Category Archives: obedience to God

WOW Ministry Weekly Devotion — The Word Our Indispensable Weapon

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“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Dear Devoted and Determined Princess Warriors, 

Our WOW verse for this week comes from the section of Scripture that Paul wrote

regarding the armor of God. He shares about the weapons God has given all believers to combat the assaults and attacks of our enemy.

Paul used the familiar Roman armor of his time as an example. Most of the pieces Paul listed of the armor were used to protect the vital organs of a Roman soldier: the helmet, the breastplate, the belt, the shield… However, one of the weapons was meant to take on and defeat the enemy. This piece of armor was the sword. 

The sword of a Roman soldier was more like a dagger — short, double edged, and extremely sharp. The fact that it was double edged made it easier to penetrate, as well as to cut in every way. It was deadly and used during up-close and direct combat. Paul refers to this weapon as“Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Jesus modeled the use of this spiritual weapon as He was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4). Satan, himself, came to Jesus tempting Him to sin. Jesus answered each temptation with these words, “It is written.” He not only knew the Word of God but knew that it was all-powerful and effective against the enemy and his schemes. He used the “Sword of the Spirit” in the up-close and personal combat He was experiencing that day. The Word of God was His indispensable weapon. You and I need to know and understand that truth also! 

“We have an enemy, and that enemy is real!” These are the words I remember hearing the first time I attended WOW.  At that time, I did not know and understand how important it was for me to recognize my enemy and to stand against his schemes. It was also of upmost importance that I recognized the spiritual weapon I needed to pick up and use to combat the enemy — “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

At that time, I was living in up-close combat with my enemy, but I did not pick up the Word of God to fight. Believe me, my enemy knew it. He would not let up on his assaults against me.

The Word of God was of no use to me because I did not pick it up and use it. I wasn’t studying the Word, praying the Word, listening to the Word, or living according to the Word. My lack of using the“Sword of the Spirit” was evident in my life. I did not live in peace, love, joy, patience, and the truth I needed to combat the lies of the enemy.

The Word is an indispensable weapon in the midst of spiritual warfare. Do you have it stored up in your heart so that you can pick it up and use it? As you are reflecting on what I have written, do you recognize that you are not using your weapon, “…the Sword of the Spirit?” Are you experiencing death and defeat in your life because you are not picking up the Word and using it? 

God desires for us to live in victory! We do not have to live helplessly assaulted by the lies of our enemy! We can “be strong in the Lord” and “stand firm!” (Ephesians 6:10 and 14) But we must “Take… the sword of the Spirit” and use the weapon God has given to us!

May we devote ourselves to God and the study of His Word. May we listen carefully and take to heart all that He says. May we receive it, believe it, and obey it fully!

This week’s song is “The Word is Alive” by Casting Crowns.

Love,

Janet

Devoted and Determined in the Word

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts — When It’s Convenient

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Today is Acts 24.

Paul stood before Felix the governor. The High Priest brought in a lawyer to level accusations against him. Paul once again used this opportunity to present his faith in Jesus. Felix would call for Paul off and on several times while Paul was kept in custody.

I am struck by Felix’s reaction to Paul and his faith in Jesus: 

“As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”” Acts 24:25 NIV

Do we react as Governor Felix did? He was afraid when faced with his own shortcomings — SINS. He told Paul he had heard enough for now, and he felt he could listen at his convenience. May that never be the way we respond! 

The Holy Spirit points out our shortcomings — SINS so we can repent of them. In repentance, there is freedom. Acknowledging that we have done wrong and we need forgiveness as well as the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome the SIN is the path to freedom from the SIN that holds us in chains! When the Holy Spirit points to an area of our lives that we have chosen sin over God’s way, may we be eager to repent!

Felix did not want to rely on God for freedom from SIN. He did not want to live as God wanted him to. He did not want to hear of the judgement he faced if he did not come to God in repentance. Felix wanted HIS own way above God’s. He thought he could come to God when it was “convenient.” He had his own power, position, and authority. He did not want to surrender in total obedience, total submission, and total dependence on God. He chose to remain in the darkness of his SIN.

May we have a soft heart towards the Holy Spirit and be quick to repent!

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts — We Need Him!

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Today is Acts 21.

The Holy Spirit spoke to the believers who were friends with Paul. He told them that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem. Paul already knew this as well, and he was fully convinced that God had told Him to go to Jerusalem any way. He was prepared to suffer whatever he would suffer. Because he knew he had to testify of Jesus there.

Sometimes the direction of our lives leads us down hard roads. This does not mean that God is not with us when we face difficulty, or that we have missed God’s will. God has a plan in each and every path He places us on. The end of that plan is always for our good and for His glory! We can trust Him in this. Hardship is part of life here in a world that is tainted by sin. The only place we find free of that is heaven where there are no more tears, no more sadness, no more sorrow.

This is why our loving Heavenly Father sent the Holy Spirit to us. He is the Comforter. The question arises as we look more intently at the Holy Spirit within us: Do we need the Holy Spirit? YES! We need His comfort, we need His guidance, we need His teaching, We need His power. The Holy Spirit in us is God’s gift to help us navigate life’s hardest twist and turns.

May we seek to know Him better and to live our lives in His fullness!

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts — Nothing Else

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Today is Acts 20.

Paul speaks the elders at the church of Ephesus that he dearly loves. He tells them that he knows the Holy Spirit is compelling him to go to Jerusalem, and he knows that hardship awaits him. Even so, Paul has set in his heart to obey and to go. His only desire was to obey God and to do exactly what God had called him to do. Paul says this:

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 ESV

Life is not easy, and living for God with a heart that is wholly His is not normal to the world around us. Those around us, who do not know God, do not value Him or His ways. But Paul had an encounter with Jesus Himself, and Paul had experienced the fullness of the Holy Spirit in his life. He was forever changed and wanted to know God alone. He only wanted to please God no matter what.

Have you come to that point in your life? Have you had an experience with Jesus and found that He alone satisfies? Have you entered into fellowship with the Holy Spirit? Can you hear Him speak to you, and do you know He hears you when you pray? This is what you were created for! Nothing else matters! 

My prayer is the same as Paul’s. May I testify of the grace of God in my life! God has been so very good to me! I want you to experience that same goodness! But that goodness is only experienced when you surrender your life to Him. That is when the Holy Spirit fills you to overflowing and you experience the same Jesus Paul encountered on the road to Damascus and the same Holy Spirit the disciples were filled with in the upper room at Pentecost.

May our hearts be His alone! Come Holy Spirit!

New Beginnings in Acts — Do Not Be Afraid!

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Today is Acts 18.

Paul frequently went to the synagogues to reason with the Jews explaining that Jesus was the Messiah. He testified of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles. Several times he was rejected, even to the point of hostility.

One night Jesus spoke to Paul in a vision.

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,” Acts 18:9 ESV

The world will reject knowing Jesus. There will be opposition from those who have hardened their hearts. But we are to not be afraid to speak of Jesus to those around us. Because the Holy Spirit can soften the most hardened of hearts.

We are to follow Jesus’s directive as well! “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,”

New Beginnings in Acts — Worthless Things

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““Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Acts‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Acts 14.

Paul and Barnabas continue on their missionary journey “speaking boldly for the Lord.” God “confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.” (Verse 3)

When they got to Lystra they prayed for a man who had never walked and that man was healed. This caused the crowds to want to worship Paul and Barnabas. They said that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas was Zeus. Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and ran into the crowd telling them loudly to not do this. They were only men. Then Paul said, “We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God.”

The crowd worshipped idols. In our world today, we may think we are a little more educated and sophisticated because we don’t worship Ancient Greek Gods. But, ANYTHING that we put before God is an idol.

In America, we worship: money, careers, our kids sports programs, music, education — (our own knowledge or the attitude that we know better than what the Scripture says), psychology and science, possessions, our phones (social media), dating, politics, etc. The list could go on and on. We choose to exalt things in our lives above the “living God.” What is our focus on throughout the day? This may very well be an idol.

All these pursuits and passions are dead idols… But there is good news just as there was in Paul’s time. There is a living God! He longs to “fill your hearts with joy.” (Verse 17) But we must turn from the “worthless things to the living God.”

What are you pursuing and passionate about? God longs to be the center of our lives!

Is He?

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts —Sent Out!

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“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”…. sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…they proclaimed the word of God.” Acts‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬,4-5 NIV‬‬


Today is Acts 13.


The church in Antioch spent time worshipping and fasting. As they did the Holy Spirit directed them to send out Saul, who is also called Paul, and Barnabas on a missionary journey. As Paul and Barnabas went out, they “proclaimed the word of God.” Everywhere they went people’s lives were changed. The people were “astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” The people “begged that these things might be told them.” One account in verse 44 says “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” The Gentiles “began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord…” verse 48. In fact, “the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.”

We have the same Holy Spirit living inside of us. We have the same Word of God to proclaim! People are hungry to hear. We too can worship and fast to hear the direction of the Holy Spirit so that we can go out and proclaim God’s Word.

Our world is no different than the world during the time of the early church. People need to hear about Jesus and all that He has done! We have the Word that brings life. May we boldly proclaim that Word in the power of the Holy Spirit!

New Beginnings in Acts — Stand in God’s Way?

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“So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”” Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Acts 11.

Peter’s visit with Cornelius was controversial with the Jewish believers. They had not understood God’s plan. The Jews did not closely affiliate with the Gentiles. They would not even eat with them. But Peter explained why he went, and how God had revealed to Him in a vision that he needed to “make no distinction” between himself and the Gentile men who came to him. When the Gentile household received the Holy Spirit as he had, Peter came to a conclusion. “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

God wants complete surrender of our ideas, thoughts, plans, dreams, etc. to Him. His way is better than anything we could ever conceive. We may think a certain way, but when it is held up to the truth of the Word of God that way must change. Peter “remembered the word of the Lord.“ (verse 16) This changed how he had always lived his life. He obeyed the Word of the Lord. This obedience brought life not only to Cornelius, but it opened the door for the Gentiles (which is you and me) to come. “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.“

When God speaks to us, we must listen. We must obey! It may be uncomfortable, but our obedience to His Word is always for our good and the good of those around us. May we say as Peter did, “who was I that I could stand in Gods way?”

New Beginnings in The Book of Acts — For God So Loved the World

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“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God…” Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Acts 10.

“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16)

God had plans for His Gospel to spread from Jerusalem, to Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.(Acts 1:8 ) The New Beginning that He had started with the Disciples in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost came to the Gentiles (non -Jewish ) believers at Cornelius’s house. As Peter was testifying of Jesus and preaching “forgiveness of sins through His name.” (verse 43). The Holy Spirit “came on all who heard the message.” This amazed the Jewish believers who were with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, and they began to speak in tongues as the Jewish believers had. Then Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”

“God shows no partiality.” (verse 34) He desires for people to come from every tribe, tongue and nation. He desires for us to experience Him in a deep and intimate relationship. He wants us to be filled with His Spirit so that we too can be empowered to be witnesses to the world.

“For God so loved the World…”

New Beginnings in Acts — 180 Degree Turn

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““Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied…But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” Acts‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬, ‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Acts 9

180 degree turn around… I was one way. Now I am not. This is what Jesus did for Saul. This is what He has done for me.

Saul hated Christians. He stood by and approved of the killing of Stephen. He searched out the Christians in their homes and had them arrested. Then He met Jesus!

An encounter with Jesus will change you. What you were is changed to what God wanted you to be all along, a “chosen instrument” of His. Saul “immediately… proclaimed Jesus… saying “He is the Son of God.”” Everyone around Saul “{was} amazed.”

I know this kind of change in my own life. Jesus took me, an anxious woman tormented in her mind, and gave me peace.

Jesus has the power to give us a “180 degree turn around” in our lives through His Holy Spirit living in us. All we have to do is HEAR/ LISTEN TO His voice as Saul did on the road to Damascus and OBEY whatever Jesus says! He truly gives us New Beginnings!