Category Archives: Devotional

On Personal Revival

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While reading this morning in Psalm 119, I was struck by the repeated phrase “revive me”. These two words make a remarkable personal prayer.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines revival as “a restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence.” Sometimes that’s exactly what we need. We all go through lulls, dry periods, valleys in our spiritual life. What better thing to do than to pray God’s own word back to Him in asking Him to restore us to life. Here are the nine verses from Psalm 119 taken from the NKJV:

25My soul clings to the dust;
       Revive me according to Your word.

37Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
       And revive me in Your way.

40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me in Your righteousness.

88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

107I am afflicted very much;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.

149Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
O Lord, revive me according to Your justice.

154Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.

156Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord;
Revive me according to Your judgments.

159Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.

Who Does God Use?

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The short answer, of course, is, “Anybody He wants.” But if we think the question through more thoroughly, what we’re probably looking for is some characteristic in or about the person God uses that makes him or her most useful.

Two areas we often look, which are no special indicator of usefulness, are qualifications and giftedness. Qualifications are often more about rights than responsibilities. “I’m qualified in this or that way; therefore, I should be allowed to do or not do _____ .” Giftedness, on the other hand is more about potential than reality. The pathways of life are littered with gifted failures.

The best general indicator of usefulness might just be obedience, and a good example of that is found in the prophet Amos. The Scriptures give us no indication that Amos was a gifted speaker. Nor did he come into his ministry with any special education or experience. Nonetheless, Amos was willing and would do what the Lord called him to do.

The Lord called Amos to preach to the people of Israel, including Jeroboam the king and Amaziah the priest of Bethel. So Amos spoke and Amaziah told him to be quiet. (In that setting Amaziah was the one “qualified” to speak.)

“Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: ‘I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to My people Israel.”’” – Amos 7:14-15 (NKJV)

So God spoke through Amos, the shepherd and fruit-picker-turned-prophet – not because he was a shepherd or a fruit picker, but because he was obedient.  Amos went and did what God wanted – and no doubt He wants us to go somewhere, do something or say something too.

Toward a More Thankful 2008

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Generally speaking, the human race contains too many griping, ungrateful goons. I deeply regret being one of them.  We fail to appreciate the hard work or hardships of others while often feeling unappreciated. Sometimes the best we can do is realize we’re not thankful and tactfully hold back our whining, but thankless sentiments rarely disappear due to mere lack of expression. Another step is still needed, namely, the positive, intentional cultivation of a thankful heart.

The Scriptures say that we should:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Moreover, we are reminded to:

“[Give] thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV)

Now that’s a pretty far cry from where I am when I first get up each morning. Nonetheless, some deliberate effort on my part, in time, might pay off. Here’s to an intentionally more thankful 2008.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” – Psalms 103:1- 2 (NKJV)

 

Bible Reading Plan

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With 2008 just a few days away, I put our Cover-to-Cover Bible reading plan on its own page off to the right. I may leave it there to stay. And now, some counsel from John Wesley to another minister:

“What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear, to this day, is want of reading. I scarce ever knew a preacher who read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety; there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian. Oh begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises. You may acquire the taste which you have not; what is tedious at first will afterwards be pleasant. Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be a trifler all your days, and a pretty, superficial preacher. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer.”

John Wesley, quoted in D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge, Letters Along The Way, page 169.

Discovered on the blog Pure Church, written by a pastor in the Cayman Islands.