Tabetha’s Devotions

Psalms 95:4

In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

Look around. There is nothing you will see that doesn’t belong to God. I don’t care what you have worked so hard for to buy or make, it belongs to God. I don’t what millionaire or billionaire thinks he owns and it belongs to him, it doesn’t. I don’t care what power someone thinks they have because of their placement in this world. Still doesn’t belong to him. It all belongs to God.

God allows us to make decisions, good or bad. God allows us to do things our way. Per usual, our human self just gets in the way and we totally screw things up. We start to think there is no way out. When we stop to pray and remember just who holds everything in His hands, grace appears.

No, things don’t magically go away but peace enters into our hearts. Sometimes God takes us around the problem and other times we have to go through. In either direction, God is right there with us. Why? Because His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.

So the next time you find yourself on the mountain or in the valley, remember God is right there with you. Oh, and don’t try to just do it your way. It won’t be pretty!

Lord, I am so grateful there is nowhere I can go that you can’t find me. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

1 Corinthians 15:55

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

If you have never listened to “The Champion” by Carmen, I highly recommend it. It describes the crucifixion and resurrection as a boxing match between Satan and Jesus. God of course is the referee. My favorite part is when Jesus lowers His hands and Satan strikes with the death blow. Satan and his minions are so excited and dancing around until they hear God begin the count. You see God counts backwards 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 . . . Then Satan begins to get nervous, as he should. When God gets to one, Jesus gets back up. Death cannot hold Him down.

As a Christian, death cannot hold you down either. No, I don’t mean you are going to rise up like a zombie walking around searching for brains. I mean you are no longer destined for hell. No, you will get to live on forever and ever in heaven with God, Christ, Holy Spirit, the angels, and all the other saints. No more pain or worries will follow us there. Life will be perfect!

So, I have a suggestion for you. The next time Satan starts picking on us, let’s turn around and start counting backwards. His days are numbered. He knows it and he needs to be reminded of it from time to time.

Thank you for delivering the final punch, Lord. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Always (adverb)

1. every time; on every occasion; without exception
2. all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly
3. forever
4. In any event; at any time; if necessary

This six-letter word is very powerful. There are very few things that can truly carry the word always with them. As a matter of fact, I can honestly only think of a few. Hebrews 7:25 points out how one of them will ALWAYS keep His word. He will ALWAYS be there for you. He is ALWAYS waiting to hold you, help you, and intercede for you in Heaven.

Here is the picture. Satan is pointing his finger at you, tattling, and blaming you for everything under the sun. The Son steps in, spreads His hands open, and reminds God you are saved completely by His sacrifice. Oh, and once again, He is ALWAYS doing this for you.

Well, I can actually add another being to this list. Satan will ALWAYS be a pain in our behind. Luckily, Jesus ALWAYS has our back!

Thank You, Lord, for always having my back! ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Psalms 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

First, I would like to apologize for not finishing last week’s blogs. We were scrambling to finish up remodeling our house before an open house on Sunday. Let me tell you something. If you want to test your own fortitude and your marriage, remodel a house. WOW! Only the grace of God got us through and no one was killed or ended up in jail . . . LOL!

I am also happy to report that once again on this journey God astounded us. Our house sold to the first family that came through. Who does that? God does! The awesome part is they actually prayed on my porch that if this was the house for them, we would accept their offer. How cool is that! The house was meant for them.

I say all that to bring us to Psalms 24:1. I am not sure why I am so astounded. God owns it all and is in control. Our prayers were heard to sell the house to the right people. Their prayer was heard to find a house for them. When we turn everything over to God, what we need is taken care of for us. It may not always be the way we expected but it is done.

Now on to my next prayer. Lord, it is our turn. Help us find just the right house for us!

Lord, thank You, for always having what is best for us to get out of any situation and on to a new adventure. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

2 Timothy 4:5

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

I think we need to read verses 2 Timothy 4:2-5

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

These verses apply to today so much! They are clear-cut instructions on how to approach our spreading of the gospel. I don’t care who you are, where you live, or what you do for a living. You need to understand one thing. You Are A Missionary! You have a mission field. It may not be in another country, but it is right outside your door.

There are people all around you every day that need to know Jesus loves them. You just need to open your eyes and heart. Get up, read these verses, and pick up that cross. You have a mission field to work in today!

Lord, thank You for my mission field. I am ready to work! ~ amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Romans 5:6

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

I think I can tell you what is wrong with the world today. We have gotten too big for our britches! Yep! People feel entitled instead of thankful. They believe they are always right, have the upper hand, and are more important than the person next who offends, oppresses, or opposes them in any way. They believe they need to do it all their way. Well, here is a little piece of advice. STOP IT!

God does powerful things when we get out of His way. Take a look at Gideon in Judges 7:2, “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’’” Gideon thought he was doing awesome and could control EVERYTHING when he first saw his army. God had other plans. He wanted to make sure Gideon won with the power of God behind him not man. God stacked the deck!

Then there is the most powerful win in history found in today’s verse, Romans 5:6. Jesus was sent at the right time when we were still powerless. We could not and will never be able to save ourselves. God’s power always prevails. We need to just get out of the way.

Lord, I want to step aside and let You do Your thing. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Luke 22:44

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Seeing someone suffer does not bring me joy. So, I hope you understand when I say today’s verse brings me comfort. I say it because I can empathize with Jesus and He can empathize with me.

Jesus felt anguish. The Son of God who had literally brought the dead to life among many other miracles was emotionally at His end. We have all been there. The ugly cry or the cried so many tears can’t even flow anymore. You may have even felt like you can’t take another breath much less another step. Jesus felt that too!

Are you hearing me? We do not serve a God that has never walked in our shoes. He has been right where you are in your pain and anguish. He gets you. He doesn’t just sympathize. he emphasizes. He feels your pain. He doesn’t just hold your hand through the pain and try to give you kind advice. No! He sits in the middle of the pit and hangs on tight. He lets you belt out the tears and anger. Why? Because He knows that pain.

Now, do you understand why this verse comforts me? I don’t wish this pain on anyone. However, if you do, take comfort that Jesus felt it too and understands.

Lord, I am sorry You went through the pain, but thank You for doing it for me. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com
Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

1 John 3:16

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

What is a way we can lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters? I think you can find that answer in Matthew 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We can learn to serve one another. This means giving up parts of us or our lives for moments in time over and over again. It may be financial, time, or possessions. Heck it mine even mean a little blood sweat and tears. Believe me, it is laying down your life because it is giving up something you would rather keep.

Jesus physically died for each of us, but He also gave up His life in Heaven to come down here and walk among us. There may be a time that you are asked to physically die for someone else, but I am guessing most of us will not be in that position. However, we can get out of our cushy little comfort zones every single day and find ways to give up our lives for others.

So, are you ready to follow Jesus? What in your life are you willing to give for others today? When your “life” wants to fight you for it, remember what Christ was asked to do for you. Somehow giving up things won’t seem so painful anymore.

Today’s prayer is from a dear friend of mine, Kris Batchelder, “Dear Lord, not only show me how and where to serve but give me the wisdom to plan and follow through as well as the means to fulfill the mission. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

2 Corinthians 5:14

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

One died for ALL! Yes, that even means the Hitlers, Stalins, Husseins, Mansons, and your even your archenemy. I know that is probably hard to swallow. It is much easier to look at all of these people as pure evil and don’t deserve to live let alone be saved. However, Jesus died on that cross for them also.

What if today you looked at everyone through God’s eyes? What if you saw His children and not just pure evil? Would you feel God’s pain? I don’t mean the anger and hurt you feel. I mean the pure pain of hurt because the child you created has gone so wrong and you want to reach out and help but they don’t want your help. What if you could feel the heartbreak and sorrow?

What would happen if you could exchange the anger and revenge feelings for the heartache and sorrow? Yes, pain would still be involved but the focus would change. It would come from a place of love and not hate. You would begin to feel sorry for the person. I know this sounds strange, but it may even feel freeing. Sorrow hurts deep but the light will get through again. Anger and hatred tear you apart violently and block out all light until you let it go. So, let it go and see others today through God’s eyes.

Lord, help me see through Your eyes. ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved

Matthew 21:21

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.

I have never tried or even needed to look at a mountain and sent it into the sea. Well, not physical mountains that is, however, I have sent a few spiritual ones running. How about you? Are you a mountain mover?

There are many types of mountains that pop up in your life. Right now I am looking at some pretty bigs one as we prepare to sell the house and move. When my husband told me about a month ago that he got a job offer in another state all I could see were the HUGE mountains all around us. We both knew God led us to this job and we were stepping out in His will. Let me tell you though, those mountains looked impossible to cross.

God reminded me to look past the moments and up to Him. Then an amazing thing began to happen. Mountains started to move. Don’t get me wrong there have been lots of tears and pain along the way, but mountains are jumping in the sea like they are cannonballing at a pool party. I have a few more really big ones still trying to intimidate me, but I am not giving up. I have faith and no doubt that I will be able to tell those mountains, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and it will happen right before my eyes!

Lord, my faith is in You! You said I can move this mountain and I know it is going to jump out of my way! ~amen

www.tabethafrick.com

Copyright © 2023 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved