Posted:
Based on “Our God Is Still Able” by Pastor Fidel Gomez; 7/11-12/09,
Message #GS71; Daily Devotional #3 - “Reminders”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (I Peter 5:7, AMP)
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Why do we sometimes so easily forget about the goodness of God? Why does our focus turn to things of this world instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1)? When our gaze is on our problems, we lose sight of what God has promised for those who follow Him. As Pastor Fidel taught us, we need reminders of Who God is and how He relates to those who belong to Him.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): First, we need to remember that He cares for us affectionately. When we ponder God’s thoughts toward us, affection may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but perhaps judgment or indifference. But God loves us with an everlasting love, a love that moves Him to seek out a relationship with, and be emotionally connected with, everyone who follows Him. Next, He cares for us watchfully. God is not sitting at a distance, indifferent and inactive toward the plight of His children here on earth. He is watching. He sees. He acts on our behalf. Yes, we live in a sinful world. Yes, there are consequences to our wrong choices. Even so, God is working and directing our lives to accomplish His will. Knowing that, we can cast our anxieties, our worries, and our concerns on Him once and for all. I love that. Once we’ve given it to God, there is no need to take it back. He’s got it covered. The enemy of our souls wants us to listen to his voice and believe his interpretation of the times. But we can choose to look at God, read His Word, know His character, and trust Him to work all things for our good (Romans 8:28). We all need to be challenged to take an inventory of what’s going on in our thought lives. Do our thoughts reflect God’s Word and what it says about our lives, or is the world, with its desires and worries, taking center stage? If your thoughts look more like the world’s then remember, new thoughts are only a prayer away. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:8)
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 2 Corinthians 10:5; Matthew 15:19; Psalm 139:17-23
NLG
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
Amplified Bible = AMP
