November 30, 2021 … Light of the World …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 334 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Lauren Daigle singing … Light of the World … poignantly singing of how our The Light of the World has come to take away the darkness of our flesh and the world.  

Jesus is our Light ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 9:2   [NLT] …   

2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness,  

…  God, thru Isaiah, promises a Light to come and bring God’s people out of their darkness of sin.                        

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Isaiah 9:1-3 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises a LIGHT to come for His people in darkness.              

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:106 [NLT] …   

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.   

…God gives us the Light of His truth to lead us out of our darkness in life.   

Reference Passage: … John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus declares clearly that HE is the Light from God to lead those who would follow His light out of the darkness of our sin.    

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 4:6 [NLT] …   

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.  

… God, thru Paul, declares that He, has sent us His light, in the face of King Jesus, to shine His light to lead us out of our darkness. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:5-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s word, thru John, shows us that if we follow in surrender to Jesus, His light will lead us out of the darkness or sin.      

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK …  used the story of the rescue of the soccer team in 2018, who were exploring a deep cave and were caught - in darkness - for almost 3 weeks, but were brought out of the darkness of near death to the light of life.  

I think all reading with me here hate the darkness of our sin nature (see Romans 3:23 on your own), a darkness that we all experience in our own flesh.  But for those of us who’ve surrendered the darkness of our sin to follow the light of Christ, we relish the Light of the World Whom we follow out of our darkness of sin and death and following His light of truth and life. 

And I pray that all of us are surrendered to follow His light - the Light of the World -  today and stay on the lighted path of His truth (see Ps 119:105, following His light out of our darkness and onto the path of righteousness (see Scriptures from John above).                        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for shining Your Light on my patch every day to lead me out of my own darkness.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to follow Your Light, Lord, out of our darkness and onto Your well-lit path today.     … Amen

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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.

November 29, 2021 … No Matter What !! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 333 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Even If … poignantly singing of how our faith is often test by severe persecution or trial and how we must stand firm … NO MATTER WHAT! 

Standing strong in faith - NO MATTER WHAT!!

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Highlight Passage: … Daniel 3:18   [NLT] …   

18 But even if He [God] doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up..  

…  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing firm in faith in spite of the threat of death.         

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Daniel 3:12-18, 25-27 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Thru the lives of three faithful Jewish boys, who stood strong in faith no matter the threat of death in the fiery furnace.               

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK ...   

…Trusting and following God … NO MATTER WHAT we face.   

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] …   

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

… Jesus, reminds His Disciples in the upper room (and us too!) that they (and we) will face many trials in this world; but that HE had over come those trials. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] …   

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.  

…”Temptations” is also translated “tests, trials, or tribulations” as Paul reminds persecuted Christians that our Lord will ALWAYS stand with those who stand with Him.  

Reference Passage: … James 1:12 [NLT] …  

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.  

… God, thru James, reminds Christians that God will bless those who stand up in faith to endure testing and temptation.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:10 [NLT] …   

10 In His kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.  

… Peter reminds severely persecuted Christians (and us) that NO MATTER WHAT we suffer in this life, our God will restore Christians who stand with/for our Lord.      

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK …  tells of a young lady, named Esther, who had suffered thru severe illness and threats of death for teaching a Bible study in an anti-christian area of the Philippians, and who was quoted saying,  “I can’t stop telling people about Jesus because I’ve experienced the power, love, goodness, and faithfulness of God in my life.” 

Right now, in our western world, I think my readers would agree that persecution of Christians is is increasing.  And so, by taking in the linked song and meditating on then truth of the Scriptures above, the ODB author reminds us of the story of the three Jewish boys in the book of Daniel (see highlight passage and the attached photo), who stood firm in their faith even with the threat of death in a fiery furnace. 

When - and if - any of us who are disciples of Christ encounter such persecution in the future, …which is becoming more and more likely, … I pray that all of us will remember the truth and promises of our God in the Scriptures above; and we stand strong in our faith.  

Do you join me in that prayer?                        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me the enabling - empowering - grace to stand for You, my King Jesus, in the trials I will face ahead in life.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to stand strong in our faith, Lord, NO MATTER WHAT we sill face in our future.     … Amen

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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.

November 28, 2021 … Withholding Judgment …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 332 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Tim McGraw singing … Always Be Humble and Kind … poignantly singing of how we. as messengers of our God, should ALWAYS be humble and kind with our words and actions. 

Job's critical "friends" ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Job 5:7   [NLT] …   

7 People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire. 

…  One of Job’s friends, speaks a judgment to Job which is born out of personal judgment rather than Godly wisdom, … advice with an element of truth but best unsaid given Job’s tragedies and his pain.                        

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Job 6:17-27 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…One of Job’s so-called “friends” spouts forth his inaccurate and very judgmental advice about Job’s calamity.                 

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:1-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK ...  

… Jesus preaches truth about withholding judgment of others in many instances when we, ourselves, are guilty of the many of the same sins.    

Reference Passage: … Romans 2:1-3 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul warns fellow Christians to avoid hypocritical judgment of others when we, ourselves, often are guilty of how we judge others.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29b [NLT] …   

9 …  Let EVERYTHING you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

… Paul exhorts all Christians (that’s us too!!) to withhold judgmental words to others, using only words which will give grace and uplift others. 

Reference Passage: … James 4:12 [NLT] …   

12 God alone, Who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?   

… God, thru James, charges believers to let God be the judge of others rather than judging them ourselves.  

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, AT THIS LINK … writes about Fred Allen, a radio comedian back in the golden days of radio [in the early 1900s] who once saved a boy from certain death and was critically quoted as saying to the boy,  “What’s the matter with you, kid? Don’t you want to grow up and have troubles?”

With that comedic, but crass, remark from Fred Allen, the ODB author today was trying to show that there are just some critical or judgmental words which should be withheld because of their hypocrisy or hurtfulness.  And that was certainly the case with some of the comments and criticisms which Job’s so-called “friends” spoke to Job while he was going thru all the loss/pain Job experienced [see highlight passage and the attached photo). 

So, the point we need to take away from these thoughts today is best summarized in the wisdom shared in the linked song and the Scriptures above.  For if we speak and live by such Godly wisdom, we’ll more likely honor God with our lives than if we bespeak hasty personal judgments or criticisms of others.                       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for showing us the way to speak to others from the wisdom of Your word, Lord.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to be careful with the words we share, making sure they give grace or encourage others and withholding personal critiques or judgments.    … Amen

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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.

November 27, 2021 … Standing Strong …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 331 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need The Lord … poignantly singing of how we. as God’s messengers need to stand up and share the Gospel message with the lost. 

A strong messenger for the Lord ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Acts 4:12   [NLT] …   

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 

…  Peter, a common fisherman, strongly stands for the truth of the Gospel, surprising the religious leaders of his day by showing Christ’s healing power and leading many away from religious dogma to follow Christ.                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Acts 4:8-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter and John, common fishermen, standing strong and sharing the Gospel news to all who would listen to be saved and healed.                 

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:19-20 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK  ...

… Jesus charges all disciples who’ve surrendered to His saving grace to go and lead the lost to Him or discipling other Christians to follow the Lord more closely.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to separate ourselves from the world and becoming living sacrifices to the Gospel and God’s saving grace. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:58 [NLT] …   

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless  

… Paul exhorts all Christians (that’s us too!!) to stand strong for the Lord ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:10-13  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …   

… God, thru Paul, calls Christians to stand and do battle for the Lord everyday.   

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK … writes about Pres Pradhan, a physically wounded missionary in Nepal, who was quoted as saying, “I have a lame leg. Isn’t it strange of God that He called [me] to preach the gospel in the Himalaya Mountains?”  The story shows how we all, no matter our physical condition, are called (by no less than Jesus - see Matt 28:19-20) to take God’s good news to all who will listen and receive it. 

That’s what common fishermen, like Peter and John, did, as recorded in the highlight passage, … much to the chagrin of the religious leaders who were amazed that unschooled men like Peter and John carried such a Spirt-powered message which so many followed to seek after the Gospel of Christ.  And that’s what we should be doing to any/all, within our own sphere of influence, … especially any non-Christians we know.  

Just as Steve Green sings in the linked song … “People Need the Lord!”  So, the question is, … will we, as the Scriptures above exhort, step out and share our testimonies of the power of Christ to save, … maybe even today if God gives us the opportunity.                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for Your charge to be Your Gospel messenger … maybe even today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to speak out, Lord  - maybe today - for Your Gospel truth     … Amen

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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.

November 26, 2021… Reluctant Warrior …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 330 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Elevation Worship singing … Mighty Warrior … powerfully singing of how we. as God’s frozen chosen warriors, must do battle in His Name and for His glory. 

Diet Eman - Dutch warrior in WW2 

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Highlight Passage: … Judges 6:12   [NLT] …   

12 The angel of the Lord appeared to [Gideon] and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”  

…  God’s angel declares a reluctant Gideon to be Lord’s “mighty hero (i.e., warrior).”                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Judges 6:11-16 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …

… An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and declares him to be a “mighty warrior” for the Lord.                

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 144:1-2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK ...   

… David recognizes and declares that His Lord is his power in battle.  

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] …   

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”   

… Jesus promises His disciples (and us) that we can - AND WILL - find peace in a world of turmoil by seeking our peace by following Him.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:10-13  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …   

… God, thru Paul, calls Christians to stand and do battle for the Lord everyday.   

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul shows fellow Christians how to overcome the troubles of this world … i.e., to bring our cares to God in prayer with a thankful heart.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kinda, AT THIS LINK … relates a story about a young Dutch lady, Diet Eman, during WW2, who became active in the resistance in Holland (see photo) by helping many Jews to be shielded from the Germans.     

And today’s ODB also cites a number of reluctant warriors for God in the Bible, like Moses at the burning bush, or Gideon (see highlights passage), who didn’t think themselves worthy to be God’s “warrior,” but ultimately were led into battle for God and became the warriors God called them to be.  

A little over two decades ago, God called yours truly to do battle against the evil power of internet P0RN which were leading many Christians into a prison of addiction. And at the time, I felt like I had been called to empty an ocean of evil with a teacup.  But in the intervening 20+ years, God has use this humble servant to help many addicted Christians to do battle and experience a walk of victory for and with Christ.  

Where might God be calling you to be His WARRIOR and do battle in His Name today?                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for the power of Your grace to empower me to be Your warrior today and even more tomorrow.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to stand forth and be Your warrior today.    … Amen

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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.

November 25, 2021 … A Grateful Heart …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 329 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Give Thanks … poignantly singing of how we Christians need to be coming to God 365-24/7 with a thankful heart because of what Jesus has done for us with His saving/sanctifying grace. 

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Highlight Passage: … Colossians 4:2   [NLT] …   

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  

…  Paul charges fellow Christians to pray continually, coming to God’s throne of grace with a thankful heart.                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Colossians 4:2-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul, from prison, exhorts fellow Christians (that’s us too!) to be in continual prayer … with a thankful heart … for all that Christ has done for us, sharing that thankfulness with others at every opportunity.              

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 106:1 and 107:1 [NLT] …  

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever.. 

… A song of thankfulness for our good God. 

Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God continually shows His faithful love and mercy to those who who follow Him faithfully. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 5:20  [NLT] …  

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to give thanks for EVERYTHING in the Name of our Lord, King Jesus.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul shows fellow Christians how to overcome anxiety … i.e., to bring our cares to God in prayer with a thankful heart.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, AT THIS LINK … … quotes Seneca, the ancient philosopher, who had been reprieved from an unjust death sentence, who wrote, . “homicides, tyrants, thieves, adulterers, robbers, sacrilegious men, and traitors there always will be, but worse than all these is the crime of ingratitude.”   …    

Today is our national “Thanksgiving” holiday here in the USA, … set aside to remind us how grateful we should be for the freedoms and God-bestowed blessings we enjoy.  But do we really have the grateful hearts which God’s word calls us to embrace 365-24/7 (see Scriptures above)? 

So many of the OT Psalms <b>(like the two cited above)</b> call us to have a thankful heart.  And in the NT, the Apostle Paul, often writing from unjust imprisonment (as with the highlight passage), exhorts fellow - free - Christians to conquer the anxieties of life by bringing our cares and concerns to God <u>with a grateful heart</u> (see Phil 4:6-7).  

But … on this Thanksgiving Day, can we - or WILL WE - do what Don Moen sings in the linked song [see also 1Peter 5:7 on your own]?                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for Your grace, which You give to me EVERY DAY - 24/7!! 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to express our thanks today to You, Lord, for Your love, mercy, and grace which are new to us every day!   … Amen

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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.

November 24, 2021 … Choosing God’s Way …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 328 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... </b>  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ … powerfully singing of how we Christians must CHOOSE to follow Christ’s will, seeking His way, thru His word.   

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Highlight Passage: … Psalm 62:5   [NLT] …  

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.  

…  Paul shows Timothy (and us) that God’s word is our GPS in life, and by following God’s truth we stay on track.                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 62 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David commits to seek and follow God’s will … no matter what!               

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 28:1 [NLT] …  

1 “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 

… God’s promise, thru Moses, of His blessing, protection, and guidance … IF … His people will exercise their free will and follow His commands. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, promises to lead and guide us to His will and His ways if we but trust and follow Him. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23 [NLT] …   

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 

… Jesus shows the way we must choose to deny our selfish ways to follow Him.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:15, 21 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus clearly commands those who love Him - i.e., His true disciples - to obey His commands and to follow Him.       

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK … acknowledges how difficult it is to follow God’s will.  However, … as surrendered, born-again, disciples of Christ, we simply must use our free will to CHOOSE to, as Jesus commanded in Luke 9:23 … to deny our way by surrendering to follow God’s will.    

As a reader, using your free will today to read my words here, can I get a witness - of “AMEN” - that you seek, as I do, to do what is sung in the linked song or was sung by King David in the highlight verse (i.e., Ps 62:5); and that is to quietly choose to follow our Lord?     

I think we’d all agree with the premise that seeking and choosing to follow God’s will is very, VERY, VERY challenging.  But we have been given a free will to follow our Lord’s will, haven’t we?   … So as the old NIKE motto declares, … let’s JUST DO IT today and choose to follow Christ because we love our Lord and want to follow His ways rather than our own (see Prov. 3:5-6 and Luke 9:23 and John 14:21)                   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me Your empowering grace to be able to follow You today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to seek to find and follow Your will for us today.  … Amen

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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.