May 14 23
When Human Help is Worthless
“Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.” Psalm 108:12-13 NIV
If you are a devoted follower of Christ, then you have options and resources here on earth that nonbelievers will never have. David the shepherd-king reveals in the verses above that he was well aware of these heavenly resources. He states clearly that “human help is worthless,” even though he had a host of mighty men at his command. And he asks for God’s “aid against the enemy,” knowing that even the devil himself is no match for our God.
Perhaps you know by now just how worthless human help can be when you are in trouble. Doctors and medicines can be a tremendous blessing, and God can use them to bring healing. But the help that these things offer are extremely limited, while God’s divine power is not. Our jobs and salaries can be valuable resources for us and our families, but they can be taken away from us, and leave us in great need. Not so with God’s provision, which no one can rob from us when we look to Him as our Source. And when we are in need of justice in a situation, we can appeal to humans for aid, but if God doesn’t anoint them to help us, they will do us no good because true “justice comes from the Lord” (Proverbs 29:26 NLT).
David goes on to say, “With God we will gain the victory, and HE will trample down our enemies.” David was looking to the Lord – and not his mighty men – for help. When we adopt his posture and perspective, we too will see our God “trample down our enemies” so that “we will gain the victory” He has in store for us!
Lord, when trouble strikes and I am tempted to panic, remind me that You have heavenly resources and options at my disposal. Give me wisdom to know how to make the most of Your divine resources and solutions in every situation and circumstance. Help me to walk closely with You throughout each day, and to spend regular focused time in Your Word, so that I will always be sensitive to Your leading and Your voice. Thank You that as I give You first place in every area of my life, You will abundantly supply all my needs and give me the desires of my heart! (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 37:4)
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May 7 23
God will Put a Smile on Your Face
“If you look to Him for help, He will put a smile on your face. You will have no need to be ashamed.” Psalm 34:5 ERV
Let me ask you a question today. When trouble strikes, who do you turn to for help? Your spouse? A parent? A friend? One of your kids? A neighbor? Think about it for a moment, and do some soul-searching. Doing so could be life-changing for you.
David says in Psalm 34:5 (NLT): “Those who look to [God] for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” I love how the Easy-to-Read translation above says that when we look to the Lord for help, “He will put a smile on [our] face.” Hallelujah!
Some translations of this verse say that when we seek assistance from God, we won’t be “ashamed.” Others say that we won’t be “disappointed.” The Holy Spirit is saying through David that when we resist seeking help from people, and instead go to God for help first, we are more likely to receive the kind of help we need most. Why? Because only God sees the big picture. He alone can see the future, and He alone knows what our true needs and desires are. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
One of the best things about going to God for help is that He knows whether we need Him to help us directly and divinely, or if it’s best for Him to work through another person of His choosing, in order to give us the help we need. In any case, you can’t go wrong going to God first and foremost with your troubles, needs, and desires. So, tell Him today, “Lord, I am looking to You for help, and I am expecting You to put a smile on my face, and to make sure that I am not put to shame or disappointed!”
Lord, please forgive me for the times that I have sought assistance from others before I sought it from You. Work in my heart so that when I am faced with a problem of any kind, my first response will be to turn to You for help. Remind me often that You are the supreme Problem Solver, and that You always have a custom-made solution available to me, before I ever have a problem. Thank You for the joy, favor, and honor that I will reap as I seek You first in all I do!
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Apr 30 23
An Appropriate Blessing
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [AN APPROPRIATE BLESSING, coming just at the right moment].” Hebrews 4:16 AMP
As followers of Christ, you and I have the “privilege” of approaching God and His “throne of grace” with confidence and boldness. Unfortunately, sometimes we fail to make the most of this privilege, and we go without blessings that had our name on them.
The promise above assures us that we can go to God to “receive mercy for our failures.” When we sin or make a mistake, we can promptly call upon the Lord with a heart of repentance, and receive His forgiveness and healing. And we can ask Him to “redeem” the situation, and cause it to work FOR us, instead of against us. (Romans 8:28)
“In time of need,” we can turn to God and receive “His amazing grace” to provide exactly the kind of “help” we need at that moment. This divine help can come in the form of “an appropriate blessing,” arriving at the best possible time for us.
An appropriate blessing for you today might be divine healing, or the restoration of a cherished relationship. It might be financial relief, or a new job, career, or opportunity. Whatever it is, you can ask the Lord for an appropriate blessing today, and expect Him to prove His faithfulness to His Word!
Lord, I thank You for the privilege to approach the throne of Your gracious favor with confidence and without fear. Help me to make the most of this privilege every time it is Your will for me to do so. Make me quick to turn to You to receive mercy for my failures, and to find Your amazing grace to help me in times of need. Thank You for the appropriate blessings and breakthroughs that You will send my way as I trust You to fulfill the promises of Your Word!
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Apr 23 23
All the Help of Heaven
“God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him.” Philippians 2:13 CEV
I once heard a godly man say, “Whenever you make changes in your life that lead you toward God, you have all the help of heaven on your side.” This truth reminds us that God will never lead us to make changes in our lives without giving us all of the heavenly resources we need to make them successfully. You and I are not given the Holy Spirit to live an average, mediocre life. On the contrary, we are filled with God’s Spirit to do things that cannot be accomplished apart from His supernatural enablement.
A Scripture that I pray and stand on daily is Philippians 2:13 (NLT): “For God is working in you, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him.” Think about that. The Lord is not going to ask You to do anything that He won’t EMPOWER you to do. But it gets even better than that. God is even going to give you the DESIRE to do what He asks you to do. Hallelujah!
Do you sense the Lord leading you to adopt a healthier lifestyle? If so, ask Him to give you the desire and the power to eat, drink, and exercise in ways that please Him most. Do you need help with your finances? Pray that God will give you the desire and the power to please Him with your work and your stewardship. Perhaps you have a relational challenge in your life right now. Ask the Lord to give you the desire and the power to pursue and maintain the kind of relationships that please and glorify Him.
Philippians 2:13 in the Amplified translation says: “[NOT IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the POWER and DESIRE], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” When you make up your mind to make the changes that the Lord is leading you to make, you can bet that you will have ALL the help of heaven on your side!
Lord, today I recommit myself to living a life that pleases, honors, and glorifies You. Show me what areas of my life You would like me to work on at this time with Your help. Fill me with divine wisdom, understanding, insight, and strength. Remind me often that by Your divine power, You have given me everything I need to live a godly life. (2 Peter 1:3) Thank You that as I cooperate with You and Your work in me, my victory is guaranteed!
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Apr 16 23
Keep Silent and Remain Calm
“The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm.” Exodus 14:14 AMP
The Lord showed me this verse in the updated translation of the Amplified Bible when I needed it most. He has given me Exodus 14:14 many times over the years when I was tempted to open my mouth and use it to fight my own battles. In my current situation, the phrase, “keep silent and remain calm,” fairly slapped me in the face. At the time, I had been contemplating defending myself, instead of waiting on God to defend me.
Years ago, I heard a very wise and godly man say that Christians lose more battles because they don’t allow God to fight for them. I believe that the Lord’s promise above bears this out. It assures us that if we would just “keep silent” – instead of saying something we’ll regret later – and if we would simply “remain calm” – instead of losing our peace and doing something rash – we would witness God intervening on our behalf in a mighty way, and doing what only He can do.
I once heard someone say, “God is teaching you how to be silent in a frustrated season. The less you say, the more He moves! Stay silent!” The Lord knows that opening our mouths and saying the wrong thing can do irreparable harm to ourselves and our relationships. It’s not always easy to remain silent, but doing so can bring great rewards.
If this message doesn’t apply to you today, it undoubtedly will in the days to come. The next time you are in the midst of a battle of any kind, remember to “keep silent and remain calm” – and watch God win the victory for you!
Lord, make me sensitive and obedient to Your Spirit’s leading at all times, especially when I am tempted to fight my own battles. Guard me from doing or saying anything rash. Help me to calm myself down when I am upset. I can’t do this without You. When someone offends me, help me to respond in a Christlike way. Comfort me as only You can. Thank You that as I follow Your lead in tense situations, You will fight for me and cause me to prevail!
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Apr 10 23
Making the Most of Your Time
Jesus replied, “It is not the right time for Me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference.” John 7:6 TLB
In the past 30 years that I have been walking closely with the Lord, He has shown me the verse above in John 7:6 countless times. It is usually when friends, family, or others are making plans, and I have the option to get involved. Many times, these occasions and activities seem rather frivolous, and once in a while, they are downright foolish.
Thankfully, I have gotten in the habit of seeking God about how I spend my time, my energy, and my money. And very often, He leads me away from getting involved in things that may not be sinful, but that just aren’t productive or constructive. Occasionally, I have to resist feeling sorry for myself when I sense the Lord warning me to make better use of my time, and reminding me of His high calling on my life.
If you are a follower of Christ, then you too have a high calling on your life. Your time, energy, and money are not your own – they belong to God, and you are simply a steward of them. And to be wise stewards, you and I must invest these and all of our resources wisely. How your unsaved friends and family members spend their time is inconsequential to God and man because they are not living for Christ. On the other hand, every moment of your life lived for the Lord is extremely valuable to Him and to others, whether they know it or not.
Notice how Jesus says to those who aren’t serving God, “You can go anytime and it will make no difference.” (John 7:6 TLB) He understood that because He was continually led by the Spirit of God, every moment of His life was God-ordained and had the potential to make an eternal difference.
The apostle Paul had it right when he said: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TIME, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NASB) With God’s help, make every moment of your life count – and watch the Lord bless, promote, and use you in mighty ways for His glory!
Lord, I recommit my life to You this day, and I ask that You make me sensitive and obedient to Your Spirit’s leading at all times. Help me to know You better each day by spending undistracted and unhurried time in Your presence and Your Word. Teach me how to make the most of my time so that You can make my life count in greater ways than ever before. Thank You that as I live my life for You, and give You first place in my life, You will give me more and more opportunities to make an eternal difference in people’s lives for Your glory!
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Apr 2 23
Your Enemies will Plead with You
“The Lord said, ‘Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress.’” Jeremiah 15:11 NIV
In Chapter 15 of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is lamenting to the Lord about how he has suffered at the hands of his own people, because of his faithfulness to God. He says, “Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go.” (v. 10) In the very next verse, we find the Lord making a startling promise to His faithful servant: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress.” (v. 11) We find the fulfillment of this divine promise in Chapter 37, where King Zedekiah sends a message to the prophet saying, “Please pray to the Lord our God for us!” (Jeremiah 37:3 NIV)
I have walked closely with the Lord for more than 30 years now, and I can tell you that the longer you serve Christ, the more times you will experience for yourself the truth of the promise above.
Many of those people in your life now who have talked about you behind your back, and who have criticized you for being “too religious,” will eventually come to YOU for advice and prayer when they hit rock bottom. And they will. It’s just a matter of time.
So keep these foolish people in your prayers in the meantime. Set a Christlike example for them. And when they finally turn to you for help, show them the love of Christ, and know that you are planting seeds that will someday bring a harvest of glory for the Lord!
Lord, when others insult me, or exclude me, or criticize me because of my faithfulness to You and Your Word, help me to respond in a Christlike manner. Guard me from bitterness and spitefulness, and cleanse my heart and mind from all that offends You. Remind me of Your promises to vindicate me and honor me in the days to come. Thank You that as I turn to You in times of suffering, You will comfort and strengthen me as only You can!
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Mar 26 23
Appearances Can Be Deceiving
“There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again – it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.” Proverbs 14:12-13 MSG
My family and I were sitting around our backyard fire pit one evening years ago when we saw a moth fly directly into the flames. My seven-year-old grandson, William, immediately cried out, “Why would that moth fly into the fire? Why would he do that? Why, why, why?” We all tried to calm William down and allay his fears, but the incident gave me food for thought.
It brought to mind the Scripture that says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” (Proverbs 16:25 NIV) The Bible talks a lot about how appearances can be deceiving. Jesus Himself said, “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment.” (John 7:24 NIV) Foods and drinks that look and taste good can actually ruin our health. Bad habits that bring momentary pleasure can rob us of our vitality and longevity. Wrong relationships can wreak havoc on our hearts, minds, and emotions. And wrong financial decisions can lead to loss and lack.
As followers of Christ – possessing “the mind of Christ,” and being filled with the Holy Spirit – you and I have the potential to make good decisions, in spite of “mere appearances.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) In order to live this way, though, we are going to have to learn to pray for God’s wisdom and insight in every matter that concerns us – and then we are going to have to submit to the Lord’s leadership.
And when people we care about are about to make a devastating decision, we can offer them wisdom from the Scriptures such as this: “You can rationalize it all you want and justify the path of error you have chosen, but you’ll find out in the end that you took the road to destruction.” (Proverbs 14:12 TPT) Is there someone who can benefit from your words of warning today?
Lord, help me to seek You for Your wisdom and guidance in every area of my life, and in every situation and circumstance. Remind me often that appearances can be deceiving, and that the enemy of my soul is constantly trying to mislead me. Make me sensitive to any warnings that you send my way, and help me to be receptive to the godly advice of others. Thank You that as I choose Your will and Your way every day, I will always receive Your highest and best!
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Mar 19 23
Unfamiliar Paths
“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 NIV
When my sons were 9 and 12 years old many years ago, my husband, Joe, and I finally faced the fact that we could no longer afford to live in New Jersey. As we began the painful process of moving far away from our friends and family, we started searching for our new home in Pennsylvania. God moved mightily and enabled us to find a home, secure a mortgage, and close on our new house in only nine days. As I drove to my children’s old school for the last time to pick them up, I was met in the hallway by the school principal. She could see right away that I had been crying. She looked me in the eye and said, “You are not leaving because you want to, but because you have to, am I right?” As I nodded “yes” to her question, she put her arms around me, and I literally cried on her shoulder.
Leaving behind familiar people and places was extremely difficult for my family and me. But as I look back now, I can clearly see that God had orchestrated the entire thing. It was here in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where I surrendered my life to Christ, and began teaching my children the Word of God. It was here where my son, Joseph, launched the first successful Bible Club in the history of his public high school – a club that touched and changed countless lives in our community and beyond. When Joseph graduated, my son, John, took over the club, where he met a new member named Amy, who became his wife some years later. Joseph attended a college in our community, and joined the campus Bible Club, where he met his future wife, Miriam. And it was here in this home that John launched his Christian Music website and ministry, which would reach millions of people for Christ – and which God would use to launch my own ministry.
If I had known what God had planned for my family here in Pennsylvania, I would never have felt so devastated when we had to move. But I didn’t know. And neither did my loved ones. I am reminded of God’s precious promise in Isaiah 42:16 (NIV): “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” The Lord has me sharing all this with you today because of the “unfamiliar paths” that He has waiting for you up ahead. I urge you today – Don’t be afraid! Trust Him. Cling to Him. Believe His Word and His promises. And know that the paths He leads you on will be brimming with His very best blessings!
Lord, when it is in my best interests for You to lead me along unfamiliar paths, give me the wisdom, strength, and courage I need to follow You wholeheartedly. Help me to lean heavily on You and Your Word, so that I can resist the fear and doubt that would prevent me from trusting in You. Thank You that as I cling to You and Your promises, You will lead me along the paths of Your greatest blessings, breakthroughs, and opportunities!
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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!
*To contact J. M. Farro by email, please use this address: jmf@jmfarro.com
Mar 12 23
