Tag: God

Devotionals

Your Prayers Are Heard  

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 10:1-13 NLT – Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger – In – Bible Gateway

“Then he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.’” Daniel 10:12 NLT

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Have you even doubted if God hears your prayers? Do you get the feeling your prayers are only reaching the ceiling? Has it been days, weeks, or months, and you still haven’t gotten an answer? You begin to say to yourself, ‘did God even hear me?’ You can rest assured He has, and we have a story in the Old Testament book of Daniel that proves it.

The prophet Daniel was desperately waiting for an answer to his prayer concerning the vision he had just witnessed. He was in mourning and confused by what he saw and was seeking an answer. Daniel knew that it involved his people, the children of Israel, and it was a future event. He sought an answer, but it did not come. Daniel did not eat or drink for three weeks. Then one day as he was standing on the bank of the Tigris River, Daniel got his answer and was told why it was delayed.

The Lord sent his messenger to Daniel with the first words being, “Daniel, you are very precious to God.” (Dan.10:11 nlt) The Lord God did not forget Daniel but assured him how much he was loved by God. Sometimes we all need to be reminded that God loves us and hasn’t forgotten us. He does care for us and desires that close relationship with us. It is God’s desire to answer our prayers in what He knows is best for us.

The messenger then told Daniel his prayer was heard on the first day he petitioned God in prayer. What an encouragement for us who doubt at times if God has ever heard us. He has. Not only did the messenger assure Daniel that his prayer was heard, but that it was answered the same day. As we seek God, know for sure He hears our prayers and will answer us according to His will as we seek Him.

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Devotionals

Our Future Glory  

Loring Schultz

Read: Romans 8:18-25 NLT – The Future Glory – Yet what we suffer – Bible Gateway

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” Romans 8:18 NLT

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Suffering. Not a pleasant topic, but one that all of us understand. It comes to us in all stages of life from the youngest to the eldest and everyone in between. There are numerous degrees of suffering, some bearable and others hard to bear. Whatever it is you are suffering from, whatever your age, and whatever the decree of your suffering, the last thing you want to hear is ‘don’t worry, it will get better.’ Well, I’m sorry to say this but ‘don’t worry, it will get better.’

I’m also sorry to say it may not get better in this life, but for Christians we have the Lord walking with us through our suffering. The Lord is also able to take away our suffering in this life, and He may very well choose to do so. It may or may not be His plan. But as we walk with God we are assured that He has planned what is best for us today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Paul, writing in Romans said, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later……And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (Ro.8:18, 23 nlt) Paul writes of a future day where he says ‘don’t worry, it will get better.’ All Christians will one day will have a perfect glorified body with no pain and no suffering. Yes, while in this life we groan for that future taste of glory while we suffer here on earth, it can’t come soon enough. Be assured it will come. Better days are ahead of us. ‘Don’t worry, it will get better.’  

Devotionals

Daniel Prays for His People

Loring Schultz

Read: Daniel 9:1-19 ESV – Daniel’s Prayer for His People – Bible Gateway

“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3 ESV

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Believe it or not, one of the hardest things for Christians to do is to pray. You may be one who believes it from your own experience. Finding the right words to say either in a group or in private holds some people back. Others fear they’re not worthy enough to address God, or He wouldn’t hear anyway. Still others haven’t built that relationship with Him as His children where He welcomes us to simply talk with Him. Scripture has given us several models of prayer to follow for our help, the most notable is Jesus’ example in the Lord’s prayer. The prophet Daniel gives us his exemplary prayer in Daniel chapter 9 to follow.

Daniel’s prayer consists of six elements all to be considered when giving serious thought in wanting to improve our prayer life. He realized Judah’s seventy years of captivity was about to end and petitioned the Lord on behalf of his people. Daniel’s preparation and his prayer shows his reverence for the Lord God. May we take advantage of this prayer to enrich our own prayer life. That’s why it’s there!

  1. Humility – v.3, Daniel fasted and covered himself with sackcloth and ashes. (we can skip the sackcloth and ashes)
  2. Worship – v.4, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God’
  3. Identified with the people – v.5, ‘we have sinned and done wrong’ 
  4. Confession – v.5-15, ‘To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.’
  5. Petition – v.16-18, ‘O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake’
  6. God’s Glory – v.19, ‘O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.’
Devotionals

Get Wisdom         

Loring Schultz

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7 NIV

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The most important thing you can receive in this life is not wisdom; it is the Lord God. Having a relationship with God and accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as your personal savior is the only real thing that matters in this life. What you do you with Jesus in this life will determine your destiny after this life is over. It is vital, and it is urgent, because we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

So, where does wisdom place on the top ten list of most important things to receive in this life. I believe it’s number two. First, you can’t achieved wisdom without God. The wisdom book of Proverbs starts in chapter 1 by saying, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” (Pr.1:7 niv) The word ‘fear’ is not one of fright or terror, but a reverential awe of the Lord God Almighty. We recognize who He is as creator of the universe, who created us with a mind, soul, and spirit to have a relationship with Him, and we stand in awe. Any wisdom we obtain comes from God.

The Lord God has given all mankind the ability to think and reason as we are made in the image of a personal God. But wisdom and understanding are vastly different from the natural abilities that God has given everyone. All of us are born with a sin nature clouding our perspective and reasoning, especially accessing right from wrong. Some of the most brilliant educators, scientists, doctors, financers, mathematicians, poets, and all who have done great work in their fields of expertise lack true wisdom and knowledge that is only available in God. True wisdom and knowledge are only available when one knows God and is in awe of Him.

So, how do we get wisdom? ‘The fear of LORD is the beginning of knowledge.’

Devotionals

God’s Boundary Stone

Loring Schultz

“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.” Proverbs 22:28 NIV

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In the Old Testament book of the Law Deuteronomy, Moses lays out the laws of landmark. “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.” (Dt.19:14 niv) Boundary markers were set to establish and secure one’s property. Moving the property line to enrich yourself was a serious crime. This law became necessary, especially to widows who had no defense in their times of distress. King Solomon referred to this ancient law in our verse for today. The NLT translation gives us clearer understanding, “Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.” (Pr.22:28 nlt) The boundary marker was set in stone as we may say today. It was not to be moved.

God has ancient boundary markers for each of us which we are not to move. The boundaries He places around our lives are set in stone. What’s on the other side is not for us. This isn’t stealing property from your neighbor and seizing his BBQ gas grill, it’s robbing your own soul from living in righteousness by engaging with what is in the forbidden zone on the other side. God establishes boundaries in our lives to protect us and help us to grow in the fruit of the spirit.

Temptation to move the boundary stone comes to all of us at one time or another. The grass is not always greener on the other side; most likely it is dried up and barren as the prodigal son found out. (Lk.15) God put those boundaries in place to warn and protect us from harm physically and spiritually. God’s boundary stone is not to be moved. It’s there for our benefit.

Devotionals

Under Constant Surveillance    

Loring Schultz

“For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.” Proverbs 5:21 NIV

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Have you ever thought about how many times you’re on camera throughout the day? Videos of you are stored on hard drives of any public place you have been to, indoors or outdoors. Not to mention, many private homes have surveillance cameras on their property for security. Law enforcement does an amazing job in piecing together videos from security cameras and personal cell phones taken from various locations to secure a timeline reel. This technology works wonders for capturing criminals but has also opened another ‘can of worms’ as they say.

We live in a world where nothing is kept secret anymore. Our lives are open for all to see whether we like it or not. If we behave ourselves there will be no embarrassing moments or be caught in the act of criminal activity to worry about. This should serve as a reminder to always be in our best behavior. But there will always be moments where we say the wrong thing, act irrationally, and just do stupid things that will be caught on video. In those moments, we need to get over it and correct any wrongs we may have done.

As sophisticated as criminal surveillance has become it can’t compare with God’s 24/7 camera located in every corner of the globe, in every country, every city, every home, and every room. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.” (niv) Yes, our lives open for God to see everything, whether good or bad. Just as in the world today, nothing is kept secret but remember with God nothing has ever been kept secret. I’m sure there are many embarrassing moments and sinful acts in our past, but they’re over. If we haven’t confessed them, it’s time to confess them now and move forward under the constant surveillance of God which is a good thing.

Devotionals

The Holy Beings of Heaven                        

Loring Schultz

“As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground……While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.” Daniel 8:17-18 NLT

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When you think of angels, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it ‘fear’? Most of us would say no. How about ‘terrified’? No, again. Would you faint at their voice? Probably not. But the prophet Daniel experienced all three all three of these as the angel Gabriel approached him to give the interpretation his vision concerning future events. The fact that Daniel in his righteous and moral character would react this way in seeing one of God’s angels emphasizes the deep chasm between earthly beings and the holy beings of heaven.  

The magnificent splendor of these heavenly beings and the reaction from earthly creatures when they meet are noted in Scripture. Zechariah, the priest, encounter the angel Gabriel one day in the Temple as he was serving before the Lord and Scripture says he was shaken and overwhelmed with fear. (Lk.1:12) Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid when he appeared before her to announce Jesus’ birth. (Lk.1:30) When Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord brought the good news first to the shepherds, and they too were terrified. “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.” (Lk.2:9 nlt)

Not all appearances of angels in Scripture are met by fear, but their presence does emphasize the divide between heaven and earth. Holy beings of heaven separate from the world who stand before a holy God bring just a portion of His radiance on this earth. One day all of us who have accepted Christ as savior will experience that radiance for eternity with the angels.  

Devotionals

Thoughts of the World   

Loring Schultz

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

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When it comes to spiritual matters and the things of God, the world has its endless thoughts on the truth of the matter. The world will inform us what is and what is not truth, or it will tell us it’s inside us and we will discover it by searching within ourselves. Just be yourself and love yourself. Then there are so called minsters of the gospel preaching a feel-good message of positivity and good works. The apostle Paul needed to defend his ministry against some of the same things we witness in our world today. False prophets were doing their work during Paul’s day as in ours. Paul, himself, was accused of being a false prophet and only in it for money. The thoughts about God in the world are many, and all are against the truth and His salvation message.

Paul was unrelenting in the defense of his ministry and the gospel. He stated, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2Cor.10:5 niv) Anything that slightly resembled an alternative view of the gospel pitting itself against the Lord God, Paul demolished those arguments. They cannot be allowed to stand. Paul knew those distorted thoughts about God lead to confusion and heartache. That is why he took every one of those thoughts and conformed them to Christ.

Christians today need to rally behind Paul’s example of boldness in demolishing the false narratives of God in our culture. Sitting silent on the sidelines while the world is scoring points does not advance the kingdom of God. The Lord has given us all we need to inform the world of the truth, His Word, the Bible. It’s time we use it boldly to explain the truth about God.  

Bible Studies

Repentance is the Way to Life  

Loring Schultz

Read: Ezekiel 18:30-32 NASB – “Therefore I will judge you, house of – Bible Gateway

‘“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,’ declares the Lord God. ‘Therefore, repent and live.’” Ezekiel 18:32 NASB

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The prophet Ezekiel prophesied to the exiled Jews who were in Babylon before the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel himself was taken captive in the second invasion by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C… His message was ‘repentance is the way to life.’ Ezekiel prophesied the future destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem was coming. Those who were already in exile would not be going back anytime soon and others would be joining them after the third invasion of Judah. So, Ezekiel’s message was to repent.

Ezekiel relayed the Lord’s message of judgment upon them for their past sins, urging them to repent as they are already in exile. “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ez.18:31 nasb) The Lord God did not want any individual of the house of Israel to die in their sins, but to repent and get a new heart.

The Lord God does not want anyone alive today to die in their sins, that includes you and me. The Lord says He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Here, He is referring to those dying without receiving forgiveness for their sins. Therefore, God is telling us as He told Israel, ‘Repent and live.’ To repent and live means to give up your old way of living which may lead to an early physical death, and more importantly to save you from eternal punishment to eternal life. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2Pt.3:9 nasb) Yes, repentance is the way to life!

Devotionals

Does God Dwell Within You?  

Loring Schultz

“But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.” 2 Chronicles 6:18 NIV

Photo BLB ESV Global Study Bible

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, couldn’t come to terms that God who created the heavens and earth could possibly show Himself and dwell in the Temple he had built. The universe is not big enough for God to dwell in, let alone Solomon’s Temple. But God did manifest Himself showing His presence in the Temple. He chose to be with His people as they came to offer sacrifices and worship Him.

Christians today find it just as hard to accept the living God, the creator of the universe, can live inside us through the Holy Spirit once we have accepted Christ as savior. But Scripture is clear that is the case. John, the apostle writes, “This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” (1Jn.4:13 niv) And Paul in writing to the church in Corinth encouraged them by saying, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1Cor.3:16 niv) The God of the universe dwells in every believer.

If you find that hard to believe, just take it by faith because it is true. The closer you get to God in your private time with Him through prayer and reading His Word you’ll begin to know it is true. He is with you and desires to be with you. Solomon marveled how God could be present in the huge, magnificent Temple of his day. We marvel today that our bodies are called the Temple of the Holy Spirit and God dwells within us. What a comfort that should be when we take it by faith, and may we live accordingly.