Category Archives: Daily Devotions: Chapter by Chapter

Reading through God’s Word one chapter of the bible per day.

Rehashing The Past

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Punching Bag

Today’s Devotional: Deuteronomy 9

Have you ever been in a fight with someone who keeps circling back to the past; bringing up issues that should have been long gone, forgiven, over it – past! When that has happened to me I feel as if they aren’t even participating in the current argument and they just can’t seem to let go. It’s like I’m some kind of punching bag… I have no defense.

What if God did this? Remember the time when you took that box of pens from the office, rounded up the mileage on your expense reimbursement, told your parents you were home by curfew, but they were out of town so what’s a little white lie? What about the gossip you initiated about a ‘friend’, the cheat sheet you hid in your sleeve to pass your high school exam or the plagiarism used to write that college paper? That door ding you pretended not to carve into the door of that parked car, that tantrum you displayed when your checkbook didn’t balance or that time you turned your nose up on that homeless beggar who wanted some pocket change for food?

What if God rehashed our past?

Does the thought scare you? It does me. Maybe you don’t remember the time you got in late for curfew and lied to your parents. God would remember that. Can you imagine getting to heaven and all of a sudden God starting pulling out His list of your wrongs? This alone makes me pray out to God, “LORD, I am not worthy!”

BUT YOU ARE WORTHY! We are worthy through Christ. Deuteronomy chapter 9 is Moses reminding the Israelities how bad they were, but verse 6 says, “Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

It’s not because we are sinners God is giving us eternal life, it is because Christ is your LORD and savior and through His sacrifice of His blood, took our sins away – past, present and future. Thing is… it’s not just given automatically. We have to profess Him as LORD of our lives, believe in our hearts that Jesus did take our sins away, turn away from our selfish ways, and live for Him. I used to think it was a simple prayer…. Oh, it’s simple alright, but you have to mean it with your whole life.

If you can’t find the words, pray with me:

LORD Jesus, I need You. I want You to be my Savior and LORD. I accept Your death on the cross as the complete payment of my sins. Thank You for forgiving me and for giving me new life. Help me to grow in my understanding of Your Love and power so that my life will bring honor to You. Amen.

God Wants Your Attention

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Attention Please!

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 8

God says in verse 2, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

Why does God lead us all the way through life? To humble and test us and know what is in our hearts and whether or not we would keep his commands.

The wilderness journey and wilderness march that Moses led is symbolic of the Christian life. Is there a Christian out there that disagrees with this statement? I’m in my early forties and I can tell you that I can look back over the last forty years and see the presence of God; I can even remember those years without the presence of God. Those years bring about the greatest humility in me because it realized God still loved me and cared about me end when I didn’t know Him and (honesty) was too self-absorbed to care about Him.

We also know that keeping His commands are impossible due to our sin, but we desire to keep His commands because of what He has done for us; His grace and mercy – unmerited favor. So if God is testing us by whether or not we keep His commands (or our desire to), that should get our attention. It sure does mine!

Nobody likes tests. I am especially anxious about tests. You can give me an auditorium filled with thousands of people and I can give a speech that will have them laughing, crying, clapping, or silent to the sound of a pin drop, but palease don’t sit me down in front of a multiple choice exam. I sweat like a baby and toil over every word.

God tests for authenticity. He already knows what’s in our hearts, He simply wants us to know what is in our hearts. In my opinion, marriage is the greatest area of God’s testing and forces me (daily) to evaluate my heart. When you’re married, it’s not about you anymore. God does some incredible revealing of what is in our hearts once you have taken a vow to have and to hold from that day forward.

All in all, this is for our good. When God makes us aware of what is in our hearts, it brings about perspectives. You’ve heard the phrase, “You can’t see the forest through the trees.” The Christian life can be that way. We can see what is in our own hearts if you are always looking outwardly at others.

Know It!

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Questionmark

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 7

Sometimes we read the bible as a story and that is easy to do; it can flow like a story. Today the word “know” jumped off the page. When someone makes a statement that includes the word, “know” it means certainty. If I say that I know where my shoes are, that means I have confidence where I put my shoes. If I say that I know I’m going to get up early tomorrow, that means that I am going to take the necessary measures to wake up early.

Verse 9 says, “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” This statement has authority! It means that God is God and that He is faithful and He keeps his covenants. It’s a promise and is written so that we may know this with absolute certainty.

Why doubt it? God’s Word is filled with such amazing truths about God’s character and so far the Old Testament has proven that what verse 9 says is accurate and we can be confident in it. I was taught as a new believer, that anytime scripture has the word “therefore” that we need to ask what it is there for?

Notice that immediately following “know” is the word “therefore.” It is there, for the conclusion that everything that has been said in the prior verses are tied to this truth and is concluded as truth.

And what do the preceding verses say? “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “

This is confidence that you can walk with your head held high, a little pep in your step and KNOW that God is God and you can know it!

Intimidating Expectations

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Checklist

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 6

I love these following verses in Deuteronomy 6: (Warning: They are very intimidating!)

2 So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

On their own, each one of these verses could be a blog from my heart. Verse 2 reminds us that our actions, values, example and disciplines not only effect us, but the generations that follow after us. I wonder if my great, great, great, great, great grandparents would be proud to know that I’m walking with the LORD today? This technically goes all the way back to Abraham, the father of all nations, whom God promised to give him as many descendant as there are stars in the sky. I’m one of Abraham’s stars, are you? When you take that perspective, it’s pretty convicting to know the responsibility beset upon us for our kids and the generations that follow after us, isn’t it?

Then, to love the LORD with all of my heart, soul, and strength… WOWSA! That is an incomprehensible love to me, but is there anyone else worthy of such love? Love of the one who gave His son for my life, as a sacrifice for MY sins, that gives me assurance of eternal life that I don’t deserve? Should God expect any less from us? I say, “No!”

And He tells us to teach it to our children CONSTANTLY. That assumes we know His Word and know Him ourselves, therefore, have the ability to teach our children. What an awesome, overwhelming responsibility. All three of these verses are awesome, but overwhelming.

I’m going to put this into perspective, my finite mind’s perspective. This Christian walk is a journey. One day at a time, one decision at a time, one moment at a time. If I look at the big picture of Deuteronomy 6, I am plummeted with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. But if I recognize that these are, in many ways, are the fruits of what will result from my daily walk with the LORD, it makes me excited to turn the page and take in more of what God desires for me. It takes away the checklist mentality of checking things off like a to-do list that needs to be conquered. This chapter, and specifically these verses, implies that we have a daily commitment to learn, grow and live out His Word in our lives.

So let’s turn the page, let’s start a new day, full knowing that He is providing us with the best knowledge and wisdom we can get on this side of heaven and each day. He is giving us what we need to live successfully.

Worth Repeating

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Repeating

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 5

If you have kids you have probably used the phrase, “Please don’t make me tell you again!” or “How many times to I have to tell you…”. I’m a Mom and I have used them, unfortunately, often. I also have a Mom and I have had them said to me, unfortunately, often. Then I open up my bible and I’m having a flashback to Exodus 20, there’s the ten commandments being given to us, all over again.

There are several reasons why Moses is repeating them. 1 – It’s been practically forty years since they have been wondering through the wilderness. Those who were given the Law back in Exodus are no longer eye witnesses of that burning bush event. 2 – People forget – We forget.

One thing that is utterly amazing to me is how patient God is with us. Usually by the time I have to remind my kids that I’m tired of repeating myself, I have run out of patience; my plea with those words usually mean I am at my last straw. Moses so eloquently repeats the Ten Commandments. In 5:1, “Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.”

But did you notice? “Learn them and be sure to follow them.” It’s one thing to hear something, it’s a whole different level of commitment or surrender of will to actually do them. And then think about this… We’re not talking about a dirty pair of socks here, we’re talking about laws that God is giving us as a standard to live by.

Truth is, it is humanly impossible to obey them, but at least we know the standard. It gives way to grace, our need for Christ and makes sure we don’t try to get to heaven on our own merit. So, I appreciate that God puts it out there once again. After all, we do need to be reminded and LORD knows we forget. Let’s not just read them as if they are a re-run. They are deliberately placed there for us to learn and follow.

The Source of True Truth

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Crossing out Lies and writing Truth on a blackboard.

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 4

Of all of the chapters that we have read in the bible on our chapter a day through the bible journey, I wanted to cut this one out and paste it as my blog today. What a mighty chapter of lessons! From the importance of obedience, how to raise our children, forbidden idolatry, the love of God and proof that God himself exists. Huge, big, powerful message that Moses offers one last time to the Israelities before entering into the promise land.

Verse 2 caught my attention. “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” This verse reminded me of a blog that calls out Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer for their misuse and misrepresentation of God’s Word to deceive people through what is being called “The Prosperity Gospel.”

The blog is titled, “The False Promise of the Prosperity Gospel: Why I called Out Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer.” This article made my heart jump. For years I have been uncomfortable with the teachings of Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer, but remained private about it because we all have our own taste when it comes to biblical teachers. I commend Rick Henderson for his blog and John Piper for his video explanation of how prosperity preaching twists scripture in the most harmful way. I suspected that false teachers might be represented in the form of popular evangelists like Joel and Joyce, but I didn’t have anything to support this except a “gut feeling” until now. Rick’s blog, and many I found after further research, reveal those who are not heeding to the warning God gives us through Moses in verse 2.

This chapter affirms our need to hear directly from God – from His Word – not authors, speakers, and prosperity preachers. Sure, I love Dr. David Jeremiah, John Piper, Dr. John MacArthur, Dr. Vernon McGee, Billy Graham, Chuck Swindall, and Dr. Tony Evans and dozen’s more. They are all credible, trustworthy, God-fearing leaders who have been instrumental in helping me develop good disciplines in my faith journey. Even with that being said, I am confident they would agree that God’s Word is the truest source of information for us to feed our starving souls; not their ministries, sermons, podcasts or books.

As incredible as Deuteronomy 4 is in its entirety, God laid on my heart the need to be reminded that He is my one and only source of truth and that I should not add to it. There is a skewed interpretation of what prosperity is on this side of heaven and I need to guard my heart from believing the lies that some preachers preach. Despite the gloom that this perspective brings to some of the Joel and Joyce supporters, it is amazing what peace there is in the assurance of spending eternity with God and because of THAT assurance, which comes directly from the WORD of God, I am moved to keep His commands and because of that truth, we will prosper.

Let Me Go, Please!

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Let Me Out

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 3

Just like a toddler standing at the door protesting as Daddy, Mommy, or Granny pulls out of the driveway “Let me go, I wanna go too!” This came to mind as I read Deuteronomy chapter 3:25, Moses says to God, “Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”

My heart goes out to Moses as he begs the Lord to let him enter the land which has been his goal for forty years, but God won’t waiver. As a matter of fact, just like a parent would have to instruct the persistent and persuasive toddler by saying, “Enough of that,” Verse 26 says, “But because of you the LORD was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.”

Moses sinned against God along the wilderness journey and God told him that he would be forbidden to enter the promise land, instead Joshua would lead them in the end. Moses was so close, he could actually SEE the land, yet God forbid him from going. Verse 28, “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Super big bummer… What a lesson for us, that even though we repent of our sin, we will have to take the consequences of it in this life whether we like it or not. So God gave Moses the instruction to encourage and strengthen Joshua, because he will finish the journey.

Maybe you are there. You have your face pressed against the glass door and you’re calling out to God, “Let me go, please!”, but God has someone else in mind for that journey (job, mission, relocation, promotion, adoption, ministry.) You take on the cheerleader role and champion the person that God has appointed in your place. Pray, encourage, support and aide them because that just might be the role God has planned for you at this time.

And of course, let God’s Word encourage you while you submit under His authority and His Will even though you might be feeling left behind. Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

You Lack Nothing

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Excited Shopping Woman

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 2

I love verse 7, “The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.”

Yesterday we talked about taking an intentional look back on your life and weighing both good and bad experiences that have made you who you are today. Today, Moses is still looking back, but this time he’s saying, “God has been there and He has provided for all of your needs.”

Can you do the same? I can.

God does not guarantee happiness, but he does give us what we need. Yes, we live in a consumer driven society that never seems to have enough, but if you really think about it – if we have a bed to sleep on, food to eat, water to drink and clothes to wear – we’re livin’ the good life. I cringe when I hear how much I spend on groceries (weekly) and learn that a donation of that amount to a third world country could feed a child (maybe two) for a YEAR. Talk about humility. I am humbled when I see what the LORD has given to me when there are so many others with so much less. Impromptu prayer, “Thank You LORD.”

God takes care of us. His Word says that He takes care of His people (Matthew 6:26). If you are a believer in Jesus and declare Him to be the LORD of your life (Romans 10:9), you will never be in want (Psalm 23:1). The NIV says in Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my Shepard, I lack nothing.”

It’s true! And God’s reminder to us today in Deuteronomy Chapter 2 is that we need to know that He has not only been there, but we lack nothing. With that perspective, I am so incredibly blessed.

Rearview Mirror On Life

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Rearview Mirror

Today’s Devotion: Deuteronomy 1

Have you ever stopped to think and took some dedicated time to contemplated your life? It can be a dangerous journey to let your mind venture down memory lane where you evaluate where you’ve been and where you are now. Image life as though looking through a rear-view mirror. You can see the road ahead, but just so far. At a glance you can see the pass behind you and that road stirs up all kinds of emotions.

Deuteronomy chapter 1 is like that to me, but from Moses perspective. He gives a recount of the good decisions and experiences and then he rehashes the bad decisions and consequences that resulted from them. It’s neat to read this chapter and have the whole context of the wilderness march through the books of Exodus and Leviticus to be able to fully appreciate what Moses is saying in regard to the actual account of the journey it took them to get there.

Our lives are like that. We have made good decisions and have had some great experiences. Then there are those times when hindsight is 20/20 and if we were to do it all over again, we would have done things differently. The future could be paved with excitement, adventure, anxiety, uncertainty, fear or pain. While the past made up of beautiful memories, daunting challenges, hard lessons, major milestones and even some unsettling regrets.

Life is full of experiences (good and bad) and sometimes, let’s admit it, we have diverted from the right path – maybe even veered into the ditch. Our God is a God of grace and mercy, love and compassion. All of the bad and good of our past is also God’s hand in developing us into who He created us to be. Isn’t it exciting when you think of it this way?

Our promise land is on the horizon and God will take the wilderness journey of our life and make it purposeful. I feel like I have really bonded with Moses over the past several months and chapters of the Old Testament and can relate to his reflection on where he as been and why staying the course assures of a beautiful future. I value that all that he endured and the people that God entrusted Him to lead has given us a perspective into our our journey. And the best verse of this chapter is  21, “See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

God’s Way or My Way?

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Which Way?

Today’s Devotion: Numbers 36

This is my 100th blog post and today we conclude the reading through the book of Numbers. [Insert celebratory whistles and WOOT’s!] This s a short chapter and at the surface appears to be nothing of any substance for teaching, but if there is one thing that I have learned from studying the chapters and verses of the Old Testament is that God always has something to teach us if we are willing to look for it.

Today the verse that jumped out to me is found in verse 9. “No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.” In context, God is telling Moses that the women whom were granted land because their father had no male heirs are not permitted to marry men of another tribe. Surprisingly, they honored God and obeyed. It was like the ultimate cliffhanger: God gives the command in verse 9 and each verse thereafter draws out our curiosity to learn whether they obey God or face His wrath as so many on the wilderness journey suffered.

They did it! They listened to God’s command and there land is safe. I have to admit that I’m a little bit shocked. Why? Because throughout the reading of Numbers, thousands of Isrealities died or were punished from disobedience. Which tells me that I have become conditioned to expect them to be rebellious or is that just counter intuitive of my own sin-filled instincts? Whichever the case… Thankfully they obeyed.

It gives me confidence that we can obey too. Obedience is a choice and God provides the guidelines in His Word to allow us to make the right choice.  He gives us the ability to chose [Free Will] – God’s way or my way?

In the introductory paragraph of this blog post today we celebrated a couple of menial accomplishments, but the ladies in chapter 36 give us means for a celebration too, as well as a great example. What a great way to conclude the book of Numbers; celebrating them for making the right choices and celebrating that we have the ability to make the right choices – despite the odds.