Tim Hetzner – Daily Devotions

Your Quiet Time — Part Three

“I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to Your Word.” (Psalm 119:107)

When everything in the psalmist’s life began falling apart, he prayed, “Put me together again with Your Word.” (YLT) That’s what your quiet time with God does. So, why don’t we have a consistent quiet time with God? Two reasons:

1) We think our quiet time must be a long time. Start small. Reserve five minutes to open your Bible and meditate on a brief portion of Scripture. Chat with God about it. Tell your needs to Him and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through the whole day. Good news! You have just experienced a quiet time! So, tomorrow, repeat it. As your spiritual appetite grows, you will find yourself putting aside more time – 10 minutes, then 20, and that time will keep on growing.

2) We think our quiet time must be free of all noise! Instead of avoiding hustle and bustle, Jesus wants to connect with you there. Begin to find creative ways to connect with the Lord all day long. Listen to worship music while you clean, and sing along. Pray in the Spirit. Learn memory verses. “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Listen to the Bible while you drive – excellent apps are available. Pray while exercising – develop your faith muscle! Go with God for coffee – do your Bible study at a café. Go for a walk with Jesus – pray for others, and praise God for the outdoor beauty He created. Welcome Him into your routines, and the mundane will turn into holy moments. Give the Holy Spirit your consent to interrupt, then do what He says. To put it another way – do life with Jesus.

Prayer

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Your Quiet Time — Part Two

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

One of Satan’s most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings. That’s a lie; don’t believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God. With that in mind, read this Scripture: “[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (vv. 15-16).

Another lie that Satan will tell you to keep you away from your quiet time is that the greatest saints in history spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That’s true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin!

Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: “When you’re hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn’t until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!” So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn’t feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8), you will want more and more time with Jesus – which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.

Prayer

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Your Quiet Time — Part One

“You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for Your Word to renew me.” (Psalm 119:114)

What’s stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with “should” and “ought tos;” like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, “Maybe later, when life slows down.” We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him.

David wrote: “The one thing I ask of the LORD – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in His Temple. For He will conceal me there when troubles come; He will hide me in His sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me…My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming”’ (Psalm 27:4-6, 8 NLT).

When David wrote those words, there was no Temple or “house of the Lord.” So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words “You’re my place of quiet retreat” mean that you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.

Prayer

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God Has A Plan For Your Life

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Paul was totally invested in what God had called him to do. Are you? When it comes to barriers to success, we are usually our own worst enemies. Taking the steps necessary to fulfil a God-given dream will cost you. You will have to work hard. You will have to make sacrifices. You will have to keep learning, growing, and changing. Are you willing to do that?

Most people aren’t. Ask people when they will do what they want to do, and most will answer that they hope to do it “someday.” Why not now? Because you’re not ready? Perhaps you’re not. But if you wait until you are, maybe you will never do it. You only get ready by starting. And if you’re willing to start, here are some things you can count on.

First, it will be different from what you imagined.

Second, it will be more difficult than you imagined.

Third, it will be better than you imagined.

Mark Twain said that the two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day they discover why they were born. If you want to discover why you were born, spend time with God. His Word says, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.’” (vv. 11-13)

Prayer

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Do Not Disturb

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

In training Timothy for ministry, Paul says, “Preach the Word!…Whether it is convenient or inconvenient…you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.” Most hotels have a sign you can put on your bedroom door that reads, “Do Not Disturb.” That sign on your door means you want to relax, sleep, or not be bothered. Hanging that sign on your hotel room door is acceptable, but putting it on your life is not.

Have you ever noticed that God doesn’t always do things on our timetable or in ways that are convenient for us? Paul told Timothy that when it came to serving the Lord, he was called to do it “whether the time is favorable or not” and “whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” We need to remember that whatever God asks us to do, it’s always worth any inconvenience or difficulty we face in the process. And He will always make a way for us to accomplish His will when we are obedient to Him.

The Bible says, “So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God or be acceptable to Him” (Romans 8:8). Notice, this “life of the flesh” doesn’t please God. This doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us. What it does mean is that He is not satisfied with, nor will He accept, behavior “catering to the appetites and impulses of their [our] carnal nature.” So take down your “Do Not Disturb” sign and commit to walking in obedience, for it’s the pathway of blessing.

Prayer

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Reach For Your Potential

“Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.” (Job 8:7)

Your personal potential is what you may be – the person you can become. God, who sees the end from the beginning, knows your potential and will help you to reach it. But you have a part to play. You must desire growth and commit yourself to it each day. Growth is a pathway that never ends: “They go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7).

Just as your DNA differs from every other person, so does your personal growth pathway. To discover your God-given purpose, you must grow in spiritual awareness. To become a better person, you must grow in character. To progress in your career, you must develop your skills. To be a better spouse or parent, you must grow in your relationship skills. To achieve your financial goals, you must grow in your understanding about how money works and what God teaches about HIS money. The aspects of growth differ from individual to individual, but the principles are alike for every person.

And if you’re serious about growth, you must integrate what you’re learning into your routine. You cannot change your life until you change something you do every day. Growth only takes place when knowledge becomes experience. That’s why keeping a growth journal is so important. It helps you to see how far you have come, what you have learned, the extent to which you have changed, and how far you have to go. If you continue to learn and grow daily for many years, you will be amazed at how far they will take you. “Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”

Prayer

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Passion For Doing The Will Of God

“I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

Doing God’s will can be difficult, but it always brings a sense of fulfilment and reward. David experienced resentment from his family, betrayal by his boss, and rejection by his friends. Yet he could say, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God.”

To fulfill your God-given destiny, you need to be passionate. Passion gives you an advantage every time. One person with passion is more effective than 99 who only have an interest. Passion gives you energy and keeps you going when others give up. Indeed, it keeps you going when you want to give up!

Not only will God give you a passion for His will, but you will also discover abilities you didn’t know you had. They may be undeveloped, but they’re there waiting to be tapped. Some of us have inherent abilities, and we know who we are and what to do. Others must work hard to make these discoveries. Your goal should be to waste as little of your life as possible.

There is a big difference between having a God-given dream that pushes you to achieve and pulling a concept out of thin air that has no relation to who you are and what you’re called to do. Just as a soldier on the front line must stay in communication with headquarters, you must pray daily and search God’s Word. When you know that you’re doing what God has called you to do, you experience joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of conflict, and confidence when everything around you is falling apart. Nothing — absolutely nothing — is more important than knowing you’re doing the will of God.

Prayer

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A Heart For Others

“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” (Psalm 41:1)

On December 18, 1933, a curious ad appeared in a Canton, Ohio, newspaper: “Man Who Felt Depression’s Sting to Help 75 Unfortunate Families. Anonymous Giver Known only as ‘B. Virdot,’ posts $750 to Spread Christmas Cheer.” All the reader had to do was describe their plight in a letter and mail it care of “general delivery.” The appeals poured in. Oddly, no one knew a “B. Virdot,” and people wondered if such a person even existed. Then within a week, payments began arriving in homes all over the area. Most were modest, about 5 dollars, and all were signed “B. Virdot.”

Throughout the ensuing years as the story was told, the identity of the philanthropist remained unknown. Then in 2008, long after his death, his grandson opened a tattered black suitcase collecting dust in his parents’ attic. That’s when they found the letters dated December 1933, along with 150 cancelled cheques. Turns out that “B. Virdot” was really Samuel J. Stone, and the pseudonym was a hybrid of Barbara, Virginia, and Dorothy, the names of his daughters.

Interestingly, there was nothing privileged about Sam Stone. He was 15 when his family emigrated from Romania and settled in a Pittsburgh ghetto. Sam’s father hid his shoes so he couldn’t go to school, forcing him and his six siblings to roll cigars in the attic. Eventually, Sam left home to work on a barge and then in a coal mine. By the time the Great Depression hit, he owned a small chain of clothing stores and lived in relative comfort. Nevertheless, he had a heart for others – and his actions proved it. Can that be said about you?

Prayer

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Worship God — Part Two

“… I will celebrate before the LORD.” (2 Samuel 6:21)

True worship calls for being less self-conscious and self-absorbed and more God-conscious and God-absorbed. After watching him dance before the Lord, David’s wife gave him an earful: “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (v. 20). To which David replied, “It was before the Lord, who chose me…He appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel – I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become…undignified…humiliated in my own eyes” (vv. 21-22).

Prayer

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Worship God — Part One

“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might.” (2 Samuel 6:14)

In 2 Samuel 6, David had just been crowned king of Israel. He had defeated the Philistines and recaptured Zion. Now he is bringing the ark of the covenant, the ultimate symbol of God’s presence among His people, back to Jerusalem. After years of living without it, the sight of it overwhelmed David with joy, causing him to strip off his kingly robes and dance before the ark with abandon wearing nothing but a loincloth. Yet, when you get excited about God, don’t expect everybody to get excited with you or understand your excitement. David’s wife, Michal, was such a person. The Bible tells us two things about her:

1) “Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.” (v. 16)

2) “Therefore Michal…had no children to the day of her death.” (v. 23)

Seemingly, worship is foolish, isn’t it? Singing to somebody you can’t see. Lifting up your hands to somebody you can’t touch. Or, in David’s case, failing to act with kingly dignity and decorum. An old proverb says, “Those who hear not the music think the dancer is mad.” That’s what is going on in this story. David hears the music and worships God with abandon. Michal doesn’t and forfeits what she longs for most.

Don’t miss the point here. When you discount the critics and naysayers and decide to worship God with all your heart, you begin to thrive spiritually. When you don’t, you end up spiritually barren.

Prayer

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