Devotionals for the Heart: True peace and security comes from God

How to Overcome the World
A devotional by Chaplain Paul Anderson

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” –1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)

When I was growing up and living with my parents, saying grace at mealtimes, evening worship and going to church were essential parts of the family ritual. One of the hymns that was a staple in those moments was “Blessed Assurance”.

I did not fully comprehend being saved, at that time. I equated “Blessed Assurance” with security. I equated the ability to run fast and fight with a sense of personal and physical security. Those attributes did boost my confidence, but they did not bring the internal security that I anticipated. I was aiming at the wrong target and pursuing the wrong things.

While reading the Bible one morning, I stumbled into a text that gave me an epiphany. 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) pierced my perspectives on peace, security and assurance. It reads, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

I remembered the confident assurance in Romans 8:37-39 that nothing could separate us from the love of God. I remembered the verse in Romans 10:9 (ESV) that says “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 resonated through my being in a new way. “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.” The inference is that God is with us no matter what. That was the blessed assurance!

No matter what happens around us, to us, for us or with us, we can overcome the world (Romans 12:21)! Overcoming adversities defines a victor. That means that our lusts, addictions, bad habits, challenges and flaws could be overcome. When we fall short of God’s ideal, but we have faith in Jesus Christ, God will restore, renew and strengthen us. Our weaknesses become steps to victory. Our failings insure humility in preparation for the exaltations of the sanctified life.

We are safe in our success and even in the darkest seasons of our lives. As we overcome the struggles, we will rise into new horizons of faith and performance. Victorious living is not limited to the eternity after the second coming. Victory is ours today! Overcoming challenges forges stronger faith. Do not shirk from the obstacles that you may face. God is with you, no matter what! Confront all of the obstacles in your life with faith that you will succeed.

Please embrace this new year confidently, no matter what happens. Plan to plow through it with the assurance that you can overcome any challenges and thrive. God is with you, no matter what! Affirm your sense of being with the assurance of salvation. Let that confidence ripple through your daily performance, no matter what!

Practice articulating the words confirming your belief in Jesus as the Son of God who is alive.

Stay hopeful. Practice optimism. Employ enthusiasm and grind toward your goals. Complete the degree. Finish that project. Take that leap of faith and grow through your quests, no matter what!

Let’s Pray: 

Dear God,

 

Thank You for authoring eternity and our roles within it.

As with the prophet Jeremiah, fulfill in our lifetimes the thoughts that You have for us. Give us assurance and confidence that You will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Sanctify the impetus within us to be more like You and do more of the things that You did. Grow our faith and trust in You. Help us to light the paths of others and lead them to You.

In Jesus’s Name I pray. 

Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Blessed Assurance” (song) by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Chaplain Paul Anderson served for 20 years as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Over 26 years of active duty, he was promoted through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice (E2) to his final rank as Commander (O5) in the Chaplain’s Corps. 

Prior to his Naval career, Chaplain Anderson pastored in the Allegheny East and Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. His undergraduate preparation for ministry was completed at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md.

He has subsequently earned four graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in Michigan, a Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland and a Masters of Sacred Theology in Religion and Culture from Boston University. His Doctor of Ministry degree was conferred by Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Chaplain Anderson also completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He also holds certifications in Suicide Awareness and Prevention, Civil Mediation, Alternative Workplace Dispute Resolution, Temperament Analysis, Marriage Enrichment, Workforce Diversity, and is a certified Life Coach.

You may connect with Chaplain Anderson via email at this address, psanderson75@gmail.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Following God's Lead throughout your life

Following the Lead Car
A devotional by Sharon Musgrove

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."” – John 8:12 (ESV)

A recent vacation to California’s Bay Area had me in a panic attack.

My heart pounded in my chest and adrenaline shunted blood flow to extremities as my mind instructed its body of impeding doom. My breathing became shallow and I was lightheaded. Yet there was no emergency. My husband was simply driving our rental car on Highway 101 in a heavy downpour.

Nothing scares me more than driving unknown roads in the poor visibility of winter weather. Fears of sliding in ice or hydroplaning on standing water compound with navigating unknown roads, lack of daylight and spray from other vehicles.

It would make sense to me if my fears in these conditions came from a traumatic auto accident, but they don’t. These panic attacks originate from my imagination. I’m in unknown territory and I envision the worst-case scenario, pulling from stories I’ve read or scenes I have seen on television. In essence, I’m making it up. I torture myself.

So, I pray. When not the driver, I close my eyes and focus on thoughts that are pure and lovely (Philippians 4:8). I breathe deeply, exhaling slowly with the intention of releasing all fear-based thoughts and feelings. I re-center myself with resolve in God’s goodness.

Of course, when I am the driver, I must do the same exercises with eyes wide open to the circumstances. I must still move forward, so I focus on the car ahead of me, using their taillights, speed and navigation as my guide. With a “lead car,” I can relax some, relying on information about the road I glean from how someone else is experiencing it.

Journeying through life is like a road trip. When the territory is familiar, the road straight and the weather is clear, I am at ease, enjoying the scenery. I sing along to the radio. I chat casually with those who are with me. It’s when the road twists or the rain pours that my full attention is commanded. Cruise control becomes harmful and casual prattle ends.

When circumstances challenge, when Deception says, “Success of this trip is all on you,” I know I am in trouble. It’s at this point I pray for a lead car to follow.

Jesus is the lead car. He came to save, inviting us to follow Him. He lived this same life we do with a perfect record. Being God, He knows the road ahead. He put himself ahead of us that we might see His light and take comfort in following.

It’s not God’s intention that we go through this life in fear. He tells us this throughout the Bible in verses such as Psalm 27:1 (ESV): “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

It is His will that we mature in faith. Storms are part of that process. Driving scared is part of that process. The New Testament book of James encourages us to consider our troubles tools of perfecting, so to have joy in the process.

According to James 1:2-4 (ESV), we are advised to, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Ultimately, we travel not alone. There is peace and rest on our journey when we allow Jesus to lead. By following His light and repeating His ways, we too can be trustworthy, leading others to safety. Storms lose their power over us when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

~*~
Author Bio:

Sharon Musgrove is a self-proclaimed sociologist. The opportunities opened to her, over the years, have led her on a fascinating journey observing human behavior.

She has a diverse background in business, fitness and health industries. This background led her to a unique position writing curriculum and teaching for two private, Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both recovery programs served women primarily from the homeless community.

Sharon has traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the rural Maasai communities. She's been privileged to participate in Leadership camps for maturing young women. These annual camps have a mission of encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often abused young Maasai girls.

Easily identifying personally with the brokenness of the women she's served, Sharon now sees all people as needing more encouragement regardless of cultural or socioeconomic status. Within these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its transformative power has become her passion.

In her leisure time, Sharon enjoys her garden, health food, travel, and a good story. She and her husband, Jeff, make their home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have two grown children. Currently, Sharon is writing her first Christian historical fiction novel utilizing her study, experience, and understanding of self-destructive behaviors.

Waiting on God

Dear friends,

Happy Sabbath dear hearts! :)

Have you ever read a Bible verse or heard a song many times but all of a sudden one day, it makes perfect sense to you? 

A song by Vicki Yohe, "In the Waiting" speaks to me and the message is becoming crystal clear these days because it speaks to where I am in my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I've been upset with God. Admittedly, I've been mad because I have all these questions concerning issues in my life-- past and present-- which I've taken to God's throne repeatedly in prayer but have not thought that God has addressed my concerns. God has been silent. 

Earlier this week, I could not sleep at night and in the back of my mind were the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that I have not heard in a while. The song was, you guessed it, "In the Waiting" and it's performed by Christian artist Vicki Yohe.

Now I've heard this song countless of times since I bought the album on which the song is listed but I never paid special attention to the lyrics because I simply loved the melody. At first, I didn't believe I would find the CD buried amongst my countless collection of Christian albums. But God led me right to where I had placed it. So I recovered it and placed it into my CD player which is on the desk by my bed. I found the song (track 4 on Vicki's album "I Just Want You") and slipped into bed as I began to listen to the beautiful melody. 

Suddenly, I began to listen to the lyrics of the song and I heard God's heart. He wants me to know that it's OK to feel pain, it's OK to have doubts, it's OK to be mad at Him. Another song I listen to says "God isn't afraid of honest prayers" but back to "In the Waiting"...Ultimately, God let me know that being "in the waiting" between where I was and currently am to where God wants me to be is trying of my faith. But I need to take refuge in knowing that God wants me to know that I can rest in being still and knowing that HE is GOD (Psalm 46:10) and to know that just because all I hear is silence does NOT mean that I am alone. Contrary to the lies the enemy (the devil) constantly attacks me with, God is still here and He's right by my side. Even when I feel that I am distant from God or that I'm mad because I'm mad at Him, God smiles and wraps His healing arms of compassion around me and lets me know that it's okay to be here, in the waiting because He's still here with me and He will take me to where I need to be not only throughout my journey here on this earth, but in my spiritual walk (faith journey) with His Son Jesus Christ.

God doesn't give up on any of His children. He's the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. There's a story in the Bible about how when even just one of the Good Shepherd's sheep goes astray, the shepherd leaves the rest safely tucked away at home and searches for the one lost sheep until He finds them and then He restores the lost sheep to the fold. Read Matthew 18:10-14.

Dear friends, are any of you lost? 

Know that God is searching for you as I write this devotional. Even as you read these words, God has already found you and He's waiting. Yes, God is waiting for you. He's waiting for you to return to Him and is ready and willing to restore you not to what you have been but to what He wants you to be and it's a beautiful picture of God's grace that waits to not only bring a smile to your face with his unlimited blessings which He's eager to pour over your life, but salvation to your soul. Know that Earth in all of its beauty and tragedy is not our home, it's training grounds for heaven.

Someone once told me, "God cares more about our character than our comfort."

God will let us go through trials and tribulations and yes, silence so that He can refine our characters and get us ready for heaven. Remember, we cannot take anything to heaven but our characters. When Jesus comes again, the mortal bodies of His children will take on immortality and we will start the best part of our faith journey with Jesus-- eternity starting in Heaven. God will put a permanent end to sin and all of its cruel effects and the devil and his agents will no longer exist. He will restore this Earth to what it was meant to be and harmony in the universe and between all the worlds will be restored as will God's character. The whole idea behind The Great Controversy is the devil's claim that God's law is unjust, that God Himself is unkind and that the devil's way is better than God's plan. 

Beware dear friends, because God's plan leads to eternal life, the devil's plans lead to eternal death of not only the devil but all who follow him. So as attractive and promising as sin looks, stay away because while you may enjoy the pleasures of sin it will only be for a season and you will pay a price if you do not repent and turn to Jesus. That price is loss of the promise of eternal life.

A Bible character named Joshua (who once lived on this Earth) famously said, "Choose this day whom ye shall serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). 

I choose JESUS and I choose to know His peace that comes with being in the waiting.

My prayers are with you. Choose wisely and trust that if you choose JESUS, He will never leave nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and when our waiting here on Earth is over, Jesus Christ will be there to usher you and all of His faithful followers into eternity free of sorrow, free of pain, filled with joy and perfect peace and discovery! Yes, God has great plans (Jeremiah 29:11) in store for us beyond this world!

Praying for you,

Alexis