All tagged desert

Man, the Desert, and a Choice

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional, Choosing God

I have been thinking about some thoughts presented by Pastor E.M. Bounds' in his devotional message this morning. I have been contemplating a couple of statements he made that I found quite thought provoking and revealing; the first is "The end of trouble is always good to God." And the second was "Trouble proves a blessing or a curse, depending on how it is received and treated by us." These fit nicely with a conclusion I reached a long time ago. I came to the realization that man is the source of trouble in creation. Let me explain my thoughts...

Israel, the Prodigal Son, and Us

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Returning to God

Our Father doesn’t like to lose a single soul, not even those that turn their backs on Him to worship other gods. If we have turned away, and our god has become money He will take it from us. If our god has become our beauty He will strip us of our youthful looks and fine clothes, and if our possessions have become our gods, He will cause them to break, wither, and vanish. He doesn’t do these things because He hates us, no, He does them to bring us back to Him… because He loves us. Have we become like these who once loved Him, but who have now turned our backs on Him as a people, country, or a person? Have we made the gifts of the world our idols and gods? Are we pursuing earthly loves, and left our One True God behind, alone? Well He still desires to have us return to Him, and will lead us into a desert place where there is nothing left to worship, or love, but Him. There, in that desolate place, He will woo us, bless us, and love us, as if we had never spurned Him, or turned away.

Waiting to hear God's Voice in the Wilderness

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Waiting in the Wilderness

How long have we been waiting on God? Do we even realize that we have been waiting, or do we simply think that we are living a life subject to our own actions? Are we going to a dead end job every day, or simply living hand to mouth, and not see that the Lord is about to do something wonderful in our lives? So many people wander about, or carry a heavy burden in their heart, feeling lost in the world when in fact they are one step or one day away from God calling their name. Are we one of those that are waiting today, and don’t realize it?

What does the Wilderness hold for us?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , The Wilderness

How many times have we been led by the Spirit into a wilderness of some type, and to what end were we led there? Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, but we really don’t know what went on there during those forty days prior to the three temptations except that he fasted, and became hungry. What we do know is that at the end of His time in the wilderness He successfully faced the temptations that we are so familiar with. So what is it that takes 40 days to accomplish that can prepare us to face such trials?