Devotional Song: Go to this link … Please take the time to take in the lyrics and hear the poignant song, sung by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, I Choose To Believe. proclaiming the reality which belief in Christ brings into our lives
Highlight Passage - NKJV Psalms 30: 10 …
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;… Lord, be my helper!”; …
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Highlight Context - Mark 4: 25-31 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Jesus rebukes the wind and saves His fearful disciples
Reference Passage #1 … Proverbs 23: 7a [NKJV] …
7a For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Reference Passage #2 … Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] …
28 All things work together for the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Bill Crowder, reminds his readers of the premise upon which the entire advertising industry is based … that “PERCEPTION IS REALITY.” And then Crowder highlights the story in the Mark 4 passage [linked above] of Jesus and His Disciples in the fishing boat engulfed in a terrible storm; and Jesus was in back of the boat taking a nap.
And as Mark told the story to impress Roman readers, we read about how the Disciples perceived they were about to die in the storm; but in reality they were completely safe; because Jesus was in the boat with them. And we see that it was their perception of the storm and lack of belief in Jesus as the Messiah which caused them to fear death. And though their belief couldn’t perceive it at the time, Jesus was the Lord of the storm, which He summarily showed them as He rebuked the waves which died down immediately, demonstrating that their perception was not God’s reality. And this was a lesson those 12 would have to learn over and over again; … and even had to see Jesus raised from the dead to REALLY believe in the reality of Whom they were following.
Many times in life what we see (i.e., perceive) may be very real to us; but it’s what we believe that really counts. I fully believe in the truth espoused in the NKJV of Proverbs 23:7a which states, ”As a man (or woman) thinks in his (or her) heart, so is he (or her).” In other words, it’s not necessarily what we perceive which counts, … it’s what we believe that leads us to make decisions or act in certain ways.
Again, that’s what the entire advertising industry is based upon. If we really BELIEVE that drinking a certain type of beer will make life more fun and us more “cool,” we will exercise that belief in our buying choices, won’t we?
So, what is our reality when it comes to belief in Christ? Do we REALLY believe that Jesus is the Lord of our lives; and that He is in TOTAL control of all the storms which we encounter? When we look in the mirror (see attached photo), do we REALLY believe that we are the lion God sees in us; or do we believe that we are the kitten whom we FEEL ourselves to be? I don’t know about you; but I need to work on whom I see in the mirror this morning and BELIEVE that Romans 8: 28 is absolute truth.
My Prayer for Today … Lord; … You ARE my Lord and You ARE in control of all I think, say, or do. Help me to perceive it; … nay, help me to believe it! … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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