DAILY DEVOTIONS with MICHELE

Jesus didn’t die on the Cross so He could condemn us. He came to save us and grant us the peace that surpasses understanding as we navigate life’s roads to the inexplicable splendors of heaven. The half of what we will see upon our much-anticipated arrival has not even entered our minds. But until that day when we meet our Savior face-to-face, we must continue to stay the course.

We should want to please and make people happy, but not if the price of doing so is disobeying God. The Word of God tells us to follow peace and I want to strongly recommend that you begin doing that. Anyone who truly cares about you will want you to follow God even if it means you can’t give them what they want. God is always with you to help you do what you need to do.

Today's Scripture | Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and [reverently] fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and cling to Him. Once we begin listening to and hearing from God, it is important to obey whatever we hear...

Notice in today’s scripture that Jesus not only tells us not to judge people but also explains why we should refrain from doing so. It’s for our own good. We aren’t to judge others, so we won’t be judged. We do reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), and if we sow criticism and judgment, we’ll find people criticizing and judging us. But if we sow love and blessing into other people, we’ll experience love and blessing too.

Many people feel able and qualified to do a particular thing, and yet they live frustrated lives because the right doors don’t seem to open. Why is that? The truth is they may be “able, but not stable.” God has given them abilities, but perhaps they have not made the effort to mature in stability of character.

God gives us victory over our enemies if we listen to and obey Him. He will fight for us, and while we wait, we can expect to see Him do great things and look forward to them. Ask God for help, pray for and forgive your enemies as God instructs, and avoid depending on human flesh, for God says clearly in today’s scripture that “human help is worthless.”

It is easy to focus on people’s flaws and totally miss the good things about them, but we don’t have to be like that if we purpose to bear good fruit by making a big deal out of each good thing we notice about people.

We were never promised a primrose path on this earth. We were, however, promised that in Him we could find peace. If we will seek Him, Jesus will carry our burdens no matter how great our load and make a way where none seems to be. He knows our end from the beginning.

God is faithful to keep His promises; His word is His bond. He always does what He says. Do you? God surrounds us with mercy. Do you do the same for others? God lavishes unconditional love on people who do not deserve it – like He did for you. Do you love in the same way?