To Gain in Christ we must First Lose Something of Ourselves

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Change

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior It is only natural for us to want to add who He is to who we are, and not lose a single part of ourselves, but when we change, it always demands that something be left behind. Each time we experience change in our lives we become new creatures in certain ways. Our faith is one of the biggest agents of change we will ever experience. For those who know Christ I ask you to look back at who you were before you started your journey with Jesus, and witness to others about His amazing transformative power in your life. Then focus on today, and tell them how you have been changed since yesterday… speak of the man you fed lunch to a few hours ago, the person you clothed, the moment of enlightenment in last night’s prayer. The joy you woke up with this morning. Tell them that they will lose a part of themselves, but that they will be made new each day.

Christian Watchmen, and Intercessors, the Faithful Who Stand Guard

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Watchmen and Intercessors

God has called us to be Christian intercessors; we are meant to stand day and night on the Holy wall that divides His kingdom from the fallen world, and to call out to Him when evil, or temptation approaches His children within. This is a tireless job in which we are to be ever vigilant, and from which we are not to take our rest or leave our post. As His servants, and soldiers we are called to stand our watch upon the wall, but, when we are called, and once posted, are we faithfully performing our duty?

Are the Tearful Prayers of Intercession Mixed with Blood?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Tears of Intercession

If we were asked who the greatest intercessor was in our lives, what name would we answer with? Perhaps we would give that title to our mother or father, our pastor, or a Saint we know who has a powerful way of communicating with God in prayer, but although these would be good answers they would fall short of one man; a man who had spent his life interceding for us… Jesus Christ. He was born to intercede, and He continues on in that role through eternity.

Are We the One Strong Person that Others Come to for Intercession?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Being an Intercessor

As Christians, who do we speak for in times of trouble and temptation, and who speaks for us? Is there someone in our lives we can turn to for intercession? Is there not one righteous soul who will place his hand upon us, and intercede in prayer when we are in a bad way? Think on this today; who do you turn to in such times, and are you steady enough in your prayers and faith that others would consider turning to you?

Intercession the Loving, and Transforming, Prayer

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Intercession of Jesus

Intercessory prayer has always been important, and I would be surprised if you haven’t already prayed personally for the sick, or someone in need around you. Maybe it was one of your children, a spouse, a close friend, or then again, you might have seen a prayer list at church, or felt the need to say a quick prayer for someone you work with. In each of these situations you are filling the role of an intercessor. When we are sick, hurting, or in need it is equally important to ask others to pray for us. Perhaps your church has a team of Saints who have been identified as having a special spiritual gift when it comes to praying for others, but whatever the case may be, when we are personally in need of prayer then it is important for us to seek out another to join with us in lifting our concerns before God… find an intercessor.

The Unbending Truth of God’s Word, and Precepts

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Unchanging Word

Are you bothered and upset when men take the Word of God and twist it to suit their own purposes? Do you feel a sense of betrayal in their actions, and a loss of fidelity? God’s Word is more than a simple account written by man for his amusement, it is God Himself being revealed to us. So why is it that we think that we can treat it like the grass that we trod under our feet, as we disregard its Holy, and proper, use? A lawyer searches and guards the meaning of every one of man’s words when making his defense, yet the theologian often approaches God’s Holy Word by looking for loopholes, or any means he can to cloud its meaning, to gain advantage, a living, or notoriety among men, by justifying sin. Woe be to them.

Christian Soldiers… Are We Walking Blind into Battle?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spiritual Vision

As modern day Christians we tend to look at the world around us and fret over the sinful condition it is in, how it is set against us as a people of faith, and has such disdain for God’s Church. We become worried about what will happen to us in the face of such terrible adversity. Yet things are not as bad as they seem, and if we will pray in absolute faith for God to send us help, and that our eyes be opened so that we can see what is spiritually arrayed about us, we would stop fretting, and praise God with all joy, and in absolute confidence, and security.

Do We Twist God’s Truth, or Receive His Grace and Peace?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Truth

When we seek God, and Jesus Christ we find them. They do not hide from us, nor do they shield us from the knowledge of them, but when we come to know who they are we must accept the truth that we receive. In the world there are many who twist the truth of not only worldly things, but they deny and twist heavenly truths as well. In this way they doom themselves, and attempt to lead others astray, but for those who fully accept the true knowledge of God and Jesus there lies an abundance of grace and peace.

How Much Grace Is Enough?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Grace

How much grace have we each received through Jesus Christ? How much will we eventually receive before He finally says “that should be enough!”? The answer is that we will never receive enough because it is one of those spiritual blessings that flows, along with living water to cover our sins, and it isn’t determined by our capacity to receive it, but Christ’s ability to give it.

Learning the Love of Jesus; Teaching the Love of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Love of Jesus

From the moment we first believe, when Jesus comes to dwell in us, we receive a new and abundant ability to love, but for it to reach its full capacity we must nurture our faith, and gain day by day a greater understanding of the heart of Christ. As we know Him better, and He increases in us, so does the fullness of God. In this way we are blessed, and those around us come to experience God’s love for them… some realizing it for the very first time.

Was I born in the Wrong Spiritual Day and Time?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Perfect Age of Christ

Do we feel like men and women born in the wrong spiritual time? Do we feel more akin to the first Christians who followed behind Jesus than with modern man? Sometimes we look around ourselves and see what is happening in the world, and Church, and our hearts ache exceedingly for His return; we long for His coming, and a renewal of faith around the world. Well we are not alone in feeling this way because Paul felt just as many of us do… born out of due time!

Great and Small Callings, and the Interwoven Will of God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , The Minutia of God’s Will

As Christians we often ask God about our calling. We ask about what it is, how we can remain in obedience to Him in it, and in our daily prayers we ask what the Lord would have us do today. Our individually tailored calling, and His will for us are coupled tightly together, and both have one thing in common… they involve winning, and working with, souls for His kingdom. We might be called to be pastors, build cathedrals, or simply to witness to the poor, but however grand, or meager, God will place us in His service.

On the Far Side of Every Sorrow

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Happiness

Sadness and happiness can dictate how we feel and move through life, both physically and spiritually. Our approach to the throne of God when we are happy, and feeling loved, is one of celebration and joy, but if we are distraught, and made sad by our sinfulness… not feeling loved by God, or loving Him as we should, then we hang our head, and find ourselves reluctant to come into His presence. How do we recognize this, and overcome it?

How do we Answer the Repeated Questions of Love, and faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Questions of Faith

How do we respond when Jesus asks us if we love Him? Do we simply answer yes without a second thought, or are we grieved that He would have to ask us this at all? Jesus knows us, and He already knows the answer to this question before He asks, so what is the point of it? His point is to reveal to us the degree to which we love Him. How many times must He ask us before we think deeply about our answer, and respond to Him from our heart? Perhaps we don’t grieve at all, and if this is the case then doesn’t that tell us a great deal about our faith as well?

Fruit Popsicles, and the Love of Jesus

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Love of Jesus

Jesus gave us a new commandment; that we are to love one another, and we are not simply to love them as one man loves another, but with a divine love, an agape love. Jesus tells us this when He says “just as I have loved you.” Are we capable of this? We know that this is how we love God, and how He loves us, but can we step into His shoes and love another human being as we are loved by Him? Can we step out of our world and love each other in an entirely new and wonderful way?

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