Moments with the Lord: Hope and Help for Mind and Soul

By Leonard W. DeWitt

"With these words, Leonard DeWitt brings us the overflowing wisdom of a seasoned pastor who has long lived in the canyons and valleys of scripture. He knows the Word of God through study and experience. You can hear his voice and catch his spirit. And you'll find here reassurance and refreshment from the Lord!"

Dr. Robert Morgan

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Mar 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685562151

Leonard W. DeWitt

Leonard W. DeWitt D.D. is in his sixty-first year of ministry. Most recently, he is the pastor of a new church. His great love is to be a pastor and shepherd to God's people, all to the glory of God.

Book preview

Dedication

I want to dedicate this book of meditations to the memory of my precious wife, Joyce M. DeWitt. The Lord gave us fifty-six years together.

Her love for the Lord, His word, her family, and the people He allowed us to shepherd was so deep. She had a sensitive spirit, a loving heart and a passion for God’s word that was endless. She loved devotional books, and, for that reason, I have tried to make this one like those she loved.

The Lord called her home January 22, 2021. I miss her so much, but I am motivated by her selfless love and commitment to Christ to forge on.

Forever,

Leonard

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my appreciation to Lesley Knudsen who collected these meditations and did the initial work on this manuscript. She invested many hours to make this project possible. Many thanks to my daughter, Pamela Merillat, for her invaluable editing work as well. Thank you to those who received and saved these meditations so that they could be gathered here. And to my family and the people I have been privileged to shepherd for sixty-one years. All of these have built into my life in many ways. To all of you my heartfelt thanks.

Introduction

I never cease to be amazed at the way God so faithfully speaks to me through His word.

Over the years, it has been my practice to send some scripture and a prayer to those going through trying times. The feedback from the people has been so encouraging.

During the Pandemic when we could not have in-person services, I wanted to stay in touch with our people, so I began sending a daily text message to our church family. It was like I was ministering to them seven days a week. The response of the people has been amazing. Many have told me they are sending the meditations on to others.

Lately, I have been getting more and more requests to publish them. Fortunately for me, several in our church had been saving them. Thus, I am able to make them available to share with you.

My great comfort in this project is found in the promise in Isaiah 55:11 where God says, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

I pray that you will be enriched by these meditations as you read and ponder each one.

In Christ alone,

Pastor Leonard

January 1

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Happy New Year Everybody – God Loves to Give Us New Things.

New mercies every morning. Lamentations 3:23

A new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17

A new name. Revelation 2:17

A new song. Revelation 5:9

A new home. John 14:1-3

A new body. 1 Corinthians 15:44

A new heaven and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13

LORD, You delight in giving us new things. Your promises to us are new every morning. By trusting in You we have a new life and a new relationship with You. The day is coming LORD, when You will make all things new. We look forward to the day when we will see the wonders of being with you forever. We love You LORD. Amen!

January 2

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Our Desire Should Be for the Glow of God to Be Seen Through Our Lives.

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:29-30 (NKJV)

Lord Jesus, as we enter this New Year, may each of us purpose in our hearts to spend more time with You. May the glory of Your presence in our hearts shine through all of our attitudes and actions in a manner that will draw people to You. Help us to be Your lights piercing the darkness wherever we are. Amen!

January 3

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Everyone, Listen to Me – We Need to Praise Our LORD!

Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! Psalms 117 (NKJV)

Precious Jesus, Your word says that we are not destroyed because Your mercies are new every morning. You are so faithful to us. There is a freshness as we walk with You. We praise You just for the privilege of knowing You. Thank You for giving Your life for us at Calvary to atone for our sin. May great honor and glory come to You as You guide us in straight paths. Amen!

January 4

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Dear Brother and Sister – Whatever Your Need the LORD is Willing

to Help You.

And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-3 (NKJV)

LORD Jesus, You are the Great Physician. I have witnessed and personally experienced Your healing presence and power. I praise You that You are willing to meet our needs. Many who are reading this meditation are hurting and need Your help. Please speak a word or touch them as You did the leper and make them well. Do this for their good and Your glory. Amen!

January 5

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Brothers and Sisters, are You Fearful? Don’t Be. The LORD is with Us.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear... The LORD Almighty is with us. Psalms 46:1-2 and 7a (NIV)

LORD, You haven’t given us a spirit of fear, but love, and power and a sound mind. We are not alone, You are with us! We may face troubles but not alone because you are our Almighty Helper. Our eyes are on You and we will wait for You to intervene for us. We love You. Amen!

January 6

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Folks, We Need to Take

This Admonition to Heart.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1 Peter 3:14-15 (NKJV)

LORD Jesus, we know You are coming again and you want us to be ready because we don’t know when You will appear. You also want us to be faithful in sharing the good news about You wherever we are and whatever we are going through. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit, to be faithful and true to Your call on our lives. Amen!

January 7

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Hi Everyone – Great News – We Can Be Absolutely Confident That God Hears and Answers When We Pray

According to His Will.

Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)

LORD, it is so humbling and exciting to know that we can come to You with confidence and share every aspect of our lives with You. Thank You for loving us and wanting the best for us. Train us LORD to always want Your will, Your ways and Your word. Our desire is that You will always be exalted in what we desire from You. Amen!

January 8

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Say Folks, Did You Know That You Must Be Born Again? Jesus Said So!

Jesus answered and said to him (Nicodemus), ‘Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see (enter) the kingdom of God.’ John 3:3 (NKJV)

O LORD, You came into the world to give Your life on the cross at Calvary to atone for our sin. By confessing our sins and inviting You to forgive us, we can be born again, and Christ will come and dwell in our hearts by faith. We will become spiritually alive. I pray LORD Jesus that if there is one person reading this that is not born again that right now they will trust you as their Lord and Savior and experience this amazing new life by trusting in Jesus. Amen!

January 9

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LORD, Remind Our Nation That We Are Just People Who Are Accountable

to You.

Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. Psalms 9:19-20 (NKJV)

LORD, You have had nations forget you in the past even though You were so good to them. You held them accountable seeking to turn them back to You. Our nation has been so blessed by You and still we have wandered. Whatever it takes, turn us around and back to You. Be the foundation of America once again. We repent of forgetting You. Amen!

January 10

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Beloved, We Have a Responsibility to Keep Ourselves in the Way of the LORD.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:20-21 (NKJV)

LORD Jesus Christ, You alone are worthy of our worship and devotion. Help us to keep ourselves from the ways of the wicked one. Help us to stay away from false gods and idols. All honor and glory be to You. Amen!

January 11

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Brothers and Sisters, God’s Promises Are Extravagant. We Can

Embrace Them.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God our salvation. Psalm 68:19 (KJV)

O Father, thank You for loading us down with your promises. They are so rich and full of potential that we may use for Your glory. Glory to the Father who loadeth us down in this way. We love You Father. Amen!

January 12

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What an Amazing Rescue Operation.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

Jesus, I am in awe that You left the wonders of heaven to take on the limitations of flesh so you could ultimately become our Savior. You ultimately allowed Yourself to be nailed to a cross to die in our place. We are humbled by such amazing grace. We love You LORD. Glory to Your name. Amen!

January 13

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Folks, Our Real Victory Is in

the Name of the LORD.

Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.’ 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NKJV)

O LORD, Your name is above every other name. We are more than conquerors through Your name. Praise You LORD for the victory that is ours as we trust in You!

January 14

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Dear Ones, How Many Storms We Could Overcome If We Would Just Keep Our Eyes on Jesus.

And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So, He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him. ‘O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ Matthew 14:26-31 (NKJV)

Father in Heaven, we know that one of Satan’s favorite tactics is creating ‘storms’ to get our focus off You. With just one command from Jesus, Come. Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water to Jesus. Then he focused on the storm and began to sink. LORD, teach us to stay focused on You, the Storm Tamer. Lead us from victory to victory. Amen!

January 15

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Great News Folks – Listen to How God Deals with Our Sins.

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depth of the sea. Micah 7:19 (NIV)

Father, thank You for handling our sins so graciously and generously. Thank You for keeping no record of our wrongdoings. We thank You for Your peace that passes all understanding. We love You and praise Your glorious name.