Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  John 10:27

“What’s most important?” That was the question going through my mind while I was running errands on my day off. The answer was suddenly obvious: “Visiting Mary!” I’d been meaning to visit Mary, a member of my church who had returned home from the hospital a few weeks earlier, but I hadn’t gotten around to it. I changed course and headed for Mary’s house.

That afternoon, Mary told me of her love of reading and as a child riding the trolley to the town library. She asked me to read to her on my next visit, and I volunteered to read in the remaining time I had that afternoon. The book I read captivated us both, so I continued reading past the time I should have, finding it difficult to stop even then. I promised to come by every Friday afternoon to read to her and eagerly looked forward to my next visit.  Two days later, I was devastated to learn that Mary had died the day after my visit. There would be no more stories of Mary’s childhood, no more afternoons of reading together. But I am grateful to God for that afternoon. How many times have I known what is right and not acted upon it? Because I responded to God, my day took an unexpected turn — one that has helped me to remember what is most important: listening to God.

Dear God, help us to hear your voice and to obey your promptings. Amen.

My dear brothers, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  James 1:19

Did you catch the rhythm in those verses? One quick; two slows. Most of us go through life, though, with the order of this passage reversed. We’re quick to anger, faster still to speak and slow to listen. But James is telling us that effective communication doesn’t work that way.   A lot of people have LDD—Listening Deficit Disorder. We’re so busy trying to say what’s on our minds that we miss out on what others are saying. But by interrupting, over-talking and dominating every conversation, we’re missing out on what God wants us to experience; we’re missing opportunities to grow and learn.  It is virtually impossible to listen when you’re talking. When your mouth is running, the listening stops. And the same thing can happen when it comes to our relationship with God. Don’t get so busy telling God what you want him to do that you miss listening to what he’s trying to tell you.

Dear God, I know that you have a rhythm for my life. And I know that part of that rhythm includes me slowing down long enough to listen. Help me to listen to you each and every day. And as I do, help me experience all that you have in store for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:44-45

JONAH was furious that God forgave Israel’s enemies, the Ninevites, when they repented. His bitterness kept him in the blistering sun for 40 days as he watched the city, hoping God would exchange mercy for wrath. How could Jonah resent the Ninevites that much? Then I recalled a time when I worked with a seasoned officer I will call “Jack.” Jack constantly yelled at the rest of us, using foul language to insult our intelligence and skills. Not only that, the shift shared an assignment at times; and sometimes Jack would come in from a night of drinking and snack on the food we had bought for ourselves.  After reading Matthew 5:44-45, I decided to pray for God to save Jack, but my heart wasn’t in it. Years after I left that job, I met a man from Jack’s hometown and asked about Jack. The man informed me that Jack was a pastor in that town. I was shocked and, deep down, a little disappointed. Where’s the justice in that? I thought. Like Jonah, I knew that we serve a God of compassion, and I had feared that my half-hearted prayer would be answered. I’ve since thanked God for showing compassion to Jack because it’s the same compassion God has granted to me.

“You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.” Psalm 14:6

When I read this verse, I thought about the people who contributed to the financial mess within our country this past year. These people lined their own pockets without concern for the ramifications of their choices. They knowingly deceived those who trusted them. They covered themselves, while leaving others exposed in the process. They were like the evildoers who frustrated the plans of the poor. Sadly, a lot of us were left feeling poor – financially and spiritually – as our plans were frustrated.

Thankfully, this is not where the verse ends. Yes, bad things happen. Yes, we have all seen our private finances affected by this public crisis. But this verse reminds us that the Lord is our refuge. I started thinking about what the word refuge means, and found this definition in Webster’s Dictionary: “That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.” Then I cross-referenced the word “refuge” in the Bible. I found many other scriptures that remind us that God is our refuge. Second Samuel 22:2-4 and Psalm 18:2-3 are the same verses repeated by King David while facing troubled times:  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of my praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

I love how both the definition and the verse talk about a refuge being a place where your enemies can’t get to you! Do you need that reminder today? I know sometimes I need to remember that He offers me that safe place I can run to … a place where my enemies can’t touch me!  We can claim the promise that is found in Psalm 17:14: “O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world, whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.”  People who make money their god receive their reward in this life. But they will spend eternity in longing. That doesn’t sound like a good trade to me!  God promises those who place their trust in Him He will keep from going hungry. He will make sure our children have plenty, and He will give us wealth to store up for our children. That doesn’t mean wealth like our world defines it. Jesus said that He doesn’t give as the world gives. In God’s economy, wealth exists in hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control. Unlike money, these are the things that last, and bring about eternal blessings.
Do you need to take refuge in God instead of letting bad news rule your heart and mind? Do you need to spend time today searching His Word for promises and assurances that will comfort your hurting heart and settle your anxious mind? Maybe you need to journal your feelings, pouring out your heart to God and seeking His answers. Maybe you need to pray without ceasing, allowing His presence to give you rest from worry. Whatever troubles you, seek refuge in God.  He is right there waiting for you to find shelter and safety in Him.

Dear Lord, I need You to be my refuge. Thank You that Your Word promises You will be a refuge for me in times of trouble. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8

THIS is my 52nd year, and I spend a great deal of time reminiscing about the different stages of my life. I especially like to think about my happy childhood. I had loving parents who tried to teach Christian values and habits both by word and example. These values influenced my life through my teenage years and adulthood, and now they influence me in this stage of my life.

As I looked through a scrapbook of materials I’ve collected over the years, the following question gave me food for thought: When I die, will the world be a better place because I have lived or because I have died?  If I am to evaluate my life honestly, I also must ask other questions: Have I loved my neighbor as myself? Have I treated others as I want them to treat me? Have I done what Micah says God requires of me: “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [my] God”?  I know I have failed many times in many ways. But how thankful I am that God is merciful and forgiving and that I can say, “Lord, I am trying.”

Thank you, compassionate God, for life. Thank you for your love and for your forgiveness when we fail to do your will. Amen.

When temptation deceives us, it not only disguises its appearance, but also its origin. If it were obvious that a sinful thought had Satan’s name brand on it, we’d be less likely to follow it through. So how can we be sure that what we want to do is from God and not the evil one? 

First of all, God’s good gifts will display his prominent label—we will see God’s handiwork. Secondly, God’s blessings do not have to be kept a secret. They will be those things we can share and do and embrace in the light, not those things that have to take place in the shifting shadows.

God will never tempt you to lie, exaggerate or sin in any way in order for you to receive his blessings. His way is right, constant and true. He will never contradict Scripture or comprise the character of the Holy Spirit living within you. Recognize that God always has your best interests in mind and he wants you to experience the ultimate fulfillment in life by living in the light of his Word.

Dear Lord, as my heavenly Father, I know you only have my best interest in mind. Help me to not be deceived and to seek your guidance through prayer and your Words in the Bible whenever temptation comes into my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.  James 1:15

Temptation is deceptively disguised. Just like the bait used by fishermen to entice their catch, temptation looks good—at first.  When we’re lured in by sin, we don’t think about the sting of the hook. So often, we just take the bait because we don’t see where that temptation is leading us. Yet, in this verse, we are clearly cautioned about where this dangerous path leads. 

Sin has its kicks. But it also has some serious kickbacks. Don’t allow yourself to fall for the evil one’s trick and think that you’ve gotten away with something. Time always reveals the truth and brings sin and its consequences to light.  God wants you to avoid those consequences. But to do that, you need help in recognizing the bait Satan uses to try and lure you away from God’s plan. God is ready to help you identify the areas where sinful desires have started so you can eliminate them before they become full grown.

Dear God, when I face times of temptation it is easy to be short-sighted and not see the long-term results. Help me to recognize temptation as well as the full grown sin in my life, so that I can turn from it and follow you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 “‘… Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4

Is it really that important to have a quiet time with the Lord everyday? I mean the Lord knows how busy my life is, so if I just toss up a few prayers and listen to a Christian song on the radio while rushing into my day, that should suffice. Right?  It’s easy to let the busyness of life crowd out time for prayer, Bible reading, and sitting with the Lord.  There are a million things on all of our to-do lists, time is tight, and quiet moments seem few and far between.  But I’ve learned that if I make the choice to be with the Lord first thing in the morning, my outlook on life that day and my ability to handle things seems to go so much smoother.

Also, I’ve had to change my mindset on having a quiet time. Spending time with the Lord in the morning doesn’t end when I say “amen” and put my Bible back on the shelf.  I’ve just invited the King of kings to participate in my day.  So, I get up from spending time with the Lord in the morning and start eagerly looking for His hand of activity in my life.  I think about the Bible verses I read that morning and look for ways to apply them to my life that very day.  I watch the circumstances that come my way hour by hour and ask the Lord to constantly give me wisdom to process life in the way that would be most honoring to Him.  My mindset is healthier, my attitude more positive, and my ability to extend grace to those who rub me the wrong way is increased just by setting aside some time to be with the Lord.

 If you are struggling with having quiet time with the Lord each day, try these helpful ideas:

1. Be honest with God and admit your struggle.  Ask God to give you the desire to set aside time to be with Him.
2. Start with just a small amount of time.  Even if it is just 5 minutes at first, give this 5 minutes solely to the Lord without any other distractions.  Over the next weeks and months, your desire for more time with Him will increase.
3. Use a version of the Bible that lends itself to study.  It helps to understand the context each book was written in with commentaries to understand specific verses.  
4. Ask God for understanding as you read the Bible.  When I first started reading the Bible I had a hard time.  So, I started praying that God would open my spiritual eyes to see the truths in a life changing way for me. 
5. Write some of the verses that seem most applicable to your life on 3×5 cards and use them in your prayers.  For example, Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”  So, I could use this verse in my prayer time by praying, “God, help me to know how to store up treasures in Heaven.  Help me to relinquish my tight hold on my earthly possessions so I can use them to build Your kingdom now.  Show me how to best use that which You have blessed me with.  Give me Your mindset for the money I have.”
6. Get involved in a Bible Study with friends.  This will help hold you accountable to getting your study time done and will open up great discussions to deepen everyone’s understanding of applying God’s truths to everyday life.

I’ve found a daily quiet time with the Lord is very important and very doable as well.

Dear Lord, I want a more vibrant relationship with You and I know having a daily quiet time is an important part of that.  Help me make this my most important priority each day, no matter how busy life is. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

One morning I went to my friend’s house. I knocked on the door; and when my friend opened the door, he was holding his Bible. I realized that this was the time for his morning prayers.  I joined him. My friend read from the Bible, his wife read a meditation, and I was given the opportunity to pray. We named people, and I prayed for them.  After prayer, my friend invited me to join them again for fellowship with a Bible reading, the meditation, and prayer. I experienced the Lord’s presence in this small breakfast fellowship. I saw great joy on the faces of my friend and his wife. This unexpected morning fellowship has inspired me in my life with Christ.

Heavenly Lord, bless us each time we open the Bible and pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.