"The Instruction Manual"

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."  2 Timothy 3:16,17

Have you ever made a purchase of some item that required assembly?  Are you one of those people who try to put it together without using the instruction manual that came with it?  A lot of people are like that.  At the end of the project they wind up having to redo it because they left out a part.  Or they had parts left over.  Many people are trying to go through life without using an "instruction manual". 

Life is difficult, period.  We don't know how to have proper relationships, how to make the right choices, how to avoid pitfalls, how to make it through the bumps in the road of life, or how to handle problems that arise.  Someone once said about parenting, "It's a shame babies don't come with instruction manuals".  The same could be said of life in general.  The fact of the matter is-- life does come with an instruction manual.  It is called the Bible. 

The Bible has the answers to every question, every difficulty, how to relate to people, how to have abundant life, what to do when life seems overwhelming, how to make the best choice, how to find peace, how to raise children, how to overcome obstacles, and how to get through each day.  But like the people who try to put an item together on their own without consulting the manual, many people won't read the Bible and seek its instructions, wisdom and guidance.

Do you seek its help daily?  Are you following its instructions?  Are you letting it navigate your steps through life?  Or are you trying to do it your own way?  Are you trying to figure it out on your own?  Are you leaning to your own understanding and wisdom?

Have a great day.  It is so much easier if your read the instruction manual.   

"Hyperbole"

"...  thy word is truth."  John 17:17

As I stepped into my office this morning to sit down and write the devotional, a word came to mind.  The word was "hyperbole".  This is not a word that is familiar to me.  I haven't heard it in years-- since I was in school.  I vaguely even remember hearing it then, much less knew what it meant.  So, I decided to look it up in the dictionary. Hyperbole: an extravagant statement or figure of speech no intended to be taken literally; obvious and intentional exaggeration.  

I knew that this unfamiliar word came to mind for a reason.  The reason was to remind us that the Word of God is not "exaggeration or extravagant" statements.  When the Bible says that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow", that is truth, not exaggeration.  When it says that "all power in heaven and earth is given unto Jesus", it isn't extravagant language.  It is truth.  When the scriptures say that "no weapon formed against you shall prosper", "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world", "I give you power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils"; "whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth is loosed in heaven", none of these are exaggerated statements.  They are not the boastful statements of some egotistical person.  They are the Words of the True and Living God. 

The words of Jesus and God the Father that are written in the Bible are not boasting or bragging.  They are not idle words.  They are not threats.  They are not fables, fairytales or campfire stories, and they are not "hyperbole".  They are Truth.  They are to be taken literally.  They are to be believed.  They are to be practiced.  They are to be applied.  They can be trusted. 

Perhaps you think the Bible is full of exaggeration.  Perhaps you don't believe it is real.  Perhaps you think its wording was only to make the reading interesting.  Well, think again.  They are the Words of Truth from the God of heaven-- who says what He means and means what He says.  Take it that way. 

Have a great day.  God's Words are not hyperbole.

"The Power Of Praise"

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."  Acts 16:25,26

Never underestimate the power of praise!  What is one of the first things we do, or rather withhold, when we are going through a trial or difficulty?  We begin to murmur, complain, speak negatively, get fearful, anxious and withhold our praise.  Praise is the last thing we think about doing.  It is the last thing we want to do.  When we are going through a problem, we want to feel sorry for ourselves.  We want to talk about the situation. 

Who can praise at a time like this?  Who can praise God when they are in trouble?  It makes no sense.  To the natural man it doesn't-- it is foolish.  We are not talking about praising God for the problem, we are talking about praising God in spite of it.  When we praise God in the midst of the trial, that situation will "stand at attention" and have to give way to victory because praise brings the power of God into the situation. (Psalm 22:3) 

Never underestimate the power of praise!  At midnight, while in prison bound by chains, with bleeding backs from the beaten they had suffered, Paul and Silas praised God, and the earth shook and the prison doors flew open.  Discouragement gave way to praise.
 
Never underestimate the power of praise!  In the days of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, the Ammonites and other nations rose up against Judah to destroy them.  Jehoshaphat "appointed singers unto the Lord, that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.  And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." (2 Chronicles 20:21,22)  Praise brought victory. 

It may be foolish to you to offer up praise to the Lord when you are going through trials and difficulties.  That is why it is called a "sacrifice of praise".  But that is exactly what you need to do.  You have tried everything else.  You have tried to manipulate your way past it.  You have tried to bully your way through it.  You have tried to believe hard enough to see it change.  You have quoted every scripture you know over it.  You have exhausted all your resources.  Well, why don't you try praising your way through it.  Praise is powerful.  It may not always change your situation, and then again it might, but it will definitely make a change in you, and you will be victorious even going through the trial.  

Have a great day.  Never underestimate the power of praise!   

"Thy Will Be Done?"

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:9,10

When Jesus gave us the Lord's prayer, it was a model by which we would know how to pray.  He didn't intend for it to be a ritual prayer.  He didn't intend for it to be a prayer to "sooth our conscience"-- meaning that it wasn't intended to make us feel like we had done our religious duty that day if we prayed it.  He didn't intend for it to be something we could recite when we need something spiritually encouraging.  He didn't intend for it to be some "mindless" memorization that would give us "brownie points" because we could quote it.

His intention was so that His disciples-- us included-- would take its words to heart and make them have meaning and application in our lives.  So, when He said to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done", He intended it to be sincere words that came from a heart of love and devotion that truly wanted the Father's will to be done in the earth, in heaven and in their lives. 

We have gotten away from His intention.  We have changed the "wording" up.  We have changed it to fit our own fleshly and self-centered desires, instead of His original intent.  Our prayer has become, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done when it is convenient for me; when it fits into my plans; when it doesn't interfere with my agenda; when I can get around to doing it; when it doesn't impose itself on me; when my schedule can accommodate it."

Is this the way you pray?  Is this become your model-- your will over His will?  Or do you earnestly and sincerely pray for His will no matter the cost, the inconvenience or the adjustments that you have to make in order for His will to be fulfilled?

Have a great day.  Is the Lord's Prayer your true desire?    

"Living Uninterrupted"

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"  1 Corinthians 6:19

We like to live life on our own terms.  We have our own way of doing things and don't want anything to interfere with it.  We have our own schedule and don't want anything messing it up.  We have our own agenda and don't want anything to get in the way of it.  We have plans and tend to get bent out of shape when something disrupts them.  Our motto should be:  Don't interrupt me.

Does this describe you?  I have to be honest and say that it does me.  I may have my day planned out and the next thing I know it has been completely interrupted by unexpected situations that arise, phone calls, someone needing my assistance, something mechanical tears up and needs my attention or I am pulled away by something beyond my control.  (This actually happens a lot-- daily.)

Our lives are not nice, neat little packages to be lived by our own dictates and terms.  Life is often full of interruptions.  I can't help but believe that sometimes those interruptions are allowed by God to get us refocused off of self. 

When interruptions come and they send me in a different direction than I had planned, I have to remind myself that my steps are ordered by the Lord.  My life is surrendered to Him which means it is to be lived for Him and His plans, not my own.  Therefore, what will I do with the interruptions?  Will I let them make me angry, frustrated or annoyed?  Or will I let them show me how self-centered and selfish my life really is?  Will I let them show me the truth about just how flexible, or unmovable, in my own will and own terms I am?  Will I let them teach me how to be more yielded to the will of the Lord, should He decide to change my agenda and schedule today? 

Have a great day.  Are you living life on your own terms?