Month: August 2017

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

A Place to Rest

by Desiree Bustamante

Finding genuine rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

It’s been quite a week. Maybe it’s been a hard one, or an exciting one. Maybe it’s just been an average week of stress for you. It’s become a fact of life. Even Jesus felt the pressures of daily life.

“Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.”
Mark 6:31 New Living Translation

Yes, even Jesus had so many people craving his attention, requesting his help, or needing his teaching that he didn’t have time to eat. How easy it is to understand this reality! Yet, we still seek rest and peace.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
   will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.”
Psalm 91:1-3 New Living Translation

Sit down a moment. Enjoy the sunshine, the scent of the flowers wafting in the slight breeze, and the silence broken by a chirping bird. Let your mind wander away from your week. Focus on God for a moment, His love for you, His incredible mercy, and His blessings on each day. Only He can give you rest in this world where you often feel anxious, helpless, and alone. Only He can be fully trusted to listen to what’s on your mind. Only He can truly provide rest for your soul.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28 New Living Translation

So take a minute, breathe deeply the word of God for you today, and in Him you will find rest for your soul.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Unimaginable Heights

by Desiree Bustamante

Holding on to our Father as we climb this life together.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

My niece was not one to climb unfamiliar terrain this high, but she was unafraid to climb this wall when we visited this park. I’m sure she would not have done this if she were alone. Her uncle was there to hold her hand, and ready to catch her if she fell. She trusted him to be there for her if the height became too frightening.

“ God is my strong fortress,
    and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
    enabling me to stand on mountain heights.”
2 Samuel 22:33-35 New Living Translation

As a child of God, we sometimes fear where He might lead us in life. It might be exhilarating at first to be on a new adventure, to a higher place than you’ve been before, especially if you are discovering many new blessings. However, if you let go of His hand, and turn away from His sight, you become afraid. This shows you that no matter what your skills, talents, ambitions, or even your self-assurance, your true confidence is in Him. His love is higher, wider, longer, and deeper than any fear you will ever face.

“Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.”
Psalm 89:13 New Living Translation

Be bold! Allow Him to lead you on a new adventure to learn more about Him, His true nature, and His love for you. Don’t ever let go of Him, not even for a moment, and be assured that He will never let go of you. No matter how high, or difficult, any obstacles may become, His powerful arm will always hold you tightly to Him.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
Ephesians 3:18-19 New Living Translation  

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Mastering God’s Gear

by Douglas Brauner

Becoming intimate with the full armor of God.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” 
Ephesians 6:11 New Living Translation

The best way to focus on composing a picture is to know your camera so well that you can make adjustments in shutter speed, aperture, and ISO without taking your eye off your viewfinder. I have missed shots, because I had to take my eye off of my subject and look at my camera’s dials and buttons.

Paul encourages us to put on the whole armor of God, that we might stand against Satan when he shoots his flaming arrows at us.

Even in our scientific, I can explain everything world, Satan is real. As I have mentioned in other blogs, Satan does care if we believe in him, worship him, or think that he’s a figment of human imagination. He wants us to become complacent, lethargic, and dismissive in our walk in Christ. He wants us to find the slippery slope into unbelief; into rejection of the one who died for us.

Paul knows that we need the armor of God, so that we can fight against being dismissive, lethargic, and complacent in our faith. To keep us vigilant, God has given us his belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes that carry the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit. We are to know this armor like a photographer knows his camera.

Each part of this equipment plays a specific role in our defense against the devil. We will struggle when one aspect of this armor is missing. It’s not enough to quench Satan’s flaming arrows, and not take the sword of the Spirit, to fight against the devil as Jesus did in his temptation. Every part of this armor is necessary.

May we become so familiar with God’s armor, that we find ourselves standing firm against the devil.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado