Tim Hetzner – Daily Devotions

Stand on the Word of God – Part Five

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” (Psalm 119:28)

When you’re depressed. When depression is physiologically based, God can heal you through a miracle, the right medical treatment, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. But sometimes it goes deeper, and just like your body can suffer from ‘dis-ease’, so can your soul.

Thankfully, God is the ultimate soul doctor! The psalmist said, ‘The day…I cried out, You answered…and made me bold with strength in my soul’ (Psalm 138:3 NKJV). Instead of giving up and settling for the fact that depression runs in your family, stand on God’s Word. Jesus came to ‘heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives…comfort all who mourn…to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness’ (Isaiah 61:1-3).

The Bible says, ‘You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore’ (Psalm 16:11). ‘The ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness…sorrow and sighing shall flee away’ (Isaiah 35:10). ‘These things I have spoken…that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full’ (John 15:11 NKJV). ‘Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full’ (John 16:24).

Every morning when you get up, look in the mirror and declare: ‘This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24). God wants to free you from depression, and He will help you find His peace.

Prayer

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Stand on the Word of God – Part Four

“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:9)

When you feel inadequate for the job. Have you been given a job you don’t feel qualified to do? No problem – it’s an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf (see 2 Chronicles 16:9).

Fix your mind on your all-powerful, always-present, loving heavenly Father. ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22). Instead of fearing the challenge, start feeding your faith. ‘Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17).

Spend more time in prayer and move closer to Jesus: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit’ (John 15:7-8).

Instead of giving in to fear, stand on God’s Word: ‘Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…the weak things of the world to shame the strong…the lowly things of this world…the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him’ (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

‘To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…be glory…forever’ (Ephesians 3:20-21). You are right; on your own, you’re not up to the task. But with God on your side, you’re more than equal to the challenge!

Prayer

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Stand on the Word of God – Part Three

“Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.” (Proverbs 27:20)

When you’re controlled by materialism. The flawed philosophy behind materialism is ‘more, more, more!’ And it’s the result of ‘eye trouble’. The Bible says, ‘The eyes of man are never satisfied.’ It’s okay to want a nice home, a reliable car, and financial security – and God will provide those things when you’re a good steward of what He has already entrusted you with. But when you want more than you need or more than what’s required to fulfill His will, the Bible calls it vanity. The word could be defined as being empty, hollow, or without purpose.

Solomon writes, ‘He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity’ (Ecclesiastes 5:10). So before you ask God for prosperity, ask Him to reveal your life’s purpose because they’re directly linked.

Jesus said, ‘A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth’ (Luke 12:15). God uses a different measuring stick, and His Word says He is ‘able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and…your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God’ (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11).

Is God willing to bless you financially? Yes, but only when you are willing to be a conduit and a distributor of His blessings.

Prayer

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Stand on the Word of God – Part Two

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

When you need to pass a difficult test or exam or certification. The fear of failing can cause your brain to freeze just when you need your thoughts to flow freely. When you know you have done your best to study the material and prepare yourself, trust God with the outcome and stand on His Word:

‘Trust in the LORD…do good…and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself…in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust…in Him, and He shall bring it to pass’ (Psalm 37:3-5).

‘Call to Me…I will answer…and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3).

‘He shall call upon Me, and I will answer…I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:15).

‘The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ (John 14:26).

‘Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:22).

Don’t be afraid; God will go with you when it’s time to take that test or exam. Long before you prayed, He was already preparing your heart and mind: ‘Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear’ (Isaiah 65:24 NKJV). So square your shoulders and walk into that exam room knowing God is with you!

Prayer

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Stand on the Word of God – Part One

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)

When you have a hard time forgiving yourself.

‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25).

‘I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and…your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you’ (Isaiah 44:22).

‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and…will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7).

‘“Never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord’ (Ezekiel 16:63).

‘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).

‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1).

Are you ‘in Christ Jesus’? Then rejoice; you no longer need to struggle under the weight of condemnation. God has totally forgiven you, so forgive yourself and move on.

Prayer

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The Right Balance

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Some of us major in grace but neglect confronting people with the truth lest we offend them. Others of us major in truth but fail to show God’s grace to people. But Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’, and that’s the balance you must strive for!

A man with little interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed each other’s tools, and stuff like that. Then, sadly, the nonbeliever’s wife was afflicted with cancer and died. Here is part of a letter he wrote afterwards:

‘I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance. After the service, I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn’t walk alone. My neighbor – afraid for me, I guess – stayed with me all night. He didn’t speak; he didn’t even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, “Let’s go get some breakfast.” I go to church now. My neighbor’s church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring my neighbor showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.’

Any farmer will tell you that before you sow your seed, you must prepare the ground. ‘Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them’ (Romans 12:9). When you treat people with grace, they will open their hearts and minds to the truth you want to share with them.

Prayer

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Are You a True Friend?

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

Two men were traveling down the road together when a bear appeared out of nowhere. Before the bear could spot them, one guy ran for a tree at the side of the road, climbed into its branches, and hid. The other man, who wasn’t as nimble as his tree-climbing companion, threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead.

The bear came up, sniffed all around him, and appeared to whisper something in his ear. The man had always heard that bears won’t touch a dead body, so he lay perfectly still and held his breath. Sure enough, the bear took him for a corpse and left.

When the coast was clear, the man in the tree came down. Curious, he asked his companion what the bear had whispered when it put its mouth directly to his ear. His friend replied, ‘He told me never to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger!’

It’s easy to be friends with someone who is successful, has it all together, and is riding the crest of the wave. But what about when that person falls, or fails, or loses their connection to Christ, or deliberately disconnects and causes all kinds of ugly consequences? The Bible says, ‘A friend loves at all times.’ When you’re ‘up’, they’re not envious, and when you’re ‘down’, they’re not condescending. They’re compassionate and considerate, whether or not you are. American writer Elbert Hubbard said, ‘Your friend is the man [or woman] who knows all about you and still loves you.’ If you have a friend like that, treasure them and tell them often how much you appreciate them.

Prayer

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Do Not Strike Back

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

The Bible says, ‘Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32). You say, ‘But what they did to me was unfair, unkind, and unwarranted.’ Exactly – and God feels the same way about some of the things you have done!

Any attempt to avenge a wrong is a violation of God’s Word. That includes bad-mouthing them, giving them the silent treatment, making sarcastic remarks, refusing to help them, and resorting to physical violence or verbal attacks. If you were hurt by someone at work, it includes taking company resources without authorization, applying workplace rules more stringently to the offending employee than others, and deliberately slowing your pace to frustrate them. If you were hurt by your spouse, it includes brooding, making them walk on eggshells, and withholding your love and affection.

Paul writes: ‘Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath…Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it” (Romans 12:14, 17-19 MSG). Repaying evil for evil won’t bring you satisfaction.

Besides, have you considered that the person who hurt you may have genuinely changed? What if God continued to hold your transgressions over your head? Retaliation just destroys your peace of mind because you know it displeases God. Today pray ….

Prayer

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Train Your Brain

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Anytime you substitute positive thinking for faith in God and obedience to His Word, you’re on dangerous ground! But don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. As a believer, you’re supposed to train your brain to trust God and think positive thoughts that are founded on His Word.

A study conducted in the Netherlands found that people who are optimistic have healthier hearts than those who are grumpy. Self-described optimists died of cardiovascular disease at a lower rate than those of pessimists. Dr. Becca Levy of Yale University conducted a study which concluded that ‘a positive attitude towards ageing was greater than physiological measures such as low blood pressure and cholesterol,’ each of which is believed to add a maximum of four years to a person’s life.

The same study discovered that optimistic people live longer than people who always worry, and that a positive attitude can add more years to life than exercising or refraining from smoking. Additionally, upholding the mind-body connection, a 2005 Associated Press article reported, ‘New research suggests that once Alzheimer’s disease robs someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help them, it doesn’t work nearly as well.’ Isn’t that remarkable? When people are able to think that painkillers work, the medicines seem to help. Our minds are amazing!

The Bible says, ‘The joy of the LORD is your strength.’ And that’s not just spiritual strength, but physical, mental, and emotional strength. If you want to have a healthy life, you must have a healthy mind, and that starts with thinking positively instead of negatively. So, train your brain.

Prayer

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Your Boaz Season

“She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.” (Ruth 2:7)

After ten years of sorrow and hardship in which she lost her husband and her support system, God introduced Ruth to her new husband, Boaz. Where? In the field where she worked each day. Who was Boaz? The owner of the field. One of the things that attracted Boaz to Ruth was her work ethic. The servant in charge of his reapers told him, ‘She came and has continued from morning until now.’ As a result, she ended up married to the boss.

That’s why the Bible has so much to say about the difference between laziness and hard work, sloppiness and excellence, lateness and punctuality, honesty and dishonesty, a positive attitude and a negative one. Someone is always observing you who is capable of blessing you. Read these three Scriptures:

1) ‘Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men’ (Proverbs 22:29).

2) ‘The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich’ (Proverbs 13:4).

3) ‘He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich’ (Proverbs 10:4).

Notice the phrases ‘a slack hand’ and ‘a lazy man’. By expecting much and giving back as little as possible in return, you don’t just short-change the company you work for, you short-change yourself. Why? Because God promises to honor you when you give your best. His Word says, ‘Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another’ (Psalm 75:6-7).

Prayer

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