Confidence in Christ

     Once we are saved through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, we are seen as holy in the eyes of our holy and perfect heavenly Father. We don’t understand it. The gift is too wonderful to comprehend. But it is true.

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22a 

     As we are given the righteousness of Christ, our sins are painted as white as snow. As His children, we now live in His glorious light.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

     Our confidence in Christ grows as our faith grows, moving more and more into His light as we gain trust in Him through the rest of our lives. Each step draws us closer and closer to our heavenly home. There is no need to fear. We are with Him now. We will be with Him later.

For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

     I have witnessed the yearning for heaven, time and time again, in believers close to death, in the aged, in the burdened. For those living in grief, to those longing for a loved one in heaven, this is such a solemn and profound promise.  We will be with them one day. We will live with them forever. Do not fear. Be confident in that.

Lord,

Keep us mindful of the brevity of life and the hope of tomorrow. We now live in Your righteousness and Your light. To live is You and to die is gain. How profound! Keep us from worry. Keep us in peace. We are Yours.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Confidence in Christ

     If you want to gain confidence in Christ, a great chapter to read is the first book of Ephesians. Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus is filled with the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. I won’t print the entire chapter, but here are a few blessings we have with Christ as our Savior.
We have been:
• blessed in the heavenly realms (v.3)
• chosen (v. 4)
• adopted as sons and daughters (v. 5)
• given His glorious grace (v. 6)
• forgiven (v. 7)
• given his wisdom and understanding (v. 8)
• made a part of His perfect and pleasing will (v. 9-11)
• included in Christ (v. 13)
• sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13)
• guaranteed a heavenly home (v. 14)
     As I close today’s devotion, please read carefully through the following words from this beloved chapter. These words are given for you as a believer in Jesus Christ and I pray them over you today. Listen to the love and power you now have available as children of the most-high God.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:15-21
These words are too wonderful to comprehend! The very same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead now lives within us! Take that with you today. Have confidence in the one who has saved you! He is risen and His power lives with us.
Jesus,
We praise You for all of the many gifts and blessings You have lavished on us. Thank You for these beautiful reminders in Your precious word for us. We love You
Amen

Confidence in Christ

     What would life be like if we could place all of our confidence in Christ? After we accept Him as Savior and believe that He died and rose again to clear the slate, to forgive us once and for all, we become His forever.  Forever!!!!  Heaven is our new home forever. And while we live upon this fallen earth, we have His power, His strength, His protection, His love, His peace, and His righteousness!  Amazing!

     I have a feeling this week will be filled with exclamation points. I tend to use them way too often. Trying to remember to edit, usually brings me to deleting several. My passion for Jesus knows no bounds. He is always in my heart, always on my mind and His word is always on my lips. Ask me to talk about Him and I will go and on!  !...!...!...

     This week we will look at Scripture verses devoted to all we have available to us in Christ. Soak it all in as you read along. Look at all of the Scripture verses noted along the way. Read through an entire chapter if you have time. His word will fill you up and remind you of who you are in Christ and to gain knowledge and understanding that Jesus is available in any circumstance. We have the Spirit of Jesus residing within us! Let’s be confident in Him and be blessed.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7

In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

     Keep the faith in Jesus. Keep hope alive. Be assured of your future together with Him in heaven. Let’s rejoice!

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see. Hebrews 11;1

Father,

We place our confidence in Jesus. He is our hope and our Savior. We need not worry about tomorrow. We have everything we need in Him.

In His name we pray,

Amen

An Everlasting Love

Raising our children to love Jesus in the world today is vital. As we see disrespect grow, violence increase, drug use as an epidemic, our youth need Jesus. The Jewish people were taught to have God’s word on their hearts and minds each day.

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 11:19 (Deuteronomy 6:7)

    God has promises for us as believers. As we teach our children about His love and His word, they will never forsake Him.

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

     I have such special memories of our girls growing up. Reading devotions with them each night before bed. Praying with them when they were having difficulites at school or with friends. 

     Our faith will never leave us. Jesus is always here with us. Faith does not have to be and should not be a once-a-week duty. It is a life. A life lived for Christ. A life filled with His everlasting love. Believe and your children will never depart from it. God’s love is everlasting. Pass it on!

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him and His righteousness with their children’s children. Psalm 103:17

Father,

Your everlasting love will flow from generation to generation as we speak of you as we walk through our days as we sit down and as we rise. Help our younger generation to find You again, for our country to trust in You again. We love You as You first loved us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

    

Prairie Grace

    Today I visit Prairie Grace, land named and dedicated by a friend of mine and her husband to God. They are redoing an old farmhouse, barn, and cottage and building a chapel in the fields about an hour south of Minneapolis. The beauty of the prairie and the span of the country reminds us of the splendor of God’s creation.

     One of our sisters in Christ went with us a few years ago just as the poppies were in bloom. She is a photographer and uses her great eye for beauty to glorify God in the Scripture cards she puts together. What gifts God has given us.

     There will be three of us today, three sisters in Christ. We have studied the Bible together for years and they are two of the prayer warriors I lean on time and time again, knowing they will be on their knees when a sister or brother is in need. Our language is filled with God’s word.

     Years ago we studied the books of the Thessalonians. The study included these words:

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:14

     These are my sisters loved by God, chosen in fellowship to worship, to pray, to sharpen my faith.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

     The Bible reminds us to stay close to our fellow Christians as we witness the times leading toward Christ’s return. Stay in the word. Rely on your Christian family and continue and appreciate the glory of the earth God has given us, just as we will do today at Prairie Grace.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Let all of the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:12

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1

Father,

You love for us is so deep and overwhelming. I am thankful for these sisters loved by You. Be with us today as we travel, be with us as Your Spirit leads our conversation and as we witness Your glory in the prairie. I am grateful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

His Marvelous Ways

     This week I have been striving for more flexibility, away from the sometimes rigid and controlling plans of my own. Jesus can change me with words from wise friends, with my conscience giving me clues to right and wrong, and through our plum line, the Bible.

     But I have come to a realization. Deep down, I appreciate my ordinary life, filled with its routine. I know it fits me at this season of my life. Maybe, just maybe, God ordained it this way.

     Has he allowed you a life to fit your deep-seeded personality and your gifts? How marvelous are His ways. With my eyesight deteriorating, I am more than grateful to have a patient husband, supportive daughters and their families and great friends who still want to hang around with me and places where I feel safe and secure.

     God understands each of us, in whatever season of life we find ourselves. His ways will work with you, wherever you are, in whatever place you live, with the people surrounding you, to help you be at peace and filled with joy. Most of all, we have Jesus.

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways. He does great things beyond our understanding. Job 37:5

For you are great and do marvelous deeds. You alone are God. Psalm 86:10

The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23

     Wherever life finds you today, give praise to the Lord. He has done and will continue to do marvelous deeds in your life and in mine. He will allow and encourage changes in us and He will find the perfect places and people to surround us. Let Him be sufficient for your days, routines and all.

Lord,

How marvelous are your ways! You find a perfect fit for us throughout our lives. Guide us into praising You each day and listening to Your voice.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Cast Your Cares

     Our heavenly Father is in control. His wish for us is to trust Him completely with our lives, to believe He has us in the palm of His mighty hands. How about a day without worry? Having loved Jesus with a deep faith for thirty years, I have seen Him deepen my faith through suffering, deny my wishes when He knew they weren’t right for me, delight me with His miraculous ways time and time again, and defend me when I needed it most.

     Listen to the words of Scripture and allow Jesus to take away your worries and your burdens. He cares for us.

“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to the span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27

“Come to Me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

     God is watching over you. Cast all of your cares on Him.

Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

     As our trust grows in our God, the one who promises us eternal life, the one who sent His only Son to die for us, the one who cares for the birds of the air, the one we can trust to keep all of His promises, we can find peace. Here is another promise to fill your heart.

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Father,

We take the words of Jesus into our hearts and souls today, trusting Him with all of our cares and worries. Fill us with that peace that passes all understanding as we give all of our lives to You. You are faithful and unchanging.

In Jesus name,

Amen