DAILY DEVOTIONALS
Each day, the Brook Cherith adds devotionals and scripture verses
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We make great progress in our Christian life when we learn to trust God and follow His ways fully. Obey fully, trust completely and we can have confidence that God will direct our life.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
We live in a time when the grace of God is greatly emphasized, and rightly so. We are saved by grace, we are living in the day of grace. However, we need reminded that it matters how we live. The very fact that we have experienced the grace of God should cause us to no longer live under sin’s control.
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
We are reminded that God is God. There is nothing that can compare to the great Creator. We are encouraged to look to Him for our help, for our salvation. Our God is not only our help; He is the help and salvation of the whole world. Let our faith be encouraged to look to God, who is both able and willing to help. There is nothing or no one like Him. Look to Him.
Psa 34:9 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
This life isn’t heaven, even when we know the Lord. Christians may suffer, in fact, probably will suffer in this life. However, our God is faithful, and He will deliver us out of all our troubles and trials. His faithfulness is more than equal to our trouble. Trust Him.
Psa 73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
What a blessing! Our God will guide us through this life all the way home to heaven. We can trust Him with each step, each decision, day by day, knowing that He leads us in a path that will bring us safe home to heaven. Stay faithful.
Psa 55:16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
Let this be our determination and assurance. We will call upon God with a confidence that He will come to our rescue. Don’t give up, don’t lose your confidence and faith. God will deliver.
Rom 11:3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. Rom 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
In the dark days of King Ahab and Jezebel, God let Elijah know that He still had many faithful followers. In writing to the believers at Rome in the first century, Paul reminds them that God had a faithful remnant in their day as well. The same could be said for every day and time: God always reserves a faithful few to Himself, even in the darkest of hours. God still has a remnant today: faithful believers through whom the truth can be preserved, and through whom light and life can spring up again. Even in our dark day, God still has reserved to Himself a remnant seed. Keep your faith and keep your hope.
Mat 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
At times it seems our efforts in the kingdom of God go unnoticed or unappreciated. Jesus assures us that our labors in His work shall not go unrewarded. Even the smallest of labors on His behalf will be remembered and rewarded. Continue to labor in His kingdom…the payday is coming.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
To be loved by God is a wonderful thing. To know His love in a personal way brings a sense of safety, contentment and joy not found anywhere else. Staying in the very center of His love and care should be one of our chief aims in life. In the passage we are told how to stay in His love; by obeying His commandments. A life of obedience is necessary to finding security, contentment and joy in our Christian life. Stay faithful.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Here is the secret of a happy life: find your greatest joy in your relationship with God. Enjoy the security and assurance of His presence. Delight yourself in His word. When our heart is set on God, finding our joy in Him, then God can safely give us the desires of our heart.
(Jer 6:16a KJV) Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah lived in a time when people had left God and His way. The message in this passage was from the Lord: Ask for the old paths, the proven path; the path that has stood the test of time. Really, it is the ancient path; not the 1970’s, the 1950’s, the 1880’s, the 1800’s, the 1600’s, not even the first century. It is the path of walking with God, living in communion with God, living in obedience to God. Ask and seek that path of peace and rest with God; that path that throughout all time has brought peace and rest; that path that has produced a walk with God, brought the presence of God, brought sweet communion with God. Ask and seek for the path of walking with God, the good way. Learn to live each day in His presence, talking to Him, endeavoring to please Him in every situation, everywhere, all the time. Ask for the old paths, the good way. This is the place of peace and rest.
(Num 14:24 KJV) But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
We live in a period of time typified by low spiritual conditions, a time of apostasy (going away). This is not the first time, nor the worst time, but we need courage and faith for such a time as we live in. Notice that this verse is God’s testimony concerning Caleb. God took special note of Caleb because he had a different spirit or attitude than those around him. When all around him were saying it couldn’t happen; when all the people lost heart, gave up; when the other leaders were saying he was wrong ……Caleb believed God, had faith in God. When Caleb was called to go and spy out the land, he did what he was instructed; he went in saw the fruit and the people, came back and reported this (So did the ten spies). But Caleb followed through fully with what he was sent to do; He didn’t stop short, simply seeing the land and not seeing God. He showed his spirit and attitude in that he continued to follow God even through the disappointment of the 40 years in the wilderness. When they came into the Promised Land he said “Give me this mountain” where the giants lived. He maintained his courage and zeal into his old age. He still had his faith in God and he was still following God fully. May God help us to have a different spirit than many around us. May God help us to be a people of faith, obedience and zeal in these dark days.
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
The day of the Lord refers to a day of visitation by God. Our God is a merciful, loving and kind God. Yet, He is also a holy God who will execute judgment on the evil and unrepentant. We need warned to be prepared for such a visitation. It is a fearful thing to face the almighty Creator God when He is angry. We live in a time of wickedness. People need warned that there is coming a day of accounting. Let’s be faithful to tell the whole story concerning our great God. Part of our calling is to sound a warning. Let’s not fail our generation.
Psa 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Our God is an awesome God. His goodness and greatness is beyond comprehension. His wisdom and power is more than we can even imagine. His mercy and love exceeds our words to tell. Let the praises of our God be heard! People need to know who God is, and what He is like.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
We all want to make heaven our home, to see God. This passage reminds us of an essential element if we are to see God. We are to be pure in heart. Just being religious is not enough. Just living a moral life is not enough. We must have our heart cleansed of evil motives and intentions. The pure in heart are those who do the right things for the right reasons. Let’s not allow ourselves to fall into just going through the motions. Let’s keep a check on our attitudes, motives and intentions. It is the pure in heart who will be blessed by seeing God.
Psa 145:5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
We need reminded of who God is and what He has done. One of the best ways to do that is to meditate on, think on His majesty and glory. Consider the wonderful and miraculous things He has done. Talk about His glory, about who He is. Speak of His love, His mercy, His kindness, His justice, His fairness and His awesome power. Remind yourself of the many times He has intervened in human history. Remind yourself of the times He has worked in your life. Let your meditation on His majesty and goodness lift your heart with hope and confidence.
Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
There is no downside to the blessings of God; no regrets, no painful aftermath. God is good, God is good in every way. The blessings He gives us are good in every way. Too many times we are tempted to seek some gain or pleasure by stepping outside of God’s will. Any such gain always comes at a high price. The better choice is to live in a way that God can bless us. There is no downside to the blessings of God.
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Generosity is a Christian virtue. It is a virtue found in the heart of one who has been regenerated, one whose love for self has been subdued. Our love for self has been replaced with a love for God above all else and a love for others equal to our love for our self. This causes us to be concerned for others and their needs. We are to show our generosity in our dealings with others. When generosity is shown from good intentions and good motives, God takes note. In His justice, He will see we receive as we give. Don’t cheat yourself and others out of a blessing by being selfish.
Psa 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
We need each other in this Christian life. We long for the love and acceptance found among fellow believers. This verse reminds us how good and pleasant it is for God’s children to live in harmony with one another. Such unity and harmony is delightful, agreeable and attractive. Satan works hard to disrupt this blessing. Let’s make sure we do are part to maintain this blessing among us.
Psa 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
At times we are painfully aware of our needs and our own inabilities. What a comfort to know that God is aware of our situation, that He is concerned and has given consideration to our plight and our needs. He is our help and our deliverer. He can be depended on. Our heart often cries out with the Psalmist, “Come quickly, I need you now”. He is our God and our Father…He will come to the aid of His own children. Trust Him.
