Your Daily Crossroad
17
Sep '18
Winning the Battle
17
Sep '18
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
Did you know that there is an ongoing battle for your mind? Many of us realize that there is a battle taking place in our minds, but the real battle is for control of our minds. This may sound a little like science fiction and weird but that is just what our enemy wants us to think. We are in a spiritual battle every day for control of our thoughts. For some of us, the intensity of conflicting thoughts can torment us for hours. For others of us, we have learned such mind control that we do whatever it takes to press down those thoughts. Regardless of how we handle them, they are still there.
The only effective weapons that we can use are the ones given to us by God. The weapons of the flesh, such as mental imagery or positive thinking will not bring us the victory that God has for us. Many people use such tools and claim dramatic results, but the deceptions are dangerous. Why? Because the focus and the power are placed completely on us, not on the Lord. The more power we think we have in ourselves, the more power Satan has over us. Scary thought? Let’s go for the real power and learn to bring our thoughts before Christ.
Are you in a battle today over things in your mind? There are two things you must incorporate into your daily routine. First, open your Bible and read at least one verse in the morning. Use a devotional or a Psalm or Proverb, whatever works for you. Second, take what you have read and ask the Lord to put His words into your mind throughout the day. If you will do this every day, in time you will begin to remember God’s words and will think about them because His Spirit will bring them to your thoughts. For those things that you are struggling with in your mind, start talking to the Lord about them. Pray that His words will bring comfort and hope instead of torment and guilt. Let the Lord fight for you by letting Him have the control over your mind instead of trying to handle it yourself.
When I read this devotion an old hymn came to mind, turn your eyes upon Jesus. It goes on but ultimately, no matter what we are roaring with in our minds, we must turn it over to Him, turn our eyes upon Jesus. Just as today’s devotion says, open the Bible and read at least one scripture a day and watch the transformation happen in your mind. You will be blown away at the peace that will be found. Bring your thoughts before Christ today. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength (Isaiah 40:29). As one of the devotions said last week, God has a way of balancing things in our lives. Trust Him.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 40:29
14
Sep '18
Choose to Love
14
Sep '18
These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:17)
Love is so important to Jesus that He summed up all Ten Commandments into two: love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. The Apostle Paul says in First Corinthians 13 that nothing we do really matters without love. But in today’s world, we are confused about love. Movies and television lure us into fantasies about “true” love using sex, guilt and manipulation as tools to obtain love. When we are hurt by someone who says they love us, we begin to wonder if love really exists at all. Is love a feeling or is it an attitude or a behavior? Jesus knew exactly why He had to command us to love each other. Because we would not do it based upon our own feelings. We are human and our nature is sinful.
The only way to keep this commandment is to pray. Pray for God’s love to fill your heart. Pray that you will love your enemies as well as your neighbor (the good and bad). Pray that you will love Jesus more everyday. It is only when we stop asking “why” and start asking “how” that we can truly know what love is.
When I read today’s devotion it encouraged me to ask how and it starts today. Even as adults we have a tendency to ask God why and as today’s devotion says we need to start asking Him how, how can I show love to the unloveable, how can I extend mercy and grace, how can I show forgiveness and mean it. When you ask God, He will show you. Go to Him in prayer and He will meet you right where you are with clear direction and strength to overcome the why in your life.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalms 73:26
13
Sep '18
God Has a Way of Balancing Things
13
Sep '18
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. (Genesis 29:31)
God has a way of balancing the scales. I have seen it with money, with time and, as this verse says, with love. Leah was “unloved” but Rachel was adored by Jacob. Leah had children and Rachel was barren. Not all things are that cut and dry spiritually, but all things are in the hands of the Lord. He is the One who opens and closes wombs. He is the One who determines the day of our birth and knows the day of our death. Moreover, even though Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah, Leah was married to Jacob years longer and Leah was buried with Jacob. God does not do these things to punish us or hurt us: but to balance us.
While there are blessings, there are also burdens. That balances us. If life here were perfect, would anyone want to go to heaven? Think about it: we all want to go to heaven but no one wants to die, even though life is hard here. You may not be getting something you have been praying for—a long time. It might be something that others get so easily, but for you, you are begging God for answers, yet without seeing it. If this is you, look at the circumstances differently.
Instead of begging God for what you do not have, start thanking Him for all you do have. Instead of feeling badly about what you are missing on earth, start asking Him to give you a heart to have many things in heaven. We are only passing through here but heaven is for eternity. God knows what is best to keep you balanced. Start praising Him. Start praying to Him about pleasing His heart instead of asking Him to please yours. He loves you. Try seeking His face instead of His hand, and you will receive His peace that surpasses everything else.
God is incredible. I pray today He speaks right to your heart through this devotion as He did mine. I am reminded of Colossians 3:2, Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. So often we can become earth minded instead of eternity minded. Just the other day I was wondering why about a situation we have longed for in our life and yet struggled to attain, but God. Thank You Lord for speaking to my heart, I pray many are blessed and inspired to shift there focus on having a heart to have many things in heaven. God does indeed know what is best to keep us balanced. I needed this today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today Reading is 1 Peter 3:8
12
Sep '18
A Slow Day
12
Sep '18
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Proverbs 14:29)
Have you ever had one of those days where you started out groggy, as if in slow motion? I woke up tired this morning. As I sat in my chair and began to read my online Bible, I was even more tired. Coffee did not help. I felt like I was swimming against the current. My insides were trying but my reflexes were not responding. I was having a hard time comprehending and focusing on what I was reading. Even my prayers were challenging, as my mind kept wandering. The day seemed to flow with the same kind of beat. Traffic seemed extra slow and congested. Red lights were longer than normal. And my computer…the little hour glass icon next to the cursor became a great nuisance as I tried to double click through files and pages. My irritation and frustration grew at top speed while everything else around me crawled at a snail’s pace. As my day is fast coming to a close, I am still tired and still in slow motion. What does the Lord want me to learn from this kind of day?
Several verses in the Bible include the word “slow,” but are often followed by the words “to anger.” Why? Because we tend to get angry very quickly. Also, when we act on impulse, we usually act foolishly. The more anxious we get at times, the more likely we are to behave rashly. The end result is not good, not to mention who gets hurt in the middle. We must learn the self-control to be “slow to wrath” and slow to anger. We must learn to recognize the triggers in our environment and circumstances that tempt us to lose control and react in the heat of the moment. For me and my day, the Lord reminded me of these lessons.
Since I woke up in slow motion, He meant for me to go with His flow, not mine. Today, God wanted me to slow down, sit longer at lights, and even wait on my computer to respond. Instead of impulsively getting upset, He wanted me to think about Him during those moments, talk to Him and let Him talk back. Instead of talking to the Lord, I was wondering just when that red light was going to turn green.
Today, and any day, when you are sitting in traffic, at a long light or waiting for service somewhere, stop and talk to the Lord. God has set your day in motion for His purposes. It is okay to go slow, especially when circumstances pull at our emotions. If you go with His flow and follow His tempo, you will end your day with peace and joy, instead of regrets and fatigue.
When I read this devotion it reminded me of how important it is that we find opportunity to talk to God throughout our day and not to focus on the negative aspects but to embrace the moments God has placed in front of us, even if it is a red light that seems to last much longer than we would like, use that opportunity to talk to God, as today’s devotion mentions. It’s those moments when we embrace them that makes all the difference. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6).
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 4:4