Category: Whispers (Page 113 of 171)

Dear Ones,

  It’s a beautiful sunny day and hope you are enjoying it. This morning I made lasagne and went to Aldi’s before exercise class. This afternoon Al and I will get a walk in on the Paul Bunyan and later we have Bible Study at church. 

 Devotions from Judy’s heart

  The Lord wants us to be wise and discerning and not fall prey to the enemy. Satan is always on the prowl and trying to trip us up and cause us to doubt God’s goodness and mercy and love. We need to be alert of his tactics as Paul warns in Eph. 6:11 (Amplified), “Put on God’s whole armor (the armor of a heavy armed soldier which God supplies), that you may be able to successfully stand up against (all) the strategies and the deceits of the devil).”

  The enemy tries all kinds of strategies and we need to be dressed in our spiritual armor each day and yield to the power of the Holy spirit who lives within us to stand against the enemy. I pray each day to put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith and feet shod with gospel of peace. (Eph. 6:14-17

   It’s good to become quickly aware when we have a sense that something is not right; maybe it doesn’t feel like something that would come from the Lord and we try to discern. The enemy tries to keep us from one another for there is great power when 2 or 3 are gathered in Jesus’ name. Just recently we had a situation that seemed strange. Every two weeks or so we get together with another couple for sharing and prayer. This time it was our turn to host and so I texted and invited them over but I got no response. That was unusual as the wife gets back to me within a couple hours. So next I waited a couple days and emailed her and extended the invitation again. I thought maybe they were sick or gone on vacation without our knowledge… so I e-mailed once more. When it got to be the day before they were to come, I called her on her cell phone and got the answering machine. Al and I were both perplexed and so Al called her hubby on his cell phone and don’t you suppose he got through right away. His wife had got none of my other messages and it is a total mystery as they remain in my sent box and on my phone. I’m quite sure the enemy does not want us praying together but that is not going to detour us but cause us to pray more! I should have called there sooner rather than wondering if we had offended them or thinking they were very sick etc. It taught me I need to react and act quicker and not wait.

  Let us be aware when something seems off a bit and fight the battles with our spiritual weapons in His power!

  Challenge for today: Be on the alert and arm yourself with His spiritual weapons.

Dear Ones,

Hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed time at the lake and saw family, went to church together, played games, celebrated Father’s Day and had big yummy steaks etc. This morning I made egg dishes and S.F. choc chip cookies, and went to my exercise class. I am baking a new dish now and is in the oven.

Devotions from Judyy’s heart

   How good are we at looking at others through the lens of love? Do we see them as they really are or do we view them through a selective lens, distorted by our own perceptions that are often judgmental? If we truly love others as Jesus wants us to, then we need to look at others with respect and openness of mind, and without judging.  We can only do that if we are first willing to listen to them and see where they are coming from. Each person is unique so we must not jump in and think we will know what is good for them without really listening.

   We are told to love God and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. Teresa of Avila once said that our relationships with others are often a more clear indication of our relationship with the Lord than our actual mystical prayers. John, the disciple close to Jesus, said in I John 4:11 (ESV), “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” No one has ever seen God: If we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.”

   When we love others with His love, we help them also discover the good they may have overlooked in themselves. Everyone is a mystery however, and even though I know Al so well and can probably finish his sentences, I can never know everything about him.

   It is a disservice to paint an image of another and think that we know them through and through; but yet if we don’t deal with the true person, and only the image, we cannot see the uniqueness of their true selves. Sometimes we also project on others what we are not willing to deal with in our own hearts. When we have reactions that are out of proportion, it is often a sign that we are projecting our problem on them.

   Let us not judge others but look at them in love and openness and see them as they are.

   Challenge for today: Ask God to help you to see others as He sees them.

Dear Ones,

  Hope you are enjoying the day. Wind and rain this morning but I see blue sky now. I did food prep and went downstairs for donuts this morning and this afternoon we have Bible Study here. 

Devotions from Judy’s heart

  Each day we have the opportunity to draw closer to the Lord but what hinders us? When the Holy Spirit shows us things that are out of line and need to be changed in our lives, do we protest inwardly and ignore? Or do we say yes, I am willing to deal with those things and to change to become more like Him?

   The enemy is so quick to whisper to us that another time might be better to address those things in our lives that need to go; or he may question us as to why dig that up as it will probably be a bigger issue and messy. But anything that keeps us from the Lord is something that we need to deal with.

   Recently, the diffuser in Al’s study stopped running and it was just one week past the year warranty. I usually run two diffusers with Essential oils, especially during Covid, and didn’t want to buy a new one. This diffuser should last longer and I waited a few days before calling in. I placed an order and then told the gal that I was having trouble with our diffuser and could she connect me to the maintenance dept. But she quickly said, “I can help you with that and can get your diffuser running. And that she did, and with only a few directives, we had it running again. I thanked her profusely as she saved me sending our old one in or buying a new one.

   It made me think of those whispers of the enemy that wants us to just keep on going our own crooked way rather than dealing with the issues of our hearts. But the Holy Spirit uses many means to correct us, if we are willing, so that our hearts are open and receptive to the Lord. Sometimes He uses pastors, counselors, friends, to be His instruments to help correct  us. He may use a casual acquaintance that speaks just the right word, much like the woman who took my order. It may surprise us but we need to respond when the Holy Spirit is calling things to our attention.

   Let us be humble and open and ready to accept His directive and not resist. Then we will be changed and “our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.” II Cor. 3:18b (Message).

  Challenge for today: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you 

Dear Ones,

Hope you are having a great day in the center of His will. This morning I studied and did food prep and went to Aldi’s and my exercise class. This afternoon will be a fun time as we are making cards of all kinds in our craft class.  

Devotions from Judy’s heart

   Isn’t it wonderful to be around transparent people and see the light of Christ shine through them? When we know the Lord, we all become representatives of His, and others should be able to see His likeness in us. But too often our lives are anything but transparent as we are full of selfishness and are more concerned about our agenda’s than His plan for us.

   Jesus was all about doing His Father’s will and didn’t waver, even when it cost His very life. He was totally transparent and it says in John 14:9 (God’s Word), “The person who has seen me has seen the Father.”  Jesus was all about doing His Father’s will and He says in John 6:38, “I haven’t come from heaven to do what I want to do. I’ve come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do.” He didn’t waver each time He was to do something difficult but He lived in surrender to His Father, without reserve.

  Our lives should be ones of daily surrender to God’s will that trumps over our wills every time. But do we often decide if we will do it after we know what it is He is asking of us. If it is difficult and not to our liking, we may dismiss it and go our own way.

  I was touched as I read about an elderly man who began each day prostrating himself for 10 minutes with the palms of His hands open. He did it as a sign of surrender to the Lord, to accept whatever God would send to Him. He did this into His old age and adapted his life to whatever God put before Him. That means he had to change directions at the drop of a hat, if need be.

  I must confess that is harder for me, as I don’t jump up and down when interruptions come and my planned-out day is suddenly changed. But I also love when I bend to His will and enter into what He has, for at the end of the day, I sense His pleasure and have a deep peace.

   May we all experience the joy of being in the center of the flow of His will. As we do this we are carried along in His love and others will see Jesus’ reflection in us. Let us not live half-hearted lives but ones that are transparent and in His likeness.

   Challenge for today: Open your hands to the Lord in surrender to do whatever He asks of you this day.