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Christian Devotional – September 18, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 8:15–But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord has said. TRUTH: Often times we act the same way as Pharaoh. While we are going through difficulties, we seek out God and pray to Him and promise Him all sorts of things if He will only bring us out of the difficulty. Then, when things get better, we forget about our promises and go back to pretending that we don’t need God and that we can do things on our own. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the same…
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Christian Devotional – September 17, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 7:23–Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. TRUTH: God brought about the first plague on the Egyptians, yet Pharaoh didn’t listen or even act like he cared. He hardened his heart, just like God said he would, but even more than that, he took a “whatever” attitude toward the situation. His apathy about the movement of God was the most difficult stance that he could take. Do we look at all that God does with a sense of excitement and wonder, or are we apathetic and don’t care? God will bring about His work and we must take His…
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Christian Devotional – September 16, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 6:9–Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. TRUTH: If we are not careful, we will allow our discouragement and disappointment to keep us from hearing God’s word. As we go through difficult times, it is easy to see how things keep crashing in on us and to get so focused on the storm in front of us that our eyes slip off of Jesus, just like Peter in Matthew 14:27-31. We must keep our eyes and our thoughts on Him throughout and not allow our circumstances to distract us. RESPONSE: Father, You are the most…
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Christian Devotional – September 15, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 5:9–Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies. TRUTH: Often times the enemy uses this same tactic that Pharaoh uses here. Pharaoh indicates that they should distract the people, get them complaining and focused on the difficulty of their situation and tasks and they will no longer focus on the truth of God. The Lord knows we must stay focused on Him no matter how difficult the day-to-day becomes. The enemy will call it lies, but it is actually the truth of God. He will guide us and His word will sustain us through those difficulties if we…
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Christian Devotional – September 14, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 4:11–The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blinded? Is it not I, the Lord? TRUTH: Moses gave God excuses for why he couldn’t do what God had asked of him. Yet God reminded Moses that He is God over all things. He is able to give abilities and take them away. God is capable of giving us the ability to do whatever He has called us to do. Are we willing to trust Him? RESPONSE: Father, You are able to do anything You desire in and through me. I praise You…
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Christian Devotional – September 13, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 3:4–When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” and Moses said, “Here I am.” TRUTH: As God moves toward delivering the people of Israel out of Egypt, He must first prepare the heart of the one he is going to use to lead them out. God came and appeared in the burning bush, but He didn’t call to Moses until Moses had turned aside to look. Moses had to show a willingness to leave his normal routine before God even called out to him. Are we open to the things that God is doing around…
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Christian Devotional – September 12, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 2:24–God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. TRUTH: The Israelites were in distress and they cried out to God. The most amazing thing happened: God heard their cries. However, He didn’t just hear them and turn away. He heard the cries and remembered His own promises to the leaders of the past. God then purposed to act to bring about change according to those promises. God hears us. God knows His promises to us. He is going to work and move to bring about His promises to us and we never have to feel alone in our sufferings. He…
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Christian Devotional – September 11, 2013
VERSE: Exodus 1:12–But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. TRUTH: The Israelites had done nothing wrong, but yet just the fact that there were several of them resulted in the Egyptians fearing them. We do not always do anything to result in the difficulties that we face, but God is always bigger than those difficulties. Just like the Israelites, He can work so that we flourish and grow even in the midst of the trials and oppressions. God is still with us and still loves us and we can still trust Him to bring us through the…
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Christian Devotional – September 10, 2013
VERSE: James 5:9–Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door! TRUTH: Our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will not always do exactly what we think they should. God speaks to each of us in different ways and sometimes with different timing and we need to be sensitive to that. We must be careful not to grumble or complain against them for they are our family and fellow workers in Christ. We can take our concerns to God and, under His leadership, take them directly to that brother or sister, but don’t be spreading stories of complaining to…
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Christian Devotional – September 9, 2013
VERSE: James 4:10–Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. TRUTH: It sounds so backward from what we are told by the world, yet we are to humble ourselves to others and allow God to be the One who lifts us up. If we go around boasting of our abilities, then those will be the only accolades we receive and will not bring honor and glory to God. However, if we are humble and patient, God will take responsibility for lifting us up at the proper time and in the proper way so that He will receive all the honor and praise for what He has done…