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Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: "Don't think to yourself that you will escape in the king's house any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Who... -
In the same hour, the fingers of a man's hand came out and wrote near the lamp stand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and ...
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One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this ma...
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Like A Rock
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In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It's a ghost!' and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying 'Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid.' Peter answered him and said, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.' He said, 'Come!' Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:24 WEB
At the word of Jesus, Peter got out of the boat and gently stepped onto the water. When his foot touched the water, it became solid and supported him. Peter then began walking across the surface of the water towards Jesus and he must have thought, 'This is amazing, I am actually walking on water!'
Soon though, the wind started blowing harder against him and the waves got rough. He thought, 'Hey wait, this is crazy! What am I doing out here?' Like a rock, when Peter began to waver and doubt, he began to sink into the water.
Doubt literally means 'Divided in two.' Faith and doubt are polar opposites. Faith is single-mindedly focused on Jesus regardless of the circumstances around you. When they got into the boat, Jesus asked Peter one question: 'Why did you doubt?' Apparently Peter's point of failure was doubt. Whether he doubted himself, his ability to do it, or if he had heard the Lord had actually call him at all, is not clear. What is clear is that Peter was walking on top of the water, but when he began to doubt, he sank.
Sometimes the Lord calls us to do something and we step out in faith, but then resistance comes. If you do anything meaningful, resistance will come. It becomes scary, and the wind really starts to blow against us. At this point we can keep our eyes on Jesus and stay the course, or begin to doubt and sink like a rock.
Today, forget the wind. Focus on Jesus and keep taking those steps that He called you to do. Do not be distracted by the noise and things that go on around you. Get up, keep going, take the next step. Fear and doubt are your enemies. Push them out of your mind and refresh yourself with scripture. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that you strengthen my faith, build me up, shape me into what I need to be. Teach me, guide me, and give me a clear vision and a clear mind. Help me focus on You and give me grace to serve You wholeheartedly, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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amen
Oh God. Amen.
Amen
great devonal thankyou.
Amen Pastor Dion, I have found when opposition comes against me it is confirmation that I am obeying my Abba Father. When I am serving the Lord, Satan is angry and he tries to keep me from serving. He may try many different tactics such as, self-condemnation, self-doubt, fiery trials, distractions, etc. If I hold firm and continue to serve and pray through it, Abba Father brings abundant blessing and abundant peace. God is always good and faithful to help me prevail in whatever task He has set before me. He is my Rock, my Refuge and my Strength.
Amen amen. Amen!!
Amen. I need to remember to just keep the Faith thru everything.
Amen and amen
Walking through a stormy time in life right now. Thank you, Pastor Dion, for encouraging me to stay in the Word focused on Jesus!
In a storm ..out a storm...in a mes out a mess...in the Word ...then go out in the Word watching...In prayer ...then listening for His Words or watching to see what He will do. Then that that all goes and here come the waves again...or going down to a valley when I thought I was going up the mountain. Hannah Hurnard author long back with a book called Hindsfeet in High Places. An allegory. While reading the story then I see me in the story with the story speaking back. Kinda like a parable. She has series of more. Blessings!!
Amen!!!
Amen thank you Jesus for this devotion
I pray that I will stay focused on Jesus, and let Him handle the circumstances in my life. He does a much better job than I could ever do.
Really needed this today. Lately I've been feeling overwhelmed and discouraged as I want to follow the path the Lord wants me to but still not sure which direction to go. And it seems like there is so much I have to do and I don't have the energy to do it all.
John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Praying for you Mary. God Bless you!
Hi Mary,. I know this devotion was in May yet I make efforts to read what I missed. No energy you mentioned. Not sure if you mean health or busy day. I heard someone say "busy work" for God is usually not where He wants me. So I Jeep praying about this & wait. Things come along I know that I know it is Jesus. The everyday life now seemingly mundane yet when before Him in the mundane it is His desire where I am to be. He created s for fellowship. I know I get sightings of whom then. Or a word & so on. Blessings Mary , you are wonderfully made.
I'm riding through a storm right now and I pray that God will keep and deliver me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Praying for you Joseph. I'm in a storm as well. God Bless us with his super strength to endure these storms. Amen.
We seem to go through these storms in life but with Gods help come out the other side in one piece.. Its really hard when you DON'T feel God hears your cry for help and you wonder if He is listening at all !!!That can be a scary and lonely time and a time of doubt.Ive found spending time in prayer or in a quiet place talking to God does help and prayers will be answered. Maybe not in the way I was thinking or maybe not straight away,but in a way that helps me more...and this builds up my faith..
Amen!! Thank you Pastor Dion for todays devotion.. Building your faith can be easy at times and hard at times too. You can have so much faith but we are humans can sometimes get knocked back a few steps or more. Jesus, I pray that you always give me the wisdom to know what's good and what's not. I pray in Jesus, name. Amen <3
My most favorite scripture is this one. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Those words and my faith have gotten me through some very dark times. But through faith and my whole heart with my Lord, I can do anything !!Amen !!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father, I pray that you strengthen my faith, build me up, shape me into what I need to be. Teach me, guide me, and give me a clear vision and a clear mind. Help me focus on You and give me grace to serve You wholeheartedly, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Amen
Amen.Thank you Pastor Todd.For these encouraging words.,and for this prayer.Father I ask to receive these words spoken in Pastors prayer,to be done in my life.,as well.In he Name of Jesus Christ. I pray.
Amen
I like the thought of water becoming stronger when you put yr foot out to take a step. The water is like goin' all out with eyes on Jesus. It is a great feeling...a place to be. The winds are the things that come to shake me up...the old boy shaking me up. Refocus. I get thinking how some times I know to know it is Jesus. Time passes & then I say is this the way or my way. Often as older I think on things God had me in & showed himself. Also add-in some medical drawbacks I get unsure. I know there is no retirement with God. I do which is in front of me thinking of others & trying to keep focus on God.