Controlling our Anger in the face of turmoil and fear

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , Anger , chaos

In this time of great world turmoil, and chaos, when the ungodly run rampant and hijack the good intentions of righteous men, we can easily become angry with all that is happening, and our anger is justified, but we must not allow it to boil over into sinfulness. Lions frighten and panic the herd before selecting their quarry, so it is with us and sin as Satan hunts in the world. Anger can cause us to lose our sense of righteousness, and in that moment when our good judgement falters, the lion with teeth of steely sin pounces. Beware of the raging lion that hunts in the midst of such a world as this.

In whom do we entrust our hidden Secrets, and darkest Fears?

Richard Forbes
Trusting in God, Christian , Daily Devotional

Who do we confide in? We say we love our spouses and families, but there are things we think, or have done, that we hold back for fear of disappointing them. We say that our friends will stand by us through thick or thin, and yet we withhold things from them that we are afraid might cause us to lose their friendships. However, God already knows who we are, and what we are. We can trust in Him, and Jesus Christ, to hear our deepest thoughts, to know our innermost secrets, and never abandon us... to love us and help us despite our darkest revelations. They are our refuge in the midst of our humanity, and from our dark places they will lead us back into the light.

Bodies, and Souls; a cup of earth blended perfectly with a cup of the divine.

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Body , Soul

As creatures of a combined spirit, and body, we need to tend to the needs of both, and Jesus wasn’t negligent of that fact. When He taught He fed the spiritual side of those who had gathered about Him, and when they were physically Exhausted, and hungry, he fed their bodies. A good example was on the day He performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He kept a balance in His teaching, and in His own life as well... praying, eating, drinking, washing, and bathing; each in its own perfect measure.

Looking beyond Earthly Riches towards Heavenly Treasure

Richard Forbes
Daily Devotional

It is so easy to look at what we have received in our earthly life, and gauge God’s good provision for us on those things alone. We tend to look at the transient, and temporary, things we have here, and now, and say either that our God is great, or that He is lacking in the blessings He gives to us. This is what we are preparing to do when we compare our present station in life with that of another’s. By doing this we aren’t sizing up our accomplishments, but determining if our God is better to us, or to someone else. We are not trusting that even though He rewards us on earth, our most precious rewards are those He stores up for us in heaven. 

Though we are Dust, are we worthy in the Eyes of God?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Worthy, Forgiveness

Do you ever find yourself worrying about being inadequate in the eyes of God? Do you recall all of your human shortcomings, and think “How can God, the creator of the universe, possibly tolerate me; much less love me?” Then, In your despair, He takes your hand, fills you with His Spirit, and you find yourself amazed to realize that despite all your faults He does love you... so deeply that He sent His Son, and His Spirit to redeem, and transform you? This is more than mercy, it is more than grace, it is a love that conquers all things, forgets all your faults, and forgives the bitterness of every sin. 

God’s Mighty Armor, or the Emperor’s New Clothes?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Armor, God’s Provision

We get up in the morning, say a quick prayer, wash ourselves, and then prepare to dress, but now the decisions of the day begin... we must decide what we should wear. We can easily decide which shirt to put on, or between blue jeans or slacks, but the one choice that determines how our day will really go is this... will we put on the armor of God? Will we wear just the breastplate, or the full suit of armor today? Perhaps at this point in our daily routine we fool ourselves completely, and wear nothing at all.

A Hummingbird’s Lesson on the Nature of Faith, and Trust

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

How are we in our faith today? Are we having a good day, or a bad day? Did we open our eyes this morning with a prayer of thanksgiving on our lips, or were our first thoughts about something in our earthly lives that we were worried about? As Christians we often end our day by turning over our concerns to God in bedtime prayer, then sleep soundly through the night, only to open our eyes in the morning to take those things back again... We lean on the promises of God at one moment, and not in the next, yet God’s promises are not meant to be whimsical, but everlasting. 

Of God, Fathers, and Saving the Souls of our Children

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, God our Father

What do good fathers give their children of themselves that lasts for a lifetime, and what does our Heavenly Father give us that is more valuable than His love, and grace, which lasts an eternity? Discipline is a way of training someone, or one’s self, to adhere to certain rules, or manner of behavior. It also includes punishment as a form of correction. Fathers owe their children more than just food and a place to sleep, they must teach them how to live well in their life, and world... how to be honorable, and who God is.

Are we asking the Right Questions of God; or any Questions?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Asking, God

Are you in the middle of a situation that perplexes you? Are you overwhelmed by adversity and don’t know what to do next? Sometimes we find life to be more than we can handle, or circumstances to be new to us, and in such times we are uncertain what our next step should be. In times like these we should seek the presence of God, and the intercession of Jesus; then obey As they instruct us. The apostle Paul found himself in just such a confusing circumstance as he travelled to Damascus.

Being like Jesus, and God; Are these our Great, and Greatest Desires

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Abiding in Jesus

Are we living a Christlike life? Do we want to be pleasing to God, or even more than that, do we want to be like God... perfect? To some this might sound like heresy, but we should always want to do as He does, and be as He is, because isn’t that what Jesus is, and doesn’t He tell us that He abides in us, and we in Him? So if Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature, and being like Him is our great desire, then being like God should be our greatest desire. Knowing Jesus we then know God.

Faith, Imagination, and the Holy Word of God

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Faith, Word of God

There is a difference between faith, and imagination. Both dwell in our minds, but faith springs from trusting the Word of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, whereas imagination is founded on fantasy, and the concoctions of our own mind. Some who say “I am a Christian“ are guilty of folding the two into one way of worshiping as they seek what is easy or pleasing to them in God’s will, while imagining the hardships and suffering to be useless, and not of the Lord.

Living Water, and our Uncertain Season of Earthly Life

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Living Water, Salvation

Do we thirst after the water of the world that satisfies our body alone, and that must be replenished each day, or do we long for the living water that is Jesus Christ, and wells up in us for eternity? Which do we cater to, and place most value in, our earthly body that begins a journey towards death from the moment it is conceived, or our soul that will live on in either salvation or damnation forever?

Finding Peace, and Joy, in our Faith Alone

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Contentment, Faithfulness

How content are we in our spiritual lives? Are we satisfied with what the Lord provides us, or do we approach our faith like we do our earthly labor; driven by dissatisfaction, and an unending need for more? If we climb mountains isn’t there always another peak to summit, or if we are a fisherman isn’t there one more cast of our net to make? Yet as believers, we should be happy with where God is taking us, and content with His daily provision... our lives should be lived peacefully each day in the presence of God.

God, the Source of all Truth

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotion, Truth, Faith

When we first hear God calling us to follow Jesus Christ, or later as Christians to do His will, and we ignore Him... do we think that He just goes away and that this is the end of it? Sometimes we attempt to treat God as if He were one of our fantasies, and if we ignore Him then He will vanish, but nothing could be further from the truth. Even in our faithlessness, our disobedience, or when we turn our back on Him... He is there, and He remains God. 

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