Tag: <span>devotionals</span>


Dwell deep. I heard the Lord say. Just as the rains coming down soak deep into the ground, they are yet feeding the soil that brings new life. Therefore, when the rains of life come, dwell deep. New life will come.

And the rains come “on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b NKJV)
Life’s events and heartaches and trials and disappointments and griefs and sorrows and…and all the other stuff happens to every one of us. All that junk-du-jour piles up around and within us, and, unfortunately, we end up pulling a veil of camouflage over the Lord.

He’s hidden. Covered over with dishes, diapers, duties, distractions, dates, dues, debts, discouragements, disillusionments, distresses, and all the other D words you can think of.
We wonder, Where is God? And Jesus whispers to us, Abide in Me. But we dash in and dash out of His precious presence. Not giving Him time to soothe our soul with His words of comfort.

The Lord says to us…
Do not rush into My presence looking at your watch. The busyness of life derails your attention. Let down the wings of your disquieted and busy spirit. Prepare by being still. I will be found in quietness and stillness.

If My people would take time to be with Me, they would hear those soothing words of comfort and guidance for which they so desperately yearn. Therefore, be still and know.”
But we’re in a hurry and we don’t sit still. So, again we wonder, “Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?” (Job 35:10 NKJV)

When sleepless nights compel you to toss about and tears dampen your pillow, He draws near and giveth those songs of hope in the night. David sang, “Deep calls unto deep…The Lord will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.” (Psalm 42:7-8 NKJV)

To hear those songs, to find that peace, comfort, and joy, dig beneath all the muck. Dig down through it all and dwell deep in your soul. The Lord is there.

Dwell deep under those layers of discouragement, grief, failure, disappointment, hurt, or heartache. Dwell there, and “Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.”
(Ecclesiastes 8:3 NKJV) No fitful visit, but a real dwelling, a real abiding.

Abide in Me, He whispers. Do you hear Him?

Dwell deep, my precious friend. Oh, dwell deep. The enemy sends his emissaries to harass you, to toss flaming arrows of heartache at you, to steal all that you hold dear. “The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10a TLB)

Just as God told the tribe of Dedan to physically flee their enemy, He tells us spiritually, “Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths.” (Jeremiah 49:8a NKJV) Dwell deep and hide from the enemy.

The Lord is there…dwell deep. Deep down where sweet, intimate fellowship abides, where comfort flows like warm oil of the Spirit.

Dwell deep to gaze upon Him, upon the scarred wounds of His passion, where the reality of the cross pierces the unbelieving heart, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (John 20:27 NLT)

Dwell deep to gaze upon His holiness, where the glory-rays of His abundant life spill over into your soul, where He makes the exchange: your fear for His courage, your defeat for His victory, your darkness for His light, your heartbreak for His heart-rest, your storms for His calm, your discouragement for His hope, your helplessness for His rescue, your doubt for His faith, your suffering for His restoration, your loss for His gain, your brokenness for His wholeness.

To dwell deep is to find the Lord and be changed into His likeness. He says, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10b TLB)

“Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets.” Luke 5:4a TLB

By Lynn Mosher
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/lynn-mosher_dwell-deep/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK


Follow Us On:

facebooktwitterinstagrampinterest

 

 

 


thoughts by Lynn Mosher Thoughts by Women


“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you will know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:2–4

My husband quotes these verses a lot. I used to feel uncomfortable when he did because I knew I did not “count it joy” when I had difficulties. I often thought of trials as a nuisance. But God has been teaching me, and finally it has become clear to me why I need to count it all joy.

Recently I read Majestic is Your Name. This book contains a collection of writings by Teresa of Avila, who lived during the fifteenth century. She wrote,

Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile, or self-pitying responses that your sinful soul wants to spew out— as if these puny things could in any way defend you! Watch and see if any of these poisons come out of you when your spirit is pricked by an accusation. Only then can you see yourself as you are, and confess thy sin that is within you, and forsake yourself again into the Lord’s care.”

You see, when we run into difficulties or accusations, we can choose to respond in joy, or we can react negatively. Our response is the barometer as to how we are doing spiritually.

I encourage you to choose to respond with joy to every difficulty or nuisance that comes your way today. It is an act of affirming that God is the blessed controller of all things.

Lord Jesus, I do thank You for the trials that come into my life. Whenever my soul is pricked by a sarcastic remark, or I am misunderstood or slighted by someone, my reaction to this lets me realize again that I am a sinner, desperately in need of Your strength to respond in love and kindness and patience. Thank You for continually pointing out my need of total reliance on You. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

Comments: If you don’t see our response form, please go to https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/katherine-kehler_joy/

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/


Follow Us On:

facebooktwitterinstagrampinterest

 

 

 

___

thoughts by Katherine Kehler Thoughts by Women