Jun 18 22
Let Go and Relax!
“Cease striving and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NASB
I was seeking the Lord about a troublesome situation during my quiet time with Him, when He led me to Psalm 46. This is the psalm that starts out by saying, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NASB) I have experienced the power of having the Lord be “a very present help in trouble” in the past, but my current situation seemed different somehow. And I was getting frustrated and discouraged.
As I read through the rest of this psalm, I came to verse 10, which says, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB) I have seen this verse of Scripture countless times, and it has always ministered peace to my hurting soul. But what I never noticed before was a footnote for this verse in the NASB translation. It says simply, “Let go, relax.” When I read those words, it was like every fiber of my being lit up, and I knew the Lord was speaking to me.
I looked up the definition of the word “striving,” and I found phrases like “making great efforts to achieve or obtain something” and “struggling or fighting vigorously.” The Lord’s message to me was clear. If I wanted Him to be “a very present help” in my troubling situation, I had to cease my “great efforts” and my “struggling,” and I had to “let go” and “relax.”
I believe this message could very well apply to a situation you are facing right now. You have done everything you could possibly do, but the situation persists, and you are tempted to give in to frustration and discouragement. Take heart, dear one. Let go and relax – entrusting the matter entirely to the Lord. And watch Him do what only He can do!
Lord, I declare that You are my refuge and strength, and a very present help in times of trouble. Remind me often that Your Word says, “God wants His children to live in peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15 NLT) Teach me how to cast all of my cares and anxieties upon You every day, so that You can support me and sustain me according to Your promise. (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7) Thank You that as I let go and relax, You will prove Yourself to be my Burden-Bearer, and You will fight – and win! – all of my battles for me! (Psalm 68:19 NIV; Exodus 14:14)
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Jun 12 22
An Increase of Honor and Comfort
“Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.” Psalm 71:20-21 NIV
One of the things I appreciate about Jesus is His honesty. He told us plainly that we would experience trials and troubles in this world, so that we would not lose our faith in Him when we encountered them. (John 16:33) If we will remember God’s promises, and cling to them in times of turmoil, the Lord will always turn things around in our favor in the end. (Romans 8:28)
The verses above from Psalm 71 say the same thing. There are times when God does allow us to “see troubles, many and bitter.” But that is not the end of the story. Because He is a God of restoration, He revives us, and gives us a resurrection out of the depths we sink into. But He doesn’t stop there. He ultimately increases our honor in ways that bring glory to Him – and He comforts us, and fills us with a fresh sense of purpose.
Jesus is the perfect example of these biblical principles. God made Him suffer greatly, but He did it for the purpose of, not only resurrecting Him, but increasing His honor – so that God might be glorified. You may feel like you are in the midst of bitter troubles today, but God has a resurrection in store for you – IF you will refuse to doubt Him and His good intentions for you. Lean heavily upon Him, dear one, and know that an increase of honor and comfort is headed your way right now!
Lord, when troubles come my way, help me to turn to You before I turn to anyone else. Comfort me as only You can. Rescue me from doubt and despair, and restore to me all that I have lost. (Zechariah 9:12) Increase my greatness and my honor, and make me prosper more than ever before. (Psalm 71:21 AMP; Ezekiel 36:11) Thank You that as I commit my battles to You, and enter Your rest, You will cause me to triumph over every adversity for Your glory! (2 Chronicles 20:15; Hebrews 4:3; 2 Corinthians 2:14)
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Jun 5 22
Judge Him Faithful
“He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.” Hebrews 10:23 AMP
I was praying one of God’s promises back to Him – as He taught me to do years ago – when I heard my thoughts say, “No, remember that so-and-so prayed that Scripture a while back, and it didn’t work for them.” I could sense an instant frown coming across my face until I heard the Holy Spirit say to my spirit, “Never judge the Word of God or His promises by someone’s experience. Instead, always judge the Lord faithful to His Word.”
That’s when I remembered Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV): “By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Think about that for a moment. Sarah received a miracle from God because she judged Him faithful to His promises. Likewise, when you and I judge God faithful, even when someone else – or even we ourselves – failed to receive the answer to our prayers in the past, we open the door for the Lord to move mightily on our behalf.
We can’t know why someone else supposedly claimed God’s promises, and didn’t get the results they had hoped for. We can’t even know why that happens to us sometimes. What we must do is judge God faithful to His Word at all times, because when we do that, our percentage of answered prayer climbs ever higher, and we grow closer to the Lord and His purposes for us. I have seen it in my own life, and in the lives of other believers who refused to doubt God.
Recently, I heard a godly man say that we should never build our faith upon our experiences or circumstances. Our faith must be built upon God’s eternal Word and promises. When I am having a difficult day for some reason, the Holy Spirit often directs me to meditate on Hebrews 10:23 (NIV), and I go about my business saying over and over, “He who promised is faithful.” This always causes faith, joy, and peace to spring up on the inside of me, and it greatly brightens my day.
Today, I encourage you to put aside your doubts and fears, and judge the Lord faithful to His promises every time – knowing that He is a Rewarder to those who put their faith in Him! (Hebrews 11:6)
Lord, please help me to never base my faith on my experiences or circumstances, but only upon Your eternal Word and promises. Help me to memorize and meditate on the Scriptures that You want me to keep in my heart and in my mouth. Thank You that as I judge You faithful, I will see You moving mightily in every area of my life!
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May 29 22
Great Expectations
“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.” Psalm 81:10 NLT
When the Lord led me to do an in-depth study on the meaning behind Psalm 81:10, a deep sense of conviction came over me. According to Scripture, when God says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things,” He is telling us to believe Him in a deeper way, and to ask Him for greater blessings than ever before.
Here, the Lord is asking us to pray with abandon and freedom, to pour out our hearts before Him without “editing” our prayers, to share with Him our most intimate desires and longings, and to pray with boldness, fervency, and persistence. This kind of prayer pleads for the fulfillment of God’s precious and powerful promises. And it praises the Lord, not only for gifts already received, but for those that are on the way.
When the apostle Peter writes about our new birth in Christ, he says, “Now we live with great expectation.” (1 Peter 1:3 NLT) As born-again children of God, we have the privilege of expecting great things from God, and petitioning Him in proportion to our great expectations.
Jesus said, “You will have what your faith expects!” (Matthew 9:29 TPT) What is it that the Lord is challenging you to believe Him for today? What haven’t you asked Him for because you weren’t sure that you deserved it? I believe with all my heart that He is saying to you right now – “Open your mouth wide and see if I won’t fill it. You will receive every blessing you can use!” (Psalm 81:10 TLB)
Lord, do a work in my heart so that I will never “edit” my prayers, but will always share my most intimate desires and longings with You. Remind me often that I am the righteousness of God in Christ, and that my prayers are powerful and effective. (2 Corinthians 5:21; James 5:16) Enlarge my expectations, and teach me how to pray bold, believing prayers. Help me to continually give You thanks and praise, not only for the gifts You have already given me, but also for those that are on the way. Thank You that as I live my life with great expectations, I will experience a greater measure of miracles, blessings, and breakthroughs!
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*Comments or Prayer Requests? Please email Joanne (J. M.) Farro at jmf@jmfarro.com
May 22 22
Good Judgment vs. Poor Judgment
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” Proverbs 9:10 NLT
When the Lord called me to get involved in a serious situation that had become a tangled mess, I first resisted the idea. I confess that my attitude was, “I didn’t make the mess, so why should I have to clean it up?” But after the Lord repeatedly dealt with me about the matter, I finally gave in and did the hard work of trying to bring some balance and sanity to it.
When I asked the Lord how anyone could make such a long series of bad decisions, He led me to His Word in John 8:46 (NIV): “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” The people who were in authority in this situation were not hearing from God simply because they didn’t belong to Him. It didn’t even enter their minds to consult the Lord before they made life-altering decisions for the people involved. As a result, a lot of irreversible damage was done.
Scripture says: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (Proverbs 9:10 NLT) The truth is that people who do not fear and respect God are doomed to making poor decisions on a regular basis. On the other hand, those of us who are devoted to the Lord have the privilege of consulting Someone who sees the future, who is wiser than the wisest of men, and who can do what no human has ever been capable of.
Jesus said that His sheep would hear His voice (John 10:27), so if you are a follower of Christ, you have the greatest source of wisdom and power at your disposal, and you are not doomed to using poor judgment when you face life-altering decisions, or even minor ones. What is it that the Lord wants you to consult Him about today?
Lord, work in my heart so that whenever I have a decision to make, my first thought will be to turn to You for Your perspective and counsel. Remind me that You have promised to generously provide me with wisdom when I ask You for it. (James 1:5) Give me revelation from heaven, and help me to apply it to my own life, and to share it with others in life-changing ways. Thank You that as I reverence You and Your Word – and give You first place in my life – I will experience life at its very best!
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May 15 22
Jesus ‘Withdrew’
“Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:13-14 NASB
There are two words in a verse of Scripture that have given me a unique kind of comfort and reassurance in difficult and painful times. Matthew 14:13 (NASB) says, “[Jesus] withdrew.” The reason why He did this is as important to me as the act of His withdrawing. The Savior had just gotten word of John the Baptist’s execution. The Lord’s strong personal emotions caused Him to withdraw from His normal routine and from others.
Scripture reveals that it’s perfectly okay – and perhaps, even healthy – for us to withdraw for a time when we suffer personal loss or disappointment. We can take this time apart from others to pour our hearts out to the Lord, to pray, to read and meditate on God’s Word, and to receive the kind of comfort and healing that only Christ can give.
But the next verse in this passage reveals that after a time of withdrawal and seclusion, we need to compassionately remember and reach out to those whom the Lord puts in our path to minister to. Our acts of compassion are just as important to our healing as our act of withdrawing.
If you are hurting today, I encourage you to withdraw for a while from your regular routine and the people around you. Allow the Lord to personally minister to you for a time, so that you can go back out into the world, and minister the love and truth of God to others in a greater way than ever before!
Lord, when I suffer a loss or disappointment of any kind, help me to withdraw from my normal routine and from others, and to spend some time alone with You. Show me how to draw on Your strength and wisdom. Comfort me as only You can. Give me a heart of compassion that can minister to others when they are the ones who are hurting. Thank You for healing me, and for filling me with a fresh sense of hope and joy!
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May 8 22
What Does God Want You to Do?
“If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you, for He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him; He will not resent it.” James 1:5 TLB
Recently, our pet duck, Larry, suffered a serious setback. He wasn’t oiling up his feathers anymore, so he was no longer waterproof. We couldn’t allow him to go in our pond because he might drown, but it was in the pond that he did his best preening. On top of that, he could hardly walk, and he was acting depressed. For years, everyone called Larry our “miracle duck.” His breed only lives 6 to 8 years, at the most, but he surpassed that age a long time ago. This summer, he will be 22 years old.
As I began earnestly praying for God’s wisdom on the basis of His promise in James 1:5, I basically put Larry “on the altar.” I told the Lord that I wanted HIS will in the matter, not necessarily my own. I told Him that I knew without a doubt that He could extend Larry’s life, and I asked Him to do that because it was the desire of my heart. BUT, I made it clear to the Lord that His will in the situation was what I wanted most of all.
As the days passed with Larry’s health failing even more, Joe and I talked about asking the vet for something to put him out of his misery. Then, as I continued to pray for God’s wisdom, He brought to mind something that a waterfowl rehabber told me many years ago when Larry first started having problems walking. She said to try giving Larry liquid avian vitamins to see if that would help. At the time, we took her advice, and we have been giving our ducks these vitamins all these years. But now, perhaps Larry needed a higher dose? As I began giving Larry extra vitamins every single day, Joe and I noticed that he was beginning to use his oil gland again. Each day that passed saw him becoming more and more waterproof all the time. We began putting him in the pond for a while each day, and he started preening his feathers all over his body. Being able to go in the pond again really lifted his spirits, and he is acting and walking better all the time.
I shudder to think of what a mistake we would have made if we had ended Larry’s life prematurely, instead of seeking God’s guidance. If you need some divine direction today, I encourage you to call upon the Lord for His wisdom. His answer may pleasantly surprise you!
Lord, when I am facing a dilemma of any kind, please remind me of Your promise to show me Your will in the situation. Help me to set aside time to earnestly seek You without distractions. Guard me from the doubt and confusion that would lead me astray. Thank You that as I commit to seeking Your will and wisdom, You will lead me in the paths of peace, joy, and blessing!
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*To purchase J. M. Farro autographed books, check out the J. M. Farro ETSY Store at www.etsy.com/shop/JMFarro
*Join the J. M. Farro Devotionals group on Facebook, and connect with J. M. Farro — with mid-week devotionals in addition to the standard weekly devotionals. You can access this group by clicking here!
*Comments or Prayer Requests? Please email Joanne (J. M.) Farro at jmf@jmfarro.com
May 1 22
Pray for Success
“Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.” Psalm 118:25 NLT
In studying the Bible in-depth these 30 years, I have discovered something amazing: God wants His people to be successful in every area of their lives. But because the enemy of our souls, Satan, and his evil cohorts, are violently opposed to our success, we often have to PRAY for success in order to lay hold of it. Let me share with you some of the ways that I regularly pray for my family’s success on the basis of God’s Word.
One of my favorite Scriptures to pray for success in most areas is Psalm 90:17 (NLT): “May the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!” When my husband, Joe, was making some serious repairs to one of our vehicles recently, I prayed and stood on this verse. God moved mightily and made Joe’s efforts successful, and we were able to save many hundreds of dollars in the process. Praying for success can save you a lot of money!
When my loved ones and I are facing medical appointments, tests, or procedures of any kind, I like to pray and stand on Psalm 118:25 (NLT): “Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.” Sometimes, I like to pray the Passion Translation of this verse for our health issues: “O God, please come and save us again; bring us your breakthrough-victory!” I have discovered that praying for success where our health and medical issues are concerned can make all the difference, especially when we pray consistently.
For decades, my husband, Joe, and I were so deeply in debt that we knew it would take a miracle for us to be debt free before he retired. Some years ago, I began praying and standing on the Amplified translation of Psalm 118:25 for our finances: “O LORD, save now, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success!” Just before my husband retired, God moved mightily and miraculously to deliver us from all of our debts, including our mortgage. And I know without a doubt that it was, in part, the result of me praying and standing on His promises of prosperity and success.
Scripture says, “How great is the Lord! He is pleased with the success of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27 GNT) When you get a revelation of how much the Lord is committed to the success of His devoted ones, you will be able to pray His “success” promises with confidence, just as I do!
Lord, reveal to me Your heartfelt desire for me to succeed in every area of my life. Teach me how to pray in faith for success in my finances, my relationships, my work, and my health. Guard me from the doubt and unbelief that would prevent me from receiving Your best. Thank You that as I pray Your promises of success for every aspect of my life, I will enter into a new level of breakthroughs and blessings!
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*To purchase J. M. Farro autographed books, check out the J. M. Farro ETSY Store at www.etsy.com/shop/JMFarro
*Join the J. M. Farro Devotionals group on Facebook, and connect with J. M. Farro — with mid-week devotionals in addition to the standard weekly devotionals. You can access this group by clicking here!
*Comments or Prayer Requests? Please email Joanne (J. M.) Farro at jmf@jmfarro.com
Apr 24 22
Every Little Hurt
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” Psalm 147:3 AMP
It has taken the Lord many years to teach me how to receive healing and comfort for all of my pains, wounds, and sorrows. This is mainly because I have a tendency to minimize my pain when someone or something hurts me. I know that I can be overly sensitive sometimes, and this just contributes to my hesitation to turn to the Lord for comfort. I basically end up talking myself out of receiving God’s healing when I need it most.
This morning, the Holy Spirit helped me to realize that someone hurt me two whole days ago, and I still hadn’t asked the Lord to comfort me. So just in case I had been overly sensitive in the situation, I said, “Lord, I confess that I was deeply hurt by what that person said to me. Forgive me if I was being overly sensitive, and help me to not be so easily hurt or offended. I choose to receive Your comfort and healing now, and I thank You for it in Jesus’ name.”
I have learned that it is best to deal with even our little hurts as soon as possible. All those little hurts can add up to a whole lot of pain, frustration, resentment, and depression that can eventually paralyze us, and keep us from fulfilling our God-given destiny. That is simply not God’s best for us.
The Bible says that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].” (Psalm 147:3 AMP) God wants to be our Healer and Comforter, but He requires our cooperation. We must bring our brokenness and our wounds to Him, trusting Him to heal us, and to cause them to profit us somehow. Are you hurting today? Take the Savior’s words to heart as He tenderly whispers to you – “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.” (John 14:18 KJV)
Lord, teach me to turn to You first whenever I am hurting in any way. Don’t allow me to keep my wounds to myself, or to bury them deep inside of me. Cleanse me of all bitterness, resentment, and anger. And empower me to love myself and others with Your kind of love. Thank You for being my divine Healer and Comforter!
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*To purchase J. M. Farro autographed books, check out the J. M. Farro ETSY Store at www.etsy.com/shop/JMFarro
*Join the J. M. Farro Devotionals group on Facebook, and connect with J. M. Farro — with mid-week devotionals in addition to the standard weekly devotionals. You can access this group by clicking here!
*Comments or Prayer Requests? Please email Joanne (J. M.) Farro at jmf@jmfarro.com
Apr 16 22
