God’s Will, and the Power of Praying within It

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Will of God, Prayer

Do we pray simply to receive those things that an omnipotent God can give to us, or do we pray that we receive those things that are part and parcel of His will? How did Jesus pray in the Garden of Gethsemane? He prayed that If it were God’s will that this cup be removed from Him, but more than that, He prayed that not His will but God’s will be done. How do we pray? Do we pray that whatever we desire be given to us, or whatever calamity we are facing will be lifted from us? Do we ask these things without concern for the will of God, or do we pray that God’s will be done?

Where is your Heart, your Treasure, and your Home?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Treasure

The rich, the famous, and the wealthy, do they tempt you with their lifestyles, and make you yearn to be as they are? The arrogant, the wicked, and the dominant, does their ability to succeed every day without consequence bring you envy? These are the champions that the world has to offer, and they look, for all the world to see, as if they are the pinnacles of success, and what we should strive towards, but they are not. When the book of their life is closed, and the scroll of their possessions is rolled up, they will be thrown in the fire, but the righteous shall be just beginning to walk in glory with God through Jesus Christ. Thus we ask; where is my heart, my treasure, and my home?

Jesus Christ, the Treasure in our Field... and our Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Our Treasure, Christ

Is Jesus Christ like a treasure that you have discovered in your life, and did you give up everything else you once valued so that in overwhelming joy you could abide with Him? No? Well, once you have uncovered Jesus, and witnessed the value of His righteousness, holiness, and grace, there is nothing you own that you wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice for Him. Perhaps you have merely discovered the locked chest, but have never opened it to see the actual treasure inside, and then covered it back up. Are you afraid of what opening that chest will awaken in you, or of what it will require of you?

Being Chosen, and choosing to accept being Chosen

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Choosing

Jesus calls our name, but do we hear Him, and do we respond to His call? Those who recognize His voice, and know who He is will most certainly respond to Him. Some worry that they will not hear, others fret over whether He will call them at all, but all those that He calls will recognize Him, so there is one question we alone must answer... will we choose to join His flock by obediently following His call?

Traveling the Grand Avenue of Love with God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Love

As a parent we feel the pain of our children, and as our Heavenly Father, God also feels the pain of our suffering. He not only feels our discomfort, but He intercedes in it by soothing our agony, and carrying us in His arms when we are unable to walk on our own. We should never let Satan convince us that our God is detached, or uncaring, because in truth He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to share in our bruises, and to become our surrogate in affliction... thus healing, and redeeming us.

A Rescued Puppy, and the Mercy of God that brings us Home

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Redemption , Worthiness

As we contemplate the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, how amazing it is that He did all this for us while we were embracing sin, and covered in the filth of the world. He came to us in His perfection, and we met Him dressed in rags, and filled with unrighteousness. Yet He came, He knocked at our heart’s door, and He waited for us; then He mercifully washed us clean from head to foot, and clothed us in righteous attire. Jesus lovingly prepares us, the lost, to meet His Father.

Marks left by Sin - The reminders of a larger Love, Hope, and Truth

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Marks of Sin

Many Christians once led an intense life of sin and unrighteous behavior before hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and recognizing its truth. In those days they harmed their bodies, but Jesus said “Come!”, and brought them to the Father where those sins were forgiven, and their spirits renewed with life. But, what of their bodies that were damaged, and the marks of the world that still remained after their conversion? Well, some heal, but others serve as reminders of past sin, and how it leads to death.

God’s People, as we face His Correction, and Coming Judgement

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Correction

What will we do when the Lord decides to pour out His wrath upon the world? Will we throw away our inhibitions, remove the boundary stones of our faith, and run roaring like lions in the streets, or will we fall to our knees and pray fervently for God to forgive us, and spare his children? We don’t like to consider these frightening things, but if we wait until such a day arrives then our faith will find itself caught off guard by the hopelessness of humanity, and we may be lost. Is our faith robust, and can it withstand the chaos of such a time as this?

Suffering in Earthly Christian Life

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Expectation, Suffering

Did we come to know Jesus by looking for an easy way through life, and into eternity? Were we seeking an escape from persecution, and to be continuously protected from harm? If that was the case our search was in vain, and we need only look at His life to understand that. Jesus warns us to be vigilant, and to know that there are those who will want to do us harm, but in the end our souls will find their reward despite the trouble that is in the world, and we will rejoice in our earthly calamity simply for having known Jesus.

The Forgiveness of Moral Man versus Holy God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Forgiveness

How do we deal with sins that we have fallen into? Do we wallow in despair, and think there is no rescue, or forgiveness? Where is our heart in the midst of our transgression, and have we been convinced by a dark world that our sin has forever damned us in the eyes of God? Well, that is the ploy of Satan, but we are provided forgiveness, and escape, if we will only believe, and come to God in contrition, asking for mercy and forgiveness. In this way we are forgiven completely.

Little Sins... the Slippery Slopes to Disaster and Death

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Little Sins

The little sins in our life are the most dangerous. Do we allow ourselves to tell the small white lies, and think they are not really sin? How about the person we allow ourselves to have lustful thoughts about, but never actually get physical with? Is it alright to do that because, after all, we aren’t going to act on those fantasies? Well, it is the little things that lead us to the larger ones, and although they seem safe, they lead us to points of no return... sin.

Sins wrapped in gold are sins nonetheless

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Hidden Sin

We are so naive when it comes to sin. We think that we can easily recognize it, when in fact our greatest sins are often those we lift up to ourselves, and others, as being our most magnificent accomplishments of faith. Things like the pride we take in a healing prayer when in fact it was God’s hand that did the work, and our feeling of self righteousness was merely an attempt to steal his glory... even when we outwardly praised Him. So many sins come encrusted in the sweetness of sugar, or a shining gold plate, when in fact it is sour bread, or crude metal underneath.

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