Category Archives: God

Heart Problem

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“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Listen to your heart”, “Follow your heart”, “Be true to your heart”… in our society, we hear messages like these almost every day. There is a problem with the common thought of our culture regarding our hearts…it is wrong. We are encouraged to follow our own truth and to see if what we are thinking about “feels true” to us. However, when we are left to our own devices we cannot even know the truth. This is because we have a “heart problem.”

Each and every one of us have been created with a spiritual heart. Our hearts are the most important aspect of us. It is in our spiritual heart that we are connected to God and experience relationship with Him. However, we are also born with spiritual hearts that are disconnected from God. Our hearts are sinful and full of sin. The spiritual heart we are born with is “deceitful and beyond cure.” Jesus described the condition of our spiritual hearts:

“He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Each and every one of us needs heart transformation. We need a new heart. It is the only cure for our spiritual hearts that are far from God. God speaks of this new heart He longs for us to receive in His Word:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The message of “our culture” other wise known at “the world” is contradictory to what the Word says regarding our hearts. The results of lives lived “following our hearts” instead of following God and His Word are evidenced all around us. For those of us who are living with a spiritual heart that has not been made new by Jesus…the evidence is within us.

Look deep within yourself. Are you living with peace, joy, love, kindness, and true life? Or does your heart reflect the words of Jesus above, and is it filled with death, darkness, and destruction? If so, you have a “heart problem.”

There is only one cure… Jesus. Take your heart problem to Him. He alone can perform the transformation that our hearts need!

The Problem…

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“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sin is an uncomfortable topic in our modern world. Many have come to believe that we are beyond that concept. Our thoughts, feelings, and actions cannot be the problem. The problem is the environment we have lived, the people we have interacted with and the situations that have made us. Victims… we are just victims floating aimlessly in a torrent of occurrences that have shaped who we have become. In order to experience differently we must make ourselves what we want to be, chasing what we want, when and how we want it. However, this way of thinking only digs a deeper and deeper hole for the individual who embraces them. Why? It is a complete denial of the truth written in God’s word. It is pursuit of a way outside of relationship with the only one who holds the cure for the death, darkness, and destruction in our lives…Jesus.

We are not self made, and the solution for all the “negative emotions” we feel within ourselves is not found within ourselves. We have a Creator. This Creator designed us for connection to Him in a deep and intimate relationship. When we live our lives separated from this design, we experience lives far from what He created us for. Our Creator is good, loving, kind, peaceful, true, just, etc. He is the only source of these characteristics. So our disconnection from Him means that we live disconnected from all that He is. Apart from God there is no good thing. (Psalm 16:2)

The question then becomes, if separation from my Creator is what is bringing all the anger, anxiety, hatred, bitterness, fear, control issues, etc., WHY am I separated from Him? Who separated me from the source of life I desperately need? The answer is you and I. Our deliberate choice to sin has separated us. We are sinners.

The good news is as we come to terms with what we are is there is a solution for what separates us from the peace, joy, love, faithfulness, self- control, etc. that we all need. It is a solution that is far more simple than our repeated attempts of “self- help” techniques. Because quite truthfully, we cannot help ourselves. We cannot fix what is wrong inside of us. This is only fixed by the one who created us, God.

God has provided the solution to the sin that destroys us, Jesus. Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection provided the way. As we come to Him in repentance, asking Him to cleanse us from the sin we have in our heart. He begins a good work within us. He gives us a new heart that is inclined to live in a relationship pursing Him. As we see it is our choice to sin and to pursue ourselves over God that is separating us from living a life of abundance, we have come to a place we can accept the Good News!

The problem — our iniquity and sin. The solution — repentance and surrender to Jesus!

“Consider it Pure Joy” — Devotion written for WOW ministry.

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

James 1:2-3 NIV

“Trials.” In the past, this word would set off anxious feelings within me. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been a big fan of trials or adversity of any kind. However, they seem to be rather abundant. Recently, I found myself in a trial that was putting my faith in God to the test. Typically, my reaction to a trial is to run and hide; but this time was different. When I heard the foreboding words of trouble ahead it occurred to me that I had a choice to make. The choice was to respond in fear and anxiety or to stand firm in the faith. In fact, I heard God speak these words, “Janet, are you going to trust Me or not?” It was at that moment I prayed this prayer, “I am going to believe in You, God. I will trust You with all my heart. I will walk in faith.” Suddenly, everything changed inside of me. Peace came. As I continued to walk in faith through the situation, God revealed Himself once again to be faithful, sovereign or in control, loving, good, and trustworthy.

I have been experiencing the truth of our verses this week, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance (steadfastness).”

Our verses this month have focused on the word “steadfast.” The definition of steadfast is to have firmness of mind or purpose, to be constant in pursuing a purpose, unwavering, fixed, and steady. We are told in our verses this week that we are to “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds…” To have joy in the midst of trials/adversity sounds totally ridiculous and impossible, doesn’t it? James is not telling us that joy is in the difficult circumstances/situations themselves. He is saying that true joy comes because we know that the testing of our faith produces in us steadfastness/perseverance.

When we come up against a trial, we come to a choice. We can depend on God and allow Him to use the trial to deepen our relationship and strengthen our perseverance; or we can allow the enemy to use the trial to bring division, isolation, and separation. We can run to God and experience His abundant life like peace, righteousness, love, and joy, or we can run from God and experience death, darkness, and destruction. What we encounter in the things that are hard to walk through are the very things that teach us more and more of who God is.

Had I not experienced situations that could be fearful and believed in God, I would not know that He is my peace. Had I not experienced situations of uncertainty and leaned on God, I would not know that God is faithful and trustworthy. Had I not experienced situations that could bring sadness and sorrow and cry out to God, I would not know God is my comfort, joy, and strength. These “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) are opportunities for us to know our God better and to “stand firm in the faith.” As we persevere in faith we “become complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). We become more and more like Jesus, and that is a cause for “pure joy!”

As I write these words, these questions come to my heart, “Why have I been a runner when trouble comes?” “Why have I wanted to hide?” Perhaps you are wondering the same things too? God commands us to be “steadfast” and “unmovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV). From now on I will not cower to fear, uncertainty, and unbelief and run! From now on I choose to be steadfast and immovable in my faith! What about you?

This week’s song is “In Christ Alone” by Passion Kristian Stanfill. May it be a reminder to us when trials come our way that we can be steadfast standing in the power and love of Christ. 

Click here for song:

https://youtu.be/PGKJ2JHT9dw?si=xTiibTKa6ym53F5o

Love, 

Janet Nelson, Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6226957?e=6c56f70e45

Steadfast – In the Face of Giants (Written for WOW)

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“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

My youngest son, Andy, played tackle football when he was in the sixth grade. He played an offensive position of defending the quarterback. At one of his first games, he walked out onto the field and came face to face with what seemed to be a giant-sized sixth grade boy. This player was about a foot taller and a foot wider than Andy. He made my son look small. In fact, after seeing the player from the bleachers, I thought, “That kid is going to squash my baby!” However, when the play began, Andy gave himself fully to playing his position. He braced himself and pushed back against the force of that player. He was unwavering and immovable. He did not allow anyone to touch the quarterback he was guarding. Much to my amazement and relief, Andy stood firm in his purpose of keeping the player from advancing, and his team won! 

The focus word of our WOW verses this month is steadfast. The definition of steadfast is to have firmness of mind or purpose, to be constant in pursuing a purpose, unwavering, fixed, and steady. In our verse this week, Paul instructs believers to “stand firm” and “let nothing move you.” Our enemies – the flesh, the world, and the devil – are ruthless giants constantly coming against us to move us away from our relationship of oneness with God. They work relentlessly to get us to waver in our thoughts and purpose, to lose our sure footing in truth and righteousness, and fall into sin. Their aim and goal is to “squash” us with death, darkness, and destruction! 

Just like Andy, we need to remain fixed and immovable against what many times appears to be a bigger foe. We must remain steadfast against our spiritual enemies who want to take us down. To remain steadfast, we must know God and maintain the relationship of oneness with Him. We must know the Word of God and allow its truth to penetrate our minds and hearts so that when a lie comes in, we detect it immediately and stand firmly against it. We must be constant in pursuing communication with God. We must pray “at all times and on every occasion” (Ephesians 6:18).  And we must suit up!  As Andy put on his helmet and pads, we, too, must put on our spiritual armor and take our “stand against the devil’s schemes.” We must not let our enemies move us from trusting in God and giving ourselves “fully to the work of the Lord” being fully assured that our “labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 

Do you find yourself standing toe to toe with a giant? Has your enemy come to you using his playbook of schemes and temptations that include unbelief, selfishness, worry, fear, anxiety, and/or anger? The enemy of your soul wants to render you useless in the work of the Lord. If he can accomplish this, he knows that you will never be and do what God created you to be and do – be His image bearer and go forth into the world and make Him known. The Word of God says, “let nothing move you” from the work God created in advance for you to do in Christ Jesus.  It requires a steadfast spirit!  

This week’s song is “In Christ Alone” by Passion Kristian Stanfill.  May the lyrics be a reminder to stand steadfastly with our faith in Jesus and His Word alone!  He alone is our victory! 

Love, 

Janet Nelson, Devoted and Determined

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6226293?e=6c56f70e45

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

A Life of Prayer — Devotion written for WOW Ministry

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“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 NIV

My mother-in-law, Evelyn, was a woman of prayer. Her example has left a huge mark on my life. She would tell me frequently of the hours she had spent talking to God. Her entire day was spent with her being conscience of His presence with her. She would talk to Him while she worked around her house, drove her car, or walked around her yard. She loved to talk to Him about the beautiful flowers she enjoyed. She asked Him to bless her meals as she cooked them, asking Him to help them to turn out good. She told Him about the things that made her happy. She poured out her sorrows to Him. I knew that her life revolved around her time spent with God. Several times during the week she called me. Her bright cheery voice came through my phone, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Janet, I’ve been talking to Jesus this morning. I’ve been praying for you…” At the time, I wasn’t as appreciative of her sunshiny optimism. But now I can see how blessed I was. She modeled to me the very thing that I needed the most, an intimate relationship with God that was cultivated in her lifestyle of prayer.  

This month our verses at WOW have been about prayer.  Prayer is communing with God and communicating with Him. It is our lifeline and connection to Him through faith. It is a conscious awareness of God’s presence at all times. Prayer is knowing that EVERYTHING in our lives is something we communicate with God about. Our verse this week encourages us to pray “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” God loves to hear us praise Him for who He is. He loves to hear us thank Him for what He has done. He loves to hear us ask Him for guidance along our way. He desires us to tell Him the very things that cause our hearts to ache. He wants us to come to Him with everything!

The beauty of this lifestyle of prayer is that our God not only desires for us to pray, but He also helps us to pray. The Holy Spirit prompts us, enables us, and empowers us in prayer. As we “pray in the Spirit”, our prayers are moved and guided by Him. Evelyn prayed this way. Many times, she would tell me how she felt like the Holy Spirit had prompted her to pray for a loved one. She didn’t know what was going on, but she was sure that He had directed her to pray. Later she would hear testimony of how God stepped into the circumstance that person had experienced. This confirmed to her that the Holy Spirit had led her to pray.

These memories of my praying mother-in-law have stirred in me a desire. It is a desire to live my life experiencing God moment by moment in prayer. Perhaps as you read this, the desire is growing in you? God has given us this desire. He tells us to pray because He knows that a lifestyle of prayer is what is the very best for us. It ensures that our connection with God is close and intimate. This is what we were created for. He wants us to know Him through prayer and to make Him known by displaying our relationship of oneness to God with everyone we encounter.  

This week’s song is “Draw Me Nearer” by Meredith Andrews. As we listen to the words, may the Holy Spirit awaken a desire within us to experience a close and intimate relationship with Him through prayer.

Love,

Janet Nelson, Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6224041?e=6c56f70e45

Season of Singing

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It seems that the world becomes alive when Spring arrives. A few of days ago I watched the sunrise from my upper deck. As I was praying and awaiting the display of colors to come, the sound of birds singing and doves cooing filled the air. It was so beautiful. I took out my phone to record a small portion of the song. The words of this verse came to my heart:

”My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”“
‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life holds many seasons of winter, when all is cold, the days are short and the birds do not sing. If we are not careful we will forget to listen for the voice of our “Beloved”, Jesus. However, He is calling. His desire is for us to arise and “come.” When we come to Jesus we can leave the death and darkness of winter behind. He is life, light, and love. He wants us to come with Him to experience Him fully!

Creation is singing a chorus of praise to Him. As we embrace the relationship Jesus is calling us to, we will find that we were created to sing that song of praise as well.

”You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.“
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our lives in Christ are a “season of singing!” The closer we are to Him the greater the song of worship becomes in our hearts. We cannot help but proclaim: Jesus is so good! Jesus is so wonderful! His power is beyond comparison! His love towards us is more than I could ever imagine!

His praises cannot be contained by the birds of spring or a heart made alive by His transforming touch!

“Be Alert and of Sober Mind” — Prayer (Devotion Written for WOW Ministry)

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“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” 1 Peter 4:7 NIV

When I was little, I was a daddy’s girl. There was nothing that I loved more than spending time with my dad. I have fond memories of sitting out in his garage watching him work on our family’s car while I would sit there and talk away to him telling him all about my 6-year-old life. I LOVED being with my dad. However, time went on and life changes happened. I still loved him, but I became busy with my friends, my activities, and my life. After high school, I moved to a different town. My time with my dad became less and less as well as our conversations. Truth be told I forgot what a joy it was to be with him. The past year things have been different in our relationship. Dad is now 86 and I am 53, our relationship has matured and deepened. Lately, we have engaged in the most wonderful conversations. I’ve asked him questions about his younger years and discovered things about him that I never knew. We’ve talked about memories, both good and bad. We’ve made plans for the future as well. Once again, this daddy’s girl has found what she needed, time with her dad in a close relationship.

This month the verses at WOW are about prayer. Prayer is our connection to God through faith. Prayer is our invitation from God into a deep love relationship of oneness closely attached, connected, inseparable, and indivisible with Him. Prayer develops our relationship with God demonstrating our trust and utter dependence upon Him. You and I are our heavenly Father’s “Daddy’s girl”. God longs for us to spend time with Him, lots of it. Prayer is us spending time with Him engaging in conversation not just occasionally, but throughout our entire day, month, year, and life.

Our WOW verse for this week speaks of the need to “be alert and of sober mind so that you can pray.” Our world around us holds so many distractions that pull us away from relating to God in a life of prayer. Our enemy would like nothing better for us than to focus on all these distractions so that we would not live in a close and intimate relationship with God. His desire is for us to be disconnected from our heavenly Father. He wants to render us useless and to keep us from living fully in that relationship for which we were created. This is why we must be spiritually alert and watchful as we live our daily lives. It is easy to drift away from a close and vibrant relationship with God, as I drifted from the close relationship I had with my earthly dad as a little girl. It is easy to lose focus of why God has invited us to be closely connected with Him in prayer. Especially if we come to God with our thoughts, our wants, our desires, and our ways in mind. If our lives are filled with the self-centeredness of an uncircumcised heart, we will not experience the close relationship of oneness that God desires us to have through prayer. This is why we must “be alert and of sober mind so that ‘we’ may pray.”

As you are reading these words, do you feel the pushing and pulling of the world’s influences trying to keep you from that intimate time of relationship with your heavenly Father as His “Daddy’s girl”? God’s desire is for us to focus attentively on Him and Him alone moment by moment throughout our day. He wants us to experience Him more fully in a living relationship of prayer. May we fix our hearts and our minds on Him so that we can truly be “alert and of sober mind.” May we guard our hearts from anything that would try to influence us and draw us away from God’s life-giving connection to Him, our relationship of oneness with Him through prayer.

This week’s song speaks of a deep and intimate relationship with God that is developed in a lifestyle of prayer. It is “Heart of the Father” by Ryan Ellis. May we know His closeness and love as we experience more and more of Him!

Click here for this week’s song “Heart of the Father” by Ryan Ellis.

Love,

Janet Nelson, Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6223293?e=6c56f70e45

“House of Prayer” — Devotion Written for WOW Ministry

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“When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 
Luke 19:45-46 NIV

Two years ago, the youngest of our four children graduated from High School. This signaled the beginning of my husband and I gradually becoming empty nesters. For 26 years, our lives had revolved around our kids. Many of those years consisted of my husband working long hours and sharing the weekends together with me and the kids. We rarely had time alone together. Suddenly, we found ourselves, alone, sitting side by side in our living room recliners with nothing to do. At times, I resented our new way of life. I liked having my time with our kids. I did things my way, after my own plans that centered around their activities. I was used to my independence and being in control. However, my husband desired for this new season in our lives to be a time that our relationship of oneness would deepen and grow. Every time he had a day off from work, he would wake up and ask me, “what are we going to do today?” I did not understand that this was his invitation to participate in a closer relationship. I didn’t realize I needed to drop my plans and my independent ways. Thankfully, I am changing and once again I am enjoying the gift that God gave to me 32 years ago when he and I were dating, our one-on-one relationship spending time together.

This month our weekly verses at WOW are about prayer. Prayer is our lifeline and connection to God through faith — totally relying on, being fully assured of, and strictly adhering to God and His Word. Faith gives birth to prayer. Prayer is absolutely dependent upon faith. Prayer is our invitation from God into a deep love relationship of oneness closely attached, connected, inseparable, and indivisible with Him. Prayer develops our relationship with God demonstrating our trust and utter dependence upon Him.  

God deeply desires that we have a close and intimate relationship of oneness with Him. Jesus came to our world to make this possible. Our verses this week are an account of when Jesus came to the temple, a place of communion with God. When He arrived, He saw that the people had made the temple into a place of business instead. He began to drive out those who had turned His house into something other than its design, “a house of prayer.” Those people were used to doing things their way and after their plans, but Jesus came to introduce a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20) of a relationship of oneness. Jesus wanted His temple, His dwelling place, to be “a house of prayer.”

Jesus wants our lives to be one with His as well. He desires us to be “a house of prayer” or communion with Him. However, we have hindrances, sin, that need to be cleaned out in order for us to fully realize the depths of a relationship of oneness He desires. These keep us from being closely connected to God by faith through prayer. This is why we must allow God to cut the sin away through His circumcision of our hearts.

Two years ago, my husband longed for a closer relationship, and I realized I needed to repent of my independent ways. As I have, our time together is becoming beautiful. Jesus comes to us the same way. He is offering to cut away the things that separate us from Him. They leave our lives nothing more than a “den of robbers”, trapped in death, darkness, and destruction. How will we respond? May we respond, “Yes, anything that is not of You, cut away, clean it out. I want a relationship of intimacy communing with You, God, through prayer!”

Click this link to access our song this week: Kim Walker-Smith – Make Room (Lyrics) (youtube.com). May we desire to be free of all the sins that keep us from a close relationship of oneness with our Heavenly Father. Let us make room for Him. So, we may experience Him through a life of prayer.  

Love,

Janet Nelson

Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com/

https://mailchi.mp/wowjcmo/wow-devotion-john-6222729?e=6c56f70e45

“Stand Firm in the Faith” — Devotion Written for WOW Ministry

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith…”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

A little over a year ago my husband and I went to Kauai, Hawaii to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. One of my favorite activities on the island was our sunset stroll along the ocean shore. Our resort had a sidewalk that meandered through the palm trees and flowers. Every so often we had an opportunity to get off the sidewalk. One of the stops was the sandy beach and the other was an area of large lava rocks that extended out into the ocean. When I walked down onto the sandy beach and into the ocean, it didn’t take me long to back away from the water. As the waves came crashing in and then rolled back out, the sand would move and shift and wash out from under my feet. I felt very unstable and uncomfortable because the sand upon which I stood was always changing. However, when I ventured onto the lava rocks, I found the experience very different.  As I stood upon those rocks, they did not move, nor did they shift. Even with the waves crashing upon them they remained unmovable. I felt extremely secure as I stood there enjoying the color of the skies change as the sun appeared to sink into the horizon. That memory stands out as one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

Our verses this month are about faith. Faith is the spiritual gift of God that benefits and prospers every believer. It is required to live a life worthy of the calling we receive from God. Faith attaches us to God so that we can live the all – important relationship of oneness and receive the abundant provision of God into our hearts – His power, His holiness, His love, His mercy and grace, His wisdom, His righteousness, His joy, His peace, and so much more. It is faith that enables you and me to function in the spiritual realm – to hear God when He speaks to us, to listen intelligently and understand what He is saying, and to then act rightly according to what we have heard.

Our verse this week tells us that we must “stand firm in the faith.” To stand firm in the faith is to be fixed, steadfast, and unwavering in our total reliance on, our full assurance in, and our strict adherence to God and His Word. God and His Word is the strong, unchanging, unwavering foundation upon which faith is built and stands. Standing firm in faith is like me standing on the large lava rocks totally relying on them not to move or tilt or shift even when the waves come crashing upon them and me. Faith is in God and His living, written, and spoken Word that is unchanging, immovable, and unshifting. We, as believers, are not to stand firm in our own understanding, our own intellect, our own reasoning, our own wants and wishes. Doing that is like standing on the shifting sands of the oceans floor.

If we do not stand in faith listening to and depending on the spoken and written word of God, we will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9). We will fall to the ways and the voices of the world — the voices that speak one lie after another lie. When we listen and pay attention to the lies, we will act upon them and find ourselves living a life that is unfaithful, troubled, fearful, anxiety ridden, doubting, stressed out, discontent, and mean. We will be tossed about in a life of sin, never settled and secure.

Faith is required to live the calling we have received from God. Are you standing firm in the faith? Faith comes by hearing the message. What message are you hearing and paying attention to – the Word of God or the lies of the enemy? Is your heart and mind fixed on God and His Word? Or are you standing on the shifting sands of the enemy’s lies? God has given us a choice. As we choose to hold fast to God and His Word, we will live standing “firm in the faith…”

This week’s song is once again, “Take You At Your Word” by Cody Carnes and Benjamin William Hastings. As we listen, may we be reminded to “stand firm in the faith” in God and in HIs Word.

Love,

Janet Nelson

Devoted and Determined

https://www.wowjcmo.com

https://us2.campaign-archive.com/?e=6c56f70e45&u=fdd901aba4864456762de5de3&id=9247623563

“Everything is Possible” Devotion Written for WOW Ministry

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“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24 NIV

The internal struggle I was having was beyond what I can describe in a few words. Every Wednesday morning during the 2021 spring semester of WOW, I would pull into the parking lot and contemplate walking into the building. Every week as I sat in that parking lot I would hear the voices of the enemy speaking to me. This is what I heard those voices saying, “Don’t go in! They don’t like you. Wait until they hear what you have done.” But deep within my spiritual heart I knew that I needed to hear the Truth that was being spoken.

In God’s strength, I got out of my Jeep and walked through the doors of the church. As I sat in the auditorium and listened to the Word being spoken, I began desiring a deeper relationship with God. I took the WOW bookmark with the weekly verses and did what I was encouraged to do. Every morning I took out my Bible and I read the verse for the week. I read the verses that came before it and the verses that followed.  It wasn’t much, but those short portions of Scripture were planted into my heart like a tiny seed.

The Word of God is powerful to do a mighty work of strengthening a man’s faith, no matter how small that faith might be! As I took God’s Word into my heart and believed it, the Holy Spirit began strengthening my faith. As my faith was strengthened, my heart began to change. Three years later, I am not the person I was in 2021 — angry, bitter, fearful, and anxious. I no longer continually live in anger, bitterness, fear, and anxiety. I now live by faith in God and as a result am experiencing abundant life. Just like Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

The verses this week come from a conversation between Jesus and a desperate father who had a son tormented by demons. This man recognized his need and came to Jesus seeking a cure. He had taken a very important step of faith, to come and ask the One who is able to do all things.

Faith is the spiritual gift of God that is required to live a life worthy of the calling a believer receives. Faith attaches us to God. It is the all-important channel through which the abundant provision of God’s heart flows into our hearts – His power, His holiness, His love, His mercy, His grace, His wisdom, His righteousness, His joy, His peace, and so much more. Faith enables man to be one with the invisible God, to hear Him when He speaks, to understand what He is saying, and to obey.

The foundation of faith is God and His Word. Jesus spoke words of truth to the father when he said, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:32). Jesus was saying, believe in me, for I can do all things. The father heard what Jesus said and responded by exclaiming, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” This father heard the spoken Word of Jesus, believed what Jesus said, and deliverance was accomplished for his son.

It is faith that enables you and me to trust and have complete confidence in God and in His Word. Faith enables us to believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Our role is to receive His Word into our hearts and believe that every Word of God is right and true no matter what we are experiencing.  As we believe in God’s character, His promises, and in His commands our faith will be strengthened, and we will live in abundance and power.

God has given us the gift of faith. He desires us to live by faith in Him not in our own understanding, reasoning, self-effort, intellect, sight, or feelings. Faith in Him is required to live a life worthy of the calling we have received from Him. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. May we come to God acknowledging our need and believing that “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

This week’s song is once again, “Take You at Your Word” By Cody Carnes and Benjamin William Hastings.  May the lyrics be an encouragement to us to read and listen to the Word of God and to act upon it in faith!

Love,

Janet Nelson,

Devoted and Determined

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