Seek the Lord Earnestly: a devotion by Ann Broughton

 “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV).

Have you made your list of resolutions for the New Year? It seems everyone has good intentions at the beginning of the New Year, but oftentimes we get lazy and forget about the list. Usually at the top of the list is for people to lose weight and exercise. Well, today I will challenge you to put seeking the Lord and His plans for your life as the number one item on your resolution list. After all, that should be your first priority.

The Wise Men or magi of the Bible certainly put the need to find the Christ child as their number one priority. These men were not even Jews, but were astronomers and had seen the star and had researched that a King of the Jews was to be born. As soon as they saw the star they headed to Jerusalem, which was very far away. It might have taken them many months to get to Bethlehem, as the Bible says that “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:11 NIV).  Jesus was no longer a baby but a child and later King Herod commanded that all boys 2 years and under should be killed, so we know that Jesus was a young child. So these men traveled earnestly to find Jesus for a long period of time. They let nothing stop them. Their mission was to see Jesus and give Him gifts.

My challenge to you as we start the New Year is to earnestly seek the Lord with all your heart every day and give Him the gift of yourself in service to others. You have a special gift that only you have, and you must seek the Lord to help you see it and use it for Him. Every day, take time to pray, seek the Lord’s will, read the Bible, and then go out and serve Him in whatever He leads you to do. There is so much need around us that it should not be hard to find a way to serve. People need hope. They need to know that people care for them and that God loves them. So many people are lonely and sad. You can be the one that turns a life from despair to happiness just by caring and sharing what the Lord has done for you. This could be the greatest year ever in your life if you just step out in faith and seek the Lord earnestly.

Dear Lord,

As we approach a New Year, let us strive to earnestly seek you every day. Help us to put seeking you at the top of our to do list every morning, so that we can serve you with the gift you have given us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Room for Jesus: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7 NIV).

Have you ever wondered why there wasn’t any room for Jesus’ parents on the night he was born?  After all Jesus was the King of the Jews, Almighty God, and Prince of Peace. You would think royalty should have been born in a palace that night and not in a place where all the animals were kept. He was placed in a manger, a place where the animals ate hay. Mary could have announced to the inn keeper that she was with child and was carrying the one who would “save his people from their sins”. (Matthew 1:21 NIV) The angel told Joseph that their child would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Seems like they could have thrown some weight around to get a four star hotel by just saying Mary was carrying God’s child, but they did not. It also seems to me that God could have performed His own miracle by providing a more suitable place for Jesus to be born, but He did not. Instead, Jesus was born in a lowly manger. He came to earth to be a servant and later in His ministry would not even have a house to live in. His whole purpose was to heal the sick, cast out demons, preach about the Kingdom of God, and save people from their sins. God was in control on that night Jesus was born, and knew His son would be blessed by being born in a manger and raised by parents who were ordinary people. God had a plan, and Mary and Joseph trusted Him.  

So do you have any room for Jesus in your life? This is a busy time of year. There is so much to do: buy presents, send Christmas cards, decorate the house, go to parties, have parties; to name a few. This Christmas take time every day to be alone with Christ to pray, and reflect on how you can be a true blessing to others this season.  Don’t get so busy with preparations that you turn into a mean spirited person because you feel stressed out. If you focus on Jesus and what He wants you to do and act like, then your life will reflect that love to everyone during this hectic time. If you pray, Jesus will give you peace and that peace will be passed on to others. Show Jesus’ love this season to everyone and continue to be a blessing. Make sure you make room for Jesus in your life and trust Him.

Dear Lord,

This season can become hectic, and it is really easy to forget that we are to be an example of your love always. Help us to take time to be still in your presence every day, so that we can show others your love and your peace. Help us to always make room for Jesus in our hearts.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Prince of Peace: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

Jesus came on earth to give us peace. His whole ministry was offering peace to those around him. He healed the sick, preached that people needed to love their neighbors and enemies, told the people not to worry, but trust God, and calmed a storm by just speaking, “Be still”.

These are just a few examples of how he displayed peace. If you read the account of his sentence and crucifixion, you will notice that he displayed peace in front of his accusers also.

This peace that Christ displayed is also available to you. Jesus told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV). In the Beatitudes Jesus spoke: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9 NIV). Jesus wants us to have peace and display it for others to see.

Since this peace is always there for us all the time. Do you feel it and portray it? Is there something in your life right now that is making peace difficult to find?  Is your peace being thwarted by your own personal problems? Sickness, death of loved ones, financial problems, and chronic pain are just a few things that can take away your peace. But you must realize that the peace Christ has to offer you is still there. Whenever I start fretting and worrying and complaining about my problems, I know that I can start spiraling downward into despair. I have learned to say to my self, “Stop it!” and then I pray in earnest for Christ to fill me with His peace. The most important thing for you to do when you are in a downward spiral of despair is to call upon the Lord to fill you with His peace, because it will happen. Trust me, because I have been in the miry pit of despair before, and He has filled me with a peace that I cannot even describe to you. He is definitely my Prince of Peace.

So the next time you feel as if the world is falling in all around you, remember that your Prince of Peace is only a prayer away and will give you the peace that you so desperately need.

Dear Lord,

There are many things in life that can threaten our peace. Help us to know that you will never abandon us in our time of need, and that your peace is available if we take time to calm down and pray.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Give Thanks Always: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV).

As we approach Thanksgiving, we are reminded of all of our blessings.

It is a time to remember what God has provided for us and thank Him for His steadfast love for us. But thankfulness should not be saved for just this holiday. We should be in a mood of thankfulness every day.

Do you honestly give thanks in all circumstances? It is very difficult to do if you are in pain, lonely, sorrowful, or poor, but if you can honestly look at your life and see the good that also has happened your outlook can change remarkably.

I just read an article of a lady who had crippling arthritis. She was feeling sorry for herself and then decided that she would look at it in a more positive light. She thought that she was lucky to have two legs to walk on because some do not. She was determined to get better and her philosophy wrapped around the idea that there is a bright side to everything. She said her thinking more positive thoughts about it was more powerful than any steroid. You see it is all about perspective. Thankfulness is a thought changing and life changing act.

You must remember that no matter your circumstances God will never fail you or leave you. Jesus promised that, and He never breaks a promise. Start every prayer with thanking God for His steadfast love for you. Concentrate on the blessings and it will be difficult for you to stay in the miry pit of  “Woe is me”. 

I highly recommend that you keep a journal and write down a blessing in it every day, or start a blessing jar and write a blessing each day on a strip of paper and put it in it. Then when you are feeling down, just sit down and read those blessings. It will lift your spirit and help you to see that God has not abandoned you.

So remember that every day holds a blessing for you to be thankful about. Look for it and you will surely find it, and then be a blessing to someone else.

Dear Lord,

Some days it is very difficult to be thankful. Help us to see the blessing in every circumstance and be joyful always even when we don’t feel like it. There are so many ways you bless us. Help us to look for those instead of the negative things.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Full Armor of God: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Put on the full armor in the Lord so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV).

Are you prepared for the temptations of life? It is so important to put on the full armor of God. I love this reference to what the Roman soldiers wore during this time frame. It gave the Ephesians a visual on what they should do to be prepared to face the devil’s schemes. The most important thing to remember is that you just can’t have one of these, but you need all of them. Let’s see what a Christian should wear as armor.

First, Paul states that we should have the belt of truth buckled around our waist and a breastplate of righteousness in place. The belt of truth is centered around our belief that God is truth and never lies. (Isaiah 45:19) The breastplate protected the soldier’s heart, just as living in righteousness will help us to have faith during times of trials. When your heart is broken, God will heal it and give you strength to carry on without losing hope. Your feet need to be “fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15 NIV). We should be ready to bear up to trials and temptations with peace, knowing that God is with us and will fill us with His peace when we need it. “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). It is so important to have faith that God will be there to protect you and give you courage to withstand the temptations that befall you. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NIV). Read the Bible to help you live the Christian life.

It is important to remember that you have to have on this full armor if you are to stand your ground against the evil one. You just can’t have one, because then you are vulnerable in the other areas. The devil knows your weakness and will hit you with a flaming arrow right at that weakness.  Let’s review what you need. You must have truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and knowledge of the Word of God. If you have all of these in place you will be successful in quenching those flaming arrows from the evil one. Take on this full armor and know that God is there to help you fight your battles in this life. Trust Him.

Dear Lord,

Help us to put on the full armor of a Christian each day, knowing that you will always be there for us when we are faithful. Help us to remember that you always need to be first in our lives.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Word of God: by Ann Broughton

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than a double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).

How much time do you spend reading the Bible (word of God) every week? It is so easy to get busy and put the Bible on the shelf, never looking at it until you go to church on Sunday. The Bible gives you instruction on how to live a Godly life. It is so important that you study it every day.

Sunday we had a Gideon speaker come to our church. I have such respect for those who are Gideons. They take the word of God to people who would not have any other way to get one. He told a story of a father who berated his daughter for reading the Gideon Bible that was given to her and told her it was full of lies and fantasies. He took it from her and headed to his mining job. Later that day the mine collapsed and he and 30 other men were trapped. Many days later they finally managed to dig to rescue them only to find out they had all died. They found the father with a Bible in his hand. In the back he had written that it held truth and he wrote how he had accepted Christ as his Savior. Under his name were the names of all the other men who had accepted Christ as their Savior too. The word of God is powerful and can change lives. It gave these men hope and eternal life.

You know if you try to get a job, you have to have to be taught how to do it. Some of us have spent money and a many years to get a degree for our jobs. Anyone who has any kind of job has to be taught. But more important than all of these hours spent in learning for your job is learning what you need to do to live a Christian life. The world will pull you to sin and you will end up following ways that are not Godly. Reading the Bible every day, especially the New Testament will help you to remember how you are to behave as a Christian. After all, according to the above verse “it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”.  It can also inspire you to do more for others, serve others, and have a joyful spirit in times of stress. There are so many times in life when I have been in stress and a Bible verse would come to my mind that would fill me with peace. I urge you this week to pick up your Bible every day and read it and pray. God will help you to understand what you are to do to live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Dear Lord,

Sometimes it is so easy to forget to read the Bible every day. Help me to be committed to doing this so that I will not stray from your truths to follow worldly pleasures. Help me to remember that: “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness..” (2 Tim 4:16 NIV).

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Have Hope: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11 NIV).

Are you in need of hope? When I was a little girl I use to watch Captain Kangaroo in the mornings before school. One time there was a puppet show and it went along with the song “High Hopes”. I can still see that rubber tree plant going down when the ant pushed it. The whole song was about if you have high hopes you can conquer any problems. It left an impression on me. Then I gave my life to Jesus and realized that there is another hope that is always there for Christians.

Sometimes life can weigh us down with sickness, debts, pain, or betrayal, to name a few, and it is easy to forget that our hope is in the Lord who can fill us with peace and joy even in the toughest moments. This verse should encourage you: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).  What wonderful words!!! It is difficult to believe this if you are in the throes of an emotional storm. But trust me, because I have been there before, if you call on His name and pray, He will fill you with His peace and joy. It is such a wonderful feeling. The Holy Spirit is inside of you if you are a Christian and is able to do powerful things if you let it. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). You have power inside of you that will help you through any trouble that you can encounter. Trust God and believe that He will help you. After all, we have an even greater hope to come: eternal life. There is nothing that can take that away from you. No matter what, keep believing and your head held high. Your hope is in the Lord who will never fail you and in the end will lead you to his heavenly kingdom. Have hope and believe. Your destiny is glorious.

Dear Lord,

Sometimes in life, things happen that can really weigh us down with despair. Help us always to remember that our hope is in you and that you alone can give us the joy and peace we require in our times of need.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Self-Control: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22 NIV).

All of these fruits are available to you as a Christian. Do people see them in your life?  I have difficulties with self-control. I recently got a Kindle Fire for my birthday and immediately downloaded many “free” games for it. You might say I have an obsessive personality to a point and found myself playing those games all day at first. It was fun and I found myself wanting to get to a new level. I did refuse to buy virtual things to win, which is a total waste of money. Soon hours went past and there I was still sitting playing the games when my husband came home from work. I knew it was out of control when I had dreamt all night that I had to match three candies (Candy Crush) in order to save someone’s life. Needless to say, I woke up thinking that I had a problem.  Then I heard a testimony on K-Love from a woman with two masters’ degrees and was addicted to Farm-ville, which I hadn’t played yet. She said she got up in the middle of the night to feed virtual animals. ‘Wow’, I thought, ‘That is way over the top’. But then I thought about how much time I was wasting sitting there playing those games and was ashamed. It was a wake-up call for me to stop it. I had let games take over my life and the desire to get to new levels was addictive. Plus, I hadn’t read the Bible or done my Bible study because of this. That is when I repented and decided to limit my game playing.  It is so important not to let your life get caught up in other things so much that you stop serving God and others.

Self-control is a fruit of the spirit, but you must ask God to help you to do it. He alone can give you the strength to stop whatever is addictive in your life. Gaming is minor compared to other things that can be addictive, but anything that becomes more important than God is a sin.

It is serious to not have self-control. Let me share a verse about the last days that Paul wrote, “But mark this; There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV). Quite a list isn’t it? The last part really hit me, “Having a form of godliness but denying its power”.

Are you doing that?  You have the power within you to have self-control, but you must pray and ask God to help you.

Dear Lord,

Help us to have self-control in our lives so that we can be good witnesses for you. Help us to put you first in every area of our lives.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Your Legacy of Faith: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 NIV).

Does your family really know how much you love the Lord? Do you speak of your faith with them often? My mother was a great influence on me in regards to having faith in God. She loved Him and I knew it. My mother took me to church every Sunday as a child, and I continued to go as a teenager also. Every day I would see her open up her Bible and read from it. I am privileged today to have that Bible and cherish it. She not only went to church every Sunday, but she showed me what it was like to serve God also. She would take me to visit shut-ins or older folks when I was a small child. She helped people when she could. She took me to prayer service, and I remember as a small girl kneeling with her and praying for those who were sick or in need of help. I knew she prayed for me also. I still remember her kneeling by my bed every night and saying my prayers with me. She volunteered to help in church in many ways. You see her example led me to believe that being a Christian was so much more than just going to church. It meant that you served Him by helping others, reading the Bible every day, and praying earnestly. It is because of her faithfulness to the Lord, that I have the faith I have today.  

Do you speak with your children and grand-children about your faith in God? Do you tell them that you are praying for them?  Do you pray with them? Do they see you reading the Bible every day? Do you have a family devotion time?  Have you talked with them about how God has answered prayers for you?  Do you take them to help others and do you teach them to give to others?  Being a Christian is so much more than just believing in the Lord. It is doing His will every day and showing others around you how important it is to pray, read the Bible, and serve Him in a sacrificial manner.

It is my hope that you will really pray about ways that you can show your family the importance of faith in God in every aspect of your life, and that you reveal to them how important Christ is in your life. It will impact your family in a wonderful way and you will leave a legacy of faith for generations to come.

Dear Lord,

Help me to speak of your love to my family and show them that you are a very important part of my life. Help me to take time to pray with them, read the Bible with them, and show them that it is important to give to others who are in need. I want those I love to serve you and believe that all things are possible through you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

God Has A Plan For You: A devotion by Ann Broughton

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

God does not care about your outer appearance. He cares about your heart.  Let me give you an example from the Bible. When David’s brother was considered for king, God rejected him. He wanted someone who trusted in God so He chose a shepherd boy named David. God said about David’s brother, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).  So how does your heart measure up? Is it surrendered to the Lord’s will? Are you praying about His plan for your life?

God made each one of us with a special plan and we do not have to be perfect on the outside to do it. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). All of us, men and women, have good works to do for the Lord that He has prepared ahead of time for us. It is up to us to do them.

It does not matter how old we are or how we look, we are to be doing God’s will in our lives. God created us to be the ones to help others who are in great need. Each of you has a specific purpose. If you do not do it, then nobody else will.

It is not enough for us to say. “Why Lord, are you letting all these bad things happen to people?”  We are to be the ones to help them. He created us to do good works such as: give money to those in need, give food to those who are hungry, and encourage those who are lonely, ill, or sad. These are only a few things that we can do for Him. If you pray, God will place on your heart what you can do for Him to help others. Then do it.

This week do what you can for others and do His will. Stop fretting about your appearance. Work on getting your heart aligned to the Lord’s will for your life.

Dear Lord,

We oftentimes get all caught up in our outer appearances, when we need to take a long look at what is in our hearts and if our plans are measuring up to what you would want us to do. Help us to always do your good works that you have prepared in advance for us to do.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Glorify God in Your Trial:a devotion by Ann Broughton

“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:16 NIV).

In Jesus’ ministry he often healed peopled from illnesses and demon possession. He showed compassion and love to everyone. There is one story I would like to tell you today that really made an impact on me.

A blind man was sitting near him and his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2 NIV). You see during this time they believed that people were ill because of a sin they had done or their parents had done. What Jesus told them made me stop and think. He said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me” (John 9:3-4 NIV).

It was if I had just read this for the first time. I guess that is why we are to study and reread the Bible all the time, because we will receive wisdom when we do this.

Many people are afflicted with many types of chronic illnesses. I have fibromyalgia and many other people also have this. There are many others who have an autoimmune illness which really hampers their lifestyles. Have you ever wondered why you had to have this illness?

I personally never thought it was a way to glorify God, but now I am.

How can the work of God be displayed in your life when you have a chronic illness? As a Christian you can be a help to others who are suffering also. You could send an encouraging card to someone who is suffering. You could start a support group and share ideas on how to feel better. You could tell them how God has helped you by giving you the strength to just keep going without complaining.

God can use any weakness we have to help others see His glory. It is our attitude that needs to be constantly conformed by His power in us, to do the work He wants us to do even when we don’t feel like it. We are to be that blessing that someone else needs.

Dear Lord,

Help us all the time, no matter what our condition, to be an example of what you can do in our lives even when we don’t feel that well. Let others see the work of God displayed in our lives through our afflictions. Help us to glorify you every day by reaching out to others.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Do Not Fear by Ann Broughton

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”

(Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

Does fear have a hold on you at the moment? Is it filling your mind with dread?

Fear can paralyze you. It can lead to depression and great emotional stress which can lead to poor health. As a Christian, it is so important to trust God and not let fear get the upper hand in your life. Here are a few verses that might help you when you are gripped with fear. These are all references from the NIV, version of the Bible, except one.

1. Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

2. Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

3. Joshua 10:25
Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous….”

4. 1 Chronicles 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you…”

5.  2 Timothy 1:7 ESV 

For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.

It is so important to not worry about things you have no control over. God wants you to lay your worries and fears at his feet and trust Him to help you with the unknowns of this life. Sometimes the “What ifs” can fill you with dread. But can you really know what the future holds? The most important thing to do is let it go and give it to God. If you consider all the ways He has helped you with your troubles in the past and how you got through them by holding on to your faith, it will help you know that He will never fail you or forsake you in whatever the future holds. 

I know in my own life, that God has never failed to give me the strength to get through all the difficult times in my life. I have felt His peace in the midst of tremendous trials in my life. This is a peace that only He could give me.

If you are feeling fear at this time, please believe that God loves you and wants you to feel His peace. He will protect you from fear. One of my favorite verses is: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:5 NIV).  Give your fear to God and trust Him.

Dear Lord,

It is very easy to be enveloped in fear, but I know that your love and peace is available to me. Please fill me with your peace and help me to lay all my worries at your feet, knowing that you are in control. I know that you will never leave me or forsake me. Thank you for helping me to live a fearless life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Greatest Commandments by Ann Broughton

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself”

(Mark 12: 30-31 NIV).

How are you showing that you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?  Jesus told a teacher of the law that these were the two most important commandments. You see if you do them both you will fulfill what Jesus taught while He was on this earth. If you love someone, you want to show it in many ways. You will not ignore them. You will want to be with them constantly and talk with them. You will want to please them and do whatever it takes to make them happy. So it is when you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You will want to spend time alone praying to Him with gratitude for all He has done for you. You will want to do what He would do for others: such as giving to the poor, caring for the widows, encouraging those who are sick, and putting others' needs above your own needs.

Jesus said that He came to do His Father’s will. Jesus said, “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29 NIV).  So too must we do what pleases the Lord. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14: 21 NIV). You see to love the Lord is wonderful but we also must do what He commands us to do. We must show others that being a Christian means that we must put other peoples' needs above our own needs.

This week take a good hard look at how your life reflects Jesus and His teachings. Take time to help others and show His love to those around you. There are so many people in your life who need a kind word or help in some way. Sometimes it is so easy to become self-centered. Try to look past your own difficulties and see what acts of kindness you can do to help those who are suffering.

Dear Lord,

We know it is not enough to say we love you. Help us to reach out to others who have difficulties. Don’t let us get caught up in our own problems so much that we forget to love others and help ease their burdens.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Lord Loves You by Ann Broughton

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:1-2 NIV).

Ever try to run away from the Lord? Maybe life seemed tough and you had just given up on the Lord. Maybe you felt like He wasn’t listening to your prayers. Maybe you are feeling that He doesn’t love you anymore. I can tell you most definitely that He does love you and knows exactly everything you are thinking, saying, and feeling. “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O Lord” (Psalm 139: 4 NIV).

God knows your heart and hears your questions. It is so important to know that He will never leave you or forsake you. You see you are very precious to God. He knew you before you were born. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb……..My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place” (Psalm 139: 13, 15 NIV).  Your days are known to the Lord. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139: 16 NIV).

If you feel as though the Lord is not listening to you or cares for you, please believe that He does and wants a close relationship to you.

Keep praying and surrender all of your worries, anxieties, and fears to the Lord. He alone knows the outcome, and He alone will give you the strength to carry on. One of my favorite verses that help me when I feel overwhelmed with worry or anxiety is: “He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those that wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40: 29-31 NIV). Trust in the Lord and He will help you through every difficulty in your life.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for always being there for us even when we have doubts. We know that you can read our thoughts and know what lies in our hearts.

Help us to trust that you will never leave us, and that you love us beyond what any human can love us.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

 

Peace in a Crisis by Ann Broughton

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).

If you were in a very scary and traumatic situation would you be filled with peace? I just read about a person who was in a very scary situation and relied on her faith in God to calm a man who was determined to kill a number of people at a school. The whole article can be read on this site:

 http://us.cnn.com/2014/02/22/us/tuff-survivor-gunman/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

You see Antoinette Tuff has a strong belief in God. Every morning she gets up at 5, listens to gospel songs, talks out loud to God and reads the Bible. Then she sits for 15 minutes and waits to hear from God.

She has done this for a long time. Her life had not been easy. She had moved 14 times as a kid and was homeless for a time. She knew what it was like to be down and out and without hope. She used this background to show empathy to this man with a gun that burst into the school. She said she doesn’t remember being calm, but her voice was calm when she was talking to the man to give up. The police officers said she did everything right when she managed to convince the man to give himself up. The police officer said that you have to practice being calm in every day life in order to have it in an emergency. She said it was no accident that she was there that day. All of her life experiences helped her empathize with this man and save 800 elementary students from danger. Isn’t it something how God can use even our tough times to help others? 

This example shows us that self-discipline in regards to prayer, Bible study, and quiet time with God can provide in us with the calm we need to face our storms in our lives. Time spent every day reading the Bible, praying, and being still and quiet helps Christians develop peace that goes deep within the soul. Jesus oftentimes went by himself to talk to His Father and be still. That is how He managed to remain calm when He was condemned to die on the cross. This week take time every day to sit in silence before the Lord, read the Bible, and pray.

Dear Lord,

We know that storms will come in our lives. Help us to be prepared for them by gaining peace through prayer, reading the Bible, and being still before you. Thank you for never leaving us and for your peace.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Name of Jesus is Powerful by Ann Broughton

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14 NIV).

Do you believe in the power of Jesus’ name? My husband and I were at a missionary convention and heard a testimony from people who rescue young girls from sex slavery. They told us about a pair of girls who had heard about Jesus but didn’t know how to pray. The one girl told the other that if they just keep saying Jesus’ name over and over He would save them. So they proceeded to do that. Soon they heard a ruckus and men burst in their door and took them out of that horrible place. They had been rescued. Now do you think these girls believe in the power of Jesus’ name?  You bet they do. They saw what believing in His name really does. But more importantly was the fact that people acted on the prayers of these girls and saved them. They were being Jesus’ hands and feet and helping those in need.

Now I am going to ask you a very important question. Do you really believe in the name of Jesus and what He can do? I don’t know if you need to be rescued from something, but I do know that if you call on Jesus’ name, He will help you. It is easy to say, “Woe is me, my life is horrible”, but have you really asked Jesus to help you? He is there for everyone. “He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him” (Psalm 22:8 NIV). The peace of the Lord that fills a person who calls upon His name is very real. I have experienced it in the midst of tremendous grief. You will never know unless you call upon Him. It is a peace that fills your entire soul, and it frustrates me that I cannot really put into words how wonderful it feels. Trust me and believe me, that it is very real.

I pray that if you need help, you will call on Jesus’ name and ask Him to help you. He will not fail you. These are Jesus’ words: “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” (John 14:27 NIV). I can tell you by experience that this peace is very real.  Trust Jesus.

Dear Lord,

I know there are those who are reading this who need to call upon your name. Please help them to do this so that they will feel your peace that only you can give.

In Jesus’ most powerful name,

Amen

Forgive, a devotion by Ann Broughton

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).

I recently read a news article regarding the young girl who was shot by a young man at a high school in Colorado. The boy had not gotten on the debate team and decided to take matters into his own hands in a very deadly manner. The parents responded to this in a manner that was very forgiving. Mr. Davis, (the young girl’s father) said this, "The young man that shot Claire had a name. His name was Karl Pierson. For reasons most of us, or all of us, will never know, Karl allowed himself to become filled with anger and rage and hatred," he said at the memorial. "That anger, rage and hatred blinded him. He blindly followed a path that led him to do something that no one should ever do. He took an innocent person's life. He took our daughter's life. "He continued, after fighting back tears, "My wife and I forgive Karl Pierson for what he did because he didn't know what he was doing. We would ask all of you here and all of you watching [on television] to search your hearts and also forgive Karl Pierson. He didn't know what he was doing. Karl's no longer with us. So it's no longer our responsibility to pass judgment," he added.*
Now I would like to ask you if you could do this. Jesus said we are to forgive those who mistreat us. According to Jesus we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) It is a command and a very serious one because if we don’t forgive, we won’t be forgiven. Also we are not to pass judgment on anyone. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1 NIV). Mr. Davis knows this because he told everyone that it is not our responsibility to judge.
I am asking you to forgive those who have hurt you and move on. If you don’t they have control of your life in a way they shouldn’t. Give it to God and let Him deal with it. He is the only one that can give you peace in this situation. He forgave those who scourged Him, spat on Him, and crucified Him. He knows what you are feeling. He is the only one that can help you. Remember what He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Dear Lord,
Please help to forgive anyone who has mistreated me in any way. Help me to remember this always and not hold grudges knowing that it will take away my peace. Help me to forgive so that I will be forgiven.
In Jesus name,
Amen
http://www.breathecast.com/articles/colorado-murder-victim-claire-davis-father-asks-people-forgive-daughters-killer-13397/