What are you doing to confront the strutters?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among men.
(Psalms 12:8 (NIV))

Far too many things are no longer looked upon as they should be. Police are in our schools because weapons are there. Those who take the weapons strut around as if they are important. Marriages end in divorce far too often because people no longer are willing to honor their word and their commitment. Unborn children never get to see life because they are looked upon as a choice and not a unique individual created by God. Thousands of innocent people are killed simply because someone does not like the freedoms that we have in this country. Some abuse those freedoms, but the freedoms are there so that we have the right to worship God as we want and not as someone else dictates. In certain parts of the world, these people are looked upon as heroes.

It certainly appears that the wicked are strutting more in recent years. What does that say about our world? Even the very weather seems to protest. Severe floods, fires and droughts seem to be taking over, and that is just in this country. Take a look at the incidents world wide. It seems that all of creation is groaning under the weight of the vile things that are happening. How do we answer this vileness and arrogance? We must turn to God. We must pray.

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV))

We may not know what is coming tomorrow. We do know that God tells us it will get worse. Even so, we must pray. I honestly do not believe that God placed us here to simply sit back and wait. We can be active for His glory no matter what may come.

What are you doing to confront the strutters?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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We must return to God and His Commandments!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
(Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV))

We, as a country, have gotten away from this very important truth. Too many years ago, the United States Supreme Court said that we had to remove the 10 Commandments from our classrooms. Look at what has happened since then. We must turn back towards God and His Word and then we must teach our children the value of His Word, and we must pray.

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

We must return to God and His Commandments and pray for the nation to return.

Do you follow God’s Commandments?

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Stand firm in your faith even if the world thinks you are a fool!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
Even as he walks along the road,
the fool lacks sense
and shows everyone how stupid he is.
(Ecclesiastes 10:2-3 (NIV))

Have you ever encountered someone who just did not seem to understand how foolish they were to everyone else?

Did these people rebel against God? Did they deny 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.
(Psalm 14:1 (NIV))

Foolishness is different things to different people. To the believer, those who deny God are foolish. To those who deny God, we appear foolish.

Who do you think God considers to be foolish?

I have seen too many things in my lifetime that I thought I would never see. All of these are centered around what God considers foolishness and how it has become the societal norm. We have moved far past foolishness into areas that are pure evil. We, as the Body of Christ, must take a stand. We must recognize the things that God calls foolish and stay as far away as possible from these things. We must pray for those who are doing foolish things. We must pray for those who are caught in the evils of this world.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
(Titus 3:3-8 (NIV))

The time has come when professing a faith in Jesus Christ is considered foolish by many in this world. We must remember that we do not embrace the things of this world. We are to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to live the Gospel, even if it means looking foolish in the eyes of the world.

Now is not the time to falter in our faith!

Stand firm even if the world thinks you are a fool!

Copyright 1998 – 2014 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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There truly is a reward for those who live for God

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

“Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” ”
(Psalms 58:11 (NLT))

Do you live for the day that you can say this because it has come to pass?

Too many people don’t even believe in God and they live their lives just as they believe. They do not see the consequences of any of their actions. Perhaps, they even flaunt their actions because they don’t believe. Whatever the reason, too many people live as if nothing matters except them. Many of these people even go out of their way to make sure that the body of believers receives ridicule because of their actions.

It is good to know that the words recorded in Psalms 58:11 will come to pass. However, we must not gloat over this fact when we are confronted with people who do not believe. It is our task as the Body of Jesus to pray for God’s Will to be done in their lives.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9 (NIV))

We must remember the people that God is giving a chance to come to salvation before the events of Psalms 58:11 come to pass. We must not rush God and His timeframe. We must pray for those who still need to come to a saving grace through the blood of Jesus.

But, it is wonderful to know that “there is a God who judges justly here on earth,” even if it is not done according to our desired timeline.

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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