A SONG FOR THE BURDENED HEART!

 

Saturday, July 12, 2025

 

A SONG FOR THE BURDENED HEART!

 

Ps 61:1-4

61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

 

          I often sense the burdens that others are carrying. It is a part of the shepherd’s assignment and can’t be denied though I try. Sometimes I can help but often I feel somewhat helpless. It can be overwhelming to deal with the overwhelmed.

 

          The word “overwhelmed” is from a word that means “to cover over” like a thick blanket. There is darkness, confusion, and a heavy weight that covers and conceals the victim.

 

          David needed a rock or military high ground. He needed to be able to see far and clearly. He needed to be out of the reach of trouble. He needed peace, safety, and comfort. That rock is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4).

 

          Jesus promised, in John 14:18, “ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The word “comfortless” is the Greek orphanos and, of course, means “to be orphaned.”

 

Dear Rock of my Salvation, thank you for not leaving me an orphan. Thank you for safety, peace, and comfort. AMEN

 

HOW TO MAKE A GODLY DECISION!

 

Friday, July 11, 2025

 

HOW TO MAKE A GODLY DECISION!

 

Prov 2:11-13

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

 

          Consider the consequences. Remember that decisions produce consequences. Often the consequences define the decision as either wise or foolish. That is why it is essential to consider the consequences first.

 

          Check the record. Is there a parallel in Scripture? Many issues we are forced to deal with on a daily basis are not mentioned specifically in Scripture. Complicated situations arise, and there seems to be no biblical parallel to use as a guide. In these situations we are to turn to wisdom. We are to ask, "What is the wise thing to do?"

 

          Move to the center! Try to get as close to the center of God’s will and wisdom as possible. Don’t play around the edge. In other words, do what you absolutely know to be right. Don’t dabble in questionable actions and decisions.

 

          Watch for warnings! If it doesn’t “feel right” it probably isn’t. God has given us the Holy Spirit to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). Don’t ignore His warnings.

 

          Ask: “How would this look on the front page?” Warren Buffet says that he can afford to lose money but he can’t afford to lose his reputation. My momma said: “If you stir in it you’ll get it on you!” To put it another way, Always dress your decisions in your Sunday best and don’t play in the mud.

 

          Wisdom, as described in Proverbs, is like a spiritual sixth sense. It enables you to evaluate circumstances and people and make the right decisions in life. -Warren Wiersbe

 

Dear Lord, today I will be presented with many opportunities to choose. Guide me into godly choices. AMEN

 

HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT!

 

Thursday, July 10, 2025

 

HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT!

 

Isa 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord , the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

          The deterioration of our culture and the fearful march to world conflict seems to have arrived at an inconvenient time. Everything seems to be uphill and further away than I remember it. My reach is shorter than my grasp. If you are young, then this paragraph will only be a puzzle to you but if you wait long enough you will understand.

 

          Paul, at the end of his life, was able to declare that he had “run a good race” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He had kept faithfully and energetically the assignment given to him. In a dungeon and awaiting death, Paul passed the baton to his young protégé Timothy who would finish the last leg of the relay for him. Life, and especially the Christian life, is a battle. There will be casualties. All decisions have consequences, and some have horrific consequences yet we may continue the race although hamstrung and limping along. 

 

          Dr. Charles Stanley said: “God doesn't require our lives to be perfect to finish strong. We can live life fully and be ready to meet our Maker by surrendering, walking victoriously with Christ, and serving others. If Jesus called you home today, would you--like Paul--be confident that you lived well until the end?”

 

   Lord, hear our prayer for those who, growing old

   Feel that their time of usefulness is told.

   Let them still find some little part to play,

   Nor feel unwanted at the close of day.

 

Dear Lord, for me and for my growing-older friends, let us find your purpose and your strength for today. AMEN

 

AVOIDING SPIRITUAL DRYNESS

 

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

 

AVOIDING SPIRITUAL DRYNESS

 

John 4:20-24

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

          The unnamed woman at the well in Samaria had a form of worship. In fact, she hid behind it rather than to be confronted with her own dry soul. The well provided water for the needs of the body but she had been spiritually dry for a long time. Jesus offers living water.

 

          If your quiet time is all about the study of the scriptures, then you need to know that the Pharisees were well disciplined in studying the Bible. However, Jesus confronted them about their spiritual dryness.

 

John 5:39-40

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

Let me suggest a few things to keep in mind when you “do” your daily devotions!

 

1. God will not be rushed!

 

          Our highly pressurized souls have formed thick crusts, and it takes more than a few minutes in the Word to break through. Give God adequate time. Slow down, relax and experience His presence.

 

Isa 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

2. Strive for intimacy with the Lord!

 

          What we call “devotions” or “our quiet time” should never be thought of as a duty but a delight. Strive to know God’s heart. Align your desires with His and synchronize your thoughts. Feel His love flowing through you and return it unimpeded. This is the rhythm of devotion.

 

3. Go deep!

 

          I find that a scheduled portion of Scripture sometimes leaves me dry while an in depth study and meditation of a smaller portion leaves me refreshed. My goal is never to finish a huge chunk of scripture but to take smaller bites and digest them well.

 

Prov 3:7-8

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 

4. Visualize and personalize the Word!

 

          Millions have been shown the Word who refuse to OWN the Word. Consider that the Lord is MY shepherd and make it personal. He is not just the savior of the world; He is MY savior. He supplies MY needs and hears MY prayers. He is interested in ME! Remember that God made us for fellowship.

 

1 John 1:3

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

 

5. Don’t forget the hymnal!

 

Col 3:16

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

Dear Lord, you promised to pour water on him who is thirsty. Drench us today with your presence. AMEN

 

MY CLUTTERED CLOSET

 

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

 

MY CLUTTERED CLOSET

 

Matt 6:6

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

 

Matt 14:23

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

 

          In this mad rush we call life, how does a believer ever find an uncluttered closet in which to pray? My own mind is often so full of plans and problems that it is difficult to find a place for the spirit to kneel or a thought to reside without distraction. The whole idea of a “closet” is that prayer, real prayer, requires seclusion.

 

          Jesus often rose up “a great while before day” to find a solitary place. Like Jesus, I find that mornings are best for me. I like to get up early because others are still asleep in their beds and I am not forced to engage in conversation. In those times I can hear the still small voice of God which is often drowned out by the roaring of the day. I like my closet and my mind uncluttered. Even for Jesus, those times were rare.

 

Mark 1:35-37

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

 

          Today may be a busy one for you and you may need to steal snatches of uncluttered time where you can. It will be worth your effort to find an uncluttered closet to listen to God and to speak your heart to Him. This is the intimacy God longs for with His bride. It is what our own heart longs for even when we can’t define it. Jesus described it as a “hunger and thirst” after righteousness in Matthew 5:6.

 

Sweet Place

 

Sweet place; sweet place alone!

The court of God most high,

The heaven of heavens, the throne

Of spotless majesty!

 

Refrain

O happy place!

When shall I be, my God, with Thee,

To see Thy face?

 

The stranger homeward bends,

And sigheth for his rest:

Heaven is my home, my friends

Lodge there in Abraham’s breast.

(from Biblesoft Hymnal.)

 

Dear Lord, already I feel the day crowding in on us. How I long for that sweet place, that uncluttered closet of prayer. AMEN

 

THE TRUE COST OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

 

Monday, July 7, 2025

 

THE TRUE COST OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

 

Luke 9:23

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 

          Chuck Swindoll is Chancellor and former President of Dallas Theological Seminary. He once said “when the church becomes an entertainment center, biblical literacy is the first casualty. He goes on to say that modern technology has made it possible to create things virtually that look real. We can attract larger crowds to the church, but we have created an entertainment mentality that produces biblical ignorance.

 

          Pandering to people’s whimsical needs has become standard church procedure. In our push to “succeed” we have replaced the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God with carnal and pride driven methods. The result is a people who are unable to face the challenges of spiritual conflict because they are spiritually immature. “Feeling better has become more important to us than finding God!” (Larry Crabb in Finding God)

 

          The Bible is clear that when a person begins to move toward spiritual maturity there is a death to self. The degree of sacrifice a person is willing to spend to be like Christ is the measure of his maturity. Jesus called it the “daily cross.” The true cost of spiritual maturity is death! Look at these following verses and see if you find yourself in them.

 

Gal 6:14

14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

Rom 6:11

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Dear Lord, I fear that I know how to work for you but I have forgotten how to worship you. Help me today to know you more and to love you more. AMEN

 

BETWEEN MIGDOL AND THE SEA

 

Saturday, July 5, 2025

 

BETWEEN MIGDOL AND THE SEA

 

Ex 14:1-4

14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.

 

          Moses had intended to move his people by way of the wilderness but at Etham God commanded the Israelites to turn and move southward and encamp by the Red Sea. This was either the most inept military maneuver in history or it was the most ingenious entrapment. God had placed his people in an impossible situation. The Red Sea was in front of them, there were mountains on both sides and their enemies were behind in hot pursuit.

 

          A dilemma is defined as an undesirable or unpleasant choice. Try to visualize an estimated six million Jews encamped in a plain of about ten miles square with mountains on two sides, forts really, because the word Migdol means “watchtower” and an impassable sea in front of them. Now try to visualize 600 chariots, each with a driver and a spearman. With them would be heavily armed foot soldiers. The Bible places them between Migdol and the sea. We might say they were between the Devil and the deep blue sea! The only escape was up!

 

What will you do when you find yourself in such a situation? Well, here is a plan that is suggested by Moses.

 

1. Calm your fears! (v. 13)

 

2. Stand Still! When you can do nothing – that’s probably what should be done.

 

3. Wait expectantly upon God to make a move!

 

4. Take the next logical step! (v. 15)

 

Dear Lord, this day may present me with some unpleasant choices. Give me the courage and the wisdom to do the right thing while trusting in you. AMEN