Heartfelt Devotionals, 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living

Heartfelt Devotions

Brenda J. Wood

366 Devotions for Common Sense Living

Smashwords Edition

Heartfelt Devotions - Copyright 2009 by Brenda J. Wood

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If stated: The scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

The scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission.

The scriptures are taken from the King James Bible.

The scripture is taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

The Scripture quotations are from the Amplified Bible, copyright 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament copyright 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by Permission.

The scriptures are taken from the Good News Translation - fourth edition, copyright by the American Bible Society. Used by permission.

The scriptures are taken from: The Living Bible copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publications, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. All rights reserved.

The scriptures are taken from The Revised Standard Version used by permission of the Division of Christian Education, National Council of Churches. Zondervan Publishing House, License.

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Heartfelt

366 Devotions for

Common Sense Living

January

January 1 The Resolution Cure

Philippians 4:1 -My dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God. (MSG)

I continue to slog away at my weight. I lost 30 pounds last year but the eating season is once more in session. For many of us the New Year brings the same old resolutions. Smokers try to stop once again. Spenders vow to reduce charge card totals. Overweight folks like me struggle with diets, scales and portion control.

Do not despair. During those failure years, we learned what doesn’t work and now we are ready for success!

My mouth is filled with God’s praise (Psalm 145:21- MSG).

Think about it! If we praise God with our mouths, we can’t use those mouths for words like Give me a carton, or chocolate bar, please.

I may walk slowly, but I never walk back (Abraham Lincoln).

Prayer - God, again you hear tired prayers about our addictions and bad habits. Thanks for showing us the way out. No. Not another past program or worldly method, but a continual turning to you. Amen.

January 2 Mentoring Anyone?

Galatians 2:2- I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done] (AMP).

I wish I’d learned this lesson years ago before popping out my own half -baked, unformed Christian ideals onto a waiting audience. A word from the wise would have corrected my errors before I spouted them in a more public place. I embarrassed myself on more than one occasion, while my mistakes were corrected in larger forums. Oh, the personal words I would carve out of people’s memory banks. It is too late now. Still, there are the words not yet uttered. Those have some hope of containing Godly wisdom, insight and truth. This is a mentor’s job.

We all need someone who will take the time to direct us to the right path. The world calls them mentors, but God calls them those of repute. Need some life direction? Ask one of those folks for a few minutes of their time? Learned a few lessons? Pass them on!

Prayer-Father God, we are ready to ask advice from others in the areas where we falter. Help us do the same for someone else. Amen.

January 3 Counterfeit Wisdom

1 Timothy 4:1, 2-But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times, some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron (NASB).

I recognized them when they were safely bottled in my kitchen but the bridal shower organizer placed small amounts of pantry ‘whites’ in clear plastic bags. Guests had to decide which was baking powder, flour, sugar, salt. It was hard! Baking powder looked like the salt and the salt like the sugar. I guessed them all correctly and won first prize.

Did you know that bankers don’t study counterfeit money? They only study the real kind. That familiarity helps them spot the counterfeit.

Do we handle God’s Word every day? Can we discern the real from the counterfeit, even when they look alike? Daily doses of the Bible help us recognize the real thing. God.

James 3:1- Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment (NASB).

Prayer-Lord, thanks for the warning. Fill us with your wisdom so that we never fall away from the faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 4 It Will Never Happen To Me

2 Peter 3:15b-17- Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures too, destroying themselves as they do it. But you, friends, are well warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers (MSG).

My friend hung her purse on the back of the public bathroom cubicle door. While she was otherwise engaged, someone stole it. Once bit, twice shy, I said. I guess you will never do that again! To my astonishment, she replied that since it likely wouldn’t happen again, she’d still use the supplied hooks! Stores are full of shoppers with the same attitude. Unguarded purses, pocket books and wallets adorn shopping carts while owners wander up and down distant aisles. All express surprise when their belongings disappear.

In 2 Peter 3:14 God calls us to guard, not purses, but our spiritual conditions.

Prayer- God, we’ve been careless with your reputation, our lifestyle and our choices. Help us walk in newness of life, never again neglecting what you told us to guard. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

January 5 Avoiding The Skid

Luke 10:23- 24-Then turning to his disciples, He said privately, Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those whose eyes see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see and they did not see it, and to hear what you hear and they did not hear it (AMP).

Part of Canada’s great beauty is its winter snow. I like to admire it from my window (near the fireplace and with a good book). Regularly though, I brave the elements and venture into the real world. The first snowfall is always a surprise. We act as though we’ve never seen it before and forget everything we ever knew about driving in the stuff. Recently, I read an article explaining (once again) how to drive in snow. It said -Your car will go where you are looking.

How like our Christian walk! We mindlessly gaze at constant advertising and wonder why we eat so much, or buy too much. We watch off-colour movies and are astonished to find ourselves swearing. If we kept our eyes on Jesus, what would we see, buy, eat, say?

1 Peter 2:21b-Christ also suffered for you, leaving you (His personal) example, so that you should follow in His footsteps (AMP).

Prayer-Father God, We’re looking in too many wrong places. A skid lies ahead. Give us grace to keep our eyes where they belong, fixed firmly on the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Jesus. Amen

January 6 Growing Patience

James 1:2-4- Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when you patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete (LB).

Spaghetti sauce covers the floor. Tiny fingerprints caress the patio door. Wet towels clog the washing machine. We haven’t seen the news for days because Odyssey and Sesame Street are the order of

the day. My daily routine has been squeezed into a new dimension because the grandchildren are visiting. I am a little unnerved at how staid and structured I had become. Who knew that a cut finger or a dropped donut could send me over the edge?

My patience needs a little watering. Let’s face it. Life grows our character.

We are God’s children. We drop and spill all over our lives, yet His attitude will never be anything but patient and forgiving. Should we be any less to those around us?

Prayer-God, give us the courage to stop squirming out of our life’s circumstances. We want to be like ketchup bottles. When life squeezes us, we want only the patient, forgiving blood of Jesus to come out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 7 Oh, My God

Exodus 20:7- You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain (AMP).

Most Christians cringe when they hear profanity in the world. In the old days, the misuse of God’s name seemed to come only from hard living, tough-looking fellows standing on street corners. Now, even television makeover shows end with the owners examining their newly-renovated spot and thoughtlessly crying out, Oh my God. My husband insists that those programs need to rename themselves the Oh, My God Show.

Common usage of brand names like Jell-O and Kleenex, may cause them to become generic terms for gelatin and tissues. Just so, God’s name is being used inappropriately, everywhere by almost everyone.

Make no mistake. God is not and will never be generic. He has strict standards for the use of His name. Let’s carefully examine our mouths. Are we using God’s name inappropriately? Do we stand quietly by while others do so?

Psalm 141:3- Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips (MSG).

Prayer- Lord God Almighty, forgive us for the times we have foolishly misused your name. Forgive us for once again falling into the ways of the world. And Lord, give us courage to speak up when others do the same. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

January 8 Three Little Dots :.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10- And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore will I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong (KJV).

I don’t remember much from my high school math classes and some might say that they were a waste of time. Those folks don’t know how often I’ve used one of the symbols I learned there. Three little dots, :. placed in the shape of a triangle stand for the word therefore.

I’d spend ages working on a problem before I could write a clear conclusion that went something like this. Because of thus and so :. (Therefore) such and such is true. I don’t do fancy math anymore, but every time I see the word therefore in scripture, I mark it with those three little dots. Then I study to see what the therefore is there for.

Paul had a problem to solve and this is his conclusion.

God’s grace + Paul’s weakness = Christ’s Power :. (Therefore) when Paul is weak, he is strong in Christ.

Tired, worn out and weak kneed? Struggling with family issues? Now we are in the best place. We can draw our strength from Christ!

Prayer-Lord, do a little math in us. Help us rejoice in our weaknesses and your strength! Amen!

January 9 The Icks

Exodus 14:22-And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left (KJV).

I laughed aloud loud when I saw the cartoon picturing the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. They were in the centre of a major miracle, crossing the seabed on dry ground as banks of water towered over their heads. One person looked down and cried, Ick! A fish!

It made me think of the lovely party I had attended the day before. Unfortunately I was seated beside an

Ick. The food was too spicy, her children never visited, and so on…..and so on…….and so on….!

It only takes one doesn’t it? One negative crank whose negative comments spoil a party. One undisciplined child who will have what it wants or else. One seeker of all that is negative quickly poisons the attitude of a crowd. Only a few months after the Red Sea crossing Moses found himself leading an entire crowd of Icks., each and every one polluted with the spirit of complaining.

Exodus 16:2-In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron (NIV).

Any Icks where we live? God forbid that any of them would be us!

Prayer-Oh Lord, You are a God of majesty and power. Help us catch your vision instead of looking for herring and catfish along our path. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 10 Snowed In

Job 37:6, 7 –For He directs the snow, the showers and the storm to fall upon the earth. Man’s work stops at such a time so that all men everywhere may recognize His power (LB).

I used to be a snowbird wannabe. When my parents scurried off to Florida at the first sign of a winter blow, I wanted to climb right into their back seat. Not a fan of ice, snow and cold, I found that in the sunny south, I had trouble adjusting to things like a Santa wearing shorts and Christmas afternoons on the beach.

My happiness seemed to lie in neither quarter. Eventually, I learned that true contentment comes from a ‘trusting God attitude’ no matter what the weather. Here in Ontario, we will continue to have lots of snowed-in experiences to talk about. On those days we can’t travel where we want or keep our demanding worldly schedules. The most important thing to remember is that God sends those storms and He is using them to show a disbelieving world that He is in control.

What is our attitude when God’s weather is not co-operating with our personal life plan?

Prayer- Lord, let the white drifts of snow keep us ever mindful of the Christ who died to make us white as snow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 11 Exercise This

Philippians 3:10-That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (KJV).

My exercise club recommends that I show up at least three times a week to work out. Experts have concluded that three sessions a week offer the bare minimum necessary to achieve a healthy body. I do try to keep to their standard. However, when life interrupts, I must personally make the choice to set aside my body health or not. My excuses sound reasonable. Still that’s what they are, even though they are called names like family, work, sleeping in, company, laziness, or weather.

Spiritual health requires more than three sessions a week. Paul’s goal and standard for his spiritual health was to know God. He understood that getting to know someone involves time. That time often slips away as something called by any other name than what it is. Excuse.

Psalm 46:10a- Be still and know that I am God (KJV).

God offers us His time. Are we letting life steal opportunities to share ours with Him?

Prayer-Lord, our spiritual exercise today includes lifting our hands to You (Psalm 141:2), singing your praises (Psalm 89:1), and folding our hands in prayer (Proverbs 24:33). Amen.

January 12 Bank Machine Blues

Jeremiah 17:5- Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord (NASB

We faced it the Canadian way, with calm panic! Most of us were not prepared for the great blackout of 2003. We had little cash on hand. Because the local convenience store owner had to keep his portable generator going, he kindly opened his doors to a steady supply of customers. He even accepted their I.O.U.’s. Those I.O.U. customers, depending on the undependable, had expected their bank machines to always be there. We all depend on cars that stop, bodies that give up and people who let us down. Let’s turn our whole-hearted attention and trust to the unchanging God that never stops loving us, never gives up on us and never lets us down.

Jeremiah 17:7 - Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord (NASB).

John 3:18- Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind God when introduced to him (MSG).

Prayer-Dear God, when our hearts wander past you, the substantial, to that which inevitably fails, pick up the pieces of our misplaced trust and teach us to depend on you. In Christ’s name. Amen.

January 13 Comfy Shoes

Ephesians 6:15- having shod your feet in preparation (to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and readiness produced by the Good News) of the Gospel of peace (AMP).

A large variety of shoes attended the event. Of course they were all attached to people’s legs! Experienced feet wore dark lace-up oxfords with support inserts while younger toes sported three inch heels, open toe sandals and bright colors. (Let’s not talk about what I was wearing!) My high heel days are in the past. Now I opt for comfort over fashion. Still, fancy shoes attract lots of attention, even though they pinch a little and leave long-term effects on the old tootsies.

When we first ask Jesus into our hearts, our new way of life is like high heel shoes. We stand out a little in the crowd. While we learn to walk in a Christ-like way, we get a little pinched and yes, hopefully there will be some long-term effects as we learn about Christ. But later, we are tempted to drag out those old comfy loafers to avoid the very things that attracted us to Christ in the first place. Old habits, like comfortable old shoes can drag us down if we aren’t careful. We would be wise to regularly check the fit of our spiritual shoes.

Prayer-Lord God, we confess that our lives have become too comfortable. Revive us. Nudge us out of our too comfortable ways and into shoes that pinch a little. Correct us where we need it. Amen.

January 14 Victory, Never Defeat

When we think we have no power, feel like a failure, are sure we can’t hang on, we would do well to remember God’s truth. After we write our names into the blanks below, let’s read, reread and then memorize the truth of victory with Jesus.

Romans 8:37-39-Overwhelming victory is _____’s, through Christ who loved _______ enough to die for __________. For ________ (is) convinced that nothing can ever separate __________from His love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels won’t and all the power of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away from ___________ . _________’s fears for today, __________________, worries about tomorrow or where ____________ (is),high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing will ever be able to separate __________ from the love of God, demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died for ____________. (Paraphrase, LB

Prayer- Now Lord, help us live as though we really believe you! Amen

January 15 Black Sheep

Judges 11:1a-Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior but he was the son of a harlot (AMP).

My school friend just couldn’t get past her ‘past.’ She constantly complained about her poor upbringing and how it affected her current life. She blamed every missed opportunity on her parents and their reluctance to have a relationship with her. Since she saw every problem through the eyes of what could not be changed, her future looked dim. Just call me Black Sheep she would moan. When someone challenged her stinking thinking, she started to make choices that reflected who she really was, a very smart, talented gal with lots of get-up-and-go. Haven’t we all been stuck there at one time or another?

Judges 11:10- The elders of Gilead replied, "That’s it exactly. We’ve come to you to get you to go with us and fight the Ammonites. You’ll be the head of all of us, all the Gileadites (MSG).

Instead of moaning about the past, great Christians of the Bible and of world history turned their eyes to the future. They moved forward, doing great things for God. Let’s be one of them.

Prayer-God, we are ashamed of hanging onto the black-sheep areas of our lives. We give them to you and we move forward into the future you have planned for us. In Christ’s name. Amen.

January 16 Talk Show Junkie

Deuteronomy 11:18, 19- Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands, foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night (MSG).

A former TV addict, I recovered by simply not learning to like any new shows. I freed up an hour every time one of my favorites vanished. Until recently, however, I still taped and watched some old favourite.

Then one day I caught myself quoting something from one of the shows. Hold on, I thought. Why am I doing this? I want to speak Jesus into lives, not worldly celebrity advice. Now my aim is to spend more time with Jesus than with old TV shows, so that when I speak into lives, people will learn about Christ. Every one of us complains about time shortages and restraints. Are we really willing to take a serious look at how we spend our time?

Prayer- God, reveal any areas of wasted time to us and help us to set it aside to use as a meeting place with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 17 Today’s New Year

Job 36:10 –And He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from evil (NASB).

The January 1st crunch of resolution has passed and so has most of my resolve. I struggled with my weight-loss plans from November right into January. That is, I had a plan, but I wasn’t trying hard to follow it. My weight went up. I blamed relatives who brought food, parties I attended, the general way we all celebrate Christmas, and the presence of food every where I looked, (including my own home).

However, this is the reality. I said to myself, "I have no discipline. One little bite can’t hurt. I reached out my hand, picked up the food, bent my elbow, opened my mouth, swallowed and gained weight.

Discipline is remembering what you want. What is it that we want? Furtive swallows of health-harming foods? A quick smoke out in the freezing cold? Temper tantrums? Harming a reputation with gossip? Greed? Selfishness? Disobedience? Or would we rather walk in love toward a Holy God, glorifying Him with our bodies, His temple?

Prayer - God, we have been undisciplined. The world tells us that if we break a New Year’s Resolution, all is lost, that we must wait until next January 1st to start again. But God! Your word says that your loving kindness is new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, Oh