God’s Spirit Makes The Difference

The Holy Bible (Contemporary English Version – Isaiah 32:15-20): ¹⁵ When the Spirit is given to us from heaven, deserts will become orchards thick as fertile forests. ¹⁶ Honesty and justice will prosper there, ¹⁷ and justice will produce lasting peace and security. ¹⁸ You, the Lord's people, will live in peace, calm and secure, ¹⁹ even if hailstones flatten forests and cities. ²⁰ You will have God's blessing, as you plant your crops beside streams, while your donkeys and cattle roam freely about.
 

Thoughts: I believe that almost anywhere in this world that you live right now, there is a certain fear for your safety. Don't you stop and ponder why this is all happening and where might you go to find peace and security? God knew that this would be the case, so He spoke through Isaiah the prophet to tell us how this will all be resolved for us. Friends, please allow me to remind you that we can find the answers to all of life's concerns and/or questions as we read the Word of God. Please also allow me to remind you that there is peace in knowing the Creator of this universe personally, and in surrendering your life to His control. It is very clear to see that we were designed and created by a wonderful Creator. He designed a beautiful world for us to enjoy and gave us lots of folk to communicate with and love. The challenge for us, is that He also gave us freedom to make our own choices on what we would do with all that He created, and how we would handle our relationship with our designer. (Sounds a whole lot like parenting – especially when we talk about 'cutting the apron string' and allowing our children to make their own choices, right?) It seems like we wander so far away from God that we see our world collapsing around us, then we come to our senses (sometimes) and wonder where God must be. Friends, God's Holy Spirit was the key to making a difference in this world mentioned by Isaiah, and He is also key to making all the difference in our lives today. To get us from the point of disappointments, despair and a feeling of total collapse or failure in our personal world, I must challenge you with a couple questions:

1. Do you know Jesus? – this is a personal decision that you would have personally made of your own free will. One where you did something along the following lines:
   
   1. Admitted before God that you are a sinner;
      
   2. Believed on the Lord Jesus Christ – that He died, was buried and arose again so that you might have eternal life in heaven one day with He and the Father (God); and
      
   3. Confessed your sin before Him and asked Him to come into your heart, control it, and direct you to live a life following His example as detailed in the Word of God.
      
2. Are you living the life referenced in (c) above? It's not too late. Go back to the foot of the cross, ask forgiveness and ask God to give you the strength and self-will to live a life dedicated to serving Him and as a living sacrifice to Him.
   

Friends, let me remind you that we cannot fathom the depth of God's love for us! Think about the kind of love you have for your child, or a loved one. Now multiply that by millions and you will begin to slightly imagine the depth of God's love for you! Just open your life to His Holy Spirit today friend. Not only will your lives be changed, but you too can be a light in this very dark world!
 
Prayer: Father God, thank You for planning this whole thing called 'life' out to the very finest detail. Thank You for creating us, and everything around us that makes us happy, comfortable and fed. Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made so that we can join You in heaven as we worship and praise You forever and ever. While still on this earth, with all of it's ills and challenges, please help us to stay focused on You and our eternal home, for this gives us hope and light at the end of the tunnel that we now find ourselves in. Please soften the heart of one that might be searching for answers to their life's challenges today. Convince them of their need for a Savior, the Savior of all mankind. May this be the day of salvation for someone today after being reminded of the eternal peace that comes from knowing You. I ask this in the matchless name of Jesus, AMEN!


 
FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day's devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!