Wednesday Morning Devotional

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. – Genesis 2:21

I didn’t meet my wife until I was 24 years old. On February 26 of the year 2000, Tonya and I went on our very first date. Up until that time, there were certainly some similarities between the Biblical Adam and me. Bible Adam saw that all the animals were paired up . . . they had a match. He quickly realized that he didn’t have a match. I remember only focusing on what I didn’t have. My friends were getting married and it seemed a constant reminder that I was alone. Would I be alone forever? Was I one of the ones God wanted to be alone?

Probably the worst thing this attitude does is make you come across as needy. As long as this neediness prevails, you will be a disaster to your new relationship. I look back on some of my relationships and see just how needy I must have seemed to them. No wonder they ran. I can also look back and see how this worked the other way. Some girls I knew I would never settle down with because of some glaring red flag that God must have been highlighting as if to say, “not the one I made for you.”

Genesis 2:21 says God took something out of Adam’s side before He introduced him to Eve. For me, God had me go through a yearlong process of not dating anyone. As soon as I committed to that, I had more opportunities to date than I ever could have imagined. But, I wanted to be obedient to God.

The “surgery” performed on me was successful. At the end of that year God changed me. I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t needy at all, but I was WAY less needy. I no longer needed a relationship to define who I was. In fact, I learned to enjoy being at home by myself and just spending time with God and the Bible. I realized that God had performed major surgery on me and took out a cancer that would have been devastating to a marriage.

Could you imagine if I had bought into Hollywood’s definition of love and looked for Tonya to “complete me?” No significant other will ever hold up to that kind of pressure or live up to that kind of standard . . . not in the long run. I don’t want Tonya to “need” me in order for her to be happy. I want her to find her fulfillment in God alone. I want Him to be all that she needs. Then, if I am doing the same, she and I are set for life. We will see each other as a gift from God and we will appreciate the gift and certainly take great care of it.

No matter what stage of life you are in, find your fulfillment in God alone. I wish I had done this from the time I was saved at 16 years old until the time I met Tonya. I wasted a lot of time trying to do things the world’s way. Do not do the same.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Adam

A Desire to Change

But you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back. – 1 Kings 14:10

Jeroboam had about as good of a start as anyone could have. A man of God came to him during the reign of Solomon at precisely the time when Solomon began to build public altars to other gods for his foreign wives. The man of God made sure Jeroboam understood why 10 of the tribes were going to be stripped away and be under his rulership.   Unfortunately, just because he had a good start, it did not ensure he would have a good finish.

In order to keep people from traveling back to the temple in the southern kingdom of Judah to worship God, Jeroboam decided to do the very thing Solomon did to have the kingdom divided in the first place . . . set up altars of worship to foreign gods. Even though he was divinely warned, even having his arm wither in an instant and then restored in an instant, he refused to change. Once Jeroboam got a taste of power, he could not let it go.

I look back over my life on things that were so hard to change. I’m talking about things that seemed impossible to stop doing. Just like Jeroboam, I thought I’d lose the rulership of my own kingdom if I really followed what God was obviously asking me to do. Here’s the thing: I eventually did lose control over my own kingdom, and in the end, it was wonderful.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, I don’t know) for us, God never allows us to see what is on the other side of our obedience to Him. He didn’t show me my wife on the other side of obedience to Him regarding my boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. He didn’t show me the financial blessings on the other side of learning to tithe. He certainly didn’t show me true peace and contentment on the other side of studying and applying His Word to my life. Had He shown me the blessings beforehand, I might would have done them for the rewards and not the rewarder.

So what does a person do when sin has such a hold on them that they just refuse obedience to God? What do they do when they feel that they absolutely can’t let go of what little bit of perceived control they have over their own life? How do you avoid Jeroboam’s fate?

You become poor in spirit. Remember the Sermon on the Mount? Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

Nothing has transformed my life like the five words “Lord, I’m poor in spirit.” When what I want does not line up with what He wants, I just admit it. I pray to Him, “Lord, if you don’t change my heart, I will not change. I can’t do it on my own.”

I can’t begin to tell you how He honors this prayer. Don’t think that the prayer will “fix” you or your problems instantly. God has never been into instant. But, it will give you a sense of depending on Him like you’ve never had before. Then, over time, you won’t know how He did it, you won’t even know when He did it, but you will discover that He changed you.

You will discover that Jesus is everything He says He is.

Later

Adam

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

What makes a Christian “new?” What does it even mean to be “new?” I don’t know why, but I’ve been pondering this a lot lately. When I think of a new creation, I think of my two kids. When they entered this world, I had such an awe and wonder that absolutely everything on this planet was brand new to them. When my daughter was born and I said, “Hey Caroline,” and she looked at me with the most piercing eyes. I knew that she recognized my voice.

Here I am now 11 years into raising her. For 11 years I’ve been trying to win her heart. Sometimes I feel like I have it. Sometimes I feel a million miles away. Either way, I love the journey of pursuing her, teaching her, and instilling a holy fear of God inside of her. It is still amazing to me that 11 years ago, Caroline was brand new to this world.

Twenty-six years ago, I was born again. Ever since that day, God has been pursuing me, and my heart. A 16-year old clueless teenager called his youth group leader because he was too scared to raise his hand and “receive” Jesus in front of his friends. Even though all I did was repeat a simple prayer after him, it was actually the first time I entered the world of “prayer.” It was just crazy to me that I actually talked to God. I asked Him to forgive me for being the way that I was, for hurting the people that I hurt, and for doing the sinful things that I had done and was currently doing. I talked to God and felt the most overwhelming sense of “lightness.“ It was like my weight cut in half in an instant. It was like my soul was just pressure washed.

All of a sudden, I cared about stuff I never cared about before. Before Christ, if I cussed, I didn’t care or give it a second thought at all. But, here I was now with something going off inside of me saying, “We don’t talk like that anymore.” All of a sudden, I had the most intense feeling of “this is wrong” when I was sexually immoral in any way. I would look at my Bible and say, “I really need to read that thing.” I had never thought that before. These feelings were all so new.

I think Americans highly underestimate the value of that first prayer of repentance to God. A sinful, God-hating, Bible-hating, rule hating, sin-loving person just prayed and asked the God of the universe to change them. I believe it is still the greatest miracle that God performs today. It is absolutely astounding. A sinner just basically said, “I’m nothing like You, Jesus . . . make me like You!” It puts the new believer on the path of communicating with God for the rest of our lives, and for all of eternity.

Even after 26 years, there is still so much work left for God to do in my heart, mind, and soul. I’m still in the process of being made new. I think that is the beauty of salvation. A person who gives his or her life to God is in a constant state of being perfected. This perfecting process will go on for all of eternity. My only job is to hold on to Him for dear life. He is the one who makes all things new.

If you’ve never experienced the “newness” of God, there is no better day than today to find out just what that feels like.

Later

Adam

Lessons from a Fast

When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. – Psalm 69:10

A reproach is something you are disappointed in, or something in which you disapprove. The author in this verse is saying, “When I fasted, I disapproved of my soul.” I certainly found this to be true. There is something about always being full and content by eating three to five times a day. I don’t think we do it consciously at all, but full bellies make for prideful souls. I realized on this fast that I have been one of them.

Ever since the onset of the fast, I have had these dreams. I’m put in these situations where I can take money that doesn’t belong to me, or just simply do the wrong thing. I have failed in every single one of them. In my last dream I gave away a coat that I really liked. Afterwards, I wanted it back, so I lied to get it back. Upon waking up from all of these dreams, I cry out to God, “Lord, is that really what’s inside of me?” My soul became my reproach on this fast. I realize with new clarity that if not for God changing my heart, mind, and soul, I’d still be as lost as ever.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. – Psalm 34:8

Drinking water only for a period of time is tough. After a few days, the body goes through this initial, main detoxification process. It is kind of miserable. Soon after this, I usually transition into a partial fast like Daniel did. It is crazy how all of a sudden fruits and vegetables taste so good to me. I close my eyes and savor the flavor as if I’d just taken a bite out of a Key-Lime pie on a normal diet. Something is really wrong with the way we eat and the things we eat. If you take a bite of an orange after taking a swig of soda and a bite of a candy bar, it will not taste good at all. Some sort of reset has to happen for you to be able to appreciate that orange again.

The same thing happens when you cut off social media and television. I think I get so desensitized by them that when I pick up the Word of God, it isn’t really that special sometimes. I don’t really desire it. However, when you have that clear and sober mind, it is like the most tasteful, wonderful thing to devour. God has opened my eyes to so many things.

Now no discipline seems joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11

I still would not call fasting pleasant. Like this verse says, it is pure and painful discipline. But, the value of it is immeasurable. I am writing this right before I’m about to break this fast. Something in me does not want to let all of this go. Something in me wonders if I’ll go right back to a prideful heart or if I’ll at least stay aware of how deceitful my heart can be.

As I type, I see a glaring problem. I’m wondering if I will be able to keep myself pure and clean. Of course I won’t. That is why I needed Jesus in the first place and why I still need Him now.

May we always cling to Him, and put our hope in no other. For there is no other name given under Heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Later

Adam

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

This one verse is so offensive to so many. Every religion or belief system believes that they have the secret to inheriting a better afterlife. Some make it about following rules; others make it about making sure your good outweighs your bad. Christianity is way different. Its foundation is Jesus Christ. No matter what you’ve done, how you’ve lived, or how bad you think you are, Jesus says there is no amount of work that can undo it all. A person’s only hope is to put their trust in Him.

Now that I’ve been on the other side of this process for 26 years, I see the beauty of it all. In those early days of trying to be a “good” Christian, my efforts were so futile. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried, my efforts never produced heart change. If I chose to forego a sin, it was begrudgingly. Often times, I would complain to God. I would say stuff like, “My friends are out there having fun while I’m here alone reading Your Word.”

This went on for 5 years or so. Finally, I said the prayer that I believe changed everything: “Lord, if I’m going to change . . . You are going to have to change me.” For the first time in my life, I threw myself at His mercy. I really placed myself in His hands. There has been nothing like seeing Him literally change my heart’s desires. He really does all the work in a person’s heart. He changes people’s desires so they don’t have to keep His commands, they want to.

What about you? Are you still hoping that your good will outweigh your bad and that your afterlife will adjust accordingly. There is zero evidence in the Bible that this will happen. Adam and Eve sinned one time by simply breaking a dietary law and they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. God allows NO sin into His perfect Kingdom. That is scary because I’ve sinned and you’ve sinned.

So what do we do?

Trust Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

Later

Adam

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. — Ezra 8:21

Twelve years ago tomorrow, my first child, Caroline, was 7 months away from being born. We had already miscarried twice, so I was more than worried about this pregnancy. I remember reading Ezra 8:21 and catching the words “and our children.”   I thought of the journey that our little girl would have to make from her mom to this world and impulsively declared a fast. I added these words, “and God, I will fast every year for 21 days if you will give Caroline safe passage.” I have kept my vow, but even now, right before the fast begins, I always have a bit of, “Why in the world did I say that?” going on. Of course I feel horrible for thinking this, but fasting is flat out, no fun.

Nevertheless, I believe that God has used these fasting seasons to grow me exponentially. If not for fasting, I believe there is no way that I actually become a minister of the Word. Somehow, fasting is like Miracle Grow for your spirit. You don’t know really how it is happening, but in the afflicting of yourself, you change. You come out on the other side different. You come out better. You come out closer to Him that you were before.

I am amazed at how very little material there is on fasting. I pretty much read the same books every year. I read Jentezen Franklin’s book, “Fasting.” I also read Arthur Wallis’s book “God’s Chosen Fast.” I like his book because he gives practical advice on what you can expect to feel like as the days go by. I’ve been looking for a book called “Revival Now Through Prayer and Fasting,” and it is a really hard book to find. I did finally find one for $20, but three people on Amazon thought it was worth $75! I’m really looking forward to receiving, reading, and applying it.

I’m pretty sure the reason nobody writes these books is because so few people actually fast. I can only imagine how few books American Christians buy on fasting. There are tons of books on the physical benefits of fasting, but not so many spiritual books on the spiritual aspect. I would venture to say that more non-Christians fast for their health than Christians do as a springboard into God’s presence. I would like to believe that isn’t true, and because our fasting is to be done as privately as possible, more Christians are fasting than we know. To me, fasting is one of the ultimate forms of denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Him.

I just want to encourage you today to pick out some days and proclaim a fast. Surely you’d like safe passage for your family in 2018. Or, better yet, maybe you just want to be as close to Him as you’ve ever been in your life. Maybe you need healing (If you have Amazon Prime, watch “The Science of Fasting”). Maybe a family member needs healing. Maybe a family member or close friend of yours needs to be saved. Proclaim a fast. Replace physical meals with spiritual ones. Turn off social media and television. You will find that He is so much nearer than you think.

In the book of Ezra, the Israelites had bragged to the Persians how big, great, and mighty their God was. Because of this, they didn’t want to ask them for any kind of royal protection against their enemies as they traveled back to their homeland. Instead, they weakened themselves through fasting and completely trusted God to get them home safely.

Of course He protected them.

He will do the same for you.

Later

Adam

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem. – Matthew 2:1

The wise men were willing to journey as long as it took to see the newborn king. They knew the scriptures concerning the savior of the world. When they saw the signs they needed, they took off to be in His Presence.

King Herod knew that eventually a savior would come. When the wise men announced His arrival, Herod was surprised and obviously had not been looking for Messiah to come during his reign. Upon hearing the news, he asked his religious advisors to confirm. They read for King Herod Micah 5:2: But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler of Israel, whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting. King Herod saw this birth as a threat to his comfortable rule and sought to destroy Jesus. Verse 13 of Matthew 2 says, “For Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

So we have two groups of people with the same information who have completely different reactions. The wise men sought to be in His presence and worship Him. King Herod sought to be in His presence so he could destroy Him. The wise men are excited about His Kingdom and the effect on their own lives. King Herod is ready to kill an infant in order to keep his little bit of power that he only had because Rome allowed it.

I wonder what the majority of “Christians” in America really do with Jesus. You can find so few people, especially here in the Bible belt, who do not claim Christianity in some form or another. Pretty much everybody calls themselves Christians. Yet, when you watch the majority of them live out their day-to-day lives, there is no indication that they truly believe what they say they believe.   Whether you call yourself a Christian or not, there are really only two types of people concerning Jesus: Either you seek His presence and make Him ruler and Lord of your life, or you really want nothing to do with Him because you know He will mess up your comfortable lifestyle. I can certainly confirm that if you let Him in, you will not remain the same.

I am either a wise man journeying as far as necessary to see Him, or I am Herod, the perceived ruler of my own life who does not really want to be messed with. I’ve been in both places. I’ve been the ruler of my own life, claiming to have Jesus in my heart, yet pushing Him away every time I engaged in my favorite sinful activities. I’ve also been in the place where I desire nothing more than to be in the presence of my King. I go through lengthy stretches where He is my favorite activity. But, to this day, I am so inconsistent and I feel the war for first place in my heart.

Lord, just as those wise men walked and anticipated seeing you . . . help me do the same. When they finally got there, all they wanted to do was worship you and give You their best . . . help me do the same. Make me wise in your eyes. Thank You for the greatest gift that has ever been given.

Merry Christmas!

Adam

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

December 12, 2017

I’m kind of enjoying writing in this style of “Practicing His Presence.” I can look back and read these entries and see how my journey is going. Lately I haven’t been doing very well, at least spiritually speaking. I’ve been having a great time in the natural and doing very well. I just haven’t had that closeness with God that I had a couple of weeks ago.

When I say that, I don’t want you to picture that I’ve had some sort of euphoric experience. All I’m talking about is this conscious awareness of His nearness. It is so peaceful and the result is perfect contentment. I don’t worry, get really upset, or even in a hurry. What I definitely don’t do is wish for time to go by, and unfortunately, I’ve been doing a good bit of that with Christmas break approaching.   I’m wondering this morning what is going on with me. Lately, I seem to only have this perfect clarity and this sense of His nearness in these really early hours of the morning while the majority of the world around me sleeps.

I think God is teaching me that the best life this world offers, without Him, is unfulfilling.   I could have told you that for the past 15 or 20 years. But, there is a difference in knowing about something and having that personal experience. It’s like the difference in sympathizing and empathizing. If I’m sympathizing, I can imagine, but if I’m empathizing, I’ve been there and I know from experience. I’m kind of like George Bailey; I get focused so much on the smaller, temporary, mundane cares of this life, and don’t see that it really is a wonderful life.

Still, I get kind of frustrated that I’m not consistently able to do this simple act of bringing God to my mind. Yet, I read Hebrews 2:2 this morning and He sheds light on a huge part of my problem. Here I am thinking I should be able to focus my mind on Him wherever I am and whenever I want. I see those I’s, and that glaring “me” in the last sentence. There is still this element of religion in me that wants to do good enough on my own to earn God’s trust, favor, and even His Presence.

This brings me this morning to a beautiful place of repentance and realization: I don’t have to author my own salvation. In fact, I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Therefore, with God’s help, I will return to simplicity today. I will take the focus off of me and simply walk with Him as far into this day as I can. No wishing the time away, no trying to enjoy temporary pleasures apart from Him, and certainly no trying to do this life on my own without the awareness of His Presence.

Last week I wrote about walking with God. I learned last week that I have a problem of walking fast. It is such an unfortunate habit. Only God knows how many times I’ve walked in front of my wife going into places. Why didn’t I slow down and just enjoy being with her? Now I see myself doing the same thing with God. I’m walking at a pace to get stuff done instead of walking at a pace to enjoy Him along side of me regardless of my task at hand. It’s amazing how much more productive I am at the slower pace with that awareness of Him right there with me.

I’m thinking I would like to walk and spiritually pull weeds today. I’ve regressed in the parable of the sower that Jesus taught. Here He speaks of me right now: Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. (Luke 8:14) I have been given a great seed that will produce a harvest of His Presence, not just for me, but for all I come in contact with. The last thing I want is for the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life to choke Him out.

Lord, grant me the grace to live simply. I hate when I get lost in the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world. Unfortunately, it takes me an awful long time to realize that I hate it. My one desire right now is to really worship you with my entire life. Some parts I do really well with, other parts need a lot of work. As I walk with you today, when the cares of this life drown you out, help me imagine that worldly care as a weed in my mind and help me to pull it, roots and all. Give me a clean garden to grow this seed of your presence. I give you back the pen of my salvation. I’m sorry for taking it from you. I trust that you will do everything necessary in my life to prepare me to enjoy you for the rest of my days here on earth, and in heaven forever and ever.

Amen

Adam