Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, November 28, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Today’s Observation:

It is not easy to trust people. Oftentimes, those whom we have trusted the most also disappoint us the most. When we let someone into our emotional space, we feel vulnerable, and because of past hurts, we sometimes wish we did not allow ourselves to trust again. This is an unfortunate consequence of sin.

The Lord says that we can trust Him. He has demonstrated His consistency by causing the sun to shine and the rain to fall without fail for thousands of years. He has sustained the very breath in our bodies. This, along with all of His mighty acts, shows us His proven track record and that should put us at ease. This should encourage us to be faithful to Him.

So many people think it is possible to make important decisions without consulting the Lord. Decisions about marriage, business partnerships, and other situations are made without regarding Him. People suffer through unnecessary pain because they do not first confer with God. He says that if we put our trust in Him first, and resist the temptation to rely on our own limited wisdom, He will direct us in the way we should go.

More than anything else, we must rely on the Lord concerning issues of salvation. We have nothing of value to contribute to our salvation; He must perform miracles beyond our abilities in order to fit us for heaven. We are never to aspire to holiness in our own strength. We must trust in the Lord with our whole heart. As we do this, He will make known the mysteries of godliness and will prepare us to meet Him in peace. Isn’t it great that the Lord is willing to show us, step-by-step, the way we should go? Trust in the Lord and you will never be disappointed.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Dig into the closet of your deepest memories where you’ve neglected to trust God. Ask Him to forgive you, surrender it to Him, and watch Him do a miracle on your behalf.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, November 26, 2015

Today’s Scripture Reading in Honor of the U.S. Holiday, Thanksgiving:

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that made great lights: For his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: For his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: For his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: For his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: For his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: For his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him which smote great kings: For his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: For his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: For his mercy endureth for ever: And Og the king of Bashan: For his mercy endureth for ever: And gave their land for an heritage: For his mercy endureth for ever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: For his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate: For his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: For his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: For his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: For his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 136).

Today’s Marching Orders:

If you have not already guessed; give thanks unto God, because His mercy endureth forever.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mark 13:11).

Today’s Observation:

After a great discussion with a friend concerning our need for the power of the Holy Ghost, and complete reliance on Christ, something dawned on me. I thought back to my elementary school science classes. In those classes, we learned about the so-called fight or flight response. When certain stressors threaten us adrenaline, noradrenalin, and cortisol are secreted into our blood stream. The blood rushes away from our digestive organs, our pupils dilate, sight sharpens, and overall awareness is keener. In this state, we are physically stronger and able to move faster than usual. Our heart rate speeds up and to a large extent, we lose pain sensitivity. This is why a petite mother of a young child in danger, can literally bench-press a car, if necessary, to rescue her child. Under normal circumstances, that same loving Mom may have difficulty opening a jar of pickles.

All of this neurophysiologic stuff made me think of God’s willingness, and ability to supply us with what we need, at the very moment that we need it. The analogy may not correspond directly, but this is the way I see it. When we love the Lord and spend time with Him in daily devotional Bible study and prayer, He has promised many things. One such promise is that when we are faced with strong spiritual opposition and have to give an answer for our faith, He will speak through us. He said that we should not practice or specifically prepare, because it is God that speaks.

In the fight or flight response, the one stressed cannot prepare for the activity at hand. They cannot prepare to run more than twenty miles per hour. They cannot prepare to move a one-ton vehicle without the aid of a tow truck. God gives all of these abilities to us in the moment they are needed. Can you imagine what it would be like if we stayed charged by adrenaline all of the time? We would become overcharged and probably have a heart attack. The point is this, just as God put a mechanism in place for our physical protection; He did likewise for our spiritual well-being. Just as we must trust Him to activate the systems that He put within our bodies, we must trust Him to do likewise within our minds.

It is wonderful to know that God gives us instantaneous help when we need it. He is never too late, but always on time.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Ask God to show you how to be of service to others today. Then trust that He will show you how in the very moment you need Him.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, November 23, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1–3).

Today’s Observation:

At a time when Jesus knew that He would soon be betrayed into the hands of His enemies, He encouraged His disciples in many ways. In spite of the fact that already He knew that all of them would forsake Him, He was still dedicated to His love for them. He spoke with tenderest care, after alerting them that their faith was not as strong as they thought. He spoke of His departure, not as a sad event, but as an encouragement to be faithful and believe in Him.

I am sure that when Jesus spoke of the betrayals, and His departure, they became sad and confused. He could have left them in that state, but He didn’t. Instead, He lifted their attention heavenward. He told them not to be discouraged because they have hope in God. He shared that when all was said and done with His work on earth, He would return to glory, and prepare a place for them. He spoke of plenty of room signifying His intent to save many. I find an incredible promise in His simple statements.

If Jesus said that He was preparing a place for them, He was promising them the power to remain faithful so that they could one day, occupy their place in heaven. There was no need to argue about who should be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus was promising to get things ready for them in heaven, and then come back to get them.

Think of a mother and father who have been expecting the birth of their child for nine months. They buy the softest most beautiful bedding in the colors that represent their love and anticipation of their new arrival. They select cute baby clothes and shoes. Their minds are enraptured thinking about the glorious day when that baby will come home. Their hearts leap with joy and anticipation. Do you think that with all of the preparations they have made for the baby to come home, that they will change their minds and leave the baby at the hospital or on the front steps of the house? Of course not! If it is hard to imagine new parents doing that, how much more difficult is it to picture our heavenly Father leaving His faithful followers here, after He has prepared for so long, to receive us unto Himself?

Jesus gave Himself as our substitute on the cross. He died the death that we deserved. He rose again and went to heaven to intercede for us, while preparing a place for us to live with Him. Be encouraged. He did not do all of this for naught. He fully intends to rescue His children so we may live with Him forever. Let not your heart be troubled. Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready to meet Him?

Today’s Marching Orders:

Try this little exercise today: Whenever you are preparing for anything at all; whether it be to have breakfast, go to work, exercise, get your car washed, vacation, etc., imagine you are preparing for the Second Coming. Ask God to help you to see His coming as a real event. Ask Him to help you prepare even more diligently that you do for the mundane activities in your daily routine.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, November 22, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

Today’s Observation:

The burdens of life are overwhelming. With terrorism on the rise and wars imminent in almost every region of the world, the mind can become consumed with darkness. Friendships are in jeopardy, family relationships are on the rocks, and enemies increase in number. Sinners continue in sin, and saints sometimes lose focus, but all is not lost. Is there a word from the Lord that can pierce the darkness and bring light?

When Jesus lived on earth, He carried the burden of the entire world upon His shoulders. He understood perfectly how it feels to become discouraged. His singular purpose was to lead people into right relationship with heaven, delivering them from sin, hopelessness, and eternal ruin. He employed the necessary means to accomplish this.

Among the many, one of the most encouraging things that He said was that He would bear our burdens if we yoked together with Him to cooperate in His mission. Whenever we learn consistently of Christ, and shift our focus to making disciple makers, our own burdens begin to lose their affect. They do not disappear, but the weight is transferred to God, who is the true burden-bearer. The answer to all of the world’s problems is Jesus.

If you are looking for rest, look no further than heaven. An abundance of friends, more hours on the job, health clubs, and movies can only bring false temporary relief. All of heaven is focused on making God’s children effective witnesses who have learned the meaning of trusting in Him. It is as more of His children do this, that others become interested and God’s kingdom is increased.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Choose today to focus on Jesus and receive His rest unto your soul. Be a conduit through which God may give rest to others. “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:25).—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, November 21, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Today’s Observation:

The Lord prophesied through His servant Jeremiah regarding the end of the Babylonian captivity. This captivity occurred because God’s people decided that they did not want to be ruled by Him. They did not adhere to His laws or judgments. They did not listen to the prophets; therefore, God used heathens to get their attention. Near the end of the captivity, Daniel prayed this prayer. “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.” (Daniel 9:5-7). You get a sense of Daniel’s agony and desperation over the way the people treated God.

The Lord gave Jeremiah a message of hope that all of Israel would look forward to after seventy long years. They must have longed for deliverance much like their foreparents longed for the exodus. “For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14).

This world is like Babylon and Egypt of old. I often feel as if I am a captive here. When will the turmoil end? What hope do we have? Many countries around the world are in constant privation, war, terror, and are faced with plagues. How can they be hopeful? As we diligently seek the Lord and give ourselves to Him, we become His children. As to the Jews of old, He promises that we will have an expected end. We will have a hopeful future. One day soon all evil will cease and peace will be restored to the universe. Let us turn to God with all of our hearts, and we will be delivered. We will finally experience in the fullest sense our hopeful future. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10). “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away...

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, November 20, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4).

Today’s Observation:

The idea of putting the Lord first in everything that we do is prevalent throughout scripture. When the Lord is our priority, He keeps all other things in proper order. As the Bible says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15). It is wonderful to know that the Lord of heaven, who has an infinite number of things to manage throughout the universe, is interested in my well-being.

When I read that the Lord will give me the desires of my heart when I delight myself in Him, I see it from an interesting perspective. Many of us pray for various things, and at the end add a phrase, “If it’s your will Lord.” What many mean by this is that they want the thing prayed for, and if they end the prayer with the right phrase, the Lord will give them the very thing they asked for. They suggest that all you need is true faith and you can name it and claim it or blab it and grab it. What the Bible says to me is that I need an adjustment in desires. When the Lord delights in us and we in Him, He changes our desires so that we are in rhythm with Him. We do not know what to pray for, so He helps His children to align ourselves with His perspective. The desires of Almighty God become our desires.

Praise the Lord for being willing to adjust our attitudes toward what He wants for us. If we love the Lord, He will give us holy desires; then He can answer our prayers according to His own divine will.

 

Today’s Marching Orders:

Ask the Lord to package and remove your old desires, and put a whole new set of His desires within you.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, November 19, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:15).

Today’s Observation:

Have you ever looked up to the sky and seen a rainbow rich with the colors of the spectrum? The first time I recall seeing a rainbow after I was baptized, I was driving and almost had an accident, because it was so beautiful. It stretched across the expanse of sky that I imagine measured many miles.

A friend of mine once told me that he loves to see the rainbow because it reminds him of the covenant God made with us. God promised that He would never destroy this earth by water again. When there are torrential downpours, it is easy to forget the Lord’s promise. When floods come and homes are destroyed, remember what the Lord said. Likewise, when the rains of life’s trials threaten to destroy us, and we are tempted to give up hope, we must recount these words: “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” (Isaiah 43:1-2).

This promise is even more beautiful than the impressive rainbow. More than that, God has made provision for everyone who ever lived on this earth to live in a sin-free world beyond the sky. Jesus is coming in the clouds, and if we are faithful, we will see Him in peace. We who have accepted Jesus Christ will receive the inheritance of Abraham in that day. The beauty of salvation and the covenant signified by the rainbow is, that the Lord always keeps His promises. He said that He would look into the sky, see the rainbow, and remember His promise. Since we can see that He is still making good on this promise, we can believe His promise to come again and take us home to live with Him forever in the absolute absence of sin. Here’s what Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3).

 

Today’s Marching Orders:

It may not happen today, but the next time you see a rainbow in the sky, thank God for keeping you alive long enough to save you into His eternal kingdom.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

Today’s Observation:

Oftentimes, when people read this text they gather that God takes everything into account that befalls us and works it out for our good, that is, if we love the Lord. It brings to mind the story of Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, and everything coming full circle. “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20). This is a great lesson to learn, but it is not the primary lesson taught here by Paul. He is speaking about a principle that it would be well for all of us to understand.

Have you ever been in a situation where it was essential for you to have representation or mediation? Maybe you were in traffic court, or possibly as a child facing punishment at home. You yearned for a mediator to represent your case before the authorities. Paul wanted to encourage the believers that when they prayed, they had all of heaven on their side. The Spirit represents the prayers of the sincere because we do not know what to pray for. The Father answers the prayers that the Spirit has reinterpreted, according to His own will. Jesus is the gift of God to a lost world and the representation of God’s willingness to freely give us all things needful. Therefore, we can see that all things in heaven work together to get our prayers heard and answered according to God’s perfect will.

Be encouraged by the knowledge that God is always on the job working for your best interest. He is working for your good.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Adopt a new perspective on prayer. When you speak to God today, take time to thank Him for the help you need for your prayers to register in heaven. Thank Him for the Holy Spirit who fixes your prayers and knows the Father’s thoughts toward you. Thank Him for Jesus who sweetens your prayers because of His eternal connection with the Father.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, November 16, 2015

Today’s Scripture Promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Today’s Observation:

What a different world this would be were today’s promise embraced by the masses. People would stop walking around burdened by guilt and shame. We would recognize our sin through the Holy Spirit and with godly sorrow agree with His view of the matter. We would stop nurturing those darling little sin habits and allow God to give us righteous characters. There would be lasting peace on earth because we would be so happy God forgave us that we would be quick to forgive others.

Is God’s promise of forgiveness and cleansing too good to be true? No. Actually, it’s too good not to be true. What many fail to realize is that He really meant it when He inspired John to say that He so loves us that He gave His only Son to take our sin punishment. Likewise, many fail to realize the fact that there is no way God would go to such great lengths to save us and then refuse to give us the salvation this sacrifice affords. He gave much, because He loves much. He loves much; therefore, He provides much mercy, power, and assurance to those who continue to humble ourselves before Him. If we follow the promptings of God’s Spirit after we sin, and agree with His view of the matter, He not only refuses to charge us for our sin, but He also expunges our sin record in the judgment. Those who are thus forgiven and cleansed are covered in the righteousness of Christ, who lived the perfect life before He was crucified. Jesus rose from the dead so we, too, can rise above our past failures, and live eternally with Him.

Today’s Marching Orders:

Your watchword for today is “immediately.” If you do something that God does not approve today, immediately accept the fact and tell Him you agree with Him on the matter. Immediately decide that as long as God gives you strength, you will not do it again. If, God forbid this happens over-and-over again, immediately repeat this process, claiming God’s promise to keep you from falling until you realize His promised victory in your life.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)