Tim Hetzner – Daily Devotions

The Blessings of Battle

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12)

When you commit your life to Jesus, you switch sides. Now you’re up against three things. The world with its pressures, values, and agenda. The flesh, with its impulses and weaknesses. The devil, who is out to defeat you. But God would never allow us to get into a fight we couldn’t win, so let’s consider three blessings of battle.

1) It teaches you to live at high alert. It was when Samson slept that Delilah shaved his head and robbed him of his strength. It was when the servants slept that an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat and threatened their harvest.

2) It’s a sign of spiritual progress. When Israel entered the promised land, thirty-one kings and seven nations had to be conquered. Plus giants! They had to take it one city at a time and one giant at a time. And when Jesus becomes Lord of your life, He will address the unsurrendered areas of your life, and He will deal with them one at a time. And the battle will be harder and last longer when it comes to your stubborn areas. You know which ones they are, right? Be encouraged. God won’t give up on you: ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it’ (Philippians 1:6).

3) It’s an indication of your value to God. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest for God. That’s why you’re a target of Satan. He is after the deposit of God that’s within you. So, keep fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that by God’s grace, presence, and being, you will win.

Prayer

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Live In the Light – Part Three

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)

Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (vv. 14, 16).

The pastor continues to explain: ‘If you are a follower of Christ, you should also be light amidst the darkness. Your job is to let Jesus shine in and through you so that those living in the dark will find the light as well. That’s why it’s not enough just to shine. Light is only useful when it encounters the darkness. The place to shine your light and show your light and share your light is not inside the church, but outside the church. Jesus tells us to do what He did: go find dark places and start shining…You don’t have to ask people to look at you when you turn on a light in a dark room. Their heads will turn instinctively.

1) You play sports, and you begin playing for and with your teammates. You are a light in the darkness.

2) You live in a neighborhood filled with unbelievers and begin performing acts of service for others in Jesus’ name. You are a light in the darkness.

3) You are the conspicuous Christian in your office, displaying virtue in an atmosphere of selfishness. You are a light in the darkness. Jesus called us to find people in dark places and to move towards those who need Him. As it turns out, escaping from darkness is as easy as turning on the light.’

Remember the children’s song: ‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.’ That’s what God has called you to do.

Prayer

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Live In the Light – Part Two

“Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. (John 12:36)

The pastor continues: ‘Light is one of the things we often take for granted…We could not live without it. Plants are necessary for the existence of mankind. The entire human species and all animal life are dependent on plants for survival. Plants provide all the essential amino acids and most of the vitamins necessary for health through a light process known as photosynthesis. Plants also produce the oxygen we need to breathe. And plants must have light to grow.

‘What is true in the physical world is true in the spiritual world. Physical life is impossible without physical light, and spiritual life is impossible without spiritual light…How do you dispel the darkness?…Would you sit down on a couch and feel sorry for yourself? Would you take a broom and try to sweep the darkness away? Would you try to shovel or vacuum the darkness out? There is only one solution to such a quandary; turn on the light.’

That’s what you do when you commit your life to Jesus. That’s what you do when you obey His teachings and follow His instructions. That’s what you do when you spend time alone with Him in prayer. That’s what you do when you turn to Him during the dark times in your life. That’s when you discover His promise to be true: ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ (John 8:12). And not only that, you begin to reflect that light to others: ‘Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’

Prayer

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Live In the Light – Part One

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

A pastor writes: ‘Have you ever heard the term achluophobia? It is the fear of darkness…Being in complete darkness is unnerving. It induces a sense of helplessness. And yet physical darkness is nothing compared to emotional, relational, and spiritual darkness.’

Today you may feel like you’re in a dark place with no way out: ‘My girlfriend left me for another man.’ Or, ‘I’m probably heading towards divorce. My husband has been cheating on me.’ Or, ‘I’m depressed and cry for no reason. When will these feelings go away?’ Or, ‘I’m wrestling with a terrible illness, and I’m basically homebound. I am in a dark place and need help.’ If that’s your story, there is help, and there is hope.

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’ If you’re willing to turn to Him today, you will discover that He can illuminate your path and show you the way out of the darkness you’re in. When you turn on the light, darkness has to leave. And Jesus is the light that removes our spiritual and emotional darkness.

Notice that Jesus did not say He is a light, or one among many, but instead the light. He didn’t say He is light just for some, but the light of the world. Regardless of whether you live in Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Toronto, or Timbuktu, Jesus is your answer. If you are living in darkness, He is inviting you to come to Him and step into the light.

Prayer

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God Always Comes Through!

“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

The heroes in Scripture often found themselves faced with impossible odds and overwhelming situations. Think of Moses standing up to Pharaoh and David standing up to Goliath. Think of King Jehoshaphat facing the overwhelming might of three combined armies determined to destroy his nation. Here is what he said to God: ‘For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’ (v. 12).

Now notice how God answered him: ‘“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you”…Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you’ (vv.15-17).

God will never give you a job to do that does not require His strength, His wisdom, His resources, and sometimes His miraculous intervention. Who commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go over to the other side of Galilee? Jesus. What happened? Obeying Him involved going through one of the worst storms of their lives. But as they watched Him still the storm, their faith rose to a new level and prepared them to do greater things for God in the future.

So the word for today is: 1) position yourself, 2) stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, and 3) ‘do not fear…go…for the LORD is with you’.

Prayer

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Where Do Our Prayers Go?

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:4)

Have you ever wondered where your prayers go? The answer is ‘up for a memorial before God’. Notice that they are ‘before’ Him. They are in His hands and on His mind. Here, when Cornelius prayed, God not only changed his circumstances, He changed history; for the first time, Gentiles heard the gospel and became part of the kingdom of God.

How long had Cornelius been praying? We don’t know; the Bible just calls him ‘a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always’ (v. 2). Prayer was not a hotline Cornelius used when he got into trouble or had a problem he could not solve. He ‘prayed to God always’. He had a lifestyle of prayer.

The word ‘memorial’ means God remembers what you pray about. Prayer is like putting money into your bank account. You may not draw on it today or tomorrow, but it will be there when you need it. Don’t get caught up in religious rituals. You can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything, and God will answer you. ‘Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice’ (Psalm 55:17).

When you run out of gas on the highway, you can’t blame the car. You got busy doing other things and neglected what was important. Prayer makes you conscious of God, keeps you connected to God, and positions you to receive what you need from God. So, keep praying because your prayers go ‘up for a memorial before God’.

Prayer

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The Ingredients of a Miracle

“On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.” (John 2:1)

Let’s examine the story of Jesus turning water into wine. It was His first miracle, and it reveals how He works in our lives.

1) Invite Jesus. ‘There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee…Jesus and His disciples were invited’ (vv. 1-2). When the problem arose, this couple didn’t have to send for Jesus because He was already there. Not only did they know Him, they included Him in their plans. They honored Him. The cry of Paul’s heart was ‘that I may know Him’ (Philippians 3:10). Why? Because when you know the Lord, you can call on Him with confidence and be assured He will be by your side when you need Him. This couple probably had a long time to prepare for this event, yet Jesus didn’t criticize them for poor planning. He came to their aid and met their need. And He will do the same for you; all you have to do is invite Him.

2) Do what He tells you, even when you do not understand it. Faith does not require explanations. It requires simple obedience and trusting in the goodness of God. ‘Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:4-5).

3) Understand that God can save the best for the last. ‘You have kept the good wine until now!’ (John 2:10). It’s not too late. What looks to you like a tragedy can become a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life.

Prayer

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Joyful and Confident Hope

“Perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:4)

Does it feel like the attack coming against you right now is more than you can bear? If so, read this: ‘Pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope’ (vv. 3-4).

Notice that you can reach a place of spiritual maturity where you automatically respond to difficulty with ‘joyful and confident hope’. It’s easy to say, ‘Don’t worry.’ But to actually do that requires experience with the faithfulness of God. When we trust God and then see His faithfulness in our lives, it gives us the confidence needed to live without fear and anxiety.

That’s why it’s so important to continue to have faith in God and learn to trust Him in the midst of trials. With God’s help, we can overcome the temptation to give up when the going gets rough. God uses those hard, trying times to build in us patience, endurance, and character that will eventually produce ‘the habit of joyful and confident hope’.

Always remember that when you are in a battle, you are gaining valuable experience that will benefit you later on. You will more easily trust God when difficulty comes, and you will be able to testify to others regarding the goodness and faithfulness of God.

If you are in a battle right now, you can let it defeat you or make you stronger! Make the right decision, and let it help bring you to a deeper level of spiritual maturity.

Prayer

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Sometimes It Is Wise to Say No

“I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.” (Numbers 11:14)

Moses fielded complaints and listened to stories of frustration and woe until he reached the place where he told God, ‘I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.’ And God agreed. He told Moses to pick seventy mature leaders, ‘and they shall bear the burden of the people with you’ (vv. 16-17). As a result, they made it to the promised land.

Like Moses, it’s okay for you to say, ‘I’ve reached my limit.’ Yes, the Scripture says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13). But that’s referring to times when we face various trials and situations that God will help us through. It doesn’t mean we should take on so many responsibilities that we burn out. Sometimes it’s all too much, and it’s okay to admit that. It’s also okay to say no to some things, so you can enjoy life the way God intended.

You don’t have to be like someone else or try to keep up with them. The assignment God gives you is never greater than the grace He supplies. As our faces differ, so do our gifts and capacity to handle things. We need to be who God created us to be, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We must accept responsibility for all God called us to be, and do all He called us to do. We’re not called to make ourselves sick with stress and pressure.

So if you have reached your limit, go to God. He will help you find a saner, healthier lifestyle.

Prayer

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Believe in Your Vision

“Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

God has a plan for your life. In Scripture, it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘vision’. It works like a compass that will always point you in the right direction and an anchor that will hold you steady in life’s storms. Why did God say, ‘Write the vision and make it plain’? Because sometimes, we bury our vision deep in our hearts to protect ourselves from the criticism of others. Fear causes us to set our vision out of sight so that we don’t have to think about it. Sometimes we give up on our vision because it hurts too much and costs too much to hold on to it.

What should you do? First, you must have a vision that’s clear and compelling. Second, you must keep your vision before you at all times. After experiencing painful rejection by his family and false accusation by his boss’s wife resulting in thirteen years of wrongful imprisonment, the Bible says, ‘Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed’ (Genesis 42:9). Third, you must remember that God has scheduled a time for your dream to be fulfilled: ‘The vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3).

You must find a balance between contentment and ambition. Paul writes, ‘I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content’ (Philippians 4:11). Paul never allowed himself to be upset with where he was at the moment; he knew that God was with him at all times, and he was always looking forward to where God would take him. So enjoy this day, knowing that God has your future securely planned.

Prayer

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