John 4:31-34 (ESV)

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Explanation:

We enter this passage where Jesus has just finished speaking to the woman at the well, which led to a two-day meeting with the townspeople. Jesus was likely exhausted. It’s important to remember that He had very human traits and struggled with many of the same physical things that we do. Here, even when He was completely exhausted, He did not allow His tiredness to keep Him from doing the work that He was sent for. His focus on saving souls took priority over His appetite to feed His flesh.

What if our focus was like that? Jesus was in such a rhythm to reach the people that food wasn’t even a thought for Him. He wanted to finish His work. There have been times that I’ve been so engrossed in activities that I’ve temporarily forgotten to eat. Most of the time, however, the words “forget” and “eat” are not used in the same sentence for me. When I think about what Jesus may have been doing that made missing a meal so unimportant, I know it has to be SO MUCH BIGGER than the things that I get distracted by. Jesus was laser focused on the important stuff— doing his Father’s will. He wanted everyone to know the love of the Father, and nothing else mattered.

It's time for a focus check. In order to love like Jesus loved, we must focus on what He focused on: loving God, loving people, and saving souls. If I ask myself “What am I known for?”, I want the answer to be what Jesus said His disciples would be known for: their love. It’s time for me to adjust my focus so that there is never any doubt that I am known for loving well and fulfilling God’s will in me.

Application:

1. Do you ever get so engrossed in something that you lose track of time? Here’s a tough question: how many of those times are you doing something that would be considered “fruitful” (as compared to doing a puzzle, reading a fictional book, or surfing Instagram)?

2. Ask yourself, “What am I known for?” Ask God to help reveal how you can love others better and be someone who is known for your love.

Prayer:

God, teach me how to be known for my love. Help me to be a light to others in a dark world. Give me eyes to see those that need love, and teach me how to help them. Help me adjust my focus to things that are not of this world. Thank You for trusting me to do your work. Guide me as I walk through this day and the days to come. Forgive me for the times that I don’t see what You want me to see or act the way that You would have me to act. Thank You for Your grace and mercy on our lives. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 119:103-105 (NASB)

How sweet are Your words to my taste!

Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

From Your precepts I get understanding;

Therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.

Explanation:

Words can inspire us, hurt us, encourage us, or even confuse us. Words affect our emotions, how we process things, and how we see and live in the world around us. Today's devotion is about words, not man’s words but the very words of God, and how they affect our feelings, thinking and reality.

“Your words to my taste” …affects my feelings.

“Your precepts I get understanding” …affects my thinking.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet” …affects my reality.

Have you ever read Scripture and were moved by the brilliance of it? Its depth and wisdom? Have you ever read Scripture, saw the plan and design of it, and simply said, “You can’t make this stuff up!”?

Well, you can’t! No one person, or even a group of people, could. These words, written two to three thousand years ago, are still relevant, factual and life changing today. They are words that have never been proven wrong by science, archaeology, or biology.

I often read people who write from a counseling point of view. It always amazes me how biblical precepts, commands, and even events, reflect what the study of counseling has come to understand today. In reality, it shouldn't be so shocking that the two offer parallel thoughts. The God who created man and the way he operates is the same One who guided the hands of the people who wrote the Bible for us. Who understands better how we operate than the One who created us? So, when counseling begins to see how and why we operate the way we do, it should come as no surprise that the Bible has already shown us the very same thing.

Even during my own personal times of doubt and questioning, I can’t deny the Bible’s truths, its wisdom, or its beauty. I can’t deny that when it says a bad thing is a bad thing, it is in reality a bad thing. And no matter how badly I want that bad thing, if I’m really honest with myself, it is still quite obviously, a bad thing.

Application:

Let the Bible affect your feelings.

Let it affect your thinking.

Let it affect your reality.

And you can only come to the conclusion that “You can’t make this stuff up”!

Prayer:

Father, whatever my life or heart situation is, please help me to always see, in spite of the chaos around me, that Your word is the only salve for my feelings, thinking, and reality.

Romans 12: 1-2 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul urged the Christian church in Rome to present their entire lives to God. In the first eleven chapters, he told of God’s many mercies: divine love, grace, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, patience, comfort, help, kindness, honor, righteousness, a share in God’s glory… everything we need. And nothing we deserve.

Paul warns us not to conform to societal norms, but to transform our thinking, and become living sacrifices. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. In turn, we need to become living sacrifices to Him. God’s mercies are massive. We need to live like we believe this. Singing a few songs every other Sunday morning is not a living sacrifice. In Biblical times, people would sacrifice a lamb, or if they were poorer, turtle doves. They gave something of value. Christ gave Himself in sacrifice for us. We are called to give our souls, bodies, and minds to Him. They are all interconnected.

If we focus on Christ and all He provides, He will protect us from being stamped out by the world. We must ensure our minds are not completely absorbed by culture and sin. How you think governs what you do. I can’t help but think of our children, and the awful influences out there. Adults are susceptible too, though. Therefore, we must renew our minds through the word of God. There is no other source of true renewal. Your living sacrifice to God can only be sustained if your mind is constantly being renewed by God’s word.

Changing your thinking is not easy. It takes work, practice, and determination. When God is the focus of your life, this all makes sense. It’s logical and reasonable if you declare Jesus as Lord and God as sovereign.

There were no chairs in the tabernacle. God wants us to always be presenting something before Him and doing His work. There is no time off from this living sacrifice. His work never ends. Every relationship has a responsibility. You can’t have the joy in the relationship without also having the responsibilities to go with it. Our responsibility is to constantly renew our minds with God’s word so we may be living sacrifices to Him.

Application:

1. Journal ways in which you might need to change your everyday thinking to Biblical thinking.

2. People often get uncomfortable when God gets into their lifestyle. Behave as a living sacrifice and observe. Use these experiences to talk about Jesus.

3. Tally how many hours you’re on social media this week, not for judgement but for insight. I will be doing the same. Journal what you could have been doing to renew your mind through God’s word.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us understand that being a living sacrifice is truly what You want for us, and by obeying, we will receive Your many mercies. Remind us You don’t just want us on Sunday mornings. You long for us! Help us feel that longing. Give us an intense longing for Your word, so we may constantly renew our minds in You. Amen.

For Further Study:

1 Corinthians 2:16 and Colossians 1.

Isaiah 55:1-3, 6 (NLT)

“Is anyone thirsty?

Come and drink—

even if you have no money!

Come, take your choice of wine or milk—

it’s all free!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?

Why pay for food that does you no good?

Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.

You will enjoy the finest food.

“Come to me with your ears wide open.

Listen, and you will find life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you.

I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.

Seek the Lord while you can find him.

Call on him now while he is near.

Explanation:

When I moved to Ohio, a big cultural change I had to adjust to was the need for food at almost every human encounter. I would show up for meetings with my purse, and it seemed everyone else brought snacks. People actually owned special high-end baskets for transporting food, baking ware with snap-on travel lids, and crockpots with clipped lids to haul around.

In my former position I never had to factor in food for meetings, small groups or seminars. When I came on staff, I broached the topic of eliminating the stress of food at everything, and as I read the room, I forever got the impression it would CAUSE stress to ignore the food element of life in Ohio.

I had come to a new land.

Guess what, my dear, fellow Ohioans?

You are invited to God’s grace feast!

All that is necessary is hunger and thirst.

Nourishment for your soul is freely offered because God longs to feed you!

Most of you have seen the child who needs a nap, protests the nap, gets put down for a nap, takes the nap, and wakes up a “napped-happy” child.

They didn’t know their need.

In a nutrition class I took, it was stressed that many times people start snacking at night because they are tired and what they really need to do is just go to bed.

They are filling the wrong need.

Spiritual hunger and thirst are real.

You feel alienated from God, and yet can’t put your finger on the solution.

Unfulfilled desires, emptiness and agitation wear your soul out, and the Spirit of God soothingly says…refresh.

✔️ Come (vs 1)

✔️ Listen (vs 2)

✔️ Seek (vs 3)

✔️ Call (vs 6)

All of those invitations are full of reassurance, hope, and the tender, compassionate love of your Father…drawing you close to Him.

He knows your real need.

When Isaiah urges you to call on God while He is near, it is not because God is moving. You move.

Isaiah is urging you to draw near while you can, before your slow fade puts the light out. It’s much harder in the dark.

Don’t wait until you have drifted so far, you lose your way.

There is real urgency in the “drawing close” element of your relationship with God, because you could quite literally starve to death, without His presence in your heart.

Application:

1. Grace is irrational because it reaches for the undeserving person. Only the undeserving…

2. God is compassionate to the humble who accept his offer.

Prayer:

Father…

Sometimes I foolishly want instant gratification over good nourishment.

Today I am accepting Your nutritious grace to grow. Amen.

Matthew 5:1-2 (NIRV)

Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them.

Matthew 5:6 (ESV)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Explanation:

The scripture above is the start of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He sits down to teach His disciples and the crowd how to live a life following God. Verses 3-12 are called the Beatitudes. The Latin phrase for beatitude is “beatus” which means blessed, happy. It’s not just the feeling of being happy, but also being content, satisfied, and longing for a relationship with God.

When we are outside on a hot summer day all we want is a cold drink of water to satisfy our thirst. Our body needs it and desires it. The same is true for our soul. The only thing that can satisfy it and make us feel whole is a relationship with God. We can try and fill our life with things that make us happy, but eventually they will fail us. Having a relationship with God by spending time in His word, praying, and worshipping Him will truly satisfy you.

By putting God first and talking to Him before anything changes in your day, you are inviting Him in and saying, “Whatever you would like for my day, God!” You might still have your to-do list in your head, but you can ask Him to be a part of it. There might be times where He says, “I don’t want you to do that,” or throw a wrench in your plans. You might want to quickly run to the grocery store, but you see someone that just needs to talk. When you give your time to God, it makes your mind say, “It’s Your will, God, not mine.”

Application:

1. Ask God to show you the areas in your life that you need Him.

2. What are some things you are striving after that keep failing, that ONLY God can fill?

3. Take some time today with God by listening to a worship song, sitting quietly with Him, or reading more of our passage in Matthew 5:1-16.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

You are the only one who can satisfy my soul. You never change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help to remember that when I’m struggling today or feeling lost. Remind me that You want to be in the good times, too. Thank You for loving me and always wanting to be in relationship with me, and help me to want to do the same. In Jesus name I pray! Amen.

Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered,

“It is written,

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Explanation:

It is so easy to allow our emotions and our feelings to rule what we do. Have you ever been tired and said something you instantly regretted, or been hungry and made a bad decision? I have. One of my favorite pieces of advice from my mom is to not make decisions at night. That is especially true for me as I don’t usually process information well or think clearly at night. Anyone else in that same boat? Being tired and hungry aren’t the only recipes for bad decision making - there is stress, bad company, incorrect information, putting negativity into our minds and hearts, and the list goes on.

In this passage of scripture Jesus has been fasting for 40 days and is being tempted by satan. If anyone was in the position to make a bad decision, it was Jesus. And satan knew just what to tempt him with: food. Yet Jesus didn’t take the short cut of turning stones into bread. In that moment after fasting for 40 days, He was so physically vulnerable, but He operated in what God the Father had in store for Him. Jesus fully experienced the temptation that we as humans face, but withstood the temptation for something better: the plan of God, ultimately dying on the cross for all of us.

The truth that Jesus spoke in this passage should make us realize that nothing in this life will give us what we need except God. Embracing God’s word is what allows us to experience the fullest life here and eternal life in heaven. There are no short cuts that work, no short cuts that offer anything close to what God and His word offer. We must set our standards based off the word of God and not on what our emotions tell us to do. Those emotions change, but God’s word is constant.

Application:

1. What emotions have you felt in the last day or two? Have they driven your decision-making process?

2. Are you willing to use the word of God to help you make decisions rather than basing them on your own emotions?

3. In order to do what the word of God says, we need to know what the word of God says. What is one specific step that you can take today to become more familiar with the word of God? Some examples include reading the Bible, listening to a Biblical teaching such as a sermon or podcast, or reading a Bible based devotion.

Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for what You modeled for us here on earth. Thank You for the example that You are to us and for the truth that we find in God’s word. Help us to remember that we cannot withstand temptation on our own, but it is only through Your strength.

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Explanation:

Does the message of Christ dwell richly or abundantly in you? As we learn more about God's plan for our lives and how He wants us to live, our lives should be different from the world's. Others should see something contagious in us – something about which they want to learn. Our lives should exude joy and gratitude for the fact that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins, rose again, and is alive today. Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior guarantees that we will spend eternity in heaven. Jesus is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). That deserves all of our praise.

I love music and I love to worship! Singing praise to God is largely associated with showing our gratitude to Him, rather than focusing on ourselves or our own desires. Because of my love and gratefulness for Jesus, I don't feel like I can ever worship Him enough, but I will continue to do so as long as I have breath.

Chris Tomlin wrote a song years ago and part of it reads like this:

“How can I keep from singing Your praise?

How can I ever say enough?

How amazing is Your love.

How can I keep from shouting Your Name?

I know I am loved by The King, and it makes my heart want to sing!”

Give thanks and praise to Jesus from a grateful heart!

Application:

1. Do you feel grateful for things in your life? What makes you feel this way?

2. Does the fact that Jesus died for your sins make you grateful?

3. Do you worship God with gratitude in your heart?

Prayer:

Father, help us seek to live lives that reveal a rich and abundant joy. We want the world to know all about You. Keep us always grateful for what You have done for us. Without You, we have no hope of eternal life. May our worship to You reflect how thankful we are for all the mighty deeds You have done, and will continue to do. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

Psalm 95:1-7a (NLT)

Come, let us sing to the LORD!

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the LORD is a great God,

a great King above all gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth

and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it.

His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the LORD our maker,

for he is our God.

We are the people he watches over,

the flock under his care.

Explanation:

I can’t think of a time in my life that worship music wasn’t present, at least at some level. I remember singing hymns with my Granny, singing Maranatha praise choruses my mom played from her cassette player while she was cleaning the house, and singing in the church with other believers who gathered together. For many years, though, it wasn’t authentic. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the words and lyrics were as ordinary to me as those of any other genre of music. I’m being fully transparent here: for years I was a “worship fraud” according to what God calls our worship to be.

God wants us to make our worship personal, to make it about Him and how wonderful He is. To take the words of the songs we are singing and make them a prayer from our hearts. He wants our true selves. He wants us to sing of His amazing love and greatness. Just like this passage says, come to Him with thanksgiving and praise for the greatness of all He has done.

Today I want to challenge you to evaluate your worship. Is it YOU-centered or GOD-centered? Are you like me, who for all those years just sang words without truly singing them to God in praise? Are you going through the motions as part of a Sunday morning routine? This soul-searching effort is not often easy, but it’s for your benefit. Our worship is meant to focus on God and His greatness.

There’s one more challenge that I’d like to pose today. Once you’ve evaluated your worship and asked God to help you transform your worship into something that is truly God-centered, break out that worship playlist. Take that step wherever you are and really make it about Him today. Are you at work? Make the words you’re hearing a silent prayer of God’s goodness. In the car? Be that person other drivers roll up on as you’re singing to God at the top of your lungs! At home? Open all the windows (if it’s warm enough) and sing to the Lord, thanking Him for His goodness and mercy!

Application:

1. How can you make your worship an authentic offering to God?

2. What is one thing you can do to remember to keep God at the center of your worship?

Prayer:

God, thank You for the gift of worship. You’ve given us so many talented writers and singers that we can sing along with to exalt You. Help me keep You as the center of my worship. Remind me as I sing along in the car or around the house that I should be making the words an offering to You. Help me to remember to worship even when things are hard and life is challenging. You are the God of every circumstance and challenge, and I praise You for who You are. Thank You for being in control, and for this and so many other things, I give You my highest praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 63: 1-8 (ESV)

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Explanation:

As the heading explains, David wrote this Psalm when he was fleeing from someone, possibly Saul but more likely his son, Absalom. Either way, both men were eager to find and kill him. While David begins in somewhat of a lamenting tone, he quickly moves to seeking God with all that he has left in him. There was likely not much water in the desert of Judah, so his soul is as thirsty as his body, and we can almost hear the desperation in his voice.

David first recounts his past worship experiences, and longs to be able to meet God again in the sanctuary to encounter His glory, which is simply God’s special presence with His people. David then expresses his confident expectation that God will show up for him, and that he will be able to worship Him again. He wants to lift his hands because to do so directs all of his praise toward God. To David, nothing is more important, and he depends on this worship to save his life.

In the last verses, David makes clear that he knows where to go when he is lost. While he longs for the sanctuary, he also realizes that you don’t need one to worship God. All we need is a safe space to sing for joy, and he tells us here that in the shadow of God’s wings is the safe space that we seek.

I can’t imagine the shadows that presented themselves while David was running and hiding. Especially for someone living in a cave, every shadow potentially presented a different threat. David was not physically safe when he wrote these words. He was restless, sleepless, and penning this “in the watches of the night.” This makes his choice to spend his valuable time worshipping God all the more inspiring. He chose not to live in fear of these lesser shadows but instead to rely on the ever-present shadow of his Protector. David knew God can be found no matter how dry and weary our land. Let David’s words guide your way back to the shadow of your Father’s wings today, and when He does as He promises He will, let everything we have praise the Lord!

Application:

1. What situation brings you crawling into the shadow of God’s wings today? Know that this is a safe space to find respite for your weary soul. God’s wings have stood the test of time, and He offers them as shelter every time we genuinely seek Him.

2. The Hebrew word for “clings” is “dabaq,” which means to “hold fast.” This word is used many times in the Bible to link those who uphold the commands of God with His promises to protect them. What do you cling to in the difficult moments of your life? Know that anything besides Jesus does not promise the same protection.

3. Take time to earnestly worship God today for who He is and not just for what He can do. This is our greatest privilege this side of heaven! In the words of Matt Maher:

“Joy still comes in the morning,

Hope still walks with the hurting;

If you’re still alive and breathing,

Praise the Lord!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You so much for the words of David to show us that we do not walk alone. You are always with us, even in our wilderness, in our desert, and when the shadows of this life loom so large. Your Presence is the greatest gift we could ever receive, and we humbly ask that You remind us of this today. Than

2 Samuel 6:12-23 (NLT)

Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.

They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”

David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.

Explanation:

I would melt like a salted slug if Skip ever mocked my physical expression of worship before God. Opinions can be toxic when they move from your heart to your tongue, and Michal wounded David.

David was delirious with joy when, as King, he removed his royal robes and danced in his priestly garment before the Lord. Imagine His vulnerability.

But Michal could not share David’s joyful worship of God, so she hated it.

David was doing with his body what his heart could not contain. Worship.

Michal did with her tongue what her heart could not contain. Mocking.

Out of David flowed freedom.

Out of Michal flowed loathing.

His physical response to God was:

✔️ Loving

✔️ Warranted

✔️ Honoring

Her opinion was:

✔️ Critical

✔️ Wrong

✔️ Lethal

In my own life I recently began starving the negative and feeding the positive. I’m learning to be more vigilant regarding the slow leaks in my spiritual life. One that kept tripping me up was forming an opinion.

I finally exhausted myself with my opinions.

I had an opinion on everything, and I could feel it was unhealthy.

I'm a reader, and very fascinated by the thought processes of leaders. While that may sound virtuous on the surface, we all know good can morph. I was following leaders and influencers on Instagram that labeled themselves “Progressives” but were actually deconstructors of sound theology. I had a morbid curiosity, and would read their posts under the pretense of understanding where the other side was coming from.

THEN I mentally judged them.

It was the judging component that made my opinions toxic.

I unfollowed them all, and just that tiny step helped in my freedom.

Feeding positivity and starving negativity has helped my spiritual life.

While the window of opinion I sat in was completely different from Michal’s window, we see the end results.

Barrenness.

Barrenness is where life does not live.

David’s heart was closed to Michal from that day forward, and their physical union would never happen again. She sealed the door