All in Daily Devotional

Finding Peace in Prayer, and the Work of Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Time for Prayer

There are so many things in our everyday world that can distract us from prayer, and this is nothing that is new to us today. In the earliest days of the church they struggled with distractions as well. We like to think that we live in a busy modern world, and that finding time for prayer today is something new, or at least occurs more often than it did in the time of Jesus, but that simply isn’t true. There are two ways that we can be distracted, the first is in finding time for prayer, and the second is having our thoughts interrupted so that we can’t concentrate on them. Do either of these things sound familiar, and what can we do about them.

Who is it we Help, and who Helps Us?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Encountering Angels

As we go about our lives we run into various people we don’t know, they are strangers if you will. Some of these are needy, some are unruly, others are irritating and obnoxious, but most are just everyday souls we pass along the way as we live out our Christian lives. The question I would like us to consider today is inspired by a Bible verse from Hebrews 13, and the question is this: have we ever crossed paths with an angel, and if so did we realize it when we did, and what were the circumstances? Was the experience we had challenging, spiritually rewarding, or, simply nondescript until after it was over?

God’s saving Voice from the Blinding Smoke

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Saving Souls

Even before God gave His only begotten Son to redeem us, He created the mold that He would use to save us, and showed us just how much He would be willing to pay to accomplish this. We can read about it in Isaiah 43, and see that He gave not only Egypt to redeem the people of Israel, but he gave Ethiopia and Seba as well. Isn’t it incredible that our God valued Israel this much, and that today He considers us even more precious, and of greater value? Today we stand testament to God’s love for us. We have been redeemed by something far more valuable… we are saved by the life and blood of God’s own Son Jesus Christ.

Whose is the Glory of Doing?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional

Are we men and women who humble ourselves before God? Humility is a characteristic that is unmistakable in a person and gives them a certain quality that allows them to care for others and walk in faith without so much as causing a ripple... They become a part of the faith that surrounds them. However, the pride of doing, this morning's message, is one that convicts me often. Sometimes I struggle with that fine line between giving God the glory for answering a prayer and feeling that MY prayer might have been the source of that miracle. When you pray for people as often as I do and God answers our prayers for the needs of others, we might begin to associate God's movements with our own. When people seek you out as if there is some cure or other miracle that you can perform for them it presents you with a spiritual danger. The truth of course is that God performs all miracles and a person's faith is the catalyst that makes him worthy.

Are we Pharisees or Tax Collectors in Life and Prayer?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Praying Right

My personal devotional reading yesterday and today have both dealt with the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This is such an intense lesson in prayer, humility, and maintaining a Christ-like posture as we live out our lives. It not only teaches us how to face our sins, but how we should humbly pray for forgiveness, and how we are not meant to exalt ourselves. Jesus taught us many things, but we never saw him put someone else down in order to raise himself up. He was humble, and meek.

Receiving a Word from God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, God Calls

One Sunday morning I was taking communion, and when the woman server handed me the body of Christ she told me to wait… that she really didn't know who I was but that God had spoken to her and told her to tell me "You are an honorable man". I thanked her and she hugged me. It was an incredibly spiritual moment and I just didn’t know what to say or think, so I went home that day and searched scripture for “honorable man”, then I asked a man named Jack Hughes, who is my spiritual mentor, what this woman’s name was, and he responded that she was Pastor Linda Clark; the wife of Pastor Forman Clark, and the mother of Pastor Jay Clark. As I studied, the scripture one verse kept presenting itself to me, it was 1 Samuel 9:6, and I prayerfully mulled it over and over in my mind.

Do Not Grow Weary

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Suffering on the Way

I have twin sisters and several years ago one of them was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. The doctors were uncertain as to whether it was cancer or not, so we prayed, and the surgeon removed a benign growth. That happened quite a long time ago. But later they found another tumor and after testing it her OBGYN told her it too looked benign but would need to be removed and tested. However, after having sighed a sigh of relief she received a subsequent call from her Oncologist who believed it might be cancer. Of course we prayed he was wrong. In times such as these we need to renew our faith through scripture and prayer. If you are being pursued by the dark one today, you will love the encouraging verse we will be beginning with.

Removing Doubt and Fear from our Prayer Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Impediments to Prayer

Removing Doubt and Fear from our prayer lives as an impediment to the fullness of our faith and prayer is the subject of today’s message. The importance of prayer, and specifically a prayer in which we are confidently asking God to increase us in faith, can't be overstated. Haven’t we all prayed with a spirit of fear and doubt at some point in our lives? And, when we did this didn’t we find that the ground was shaking beneath us, and a fire burned within us? Yes, we had lost the Peace of God that we had felt when we prayed as we should? Taking the time to still our hearts before beginning to pray is a good way to steady our faith, and find courage in the low whisper of God. Taking a deep breath and then slowly letting it out is a wonderful way for our spirit to call Him.

How God Rewards Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Rewards and Prayer

As I read a devotional one morning, and I contemplated its theme... “God Rewards”. It caused me to take pause, and think about the ways that statement was true, and to compare it to the many ways that this broad statement was not. On this particular morning E.M. Bounds had written the words "Faith believes that God rewards.", and although that is true, it is not unconditionally true. Some tie this way of thinking to a religion of prosperity, but this is a deadly trap.

Prayer, and the Tears of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Maturing Prayer

We know from reading scripture that prayer and faith are inseparable companions; one can't thrive without the other. Faith proceeds prayer and makes it effective, while prayer increases faith as we ask God to increase us in it. We have faith in the promise that God answers prayer, and receive that promise through the very prayers we faithfully pray. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith be increased, and we should ask God to increase ours as well. The stronger and more steadfast our faith becomes, the more likely we are to remain in God’s will, and in this way our prayers will be asked as the should be… in the name of Jesus… in God’s will.

Prayer, Faith, Clergy, and Mothers

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Raising Children

This morning we will consider the role of mothers, and the clergy, as it relates to raising children in prayer and faith. We know that this is a pastor’s primary calling, and this is confirmed by reading what Pastor E.M. Bounds wrote on the subject "The work of the ministry is to change unbelieving sinners into praying, believing saints." But Bounds goes on to say that "By faith we are saved, and by faith we stay saved. Prayer introduces us to a life of faith.", and often that introduction begins in a mother’s arms. Our Bible verses today drive this fact home by pointing out that faith is indeed a gift born of grace, and that the disciples prayed with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.

Pastors, Saints, and the Attributes of a Wicked Man

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Wickedness and Faith

Today we are focusing primarily on what it takes to be a successful pastor by using the description of Caesar, early Rome, and a wicked man from Psalm 10 to make this point for us. But, whether we are pastors with much responsibility, or laypersons, and saints who are dealing with our own smaller worlds, this is a good lesson for us. Are we ready to turn all our thoughts to God?

An Rx for Healing Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Victory in Prayer

I found great value in the devotional message I read this morning. It contained a prescription for healing the doubt and fear in my life. Of course, the solution came from scripture and was simply expounded upon further by E.M. Bounds. The scripture reference I am referring to came from Philippians where Paul wrote of the power in praying in everything... Prayer is the medicine that heals all our woes, sorrows, and illnesses. Prayer give us the peace of God and will keep our minds fixed on Him through Jesus.

Humility Gives Wings to Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Humble Prayers

Humility Gives Wings to Prayer... That is a wonderful title for a devotional message on praying as we should, and this is the second time in a week that we are visiting the subject of humility. Humility places God and others before ourselves and admits that we are lacking in some way. This is a holy virtue indeed. Perhaps the Spirit is leading us back to look at our humility once more because we are still found lacking in it, or maybe we are being taught how to portray it better in our lives so that it might be seen more clearly by others as they pursue faith and salvation in theirs.

God’s Illumination of our Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Light of God

Fall days can be wonderful, we stand in the rays of the sun and feel their warmth on our faces, yet despite the sun’s warmth the actual temperature is much cooler. It feels like one of the most perfect and comfortable times of the year. But, when we walk into the shade we suddenly feel a chill, and pull our collar up tight around our neck. Only by standing in the direct sunlight can we enjoy the sun’s warmth. Standing in our faith is much the same, and when we step out of it, we also feel the world’s chill setting in once more.

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