Your Daily Crossroad
As Christ Loves Us
Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a day to express love and most notably, romantic love. The history of Valentine’s Day, along with the saint for whom it is named, is shrouded in mystery. Both Christian and ancient Roman traditions make up its origins, but the exact details of what happened to St. Valentine are uncertain. What is certain is that through a series of events dating back to the middle ages, February 14 became the date to commemorate Valentine’s Day. Roses and chocolates will be sold at exorbitant prices and in massive quantities, all in hopes to express our love in that special way. What is the most special way to express our love?
The thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians is known as the lovechapter of the Bible. The apostle Paul writes about true love, what it is and what it is not. It “charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;” (verse 4). It “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;” (verse 5). Paul puts it very simply in verse 8, “Charity (love) never faileth.” Flowers fade and candies melt, but true love never fades, never dies, never fails. The most special way to express our love is to practice these qualities Paul speaks of as we learn to love beyond ourselves.
Romantic love is a wonderful feeling and being in love is truly a gift from God. Those feelings of heightened joy and excitement seem to make everything else less significant. But today, let’s ask the Lord to help us love beyond the feelings of the gifts and the favors. Let’s pray that we can love as Christ loves us and that we can express that love in ways that bless those around us more than anything else we can give. Why not make today a day to take love more seriously than you ever have before? Pray that love becomes the motivation for all that you do. Enjoy the flowers and candies and candlelight dinners, but remember to keep love in your heart, not just in the festivities.
When I read this it blessed me. Love is far greater than any tangible gift we could be given. We must remember to love as Christ loves us and know that He loves each of us as if there were only one of us. What love!
Have a beautiful day in The Lord and a Happy Valentines Day!
Today’s Reading is 1 Corinthians 13
You are Not Alone
When I think of the sufferings that Christ endured here on earth, I am comforted that He understands my sufferings. No one was more rejected, ridiculed, misunderstood, and alone than Jesus. Even though He was fully God, He was also fully man. Jesus dealt with the same emotions and temptations in his flesh just as we do, yet He was without sin. But Jesus never focused on His own pain; His concern and compassion was for the people. Even when His friend Lazarus died, Jesus cried. He understood the pain that Lazarus’ sisters were feeling and He knows today the pain that we feel. For me, I try to remember these things in my weakest moments, and I know that I am not alone.
Are you hurting today? Maybe you feel as though no one really understands or even cares. Jesus says to “come boldly to the throne of grace” and there you will find help in your time of need. Come boldly today and seize the mercy and grace that is freely given by Jesus. His sufferings were for just this reason, so that we can all pour out our hearts to the One who truly understands and the only One who can truly help us. Go to Jesus today. He loves you, He understands you, and He will help you.
What truth! This devotion blessed me this evening. Maybe your day was full of disappointment and hurt, don’t lay your head down without first pouring out your heart to the One who truly understands and the only One who can truly help. I am reminded of Proverbs 18:10, The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. You are Not Alone!
Have a beautiful evening in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 18:10
Extraordinary Prayer
There are numerous scriptures and stories throughout the Bible that encourage us to pray. Prayer is so important in our lives as Christians, yet it often gets reduced to either 911-type cries for help or routine words that we are accustomed to praying. In the case of Joshua and the battle with the Amorites, he asked the Lord for a miracle of major proportions. Joshua dared to ask God that the sun would not set until their enemies were defeated. Not only did God answer Joshua’s prayer but verse 14 further states that “there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.” The Lord listened and responded to the voice of man.
Does God heed the voice of man today? James 5:16 says that the effective fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much. Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock and that whatever we ask in His name will be given. The key to answered prayers, however, is in praying God’s will. Because we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we can know how to pray God’s will for our lives (I should add “better know” because there are still times when we all struggle to truly understand how to pray the will of God.) But regardless of what we know or how we pray, the point is that we need to pray to the Lord for everything. We should not hold back from asking the Lord for anything we want. It is up to Him to decide if or how He answers.
This day in Joshua’s life was extraordinary to say the least. God gave him extra daylight time to completely destroy the five kings who had fled from him. God not only answered Joshua’s prayer, but He divinely intervened in this battle Himself. When God has a plan, no one can thwart or hinder what He is going to do. Sometimes we need to pray just for peace in the situation we are in, knowing that the Lord will have His way no matter what we do or do not do. God kept His promises to Joshua and the Israelites and He demonstrated His faithfulness to them in amazing ways.
Is this the same God in our lives today? Absolutely! Do not stop praying and do not allow the enemy to hinder your faith in your prayers. The Lord may not extend our days by keeping the sun from setting, but there are miracles that He does perform in our lives that hold just as much impact. Has God given you promises? Believe in faith that He will fulfill them in your life, maybe not in your timing or by your methods, but in His. He is the same God today as He was to Joshua. Are you expecting the same of Him?
When I read this devotion I felt it was so fitting for a Monday devotion, as we start this week out may we remember this when we get discouraged or distracted by the things that try to hinder our faith in our prayers. Trust in His timing! Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 3:5-7
but God is faithful
I used to have an answer for most problems in life. I had a lot to say on almost any subject. I now have few answers, and am often reduced to the simple phrase, God is faithful. I don’t say that lightly or without thought. I say that because it is true, and I have discovered that it is true no matter what is happening in my life.
With confidence, I add these words to the end of the worst statements in the world: My child is sick and I don’t know what to do . . . but God is faithful; I lost my job and I don’t know how I will pay my bills . . . but God is faithful; my husband left me and my heart is torn in two . . . but God is faithful.
I don’t mean that He will wave a magic wand and everything will fall into place; far from it. What it means is the darkest times in our lives we will learn to keep turning our faith towards Him for He is faithful. Faithful to be with us, faithful to watch over us, faithful to work in us to make us the men and women we are called to be.
Think of your own life. Stop for a moment and reflect on any situation where it seemed as if you were on your own, that it was hopeless, that you were forgotten. Remember how you could never have anticipated God showing up, but He did, with flying colors, even if it seemed like He left you dangling there for just a little too long for comfort!
I don’t know what the circumstances in your life are right now, or how fast you feel you’re falling, or whether you’re frozen on the bar, afraid to let go and grab God’s hands. What I can tell you is that He is there, right now and He won’t let you go. He will catch you in midair. The net of his faithful love will cushion you when you free-fall.
When I read this devotion it blessed me. I can relate from past and even very recent experiences, God is indeed faithful. I find myself, even in the midst of trials saying, it could have been worse, had He not had His hand in the midst of the situation. Even when He allows circumstances and situation to happen, it doesn’t mean He isn’t present, it only means He knows you are strong enough to handle whatever it is you’re facing and you can lean on Him to get you through it. Our experiences make us stronger and better, we can’t allow them to make us bitter. In the midst of whatever your facing, look up and say, but God is faithful. Let go and trust Him! I’ve mentioned this in previous devotions but it’s worth mentioning again today, When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty trust Him fully, because one of two things will happen, either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly. Amen! but God is faithful.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Lamentations 3:20-24