Deut 13:4a It is the LORD your God you must follow….
The part of Deut 13:4 that really grabs me is the very last part, “…hold fast to Him.” It brings to mind the song “On Christ the solid Rock I Stand.” The words immediately following the title verse are “…All other ground is sinking sand.”
Deut 13:4b …and Him you must revere….
That is such an apt description of current times. Every time I hear the news or see an article or social media post, it feels startling and unsettling, a world of sinking sand. But I am not depending on the world. I am holding fast to God, standing firm on the Solid Rock. Thank You, Jesus.
Deut 13:4c …Keep His commands and obey Him….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your sovereignty, no matter the condition of this world. Thank You for the reminder to hold fast to You, that You are our Refuge and Strength. Thank You that we can say with certainty, “He is risen. He is risen indeed.” Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 13:4d …serve Him and hold fast to Him.
Have a blessed day.
Rejoice in the LORD…. (devo reflection)
Deut 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God….
If God never did anything else for me save sacrifice His only Son so that I could be restored to a right relationship with Him, I would still have reason to praise His name for the rest of my life. But I am so deeply human, so often driven by my fickle feelings that I don’t always, maybe don’t often, praise Him as I should, as He deserves.
1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice at all times….
But God doesn’t want empty praise. He wants praise that overflows from a thankful, grateful, devoted heart, even when it’s hard. And, y’all, sometimes life is so hard—global pandemic, freak accident or illness, death of loved one—hard. A friend once related a story about her aunt. I don’t remember all the details, but she had dealt with sickness and death of several family members, and when she was told of yet another death, her response was, “God has been so good to me.” THAT is praise from a grateful heart.
Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to rejoice always in You. Thank You for the example of my friend’s aunt, who rejoiced in Your blessings, even in the midst of her loss. Help us to rejoice in You always, even when it’s difficult. Thank You for Your abiding love. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD….
Have a blessed day.
Love is a choice…. (devo reflection)
Deut 11:1 Love the LORD your God….
Love is a choice. It’s not always an easy choice, but it’s a choice nonetheless. That’s why God doesn’t force us to love Him. He could, but He wants us to choose Him. Love is also a daily choice. Sometimes we don’t FEEL like doing the loving thing. Sometimes we are angry or stressed or fed up. And we can choose to give in to our feelings (spoiler alert: that never ends well) or we can choose to act in love. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not easy, but it IS our choice.
Deut 11:13 …love the LORD your God….
God chose to send Jesus to save this fallen is world. He could have wiped everyone out and tried again, but He chose love. Jesus chose to obey His Father out of love. “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). It wasn’t an easy choice. It wasn’t without huge sacrifice. But Jesus chose love.
Deut 11:22 …love the LORD your God….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that love is a choice that we make day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Thank You for the reminder that love isn’t always an easy choice. Sometimes it requires great sacrifice. Thank You for the reminder to love others as You have loved us. Help us to always use Your love for us as our guide as we strive to love each other. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 11:22 …love the LORD your God, …walk in obedience to Him, …hold fast to Him….
Have a blessed day.
Love like that…. (devo reflection)
Deut 10:12a And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God….
Lord, I’m always asking for flashing neon signs. Thank You for the flashing neon of this chapter. What do You want from me? You spell it out right here (among other places), and I am thankful. You want me to love You, reverence You, so I obey, not out of fear of punishment, but because I love You so much that I don’t want to disappoint You. And I do love You like that, Lord.
Deut 10:12b …to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him….
You want me to be obedient to You because I trust that You know more than I do, that You have my best interests at heart, that what You want me to do is for my good and Your glory. You want me to love You and love others, to be Your hands and feet in this world. You want me to put aside my own way and honestly say “They will be done.” I do love You like that, Lord.
Deut 10:12c …to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your instruction and guidance. Thank You for making Your expectations clear and for loving me so much, despite my humanity, my flaws. Help me draw closer to You every minute of every day, Lord. Amen.
Deut 10:13 …and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
Have a blessed day.
With us in this fight…. (devo reflection)
Deut 9:1 Hear, Israel: You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you….
The first sentence of commentary on today’s verse says, “God was leading Israel into something too big for them. It was a challenge they could only meet if they trusted in God.” These lines immediately brought to mind this global pandemic that we are experiencing. It is too big for us. It is a challenge we can meet only if we trust in God.
Deut 9:3a But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes ahead of you like a devouring fire….
But I’m left wondering how I can trust in God during this in a way that will make any difference, that will have an impact. Psalm 118:24 immediately sprang to mind when I asked that question: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” followed quickly by Luke 10:26: “‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Deut 9:3b …He will destroy them; He will subdue them before you….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for speaking to my heart this morning. We are in the midst of an incredibly frightening global pandemic. This situation is way too big for us. Thank You for Your reminders to rejoice always and to love You and love others. I don’t know how these things will make a difference in this fight, but I trust that You do. Help us not to underestimate the power of rejoicing, of loving, of trusting in You. Thank You for being with us in this fight. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 9:3c …And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Have a blessed day.
My strength…. (devo reflection)
Deut 8:17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
As I was reading Deut 8 today, the saying, “May I never forget, on my best day, that I need God as desperately as I did on my worst day” came to mind. I no longer have any idea where I originally read that quote by Mike Epps, but I definitely still recognize its truthfulness.
Deut 8:18a But remember the LORD your God….
When times are tough, when things are going poorly, I have no trouble remembering that I cannot do life without God. When I’m praying, “Lord, Give me the strength and wisdom for just one more step. Just one more,” I know without a doubt where my strength comes from. I pray that I will always remember Who my strength is, no matter my present circumstances.
Deut 8:18b …for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your strength, Your peace, Your hope. Thank You that when times are tough, I know You are my strength. Help me to always remember that I need You as much on my best day as I do on my worst. Draw me closer. Amen.
Deut 8:18c …and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Have a blessed day.
Little by little…. (devo reflection)
Deut 7:22 The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
Patience is a virtue that I have a tremendously hard time with. I don’t mind being patient as long as it can happen right now. But that’s not how God works. He often works little by little, bringing us slowly to changes and understandings for our good and His glory.
Exodus 23:29 I will not drive them out before you in a single year….
Sometimes, like in Deut 7:22, He tells why His way, little by little, is the best way. More often, He just asks us to trust that He knows what He’s doing, even if we don’t understand.
Exodus 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You see the bigger picture, that You have a plan, that You know what You are doing, even if we don’t understand. Help us to keep walking in faith, Lord, even when we are uncertain or afraid. Help us to trust and obey, to know that You are making a way, little by little. Draw us closer. Amen.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Have a blessed day.
The strength to obey…. (devo reflection)
Deut 7:17 You say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?”
I’ve been studying Ezekiel 37:1-14 with my church this week. These verses from Deut 7 put me in mind of that section of Ezekiel. In both, God is asking them to do something that feels impossible, something that, humanly, they can’t see a logical way to do. Ezekiel is told to prophesy life into the dry bones and the Israelites are told to drive out a nation that is much stronger than they.
Deut 7:18a “But do not be afraid of them….”
But in both cases, God is the one doing the telling. God is the one with the plan, the vision, and the sovereignty to make it happen. With Ezekiel and with the Israelites, God needed them to be willing to trust that God knew what He was doing, and that He could get it done, that all they needed was the strength and faith to do what He asked of them.
Deut 7:18b “…remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the fact that You don’t need us to understand how You will act, You just need us to do what You are calling us to do. Thank You for understanding our feeble humanity, for loving us fiercely despite our flaws. Thank You for calling us to do our part in faith. Give us the strength to obey. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 7:21 “Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.”
Have a blessed day.
Perfect love…. (devo reflection)
Deut 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
I am a deeply, fiercely, unconditionally loved child of God. He loves me as much on my worse day as He does on my best day. His love, His presence, His mercy and grace are limitless and without condition. I am unwaveringly thankful.
Deut 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
He asks that same deep, fierce, unconditional love of me for Him. He wants me to love Him, to seek Him, with all that I am and all that I have. He wants me to be as steadfast in my devotion to Him in my trials as I am in my praise of Him in my triumphs. Some days I do pretty well at unwavering love. Some days I have to give myself plenty of grace, remind myself of His unconditional love, and try again to love Him without limits, without whining, without fear.
Matt 22:37 Jesus declared, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your clear example of perfect love. Thank You that You understand my flawed humanity, that You show me such undeserved grace and mercy as I fumble through this life. Thank You for loving me as completely on my worse day as You do on my best day. Thank You for understanding my deep love for You, even when I am bitter or afraid. Draw me closer. Always. Amen.
Mark 12:30 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Have a blessed day.
An active, living relationship…. (devo reflection)
Deut 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us….
Lord, Thank You for being present, for wanting an active, living relationship with all of Your children. Thank You that “I tried” or “I knew her father or her mother; that’s good enough” is not Your answer when it comes to pursuing us, to being in relationship with us.
Deut 5:4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.
Lord, Thank You for Your active communication with us, even when we don’t listen like we should. Thank You for the myriad ways daily that You let us know You are with us, that You encourage, guide, and direct us.
Deut 5:6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for all the chains of slavery You have broken for us. Release us from every bondage, especially the bondage of fear and uncertainty, especially in these troubling times. Help us to turn our hearts and minds to You. Help us to seek You with all that we are and all that we have. Draw us closer. Amen.
Deut 5:7 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
Have a blessed day