his mouth and chew on it. Unfortunately, he can’t quite reach the toy well enough to get a good – and sustained – grip on it, much less a taste! This frustrates him to no end! After awhile, he gets mad! He has learned to move around a bit, and if he would just scoot closer to the toy – or roll over toward it – he could reach it easily. But he doesn’t grasp that concept yet.
I’m thinking that this is how we are with God. He offers us so much, and we spin our wheels and try all sorts of gyrations to get what He has for us. But the very thing we could do to actually have what God is offering… peace, answers, comfort, direction, wisdom, and more… is just a prayer away. We reach out and ask… but we don’t follow through and give all of our cares and concerns to God. It’s as simple as “rolling over” and scooting closer to Him.
I’m betting that within the next few weeks, Timothy will figure out how to get to his toy. He will make the turn, scoot over, and draw closer. Will we do the same with God? Isn’t it time we did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 30 ~ 1 Kings 3:5-14
One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the LORD God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you."
Solomon answered: My father David, your servant, was honest and did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who is now king. LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader. And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
God said: Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you'll be greater than any other king. If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long time.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What are you asking God for these days? Are you asking Him for the desires of your head or of your heart? By this, I mean, are you asking God to bring you a certain love interest, or a new car… or even good grades? Are you asking God to give you a job – or to direct you to a better paying, more enjoyable one? Are you asking God to make your children behave better or your parents to be more cooperative?
“But I need these things!” you may be saying. HELLO! God knows what you need! Why not ask Him to give you wisdom, patience, understanding, and compassion. Why not ask God to direct you to the job that is right for you – and to give you peace and joy in your work? Why not ask God to help you with relationships – with your family, friends, and love interests? Why not ask God to provide for your needs – food, clothing, shelter… and yes, transportation.
Once we learn to ask God for the right things, everything else falls into place. Think about how you pray – and what you ask for. Realize fully that God’s ways and our ways are not always the same. Mysterious as they may seem, God’s ways are always perfect. It could be that He sees your potential for growth through the struggle(s) you are currently experiencing. It could be that He simply knows things we don’t about our lives, and a new car or wardrobe is not what you need.
It could also be that, like David, God is waiting for you to ask Him for the right things in the right way, and then He plans to give you your “head” desires, too. The difference is perspective – and priorities. Submit to God and ask Him to direct the events of your life according to His will. Trust Him to meet all of your needs. You will be amazed at how much better your life can be.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 29 ~ 1 Peter 4:7-8
Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What is tripping you up these days? Are you frustrated with a situation or a person? Are you holding a grudge? As I prayed recently, God reminded me that soldiers are dying in Afghanistan. Little children are battling H1N1, and adults are facing the loss of their homes and jobs… or their very lives to a deadly disease. Families are searching for missing loved ones, while others mourn the untimely death of one of their own. In other words, whatever little frustrations and aggravations of my day that cause me to stew and grumble are all very minor in the scheme of things. And I am grateful that I have no major troubles!
As I pray, I ask God to give me wisdom… to “love appropriately” – which means as Jesus loves (which is unconditionally). If someone or something has aggravated me, I must look at the person or situation with the eyes of Jesus… and chances are pretty good He doesn’t see things as I do! In other words… whatever is eating at you today, ask God to show you how to love the people involved according to His will. I’m betting that the situation and those involved will seem different to you. Sometimes the change that needs to occur in a situation is OUR attitude… not the other guy and his/hers!
Ask God how to change your heart about the frustrations and aggravations of your day. Ask Him to help you to love others as Jesus loves… and to let Him work through you. See for yourself what a difference this can make!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 28 ~ Philippians 1:10
I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
You can hardly turn on the television any more without hearing about someone who made a wrong relationship choice. From sitcoms to daytime talk shows to the evening news, there are stories of people choose with their heart and end up miserable… or worse!“I thought he/she was my friend,” you hear people say, as they deal with betrayal or mistreatment. “He/she was my business partner – I trusted him/her with my life!” Let’s be honest… making right choices is tough, and we are all human! That’s why we need to stay closely in tune with God. We need to continue to grow in love for Him, in worship, and in the study of His word.
In The Message, Philippians 1:9-11 reads… “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” Truly we do need to use our head and listen for God’s voice, so that we act reasonably, choose wisely, and “love appropriately” – not out of impulse, desire, or “sentimental gush.”
If you find that your relationships struggle… or that you seem to fall in and out of friends, love interests, jobs, commitments, or even churches(!)… maybe it’s time to grow up in the love of Christ. Maybe the answer is spending more time in prayer and study of God’s word and seeking His will. Maybe it’s time for your love of God to grow larger than the love of anything – and anyone – else! Now THAT’s a life that makes Jesus proud! Shouldn’t this be our ultimate goal?
2009 Debbie Robus
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October 27 ~ Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you think that Jesus is telling us in this passage not to pray in public? Is He saying, “Don’t pray over your meal in a restaurant, or ‘meet at the pole’ before school.”? Is he telling us not to pray before a football game or even aloud in church? The answer is “Absolutely, positively NOT!” There is nothing wrong with sincere prayer offered up in public.
What Jesus is warning against in this scripture is empty prayer – prayers done for show. If you are praying over your meal at a restaurant so that the people at the next table will see you and think you are really great Christians, you are wasting your breath. If you are attending “See You At The Pole” to meet your friends and “see and be seen,” you just as well not go. Even if you offer up a public prayer in church just because it’s time in the order of worship to do this, and you do not talk to God from the heart, you’d have been better off to skip on to the next item in the bulletin.
God doesn’t care about public displays of what great Christians we are. He cares about the heart. Silent prayers… prayers offered in a private corner of your bedroom or while you are alone in your car… prayers between only you and God… these are the prayers that truly convey what is in your heart. You can offer a heart-felt prayer in public… as if you and God are the only ones in the room… but in order to do this, you must be fully involved at that moment in communicating with God. If you are swayed or motivated by outside influences, God will know.
So think about your prayers. If you DO pray in public, be sure you are open, honest, sincere, and talking to God from your heart. And find a quiet time and space for private conversations with God. Pour out your heart to Him and feel His response.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 26 ~ James 5:17-18
Elijah was just as human as we are, and for three and a half years his prayers kept the rain from falling. But when he did pray for rain, it fell from the skies and made the crops grow.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m going to as So-and-So to pray for me – he/she has a ‘direct line’ to heaven!” This is meant as a joke… but really, it is no laughing matter. Read today’s passage again. “Elijah was just as human as we are…” No human being has a more “direct line” to God through prayer than any of us – not even Elijah! What makes the difference is the person’s level of faith!
See, sometimes we pray for things, but we don’t really expect God to deliver! We may ask for rain, but we think to ourselves, “Maybe it will… maybe it won’t” – or often we ask God for something - or for help in our situation - and then we move ahead believing that this will never happen.
The point is… we need to put some “meat” behind our prayers. We need to pray for things with the belief and the faith that God will answer us, according to His will. Does that mean we can pray for a new Mustang and God will give us one? No. Can we ask for a supermodel boyfriend or girlfriend or to become a pro athlete or major recording artist and believe this into existence? Not if God didn’t plan for us to have these things!
So why do we pray with faith and hope? Because God is able to do all things… mighty, powerful things... as He sees fit for us. Was there a chance that God might not bring the rain when Elijah asked for it? Sure! But Elijah trusted God to know what he and his people needed, and he believed that God would meet those needs. Are you believing that today? Are you praying with faith that God will answer?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 25 ~ Zechariah 10:1
I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds
and showers of rain to make fields produce.
So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
If our car breaks down, we don’t seek a painter or an orthodontist. If we get sick, we don’t go to the mechanic or a hairdresser. When we need groceries, we don’t go to the shoe store.
Have you ever noticed that often, when people need help with problems of the mind, body and soul, they look to everyone under the sun except the One who can really meet their needs? It may not be as extreme as going to the shoe store for groceries. But why is it we waste so much time trying to figure things out on our own – or asking others to help us, when what we really need is God? And this passage does a great job of spelling this out for us. In plain language, God says, “If I’m the one who controls the rain, so when you need it, you should ask me.”
When we have a problem we can’t solve, we need to go to God in prayer. He has the solutions. When we are sick… we may need a medical doctor… but we also need the Great Physician to show us which doctor to consult… and to guide the doctor’s treatment and care. When we are lonely, we don’t need to look for friends and love in all the wrong places. We need to tell God how we feel and ask Him to bring us the right companionship that lines up with His will for our life. In all things… in all needs… we need to start by talking to God. Let HIM show you how to proceed… who to consult… where to look for further answers. He controls the rain and everything else, so whatever we need, we should consult Him first and foremost.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 24 ~ 1 Kings 8:35-36
Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning, listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you promised them forever.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I know someone who has a saying… “Once you get on my ‘list’ – there is no eraser!” I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that God doesn’t say this about those of us who sin against Him! I am thrilled to know that when I turn toward Him and pray to Him for forgiveness, He is more than happy to oblige me… to “send the rain” where there was none.
On the other hand, I believe that those whose names are in the Book of Life – the list of those who have confessed Jesus as Savior, God will call home to live with Him in heaven. For this list, I believe there truly is no eraser. Does this mean I can live however I wish and take Eternity for granted? Absolutely NOT! If anything, I am more eager to please God and to serve Him. I am more committed to avoiding sin with everything I have in me. But I am also confident that my Father God loves me and wants me with Him for Eternity… and this is tremendous comfort to me. This assurance is even better than rain after a drought, because the promise is forever.
For my friend, being on their list with no eraser was a bad thing. With God… it depends on the list! I’m glad to know where I stand with Him… aren’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 23 ~ Matthew 6:9-13
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven.
Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
“I don’t know how to pray.” We’ve probably all said this at one time or another. And honestly, there are days and situations where we really don’t have a clue what to say to God. These are good times to just sit quietly and listen! But they are also times to remember the prayer that Jesus taught us – the one we all know by heart in some form as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
In this prayer, all that we need to say to God is covered. He is praised. He is recognized as all-powerful and worthy of our honor and glory. He is invited to dwell in us. He is asked to care for our every need and to forgive our sins. He is also asked to protect us from Satan and his evil. The traditional recitation of this prayer that we all know so well adds a final tribute… “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever… Amen!” This is fitting – there is nothing wrong with telling God often how amazing He is to us. Do you see that we have pretty well covered everything here? We have needs… we’ve asked God to meet them. We have sinned… we’ve confessed that, too. We are praying for others… we asked God to come and set up His kingdom, give us food for today, and protect us.
Does this mean we can simply recite “The Lord’s Prayer” each day and be done? NO! We need to talk to God about specifics… we need to intercede for others… we need to confess our sins. But sometimes, in certain circumstances and for various reasons, words don’t come to us. But our need to talk to God never goes away. So this is a great model… and a wonderful prayer to use as a starting point.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 22 ~ Proverbs 27:2
Don't brag about yourself -- let others praise you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the WeTV show “The Locator,” Troy Dunn and his team of investigators help reunite people… long lost relatives and friends, children and the mothers who gave them up for adoption, fathers who were never in the picture for some reason, and more. Troy and his investigators are good at what they do. On the show, he goes to great lengths to make sure that all parties are emotionally okay with the reunion. In the end, he shows up with one person or the other and says something to the effect that, “I have more information about your relative/friend.” Then as he starts to explain that he found the person being sought, he often adds something like… “In fact, he/she is here right now, walking up behind you.”
As the family reunites, you would expect Troy to stand around and accept pats on the back and big hugs from everyone - right? No… he quietly turns and walks away while the family or friends are busy hugging and getting reacquainted. He doesn’t even look back. He knows he has done his job, and while he IS paid for this service, his personal reward is the satisfaction of knowing he blessed someone else’s life and helped heal emotional wounds.
In our own lives, when we accomplish something, do something well, or especially when we do something nice for others… we need to let the action stand on its own merits. We need to avoid the temptation to say, “Look how I helped this person,” or “I bought that person a new coat,” or “I helped out with his bills last month,” or even, “I picked up the tab for everyone.” Mark 7:36-37 tells us that after healing the sick, Jesus told His disciples not to speak of the miracles. Even Jesus refrained from bragging – and He had reason to brag!
There is nothing wrong with being proud when you accomplish something – when you win a contest, come in first in a race, or your team wins the football game. Cheering your success is one thing… bragging about how great or wonderful you are or what an amazing job you did is another… and scripture proves it has no place in the life of a Christian. Don’t brag about yourself… let your actions speak for you. Even if no one else ever openly praises you or seems to recognize your accomplishments, God will know what you have done… and He will bless your efforts.
©2009 Debbie Robus
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Most of us probably need to tattoo this scripture passage on our forearm, where we can see it throughout each and every day! We are all so human… and we so want to “drive the car” ourselves. God must sit back and chuckle at times – and groan others – over how ridiculous we are!
My great-nephew, Timothy, has a favorite toy that I’ve clipped to his crib. This toy is a stuffed horse, attached to a couple of stuffed baubles that have some sort of noisemaker inside them. Every time he touches the toy, it makes a clinking noise that he likes. This toy is clipped just barely within reach when Timothy lies in his crib. He works and works to grip the toy and cause it to make the noise he loves. Since he is teething, he would also love to put this toy horse in his mouth and chew on it. Unfortunately, he can’t quite reach the toy well enough to get a good – and sustained – grip on it, much less a taste! This frustrates him to no end! After awhile, he gets mad! He has learned to move around a bit, and if he would just scoot closer to the toy – or roll over toward it – he could reach it easily. But he doesn’t grasp that concept yet.
I’m thinking that this is how we are with God. He offers us so much, and we spin our wheels and try all sorts of gyrations to get what He has for us. But the very thing we could do to actually have what God is offering… peace, answers, comfort, direction, wisdom, and more… is just a prayer away. We reach out and ask… but we don’t follow through and give all of our cares and concerns to God. It’s as simple as “rolling over” and scooting closer to Him.
I’m betting that within the next few weeks, Timothy will figure out how to get to his toy. He will make the turn, scoot over, and draw closer. Will we do the same with God? Isn’t it time we did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 30 ~ 1 Kings 3:5-14
One night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the LORD God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you."
Solomon answered: My father David, your servant, was honest and did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who is now king. LORD God, I'm your servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and know so little about being a leader. And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there are too many of them to count.
Please make me wise and teach me the difference between right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
God said: Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this. You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right decisions. So I'll make you wiser than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be rich and respected as long as you live, and you'll be greater than any other king. If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long time.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What are you asking God for these days? Are you asking Him for the desires of your head or of your heart? By this, I mean, are you asking God to bring you a certain love interest, or a new car… or even good grades? Are you asking God to give you a job – or to direct you to a better paying, more enjoyable one? Are you asking God to make your children behave better or your parents to be more cooperative?
“But I need these things!” you may be saying. HELLO! God knows what you need! Why not ask Him to give you wisdom, patience, understanding, and compassion. Why not ask God to direct you to the job that is right for you – and to give you peace and joy in your work? Why not ask God to help you with relationships – with your family, friends, and love interests? Why not ask God to provide for your needs – food, clothing, shelter… and yes, transportation.
Once we learn to ask God for the right things, everything else falls into place. Think about how you pray – and what you ask for. Realize fully that God’s ways and our ways are not always the same. Mysterious as they may seem, God’s ways are always perfect. It could be that He sees your potential for growth through the struggle(s) you are currently experiencing. It could be that He simply knows things we don’t about our lives, and a new car or wardrobe is not what you need.
It could also be that, like David, God is waiting for you to ask Him for the right things in the right way, and then He plans to give you your “head” desires, too. The difference is perspective – and priorities. Submit to God and ask Him to direct the events of your life according to His will. Trust Him to meet all of your needs. You will be amazed at how much better your life can be.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 29 ~ 1 Peter 4:7-8
Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.
Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What is tripping you up these days? Are you frustrated with a situation or a person? Are you holding a grudge? As I prayed recently, God reminded me that soldiers are dying in Afghanistan. Little children are battling H1N1, and adults are facing the loss of their homes and jobs… or their very lives to a deadly disease. Families are searching for missing loved ones, while others mourn the untimely death of one of their own. In other words, whatever little frustrations and aggravations of my day that cause me to stew and grumble are all very minor in the scheme of things. And I am grateful that I have no major troubles!
As I pray, I ask God to give me wisdom… to “love appropriately” – which means as Jesus loves (which is unconditionally). If someone or something has aggravated me, I must look at the person or situation with the eyes of Jesus… and chances are pretty good He doesn’t see things as I do! In other words… whatever is eating at you today, ask God to show you how to love the people involved according to His will. I’m betting that the situation and those involved will seem different to you. Sometimes the change that needs to occur in a situation is OUR attitude… not the other guy and his/hers!
Ask God how to change your heart about the frustrations and aggravations of your day. Ask Him to help you to love others as Jesus loves… and to let Him work through you. See for yourself what a difference this can make!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 28 ~ Philippians 1:10
I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
You can hardly turn on the television any more without hearing about someone who made a wrong relationship choice. From sitcoms to daytime talk shows to the evening news, there are stories of people choose with their heart and end up miserable… or worse!“I thought he/she was my friend,” you hear people say, as they deal with betrayal or mistreatment. “He/she was my business partner – I trusted him/her with my life!” Let’s be honest… making right choices is tough, and we are all human! That’s why we need to stay closely in tune with God. We need to continue to grow in love for Him, in worship, and in the study of His word.
In The Message, Philippians 1:9-11 reads… “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” Truly we do need to use our head and listen for God’s voice, so that we act reasonably, choose wisely, and “love appropriately” – not out of impulse, desire, or “sentimental gush.”
If you find that your relationships struggle… or that you seem to fall in and out of friends, love interests, jobs, commitments, or even churches(!)… maybe it’s time to grow up in the love of Christ. Maybe the answer is spending more time in prayer and study of God’s word and seeking His will. Maybe it’s time for your love of God to grow larger than the love of anything – and anyone – else! Now THAT’s a life that makes Jesus proud! Shouldn’t this be our ultimate goal?
2009 Debbie Robus
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October 27 ~ Matthew 6:6
When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you think that Jesus is telling us in this passage not to pray in public? Is He saying, “Don’t pray over your meal in a restaurant, or ‘meet at the pole’ before school.”? Is he telling us not to pray before a football game or even aloud in church? The answer is “Absolutely, positively NOT!” There is nothing wrong with sincere prayer offered up in public.
What Jesus is warning against in this scripture is empty prayer – prayers done for show. If you are praying over your meal at a restaurant so that the people at the next table will see you and think you are really great Christians, you are wasting your breath. If you are attending “See You At The Pole” to meet your friends and “see and be seen,” you just as well not go. Even if you offer up a public prayer in church just because it’s time in the order of worship to do this, and you do not talk to God from the heart, you’d have been better off to skip on to the next item in the bulletin.
God doesn’t care about public displays of what great Christians we are. He cares about the heart. Silent prayers… prayers offered in a private corner of your bedroom or while you are alone in your car… prayers between only you and God… these are the prayers that truly convey what is in your heart. You can offer a heart-felt prayer in public… as if you and God are the only ones in the room… but in order to do this, you must be fully involved at that moment in communicating with God. If you are swayed or motivated by outside influences, God will know.
So think about your prayers. If you DO pray in public, be sure you are open, honest, sincere, and talking to God from your heart. And find a quiet time and space for private conversations with God. Pour out your heart to Him and feel His response.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 26 ~ James 5:17-18
Elijah was just as human as we are, and for three and a half years his prayers kept the rain from falling. But when he did pray for rain, it fell from the skies and made the crops grow.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m going to as So-and-So to pray for me – he/she has a ‘direct line’ to heaven!” This is meant as a joke… but really, it is no laughing matter. Read today’s passage again. “Elijah was just as human as we are…” No human being has a more “direct line” to God through prayer than any of us – not even Elijah! What makes the difference is the person’s level of faith!
See, sometimes we pray for things, but we don’t really expect God to deliver! We may ask for rain, but we think to ourselves, “Maybe it will… maybe it won’t” – or often we ask God for something - or for help in our situation - and then we move ahead believing that this will never happen.
The point is… we need to put some “meat” behind our prayers. We need to pray for things with the belief and the faith that God will answer us, according to His will. Does that mean we can pray for a new Mustang and God will give us one? No. Can we ask for a supermodel boyfriend or girlfriend or to become a pro athlete or major recording artist and believe this into existence? Not if God didn’t plan for us to have these things!
So why do we pray with faith and hope? Because God is able to do all things… mighty, powerful things... as He sees fit for us. Was there a chance that God might not bring the rain when Elijah asked for it? Sure! But Elijah trusted God to know what he and his people needed, and he believed that God would meet those needs. Are you believing that today? Are you praying with faith that God will answer?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 25 ~ Zechariah 10:1
I, the LORD, am the one who sends storm clouds
and showers of rain to make fields produce.
So when the crops need rain, you should pray to me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
If our car breaks down, we don’t seek a painter or an orthodontist. If we get sick, we don’t go to the mechanic or a hairdresser. When we need groceries, we don’t go to the shoe store.
Have you ever noticed that often, when people need help with problems of the mind, body and soul, they look to everyone under the sun except the One who can really meet their needs? It may not be as extreme as going to the shoe store for groceries. But why is it we waste so much time trying to figure things out on our own – or asking others to help us, when what we really need is God? And this passage does a great job of spelling this out for us. In plain language, God says, “If I’m the one who controls the rain, so when you need it, you should ask me.”
When we have a problem we can’t solve, we need to go to God in prayer. He has the solutions. When we are sick… we may need a medical doctor… but we also need the Great Physician to show us which doctor to consult… and to guide the doctor’s treatment and care. When we are lonely, we don’t need to look for friends and love in all the wrong places. We need to tell God how we feel and ask Him to bring us the right companionship that lines up with His will for our life. In all things… in all needs… we need to start by talking to God. Let HIM show you how to proceed… who to consult… where to look for further answers. He controls the rain and everything else, so whatever we need, we should consult Him first and foremost.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 24 ~ 1 Kings 8:35-36
Suppose your people sin against you, and you punish them by holding back the rain. If they turn toward this temple and pray in your name and stop sinning, listen from your home in heaven and forgive them. The people of Israel are your servants, so teach them to live right. And please send rain on the land you promised them forever.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
I know someone who has a saying… “Once you get on my ‘list’ – there is no eraser!” I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that God doesn’t say this about those of us who sin against Him! I am thrilled to know that when I turn toward Him and pray to Him for forgiveness, He is more than happy to oblige me… to “send the rain” where there was none.
On the other hand, I believe that those whose names are in the Book of Life – the list of those who have confessed Jesus as Savior, God will call home to live with Him in heaven. For this list, I believe there truly is no eraser. Does this mean I can live however I wish and take Eternity for granted? Absolutely NOT! If anything, I am more eager to please God and to serve Him. I am more committed to avoiding sin with everything I have in me. But I am also confident that my Father God loves me and wants me with Him for Eternity… and this is tremendous comfort to me. This assurance is even better than rain after a drought, because the promise is forever.
For my friend, being on their list with no eraser was a bad thing. With God… it depends on the list! I’m glad to know where I stand with Him… aren’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 23 ~ Matthew 6:9-13
You should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven.
Give us our food for today. Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
“I don’t know how to pray.” We’ve probably all said this at one time or another. And honestly, there are days and situations where we really don’t have a clue what to say to God. These are good times to just sit quietly and listen! But they are also times to remember the prayer that Jesus taught us – the one we all know by heart in some form as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
In this prayer, all that we need to say to God is covered. He is praised. He is recognized as all-powerful and worthy of our honor and glory. He is invited to dwell in us. He is asked to care for our every need and to forgive our sins. He is also asked to protect us from Satan and his evil. The traditional recitation of this prayer that we all know so well adds a final tribute… “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever… Amen!” This is fitting – there is nothing wrong with telling God often how amazing He is to us. Do you see that we have pretty well covered everything here? We have needs… we’ve asked God to meet them. We have sinned… we’ve confessed that, too. We are praying for others… we asked God to come and set up His kingdom, give us food for today, and protect us.
Does this mean we can simply recite “The Lord’s Prayer” each day and be done? NO! We need to talk to God about specifics… we need to intercede for others… we need to confess our sins. But sometimes, in certain circumstances and for various reasons, words don’t come to us. But our need to talk to God never goes away. So this is a great model… and a wonderful prayer to use as a starting point.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 22 ~ Proverbs 27:2
Don't brag about yourself -- let others praise you.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
On the WeTV show “The Locator,” Troy Dunn and his team of investigators help reunite people… long lost relatives and friends, children and the mothers who gave them up for adoption, fathers who were never in the picture for some reason, and more. Troy and his investigators are good at what they do. On the show, he goes to great lengths to make sure that all parties are emotionally okay with the reunion. In the end, he shows up with one person or the other and says something to the effect that, “I have more information about your relative/friend.” Then as he starts to explain that he found the person being sought, he often adds something like… “In fact, he/she is here right now, walking up behind you.”
As the family reunites, you would expect Troy to stand around and accept pats on the back and big hugs from everyone - right? No… he quietly turns and walks away while the family or friends are busy hugging and getting reacquainted. He doesn’t even look back. He knows he has done his job, and while he IS paid for this service, his personal reward is the satisfaction of knowing he blessed someone else’s life and helped heal emotional wounds.
In our own lives, when we accomplish something, do something well, or especially when we do something nice for others… we need to let the action stand on its own merits. We need to avoid the temptation to say, “Look how I helped this person,” or “I bought that person a new coat,” or “I helped out with his bills last month,” or even, “I picked up the tab for everyone.” Mark 7:36-37 tells us that after healing the sick, Jesus told His disciples not to speak of the miracles. Even Jesus refrained from bragging – and He had reason to brag!
There is nothing wrong with being proud when you accomplish something – when you win a contest, come in first in a race, or your team wins the football game. Cheering your success is one thing… bragging about how great or wonderful you are or what an amazing job you did is another… and scripture proves it has no place in the life of a Christian. Don’t brag about yourself… let your actions speak for you. Even if no one else ever openly praises you or seems to recognize your accomplishments, God will know what you have done… and He will bless your efforts.
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos - Week 3
October 21 ~ Proverbs 25:14
Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s face it… most of us are familiar with broken promises. Some of you may feel they are a constant in your life. I don’t know a single person who enjoys being on the receiving end of a broken promise. Some are seemingly minor, like promising to show up at a party or a ballgame and not coming. Others are more serious, like promising to pay back a debt and not doing so or promising to tell the truth, then lying. The worst is promising God you will serve Him and follow His will… then living a life of sin and selfishness.
Whether a promise is “major or minor,” is not really the issue. The bottom line is that any time you promise something to someone, you have given your word. And as a Christian, your word is serious business. You are making a commitment to someone, and any failure to follow through discredits you and dishonors God. If you cannot fulfill your promise, do all you can to make things right. If you cannot make it to the party or ballgame, let your friend know. If you have trouble repaying a debt, go to the lender and work out something or at least let them know you have not forgotten you owe it. As Christians, we should always be truthful… even when the truth is unpleasant or difficult.
The GOOD NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He has promised us Eternal Life with Him because of Jesus Christ. He has promised to always be with us and never leave our side. He has promised to meet our needs and to bless us and keep us. And that will never change. Today my prayer is that you will thank God for His promises… and the assurance that He will never break them. I also pray that you will ask God to help you keep YOUR promises… to be the faithful, obedient, truthful servant He has called you to be… and to make you a person of your word.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 20 ~ Matthew 6:1
When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We’re all human… and human nature often makes us vulnerable and in need of approval from others. So when we do something for someone else, human nature causes us to want recognition from others… or a pat on the back for our good deeds. The mark of a mature Christian is humility, and security in our faith that gives us the confidence that even the recipient of our good deeds doesn’t need to know we were involved. Only the approval and recognition from God matters… and God’s approval and recognition are enough! In fact, as you can see from this scripture, to report our good deeds to others effectively negates the blessing… the “star in your crown,” so to speak!
Lately, I have been asking God to give me a sense of completeness in Him. I have asked that He help me to only desire HIS approval and HIS company. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my husband, my family and friends. I enjoy their company. But I don’t want to depend on another human being to complete me. I don’t want to feel that very human need to have others around validating me. I want GOD to validate me… and I want HIM to be more than enough. And when I am obedient to His will, I want His approval to be all that I seek.
Today, I pray that this would be your desire, too. We have all that we will ever need in our relationship with God. Jesus suffered, bled and died for this privilege. He gave His very life that ours might be complete in our Heavenly Father. When we truly get this, we won’t need the recognition or approval of others for our good deeds. God will truly complete us…He will be enough.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 19 ~ Isaiah 38:14
I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
My second teaching assignment was a one-year position to fill in for a kindergarten teacher who was going on maternity leave. In July before my position started in August, this teacher suffered a brain aneurysm and died within hours. She left behind a husband and a 6-year-old son. I never even got to meet her. From all I have been told, Becky was a beautiful, wonderful woman and a very good teacher. Someone cleared her things out of the classroom, and I began preparing for my school year. Once in awhile, I would find something that had been missed in the cleaning… a stray coffee cup… the umbrella hanging on the back of the closet door knob. It was a bit unsettling, but I turned these in at the office and kept working. More than once, I saw fellow teachers standing in my doorway, shaking their heads. I would hear them whisper, “Becky did it this way,” or “Becky would have a fit if she saw that!”
The worst was my next-door neighbor teacher, Vickie, who had been Becky’s best friend. I realize now that her grief overshadowed everything she said and did, but at the time, I couldn’t understand that. I was only 21, and I had never experienced such personal devastation or loss. So I internalized her digs and unkind remarks. I felt terribly abused by this woman. Nothing I said or did pleased her, and I knew she said things about me to other teachers and expressed her displeasure. I took it very personally. Over and over I prayed, “Please, God! Come and help me. Take this burden from me.”
The one-year assignment became permanent, and the following year was more of the same. Vickie was still mired in her grief… and she vented toward me! When Thanksgiving break came, she and her family traveled to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend. While there, a large dump truck roared through an intersection just as Vickie entered it and literally sliced the entire top off her car. She was killed instantly. Her mother and 7-year-old son – the same age as Becky’s son - were miraculously spared.
The next few weeks were dark ones for our school. We were now all mired in grief, and for most, it was a double whammy from losing two dear friends. I befriended the teacher who replaced my next-door neighbor, and I made a point to avoid the “Vickie did this” or “This was Vickie’s” statements that had hurt me so badly. When she found some of Vickie’s things that had been overlooked, I commiserated. I see now that God allowed me to help my new neighbor through HER transition into this classroom. I also came to realize that it didn’t matter WHO replaced these teachers… the perceived wrath and venting was really just grief that had no clear target.
I've never told anyone this, but at first I was angry with God… and I felt very guilty. “Lord, this is NOT how I meant for You to fix this!” I sometimes wished I had not prayed for help. How could God answer me in this way?! Over time I came to understand that…
My point is this… you are going to face things that seem unfair. You may even feel abused and mistreated. But GOD understands. Pray. Ask God to “come and help me.” Then let it go… let Him work... and trust His outcome.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 18 ~ Psalm 44:24
Why do you keep looking away? Don't forget our sufferings and all of our troubles.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you ever feel like God has just looked the other way and forgotten about you? First of all, I assure you that He has NOT! But I do understand that we can all feel this way from time to time. Recently, as I prayed, I told God, “I feel so helpless about this situation.” And in the next second, I felt God say to me, “You know better than that! You are NEVER helpless… I am always here to help you.”
In the times that we feel like God has looked away, we need to search our own heart and see where we have lost faith, if only momentarily. We need to confess our troubles to God (even though He knows them already – He wants to hear it from us!) and then GIVE them all to Him. We need to humbly admit that on our own, we are indeed helpless, but through Him, we can handle anything.
God has not forgotten our sufferings or our troubles… and He has not looked away. We have simply momentarily lost sight of how big He is and the fact that He can handle anything… and we have forgotten to let Him. Maybe today we need to give God our burdens and our cares again… and trust Him this time to handle them for us.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 17 ~ Psalm 119:121, 134
I did what was fair and right! Don't hand me over to those who want to mistreat me.
Verse 134: Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s say you are out with friends on a Friday night, and some of them start drinking. They offer you a drink, but you refuse. In fact, you refuse to ride in a car with them and try to persuade them not to drink and drive. But they insist they only had a couple of beers, and off they go. The car has an unfortunate meeting with a guard rail after the driver can’t negotiate a curve, and the driver wrecks. Thankfully no one is injured, but the car is a mess. Police and parents rush to interview anyone and everyone who might know something about this incident, and someone asks you, “Was anyone drinking?” What do you say? Do you lie and cover for your friends – and maybe protect your friendship? Or do you tell the truth, taking a chance that your friends will suffer consequences and never speak to you again?
The choice truly is a hard one. But think of it this way. Suppose you cover for your friends, and because basically all that happened was damage to the car, the friends feel invincible and drink and drive again. But this time the results are much different. Suppose someone is badly injured – or even killed. Can you live with the fact that you did not take action initially that might have prevented this? Of course, you will never know for sure whether admitting these friends were drinking would have resulted in prevention of the second event. Are you willing to take this risk?
So often we operate out of fear. If I do this… such-and-such will happen. If I don’t act, this other thing will result. If I do what is fair and right, I will lose my friends, or at the very least, they will pick on me and mistreat me. Someone will laugh - someone will criticize. I’ll lose my boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, friends or family members. I once reported a student for suspected child abuse, and the mother came to school a few days later, intending to “whip” me!
Right choices are often HARD! But hear the good news… God has our back! He will protect us when we make the hard choices. When we stand up for what is fair and right and honor Him with our choices and behavior, He will protect us. Obey God. Be fair and right in all things. Ask Him to help you make good choices, and to protect you from the consequences (and possible wrath) that ensues. Stand tall and proud in your choices, and know that God really does have your back when you do what is right.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 16 ~ Psalms 17:9
Don't let my brutal enemies attack from all sides and kill me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What “brutal enemies” are attacking you from all sides today? Is it a test you are studying for or a class you are struggling to pass? Is it your health, a relationship, a job, or money troubles? Is your family in a crisis of some sort? Is the devil attacking you with temptations – or convincing you to choose what he says is the “fun” of sin over a relationship with God?
Whatever you are facing, God can handle it for you. But you need to ask. I’m not saying God won’t protect you anyway, but He really wants to hear from you… He wants you to come before Him and humbly ASK for His help. In a way, it’s a matter of respect and reverence. So show God the respect and honor He deserves. Acknowledge His power, and ask for His help. Don’t let Satan’s brutal enemies attack from all sides… don’t risk Spiritual death at his hands. Trust God to help – ASK Him to do so – and believe that He will!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 15 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Did it ever occur to you to pray for “kings and others in power?” How about Osama Bin Laden – ever prayed for him? If you get a chance to read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I encourage you to do so. These novels by Khaled Hosseini helped me to understand the people of Afghanistan better and “humanized” them for me. We get so self-absorbed sometimes that we forget that real people have real lives halfway around the world in a completely different culture from ours… but they are nonetheless God’s precious children. Christianity is not just for Americans!
So we should pray for world leaders – regardless of their faith. Don’t we believe in a God who is able to do all things? Can’t He change the heart of a ruthless dictator just as well as a sinful American? Do you remember the little children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children?” In it, a verse says, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” I tell you, we do not have an exclusive on God! And we are called in scripture to pray for those in other lands – and their leaders… to thank God for them and to ask for His blessings upon them.
I guess the question today is, “How big is the God we serve?” Is He able to bring us into agreement and peaceful coexistence? Is He able to change the hearts of evil men and women? How big is your God today – and have you prayed for all of His children?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Broken promises are worse than rain clouds that don't bring rain.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s face it… most of us are familiar with broken promises. Some of you may feel they are a constant in your life. I don’t know a single person who enjoys being on the receiving end of a broken promise. Some are seemingly minor, like promising to show up at a party or a ballgame and not coming. Others are more serious, like promising to pay back a debt and not doing so or promising to tell the truth, then lying. The worst is promising God you will serve Him and follow His will… then living a life of sin and selfishness.
Whether a promise is “major or minor,” is not really the issue. The bottom line is that any time you promise something to someone, you have given your word. And as a Christian, your word is serious business. You are making a commitment to someone, and any failure to follow through discredits you and dishonors God. If you cannot fulfill your promise, do all you can to make things right. If you cannot make it to the party or ballgame, let your friend know. If you have trouble repaying a debt, go to the lender and work out something or at least let them know you have not forgotten you owe it. As Christians, we should always be truthful… even when the truth is unpleasant or difficult.
The GOOD NEWS is that God never breaks a promise. He has promised us Eternal Life with Him because of Jesus Christ. He has promised to always be with us and never leave our side. He has promised to meet our needs and to bless us and keep us. And that will never change. Today my prayer is that you will thank God for His promises… and the assurance that He will never break them. I also pray that you will ask God to help you keep YOUR promises… to be the faithful, obedient, truthful servant He has called you to be… and to make you a person of your word.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 20 ~ Matthew 6:1
When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
We’re all human… and human nature often makes us vulnerable and in need of approval from others. So when we do something for someone else, human nature causes us to want recognition from others… or a pat on the back for our good deeds. The mark of a mature Christian is humility, and security in our faith that gives us the confidence that even the recipient of our good deeds doesn’t need to know we were involved. Only the approval and recognition from God matters… and God’s approval and recognition are enough! In fact, as you can see from this scripture, to report our good deeds to others effectively negates the blessing… the “star in your crown,” so to speak!
Lately, I have been asking God to give me a sense of completeness in Him. I have asked that He help me to only desire HIS approval and HIS company. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my husband, my family and friends. I enjoy their company. But I don’t want to depend on another human being to complete me. I don’t want to feel that very human need to have others around validating me. I want GOD to validate me… and I want HIM to be more than enough. And when I am obedient to His will, I want His approval to be all that I seek.
Today, I pray that this would be your desire, too. We have all that we will ever need in our relationship with God. Jesus suffered, bled and died for this privilege. He gave His very life that ours might be complete in our Heavenly Father. When we truly get this, we won’t need the recognition or approval of others for our good deeds. God will truly complete us…He will be enough.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 19 ~ Isaiah 38:14
I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove. My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD. I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
My second teaching assignment was a one-year position to fill in for a kindergarten teacher who was going on maternity leave. In July before my position started in August, this teacher suffered a brain aneurysm and died within hours. She left behind a husband and a 6-year-old son. I never even got to meet her. From all I have been told, Becky was a beautiful, wonderful woman and a very good teacher. Someone cleared her things out of the classroom, and I began preparing for my school year. Once in awhile, I would find something that had been missed in the cleaning… a stray coffee cup… the umbrella hanging on the back of the closet door knob. It was a bit unsettling, but I turned these in at the office and kept working. More than once, I saw fellow teachers standing in my doorway, shaking their heads. I would hear them whisper, “Becky did it this way,” or “Becky would have a fit if she saw that!”
The worst was my next-door neighbor teacher, Vickie, who had been Becky’s best friend. I realize now that her grief overshadowed everything she said and did, but at the time, I couldn’t understand that. I was only 21, and I had never experienced such personal devastation or loss. So I internalized her digs and unkind remarks. I felt terribly abused by this woman. Nothing I said or did pleased her, and I knew she said things about me to other teachers and expressed her displeasure. I took it very personally. Over and over I prayed, “Please, God! Come and help me. Take this burden from me.”
The one-year assignment became permanent, and the following year was more of the same. Vickie was still mired in her grief… and she vented toward me! When Thanksgiving break came, she and her family traveled to Oklahoma for the holiday weekend. While there, a large dump truck roared through an intersection just as Vickie entered it and literally sliced the entire top off her car. She was killed instantly. Her mother and 7-year-old son – the same age as Becky’s son - were miraculously spared.
The next few weeks were dark ones for our school. We were now all mired in grief, and for most, it was a double whammy from losing two dear friends. I befriended the teacher who replaced my next-door neighbor, and I made a point to avoid the “Vickie did this” or “This was Vickie’s” statements that had hurt me so badly. When she found some of Vickie’s things that had been overlooked, I commiserated. I see now that God allowed me to help my new neighbor through HER transition into this classroom. I also came to realize that it didn’t matter WHO replaced these teachers… the perceived wrath and venting was really just grief that had no clear target.
I've never told anyone this, but at first I was angry with God… and I felt very guilty. “Lord, this is NOT how I meant for You to fix this!” I sometimes wished I had not prayed for help. How could God answer me in this way?! Over time I came to understand that…
- We don’t get to dictate how God answers, but we must ask for help anyway.
- God may have seen that Vickie could never recover from her grief sufficiently. More likely, God knew other things I couldn’t about her circumstances, and calling her to heaven was the best option for Vickie. There was more going on here than just my prayers for relief and rescue. It’s not always just about us!
- We waste a lot of time feeling sorry for ourselves… feeling helpless and abused… when what we really need to do is to relax, be patient and give God time to work.
My point is this… you are going to face things that seem unfair. You may even feel abused and mistreated. But GOD understands. Pray. Ask God to “come and help me.” Then let it go… let Him work... and trust His outcome.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 18 ~ Psalm 44:24
Why do you keep looking away? Don't forget our sufferings and all of our troubles.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Do you ever feel like God has just looked the other way and forgotten about you? First of all, I assure you that He has NOT! But I do understand that we can all feel this way from time to time. Recently, as I prayed, I told God, “I feel so helpless about this situation.” And in the next second, I felt God say to me, “You know better than that! You are NEVER helpless… I am always here to help you.”
In the times that we feel like God has looked away, we need to search our own heart and see where we have lost faith, if only momentarily. We need to confess our troubles to God (even though He knows them already – He wants to hear it from us!) and then GIVE them all to Him. We need to humbly admit that on our own, we are indeed helpless, but through Him, we can handle anything.
God has not forgotten our sufferings or our troubles… and He has not looked away. We have simply momentarily lost sight of how big He is and the fact that He can handle anything… and we have forgotten to let Him. Maybe today we need to give God our burdens and our cares again… and trust Him this time to handle them for us.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 17 ~ Psalm 119:121, 134
I did what was fair and right! Don't hand me over to those who want to mistreat me.
Verse 134: Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Let’s say you are out with friends on a Friday night, and some of them start drinking. They offer you a drink, but you refuse. In fact, you refuse to ride in a car with them and try to persuade them not to drink and drive. But they insist they only had a couple of beers, and off they go. The car has an unfortunate meeting with a guard rail after the driver can’t negotiate a curve, and the driver wrecks. Thankfully no one is injured, but the car is a mess. Police and parents rush to interview anyone and everyone who might know something about this incident, and someone asks you, “Was anyone drinking?” What do you say? Do you lie and cover for your friends – and maybe protect your friendship? Or do you tell the truth, taking a chance that your friends will suffer consequences and never speak to you again?
The choice truly is a hard one. But think of it this way. Suppose you cover for your friends, and because basically all that happened was damage to the car, the friends feel invincible and drink and drive again. But this time the results are much different. Suppose someone is badly injured – or even killed. Can you live with the fact that you did not take action initially that might have prevented this? Of course, you will never know for sure whether admitting these friends were drinking would have resulted in prevention of the second event. Are you willing to take this risk?
So often we operate out of fear. If I do this… such-and-such will happen. If I don’t act, this other thing will result. If I do what is fair and right, I will lose my friends, or at the very least, they will pick on me and mistreat me. Someone will laugh - someone will criticize. I’ll lose my boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, friends or family members. I once reported a student for suspected child abuse, and the mother came to school a few days later, intending to “whip” me!
Right choices are often HARD! But hear the good news… God has our back! He will protect us when we make the hard choices. When we stand up for what is fair and right and honor Him with our choices and behavior, He will protect us. Obey God. Be fair and right in all things. Ask Him to help you make good choices, and to protect you from the consequences (and possible wrath) that ensues. Stand tall and proud in your choices, and know that God really does have your back when you do what is right.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 16 ~ Psalms 17:9
Don't let my brutal enemies attack from all sides and kill me.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
What “brutal enemies” are attacking you from all sides today? Is it a test you are studying for or a class you are struggling to pass? Is it your health, a relationship, a job, or money troubles? Is your family in a crisis of some sort? Is the devil attacking you with temptations – or convincing you to choose what he says is the “fun” of sin over a relationship with God?
Whatever you are facing, God can handle it for you. But you need to ask. I’m not saying God won’t protect you anyway, but He really wants to hear from you… He wants you to come before Him and humbly ASK for His help. In a way, it’s a matter of respect and reverence. So show God the respect and honor He deserves. Acknowledge His power, and ask for His help. Don’t let Satan’s brutal enemies attack from all sides… don’t risk Spiritual death at his hands. Trust God to help – ASK Him to do so – and believe that He will!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 15 ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Did it ever occur to you to pray for “kings and others in power?” How about Osama Bin Laden – ever prayed for him? If you get a chance to read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, I encourage you to do so. These novels by Khaled Hosseini helped me to understand the people of Afghanistan better and “humanized” them for me. We get so self-absorbed sometimes that we forget that real people have real lives halfway around the world in a completely different culture from ours… but they are nonetheless God’s precious children. Christianity is not just for Americans!
So we should pray for world leaders – regardless of their faith. Don’t we believe in a God who is able to do all things? Can’t He change the heart of a ruthless dictator just as well as a sinful American? Do you remember the little children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children?” In it, a verse says, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” I tell you, we do not have an exclusive on God! And we are called in scripture to pray for those in other lands – and their leaders… to thank God for them and to ask for His blessings upon them.
I guess the question today is, “How big is the God we serve?” Is He able to bring us into agreement and peaceful coexistence? Is He able to change the hearts of evil men and women? How big is your God today – and have you prayed for all of His children?
©2009 Debbie Robus
October 2009 Devos - Week 2
October 14 ~ Jeremiah 29:7
Pray for peace in Babylonia and work hard to make it prosperous. The more successful that nation is, the better off you will be.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
From the time we are little kids, we learn to recite prayers… and in doing so, we learn patterns for our meditations. We pray for Mommy and Daddy, sisters and brothers, Grandmas and Grandpas, and the family pets. As we get older and start to mature, we may personalize our prayers even more… praying for friends and other loved ones and for special needs – both ours and those of others. If we are really advanced (!) we may even pray for our fellow church members, and possibly our church leaders!
I think where we probably fall the shortest is in our prayers for people in other lands that we’ve never even met. We may pray for “our soldiers” in the war and abroad… but do we pray for the people of the homeland where the war is being fought? Do we pray for the hungry and sick in Third World countries? Do we ask God to create opportunities for these people to be witnessed to with the Gospel, food, and a smile? Do we pray for people in inner cities of our own country and the homeless in other communities and our own home town?
Jeremiah is saying in this passage that in essence, as our prayers go for those outside our back yard, so goes the nation, and yes, the world. If we only pray for those we know, we really are not “going into the world” as Jesus commanded. He wants us to care about our family and our friends and neighbors… but we must care about – pray for and minister to – those outside our immediate circle and even beyond our borders. The more we serve and minister in these areas, the more God will bless them – and all of us!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 13 ~ Daniel 9:15-19
Our Lord God, with your own mighty arm you rescued us from Egypt and made yourself famous to this very day, but we have sinned terribly. In the past, you treated us with such kindness, that we now beg you to stop being so terribly angry with Jerusalem. After all, it is your chosen city built on your holy mountain, even though it has suffered public disgrace because of our sins and those of our ancestors.
I am your servant, Lord God, and I beg you to answer my prayers and bring honor to yourself by having pity on your temple that lies in ruins. Please show mercy to your chosen city, not because we deserve it, but because of your great kindness. Forgive us! Hurry and do something, not only for your city and your chosen people, but to bring honor to yourself.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Someone suggested to me not too long ago, “I don’t know why God doesn’t get fed up and just wipe us all off the earth and start over!” I’m so thankful that God is more patient than we are! But I know that our behavior grieves Him. I know He is sad about the death and destruction of war. I know He is saddened by the suffering of hungry children – and just as much, the lack of action by His children to do something about this. I know God’s heart is broken when we say and do things that are sinful.
More than this, I believe God is greatly grieved when we say unkind things about others – or skew the truth about them – in the name of Christianity. I heard a pastor say recently that we want to preach “politics” rather than the Gospel of Christ. We must be very careful not to do this. Everyone is entitled to a political opinion… and even to a personal opinion about other people. But we must be very careful not to express our thoughts under the umbrella of our faith, as in, “I vote with the Christians” or “That candidate’s party is not God’s chosen party.”
We must be just as careful not to claim that “God gave us that football win,” or “It was God’s will that such-and-such entertainer win an award or contest.” Whether it is God’s will or not, we must be very careful that we do not give others the impression that we are superior because we belong to God… or that God does not care for the “losing” team or contestants. Truly, God loves all of His children and wishes to bless each of them. Whether God chooses their team to win a football game or a particular person to excel and succeed in a certain manner has nothing to do with how much He loves them.
So often, we create problems where none exist… all in the name of our faith. We must be very careful not to do this. We seem to understand on some level how wars start on an international level, but we overlook the backbiting and dissention that goes on even in our own community. We don’t acknowledge or even understand that pitting one denomination against another… or even one athletic team against another… in the name of God is wrong and hurtful. Think carefully about what you say and how you act. If you have acted hurtfully or disrespectfully, ask God to forgive you and set you on the right path. Represent God well… serve Him with all your heart, and guard your thoughts and actions so that you act in a loving manner and don’t stir up trouble.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 12 ~ Daniel 9:3-14
Then, to show my sorrow, I went without eating and dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes. I confessed my sins and earnestly prayed to the LORD my God: Our Lord, you are a great and fearsome God, and you faithfully keep your agreement with those who love and obey you. But we have sinned terribly by rebelling against you and rejecting your laws and teachings. We have ignored the message your servants the prophets spoke to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and everyone else.
Everything you do is right, our Lord. But still we suffer public disgrace because we have been unfaithful and have sinned against you. This includes all of us, both far and near--the people of Judah, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as those you dragged away to foreign lands, and even our kings, our officials, and our ancestors. LORD God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you and rejected your teachings that came to us from your servants the prophets.
Everyone in Israel has stubbornly refused to obey your laws, and so those curses written by your servant Moses have fallen upon us. You warned us and our leaders that Jerusalem would suffer the worst disaster in human history, and you did exactly as you had threatened. We have not escaped any of the terrible curses written by Moses, and yet we have refused to beg you for mercy and to remind ourselves of how faithful you have always been. And when you finally punished us with this horrible disaster, that was also the right thing to do, because we deserved it so much.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Everybody likes to talk about how evil the world is today. But truly, the world is probably no more evil now than it was in Daniel’s day… we just have the Internet and CNN and other media to tell us within the hour what horrible things are happening throughout the world. And wandering away from God is nothing new, either. Sin really has been part of our lives since the Garden of Eden.
Recently, President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. In an e-mail he issued, President Obama stated:
“To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so
many of the transformative figures who'vebeen honored by this prize --
men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world
through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not
just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a
means to give momentum to a set of causes. That is why I've said that
I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all
peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These
challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime.
But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that
they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun
together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored
to continue our vital work in the years to come.”
Recommitting to work together for justice and world peace is a great thing… and we all should be ready to roll up our sleeves and help. But we should not do this just because we are Americans or because President Obama has thrown down the challenge… but because GOD has called us to do this… even from the time of Moses! How and where do we even start? I believe the simplest beginnings are often the most effective. So I am challenging each of us to say and/or do something positive for someone else today. Maybe you can post a positive comment to a friend on Facebook. Maybe you can give someone a ride to or from school/church or to the store. Maybe you can do something nice for an elderly person in your neighborhood or your church family.
Or maybe, you will further peace by keeping quiet when tempted to say something in anger or to make an unkind comment. Perhaps you will resist the urge to act out in a sinful manner. But more importantly, I pray that each of us will consciously choose today to do or say at least one positive thing. Once we get the ball rolling and start making the effort, these acts become easier and more natural to us. It’s a start… and God will see our efforts and bless them!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 11 ~ Joel 2:12
The LORD said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
It isn’t too late… these four words are powerful! You don’t have to just imagine that God is waiting for you… it’s a FACT! You drifted away, but He will welcome you back. You got into things you shouldn’t have… bad habits, sinful activities, poor judgment and bad relationships, and tons of wrong choices. In the human world, you may feel like you have blown it – that your situation is beyond repair.
Hear this passage loudly and clearly… “It isn’t too late. You can still return to me [God] with all your heart!” The next sentences say to start crying and mourning, and to go without eating. You don’t have to be nearly so drastic or dramatic. Just humble yourself before God and admit your shortcomings and sins. Ask Him to forgive you. Then feel his amazing, massive arms wrap around you and draw you to His chest in the best hug you’ve ever experienced. Feel His love and forgiveness… the hope of another chance. Hear Him say, “We’ll figure this out together. I’m just glad you are home.” With God, it isn’t too late… this is the best news you will receive – today or any other!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 10 ~ Psalms 74
Our God, why have you completely rejected us?
Why are you so angry with the ones you care for?
Remember the people you rescued long ago, the tribe you chose to be your very own. Think of Mount Zion, your home; walk over to the temple left in ruins forever by those who hate us. Your enemies roared like lions in your holy temple, and they have placed their banners there. It looks like a forest chopped to pieces. They used axes and hatchets to smash the carvings. They burned down your temple and badly disgraced it. They said to themselves, "We'll crush them!" Then they burned every one of your meeting places all over the country.
There are no more miracles and no more prophets. Who knows how long it will be like this? Our God, how much longer will our enemies sneer? Won't they ever stop insulting you? Why don't you punish them? Why are you holding back? Our God and King, you have ruled since ancient times; you have won victories everywhere on this earth. By your power you made a path through the sea, and you smashed the heads of sea monsters. You crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan, then fed him to wild creatures in the desert. You opened the ground for streams and springs and dried up mighty rivers. You rule the day and the night, and you put the moon and the sun in place. You made summer and winter and gave them to the earth.
Remember your enemies, LORD! They foolishly sneer and won't respect you. You treat us like pet doves, but they mistreat us. Don't keep forgetting us and letting us be fed to those wild animals. Remember the agreement you made with us. Violent enemies are hiding in every dark corner of the earth. Don't disappoint those in need or make them turn from you, but help the poor and homeless to shout your praises. Do something, God! Defend yourself. Remember how those fools sneer at you all day long. Don't forget the loud shouts of your enemies.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
This Psalm was written by King David’s Music Director, Asaph. Let’s just say that Asaph was disillusioned. Things had happened in his life to discourage him and drag him down. And haven’t we all been like this at times? Haven’t we all had times when we wanted to say, “Do something, God!”
Some of you have maybe felt that way in school, when students or maybe even teachers or coaches seemed to pick on you and deal you grief. Surely we have all felt this way about war, the natural disasters that have plagued our world in recent years, and world hunger. It’s like Satan is attacking on all sides. We KNOW that God is powerful enough to take him out with a snap of the finger, so to speak, but here he still is! One of my pitfalls is a lack of patience with God for His timing. I want Him to answer my prayers – now! And in looking back over my life, I can see that my times of extreme frustration over what seemed like “unanswered prayers” were anything but that. In retrospect, I can see that God was working, and I am sure he wanted to say, “Just hold on to your pants, Missy… I’m in charge here!” Now, I knew He was in charge, but I just wanted to help Him along a little. And don’t we all do this from time to time?
So here’s my word for you today. It is perfectly okay to let God know you are frustrated (He knows already, but it’s still okay) and to ask Him for help. He wants you to do this… and to be honest about your feelings. But the God who smashed the heads of sea monsters and put the moon and sun in place can surely handle our problems. He can help us resolve conflicts, get a job, sell a house, pass a test, get well, survive disasters and heartaches, and much more. We need to all take a deep breath and learn to “have a little faith” – seriously! Believe me, God is not going to be brought down by His enemies. I’ve read the end of the story – God wins! Hang in there with Him, and you will win, too!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 9 ~ 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
Suppose I hold back the rain or send locusts to eat the crops or make my people suffer with deadly diseases.
If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven. I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
Now remember, this is Old Testament. Jesus had not yet come to earth and died on the cross for our sins. Life with God was a series of sacrifices and rewards. But… even though God has forgiven the sins of those of us who have asked… even though all who have invited Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to come into their lives are washed clean in the blood of Christ… God still blesses us when we turn to Him and stop sinning.
You may have heard the phrase, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” That is NOT a scripture in the Bible, but this passage comes pretty close to saying almost the same thing. The Lord does indeed help those who work hard to serve Him and be obedient to His will. And the more we honor Him with our service and obedience, the more He blesses us in return.
Halloween is coming. If you have ever passed out candy, you know there are some little “urchins” who knock on your door and seem rather greedy. Others are sweet and patient and polite. You may have found yourself wanting to reward the sweet, polite spooks and goblins with extra candy… and maybe even to hold back on those little grabbers who tried to stick their hand in the bucket and help themselves! It’s a lot the same way with us and God. Some of us are working hard to do what is right and to please Him, and God wants to heap extra blessings on us… while others are grabby and demanding (“You owe me, God!) and more than a little arrogant, and God seems to say, “I think I’ll hold onto his/her rewards a little while longer.”
I want you to get this… God has heaps and piles of blessings He wants to give each of us. But many of us are anything but deserving of His generosity. And some of us are wondering, “Why isn’t God helping me?” The answer may be as simple as turning around and facing Him, falling to your knees, and asking, “Will you forgive me and show me how I can serve You?” It’s worth a shot, isn’t it? What are YOU waiting for? Turn around today. See how fertile your “land” can become when you humble yourself before God.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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October 8 ~ Judges 21:2-4
After the war with Benjamin, the Israelites went to the place of worship at Bethel and sat there until sunset. They cried loudly and bitterly and prayed, "Our LORD, you are the God of Israel. Why did you let this happen? Now one of our tribes is almost gone."
Early the next morning, the Israelites built an altar and offered sacrifices to please the LORD and to ask his blessing.
(Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.)
In order to understand this passage, I had to go back to Judges 19 and start reading… and believe me, it is a sordid tale that I bet many of you never realized was written in the Bible! Think of it this way… imagine Americans in 12 states fighting each other and virtually wiping out all of the people from one state… and – for real - God told you to do this! Would you be able to do it? More than that, would you be able to thank God and praise Him afterward… and continue to do what He called you to do?
Sometimes God calls us to do some very hard things. Most likely He will never call us to fight and kill our neighbors in other states. But still, you will face times in your life that you know that God is showing you a decision or an action you must make, and you really, really, really don’t want to do it. Maybe God shows you that you are in an unhealthy relationship that must end. Maybe God tells you that you need to change jobs… or move to another city. Maybe God tells you that, despite all of your best efforts to care for your parents or grandparents, they need to be in assisted living or a nursing home… or maybe He is saying, “That’s where YOU need to be!” Maybe God is saying, “You need to be serving in another ministry… a different Sunday School class or Bible study… or even a different church!”
When my grandfather had a stroke in August 1984 and was left unresponsive, the neurologist came into a waiting room and spoke to my grandmother and me. He explained that there was no brain activity, and that my grandfather was not going to survive… and he asked permission to turn off the respirator that was breathing for him. My grandmother agreed, knowing that this would be my grandfather’s wish. When my grandfather died a few minutes later, my grandmother, sister and I went in to see his body. My grandmother immediately began to pray aloud and thank God for her life with this man… 53 years of marriage… and for strength to endure this loss. And God has done just that. For the last 25 years, He has seen my grandmother through times of joy AND more terribly “hard times,” like the loss of her only son. We marvel at how she appears to take seemingly unbearable experiences relatively in stride. We are amazed by her faith.
The mark of a true Christian is the ability to do the hard things that God calls us to – or to endure those that God allows – and then to praise Him and continue serving afterward. We often have a very hard time believing that what God takes us to, He will take us through! And we surely have a hard time seeing that what’s on “the other side” might even be better… or that we will be able to praise God for this hard thing. But clearly, this is nothing new. God has been calling His children to do hard things – make difficult choices – for centuries. And He has always rewarded faithfulness.
Whatever “hard things” you face today, if God is leading your choices, He will be with you “on the other side of the fence.” And once you get there, remember to thank Him and give Him praise for walking with you.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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