Showing Compassion

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Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)

On this earth we experience many great loves in many different forms, but the truth is the GREATEST LOVE of all comes through God.  Because of His love given to us on a daily basis, we do not have to be consumed by the world’s madness.  God’s love doesn’t fail us!  It never let’s go.  It never gives up on us.  It sees through all our flaws.  His love remains steadfast even through the moments that we are unsteady in our walk with the Lord.

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It’s a Big World

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Jesus said to him (Zacchaeus), “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Read the rest of the story in Luke 19:1-10.

Do you ever feel small in this big world?  I can only imagine how Zacchaeus must have felt when trying to get a look at Jesus through the crowd.  He was so small compared to everyone around him.  He climbed the sycamore tree to get a good view of Jesus and Jesus responded in love.  In love, Jesus invited Himself to the tax collector’s home.  The crowd was shocked by this act towards a sinner, but Jesus continued in love.

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Celebrating God’s Design

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Read Proverbs 29 today!

Solomon wrote the words of Proverbs 31 to young men, warning them to stay away from promiscuous women.  He shared this Proverb to help young men learn what kind of women they should be looking for.  We often read it as a list of expectations, but I think we need to remember that marriage is a team effort.  It takes two players to bring out this list of qualities.

Now I want to remember the single people who are reading this devotional too.  Let me remind you that God wants you to prepare yourself as the woman in this passage too.  And men, God wants you to become the man who brings these qualities out in the Proverbs 31 woman.  Our eyes need to turn to the Lord!  We need to search the things of God and find what is lacking in ourselves, so we can become the full package for marriage.  Marriage does not complete life, it only enhances life.  God is calling us to grow daily in Him, so that we can reflect what Scripture says to each other.  Let’s take a look at this Proverb and find the virtues for our lives!

1.  Beauty ~ vs. 10, 20, 21, 22, 30

  • Women ~ Your worth comes from deep within.  A heart dedicated to the Lord and His purpose.  Your beauty comes from knowing God and reflecting His desires in your life.
  • Men ~ How will you become the man who brings out beauty in the woman you have married or the woman you one day will marry?

2.  Trustworthy ~ vs. 11-12, 23, 28, 31 “…all the days of your life.”

  • Women ~ The greatest gift you can give to your husband is respect.  Admire him and trust him!  Esteem him!  Even now, before you know him… pray for him and entrust him to the Lord’s hands!
  • Men ~ The greatest gift you can give to your wife is love.  Find out what her love language is and learn to speak it well.  Even now, before you know her… pray for her, as she is waiting for you.

3.  Diligent ~ vs. 13, 16, 19, 24, 27

  • Women ~ A virtuous woman uses her time wisely.  She is diligent in the tasks that are given to her.  She is full of zeal for the Lord and the work He has put before her.
  • Men ~ Your love for a woman increases her zeal, her diligence, and her drive for the Lord.  She will be victorious in her marriage, her family, her ministry, and with her friends, if she knows your love is there to support her!

4.  Spirit of Readiness ~ vs. 14, 15, 18

  • Women ~ A noble woman is always ready to do the right thing for God.  She is ready to provide for her family, long before they know they need that provision.  She often keeps long hours without complaining.  Single women ~ May you prepare yourself through prayer to be a woman ready to give God’s best to the family He will one day provide for you.  Your relationship with God is the single most important thing you will ever cultivate in and out of marriage.
  • Men ~ The love of your life always has your best in mind.  She is concerned about your health, your provision, your needs, your wants, and so much more!  Take time to appreciate her!  It goes a long ways!  Single men ~ Choose wisely!  Pray for a woman who puts God first and foremost in her life.

5.  Strength & Wisdom ~ vs. 17, 25, 26

  • Women ~ True strength comes from God alone.  We cannot operate from our own strength.  We will fail ourselves many times over, but with God’s strength operating through us… we can conquer the world.  Remember, “the one who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).”
  • Men ~ The truth is we are stronger when we work with you as a team.  “Two are better than one… (Ecclesiastes 4:9).”  We are grateful when you take time to listen, encourage us, and strengthen us by being there.  Thank you for being the iron that sharpens us daily!  “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).” Single men ~ Your prayers will continue to sharpen the wife you have yet to know!

Dear Father God, Thank You for my dear husband who continues to bring out the best in me.  I pray for him today that You will watch over him and protect him.  May You guide his steps and continue to counsel him in your ways.  I praise You for the work You are doing in our marriage.  I’m grateful for every day that You give us!  Marriage is not something to be celebrated on just a yearly basis, but I believe it’s a daily celebration.  Especially, in the world we live in.  So today I celebrate a marriage built on You!  The Rock of my salvation!  Thank You for a husband who loves You, serves You, and cherishes me through You!  All honor, glory, and praise is due Your name!

Celebrating God’s Design,

 

Have Mercy on Me

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He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [that they were upright and in right standing with God] and scorned and made nothing of all the rest of men:

Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men—extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers—or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain. But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favorable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14, AMP)

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How Priceless

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Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O LORD, you preserve both man and beast.

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