Daily Devotions for July 2023

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 2, 2023

Psalms 81:15

The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him; but their time should have endured for ever.

Water stretched out in every direction, as far as the man could see. He didn't know what direction would lead him most quickly to safety. He kept swimming, not knowing whether the shore was any closer or not.

Each direction he tried seemed as hard as the last. The current was against him, no matter which way he turned. He was so tired. Every muscle ached. His heart filled with fear and anxiety. He wondered if the nightmare would ever end.

Such is the fate of one who realizes too late that God is who He says He is. All the futility of life comes crashing in. Sadness and frustration will reign.

God wants us to turn to Him so we never have to face such despair. Christ is the life jacket that keeps us afloat when life gets too much for us. Nothing else will suffice.

Prayer: The waters are rough sometimes, and I need something to keep me from sinking. Th ank You for throwing me a lifeline; Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 3, 2023

Psalms 82:6

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

The wood carver who made himself a son out of a stump of a tree did so out of love. He wanted someone to love and care for, to teach and to guide, to spend time with and to share with. Pinocchio was the answer to the prayers of a lonely old man. In the end, the old man's love brought the boy made of wood to life.

God carved for Himself men and women to be with Him forever. He filled them with good things. He made them to love, and care, and learn, and grow. He fashioned them out of clay, then He made them as He was. He made us just less than Himself. He calls us gods and children, the greatest of all His creation. In God's eyes, we are sacred and good. Let us do everything we can to live up to His holy expectations.

Prayer: Make me worthy, Lord, of the great love which You have given to me. Turn me from my woodenness to true life; life which comes from Your indwelling Spirit. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 4, 2023

Psalms 83:14-15

As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

The fireworks lit up the Independence Day night sky. Children watched wide-eyed, and parents exclaimed appropriately at each burst. The town echoed with the booming blasts of each rocket.

The show was spectacular, and everyone had a good time. A few even remembered why the celebration took place. Some remembered that the fireworks represented all the bombs that had burst for freedom. A handful walked away from the celebration with a hope beating in their breasts.

The hope was that there would come a time when no more bombs would burst, when no one would have to live in fear for their lives. Some hoped for a day when peace would rule the land.

Some fear is healthy. It brings us to our senses and forces us to look at things with a level head.

War is a terrible thing. It breaks down and destroys. God wants us to consider well the consequences of war. What we do to one another, He will not undo.

Perhaps a fear of the Lord would bring us to our senses. Maybe we would then realize wh ere we stand, and we would choose to stand closer to God.

Prayer: I pray for independence and freedom for all of creation, Lord. While we celebrate and laugh at the bursting bombs, some cower in fear
and trembling. Be with them, Father. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 5, 2023

Psalms 84:3

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine alters, O Lord of hosts, my King, a nd my God.

Rosa had no place left to turn. She was in the country illegally, but for her children's sake, she had to try to stay. She found herself with her two boys on the steps of a New Mexico church.

Inside, she hoped to find the sanctuary she needed. There was no hope if the church turned her away.

Many people in this country are in deep trouble for offering sanctuary to illegal immigrants. There men and women have taken seriously God's charge to care for all His children, even at the risk of personal safety and security. Some have gone to jail, so strongly do they believe.

The church should be a place where people find hope and safety. If it does not provide these things, it is not really the church. We need to reach out to those who reach to us. Only by doing so can we stand proud, calling Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Prayer: Let the feelings of my heart be made real through my actions, Lord. Help me to live out the things that I believe. Amen.

316Judith

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Ingrained and Engraved

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (Colossians 3:16 NLT)

For seven years, American pilot Howard Rutledge was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

In his memoir, he wrote that on his first New Year’s Day of captivity, he made three resolutions that he repeated each year.

First, he would try never to be cold again.

Second, he would try never to be hungry again.

And third, he would never be without the Bible again.

He wanted the Bible ingrained in his mind and engraved on his heart.

It’s interesting how our priorities can change.

That’s why Bible memorization is so important.

We have only so much room in our minds. Just as computers have a specific amount of memory to hold information, we have only so much memory in the minds that God has given us.

So many of us know the latest gossip about Hollywood celebrities, or we can recite sports statistics or other interesting facts. But are we taking the time to fill our minds with the Word of God? When we get God’s Word into our minds, it will stay with us forever. And when we’re tempted, we’ll have it to recall and use.

For instance, when the devil temped Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus defended Himself again and again with the Scriptures. And the apostle Paul referred to God’s Word as “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).

The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NLT). This is essentially saying that our hearts will be kept by God’s Word because we keep God’s Word in our hearts.

Let’s not waste our memory banks. Let’s fill them with important information. It’s great to carry the Bible in your pocket, backpack, or purse. It’s also great to have it on your phone. But the best place to carry the Bible is in your heart.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 7, 2023

Psalms 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Loren worked on his tan all summer. He wanted that "ruddy, healthy look." All his efforts went into the pursuit of the perfect tan. By fall, he knew he's be the envy of all his friends and the object of desire of all the ladies.

A suntan is an outward sign. Everyone who looks, sees that the person has been changed in some way. The same is true of our Son tan; the spiritual bathing we take in Christ. Do people notice a difference in our lives just by looking at us? If we have been touched by the light of Christ, people should be able to tell. No longer do we walk selfishly and in sin.

Through Christ, we walk upright, and God shines forth through us. Let us work hard on our spiritual image as we do on our physical one.

Prayer: Shine Your light on, in, and through me, Lord, that I might fight against darkness wherever I go. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 8, 2023

Psalms 85:9

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Roger was the best cop in the precinct. His record was sparkling clean, and he was the model for most rookies to follow. His most frequent piece of advice was simple: Pay attention.

Roger had watched a lot of his friends blow it, just because they got careless. Police work was not for careless people. Bad things happened to careless people; things that couldn't be undone.

The best way to be was careful. The last thing Roger wanted to have happen was for his career, or his life, to come to an end over some stupid mistake.

One of the best ways we can honor our Lord is to pay attention and be careful. Other people see the way we live our lives, and if we are sloppy and sinful, we can hardly hope to make others see the benefits of being Christian.

Once we have been touched by the saving grace of God, we need to pay attention and live as careful a life a possible.

Prayer: Make me a good example, Lord, of a life made new through Your love. Help others to see in me that Your way is the best way. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms Monday July 10, 2023

Psalms 86:15

But thou, O Lor d, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Erin thought the minister would be more understanding. She had gone to him with her problems because she thought he would be forgiving and loving.

Instead, he made her feel dirty and sinful.

There was no love in what he told her.

He just said that what she had done was evil and she had to ask God's forgiveness and hope He would hear her.

How could he call himself a Christian, let alone a minister? Erin left the church worse off than when she went in.

Pastors are people, too. They make mistakes, and just because they choose to serve God does not mean they will do everything the way God would do it.

Too many people place pastors high up on pedestals, only to watch them come tumbling down.

Only God is capable of total love and care. His forgiveness is what really matters.

Often pastors can help us find God's will for our lives, but in those cases where they do not, God will still reach down to us, lifting us in love, sharing with us His mercy and truth.

Prayer: Lord, when people let me down, be with me to help me understand them. Shower Your love upon me, and deal with me with compassion. I need to feel Your love. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms Tuesday July 11, 2023

Psalm 86:17 

Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, comforted me.
 
During high school, Chris had been a total loser. He had partied heavily and bullied other kids, forcing them to give up their lunch money in order to avoid a beating. Everyone walked in fear of Chris. Ten years was a long time, but no one expected such a great change from Chris.

At the reunion, Chris came into a room that was still somewhat fearful of the old bully. What the people found was a man of grace and charm, who extended a warm hand to everyone he saw. In a few cases, Chris apologized for his behavior ten years gone by. When asked what had made the difference in his life, Chris replied simply, "I'm a Christian now."
 
Christ is the changer of lives. He will give us a token that will attract people's attention. When others see the miracle of God in our lives, then cannot help but be touched themselves. God works through us to touch others. Open yourself to His guidance, and He will use you greatly.
 
Prayer: Take my life and use it to Your will, Father. If I can be the instrument that leads someone to You, then don't hesitate to bring me into service. Let me give to others a portion of what You have given to me. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 12, 2023

Psalms 88:4-5

I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in thy grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from they hand.

Annette sat with red-rimmed eyes. She had been crying for quite some time. Everything in her life felt like it was going wrong. She called herself a Christian, but she kept doing things she knew were wrong. She asked forgiveness, but she felt like a liar and a hypocrite. She wanted God to love her, but she kept being so unlovable.

One of her friends told her that she was going to hell, because God would judge her for all the lies she told and all the sins she committed. Now, she sat sobbing, not knowing what to do.

It is hard to be good when we are so weak. Even the great apostle, Paul, spoke of doing things he knew he should not do. No one ever rises completely above sin.

God wants people who will try and who will strive to do better, even when they know they can't be perfect. God will judge us on the intentions of our hearts.

We cannot separate ourselves from God's love as long as we desire in our hearts to be reconciled to Him. He loves us that much.

Prayer: Forgive my weakness, fill me with strength, and continually remind me of Your great mercy. Though I am not worthy, I am love, and therefore, I am saved. Hallelujah! Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 13, 2023

Psalms 88:8

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

Fritz had read the horrible stories about AIDS, but never gave it much thought. Now his doctor was telling him that he had the disease.

Fritz didn't want to die, especially all alone, but he knew that many of his friends would make themselves scarce as soon as they found out what he had.

He had become a leper, an outcast, with nowhere to turn. Facing death was only a part of it. Facing life would be even harder.

We do terrible things to some people in our society. People who suffer greatly need our compassion and love, but instead they receive our judgment and condemnation.

Christ does not ask us to accept sin, or the results of sin, but He commands us to love the one who sins.

One thing we may never do is cast aside another of God's children. We do not have that right.

The Lord loves all His children, and we need to learn to love all our sisters and brothers.

No one need ever be alone, if we will extend our hands in love to the sick, the lonely, the poor.

Prayer: My God, there are so many suffering people in this world. Lead me to where they are, that I might give them something of myself, that together we may become the family You made us to be. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 15, 2023

Psalms 89:5

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

The rainstorm had been terrific. Torrents of rain had fallen, drenching everything. Now, the clouds began to part.

Shafts of bright sunlight stretched to the earth, causing all foliage to sparkle with droplets of water.

On the horizon, a rainbow stretched from earth to earth. The clouds climbed high into the sky, turning rosy pink with the sunlight.
 
God's creation gives testimony to His truth all the time.

All His wonders unfold through the course of one day.

From the sunrise through the course of one day.

From the sunrise through nighttime starshine, God's glories unfold.

Take time to view God's handiwork.

Search the daytime skies and see the majesty of the Almighty. His hand is ever upon His creation.
 
Prayer: All praise and hone belongs to You, Lord. For the magnificent works of Your hands. You have made such beauty, and You have loved us enough to share it. Thank You, Father, Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms July 16, 2023

Psalms 89:14

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

"What's He going to do to me? He loves everybody. He's got to take me to heaven, or He wouldn't be God."

Jeff's statement left Cathy stunned. Was it true? It certainly made sense. What kind of loving God could send someone to hell?

Maybe Jeff knew what he was talking about. Maybe it didn't really matter what a person does on earth.

Don't kid yourself. God cares very deeply about how we choose to live our lives, and as far as hell goes, only people who choose to go there make it.

God has given us free will. He will not force any of us to spend eternity with Him if we don't want to. If we decide, however, that we do want to spend our eternity in heaven, then it is our responsibility to prepare ourselves, body, mind, and spirit.

Our earthly existence becomes boot camp for the Kingdom. We train for the world which is to come.

God is just and merciful, but He will indeed judge. It is the innocent who will stand beside Him.

Prayer: Let me not tempt Your mercy, Lord, but do everything in my power to act as I thing You want me to act. Train me to be a Kingdom person, worthy to enter Your heaven when I am ready. Amen.

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms Monday July 17, 2023

Psalms 89:15

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

Magic! No matter where the children were, they heard it. It called them from their homework, their play, their naps, their chores. In an instant, heads came up, slightly cocked, in order to hear the delicate chimes. The ice cream man! No greater sound could be found. From every corner of the neighborhood, children with beaming faces were drawn magically to the little wine cart, with its row of silver bells.

When the voice of the Lord calls out to us, may we respond to it with the same childlike glee that our youngsters demonstrate at the approach of the ice cream man. May the name of the Lord bring joy to our hearts and smiles to our faces.

Prayer: Fill me with a joy that remains untouched by the trials of the day. When I hear Your name, Lord, let me respond in jubilation. Be the source of my comfort and peace. Amen.

Healthyme7410

Wow - so much wisdom in all of these devo's that I have missed over the week. Thanks for all that you post. It is very inspiring.

316Judith

When Words Sting Tuesday July 18, 2023

Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips. (Psalm 140:3 NLT)

If we were to list the ten worst sins that we could think of, how many of us would put gossip on the list? Yet when God identified seven of the things that He hates, He included, by implication, the sin of gossip or misusing our words.

In Proverbs 6, we read, “There are six things the Lord hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family” (verses 16–19 NLT).

At one time or another, we all have felt the bitter sting of gossip in our lives. Someone told a lie or passed along a story about us that simply wasn’t true.

The psalmist David lamented those who gossiped about him and lied about his character. It obviously was a source of great pain to him because he prayed, “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips” (Psalm 140:1-3 NLT).

We are living in a wicked, vicious time. It appears that people have an unhealthy appetite for gossip.

David was saying, “Deliver me from people like this, Lord.” That’s because he was facing a carefully planned campaign of slander and lies.

So, what did David do with this concern?

We find the answer in Psalm 140:6: “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!” (NLT).

David cast his burden on the Lord. Are you burdened today? Is someone or something troubling you? Cast it on the Lord.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Mouth Guarding

Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. (Psalm 141:3 NLT)

Have you ever noticed that God gave us one mouth and two ears?

Perhaps it’s because He wants us to listen more and speak less.

How often we will jump to conclusions and pass judgment in a situation.

Yet the Bible says, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish” (Proverbs 18:13 NLT).

Sometimes we’ll hear a rumor and immediately conclude that it’s true. Instead, it would be better to say something like this: “I don’t know whether that necessarily would be true. What if it’s a complete lie?

A Let’s go ask that person about it.” You just might stop a rumor or put an end to gossip.

But how often we will pass a rumor on as though it were the truth. As a result, we can be guilty of slandering another person.

James 1:19 tells us, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (NLT).

David’s enemies lied about his character, and he wanted to be sure he didn’t make the same mistake they did.

In Psalm 140, we read his laments over the lying tongues of others.

But in the psalm that follows, we read how David recognized the danger of his own tongue.

He prayed, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NLT). That is something every one of us should pray daily.

David was essentially saying, “I can’t stop other people from lying about me, but I will not do it to them. I will not be guilty of it.

But I need Your help, Lord. I can’t do this in my own strength.”

One little rumor, one little statement about someone that comes from our lips could inflict terrible damage.

Don’t let that happen.

Ask God to guard your lips.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms Thursday July 20, 2023

Psalms 90:17

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Cheryl loved her artwork. She could express so many things with canvas and paint that she couldn't express any other way. She showed the depths of her soul. All her work had a spiritual sense to it.

It came from a deep and beautiful place inside her own soul.

Cheryl felt that the image of God in her was best displayed through the works of her hands and heart.

Within each of us is a wellspring of beauty that comes from God above. How we express it varies from person to person, but it is there nonetheless.

Reach deep into your soul and share the wealth of beauty buried there. To do so is to share God.

Prayer: Enter into my life, O Lord, and make it something beautiful and special. Whatever talents I have are Yours. Bless them, that they might
produce much, Father. Amen.

316Judith

Friday, July 21, 2023

What You Can Control

Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. (Psalm 141:4 NLT)

We can’t control everything about our lives and everything that surrounds us. We can’t control who moves into the house next door or who works near us. But when it comes to our free time, we do have a say as to whom we will spend it with.

David asked God to help him in his choice of companions. He prayed, “Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong” (Psalm 141:4 NLT).

This parallels what we often call the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. Among the petitions and statements that Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, we find this statement: “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (verse 13 NLT).

In other words, “Lord, help us and deliver us from the power of the devil. Help us not to walk into situations that could be spiritually damaging. And Lord, help us to be selective as to the people we spend time with.”

David wanted to guard against hanging out with people who could drag him down spiritually.

For instance, while the religious leaders were unjustly trying Jesus on trumped-up charges, Peter was warming himself by the fire outside the high priest’s house. Some of the people there recognized him as one of the followers of Jesus.

And as Peter faced the peer pressure of the moment, it caused him to want to withdraw. He didn’t want others to know what he really believed. He was afraid of standing out. So, he denied knowing Jesus, not just once but three times.

The same thing can happen to us. Let’s be careful in this area. Even a person who is strong in their faith can be unduly influenced by ungodly people.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Sunday July 23, 2023

Godly Reproof

Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it. (Psalm 141:5 NLT)

We all need a little correction sometimes. We get a little bit off the path and do something we shouldn’t do. Or, maybe we’re engaged in something that isn’t bad but appears to be bad. It can send out the wrong signal.

In times like these a Christian friend, instead of gossiping about us, may approach us and say, “You know what? I think this could be a problem. You might not want to do this. You might want to be careful and really put your guard up in this area.”

It might sting a little bit to hear that. We may even feel a little embarrassed. But at the same time, we’ll be thankful that a friend cared and told us the truth.

David wrote in one of his psalms, “Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it” (Psalm 141:5 NLT).

He was saying, “Let those who are godly, who are righteous, correct me if necessary.”

The great British preacher C. H. Spurgeon said of this verse, “He prefers the bitters of gracious company to the dainties of the ungodly. He would rather be smitten by the righteous than be feasted by the wicked. He gives a permit to faithful admonition, he even invites it.”

The Bible says, “An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:5-6 NLT).

However, sometimes we’ll bludgeon people with the truth instead of lovingly share it to prevent them from going the wrong direction.

But Ephesians 4:15 reminds us, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (NLT).

A true friend, a true man or woman of God, will tell you the truth and try to keep you from hurting yourself.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Monday, July 24, 2023

For a Little While

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (1 Peter 1:6 NLT)

Often when we go through valleys in life, they’re not of our own making. But God allows them to bring changes in our lives.

The apostle Paul, who hadn’t done anything that would bring God’s punishment, experienced what he described as a thorn in the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 12:7).

In fact, this was a result of his seeing the glory of God. The Lord allowed this difficulty in his life to keep him humble.

Then there was Joseph, who, through no fault of his own, went through tremendous hardships in his life. But God allowed them.

Job is another example. It wasn’t because of his sinfulness that Job went through suffering. In reality, it was because of his righteousness.

Sometimes we go through hardships not because we’ve brought them on ourselves. Instead, we go through them because God is doing a work in our lives.

And though trials and difficulties may last for a while, they don’t last forever. In 1 Peter 1:6 we read, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while” (1 Peter 1:6 NLT).

When David wrote Psalm 23, he didn’t say, “Even when I crawl through the darkest valley” or “Even when I curl up and die in the darkest valley . . .”

Rather, he said, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me” (verse 4 NLT, emphasis added). David was moving forward.

You may not be experiencing any difficulties right now. But when that day comes, Psalm 23:4 will be more precious than ever.

Suddenly it will ring true as it never has before in your life. He will be with you through the valley. You don’t have to be afraid.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Pavement for His Feet

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.

My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)

The apostle Paul, who had the incredible experience of being caught up into Heaven and seeing things that he couldn’t even describe, said that he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him.

Three times he asked God to take it away. But here was God’s response: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

Paul then concluded, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).

Trials are part of the Christian life. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT).

Of course, we all cringe when we come to the mouth of some long valley that seems to loom endlessly before us. Yet it is during hardships that we can experience God’s presence and power in a unique and special way. God will reveal Himself in the valleys, in the difficulties of life.

On one occasion when Jesus sent the disciples across the Sea of Galilee, a horrendous storm whipped up. They were afraid the waves would overtake them and drown them. It was so bad that they despaired of life. Then suddenly they saw Jesus walking to them on the water.

Commenting on this story, the great Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan said, “He is coming over the very waves you are most afraid of. The very waves that threaten to buffet and break you to pieces are the pavement for His blessed feet.”

Sometimes the very things we fear the most are the tools that God will use in our lives to bring us closer to Him.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Choose It

Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Psalm 32:2 NLT)

Without a doubt, one of the great blessings of being a Christian is that God gives His children second chances. He knows we’re not going to be flawless. Even when we’ve failed miserably, He gives us the opportunity to put it all behind us. And He can dramatically turn things around.

When it comes to the subject of sin—something that, unfortunately, we’re all very familiar with—we have two ways to approach it.

We can confess it for what it is, turn from it, and know the happiness of being forgiven. Or, we can try to conceal it and then ultimately know the misery of being found out and reaping what we’ve sowed.

The devil is cunning. He knows how to present sin so that it has a certain appeal. And because of the short-term pleasure that sin offers, many people don’t think of the long-term repercussions. But make no mistake about it.

The Bible warns that our sin will find us out (see Numbers 32:23).

Sometimes it happens immediately.

And sometimes it happens after a period of time.

When the people of Israel were preparing to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land God had promised them, Moses posed this challenge from God: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.

Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT).

“Choose it,” God was saying. “You can walk with Me, or you can walk away from Me. You can live, or you can die.”

We have a choice in the matter. It’s amazing that some people would consciously choose death.

But that is essentially what we do when we choose to go against God and His Word.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Friday, July 28, 2023

The Blessing of Forgiveness

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (Proverbs 28:13 NLT)

If you want to know the intricacies of a subject, the best thing to do is find an expert, someone who has far-reaching experience with it.

Although David is rightfully known as one of the greatest saints in Scripture, identified uniquely as the man after God’s own heart, he is also known as one of the greatest sinners in Scripture.

On one hand, we remember him for his heroic exploits and tender heart toward God and others. On the other hand, we remember him for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba as well as his sin of murder in an attempt to cover it up.

Clearly, he had missed the mark. Clearly, he had had fallen short of the law’s demands. As a result, his life became crooked and twisted, and he reaped the results of his sins.

But God also gave David a second chance. In Psalm 32, he wrote, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” (verse 1 NLT). David was speaking of what God had done for him.

Then in verses 3 and 4, David described the futility and misery of unconfessed sin: “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.

My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (NLT).

It’s miserable to live in unconfessed sin.

Proverbs 28:13 tells us, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (NLT). 

We can’t put sin in a compartment and think that’s the end of it. Sin stinks. Its stench will permeate everything and mess up every aspect of our lives.

That is why it needs to be dealt with.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Weekend, July 29, 2023

Coming Clean

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5 NLT)

Years ago, a talk show segment featured the story of a little dog named Mugsy who had been hit by a car and was presumed dead by his owners. His grieving family buried him in a corner of their yard. But the next morning at 5:30, there was scratching at their back door.

Much to the family’s surprise, it was their beloved Mugsy. Apparently, he wasn’t dead after all. The persistent pup dug himself out of his grave.

That is what unconfessed sin is like. We may think we’ve buried it, but it will be back. There is only one way to get rid of our sin, and it’s at the cross of Jesus Christ. We can’t cover it.

We can’t hide it. And we can’t run from it. It will stay with us until we confess it.

After his sin of adultery and murder, David eventually admitted to God that he had sinned.

Later he wrote about it in Psalm 32: “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long” (verse 3 NLT).

David continued, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone” (verse 5 NLT).

He didn’t try to blame someone else for his sin.

He didn’t try to hide it at this point. Rather, David called it what it was, and he dealt with it in a straightforward way.

We always want to blame others for our sin and say that it isn’t our fault.

Do you need to own up to something you’ve done? Or, are you playing the blame game? There must come a point in your life when you say, “I’ve sinned. I’ve committed this iniquity.

The problem is me.” And that is when things will change for you.

Devotion by Greg Laurie

316Judith

Wisdom from the Psalms

Sunday July 30, 2023

Psalms 95:8

Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Edgar was being a brat. Whenever Edgar didn't get his way, he was a brat. As if a secret button had been pushed, the minute Edgar heard the word no, he began to whine, kick, scream, stomp, pout, throw things, and cry.

After that, he would do nothing that was asked of him. He became stubborn and rebellious. At those times, everyone just backed off and left Edgar alone. Who wants to be too close to a brat?

Sometimes we're brats. We don't get things the way we want them, so we pout and harden our hearts toward God.

God is patient with us, but sometimes He has to put some distance between us until we settle down.

God doesn't want to deal with our bratiness any more than we want to deal with the bratiness of children.

In time, we learn to deal with our disappointments, and like children, we finally learn that pouting gets us nowhere.

Prayer: Lord, help me to grow up, to be a mature Christian, one who has learned to accept disappointment and adversity.

Strengthen my heart, and give me patience. Amen.

316Judith

Monday, July 31, 2023

What Confession Really Means

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9 NLT)

It’s important that we know what it means to confess our sin, because our very forgiveness hinges on our understanding of it.

The Hebrew word for “confess” means to “acknowledge.” In the New Testament we could translate it “to agree with someone” or “to say the same thing as another.” We find the term in 1 John 1:9: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT).

This is essentially saying that if we will agree with God about our sin, if we will acknowledge it for what it is, not make excuses for it, see it as God sees it, and turn from it, then we will be forgiven.

But here’s the problem. Some people believe they’ve confessed their sin when they really haven’t, because they think confession is merely acknowledging their sin.

For example, they’ll sin, get caught, and then say, “Okay, I confess that sin. That was a bad thing. I won’t do it again.”

Later, however, they go out and do it again. So they say, “I did it again. I confess that sin.”

That isn’t confession. They’re simply acknowledging their sin. They’re recognizing what is obvious.

Confession, on the other hand, means to see sin for what it is, be sorry for it, and turn from it.

There are people who think they’ve confessed their sin and that God has forgiven them when, in reality, God hasn’t forgiven them at all. That’s because they haven’t done it God’s way.

They must take that sin to the cross and recognize that it’s offensive to a holy God.

Then they must turn from it, stop making excuses for it, and be sorry enough to change.

If you’re willing to do this when you’ve sinned, then God will forgive you.

Devotion from Greg Laurie