Have you found the comfort to walk through this valley?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
(Psalms 23:1-6 (ESV))


Contrary to what each of us may want, this world is not a safe place!

We can ignore the truth and go blindly about our lives, but that is exactly what the enemy wants us to do. If we don't make a deliberate decision to turn to the Lord, then we belong to the enemy. Even when we do profess a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, the enemy will do all within his power to steal, kill and destroy. In other words, every day that we live in this sinful, fallen world, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Are you walking through this valley with the good shepherd?

Are you walking through this valley with the Lord?

Are you at peace even when all around you is falling apart?

I could go on with so many questions, but it all comes down to being comfortable in your faith and in your relationship with the Lord.

Have you found the comfort to walk through this valley?


Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

How are you at balancing grace and truth?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 (NIV))


I heard something today that made me stop and think that we often fall to the extremes of grace and truth without accomplishing what Jesus would want us to accomplish!

If we take grace to the wrong extreme, we accept anything even if it is a sin. We see this running through our society today to the point where any perversion is being accepted because that is the way that they were made. We even see churches promoting this as an acceptable lifestyle in the eyes of God.

If we take truth to the wrong extreme, we condemn the sinner in the very same actions and words that we use to condemn the sin. This approach only results in the sinner being convinced that they want nothing to do with Jesus.

Neither of these approaches is how Jesus lived His life while on the earth. Contrary to what society thinks, He did not offer grace without repentance. He did not condemn the sinner because of their sin. He called people to turn from their sin and follow Him. He did these things out of love. He loves each of us and does not wish for any to perish, for the wages of sin is death. He calls each person out of love. Only when people, such as the Pharisees, responded out of selfish, power hungry desires that led others astray did He respond any differently.

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
(Matthew 23:33 (NIV))

We are to remember the old saying that we are to love the sinner and hate the sin. Too many people just can't seem to keep these two separated in their minds. Still, we must take His words to heart and learn how to love the sinner and hate the sin. We must be able to know sin, which God hates, and then we must be able to separate the sin from the person whom God loves. We must present the Gospel in such a way that it reflects Jesus in all that we do. After all, when Jesus walked this earth, He did not yell at people for being sinners. He loved them and taught them that there is a better way, a way that leads to life! We must balance our lives just as Jesus told His disciples.

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
(Matthew 10:16 (NIV))

It is a fine line that we must walk. It requires that we keep our eyes on Jesus when we share His grace and His truth. We simply can't offer grace without repentance. We simply can't hammer home His truth without showing His love. Human nature is rebellious. If you tell someone that they are wrong, they will fight. If you lovingly show someone that there is a better way, they will respond.

How are you at balancing grace and truth?


Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

It is not a matter of "if," but "when"!


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
(Isaiah 43:2 (NIV))


Did you notice anything about this passage?

There is one word that is repeated three times in these seven lines. Repetition is used to emphasize, to drive home a point. In this particular case, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to tell people that if they choose to follow Him, He will be there with them in all circumstances including the times that they face hardships and persecution. He never said that we wouldn't face hardships and troubles. He simply stated that He would be with us during these times. In fact, He repeated this three times to drive home the point that He would be with us during these difficult times.

When!

Why when?

If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you will be hated by the world. You will face hardships and persecution!

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(Matthew 10:22 (NIV))

If you profess a faith in Jesus, and your faith is strong enough to let the world know where you stand, you will be hated. You will be hated because the world hates Jesus. You will be hated because you don't go along with the evil things that this world condones. In many countries, you can be put to death for professing a faith in Jesus. With the current events that are transpiring in the world today, this is only the beginning. Whether you believe in a rapture, or when it will happen, we are told that we will face hardships and persecution. If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, we know that these times will come. We must be prepared.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
(Ephesians 6:11-17 (NIV))

It is not a matter of "if," but "when"!


Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

What are you in step with?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25 (NIV))


Do you listen to the Spirit?

Are you receptive to that still, small voice?

If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, it is so easy to think that this is always true. Sadly, for most people it is not. Even those who desire nothing but to be in His Will make mistakes. Even Paul struggled with this. Thankfully, he wrote down his thoughts for us.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
(Romans 7:15-20 (NIV))

Paul did not give up. He did not give in to his sin!

It is a matter of attitude. It is a matter of priorities. Even when we want to do what is right, we will fail. The key is to always keep your eyes focused on Jesus and your spirit willing to listen and learn from the Holy Spirit. When the times come, and they will, when you fail to do the right things that you know you should do, it is important that you do the things you did when you first accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, still!

Humbly seek His grace and mercy.

Repent and pray for the strength to stand firm in your faith.

If we strive to live by the Spirit, we will desire to keep in step with the Spirit, but since we are still not mature in our faith, we will falter. In much the same way a child who is walking with their father will become sidetracked by all of the things that catch their eye, we, too, are still a child in our faith journey. We will inevitably become sidetracked. We will sin. When this happens, it is important to remember that we must get back in step with the one who is leading us on this faith journey.

What are you in step with?


Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org

What are you in step with?


Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©


Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25 (NIV))


Do you listen to the Spirit?

Are you receptive to that still, small voice?

If you profess a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, it is so easy to think that this is always true. Sadly, for most people it is not. Even those who desire nothing but to be in His Will make mistakes. Even Paul struggled with this. Thankfully, he wrote down his thoughts for us.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
(Romans 7:15-20 (NIV))

Paul did not give up. He did not give in to his sin!

It is a matter of attitude. It is a matter of priorities. Even when we want to do what is right, we will fail. The key is to always keep your eyes focused on Jesus and your spirit willing to listen and learn from the Holy Spirit. When the times come, and they will, when you fail to do the right things that you know you should do, it is important that you do the things you did when you first accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, still!

Humbly seek His grace and mercy.

Repent and pray for the strength to stand firm in your faith.

If we strive to live by the Spirit, we will desire to keep in step with the Spirit, but since we are still not mature in our faith, we will falter. In much the same way a child who is walking with their father will become sidetracked by all of the things that catch their eye, we, too, are still a child in our faith journey. We will inevitably become sidetracked. We will sin. When this happens, it is important to remember that we must get back in step with the one who is leading us on this faith journey.

What are you in step with?


Copyright 1998 - 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org