Revelation Devotion Finale

Closing

I hope you’ve been blessed by this 12-week devotional study based on the first three chapters of Revelation. I certainly have been. God has been faithful to lead, guide, and reveal more about Himself through the examining of His Word. He has also used this most powerful two-edged sword to pierce into my soul and call me to examine myself. The goals of seeking who God is and who He desires me to be have been met, but only in part. The journey of getting to know God greater, developing a deeper intimacy with Him, and transforming to become more like Him is a process that doesn’t end as long as we’re on earth. Any time we open God’s Word with ears to hear, eyes to see, and a moldable heart, He will use it to transform us. My prayer for each of us is that we continue to seek Him, love Him, obey Him, and glorify Him to greater and greater degrees.

To God, who was and is and is to come, who is holy, who is Lord Almighty, be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.

  

Holy, holy, holy is the
Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.
Revelation 4:8

If you are interested in having a printable copy of this devotion or a book version to share with others, email me at tracy_wainwright@yahoo.com

I hope you'll join me next week for the start of a new devotion from James 1.

Revelation Prayer Devotion Day 7

Day 7

Scripture focus: And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

Revelation 2:1-7

Application: When we read a passage like this we may have several different reactions. One may be that we can’t relate because we are not being persecuted and threatened with death for our faith. Another may be a focus on our personal hard times of spiritual drought, difficult relationships, or financial struggles. Still a third may be that people who are religious but lack evidence of spiritual fruit or maturity come to mind. Maybe the changes of values in our country which have begun to impact the freedom to express our faith in public ways press forward in our thoughts. Possibly all of the above. However, this passage offers so much more.

First, this is one of two letters in Revelation to the churches that contains no rebuke. Given the state of the churches and the issues addressed in each individual letter, chances are if we’re not the church under great tribulation, God has a rebuke for us. What might that be?

Second, Jesus reminds His people in this letter that He is the beginning and end of everything. He knows everything about us – individually and as a church body. There is nothing that happens outside His sovereignty. Even persecution and financial poverty. He also reminds His people that when they have Him and seek His Kingdom, we are rich in the truest sense. We have wealth that cannot be stolen or destroyed. These believers were facing prison, and from what I’ve learned, when they were thrown in prison there was typically a ten day holding period before they were put to death. So their ten days of tribulation might have been starvation, beating, harassment to recant their faith. Then they would be put to death. But God reminds them (and us) that when we hold fast to our faith in Him, He grants us the crown of life – life eternal with Him. The greatest gift of all.

He also reminds us that the devil is the one behind the schemes of attacking Jesus followers. Whether it’s actual prison, emotional prison, feeling trapped by unhealthy relationships, or financial poverty, we are in more of a spiritual battle than a physical one. The same is true when we experience other personal or corporate trials as a church. While our arguments, loss of trust, anger, and disappointments may produce real feelings bread out of real circumstances created by real people, it is all rooted in spiritual battle. We do not war with flesh and blood, but the principalities of this world. Therefore, the only way to wage war on evil, sin, broken relationships, disunity, doubt, depression, or discouragement is to fix our focus on the One who is the First and the Last and all the promises in Him, which are “yes and amen.”

  

Prayer: Jesus, You are holy, righteous, and truly good. You are the first and the last, the beginning, the end, and everything in between. Let me never forget that You conquered death and through faith, You have gifted me to not only conquer over eternal death, but also the small deaths that seem to come as part of this world. There is nothing You don’t see. There is nothing for me to fear because anything I experience in this life is temporary. I praise You for Your gift of life and sovereignty in it. Let me never focus on my trials, tribulations, or trying relationships, but help me keep my eyes fixed on You. You know all. Help me never to forget that.

Reflection questions/prayer prompts:

How can I keep my focus on Jesus and giving Him the praise He deserves each and every day?

Lord, help me never forget that You know. You know my pain, my trials, my struggles, my sin, my heart. Reveal and let me hear clearly what You want me to know about You, about myself, and about others.

Fear is rooted in a lack of complete faith and trust in the Lord. Is there an area of fear in my life that I haven’t surrendered to God and His sovereignty?

Jesus, when I suffer, help me to hold fast to my faith in You. Grow me. Mold me. Make me more like You.

How can I keep the crown of life Jesus will give me more clear in my mind than my current circumstances?

Father God, let me hear what You are saying to the churches, to my home church.

Nothing is more important than living for God’s glory. How can I live to bring Him more glory today?

Because of Enemies

Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors; I am a dread to my friend - those who see me on the street flee from me. I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side; they conspire against me and plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." Psalm 31:11-14

When I come across scriptures like these I wonder how it relates to me and how I can relate to it. What does God want me to do with it? I don't have enemies. I mean, I've had people over the years I didn't like and who didn't like me, and there are probably some people even now who couldn't care less about me. But enemies? People who hold contempt for me? Conspire against me and plot to take my life? No. I don't experience those things.

So, what is it Lord? What am I to get from these words? You included them for a reason.

And He answers.

We have Christian brothers and sisters who live these verses each and every day. While the exact numbers are unknown, you can only imagine with more than 50 nations that restrict the sharing of the gospel. Our brothers and sisters, bought into the Lord's family the same way we were - by the blood of Jesus - are facing true enemies, contempt of their neighbors, people who flee from them simply because they are Christians, and terror on every side of them. Yet they hold fast to their faith.

What can I do?

I can read the words of God, remember my brothers and sisters in Christ (who will be as precious to me in heaven as my own parents, sister, husband, and children are to me here on earth) and lift them up to the Lord.

We, in Christ, "form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." {Romans 12:5} We are one. We are not to live our convenient, comfortable lives and simply thank God for the blessings He pours out on us. We are to be broken-hearted for those in our family who suffer on a daily basis. And we are to pray.

Pray that they will hold fast to their faith and trust in God completely. Pray they will be delivered from their enemies, but if not, that God's name will be glorified. Pray that they will be bold in their proclamations of the truth of God's love, grace, and mercy through His Son Jesus. Pray that their love will abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that they are able to discern what is best in every situation they face. Pray for workers to come alongside them to help them learn the Word, be able to teach it to others, and be encouraged. Pray that we will never forget, never ignore, never disregard our brothers and sisters persecuted around the world.

Every word in scripture is God-breathed, alive and active, and does not return to Him without completing it's mission. This is true for even the hard words. Ignoring them doesn't change them. Looking into them and opening ourselves to what God wants to say to us through them will change us and bless us beyond comprehension - just not in the ways we always expect.

Weary Moms

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you ever grow weary? Do you ever get to the end of the day and crash onto the sofa next to your husband, or slump off to bed to have sleep take over in seconds?

I think all moms go through times like this. I went through about seven years of it, due to having and nursing four babies and medical issues. Recently, I switched from Vitamin D capsules to liquid vitamins, and for the first winter ever am not pregnant or nursing/sleep deprived. I spent a couple weeks with more energy than I've had in years. Then I crashed again. And I asked, "Why?"

Why is it I can't live off of five hours of sleep and keep moving all day? Why is it that if I actually sit and do nothing I'm asleep in two minutes flat? Why when I actually take a day to sleep in, exercise, keep my blood sugar under control, and remember my Vit. D do I still get tired? Well, because I'm human. And there's always things to do!

So, okay, even God's holy Word says we young (yes, I think 34 is still young) will grow weary. And what's the answer to this bone-dragging weariness? To rely on the Lord.

Okay, Lord, could you give me super strength and help me function on less sleep?

Sometimes, yes. But for some reason, he likes to keep me humble and remember that to rely on Him is not always to gain the supernatural ability to do things. Sometimes He wants to teach me something.

It could be to slow down.

It could be to do it even if I'm tired.

It could be to reevaluate my obligations and activities and cut something out.

No matter what it is, though, the answer is always the same: hope in the Lord.

Hope, meaning live in the expectation

~ that He will provide strength when I need it.

~ that He will guide me to make the right decisions

~ that He will bring help to me at the right time

~ that He is always with me no matter what

~ that He knows infinitely more than me and my job is simply to rely on Him

While not always the tangible answer I'm looking for, it reminds me of the times He's been faithful to take care of me. Then, weary or not, I know that the answer, strength, and anything else I need is there waiting for me. I simple have to look to the right source.

Keys to Contentment

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

I'm fortunate enough to be part of a Sunday School class that aims to get closer to God and walk deeper with Him. We are currently going through Living on the Edge, which is a study/book based on Romans 12. In going through, this verse stuck out to me.

Our circumstances are always changing, whether it's of our own doing or because of things out of our control. New children arrive and join our family. Children grow up and change. Jobs come and go.Family members move or live in disfunction or die. Responsibilities for housework, service at church, and school obligations ebb and flow. The only thing that stays the same (other than God's unfailing love) is that things are always changing.

We often question, "So, how do I deal with this situation?" ~ How do we cope with a husband who doesn't do everything we want him to? ~ How do we keep up with the messes made by several small children? ~ How do we cope with the lost job that was needed? ~ How do we deal with the disappointments of people who aren't faithful to their word? ~ What do we do when we're hurt or discouraged?

We remain JOYFUL in HOPE. We are PATIENT in AFFLICTION. And, we are FAITHFUL in PRAYER.

No matter what, we can be joyful in hope. True? You think not? That depends where you hope lies. If it lies in the Lord, you can always cling to it and be joyful. God promises to never leave us of forsake us and that He always has our best interest at heart. If these things are true, we have no reason to ever lose hope. Even when what we see is hard. If we turn our eyes from what we see, to God, we can soak in the joy that comes from hope in His omniscient control and unfailing love.

Affliction will come. There will be difficult times. Trials happen. Discomfort, pain, and things we dislike are a part of life. God never promises othewise. Time and time again, He tells us what to do during those times, which lets us know they will come. This scripture tells us to be patient. In James, we are told to count it joy when we go through trials. How do we do that? By knowing that it will end. By knowing that we can get through it with God's help. And by knowing that if we cling to Him and stay focused on His purposes, He will work them out for our good. Then, we can hang on until the trial, affliction, discouragement, heartache, passes or diminishes.

Lastly, we are to stay faithful in prayer. We are to pray about everything. We are to praise God in everything. We are to be still and listen to Him. That's how we get through and know what step to take next - even if that step is the same one we've been taken for eons. Sometimes, God calls you to make your next step to stay right where you are. Sometimes, He calls you to move to the next thing. To be assured and gain divine support on that next step, it must be taken in prayer - not for what we want, but for guidance to do what He wants. That's how we hand over our family members we are worried about or disappointed in. That's how we stay connected to God and His love, and overflow that love to others in our lives.

So, no matter what you're facing at this time, be JOYFUL in HOPE, PATIENT in AFFLICTION, and FAITHFUL in PRAYER.