Mourning, and a time to Dance

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Mourning

Mourning - at some point in our lives, sadness and sorrow visit us all, but we find it to be like a winter field that is burnt off; from its ashes our capacity to praise God springs up anew, and in the spring we bear a bountiful crop. Like pruning increases the yield of a vine, and fertilizer nourishes the soil, so does our pain and suffering enrich the yield of our souls. In season our gladness returns, and we sing again, for although every man is meant once to die, in Christ he rises again, and our joy returns with eternal vigor.

What is written on our hearts; how about in the sand?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Epistles of Jesus

When we carry the gospel to those around us do they see us as imposters? Do they recognize us as legitimate men and women of God, or just charlatans who want to take advantage of them? Even foreign dignitaries carry papers with them that bear the seal of the government they represent to prove their authenticity, so what identifies us as true emissaries of Christ? Surprisingly, we don’t need a letter with its wax seal, because we ourselves are the proof, and the letter. Jesus has written the evidence of our legitimacy on our hearts, and we bear His watermark; engrained within us by our baptism. We are walking, and talking, letters from Christ Jesus.

Sharing in an Eternal Victory that Glorifies God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Victory in Jesus

Born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and then laid in a manger. How unlikely was it that this child would be a King, and conquer sin and death in the world? What makes His victory especially sweet? It isn’t that He won because that is true of every victory. What makes this victory triumphant, exceptionally joyous, and timeless, is that Jesus, the victor, was incredibly unlikely, and the chance of His victory seemed impossible by any measure. Yet despite all appearances He snatched victory from what seemed to be the jaws of certain defeat. This humble man, who rode astride a donkey’s colt, proved to be God incarnate, and He is more than our savior, He transforms us.

Truth in Scripture - Do We walk with a Living God, or in Doubt?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Our Living God

Do we serve a living God, and do we believe that Jesus sits at His side today, making concession for us there? Do we think the Bible is truth, or simply a collection of historic facts and stories that happened long ago? Do we believe that miracles happened then, but not now, or that prayer was answered in the time of the early church but not in this age? Sometimes I hear people, who claim to be believers, talking like the God of Abraham, and His Son Jesus are not truly alive, and are at best asleep, or have left us alone. Well, if they are not alive, and if they are not with us now as scripture says, then walk away, because there is no truth in this Book.

Increasing our Faith through Spiritual Hunger and Thirst

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Spiritual Famine and Drought

We hunger and thirst the most when we are starving and parched. The Lord knows our hearts and can see the coming droughts and famines, but those of the spirit are without a doubt the hardest to bear. We can recover from worldly starvation and thirst with the help of men, but only God can feed our souls, and give us living water when our spirits have wandered into a desert that is void of His Word. Have we strayed from our faith, and do we find ourselves running to and fro seeking God, but unable to find Him?

Be Still, Be Quiet, Listen, and Understand, Our God

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Be Still

So often we seek God in the midst of whatever tempest that we find ourselves in, and then wonder why we can’t hear him. Do we each have a quiet place and time where we can have a conversation with Him? Jesus slipped away from the crowd, went off into the night, or, as He prepared for His time of passion, He went to the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This isn’t because God’s voice is weak, it is because we are distracted by all the turmoil that surrounds us. When we are in a crowd of shouting people, or in the midst of a raging storm, isn’t it difficult to hear even when someone yells our name out loud? Well… it is like this when we pray, or read scripture, too.

Oh, that by our agony, a single soul might be saved!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Persecution

There are always those who will strike out at us, or seek to undermine us in some way, but our God stands with us, confusing them in their efforts, and ultimately revealing to them the shame in what they do. Whether their actions are driven by jealousy, a desire for power, or some other form of sinful temptation, there will be those who will look down upon us, and speak ill of our righteousness. Likewise there will always be those who will ridicule the Lord God whom we serve. Out of frustration in their lives comes evil, and their shame will find them in it. So we pray for God’s help as we bear our pain, and we pray for the souls of those, our enemies, who persecute us, and bear such terrible shame.

God gives us more than victory over our troubles

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Triumph over Trouble

No matter what troubles we face as Christians, we not only find that God leads us through them, but that during the most immense, intense, and frightening of them, the love of God gives us not only victory, but leads us triumphant through Heaven’s streets in celebration of our complete victory over them. We not only survive life’s ordeals, but thrive in the midst of them. How exhilarating it is to feel the wind in our face during a storm, or how alive we are when we experience the intense fear of standing too close to a precipice. So God is with us in our storms, and in every danger, but not to simply watch over us, but to lead us through them victorious, and then in triumphant procession as we reflect His glory.

Hardened Hearts, and Comforting the Sick and Dying

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Comfort

In this time of COVID in which people are afflicted, sickened horrifically, and many die, it is easy to become hardened to the agony that is going on around us. It seems that our hearts can become overloaded as we empathize with the suffering we see, and the pain we shoulder with them. In sharing the grief, and commiserating with the pain of others, we can become overwhelmed, and to protect ourselves we tend to withdraw from what is happening, and to isolate ourselves from the trauma, but scripture tells us time and time again to comfort others, care for them, and provide for their needs. How are we doing in these stressful times? Do we pray for strength so that we can become a wellspring of strength and comfort to others, or has the pain we have internalized changed us into hardened souls? Are we looking for reasons not to comfort others?

Do not Cower in your Faith, or be ashamed of our Lord

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Courageous Faith

As Christians we are not meant to hide our belief from the world, but to stand up tall in our faith. When the unbelievers threaten us we should bravely walk among them, and show our unshakable faith in Christ with courage, especially to those who would rather beat and harm us than to admit we serve the Lord of truth, and reflect the light of the world. Our goodness, kindness, and humble nature, reveals itself to be most courageous, when we are standing without hesitation, or fear, before the world.

The Closed Doors that lead us to Glory

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Closed Doors

As we do God’s will, or obey Jesus by going into the world to delver His gospel, we come to various crossroads, and we ask to be shown which way to go. This is the proper thing to do, but quite often, as we approach these places of decision, all we hear are slamming doors, and the only one that remains open leads us down the same tiresome road we have been walking. This is often disappointing when we want to do new and great things, but God, through the Holy Spirit, desires something different… something that eventually will be more advantageous to Him, His kingdom, and will lead us into eternity as we glorify Him.

We are strengthened by the Glimpses of God’s Glory

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , God’s Grace

We live our lives being confronted, and buffeted at every turn, by the tribulation, pain, and suffering, that is common to this world. As we endure these challenges it is easy for us to begin believing that they will overcome us, or that they have such a hold on us that there is no escape from them, but this is not true. Suddenly, at the height of our agony, we are given a glimpse of God’s glory; sometimes for no more than an instant, or if need be, for longer, and in those moments we realize that these things we endure now are insignificant when compared to what awaits us. Our Hope, and faith, are increased many fold by these tiny visions of glory, and we are restored.

We are Blessed in every Season, and forevermore

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Blessings

What is the season we find ourselves in? Do we recognize it? Are we in a season of gladness, and righteousness, or has disease and the selfishness of man banished our hope in the goodness of our shepherds, the provision of our land, and brought drought to the Church? Whether it is joy, hopelessness, or some season in between, God gives those who keep their faith in Him His blessings, he sends us showers of blessings to sustain us, and gives us hope in Him, through His Son Jesus.

Strengthening our Faith through Humility

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Humility

When everything is going remarkably well in our lives it is easy to become proud, and to walk arrogantly in the world, so we are taught to be humble, and when life is beating us down, and Satan is attacking us at every turn, we can become distressed, and depressed, so we are taught to stand tall, and lean on God. The challenge is not to simply be humble, or to stand only in our strength, it is to know when it is appropriate for us to display one, or the other. The goal is to be neither defeated by our pride, nor destroyed by the suffering that life is handing us. Our faith teaches us to find a gentle and productive place in Christ where we can be like Him; avoiding arrogance, while experiencing strength, and standing firm in the midst of our humility.

The Bible is more than a collection of books!

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , The Bible

As Christians we are not meant to be blind to the meaning of God’s Holy Word, nor are we to be deaf to His truth that is contained there. There are many who read and study the Bible, and claim to know it, yet their hearts remain empty, and their minds like barren wastelands. I pray that we will never join these who will passionately argue scripture, or quote verse in hollow repetition, never feeling true love for the Lord, or Jesus Christ… not even in passing. They pour over the words, but not once do they feel or acknowledge God’s love, and presence, in His Holy Word.

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