Devotions

To me, one of the most interesting people in the Old Testament is Jacob, a deceiving, manipulating man. Yet God loved this man dearly.

Jacob had tricked his twin brother Esau out of his birthright and stolen the blessing from his father, Isaac — a blessing that belonged to Esau. When Esau learned what Jacob had done, he was determined to kill his brother and that set off a long war between them. But in spite of that, the Lord brought Jacob into the covenant blessing of his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac (see Genesis 28:14). Then God added these wonderful blessings: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (28:15).

God actually told him, “I’ll never leave you, Jacob, and you can never make a move that I won’t be involved in. My purposes will be accomplished in you, no matter what!”

What a promise! It is hard for me to find any faith, goodness or grace in Jacob, so how could he possibly be the covenant patriarch of God’s eternal purpose? Actually, I’d want to ask the Lord, “What did you see in this man? You are holy and just, and you don’t wink at the kinds of things he did. So why didn’t you correct him instead of blessing him after he had stolen and deceived?”

God saw something in Jacob’s heart that brought forth his great love and a desire to bless him. We read, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15), and God knew that Jacob had a repentant, broken spirit.

We have heard that humans consider the outward appearance, but God always looks at the heart. He knew that something in Jacob’s heart was willing to be changed.

And that is exactly what God is looking for in us!

Three common words heard among Christians in times of crisis are, “Lord, do something!” It is totally against our nature as human beings to stand still and do nothing when we face perplexing situations. In fact, waiting patiently for God to act is probably the most difficult discipline of the Christian walk. Even devoted believers panic when the Lord doesn’t move according to their timetable.

Our God is always searching the earth for a people who will trust him in every crisis, trial and hopeless situation. Indeed, he often leads us into situations that are alarming, critical, difficult, in order to test us. He wants to see if we are willing to stand still and wait for him to bring supernatural deliverance.

The Bible states very clearly, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23).

This means that it is God, not the devil, who leads us into difficult places. We may cry out, “Lord, why are you allowing my crisis to continue?” But the truth is, he allows our trials deliberately — for a purpose. And that is hard for us to accept!

I firmly believe every step we take is ordained by our heavenly father. God wants to produce faith in us, so he is molding and shaping us into godly examples of faith — to be his testimony to a faithless, ungodly age.

God is absolutely faithful to his children and he would never lead us to the brink of a difficult situation only to abandon us. He is always asking us, “Will you be the one I’ve been searching for? Will you be the one who does not panic? Who will not charge me with forsaking and hurting my children? Will you stand in your crisis and trust me to see you through?”

“Standing still” is an act of faith — an active resting on God’s promises. Faith changes everything! Will you determine to cease all questioning today and simply trust him?

The subject of giving thanks came to me during a time of great personal heaviness. So many problems were piling up that I blurted out to my wife, “I’ve about had it. I’m at the end of my rope and I just want to disappear!”

Feeling very sorry for myself, I began to complain to God, “Lord, how long will you keep me in this fire? Don’t you see how weary my spirit has become? When are you going to answer me, God?”

Suddenly the Holy Spirit fell on me and I felt ashamed. He whispered to my heart, “Just begin to thank me right now, David. Bring to me a sacrifice of thanksgiving for all the things I’ve done for you in the past and for what I’m going to do in the future.

“Thank me for your family, your health, your ministry. Just give me a sacrifice of thanksgiving and everything will look different. You’ll have peace in the battle and I will bless your soul with assurance.”

Those words settled my spirit but I wondered what the Lord meant by “a sacrifice of thanksgiving.” Searching the Word, I was amazed at all the references I found.

“Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing” (Psalm 107:22).

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:17).

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:2).

And, of course, the most familiar Bible passage on thanksgiving: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).

When you have no place to turn, turn to thanksgiving! Thank the Lord for his forgiveness, his blessings, his promises, all that he has done and is going to do. In everything, give thanks!

One of the most important verses in all of Scripture is found in 1 Peter 1:7: “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found in praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Peter also tells us what we can expect to face in such tests of faith: “Though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (verse 6). Peter is saying, “If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you will be tested severely.”

Peter makes it clear that such tests of faith are not intended for nominal Christians; these fiery trials are meant for sold-out believers. Christians have a “living hope” because of their faith (verse 3). Simply put, God is saying to us, “Your faith is precious to me, more precious than all the wealth of this world, which will one day perish! And in these last days — when the enemy sends all manner of evil against you — I want you to be able to stand strong, with an unshakeable faith.”

Beloved, the test of our faith is important because God’s keeping, delivering power is released according to our faith in him. The stronger our faith, the more his keeping power will be released in our lives. 

Paul testifies of having endured heavy adversities and testings: “Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me” (Acts 20:19). He was acknowledging, “I know that in everything I go through, the Lord is trying to mold something in me. He wants to bring forth an enduring faith!”

And James writes, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3). James is saying, “Whenever heavy trials come upon you, rejoice!” The Lord is at work, bringing you to a place of rest and faith in him.

Do you have a struggle in your life you’ve never been able to shake? You wonder, “Can I really find joy in the Christian life? Will I be in this battle forever?”

I enjoy counseling people. I get absolutely blessed when I see someone set free by Christ’s Good News, finally able to enjoy life. Nothing satisfies like the sight of a spiritually crippled person finally healed and springing forward into life with new hope, joy and faith.

This does not come easily, however. The conflicts we all face every day are serious because the challenges of life in a fallen world never stop. Satan works constantly to obscure God’s work in our lives. At any given time, even the most devoted Christian can find himself teetering on the brink of unbelief.

I knew a great couple whose faith was challenged by a report regarding their young son. When he was in second grade, they were told he had a severe learning disability. They were advised to remove him from school and start training him in a trade so he could eventually earn a living. While accepting the situation on one level, they were inspired to declare in faith, “We don’t accept that this is God’s plan for our child.” They kept the boy in school and told him over and over, “We believe in you,” as they spent long hours working with him. Through diligence, perseverance and faith, this child became a good student, graduated from college and now pastors a thriving church.

God actually uses our difficult seasons to prepare us to receive the blessings of his favor. This is a powerful truth and despite grievous circumstances, he is with us in everything, no matter how dark our situation.

You can be assured of God’s favor: “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).