What You Will Get by Oswald Chambers

What You Will Get I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.  JEREMIAH 45:5 This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him– “I will give your life to you….” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “…your life…as a prize…” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in exhibiting things for others to see, not showing off property and possessions, but our blessings. All these things that we so proudly show have to go. But there is something greater that can never go– the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Are you prepared to let God take you into total oneness with Himself, paying no more attention to what you call the great things of life? Are you prepared to surrender totally and let go? The true test of abandonment or surrender is in refusing to say, “Well, what about this?” Beware of your own ideas and speculations. The moment you allow yourself to think, “What about this?” you show that you have not surrendered and that you do not really trust God. But once you do surrender, you will no longer think about what God is going to do. Abandonment means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you totally abandon yourself to God, He immediately says to you, “I will give your life to you as a prize….” The reason people are tired of life is that God has not given them anything— they have not been given their life “as a prize.” The way to get out of that condition is to abandon yourself to God. And once you do get to the point of total surrender to Him, you will be the most surprised and delighted person on earth. God will have you absolutely, without any limitations, and He will have given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience in your life or your refusal to be simple enough. From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them.

The Purpose of Life by Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Why am I here? Everyone wonders this at some point. Some theories suggest that we’re merely taking up space and will return to nothingness when we die. There are also people who say we are masters of our own destiny. Both are untrue! The Lord has placed you on earth to fulfill His purpose. 

God has a unique plan for every person’s life, but Christians all share one goal: to be conformed to His image. This process begins here on earth and is finished when we reach heaven. Much of the work the Lord does in our earthly life centers on our character. He shows us how to be as loving, kind, and peaceful as Jesus. 

We might think this is hard. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and then lives the life of Christ through him or her. We should be submissive to His guidance. That means we should respond to situations in life with this question: “How can You use this to make me more like Jesus?” 

The Lord is behind everything that happens to you—either He directly instigates the situation, or He allows it to take place. Both trials and triumphs are engineered to fulfill God’s great purpose: crafting a life that reflects His love and glory to the world.

How You Can Handle Crushing Disappointment by Charles Stanley

How You Can Handle Crushing Disappointment

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:9

In his book You Can Have Joy! Arnold Prater wrote about an Englishman named John Deckard who had an award-winning passion for roses.

One year, John grew a rose among roses to enter in the annual Garden Show. But before he got the rose, his son rushed in and exclaimed, “Daddy, look what I have for you!” And in his little hand was the prize rose. Visitors to the Garden Show were astonished when they saw John’s entry. For in the flowerpot was a photo of his son with the rose in his hands, along with an honorary blue ribbon.

Sometimes your plans may go awry, and sometimes your dreams may be crushed. But in their place, God sends His own Son, Jesus. And when that happens, nothing else matters but the love of His Son.

What disappointment have you experienced this week? Did you choose joy or sadness? What can you learn from today’s devotional thought to apply to your life the next time a disappointment happens?

Let Us Praise! by Xochitl Dixon

Let Us Praise!

Xochitl Dixon

May the nations be glad and sing for joy. Psalm 67:4

Psalm 67

When the alarm on Shelley’s phone goes off every day at 3:16 in the afternoon, she takes a praise break. She thanks God and acknowledges His goodness. Although she communicates with God throughout the day, Shelley loves to take this break because it helps her celebrate her intimate relationship with Him.

Inspired by her joyful devotion, I decided to set a specific time each day to thank Christ for His sacrifice on the cross and to pray for those who have yet to be saved. I wonder what it would be like if all believers in Jesus stopped to praise Him in their own way and pray for others every day.

The image of a beautiful wave of worship rolling to the ends of the earth resounds in the words of Psalm 67. The psalmist pleads for God’s grace, proclaiming his desire to make His name great in all the nations (vv. 1–2). He sings, “May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you” (v. 3). He celebrates His sovereign rule and faithful guidance (v. 4). As a living testimony of God’s great love and abundant blessings, the psalmist leads God’s people into jubilant praise (vv. 5–6).

God’s continued faithfulness toward His beloved children inspires us to acknowledge Him. As we do, others can join us in trusting Him, revering Him, following Him, and acclaiming Him as Lord.

When can you take a few minutes today to praise God? What do you have to be thankful for?

God, You are worthy of all our praise!

A Hard Forehead and Stubborn Heart by Alistair Begg

A Hard Forehead and Stubborn Heart 

All the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.

Ezekiel 3:7

Are there no exceptions? No, not one. Even God's chosen are described in this way. If the best are so bad, then what must the worst be like? Come, my heart, consider to what extent you share in this universal accusation; as you think, prepare to be ashamed of those things of which you are guilty.

The first charge is impudence, or hardness of forehead, an absence of holy shame, an unholy boldness in evil. Before my conversion, I could sin and feel no regret, hear of my guilt and remain unhumbled, and even confess my iniquity without any accompanying humiliation. When a sinner goes to God's house and pretends to pray to Him and praise Him, he displays a brazen-facedness of the worst kind! Sadly, since the day of my new birth I have doubted my Lord to His face, murmured unblushingly in His presence, worshiped Him in a slovenly manner, and sinned without bewailing myself on account of it. If my forehead were not like a diamond, harder than flint, I would display more holy fear and a far deeper contrition of spirit. Woe is me, for I am one of the impudent house of Israel.

The second charge is hard-heartedness, and I dare not attempt to plead innocent here. Once I had nothing but a heart of stone, and although through grace I now have a new and fleshy heart, much of my former stubbornness remains. I am not affected by the death of Jesus as I ought to be; neither am I moved as I should be by the lostness of my fellowmen, the wickedness of the times, the chastisement of my heavenly Father, and my own failures. O that my heart would melt at the recital of my Savior's sufferings and death. Would to God I were rid of this dreadful burden within me, this hateful body of death.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, the disease is not incurable; the Savior's precious blood is the universal remedy, and it will effectually soften me, even me, until my heart melts as wax before the fire.

I Never Felt Like Quitting by David Jeremiah

I Never Felt Like Quitting   But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Last December, Donzella Washington walked across the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree in social work at Alabama A&M University. She graduated magna cum laude. At eighty, she became A&M’s oldest graduate. “Even though there were a lot of tears and late-night studying at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, I was determined. I never felt like quitting,” she said. Now Donzella plans to work on her master’s degree and volunteer at nursing homes.[1]

Recommended Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

We should guard against the desire to quit. Sometimes we grow weary in the work, but we should never become weary of the work the Lord gives us to do. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 warns against becoming “weary and discouraged in [our] souls.” God has done so much for us. We should never become weary in doing good for Him. Make up your mind to stay enthused, determined, and active in whatever task God gives you today. Never grow weary in doing good. It’s always too soon to quit. Can we be casual in the work of God—casual when the house is on fire, and people are in danger of being burned? Duncan Campbell

Why We Should Study Romans by Greg Laurie

Why We Should Study Romans

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16 nkjv).

The study of the Book of Romans has transformed the lives of very significant people in church history, including Augustine, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and even a pastor named Chuck Smith.

Swiss theologian Frédéric Louis Godet wrote of Romans, “The probability is that every great spiritual revival in the Church will be connected as cause and effect with a deeper understanding of this book.”

In all of the Bible, Romans is the most basic, comprehensive statement of what the gospel is. It’s in Romans that we read, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23 nkjv). If Romans does nothing else, it once and for all refutes the idea that we’re not good enough to get to Heaven, regardless of how many good works we’ve done.

In Romans, the apostle Paul systematically addresses every person and every type of argument as to why God would accept someone on their own merit. He deals with pagan people. He deals with moral people. And he deals with religious people.

The conclusion is that everyone has to come to God through Jesus. Everyone has to acknowledge their sin.

And Romans offers a solution to the sin.

In chapter 5 we read, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (verse 8 nkjv). And verse 23 of chapter 6 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (nkjv).

Then Romans 10:13 tells us, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’” (nkjv). 

It’s very important we understand and appreciate all that God has done for us. If we really get this, it will cause us to want to serve Him and discover His plan for our lives.

April 28 / Streams in the Desert

When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him (Judg 3:9-10)

God is preparing His heroes; and when opportunity comes, He can fit them into their place in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from.

Let the Holy Ghost prepare you, dear friend, by the discipline of life; and when the last finishing touch has been given to the marble, it will be easy for God to put it on the pedestal, and fit it into its niche.

There is a day coming when, like Othniel, we, too, shall judge the nations, and rule and reign with Christ on the millennial earth. But ere that glorious day can be we must let God prepare us, as He did Othniel at Kirjath-sepher, amid the trials of our present life, and the little victories, the significance of which, perhaps, we little dream. At least, let us be sure of this, and if the Holy Ghost has an Othniel ready, the Lord of Heaven and earth has a throne prepared for him.
—A. B. Simpson

“Human strength and human greatness
Spring not from life’s sunny side,
Heroes must be more than driftwood 
Floating on a waveless tide.”

“Every highway of human life dips in the dale now and then. Every man must go through the tunnel of tribulation before he can travel on the elevated road of triumph.”

The Unpayable Debt by Billy Graham

The Unpayable Debt

Years ago King Charles V was loaned a large sum of money by a merchant in Antwerp. The note came due, but the king was bankrupt and unable to pay. The merchant gave a great banquet for the King. When all the guests were seated and before the food was brought in, the merchant had a large platter placed on the table and a fire lighted on it. Then, taking the note out of his pocket, he held it in the flames until it was burned to ashes. The king threw his arms around his benefactor and wept. Just so, we have been mortgaged to God. The debt was due, but we were unable to pay. Two thousand years ago God invited the world to the Gospel feast, and in the agonies of the cross, God held your sins and mine until every last vestige of our guilt was consumed.

Daily Prayer

In gratitude I kneel before You, Lord Jesus Christ.

“who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NASB‬‬

THE ANT AND THE ELEPHANT / Draw Near Bible App

THE ANT AND THE ELEPHANT

An ancient fable tells about the ant and the elephant crossing the bridge together. The swinging bridge shook under the weight of the elephant. When the two got to the other side, the ant exclaimed, "Boy, we sure shook that bridge, didn't we?"

Perhaps no other place in Scripture clearly shows God's dramatic power than in the prayer of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:6-13). When the dreaded enemy threatened, the king called for a fast and began leading the people in prayer. In response to the plea for help, God sent a prophet to assure Jehoshaphat that the battle was the Lord's, not Judah's. And it was so. The enemies ended up destroying themselves; the Israelites did not even have to raise a weapon. Israel was like the ant crossing the bridge with the elephant.

Scripture tells us we can have a powerful partnership with God through our prayer life. Jehoshaphat responded to his fear by praying. We also must learn to seek God's presence in our times of tension. The battle still is the Lord's; He is the One Who shakes the bridge. We only have the privilege of crossing over with Him. Today, we must learn to trust more.

“and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:15‬ ‭NASB‬‬

How healthy is your soil? / Senior Living

How healthy is your soil?

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” - Luke 8:15

The Magnolia is widely considered one of the most beautiful and fragrant trees of the South. Its large white blossoms often dot main streets and gardens across the region. But what many people don’t know is that its soil – when healthy – produces an equally wonderful aroma.

A mix of cinnamon and fresh fruit, the rich smell of a Southern Magnolia’s soil is a sure sign that the tree is in good condition. But the opposite is also true. When diseased or decaying, its soil produces a rancid, putrid smell that’s unmistakable. Like so many other things in creation, it’s the health of what is unseen that allows the tree to flourish.

What about you today? How healthy is the unseen soil of your heart? Are you filled with jealousy, anger, or fear? Are you holding onto a pain in your past that’s poisoning your future?

God wants to produce good fruit in your life – fruit that will bless you and those around you. But fruit can only flourish in healthy soil.

God can till and nurture your heart so it becomes a healthier foundation for spiritual growth. So let Him start to grow something beautiful in your life today!

Prayer Challenge: 

Ask God to fill your heart and mind with thoughts and ambitions that reflect His character.

Questions for Thought:

What are some things in your heart keeping good fruit from growing in your life? For example, do you harbor an attitude of unforgiveness, pride, or maybe bitterness? 

What steps can you take to move to a place of healing and health?

April 28 / Wisdom from the Psalms

Psalms 51:10 Create in my a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. I remember seeing a healthy and diseased heart side by side in one of my college classes. The healthy heart looked strong and fit. The diseased heart was a sickly color, and looked bloated and spongy. That image sticks in my mind. The diseased heart symbolizes for me the sin-sick heart, discolored by evil emotions and intentions, bloated by selfishness, and spongy through lack of love giving and compassion. The only solution for a sin-sick heart is a transplant by the Giver of all new life. God can take a diseased heart and make it new, fresh, and alive. Pray for God to remove the disease of sin, and He will heal you. Prayer: Lord, I want to be made new and alive. Remove the dead tissue caused by sin and replace it with tissue that is strong and healthy. Create in me a new heart, and renew my spirit within me. Amen.

What Do You Want? by Oswald Chambers

What Do You Want? Do you seek great things for yourself?  JEREMIAH 45:5 Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts— He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you. If you have only come as far as asking God for things, you have never come to the point of understanding the least bit of what surrender really means. You have become a Christian based on your own terms. You protest, saying, “I asked God for the Holy Spirit, but He didn’t give me the rest and the peace I expected.” And instantly God puts His finger on the reason– you are not seeking the Lord at all; you are seeking something for yourself. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7). Ask God for what you want and do not be concerned about asking for the wrong thing, because as you draw ever closer to Him, you will cease asking for things altogether. “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should you ask? So that you may get to know Him. Are you seeking great things for yourself? Have you said, “Oh, Lord, completely fill me with your Holy Spirit”? If God does not, it is because you are not totally surrendered to Him; there is something you still refuse to do. Are you prepared to ask yourself what it is you want from God and why you want it? God always ignores your present level of completeness in favor of your ultimate future completeness. He is not concerned about making you blessed and happy right now, but He’s continually working out His ultimate perfection for you— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS The vital relationship which the Christian has to the Bible is not that he worships the letter, but that the Holy Spirit makes the words of the Bible spirit and life to him. from The Psychology of Redemption, 1066 L

Too Good for Salvation? by Charles Stanley

Ephesians 2:1-10

When Jesus walked this earth, one group of people consistently refused Him—the Pharisees. The most outwardly righteous people of that day couldn’t see themselves as sinners. These religious leaders assumed they had no need for Jesus, who said He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Many people today think the same thing—that they’re good enough to get to heaven on their own. After all, they aren’t criminals, so surely their good deeds must surely outweigh their bad ones, right? Wrong. In God’s eyes, we’re all spiritually dead, enslaved to lusts, and are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3). 

Pride often keeps us from understanding the extent of our guilt. Sin led to Satan’s downfall, and it has infected every human since Adam and Eve. We like to think there is something in us that’s good enough to please the Lord, but Scripture teaches we can be saved only by God’s grace. 

Salvation is a gift received through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:8). There’s nothing we can do to earn it, because any good thing we do is tainted by the sin that dwells within. Your only hope is to look to Christ to save you. Trust in His death as payment for your sins; then you’ll be made new (2 Corinthians 5:17).