Devotions by Meredith

Enter the Rest of God

Hebrews 4:1-3 TPT

1 Now God has offered to us the same promise of entering into His realm of resting in confident faith. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. 2 For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. 3 For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For He has said, ‘They will never enter into the calming rest of my Spirit.’

As you grow in the Lord, there is a clear pathway to build your trust in the Lord that what He said and promised He will do. The temptation is to doubt His timing and how He does what He has promised. I believe this is when we become restless, discouraged and delusional in our relationship with our heavenly Father. I believe we actually can slow down the answer to our prayers, throw ourselves into a whirlpool of frenzied emotions and definitely fall out of the rest that Father God has for us. His Word for us today states that He longs for us to have confident faith and trust in Him. He admonishes us to be extremely careful that we embrace the fullness of that promise. What is the promise to you? Stephen, as a father of five young children, when he would receive a call from one of his little ones telling him that they had a hankering for ice cream, and could he bring some home for a treat that evening, would check his pockets, the car seats, old jars, etc. for change to gather enough to bring home that delicious treat for his little ones who were looking to him. He never wanted to disappoint them. He wanted them to have a clear picture of him as their father and a powerful picture of who their heavenly Father was. Our heavenly Father indeed has no shortage or worry about any kind of provision or healing or whatever our need or request may be of HIm. It is us who sometimes fail to embrace the fullness of the promise of who He is. I am learning to “labor into the rest” of my heavenly Father. I am taking Him at His Word. As I go before Him, I know He will speak to me when He is ready and no demanding or pouting on my part will cause Him to move any faster. He is God and I am not! I worship in faith and out of my deep love for Him. I wait on Him, not being rushy and demanding. I know He will speak, direct, and lead in His timing and in His way. I want to be careful that I hear clearly and get it all down as He speaks and directs. Sometimes I even sense the excitement of the Lord to share His heart with me! I love these experiences with Him! It affects me deeply and I dwell on His Word to me all throughout my day and evening. This kind of faith takes us deep into His rest and our faith activates the promise He has given us. When we don’t live, pray and move in faith, Abba has nothing to work with. He has much for you. Labor into His rest today and stay there in faith. 

What about you? What have you given to Him to work with today on your behalf? Doubt, fear, anger, depressive thoughts? Dear one, lay it all down today and begin to worship and thank Him that Is timing and ways are perfect, and He will make your way perfect as well as you trust Him today. Have a faith filled day in Him as you fellowship with Him in His great rest.  

Who Are You Mentoring?

John 17:11, 12 TPT

11 Holy Father, I am about to leave this world to return and be with You, but My disciples will remain here. So, I ask that by the power of Your Name, protect each one that you have given Me, and watch over them so that they will be united as one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with these that you have given me, I have kept them safe by You Name that You have given Me. Not one of them is lost. 

Over the years it has been my privilege to mentor of youth either serving as youth pastor, high school teacher, or pastor. It truly has been a privilege for they all feel like family to me on some level. Even to this day, some forty plus years later, I still lift them up in prayer asking God to lead and guide them and use them mightily and help them throughout their lives. I guess that a strong bond grows in your heart spending time with them over the years I have been allowed to play a small part in their development as young Christians whether as members of our youth group or a student in my classes. I’m older now, yet my heart cries for the next generation that they would be grounded and founded in the Lord and the ways of His Word. The enemy of our souls dangles temptations and distractions in front of this generation causing them to sink into the deepest holes of utmost distraction away from the things of God and knowing Him. When my generation are home with the Lord, will there be those strong enough to fight the good fight of faith or will they be so distracted and engulfed in the ways and things of the world that they will not be strong enough to hold the Body of Christ together and learn how to bond with the Lord and with each other to lead and guide others in this dying and sick society and world? I’m deeply concerned about this matter. My heart cries out for them. I am with Jesus, for He too was concerned for His disciples for He knew they were going to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth and that there was going to be huge challenges and temptations to quit and even great persecution and rejection. Yet, there also would be a great many souls come into the Kingdom. They would see healings and the raising of the dead. They would cast out demons and see miraculous miracles all along their journey. Here’s the catch. Someone can start out strong in the culture we live in, even gain revelation and awesome experiences in the Lord, yet gradually, inch by inch turn their eyes and will towards the slick temptations of the world like it becoming unimportant to be in church or a Bible class. Or drop having a daily private time with the Lord. Like allowing money to become the big god in their lives, striving for a bigger home, a newer car, making more and more money until a tragedy happens—a sickness, a broken marriage, an emotional breakdown. I’ve seen it all and know the patterns. Oh God, help us!! Give us wisdom to walk with those young in the Lord. Help us to seriously mentor someone carefully and prayerfully that they too will become strong enough to bring someone else under their arm and strengthen and guide them in the Lord.

What about you? Who are you mentoring? Who are you walking with and prayerfully caring for? If there is no one, prayerfully ask the Lord to bring that connection for you. Mentoring is one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread and you have much bread to share. Be blessed in Him today.  

Whatever Is in Your Heart

I Chronicles 17:2

Then Nathan replied to David, ‘Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”

David had it in his heart to build a house for the Lord and for the Ark of the Covenant. David always loved and appreciated the Presence of the Lord and had even at one point in his life, had set up a tent where he had singers, musicians, intercessors and worshippers to be there before the Lord 24/7. He did this because he wanted to have an atmosphere of the Presence of the Lord where he could be at any time, day or night. Yet David had been a man of war and because of this, the Lord sent the prophet, Nathan, to tell David after at first telling him the Lord wanted David to do what was in his heart, that the decree had to be changed. Because of David being a man of war, having blood on his hands, God didn’t want him to be the one to build the temple, but his son, Solomon. God was going to make David a great “house,” by blessing his family and his kingdom. God told David that his throne and lineage would be established forever and that from his lineage the Messiah would come forth. David so longed for Temple to be built to honor God as a nation together. He went to work gathering building materials, including precious wood and stones to use to build the Temple that would make the Temple magnificent and beautiful. What has God put within your heart that you would really like to do, what you would really want to accomplish? David was totally sincere in his deep, heartfelt desire to honor the Lord in this powerful way. Our challenge many times, is belittle what we are sensing and then reduce it down to a huge bout of wishful thinking. We may even talk about what we have moving in our heart, yet never take any steps to move toward it being accomplished. It eventually becomes just a faded memory and tug of regret and disappointment within us. Here’s a secret that we need to understand and apply—whatever is in our heart, realize that many times, it is our heavenly Father who seeded that desire within us. David felt bad that God’s Ark of the Covenant was being housed in a tent, but he, himself lived in a wonderful house of cedar. God did not need a physical building Himself, and He never commanded one to be built. Yet God knew the desire that was in David’s heart. Our all-knowing heavenly Father knows our every thought afar off. Why do you have this “thought” keeping rolling around within you? Could it be the Lord who is stirring you? Maybe there is a greater purpose that you will never fully understand this side of heaven, yet it is there. Walk by faith toward it. The Lord will shine His light on it as you move towards it by faith. David was so grateful and amazed by the goodness of God toward him and you will be grateful and amazed as well. 

What about you? What is stirring and burning in your heart today? Will you go forward with this desire by faith to investigate what the Lord will do? I pray that you will. Have a great day in Him.   

Labor Into the Rest

Hebrews 4:1-3 TPT

4:1 Now God has offered to us the same promise of entering into His realm of resting in confident faith. So, we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. 2 For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. 3 For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For He has said, “I was grieved with them and made a solemn oath, they will never enter into the coming rest of my Spirit.”

There is a familiar story about the twelve spies in the Old Testament who were sent in to spy out the Promised Land. What they saw was amazing! The land was tremendously fruitful and as it was named “full of promise.” When the spies came back to give their report, only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave a good report telling how God was giving them a beautiful, prosperous land. Yet all the other spies could see, and report was how dangerous it was and that there were giants in the land and that the Israelites should run in the other direction, for in their eyes there was no way to defeat these giants and take the land as the Lord had spoken to them. Only Joshua and Caleb gave the report that the children of Israel were well able to go up and take the land. You see, the thing that made the difference was what God had said and promised them. Thus, they would not enter into the rest of what God had spoken to them. God speaks many things to us, even specific things of great promise and blessing, even fresh direction filled with hope and excitement. Yet, how often do we embrace fully what He speaks? There are times we even doubt that we are hearing the voice of the Lord, and we back away from the stirring of the Holy Spirit rather than pressing into the Lord for greater clarity and understanding. They would not “labor into the rest,” that place of peace and direction and moving forward into all that the Lord has for us. Sometimes we become like the spies who gave the bad report, letting doubt and fear take the lead ini our minds and emotions rather than embracing the fullness of that promise and we fail to experience all that God planned for our lives. The sad ongoing saga of the Israelites was because of them not entering into the rest that the Lord had for them, that generation all had to wander around in the wilderness for forty years until the last of those who would not embrace what God had for them, except Joshua and Caleb who went on to inherit the Promised Land with the younger generation who were the children and grandchildren of these sad doubters. May you be one who labors into the rest that God has for you, filling your life with His promises. 

What about you? Would you rather labor into the rest of God or embrace doubt and fear? What has God been stirring in your heart that He has for you to embrace and walk by faith, rest and love? Can you believe Him today and labor into His rest over your life’s situations? Have a great day in Him. He loves you so.  

A Good Reputation

Acts 5:13 AMPC

The people (outside the church) held them in high regard and praised and made much of them. 

What is the reason that the church was held in such high regard and respect? I believe it was because they had a higher lifestyle. The church were Kingdom-level thinkers and lived according to Kingdom principles. Here’s the usual question—are we to compromise kingdom principles to honor and obey our civil authorities? Absolutely not! John the Baptist warned King Herod of his lawlessness when he was sleeping with his brother’s wife. John the Baptist was beheaded because he spoke the truth to Herod. Herod feared John as a prophet. Many times people approach officials with attitudes of superiority, criticism, and judgment. These are not attitudes of honor and respect but grating approaches to others we do not agree with. Shadrah, Meshach, and Abednego talked to the king with honor even though they spoke against His idolatry. Can we find it in our hearts to pray for those who are holding positions of leadership whether we agree with them or not? God can confront those who stand for wrong laws that are harmful and not of God. If they are not godly in their views God is able to remove them and replace them with godly men and women. Yet we want to have open communication and without anger and sarcasm, be able to share and speak our hearts with others who do not see eye to eye with us. If the church is not perceived by our leaders as those who walk in the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, and true honor for their place of authority, they will not listen to our words. We are to be as wise as serpents, as the Bible says, and as gentle as doves. This is wisdom from above. There may be times when God sends a spiritual leader to deliver a strong message to someone in authority even as the Lord sent prophets to the kings in the Old Testament. God can give us wisdom how to agree to disagree yet speak our hearts with respect and kindness. I Peter 2:17 says to “Fear God. Honor the king.” Peter said, “How can you say you fear God whom you do not see, when you cannot honor the leader, He has placed His authority upon that you do see?” If we truly fear God, we will trust the Lord that He is in total control over those who are in authority. I have heard it said that people get the leaders many times they deserve. Let’s pray daily for those in authority for God’s wisdom and righteousness. If they are evil, let’s believe the Lord to work to bring godly leaders over us. We honor God as we respect and pray for those He has allowed in position.

What about you? What is your attitude about those who are in places of authority, both good and bad? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom of how to pray for them and guide you in your conversation concerning them. May He guide you throughout your day. Have a blessed day in Him.    

Joy Comes in the Morning

Psalm 30:5b

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

As much as we don’t like weeping, we all have seasons that have caused us to weep. Weeping is the reality of living in a fallen, sorrowful, sinful world. As much as we all would like to escape it, there is sadness in on earth. Things are not all as they should be. We could name a whole long list of sins committed in this world that cause us to weep. Therefore, there will always be weeping. Friends and loved ones who have suffered loss over recent days. Tremendous hurt and trauma from broken, painful relationships. Mistreatment and abuse that cause such grief and pain and suffering. I’m sure you have even wondered as I have, when is this going to end? You may even be wondering that very thought today over your own life’s situations. When is it going to stop? God can give us a deep grace to help us trust Him that there is a day coming when our sorrow will be turned into joy by our heavenly Father. Our verse for today encourages us to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness. There are dear saints who I observe, and I am mystified and humbled at their unconditional love and care over a disabled child or mate who they carefully, gently, and lovingly care for, bringing them out to events, Bible studies, etc., lifting them in and out of their vehicle, to the detriment of their own health. You can only imagine the scheduling and rigid routine it takes to get their loved one ready as well as themselves to be able to participate with others. My heart goes out to them, both the sick and the caretaker. I’m sure there have been many times when the weeping felt like it would never end for them. Yet our verse tells us that joy comes in the morning. In other words, when the nights are long and the sorrow is unrelenting, and you wonder if it’s ever going to end, verse 5 speaks to us loud and clear, it is going to end. Sorrow and moaning will not have the last word. Disease and sickness will not have the victorious last word in your life. We know that because Jesus always is the One who has the last word, so life has the last word, salvation has the last word, which means hope has the last word. Psalm 30:11 the psalmist says, You’ve turned my mourning into dancing. You’ve loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Weeping may endure for the night, but remember this, joy comes in the morning. Whether you presently are in a dark, hard time right now, or that time is just around the corner, remember it is temporary. It’s temporary whether you’re walking through it right now, or you walk through it for a season to come, it will be temporary. Jesus tells us He has conquered sin and death and the grave. He has risen in victory over all of that and He will have the last word. If your loved one is not healed here on earth, they will have complete healing in our heavenly home. And for those miracles here on earth, the physical and inner healings still do happen. God is the Healer of it all and He knows exactly how and when to do it. Let’s keep coming to Him knowing that mourning will turn into dancing and joy does come in the morning.  

What about you? Are you discouraged over what seems to be a never-ending situation? Dear one, continue to find your place before Him, believing His Word that weeping will end, and joy will come in your morning. Blessings and renewed strength for your day.  

Live By Every Word

Matthew 4:4

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

This verse is a very strategic and powerful verse. This is admonition and strength given to us how to live each and every day. The word “Word,” rhema means that which is said or spoken, an utterance. Logos is the message; rhema is the communication of the message. In reference to the Bible, logos is the Bible in its entirety; rhema is a verse from the Bible. The meaning of rhema in distinction to logos is illustrated in Ephesians 6:17 which says “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” I almost had a panic attack the other night when I could not find my Bible and my journal which neither is very far out of my reach. I hunted all around my bedroom, looked down the the kitchen, dining room and living room, all to no avail. I was about to journey out to the car to check, when I decided to look one more time in my bedroom. To my chagrin, my husband had tossed the blankets over my books when he was getting into bed to read. A wave of relief flooded my soul! Whew! The Word of God is my lifeline. Abba speaks to me every time I pull away and spend time with Him. It is important to me to journal what He speaks so that I can go back and review it and know that as I meditate of His Word, He, by the power of His Holy Spirit will, by supernatural osmosis, work that all into my spirit and life. We can trust the Lord to speak through His Word, a specific word for right where you are at presently. There may be times when you pull aside to be with the Lord in His Word and it seems that there is nothing spoken to you. Be patient. I have had times when it seems that the Lord was not speaking anything, then the very next time I am reading the Word, suddenly, all that seemed to be saying nothing, all came together with a powerful Word from the Lord! Wow! Stay faithful to pull aside and hear Him speak. The Lord also speaks to our spirit through our thoughts, that still small voice of God, and you wonder was that my thinking that or was it the Voice of the Living God? Many times, we can push His Voice aside thinking “Oh, that was nothing. That was just my wishful thinking or my daydreaming thinking. Oh God, help us to be more discerning to your Voice from You Word and when You speak to our spirit, whether gently or with a roar. This is how we are to live, by every word that proceeds from our precious Abba Father. I don’t want to miss, not even one word, that He speaks to me, not one! Dear one, please draw close to the Lord as He has much, much, much to reveal and say to you! Don’t miss anything He has for you! 

What about you? Do you have a desire to hear His voice and live by every word that proceeds from His mouth? I pray you do. Take time daily and listen and live by every word He will speak to you. He loves you so! Blessings on your day.  

Waiting Hopefully

Lamentations 3:20-21, 25

20 My soul still remembers and sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

Another phrase for “sinks” is “bowed down. Do you remember when you have felt this way? I do. The Lord will speak something fantastic to you that He is going to do and you think it is coming very soon, if not immediately. You wait and wait and then wait some more. Then the wondering and questioning will begin to move in. Did I really hear from You, Lord? Was that really You speaking this all to me? This is when He speaks from His Word that our timing is not His timing, nor are His ways, our ways. Micah 7:7 says, “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.” To wait in this verse means to tarry, hope, trust, expect; be patient; remain in anticipation. Noah waited seven days, from when he first saw the dove until the next time he sent her out again. There is a right way to wait and “hope.” The right way is to wait for the Lord, steadfastly expecting His mercy, His salvation, and His strengthening while you wait. Noah didn’t take matters into his own hands, and neither should you. Just wait! Keep your spiritual and physical eyes full of anticipation of His answer and fulfillment coming, according to His timing and way. Yet, our heavenly Father wants us to look with expectation, not just simply have an “I have to wait” attitude. There’s a difference. There is to be “hope,” and “expectancy,” not just a simple sitting in a corner waiting like an impatient child. We know what He has said. We know that our Father is more than good to His word. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is working some necessary work in you, working His process, maturing and deepening in you which is all needed for the next phase of your life’s journey. There were times in the Bible that some of the heroes of the faith almost gave up. Jeremiah, who wrote the book of Lamentations had almost given up hope in verse 20. Then the Lord caused Him to remember something that restored His hope again. It is helpful to think back on all the things the Lord has done in His faithfulness in your life. Know that the Lord is always right on time. Always acknowledge that He is faithful to His Word. Wait on Him with expectation and great hope and expect Him to do exactly what He has said He is going to do. 

What about you? Do you find yourself battling in the waiting process? Are you wavering in your faith that you truly have heard the Lord as well that He will bring to pass all that He has promised? Be encouraged today, my friend. He is good to His Word. Rest in Him. Look for Him to do what He has spoken, waiting hopefully. Your answers are on the way. Have a blessed day in Him.   

The Lasting Bond

I Thessalonians 1:1 TPT

From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We send our greetings to you, the congregation of believers in Thessaloniki, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God’s delightful grace and peace rest upon you.

It began when I was in my thirties, my first ministry trip to another nation. It was to the nation of India. Our ministry was to pastors and their wives. Even though I missed my family beyond words, I loved teaching, loving, and encouraging these pastors who had so little education and tools to work with. Over the years I have traveled to many nations and have had the great privilege to be on teams who in my book, will go down as heroes of the faith. I guess I would be classified as a young Timothy when I began. I had two very special mentors. I always felt like I was there to carry their bags, so to speak. I would often lead worship and enjoy their powerfully anointed teaching. There were many retreats in my home state as well as neighboring states where we would gather with women from many churches having two to three days to be before the Lord together to encourage, pray, laugh, and cry together. I always came home refreshed and ready to journey on with the duties of life. Eventually I was given teaching ministry slots, and then on to the evening gathering times. Our times together were times of great growth and processing in my life. Our times in prayer and discussion as a leadership team, have marked me for the rest of my life. I believe that must have been how Paul, Silas, and Timothy must have felt. When you study the different combinations of team members, you find that often it would be repeated choices to minister and travel with. Timothy was a younger man who was being mentored by Paul and the other older disciples. You tell as you focus on their greetings and other verses of writing about their experiences that they had a strong bond with each other. Think of the times when Jesus was with His disciples, how night after night they would sit around a campfire having, I believe deep discussions, asking Jesus deep questions and listening intently to what He would teach them. I know longer have my older mentors. Oh how I miss them and would love to be with them again. Working together in a close bond is a powerful experience. God anoints the team and causes each member to work in sync with each other, each with their own unique gifts and callings. Then there is the laughter with tears running down your face, and the quiet sharing at night telling the deep, personal things God was working in each of us. I’ll never forget. What a blessing those precious times were. I challenge you as you read this devotional to ask the Lord, “What team would you have for me to be a part of? Where would I grow and be effective for your Kingdom?” You are not an island. We need each other. It’s important to be a working part of the Body of Christ and also to help mentor younger Christians along on their journey as well.

What about you? Are you a team player or a lone ranger? Are you yielded clay on the potter’s wheel, yielded to Him to be made into a vessel that can be used by the Potter? Dear one, Abba always knows what He is doing, and He wants to use you mightily today. Have an anointed day in Him!  

Filled to the Brim

Jeremiah 31:13b-14

13b For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. 14 I will satiate (fill to the full) the soul of the priests with abundance. And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness says the Lord. 

When we cry out to the Lord, He will comfort us and console us for He sees our heart and knows every concern and plea we have. Abba always will extend His compassion, and the Holy Spirit sighs with us when we are grieving. Amos 4:8 tells us that “the Lord can cause us to be satisfied, filled to the brim with an abundant supply of exactly what we have need of.” In Job 42:17 it says that Job died when satisfied with his long life that he died full of days. The Bible tells us we can have “fullness” of joy. It is found in the Presence of the Lord. There is a time to weep, but there also is a time to rejoice. Father God tells us He will turn our mourning into joy, His great joy. So, dear one, refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for you shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and you shall come back from the land of the enemy, Proverbs 27:16. Verse 17 tells us, “There is hope in your future, says the Lord. Hosea 2:15 says, “I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.” The Valley of Achor had at one time, been a place of despair and defeat, yet God tells us He will take those places of despair and defeat and make them places of hope and expectation. These places can be turned by God to become something that is yearned for and anticipated eagerly, something for which we see through eyes of faith as we wait before the Lord. Look hopefully in that direction your heart yearns for, that place that has seemed to be so hopeless. He will fill you with His healing, joy and hope, even a great expectation to raise up with in you rather than sorrow. He wants to fill you to the brim as you learn to wait on Him, soaking in His Presence. Our heavenly Father is not a God of little, but of great. He will not fill your life half way but will satiate, fill you to the full with abundance in spirit and in your work here on earth. You will be satisfied with His goodness. Begin to look for the Lord to heal and work in you as His Word promises. Psalm 71:5 tells us that Yahweh Himself is the hope of the godly. Press into Him today. Let Him enlighten and lead your life in every way. Look to Him today.

What about you? Are you asking the Lord to fill you to the brim? Are other things more important other than to take time to set aside being with the Lord and His powerful Word? Seek Him today and trust Him to direct and guide your every step, and may you be filled to the brim with His Presence. Blessings on your day.