Do you still thirst for this Living Water?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:13-14 (NIV))

I want to ask you a question, if I may.

How many times have you felt the presence of God and you actually felt like you had something welling up inside of you? Did you feel like you could “bubble over?” Did you feel refreshed and cleansed?

I have often wondered if this is how we personally experience the Living Water that Jesus gives to us.

Think back on the times when you know that you felt God’s presence the most in your life. How did you feel? Do these thoughts evoke the feelings that you would associate with water? It quenches your thirst. It refreshes. It cleanses. It is cooling. It is soothing. It is comforting. Fresh water is often thought of as bubbling up, or welling up, from a spring. The sounds of bubbling water are relaxing and peaceful. Do these thoughts describe the sensations that you felt when you felt God’s presence?

I find it very interesting that we can go without food for many days, but that we cannot go without water or we will die. Water is essential to our survival. It is so much a part of us. Still, in our physical form, we will eventually not be able to be refreshed. Water is an integral part of each of us.

I have said before that I believe that for every physical aspect of life, there is a corresponding spiritual aspect of life. Water is important to our physical bodies and Living Water is important for our spiritual well being. Just as water is essential to life, Living Water is essential to eternity. Somehow our bodies know this. It is our minds that make us not see the obvious.

Living Water rejuvenates. It cleanses. It soothes, It is calming. It is peaceful.

It is the way that God pours out upon us the closeness of a relationship with Him that we lost at the Garden of Eden. Living Water brings peace. It brings joy. It brings patience. It brings kindness. It brings self-control. Just as physical fruits cannot mature without water, the fruits of the Spirit need the Living Water to grow to maturity.

Do you still thirst for this Living Water?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Where do you place your trust?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
     but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalms 20:7 (NIV))

With the state of the economy, where do you place your trust?

With the state of the government, where do you place your trust?

With the state of society, where do you place your trust?

Is it just me, or does it seem like everything is falling apart? It is acceptable to kill unborn children but it is a profoundly intolerable crime to kill an animal. It is acceptable to embrace sin, but to confess that you are a follower of Jesus is socially unacceptable. It is okay to teach our children about Islam in schools, but if we mention Jesus we are told to be tolerant. It is okay to allow someone who very publicly states they want to destroy us to have the very weapons that would allow it to happen, yet we cannot have weapons to defend ourselves. It is okay to be homosexual, transgender or whatever else someone’s mind tells them that they should be, yet if we say we disagree with their choices, we are labeled as haters.

In the midst of all that is going wrong in the world, where do you place your trust?

Every man-made organization is falling apart. Sinful man cannot create anything that will last.

Even the church is having issues. Let me clarify this. Society thinks of the man-made aspects of the church and not the true church. Man-made traditions are falling apart. God’s truths last forever and no amount of societal pressure can change that. Think about that last statement and then decide where you will place your trust. Would you place your trust in the fallen systems created by a sinful, fallen humanity or would you trust a perfect Creator who has a perfect plan?

Take a long, hard look at all that is going on in the world and tell the Lord our God that you place your trust solely in Him?

Where do you place your trust?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you have the faith of a little child?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””
(Mark 10:15 (NIV))

What did you worry about when you were a little child?

If you are like me, the answer is simple.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

You never doubted anything. You trusted what your parents told you. You believed because you still possessed the power of innocence.

The sinful, fallen world had not corrupted your mind to the point where you only see sin. You had no reason to fear because you had not been exposed to sin and hatred. You had no reason to worry because all of your needs were met. I realize that this is not always true, and if it was not for you, I am sorry that you were exposed to the cruelties of this world far too soon.

Even so, we are to approach our faith with the same innocence, with the same trust, and with the same lack of fear.

What is your faith like?

Do you have the faith of a little child?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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The choice is yours!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

I will bless those who bless you,
     and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
     will be blessed through you.”
(Genesis 12:3 (NIV))

You have to be living under a rock to not know what is going on in and around Israel!

I have heard many speculations as to why all of this is happening, but no matter what your opinion may be, rest assured that God is in control. There is nothing that has caught our Lord off guard. I have even heard that the original attack back in October 2023 was to prevent the sacrifice of the red heifer. The ashes of the red heifer are required for the purification of the coming third temple. Could these attacks mean that the enemy knows his time is short?

I’m not going to dwell any further on the attacks, but rather how we, as believers, should look upon Israel.

How do you see Israel?

Do you find yourself siding against Israel in these attacks and the ensuing retaliations or do you find yourself siding with Israel and affirming their right to defend themselves and eliminate the threats against them?

Based on Genesis 12:3, I would recommend that you weigh your answer very carefully. Personally, I do not desire to be cursed by God!

The world is in a state of turmoil. There are wars and rumors of wars. Nation is rising against nation. Now is the time to make sure that you are blessing the nation that God has called His own. Now is the time to make sure that you have accepted the grace and mercy freely given at the cross. Now is the time to recognize that God is in control and He is unfolding His plan exactly as we have been told.

Are you ready?

Will you be blessed or will you be cursed?

The choice is yours!

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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What have you set your mind on?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
(Colossians 3:2 (NIV))

I have been in the process of migrating everything from a computer that is dying to one that is new and stable. Unfortunately, it is taking much longer than expected and I was left without a way to prepare and send out a devotional. I had spent hours preparing and migrating everything and was so focused on the tools I use that I was left without a way to prepare and send anything when I normally do send it.

After getting very frustrated over the situation, I was forced to step back and laugh.

Was God using this to get my attention?

That is when the above passage came into the picture.

Was I focusing on my earthly problems instead of focusing on the Lord? Was I getting overwhelmed by an earthly problem that didn’t really matter in God’s plans? Was I fixating on something when my focus, my attention should have been given exclusively to the Lord?

Have you ever felt this way?

What have you set your mind on?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you find peace in these words?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

I and the Father are one.”
(John 10:30 (NIV))

What is your reaction to these six words?

These words elicit a wide range of reactions, from utter disgust and contempt to complete acceptance, understanding and faith.

Where do you fall in this range?

Hopefully, you agree with the truth presented within these six words, but if you don’t agree, what is your reason for this disagreement? Do you find it difficult to believe that evolution is not real and everything around you is not a matter of chance? Do you accept that there is a Creator, yet still find it difficult to believe that He loves His creation? Do you find it difficult to believe that God can do whatever He wants, including taking human form?

I could go on with examples, but I hope that you understand that your acceptance of these six words tells what your eternity will be like. Perhaps you understand the following words better.

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.
(John 3:16-18 (NIV))

Either way, belief is crucial to faith. You must believe that Jesus and the Father are one. You must believe that Jesus was sent in human form to redeem us. You must believe that these two statements do not contradict each other. You must understand that human knowledge is limited and our understanding is only a small percentage of the wisdom and understanding that is that of our Father.

We must come to the realization that we are not the masters of our own domain. We are only passing through this sinful, fallen world. We must realize that the Lord has reached out to us by becoming one of us.

Do these words give you a peace that passes understanding?

Do you find peace in these words?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you ready?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
(Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV))

Are you ready?

If you know something is going to happen, you prepare for it. If you do not expect something to happen, you never prepare. It is human nature.

Now, as the Body of Christ, we should know beyond a doubt that what He has told us will come true. If we know that Jesus will return, we should be prepared for his return. We may not know the exact hour or day, but we know that He has promised that He will return.

If you have a loved one who has gone away for any length of time, you stand on the promise of that person returning when they say they will return. You prepare for that return. We place our faith and our trust in one who is sinful by nature. We place our faith and trust in a sinner to keep their promise. If we can trust in a sinner to keep their promise to return, how can we deny that He who was and is without sin will return as He promised?

We prepare for the uncertain and ignore the certain!

With this perspective on Jesus’ return and recent world events, are you ready? Will you find yourself bewildered and confused when everyone who is ready is taken? It is time to get ready by asking Jesus into your heart.

It’s as simple 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.

Are you ready?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do these words describe you?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
(James 1:19 (NIV))

Is it just me, or do these things go against everything that comes as instinct because of our sinful human nature?

Instead of being quick to listen, we are planning our replies when other people are talking.

Instead of being slow to speak, we try to make our voices heard.

Instead of being slow to anger, we explode when things don’t go as we think that they should.

We are our own worst enemy. We have accepted the lies of the enemy to the point that we, just like Satan, feel that we are elevated above all others, including God. When we don’t get our way, we lash out.

That is not what God intended for His creation!

Ever since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, sin has made all of humanity something that we were never created to be. We have become selfish. We have become self-centered. We have become self absorbed.

That is not how we are called to live.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7:12 (NIV))

I have but one more question for you to consider. Take a look at what we are called to do and take a look at how you live it out.

Do these words describe you?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Do you imitate your Father?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:36 (NIV))

It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

With that in mind, who do you flatter with your actions? Who do you flatter with your words, and who do you flatter with your thoughts?

Do you imitate the flesh or do you imitate the Father?

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
(Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV))

These characteristics do not sound very appealing. In fact, they sound sinful in nature. Is that what you imitate, or do you strive to imitate characteristics that are more loving and flattering to the Lord?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV))

We have a choice to make. We can imitate the things of this sinful, fallen world, or we can imitate the things of a loving and righteous Father.

It is your choice who you imitate.

Do you imitate your Father?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you uncomfortable in the stillness?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

“Be still, and know that I am God.
(Psalm 46:10a (ESV))

God desires for us to be still, to cease striving so that we can know Him and His desires for us. He also desires for us to be still and rely on His power.

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

The sad thing is that as humans, our basic nature is to solve everything ourselves. We don’t want to rely on anyone. We think that if we do rely on anyone else, we will owe them. We think that we will feel that we are indebted to whomever helps us.

How is that working out for you?

If you are like everyone else in the world, you are still burdened by the weight of your sin and the weight of the world as it comes crashing in on you.

God knows this about human nature. He calls us to do something contrary to our human nature and cease striving. He calls us to sit quietly in His presence and fully rely on Him for our strength and for our battles. Our society does everything that it can to distract us from the stillness in His presence. Our minds soon become filled with things that we should ignore, yet they keep coming back. Perhaps that is why humanity does not like silence and stillness. We find things creeping into our minds that we don’t really want to think about. All too often those things are our sinful nature that we don’t want to confront. We fear the stillness because we fear what we will see and we fear what God will show us.

Stillness causes fear and panic. Stillness makes us uncomfortable, yet that is exactly what God calls us to do.

Have you spent time today being still in His presence?

Are you uncomfortable in the stillness?

Copyright 1998 – 2024 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
https://www.dailylivingministries.org
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