I want to be your encourager, a voice that cheers you on to believe that God is who he says he is and that walking in his ways will prosper your soul. There's a lot at stake. Without personal encouragement we begin to lose sight of the goal. We get lost in the isolation of making so many choices. The days blend into one another and we slowly lose perspective. To complicate matters, the voices that offer false promises are too alluring to refuse.
No wonder God told us to whisper the truth in each other's ears, because sin is deceitful. It lies. It makes promises it can never deliver in the long run. Initially sin feels good. An affair is exhilarating. Controlling others is empowering. Taking revenge feels therapeutic. Building a bigger house is an anesthetic to the pain. Gossip makes us feel better about ourselves. Fighting for our rights massages the pain of unfairness. The list goes on.
The longer I choose to believe (and act on) the false promises of sin, the harder my heart becomes. If I sin today, I will be more hardened tomorrow. I'll be even less likely to be affected by the truth. God's voice will be more unwelcome. The purity of his ways will seem more perverted.
Let's put our arms around someone who is struggling with critical choices today. Let's remind them that God's ways are worth it. He delivers what he promises: peace, confidence, eternal rewards and the joy of living in the light of his love.
-Christine Wyrtzen
**This devotion brought to mind the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. The song I think relates to this and also to my "comfort zone" subject I was talking about a few days ago. I've included the song on my players and here's the lyrics for you:
oh what i would do to havethe kind of faith it takes to climb out of the boat i'm in
onto the crashing waves
to step out of my comfort zone
to the realm of the unknown where jesus is
and he's holding out his hand
but the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
reminding me of all the times i've tried before and failed
the waves they keep on telling me
time and time again. 'boy, you'll never win!'"you'll never win"
but the voice of truth tells me a different story
and the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
out of all the voices calling out to me
i will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
oh what i would do to have
the kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
but the gian't calling out my name and he laughs at me
reminding me of all the times i've tried before and failed
the giant keeps on tell me
time and time again "boy, you'll neve win!"you'll never win"
but the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
i will soar with the wings of eagles
when i stop and listen to the sound of jesus
singing over me
i will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
No wonder God told us to whisper the truth in each other's ears, because sin is deceitful. It lies. It makes promises it can never deliver in the long run. Initially sin feels good. An affair is exhilarating. Controlling others is empowering. Taking revenge feels therapeutic. Building a bigger house is an anesthetic to the pain. Gossip makes us feel better about ourselves. Fighting for our rights massages the pain of unfairness. The list goes on.
The longer I choose to believe (and act on) the false promises of sin, the harder my heart becomes. If I sin today, I will be more hardened tomorrow. I'll be even less likely to be affected by the truth. God's voice will be more unwelcome. The purity of his ways will seem more perverted.
Let's put our arms around someone who is struggling with critical choices today. Let's remind them that God's ways are worth it. He delivers what he promises: peace, confidence, eternal rewards and the joy of living in the light of his love.
-Christine Wyrtzen
**This devotion brought to mind the song "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns. The song I think relates to this and also to my "comfort zone" subject I was talking about a few days ago. I've included the song on my players and here's the lyrics for you:
oh what i would do to havethe kind of faith it takes to climb out of the boat i'm in
onto the crashing waves
to step out of my comfort zone
to the realm of the unknown where jesus is
and he's holding out his hand
but the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
reminding me of all the times i've tried before and failed
the waves they keep on telling me
time and time again. 'boy, you'll never win!'"you'll never win"
but the voice of truth tells me a different story
and the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
out of all the voices calling out to me
i will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
oh what i would do to have
the kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
but the gian't calling out my name and he laughs at me
reminding me of all the times i've tried before and failed
the giant keeps on tell me
time and time again "boy, you'll neve win!"you'll never win"
but the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
i will soar with the wings of eagles
when i stop and listen to the sound of jesus
singing over me
i will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
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