Guidance from The Light

By Deborah Lynne

Guidance from The Light is a 365-day devotional God laid on my heart to write and share with others. It is full of Scripture and uplifting words to strengthen you each day. I pray you'll be as blessed reading it as I was writing it. Have a wonderful day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sand & Sea Publishing
• Release date: May 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386384458

Book preview

January 01

His Promises

Psalm 103:1-6 - Praise the LORD, my soul, all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

The LORD is so good! He gives us precious benefits throughout our lives. He forgives our sins. Praise God! He heals all our diseases. Praise God!

He redeems our lives from the pits we dig for ourselves when we make wrong choices. He won’t leave you there. He’s already defeated Satan, so trust the Lord to do what He has planned for you and all that He promises to you. Do your part by staying in His Word, living the life He wants you to live.

In several Books in the New Testament He tells us how.

He covers us with His love and compassion. And the good thing is, we don’t have to earn His love. He gives it to us freely...while we were still knee deep (or over the head) in sin. So just take His love. Bask in it. Love on Him by loving others through Him.

In the above Scriptures He also tells us He likes to satisfy us by giving us our desires. Isn’t that awesome.

As we grow in our relationship with Him our desires will grow in line with His will. If there ever is a desire you do not receive, know that He sees the big picture and knows this desire will not bless you. Sometimes when we don’t give up asking, He gives it to us anyway, but then we realize, He was right in the beginning...this wasn’t for me. You were right, God. Why did I doubt?

He loves you and me. He gives us free choice. Sometimes when we choose incorrectly or desire the wrong thing and He allows it to come to pass, we may have to walk through some repercussions. But know that God only wants the best for you. So if you ask for something and don’t receive it right away, it’s either not the right timing or not good for you after all. Trust Him to know what’s best.

God is so good!!! Have a blessed day!

January 02

Faith Pleases God

Hebrews 11:1-6 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

This is the Scripture that opened my eyes to help me see that my faith in Him needed to grow; I needed to know Him more and more. Not just what I learned from my Sunday school teacher, or the pastor, or from my parents. No. I needed to know what God’s Word told me.

The verse Hebrews 11:6 was one that struck my heart while doing one of Beth Moore’s devotions years ago. It’s also the Scripture that turned my life around by helping me read what God wanted me to do while I was living on this earth.

He wanted my faith to be in Him. This pleases Him. He wanted me to know that He makes promises in His Word that He wants to fulfill in my life. He’s ready to give them to me for the asking of them. He’s ready to answer my prayers. He’s ready to bless me as I stand in my faith in Him.

The ONLY thing He asked of me was to believe He exists and know that He wants to bless me...and this pleases Him. God loves me even when I mess up. He’s already forgiven me because He loves me and sent His Son to die for me so that I don’t have to. Jesus suffered so I don’t have to.

Anyway – from these Hebrew Scriptures on faith, God let me know to please Him I needed to have my faith in Him, knowing my hope is in Him as He faithfully takes care of me, growing me so I can honor Him. He rewards me daily for my faith in Him.

He wants that for you too. He wants you to put your faith in Him. He wants you to know He is there and wants to take care of you and bless you. So grow in His Word. Put your faith in Him, and let Him reward you daily.

Thank You, Lord.

January 03

Submit Your Lives To The Lord

James 4:6-12 - But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. Brothers and sisters do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

God tells us in many Scriptures in the New Testament how He wants us to live through the writings of Paul, John, Timothy, James and others.

Before Jesus died on the cross and God raised Him back to life – animal sacrifices were continually made for people’s sins. We are blessed to live in these times, times after Jesus’ resurrection. Once we’ve accepted Him as our Savior, we are to try not to live in the flesh. The first few verses in James 4:1-5 show all the confusion we live in when we try to stay living for the world. (I recommend you go read that in your Bible)

God gives us grace, His grace. This is something we didn’t earn. He gives it to us freely and gives us more than enough each day.

When we are in mourning, like I’ve been since my husband’s passing, we are to give it to Him so He can turn it into joy. And He will. And He does. But we must do our part by trusting Him. By walking in the path and plans He has for us. He speaks of loving others in several key Scriptures, but in this one He tells us not to judge our brothers and sisters. Do not speak against them, don’t speak ill of them. God knows their hearts, just like He knows ours. When you see your brother or sister in Christ going through something, acting outside of what you feel God would want, pray for them. Don’t judge them. Don’t criticize them. And don’t talk about them. God loves them. He/she is one of God’s, just as you are. So leave the judging up to the One and Only Judge...God our Creator.

Have a blessed day.

January 04

Watch Your Tongue

James 3:1-6 - Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

This is so true. Of course! The whole Bible is true. What I’m trying to say, as small as the tongue is, think of the damage it can do. But if we make an effort to let the Lord be The Lord of our lives as well as our mouth, a lot of good could happen. What we say can damage so many people. For those who know you are a believer and you speak things that you know Jesus never said or would say, this hurts your witness. Don’t get me wrong. Speaking foul language won’t send you to hell, causing you to lose your salvation, but it will keep others from believing your testimony as well as hurt you from receiving your blessings.

God loves us, but He told us to go into the world and share our testimony, not discredit Him. If we aren’t reflecting Jesus in our walk or in our speech, we are not helping others to know the true Jesus or His love.

God is good. God is love. God is merciful. Jesus, the Son of God is all of these things as well. As a believer and a follower, think before you speak. Choose your words wisely. Be a blessing to others, not a curse.

This too blesses you. I used to be fast to speak, fast to respond, fast to doubt, fast to defend myself...then God showed me to take time to let Him defend me, let Him speak up for me, let Him prove my innocence. Once I let go and let God take over my tongue and my actions (by starting my day with His Word and asking Him to direct me), my life became so awesome. I’m not saying life is perfect or that I am. It’s just when things do happen and I think before I speak, my life stays in peace.

Control your tongue. Give it to God. Let Him lead you.

God bless you.

January 05

Think On These Things

Philippians 4:8-9 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Oh, my gosh! Was this a life changing Scripture in my daily walk? Yes it was! I can remember I had days I wished I could go back home and start over, but what’s done is done.

The good thing is you don’t have to let days like that come into your life daily. You get to choose. You get to choose happy, sad, joy, sorrow, anger, forgiveness, bad day, good day. It all starts from within. If we hear someone whispering, we can assume it’s about us and think the worst. Of course, this would make you unhappy. Right? Right! But the thing is, you don’t know what they said, so ASSUME it was something good about you. Don’t think on the worst. Think on the best!

How many of you have let a day get ruined by worrying about something you think might happen? Then you find you went all day worrying and it didn’t happen, so what a waste of a day.

Scripture tells us to think on what is good, what is noble, what is pure, and more. Notice everything He mentions is a wonderful thing. It’s never a bad thing the Lord tells us to think on. It’s basically telling you to think like Jesus did. See the best in everyone. Think good to all and about all, and you will walk in peace.

This peace is the peace that surpasses all understanding. This is the feeling that the Lord puts in you that makes you smile through everything that is happening in your life and when others see it they want what you have. Trust me, everyone wants to be happy. True happiness is walking in peace with God, and walking in peace within you.  His peace is a precious gift and He tells you how to have it. Think on what is noble, right, pure, etc. and peace is with you.

Have a great day!

January 06

Payback Evil With Kindness

1 Peter 3:8-9 - Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

As a kid we thought, don’t get mad, get even. We grow up and sometimes still think that way, but we shouldn’t. God forgave us when we were still sinners. We are to forgive as well.

If someone hurts me and I choose to get even, pay back with evil like they did me, then I won’t be blessed. That’s not a good thing but it is what will happen.

As a child of God, I’m not promised that everyone will treat me special, or treat me right for that matter, but He does tell me in the Scriptures above, if I will repay evil with good, with a blessing, then I may get blessed.

I can tell you from experience, as I’ve repaid evil with good, I have been blessed. Also let me tell you, in my earlier days when I chose to repay evil with evil, I only hurt myself. A lot of times when someone hurt me, most of the time they weren’t even aware of the hurt their words or actions caused me. By me making wrong choices in reaction to my pain, I caused some negative things to come my way...up to even losing a friendship.

His Word tells us to be sympathetic, like-minded, humble...loving one another and we may inherit a blessing. So think before you react. Focus on Jesus and what He’d have you say or do. Remember there is another Scripture that says Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19. If you let Him fight your battles, let him judge your enemies, or let him speak to the person who hurt you, you’ll walk in the peace and joy of the Lord. It makes for a better day any way you look at it.

God bless you and have a wonderful day loving God and loving others.

January 07

Wisdom From Heaven

James 3:17-18 - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

The book of James gives us so much wisdom in how we should live our lives. I’m sure most of you know James was Jesus’ brother.

Wouldn’t that be awesome?

Of course to James at the time of growing up it probably wasn’t. Jesus did no wrong. I was the baby in the family, so according to my older siblings I was the favorite who never got in trouble. I don’t believe it for one minute. I remember whippings and at times being reprimanded. I guess parents learn to pick their battles more wisely with kids as they have more of them.

James didn’t come around to Jesus’ Words in their early days. I believe it was at His death, or right before it, that woke James up to the truth of everything Jesus had been saying. The whole book of James helped me grow in my walk with the Lord. I hope you take time to study it in its entirety.

That little bit of Scripture, James 3:17-18 holds a mountain of wisdom. It helped me to realize if my thoughts or reactions weren’t coming from good thoughts, positive hopes, or from a loving perspective, than I was thinking or reacting wrong.

God is good. His ways are always the good way, the peaceful way, and a way of showing mercy to whoever comes across your path. 

Take your wisdom from Heaven today and walk in peace. Have a great one!

January 08

How to Test the Spirit of a Profit

1 John 4:1-4 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

This Scripture is great to know and understand. I’ve had many people come to my door trying to share their belief. I used to wonder how I knew which ones truly believed the Gospel and which ones didn’t because most talked a good talk. They always sounded like they loved and cared for me...which as a believer I should love and care for my fellow man. God tells me to. 

This Scripture speaks it plainly. If the one who comes to your door wants to share their faith, their belief, with you, ask them if they believe Jesus, the Son of God, has come to the earth in the flesh. If they say, oh he’s coming...or Jesus the prophet came, or just talk over your question trying to sidetrack you, then you can believe that person is not there trying to share the Good News, the Gospel.

Jesus is Lord!

Another Scripture tells us if they can’t say that, then they are not a believer in Jesus Christ, Son of God. Oh they may believe in God and they may believe in the Ten Commandments and try to follow them, but God sent His Son to earth to save us. He loved us so much that he wanted all of us to be saved so He gave us some One who would save us, if we only believe and accept Him as our Savior. Jesus!

So if you have someone come to your door, see if they speak the truth...if they speak of Jesus Christ. If they don’t, then you tell them Jesus Christ has come and He loves them. Maybe they will listen, maybe they won’t, but don’t hesitate to plant the seed in them.

God bless you.

January 09

Repay Evil With Kindness

1 Peter 3:8-9 - Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

It is so easy to let your flesh do the talking when someone makes you mad or insults you. But don’t let your flesh rule your body. Sure we have the choice, or the option to respond however we choose, but if we want to live the life of abundance and joy, we are to repay evil with good. It’s what His Word tells us as believers to do.

If and when you do this, you will find more joy, and you’ll find peace that surpasses all understanding...you’ll be filled to overflow every time you let your spirit rule. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying as a believer you won’t get mad or get your feelings hurt. What I’m saying, you have a choice how to react. If you choose to react in the flesh, you’ll not feel the benefit of gifts God has filled you with. You may not inherit a blessing that He’d planned for you. God wants to bless His children just like you want to bless yours.

Also when we let the flesh rule, the fruit of the Spirit that God has given us, planted inside of us when we gave our lives to Him, will not come to fruition. Those gifts are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If you’ll let the spirit lead you, you’ll grow the fruits in you and you will reap a great harvest of the peace that surpasses all understanding. God wants to bless you in abundance. To receive it, walk in His will. Be like-minded (to Jesus), be sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

After reading something one day about how as a believer I should want to walk like Jesus did, talk and act as He did, I opened the Word and read all the RED text in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Of course the black print around it I read as well, this way I could understand what Jesus was responding to. Jesus was all those things listed in the Scripture above and more. Take some time out of your life and do what I did. You’ll see how he responded. That is how we should respond as well...repaying evil with good.

He is awesome! Have a blessed day!

January 10

Be Fully Persuaded, God Is Able!

Romans 4:19-22 - Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness.

To God be the glory!! God makes promises to us as believers. He also makes promises for those who choose not to believe in His Son. And He keeps them all.

In the above Scriptures, Paul told us about God’s promise to Abraham. If Abraham had looked in the natural, he would not have conceived a child at his age. He stood in his faith in God, in God’s promise giving glory to God through it all knowing that what God promises He is able to do.

We need to do the same thing. There are times we as believers know God will help us through this mess, but our faith doesn’t hold as strong as it should. We let the natural influence us and give us doubts. That is why it is so important to stay in the Word. Lean on God. Trust what Jesus did for us was real...and it is finished.

It doesn’t mean we will receive the promise right away. Look how long it took Abraham and Sara. And look how it worked out when they tried to make things happen on their own. We as humans try to fix things, but know God has it all worked out.

Some of you know I’ve been writing since I was 33. That’s when I heard God whisper in my heart that I should be writing fiction books people could enjoy. The first five years I worked hard at being faithful to Him and wrote 5 novels. Of course they weren’t perfect and God would have helped me fix them if I hadn’t decided to fix things myself. I spent the next several years trying to make my books worldly while writing more. When I was about to give up, God sent someone to me that gave me a word of encouragement.

I turned back to writing how I felt God would want my books to read. I let Him lead me. I believe I am doing the work God called me to do.  I hear from people saying how my book has encouraged them, or blessed them and THAT is what it’s all about.

Thank You Lord!

January 11

Get Your Life in Order

Matthew 6:33-34 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This Scripture really straightened me out. I know as a believer I trusted God. I loved what Jesus did for me and I rested in my salvation, but there is so much more if you want to live your life in peace and abundance.

We lived payday to payday. We had plenty of things, not always what we wanted but pretty much what we needed. Got that? There were times we wanted more—more money, more time, more strength, more peace, more forgiveness for others, etc. In other words, there were times we weren’t very happy cause nothing seemed to be getting better. But the truth was, we weren’t putting God first in all things.

I wasn’t putting God first in all things and I was the one who professed my faith and trust in The Lord. One day God opened my eyes to this Scripture and I looked closer. It showed me if I put God first in everything I’d get more than a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back. These were the things talked about in Matthew 6. Then He said, put Him first and these things will be given to me as well.

As well as what? He let me see those things that would be added are the peace, the blessings, and the goodness God wants to give me. He told me not to worry. I realized how I wasn’t putting Him first. I was fitting Him into my life.

I read the Word when I was at church, and then sometimes at home. I prayed every night before I went to sleep. I thanked God for my meals, my family, and my life. I tithed on what I made most of the time...if it was still there come Sunday. But when this Scripture opened my heart and my eyes, I told Scott, my husband, that I was going to start subtracting my tithe the minute my paycheck went into the bank and I’d like to add his. He said I should have been. Oh well. It helps when spouses talked to one another about more than the kids. I started putting Him first in our monies and in my daily reading of His Word...starting with Him. I started listening to Christian music on my way to work. This turned my life around in many ways. Us committing our money to God (who it all belongs to anyway) started growing our accounts.

God is faithful. We only have to do our part. Scripture tells us to put Him first in all things.

January 12

Let The Holy Spirit Speak Through You

Mark 13:11 - Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

I can hear you laughing now, asking yourself, why am I reading a devotional written by a woman who is planning what to say when she gets arrested? Well let me set you straight. I’ve never been arrested. I have broken the law because at times I have sped...sometimes even gotten caught and had to pay the penalty, a ticket. No fun, but you reap what you sow.

However, this Scripture spoke to me in a much deeper way. God laid this on my heart about letting the Holy Spirit speak through me while I was still working a 9-5 job. He reminded me that He would protect me. He would defend me. He would let others know I didn’t do what I was accused of doing.

This Scripture was revealed to me again in these past few years reminding me, God is in control. He would give me the words to speak if I was to respond. Sometimes He even had me sit in silence. And for those who know me, know that is hard to do. But I learned to listen to the Holy Spirit in me and let Him guide my mouth, my words. By letting Him lead me all the time, it helps to keep from fighting with a friend or family member. We don’t always have to have the last word. God’s Word is final.

Sometimes when someone says something to us and we want to come back with a smart answer, if the Holy Spirit leads you to keep quiet or even to say something softly back, like—I’ll think about that— you’d be amazed how this would change your life.

If you’ll do this, not only will it help you, but also it will help those around you see the peace of the Lord shine through you.

God is good. He is faithful all the time. We are the ones who don’t chose to follow His will, or His words.

Take a breath before you speak, and let Him lead.

January 13

God Will Do Awesome Things

Exodus 34:10 - Then the LORD said: "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you.

God did a lot of mighty wonders in the days of the Old Testament. He was always true to His word. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We are still under a covenant with God. We are under the 2nd covenant – the Blood of Jesus. Praise God! His words He said in Exodus, still stand true to us, believers of Jesus Christ His Son, who died to save us and give us the 2nd covenant, the final covenant. God will do wonders in our lives too and others will see His awesomeness in His work He does for us.

Think back in your life since you’ve become a believer. Can you think of any wonder He’s done for you. I can. He’s done many, but I’ll share a wonder He did for me almost 40 years ago.

My 3-year-old daughter woke up in the middle of the night screaming and then vomited. I took her to the doctor two days in a row. Day 1 he called it a 24-hour virus. Day 2 he said it must be a 3-day virus, but she will get through it, just give her plenty of fluids.

3 days later she was still waking with a scream. She didn’t know to say, Mommy, my head hurts so bad. She grew weaker and weaker. And on that day when she got out of her bed, instead of running down the hall like normal, I found her dragging herself by her arms. She couldn’t walk. It broke my heart. I scooped her up and laid her on the couch, covered her with a blanket, and then turned my television to The 700 Club. I needed someone to pray with me right then!

Praise God! The man, Pat Robertson, on the show was praying at that time. I joined in, asking God to help me. I knew something bad was wrong, but the doctor had said 24-hour virus, and then a 3-day. I knew in my heart it was more than a virus. I prayed, Lead me Lord to the right doctor. The man on TV said, God is hearing that mother praying for her little girl. He said go to the phone book and I will lead you.

OH MY GOSH!! He was talking to me! I jumped up and ran to the kitchen. Opening the phone book to the yellow pages for pediatricians a name popped out. Dr. Lewis Leggio. I called and got an immediate appoint. I rushed her to the new doctor’s office. He took one look at her, ran a few tests, and then had Dr. Hopper, a neurologist come down to his office to check her also.

A few hours later we were at the hospital while more tests were being run on our daughter. The ones done in the office showed 8 possibilities of things that could have been wrong with our daughter, and they felt it was important to start with the worst and work backwards in finding the problem. The worst was a brain tumor. They stopped the testing at the hospital there, because that was the problem. The best surgeon in the country operated on her that very night, a Wednesday night. 8 hours long. We had people praying for her all over the country. This was before the social media and cell phones, so it was all word of mouth, but the Word was being spread asking for prayers. 

When the neurosurgeon, Dr. Clifford, looked at the mass on her brain, he told us later he knew the tumor was malignant by the size, shape, and color, but sent a piece off to be tested in the lab. When word came back benign, he sent a second piece to be tested. Same response. Benign. He removed the tumor – the size of a softball. To make a long story short, when the tumor was tested in its entirety, it turned out the seed was malignant but the whole tumor around it was benign.

She was called God’s little miracle by many hospital staff members. Praise God for connecting these doctors and the medical team to my daughter.

God has worked many more wonders in my life and others around me. I’m sure you have some you can share.

The thing to do is keep trusting Him, and thanking Him, and seeking Him. He will continue to do great and awesome wonders for us. Trust His Word!!

January 14

7 Things God Finds Detestable

Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

The whole Bible, Old and New Testaments, share God’s Words to us. Although we are under the new covenant, covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, God still desires for us to love Him and to love others through Him. Here in Proverbs God tells us plainly things He despises and if you want to show your love for Him, my suggestion is you try not to do any of these things. As a believer, when you mess up and do one you won’t lose your salvation, but God won’t be too happy. Think about it like your mom and dad. They’ll love you anyway, even when you do things they teach you not to do. But don’t you just want to cry when you see the disappointment in their eyes?

God speaks plainly here:

#1 - What are haughty eyes? That’s the look some people give others because they think they are better than someone else. As a Christian some believers feel that puts them above others. Jesus was above all of us, yet He came down to serve us. Not to look down on us.

#2 Lying tongues is when we speak untruths or we stretch the truth for whatever reason. A lie is a lie.

#3 Hands shedding innocent blood can be a hard one to understand. Sometimes people kill to defend himself or herself or a loved one, that wasn’t innocent blood. Sometimes soldiers kill in war. That too wasn’t innocent blood. Always let the Lord lead you. A life is precious.

#4 Most believers think they don’t devise wicked schemes, but unfortunately some people plan things that they say is to help someone else, when in reality they are only helping themselves or trying to look good in others eyes. Please God and you won’t have to worry. Remember, He knows our heart!

#5 Feet rushing into evil shouldn’t be something we do. We are to try and always be more Christ-like. Jesus never rushed into evil.

#6 A false witness is more lies, but it’s being a witness against someone while telling these lies. Courtrooms listen to testimony all the time, and unfortunately a lot of people give false testimony just to help the lawbreaker get away with his crime.

#7 God hates a person to stir up conflict in the community. This happens in the house of God as well...a form of a community. Believers that are not listening to God but thinking of self try to stir up trouble, sometimes leading up to a split in the church. This is not good.

Think about this Scripture and pray asking God to help you not do any of these 7 things. We, believers, should always try to honor God in all we say and do.

January 15

His Ways Are Higher!!

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

The Scripture above helped me to see things in a different light. I also think it was the Scripture that helped me to stop trying to fix everything around me.

We look in the natural. We listen to what others, like professional doctors, weathermen, lawyers, and even our friends, tell us. The problem is they only know what they can see or what they’ve learned through this book or that teacher or even that parent. We believers should be looking at the supernatural...and I don’t mean ghosts and goblins. I’m talking about Jesus. He died for us, suffered for us, shed his blood to cover us—He was the Sacrificial Lamb, the sin offering, the fragrant offering. He paid the ultimate price for us so we don’t have to keep making sacrifices. We don’t have to depend on this world around us.

We should depend totally on Jesus Christ. Know that His ways are higher than our ways. So when we are