Jun 4 23
Forgive and Forget
“Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.” Proverbs 19:11 MSG
I am going to share with you something very personal today because I believe the Lord wants me to, and I hope that it will help you. Several years ago, I found out about my mother’s death on Facebook. Through an unusual series of events, I woke up that morning, checked my smartphone, and discovered messages of condolences that were meant to encourage me.
The initial shock of finding out that my mother was dead had me reeling. But then, I sensed the Holy Spirit warning me not to become angry or offended. And He brought to my remembrance Proverbs 19:11 (NIV), which says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” I knew the Lord was strongly saying to me, “LET IT GO.”
As I spent some time alone with God that morning, He showed me the Amplified translation of Proverbs 19:11: “Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].” I could bear not seeking revenge, but to not be resentful toward the person responsible was unthinkable. Even so, in obedience to God, I decided that I would not try to find out who the culprit was. And to be honest, I still don’t know. And you know what? I actually have great peace about the whole situation, and I have almost completely forgotten about it.
The Message Bible translation of Proverbs 19:11 says, “Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.” Today, I am asking you to resist getting offended when others hurt you or someone you love. Show them the mercy that God has shown you in Christ, and know that as you sow seeds of mercy, you will reap a harvest of mercy when you need it most!
Lord, remind me often that You said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Proverbs 5:7 NASB) On the basis of Your Word, I pray that I would always be “gentle and ready to forgive” others, and that I would “never hold grudges.” Help me to remember that because You have forgiven me, I “must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 TLB) Thank You that as I continually walk in love, I will experience the indescribable peace, joy, and well-being that are my inheritance in Christ!
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May 28 23
Our Side Outnumbers Them
“Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” 2 Kings 6:16 NET
These are the words of the prophet Elisha to his servant who couldn’t see “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha,” until the prophet prayed for him, saying, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” (2 Kings 6:17 NIV) It’s a lesson for all of us when we are facing trials and troubles, and we don’t see the Lord’s activity on our behalf.
You can’t blame Elisha’s servant for feeling fearful when he sees the massive Aramean army bearing down on them. He cries out, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15 NIV) Elisha reassures his servant with the words, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” (2 Kings 6:16 NET)
God wants His devoted ones to remember that those who are with us to protect us ALWAYS outnumber those who are against us to destroy us. Our God is infinitely more powerful than any foe that might oppose us, and He is committed to protecting His faithful ones, especially when they call on Him for help. (Psalm 91:15)
I don’t know what you are facing today, but if you are a child of God, then I can tell you this with absolute certainty – the Lord already has a custom-made solution for your problem, and no earthly or spiritual enemy will be able to prevent your rescue IF you will cling to Him and His promises with all your might. If you doubt that, then I urge you to pray, “Lord, open my eyes so that I may see!”
Lord, when I am confronted with trouble and distress, remind me that You have called me to “walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) Reassure me that You are prepared to fight all of my battles for me, and help me to cooperate with You every step of the way. (Deuteronomy 20:4) Give me “eyes to see” the reality of the unseen world in ways that will encourage my heart. (Matthew 13:16) Make me as “bold as a lion” so that fear won’t keep me from Your best outcome. (Proverbs 28:1) Thank You that as I follow Your plan for my deliverance, Your rescue operation will manifest on my behalf!
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May 21 23
This is God’s Doing
“Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of Your unfailing love. Let them see that this is Your doing, that You Yourself have done it, Lord.” Psalm 109:26-27 NLT
When my husband, Joe, and I moved to Pennsylvania with our young sons many years ago, his job was in New Jersey, and he resolved himself to a long commute until he retired. Some years later, his company closed down, and he went through a painful period of unemployment. Both of us thought Joe had no choice but to look for another job in New Jersey, because salaries there were so much higher than here in PA. I began earnestly praying that the Lord would intervene in a mighty way on Joe’s behalf, so that my husband could find an excellent-paying job within our own state, and so that the long commutes that were taking a toll on him would be a thing of the past. And I asked God to do it in a way that would cause everyone to know that it was HIS doing. Suddenly, God opened a door, and Joe was offered a job right here in our region of Pennsylvania, with a salary much higher than any he was offered in New Jersey. People we knew were constantly telling us that it was a miracle, and God got all the glory.
Whenever I think of this experience, I can’t help thinking of some verses in Psalm 109: “Help me, O Lord my God! Save me because of Your unfailing love. Let them see that this is Your doing, that You Yourself have done it, Lord.” (Psalm 109:26-27 NLT) I have memorized these precious verses, so that I can pray them regularly in all kinds of situations. What is it that I’m asking the Lord to do when I pray these Scriptures?
I am asking Him to not only rescue me or my loved one, but I am asking Him to do it in such a way that there will be no doubt in my mind, and in the minds of others, that divine intervention was involved. Why? So that those who are against me (including the devil himself) may know that God is on my side, and that He fights my battles for me. And so that they may come to believe that God is real, and that He protects and provides for His devoted ones – that they too may want a relationship with Him.
When you are in trouble, don’t just pray for God to rescue you. Pray that He will do it in such a way that everyone will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was God Himself who did it!
Lord, when I am faced with a need or challenge of any kind, remind me that You desire that I come to You for assistance before anyone else. Help me to see You as the all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful God that You are. Teach me to spend regular time in Your Word, soaking up Your Presence, and praying Your promises back to You. Thank You that as I look to You to do the miraculous, You will show up in a big way, and You will get all the glory!
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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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*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
Apr 2 23
