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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Mar 12 23
Give Thanks for Jesus
“Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CEV
You are probably familiar with the verses in the Bible which say – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV) They are some of the best-loved, most comforting of all the Scriptures.
Recently, the Lord showed me these verses in the CEV version, and I saw them in a fresh, new way. “Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” As I meditated on these verses, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “Keep thanking God for Jesus!”
I have thanked God for Jesus many times over the years, but this was different. It was a fresh revelation that brought me into a new level of gratitude to God for all that Jesus is, and all that He has done for me. And I have made it a regular practice now to thank the Father continually for my Savior. I have even asked the Spirit of God to remind me to do this very thing on a regular basis.
And you know what? I have been feeling better physically, mentally, and emotionally since I have been giving exuberant thanks for the Lord Jesus. And my joy level has increased dramatically. When was the last time you thanked God for Jesus with every fiber of your being?
Father, thank You for Your precious Son, Jesus. Thank You that He suffered and died so that I could be forgiven and free from every sin, bondage, and evil addiction – and so that I could be healed and made whole in my spirit, soul, mind, and body. Remind me to give thanks for Jesus with all of my heart on a regular basis, and help me to never take Him for granted. Today, I stand on Your precious promise in Romans 8:32 (AMPC), which says: “He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”
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Mar 5 23
Your Mighty Warrior Who Saves
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
Here is a promise from the Lord for us when we are in need of some type of rescue. God is reminding us here that He is a “Mighty Warrior who saves” us from everything and everyone who would do us harm, including the devil himself.
But it gets better. Even when our troubles are of our own making, our Savior will not “rebuke” us. The Amplified translation goes deeper and tells us that “in His love, He will be silent and make no mention of past sins, or even recall them.” Not only that, but if we will turn to the Lord with a truly repentant heart and ask Him to redeem our unwise and ungodly choices and conduct, He will turn the tables on the devil and make them work out for our good. (Romans 8:28) Hallelujah!
If you are in a tight spot today, remember that “the Lord your God is with you.” He is your Mighty Warrior who can save you, no matter how bad things look right now. “He will take great delight in you,” and will “rejoice over you with singing.” What a Savior! What a God! Call on Him today, and tell Him that you are taking Him at His Word!
Lord, with a sincere sorrow for my sins, I call upon You today to reveal Yourself to me as my Mighty Warrior who saves. Deliver me in every way that I need deliverance. Fill me with supernatural wisdom and strength to follow You and Your will from now on. Create in me a growing passion for Your presence and Your Word. Thank You for transforming all of my troubles into triumphs for Your glory!
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Feb 26 23
Don’t Be Intimidated
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; He won’t leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG
Are you giving someone in your life too much power over you? If so, perhaps it’s time to take it back.
I say this because as believers, you and I are called to be free – and that means free from fear and intimidation. How do we give someone too much power over us? We allow their feelings and responses to control us. Instead of being led by God’s Spirit, we are led by what other people think, want, and feel. And, to put it plainly, this is sin and disobedience against God.
The Bible tells us, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting God protects you from that.” (Proverbs 29:25 MSG) When we are afraid of anyone but God, we become disabled and paralyzed, so that we cannot move forward into the good future that He has for us. When this happens, we will miss out on the fullness of God’s blessings, and our God-ordained destiny. However, when we choose to trust the Lord and obey Him in every situation we face, even the devil himself can’t keep God’s supernatural protection and provision from us.
I urge you today – “Don’t be intimidated.” Don’t give those people who are trying to control you “a second thought.” Why? Because God is “right there with you. He won’t let you down,” and “He won’t leave you!”
Lord, today I make a quality decision to be led by Your Spirit, and not by people. Remind me often that being influenced by others more than You can cause me to make devastating decisions that can rob me of Your best. Help me to spend regular time in Your presence and Your Word so that I can be more attuned to Your voice and Your leadership. Thank You that as I seek You and obey You in every situation, I will experience Your supernatural protection, provision, and promotion!
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Feb 19 23
Listen to Yourself
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:22 ESV
God showed me something years ago that radically changed my life, and how I view myself. He led me to the verse above, and He told me that not only was it a sin for me to insult others, or to call them names, but it’s also sinful for me to treat myself that way.
I confess that it makes me cringe when I hear fellow believers call themselves stupid, or an idiot, because of mistakes they’ve made. I have even heard Christians say things like, “I’m so dumb,” or “I can’t do anything right!” They haven’t gotten the revelation that putting themselves down grieves the Spirit of God, and that we are called to build ourselves up, just as much as we are called to build up others. (Ephesians 4:29-30)
When I make a mistake, and my first instinct is to criticize myself, I like to remind myself that I have “the mind of Christ” and that I “do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP) I think about the fact that Jesus valued me enough to suffer and die for me, and that it dishonors Him and His sacrifice when I insult myself, or call myself names.
Satan loves it when God’s people put themselves down, because it devalues us at our very core, and it prevents us from becoming all that God created us to be. I challenge you today to pay attention to your self-talk, and to ask the Lord to teach you how to honor Him with every word you speak about – and to – yourself. I guarantee that applying these principles will bring you up to a higher level in your walk with Him!
Lord, forgive me for the times that I have insulted and criticized myself. Work in my heart, and give me a powerful revelation of how much I grieve You when I put myself down in any way. Teach me how to always “speak the truth in love,” even to myself. (Ephesians 4:15) Remind me often that You value me so much that You believe I was worth dying for. Thank You that as I cooperate with You to speak words of life over myself, I will experience a deeper walk with You, and the fullness of Your blessings!
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“Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to…” 1 Peter 1:9 MSG
It’s been quite a few years since the Lord first showed me this verse in the Message Bible, but I still keep it on a sticky note on my desk. It reminds me that my belief in God and His Word can make the difference between victory and defeat – and success and failure – in every situation I face.
In a life-or-death situation in the Bible, Jesus said, “Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.” (Mark 5:36 AMP) I have noticed that when I become fearful about something, my faith has faltered. On the other hand, when I am believing God for His best, the hope that springs up in me fills me with courage and strength. Then, I am able to move forward in faith, and to make the progress God had in mind for me all along.
Most of the time, if we want to “get what [we’re] looking forward to,” we are going to have to “keep on believing,” because the enemy of our souls and his cohorts are actively opposed to us getting our prayers answered. Don’t be surprised if, as soon as you begin believing God for your healing, you come up against some serious resistance. Or, if you decide that you are going to stand on God’s promises for debt-free living, that things don’t go the way you planned. Satan is not going to roll out the red carpet when you get serious about living the abundant life Jesus died for you to have. No, he’s going to do whatever he can to ruin your testimony and your witness, so that you don’t inspire too many people to live for God.
I don’t know what you are up against today, but I can tell you this – if you make up your mind to “keep on believing” God and His promises, no person on earth, and no devil in hell, can keep you from receiving your breakthrough!
Lord, whenever I begin struggling with fear or dread, deliver me from ALL my fears according to Your Word. (Psalm 34:4) Help me to spend regular time with You in the Scriptures, and show me the divine promises You would have me pray and stand on in every situation. Strengthen my resolve to obtain every good thing that You have ordained for me in this life, as well as in the next. Thank You that as I stay in faith day in and day out, I WILL get what I am looking forward to!
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Feb 5 23
Distracted from God’s Work
“But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 TLB
The Lord showed me this verse in the Living Bible when I was feeling overwhelmed by distractions involving some loved ones of mine. I tend to be a sensitive person, so when people I care about are suffering physically or emotionally, I can get distracted pretty easily.
This verse reminds me that when we allow people or things to distract us from our service to Christ, we could be veering off course, far away from the plans and purposes that He has ordained for us. Not only will we miss out on the great rewards, opportunities, and blessings God has in store for us, but we will never be as close to Him as He longs for us to be.
Let’s face it, most of us have people in our lives who tend to be “high maintenance.” Some of them really are in desperate need, and the Lord knows we should grant them a certain amount of our time and energy. But then there are those who can be toxic – who will suck the life out of us, if we let them. They are perpetual takers, and never givers. And if we don’t set the proper boundaries with God’s help, the devil will use these people to prevent us from fulfilling our God-given purpose and potential.
Don’t allow anything or anyone to come between you and the Lord – and His great and glorious destiny for you. Ask Him to help you to avoid all distractions that are not of Him, so you can stay on course and become all He created you to be!
Lord, give me divine discernment so that I can always tell the difference between distractions that are Your will for me, and those that are not. Help me to be led by Your Spirit when I am spending precious time and energy reaching out to others. Remind me that if I want to fulfill my God-given purpose and potential, then I will have to give You first place in my life in every respect. Thank You that as I look to You for leadership, wisdom, and strength, You will guarantee that I complete the assignments You have for me!
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Jan 29 23
God’s Healing Touch
“She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” Mark 5:26 NIV
Years ago, the Lord led me to this passage when I was concerned about some medical treatment I received, that I thought might have done me permanent harm. Perhaps you know about this biblical account of the woman who had been “subject to bleeding for twelve years.” (Mark 5:25 NIV) All those years, she was getting medical treatment from “many doctors,” and her health was getting worse instead of better.
Now, you would think that twelve years of damage to her health would be pretty impossible to reverse. But this woman put her faith in Christ to make her whole again, and she did, in fact, receive her healing. (v. 29) God led me to this encouraging passage to reassure me that He can, and will, undo any harm that medications or medical treatment might cause me, if I will look to Him for restoration. And I rejoice that I can tell you in all honesty that the Lord did, indeed, restore me to health.
Perhaps today, you are concerned about what harm a medical person might have caused you. Whether it was a doctor or a dentist – or a member of their staff – or a medication or treatment that was ordered for you, the Lord can redeem that situation for you, and He can work it out for your good somehow. (Romans 8:28) God is still in the miracle-working business. Ask Him for His healing touch today!
Lord, today I ask that You heal me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet – inside and outside – and enable me to walk in divine health and wholeness all the rest of my days. Reverse and remove all harm that has been done to any part of me by doctors, dentists, or health care personnel – or treatments, drugs, or remedies of any kind. Remind me often that You said, “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27 NLT) Thank You that as I look to You first for my healing needs —and for wisdom – You will lead me along Your perfect pathway of healing and wholeness!
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Jan 22 23
Are You Still Confident?
“I am STILL CONFIDENT of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NIV
I have to confess that I earnestly prayed for some very specific needs and desires in 2022 that have remained unanswered and unfulfilled until this day in 2023. If you are in the same boat today, then I would like to share with you the words of encouragement that the Lord imparted to me when I was feeling disappointed and discouraged, and I sought His perspective in the matter.
He led me to the shepherd-king, David’s, words in Psalm 27:13 (NIV): “I am STILL CONFIDENT of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” The Holy Spirit impressed upon me the importance of still being confident in receiving the answers to my prayers, even though they may be delayed for a time. He reminded me of some words of encouragement that I received from a godly man many years ago that said that “delays are not necessarily denials.” And if I would keep my expectations high, and keep my confidence in the Lord and His faithfulness, I would not have to forfeit any of the blessings He has in store for me in 2023 and beyond.
David’s next words in this psalm urge us to stay in faith. “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” (Psalm 24:14 AMP) The author of Hebrews says it this way: “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the GREAT REWARD it brings you!” (Hebrews 10:35 NLT) The devil knows that if you absolutely refuse to “throw away” your confidence in the Lord and His promises, then there is nothing he can do to stop the blessings and breakthroughs that are on their way to you right now. So, let me ask you today – are you STILL confident?
Lord, whenever I am faced with disappointment or discouragement, comfort and strengthen me as only You can. Fill me with a fresh sense of hope, and show me which promises of Yours You want me to pray and stand on in faith. Thank You that as I refuse to cast away my confidence in You and Your faithfulness, my blessings and breakthroughs will show up at the best possible time for me!
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Jan 15 23
Lost Opportunities
“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
A dear Christian lady wrote me and asked me to agree in prayer with her that she would get the job she was being interviewed for the next day. She despised her current job, where she was clearly being overlooked and mistreated. A few days later, she wrote me back and said that she didn’t get the new job. She was fretting and fuming, and disgusted with the injustice of it all.
So I told this lady a true story that I hoped would encourage her heart. Years ago, my husband, Joe, worked two jobs and went to college classes at night to get his degree in Accounting. When a door opened up in the Accounting Department of his company, he applied for the job, but lost it to another man. We were devastated because we had two little children and lots of debt at the time. Less than a year later, the Accounting Department at Joe’s workplace was completely eliminated. Then we were very grateful to God for closing that door. And the Lord was faithful to provide for us throughout the years in so many ways.
I told this woman that if she would keep her trust in God, and believe that He had better opportunities up ahead for her, then He would cause the loss of that job to work FOR her, and not against her. It is with good reason that the Bible says: “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)
Ask the Lord to help you to trust Him with all your heart – and to refrain from trying to figure things out on your own – so that He can direct your steps in the paths of His greatest blessings!
Lord, when I am faced with disappointment over lost opportunities, remind me of Your promise that says You will work ALL things together for my good. (Romans 8:28) Guard me from using faulty reasoning and rationale that can confuse me and work against me. Help me to always base my faith on Your Word and promises, and not on my experiences. Thank You that as I make a quality decision to trust You and seek You with all of my heart, You will send me open doors and opportunities that will delight and amaze me!
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*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!
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