Daily devotion

A Second Touch

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:7-8 NIV

“He Touched Me” was written in 1963 by Bill Gaither and became one of the best loved and most recorded Christian songs of the twentieth century. It became so popular that Elvis Presly chose it as the title song of an album for which he won the Grammy award in 1972. Though this generation of young people may have never heard the song, those who love Jesus, still long for God’s touch. But there are times in life, when a single touch, even from God is not enough. Like Elijah, we still believe God, but we have given up on ourselves. “Surely God has someone better than us for the job.” we say to ourselves. Are you so tired of how things have been going that today, you simply want to lie down and give up? The good news this morning is that even if we have given up: God has not! He has not written us off and is not looking for someone else to replace us. God sent His angel a second time for Elijah, and though He may not use an angel, God has a fresh word for you and me this morning, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” God is offering us not only a second touch, but also a new direction and new strength for our journey, which will lead us all the way to Him!

Jesus is Waiting for You

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Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  John 4:6-7

It is often said that we must wait on the Lord, and with good reason. The Bible does teach us that waiting on God is the way He uses to renew our strength. But more often than not, in the stories of scripture, God is waiting on us. In today’s verse we find Jesus resting by a well. Now this seems a pretty normal thing, for the average guy on a hot day after a long walk. But Jesus is not just an average guy, He is the Son of God and He has plans than He often doesn’t explain to us. You see in Jesus’ daily calendar; He had scheduled a meeting with this woman from Samaria. She didn’t know it; the disciples didn’t know it and certainly no one in that unassuming little village would have guessed in their wildest dreams that the Messiah would stop at the outskirts of town that afternoon. Jesus wasn’t looking for anyone to impress Him with a formal welcome or reward Him with a generous honorarium. All He wanted was an honest conversation and a heart that was open to Him. Maybe that is all that Jesus is waiting for in our situation. Maybe we don’t need to wait, maybe we need to take a walk by a well and listen to what He has to say today. He has already finished all that needs to be done when He suffered on the cross and cried “It is finished!” Now He is resting by the well of living water for you and I to come and meet with Him today. Since Jesus is waiting: what are we waiting for?”

Today’s video was recorded at our monthly prayer and praise at Sunshine Christian Village and ends with the song “Fill My Cup Lord” Have a blessed week all!

Quiet Praise for Sunday

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Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:5 NIV

That God alone is my strength and the one whom I long to spend eternity with is what carries me through hard times and failures. That God alone began His work in me is my hope and confidence because He alone will complete it as He has promised and He alone will receive all the glory and praise. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, discouraged or even at times totally defeated, take a moment and allow the truth of today’s verse sink deep into your hearts. Then with that verse in mind, I hope you will be blessed as you  listen to this new release from Keith and Kristyn Getty, Kirk Whalum, Jordan Kauflin and Matt Merker.