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Light on My Path
Manage episode 454775997 series 3213347
Kandungan disediakan oleh ReFrame Ministries. Semua kandungan podcast termasuk episod, grafik dan perihalan podcast dimuat naik dan disediakan terus oleh ReFrame Ministries atau rakan kongsi platform podcast mereka. Jika anda percaya seseorang menggunakan karya berhak cipta anda tanpa kebenaran anda, anda boleh mengikuti proses yang digariskan di sini https://ms.player.fm/legal.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105 The psalmist describes God’s word as a lamp and a light. There is a sense of movement here with the emphasis of the psalmist’s feet on a path. We don’t know where the psalmist is going, but it’s notable that the psalmist doesn’t say, “Your word is a light outside my house.” The picture here is that God’s word guides the believer through life, even in dark spaces where the path is uncertain and potential dangers may lie ahead. This psalm reminds us that God has not left us to figure out life on our own. Rather, God’s word accompanies us, showing us how to live faithfully as God’s people here and now. While our technology, governmental structures, and understandings of the universe are different from when the Bible was written, the commands and the stories of God’s faithful love provided through the Bible help us to see what it can look like to walk in the light of God’s path today. As we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we also learn to recognize more fully that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s word. Jesus was sent not simply to guide us but to be “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) through whom we receive salvation and experience peace with God. Lord God, we are so grateful that you did not leave us on our own. Thank you for sending Jesus not only to light our path in life but also to be the path to life in you. In his name, Amen.
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61 episod
Manage episode 454775997 series 3213347
Kandungan disediakan oleh ReFrame Ministries. Semua kandungan podcast termasuk episod, grafik dan perihalan podcast dimuat naik dan disediakan terus oleh ReFrame Ministries atau rakan kongsi platform podcast mereka. Jika anda percaya seseorang menggunakan karya berhak cipta anda tanpa kebenaran anda, anda boleh mengikuti proses yang digariskan di sini https://ms.player.fm/legal.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. — Psalm 119:105 The psalmist describes God’s word as a lamp and a light. There is a sense of movement here with the emphasis of the psalmist’s feet on a path. We don’t know where the psalmist is going, but it’s notable that the psalmist doesn’t say, “Your word is a light outside my house.” The picture here is that God’s word guides the believer through life, even in dark spaces where the path is uncertain and potential dangers may lie ahead. This psalm reminds us that God has not left us to figure out life on our own. Rather, God’s word accompanies us, showing us how to live faithfully as God’s people here and now. While our technology, governmental structures, and understandings of the universe are different from when the Bible was written, the commands and the stories of God’s faithful love provided through the Bible help us to see what it can look like to walk in the light of God’s path today. As we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we also learn to recognize more fully that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s word. Jesus was sent not simply to guide us but to be “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6) through whom we receive salvation and experience peace with God. Lord God, we are so grateful that you did not leave us on our own. Thank you for sending Jesus not only to light our path in life but also to be the path to life in you. In his name, Amen.
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61 episod
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Today Daily Devotional
I had stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, as I did the first time, and the Lord listened to me at this time also. It was not his will to destroy you. — Deuteronomy 10:10 Moses explains here that when he received the commands of God on tablets of stone, he prayed fervently for the people. This was the second time he had gone up on the mountain to receive God’s law, because the people had sinned while he was away the first time. The people had sinned so badly that God threatened to destroy them, but Moses interceded for them, and God heard Moses’ prayers and sent the people on their way. (See also Deuteronomy 9:7-29.) When our hearts are troubled and seeking God’s grace on behalf of our churches, families, coworkers, partners, and other hurting or lost souls, we pray. It is powerful to pray and to be prayed for persistently. We pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is not unusual for people to intercede for others who are in need, such as homeless, sick, hungry, or displaced individuals. Even more, we can pray for people to repent and be forgiven. We count on God to move mightily in people’s lives and situations because we know God loves them. James 5:16 assures us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. God listens to us, and Jesus, the Savior, faithfully intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Amazing! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit thank you for calling me to intercede for people and situations in our broken world. Help me to pray faithfully, as Jesus himself does. In his name, Amen.…
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. — Deuteronomy 8:10 Abundance with God means that grace is extended in unexpected and unforeseen ways from the One who can do far beyond what we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). God gives us tangible blessings: deliverance, family, food, health, finances, work assignments and callings, and much more. And all of this is by God’s favor, not based on our own merits. God’s goodness is worked out in our lives; therefore we lift our voices in praise from a heart of gratitude, privately or publicly and individually or collectively. God warns, though, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. . . .” Sadly, that happened often in Israel, and at times God had to punish the people and call them to repentance. When they did, God forgave them and showered them abundantly again. We have even more abundance in Jesus Christ, our Savior, because he came to give us life “to the full” (John 10:10). The abundant life is more than material things. It is life that is filled to overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). We reflect Jesus as his witnesses in this world. The world needs to see his reflection in us face-to-face, in online meetings, on social media, and wherever we go. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, help us to receive, remember, and praise you for your abundance. May our lives reflect your grace shared in abundance through Jesus daily. Amen.…
He . . . [fed] you with manna . . . to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. — Deuteronomy 8:3 When I was a little girl, my family often visited the small Polish community of Hamtramck, near Detroit, on Saturdays. We kept our windows down on a nice sunny day while looking for a good parking space. The wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air. Bread is delicious, filling, and nutritious, but not enough to sustain our body, mind, soul, and spirit. While the Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years, they were hungry for physical food. God fed them manna from heaven daily to teach them that people do not live “on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Manna was unlike anything the people had eaten before. Many years later, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days, he was hungry also. The devil tempted him to tell a stone to become bread. But Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Luke 4:4). How can we put a good plan in place for renewal and restoration in life? We can satisfy our hunger by reading the Bible daily, worshiping the Lord with his people each week, and also meeting for a weekly study to grow in knowledge and understanding. We might also find that we need more of the Word at different times of the day. Ask God’s Spirit to guide you, and grow! Lord, guide us to read and meditate on your Word, growing in the grace, knowledge, and love of Jesus. Amen.…
Know . . . that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. — Deuteronomy 7:9 Our God is love, and he loves us. God cares, protects, and provides for us. God described himself to Moses as “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). God’s love is sure, extravagant, dynamic, radical, and eternal. Nothing is better than knowing we are loved by God. It is lovely to start each day knowing we are loved by God and to think of his love throughout the day, no matter what comes our way. Love anchors us. Experiencing God’s love has an extraordinary effect on how we relate to others. Love gives us a testimony to share with others. The way we treat one another comes from God’s love in us. The Spirit of God guides us to be patient and kind, not boastful, not dishonoring others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping a list of wrongs. Love “rejoices with the truth . . . always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13). God loves us even as he loves his own Son. Love is forever. Where are you experiencing God’s great love in your life? Gracious God, thank you for your covenant of love and for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins as a sacrifice of love. I desire to love and live for you. Amen.…
It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery. . . . — Deuteronomy 7:8 In the past I have received beautiful bouquets of colorful flowers from family members, friends, and colleagues with an attached note: “Just because,” signed with the person’s name. No matter how I might be feeling, those expressions of love always make me smile. God chose the Israelites “just because.” God faithfully kept his promises to their ancestors, bringing Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into the promised land. God smiled and set his love on them. God’s love is not dependent on how much we love him. Although sometimes we might think so, no person can earn God's love or try to convince God to love them. Though we should love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, God's love is not based on who we are, our performance, societal status, or anything else. We are enough just the way we are. And God is all that we need. He will provide for all our needs (Philippians 4:19). It is “just because” God “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And we can receive his love “just because.” Lord and Savior, thank you for your love “just because.” Help me to remember that I cannot earn your love but am nevertheless loved by you in Christ. And that is abundantly more than enough. In Jesus’ name, Amen.…
Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. — Deuteronomy 6:12 On a weekday morning, Sara drove to the grocery store a few miles from her home. She was feeling good and listening to a Christian music station on the radio. She began to sing when one of her favorite songs came on: “When I Think about the Lord.” Suddenly tears began rolling down her cheeks, and she pulled the car over to the roadside. Sara was rejoicing with tears of joy as she remembered what God had done in her life. Sara was a growing follower of Jesus, but at that time she had begun going out again with old friends who were still living in the fast lane. She had not been careful in remembering what God had done for her. God had brought her out of a lifestyle she did not want to return to. The song on the radio that day reminded Sara that God had turned her life around. He had freed Sara from her old life of sin. Sara’s new life was essential to her and her family. She was filled with the Spirit, and God had a plan for her life. She wanted to stay focused and continue taking online courses to earn a bachelor’s degree and serve God with her life. A favorite song, Bible passage, or spiritual encounter can help us get back on track when we remember our deliverance from bondage to freedom in the Lord our God, who saves us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Sovereign God, thank you for setting me free in Jesus. Help me to share the hope of life in you with people who are trapped in sin and need the freedom you offer. In Jesus, Amen.…
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. — Deuteronomy 6:6 Unlike the commandments written by God on two stone tablets that Moses delivered to the people, God’s Word is written on our hearts today. It accomplishes what it is intended to do (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:10). And because the Word of God is in our minds and written on our hearts, we are able to obey it through the work and power of the Holy Spirit in us. When I was a child, my parents got lots of Eveready® batteries for our new toys at Christmastime. I remember a TV commercial about Eveready® batteries that was funny and entertaining. The battery was described as putting more life into your life all day and all night. When God's Word is on our hearts, it puts more life into our lives. God’s Word is alive, active, and sharp, and it penetrates deeply. It judges the attitude of the heart. It exposes what is in the heart (Hebrews 4:12-13). The Word of God makes us come alive. It guides, comforts, nourishes, convicts, and teaches us how to live in a broken world. Jesus Christ, the Word in the beginning who later lived among us (John 1:1-5, 14), came into the world to bring the light of abundant, eternal life for all people. When we hold fast to the Word of life, our light shines for the world to see his light in us. God’s Word puts life into our lives. Thank you, Lord, for the power of your Word. Help me to have an ever-ready heart to respond to your Word and be filled with your life. Amen.…
You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. — Deuteronomy 4:35 I live close to Lake Michigan on the South Haven, Michigan, side. It is my favorite go-to place; sometimes I am drawn to Lake Michigan to experience God's greatness. As I stand on the shore, I sing, “How Great Is Our God,” “How Great Thou Art,” “In Christ Alone,” and “He Is Lord.” These songs are like stories that remind me who God is. As I listen to the sounds of big waves crashing on rocks, seagulls squawking, and wind roaring, I proclaim that the God of wonders is holy. He is the Lord of heaven above and earth below. Gazing at the vastness of the sky and the lake, both perfectly blue, I am awestruck and speechless. It seems as if God's finger has blended the line where the lake meets the sky; it appears seamless. God is present and actively working in our lives. He wants us to know that he is the Lord our God—in the past, present, and future. We praise God for letting us know him through his words, nature, works, and especially through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Where or when are you drawn into the awesomeness of God and reminded that the Lord is God and there is no other? O God of wonders, I am in awe of you. I praise you that you are God and there is no other. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.…
The Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. — Deuteronomy 4:31 Angela was a new Christian. She repeatedly asked her Bible-study teacher, Mrs. Green, how she would know that God was there for her. Angela was in her teens and was having a difficult time since her parents’ divorce. She and her mother had moved 700 miles away, and she saw her father only once a year. At one point, Angela's mother had some financial challenges. So Angela had to go and move in with her father and his new family. She felt that she had to be good, or God would leave her. Angela never told her mother about her abandonment issues. Angela felt encouraged, however, whenever she talked with her Bible-study teacher. Mrs. Green told her that she was God's beloved daughter and that God would never leave her. God does not abandon his children. He loves us, and we belong to him. He is always with us, no matter where we find ourselves. Nothing can separate us from God's love and presence (Romans 8:38-39). God can be trusted. Angela wanted to grow in her faith journey. Mrs. Green encouraged her with God’s truth. Angela learned that God’s promises are not based on our thoughts or feelings. God is faithful to his word. Mrs. Green said, “Angela, pray, read the Bible, and believe God’s words. He will not abandon you. Even when you might not think so, he is there.” And Angela believed. Lord, help me always to believe you are with me, even if I do not feel your presence. Amen.…
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Today Daily Devotional
Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. — Deuteronomy 4:9 Many of us have beautiful memories and stories of our parents, siblings, pastors, teachers, or neighbors showing their love and care for us, and we will never forget what they have done for us. Many of us also share these stories with our children, friends, coworkers, and others. These stories will always be part of our personal history. Similarly, as believers in God, we remember stories of God’s deliverance, grace, protection, and greatness shown to us. Memories of our spiritual formation and personal blessings give us encouragement and strength. We would not be who we are without God and what he has done in our lives. And when we remember and tell our stories, God receives the glory. Our faith is strengthened and renewed. When we tell others, especially the next generations, we share with them our love for and dependence on the Lord. We can find many ways to remember. Some of us may use daily or weekly journaling, daily times of reflection with prayer, pictures, artwork, and music that remind us of significant times and places where we have encountered God in our lives. Some families and churches also designate times to tell stories about the Spirit’s work in their lives. What are some ways you remember God’s goodness? Almighty God, your goodness is too good to forget. By your Spirit, lead me to tell of your faithfulness and love to all generations. Amen.…
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? — Deuteronomy 4:7 Sitting at home near a side window, I heard my little neighbor Simeon say, “Come on, Daddy.” His father was rolling a brand-new bicycle out of the garage into the driveway. Simeon had his helmet and knee pads on. He carefully got on his new bike. As Simeon's little feet paddled away, his dad stretched out his arms to hold on to the handlebars. Simeon laughed as he steered the bike carefully down the driveway with his dad right at his side. Father and son went up and down the driveway several times. At one point, I heard Simeon cry. His father wanted him to try riding on his own, but Simeon didn’t like that idea. He continued to cry. Finally his dad said, “Simeon, I’ll be right here with you.” He gave his son what he needed, assuring him that he would not be alone. Simeon wiped away his tears. He looked straight ahead and rode without his dad holding on to the handlebars. There is no god like our God! We do not have to go to a specific place to meet him. He is right there with us. We are always within God’s reach. He hears us when we call and cry out (Psalm 18:6), and he always cares for us. Eternal God, thank you for always being close by. Even when it may seem that you are not there, you are. You are our ever-present help in times of need. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.…
“Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” — Deuteronomy 3:22 I do not know of anyone who has not been afraid of something or someone at some time in their life. Have you experienced the fear of a medical diagnosis, or of being harmed, or of being threatened by someone in authority, or of moving from a place of comfort and safety to a place that could be unwelcoming or even dangerous? Have you feared growing old, or being alone in old age, or perhaps losing your abilities or something you have worked for? Have you been afraid of losing loved ones or even your own life? When we are afraid, it can be helpful to recall times when God demonstrated his love, care, and power. We can trust in the Lord, who is faithful. We do not have to be afraid (Psalm 27:1). Moses faced his own fears when hostile kings and their armies threatened the people of Israel (see Deuteronomy 2:24-3:11). But God told him not to be afraid because God would defeat their enemies. God told Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua so that he too would trust God and not rely on his own abilities or be afraid of other nations as they crossed the Jordan River. We can face our fears on our own, or we can listen to God. We should obey when the Spirit nudges or tells us to be still. God has our back. He will give us strength and courage to stand. The Lord is always with us and will always take care of us. Thank you, Lord, that I do not have to face my fears alone. I will trust you to give me strength and courage to stand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.…
The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. — Deuteronomy 2:7 We can be encouraged because God will bless all the work of our hands, whether we earn an income, raise a family, maintain a household, volunteer to help immigrants or youth, serve the church, or serve our community. God is the source of all our blessings and the work given to us. Our work is for his glory. And we know we can work to our fullest because God will bless all the work of our hands. God wants us to work, and he wants to bless our work. When we think we are not qualified or capable of doing our work, God will provide for our needs. We can cast aside negative thoughts and do the work God has called us to do. God has provided our work for us—whatever it may be—and we can work at it “with all [our] heart, as working for the Lord”; he is our true and loving Master, not a human master (Colossians 3:23). Whatever gifts God has given us to work with can open doors to new and unexpected opportunities for blessings. We will bear fruit, and the blessings will multiply. During their long time in the wilderness, the Israelites worked with their hands, following God’s direction, and God blessed them. They had everything they needed because God provided, and they worked to honor him. God gave them enough for themselves and some to give away. God desires for us to flourish! Loving God, thank you for all your blessings. If we are discouraged in our work, remind us that we work for you. Amen.…
“. . . In the wilderness . . . you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” — Deuteronomy 1:31 The picture of a father gently carrying his son is an image of God’s love, power, and protection extended to us as his children. When we cannot go any further, we are drained of our desire to keep going. We feel beat up by life’s circumstances and don’t want to show up anymore. I remember watching a replay of the 1992 Olympics men’s 400-meter semifinals in Barcelona when British runner Jim Redmond injured his leg. The announcer said, “He’s out!” Redmond was in pain and couldn't run, but he hopped on one foot, heading for the finish line. The crowd cheered because he didn’t stop. He wouldn’t let anyone help him until his dad ran out onto the course and wrapped his arms around him. Redmond’s dad wore a cap that said, “Just Do It.” But Redmond’s pain was too intense, and he cried. Yet the crowd never stopped cheering. The father held his son until he made it to the finish line. When we’re running our race in life and can’t see our way through, our heavenly Father will gently carry us all the way. There’s no reason to feel shame or guilt. We cannot “just do it.” God will carry us through the wilderness. God is always with us, wherever we are, and he promises us that we will make it through. Heavenly Father, thank you for carrying me when I can’t “just do it.” I leave my shame and my guilt at Jesus’ feet. In your powerful name, Lord, and by your Spirit, Amen.…
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Today Daily Devotional
“See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” — Deuteronomy 1:21 One morning, while looking out my kitchen window, I observed my neighbor’s two sons, ages 8 and 10, playing in their backyard. The older boy jumped across a gap from one wooden landscape log to another. He tried again and fell, but he got back up. With his brother watching, he looked back at how far he had jumped. He paused. I imagined he needed the courage to make another jump. He jumped again and landed safely on the log again. Moses reminded God’s people of their history. God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, and given them victory over other nations. They were assured of God’s guidance and protection in preparation for entering the promised land. They did not need to fear what was ahead of them, even though there were reports of powerful enemies and even giant warriors in the land. God would go before them and fight their battles. We too may need a reminder of our past failures and victories in order to have the courage to follow God. His faithfulness will propel us into our future. We can look back and see what God has already done. God has a plan already marked out for us, so we can trust, follow, and step out in faith. Almighty God, give me the courage to trust and follow you, even when I cannot see my way forward. My past, present, and future are in your hands; you will always go before me. Amen.…
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