Author: Jayne Lawson

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:31

My dad was a big man. His hands were massive when compared to my little girl hands. His shoes were huge, too. I would sometimes slip my feet into them and stumble around as I tried to walk in them. I remember sometimes I would stand on his feet and hold tight to his legs so that when he walked, I would be carried along with him as he moved about the house. As I held on, my backward movements would match his forward motion; I was completely in sync with him.

I have a Heavenly Father who wants me to walk in sync with Him as well. I wonder if my footsteps match His? Do I step where He steps? Do I go where He goes, or do I try to step away and head off on my own?

The word “Christian” means “little Christ.” Since I wear the label of “Christian,” I wonder if I am a “little Christ”? Am I following so closely to my Saviour that the two of us move as one? When I stand with Jesus, am I engulfed by His essence so that people see Him when they look at me?

There is a song that states, “You’re the only Jesus some will ever see.” Do people see Jesus in me? Am I and my Jesus one? I hope so.

        He drew me closer to His side,  I sought His will to know,

        And in that will I now abide, wherever He leads I’ll go.

       Wherever He leads I’ll go, wherever He leads I’ll go,

       I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I’ll go.

(from “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” by B.B. McKinney)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

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In whose steps are you following?

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

I love to travel to different countries. I love to experience the cuisine, the culture, the natural wonders of each land. However, no matter where I am, I don’t feel as same as I do when I am in my home country. The moment my plane lands in the United States, or my ship docks in one of America’s ports, I feel relief. I am in my safe place. I am home. As a citizen of the U.S., I know I will be protected from any enemy once my feet step upon American soil.

I feel the same way spiritually. When I am dangerously near wickedness and sin, there is nothing more relieving that seeking refuge in my place of spiritual safety. When I call upon the name of the Lord, I know I am immediately protected by His mighty power. His Holy Spirit brings to remembrance verses from the Bible that remind and reassure me of His promises to me. I don’t even have to run to Him. Why? Because He promised He would never leave me. His Word tells me that He is always with me, always keeps me safe, and always holds me firmly in His hand.

What I do have to do is maintain a relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and church fellowship. The more I fill my life with the things of God, the more peace I find in my “safe place” with the Lord.

The Bible frequently refers to God as my…

1. Shield – “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. “ Psalm 3:3

2. Refuge – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

3. Hiding Place – “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word.” Psalm 119:114

4. Rock – “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.” 2 Samuel 22:47

5. High Tower – “The God of my rock: in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; Thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3

6. Fortress – “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2

7. Saviour – “I even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour.” Isaiah 43:11

I need only call upon the name of the Lord to be safe from this world for no one cares for me like Jesus; no one loves me like my Saviour.

So let the storm clouds rage high, the dark clouds rise,

They won’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me, and naught of earth shall harm me

For I’m sheltered in the arms of God.

(from “Sheltered in the Arms of God” by D. Wilson)

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” Psalm 4:8.

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I am His, and He is mine. It just can’t get any better!

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” 1 Kings 8:61

Today’s devotional verse was written during the reign of King Solomon at a time when the ark of the covenant was brought to the temple. After praying to the Lord, Solomon tells the people that their hearts must be complete in God, and to achieve that they must live according to the Lord’s laws for the rest of their lives as they are doing at that moment on that day.

When I apply this verse to my life, I think of Sunday as the “as of this day” for me. Sundays are special to me because this is the day that is set aside to worship the Lord with other believers, and I accomplish this by going to church.

I love church! I love everything about it. I notice that when I am in church, I feel differently than the rest of the week. I don’t mean in a mystical way. I mean my spirit is uplifted, joyous, and “perfect with the Lord.” I am encouraged; I am inclined to lift my voice in praise to Him more readily than I do at home, and I am closer to God in many ways. It is abundantly clear to me that the gathering together to worship with other Christians is vital to my spiritual well-being as written in Hebrews 10:25. If I want to keep my heart “perfect,” or complete in the Lord and experience the joy of Sunday all through the week, I need to walk in His statues. Here are some examples that will help me keep His commandments in my own home “as at this day” just as I do in church.

1. SING – “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 104:33). I can sing along with the hymns of the faith or bask in the their instrumental melodies as I do things around the house.
2. STUDY THE WORD – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I can make time to read the Bible in my home, take notes (just like in a church service), and meditate upon its words. I can be open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who can, by the way, teach on Mondays through Saturdays as well as He does on Sundays!
3. FELLOWSHIP – “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). I can call a Christian friend for a chat, or I can even go visit them at their house! I can invite another believer over for a cup of coffee. I can even cuddle up with a grandchild and read a Bible story about Jesus with them! There are so many ways to spend time with other Christians that will encourage my heart!
4. SERVE – “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). I can share the Lord by handing out tracts or going on visitations. I can support missionaries through prayer and giving. I can write cards of encouragement to others. There are so many ways I can serve the Lord on days other than Sunday.

Doing these things “as at this day” all the time will help me have a heart “perfect with the Lord.” What an exciting challenge for me for every day of the week!

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The family of God.

(from “Family of God” by Gloria and Bill Gaither)

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1

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Wherever God’s people are, there is the house of the Lord.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Do you ever ask yourself, “What should I do?” I do, but most of the time, I already know the answer to that question. Often, it’s just that I don’t want to do it. Choosing to do right “goes against my grain.” My sin nature wants its own way, but that way is a path that leads to destruction (Proverbs 14:12).

All through the Bible, God makes very clear what I should do, and the prophet Micah reminds me what God has already shown me throughout His Word. Verse 8 of Micah 6 is a reminder that I should be doing what is good in the sight of the Lord. Deuteronomy 12:28 states, “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.” Micah reiterates what it is that is good. I should be just, love being merciful to others, and walk humbly with God. Sounds easy, but for me, it’s not.

According to the KJV Dictionary, being “just” means being “influenced by a regard to the laws of God, or living in exact conformity to the divine will.” I must act according to what God deems as righteous and true, and to know what that is, I must go to the Bible. It is there that God reveals His perspective on truth and righteousness, which is vastly different from that of the world. It is His truth and righteousness that I must incorporate into my life.

The KJV Dictionary defines “mercy” as “That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries.” This is a characteristic that I should love, which I do, especially when someone is merciful to me. Of course, when it is in regards to me showing mercy to others, it is not always as easy. Why? Because I have a sin nature that is contrary to mercy. Sometimes I want to dispense judgment instead of mercy, but that is not God’s way. Jesus told us in Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” It is only through the work of God’s Holy Spirit in my life that I am able to be merciful to others. 2 Samuel 22:26 states, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.” If I desire God’s mercy upon me, I must demonstrate mercy to others. I need not only to be merciful, but I need to love being merciful as well.

The last part of Micah 6:8 refers to walking with God. For me, this started with my salvation in 1968. Once I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, I begin to cultivate my new relationship with Him through personal prayer and the reading of His Word. I wanted to know Him better, so I took steps to achieve do so. I can remember when I first met Him. It was new and exciting, but as the years passed, my relationship with Him became deeper and more meaningful as I spent more time with Him. That’s the same as when we make new friends. They don’t start out being close. It takes time and effort to develop deep and trusting relationships. That’s exactly how it is with God.

My walk with God takes work because He wants me to walk humbly with Him. Humility is an understanding of who I am compared to who He is. Simply put, there is no comparison! God is completely worthy of all praise, honor, and glory, and I am not. Romans 12:3 states, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” I am a prideful person in my flesh, but the Holy Spirit keeps me mindful that pride is a sin, and that I must “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”(James 4:10). To say I am unworthy is a huge understatement, but… (and I thank God for the “but” in this sentence) despite my unworthiness, He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and desires to have a personal relationship with me! Knowing this compels me to walk more humbly with God.

Finally, I realize that obedience is not always easy, but it is best for me to obey God. Why? Because He will never lead me astray. As I focus my gaze upon Jesus, I see how He is my example to fulfilling those things that the Lord requires of me.

• Jesus is just – “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” Isaiah 45:32
• Jesus is merciful – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21
• Jesus is humble – “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8
• Jesus walks with God – “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

Following in the footsteps of Jesus is often difficult for me. I tend to stray onto my own path, but through God’s Word, His Holy Spirit always illuminates the right way for me to go and draws me back to where I should be. As I strive to follow Christ, I must always be “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

If I want to do that which is “good in the sight of the Lord,” I know exactly who to follow!

Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,
Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.

Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.

(from “Footprints Jesus” by Mary Slade)

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Take time to deepen your relationship with God. Read the Bible; say a prayer. It will change your life for the good!

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

There are plenty of things that justify being fearful in today’s world. Life-threatening diseases, unending wars, corrupt government, ungodly societal “norms” and acceptances, unstable finances… Sometimes it feels hopeless, but I must remember that what I feel isn’t always reliable or true. My heart is deceitful and desperately wicked at times (Jeremiah 17:9), and I cannot depend on it for accurate assessments. I must rely solely on what I know to be good, true, and right. Therefore, my hope must be in the Lord and His Word. He is what lights my way and dispels the darkness of sin from my life. God is my haven of rest, my protection from the fears of the world. He has given me hope through His Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

When I am afraid of overwhelming obstacles in my life, I need to remember who God is. He is the Creator of all things – omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent! There is nothing my God cannot do, and He is the one who has professed an “everlasting love” for me! (Jeremiah 31:3). He is mine, and I am His! (Song of Solomon 2:16). When I focus on these truths, my fears fade away. When I remember that I am kept safe in the palm of His hands (John 10:29), I am no longer afraid, and I can face tomorrow without fear for I know God is in total control of yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

(from “It Is Well With My Soul” by H. Spafford)

“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

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Feeling overwhelmed? Cast all your cares upon Him, for He truly does care for you! (1 Peter 5:7)

“But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” Psalm 22:19

Sometimes I read a verse, and WHAM! I am amazed when I grasp the meaning as it applies to me! Today’s verse was written by David, and he is asking God to be near him and to hurry and help him. How does that apply to me? I realized that I don’t ever have to ask God to be near to me because He is ALWAYS with me!

During Old Testament times, God’s people did not have the Holy Spirit with them continuously. The Bibles records many instances where the “Spirit of the Lord” came to certain individuals for varying lengths of time (Judges 6:34, I Samuel 10:10, 2 Chronicles 24:20, and Ezekiel 11:5), but He did not indwell the believer.

It was during the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth that He promised to send the Spirit of God to His followers. He told His disciples that He was going to leave, but He would not leave them comfortless. Instead, He promised to send the Holy Spirit of God to dwell within them (John 14). It was not until Pentecost (after Jesus had returned to heaven) that the Spirit of God began to dwell within Christians on a continuous basis.

What does this mean for me? It means that I do not have to face the ups and downs of life alone… ever! God’s Holy Spirit dwells within me and is ready to do His work in my life. And oh, what a work He does!

Here are a few things the Holy Spirit does:

*Teaches and reminds us of what Jesus said (John 14:26)

*Testifies of Christ (John 15:26)

*Convicts of sin (John 16:8)

*Guides to all truth (John 16:13)

*Glorifies Christ (John 16:14)

*Intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:26-27)

*Seals us – marks us as God’s children (Ephesians 1:13)

*Regenerates and renews us (Titus 3:5)

This is so exciting to me! What unspeakable comfort to know that through the presence of His Spirit, God is with me always and forever!

I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the hand of God in all my life I see;
And the reason of my bliss,
Yes, the secret all is this:
That the Comforter abides with me.

He abides, He abides;
Hallelujah, He abides with me!
I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the Comforter abides with me.

(from “He Abides” by Herbert Buffum)

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

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How have you experienced the comfort of God’s Holy Spirit in your life?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

One of my favorite subjects to study and teach is grammar. I know many people find this a difficult (boring) topic, but I love the challenge of learning to maneuver my way through the twists and turns of the complexity of the English language.

Take a look at the above verse. Most of us are quite familiar with it. I know I think of it often when I face situations that are seemingly difficult to overcome. But until today, I haven’t really thought about the grammatical implications of this verse.

This verse tells me that I have the capability to do all things through Christ. That’s the meaning of the word “can.” This word refers to my potential, the skills I have to accomplish something. It is simply a word used to state my ability to do something because I have the knowledge to do so. Because this verse is written in the Word of God, I know that it is true. There is no doubt that I really can do all things through the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore it is factual to say when God asks me to do something, I can accomplish it through the empowerment of the Saviour.

What kinds of things might God ask of me? Maybe it’s to teach a Sunday school class, work in the nursery, homeschool my grandchildren, give a little more to missions, participate in a visitation program, etc. This list could go on and on and on. There isn’t anything that God would ask of me that I could not do. I have the confidence that I could successfully complete every one of them because of my relationship with His Son because Philippians 4:13 says that “I can…”

But it’s really not a matter of “Can I?” It’s a matter of “Will I?”

The word “will,” refers to a willingness on my part. It directly relates to my commitment to the task. When I say, “I will do it,” there is no decision to be made regarding my ability. Instead, it is a decisive word. I am committed to action; I am determined to undertake the task and complete it. When I say, “I can do that,” I am referring only to my capability to act; when I say, “I will do that,” I have fully committed myself to doing something. It is a choice I make to act. Luke 9:23 speaks of Jesus when it says, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This was a choice that Jesus offered. He never forced anyone to follow Him, and He never will.

When God asks me to do something for Him, He simply waits for my answer. He’s ready to provide all I need to accomplish His work. However, if my only response is “I can do all things…,” it’s not enough. I need to answer Him with a hearty “Yes, Lord! I will do all things…” And then I just need to go and do it “… through Christ which strengtheneth me!”

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.

(from “I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go” by Mary Brown)

“What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” Psalm 25:12

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What will your answer be when God asks you to do something for Him?

“For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29

Years ago, I visited the infamous prison of Alcatraz. Located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, it was a favorite tourist stop for many. As I toured the facilities, I thought of how horrible it would be to be incarcerated here. The cells were cold and empty, a sharp contrast to the gaiety of life just across the water. When the tour guide brought us to the cells used for solitary confinement, she asked if anyone wanted to go inside one of the cells. Several of us enthusiastically volunteered, and she ushered us into one. She told us that she would close the door, and it would become very dark, but not to worry as she would reopen the door and release us after a few seconds. I was eager for her to close the door. However, when the heavy metal door clanged shut, I was immediately immersed into total darkness, and it was very unsettling for me. I thought that as my eyes adjusted, I would be able to see a little bit and view those in the cell with me, but it didn’t happen. I held my hand up before my eyes, but I couldn’t even see a remote outline of my fingers. A chilling twinge of panic began to creep up in me, and I stood frozen in the dark. We were all totally enveloped by blackness. No one said a word in the cell… I think we were all stunned at the depth of darkness that had descended upon us, and the fact that until the door was opened from the outside, we were all blinded by the lack of light and unable to escape.

True to her word, the tour guide did reopen the door despite my fearful thoughts of “What if she leaves us here?” After what seemed like forever (in reality just a few seconds), the tiniest sliver of light penetrated the black interior of the cell, and my rapidly blinking eyes could see again! Outlines of the people inside the cell with me took shape, and I could see my fingers wiggling. Light began to flood the room, and nervous laughter could be heard from us “volunteer prisoners” as we quickly exited the cell. It felt so liberating to be free and finally walking in the light!

This is just like sin.

Sin is enticing, drawing us near it out of our own curiosity. It whispers lies to us. “Everyone’s doing it!” “What harm is there in one little drink?” “I’ll show him who’s boss!” “I’m entitled to it, and I’m going to get it no matter what!” “It’s not really a baby yet.” This list of lies goes on and on, and then when we rationalize sin to fit the world’s morality and acceptability, we willingly partake of it, slowly sinking lower and lower into its darkness until we are totally immersed in its evil blackness. Satan has successfully blinded us to the reality of sin and its horrifying consequences on our physical and spiritual lives. Once entrapped by sin, it squeezes out everything else until the only things that we can “see” are hopelessness, despair, and defeat. We are plunged into the total blackness of the depravity of sin.

How do we escape? Read more