Finding Joy, and Relationship, in Reading the Word of Life

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, God’s Word

We read the Bible, and study God’s Word, but is doing so a joy? Reading the Bible can be a daunting task because, depending on the translation, the language can be challenging, the meaning behind certain passages (such as parables and stories) can be difficult to interpret, and quite honestly there are lists, and long genealogies, in the Bible that put many readers off. Let’s be truthful... reading the Bible is not as entertaining as reading “The Arabian Nights”, or “Aesop’s Fables”, but no other book can have such an impact on who we are, thrill us with its revelations, or save our souls. The joy comes when we open our hearts, minds, and souls, to God through His Word.

Finding Joy, and Perfection, in our Affliction

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Suffering, God’s Love

Do we think of ourselves as a worthy treasure to be presented to God? Are we inclined to consider that we are like gold, silver, or fine jewels that He is eager to have refined, cut, or molded, and placed in His treasure chest, to be displayed with pride? Well, God does value us, and he does refine us, but not as we might think, He doesn’t purify us simply by education, works, or charm school, but in the furnace of our affliction. The spiritual worthiness that He sees in us is like a faint line of gold in a predominately dark stone... and we must be crushed into submission before it can be released, and purified.

In Light, or Darkness, where do we Pitch our Tent?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Living God’s Word, Light

We say that Jesus abides in us, and we in Him. We also say that He abides In the Father, and the Father in Him. Believing these statements to be scripturally true, and claiming them for ourselves, then we must also believe that the scripture which says that God is light, and in Him is no darkness is truth too.  So, the first statements tell us that by abiding in Jesus we too abide in the light of God, and that He is in us as well,  but where will our continued sinning leave us? Do these jaunts into the darkness separate us from God? Are we choosing our humanity over our spiritually transformed selves; darkness over light?

Walking with God every Day... Our Prayer, and His Provision

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Prayer

As people of varying degrees of spirituality we have different prayer habits. Some of us come to God many times a day, some come only in the morning, others in the evening, and there are those who only pray on days like Christmas and Easter, but rest assured we all find time to pray when we are in need, or hurting. So which is right? Well, there is no wrong prayer, but scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, because God loves us and desires us to be with Him just as He is with us... always. 

Can we be content in Poverty if it means an Eternity with God?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Contentment

Are we content with what God gives us? You might think that I am speaking of physical provision, but this question applies equally to spiritual gifts. Do we look at what others have and envy them? Well, in many instances, having much can be a curse, leading to discontent, a lust for more, and the sin of worshipping other gods. It is best that we have little, and  to be satisfied with what we have, than to have much and worship those things as we work to have more of them.

Walking in the Light of Life through the darkness of the world

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Fear, Faith, Placing God First

Are we holding firm to our faith in Jesus Christ as the world boils and evil seeks to destroy the peace and rest of God in us? In the midst of the world’s darkness that is stirring strife, even from the pulpits, there shines forth a light, and in that light we find not only our life, but the light which is the life of the world... Jesus. He is unlike every  lamp, or torch, because He can’t be extinguished, not by deception, lies, or any other sin. He has defeated these through His own life, death, and resurrection, and His brightness lights our way as we navigate the darkness of the fallen world, even death, that surrounds us. 

Science Fiction, Time Machines, and God’s Changes to Creation

Richard Forbes
Changed Life, God’s Plan

When we wait upon God to answer our prayers do we think He is idly biding His time while we suffer and fret needlessly? Do we think that God suddenly responds when He is good and ready by doing this thing in one sweeping gesture? Well God’s ways are not ours, and His plans for us are intricate. To answer our one simple prayer causes Him to realign the stars that shine around the world... the ripple of His changed plan is felt far and wide. Yet He loves us this much. 

Faith, and the Surrounding Armies of God

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Protection, God’s Faithfulness

When we are in a serious dilemma do we find ourselves doubting in God’s ability to help us? When we are surrounded on all sides by a horde who would harm, or destroy us, do we feel lost? Well, fear not because our God is more than capable, and it is our own disbelief that prevents us from from seeing Him clearly, and witnessing His heavenly host that surrounds us... too numerous to count.

Under Construction - Our Faith, Life, and the True Builder

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, God’s Provision

We go through our day working hard to secure those things that will sustain us, but as we complete today’s chores we often forget the one who has made this possible, and who actually provides for us. Over the course of time we tend to forget who gave us the skills we now employ, or even the breath we breathe, and we claim our efforts as our own. Our faith is like a cathedral that is still under construction after hundreds of years; the amazing foundation stones given by God when the ground was first broken are long forgotten, and only what has just been added is praised. The Lord provides for His children now as He gives us every good thing... building today on the blessings of yesterday.

In all of Life, even the World’s Injustices, God is with Us

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Justice, God’s Presence

What rain would fall on our field of faith to nourish it, and what wind would blow hard to prune the old limbs from the tree of our belief, if all of life was filled with cool sunny days, and light variable winds?  If each day was easy, and replete with every wonderful thing how would we choose to live our life, and what would encourage our faith to grow? Suffering the Cross gave Jesus victory over sin and death, enduring the hardships and injustice of life in the world strengthens our faith, righteousness, and encourages us to love God all the more.

Mobs, and the Dilemma in Loving our Enemy

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Loving, Commandment

How do we approach a poverty of faith? How do we claim God’s grace as it flows from Christ, when we are suffering from a loss inside our individual souls? These are issues swirling within something that I call “the dilemma of the enemy.” This is the mystery found in loving someone, or something, that by all rights should be our enemy. It occurs between us, and people, peoples, races, and nations, and yet when boiled down to its essence is particular to a man’s singular soul alone. Peoples, or groups, don’t have the ability to hate others, this larger manifestation comes from a single person giving in to hatred, and spreading that hate to another, and another, and another.

Bird Dogs, and doing the Will of God

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Fear, Faith, Trusting God

When we are going through a trying time in our life how do we react to it? Do we worry, and stress, over what is occurring to the point that our health is affected, or do we turn to the Lord, and trust in Him to calm the turbulence that is buffeting us? Fear is a natural occurrence in life, but too much of it is detrimental to our wellbeing. God looks after His children, and can fix any problem that is tossing us about, but is our faith strong enough to trust in Him, and do we do His will?

Denying God, and our Faith in Jesus, before the Fallen World

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Changed Life

How many times have we denied Jesus? Some of us may have denied him with our mouths by saying we have never known Him, but more likely we do so by allowing our actions to speak for us. Or just maybe, we have denied Him by our silence. It is easy to worship and praise God in the midst of saints, but are we tempted to deny Him while in a group of men and women who do not believe, or who gravitate towards what the world offers?

Life, Death, and Loving One Another; God’s gift of Love

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, God’s Love, Grace

There is nothing more certain in our lives than the love of God for us in Christ Jesus. Even in our earthly death we remain with Him, and His love remains with us. Though we mourn, and suffer the death of our loved ones, God does not, because they remain in Him, and He in them through His Son Jesus, and the unfathomable depth of His Love for us. Isn’t it wonderful to consider the perfection of Christ, and the love of God? Doesn’t this sooth, and bring comfort to our mourning?

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