Your Daily Crossroad
Hovering Over Us
He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings. (Deuteronomy 32:10-11)
In the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord reminded His people how, when they were wandering in the desert, He cared for them as a loving parent who hovers over its young. He never left them, but was like an eagle “that spreadeth abroad her wings” to catch its children and “beareth them on her wings” (32:11). He wanted them to remember that although they experienced hardship and strife in the desert, He didn’t abandon them.
We too may face challenges of many kinds, but we can take comfort and courage in this reminder that our God will never leave us. When we feel that we are falling, the Lord like an eagle will spread His wings to catch us (v. 11) as He brings us peace.
Father God, Your love as a parent is greater than anything I can imagine. May my confidence rest in You, and may I share Your love with others. Amen.
When I read this it reminded me of a saying I have mentioned before and for some reason I feel it bears repeating and I pray it encourages and uplifts someone right where they are today. When God leads you to the edge of difficulty, Trust Him fully, because only two things will happen. Either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly. He will never abandon you. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105) Remember, no matter what you face, He’s still God!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Deuteronomy 32:7-12
New every Morning
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
When we wake up in the morning, what are our first thoughts? Are they ‘Here’s a new measure of God’s compassion, mercy and love. I wonder if there’s something special about this day. It’s the first day of the rest of my life. It’s new – and I’m alive. I can breathe the air and feel the wind on my face. Today’s a gift from the Lord’?
We could see it as another ordinary day, or one of those grey days, with the same jobs to do, and the same journeys to make. But what if the Queen was coming to tea at our house today? We would have been making preparations for a long time. And what if the King of kings was to call on us and perform a miracle (which He does from time to time when we belong to Him).
A new day can hold many surprises and could even be the best day of our lives. When we’re living for Jesus we know that His mercies are new every morning and we can expect great things of this day. The people we meet, the news we hear and everything that happens to us is significant. “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:8-9).
As we are believers, this day has been recorded in His Book. Who knows? Perhaps God has a specific purpose for us today, ‘for such a time as this’, as He did in the story of Esther.
May our first thought be of praise! Yesterday may have held some downfall or failure, but, like a spiritual bath or shower of His mercy and forgiveness, we’re able to start anew with a clean heart, for yesterday has gone. “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16).
Thank You, Lord, for this new morning. I place it in Your hands and praise You for the new mercies that You will shower down on me today, in Jesus’ name. Amen
When I read this it challenged me to stop and reflect on what my first thoughts were when I woke up. At times we tend to start our days focusing on the things that truly don’t matter. Even if you have to write it on a sticky note and place it on your phone or your bathroom mirror, I challenge each and every one of us to wake each morning with this on our mind, Today is a gift from the Lord!! Watch and see how that one simple thought will change your day. I also challenge you to then fall on your knees before Him, read your word and pray. When we make time for Him, He will open doors no man can shut. Revelation 3:8 says, I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. He is faithful.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Lamentations 3:22-23
Worship Sets Us Free
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. (Acts 16:23-26)
Worship sets people free. How much do you worship? When do you worship? Are you able to worship when your circumstances are the very worst, your patience has failed and your confusion is maxed out? Do praise songs come to your mind at the most stressful times? We need to assess our ability to worship because worship will change our lives. We need to train ourselves to worship in all circumstances.
Paul and Silas were beaten, thrown in the inner prison and their feet were fastened in stocks. They were probably in too much pain to sleep, so ?at midnight? they broke out in worship. They did not have a worship leader, instruments, power point, or a radio to sing along to. They probably could not even tap their feet to keep the beat. Paul and Silas may not even have had good singing voices. But from the wellspring of their hearts, their mouths worshipped the Lord despite their circumstances. As a result, other prisoners listened to them and even better, everyone¹s chains were loosed. Worship set prisoners free.
In many ways, you may feel like a prisoner. You may have habits that you cannot break, you may find yourself in circumstances that have not changed, you may feel that God isn¹t answering your prayers. What are you to do? Worship. Worship when you are sad, feel bad, and after you were mad. Worship every day, at work and at play, worship any way. Worship will change your life and if you sing loud enough for others to listen, your worship may set them free as well.
Lord, teach me to worship. Lord, bring songs to my mind so that worship can be my way of life. Change me through worship and allow me to see the fruit of worship in the lives of others around me. Amen.
This blessed me today! No matter what you are facing, no matter what lies before you, worship, worship, worship!! Sing unto The Lord a new song, great is The Lord and greatly to be praised!! Lift up your eyes unto the hills from whence cometh your help and believe He can. Sing your heart out, unto The Lord, He is listening. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise (Psalm 98:4).
Today’s Reading is Psalm 48:1, Psalm 96:1, Psalm 121:1-2
Highest of Heavens and the Humblest of Hearts
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)
How can it be that God dwells in the highest of the heavens but also in the humblest of hearts? How can the God of the Universe, who created all things and by Him everything exists, want to be a part of us?
From the beginning of creation, God created man to work and tend the Garden of Eden while in close relationship with Him. God then formed the animals and brought them to Adam so he could name them. God wanted Adam to have a partner, so He created Eve. Over and over in Genesis, we read about God’s love, concern and willingness to have a relationship with man as well as God’s desire to care for his needs. There was only one rule to follow. Everything else was burden free. God knew that man needed to have free will, for God wanted a relationship based on choice, not force. With the freedom to choose, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. From that time moment on, Adam and Eve died in two ways: physically in time and spiritually that day. Sin entered into the heart of man that day and severed our relationship with Lord. Today, we are all born spiritually dead.
This broke God’s heart. He created us to have a relationship with Him; He created us to dwell with Him. From Genesis chapter 3 until Revelation 21, the Bible is about God’s plan to get the world back, reversing the destruction of sin. The answer was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 as being Jesus. Jesus is the One who came to restore sinful man back to a Holy God. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The wages of sin is death but Jesus came to bring life so we can live abundantly.
So whose heart does God dwell with today? He dwells with those humble of heart. He dwells with those who prayed and said,
Lord, I know that I am a sinner and in need of a savior. I know that You sent Your Son to die on the cross, shedding His blood for my sins. I ask You, Jesus, to come into my heart and save me. I surrender control of my life to You. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and lead me in Your ways. Thank You for saving me.”
Every day I am in need of my Savior. He sacrificed it all that I might have life and that more abundantly. I have been saved the majority of my life and yet even now when I read a devotion such as this it brings tears to my eyes and conviction to my heart. Find me ready Lord, every moment of every day, find me ready. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to miss the opportunity to spend eternity with The One who sent His Son to die for me that I might live with Him for eternity. What a love beyond measure. He doesn’t force me to love Him, He allows me to choose, wow! Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Amen!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 51:10-17