Moments with Jesus: Investments of Time for Life in Eternity

By Lauren Erika Myers

Moments with Jesus
is a daily devotional presenting one central thought per week with six supporting Scripture references to build on that thought, all through the week.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781973685869

Lauren Erika Myers

Lauren E. Myers is a speaker, author of several books, and a registered nurse educator by profession. She studied pastoral counseling at Southeastern University and with her husband J. Edsil Myers, evangelized, planted, and pastored churches in Jamaica, the US Virgin Islands, and Florida . Her mission travels have extended to Africa, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and the West Indies.

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Copyright © 2020 LAUREN ERIKA MYERS.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC),

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8585-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8587-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8586-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020902621

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/11/2020

Contents

Foreword

Dedication

Foreword

God often uses seemingly commonplace events to bring about His will. I posted a devotional on social media and a longtime friend messaged me. She asked if there was any reason that I could not do some sort of weekly post and she explained her reason for the request. As I read the note I thought, she is right. There really is no reason I could not do a weekly piece.

Since the words that blessed her came while I was walking, I decided to put faith to the test. The next Saturday I went walking and simply listened. Sure enough, words came tumbling into my spirit and so began Weekly Word from the Wisdom Walk. This book is a compilation of the first, oh say 300 miles, of the Wisdom Walk featured on Facebook every Saturday.

It’s a weekly word because sometimes we are so focused on rushing through a daily devotion we don’t pause long enough to reflect, and so do not retain what we read. Therefore, this book features one primary devotional thought followed by six days of supporting Scriptures to help the reader hide each principle in his or her heart. Think of it as a pause, a Se-lah, a nurturing of the Word so we may digest it and grow.

May you be blessed in your daily Moments with Jesus.

Lauren

Dedication

First, giving thanks to God, whose endless creativity is a constant source of wonder and delight. Truly the heavens declare His glory and the changing skies the work of His hands. To my husband, J. Edsil Myers my sounding board, my encourager to write, and so much more.

Special thanks to Brenda Clayton Edenfield who challenged me to write a weekly devotion for Facebook and unwittingly got this book started. To all my readers who faithfully follow on social media, who read and post their comments about how Weekly Word from the Wisdom Walk blesses them, thank you for your ongoing support.

Dedicated to walkers and marathoners around the world.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

Teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:9 (NIV)

So, teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

Why rush through another devotional reading, never seeing it again until maybe the following year? Do more than just read. Remember. Moments with Jesus presents one thought per week with six days of Scripture references to build on that thought all through the week.

Read to:

• Remember

• Meditate

• Learn

• Grow

Moments with Jesus — read, think, remember, and practice.

67454.png    DAY 1    67456.png

The Way Forward

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:1-2 (NKJV)

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Once again, a New Year stretches before us without a footprint. Its destinations, dips, and turns still shrouded in the unknown. What we do today or during the course of the next 12 months will determine who we become and, in some cases, seal our destiny for the rest of our lives.

It’s unlikely the entire road will be easy or predictable since life is as varied and changeable as the pre-dawn sky. It may even demand more of us than we are prepared to give. We may be called upon to sacrifice for the sake of peace or to be silent when everything within us clamors to speak. Maybe this year the road forward will demand we model our faith and demonstrate forgiveness running close on 70 x 7 times.

Whatever it may be, as we prepare to walk forward, let us remember who truly benefits when we make these seemingly great sacrifices. When we allow ourselves to be stretched and shaped until we are made over in God’s image, we are the beneficiaries. We break generational cycles of bitterness, anger, unhappiness, and even sickness by hearing the voice behind us saying this is the way, and heeding the command to walk in it. Walk the hard places. Embrace the challenges of this New Year and remember, the benefits will always outweigh the sacrifice.

Lord, I am so grateful for Your abiding presence. I stand against every lie of the enemy as he tries to create fear and anxiety about the way ahead. I affirm by faith You are with me, today and always. Amen.

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Led by the Shepherd

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He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 (NKJV)

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I never travel to a strange country without making contact with someone there who knows the area. Having a guide through the language and customs, not to mention just driving through the country, is invaluable. The challenges of the places we must walk or even the fear of the unknown is superseded by the person who leads us. God, the Holy Spirit, is our Guide and Teacher for every step along the way. It is the fulfillment of Christ’s promise to be with us always, for His Name’s sake. If this is the case, it is vitally important for me to ask myself: How am I seeing the evidence of Emmanuel, God with us, in my journey even through the mundane?

Dear Jesus, sometimes I miss what You are doing because of my own preconceptions of the way things should be. Please open my eyes to see and enlarge my faith to trust. Amen.

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Light and Shadow

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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

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When we enter a dark room all we see is the darkness. Shadows only happen when there is a measure of light. So then, if there is a shadow in the valley of death it’s only because a light is coming from somewhere. Fear, however, transforms every shadow into a menacing specter and we get so focused on what those might be that we miss the awesome truth of what is. God is our light — in the valley, on the mountain, on the high seas — it matters not where. He promises to never leave nor forsake us. Do not focus on the darkness or imagine what may be behind the shadows. Look instead at the One who is the Light.

Heavenly Father, You are my God. I will trust You and not be afraid. I will depend on Your light through every shrouded path I encounter. You have never failed in all the ages past and I know You will never fail to be who You say You will be. Amen.

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Held

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The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Psalm 37:23-24 (NKVJ)

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I have never believed the great saints of the Bible who fell along the journey would have had a chance in our modern church. We preach forgiveness and redemption, but in practice, avoidance and ostracism of the fallen is the more frequent response. Take a moment and reflect on how many of those who rose to great heights and later plummeted to the depths you have seen rescued and replaced to good standing. Not many. And even when they manage to start again, they seem to always be defined by their fall from grace. Look at our scripture for today. What a consolation! When my human nature causes me to stumble, and even when I fall, God is still there redeeming my weaknesses with His everlasting strength. Write down at least three areas where you could use God’s direction and strength in your life, then pray:

Dear Jesus, I give You these three areas of weakness and ask for Your strength. You know my heart and my desire to serve You. Give me Your power to overcome and to live victoriously from today forward. Amen.

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God, my Salvation

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Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me. You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 138:7

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This whole concept of a trouble-free existence once we become disciples of Christ is not scripturally validated. On the contrary, we are given numerous warnings about times when we will face difficulties. Sometimes, being with us in trouble is a greater testimony to God’s greatness than removing us from danger. Recall stories from the life of Abraham, Esther, Peter, Paul and Silas … what sterling witnesses of God! He is the One Who Sees Us through, instead of around, our difficulties. The point is that as challenging as the tests may be, salvation always comes. God always delivers us from the enemy. Think about a past difficulty in your life. How was God’s hand evident (or later revealed)? Know today He can do it again.

Father, You are a forever God. You remain faithful even when we are not. I trust Your wisdom and Your plan for me, that everything in my life is working for my good and Your glory. Amen.

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Best Friend Forever

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But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

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Humans are social beings who crave the company of our own kind. God has given us the innate ability to form closer ties from among all the people we know. We treasure those individuals and call them friends. There is also an entirely different level within the circle of friends to whom we can comfortably share hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Those we call confidantes. Jesus had three whom He always pulled aside for the deeper experiences - Peter, James, and John. Jesus does not call us servants, but friends. He includes us as His own true inner circle. And, He becomes to us the friend that sticks closer than a brother. Contemplate the wonder of God, the great King of Creation, declaring Himself to be our Friend.

Dear Jesus, I choose to be a friend to You today. I promise to stand up for You, not to dishonor Your Name personally or join in with those who do. I will speak well of You, celebrate Your grace and testify of Your goodness in my life. Amen.

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Walking in Friendship

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And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Genesis 5:24

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Enoch lived a whole lifetime as a friend of God. They walked together and shared a special relationship we can scarcely imagine. I believe it must have been strikingly similar to what God had and lost with Adam. So much so, the last we read of Enoch is he ceased to exist on earth because God took him home. Would we be comfortable with such a close relationship where we walk with Jesus as our very best friend?

As we come to the end of this first week in the New Year it’s the perfect time to be led, kept, and guided by the Shepherd. We can rest assured He will not disappoint in His care and provision for us, not just until the end of this year, but all the way to eternity.

Father, I ask Your help in walking the rest of this year and the rest of lives in total reliance on You. I desire to hear You say well done good and faithful servant at the end of my travels. Amen.

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Beautiful Feet

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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!

Isaiah 52:7

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Jesus is without question the most controversial figure in history. In his time his own people could not