1 Kings 19, Daniel 11, Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, Psalm 104: Mental illness and depression are ever escalating in our world. In 1 Kings 19 we see a strong christian leader who struggles with depression. Elijah had just seen God do amazing things, but after the mountain top came a very deep valley as Jezebel threatens his life. One would thing that a strong christian leader would not struggle, that he would trust God, and that depression would never enter his world. You would be so wrong because Christian leaders are just like christians, who are just like unbelievers in some ways. We can all struggle emotionally. Some of the struggle can be chemical in nature causing the body to be depleted of chemicals that help keep the mind functioning correctly. This is especially true of anyone who has had a traumatic past. Dealing with the trauma uses up certain chemicals that help you cope. That is why it is important if your depression continues to seek medical care.
For some it is just a matter of being worn out. We push our bodies harder than they can handle and with little sleep or bad nutrition that mind begins to push back with negative thoughts, irritability and sometimes even suicidal thoughts to try to figure a way out of the demands we have placed on it. Elijah may well have suffered with this kind of depression. His normal pattern was not to fold when threatened. He was also helped by sleep and food. This is a great place to start if you are struggling. Get good rest and eat nutritionally to see if that helps. I would also add get outside! Some struggle with light deprivation and just down time. Let your body fuel back up!
The last piece of advice is spend some time with the Father. Elijah rested, ate, then he went to be with the Lord through fasting and prayer. Elijah heard God’s voice and it gave him specific directions of what to do next. Some of us may just need a purpose and plan to help us get out of the struggle pattern. Time with the Master focused on Him and what He can do even in our weakness will refuel you.
As a fellow sufferer of seasonal depression I can say after a while you will begin to read the signs of depression before you get down. In those times early prevention beats a pound of cure!

1 Kings 14, Daniel 6, Acts 7:1-6, 1 John 2:15-17, Psalm 99: Do you blend in with others around you? Are you distinctively different? The story of Daniel always inspires me. I don’t know if I would have been as strong as he was, but his faith in the One True God made him distinctively different than all of the other wise me. He wisdom and knowledge set him apart from others because he used them to lead people well. As the Medes and Persians took control of Babylon the new king Darius saw Daniel’s wisdom and made him a ruler over all of the wise men. That did not sit well with some of his colleagues. They were jealous and sought a way to bring him down.
When you are distinctively different many times you are a target for those jealous of you or your position. They will do what they can to bring you down and make you like everyone else.
These colleagues devised a plan they knew would work because they knew Daniel to be a man of great faith and that his practice was to pray daily 3 times to his God facing Jerusalem. Their plan targeted Daniel’s devout prayer life. The edict demanded that no one pray to any god or bow to anything other than the king for 30 days. They knew Daniel’s faith would not allow him to follow their law. As Daniel knelt to pray the guards arrested him. The punishment was severe, but God was with him even in the lions’ den. The King knew of Daniel’s faith but did not realize that his new law would endanger Daniel. The King could not sleep for concern for Daniel. First thing in the morning the King came to check on him. Hearing Daniel was safe the King responded:
Daniel 6:25Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
Our uniqueness may place us in a dangerous spot, but in the end the goal is not our comfort, but that the world may know our Savior. Daniel’s difference made God known. Oh that our difference would make God known to the unbelieving world around us. I pray today that you will dare to be different for the Kingdom’s sake.

1 Kings 11, Daniel 3, Acts 5:12-26, 1 John 1:5-10, Psalm 96: This post may be way too revealing so if you struggle with people being honest please just pass on by this one. 🙂 I have always struggled with the books of Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. The honest truth is I really struggle with Solomon. Today’s reading is a major part of why I struggle so mightily with this man who was the “wisest” man. I believe he was certainly wise in that he knew the right things to do. God revealed to him how to lead his people well, and his accomplishments bear that out. However 1 Kings 11 tell us where Solomon got off track.

1 Kings 11:1Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.

Though Solomon knew the right things to do and the things not to do, in the end Solomon did exactly what he wanted to do which is what leads to the writing of books like Ecclesiastes. Everything is meaningless when we do it our own way. There is no way to find true joy, peace or even true hope when we leave the paths of righteousness or in layman’s terms walking right with God. When we do what we want it may make merry for the moment, but it yeilds a lifetime of hopelessness. In the end of Ecclesiastes Solomon seems to come back to the truth of following God alone being the true key to wisdom and preventing the feelings of hopelessness. (vanity)

The Song of Solomon is another of those books that befuddle me. I always want to ask which of the 1000 women he wrote this about. I am sure some scholar somewhere could tell me, but if she was so all encompassing why did he run off and get involved with the other 999 women. I know the historical value of relationships formed due to political alliances, but true love the kind exhibited by those in Solomon’s Song should be between only one man and one woman as God instructed. The essence of the book I relish in and believe. The sadness of how far Solomon got from God’s plan wrecks me.

My last honest October revealing of the real me. My heart falls each time I read of the failures of great men of God both in the Bible and in our world. I know I too am so human and fall often myself so I am thankful my failures aren’t out for public display, but my heart still hurts for those who leave His paths to follow their own desires. May we all know as Solomon’s father knew that God forgives, restores, renews and even after all of our failures loves us anyway. Grateful for the Love of God that nothing can separate us from.

1 Kings 5; Obadiah 1-21; Acts 3:1-10; 2 Peter 2:12-22; Psalm 90: Are you a slave to anything? If you are like me you would immediately say “NO!” As I read the scripture today though this verse jumped out at me.

2 Peter 2:19 For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”

It is taken from a portion of scripture that talks about how the people were in the church but being influenced by people who said they were believers but practicing disobedience. They lived in their old nature and went back to tradition rather than new life. They were wolves in sheep clothing. They infiltrated the church and were causing many to go astray. Peter was addressing their sinful lifestyles. He was saying you have become slave again to your old natures.

As I read that I thought about how anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness can set up camp in our lives. We can go back to the old nature in these areas. We can go back to our old lifestyle of cursing, putting things into our body we know are not good for us, listening to or watching things that are not healthy or just plain ungodly. We can have roots of jealousy that rear their ugly heads. Whatever overcomes our spirit filled lives to set up camp is what we become slave to. Generally it happens slowly. Just like that slow fade. Eventually we find ourselves captive to that old nature again and it becomes our master. We no longer read our bibles like we once did. We no longer hang out with our Christian friends and look for “reasons” why we can’t or don’t want to spend time together. When we are together we play the game of Christian but our hearts are far away. We only go to church when it is convenient and our prayer life is almost non existent until something bad happens and we need Him. Then we are drawn away from the old nature again pulling away from the sin that so easily entangles and back to the Father.

Peter knew the people he was writing to struggled and if we are honest we know a few as well. The antidote is to recognize those pulling us to the old nature before they infect us. Then spend time in prayer. Keep your distance from the temptations and flee temptation. Read your bible daily and stay faithful to the family of faith. In doing all of these things you stand a much stronger chance of not being taken slave to the sin that lingers close at hand. One last thing, have a trusted Christian mentor and friend who will pray for you when you are feeling weak. By His power you will overcome.

1 Kings 1, Lamentations 2, Acts 1:12-26, 2 Timothy 4:19-22, Psalm 86: Have you as a parent experienced so much grief over your child’s behavior that even though you knew it would break their heart you took away something they treasured? It was probably as hard in some ways on you as it was on them. You longed to give them good things but because of their choices that was no longer possible. It may have even been so bad that it wasn’t you that took the treasure away but the legal system or just their own bad choices took their treasure and you could do nothing about it. If you have ever felt this way you can know just a touch of how God felt toward His children in Lamentations 2.

Israel had been given chance after chance to turn back to God and worship Him only. They had been offered second and third chances to turn from their wicked ways of not caring for the poor and needy and taking from one another. Their greed, anger, jealousy and pride had separated them far from the God they “loved”. Yet as He warned them they did nothing about it and continued on in their sin. Finally God had enough and allowed foreign powers to come in and take over. He allowed famine, drought, and pestilence. Israel or at least what remained in Judah was now ravaged with only the poor and destitute left alive or not captured. In their desolation they began to look once again to God.

How many of us are like our children or even these children of God. When we get to the worst of times we finally look up. God allows in His mercy us to hit rock bottom and at the bottom He like a loving parent is still right there. We have two options. Either we can get or remain mad at Him for allowing these things to happen which just makes our situation worse or we can turn away from our poor choices and run back into His loving arms. The choice really is up to us. Just like you as a parent long for your wayward son or daughter to run into your arms, God waits for us with longing in His heart as well.

Don’t wait for the devastation to come. Run back to Him today. He waits longingly for you to Come Home!

2 Samuel 24, Lamentations 1, Acts 1:1-11, 2 Timothy 4:9-18, Psalm 85: Do you have the power? I have got the power! The same power that the writer of Acts was talking about when he told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit came. The writer went on to say:

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord we receive the same power they received. That power is the Holy Spirit that comes into our souls. From that time on Ephesians says we are sealed with His Spirit until the day of redemption. That means until Jesus comes back to get us we are sealed or marked as A Child of God by the indwelling presence of His Spirit. Daily this Spirit guides us into all right walking with God. He also convicts of us sin. That still small voice you heart in your heart and mind is Him saying is that the right thing? And when we mess up He is also the one reminding us to confess and return.

Let’s think about the power that we have through the Spirit. It is the power that at Pentecost saw thousands saved at one time. It is the power that set Peter free from prison. It is the power that heals people of disease, demonic possession, and is the only way we are saved as He draws people to the Father.

All who have confessed Jesus as Lord have this power within them, but it is up to us to allow Him to have freedom in our lives. That freedom is for Him to work as we listen and obey. Oh my friends He can and will change your life if you are willing to trust the power and work of God in your life. Get to know more about the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Ann Graham Lotz has a new book out on it. That would be a great place to start to find how God can and will work in you through the Holy Spirit!

2 Samuel 17, Jeremiah 45-46, Luke 22:47-62, 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Psalm 78: Every time I read 2 Timothy 1 I can’t help but think of my dad. My daddy has been a pastor for over 50 years, but his early years did not begin in a pastor’s home. He was the son of a pipeliner. They moved often and had very shallow roots. His parents were not strong church going folks, but God chose to breath the Spirit into my father early in his 20’s as a young man. A couple weeks ago my dad preached a revival for one of our sons and they truly had revival with 6 folks saved. But again, God’s Spirit breathed on my dad early in his life, but dad has continued to fan into flame the gift God gave to him.

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

You don’t have to have the right pedigree as Timothy did in the faith of his mother and grandmother. You need God’s Spirit alive and at work in you. Then through fanning that flame through prayer, bible study, preparing to serve and literally getting out there and serving you breath fresh breath into what God is doing within you. That power, love and self-control that Paul wrote about are huge in us keeping that fire burning. So my friend, no excuses. Fan the flame no matter how young or how seasoned you are. Keep growing to be more and more like Jesus and leading others to Him.

2 Samuel 12, Jeremiah 40, Luke 21:5-19, Hebrews 12:3-17, Psalm 73: Where do babies go when they die? Have you ever wondered? Our passage in 2 Samuel can help us answer that question. David had been praying and fasting for the life of his baby son. The servants attending him saw how David hurt during that time and were afraid to tell him that the baby boy had died. David saw them whispering and approached them confirming that his child was dead then he responded by getting up, washing his face and moving on. The servants were mesmerized by his behavior and asked why.

2 Samuel 12:21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

David’s heart changed and his behavior changed having peace that one day he would see his son again when David also breathed his last. Because of our faith in God we will see our precious babies again in Heaven. Another passage tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. You may be wondering though about the sin nature of man and our separation from God. I don’t understand all of that, but I know until we can understand right and wrong and realize we sin God has a plan for children to go to heaven. I trust that He’s got it all figured out even if I don’t understand it. I take comfort in knowing that for a baby or very small child they go back to the Father.

Having lost a child in pregnancy, one of the only things that brought me great peace was to know I would see that child one day in Heaven. Until I get there I am sure my grandparents, Les’ dad and many others are telling that precious one about his earthly family and how God has used even the loss of that child’s precious life here on earth to bring others into the kingdom. God never wastes a hurt! I hope these truths have brought you peace today as well.

2 Samuel 11, Jeremiah 39, Luke 20:41-21:4, Hebrews 11:32-12:2, Psalm 72: My heart aches when I come to the story of David and Bathsheba. I ache because I know David loved the Lord. He had lived his life to please the Father in all that he did. So to come to this point in his life and see him fall so far from God’s plan breaks my heart.

It isn’t just David, but other great leaders I think about when I read this story. Many who have lead great churches or been influencers in their community have fallen. Lest you think it is only men, women are also susceptible as well! As I pondered David’s story and that of others who have fallen here are some common denominators.
* They were not busy about what they were supposed to be doing. David should have been off with. his men. Instead he was at home, bored and looking at things he should not have been.

* When he looked at someone other than his wife or in his case wives he allowed lust to rule over him. You can’t always keep from seeing things you would not, but you can absolutely help allowing your attention to stay there.

* David had to make arrangements to see Bathsheba. He knew it was wrong when he did it and he chose not to listen to the voice within telling him not to go down that path.

* Instead of confessing his sin David like many of us tried to cover it up costing a mighty man of valor his life. When we find ourselves covering up sin we are headed down a dangerous path that doesn’t just hurt us but others.

* Christian leaders or people with faith in God are prime suspects for an enemy attack because if he can make you fall the end result is that many others will.

To sum it all up, keep your focus on Jesus and the work He has called you to do. An idle mind is a war zone where the enemy will take full advantage of any weakness. If you fall into sin, stop immediately. The bible says flee! Then confess it to God and get back on the right path.

2 Samuel 3, Jeremiah 33, Luke 19:1-10, Hebrews 10:5-18, Psalm 66: I fear way too many of us are more like the crowd in Luke 19 than Zacchaeus! I have heard well meaning christian people complain about the song selections on Sunday mornings. They complain about the clothes the pastor wore or whether he had on a tie or suit. People voice criticism over what other people wear and how hot or cool the sanctuary was. If you are smiling by now or have the name or face of someone in mind you know what I mean. I recently told a seasoned saint who was frustrated because her church did not sing as many hymns as she wanted that worship at church was to an audience of One. The Father doesn’t care if the praise and worship is in the Old hymnal, the New hymnal or no hymnal at all. It is about worshiping the Father and allowing Him to penetrate our hearts. When Les goes to a different church to preach he often asks what the dress code is. He doesn’t want the clothing he chooses although it is usually a “dress up Sunday outfit” to get in the way of hearing the message. Again, I want to say to those offended when the preacher is not in a suit and tie, “Listen to what the Lord is saying to you!!!” If the reason we come to church is to be comfortable or to be around people and experiences that make us happy we are missing the whole purpose of worship. It is about meeting the Master and allowing Him to change our hearts.
Which brings us back to Zacchaeus and the crowd. Zacchaeus had genuine heart change and it was reflected in the actions he took after leaving the presence of Jesus. The crowd just saw all of Zaccaeus’ weaknesses, failures, and past and they totally missed Jesus all together. Yes Jesus meets with sinners, tax payers, religious people as well as the poorest and most desperate people around if they come to Him with the heart willing to be changed.
So, how was your worship yesterday? Was it all about you or all about Him and the difference He wanted to make in your life?
If I was too hard hitting in this devotion, please forgive me, but sometimes hard things need to be said.