Through Is Not The End

A patient, waiting for his appointment, began leafing through a copy of Who’s Who in America. After several moments he closed the book appearing to be confused. A patient seated next to him asked, “Are you looking for your name or someone you know?” 

 “No,” he replied, sadly. “I’m listed in ‘Who’s Through.’”

 Obviously, he did not know the Lord. For anyone who turns to Him at any time will be met with open arms, given a new identity, and an opportunity to embark on a new beginning.  

David made this abundantly clear when he wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.. . set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”

 People who do not know God often think that they have to “pull themselves up by their “bootstraps.” But what God did for David He can and will do for everyone!

 This powerful Psalm describes what God can do for anyone at any time in any place. God will not only rescue us from the depths of our despair but place us on solid ground, steady us with His strength, clear the path before us as we begin a new walk with Him. He will also give us a new song to sing as we walk along the path that He has prepared for us.

 Prayer: How grateful we are, Father, that no one is ever beyond Your love or unfit for your mercy and salvation. May we accept Your grace to redeem and rescue us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Scripture For Today: Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Through Is Not The End

A patient, waiting for his appointment, began leafing through a copy of Who’s Who in America. After several moments he closed the book appearing to be confused. A patient seated next to him asked, “Are you looking for your name or someone you know?” 

 “No,” he replied, sadly. “I’m listed in ‘Who’s Through.’”

 Obviously, he did not know the Lord. For anyone who turns to Him at any time will be met with open arms, given a new identity, and an opportunity to embark on a new beginning.  

David made this abundantly clear when he wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.. . set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”

 People who do not know God often think that they have to “pull themselves up by their “bootstraps.” But what God did for David He can and will do for everyone!

 This powerful Psalm describes what God can do for anyone at any time in any place. God will not only rescue us from the depths of our despair but place us on solid ground, steady us with His strength, clear the path before us as we begin a new walk with Him. He will also give us a new song to sing as we walk along the path that He has prepared for us.

 Prayer: How grateful we are, Father, that no one is ever beyond Your love or unfit for your mercy and salvation. May we accept Your grace to redeem and rescue us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Scripture For Today: Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

The Results Of Restoration

“I know I’m forgiven,” he said, “but I don’t have the same feelings I once had. Will they ever come back?”

While our salvation is established on facts, feelings play an important role in our relationship with God. They come from the Holy Spirit and from God to let us know what our condition or relationship is with Him. If there is joy and gladness in our lives, we know God is with us. When we are uncomfortable in His presence and feel a sense of alienation from Him, we know there is a need for us to confess our sins and repent.

When we go to God and experience His restoration, He, as well as others, will see the fruit of His forgiveness in our lives. David sets our example: “Then – after my restoration when I am given a recreated heart – I will teach transgressors Your ways and sinners will turn back to You.” When we receive a renewed heart there is a renewed desire in us to worship and witness for God. “Old things have passed away and all things are new again!” When we once again walk in God’s ways we, then once again, do God’s work.

Is anyone a more powerful witness to the wonder of God’s grace than someone who has been redeemed from a hell they created for themselves by being disobedient to God’s laws? When we recover from our own self-inflicted wounds, we can recognize the pain and hurt in others who are suffering as we once suffered. We become more open to their needs because we “have been there, done that, suffered and recovered” because God continues to love us and then continues to grant us His mercy and grace.

And the more we worship the more we witness. Our motivation to witness comes from worship.

Prayer: Grant us, Lord, a journey with You that leads us to a life that is dedicated to worshiping You and witnessing to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 51:12-13 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 

Restoration

The word “want” in this Psalm covers anything and everything that we might ever desire. It is all inclusive – covering the mental, physical and emotional as well as the spiritual areas of our lives. And if a “want” is important to us, we need to realize that it was important to God before we ever recognized it.

David left none of our “wants” beyond God’s grace and mercy. Even the important need to “lie down” in “green pastures” beside “still waters” so our “souls” could be “restored” is important to the Good Shepherd! It is so important to Him that He often makes us take time to replenish and refresh ourselves.

There are times when He intervenes in our lives and causes us to “be still.” Why? Not only does He want to guide us but He often has to guard us from ourselves. Jesus said, “Come apart and rest awhile.” If we refuse to “rest awhile” we may “come apart” and then need Him to be put us back together again so He can use us.

The Good Shepherd loves and cares for His sheep. He not only guides them but guards them. His protection brings His peace and with His peace comes His promise to make us “lie down beside still waters” where He will “restore” us – refresh and renew us.

In our frantic lives God expects us to rest in Him, trust in Him, take time for Him and worship Him. If we do not follow His pattern He may even force His rest upon us in ways we would not choose. We need the benefits that come from resting in Him and with Him.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to recognize our need to be alone with You and be renewed, refreshed and restored. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Getting Up When We're Down

Bob Richards is the only two-time gold medal winner of the pole vaulting competition in the world Olympics. An ordained minister, the “Vaulting Vicar” once said, “I’ve never seen a great champion who quit when he was beaten. A champion refuses to go down and stay down. He bounces back to a greater victory every time.”

We often recall the events in the life of the Apostle Peter. On three occasions, during the trial of Jesus, he denied his Lord. He was against Gentile Christians and was known to be prejudiced against them on certain occasions. He often spoke without thinking and was seen as brash, and at times, impulsive. 

But in spite of these facts and faults, he was one of the “inner three” disciples, their recognized leader and eventually became the “spokesman” for the early church after Pentecost. 

In Peter we see one who failed but would not let his flaws and faults keep him down or keep him from being a follower of Jesus. We must always believe that when we fail to do what God has for us to do, He still loves us and will never forsake us or abandon us.

Prayer: We are grateful, Lord, for Your faithfulness and presence in our lives and that You will always love us in spite of our faults and failures. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.