Divine Mentor- I Will To Rejoice

Habakkuk 1-3; John 8
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:18 " Yet I will rejoice in The Lord , I will joy in the God of my salvation."
Observation: Habakkuk says he will rejoice no matter what the circumstances. He does not say he will be "happy", but that he will have joy. His rejoicing is not an emotional response to what he is experiencing-- it is an intentional response to God when rejoicing is far from the normal, expected human response.

Application: This is a tough week for me even after 10 years. Joe's birthday and our wedding anniversary used to be days that naturally caused me to rejoice, but now they hold only memories and the sadness of not being together, BUT I chose to rejoice in God, and He has been faithful. He is my joy every day of my life.

Prayer: Dear God, You promised to be my husband when Joe went to be with You, and I willed myself to rejoice in You all the rest of my days. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Stay out of the way

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 35:21

"...God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God who is with me; don't make Him destroy you."

Objective:
Neco the king of Egypt was on a mission for God and King Josiah who had pledged his heart, mind and everything to God thought he needed to intervene against an attack Neco was making. Josiah decided to ignore Neco's warning that he was on a righteous mission and was killed as a result of his disobedience.

Application:
Sometimes we as Christians get so "holy" we tend to forget that God can bless someone other than us.  We get so involved in what someone else is doing getting in their way we bring destruction on ourselves.  We also can sometimes forget we are the ones that God is behind when He tells us what to do. So we allow the distractions of other Christians (because our faith isn't strong enough to believe when God speaks to us) to change or even stop our steps ordained by God.  We have to be more like Neco and stand firm in our faith and not let no man keep us from doing what we know to be God's plan.  So we have to make a decision - do we allow someone else to stop us from our destiny or do we push on and allow God to deal with the distraction?

I heard a quote in a movie yesterday that this verse makes me think about. "Plant your feet and stand firm. The only question to have to worry about is where to plant your feet."  I want to plant my feet in my faith with our Father.

Prayer:
Lord, please continue to show me patience and mercy as we continue our love affair.  Please give me the discernment and the strenght to stand strong in your protection. Also, allow me to know when to stay out of someone else's way with my own agenda. Make me more like Neco in the sense of obedience. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Divine Mentor - Because I love you - Laila Wahba

Because I love you

Scripture..” I have summoned you by name; you are mine….Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you……….Isaiah 43.1,4

Observation   Wow, the Maker of the Universe, the One who has the cattle on a thousand hills, the one who says “Let there be ….” And there was. This very God tells me I am precious and honored and loved. Then He starts telling me what He will give because of His love for me; He tells me what He will do, because of His love for me: I will be with you, you will not be burned, I will give men in exchange for you, I am with you

Application    Everyone of us dreams of her prince charming, who will give and save and defend and understand and encourage and listen, but we soon realize that there is no one alive who can do this. And even if he does, he cannot do it all the time. He cannot protect me, or give himself up for me. But my Price Charming did give Himself for me. Today, I want to take all the love I need,  all the encouragement, and all my needs from God.

Prayer

I am redeemed. Thank you God for this great love. May I live for your glory today, making known how you have loved me and what a great price it cost you.

May I live my day- today as a woman loved; honored and precious. In Jesus Name. Amen

Divine Mentor- It's Personal

Nahum 1-3; John 5
Scripture: John 5:6 "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ' Do you want to get well?'"

Observation: I think John includes this particular miracle because it illustrates 1) the personal involvement of Jesus in our lives and 2) the futility of trying to make it on our own. With one word, Jesus could have healed every person at that Bethesda pool; however, He took the time to inquire about this particular man. We know this, because John gives us the detail that he had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus personally asks the man if he wants to get well, instead of actually answering the question, the man expresses the frustration of being unable to "heal himself" because he can't get to the pool on his own.

Application: We talk as believers about the life God desires for us- abundant living, joy in the midst of painful circumstances, thankful hearts in all things. Today I ask myself, ""Do I really want the life God has planned for me, or am I content (knowing I already have eternal life) to just "sit by the pool"?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your personal love for me, but please don't allow me to become complacent and content, always focusing on myself. Teach me to "see" others who need Your personal touch.

Divine Mentor - Believe - by Laila Wahba

Believe

Scripture reading for today: 

2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33, John 4

Scripture that spoke to me:

John 4:49-50  The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

Observation:

The official wanted Jesus to answer his petition by coming with him and maybe touching his boy, or whatever he had in his mind. Maybe he had heard of other healings that Jesus had done a certain way, and was expecting Jesus to answer in a way He had done before. But Jesus just said to the man, “Go, your son will live.” And the man immediately believed and went on his way. He could have stopped, and argued, or asked for proof, or been upset that Jesus touched others, why not his son, but he did not. He immediately left when Jesus told him this simple sentence.

Application

How many times do we tell Jesus how to answer our prayers? We ask with a list of options on how His response should be. We love playing God.  God is not a vending machine where I put a coin and a certain thing has to pop from the machine. It does not work this way. I need to believe Jesus when He speaks. He does not need to do the thing the way I expect Him to, or the same way He responded to this person or that person. Jesus responds in a unique way to each situation, a way that brings Him glory. Knowing this, will bring so much peace to my life, for once Jesus speaks, I do not need to fret. He said it; He WILL do it, for God is not a liar. He is the Omnipotent God.

Prayer

Lord, I pray for faith like this official: a faith that would immediately believe and go my way once you speak. I pray for faith that will not ask you to prove what you have promised, or that doubts what you have said. 

Jesus is the Best

Today's Reading

Isaiah 63-64
Psalm 107
John 2

My Scripture is John 2:10

",,,Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now."

The objective for me is to teach us of Jesus' first miracle and the significance it brings.  It is to make us aware the water not only turned to wine, but the finest wine.  When Jesus is involved only the best will be the result.

I must remember in everything that I do it can never measure up to what Jesus can do in my life.  As we go through life drinking up what we consider to be the good stuff.  As some of us do or have done such as myself; we get drunk off the lies satan has feed us with the "finer things" so when he has us he will continue to toss us just enough to keep us entangled with his deceit.  It is only when we allow Jesus to serve us what He has offered will we realize that what we had before was inferior.

Lord, please continue to give me the power of discernment even when I don't realize it.  I want to know how to recognize your fine wine and only drink of it.  Please allow me to bring disciples to you in everything that I do.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Divine Mentor - Holy Spirit by - Laila Wahba

Scripture that spoke to me:

John 3: 34-36 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him

Observation:

It is amazing to me that John the Baptist understood the Trinity so well and realized that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life although Jesus had just started His ministry. John the Baptist realized that God gives the Spirit without measure. Only the Holy Spirit could have given him this spiritual discernment and knowledge. He had not seen any miracles performed yet.

Application

I need God to fill me with His Holy Spirit to understand the things of God. I also need the Holy Spirit to declare God’s truth even if it seems uncomfortable.

John was very clear: Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Prayer

God, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might understand; so that I might know that there is no salvation without Jesus, whatever the world, whatever religions say: Only YOU can save. Lord help me declare your truth..in love, but help me stay focused all the time that only YOU can save.