Robert and Laura Nance: "Monthly-Devotions"

All Monthly Devotions are written by Robert and Laura. To read the current devotion while viewing ARTWORK by Laura and listening to MUSIC by Robert - click on this link:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

When we truly are "anxious for nothing", pray about everything and give thanks to God for all things, we come to know the awesome blessing of this profound peace which surpasses all measure of our finite understanding.

On a cold winter afternoon, a friend of ours was driving with her two handsome young sons, down a winding mountain road. As she anticipated they might encounter patches of ice along the way, she drove cautiously.

During the usual series of twisting turns, at one of the steepest points of the drive, the car began to slide over the icy roadway. Unable to steer, she said: "boys the car is out of control". In spite of the helpless situation, she found she was experiencing absolute calm and peace.

Suddenly, the car stopped; one of the front wheels was hanging off the side of the mountain. They were astounded to see that the wheel was actually leaning against a very small tree, which was jutting up from below. Yes, from all appearances, they were that close to plunging to the ground thousands of feet below. Yes, the little tree God had planted had blocked their fall. They gave thanks and praise to God.

God knows the number of hairs on our heads; God knows the number of our days. Let us be reminded to keep our communication with God open. When we are in touch with Him on a regular basis - in His Word, in prayer and with thanksgiving - His peace, which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, no matter what our circumstances.

http://www.understandthetimes.org/monthlydevotion8.shtml

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I test the conscience, even to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-11

It is so important that we examine ourselves. How about those "good deeds" of yours? What is the motive behind what you do? Even with those good things, are you doing something good for others or primarily desiring to bring attention to yourself?

Is your life controlled by the Holy Spirit? Is there pride? Is there some unspoken sin or grudge you are holding in your heart? For example, you may be driving your car and someone accidentally cuts you off. Someone may inadvertently jump ahead of you in the line at the grocery store. Are you a respecter of persons - would you respond differently according to who the person is - or what they are wearing? In either case, let's say you react in some angry or unkind way and then say…"Oh no, that is not me, I'm really a nice person". You know what? It is you! That was your response, your reaction to an action. Do you see the problem?

"The Lord sees not as man sees for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

A root of bitterness can grow and make you more and more cynical and disagreeable, difficult to be around. We must recognize that God, who searches the innermost depths of our hearts, knows the truth about each one of us.

Praise God, Christian. Our Lord loves us and is a God of grace. He is merciful and ever waiting and wanting to forgive and to cleanse, so that we can start afresh. Is there something you need to surrender to the Lord today?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Our "hope" is usually in what we know and see. We are prone to examine and analyze rather than trust God and step out in faith. The Scriptures tell us in Hebrews 11:6 that "without faith it is impossible to please God". We read further in chapter 11, that Abraham when he was "called" he "obeyed". God's Word tells us to "walk by faith and not by sight". This is what Abraham did.

Money can buy a mountain but faith can move a mountain. Rather than pray for financial gain or material things, pray for faith - unwavering faith. While faith does not eliminate problems, when I surrender and yield, God will be in control. Faith will provide an acceptance in my heart of what God is working out in my life; faith will sustain me in the hour of trial.

Are you willing to surrender, to trust God and accept His provision and plan for your life? Is your hope in the Lord who made Heaven and Earth? Do you have unwavering faith and peace with God?

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5

Having completed the "welcome aboard" show on the first night of a seven day cruise, I walked through the large, mostly vacant showroom. Suddenly, a voice hollered: "Love me with all your heart". As he made his way from across the room, the passenger kept excitedly repeating the same words.

That evening, I had sung a song, which included the lyrics this man was echoing. As he approached me, he spoke of how wonderful the song was. I thanked him and asked his name. It appeared that "Keller" was possibly "under the influence".

For the next couple of days, different passengers would approach me concerning Keller. He was always rushing, running, yelling and sometimes shouting "Love me with all your heart" when they would see him.

One evening, out of nowhere, Keller came toward me with outstretched arms. He was crying out: "Love me with all your heart", I said: "Do you know that the Word of God tells us to "love the LORD God with all your heart"? (Deuteronomy 6:5) "Do you realize that God loves you so much "that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"? (John 3:16)

He broke down and began to sob. Just weeks ago, he had lost his beloved wife to cancer. He had taken care of her for many months and now she was gone. He was not under the influence of alcohol nor was he on drugs, but his heart was aching so intensely that he could not allow himself to be still.

I shared further with him that God was calling him, and that God wanted to fill his heart and his life with an abundance of hope, peace joy and love.

After we talked for a while, Keller asked Jesus into his heart to be Lord of his life. His tear-stained countenance immediately changed; he smiled and in a gentle voice said: "I feel so refreshed and at peace, thank you." I said "Don't thank me, thank the Lord God for His love for you."

Let's rejoice and give thanks for the abundant love our Lord has for us! Are you trusting in the Lord? Are you mindful that in your weakness He is strong? Is your life filled with the riches of hope, peace, joy and love? Do you love the LORD God with all your heart?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

It is amazing to realize that even though we know the Word of God is Truth and the Truth has set us free, if we are not abiding in Christ, The Way, the Truth and The Life - in His Word, in prayer, in praise and worship of Him and in fellowship with Him, then we are not bearing the fruit of the Spirit.

Sunflowers are particularly neat… as they grow they seem to be reaching with outstretched arms to the heavens above. Their cheerful faces greet the morning sun with a smile, and their uplifted heads follow its path of light throughout the day. Oh, that we would do the same.

We must ask ourselves - Is the Word of God planted in my heart? Am I speaking to God in prayer and listening for and to His voice each day? Am I worshiping Him, praising Him and in fellowship with other believers on a regular basis? Am I bearing the fruit of His Spirit?

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Let the sunflower be a reminder for us to greet the SON in the morning with a smile and to keep our eyes focused on Him every moment of the day!

May you be mightily blessed as you seek His face and bear abundant fruit!

"But now, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You our Potter; and all we are the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8

We read, in the book of Genesis, that God formed man from the dust of the earth. We were created in His image and we were created for His pleasure!

Every one of us is unique; God didn't use a cookie-cutter when He formed us. We should not be trying to squeeze ourselves into a mold nor should we be interfering with God's work in other people's lives.

A dear woman once shared with us, how years before when she saw herself as more "spiritual" than her husband, she attempted to get him more involved in the things of God. The harder she tried, the less interested he became.

One day, God gave her a vision: A potter was standing at a potter's wheel, patiently and lovingly shaping a clay pot. She then saw how when He left that piece of pottery to work on another, a little hand came up from behind and began to reshape the pot, squishing and patting along the edges.

She realized the "Potter" was the Lord and the clay pot, her husband. Every time God was working in her husband's life and heart, she would come along and mess things up. She repented, stopped interfering, and then marveled at how God worked in and through her husband's life, shaping him into a Godly man.

You may want to take a moment to consider the condition of your own heart. Is it a brittle or splintered piece of pottery? Or is your heart soft and supple clay, ready and eager to be shaped and molded by the hand of the Master Potter?

Our God wants to work in the internal and on the eternal, whereas we often get in the way, working on the external.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6

While brushing our little pup Gabby, I picked several pine needles out of his long hair. He seemed very appreciative.

I started reminiscing about a musician with whom we had worked. While growing up in his native Scotland, he had spent many years as a shepherd. I asked what he considered to be the most difficult problem in caring for sheep. He replied: "Sheep are stupid. If sheep wander into a briar bush, instead of backing away from it, they will push themselves further and deeper until they are so entangled and wounded they will die unless the shepherd comes to their rescue to set them free."

The quickest way for us to get ensnared in bondage is to do what we please rather than what God wants us to do. In Isaiah 53:5 it tells us that Jesus was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities".

Are you flirting with or involved in a perilous situation? Are you entangled in a web of helplessness, despair and destruction? God instructs us in His Word, Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

Our Shepherd is able to set us free and apply healing balm to our wounds. "…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:10-11

In Psalm 23:3 we read: "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." As sheep, we can be stubborn, prideful, indifferent, self-willed. We are prone to wander from the flock, but our faithful Shepherd, filled with loving kindness, will leave the ninety-nine in the flock to rescue me… one stray little lamb. Praise God. Thank you Jesus.

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3

A sign in the produce section of the grocery read: "Meyer Lemons". There was no mistaking the luscious, smooth textured, orange toned beauties which we had never seen displayed in a store until that moment.

I was reminded of the little Meyer lemon tree in our sunroom at home. It blossomed early last spring. Its gorgeous, pungently fragrant flowers then bore tiny beginnings of fruit, which to our disappointment would dry up and drop off.

Oftentimes, we may be blossoming in our walk with the Lord, offering earnest, heart rending prayer as sweet smelling incense to Him. We might possibly begin to serve the Lord but allow the things of this world to divert our attention. We dry up… drop out. We do not bear any fruit.

The word "drop" can be described as falling from a higher place to a lower place. The word "dry" can be defined as thirsty, dehydrated, stale, or parched.

Is God still number one on your list of priorities? Spiritually speaking, have you fallen from a higher place to a lower place? Are you dried up, overcome by the cares of this world? Are you thirsting? Or, are rivers of living water flowing out of your life as the Spirit of God abundantly replenishes you?

The Word of God is overflowing with seeds of promise and hope. God's Word will naturally blossom and bear fruit as it takes root and grows in your heart.