Dear Ones,
Hope you have a relaxing and wonderful weekend. We had a fun party here yesterday and a full house!
Today I plan to do food prep and clean the apartment and begin a new book that came yesterday!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Many people like to watch survival shows and it lets others see what individuals are made of. When any of us are in survival mode, what comes out is exposed as what is really inside us. We don’t know how we will fare until we are in actual situations where we are tested to the limit. But we don’t have to wait for such times to come, for we can strengthen our souls so that when those times do come, we will stand strong. Al and I went through a hard testing time years ago in our church and I came to know that the Lord is enough, for He carried us through. When I look back there is great gratitude in my heart, and the memory of how He strengthened us and later used what we learned to help others. But I have to admit, I sometimes wished the Lord would have come again, right then!
When I was reading from I Thessalonians 5:22-24, Paul closes his letter by telling the church to “check out everything and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. May God Himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body— and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable.” There are times we don’t know what to do as we are tested, but we are told to keep our eyes on the Lord. (II Chron. 20:12). King David was often in trouble with Saul and others who were wanting to kill him, and in Psalm 138 after he thanks God for His love and faithfulness. He says in verse 3, “The moment I called out, you stepped in you made my life large with strength.”
Do we trust God and are we willing to let Him make us holy and whole? Those things that we aren’t willing to surrender become things the enemy hooks us with. It’s important that we let the Lord take over our whole lives: our heart, soul, mind and strength. When we give the Lord only piecemeal, we are open game to the enemy and he knows our vulnerabilities. The Lord wants us to give our whole selves to Him and not have divided hearts.
Challenge for today: When God exposes those things in you that are yet unconverted, agree and surrender it all to Him and let His forgiveness and healing strength flow through you.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy