How do we approach the God who is really there rather than the God many want to be there?
How do we feel about ourselves when we have little to show for our labours? What do we think Jesus feels about us? Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. John 21:3 When Peter was feeling … Continue reading Receive?
How do we get to heights with God? “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. Isaiah 57:15 Some trust in their approaches to gods through going to spiritual places and performing spiritual exercises, the Lord says that the ones he is looking for are those who … Continue reading Want the height? Go down!
How do we measure praise? See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Isaiah 52:13 Jesus is the greatest. How did he prosper? But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man. Isaiah … Continue reading Living for praise?
What price for peace? We look back on the way we have hurt people and our insides are churned up. These words can seem merely aspirational – we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God Romans 5:1 The impact of my failure is worse than I realise. When … Continue reading What price peace?
It is easy to be distracted from the Lord. David prays for a single-minded focus. One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him … Continue reading Devotion under pressure
We have rid our culture of so much religion that we can miss the principles Jesus is teaching because the context has changed- “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ Matthew 9:12 We … Continue reading Who needs forgiveness?
There is considerable significance in the choice of a word. For many years I have used a short hand for the gospel message of, repent and believe- The time has come he said, the Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news. Mark 1:15 These two words are stacked with significance. To … Continue reading Repentance or Death?
Who are obstacles God clears away? God says, “Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” Isaiah 57:14 Stones in the Bible often symbolise people, in this case obstacles to true freedom. The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I … Continue reading Obstacles to freedom
It feels pointless when prayer is getting nowhere, and yet I sense the Lord asking me to pray. It is just going through the motions, so why persist? Then I read – Have mercy on me, O God, … wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 Being unaware of … Continue reading Prayer going nowhere
We seem to be an unwilling to let go of past times of abundance I think of the good old days, long since ended, … Is his unfailing love gone forever? … Has God forgotten to be gracious? [Psalm 77:5-9NLT] One reason we resist letting go is that the abundance represented God’s love and grace … Continue reading Let go of the past
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