Dear Ones,
I am sending this early for Thursday’s devotional as we will be leaving about 3 a.m. for KS to attend our granddaughter’s wedding. So excited. Appreciate prayers for a safe trip, and for the wedding to be a blessing to everyone who attends.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We may believe in the authority of the Bible and say that it is true, but do we really take it to heart by submitting to it, and applying what we read? Do we live it in out our lives or do we apply it mostly when it seems to work for our own advantage and purposes?  Jesus is the Living Word as John said at the beginning of his gospel, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It is the Lord speaking to us through the Word and it isn’t just so we have more information but so we can know Him and grow in our relationship with Him. God speaks but are we receptive listeners?

I love when I read a particular verse of scripture, and it speaks right into the situation I happen to be in or gives comfort or clarity. But not everything is easy and comfortable for there are also many hard words that can jar us. Just like with our own children, we have those fun times and conversations but sometimes when there is disobedience or disrespect, we have to give a hard word and even a consequence. That is not as much to their liking but necessary. Sometimes the Bible asks questions of us, like when Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” He also asks us the question who is He to us? Is he really the One who is in charge, the Lord who is over all, or only when we ask Him to be in certain situations we can’t handle on our own? We can’t force His Word to fit what we want it and try to fit into what we are presently experiencing. We need to read it with a willingness to do what it says, as the Holy Spirit directs, not just what seems pleasing to us. If we don’t plan to obey, why are we reading to find out what He wants us to do?

The Lord calls each of us to open our ears and listen and hear as He speaks. He said to the crowd of people, “He who has ears, let him hear.” And later to his disciples He said, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear (Matt. 13:9 and 16) Let us open our hearts and hear what He has to say to us. Success in life is doing what He calls us to do, whatever that is each day.  That becomes living what we read and brings glory to the Lord.

Challenge for today: Live the Word as you go about your day.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy