Devotions by Meredith

The Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:3, 4

3 They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The parable of the ten virgins teaches us a timeless lesson on being prepared and vigilant. Jesus was teaching those who would listen, the importance of being spiritually ready and in anticipation of the Kingdom of Heaven. Here’s some important thoughts from this parable. All of the virgins were awaiting the coming of the bridegroom, representing Christ, with their lamps ready to light His way. Five of the virgins were wise, because they had thought ahead and had brought extra oil, and five were foolish, bringing none. Then the bridegroom arrives unexpectedly. The five wise virgins were prepared with their extra oil and were ready to take part in the great celebration. The foolish ones were left out of the celebration after seeking more oil. Here’s the application for the day and age that we live in—it is of the utmost importance that you keep prepared spiritually and be vigilant concerning your personal relationship with the Lord. There are many distractions that can draw our attention away from growing and pressing in to know the Lord and His Word. Making money, raising our families, getting a bigger and better house, getting a newer car, having a nice vacation, time for our entertainment of choice, etc. The list can go on and on. For many, it’s only when crisis hits that we cry out to our heavenly Father other than the obligatory praying off and on. Yet when sickness descends upon us or one of our family members, or a financial crisis is looming, we can find the “oil” to begin to shine light on the Word of God to try to bring direction and His promise to answer whatever our immediate need we’re calling out for in prayer. Does He really come first, or is it part of a lyric to songs we sing about His Lordship in our lives? Five virgins were wise. They had gone out of their way and carefully had purchased and kept ready the much-needed oil to prepare the way for their Bridegroom. The foolish virgins were left out of the celebration all together. Here’s a big truth—it’s what’s inside the lamp that matters most. You can do all the religious outward things, and really not have an intimate relationship with your heavenly Bridegroom. We need to be filled with the oil, His Holy Spirit, to be ready for when He comes. What if Jesus returned right now? Would you be excited and anticipating His return or would you want to find your Bible, confess hidden things going on in your life, etc.? Dear one, slow down, draw away daily, alone with Him. Ask Him to teach you and give you understanding of His Word and His way. Ask Him to fill you afresh each day with His precious Holy Spirit. This is when you become a wise virgin, ready for your great Bridegroom’s return. He can come at any moment and any day.

What about you? Are you honestly evaluating where you are in your relationship with the Lord? Are you daily being filled with the precious Holy Spirit or would you have to try to catch up in your relationship with Him? Live full of His oil and ready for His return. Live a life prepared for His coming at any time. He loves you so.   

A Blabbermouth

Proverbs 20:19 TPT

A blabbermouth will reveal your secrets, so stay away from people who can’t keep their mouths shut.

Have you ever shared something very important with someone in confidence, only to have them share it with others? I have. I remember the first time it happened. I was in total shock as well as feeling disappointed and betrayed. And it wasn’t just one other person who repeated my confidence back to me but several others. Wow! Did I ever need to learn some lessons fast with a quick, lesson in using wisdom. As a pastor, it is important to hold other people’s confidences close to the chest, not sharing personal challenges, etc. with others. There is a level of confidence that needs to be in place when something is shared with you. Think of it this way—if you are the one needing to talk to someone in private about a personal matter, do you want them to leave that meeting with you and go out and share it with others? Absolutely not! There have been times when someone has fallen into sin in a very disappointing, hard way that effected their mates, their family members and the Body of Christ, only to have some march into my office and demand that I tell them all the details, which I refused to do. I simply asked them point blank how much of the details did they feel they needed to know. And then they began to rant at me what should be done with the failed individual as if they had all the training and expertise, assuming that they were the voice of God in the matter. They had had some bad experiences similar to the failing individual, and of course were filtering this person through their hurtful memories. In the Aramaic this one line is added to our verse that says, “One who is faithful in spirit hides a matter.” Whatever happened to going to the Lord for this failing person and intercede for them? God already knows what is going on with all the details. He knows all about the hurting family and disappointed friends. Wouldn’t our time and effort be more productive in prayer for everyone involved? Or maybe we could tie the fallen one out in a back field and let those desiring to spit, beat, and torture this one until it's out of their system. Where’s that found in the Word of God? Yet James 1:26 tells us, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”

Leviticus 19:16 says, “Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” Lord, help us all to be kind and prayerful, not full of gossip and “I thinks” concerning others. And in wisdom, as our verse says, stay away from those who do.

What about you? Are you careful to not spread gossip, but be kind and caring about others no matter what is happening? Do we possibly stay around gossipers too much? Remember, there can be a transference of spirit from them to you where you begin to become like them. Be wise with the help of the Lord today. Have a peaceful day. 

Suffering Persecution

Acts 5:27, 29; 39b, 41, 42 TPT

27 Didn’t we strictly warn you that you were to never again teach in this name? 29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must listen to and obey God more than pleasing religious leaders. 39b So they brought the apostles back in and had them severely beaten. They ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus and then let them go. 41 The apostles left there rejoicing, thrilled that God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And nothing stopped them. They kept preaching every day.

Every day as part of our worship together, we thank God for our freedom to worship Him and tell others the good news about Jesus. We’re not spied on or maligned for not being a part of another religion or group who do not serve the Lord. I have heard stories and read about those who live every day under this kind of persecution. We have quite a few Pakistanis in our congregation who, when living in Pakistan, would gather nightly for worship and prayer together just to help pray for their protection and cover each other in prayer and worship. My first devotional, “Time Alone With God,” has been translated into Urdu and distributed in Pakistan. One Christian brother had to go to court over a land issue and happened to have a copy of this book with him. When the court business was done, the judge called him over to him and asked what that book was that he had with him. He told him what it was, and the judge asked if he would give it to him to read. He was interested to know more about this God. This was a dangerous exchange, yet God was in it. I have heard of countries where they meet in secret and have to ask and seek the Lord to be able to get the next secret place where they are going to meet from the Lord. Talk about being prayed up before you come together! In China, when Bibles are brought into the country in secret and given out to the underground church, it is said that they openly weep and hug the Bible to their chests in heartfelt thanks to the Lord for being allowed to have His Word in their hands. And then each Bible is carefully separated page by page, and given out to as many as possible. Here’s the amazing thing that happens next. Each page is taken by the individual and literally memorized, word for word. The Word of God is that precious to them. You can start reading a page out loud and that person can finish it verbatim. In other nations, when someone becomes a Christian and are baptized, they know they very well may be killed in two to three weeks for their choice to become a Christian. This is very serious business, serving the Lord in certain nations who are not Christian. Let’s always remember the price that was paid for our freedom and let’s pray daily for those who live under intense regimes that do not allow the freedom to worship as our hearts desire. They, each one, are precious in His sight.

What about you? Are you afraid to tell others about Jesus and the price that was paid on the cross for all of our sins? Are you afraid to pray with others for their needs, healing, sorrow, loss, etc.? Do you remember to lift this part of the Body of Christ up in daily prayer that God would answer their prayers, and protect them? Let’s seek the Lord on their behalf, for their freedom and that they may be true witnesses of all Christ has done for the world.    

A Servant’s Heart

Acts 6:3, 4

3 We want you to carefully select from among ourselves seven godly men. Make sure they are honorable, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will give them the responsibility of this crucial ministry of serving. 4 That will enable us to give our full attention to prayer and preaching the word of God.

In the Aramaic in verse 3, “carefully select” is select with awe,” that is, in the Presence of the Lord. It needs to be focused on and understood that the position of a server, helper, servant of the Lord is a very important responsibility before the Lord and others. I have often thought where would the Body of Christ be without them? Where would we be as shepherds of His flock without these humble servants of the Lord? There have been these godly people I could name who have been doorkeepers, ushers, security people, dishwashers, cleaner uppers, chair straighteners, paper picker uppers, those who notice the garbage blown on the front lawn and just don’t walk by, those who consistently help those who need tending throughout the service—the wheelchair bound, or walking with the elderly, being helpful to those who have neurological challenges, those who faithfully care for the lambs and the young, etc. The list goes on and on. I have often felt relief upon seeing one of these servants in the House of the Lord, knowing that whatever was a concern on my mind at that present moment would be taken care of, with absolutely no further troubling on my mind that it would be taken care of. There were requirements to be this kind of minister—“honorable, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom…” This is not a frivolous position and responsibility. It is serious before the Lord and before leaders and the Body of Christ. If you’re going to serve, you’d better check your life under the spotlight of the Holy Spirit to see where you truly see where you're at. Also “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom,” for you never know what you will be called upon and needing to do. I love this next line, “and we will give them the responsibility of this crucial ministry of serving.” I hope everyone who is a servant in the House of the Lord know how strategic they are in standing and ministering in their post! What would we do without them? There have been times over the years that I have led worship, (which may look easy, yet is a challenge every time you lead), then preached the Word and prayed for folk around the altar for quite a long time and then have had to go around and turn off lights, check doors, and make sure all was safe and secure. Ugh! That’s an awful lot of work for one person! It may look easy, but rest assured, it is not. Verse 4 tells us that they, these servants of God, free up the pastors to give themselves to prayer and preaching the Word of God. Many hours of study and prayer go into each and every teaching. This is to be done with the least distractions as possible and these crucial servants of the Lord make this all possible. Hats off to a job well done! Thank you for your service unto the Lord and His people.

What about you? Are you a servant in the House of the Lord or a pew warmer?20% of the people do 80% of the work, and its usually the same 20%. Check your heart today and ask the Lord if it is the heart of a servant, pure and holy before Him, ready to be busy in His Kingdom. Have a great day.  

Honey the Worshipper

Psalm 63:4, 5 TPT

Daily I will worship you passionately and with all my heart. My arms will wave to you like banners of praise. I overflow with praise when I come before you, for the anointing of your Presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul. 

I often feel dismay and disappointment with the lack of attentiveness and care given to our worship as the modern American church. Many are playing on their cell phones or waiting for the worship team to put a bomb under them to hype them up enough to pay attention and sing, clap, raise a hand or even stand up. I don’t know what I feel more—anger and disgust, or huge disappointment and concern that one could be supposedly in the Presence of the Lord and be there so haphazardly. It’s downright ignorance. I have to keep my eyes either closed or looking straight ahead so as not to lose my focus on my worship of the only one who truly deserves my full attention. Yet the Lord has brought a little surprise in the form of a precious, beautiful little girl I’ll call Honey, (not her real name). She comes to the front of the church and begins to dance before the Lord with such grace and beauty. I would guess she’s either six or seven years old. Yet she has come to God’s House to worship Him. Honey closes her eyes and begins with outstretched arms and full open hand, stretching even her little fingers in excellent posture. Up goes her tiny, yet correctly poised arms and toe-pointed legs with the next phrase of the worship song. Then maybe a gracefully executed twirl, all the while never losing her footing or the look of love and deep worship for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, sometimes with eyes open and sometimes with them closed. I wonder what she’s feeling and pondering as she is worshipping Jesus. I can only imagine how the Lord’s heart must burn with love for this pure worship coming from such a young heart. Honey literally adds to my worship! Forget those who are complacent and ignorant before the Almighty God of the universe! Honey is thirsty for God and wants Him to feel her great passion and love for Him! Oh, how her tender heart puts so many others to shame. I have wiped tears at times when I see her worship. I want my heart to stay soft and excited to bow before Him whenever and wherever I can.

What about you? Are you an attentive worshipper and lover who longs for those opportunities to enter His Presence and love Him? I pray you are. Let’s slow down and give our Abba Father all the worship and glory He deserves. He’s so worthy of it all. Have a great day.   

Take Time to Process

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

There have been many times in my life when battling bad feelings and negative thoughts about someone seemed to be a never-ending inner fight and turmoil within me. Prayer and confessing how I disliked someone seemed like a daily thing, but I remained relentless in the thought that I truly did not want anything wrong in my heart. As time would go on, the resentment and myriad other emotions about this individual gradually would fade, in so much that when someone would bring them up in a conversation for whatever reason, I wouldn’t get a sour feeling in my spirit. Wow, thank you God, I’m home free, I would think. I could speak to them in passing and even stop for a brief, limited conversation. Business as usual. But every so often, under just the right circumstances where this person would be near where I was, I would begin to feel like they were imposing on my personal space, putting a damper on my spirit and conflict yet again would raise its ugly head in my soul. What was wrong with me? Why wouldn’t these troubling feelings just leave and never return? I would find myself withdrawing from any interaction with others, and slowly revert back into myself.  Fearing that this safe protection mechanism was becoming noticeable, conversation would be struck up with someone near to cover up that I was inwardly struggling. Pulling away later to contemplate what just happened, the realization comes that I need time to process within myself and before the Lord. Honestly, I feel like a failure in conquering this and I am having to repeat the same lesson over and over. I’m too tired to try to voice my feelings and discuss my thoughts with my husband or a close friend. It’s become old within me. Yet once again, before the day has finally ended, I take these incorrect feelings and assumptions and lay them down at the feet of Jesus. I wonder if I can hear Him whisper—“Oh, it’s Meredith again, bringing her bad feelings and thoughts concerning this same old issue. When will she really surrender this over to me?” Still I sense a much gentler nudge of the Holy Spirit encouraging me to not be so hard on myself, to give myself time to process all of these whirling emotions racing around inside my troubled heart. I believe this is what the psalmist is writing about in our verses today. Search me and know me, Lord. Cause me to relax and rest in Your great grace and unconditional love from this day forward and forever more. No, I’m not perfect, but human. And the Lord knows my frame. The smartest thing to do is to go directly to Him. Be completely honest and transparent giving yourself time to process what is really and truly going on. It’s ok not to have it all figured out immediately when you pray. Allow yourself to “just be” with Him. The Holy Spirit knows how to process even better than you do. Trust the Lord today.

What about you? Do you have someone you struggle with because of past disappointments and hurts? Have you fully forgiven them? Call out to Him today. He will fully pardon and heal you as you process what He has to say and what He wants to work and teach you. Have a great and peaceful day in Him.

Just Love

Mark 12:20-31

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. 31 And this second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Matthew 5:46

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

I heard someone say that it had been their anniversary. They had gone out of their way to make the day special for their mate, purchasing a great gift, making reservations and bringing flowers for them. Yet their mate didn’t even give them a card. I felt bad for how this had made the person feel which was very sad and disappointed. And to top it all off, the mate didn’t even say thank you for the effort that was put forth to really appreciate them and their relationship together.

There was a dear friend in my life who lived in another state. We never got to see each other, unless it was planned way in advance for many months. In past days we would have long visits which were always heartwarming and encouraging. She was like family to me. Every other week it was my turn to call her and have a long chat. The off week she would give me a call. When I would hear her voice on the other end of the line, my body would feel a wave of joy and relief knowing this was going to be a pleasant time of sharing with my old friend. When the call was ended, I always felt comforted and uplifted. This friend is home with the Lord now, and I miss those calls very much. Yet I have other friends that I hardly ever get a call from. I miss them. I don’t like keeping a foggy score, so I have processed with a lot of things in life, to call anyways, or give anyways. I believe this is what Jesus was saying to us. If you love someone because they love you and treat you in a good way, why, then you will love them back. No, I believe He was teaching us to love others unconditionally, even if they never reciprocate our love and affection. It’s not easy. It’s nice to be thanked. It’s nice to have a friend reach out to you just because. Over the years, I have thought through this process to “love your neighbor as yourself,” concept quite a few times. There have been times when my old nature would like to have won out, but I have found there is a relief that comes, I believe, from the Lord when we love someone unconditionally. When someone has hurt you, yet you still reach out to them. When someone is not living a godly life, yet you still you reach out to them, loving them in spite of their stumbling. There have been times when I’ve pulled back into myself, battling hurt and the disappointments of life, yet someone noticed me in my withdrawn time, gently pulled me out and loved me unconditionally. That’s the love of the Father. That’s the love of Jesus. I want to be like that. Love, love, love just because…it’s how I would want to be loved myself. 

What about you? How do you love? Conditionally or with strings attached? Will you love if they never do anything for you? Jesus would. I want to be like Him and I hope you do too. Have a blessed day.   

Rest for You

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you weary, carrying a heaven burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.

Have there been times in your life when life’s challenges have felt like they were becoming too heavy to bear? The cares and responsibilities of life some days can wear us down. Maybe you are a young student with a heavy study load as well as having to be responsible for a part or full-time job. Maybe you are a parent with multiple children and have the great responsibility of providing, training, disciplining and nurturing 24/7. Or maybe you’re battling a physical challenge that seems to linger rather than a quick recovery. What about financial challenges, feeling like you can never get ahead. Just when it looks like you’re going to cut a break and move ahead, another bill comes rolling in. Maybe it's the care of an elderly parent whose needs are very demanding. For all of these myriads of challenges, Jesus says to come to Him. He tells us that He will refresh our life as He is an oasis. When I hear the word “oasis,” I get this visual of a beautiful tropical island with lush foliage, warm tropical breezes and topaz waters surrounding this magnificent sunlit island in a land far away. All cares are in the past, and I’m free of dread and fear. When I pull aside and lay everything and everyone at the feet of Jesus, I feel His life begin to enter my inner being and the cares of my life roll off like a overly heavy weight. Ah! How awesome that feels! Jesus so simple tells us to come to Him, pull aside and join Him, sharing, listening and meditating on what He is imparting. Drink in His Word to learn His ways of living and thinking and being. As you draw closer and closer you will sense how gentile, humble, and easy to please He is. He’s not uncomfortable to be around, and the more time you spend with Him, the more He allows You to see into His heart and learn His ways. It’s like taking a long, cool swim on a hot summer’s day. Immersing yourself in the cool waters of His great grace and unconditional love will not only refresh but cause you to find and take your rest in Him. Jesus doesn’t have evil or gruesome plans for your life, but pleasant and easy to bear plans. Remember, He already knows the way you are to take. Jesus is our main and most prominent cheerleader and will continue to be all throughout your life. He is for you and not against you. As my English grandmother would say, “Buck up, ole girl.” You are not alone! He is with you to strengthen you today, and not only help you but guide and guard your every step through this day. Blessings to you today. 

What about you? Does your burden feel too heavy? Cast all your care on Him right now. Jesus really does care for you and is leading and guiding your every step. Keep your eyes on Him and watch and expect good things today. He loves you so. 

Anger

Ephesians 4:26-27

In your anger do not sin; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Anger is one of our most basic negative emotions. When we are angry, this is telling us something is wrong. When anger erupts in us we are trying to protect something good that we don’t want to lose. When we are threatened with the feeling that we are going to lose something that matters to us, we get angry. I have seen parents tell their children to suppress their anger, really telling them not to be in touch with what really matters to them. Anger is a warning that something that matters to us is in danger and shows us what needs to be protected. The caution our verses for today is giving is not to sin in our trying to resolve the problem. We must not try to resolve a problem in an unloving way that could truly hurt us as well as those we are angry with. Headaches and ulcers, to disorders that effect our character, fostering ripening passive-aggressive behavior, to serious depression and panic attacks. Most of us have struggled at one time or another in our lives with at least one or more of these symptoms of suppressed anger. Bitterness is another outcome of not dealing with and denying our anger. This leads to an unforgiving and critical spirit. Hebrews 12:15 tells us, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” This is an open invitation to Satan to come and take control. When we allow bitterness to stay in our hearts and thinking, it is an open door with a big sign “Welcome” to the enemy of our souls. We must own our anger, rather than suppress and deny it. Take a good long look at your anger and evaluated it. This will tell us what we are trying to protect. It could be a vulnerability that is being protected or someone controlling us. We could be under great condemnation that someone has put on us by demanding perfectionism from us. Don’t ever deny your anger but work to figure out its source. We could be protecting something we have done, or bad feelings we may have because we have tried to control someone who we now are losing that control. Anger is a funny thing. We can lay it down, even receive inner healing, and then have to interact with that person again, or even go through a similar situation that is happening of what we have been through, and anger will rear its ugly head yet again. Learn the art of repeated committal. God knows all about it and He wants to us to live free. If this happens to you, just go to the Lord again and lay it down again. Our heavenly Father understands and is waiting with open arms to heal and comfort us. He knows your heart and wants you to live free and clear without anger in your life. In fact He wants His joy to be your strength. Blessings on your day.

What about you? Are you struggling with an anger issue today? Can you find a quiet place and lay it all down before the Lord? Maybe you feel like you can’t do it by yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you and give Him every detail and every thought and emotion fully over to Him. He will set you free! He cares and loves you so! Have a great day in Him.   

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1, 2 TPT

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship. 2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes. 

Have you ever felt like the culture that you presently are in is trying to squeeze you into the mold of this present age? If you don’t agree, you are called some radical name that is not who you are at all. Calls for tolerance are screamed, yet there truly is not much tolerance for anyone who doesn’t think exactly as these critics do. In the New King James Translation of Romans 12:2, the word “conformed” is used. Verse 2 “And do not be conformed to this world…” That word “conformed” means to conform oneself to the outer fashion or outward appearance, accommodating oneself to a model or pattern. I Peter 1:14 describes those conforming themselves to worldly posts. Even apparent or superficial conformity to the present world system or any accommodation to its ways would be fatal to the Christian life. Should we who are living now be offering sacrifices to God? Yes, but not animal sacrifices, but offering ourselves as “living sacrifices” unto the Lord. This is offering every part of us to the Lord, our spirit, soul, and body. All of our abilities and talents should be laid at His feet. Literally, He is the one who gave them to us in the first place. This should be our act of worship where we become an ongoing everyday vessel of honor and use to the Lord for His calling on our lives and for His supernatural purposes. This place of full worship of ourselves is where we yield ourselves as a “living sacrifice holy and acceptable to the Lord.” We are fully responsive to His truth; active and aware of His great mercies every day as we perceive and awaken to His Presence and voice everyday, walking in His Spirit, being led daily by His Presence. We perceive His mercies and become sensitive to His voice and His lovingkindness. We live pretty much in a godless system which seems to be growing darker every day. Let us not live halfheartedly in our walk with Him, but be completely sold out, living sacrifices fully yield to the Lord for Him to live and work through our lives in every way. We are not to accept the pattern of this culture and age whose god is the Devil, (2 Cor. 4:4) Be transformed daily by the renewing of your mind and commit to the ways and ideals of God’s Kingdom. Prove and practice everyday life that God can live His will out through you for our lives to be acceptable and maturing daily. 

What about you? Have you surrendered your life as a living sacrifice unto the Lord? Is your spirit, soul and body His daily or do you reserve part of you for you and what you think is the way for you to live in this day and age? Make a fresh commitment to Him today and surrender your all to Him. He in turn will draw closer to you and you to Him. Have a surrendered day today living in His Presence.