Recently during the New Year’s Conference at America’s Keswick, Dr. Joe Olachea made the following statement and I believe it is so profound I had to pass it along. He said: “We should fear God so much that we fear nothing else.” I cannot add to the impact of that statement other than to share some applicable Scripture.

Deuteronomy 6:13 It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.

Joshua 4:23-24 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.

2 Kings 17:37 You shall not fear other gods,

Psalm 96:4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I appreciated Dr. Olachea’s reminder – thought I’d pass it along.

Blessings, Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation,”

Do you let others know when one of His promises bears fruit? Do you spread the word about His truth? I want to, but I tend to remain quiet, not wanting to offend anyone.

Here are some of the promises that need to be circulated.

PERSONAL
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.” Proverbs 3:5-6 As I look back over my life, I see that God has directed me, clearly, even at times when I did not understand, but I knew God was directing me. As a young teen, I chose as my life verse, Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.” God has certainly altered my “desires” over the years, but he has definitely kept His promise and given me the desires of my heart.

CHILDREN
“Train a child in the way he should go and WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT TURN FROM IT” (Proverbs 22:6). There were times while raising three teenagers that I really clung to “when he is old.” I do believe the hardest task for a parent is to let God be original with our kids. I don’t know about you, but I do know that I wanted my children to learn by osmosis without having to experience all of the mistakes that their parents made. Unfortunately life doesn’t generally work that way, and fortunately neither does God. It is true that we learn from our mistakes. I have learned that I could pray my children through many of the rough experiences of life, and God was very gracious to them.

MARRIAGE
We were married 52 years ago and we were taught that marriage was serious business. We believed Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, FOR GOD WILL JUDGE THE ADULTERER,” so we kept ourselves pure before marriage and we were taught divorce was not an option and we believed that and lived by that commitment. We both chuckle when we think of how naive we were when we got married; we actually had no concept of what we were doing. We love to look back and see how God chose us for each other.

SPIRITUAL
I received Christ as a five-year-old and my husband received Christ when he was 19.
Acts 16:31; And they said, “Believe In the Lord Jesus Christ, and YOU WILL BE SAVED….”Christ transformed our lives and gave us a guide for life. I cannot say it has been an easy life, but it has been GOOD. Our life has been different, and I believe better, because we have chosen to serve Jesus Christ.

John 10:10b states: “I have come, that they may have life, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL.”Our life has been full of blessings, not because we were good or deserving but only because of JESUS.

I imagine many reading this devotional could write examples very similar to mine, but going back to Spurgeon’s quote “Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation,” may I ask, “Are you putting the completion of his promises into circulation”? Are you spreading the word that Jesus is the answer, and He keeps His promises?

MARILYN W. HEAVILIN

Marilyn is a wife and mother, author, and international conference and retreat speaker. She and her husband Glen serve as Counselors-in-Residence at America’s KESWICK during the summer months.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one

A couple weeks ago I heard something in a message by Charles Zimmerman and it stuck in my mind. I’ve been mulling it over since it was a really different way of thinking about things. He mentioned a phone call he received from a man at his church whose wife had just passed away after a battle with cancer. The man told Charles that he and his wife had been holding on to something Charles had said in a recent sermon, that God answers our prayers either “Yes” or “Better.”

I have often been told God answers us “Yes,” “No” or “Wait.” I think I like Charles’ answer for one simple reason. “No” is not something any of us wants to hear. And while waiting is a part of life, most of us don’t really like it. But “no” and “wait” can both be superceded by “better.” And I think most of the time, I don’t really know what to ask God for anyway. But He still wants me to ask and to trust Him that He will either answer “yes” and give me what I ask, or He has something better in store for me.

Jesus told His followers, Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11 NIV) Jesus is basically telling us “yes” or “better” is our Father’s answer!

How much more eagerly would we go to our Father with our requests if we knew His answer would be either “Yes” or “Better”? “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Trust His heart and know that His answer is “Yes” or “Better”!

RS
Ruth Schmidt is on full-time staff at America’s Keswick, and grateful to be a daughter of the King.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one

Have you noticed how rich the Word of God is when you savor it? All too often we read our 2 or 3 chapters, mark it off our to-do list and move on. How would you feel if your spouse or friend treated you that way? “Call Diane” check, move on. Our time in the word is not just about reading but being with the Author. Do you forget that? I do. Each week we are taking a verse or two from the book of James. Let it dwell in you richly. Savor it. Let it change you. If you have not yet joined the journey, it’s not too late.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Commentary:
“The same Greek word translated ‘trials’ (vv. 2-12) is also translated ‘temptation’ here. James’ point is that every difficult circumstance that enters a believer’s life can either strengthen him if he obeys God and remains confident in His care, or become a solicitation to evil if the believer chooses instead to doubt God and disobey His word … God purposes trials to occur and in them He allows temptation to happen, but believers can endure and never without a way to escape (1 Cor. 10:13). They choose whether to take the escape God provides or to give in…” [The MacArthur Bible Commentary pg. 1883].

Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

James 1:12. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Points to ponder:
Every test or trial is an opportunity for us to grow in grace and faith. We can succumb or surrender. If we succumb, we believe the lies of the enemy and fail to walk by faith in grace and truth. If we surrender, we embrace the work of God in our lives to accomplish His plan and purposes. Trials make us stronger when we remain steadfast, clinging to our faith and the person of Jesus Christ. Yes, we will receive the crown of life, but even better we receive more of God Himself. God is for us. He empowers us to persevere and overcome every obstacle and trial. He gives us the victory. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57.

Stand firm, sister; don’t succumb, but surrender to the love and work of Jesus Christ in your life.

Diane

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 10:16

Stubborn? Who me? Who you?

Do you, like me, find there are still way too many times that you go your own way, choose to follow you own agenda?

There are times I would probably look no different than the Israelites which God said, ‘hardened their hearts’.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.”
(Hebrews 3:7-9)

Now, you may be thinking I’m only referring to disobedience, blatant rebellion, basically saying “no” to God. And that, of course, is some of it but as serious and egregious as that is there is a more subtle form of stubbornness – the callous heart of legalism and self-righteousness. This is subtle because this form of stubbornness appears to be saying “yes” to God but really is taking matters too far. These people (and at times I am one of them), are more comfortable with rules, laws and standards, the very things Christ came to set us free from.

Our acceptance in Christ is not determined by how clean our house is (thankfully), what we wear to church, whether we wear make-up or jewelry or not, what version of the Bible we read, whether we have piercings or tattoos or not.

I believe there is a stubbornness that is rooted in a judgmental and critical spirit.

Sister, I may be talking straight to you, but I’m talking to me, too.
To have a circumcised heart means we will be sensitive to the workings and guidance of the Holy Spirit and be surrendered and obedient to His whispers.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America’s KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

There are many different names in the Bible that are used for the name of the Lord. One of the names is “The Lord of Hosts.” It is this name that gives me peace in the midst of the trials of life. It is this name I cry out to when seeking how to pray or what strategy to use that will result in victory.

I found 273 references to the Lord of Hosts in the Old Testament. I surely will not refer to all of those in this devotional. However one story you are likely very familiar with is in the book of Joshua. The scripture relates a time when Joshua was likely pre-occupied with the coming battle with Jericho. “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ And He said, ‘No, rather I indeed come now as Captain of the host of the Lord.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to Him, ‘What has my Lord to say to his servant?’ And the captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 6:13-15 NAS)

Joshua seems to have realized that the “man” he saw was no ordinary man. He removed his sandals and worshiped the Lord of Hosts, the Captain of the host of the Lord. He must have come to know at that moment the battle was not his but the Lord’s. I can almost hear him give a shout….Hallelujah!! He still had to engage the enemy but the Lord of hosts would release the plan that would lead to victory. And so in the following chapters Joshua explains to the people the plan the Lord of Hosts has revealed. God’s people followed the plan. Did you ever wonder what they must have thought about the plan? Who would ever consider marching around a city for six days with seven priests carrying seven trumpets before the ark, with armed men before the priests and a rear guard after the ark? And then to march in silence until the seventh day when Joshua told them to shout!! And yet the scripture does not relate any grumbling or complaining. They followed the plan “and the walls fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.” (Joshua 6:20b) Amazing!!

Another familiar time the Lord of Hosts appears is when David approached Goliath, the Philistine, and said “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.” (1 Samuel 17:45-46a NAS) Was David simply an arrogant young man? I think not. David had ears to hear what the Spirit of God was saying to him. He did not listen to the advice of his brothers or even his earthly king. He followed the training and the plan the Lord of Hosts had released to him. He was victorious in the name of the Lord of Hosts.

I believe the Lord of Hosts continues to be alive and well. I believe with all my heart that in the midst of the trials of life it is critical that I seek first the Lord of Hosts, worship Him, and seek His plan. I will likely still have to face the trial as did Joshua and David but as with them I will be victorious to the glory of my Lord. I may not recognize the plan as a sound plan by my own understanding, but it will line up with His Word. Friends and even family may think I am a little crazy but if I humble myself and am obedient to His plan I am confident I can be more than an overcomer. The Lord of Hosts lives and it is He who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly far more than you or I could think or ask. Glory to His name.

Consider the following prayer:
Lord of hosts, I thank you for the lessons of scripture. I thank you for the pictures you give us of those who submitted themselves to seek your face and humbly obey. I thank you that I can release the trials of this world to you. My enemy is a defeated foe. Lord, I long to fully submit to you as Lord of my life. I long to love you with my whole mind, heart, soul and strength. Please release unto me ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying and the heart to obey, that I might walk victoriously to the glory of Your name, dear Lord of hosts.

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

I found myself running to Jesus this morning. Two friends had shared some heavy burdens and I just felt the need to lay them at the feet of Jesus. But when I knelt to pray, I realized I hadn’t been quieted on my knees in quite awhile.

Hhmmmm….maybe I need to take care of some things before I start to barrage God with my load! I started asking myself why I hadn’t been in prayer fellowship with God and thought, “Wow! I must think a lot of myself! For when I feel things are too big for ME then I go to Jesus?” *sigh* Oh boy! How did I stray so far?! How ashamed I felt!

So I spent some time confessing and taking a look into my heart before I laid my burdens for others at His feet. I looked at the way I was spending my time. Was I spending it with my Lord in His Word or was I sleeping in? Was I spending time with other believers and being encouraged to speak the name of Christ and what He has been doing in my life or was I zoning in front of the TV/computer? What kind of music was I listening to? (Not an issue for everyone, but for me it is)

I was discovering a lot of SELF was present. Filling myself with what “I” wanted to do and be about. Wow, Lord! Forgive me! “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” I’m glad that He reminds me when I stray – baaah, baaah! So thankful that He is a good Shepherd!

“Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above. Amen”

May we take today to stop and do a little inventory – how are we doing in our communion with our Lord? Are we straying or are we in the fold? Thank Him today for drawing us back to Himself.

Sue Mercer
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Sometimes people get the impression that if they get saved all their troubles are over. This week’s verse does not support that. A friend of mine and I were recently discussing the world situation (this is way out of my league) and she commented, “I would not want to be going through all that is going on in the world with out Jesus Christ.” Christians are not exempt from trials or difficulty but we have grace and power and hope. I need to be reminded today. We have grace and power and hope.
James 1:12. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Commentary:
“Reward for Those Who Endure. James returns to the theme introduced in v. 2. Crown of life alludes not to the jewel encrusted ruler’s crown but to the laurel wreath given to winners in athletic games (1 Cor 9:25) and victorious emperors. The reward for faithful perseverance is eternal life, with all its abundant blessings (cf Rev. 2:10).” [The ESV Study Bible, study notes pg 2392]

Diane

James 1:9-11 “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”

Points to Ponder
As I consider this week’s verse, I am reminded of the brevity of life. Whether rich or poor, both will come to an end. We can waste a lot of time on worldly issues, distracted by money, little or much. Both can be distracting. Remember Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

In reality anything can distract us from God. Good things can distract us from God. Because they are good, their distraction is ever so subtle.

In the end, what will matter is not how much money we had, what letters came after our names, how thin or not we were, how big or small our house was, but in the end were we totally devoted to God? Did we love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength? It is a challenge to keep our eyes on the eternal rather than the temporal because oft times the temporal screams for attention. Let us look beyond the things of this world to gaze upon the person of Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Diane