Does this describe the confidence of your faith?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
(Hebrews 11:1 (NIV))

How is your faith?

Do you truly possess a hope and assurance that is only available through no other name but Jesus?

Depending on your answer, and I hope that it was a resounding “Yes,” just what does that mean to you?

We know that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. We know that the wages of sin is death. We know that there is absolutely nothing that we can do of our own strength that will change any of this. I started to write that there is one thing that we can do of our own strength, but I would be lying. It is not of our own strength, but rather out of our humility that we realize our situation. When we come to this realization, we have but one response!

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
(James 4:10 (NKJV))

It takes a confident person to humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. Please don’t confuse this confidence with human arrogance and pride. Human nature tells us that we can do it all on our own. Godly confidence tells us that we have no other option but to put our trust in the Lord. The world, and human nature, tells us that there are many different ways to God. When we cast aside all other ways and fully place our hope and assurance in Jesus as the only way, it shows the world that we are confident in our faith. More importantly, it shows the Lord that we are confident in our faith.

Are you confident in what you hope for in Jesus?

Are you confident in the assurance that you have in Jesus?

Are you able to proclaim His name in confidence no matter what the world may say in response? I sincerely hope that you remember the words of Jesus in response to this.

But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
(Matthew 10:33 (NIV))

With that last passage now presented for your consideration, I have but one more question about the confidence that your faith displays with respect to hope and assurance.

Does this describe the confidence of your faith?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Are you correctly doing your part?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
(John 18:36 (NIV))

Do you believe that what Jesus told His followers then still applies now?

Why do we think that we have to fight, when we are clearly told that all we must do is be still.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:14 (NIV))

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
(1 Samuel 17:47 (NIV))

Why do we think that we have to take matters into our own hands when all that we can do is mess things up? We can’t guarantee the outcome of anything that we do, so why do we think that our feeble attempts at “helping” God will do anything at all? Why do we place our trust and our energy in human leaders when we should be turning things over to the Lord, for it is His Will that will be done?

We are told to put on the full armor of God, but that armor is not indicative of a physical battle. It is our call to prepare ourselves for a spiritual war that has already been decided because the Lord has planned it that way. When we try to put on physical armor, we are running the risk of making decisions that go against what the Lord has planned. When we put on the full armor of God, the spiritual nature of the warfare is outlined. We understand that our part in this battle is to rescue the lost and dying. Our part is to follow the leading of the Lord and do what we have been called to do since He gave us our orders.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV))

We are to take a stand for what is right and true. We are to reach out to those who are hurting. We are to share the good news of Jesus with those who are still in need of a Savior. In other words, our part of the battle is rescuing those who are trapped in the clutches of the enemy. Everything else is up to the Lord. Everything else will unfold as He has planned and when He has it planned. There is nothing that we can do of our own strength that will change what He has planned.

However, we can pray!

We can pray for His Will to be done. We can pray for those who are in need of a Savior. We can pray for the hearts of the leaders, and we can pray for His kingdom to come.

It has been said that our part of the battle is to fall to our knees in prayer.

Are you correctly doing your part?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Are you ready to overcome?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
(Revelation 12:11 (NKJV))

I don’t often quote this translation, but I had something pointed out to me recently that is clear in this translation but not in others. Forgive me if this translation is your favorite! I read many different translations and each translation has certain subtleties that make it unique and worth diving into in great detail. I honestly believe that some translations have used what is often drilled in to us in middle school English classes, and that is to not use the same word over and over again. We are encouraged, probably in hopes of expanding our vocabulary, to find synonyms to replace repetitive words. I firmly believe that it is the repetition that drives home the point that God desires to make!

All throughout the book of Revelation, the churches are told that they will be rewarded if they overcome.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
(Revelation 2:7 (NKJV))

Other passages go on to tell about not being hurt by the second death; about being given hidden manna and a new name; about being given power over the nations; about not having your name blotted out of the Book of Life, and many more.

Exactly what does it mean to overcome?

When we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we are accepting the grace and mercy that allows us to overcome the power of sin and death. But how do we truly and completely overcome the enemy, for it is possible to profess Jesus with our mouth, yet not fully surrender with our heart?

We must live for the Lord!

We must love the Lord just as Jesus told us.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
(Matthew 22:36-37 (NIV))

This means that we do something that goes against human nature. It means that we willingly elevate the Lord to a position higher than we like to elevate ourselves. This is extremely difficult because we like to think that we are the masters of our own destiny. We are prideful. We love our lives, yet we can’t control a single thing in our lives. We simply cannot overcome anything on our own. When we truly come to the realization that we are nothing without Him, then we can make the decision that will truly allow us to overcome.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
(John 3:30 (NKJV))

Are you ready to overcome?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Our Lord is always with us even in the darkest valley!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Even though I walk
     through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
     for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
     they comfort me.
(Psalms 23:4 (NIV))

I actually had two completely different passages over halfway completed, when something made me completely shift gears. I was led to this passage and I feel that many people need to work through this passage themselves.

Things in this world are dark and getting darker. Evil is being called good and good is being called evil. Each of us who professes a faith in Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior will come under attack, for it is said that the enemy only targets those who are doing what the Lord desires. If you are not doing anything, or if you are desiring evil, the enemy will leave you alone. With that in mind, if you profess a faith in Jesus, if you are serious about sharing the Gospel and proclaiming the truth that is found only in Jesus, then you will come under attack. The enemy looks for things and when he can’t find anything, he will use the hidden desires of others to lay blame and bring the attack.

Sadly, these attacks will come from directions that you never expected!

When they come, and they will come, do not give in to the sinful human nature and lash out at those who are the physical manifestation of the attack.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
(Ephesians 6:12 (NIV))

We must remember that we have a champion as our Lord and Savior. We must surrender it all to Him!

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:14 (NIV))

When you find yourself walking through the darkest valley, never lose sight of the fact that you have the God of all creation walking with you. He is your Lord. He is your Savior. There is no power in heaven greater than He. There is no power on earth greater than He. There is no power in hell greater than He.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8:31 (NIV))

Our Lord is always with us even in the darkest valley!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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If you are searching for something new, turn to Jesus!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
(Acts 17:21 (NIV))

Does this sound familiar to what is happening in our society today?

It appears that being woke isn’t exactly a new thing. The name may have changed, but the sinful nature that is at the root of the condition is still the same. Whether is was then or it is now, human nature is always trying to break free of the history that defines us. In fact, if the Athenians would have had social media, I can only imagine the posts and arguments that could have occurred. It is in this exact environment where God was able to use Paul to reach those who were open to any and all new knowledge. The only difference between then and now is that then they were actually looking for the truth. Paul was able to use that inquisitive interest to explain to them what the truth is. Today, after thousands of years of truth, the inquisitive minds are looking to shun the truth and replace it with whatever is irrational and foolish.

Today, they have been given over to depraved and reprobate minds!

They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
(Romans 1:29-32 (NIV))

Can you think of some cities in this world that are now known for “new” thinking and “new” living?

Are any of these cities a place where you would want to live?

Seeking after truth is not a new human characteristic. It has been the inmost desire since the fall from grace. Over the course of all of human history, people have tried to define their own truth. Paul made it clear that there was an absolute truth in the God of creation. Today, everyone wants to create their own truth. They want to shun the teachings of the last few thousand years as well as the basic concepts of truth. Everything has gone from a simple good or evil, to a sliding scale of infinite possibilities even when the scientific evidence clearly indicates that there are but two choices.

I will admit that in human eyes, many things do have a range of possibilities, but in God’s eyes, that is not the case. Nothing that we come up with will be right and true.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Romans 3:23 (NIV))

Anything that leaves God out of the equation is a lie.

The fool says in his heart,
     “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
     there is no one who does good.
(Psalm 53:1 (NIV))

If you are searching for something new, turn to Jesus!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Are you still tripping over things in the darkness?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
     they do not know over what they stumble.
(Proverbs 4:19 (ESV))

Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night and the power was out?

You probably thought that you could walk through your house without a flashlight or by memory. I have been brave enough to do this a few times. More often than not, I end up tripping over something, or I stub my toe. Usually this happens because I didn’t count the number of my steps correctly to get around an object. This is a painful and stressful experience. It is at these moments that you are reminded just how important it is to walk in the light.

Walking in spiritual darkness is even more dangerous than walking in physical darkness. Our sinful, human nature has kept us in the dark for far too long. This darkness hides the dangers of the sinful existence that we all have lived. Each and every single one of us faces the consequences of our sin, for the wages of sin is death. No one can escape that death sentence, for we are not capable of doing anything on our own that will erase the stain of sin from our lives. When you walk in the darkness of sin, you are blind. When you turn to others who are also walking in the darkness of their sin, it is the blind leading the blind. This only results in more pain as you trip, stumble and fall in the darkness of your sin.

Thankfully, God provided a way out. He provided a light in an otherwise dark and dying world.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
(John 3:16-21 (NIV))

It is so simple to have the light of the world light up your world!

Are you ready to walk in His light? It is as easy as ABC.

A is for admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

B is for believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead.

C is for call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
(1 John 1:7 (NIV))

Are you still tripping over things in the darkness?

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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There are consequences for a lack of wisdom and understanding!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
     and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
(Proverbs 9:10 (NIV))

Do you think yourself to be wise?

What type of wisdom do you seek?

There are basically two types of wisdom that we can seek after. One is earthly wisdom, or should I say earthly knowledge. I have seen too many people with so many advanced degrees but no common sense, no wisdom. The other type of wisdom is spiritual, godly and eternal wisdom. I have seen people whom the world shuns because they do not have the right credentials, the right education, the right knowledge, but they are wise because of what they do possess! Please do not misunderstand me. Knowledge is good. Education is good, but these without righteousness and wisdom will result in an arrogance, an ego, a proud character that will make you feel superior to those around you. It will make you feel that there is no God.

The fool says in his heart,
     “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
     there is no one who does good.
(Psalms 14:1 (NIV))

Arrogance and pride have caused the downfall of many, including Satan. This arrogance and pride are a rebellion against God. They are used to elevate themselves above God. This is what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were tricked. All of humanity fell into a sinful existence from which we could not escape. God, in His infinite wisdom, came up with a plan of redemption. He sent His Son, Jesus, to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If we accept this gift of grace and mercy, our names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. This confession, this entry, gives us eternal salvation. This is the only wisdom and understanding that truly mean anything, for they have an eternal impact.

Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:15 (NIV))

I don’t know about you, but this does not sound like something that I want to experience. It serves as a reminder that we must all pay attention to our pursuit of wisdom and understanding. It also helps to point out the one thing that we must all recognize.

There are consequences for a lack of wisdom and understanding!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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In other words, don’t be a builder!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

The stone the builders rejected
     has become the cornerstone;
(Psalms 118:22 (NIV))

People longed for and anticipated this prophecy being fulfilled for centuries. When it was fulfilled, the religious leaders did not recognize Him because they did not recognize how the scriptures were to unfold. In essence, they had built up their own interpretation to the point that it no longer represented the truth. When the truth stood right in front of them, they did not recognize Him.

I find it saddening that far too often people will be searching for something and when it is right before them, they do not recognize that what they have is what they longed for. When Luke wrote Acts, he alluded to this by referencing the passage from Psalms.

then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is
     “‘the stone you builders rejected,
          which has become the cornerstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
(Acts 4:10-12 (NIV))

We often attempt to build our own truths. This is especially true in our worship and our faith. If you don’t believe that this happens, all that you have to do is take a long hard look at all of the man-made denominations. We are so intent on building up our man-made rituals, practices and ideologies that we often miss what is the common foundation, what is the common cornerstone for what we profess to believe.

It is my prayer that we can look beyond the man-made rituals and return completely to the truth that is only found in Jesus. We must tear down any man-made stumbling blocks that we have put in our way. We must strive to only seek God without any man-made add ons.

In other words, don’t be a builder!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Lord, we need you to revive us!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Will you not revive us again,
     that your people may rejoice in you?
(Psalms 85:6 (NIV))

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the weight of the world?

Perhaps it is health related. Perhaps it is finances. Perhaps it is a job, or lack thereof. Each of us have many potential reasons to feel overwhelmed.

But, . . .

Each of us has a singularly amazing reason to feel joy even in the midst of all that we may face. If you have professed a faith in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you simply need to shift your focus from what the world is sending your way to what Jesus has done for you to overcome the world.

Each of us needs to have our faith revived periodically. We may profess a faith in Jesus, but we are only human and human nature is easily distracted by the physical world. Currently, there is so much going on in this sinful, fallen world that we can lose sight of the glorious promises that we have been given. Some people are saying that what we have been seeing on many college campuses and other various places are not revival, but I want to present some questions for your consideration.

Are people turning to the Lord?

Are people rejoicing in the Lord?

Are people repenting of their sins?

Revival is a personal increase in faith, and since it is personal, we can’t truly know the hearts of those who are involved. With that in mind, I want you to consider these words.

“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
(Luke 9:49-50 (NIV))

In other words, those who are involved may not be part of your group, but as long as they are truthfully lifting up the name of Jesus, we should not be quick to condemn. We may even find that they are seeing things anew. We need to be cautious to not become Pharisees simply because things go against our preconceived rituals. With that said, I have but one thing to say.

Lord, we need you to revive us!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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Keep living according to His purpose!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28 (NIV))

Have you ever truly stopped to take a serious look at your life?

For most people, this is not something that they ever consider doing. They develop a plan for what they want and never stop to think about whether their life is being lived based on their desires or if it is being lived according to God’s calling. To be honest with you, they never even stop to consider if they truly love the Lord or if they are only giving lip service as an afterthought.

With that in mind, I have some very serious questions for you.

Do you love God?

Have you been called according to his purpose?

Are you living your life according to that calling?

If those questions make you feel uneasy, then I have done what I have set out to do. I have made you take an inward look at your faith and the answers that you have arrived upon are being used to tug at your heart. Unless you are completely comfortable with your salvation, you will have doubts and concerns. Unless your walk of faith leads you hand in hand with Jesus, then you will have doubts and concerns.

Are all things working out for your good or is your life a complete shambles?

I am not saying that following Jesus will allow you to live a perfect, stress free life. I am saying that God will walk with you through the troubles and lead you out by His grace if you will only keep your eyes focused on Jesus. He has done this many times through the Old and New Testaments. How many times did Joseph face hardship before God placed him second in command over all of Egypt? I could recount several examples, but suffice it to say, God will lead you through the tough times to something that is good in His eyes. So, when you are feeling helpless, hopeless and lost, remember that you are not alone.

Keep living according to His purpose!

Copyright 1998 – 2023 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
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