“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Fellowship with other believers is both an incredible encouragement and critical to our growth in remaining steadfast in our walk with the Lord. The world around us pulls us at us from all sides toward its concerns and away from God. Draw near to Him in worship and thanksgiving together with Christ followers, and your perspective will change as you focus on Christ’s sacrifice, given so that you could have true life.🚦

#KeepingOurEyesOnJesus #Fellowship #SpurOneAnother #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“The Lord’s beloved rests securely on Him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on His shoulders.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭33:12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Have you, like me, ever wondered if God listens to petitions and thinks, like the old country song, “I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden?” Thankfully, God is much more gracious than me!

Tough times hit everyone. Even Jesus asked the Father, “If it is possible, take this cup from me.“ God does not promise easy, but He DOES promise we can find rest and protection in Him in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations when we abide with Him. Let us rest on His shoulders today. 🚦

#RoseGarden #TakeThisCupFromMe #RestOnHisShoulders #AbideWithHim #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

It’s easy to fall into the rhythm of finding our identity, self-worth, and strength from our jobs, titles, roles, other people, physical appearance and abilities. All these statuses can be taken away or changed in the blink of an eye, as they were with Job. Find your rest and strength in the One who never changes. Press into Him.🚦

#GodAlone #Identity #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:3-4‬ ‭NASB‬‬

For decades of reciting the 23rd Psalm for comfort, this one sentence sandwiched between talk of restoring my soul and walking through the valley of the shadow of death seemed like a misfit, as if sentence dropped into the passage as an afterthought. Then last year I committed to reciting this Psalm every day for 40 days. Toward the end of this period God showed me this timeless truth: the path of righteousness WILL take us through some dark seasons, but God will always be there with us. He’s not a bridge over troubled water; He parts the water and walks through it with us! Be at rest.🚦

#23Psalm #HeRestoresMySoul #PathsOfRighteousness #ValleyOfTheShadowOfDeath #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Matthew 5:13 NIV

At my home I have a salt mill, like a pepper mill, for grinding fresh salt from salt rocks. I find that when I use the salt mill to season food, very little is needed to brighten the flavor of my meal. When I take the same food to work and use the little packets of salt on hand in the break room it doesn’t have the same zing. The same is true for me in a spiritual sense: when I stay close to my Source through time in God’s Word, prayer and meditation and time with other believers I have more love, joy, peace, and hope to share with others. When I do not abide with Him in this way I lose my “saltiness”.

Stay salty!🚦

#Salt #SaltOfTheEarth #SaltMill #StaySalty #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver dishes, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold bowls. Each silver dish weighed 3 1/4 pounds, and each basin 1 3/4 pounds. The total weight of the silver articles was 60 pounds measured by the standard sanctuary shekel.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭7:84-85‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Why care about a dedication gift of silver dishes and gold bowls well over 2000 years ago? The Israelites had just come out of 400 years in slavery in Egypt and were poor. They had obtained these precious items from the Egyptians as they were fleeing because God told them to go their homes and ask for jewelry, dishes, animals and clothes for the journey ahead. The Egyptians would give anything to get those Israelites out of their country so that the plagues would stop. God had prepared not only the Israelites but also the Egyptians to provide all that would be needed, even matching sets of dishes to use in worship in the sanctuary!

This very minute God is orchestrating to meet your needs before you even know you have need, and He will provide in a way that leaves no room for doubt the source of that provision. 🚦

#GodProvides #Provide #SilverAndGold #Wilderness #Provision #Israelites #SanctuaryDishes #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us…”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭aHCSB‬‬

What is this cloud of witnesses? Back up to chapter 11 to see:

“By faith Enoch…”

“By faith Noah…”

“By faith Abraham…”

“By faith Sarah…”

“By faith Isaac…”

“By faith Jacob…”

“By faith Joseph…”

“By faith Moses…”

“By faith Rahab…”

There wasn’t even enough space for the writer to tell us about all the others who pressed forward in faith and obedience against unimaginable odds. What amazing men and women to inspire us! They are our spiritual legacy! Our HERITAGE! Now let’s read Hebrews 12:1 in full and be encouraged as we picture them cheering us on:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance [patience, long-suffering or suffering long] the race marked out for us,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‭🚦

#Therefore #CloudOfWitnesses #Cheer #Encouragement #Heritage #GodlyHeritage #SpiritualLegacy #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’? ””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

This serpent was no ordinary animal, having human attributes of cleverness and speech. He was Satan in disguise, and he strategically placed a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. This is Satan’s M.O.; it’s his usual practice to trick a person into thinking sin is not really sin. We buy into his game when we pause our faith long enough to let him stick his foot in the door of our hearts. We fall for his trickery when we justify our sin by comparing it to someone else’s wrongdoing that SEEMS far worse than our own.

You and I can protect ourselves from getting caught up in the devil’s traps by meditating on God’s Word throughout our days. “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬🚦

#Serpent #ShiningOne #Cunning #SatanInDisguise #HideGodsWordInYourHeart

#MeditateOnHisWord #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6:22-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Who doesn’t want a blessing like that? I read about a mom who placed her hand on her son’s head each morning and prayed a blessing over him. The other boy at the bus stop came to request his blessing, too! As we start our busy week, may our words be a prayer of blessing that draws others to God.🚦

#Blessing #Words #ThePriestlyBlessing #TheLordBlessYouAndKeepYou #Devotionals #StoplightDevotionals

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil…Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭1:1, 12‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Job was an respected, righteous man whom God allowed Satan to test. In one day Job lost his family, his crops, his livestock, and his wealth. Very soon there after he lost his health. His three closest friends were not exactly a tribe of support for him either. All of this was a spiritual test: Was Job the follower of God he said he was? Was his faith in God’s sovereignty real? Job DID remain faithful, even if it wasn’t always pretty to outsiders. His health, life, family, and wealth were restored.

During life’s trials stay strong in faith to the Lord. Press into Him, and do not swerve. God is with you. 🚦