Category Archives: Daily Devotionals

Daily Devotionals

Trials and Troubles.

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PROVERBS  THREE…. (v.11-18)

Do you think it sounds strange to be immediately told after all the  wonderful promises of peace and prosperity, that some unpleasant experiences may come upon you?

What is the purpose of trials and tests? Do you notice what the Lord Jesus said to His disciples immediately after His promises of asking and receiving? They would be granted what they asked for, but would not be exempt from experiencing trials and tribulations!

What did Paul say about the problem he asked to have taken away from him? God allowed it to stay so he could experience God’s grace and strength in his time of weakness.  We are also told later on  that the results of chastening (or correction) teach us to put into practice God’s righteousness and to learn His peace.

Solomon tells us  here that the lessons we learn from God’s chastening gives even more wisdom, and that these experiences are worth far more than silver or gold. We can rejoice in them after they are over and profit from them by knowing God better.

Troubles and trials are sent to us all,                                                                        For our Lord is beside us and won’t let us fall;                                                   He’ll carry us through, and give us more grace,                                                     As we look in His Word, and seek His pure face.

Daily Devotionals

A Clear Conscience

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PROVERBS  THREE…. (v.1-10)

     Solomon is again telling his son to take notice of what he is saying, so he can enjoy a long and peaceful life.

The first thing is to be 100% truthful and honest before God and before man……there is nothing more peaceful than a clear conscience! To experience  the mercy of God, one must be merciful to others and not judgmental. Paul goes into great detail    how a believer must act towards others, and we are left in no doubt as to what the Lord expects. We might think this is hard to do, but Solomon gives us the key…..”trust in the Lord,” he says, “Don’t follow your first reaction to circumstances, ask what God would have you to do! If you do this, you will KNOW the right thing to do”

Paul goes on to say that we will then have God’s peace ruling in our heart with our minds and consciences at rest. We will be thankful for what we HAVE got, and be able to count our blessings. God’s peace helps our state of health…..our stress levels are lower, our stomach stops churning, and we sleep better; “health to our navel” as Solomon says! What better advice could we have than this!

God wants His people to be honest and true,                                                      Be kind-hearted and helpful all their days through;                                         To trust in the Lord and His leading each day,                                                   As  He constantly keeps you along Life’s way!

Daily Devotionals

God’s Wisdom for Us

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PROVERBS  TWO…. (v.7-22)

Verses 7-22

Other blessings of wisdom come flowing in its wake. The Lord can lead and guide a wise person because their ear is open to his voice.

God gives understanding and discernment to those who ask, and shows the way to walk in life. How many tears,  (and how much trouble!)  we would save ourselves if only we would heed and obey God’s Word!!

It is all written there; the Guide Book is complete……if the way still seems to be uncertain, remember the old saying,  “if it’s doubtful, it’s dirty!” Wait for God’s confirmation, and it will be given.

You will have peace of mind and will be kept from making many mistakes and wrong friendships. We read how the wrong friendships will lead us into trouble! If we keep to the company of believers, we will be able  to live in the land of God’s blessings and promises!

God’s wisdom always gives perfect peace,                                                           And a heavenly joy that will never cease,                                                         There are many blessings so rich to be found,                                                Pleasures and delighting in Him will abound.

Daily Devotionals

Wisdom for the New Year

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PROVERBS  TWO…. (v.1-6)

Verses:1-6          John 15:7;  16:23-24                    James 4:2c

Solomon is begging his son here  to listen and take notice. A person with a bit of age and experience behind him, can see the pitfalls that a headstrong youngster can never see.

“Listen to me”, Solomon says, “Seek and apply yourselves,  ask  and seek earnestly for wisdom!” Do we do this?

God has all these blessings in Christ Jesus waiting for us, but we must put effort into getting them. James tells us that we don’t have the enjoyment of them because we don’t  ask for them and apply ourselves to getting them. It is like a student once who needed finance to get through his course and asked the Lord to provide it. He did, but not in the way she expected it…. God provided a job for her to earn her own money!

Those who earnestly and prayerfully seek, WILL find…..this is one of the prayers that God has unconditionally promised He will grant!

Seek wisdom from the Lord above,  Who gives all things richly in                                                                            love;                                                                                   But we must search and seek this for,  It to be giv’n  from God’s rich                                                                      store.

Daily Devotionals

Why did Jesus Come to Earth?

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    Matthew 1:18-25

   Matthew tells us of his understanding of the birth of Jesus Christ….he simply says that Mary as a virgin, was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit . Luke (being a doctor) gives us more details and tells of the angel’s visit to her and their conversation  (Luke 1: 26-28).

Matthew tells of Joseph’s fears and concerns and of the angel’s visit to him, telling him that this was all happening in fulfillment of Scripture and instructing him on what to call this Baby. He was to be called “Jesus” meaning Saviour. This then, was to be the Child’s purpose, to bring salvation to the human race.

It is amazing that this child’s birth still affects the human race today, and is still vitally relevant to each human being alive. Without Him, man would never be able to have a relationship with the Almighty God of Heaven. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” He said, “No-one can come to the Father but by Me.”

Peter could say in his preaching, “There is no other Name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.”   (Acts 4:12) This child would reveal God to us and bring us back to God.

We see then, that Jesus had to come to earth to be born and live a sinless, perfect life to be fitted for bringing salvation from sin to mankind. No mere man was good enough, and God knew that only His own Son could do it. He loved the world so much that He was prepared to give His best for the worst. Let us give him thanks and praise His Name!

God in Christ came down to earth,                                                                                  How great this truth of matchless worth!                                                     Without this child on earth being born,                                                                         Man could not know eternity’s morn.

Daily Devotionals

The Story of Queen Esther, Part Four

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Esther, the Queen 

Esther 2:11-23

    We see  that Mordecai walked every day past where Esther was living,  to see how she was getting on. It is wonderful too, to think that God’s Holy Spirit is living inside each believer as we go about our daily tasks…..

   He is just as concerned about our feelings and thoughts as Mordecai ever was about Esther (Romans 8:9). When we neglect our times with the Lord, He is grieved (Ephesians 4:30), and when we rebel against what we know the Scriptures teach, His voice can be quenched (1 Thessalonians 5:19). But He is always with us.

Esther’s training lasted for twelve months and then it was her turn to go to the king to present herself before him. She made a great impression on him, and he loved her more than any of the other girls. So Esther became queen in the place of Vashti.

Even though she had such a high position, she was still obedient to Mordecai and he always kept near her. In the same way if we stay obedient to the Holy Spirit’s promptings, no matter what position we hold in life, God can use and bless us.

One day, Mordecai heard of a plot against the life of the king. He told Esther about this and she in turn told the king who promptly dealt with the men. Not only that, it was written in the king’s diary which he kept.

Esther now became the queen, And Mordecai was daily seen;

He kept in touch, was always there, And sought her daily life to share.

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Daily Devotionals, Morning Musings

The Story of Queen Esther, Part Three.

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     Enter Esther

Esther 2:1-10

     It is wonderful the way that God works in lives and the affairs of people. Here we see the stage being set for a godly woman to change the course of history….

God saw to it that Vashti was deposed and that Esther was among those chosen to be groomed for the position of queen. Not only that, but the timing was right in the political arena as well with the new prime minister not having risen to his zenith of power.

We see that Mordecai the Jew had some sort of job in or around the palace. Mordecai in this story is a type of God’s Holy Spirit who cares for and protects God’s people. Mordecai had the guardianship of his beautiful young cousin and she came to the notice of the officials who were looking around for girls to be groomed in court protocol  to be the next queen.

Esther had such a sweet disposition and pretty face, that everyone liked her. Not only was she a pretty girl, but she was obedient to her cousin when he told her not to say that she was a Jewess.

As believers, we must be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we read the Scriptures, so we can be a blessing to others.

Esther was right in time and place,                                                                               With her sweet  smile  and pretty face;                                                                     She charmed the prince with winsome ways,                                                 Learning graces for future days.

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Daily Devotionals

The Story of Queen Esther, Part Two

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     Vashti  Deposed.

Esther 1:13-22

     We read here that the king was greatly upset by Vashti’s refusal to come to the party, and so were all his princes. They all felt that it would create a precedent where all the women in the land would go into a revolt against their husbands!                                             

They felt that if Vashti were not made an example of, that she would become a role model for all the women of the day to follow,  in disobeying  their husbands.

How much we see this today among wives who want to do their own thing, even in many cases to making their own way in life without their husbands! The things that are written in the New Testament  (and remember that these things were not authored by sour old men as some people say, but by the Living God) truly make for a happy home. When all else fails, turn to the Maker’s Handbook!

God says many things that cut right across the popular thoughts of today. Things like “women fitting in with  their husbands plans”….(Ephesians 5:22 Living Bible), that is, not taking the lead out of his hands. How much do we wives respect and praise our husbands up? Nothing makes a man feel better than to know  he is looked up to by his family (Ephesians 5:33b). Not only that, but children will follow this example as well.

One of the things that God takes notice of and appreciates more than anything else in a woman is a quiet and gentle spirit that comes from deep inside her. This is classed as being “precious” to God. Probably because God knows it doesn’t come naturally to we women!! We have to work on it and God appreciates the effort we make in this direction!  (1 Peter 3:1-4)

Vashti paid the price for her  revolt  (for whatever reason, valid or not), and was banished from being queen. Unless we treat our husbands like a king, we won’t be treated as a queen!

God’s ways  are right and lead to life,                                                                           None more so than for a wife,                                                                                      To keep our spirit calm and meek,                                                                                  Is God’s desire for us to seek!

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