January 2020 - Page 2 of 3 - Tabetha’s Devotions

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020

Warm Their Hearts

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:19-25

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Observation

G39 ἁγιάζω hagiazō, to sanctify, set apart, make holy; this can mean active dedication and service to God or the act of regarding or honoring as holy

Definition of sanctify

1 : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use :

CONSECRATE

2 : to free from sin : PURIFY

Application

Sanctify means to set apart, specifically to set apart from sin. These verses are not saying God is setting us apart from other people. We should never turn away from others. We are not to feel like we are above or better than others. God wants to separate us from OUR sin. He wants to make us clean. We need to shine God to others. We need to warm their hearts not give them the cold shoulder.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for loving me enough to want to sanctify me. Bring people into my life that I can help warm their hearts and bring them to you. ~Amen

January 15, 2020January 15, 2020

In a mean COLD world, learn to be an Emperor Penguin.

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Observation

G4151 παρακαλέω parakaleō, to ask, beg, plead; to comfort, encourage, exhort, urge; to call, invite

en·cour·age give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).

Application

Did you know that Emperor Penguins often huddle together to keep warm in the cold temperatures of Antarctica. They don’t stop and check to see if they like the penguin or if the penguin agrees with them 100% on the same views. They don’t argue and decide if the penguin is worth its time. No they come together and work together. They encourage each other and protect each other. They strive to do what is good for each other and everyone else. In a mean COLD world, learn to be an Emperor Penguin.

Prayer

Lord, I want to be more like you. I want to open my heart to everyone. I don’t need to compete or compare myself to anyone. We are all in this together and it is about time we learn to hold on to each other and support each other.

~Amen

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

Impossibly Plausible

Scripture

James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Observation

G1359 διακρίνω diakrinō, to make a distinction, judge a dispute; (mid./pass.) to doubt, hesitate, wave

Doubt

1 : to call into question the truth of : to be uncertain or in doubt about

2a : to lack confidence in : DISTRUST

b : to consider unlikely

Application

God works in the realm of not just plausible but also. possible. In other words, we often see Him do the impossible. The bible is full of His possibles: David and Goliath, Gideon, Jericho, Lazarus, and lets not forget Jesus! Yet, we still face times in our life when we struggle with doubt. We need to remember the God we serve. You may question what God is going to do, but never doubt what God CAN do. That is what this verse is talking about. I mean, I would much rather live in a warm cozy house, but I don’t doubt that I could survive in an igloo.

Prayer

Lord, thank that you don’t know the meaning of impossible. Please forgive me when my little brain puts limits on you. I am trying to realize, I may not know what you are going to do, but remain confident you are doing something.

~Amen

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Let’s Slow Down

Scripture

Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Observation

Justly: H5477 מִשְׁפָּט mišpāṭ, justice, judgment; law, regulation, prescription, specification:

Mercy: H2876 חֶסֶד2 ḥesed2, unfailing love, loyal love, devotion, kindness, often based on a prior relationship, especially a covenant relationship

Humbly: H7570 צָנַע ṣānaʽ, to show a humble (walk with God), as an extension of acting in a cautious manner

Application

My grandmother was so sure everything could be fixed with a cup of hot tea. What I found as I grew up that sitting over a hot beverage like coffee, tea or hot chocolate with a friend did make things better. Sitting there makes you slow down for a minute. You take a breath and don’t act rashly to your problem. When we take those moments to walk humbly with God we learn to act justly with love and mercy.

Prayer

Lord you are so patient with me. Help me learn to not react to things around me. Help me learn to slow down and walk humbly with you so I can show your justice, mercy and love.

~Amen

January 9, 2020January 9, 2020

No Fear

Scripture

2 Peter 3:10-13

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Observation

G4659 προσδοκάω prosdokaō, to look forward to, expect, wait for

[look forward to something] to feel happy and excited about something that is going to happen

Application

Downhill skiing totally scares me. It is so fast and trees pop up out of nowhere. It can be very dangerous. However, if you keep your body aligned and eyes forward you you will quickly and safely find yourself at the bottom sipping hot chocolate. One of these days, God is going to zoom in and destroy this earth. However, we do not need to be afraid. If we stay on the path and keep our eyes on Him, soon we will be in that New Heaven and New Earth sipping the BEST hot chocolate EVER!

Prayer

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020

Month: January 2020

Warm Their Hearts

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In a mean COLD world, learn to be an Emperor Penguin.

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Impossibly Plausible

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Let’s Slow Down

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No Fear

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Hope is My Core

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Don’t Go Out Naked

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Stand!

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I Think Therefore I Am

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His Plan for us is to Draw Closer to Him

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