FOLLOW THE LEADER!

Psalm 31:3 –  Devotional

Psalm 31:3

“For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.”

I can recall times when I was told to follow the leader. One of these times was high in the mountains when our Boy Scout troop was crossing a steep rock slide and in order to keep from starting a rock slide that would have cost us our life, we had to place our feet precisely where our leader had placed his.

That is also true in following in the steps of our Savior and Lord. There are many temptations for us to get off the path that the Lord has prepared for us. The enemy of our soul uses every tempting devise in his arsenal to persuade us to follow him.

We always need to remember that the wages of sin is death. We can face the death of dreams and the death of being a faithful witness for the Lord. How sad to witness people follow the wrong leader and end in bitter failure.

Our Great Guide and Leader, Jesus Christ came into this sin sick world to provide a way through the wilderness of sin. It may seem to be hard at times to follow close behind Him, but remember He has been this way before and no matter what dangers surround us He will never fail. We only have to follow the Leader!

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

KNOW WHO TO TRUST!

Psalm 20:7 –  Devotional

Psalm 20:7

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

I just received word that a dear friend and high school classmate, Dr. Floyd Johnson, has slipped into eternity. His skill as an orthopedic surgeon was eclipsed by his love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave a radiant testimony of a born again child of God.

The death of the saints of God that I have known reminds me that life passes quickly and what we do for Christ matters. People will remember us more for the way we love as Christ would have us love than any gift we may give.

A smile or touch speaks louder than the most obnoxious sound systems that modern rock bands employ. (Sorry about that personal observation). The world cries out for someone who really shows forth the love of Jesus!

I urge each of us to examine the life we live to determine if Jesus is pleased with us. As we remember the name of the Lord our God, may people see the reflection of Him in our daily walk.

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

KNOW ME AND LEAD ME!

Psalm 139:23-24 –  Devotional

Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

When I was a juvenile probation officer (ages ago), I frequently asked my probationers if they knew anything about reports of their misdeeds. Their response was frequently; “Search me?” That is not the message the Psalmist intends.

The Psalmist is sincerely asking the Lord to give him a heart examination to reveal the hidden issues that would cause a conflict between him and his Lord. He even asks the Lord to test him and try him. That means turning up the heat! Ouch!

We need that openness in our own prayer life in which we yield our innermost being to the Great Heart Specialist (the Lord) who knows the thoughts and intents of our heart.

After our heart examination we are to seek the leadership of the Lord for our life. Are we doing that? Are we so committed to the Lord that we will do what He says and go where He leads? I want that for my life.

Blessings dear hearts walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

MODERN DAY IDOLS!

Psalm 135:18 –  Devotional

Psalm 135:18

“Those who make idols are just like them (the idols they make), as are all who trust in them.”

We like to picture ourselves as being wise and far removed from the time when people bowed before idols and even offered human sacrifices to them. It seems beyond our modern thinking to imagine that people would make something themselves and then worship that object. BEEP!

That is precisely what we do in placing things or people as the object or objects of our devotion. We can easily devote our time, treasure and devotion to the very things that are of our own creation.

Stop for a little while and consider what you devote your thought life to. Do you meditate on things of eternal value as found in God’s Word or do you fantasize about worldly things that are contrary to all that is holy and good?

Take time to evaluate the idols that may have been created in deep recesses of your heart. Confess the sinful things that have been lurking in the place that you secretly spend your time in adoration. Make worship of the Lord your priority.

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

If you have watched The Sands of Eternity video above and prayed the prayer at the end, please go to https://PastorCecil.com/ and use the form on the webpage to let us know so we can send you follow up resources and/or send an email to pastorcecil@dailyevotional.com and let him know.

BUILD ON THE ROCK! – Luke 6:47-48 Devotional

Luke 6:47-48

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

I am always fascinated by the construction of tall buildings. The builders seem to be spending more time going down than going up. The reason is simple. Without a solid foundation built on solid rock, the building will lack stability and will be subject to catastrophic failure.

The same is true of buildings that are constructed in high wind zones. The rule of thumb in the construction of a building that will withstand the gales of adversity is to go deep before rising up.

Spiritually we have a fundamental application as well. Unless we dig deep and anchor our life into the bedrock of God’s Word, our spiritual walk will be subject to collapse when the winds of adversity howl around us.

I urge all of us to rededicate ourselves to spend more time on and in the solid rock of our precious Bible. Stand tall on the solid rock of His Word!

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

Psalm 119:71-72

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”

Across the years of my life I have experienced affliction. I know what it is to lose health, wealth and most of all precious family members who have gone to be with the Lord. Loss is a fact of humanity that will linger all through our life.

While loss is a certainty that we will encounter, how we respond to the particular afflictions is up to us. We can howl and moan, making everyone around us miserable, or we can allow the seed of affliction grow into the flower God intends for us to produce.

Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane to produce the flower of life to all who receive His gift. We need to recognize the reality that we have the privilege to spread the bouquet of His blessing with those around us.

My prayer is continually that the Lord will use me. I want the obstacles I encounter in His garden to become stepping stones leading to beautiful flowers that are produced in the midst of suffering and affliction! Walk in His garden with joy!

Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil