- Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 – This upcoming Sunday we will begin our advent series for Christmas by beginning with teaching on hope. When it comes to the Lord, hope is a confident expectation for we can be certain of what He promises. Yet, even with such a confidence, when the fulfillment of such promises are lengthy in time, it can be difficult for us and can make our “hearts sick.” We know He will bring peace, but we just aren’t seeing it yet. We know He’ll take care of our need, but the need is still present. In that wait is where we need one another’s encouragement to remain hopeful in the Lord. For He will come through, and the fulfilling of what He has promised will be worth any wait. Paul even wrote how even navigating these worldly troubles will be so worth it when we see heaven’s glory. For yes, the wait for the fulfillment of what God has promised to us can be beyond difficult and so trying to our faith. When He though comes through for us as He said He would, life is the result. Continue in your patience, continue to surround yourself with others who will encourage your waiting on the Lord, and do the same for them. You can be assured what God has promised He will fulfill, yet in the waiting for the fulfillment is where we need faith and one another. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2921
- Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. Proverbs 13:6 – I want to highlight that last phrase today, “sin overthrows the wicked.” That for the wicked, the very thing they were banking on giving them purpose and life actually becomes the thing that strips both away. It’s much like if you had a team and you picked the team members and one in particular you thought was going to carry the team to the top. Yet everyone told you don’t bring them on because they were trouble but you did anyways. In the end, they ruined you. That’s was scripture is trying to keep you from. Sin, in its temptation, makes it seem like the team member that will take you all the way, but it will ruin you. It will take everything from you which is why Jesus chose to die on the cross to give you a means away from it. Listen to scripture’s wise instruction. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 684
- The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs13:4 – Recently I was asked how do you help someone find joy and peace when all they exist in is discouragement and depression. My answer to them follows in line with what this verse promises us. It’s easy for us to say we want to have a daily walk with God. We can crave all the things it gives us; the joy, peace, rest, and strength that comes from Him. Yet if we never actually lean into our life with Him, then we find ourselves in the “sluggard’s” situation. Craving yet getting nothing. We can’t expected to be refilled when we choose not to chase after the one who refills. Do we want joy, peace, and rest? Then be diligent in your pursuit of Jesus daily and find what you are looking for. What you need is not only available but it’s being offered to you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1695
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