Satan ~ Lent 2010 (Saturday)

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left [Jesus] until an opportune time.
Luke 4:13 NIV

This is not the devotion I wrote yesterday - it is gone, apparently did not "publish" as ususal.  I did all the same things but today as I started to write for Sunday, I noticed that Saturday's was not published.  Thinking I had made an error, forgetting to click "publish," I checked.  Saturday's devotion was simply not anywhere to be found.

As I have been writing as the Spirit leads, I could not even remember what I wrote yesterday morning.  Looking through my scant notes revealed no clues.  The NLT translation says that the devil left until the next opportunity came.  If you are surprised that the devil still acts to disrupt and hinder, attempts to destroy the work of God, think again.

The world would say "it was just a computer glitch" or "you must have made an error" - that's the reason it did not publish.  Perhaps those things are true; yet, the devil's ways are sometimes crafty and sometimes just annoying.  So, I salute the efforts of darkness lest I forget they exsist and have weapons to do battle everyday, BUT I worship the LORD God who is all powerful and everlasting!

Our sacrifice of praise ~
Do not be caught unaware!  Worship the power of the Living God even DURING the next opportunity of evil. ~ dho

Prayer ~ Lent 2010

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;. . . strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31-32 NASB

These words were spoken by Jesus to Peter, after telling Peter that he would deny Him three times.  Jesus knew the trouble that was imminent, that Satan was lurking and using everyone he could to help hinder Jesus.  Satan underestimated the power of God because there is no power greater.  Jesus prayed for Peter, and still intercedes for believers today.

Prayer is the breath of life to our soul.  Mother Teresa

Our sacrifice of praise ~
Thank Jesus for praying for you, for breathing life into your soul. ~ dho

Worship ~ Lent 2010

                                                                                   

                                                                                  "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.  Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.  That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for:  those who are simply and honestly themselves before Him in their worship.  God is sheer being itself - Spirit.  Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

     John 4:23-24 The Message    

Our sacrifice of praise ~

Worship God - in your own ways - with your very being - simply and honestly. ~dho  

*photo©DonnaOswalt,2009                                                 

Compels ~ Lent 2010

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NASB

God chooses to love us, and when we choose to love Him, He gives each of us a new wardrobe to wear ~ heart of compassion, gestures of kindness, attitudes of gentleness, and efforts of patience.  God wraps us in a robe of righteousness; such love compels a response.

"Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all."

Living For Jesus by Thomas Obediah Chisholm

Our sacrifice of praise ~
God's Perfect Love overwhelms the soul; respond to the Spirit's calling, as His holy and beloved. ~dho

Endures ~ Lent 2010

In 2 Chronicles Chapter 6, read Soloman's praises and prayers for the dedication of the Temple.  The beginning of Chapter 7 gives us the account of God's power after these prayers as the Temple was filled with God's presence.

When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple.  The priest could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.  When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD saying,
 "He is good!
His faithful love endures forever!"
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 NLT

When have you known the presence of the LORD, felt His Glory fill the air around you, surround you with His goodness?  Probably, you didn't see fire flash from heaven, but God's Glory is undeniable.  God endures ~ through all times, and His faithful love endures forever!

Our sacrifice of praise ~
Let your offering of praise be "He is good!" and meditate on His faithful love ~ it is eternal; it endures! ~dho

Walking ~ Lent 2010

We cannot talk to God unless we walk with Him when we are not talking.
Oswald Chambers ~ from He Shall Glorify Me

So often we spend our time with God telling Him what burdens us, what we want to happen and what He can do to help us.  First, we must admit that when we spend time with God, talking to Him is not always required.  Listening is very important.

Also, if we do not have Jesus walking beside us, being the example we are to follow, then we do not know how to "walk" in the world.  Jesus set the standard when it comes to everything ~ love, compassion, generosity, honesty, work, faith.  We only love because He first loved us.  We can only receive His Grace because He gives us faith.

Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 NASB

The Message uses these words: Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. . . Love like that.

In our "walking" with God, we will learn to love like Jesus.  Our deeds will reflect Christ's love.  Then, our "walking" becomes prayers of praises, offerings for others in the name of the Love Most High.

Our sacrifice of praise ~
Be the fragrance of Christ to others, a fragrant aroma.  Give of yourself in love to others. ~dho