A Women With An Issue

Scripture Ref. Mark 5:25

How many of us can relate to a women with an issue? This woman REALLY had an issue. If we could only imagine all that this woman went through as a result of her "issue". She was considered unclean and anyone who touched her or anything she sat or laid upon was considered unclean. 

She was to stay seperated so that she wouldn't cause others to become unclean if they touched her. How humiliating that must have been for this woman who had this issue of blood for twelve long years. She couldn't touch anyone or even come out in public. 

How lonely, rejected, and unwanted she must have felt. But this woman had a determination in her. She certainly wasn't a quiter. But I have a feeling she may have been at the end of her rope, so to speak, by the time she heard about Jesus. With one last thrust of determination she pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus because she knew if she could just touch Him she would be made whole. 

Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel like this woman must have felt? Is there an "issue" going on in your life that makes you feel unclean, rejected, lonely and abandoned like this woman must have felt? You must press through to Jesus. Press through the crowd of things and even people that seem to be in the way and touch Jesus and He will make you whole. She touched Him with faith in her heart and healing virtue was released from Him. So much so that He turned and said "Who touched Me?" He will do the same for you whether your issue is physical, emotional, or spiritual. Press through and be made whole!

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Humble Heart

I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. Isaiah 57:15 NLT

He refreshes and gives new courage to anyone humble enough to repent of their sins.

Do we truly understand we are sinners? If so, we are less likely to be judging of others as we know how easy it is to fall.

When we grasp how much we’ve been forgiven, we are less critical of others and that’s a sign of humility. Humble folks don’t point their finger at someone else because when they do, they realize three fingers pointing back at them.

How interesting God gives “new” courage. Not the same kind of courage we used to muster on our own, but a new courage that comes directly from His spirit.

God honors those with a repentant hearts. Test yourself, examine your motives, and let nothing be done through selfish ambition. God refreshes the humble. Therefore, humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. He provides the courage for you to stand amidst your circumstances.

Lord thank you for giving us the courage to humble our self before you. Thank you for lifting us up when we are repentant. Enable us to remain humble in all the seasons of our lives. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Source http://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com

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The Mouth is connected to the Heart

The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. Psalm 37:30-31 NKJV

To speak of wisdom and justice one must have God’s Word securely hidden away in his heart. For the things proceeding from our mouth come from the heart (Matthew 15:18). Jesus taught us out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). He also warned us we would be either justified or condemned by our words (Matthew 12:37). Let’s face it, how many times have we said something we regretted later?

Jesus knows us when he asks “How can you, being evil, speak of good things?” The truth is we can’t speak good from our own resources because of our fallen sinful nature. James 3:6 says the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. Proverbs 15:14 says “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of the fools feeds on foolishness.” What are we feeding on today?

We need to be careful with our words. We can use words to build others up or tear them down. Jesus told us for every idle word spoken we will be accountable in the Day of Judgment (Matthew 12:36). This should compel us to use words sparingly and to make sure the words we do use are pure and pleasant and pleasing to the Lord (Proverbs 15:26).

So far we’ve learned our sinful and foolish nature prevents us from speaking good. How can we every speak good? There is good news, Jesus taught us a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things and that means we can do (Matthew 12:35). Through Jesus Christ in us, we can be good and bring forth good things. But we have a responsibility to store up good in the treasure of our hearts.

How do we do that? We immerse our self in God’s Word. We find ways to fill our mind with His goodness. We read His Word daily. We listen to His teaching whenever possible. Maybe we start listening to Bible teaching on the radio as we get ready for work or while driving anywhere. We memorize God’s Word, so we’ll never be with out it and so the Holy Spirit can bring it forth when we need it.

We are blessed with many opportunities to receive God’s Word. We have churches to attend, tapes/CDs to listen to when we miss church. There’s even on-line streaming audio message of church services available. We have books, magazines, email devotions, newsletters and of course the Bible itself. Between radio and internet technologies we really have no excuse for not getting enough of God’s Word stored away in our hearts.

Stop and consider the words we speak. Are they words of good building others up, coming from God’s Word stored in the treasure of our heart? Or are they evil words of envy, strife, anger, fear and selfishness pouring out of an evil treasure stored in our heart?

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NKJV says “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”

Oh that you would choose life and good that come from embracing God.

Lord thank you for your life-giving word. Enable us to keep our mind set on you. Help us to seek you in all things and store good treasure in our hearts that our words may be helpful to the hearers. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Source http://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com

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Pure in Heart

Read Psalm 73

Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psalm 73:1-3)

The pure at heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). Does this mean physically see God, as we see another person? No, I don’t think so. Instead it’s about having spiritual eyes to see God in the middle of everything. It’s a spiritual discernment that comes upon the child of God who is pure at heart.

This spiritual discernment helps us keep our eyes on what’s most important and not be caught up in the temporary things of every day life. After Jesus died and rose again, He had a conversation with Peter. During this talk Peter asked “What about him?” referring to John. Jesus said “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Jesus is showing Peter the importance of focusing on Him alone. A lesson we could all use.

Apostle Paul wrote much about focusing our minds on Christ. Think on these things… Philippians 4:-7-8. Keep our eyes on the eternal, not the temporary… 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. Renew our minds…Romans 12:2.

Does being pure at heart mean we are to be sinless? Absolutely not, for no man or woman could ever be sinless this side of heaven (Romans 3:23). Just look at David’s example. He was called a man after God’s own heart, yet he was an adulterer and a murderer. How could he be a man after God’s own heart? It’s because when he fouled up, he always returned to the Lord. Yes, he sinned – we all do. David turned from his sin and turned back to God. In turning, he received God’s mercy and so can we.

Envy distracts us and takes our eyes off Jesus. Just as David experienced we will also stumble, slip, and fall if we start looking at anything or anyone other than God. Don’t worry about what others are doing and saying. Live your life for an audience of One. Live for God’s approval then you will win favor of not only God but man.

What did we learn today? We learned being pure at heart gives us spiritual discernment to keep our eyes laser focused on God no matter what. Envy is a sure sign we’ve gotten our eyes off the Lord.

Lord thank you for your constant leading us back on track with you. Thank you for your precious Word of Truth. May we apply what we’ve learned in our lives today. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Source http://thinkonitdevotions.wordpress.com

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