Our Faithful Journey to Damascus, and beyond, with Paul

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, Faith

We begin our journey with Jesus by believing in God because if we have no faith in the Father then how could we possibly believe He has a Son? Then, as our faith in God increases, and we believe the scripture is His Word regarding our existence with Him, we see the prophecy of the coming Messiah and find the promise of Jesus Christ. Every Jew in the day of Jesus had made it this far, but it is here that they were separated; some believing that the scriptures were alive, and some that they were at best stagnant, and that they would remain in eternal expectation of a Messiah who, although prophesied, might never be accepted by them to have come. In what state is our faith? How far has our belief come? Where is it going from here?

Listen now, Is God’s Voice Calling?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, God’s Voice

Do you pray as you should, and when you Listen now, Is God’s Voice Calling?do pray, does God meet you there? When He does, people have a great deal to ask of Him and begin to do so immediately, but the most important aspect of our time of prayer is not what we say to Him, but what God says to us. The most powerful moment in most biblical accounts begins when the Lord speaks, but do we hear Him when He speaks to us personally? Are we even listening? Then, if we listen, how do we answer Him? Do we acknowledge Him at all, or just sit dumb in silence? So, if we do hear, how is it that  we respond? Do we say, “Yes Lord!”, or “Here am I Lord.”?

One Head, One Body, but Two Hands, and Many Fingers

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional

As Christians, do we love one another, or do we divide ourselves so completely in our perceived love for Jesus, that we distance ourselves from each other? I look around Christendom and see one head and many bodies. I see one cup, one bread, and one table, being bitterly contested over and claimed by each body to the point of refusing to serve another family member at the one table that Jesus set and provided for. Is this the way He meant for us to behave?

Abiding in our Conversation with God, and Our Call to Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, Lives of Prayer

It is one thing to know what a life of prayer is, but something altogether different to live that life. Being called to prayer and answering that call are two entirely different things too. Every Christian receives God’s call to prayer, but so many will cripple themselves by either refusing to answer that call, or by not knowing how to fully engage in it. Are we participating in a dedicated life of prayer today, or are we limping along, hobbled, and without understanding what praying without ceasing means, or involves?

Trusting and Praying within God’s Will... and in the Name of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, Prayer

God hears our prayers; He gives each of them audience and provides us with all those things we have prayed for within His will. The question that we who pray should ask is this... “Do I have confidence that God hears me as I pray and that He will answer me?” Confidence in the Word of God is of the utmost importance to those who pray. Put more simply, we must trust in the fact that God will do what His Word says He will do. But, do you we know what that is?

Surrender; Truth, or empty Promises?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Surrender

Have we surrendered completely to God? Do we consider everything we are, and everything we have, to be His? So often we say these words, but when it comes time to turn all we have over to Him we renege, or have second thoughts. We promise the Lord that He is first in our lives and that everything we have is His; yet at the first sign of true sacrifice, or at His first request of us we falter. In truth, our Father doesn’t need our possessions... He just desires that we not need them more than we need Him.

The Mighty Wind, the Gentle Whisper, Our Protection in the Storm

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, Faith

How often do we view the strife and tumult of our daily lives as an encumbrance to our abiding in Jesus Christ and God when we should not view it this way at all? In the vineyard the wind blows, the leaves rustle loud, and the sound of the storm grows intense, but at the root, the vine never moves, even as the rain continues on unabated. Every storm provides rain that is drawn into us as strength from the wet ground, and what, on the surface, might appear to be a raging flood becomes the watering can of our faith.

Interpreting Scripture... “Well Hush My Mouth!”

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional

There are times in our lives when we are self-assured and as we study the scripture we say to ourselves “Ah Ha! This is the absolute truth, and I will base my faith on it!” but who are we to be so arrogant? Who are we to interpret scripture without the direction of He whose hand guided the pen? Yet, this is what we are inclined to do as we go about building our castles of faith out of sand; gathering it in buckets from shores that are strewn with stone... and we silence the Holy Spirit, into whose hand God has placed the truth about stones, thus covering our ears to the Lord’s voice with our own hands.

Giving Good Gifts - A Parable

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion

How do we behave at home? I am not talking simply about our physical home on earth, but our spiritual home in heaven. We concentrate a great deal on what a good Father God is, but what kind of daughter or son are we? Do we love Him with all our hearts? Do we serve Him and do His will? Do we honor Him, or do we expect Him to honor our prayers and requests without reciprocation? Do we feel that He is obligated to provide all our desires while we do nothing? We know that He is a good father but are we simply like spoiled children?

God’s Church, and the Holy Spirit within Us

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional, Holy Spirit

One of the questions that I hear asked quite frequently is about the Holy Spirit. Every day Christian believers ask about him because they desire to know who He is, and what he should mean to them and their faith; while many Pastors ask about him to determine what side of the fence we are on. Much like Jesus He fascinates and enthralls us; he brings us to a place where we feel the coolness of the inhale, and the warmth of the exhale as God breathes, and yes, the Holy Ghost frightens many of us, and that fear often serves to separate us from one another.

The Lost, the Prodigal, and Returning Home

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Finding the Lost

When we recall the parable of the prodigal Son it is easy to forget that there were two sons, the one who squandered his inheritance and yet was welcomed home, and the son who remained steadfastly at his father’s side. Which one of these best describes you? The prodigal son gives us hope in our Father’s love when we are lost, or are frivolous with our faith, but the dependable son never lost his inheritance and never left his father’s side. Who would you rather be? Who would the prodigal son have wanted to be as he travelled the road home?

Golden Bowls of Prayers, and the Incense of Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Tangible Prayers

Our prayers don’t just fade from the memory of God, they have substance, and can be held in the hand, placed in a bowl, and offered up with incense to Jesus, and God. Have you ever thought of that simple prayer you spoke as being worthy of saving? How about the ones you prayed in anger, or heartbreak, remorse, praise, or Thanksgiving? They are all borne in the hands of angels before the throne of God, and He values each one... they are your life, and they are the heart of your relationship with Him.

Of Time, Gardens, and the Apple Trees of Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Wasted Time

Where do we spend our time each day? Do we waste it on frivolous pursuits, or in prayer? Do we read magazines about worldly subjects, or the Bible and other spiritually uplifting material? Do we seek out those places God wills us to visit, or do we wile away our time in ungodly places for no good purpose? How we apportion our time, the activities we pursue, and places we frequent determines how our faith will grow, and the fruit it will bear. Do we waste our treasure of time, or spend it wisely?

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