Devotions by Meredith

A Fresh Start

Psalm 85:6-9 TPT

6 Revive us again, O God! I know You will! Give us a fresh start! Then all Your people will taste Your joy and gladness. 7 Pour out even more of Your love on us! Reveal more of Your kindness and restore us back to You! 8 Now I’ll listen carefully for Your voice and wait to hear whatever You say. Let me hear Your promise of peace—the message every one of Your godly lovers longs to hear. Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following You. 9 For I know Your power and Presence shines on all Your lovers.

Recently, a phrase has come to my attention, a very important and noteworthy phrase—“Listen and learn.” It seems to be a propensity of mankind to think he doesn’t need to slow down, adjust the pace of his life intentionally…daily, and attune his heart to listening for the voice of His Creator, Almighty God, our heavenly Father. One must come to the realization that I do not know it all, no matter how intelligent and clever I may think and feel I am, it is not true at all. Each of us have our own vulnerabilities, each unique to our own quirkiness and propensities. We can clearly be under the banner of “CHRISTIAN,” yet not be in a unique place in relationship and intimacy with the One who knows us best. I believe our heavenly Abba waits patiently to meet with HIs own sons and daughters. I have five perfect adult children, three beautiful daughters and two extremely handsome sons. (See how I view them?!) How much more does our Father love us! I am His favorite! I’m sure you are, too. He loves to have fellowship with us, not for us to feel a sense of duty within us to “have to be with Him,” but one of sheer joy and gladness that this privilege is afforded us any time we choose to be in dialogue and the fusion of our heart and mind with His. I find it a put off when there are those who look at pulling aside with the Lord has something they should do, like you should brush your teeth. Seriously?! This dialogue is with the very One who put breath in your longs and explicitly planned a powerful, tremendously good plan for your life even before you were conceived or drew your first breath. And we don’t have time for Him? Wow! What ignorance! It is our privilege and humble honor that He has made a way for us to enter into the very Holy of Holies before Him any time we want. He tells us to come boldly before Him, without having to set an appointment! What a privilege to serve Him, to love Him, to honor Him! I am His own! I want to daily, all day, “listen and learn.” I want to live all of my Father’s good plan for my life, not missing even one day of it, but living full of the Holy Spirit, daily filled with fresh anointing from His throne and affecting and making a difference in this very sick and tired world. I encourage you today, take time to be with Him. Draw aside even more than just a few minutes as He leads you. There is much on His heart that He wants you to know. It’s all for the best and the most blessed plan and holy touch on your life you could even desire. So, for today and every day, “listen and learn.”

What about you? Do you dread time alone with the Lord? Do you think you can truly get deeper truths on the run or by slowing down for a few brief moments with Him? Be wise. Listen to the Word of God today. He longs to be with you and share His heart and refresh your soul today and every day. Have a great day.  

Be Careful Who You Listen To

Proverbs 5:3-5 TPT

3 Remember this: The lies of a seductress seem sweet like honey, and her smooth words are like music in your ears, 4 But I promise you this: In the end all you’ll be left with is a bitter conscience. For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword. 5 She will ruin your life, drag you down to death, and lead you straight to hell.

Obviously, these verses certainly can apply to being involved with a person sexually you should not be involved with. Sometimes people can be so smooth and actually be very attractive, enticing the vulnerable who are so flattered with smooth words and persuasive of a “good time” sounding rhetoric that the vulnerable full into this most dangerous and harmful trap.  Yet, I believe there is another application we can take from these verses today. I believe the “promiscuous woman" (and may include a man), can be used as a metaphor for heresy. What is heresy? It is the belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religion, (especially Christian). It is the opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted. Here are some examples of heresy that easily may be seen today. It is so easy to get sucked into someone’s podcast, especially listening to someone who is a sensationalist. It can be that they are calling out others’ names publicly and accusing them of adultery or embezzlement when they, in reality, have no connection or business with that individual at all. What is the draw to publicly attack someone else, whether it’s true or not true? Maybe it would be wiser to stay far away from the situation, lift that person before the Lord in prayer, and not make such a big fuss about them. Let those who they are in authority deal with them. God ultimately is their judge, not us or the courts of public opinion. Yet there is this propensity that will try to draw you into the gossip mill. Don’t take the bait. It makes you look like you are trying to build yourself up as being somehow better than the person who is going through this season of their lives, whether for good or evil, so let it lay before the Lord. Also there are those who, for whatever reason, whether it be for financial gain or for followers or admiration, seemingly receive a prophetic word from the Lord every day. I’ve seen those who follow their podcasts like they believe they were God speaking Himself. Here’s a good question: who is checking out those daily prophesies, those “thus saith the Lord,” on Tuesday, so and so will do thus and such? Who’s watching and double checking these so-called words from the Lord? Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the prophets, and I believe in the word of prophecy and look for it and long to hear it, as long as it is a true word from the Lord and not just someone who, for whatever reason, thinks they must give a word every day. They are seducing, deceiving, and dragging people down a wrong path. I believe it can be a false anointing of the religious spirit that attempts to seduce us, weakening the true prophetic word from God. Be prayerful, be discerning and don’t buy into everything that sounds like the Lord, but truly isn’t. Ask Him for a discerning heart to know truth from lies.

What about you? Do you need to begin to question a little more and not be sucked into a false teacher or so-called prophet? Be careful and lean heavy on the Lord for discernment and His direction. He will guide you in a good way, down a safe path. Look to Him today.  Blessings on your day.   

What Kind of Friend Are You?

Proverb 27:9, 10

9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 

There are two very special friends who have graduated on to heaven. I miss them greatly and often will remember their consistent friendship that we had for many years. There have even been times when something is going on in my life or a situation that I would subconsciously think, “Oh, I’ll give my friend a call and see what she thinks about this, and then gradually it will come into my consciousness that they are not there anymore. Each of them had met a place in my heart; they had been priceless gifts in my life. There was this ability between us to truly listen and hear what was really going on inside. So many times, to this day, I miss their ability to hear and understand my thoughts and struggling heart. They never tried to fix me, but were able to discern and walk with me through the processing and through the struggle of my dilemma. “Love is to reveal the beauty of another person to themselves,” wrote Jean Vanier. Carefully listening and paying attention to people was at the very heart of Jesus’ mission. He was moved with compassion. Mature friends develop the ability to be prayerfully present, revealing their friend’s beauty to themselves. Most of the time, many people you interact with, while you may be trying to share something from your heart, are truly not listening at all, but thinking about what they want to say about themselves. Honestly, I have consciously and probably even unconsciously stopped trying to say anything about myself other than general, light conversation when in interaction with someone else. If you are intuitive to those around you and listen, truly listening, take notice to how much a person can keep focused on their own story. Their thoughts may be scattered, yet to them it’s interesting and important. Few and far between will there be friends like my two passed companions. But here’s the thought for today—what kind of a friend am I to others? Am I really carefully listening, and in times of struggle, silently praying and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit for any words of counsel and encouragement? Am I judgmental and opinionated concerning what my friend is sharing, or can I be bi-partial and truly honest with them in a kind, balanced way? Today I have some other friends God has graced me with, yet not just any one of them can meet that need for friends, but each one meets a certain place within my heart.  I’m thankful to the Lord for His kindness to me through them, and I pray I can be that kind of friend to others God places in my life who can give delight through hearty counsel. 

What about you? What kind of friend are you? Are you a good listener, a truthful friend, a constant friend? Let’s check ourselves daily before the Lord and ask for Him to give us the ability to be a solid, righteous friend worthy of the gift of friendship God has given. Have a great day.       

The Next Generation

Psalm 71:17, 18

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, your power to everyone who is to come. 

It was my privilege to be raised in a family that loved the Lord with all their hearts. They always kept me in an environment where I would be taught the things of God and where people sought Him, worshipped Him, and loved the movings of His Holy Spirit when we were together as a body of people before the Lord in worship. I grew up hearing the fathers of the faith tell their stories about the miracles and supernatural power of God that had been poured out over their lives and ministries. I have grown up in the Presence of the Lord to the place that my life will be forever be marked, unable to live without the sense of His constant Presence available to us. My heart cries out for the next generations coming up after mine, for I fear that they have not had the privilege to have experienced the miraculous of God to such a level as was available initially in past generations. The culture has so declined that as the Word of God says, “sin did much more abound.” Church services have been dumbed down to a juvenile level with hopping worship singers, flashing lights, and songs that have little to no meaning, but cutesy, pulsating sounds and meaningless lyrics a third grader might enjoy. Oh, not all worship is that extreme, but what about the worship that arises so strong that you can’t move on? Are those days gone forever? Does anyone know how to linger around an altar anymore? The youth that I used to pastor would literally camp out with their sleeping bags on the altar of the Lord. Many of them to this day, are strong Christians serving the Lord still with a sold out commitment to serve their Lord. Oh, how my heart cries for the younger generations. I wish I had my youth to live all over again that I could lead them to the waters of the Living God. I pray all the time for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God to fall fresh on them, that is if they can find time for Him between everything else this world has them tied up doing and being involved in. Parents don’t seem to see the necessity for their son or daughter to be in the Presence of the Lord, learning and hearing and experiencing Him. They’re too busy to drop them off, or even they themselves to make a Bible study or a prayer meeting. Why should they feel that they kids need to be in the Presence of the Lord? It frightens me what the final outcome with be for their lives. Let’s believe the Lord to move in such a way that He captures the hearts of this next generation and makes them living firebrands of His Presence and ways. And may we, of the older generations not fail to share, pouring out every chance we get, all our experiences and prayers for them. 

What about you? Do you pray and share with the younger generations? How will they know unless we tell them. It’s such an important issue. Let’s join our hearts and commit to being light and life to the younger generations in Jesus’ Name. He will be faithful to help us. Blessings on your day.  

What to Do with the Overflow

Deuteronomy 8:18

And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

The word “power” means capacity, ability. The ability to obtain wealth. Prospered to bless. Wealth given to establish and verify the covenant. What can be done with the surplus of His blessing? God desires that we use our abundance to bless others. God wants us to have wealth, not to accumulate things for ourselves only, but to be a vessel in His hands to touch others’ lives. I remember in our first church, we were only making $75 a week. Stephen was going to University on his GI Bill. Needless to say, things were tight. Christmas was upon us with two little kids, and no money to do Christmas for them. We were in a K Mart in our town, trying desperately to put a little Christmas together for them, just a few small things, when a man whom we didn’t know, stepped up to Stephen and asked if was the pastor of our church. A conversation ensued and he said, “I knew it was the Lord when I saw you from across the store. I was going to stop at your church and give you this.” He proceeded to pull an already written check out of his coat and handed it to Stephen. It was enough for us to make a good Christmas for our kids. That’s not all. As Stephen was walking out of the store, he looked down and there was a $100 bill laying on the ground in the wet slushy snow. He picked it up and looked around to see if anyone was near that may have dropped it. There was no one, so he went back in the store to the service desk and tried to explain where he found it. They would not take it and told him to keep it. Merry Christmas! What a faithful God we serve. Because of these experiences, I began to carry a $20 bill in a hidden spot in my wallet and would ask the Lord to show me whomever and whenever He would want me to bless someone. There have been times when the Lord would have me give it to a complete stranger, maybe with little ones. Or an elderly soul trying to make ends meet for medicine and food. What a joy it is to be able to give. Over the years I have been able to increase my stow-away funds to $100. When I’m out and about, I listen with anticipation to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He may speak that I’m to bless someone today who comes across my path. My giving has become a great place of joy for me, not a place of struggle and stinginess, but of blessing and gladness. You see, I have more than enough, and now my abundance is not given to sit in a bank or a hidden spot in my house, but to bless others as led by the Holy Spirit. I know as we give, we bless the heart of our heavenly Father who loves a cheerful giver, and He is no man’s debtor and will always bless you with more to be able to give more.

What about you? Are you a giver or a tightwad? Ask the Lord to help you become intuitive to His heart and His ways and that you can become a blessing to others so that He then can increase you more and more. Blessings on your day.  

It’s Time to Act

Psalm 119:126

It is time for You to act, O Lord.

Have you ever felt that way and let your voice be heard in prayer to God telling Him it was time for Him to answer your prayers? I have, probably many times. There have been times when I have felt like I have prayed and prayed and prayed for someone who it seemed, just was not turning their life around, or possibly praying for a relationship to heal, or whatever it might be, as my petition before the Lord. When we are keeping someone in prayer, it is important to realize that from that very first breath in prayer, our heavenly Father has begun to work within that individual. The thing that we often do not take into consideration is that the Lord is going to work within the individual, not according to your timing and in the way that you think it should happen. Only the Lord knows what is going on inside of someone’s heart and mind. Only the Holy Spirit can do the deeper inner healing, restoring and renewing, not you nor me. And He will do it in His timing and in His way. One of the most important things we need to do is to truly trust the Lord that He is working and that He will do the best job ever possible for that person. Our part is to live in faith and expectation, praising the Lord ahead of time that our prayers are already being done. It is so important that someone doesn’t change because they think someone else wants them to “give their heart to the Lord.” Someone needs to receive Christ and it be their own confession of faith, as well as them recognize the inner work that the Lord is doing in their life. No one should ever make a decision for Christ because it would be pleasing to someone else. I believe that is not a sincere confession of faith but an act of appeasement for someone else. Each soul needs to have their own experience and processing in their lives that only the work and power of the Holy Spirit can do. Our part, those that are praying and lifting them before the Lord, is to thank the Lord by faith that He is working and moving in their lives where we cannot see. What possibly will happen is that one day, seemingly out of the blue, you will can a call or a knock on your door with that very person you have been bringing before the Lord at your door to tell you of all the powerful things that have happened in their life, all the working of our faithful God. What a wonderful experience that will be to show off the miraculous power of our Almighty God! It is so strategic for us, the one praying, not to allow our own thoughts or the tempting suggestions of the enemy of our soul to cause us to think that nothing is happening when all the while, where we could not see, our heavenly Father has been working all along. So dear One, whoever or whatever you have been praying for, being so concerned and heavy for them, begin to rejoice from your heart that Abba is already working and He wants you to know today that He is in full control and knows exactly what He is doing, and it will be accomplished in His timing and in His way. 

What about you? Is your heart heavy over someone you have been lifting up before the Lord? Ask the Holy Spirit to calm your heart, and you thank Him and worship Him for what He is already working and doing in that one. Our God is faithful and will never fail you. Have a great day filled with faith in our living God.   

A Warning

Hebrews 2:1-3 TPT

1 This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off course. 2 For if the message of the law spoken and confirmed by angels brought a just penalty to every disobedient violation; then how would we expect to escape punishment if we despise the very truths that give us life?

If you have asked Jesus Christ into your heart, and have asked Him to cleanse you from all sin, and if you believe that Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary and rose again on the third day to newness of life, then you are born again. It is so important that after receiving Jesus into your heart, to be taught the foundations of faith that are given to us in the Bible. Our heavenly Father wants us to be grounded in the truths of His Word so that we can live godly, loving and free lives for His glory. Often there are those who readily want to pray the sinners’ prayer, walk out the door and never look into how to now live a life in fellowship and under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It seems many assume they already know how, and don’t need to learn about the truths of all that God has for them in their new lives of serving Him. This is like the seed in the parable of the different types of soil where seed fell on the soil and started to take root but didn’t have enough nurturing of whatever it needed to grow roots downward to become the healthy, productive plant it could have been. It is vital for a newborn Christian to receive the Word in their life, which is full of supernatural power to help us learn how to live for the Lord. Never assume that someone already knows everything needed to know the Lord. A newborn Christian is like a newborn baby. They need to be fed food that is easily digestible for them. Spiritual food that will help them to grow and become strong in the Lord and in their personal battles in life. Everyone needs these truths functioning within. No one can be strong in the Lord without them. A newborn baby needs time with their parents to bond, and hear their stories of the faithfulness of God to them, so they will know and understand that our heavenly Father is no respecter of persons and will be just as faithful and true for them in their lives. Newborns also need to be changed quite often, with even some not so nice messes being cleaned up for them. It’s the same in the life of a new baby Christian. They will make mistakes and missteps and will need someone to help them understand the right way to live and grow forward in the Lord, even helping them come through some messy times. Let’s never despise or put down the importance of the truths of God’s Word, for young and old alike in the Lord.

What about you? Do you live wholly and wholeheartedly the truths of God’s Word, or is it you pick and choose what you want to live and ignore the rest? It’s so important to live it all for Him and live it right. This is where the blessing and intimacy of the Lord can be found. Have a great day! He loves you so!  

Share All Your Heart

Philippians 4:6-8 TPT

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answer known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. 

It is so easy to forget that worrying is sin. It seems like our thought processes can be like a rock that hits the water and automatically sinks to the bottom. It is the natural pattern of our humanness from years of unconscious thinking habit that we immediately go into the negative mode rather than focusing our minds and hearts on the power and care of our heavenly Father. It seems it’s so easy to dwell on the negative, the what ifs, the worst possibilities. Why can’t we learn to run to our heavenly Father and tell Him every detail of what is going on. I find my prayer time is better if I empty myself out before the Lord, telling Him every happening, every emotion, every troubling, every question, every detail. Then to sit before Him in worship, listening for what He may want to say to me. Many times, He leads me to a passage of Scripture, and I can sense an increase of His Presence as I slowly dwell on what He is speaking. Cross-referencing with the other verses that are there that give greater insight and understanding deepens and expands my mind and heart into even deeper revelation. My spirit fills with His love, direction, and great care. I know I am greatly loved. His peace enters my soul. I feel balance and wholeness come. Then as I go about my day, I have trained myself to reflect back on what He has spoken to me in my time with Him. It’s so important to keep your mind fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. The enemy of our souls wants us to sink to the bottom, just like the rock thrown into the water. Don’t let it happen. Remember what the Holy Spirit has spoken to you and by faith speak what He speaks and act upon what He is directing. Fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. When we are weak, tell Him that, and ask for the Holy Spirit to reenforce you. Give Him the sacrifice of praise and He will lift you up and strengthen you on your way. If we will do our part, He will more than do His. Trust and obey Him fully today. Take quality time to be with Him, hearing His heart for you.

What about you? Are you telling the Lord every detail of your life? Are you practicing dealing on what is right? Are you recognizing the temptation of the enemy to dwell on the negative things of life? I pray for you to have a great day filled with the Presence of God and His ways and the atmosphere of heaven. Stay your mind on Him and be greatly blessed and strengthened in Him today. 

My Friend, Rocky

John 3:16 TPT

For this is how much God loved the world—He gave His one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. 

Living in Central Maine all of my growing up years, before I went off to college, I would have to ride on a long bus ride to my school a couple of towns over. Before that, during elementary school, the ride wasn’t quite that long, just around a few loops to pick up some other kids who lived on some back dirt roads on old farmsteads. Rocky was a neighbor who lived down the dirt road a ways from where Gramp and Grama Small’s home was. It was always a pretty sure thing that the kids that lived on that particular road would ride the same bus I would be riding. Needless to say, we collectively, over our educational journey together from one grade on to another, rode thousands of miles on those old school buses. Rocky was one of those kids, just one grade behind me. He came from a large family with several older brothers, Bret, I think who was two years older than him, and some other brothers I believe, who were a lot older and even were away in the military. Grampa would pick them up for church occasionally as their mom, Peggy, liked to attend services. They often would be in our church’s VBS or maybe part of a Christmas program, at least when they were younger. As Rocky grew older, I don’t ever remember him being a part of any youth group or after school Bible club. He was just Rocky, a kid I rode the bus with. Then our high school years were upon us. We were probably in our 10th and 11th years, although the exact year is a little vague to me now. Rocky often would sleep on the bus as I have already stated, our rides were quite time consuming, especially when we were in high school. I remember Rocky becoming even more withdrawn than usual, sitting by himself as far away from everyone else as possible with his head down. I often wondered what was up with him. Then this one day the news came and hit me like a hot, piercing bullet. Rocky had driven one of his family’s cars at a very high speed right into a big tree! I was in agonized shock! How could this be? I had just ridden with him yesterday on the bus! My mind began to try to remember if I possibly knew what was troubling him so badly that he wanted to end his life. Honestly, I never really got to know him that well, other than to say hi off and on. My heart sank upon hearing the news and even more so grief filled my heart as I realized, even though Rocky had occasionally over his childhood had heard the Gospel story, yet where was he now? Heaven or hell? Guilt flooded my young soul because I knew I had not made any effort to ever talk to Him about truly having a relationship with Jesus, that He loved him deeply, and could help him with anything. Rocky was with us all one day, and sadly gone the next. 

What about you? Do you have anyone in the realm of your influence who maybe you could share the love of Jesus with? Don’t take it for granted that they will always be there, because they may not. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and understanding of those all around you every day. He will lead you and help you to see opportunities to befriend and love others to Himself. He died for each and everyone of us, including the Rockys of the word. Blessings to you this day.  

Spiritual Poverty 

Matthew 5:3 TPT

3 What wealth is offered to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For there is no charge to enter the realm of heaven’s Kingdom.

You are blessed when you feel your spiritual poverty! Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. In other words, when we have needs, this is when we can be loved and ministered to. We need each other and it is right for us to be there for each other so that the Lord can love us through one another. The word “blessed” is implied here, but in the Greek it is the word waylon which has an even greater meaning. It means—great happiness, prosperity, abundant goodness, and delight! The English word “bliss” captures all of this meaning. The essence of what our verse is saying is that there is a capacity to enjoy union and communion with God. The meaning goes beyond merely being “blessed,” as in the use of it in the Beatitudes. Jesus was speaking directly to His disciples. He was implying that the poor in spirit have only one remedy, and that is completely trusting God. The door to the Kingdom realm is having total reliance upon God. When you feel your spiritual poverty, or humble in spirit,” or “poor in spirit,” it means to be humble and completely dependent upon God for everything, great and small. Some synonyms would be “pious” or “saintly,” not just the feeling of those who are poverty stricken having nothing. It could be translated, “Delighted are those who have surrendered completely to God and trust only in Him. Within the same day I have ministered to folks in the ghetto in the morning hours and dined with CEOs in penthouses in the evening. Honestly, I have felt more at home with those who, from no choice of their own, were living in squalor than those with servants and expensive foods. Yet both the poor and the very rich had great spiritual poverty! Things one has or doesn’t have can never satisfy your soul. Nothing can meet that deep, deep, longing for the Lord other than the Lord Himself. You could own the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine, and still be one of the most lonely, empty souls on the face of the earth. Whether rich or poor, high or lowly, it is good to feel your spiritual poverty! This is when the greatest wealth that can be found, and the greatest wealth in all of time and eternity, can be sought and received from our heavenly Father. And here’s the best news—it is ours for the asking. Just open your heart and tell the Lord how needy you are, spirit, soul and body. He hears you and already knows every thought before you cry out to Him. Open your heart to Him today and enter into the realm of the heavenly Kingdom. 

What about you? Are you spiritually poor today? Maybe you haven’t asked Jesus into your heart, today’s a good day to ask Him to come in. Maybe you’re weary and tired. Tell it all to Jesus. He is the Refresher and Refiller of our beings and will fill you again today to overflowing. Remember, there is no charge and there’s room for all. Have a great day in Him today.