"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me."  (Song of Solomon 7:10)

Some of the most intimate conversations we have with our spouses occur while we lay in bed, in a darkened room, quiet, and nestled in the warmth of the covers.  The children are asleep, the phone is done ringing for the day, the television is quieted, and the house is at peace. 

Intimacy in today's world is immediately equated with sex.  However, true intimacy can more easily be related to communion and communication with unguarded truthfulness.  More simply put, pillow talk!

The Father wants intimate moments with us, times of communion and communication with unguarded truthfulness.  He wants to hear from us our most private thoughts, our concerns, our joys, our fears, our victories, our praise, our disappointments, and our loving words of intimate worship.  Yet, we so thoughtlessly neglect this awesome privilege as we get caught up in our daily lives.

When was the last time you enjoyed "pillow talk" with the Father?  When was the last time you snuggled up close to him, nestled in the warmth of His presence, and shared the most private thoughts and intents of your heart?  Don't you think it's time for a good, intimate conversation with Him?

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me."  Yes, His desire is toward you!  Make time for your "pillow talk" now!  Don't wait till you're too tired to talk, don't wait till you're too tired to listen.  Intimacy with the Father is not an option, it's a privilege we dare not take for granted!

Father, I'm ready to spend some "intimate" time with you. But first, Lord, please forgive me for not desiring You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.  You ARE my First Love, You ARE the Lover of my Soul, You ARE the One I long for, You ARE all I need!  Father, put a hunger deep in my soul for intimacy with You; help me never to neglect our time together. Help me to realize just how much Your desire is toward me!  Father, I commit myself to You once more; I'm ready for "pillow talk" with You!  Amen!

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jeremiah 31:3)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."  (Psalm 51:10-12)

Humility. Repentance. Restoration. The three keys to a clean heart and a right spirit. They, in turn, open the door to the joys of salvation.

Most Christians don't have to battle daily with temptation to commit pre-meditated "major" sins. But, the everyday "little sins" of omission can literally drain every ounce of joy right out of us before we know what has happened!

Take the time to examine your life when you feel drained of your joy; ask the Lord to reveal any sins of omission or commission which need to be dealt with. Then, apply these three keys:

Humility because one has to be humble before one can truly repent!

Repentance because without repentance there can be no restoration!

Restoration because the Psalmist gave us the perfect example: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation . . ." When there is a lapse in our communion with the Lord due to sin, these steps need to be taken which lead to restoration of that broken relationship.

Make a habit of using these most precious keys! They have been given to you; they were bought for an unfathomable price and given to us to keep us pure and clean before a Holy God!

Father, I humble myself before You with a broken heart; I fall so short of Your glory in every area of my life. Lord, restore me through the cleansing Blood of Jesus, and grant once again unto me the joy of Your salvation. I thank you for Your promise and for Your provision! You have been so wonderful to me! In the precious name of Jesus. Amen!

"Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy." (Psalm 132:9)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."  (Psalm 46:10)

Not long ago I heard a story about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.

Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?"

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply--something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.

The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him." 

This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problems. But God's is the still, small voice. . .the gentle whisper.

Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.

Father, help me to be still and listen intently by moving in closer to You! Lord, my relationship with You is more important to me than anything . . . help me to stay at Your feet, learning of You, listening to You, worshipping You. Remind me, Lord, that there is no place I'd rather be than at Your feet, in Your presence, snuggled in close to You for it is in that place of intimacy that I'll hear Your still, small voice guiding me and directing me in the path You have prepared for me! Father, I love You . . . forever!  Amen!

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."  (1 Chronicles 29:11)

There are some times when our hearts just cry out, "Worship Him"! Today is one of those days! You don't feel like worshipping Him? Well take a minute and consider: MERCY, FORGIVENESS, SALVATION, ETERNAL LIFE, FAITHFULNESS, etc. Now, do you feel a little more like worshipping Him? Good!

Take a look at the verse for today again . . . "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."

Here's a picture of God's greatness . . . unspeakable, unfathomable, unmatched! He is more than we could ever expect Him to be. He is greater than great, higher than high, holier than holy, mightier than mighty! He is sovereign over all, totally in control of everything. Nothing is too small for His care; nothing too big for Him to handle!

Are you facing some particularly big difficulties right now? Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up your eyes to God, and worship Him with all that is within you. Before long, the size of your problem will be nothing compared to the greatness of the Most High God!

Father, there is none like You in all the earth. You are mighty, You are holy! You are wonderful, You are glorious! You alone are God; there are no other gods! I ascribe greatness to Your name, O Lord! All power and glory; all honor and praise are Yours . . . for You are the author of life itself and nothing can compare to You! Father, I worship You with all that is within me! Be exalted, O God, in the heavens, on the earth, and in my life! I love You! Amen!

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness." (Psalm 48:1)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." (Isaiah 1:3)

As I was reading this verse, I burst into tears. "Am I less than an ox, Lord, when I fail to recognize You as my Master or lower than a donkey when I reject your Word as my life-sustainer? Lord, help me – Lord, forgive me!"

I was driven to look at some commentaries on this scripture and what I learned wasn't easy to swallow. Let me paraphrase some of it for you.

The comparison in this verse is to show the gross ingratitude of God's people. The ox, a well-known domestic animal, is remarkable for patient willingness to work—it's also known for submission to its owner. This is how the "ox knows his master" … it is not the brightest animal in God's creation, but it's smart enough to be submissive to its owner. Isaiah compared the ox to Israel—even the ox knows to obey. Israel does not know how to submit.

As "dumb" as a donkey is (KJV translates it as "ass"), it knows where to find food, where to grow fat. The donkey, as dumb as it is, has sufficient knowledge to understand that his provision comes from his master, that his master also offers protection and comfort. The donkey knows enough not to wander away.

Isaac Watts wrote:

The brutes obey their God,
And bow their necks to men;
But we more base, more brutish things,
Reject His easy reign.

Read today's verse again … "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

How long will we continue to be rebellious against our "Owner", unwilling to work, resisting change, refusing His nourishment, etc? How long will we continue to struggle with obedience? We say we love the Lord and yet we forget that to know Him is to love Him; to love Him is to obey Him. How can we claim to know our Master if we cannot obey His Word? Obedience is the key to knowing God, to living in the flow of His blessings, and to fulfilling our destiny.

Let's learn our lesson from the donkey and the ox. Let's submit to our Master, follow His lead, and no longer resist His instruction which leads to provision, protection, and comfort. Amen!

Lord, I choose to learn from the ox and the donkey. I choose to recognize You as my Master and to accept Your Word as my life-sustainer. Lord, feed me at Your table and nourish me through Your Word. Your Word tells me that You have already provided everything that pertains to life and Godliness … help me to run to Your Word to find what I need. Help me to remember this verse, Lord, every time I choose to rebel against Your Word. Transform me, Lord, change my heart, O God, and renew me through Your Word. In Jesus' precious name I pray, amen and amen!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."  (John 9:3)

The thing we desire the most—to please our Heavenly Father, to live a life which stands out as being contrary to the ways of the world. Just as the moon has no light in and of itself, we cannot truly "shine" without reflecting the glory of the Lord in all we say and do. We have no ability to shine on our own; we only reflect the light of the Sun!

The blind man was not responsible for his situation because of any sin in his life. His parents were not held accountable, nor his grandparents, etc. He was blind so the Father could be glorified in his life.

Ask yourself a question: Why am I the way I am? The answer is simple: So the Lord might be glorified through our lives. God, the Creator, in His omniscience, knew exactly what you needed to be in order to complete His plans for all of creation!

The next time you look in the mirror, be sure to understand that God made you to be who you are. Praise Him because you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" in the likeness of His image so He might be glorified in you.

Father, my desire is that You would be glorified in my life, that I would become content in who You made me so I could fulfill Your purposes in my life. Lord, help me to appreciate my uniqueness and to use every one of my shortcomings to bring glory to You in some way. Thank you, Lord, for making me special, after Your image, for Your glory! Amen!

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15:4)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

Please forgive me for my obvious passion for the unborn . . . but with tomorrow (January 22) being the anniversary for the landmark court decision popularly known as Roe v. Wade, I can't think of a better time to explore the value of mankind in the eyes of a Holy and Righteous God.

God created man in His own image. God values human life so much that He made us as the image of Himself. What does that mean? Go look in the mirror. What do you see? You see the image of who you are. You see the image of your person reflecting back at you. This is what God did when He created man—He made man as a reflection of Himself. Before the fall, before sin entered the world, man was the express image of God reflecting Himself. Man was perfect, sinless, and he walked daily with the Lord in the garden. There was nothing separating God from man. Go look in the mirror again – there is nothing separating you from your image. What you see is the exact image of who you are; this is the value God placed on man!

Abortion, the procedure that kills untold millions of unborn children each year, destroys the image of God! Let me say that again . . . abortion destroys the image of God! Abortion says, "The image of God is meaningless to me!" Abortion says, "The image of God is a problem that must be dealt with!" Abortion says, "The image of God is inconvenient and I have no room in my life for the image of God!"

In this country we have an ongoing battle on behalf of the unborn versus those who consider the unborn nothing but a "product of conception". In other countries, things are so much worse! For instance, in Romania 7 out of 8 babies are killed before they are born! In China, a family is allowed only one child and abortion is all too common! A medical missionary to China states that it's not uncommon to find women who have had upwards of 30 abortions because it's being used as birth control.

Genesis 4:10 give us a clue as to a voice from the earth crying out to God: "the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." Cain slew Able and the voice of innocent blood cried out to God! Can you imagine the deafening roar of the blood of the innocents as it cries out from the earth to the Creator? It's a horrible sound that reaches the Throneroom of a Righteous and Just God!

Take some time to day. Write your legislators, call your pregnancy center and volunteer, make a plan to somehow make a difference! Get your family involved; teach your children the value of human life. Minister God's love and forgiveness to those who bear the scars of abortion. We can't just sit by and allow this atrocity to continue without stirring up some passion in us to be part of the solution to this worldwide problem! Pray and ask what you can do and then do it!

Father, forgive me! Forgive me for not doing my share to make a difference. Forgive me for not reaching out to those who are struggling with a choice they feel compelled to make. Forgive me for not becoming passionately vocal and active in the fight for the unborn. Forgive me for ignoring the problem because it doesn't really touch my life. Lord, stir up within me a righteous indignation against the murderous spirit unleashed across this world and give me a plan to do my part! Father, give me a burden to pray for the unborn like never before. Teach me how to teach my children and loved ones about the value You place on human life. Help me to put action into my passion and use me for Your glory! Give me the opportunity to minister Your forgiveness, love, and mercy to those who bear post-abortion scars. Let me feel Your passion, Father, and give me the courage to get involved. Protect the unborn, Lord, and reveal Your purpose and passion for human life to us all! In Jesus' name and by the power of His might I pray, amen!

"… for in the image of God has God made man." (Genesis 9:6b)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me."  (Psalm 139:1 KJV)

Many people have the fear that if they ever revealed to someone what they were really like, that person would reject them. There are many people who go through life thinking there is no way anyone could ever know them intimately and still love them. However, God knows us, better than we know ourselves! And, He loves us more than we could ever imagine!

God is omniscient . . . He is all knowing. And He knows all things about everything, and He knows it perfectly! He knows what we need before we pray! He knows and understands our suffering! He never misunderstands us or anything! We stand naked and open before Him. There is nothing He doesn't know!

Because He is omniscient, we have to remember that His ways are better than our ways. We need to learn to trust Him and be obedient to Him because He knows where each path will ultimately take us. Because of His omniscience, He knows what is best for us! All that is requires of us is total trust and obedience.

Take a few moments today and consider the things that you have hidden away hoping that you won't have to deal with them ever again. God already knows they are there and He wants you to know that it's okay; you don't have to hide them away in the secret recesses of your heart. He has already made a way for you to deal with them. If it is sin, it's under the blood; if it is shame, He's already dealt with it.

If you're hiding shortcomings, He knows all about them. After all, He made you who you are and the way you are—you are fearfully and wonderfully made, by His hands and for His glory!

Are you hiding FROM Him or are you hidden IN Him? Search your heart today!

Father, it is so hard sometimes for me to comprehend the love you have for me. It's hard for me to understand how you could love me after everything I've done! I stand before you right now and ask you to forgive me for limiting your power in my life by not acknowledging Your omniscience! Forgive me for hiding from You and help me to live a life hidden IN You. Father, help me to "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19 KJV) Amen and Amen!

"Let no man deceive himself.
If any man among you seemeth
to be wise in this world, let him
become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. For it is written,
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts
of the wise, that they are vain."

(1 Cor 3:18-20 KJV)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."  (Psalm 66:20)

Praise first! The Psalmist is quick to recognize that his prayers have been heard and God's mercy has been provided. But, knowing all that, his first matter of business is to give praise and glory to God; the emphasis is not on answered prayer, but on giving God the glory due His name!

What do we think of when we see prayer answered? If we're like most, our attention is immediately drawn to the answer of our prayer and giving God the glory is not our first priority. Unfortunately, if we don't see answered prayer, praise is often far from our lips, or secondary at the very best. This verse implies something quite different that we need to carefully consider.

Praise is first . . . regardless of the outcome of the prayer. Praise should be continually on our lips, long before we see the answer to our prayers! Praise should be a way of life! Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, said, "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil. 4:11) Paul wasn't concerned about his life's situations and circumstances. He understood the Psalmist's statement in today's verse: "Blessed be God...." He first praised God, the number one priority in his life!

Begin to praise God today for Who He is, for what He has done, and for what He is doing! If He has answered specific prayers for you, be sure to acknowledge it, but praise Him first and foremost!

Don't allow your praise to be conditional, but make it a priority in your life, today and every day!

Father, I praise You! I bless Your Name for Your Name is above every name that is in heaven or on the earth! Your glory can be seen in all Your works, there is none like You in all the earth! Father, I thank you for answered prayer and for your unconditional mercy, but first, and foremost, Lord, I give you praise. Be glorified, Lord, be glorified! Amen!

"For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands." (Psalm 92:4)

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© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"As the hart [deer] panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God."  (Psalm 42:1)

The very life and breath of holy love . . . the depth of longing beyond human desire.

The Psalmist paints for us a picture of intense desire, unquenchable thirst, and unfathomable longing for nothing other than God, yet still more and more of Him.

Herein is described a desperate thirst and anxious desire for God … not the rituals, the ordinances, or the sacrifices, but such desire was for the person of God, to know Him, to love Him, to embrace Him—the Living God! God was recognized as the Fountain of Life, the only Fountain that can quench a truly thirsty soul.

It is the soul that pants, the soul that thirsts, which speaks to us not only of sincerity, but also of the strength of true desire. The longing deep within the heart of the Psalmist is compared to the panting of a deer which is naturally hot and dry, especially after being hunted. So does his gracious soul desire communion with God, showing impatience, exemplifying NEED of the TRUE thirst-quencher. Nothing short of this sweet communion with God could ever hope to satisfy this longing; no pleasure known to mankind could ever suffice!

In comparison to the Psalmist's plea for an encounter with the Ever Flowing Fountain, how strong is your desire to know God, to love Him, to embrace Him?

Lord, I must confess that there are many times my desire to commune with You is not as intense as it should be, but I am so thankful for the Psalmist's words today which provoke me to long after You, to thirst after You, to desire You more than ever before. Father, I accept this challenge to reach for a deeper communion with You as I find myself seeking after the very life and breath of holy love found only in knowing You in a greater way than ever before. Father, I love you. I thirst for You! Amen!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."  (John 6:35)

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© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."  (Proverbs 18:10)

God is sufficient in all things . . . His name is above all names! His name is a strong tower for us where we can find rest when we're weary, and take sanctuary when we are being pursued.

Kay Arthur wrote a short story which gives us a glimpse of what the name of the Lord truly means to us:

"The muffled, distant sound had broken the quiet reverie of his walk across the meadow. The sharp barking of a dog almost irritated him. It was abrasive in that tranquil setting. As the barking grew louder, his eyes scanned the meadow, looking for the culprit. Suddenly a small doe broke through the edge of the woods. Now he understood. Leaning against the fence post, the man watched with compassion as the doe cut across the broad expanse of meadow. She was running straight toward him. He stood motionless, not wanting to add the fear of man to the animal's frustration. As the frightened fawn leaped the fence, she staggered. The chase had taken its toll. Her wet coat gleaming in the sun, the doe stopped, took a few steps in one direction, then, ears held high, looked back toward the sound of the barking. The dog had broken through the woods. Eyes wide with fright, confused, worn out, panting wildly, the doe surveyed her surroundings, quickly discovering the man standing beside the fence. Glancing back for an instant at the dog in hot pursuit, then viewing the expanse of open field before her, she turned weakly and wobbled straight toward the man. She approached him without fear and buried her head in his tummy. Compassion flooded his heart and filled his eyes. She had found a protector." (1)

The doe found a "strong tower" and she ran into it and was safe! This is a beautiful picture of today's verse: the name of the Lord is our strong tower, waiting until we are finished expending our own energy to finally seek out a refuge, a sanctuary. And, casting aside our fears, we run to Him and bury ourselves in the Lord! We then find ourselves engulfed in the reality of His covenants and promises, a strong tower, impenetrable, impregnable, and immovable!

Where do you find your refuge? Who or what is your tower of strength? Finally, where do you run in time of trouble? The righteous dwell in God and God in; they believe He is their tower of strength and they find refuge in Him.

Get to know your God. Know the strength in the name of the Lord. Learn of His attributes, His all-encompassing power, His never-ending love, His overwhelming compassion.

Father, I need to know you more; I need to know the strength in Your name in a greater way. Father, I long to be like the deer and find refuge in You. I recognize my need for You more each day. Please, Lord, meet me at the point of my need to know You more than ever before! Amen!

"For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah." (Psalm 61:3-4)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

(1) From "Lord I Want To Know You" by Kay Arthur, 1992, published by Multnomah Books

"And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always." (Exodus 27:20)

Throughout the Old Testament, the reference to beaten olive oil occurs many times. Furthermore, there appears to be a difference between the 'quality' of olive oil that has been beaten and that which has not been beaten. The beaten olive oil burns brighter and longer and is preferred.

What does this mean for us? This reminds me of a verse in Isaiah describing the awesome sacrifice of our Messiah, the horror of His undeserved punishment, the depth of His love for us . . . "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Jesus our Messiah was the pure "olive" beaten and afflicted. He bore our punishment, He took the chastisement, He stood as a lamb at slaughter taking stripes that were meant for us. He did this that His light might shine brightly, purely, and eternally in His people, a lamp that will never go out!

By faith we accept His supreme sacrifice, by faith His light burns brightly within us. Don't get caught with that light hidden by works of your flesh. Walk in the Spirit and let the light of the 'Beaten Olive' burn brightly, purely, and eternally in you, allowing the scent of the pure oil lingering everywhere you go! Bring Him glory as His light shines in all you do, everywhere you go, with each word that proceeds from your mouth!

Lord, once again I come to You in awe of how Your Word gives us a glimpse of Your holiness, accomplishing Your plan for mankind to bring You glory! Father, by faith I accept Your sacrifice, by faith I am covered by the blood of the Lamb, by faith the light of my Saviour burns brightly in my life. Help me to let it shine unhindered by any works of flesh only to be magnified as I walk in the Spirit. Lord, I thank You for the "Beaten Olive" who bore my griefs, who carried my sorrows, who was stricken and smitten and afflicted. Words cannot express my gratitude for taking the wounds due me for my transgression, for the bruises You bore because of my iniquities, and for accepting the chastisement buying my peace . . . thank You for the stripes You bore for my healing! Father, let the light of the Pure Olive beaten in my stead shine brightly in my life as a praise and glory to Your Holy Name! I love You, Lord, and yet even these words seem empty in comparison to the greatness and magnificence of the gift of love You have given me. Thank You . . . in Jesus' name, amen!

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness."
(1 Thessalonians 5:5)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

Friends are truly one of life's most precious treasures . . . a blessing from God! Many people are blessed with friends too numerous to count, while others find comfort in sharing their life with few. Regardless of which category you are in, your life is undoubtedly enriched by their presence!

To have many friends, we must show ourselves friendly—it's the principle of sowing and reaping. Plant seeds of friendliness and reap a harvest of good friends.

Paul gives us instruction on how to be a good friend in Philippians 2:3-4 … "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

It's easy to get caught up in our own lives—family, work, church, etc. But God challenges us to look outside our interests to focus on others.  Even in days when we don't feel particularly sociable, we're called to reach out to others—reach out beyond ourselves and impart God's love and grace to them.

And, remember, there is another "Friend" who will stand by our side regardless of what we are going through . . . good or bad. He is the one who makes it easy to be a friend to others as we emulate His example of faithful friendship. He will never walk away, He will never turn His back on us; He will always be there when we are in need. AND, He will always be there even when we aren't in need! This bond of "friendship" is thicker than blood, stronger than nature, closer than brothers!

Show yourself friendly to others. But don't forget to show yourself friendly to this "Friend". He, in turn, will stick closer than a brother . . . every day in every way.

Lord, help me remember to show myself friendly to others as well as to You for that's the least I can do! Help me to remember that You are my Friend, that You are for me and not against me . . . that You loved me before I was ever born! I treasure Your friendship, Lord, for it is a gift that has blessed, enriched, protected, and comforted me more times than I can count. What a Friend You are indeed. Amen!

"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."  (James 2:23)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7)

Conviction! Cain was considering his inadequate offering to the Lord; the Lord was displeased and spoke to Cain the words of our verse today . . . "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Cain made a choice – the wrong choice – and suffered the consequences!

How many times has the voice of the Spirit brought conviction to our hearts when we contemplate offending the law of God? How many times have we ignored that small, still voice and continued in our sin? How many times have we turned and blamed God for the consequences of our own sin?

James 4:7-10 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. . . . Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

Be careful to listen to the voice of conviction! Don't heed the enemy's call to sin but rather heed the Spirit's call to righteousness and holiness, to purity and freedom! We have the ability to control these evil desires planted in our mind by the enemy's malicious schemes – we are NOT slaves to sin unless we choose to be!

We can no longer say, "the devil made me do it" because as Paul said in Romans 6:18, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

If we claim Jesus Christ as our Master, our Savior, our King, and our Lord, then we have been made free from sin! The blood of Calvary made a way for us to live in freedom if we will just heed the voice of conviction! Become slaves to righteousness and thus fulfill the Word of the Lord for us all!

Do what is right and avoid the sin that is crouching at your door for surely it desires to have you! You have the key through Jesus Christ . . . use the key and shut the door! Lock it securely and refuse to let sin enter the door of your heart!

Father, help me! Lord, I read about Cain and how he offended You and yet You came and gave him a chance to do what is right and I see how so often You deal with me in the very same way. Forgive me, Lord, for not mastering the sin that is crouching at my door! Forgive me for not resisting the devil but rather opening the door to him through my fleshly lusts and desires. Lord, help me to heed Your voice, to use the key You gave me to shut the door in the tempter's face and lock it by choosing what is right! Father, help me always to walk in Your ways and to choose You over sin! Help me heed the voice of conviction! In Jesus' name, amen and amen!

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Romans 6:12-13)

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© Jan Ross
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"Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)

In reading the last paragraph of Romans 1, it becomes obvious that Paul, while writing to the Romans in his lifetime, was also writing prophetically of the times in which we live.

"They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (vv 29-32)

What pierces my heart is the fact that while mankind knows right from wrong, they not only continue in their sin but they also approve of those who practice such evil.

We serve a righteous and holy God! But our society and culture has taken this Holy and Righteous God and trimmed Him, reshaped Him, and forced Him to fit into our idea of what a "god" should be! Rather than declaring His righteousness, we declare tolerance! Rather than declaring His holiness, we declare lenience. Rather than declaring His purity, we declare compassion. Rather than declaring His splendor, we declare mediocrity. Rather than declaring His truth, we declare political correctness.

Friends, we've lost sight of the God of the Bible! We fail to recognize sin as sin and by so doing, the world is being confronted with an image of God that is of our own design rather than the image of the One True God! The world needs to see God as True and Just and Holy and Righteous and Pure! Yes, He is Love but His love is a PURE love, not the love we have created to meet our need of soothing our sin-sick souls.

Paul asks some stirring questions in Romans 10:14…"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

Let me ask you a question. How can we win the world if we don't reflect the Lord's righteousness and holiness through our own behavior and lifestyle? The watered-down gospel will not convict any sinner; the world needs to not only "know" God's righteous decree but to see it at work in the lives of those who are called by His name – Christians!

Let's begin this New Year by reflecting the glory of our Righteous and Holy God, not some reasonable facsimile thereof! We say we're not ashamed of the Gospel, so let's live like it! Amen!

Father, I repent! Lord, forgive me for not living like I serve a Holy and Righteous God! Lord, so many times I've tried to mold You into my own idea of Who You are rather than the Truth of Who You are! Father, I repent for compromising the truth! Lord, I repent for not representing Your Kingdom in truth! Father, forgive me and teach me to show the world Who You are as Your holy attributes are visible in my own life. Teach me how to surrender to you more each day until Your splendor – Your glorious splendor – is evident in all I do and say! That Jesus might be glorified, I pray . . . amen and amen!

"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it." (Isaiah 35:8)

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© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."  (Isaiah 43:19)

A new YEAR . . . a new THING!

God is always taking us forward, leading and guiding us into unknown "territory" as we learn to lean on Him in greater measures day by day! God made a promise to Israel that He would do yet greater things for them than He had already done in the days of old. The testimony of their forefathers was tremendous . . . God had proven Himself mighty, doing wonders far beyond their imagination! Yet, He promised to do even greater things in the future . . . New Things!

At the beginning of this New Year, we might just as well expect God to do even greater things in the days ahead than He has in the past, not only in our lives, but in the entire Body of Christ!

There is a familiar phrase that says, "In order to go where we've never been, we have to do something we've never done!" If we want to grow into an ever-increasingly closer walk with Him, we're going to have to do some things that we've never done before . . . we need to take our commitments to another level!

As you contemplate all the "News" that this New Year brings, take time to develop a plan of daily seeking Him in a greater measure than ever before . . . make His Word a priority in your life . . . make personal prayer time a habit! Establish yourself in a deeper commitment than you have ever experienced before and you will indeed see Him do a "New Thing" in your life!

Father, thank You for drawing me into a deeper relationship with You. As I look back at what You have done for our forefathers, those who have paved the path of faith, I am challenged to commit myself to a closer walk with You. Father, I need You more than yesterday, but not as much as I will tomorrow! Thank you for doing a "New Thing" in my life by calling me to a higher plane of loving, serving, and worshipping You! Amen!

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:13-14)

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© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved