Introduction: Life has its mountains and valleys. The most spiritual growth usually takes place in the valleys. It’s in the valleys that…

* we learn to trust

* we cry out to God

* we recognize our weaknesses

* we turn tests of faith into testimonies of faith

Are you in a valley?

Remember the clay does not tell the Potter what to do, instead, it simply yields to the hands of the Potter.

This devotion today is loaded with truth that transforms.

1. Burdens turned into blessings! (Psa 34:1-4)

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

As the songwriter wrote, 

“Burdens are lifted at Calvary!” 

2. Fear turned into Faith! (Psa 34:4-9)

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 😯 taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.”

Fear is FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL!

F-E-A-R

What did our Lord inspire Paul to write to Timothy about fear?

“7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)

3. Afflictions are turned into prayer Addictions! (Psa 34:15-19)

“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”

Did you notice the Psalmnist says MANY are the AFFLICTIONS of the righteous but the Lord DELIVERS them out of them ALL?

Conclusion: This Word from the Lord changing everything; i. e. the way we look at things, react to things, and go through things. With Burdens turned into Blessings, Fear turned into Faith, and Afflictions turned into Prayer Addictions, it is a game changer!!

Introduction: Does it seem like DECEPTION is becoming more and more accepted these days? Lies. Deceit. False information… Satan’s plan from the beginning. Does it seem more and more difficult to distinguish falsehood?

How can we keep from being DECEIVED?

1. We must Know the origin of DECEPTION! (John 8:44-47)

“44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

Jesus made it clear. The devil sinned from the beginning. He is the father of lies. Is he lying to you today? 

2. We must identify the Truth! (John 1:14-17)

“14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Jesus Christ is TRUTH!

His Word is TRUTH!! It is God’s plumb line. 

3. We must measure DECEPTION with the TRUTH! (2 John 1:7-11)

“7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

Jesus said many deceivers are here and many more will arise. 

4. We must be aware that in the last days DECEPTION is going to intensify! (2Thess 2:7-9)

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

We shouldn’t be overly surprised with all the DECEPTION in our day. Why? Because the Bible forewarns us. Look out!

Conclusion: Jesus told His disciples that even the very elect could be DECEIVED. (Matt 24:24)

“24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Remember, this is in the context of His second coming.

Bottom line: We are living in days of DECEPTION; however, unless we are saturated and walking in the TRUTH, we could be DECEIVED.

Watch out!

Introduction: Have you ever picked up and carried a refrigerator or a window unit AC? It has what is called a compressor on one end which makes it heavier on that end. When working at an appliance store years ago and having to deliver appliances, the employees would always want the opposite end of the compressor because it was lighter.

Are you carrying a heavy burden today? Did you know that our Lord will carry the heavy end if you let Him. 

Check out what the Psalmnist suggests:

1. Our Cry! (Psa 55:17)

“17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Pray without ceasing. That is what this verse is demonstrating. God hears our cry, feels our pain, and promises our deliverance. 

2. Want to Fly! (Psa 55:6)

“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”

When the work caves in on us, we want to fly away…but we can’t! Burdens grow heavier but GRACE grows GREATER! 

3. Feel like About to Die! (Psa 55:18)

“He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.”

Have you ever felt like you could not take much more? But you can. Do you know why? Because Jesus is with us to strengthen us! And His GRACE is sufficient!!

4. Must Rely! (Psa 55:22)

“22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

So go ahead and let Jesus carry the heavy end. After all, why would you think that He cannot handle it? 

Conclusion: Our heart CRY when we feel like we’re about to DIE  makes us want to FLY, but in all actuality, because of Jesus we should RELY!

Remember. He will carry the heavy end if we let Him. Will you let Him?

1. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus! (Psa 46:1)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

2. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus even though we live in a world of UNCERTAINTY! (Psa 46:2,3)

“Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

3. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus even though we live in a world of UNCERTAINTY because of God’s SOVEREIGNTY! (Psa 46:4,5)

“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”

Conclusion: Did you catch the key points? 
* Jesus is our SAFETY
* Even though in this world there is UNCERTAINTY
* All because of God’s SOVEREIGNTY

Introduction: Admittedly, we’ve been BLESSED! Do you agree? Do we take things for granted? How about your health? Your loved ones? Your faith? Your job? Your friends? Your bank account…if you have one!! Anyway, it does us good to count our many BLESSINGS!

1. Daily Blessings! (Psa 68:19)

“19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.”

Were you able to get up this morning and walk? Talk? Work? Laugh? We are BLESSED! Daily benefits. God is GOOD!!
Life can be stressful. But the Holy Spirit is our protector, provider and power source.

2. Heavenly Blessings! (Eph 1:3)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

Think about it. In Christ we have everything that God has for us. It is a done deal. Now, that does not mean that we sit on our “blessed assurance” and do nothing. Instead, we trust in Jesus and grow in His grace.

3. Material Blessings! (Phil 4:19)

“19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Houses, land, furniture, cars and trucks and everything in between are provisions from our Lord. He sure has been good to us! Even His enabling grace that allows us to earn a living is a gift from Him!

4. Spiritual Blessings! (2Pet 1:3-8)

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The spiritual blessings are most important. Navigating through this life with all of the spiritual tools is a blessing! Are you blessed or stressed?

1. First, we must FOCUS!! (Psa 91:1,2)

2. Next we must have FAITH in Jesus! (Psa 91:2)

“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

3. Then, we must FIGHT! (Psa 91:3-8)

“3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.”

4. Finally we must live in FREEDOM In Jesus! (Psa 91:11-16)

“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”

Introduction: Get a check list: 

Do you have the PEACE of God in these troubling days? How about are you exercising PATIENCE? LOVE? JOY? GENTLENESS? SELF- CONTROL?

Where can we get all of these secret nuggets for living the CHRISTian life?

Let’s look at the Bible to discover where:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)

1. LOVE (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

It is easy to LOVE those that love us. But to love those who do not love us takes GRACE! It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

2. JOY (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Joy is that deep abiding contentment no matter what. Another delicious fruit of the Holy Spirit!

3. PEACE (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

PEACE is valuable! Precious!! Necessary! Both Inward and Outward PEACE comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit.

4. PATIENCE (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

We live in a world of HURRY! WORRY!! IMPATIENCE manifests itself in relationships; driving; working; and in general. Most of us are IMPATIENT when put under the right circumstances.

Do you agree?

5. GENTLENESS (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

The opposite of harshness is GENTLENESS. Are you known as a gentle person?

6. SELF CONTROL (Gal 5:22)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Wow! Do you see a great need for SELF CONTROL? Probably must of us need this fruit flavor daily! It’s available through the Holy Spirit. 

Conclusion: Notice the next key verse that summarizes how to enjoy this luscious fruit for living.

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.” (Gal 5:24)

Don’t miss this part or you will miss it all!

Introduction: “Pray without ceasing.” (1Thess 5:17)

What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Are you in a spirit of prayer today? Have you spent time at our “Father’s throne of Grace”? This devotion is meant to motivate each of us to “Pray without Ceasing”!

1. First, we’ve got to set aside some time to PRAY! (1Thess 5:17)

“17Pray without ceasing.”

I’m afraid we do more talking about prayer than we do praying. What do you think? When we pray with the right motives it gives us a sense of peace and contentment. The opposite is true. When we don’t pray it creates anxiety and discontentment. 

2. Second, what does it mean “without ceasing”? (1Thess 5:17)

“17Pray without ceasing.”

The word “without ceasing” is ἀδιαλείπτως, (ad-ee-al-ipe’-toce), which means incessantly unceasingly, or without remission.

How can this be done? Not only does this need to be indelibly ingrained within our minds, but also on our hearts. So that we will make prayer a priority throughout the day.

Will you stop and do that right now? Don’t forget. The disciples asked Jesus to “teach them to pray”! (Luke 11:1)

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Conclusion: As we pray without ceasing, remember to give thanks, and rejoice!

1. Artificial Intelligence in our HOME! (Rev 13:14)

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

2. Artificial Intelligence in our HEART! (Rev 13:11)

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”

3. Artificial Intelligence in our HEALTH! (Rev 13:12)

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

4. Artificial Intelligence not in HEAVEN! (Rev 13:8,16-18)

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…”

Introduction: Jesus calls us to go the “Extra Mile.” Going the “extra mile” is not easy, convenient, or usually fun. But when we go the “extra mile” with the right motives and for the glory of the Lord, it is always rewarded!

Are you willing to go the “extra mile”?

1. Going the “Extra Mile” when Jesus calls you! (Matt 5:41)

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

There are times in our life that Jesus calls us to die to ourselves but live through the Spirit. It is those times when we really do not want to do something or be bothered with extra stuff. Often times, our plate is already loaded and to add more seems unimaginable, unfair, or unattainable. 

There is a mental battle. Then a spiritual battle. The flesh fights it and shrinks back. The Spirit steps up. 

Actually, it is a test of our faith in our God. Remember, without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6). He wants to BLESS us. But honestly, we have a difficult time believing and trusting because of our self dependency. However, when we finally yield to His WILL regardless of the cost or time or inconvenience, then the PEACE of God rains down upon us. His Presence abides with us. And His Power enables us. 

Bottom line: The Christian life is one continuous life from above made possible by the dethronement of the self life! As we decrease, He increases. As we refuse to give into the flesh, the Spirit flows unhindered through our life. 

This brings GLORY to our Lord!

Conclusion: Now isn’t it worth it to go the “Extra Mile”?

Look at the results.

Where is our Lord asking you to go the “Extra Mile”…in obeying Him, in spending extra time in prayer, in reaching out to others when you don’t feel like it. Go ahead and make up your mind – you will Go the “EXTRA MILE”!