My Stronghold and Refuge I Daily Walk Devotion
My Stronghold and Refuge

Did you ever build forts when you were young? On rainy days my mom would let me and my brother transform one of the rooms in our house to make a fort. It would consume our whole day as we pulled out blankets and moved around furniture. We had tunnels, rooms, and secret escapes by the end of construction. Sometimes adults wish they could build a fort and escape from all of their troubles. While you may not have a physical fort to run to, you do have a stronghold in the Lord. David writes how the Lord is my stronghold and refuge.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭94:14, 22‬

“For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance… But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.”

Strongholds were a reality back in David’s day. Most people lived outside the city on their land to farm it and raise animals, but whenever there was an enemy threat, they would run to the city that was surrounded by walls and close the gates. It was a safe place that protected them from enemy fire. You have a stronghold you can run to when the temptation and attacks of the enemy come after you. Jesus is your refuge.

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Faith that Can't Be Tested Can't Be Trusted I Daily Walk Devotion
A Faith That Can’t Be Tested Can’t be Trusted

Today we have a guest author. John Edson is the author of InspiredScripture.com, a commentary on several Old Testament books. I want to encourage you to head over there and check it out. The Bible tells you to find “joy” in your trials, But this is easier said than done. A Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.

James 1:2-4

“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

If you have experienced a real trial, it is hard to find joy while you are going through it. When Job experienced his trials, he cursed the day of his birth (Job 3). David also sometimes cried out with bitter laments during his trials (e.g., 2 Samuel 1).

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More Than You Can Imagine
More Than You Can Imagine

What does it mean to truly live? If you listen to those on social media or TV, you get the picture that it is traveling all over the world or having the latest and greatest gadget. This leaves most people out in the cold because those pipe dreams are unattainable. If you try to pursue those dreams, you can end up feeling defeated if not destroyed. Jesus came to give you life. More than you can imagine

‭‭JOHN‬ ‭10:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Satan wants to destroy your life. He lures you in with temptations that promise the good life. Sadly, most people who give in to those temptations end up feeling cheated. They get to the end of the rainbow, and the pot is empty. Jesus came to give life to all who believe in Him. That life is more than you can imagine. He wants to give you everything His Father has given Him. That includes inheriting eternal life, His righteousness making things right between you and God, and an unending source of joy and peace.

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God Fulfills His Purpose in You
God Fulfills His Purpose in You

The most asked question that Christians want to know is, “What is God’s will for my life?” People want to know the direction their life is going to take. They want to know that their life has a purpose. Did you know that God fulfills His purpose in you by what you’re doing right now? Even if it isn’t what you imagined doing, Jesus is doing a work through you. Take a lesson from Joseph and allow God to have His way.

‭‭GENESIS‬ ‭41:40

“You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.”

Joseph is one of the great characters of the Bible. You don’t hear about any sinful behavior except his youth immaturity when he told his brothers about his dreams. For that, he was chastised by his father, ostracized by his brothers, and sold into slavery. Even that was used for God’s purposes. Joseph was the favored son of his father and treated better than his brothers, but he was still taught a good work ethic. That served him well when he was a slave in Potiphar’s house, prison, and eventually as Prime Minister over Egypt. When he interpreted Pharoah’s dream, he became second in command. Everyone had to listen to his orders. Not bad for someone who was dealt a bad hand.

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With You In Spirit I Daily Walk Devotion
With You in Spirit

There are tons of people you wish you could be with, but either space or time limits you. These are the kinds of people that if you saw them, it would be like you were never apart. There is such a kindred spirit that you feel as if you were family. God blesses us with people like this for a season, and then they are gone. It is said to be a part, but you know they are with you in spirit. That is how Paul felt about the Colossians, even though he had never met them.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭2:5

“For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.”

Paul wanted to be with the Colossians, but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. He was too busy dealing with the drama of the Corinthians and the legalism of the Galatians. That’s what happens when you are the leader of the Gentile churches. You deal with the problems and pray for those thriving like the Colossians and Philippians. He had to be satisfied being with them in spirit as the work in their areas continued. He rejoiced at their discipline and stability afar when he received reports.

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Rescued and Transferred I Daily Walk Devotion
Rescued and Transferred

There are many cliffs near the beaches where I live. It is very common to hear news reports of stranded hikers who got too close to the edge and fell or who have climbed too high and can’t get back down. You will often hear sirens while relaxing on the beach because emergency rescue crews are rushing to save someone’s life. They bring them down from the cliff, and the hiker is then rescued and transferred to a local hospital. God sent His Son Jesus to rescue us from this dark world.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭1:13

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,”

The domain of darkness is another term for the world we live in. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, Satan began to turn the world into a place where his darkness rules. Jesus came to give us victory, but the darkness still rages on. Fortunately, you have been rescued and transferred into the kingdom of Jesus. Now you are a foreigner on a journey to your homeland. You must navigate the treacherous path and guard yourself against falling in love with the ways of the world.

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Practical Advice I Daily Walk Devotion
Practical Advice

Some parts of the Bible are difficult to understand, and it takes a good teacher or some resources to help figure it out. Other parts are easy to understand but may be challenging to implement. Today’s passage falls under that category. Paul gives his readers some practical advice that is easy to comprehend but a challenge to live daily. If you dig a little deeper, you will see some keys to help.

‭‭COLOSSIANS‬ ‭1:10‬

“so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

The first part of Colossians is Paul praying for a church he has never met. In a way, it really shows his pastoral heart. He is writing this letter to encourage them in the faith. The church was started by two guys who were with Paul in Ephesus, and they went back home and started a church. It is doing so well that Paul has heard about their good works and wants them to continue. He prays that they will glorify God in their lives, bear fruit from their good works, and increase in knowledge. Practical advice we all should follow.

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Grow and Flourish I Daily Walk Devotion
Grow and Flourish

As I write this, the seasons have turned from winter to spring. There is so much spiritual significance to the change of these two seasons. Winter represents death, while spring represents new life. Even though there is a severe drought where I live, there are signs of new life springing up. Trees are starting to sprout, and the grass is pushing through the soil. Nature is starting to flourish and grow. Did you know that there is a way that you can flourish and grow?

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭92:12-13

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.”

What is going to make your life flourish and grow? The Psalmist shows us two things, righteousness, and roots. The person who does the right thing will flourish, and those who plant themselves in the presence of the Spirit will grow. Righteousness is evident by the obedience in your life, while deep roots are manifested in maturity. God wants you to desire righteousness and His presence in your heart. You will be like a plan tree and mighty cedar if these are present.

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The Source of Success I Daily Walk Devotion
The Source of Success

The amount of scams out there that promise for you to get rich quickly boggles my mind. People are desperate to discover the source of success. They will watch endless videos on what made someone else successful and then try to apply it to their lives. The story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis shows us how he prospered and what was the source of his success.

‭‭GENESIS‬ ‭39:3

“Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

Joseph was born into privilege, but he knew how to work hard. That served him well when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. At Potiphar’s house, the Lord was with him, and everything his hand touched prospered. When he was put into prison, the same thing happened. As the Prime Minister of Egypt, he led the nation through a severe drought. His source of success was his faithfulness to God and his work ethic.

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Deal with Your Fear I Daily Walk Devotion

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Deal with Your Fear

The COVID pandemic has left many full of fear. It has caused people to go into hiding, avoid previous friends and family, and cling to solutions that have been proven not to be effective in the least. What has caused once mature believers to be reduced to quivering hermits? Fear. They are afraid of something they can’t control. Jesus wants to deal with your fear. Paul tells us to take those fears to Him.

‭‭PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭4:6-7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This passage falls into the category of one of the most quoted. People cling to this verse when in times of trouble, and rightfully so. It brings hope and instructs how to deal with your fear. One of Satan’s most extensive tactics is to fill you full of doubt and discouragement because he knows that will lead to fear. When a Christian is full of fear, they are paralyzed from following the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can overcome that.

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