DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Each day, the Brook Cherith adds devotionals and scripture verses
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
We need God’s help in so many ways, yet we so often fail to realize how willing God is to answer our prayers. This passage shows us God’s readiness to answer prayer in that He answers as soon as we call, while we are yet speaking. Do you have needs? Bring them to God, He is more than ready to help.
Jer 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
There are times when God seems far away. There are times when our own difficulties, disappointments and discouragement seem to scream “Where is God?”. Yet God is always near. He is always right at hand, with us, ready to help. God is always with us, He knows what is happening. His love and care remain the same. It is a trick of Satan to make us believe God is no where to be found, to discourage us from seeking His help. Take faith, our God is near at hand.
Jer 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Jer 10:7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
Sometimes it helps to step back and take a look at the big picture. This is God’s world, His creation. It was created by Him and for Him, and for His purposes it exists. God still reigns supreme. Nothing has taken Him by surprise; nothing has occurred that He was unprepared for. There is nothing that is beyond His wisdom. He is still the creator God to whom all creation shall answer. There is none like Him. He is greatly to be feared and reverenced. Take courage…our God still reigns.
1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Our goal in all things is to be found in the image of Jesus Christ, holy, blameless, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our desire should be to be established in holiness. Part of this process of being established in holiness is to increase and abound in love toward one another. Holiness is love lived out; living life behaving as love behaves. Holiness is doing what is right, obeying God’s commandments. But it is more than that; it is doing the right things for the right reasons, with the right motives. Live in love, live a holy life.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
This wonderful salvation begins with repentance from our sins and faith in the sacrifice provided by Christ. However, this is just the beginning, the foundation. This Christian life is to be a life of growing in our knowledge of God and coming to know Him better and better. It is a life that is alive, vibrant, progressing in our relationship with God. Today, many professed Christians are not spiritually healthy and growing. They have become stunted, babes in Christ. A foundation is vital to a strong house, but we cannot stop when the foundation is laid. Give effort to progress in knowledge of God, both by experience and by His word. It is the path to Christian maturity that yields the pleasant fruits of this great salvation.
2 Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Salvation is a radical change both within and without. Salvation involves action on our part in repentance and faith, but salvation also involves a divine work by God as well. We are indeed a new creature, a new creation, alive with spiritual life. We have turned from the old life of pleasing our self to a new life of love and gratitude toward God. We have a new perspective that changes everything. We are alive to spiritual realities. This is the salvation of the Bible. We live in a time of much religion, but not enough true salvation. Don’t settle for anything less than real salvation.
Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
God is still looking for “Here I am” Christians today. In a time of wickedness and apostasy, faithful servants of God are needed now as much as ever. “Here I am” Christians are prepared and waiting for the Lord’s call. They are ready to be used of God, committed to carrying out His will. Are you ready and waiting for God’s call?
Psa 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
This is the cry of both the beginning Christian and the mature Christian. When first converted, we need to seek the Lord for His leading and guiding in everything. After we have lived for God a while, learned His will, heard His word, we still need to seek the Lord for His leading and directing. An earnest plea for God to show us His will, to lead and guide our life, should be a daily prayer. We need His help. We should desire His way, not our way. His way is the way of life, the path of blessing, the road home to heaven. Seek God to lead and direct your life daily.
2 Co 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 2Co 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Discouragement is a common enemy to be faced in this Christian life. Many of the great heroes of the faith battled discouragement at times. Paul found himself in distress and trouble. There were conflicts all around, and he had fears and anxiety within. There are times when we are surrounded by trouble and stressed by fears. Paul found help from God. God gives strength and encouragement to those who are down and in difficulty. Are you in similar circumstances? Look to God. God sent the encouragement to Paul through Titus. God often uses our brothers and sisters in the Lord to help and encourage us. Take advantage of the help from God. If you are down, don’t absent yourself from the house of God. That may be God’s chosen method of bring you grace and help.
Joh 8:31 b If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
The proof of the reality of our relationship with God is not in our words but, rather, in our deeds. A real relationship with God brings a change of heart that desires to know and follow the will of God, as revealed in His word. In a day when very little premium is placed on a holy life, let’s not forget that this is the evidence of the Lordship of Christ in our life.
Psa 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
God is mindful of the faithful. God takes note of those who love Him and live a holy life. He is attentive to their needs and His presence is with them. These are the ones God chooses to do His work, to be His servants. Let us live in such a way that we may be used of God in this dark time.
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
There are times that we can feel all alone in this world. There are times when we can’t seem to sense the presence of God. However, help is always near at hand for those who love the Lord. God always has help surrounding His children, camp round about, ready to deliver. Trust Him. God has made provision and His help is at hand.
Jer 39:17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. Jer 39:18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
The rise of evil can cause the righteous to fear. Satan will always use the threat of persecution to strike fear in our hearts. We have in this passage an assurance that God is always in control, and He is constantly aware of His children. Those who trust in God shall never been forsaken by God, He will not allow them to become prey and helpless to the evil around them. Take heart, bravely face the future with your trust in the almighty God.
Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Accessing our help from God comes in the form of prayer. Prayer is the single most important function of a Christian life. Prayer is the conduit of receiving help from God. Prayer is the spiritual connection that builds our relationship with God. We are to continue in prayer, persevere in prayer. We are to stay alert, watchful in prayer, don’t let it slack. In all, we are to maintain an attitude of thankfulness to God.
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Dan 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
We need a determination to fully follow God, no matter what. Our confidence should be that God is able to do anything. He can deliver out of any situation and He can protect us from anyone. But whether God chooses to deliver us, or whether He chooses to walk through the fire with us, our determination should be to follow Him fully. In a time of wickedness and apostasy, let’s determine to follow God fully.
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
I am thankful for the freedom we enjoy. I am especially thankful for the freedom that Christ has provided for us in salvation. We are admonished in this passage to not slip back into bondage after we have been set free. We become angry at the erosion of our freedoms in our country, yet at the same time, too many today are losing their spiritual freedom. Too many are not living careful lives and are once again becoming a slave to sin. In the context of this passage, many today are losing the liberty and freedom of a real relationship with God, and settling for the bondage of religious ceremonies. May God help us to keep the liberty He has purchased for us.
2 Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2Co 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Do you want to be used by God to help others? That path often leads through hardships and trials. It is often through our difficulties and trouble that we experience the help of God necessary to equip us to help others. When we have been through the hard places and found our help in God, we are better equipped to encourage others to also trust God in their trials. When we can speak with the assurance that comes from experiencing God’s help, we will be amore able to inspire faith in God in those who we desire to help.
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
We have a responsibility to teach our kids about God. I want us to notice, though, that responsibility begins with loving God with all our heart. We cannot truly teach our kids about God without a real relationship with God. When we have a real relationship with God, when we love Him, we can teach our children. Notice that we are to teach our children about God in the everyday things of life. When God is truly the focus of our life, talking about Him will be normal and natural. Don’t fail your kids. Give them the life saving knowledge of a real relationship with God.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Living right in the midst of a wicked and godless society is difficult. It is also dangerous. We are to be alert to danger and aware of what is going on around us. We are to be wise, not gullible, not uninformed. But we are also to be harmless, to not develop a fighting spirit, to not become bitter. Evil and wickedness around us can cause us to become hard and harsh; don’t let it happen. Don’t let the wickedness around us cause us to fail to be what we ought to be.
1 Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
The things that God has prepared for those who love Him is beyond our deepest thoughts and wildest imaginations. God is good, He is love, He is fair, He is holy, He is just and He is merciful and compassionate. The depths of those things God has in store for those who love Him cannot be fathomed. Both in this world and in the world to come, there is no limit to the goodness and grandeur of God. We can’t even imagine! We must experience this for ourselves. Follow Him fully, trust Him completely.
