Turtles and Ostriches

Okay, brace yourself – I’m going to say the word –here it comes  – ‘doctrine’. Whew! There, I said it. All jesting aside, when some Christians hear the word ‘doctrine’ they become as turtles drawing their head back into their shells, or become as ostriches hiding their heads in the sand – thus, the title for today. We become so fearful, we tell ourselves that we don’t want to ‘offend’ anyone, we don’t want to ‘hurt anyone’s feelings’, we don’t want to ‘get into an argument’ because we wouldn’t know what to say or what scriptures to use. Yet we are commanded as Christians to know our doctrine, and the reasons why, and to teach it to all generations. Do you know what you believe, and does it align with Scripture? Or is it just what you’ve always been told to believe; what you’ve always been taught; or what you’ve always heard? There is a difference. The hard reality is that not all doctrine taught in modern churches is founded in Scripture.

The Simple Truth:

1 Timothy 4:16 and 6:20-21 (NIV) ^4:16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ^6:20...guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

1 Timothy 4:16 and 6:20-21 (NLT) ^4:16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. ^6:20...guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussion with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. ²¹Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.

 

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,

Forgive our negligence of your Word. Forgive us for believing everything we hear without seeking your Word for guidance. Renew within us a heart for knowing you through your written Scriptures.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional Turtles and Ostriches appeared first on Write From My Heart at  

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

By the Grace of God

There seems to be a resurgence of the phrase, “I Yam What I Yam... and that’s all that I Yam!”, along with any number of it’s variations. A word of caution is definitely needed! This quote was famously spoken by Popeye the Sailor Man – the original comic strip character creation of E.C. Seger and later popularized in the Fleisher Studios cartoon version, both from the early 1930’s. Tragic that so few understand the heart of its message is the concept of self-acceptance, pride in self, and self-sufficiency. It is the world’s philosophy – of “me, myself, and I” - and absolutely NOT what Apostle Paul was trying to teach!

Paul counted himself as the worst of sinners because of his past, unworthy in every respect – except by the Grace of God – who in mercy and loved saved him from his past; called him to his work; and guided him in every endeavor.

The Simple Truth:

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NLT) ⁹For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. ¹⁰But whatever I am now _{[KJV & NIV ‘I am what I am’]}, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

 

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,

Forgive our proclivity to absorb the world’s teaching of ‘all things self’. Thank you for the example of Apostle Paul who acknowledges we are nothing without you. We are only who we are through your mercy and grace. We ask you to work in us, through us, and in spite of us. We offer you all the praise and glory due your Name.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional By the Grace of God appeared first on Write From My Heart at 

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version (cum privilegio), undated, Cambridge University Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Leave the Dust Behind

How many times do we wake up in the morning and immediately revisit all the ‘dust and clutter’ (metaphorically speaking for all the hurts, insults, and negativity) from the previous day? Don’t tell me it never happens. We are human. It does. There is a way to leave the dust behind. There is a solution!

The Simple Truth:

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NLT) ²¹Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: ²²The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. ²³Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

 

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,

Our human faithfulness is often flawed; forgive us. With humble and grateful hearts we thank you that your faithfulness never ceases to bring love and new mercy for each day.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

 

The devotional Leave the Dust Behind appeared first on Write From My Heart at 

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

It's Not What You Say

We may speak positively when in the company of others; but do we whisper negativity to ourselves? Do we convince ourselves that we are ‘not good enough’; ‘not smart enough’; ‘don’t know the right words’; ‘don’t know Scriptures well enough’... actually that last thought might be true enough for all of us. We all have room for improvement on that thought! The point is, what we whisper in our minds can, will, and does, affect how we live and how we interact with others.

The Simple Truth:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) ³You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! ⁴Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

 

Dear Lord, our Heavenly Father,

Forgive the negativity that seeps into our minds. Teach us that you love us and are always present; ready and willing to bring peace when we turn our thoughts and hearts to you.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional It’s Not What You Say appeared first on Write From My Heart at  

https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How to Deal with a Slow Payday

Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ²for  like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. ⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Impatience is a challenge for all people. However, for the Christian there is help and guidance.

Psalm 37:7-8 (NIV) Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.

These verses suggest two common things God’s people are tempted to fret about. One is what appears to be unanswered prayer. The other is what appears to be unpunished wickedness. King David offers three words of godly counsel for believers like us in the face of what appears to be a ‘slow payday’. In considering David’s counsel, though not specifically mentioned, earnest and faithful prayer is implied.

“Be still before the LORD...” What does David mean? How do we do this? Perhaps the best example of ‘being still’ before the Lord is resting on his promises, living the life of faith and obedience, and enjoying fellowship with God and his people.

“Wait patiently for him...” Again, David counsels believers to rest upon God’s promises, remembering that God is not slow; believing God is working out his purposes and trusting him rather than putting him to a test.

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath...” Fretting sometimes develops into anger and wrath. “do not fret – it leads only to evil”. Again, we are counseled to trust God and do what is right.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 65:24 (NIV) Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

There is no benefit for fretting over perceived unanswered prayers. God is fully in control. The disconnect occurs when we try to limit God to our human timeline. Trust His Will and Way.

Finally, there is no benefit for fretting over perceived injustices. Although painful and hurtful, again, our Almighty God is fully in control.

Psalm 37:9-11 (NIV) For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Psalm 73:12-13, 16-17 (NIV) This is what the wicked are like – always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. ... ¹⁶When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply ¹⁷till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

What is ahead for evil people?

            They “will be destroyed.”

What is ahead for ‘those who hope in the Lord?’

            They “will inherit the land.”

God’s Payday is Coming!

            ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more ...

            ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

It’s time to choose sides! The way to succeed with  God is to come to him through faith in Jesus Christ and walk in step with him from day to day. The Lord Jesus Christ is the key to living a happy, satisfying life with God. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)

 

Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;

Forgive our tendency to worry and fret about things beyond our control. Teach us to ‘be still’ and ‘wait patiently’ for your direction and guidance. Though we often fail; we are never failures when we trust in You. Thank you for the ‘safety’ of your pastures where we find comfort, grace, and peace. Align our desires with yours; teach us to desire Your Will and Way more than our own.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at  the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.

The devotional How to Deal with a Slow Payday appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How to Make Your Life Glow

Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ²for  like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. ⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Today our focus will be on verses 5 & 6:

Psalm 37:5-6 (NIV) Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

In comparing translations of Psalm 37, one finds variations of wording in verses 5 and 6. For instance, compare these verses to the English Standard Version:

Psalm 37:5-6 (ESV) Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

According to Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) the rendering for ‘commit your way to the Lord’ is ‘Roll thy way upon the Lord.’ My uncle tells of his experience working in a local plant where tongue blades and popsicle sticks were manufactured from hardwood logs, such as white and yellow birch. He was a member of the yard crew, and one of his tasks was to move the four-foot-long logs over the ground, up a ramp, and onto a conveyer chain that carried them into the mill. Many of the logs were heavier than he could lift, but with the help of a birch hook, he was able to roll those big logs across the ground and onto the conveyer. His experience helps to illustrate to us that there is no burden too heavy to ‘roll’ onto the Lord.

Sometimes we are so intent on wanting to live our way that we cannot bear the thought of doing things differently. The psalmist tells us, however, that if we ‘commit’ (i.e., ‘roll’) our way over to the Lord, our lives will be brighter. The Lord will make our righteous cause shine. He will make our lives glow.

 

Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;

Forgive us when we try to do things on our own. You are so gracious, kind, and compassionate to answer our prayers; forgive us also when we come to you only when we run out of our own options. Teach us to consider your ways first, to roll our burdens to you – not as a last resort – but as the first thought that enters our mind.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at  the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.

The devotional How to Make Your Life Glow appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (YLT) are taken from Young's Literal Translation of the Bible. Translated by Robert Young, Baker Book House, 1898.

How to Get Your Way with God

Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ²for  like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. ⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The secret of getting ‘your way’ with God is to get your desires in sync with His – to desire His will more than you desire your own.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This verse is not to be seen as giving a believer (e.g., you or me) power to change God’s way of doing things. There is a sharp conflict between man’s natural way and God’s way. The apostle Paul explains this contrast clearly:

Romans 8:5 (NIV) Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (c.f., 8:1-17 for details)

To delight oneself in the Lord is to make him the joy of your life. In practical terms for us, it means to set our course to be a Christian; to allow Jesus to change our desires and to seek to be like him. Again, it is to desire His Will and Way more than our own. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (c.f., Matthew 5, 6, &7) touches on this and is a good source for personal study.

If the desires of our hearts are stubbornly set on things and ways contrary to God’s purposes and ways, the promises of Psalm 37 will not work for us. If we let God change our thinking – let him reorder our priorities and focus – he will bring our desires into line with his desires. Thus, we will find our hearts seeking to please him, and we will have the joy of experiencing the desires of our heart being realized.

Additional thoughts to ponder...

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; ⁶In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

 

Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;

How quick we are to organize our daily schedules and monthly or yearly agendas with nary a thought of what you might desire for us. How seldom we come to you with an open and willing heart prepared to align our desires with Yours. Please forgive us. Teach us to desire Your Will and Way more than we desire our own.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at  the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.

The devotional How to Get Your Way with God appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How to Have a Good Life and Enjoy It

Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ²for  like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. ⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The advice David gives in verse three may be likened to two coins, each of them having two sides to consider.

Psalm 37:3 (NIV) Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

The first imaginary coin, “Trust in the LORD and do good” is the oldest requirement given to man in the Bible. It is the heart of the instructions God gave to Adam:

Genesis2:15-17 (NKJV) Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

While neither side of this imaginary coin uses the exact words, ‘trust in the Lord’ or ‘do good’, both directives are clearly implied. People have had trouble trusting God whom they have never seen. They also have trouble understanding what the ‘good’ is that God wants them (us) to do. From time to time God spelled it out to His people through his spokesmen. One example is:

Micah 6:8 (NIV) He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Good works are delineated more fully in the New Testament. Jesus had much to say about the good his followers are to do. His apostles, who were used by the Lord in establishing and developing of churches, had much to say about Christian lifestyles and responsibilities for doing good works. Here are a few key examples:

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

There is much more to be found in the Scriptures regarding our responsibility for good works. The list is long, but ‘doing good’ includes forgiveness, kindness, concern, sharing, helping, and more.

The second imaginary coin says, “dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” The two sides of this coin, ‘dwell in the land’ and ‘enjoy safe pasture’ have to do with making our faith practical and our good works a matter of our daily course in life. It is also a promise that living a good life is not drudgery. It is a life that pleases God. It is enjoyable, fulfilling, and satisfying. It is the life Jesus produces within us as true believers.

This imaginary coin also reminds me of one of the most comforting Psalms of David:

Psalm 23:1-3 (NKJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

When we are dwelling within the Lord’s Will and Way, we enjoy His pastures. Life itself may not always provide safety, but our safety and peace is always found in our Lord. Trusting in our Lord, we learn ‘How to Have a Good Life and Enjoy It.’

 

Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;

Teach us to do well by doing ‘good’ work in the opportunities you present to us. Guide us as we trust in Your Will and Way. Thank you for the ‘safety’ of your pastures where we find comfort and grace – peace in the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at  the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.

The devotional How to Have a Good Life and Enjoy It  appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

How to Succeed with God

Author’s Note: In life I have learned many important lessons from family; although they are no longer living, their lessons remain important parts of my life. Today I especially remember lessons learned from my uncles. From Uncle Ken, I learned the value of writing letters and cards, and encouraging others. From Uncle Don, a life-long minister, I shared with him the desire to encourage others through devotional writing. He always encouraged me, and occasionally he sent me copies of some of his thoughts and messages. This week, I will draw heavily from one of the last messages Uncle Don sent me which he presented at the Advent Christian Village Church in Dowling Park, FL on an evening service dated October 9, 2022. I will break this lesson down into a five-day devotional for the week. Somehow, I do not think he would object and he would be pleased the message is still reaching people today so many years later. My prayer is that God would enable me to present the message clearly and accurately, and that it might benefit the reader. May our Heavenly Father receive glory and honor due to His Name.

Uncle Don opened this evening message with a quote from a church sign in Ladson, SC. The statement read, “If you can’t find God, you know who is lost.” Years ago, a similar sign appeared on a church out here in Clovis, NM, and I noted it in my journal. This statement read, “If you can’t find God, He isn’t the one who is lost.” And I suppose, there are many variations but the message is clear. God is not the one who wanders away or drifts; we are. God is not hard to find. He sent us word on how to find him at any time.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Finding God is easy. Now, living with him – that is another matter. Some folk have something of a “love/hate” relationship with God. They ‘love’ him when they need him, but ‘hate’ him when he demands control over their lives. Not many would admit to such a relationship; yet, how else can disobedience and rebellion be explained?

To “Succeed with God” as our devotional title suggests, requires that we do things God’s way. It is not a 50/50 relationship. He is sovereign. We are his subjects. He has chosen to make it a Father/child relationship. But he is the one with authority.

This week’s devotions will focus on words from King David, who, when he was quite old, gave us some excellent instructions for getting along well – How to Succeed – with God. He included some promises that God fulfills when we meet the conditions that accompany the promises. The apostle Paul said something about God’s promises that may not be as well known. Paul said, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20 (NIV) (c.f., vv. 18-22)). This means the promises we will study this week from Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) become good promises to us as we trust and serve Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The basic premise of David’s instruction on “How to Succeed with God” is found in v. 4, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” In verses 1-11 David helps us with four aspects of living a life that succeeds with God; and these four aspects will be the topics of this week’s devotions: (Tues) How to Have a Good Life and Enjoy It; (Wed) How to Get Your Way with God; (Thurs) How to Make Your Life Glow; and (Fri) How to Deal with a Slow Pay Day.

Psalm 37:1-11 (NIV) Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; ²for  like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. ³Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. ⁴Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: ⁶He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ⁷Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. ⁸Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. ⁹For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. ¹⁰A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. ¹¹But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Psalms 36 and 37, and others, speak strongly of the problems godly-minded believers have while living in a world dominated by evil-minded non-believers. The 37^th Psalm is intended to encourage God’s people, teaching them how to live with and for God, in the face of powerful wickedness in the world. David’s instructions have to do with one’s mindset, in keeping with the wisdom of: Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...” Jesus knew we’d have to face this problem and he prayed for us: John 17:15-16 (NIV) “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” Perhaps this lesson is even more appropriate and necessary for us to learn given the times in which we are living. This Psalm is for us!

 

Gracious Lord, the Almighty God;

Thank you for the lessons contained in Your Word. Thank you for servants like Uncle Don and so many others who dedicated their lives to preaching and teaching Your Truth. Open our minds and hearts to receive, and create in us a willing and obedient heart. Forgive us where we fail, and lead us in Your Will and Way.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

How to Succeed with God: A devotional study of Psalm 37:1-11, Rev. Donald E. Wrigley, Sunday evening message written and presented at  the Advent Christian Village Church, Dowling Park, FL, October 9, 2022.

The devotional How to Succeed with God appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com 

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Message of Hope

Time plays interesting games with my mind. Some conversations are forgotten almost immediately, while others seem as fresh as the moment spoken. Such is the case for a conversation I had with my uncle some 20+ years ago. I shared with him my desire to use my writing talents in a more purposeful way – a way that would honor my Heavenly Father. My uncle’s message stays with me today just as clearly as it was first given. He said people need to hear a message of hope. People need to know there is a God who is alive and personal; a God who knows their sorrows and despair and cares deeply for them. The following scripture selection seems to echo this message.

Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)  The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:39 (NLT)  The LORD rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

On one end of the spectrum, I think about God, who is Creator of all things. Science has not yet discovered the true vastness of space, galaxies, and solar systems. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, God also created the microscopic and beyond. General scientific knowledge now can measure the smallest subatomic particles of atoms called quarks. From the unimaginably great to the infinitesimally small; our wonderful Heavenly Father created it all!

This is the God, our LORD, of whom the psalmist writes. When we grieve from the loss of loved ones; when our days linger with loneliness or despair; when current issues leave us overwhelmed and our path seems unsure; when we feel abandoned, unloved, or uncared for – there is hope! We serve a God who knows “every detail” of our lives. He cares deeply for his children. In times of trouble he stands ready to rescue, to pick us up when we fall, to comfort us when we despair.

Psalm 33:20-22 (NLT)  We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

And here is the most amazing thing: This same God, our wonderful Heavenly Father, is as close as our next whispered prayer. I am reminded of the hymn written by Charles O. Farnham (1880-1947) and found in Hymns of Heritage and Hope, ACGC, 2001.

#575, Thank God I Can Pray

When the world goes wrong, and my heart is sad, thank God I can go and pray; It relieves my fears, dries my falling tears, and gives strength for the rest of the day.

 When the task is hard, and my strength is small, thank God I can go and pray; How it cheers my heart, when He takes my part, and gives strength for the rest of the day.

 

When the flesh is weak, and the tempter strong, thank God I can go and pray; Then His Spirit true, always helps me thru, and gives strength for the rest of the day.

 

All along the way, with each fleeting day, thank God I can go and pray; Till the journey’s run and my work is done, He’ll give strength till the close of life’s day.

 

Thank God I can pray, tho’ dark be my way, to Him I can ever cry, He will not say me nay when I earnestly pray, but with help He is always nigh.

Precious Heavenly Father, you know our sorrows and our griefs. You know what causes our pain. Yet you stand ready to comfort us. Truly You are our message of Hope. We humbly thank you for your deep abiding love. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

 

Respectfully written and submitted by:

Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian – looking forward to the Blessed Hope of Christ’s return!

 

The devotional Message of Hope appeared first on Write From My Heart on June 22, 2018 at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com  As the original author, I reserve the right to update, modify as needed, and repost.

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.