Dear Ones,
Hope you have a peace-filled day. We are having another birthday celebration today and it is for my niece. She is on her way to the cabin but stopping for an early lunch and to celebrate before we have Bible study here.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
This is a time to draw closer to the Lord, not to be distracted by things of the world and seeking only after the comforts of life. I believe the Lord is wanting to strip away all that hinders us and wants intimacy with us. Personally, I have been experiencing this as I feel the Lord is calling me to lay down an area of my life that I have enjoyed, but now is time to give up. He woke me one night and I felt He was speaking to me that I need to move on into what He has for me next, but also to put aside the old. It is not easy, and I laid awake for about three hours before I quit arguing with Him and said, “Yes Lord.”

It will be different for each of us when the Lord is stripping away those things that can distract us, for He calls us to intimacy with Him which is the foundation of all we do. When we compromise, it shows a lack of trust in Him and we go after things that may not be in His will or His timing.

We are studying the Sermon on the Mount in our Wednesday evening Bible Study. Jesus taught His disciples, and as a result they left everything to follow Him. The crowds, however, listened to Him often out of curiosity. Athough some were astounded at His teaching, others did not obey or follow. They did not recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and sadly went their own way. We also can go to church, enjoy the music and good preaching, yet not really seek His presence and let Him transform us. Jesus said in John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” We miss so much when we go our own way rather than God’s way. and live at a distance from Him. No matter what He calls us to give up, it is worth it all.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to strip you of those things that hinder you from drawing closer to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy