Plans

"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps," (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV)

I love this verse. Long ago it freed me up to live from my heart instead of my head. It helped me to understand that God would direct my way if my steps were ordered from a motive to serve him and see his kingdom come. I feel such a peace when I live out of this verse. That said, it is obvious to me that this is not a valued practice among many.

It seems that the practice that is embraced the most is using our brains to plan our ways. In a very real sense, the ways that believers plan is often really not all that much different from nonbelievers. We scheme, manipulate and bargain our way thinking that we are doing God's will when we are just emulating worldly planning. Better to plan with our heart.

We surrender Lord. We relinquish control of our lives. Help us to plan with our hearts and trust you to lead us.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Comfort

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. -Psalm 23:4 NASB

In the darkest of times. In moments of utter despair. I have felt God's comfort. His Spirit works both in and through us. Sometimes He comes with a quiet whisper from within. At other times by an encouraging word from a friend. In my darkest of valleys God always seems to be present. It is hard to read this verse and not remember this time in my life:
At thirty-nine years old my first wife, Ellen, had heart and kidney failure. At the brink of her death I found myself begging God to not let her die. I could not accept her situation or the possibility of her death. Three and a half years later after praying almost daily for her healing I found myself again faced with the possibility of her dying. Driving to work one day, racked with the agony of thoughts of a world without Ellen, I began to pray. I saw a picture in my mind. In this vision I saw myself standing on a mountain looking down at a valley. Somehow I knew it was the valley of the shadow of Ellen's death. As I looked into the vision I saw Jesus come to my side, take my hand, and walk with me into the valley. It was a comforting picture. God was trying to tell me that he would be with me when Ellen died and that I would be okay.
When I am at my lowest God is there. Beside me. Teaching me. To not be afraid. To experience his presence. To trust his rod and his staff to protect me when my world is falling apart. To lean into his comfort. However it may come.

Teach us to not be afraid Lord. Help us to experience the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Justice

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. -Proverbs 31:8 NLT

Over the centuries the idea of justice has taken on different forms. A presidential candidate recently reminded us that some envision it as an eye for an eye thinking that justice is all about payback. You hit me and I hit you back. Others see justice in more of a Western Civilization way. In a courtroom empaneled with a judge and jury. Yet others see it differently.

In this proverb we read of justice being carried out not by judges and juries but by defenders. People who speak up for the marginalized. For those who have been oppressed and crushed under the heels of people and world systems. This justice does not comes cheap as those who would speak up for those who cannot risk being crushed themselves.

Empanel us as holy defenders Lord. Give us words to speak that would bring justice.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Work

Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. -Colossians 3:23 MSG

It has always fascinated me how a person working a secular job could be spiritually minded while another working in a sacred vocation could be carnally minded. A good reminder that being spiritual has little to do with what we do but everything to do with how we do it. Work in the kingdom of God is all about doing it with faith, hope and love.

I retired from Ma Bell when I was 49. After a few years consulting for a few companies, I accepted a pastoral position at my church. I worked there until my wife became disabled. My time there was both a beautiful time of ministry and a troubling peek into church politics. In retrospect it helped me understand how hard it is to work from the heart.

Remind us Lord that our reward for our labors is a heavenly one. Help us to serve you with humility of heart.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Heart

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. -Proverbs 4:23 MSG

It is so easy to encounter things that bruise our hearts. People do awful things. Sickness and disease sometimes ravage our bodies and those of the ones that we love. So often our prayers go unanswered and we are left feeling all alone in life. It is in these times that our hearts are so vulnerable and need to be protected from the things that cause it to harden to others and to God. If left untended our hearts become numb and lose the capacity to love.

In Matthew 18 Jesus speaks to us of forgiving from "our heart". Ever wonder why he said it that way? I like to think of forgiveness as God's heart softener. When wounds, criticisms and sins make it past our skin and pierce our heart forgiveness can make our heart soft again. Forgiveness guards our heart and keeps it from becoming hard. This is why it is so important to forgive. It is a way that we can keep a vigilant watch our heart and keep it soft.

As you have taught us to pray Lord: forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.


... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Emmanuel

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” -Matthew 1:23 NRSV

From the onset of creation, God has been with us. Abraham walked with him. King David felt his presence. The prophets heard his still small voice. Yet when the angel appeared to the Virgin Mary a new age of “God is with us” began. God would be with us in a way never experienced before. He would become a human and live with us.

This is the true message of Christmas. God with us in human form. Fully experiencing human life. The high and the lows. Laughter and tears. Tempted in every way and yet sinless. God fully knows what it is like to be one of us. In like manner, when we read about the life Jesus we know what God is like. When we see him, we see God.

Open our eyes Lord. Open our minds. Open our hearts. Help us to embrace Emmanuel.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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Work

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. -Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

There is a prevalent paradigm that embraces the idea that some work is sacred and some just secular. I love how this verse teaches us that all work can be sacred when we it is done in service to the Lord Jesus. A plumber's work can be sacred when done with excellence and integrity. A doctor can perform divine works of healing when it is done unto God.

The truth is that we are Christ's body and are his ambassadors to the world. It is a cliché, but true none the less, that we are the only Jesus that many will ever see. When we love others it is Christ loving through us. Our work can be a great expression of that love and service. It is why Paul admonishes us to see our work as sacredly done as unto the Lord.

Enlarge our hearts and minds Lord, to see our work as a sacred service done for your glory.

... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.
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