Daily Devotional Week of 3-18-2002

Monday 3-25-02

GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE

He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. - Deut 8:16

God sends trials our way to test and strengthen our faith. For our faith to be strengthened we must become more dependent on God and less on our selves. As we grow in humility, we also grow in an increasing knowledge of our own wickedness and an increasing knowledge of God's goodness. In humility, we become less and less significant in our own eyes and God becomes of greater significance. All we do becomes more about God and less about us. God is so kind and so good. He is kind to move our hearts in the way of humility, not only for His glory but God says He does this "so that in the end it might go well with you." Give thanks to God today for the trials you have encountered in life, for God desires that in the end it might go well for you.

For further study: John 3:27-30

Tuesday 3-26-02

HUMILITY AND FASTING

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. - Ezra 8:21

In this passage Ezra is organizing the Israelites for the long journey back to Jerusalem after many years in Babylonian captivity. He thought about asking the king to provide horseman for them to protect them on the road, but he was embarrassed to do so because he had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him." Ezra expected God to make good on His word. But he didn't just expect God to do this as if God were at the beckon call of the Israelites. No, Ezra and all the Israelites demonstrated to God first, their sincerity, their humility and their dependence upon Him by humbling themselves before Him through fasting and prayer. When was the last time you humbled yourself by fasting before God as you prayed for something of great significance to you. This passage from Ezra is a wonderful reminder that God is not our servant. We are God's servants and it would do us all well to humble ourselves before our heavenly King on a more frequent basis as we seek His face.

For further study: James 4:6-10

Wednesday 3-27-02

CHOOSING HUMILITY

Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."
- Daniel 10:12

Daniel is another humble man of the Bible from who we have much to learn. Once again we see that God hears the prayers of the humble. The word says that Daniel set his mind to humbling himself before God. In other words, Daniel consciously decided to make himself humble before God. Daniel had his fair share of trials, but he did not wait for more trials to come his way, he chose to humble himself before God. To choose humility is not a failsafe against trials, however, we needn't wait for trials to come before humbling ourselves.

Do you want God to hear your prayers? Do you we want God to lift you up? Then you need to bow down. You need to bow the knee of your flesh to the one true, living and sovereign God over all creation. Don't wait any longer, get down on your knees and offer yourself in humility to the Lord today.

For further study: Matthew 8:5-13

Thursday 3-28-02

A PRAYER FOR SUSTENANCE

The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
- Psalm 147:6

Dear Lord of all, I want you to sustain me. You are my breath and my life. It is in you that I live and move and have my being. Sustain my health O Lord, sustain my strength O Lord to do your will, sustain my ability to complete my daily tasks, sustain my desire for you O Lord and feed me by your word and your Spirit. At the same time O Lord, I plead with you keep me from wickedness. Guard my heart and the gaze of my eyes and the words of my lips O God. Protect me from the wicked one and the wickedness of my own flesh, for I fear being cast down by you. Thank you Lord for being a promise keeping God, who cannot lie. I know it is you who preserves me. It is you who moves my heart to obey you O Lord. I am forever grateful to you for your sustenance.

For further study: John 6:47-51

Friday 3-29-02

ESTEEMED BY GOD

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. - Isaiah 66:2

Oh how I love this verse, it is one of my favorites. This verse holds the secret to being esteemed by God. Who would not want to be esteemed by God? To be esteemed by God, I would not think this possible unless I read it in His word. Make me humble O Lord my God. O Holy One of Israel, I want you to look on me. Would you give me a contrite heart and a holy fear and reverence for your word? Move my heart to hate my sin and to be quick to repent of my wickedness. Then I will know your favor, then I will know for sure that you look upon me and esteem me. Let me feel the loving gaze of your eyes bearing down upon my soul. O Lord make me holy, as though art holy.

For further study: Psalm 51:16-17

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