Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the weekend. We are getting a little much needed rain. PTL! This morning I made two batches of individual egg cups and put in the freezer for future company. I did some shopping and we are packing for Michigan. We will leave Monday morning and I since I am not taking my computer along, you will not get devotions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Recently, I received an e-mail of someone seeking to hear God speak and know His will for a future decision. When we are in such a circumstance it is best to set aside time to pray and quiet ourselves and listen to the One who created us and wants to lead our lives, if we will let Him. But the enemy, however, wants to confuse us and to keep us from hearing and obeying; he comes to us in various ways as Jesus describes in John 10 about the Shepherd and the sheep. First is the stranger who tries to lure us from hearing and following His voice. That can mean anyone who leads us contrary to what God has for us and that might even be a person close to us like a family member. Next comes the thief for he wants to steal and kill and destroy and to keep us from an abundant life in Christ. He may try every trick and does not really care for the sheep. Then there is the hireling and he should never be trusted. He will just take off and leave the sheep when times of distress come. Lastly there is the bad wolf who scatters and ravages the sheep for they matter nothing to him.
We have many enemies that want to destroy us and keep us from following the Lord and His will for our lives. But the best defense is to stay close to the Lord and not listen to the other voices of the stranger, thief, hireling, or wolf.
Jesus is worthy of our trust and obedience for He gave His life for us and wants to protect us and feed us and care for us. His will is best and He says in John 10:10 (The Message), “I came so they can have real and eternal life more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” When we follow His will, we will sense His pleasure and feel a sense of rightness and completeness. Being in the center of His will is the most secure place to be. We need to hide God’s word in our heart so we recognize if the voice we are hearing is our Good Shepherd.
Let us stick close to our Shepherd and not fear but follow in whatever way He leads us, for He is there with us until the end.
Challenge for today: Consider how the Lord has been leading you and ask Him to correct you if you are straying from His perfect will.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy
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