- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3255
John 7:34 You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come.
When Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees He told them they would continue to seek Him (the Messiah) and they would not be able to find Him. This intimates they would continue looking for a Messiah having missed the point that He is our Messiah and He has already come.
Many times in our lives we do not believe what we see because we either expect more or we want more, or in this case they wanted something different!
Jesus Christ has already come to save us from our sins and He has already shed the blood He promised and has already paid the debt in full.
Believe and trust in Him.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3297
Proverbs 1:23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
When God tells us we are doing something wrong we have got to listen to Him! He is the one who does know what is best for us!
Being bullish about listening to God is not going to help us though because God requires we listen and act upon what He instructs us to do.
If we open our hearts to what He has to say we will gain a whole lot more from His instruction than if we just do it.
And when we do listen we must listen properly because going off on a tangent because we don’t listen properly is not going to help us.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3028
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
Even though the people had sinned against God and could have been blamed for everything going wrong, God still showed mercy and grace.
How many times do we need to be shown mercy and grace before we believe the depth of God’s love toward us?
He has promised us so much for our futures and has shown us time and time again His promises are true.
Believing those promises should be easy – but still we have to try!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3242
Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
Going back to our roots… If we are like ground that is worked, tilled, watered and planted, what should be expected of us?
If we bring forward good fruits, crops or whatever else has been planted on and in us, then we will continue to be used and continue to be able to supply more.
If we do not bring forward what is planted but bring forward bad things, like thorns and weeds, then we will be of no use to anyone other than fire!
God wants to use us but that means us being willing to be used correctly and obeying God as He works within us…
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3182
Mark 3:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;
The disciples were taught quite firmly by Christ our sins would be forgiven when we brought them to Him; that means all sins we have in our lives.
Jesus paid in full the price required to cover all sins, not just some of them, not just the little ones, not just the hidden ones, but every single one.
We need to come to Him and bring our sins to lay them at His feet; and once we do we need to leave them there and move away.
We all do like to take ownership and try to justify ourselves – it does not work. Give it to Christ and allow Him alone to absolve you!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3373
John 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
The sad truth about our lives is that we tend to try and hide things when we do not do them correctly; we tend to hide in the dark so they will not be found out!
Doing anything against God is just not going to work because God does not need a flashlight or daytime to see what we do wrong, He sees it plain as daylight.
God wants us to be open and honest with Him so we can ask for forgiveness knowing that we are telling Him the truth so we can expect the forgiveness He has promised us.
Stay in the light by doing as much as possible with God and not trying to leave Him out of everything.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3083
Zephaniah 3:2 She has not obeyed His voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the Lord, She has not drawn near to her God.
Our duty to God is summed up pretty well in these words from the prophet Zephaniah where the wickedness of Jerusalem is described.
The people had not obeyed God, not listened to correction, not trusted God and were not trying to be close to God either.
We need to listen to Him, obey His commandments, listen when He corrects us, trust in Him and His ways. All these will bring us closer to God, but none more so than lifting up honest and earnest prayers.
Be in constant contact with God because He is constantly watching over us.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3284
Isaiah 44:12 The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint.
There are many professions I have always looked up to and being a blacksmith is one of them. It is one thing working hard all day with your hands but another thing having to do it in the burning heat in front of a fire or furnace.
If we do not drink enough water when we exercise, our bodies do all sorts of things we do not expect with the end result being we break down and faint at the very least.
Water is essential to our daily lives. God’s living water is essential to our eternity.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3219
Psalm 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
Have you ever been involved in running long distances, like a marathon or half marathon in boiling temperatures?
It is one thing to run long distances in cool weather but something entirely different to run in very hot and humid weather; your body feels totally drained long before it should!
Now take that feeling of your physical self and apply it to your spiritual self by thinking of a time when you starved yourself of God’s comfort because you were too busy doing something else.
During a long run you have to take on water or you will faint. During a spiritual drought you need to take on God’s water or you will faint!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3240
Psalm 30:6 Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
How easy it is to rejoice when things are going just the way we want them to. How easy it is to say thank you when someone does something nice for us…
But how difficult is it to look for the good in things when all around you is crumbling and falling apart. How difficult is it to really say thank you when what was given to you was not what you wanted?
God continues to supply our needs which do not always line up with our wants… But we need to recognise they come from God for a reason and for our needs.
Will you remember God even when things go wrong?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3184
2 Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
Everyone expects Christians to be good and do the right thing all the time, right? Well we should know by now that is not possible!
Being a Christian in a twisted world can be very difficult; but with God on our side we do have a mentor who is always righteous.
Us trying to keep close enough to Him is the part we have to struggle with so inevitably we will come up against things which we do not agree with.
Don’t jump in and cause an argument because that is not going to lift anyone up, but be patient, gentle and kind and try to teach others in a respectful manner.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2977
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Do you like to squish things through your fingers? It may be nice to squish purpose made things but what about something gross?
Getting carried away with your desires sometimes leads to you getting something gross on your hands – and that is not just the physical things we play with but spiritual matters too.
Trying to avoid bad things does not always work so staying away from the things that can get us involved with those bad things can help us to avoid them in the first place.
Some friends will encourage you to do good whilst some will encourage you to do bad – think about it.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 2871
2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour.
Sometimes you may feel like you are not good enough to be a person who shares the Gospel. Sometimes you may not feel good enough even to be called a Christian.
But think about the containers you may use today. Would you use that crystal glass to clean out the bath with? Would you use a wooden bread-bin to freeze your latest stock with?
All types of vessels are useful, some only once in a while. Don’t count yourself out just because you may be one of those vessels!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3234
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
It does not take a college or university education to be able to tell someone about Jesus Christ! Far from it because God wants to be able to use every one of us.
The disciples were not men who had been through formal schools and learned from theologians but rather ordinary men from the community.
Yet they were now being recognised as men who had been with Jesus and were teaching like Jesus taught. What an honour!
Let us all aim to take a few words from Christ with us into our work places and into our friendship circles today.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3034
Mark 6:2 On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!
How do you react when you hear someone teach you about Jesus? Are you always willing to try and learn more? Do you listen but not take anything in?
I must admit that there are some days when I am in church and I do not take much in because I am too tired or too distracted to concentrate!
Jesus taught with great authority because He did know so much, so had lots to pass on to others.
As long as we stay within the bounds of what we know, we can teach with great authority as well – it is always good to hear someone teaching with authority!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3048
Matthew 13:52 And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
The scribes were just one part of the Jewish nation who were supposed to pass on the knowledge of the scriptures to others. They were the teachers.
If teachers only teach old ways, then society does not move on but is stuck in those old ways. But if new ways are taught, society can move forward.
Jesus wanted people to learn from the old scriptures as well as all the new information He was teaching the disciples. Some of the new information was hard for them to accept because many were caught up in the old ways.
Are you willing to listen to new ways, new information and sit and discuss whether it is right and correct?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3116
Matthew 13:51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
What do you do when you read your bible and don’t quite get what it says? Do you fold the corner of the page over and say you will come back tomorrow?
Do you say that you understand because you kind of get what it says? Or will you stop and ask someone directions?
We do have our bibles which have all we need to get to know Christ, but in order to really get to know your God you need to go deeper.
Jesus did not explain things in every detail – we tend to switch off when we get too much information. Instead He gave us enough to get us interested and focused.
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3105
Esther 5:3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
There is a big difference between how Esther handled this and how the woman from yesterday’s verse handled the offer for anything they wanted.
Esther did not want riches or any personal desire; she wanted others to be set free and have the blessing. The woman yesterday wanted it all for herself.
Are you willing to share everything God gives you, or will you keep it to yourself?
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3048
Mark 6:23 And he promised her with an oath, ‘Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’
Can you think of anything or anyone who would please you so much you would offer them absolutely anything?
Herod gave a banquet to which many people were probably invited, one of those being this very beautiful woman. Herod was so captivated by her he was willing to give anything to have her.
What he did not count on is for any person who take him up and test his limits to the absolute full!
Satan will try to tempt us with something that will make us throw caution to the wind and not care for consequences! Be very wary!
- Details
- Written by: DJ Dave
- Category: Devotionals
- Hits: 3151
Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
When we come before God, how do we behave? Do we suddenly put on airs and graces? Do we suddenly find all sorts of words to say?
We need to be honest with God and not try to do things differently just because we dare to speak with God. We cannot hide things from God, so be honest and open always.
Don’t try to impress God because that is not going to work; He already knows what is in your heart and mind. Be open and say things from your heart. Keep it simple.