Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

Christmas is a season we make lists. There are lists of things we need to do, lists of items we need to buy, and lists of gifts we hope to receive. It is easy to get caught up in the commercialism of the holiday, letting our minds dwell on all that is available for the consumer. Often we forget all the blessings we already have as we greedily consider what we hope will be under the tree Christmas morning. But as we let our minds wander down "Hope I Get It" Lane, there is another thing to consider. Most of what we are coveting is a package deal! Regularly we have people call our office about a cute little cottage that is for sale. When they inquire about the property, the first thing we tell them is that the cute little cottage is part of a package deal. If you want to buy the one, then two other houses come with it. Though this is a wonderful opportunity for someone interested in a larger investment, the average buyer is not interested in owning three houses.

Satan is a crafty enemy who uses many tactics to shut down those who are Christ-followers. One successful approach is to convince God's children that they are helpless and unable to do what they are called to do. I know this because this is something the enemy has used on me. I have never been a very confident person. Though I can come across as very self-assured, I have always struggled with a feeling deep inside that says I am not good enough. These feelings became so strong at one point that I came to a place where I really started to believe that I was not good enough to do even the simplest of tasks. When asked to clean a house for someone, I panicked thinking that I did not have what it would take to accomplish the job well. Thank the Lord I finally realized where these paralyzing thoughts were originating. They were vicious lies whispered in my ear by an enemy who desired to shut me down. He knew that I am a child of God and have the power of the Holy Spirit available to me and he decided to attack me where I was weak.

Whenever you get ready to do something where you could get hurt you need to wear the right gear. Football players wear  pads and helmets, soccer players wear shin guards, and volleyball players wear knee pads. Beekeepers wear special clothing to protect themselves from bee stings and astronauts wear insulated suits to shield their bodies from extreme temperatures and air pressure. If you want to be safe, you are wise to use the right clothing and equipment. The Bible tells us that we are in a battle - one that is not fought against other humans but against Satan and his demons. Though we are assured that Christ has already won the final victory over our enemy, there are still dangerous skirmishes. Every day Satan seeks to destroy our testimony and to keep unbelievers from accepting Christ as their Savior.

This is the time of year that should cause us to reset our thankful meter. Thankfulness is a mindset we should have all year round, but often in the business of life we forget to stop and think about all the blessings that we enjoy on a regular basis. Every day, not just Thanksgiving, we should enter God's presence with gratefulness praising Him for all He has done. So if your thankful meter has become sluggish consider what Psalm 100 has to say. How should we give thanks?  Often we tend to think of anything to do with God as very solemn and quiet - like a monastery where you are afraid to make noise or disturb the silence. Though quietness is often helpful in bringing grateful thoughts to our minds when we discover them, it is OK to shout with joy. God loves to hear our voices and wants us to share loudly what He has done with others.

How would you rate your relationship with God? In our house, we have a saying. Whenever we see someone doing something that looks outwardly religious, we say they are so “spiritual.” But the roll of the eyes and the tone of voice conveys the opposite. Though it has turned into a joke for us, it really is nothing to laugh about. There are many today who think that certain actions or words illustrate their virtue or closeness with God. Unfortunately, if one is relying on only these outward things, they are deceiving themselves. 2 Timothy 3:5 tells us that in the last days there will be many who hold to a form of godliness that is false. Their actions and “spiritual” sounding words will mean nothing if they have denied the power that God gives to those who truly belong to Him. True godliness will always result in attitudes and actions that emulate God Himself. It is a deep inner change that results in pure outward actions. Just because someone goes to church every week, carries the largest Bible available, and can speak with flowery religious words does not mean that her life belongs to God. If their belief is real, it will produce the kind of devotion towards God that expresses itself in loving others just as Christ does. It will not be a forced way of life, but will happen naturally as the Holy Spirit works in and through them.

Did you know you are a tool in God's hands? Each person who comes to know Jesus Christ as their Savior is God's workmanship created for good works which God has prepared for us to do. It does not matter whether you come when you are young or old, male or female, a decent citizen or a hardened sinner; when you accept God's gift of salvation, you become His tool to accomplish His work. Regularly at auctions we sell tools. They always draw a big crowd and typically sell well. Sometimes we have fancy equipment such as a scroll saw that can fashion creative wood pieces. Other times there is a unisaw, a joiner, or a planer. Each of these tools do specific jobs to make a project easier. Though these expensive pieces are very handy to have, the regular everyday box lots of hammers, screwdrivers, and pliers are also important and ones that a carpenter would not want to be without.