“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that he may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve Me” Psalm 101:6, KJV

My mind immediately turns to the faithful minister of the gospel, the Sunday school teacher, the Christian worker as I read this verse of Scripture with its glorious promise.

Christian leaders are, indeed, included in this conditional promise. But many others may have a part as well. When that construction worker, a believer, who hears blasphemy on the job dares to speak up for his Lord, his act shall not go unnoticed and unrewarded.

That man who is scrupulously honest in his business, in the face of countless opportunities to be otherwise and in the face of competition and opposition that would seek to wipe him out, likewise shall have his reward.

That homemaker who cuts no corners, but completes the drudgery of housework, with love and joy and peace, shall rejoice too in that day when the faithful are rewarded.That young person who dares swim upstream against the tide of humanism, the drug culture, the careless, the indifferent, also shall be rewarded.

It is remarkable, too, that God rewards His children for good works which He makes possible by giving the grace and ability to perform them! He gives us grace, then smiles on us because we exercise the very grace that is a gift from Him.

Bible Reading: Psalm 101:1-5

Today’s Action Point: I will do what is right, regardless, and be faithful in every task I am called upon to do.

“Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians 6:17,18, KJV

Near the Church of St. Mark’s in Venice are three 17th century churches often admired for their highly ornate sculpture. On closer inspection, Ruskin points out, they are found to be “entirely destitute of every religious symbol, sculpture or inscription.”

They are really monuments to the glory of three Venetian families who provided the funds for their construction. “Impious buildings, manifestations of insolent atheism,” they were called by John Ruskin, English writer, art critic and sociologist.

Many Christians are like these buildings. Their association with God is more of a facade, formal and ritualistic. They do not know God as a caring Father with whom they experience a delightful, loving relationship.

As we meet God’s conditions, He becomes our Father, and we become His sons and daughters. His gift of Himself is illustrated in the life of a successful young attorney.

“The greatest gift I ever received,” he said, “was a Christmas gift from my dad. Inside a small box was a note saying, ‘Son, I will give you an hour every day after dinner – 365 days. It’s all yours. We’ll talk about what you want to talk about, we’ll go where you want to go, we’ll play what you want to play. It will be your hour.’

“He not only kept his promise, but every year he renewed it – and it was the greatest gift I ever had in my life. I had so much of his time.”

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:11-16

Today’s Action Point: I will count myself richly blessed for having so much of my Father’s time and will seek diligently to be worthy of His love and availability to me.

“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that he may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve Me” (Psalm 101:6, KJV)

My mind immediately turns to the faithful minister of the gospel, the Sunday school teacher, the Christian worker as I read this verse of Scripture with its glorious promise.

Christian leaders are, indeed, included in this conditional promise. But many others may have a part as well. When that construction worker, a believer, who hears blasphemy on the job dares to speak up for his Lord, his act shall not go unnoticed and unrewarded.

That man who is scrupulously honest in his business, in the face of countless opportunities to be otherwise and in the face of competition and opposition that would seek to wipe him out, likewise shall have his reward.

That homemaker who cuts no corners, but completes the drudgery of housework, with love and joy and peace, shall rejoice too in that day when the faithful are rewarded. That young person who dares swim upstream against the tide of humanism, the drug culture, the careless, the indifferent, also shall be rewarded.

It is remarkable, too, that God rewards His children for good works which He makes possible by giving the grace and ability to perform them! He gives us grace, then smiles on us because we exercise the very grace that is a gift from Him.

Bible Reading: Psalm 101:1-5

Today’s Action Point: I will do what is right, regardless, and be faithful in every task I am called upon to do.

Question: How does God reward His workers?

Do you regret having had an abortion? Need someone to talk to?

In response to an article, a bright young lady wrote me, “Sometimes I feel that I need to talk to Jesus. But then I remember: the reason I got into trouble was my fault, so I should face the music, and not bother Jesus about it.”

I admired her refreshing honesty and her willingness to take responsibility. Still it’s not a good reason to stay away from God. He’s longing to hear from us especially when we’ve messed up. One of the sweetest words in the Bible is “come”.

God invites us in

The invitation is to people who’ve messed up. “Come now, let us argue this out,” says the LORD. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow” (Isaiah 1:18, ASB).The invitation is to people who haven’t got it all figured out. Come just as you are with all your fears and questions and doubts and failures.

How do you think Jesus will respond? I hear Him saying the same words to us that He said to the woman caught in adultery: “I do not condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

(John 8:11) When we come to Him in this way, He washes away our sin and gives us power to make a new start.

When we’ve messed up, we’re often very hard on ourselves. We flog ourselves with: “I did it AGAIN! I’m so stupid. I’m no good. I’m a failure. I’ll never change.” These discouraging voices are not from God.

Satan makes us feel like a complete failure. Jesus makes us feel like a person who can triumph over failure and learn from it. He forgives us and helps us to forgive ourselves. Then He enables us to make a new start.

Dear God, I come to You now just as I am. Forgive me and cleanse me and help me forgive myself. Thank You that You have accepted me and forgiven me, and that You want to live your life through me today.  Amen.

Questions: Describe the feeling of when you messed up and then realized that you had been forgiven. How did that affect your life?

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Are you tired of living a defeated Christian life? Take this study.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

Am I growing or eroding in who I am becoming?

A wise woman grows in being respectful of others.

A woman who is respectful listens attentively. She esteems others whether they are stronger or weaker than herself.

She refrains from violating people or things in any way. She handles her affairs with honesty and seeks to be gentle in her dealings with people.

She is polite and thoughtful and displays integrity and humility. A respectful woman values life and does all she can to hold it in high regard.

She knows her heart is the wellspring of her life and that she needs Jesus’ help to be respectful. She tends the soil of her heart, carefully choosing what seeds will grow there.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

To grow in becoming a respectful woman, ask God to help you tend your heart wisely. Be aware of the seeds you allow to take root. Ask God for wisdom in how to refrain from infringing on the rights and freedoms of others and how to build others up as you walk.

Father God, I want to be a respected woman and I need Your help to be more respectful to others. Help me to guard my heart from the seeds of self- pride and superiority. Help me to be aware of times when I infringe on others’ rights and freedoms and try to control people and situations. Teach me to grow in the simple everyday ways of thoughtfulness and integrity. Help me to hold life in high regard all around me. Father, I need to tend the seeds of my heart in order to treat others the way You would have me. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may honor You in all my dealings with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: Is there something in your life that is holding you back from becoming the woman that God wants you to become? What will be your first step to help you to become that woman?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Often we make the mistake of assuming that authenticity with God begins with the act of revealing something that we would rather keep hidden from Him. However, considering the definition above could this be a shallow understanding of what living authentically with Christ looks like?

A child cannot grasp the importance of manners if they are taught to say “please” and “thank-you” without an initial lesson in values such as sharing and respect. In a similar manner, our pursuits to be honest with God will remain a series of obligatory and strained attempts if we do not have a proper understanding of our security in Christ.

This Life Lesson will help you to work through the issues that prevent you from coming to God as well as equip you with promises of His faithfulness. As you grow strong in this foundation, living in authentic relationship with God will happen naturally in light of His presence and provision.

1. To Be Authentic With Christ

Take action: Join Power to Change’s efforts to make a difference in the world by supporting our humanitarian partner Global Aid Network (GAiN). Explore what GAiN is doing to help people in the world and how you can help!

You said it: This week Em shared on the Into All the World women’s devotional, saying “It is so tempting and easy to ‘hate’ certain people, especially in this world. People can be so ‘unlovable.’ However, I know that is the way the world does things. We all need God’s grace, mercy & faith to help us to love.” Read the rest of the comments on Into All the World, and join the conversation on Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Life Lesson: Secrets: How to Stop Hiding
Just before Adam & Eve sinned, “neither of them felt any shame” (Genesis 2:25). Yet soon after that, “they hid themselves among the trees.” (Genesis 3:8) Gee, that makes sense. “God’s coming! // Quick! Into the trees!” We do this too sometimes: We try to “hide” from God. Read more

Devotional: God’s Mission: Adoption
When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “What gives meaning to your day?” Join us in the chat room November 9th 2009 @ 12:15pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

For the Love of Mothers
Here are a few things that you have learned: You can stir the spaghetti sauce with one hand and hold a fussy baby in the other. Snuggling and reading books together is time well spent. They will blame you when things go wrong and when they go beautifully, they will forget to thank you. You will see that a child’s laughter warms more effectively than a blanket. Read the full article.

Take action: Our online interactive life lesson Glimpses of Grace from Ruth explores how this childless and widowed young woman overcame what appeared to be a dark future.

You said it: This week K shared on the Meet You at the Intersection of Experience and Honesty women’s devotional, saying “Wow…I am definitely experiencing this right now in my life and I do not like it very much but I know that God is also calling me to better things in my life. And I only can discover what all He has for me by being honest with myself and being pruned. Thank you for confirmation.” Join the conversation on TheLife.com Devotional for Men and TheLife.com Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Blog: Can the role of mother be the most fulfilling?
We celebrate those who are moms on Mothers’ Day with a flower in church and maybe a sermon, but most days it can be a thankless job. Read more

Devotional: He Did It Just for You
Want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Mothers and Daughters” Join us in the chat room May 13^th 2009 @ 12:15pm EST for this chat or see also our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.

Sometimes things happen that force us to face weaknesses in ourselves that in fact the Lord desires to massage His love into.  Initially however, we don’t always see it that way and figuring that out can be messy and take time. God’s okay with that.

Do you sometimes get mad at God? Yourself? Others?

Facing my brother’s and Dad’s death’s in 2006, only six and a half weeks apart, plunged me into the deepest anguish, grief and anger I have experienced. I felt shame as the journey uncovered crusty parts of my soul exposing contempt for God, myself and it felt like every other human being on the planet.  This lurked behind an image management that appeared most honorable, sincere and dutiful by intention. As the truth of pain and loss hit me deep in my core, I struggled, but God’s requirements to be open and honest propelled me forward and upward.

How does one confront the unfriendly parts of one’s soul?

Does one see reality of one’s darkness as it really is? Or does one minimize, distort or spiritualize it?  Honesty requires a refusal to lie, steal or mislead in any way. It often begins by recognizing and admitting we may have been deceived.

Why must we recognize our sin and confess it as truth?  Because
dishonesty, or living in denial, is actually an attempt to dethrone God! It represents self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency constructs a world according to our own desire. By engaging in it we shut out God and others. That is idolatry.

Through courage, humility and brokenness we can pursue honesty about our true condition and find peace, hope and love. The Lord says:

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in
truth” (Psalm 148:18).

Our loving God invites us to meet Him at the intersection of experience and honesty. We find resolve there. My Dad and brother know that in full. You and i continue in our discovery. God’s love is sincere in action, character and utterance. He transforms us into the same. His truth can satisfy any soul, whatever the condition, if we believe and receive.

Father God, I thank You that You pursue my soul and draw me on in facing truth and finding You in it. Help me as I confront the unfriendly parts of my own soul. Meet me and pour Your peace and hope and love into me afresh as I pursue honesty in the inner part of my heart. Thank you Lord, for Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: What is forcing you to face truth? Do you resist or do you welcome the Lord’s presence in every corner of your life? Do you see reality as it really is? Or do you minimize, distort or spiritualize it?

About the Author Karen Braun

Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, Meet You at the Intersection of Experience and Honesty, read aloud today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Sometimes things happen that force us to face weaknesses in ourselves that in fact the Lord desires to massage His love into. Initially however, we don’t always see it that way and figuring that out can be messy and take time. God’s okay with that.

Do you sometimes get mad at God? Yourself? Others?

Facing my brother’s and Dad’s death’s in 2006, only six and a half weeks apart, plunged me into the deepest anguish, grief and anger I have experienced. I felt shame as the journey uncovered crusty parts of my soul exposing contempt for God, myself and it felt like every other human being on the planet. This lurked behind an image management that appeared most honorable, sincere and dutiful by intention. As the truth of pain and loss hit me deep in my core, I struggled, but God’s requirements to be open and honest propelled me forward and upward.

How does one confront the unfriendly parts of one’s soul?

Does one see reality of one’s darkness as it really is? Or does one minimize, distort or spiritualize it? Honesty requires a refusal to lie, steal or mislead in any way. It often begins by recognizing and admitting we may have been deceived.

Why must we recognize our sin and confess it as truth? Because dishonesty, or living in denial, is actually an attempt to dethrone God! It represents self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency constructs a world according to our own desire. By engaging in it we shut out God and others. That is idolatry.

Through courage, humility and brokenness we can pursue honesty about our true condition and find peace, hope and love. The Lord says:

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 148:18).

Our loving God invites us to meet Him at the intersection of experience and honesty. We find resolve there. My Dad and brother know that in full. You and i continue in our discovery. God’s love is sincere in action, character and utterance. He transforms us into the same. His truth can satisfy any soul, whatever the condition, if we believe and receive.

Father God, I thank You that You pursue my soul and draw me on in facing truth and finding You in it. Help me as I confront the unfriendly parts of my own soul. Meet me and pour Your peace and hope and love into me afresh as I pursue honesty in the inner part of my heart. Thank you Lord, for Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions: What is forcing you to face truth? Do you resist or do you welcome the Lord’s presence in every corner of your life? Do you see reality as it really is? Or do you minimize, distort or spiritualize it?

About this Author: Karen Braun