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Wholesome and Clean

December 1, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals, Devotional Links, Devotions For Teens, Family Devotions, Inspirational Bible Verses

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

 Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

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Bible Verses On Righteousness

July 12, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Righteousness: “acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin.”

Below are a group of Bible verses on righteousness. Some are passages that show the lack of it. These are by no means exhaustive. But hopefully they will help you in a study of man’s righteousness, and that which can be found through Jesus. Feel free to add verses you think work well with these.

God’s Word is clear on who is righteous:

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:10

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6 NIV

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

People deceive themselves and think they are righteous when they are not:

“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel–but not in truth or righteousness–” Isaiah 48:1

“If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done.” Ezekiel 33:13

“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright–but the righteous will live by his faith–” Habakkuk 2:4

What does it take to be righteous?

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

“So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Galatians 3:6, Genesis 16:3, Romans 4:3

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:9

How can we receive righteousness?

“The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.” Jeremiah 33:14-16

“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” Philippians 3:9

What does righteousness look like?

“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” Romans 3:21

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Genesis 6:9

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job 1:1

Does righteousness exempt us from difficulty?

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

“The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.” Psalm 11:5

“but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. ” Hebrews 10:38-39

If we try to achieve righteousness apart from Christ, we fail. We cannot possibly measure up to Jesus. That is what makes God’s grace so wonderful. He gave us His Son and made us righteous in Him.

Compiled by © Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Opps! Be Careful!

May 14, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

We never know just what it is that can trip us up.  We walk along in life without a thought to the traps being set for us.  We must be careful.

For some reason, today, I found myself singing: “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see.  For the Father up above is looking down with love, be careful little eyes what you see.”  I don’t recall when I learned that little song, but its simple lyrics pour forth tremendous truth. It goes on to warn: ”Little hands, feet, ears, mouth”.  Each gives caution to guard what we do with our hands.  Where we go with our feet.  What we listen to with our ears.  What we say with our tongues.  There are so many warnings we could add to that little song:  hearts–what they hold; minds–what they dwell upon; desires–what they long for.

Why is that so important in the scheme of things?  Perhaps because our faithfulness depends upon the health and well-being of all we are.  Everything that collects in our hearts flows forth into every relationship we have–be it with others here on earth–or our Father above.

“For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].” 1 John 2:16 Amplified

Everything in this world has the possibility of being in conflict with the Almighty God.  Everything has the means to draw us away from our Lord, claim our attention, our loyalty, our allegiance.

Some worship earth–creation itself; they care more about minnows than people having water to grow crops.  Some worship the moon, the sun, the stars. People literally get up each morning and read their horoscopes to determine what they will or will not do.  Others take such pride in their work, they cannot see or acknowledge the Creator who gave them ability to accomplish all they do. Others must have more and more, and better and better; they live lives of constant discontentedness.

We crave things which satisfy, comfort and give pleasure — to the eyes, to ears, to mind, to heart.  If it feels good, we do it–regardless of others and how they feel about it.  When work is more important than a means by which to live, and becomes an obcession to attain status or position to feed one’s ego, we are guilty of serving the world–not the Father.  Indeed, we serve the prince of this world.  With what did Satan tempt Eve in Eden?  Things she could “know”, “see”, “be”.

I relate.  I have been there.  I go there still.  It’s a never-ending battle.  The world draws. Illumines.  Colors.  Coaxes.  Entices.  Just when I think I am putting God first, something pops up and draws me away.  Am I weakest after my closest encounter with God?  What should not be, is possible if I take my eyes off God.  But as the song goes, “the Father up above is looking down with love”.  God is watching me, to grab hold of me, to convict me, to alter my course.  Yes, He will remind me what my eyes focus upon, my heart hungers after, my ears hear, my mind dwells upon,  my hands are busy doing, my mouth is sharing.  He will never forsake me, nor leave me.  He will keep bringing me back to His arms of  steadfast merciful love.

Lord, I know it is You who keeps me in this world.  It’s You who keeps me from all harm.  Lead me not into temptation, deliver me from evil.  And keep me ever mindful that: “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b  May I disappear in You, O Lord, and be lost forever in your presence.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011 

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Whine, Whine, Whine!

May 11, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Sometimes it gets so annoying you want to poke a stick in your ears to break your eardrums for relief.

Seriously.  Ever been driving in a car on an 8-hour trip to reach a beach-front condo where you know the immeasurable joy it’s going to bring the two children riding in the back seat who have never seen the ocean?  And mile-marker after endless mile-marker, all you hear from them is whine, whine, whine…murmur, grumble, and more whine?  Your brain gets so full of their incessant complaining that you want to stop the car, smack their bottoms a few times and turn around and go back home.

I think this may have been what God felt like when He sent Moses to the children of Israel to lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land.  Instead of gratitude for the vacation from grueling, daily slavery to Pharoah, they murmurred and complained every step of the way.  Instead of rejoicing that their sippy cups had an endless supply of water and their traveling trays held manna for each mile that they freely walked into the desert, they grumbled that the manna wasn’t chicken nuggets, the water wasn’t lemonade. Then…just as the Lord brings them to the edge of the land flowing with milk and honey, they cannot trust the promises of the Lord.  They want to go back home to the drudgery of slavery.  They’re tired of walking; they don’t trust what God has promised.  They decide they were better off under the hand of Pharoah…than in the palm of God’s.

“The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?” Numbers 14:11

How long will it take our children to believe we will do good things for them…better than they can imagine?  How many good things will we give them for them to trust we have the best possible things in store for them?  How many times must we tell them to do it our way before they learn our wisdom comes from experience and the Lord’s guidance in our lives?  We wonder sometimes.

What about us?  How much does God have to do to get us to believe our best interests are His priority?  How many mini-miracles and major interventions must He perform in our lives to have us trust Him with abandon?

As I think about all I’ve been grumbling and complaining about with my life these days, I am ashamed to say, it seems to be a never-ending lesson with me.  Why do so many little things irritate us, cause us to question God’s love and divine plan for the obstacles and seemingly brick walls to the plans we make?  I am of the mind that I fail to trust He has something better.  Much better than I can imagine in this phase of my life–this temporary desert.

Forgive us Lord when we fail to trust You.  Forgive us for looking at giants and thinking they are bigger than You.  Clear the blindness we have in life’s trials, and let us trust You with the insight of Your watchcare and steadfast love.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Set Free

April 19, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

He could not sleep.  He had no solutions.  He felt overcome with anguish and brokenness.  He did all he knew to do.  Ideas eluded him as much as sleep.  His mind was tired.  His body was exhausted.  He felt as though every fiber of his being was being pulled in a dozen directions.  He felt like the walls were closing in around him, the ceiling pressing down upon him.

“Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place.” Psalm 118:5

Sometimes it is out of complete and utter exhaustion we come to the point of crying out to the Lord.  Sometimes we are so comfortable doing things our way that the Lord introduces specific difficulties which we cannot handle.  We have problems we cannot solve.  We have questions we cannot answer.  Our body, soul, and spirit are simply empty.  When we reach this point, we turn to God and let Him know we need Him.  We cannot deal with life another moment without His divine intervention.  The mountain is too high.  The water is too deep.  We feel smothered, closed in and surrounded by our trials.  Out of that distress, we cry out to the Lord.

He answers us and sets us free from the bondage of self-sufficiency and stress.  He puts us in a spacious place where we can breathe again.

I don’t like close places.  I’m not claustrophobic, but I don’t like small spaces all that much.  I like it when elevator doors open.  I want to drive in front of an eighteen-wheeler and not behind it.  I cringe when aisles in stores are cluttered with stock waiting to be placed on shelves.  I love to drive in wide-open spaces of Oklahoma.  I love to see horizons far away, to look down from Mt. Scott and stare at the vast lakes, ponds, roads, and distant mountain peaks.  Spaciousness.  It’s so liberating.

I can understand how David felt in his struggle in this Psalm.  When God frees us from the burdens we carry, it indeed feels like He has placed us in a large spacious place.  We can finally breathe, deep cleansing breaths.  It’s then I am compelled to praise Him for His glory, for His presence, for His power, and His grace which sets us upon His solid rock of mercy and compassion.

Are you feeling crushed?  Distressed?  Pressured by the world’s demands?  Take a walk, or ride.  Find your open space…lie on the ground and stare into the sky through tree branches.  Thank God for His freedom and deliverance.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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Consider This

March 9, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Are you worried?  Are you anxious?  Does your world seem uncertain?  Are your bills mounting?  Your health failing?  Your hope waning?  Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew, chapter six:

“And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:27-29

If we are to consider the lilies and how they grow–they do not toil, but merely show God’s glory–why do we fret and balk at the field in which He’s planted us?

Lilies do not struggle, or beg for water.  They do not whine and cry when Oklahoma winds blow thorny thistles against their stems.  They do not envy the stately redwoods grown in California.  They do not covet the flourishing dandelion, or seasonal blue-bonnets dressing Texas meadows.  They do not question their Creator who lets them rest each winter and numbers their days in the sun.

Why do we?  Why do we waste time and energy trying to be what we aren’t meant to be?  Why do we demand our way, and ask for a more fertile field, one without tares or stones?  Why can we not bloom where we are planted and be what God has created us to be: a manifestation of His glory, love, and mercy right where we are? Why are we so selfish and dissatisfied with our lot in life? Why are we so fearful of our future?

“….your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:32b-34.

PRAYER:  Oh Lord give me greater joy in simply knowing You.  Let my joy in You so permeate my being that I stand tall and drink deeply from Your well of sufficiency.  Let my hope be so strong in You that I bend and never break when winds of difficulty come my way.  Let me remember the Root of my salvation when I am tempted to question my plight or temporary circumstance.  In all the days of my life, let me bring to You the glory due Your name.  Let me be ever grateful for the blessing You’ve given me to live in the wheat-fields of Your kingdom.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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In Hours of Darkness

February 24, 2011
Filed In Daily Devotionals

My granddaughters and I stood in awe as we left the steak-house one evening last week.  Against a backdrop of ominous black clouds, an enormous full moon hung in our Oklahoma sky.  I longed for a camera with a shutter speed fast enough to capture its beauty and splendor.  Instead, I took a deep breath and watched as the ebony clouds slowly but surely passed across its face and painted it shades of grey.  Soon it was gone–hidden behind a blanket of charcoal.  I was sad to see it disappear but could not forget the light it left inside my heart.  I felt a bit tinier, but a lot more secure.  So great is the expanse of our world, yet so much greater is the Creator who holds it all together, who turns us on our axis.  There’s peace in knowing that, don’t you think?  After all, Solomon assured us:

 ”The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.” II Chr. 6:1

Darkness has a way of conjuring up evil imagery–and understandably so, since so many crimes are committed in the dark.  But God made his promise to be in the midst of darkness.  He never leaves His own.  When darkness covers our reason, understanding and view, God stands everpresent with sheltering arms and strong hands of protection.  When shadows dance across our path and obscure our vision of where to go and how to move, we can still depend on the still voice behind our right ear directing our steps.

“Listen in silence before Me…” God instructs. (Isaiah 41) “Fear not…for I am with you; For I the Lord your God hold your right hand:  I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you.  Fear not; I will help you.  I will open rivers on the bare heights.  I will make the wilderness a pool of water.”

Isn’t it amazing?  Each new day brings light to our darkest abyss.  Even in our darkest night the moon still glows.  Oh, maybe not on our specific spot, but somewhere in the world its light reflects God’s glory and heavenly handiwork–His omnipresent character.  In our darkest hour God dwells in the thickness of its cover and the shadows of our uncertainty and fear.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for Your ever-present help in days and hours of confusion.  Thank you for Your steadfast power and majesty.  Thank you for Your Word to guide us, and Your Spirit Who comforts and reminds us You are ever-faithful to us.  Amen.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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HOW TO FIND CONTENTMENT

August 9, 2010
Filed In Daily Devotionals

Are you contented? Seriously, fully contented? If you are anything like me, you are looking for ways to pay your bills, juggle your schedule and satisfy eveyone within your sphere of influence. Those are normal struggles, though. It’s life in general–happens to everyone, whether or not they are Christians. However, sometimes those valleys of struggles can throw you in a tailspin of anxiety.  I don’t feel very contented then. Yet contentment’s schoolhouse rests in the center of those valleys.

I’m one of those people who wants to fix everything for everyone. I want everyone to be happy. No friction. How foolish of me. When I am in one of those flurries to help another out of their ditch, relieve another of their responsibilities, I may be robbing them of their opportunity to grow in Christ, to develop character that only Christ can develop. Paul had to learn contentment. He suffered far more than I’ll ever suffer–shipwrecks, floggings, and even imprisonment for sharing the gospel. He learned to lean on Jesus. He wrote:

“…for I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am.” Philippians 4:11b

We each have wants, desires, and battles. We each face trials and what seems impossible situations. My burdens may be heavier, or lighter, than yours today. I am learning more and more that it’s not my responsibility to fix anyone but myself. I am reminded of that fact quite often. I see my grandchildren struggling with events in their lives and want to remove their burdens. It’s normal to want to protect them. But I believe wants me to learn to be content in the fact that He has a purpose for some of those difficulties.

As Christians we are not exempt from difficulty. In fact, we better than anyone should recognize our trials as stepping stones to virtue. We grow from our trials–faith is increased, patience is developed. Contentment is learned. Contentment is overwhelming peace that life is okay–just as it is. That God is in control–all the time. That the world will continue to turn without a push or shove from me. Do you have that contentment? To find contentment, we must be willing to learn. Are you willing?

PRAYER: Lord, help us learn to trust You in our trials of discontent. Show us how available You are to us. Keep us ever mindful of Your presence in the midst of difficulty. Let us be joyful, like Your servant, Paul, in learning to be content with and without.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2010

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