Are we Bored, and Lost, even having gained all the World has to offer?

Richard Forbes
Christian, Daily Devotional , True Faith, Wealth

Do we believe ourselves to be self-made men and women? Do we look around and see all of the affluence that surrounds us, and stare in the mirror; smiling at our own reflection? When we find that we want for nothing, and have become smug in what we have done, it is in our self-righteousness that we are truly lost. What the world has to offer is fleeting, and satisfies us for a day, and yet we can become addicted to its allure, and lose sight of God, Jesus Christ, and the satisfaction they give that is eternal.

Who do we wrestle in the dark, and are we afraid?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spiritual Enemies

Hidden enemies terrify us. We are far less apt to stumble, or be frightened in the light of day than in the night, and yet half our lives are spent surrounded by darkness. This is also how we struggle spiritually. The spiritual snares placed to trap us are most effective when they are set in darkness, in those places we can’t see or readily understand. When we oppose someone, or something, it is far easier for us than when we wrestle against ideas, fears, spirits, and vaporous things; those are the enemies that scare us as they go bump in the night. 

Do we wince at, or welcome, the Hand of God?

Richard Forbes
Daily Devotional , Transformation , Victory

In the book of Revelation we read the end of the story, and know that Jesus Christ triumphs over Satan and evil, so why is it that so many Christians still live their lives like the outcome is in doubt? Why are believers tempted, knowing full well what awaits them in their sin? Listen to me today... Jesus will not only defeat Satan, but we will be at His side, and claim that victory with Him! This is the journey of our faith realized. 

God’s Will, Hand, And cleft in the rock, as He answers our Prayers

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Answered Prayer

Are you frustrated with God’s response to your prayers? Do you ask something of Him repeatedly, and feel like it is falling on deaf ears? Well there are two reasons that come immediately to mind which could cause us to feel this way. The first is that we consider God obligated to obey our request, and the second is that we give Him our solution rather than simply presenting Him with the problem. Both of these are rooted in our greatest pitfall... praying outside the will of God. 

Discerning False Teaching through God’s Holy Word

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Word

Are we careful in our understanding of scripture? We are promised new heavens, and a righteous new world, but nothing we can concoct in our imagined interpretation of scripture, can bring it one second closer, nor delay it by the blink of an eye. No exuberant and stirring sermon, meant to convince us otherwise, or that attempts to use a single promise of God for worldly purpose or gain, is anything but false teaching, and brings with it the destruction of our spirits.

Are we God’s spit on the floor of judgement?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Double Minded , Faith

Are we double minded, approaching our faith in one manner, while leading a different life in the world? On the Sabbath do we praise God, and say that we will put no other God before Him, then walk back into our homes and businesses placing our possessions, and gold, above all else? Do we pray fervently when desperate, but mumble mindless prayers over our meals each day when there is plenty? If we live in such a way as this we are lost indeed. 

Morning Prayer, and causing the Dawn to know its place

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Morning Prayer

How we begin our day is just as important as how we live it out; as a matter of fact it sets the tone for all that is to come. When we open our eyes in the morning, and immediately immerse ourselves in yesterday’s problems, then we can expect anxiety, and nothing more than to begin where we left off. However, if we open our eyes, and begin our day in the presence of the Lord, in prayer, and giving ourselves to him as a living sacrifice then we are at peace. In this way our day begins anew, and we watch for Him to move within it. 

A Lesson in Juice Harps, and Growing in Prayer

Richard Forbes
Daily Devotional , Learning , Prayer

When we begin our day do we start it in prayer, or walk right back into yesterday’s problems without looking to God for His help and guidance?  How about when calamity is upon us, those times when our world is collapsing around us, do we run blindly in whatever direction, or do we fall to our knees where we are, and pray? Our ability to trust in God, and pray without being distracted by the world, is a practiced gift, and some gifts we receive require us to put them together, or to learn how to use them... such is the gift of prayer.

Depart with Jesus, or Remain in the Flesh... Are you tasked to make this Choice each Day?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Choosing to Remain

Am I to live each day faithfully to serve Jesus Christ in this world, or to rise up, strap on my sandals, and prepare to depart this place right now with Him? Most believers are satisfied with worshipping Him here today, and serving our Lord by delivering His gospel each day until His return. Yet for a few, who have had a closer physical encounter with Him like Paul did, one that has placed them face to face with Christ, and surrounded them with His very real glory, joy, and presence, this choice between serving today, and choosing eternity, is real, and difficult to make.

Understanding the Suffering of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Suffering

Are you suffering today? Were you afflicted at birth, or have you become ill, or tortured during your lifetime? Do you face the torment of men, through beatings, or other worldly punishments; then as a Christian, rejoice in them, because we are meant to count these things as good. Our pain should only increase us in faith, and bring us closer to Jesus by sharing not only in the suffering of Christ, but in the promise of His glory.

Using Time Wisely in every Season God gives us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Time , Wisdom

Do we make good use of every hour and minute in our lives by doing the will of God as if we knew that in a short time we would be called away, and our task here might remain unfinished? Time is limited, and is evil towards us in this regard, but it also reveals how precious it is if we use it wisely. How diligent are we in doing the will of God, and how careful are we in the application of our time in His service, and towards His purpose?

Stifling our Faith with Satisfaction, and Complacency

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Satisfaction , Complacency

Are we satisfied with our current circumstances? How about our day to day lives? As we consider these questions let’s ask ourselves one more... are we satisfied with our faith as it exists today? In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote of their meeting his physical needs, but were they meeting his physical needs alone, and would he have been happy with simply receiving money, food, and shelter? Like Paul we can learn to live in grand earthly mansions, or in cardboard boxes, but the sad thing is that we can also become comfortable with a mustard seed of faith when God wants us to have so much more. 

Our Faith in the midst of Pandemic

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Suffering , Faith

In times of pandemic it is easy to feel confused, and not know how best to behave, or deal with the circumstances that confront us. We find ourselves unable to properly handle illness, suffering, and death, or to remain hopeful when we have lost our jobs, or even our homes. All of these things can bring on a feeling that we are lost, but In this moment of our greatest travail God calls us to come the closest. 

Our Humility, and the Blessings of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Humility , Blessings

God is our shield, and gives us every good reward when we trust in Him, and do as He instructs us, but are we faithful to God’s commandments in the process? Do we serve His will to receive what we are asking of Him, the reward of our having been faithful, or simply out of love and obedience? What is it that we ask God to help us with, or shield us from, but more than all else... what do we ask of Him once we have been faithful, and He wishes to bless us?

The Faithfulness of God, and the Doubts, and “Buts”, of Men

Richard Forbes
Daily Devotional , God’s Faithfulness , Christian

When we are discussing scripture with one another, and God makes a promise in the verse we are considering, we often hear one of the most disturbing words someone can say about a steadfast promise of God... “But!” At that moment an excuse for God not living up to His promise is about to be made. Someone is about to argue that God placed a hidden clause, or a back door, in his promise. Scripture is adamant, and the words straightforward, regarding God’s faithfulness to His Word.

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