"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 so make time for your "pillow talk" now.  Don't wait until 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)

© 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)

© 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, unmatchable! 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 and shed that 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 none other. 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)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28)

God is in control in our nation, our cities, our jobs, our school systems. Although the economy is not good, our family and friends are losing their jobs, the prices are rising, we serve a God who is "governor among the nations." No matter how things look in the natural, God is in control. He and He alone.

There is no power in heaven or on earth that can match the power of God. No principality or power can usurp His might and His sovereignty over all. There is no reason to fear … our God is THE "governor among the nations." He and He alone.

Wickedness may abound, yet God is in control. Unemployment may rise, yet God is in control. Prices of food and necessities may increase exponentially, yet God is in control. Family and friends may rise up and curse God, yet God is in control. Governments and committees and councils may fail, yet our God, the "governor among the nations" is in control. He and He alone.

Regardless what we face—disease, financial crises, family problems, loss of income, abandonment, rejection, pain, emotional turmoil, persecution, or whatever else may be going on in your life, our God is the "governor among the nations" and He is in control. He and He alone.

Do you live in fear? Are you afraid of the future? Do you see evil in the days growing worse and worse? There is no one or nothing out of God's governing power. Rest in the fact that the end of history is already written and the Kingdom of God prevails because the King Himself has won the victory.

Let the peace of God reign in your heart—the peace that passes all human understanding. There is nothing God cannot do; He is the "governor among the nations" and there is nothing too difficult for Him. God is in control…He and He alone!

O Sovereign Lord, help me to put my trust in Your governorship over all that concerns me. Remind me moment by moment that there is nothing too difficult for You; that You are Lord, the "governor among the nations." You and You alone! Help me to find peace in knowing You are in control. Because of Jesus and in His name I pray, amen and amen.

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you."  (1 Samuel 12:24)

The MERCY of God is one attribute that everyone finds easy to live with. If we're honest with ourselves, we often think, "God is merciful, He'll understand" when trying to ease our conscience when faced with a difficult decision. Even those that have not made Jesus Lord of their lives count on God's mercy thinking that He is too "good" to allow them to be eternally separated from Him because they never made a commitment to Him.

The FEAR of God, however, is another story. Our relationship with the Lord is nothing to be taken lightly. It is a serious duty we are called to time and time again throughout scripture. To fear Him is to honor Him, to reverence Him, to count Him worthy of our undivided love and adoration. We must be filled with truth and sincerity, godly conversation, true worship . . . not in show only or in meaningless empty words, but in everything we are, everything we say, and everything we do.

We cannot afford to present ourselves as being divided; as the world looks on they need to see single-mindedness, direction, integrity, love, devotion . . . all attributes that will point them to the Source of our entire being.

Let the world see that we are bound to Him in SERVICE because of all the wonderful things He's done for us . . . we could never hope to repay him through our works, but we are compelled to work for Him because of our love and gratitude.

Fear Him in truth with all your heart.

Father, let me never take for granted Your mercy which You have extended to me through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me never forget Your benefits. Put a guard over my mouth, Lord, that nothing be said that would rob You of the glory and reverence due Your name. Be with me today, Lord, and help me fear You with every word, act, and deed, with every fiber of my being . . . all honor and glory is yours oh Lord, because of Who You are . . . my God and my King. Amen.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)

© 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)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  (Philippians 2:9-11)

Sometimes less is more. Today's thought may be few in words, but the words used hold more than all the words mankind has ever uttered or even thought of! There truly is no MORE—no greater name than the Name of Jesus.

There is no other name by which a sin-sick soul is healed.

There is no other name by which we can be saved!

The Name of Jesus . . . there is no other Name which evokes such authority yet imparts such unspeakable love and mercy!

The Name of Jesus . . . above all other names, above all principalities and above all powers!

The Name of Jesus, that precious Name, will forever be our banner . . . in battle, in victory, in sweet retreat, in triumph!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus . . . there IS something about that Name!

When doubt or fear overwhelms you, just begin to speak the Name that is above every name . . . the Name of Jesus!

When we think of Jesus our thoughts should be enormous, without boundary, inexhaustible, incomprehensible, unmatchable, and unfathomable.

May today's few words be the richest words you've ever read … the name of Jesus is more than enough! Amen!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there is something special about Your name. As my lips speak forth Your Name, my heart is overjoyed at the awareness of Your presence. Oh, how I love the Name of Jesus; it is as honey on my lips, sweet, pure, and nourishing to my soul. May my mouth ever show forth Thy praise and my heart sing of Thy goodness today and every day, Jesus. Amen!

"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:16 NIV)

© 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 the anniversary for the landmark court decision popularly known as Roe v. Wade this week, 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 thirty abortions because it's being used as birth control.

Cain slew Able and the voice of innocent blood cried out to God (Genesis 4:10). 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 today. 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, 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) 

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works."  (Psalm 73:28)

Draw nigh to God, put our trust in the Lord, that we may declare His works. Interesting verse.

God's divine order would have it that we first and foremost cultivate our relationship with Him, for without it there is no foundation for trust and there is no passion for the testimony of His works. It is a good thing for man to carefully pursue and secure a relationship with God, above all things. As God draws near to us, we must run to meet Him, thus drawing near to Him. It is not only our duty; it should be our desire to have an ongoing and ongrowing relationship with Him.

The next step, however is putting our trust in the Lord. By putting our trust in the Lord, we proclaim that we will never seek after other gods, we will never prostitute our faith by allowing generic gods to infiltrate our spiritual life. Whom do we serve? Whom do we trust? Whom do we acknowledge in all things? The King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Lord God Almighty. Trust Him with all that is within you and your heart will remain steadfast, never wavering, never seeking after false gods.

Finally, when we have drawn near to Him and placed our trust and faith in Him, a bold declaration of His wondrous works becomes second nature to us. It becomes easy to speak of His goodness and His mercy when we personally have a firm grip on Him.

Next time you feel the urge to testify of God's goodness, go ahead. Boldly witness. Be confident that God will use your testimony to produce fruit in the life (lives) of those with whom you are sharing. Don't hesitate. God is glorified when we declare His works with the boldness that comes from drawing near and putting our trust in Him.

Father, as I consider today's verse, I find that many times I'm distracted and don't take the time to draw near to You as I should. Forgive me, Lord, and help me to change my ways. Help me to build my faith and trust in You so that I can boldly declare Your works to all I come in contact with. Father, I truly want to praise Your name through my words, my deeds, my life . . . that You alone would be glorified! Amen and Amen!

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:8-10)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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

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 them 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 must trust Him and be obedient to His Word because He knows what is best for us. All that is required 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 it's okay; you don't have to hide anything 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.

Pray with me: Father, sometimes it is so hard to comprehend the love You have for us. 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; 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) 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)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

The Psalmist prayed: "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom."

What do you do with your time? Have you ever stopped to think about how much time you waste doing "nothing"?

Imagine there is a bank that puts in your account $86,400 every morning. If you don't spend it all by that night, the bank will take it away from you. What would you do? You would spend every single penny of that $86,400. Every one of us has a bank account like that; it's called "time". Every morning we are given 86,400 seconds. Every night the balance that we did not spend or invest wisely is written off as a loss. There is no going back, and you can't borrow against tomorrow. Each of us has to live on today's deposit. Most important is that we invest it to get the most out of health, life, service, and ministry.

Since we are at the beginning of a new year, wouldn't it be wise for us to take account of how we spend our time? Are we using it so that we might ultimately "grow in wisdom"? Are we using our time to do service to the Kingdom of God? Are we using our time to grow in faith, to increase our knowledge of Him, and to minister God's grace to all we come in contact with each day? Do we take the time to dedicate each day totally to Him for His use?

Today is the day to examine our lifestyles and our motives. Are we wisely using the gift of "time" that God has given us, or are we wasting it looking for pleasure that is fleeting and will only last for a moment? If we find that we're falling short in wise investments, now is the time to make a quality decision to change. With God's help, your time will become a precious gift you can present as part of your "reasonable service" to Him.

Pray with me: Father, when I look at my days, I find that there is so much time wasted doing things that have no real meaning, that produce no ministry, that are just discarded. Forgive me for wasting such a precious gift as "time". Lord, help me to redeem my wasted time by showing me ways to use my time more wisely, to be a productive Christian, to exhibit a servant's heart in all I do. Lord, I long to live a life pleasing to You: in all I say, in all I do, in every aspect of my life. Thank you, Lord, for showing me how important my time is to You. Amen!

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"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)

God is love . . . and His love is perfect!

How many times do we doubt God's love for us? If you're like most, every time things go wrong or prayers aren't answered they way we suppose they should, the first thing that goes through our minds is that God must not love us as much as He loves others. This is nothing but a trick of the enemy to blind us to the fact that God's love is not only PERFECT, it is EVERLASTING, it shall NEVER FAIL, it is CONSTANT, it NEVER WAVERS!

Nothing can separate us from the love of God. His love draws us into communion with Him, into an increasingly intimate relationship whereby His love grows within us. He wraps His bands of love around us and draws us closer and closer to Him, very much to His pleasure! The closer we come to Him, the less we will be distracted by this world.

Allow His Spirit to draw you with His bands of love into that "secret place" where you will enjoy His presence beyond measure! And the next time the enemy attempts to tell you that the Lord doesn't love you, simply ignore it and thank the Lord for His unconditional, uncompromising, unfailing love!

God is love, and His love is perfect in every way!

Father, thank you for your perfect love. Thank you that I don't have to fear losing Your love because it is an everlasting, unfailing, unwavering love that you have toward me. Lord, You proved Your love for me through the sacrifice of the Spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ. How could I ask for more? Forgive me for sometimes doubting Your love. I will remember that it is constant; I don't have to earn it, and I cannot lose it. Hallelujah! You are truly awesome and Your love is indeed AMAZING! Amen!

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us." (I John 4:18-19)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."  (I Samuel 2:2)

Hannah's song of thanksgiving was an awesome testimony of her thankfulness for the gift she had been given. She was barren, prayed for God to bless her with a child, and when He did, she could not contain her praise to Him. She was overcome with joy, and her heart was full of tribute to the Holy One . . . the Lord, God Almighty.

We ought not cease to give praise to our Maker for all He has done for us. Praise is our tribute and we are unjust if we do not pay it. Praise should be continually on our lips for the gift of salvation so full and free.

Hannah's act of thanksgiving was to give the child she so longed for, the thing she valued most, the manifestation of her strongest desire, back to God for His purposes.

How have you shown your praise for all He has done for you? What have you given as a token of your thanksgiving? Think about it. What thing in life do you hold most dear? Could you – would you offer it back to God with a heart full of praise for all God has done for you?

There is none holy as the Lord...He is worthy of ALL our praise!

Holy is the Lord God Almighty; there is none like You in all the earth. My praise is due You for all You have done. But, even if You never do another thing for me, my lips will never cease to give you honor and glory for the precious gift of new life you have given me through the shed blood of Jesus.  Lord, as Hannah gave back to You the very thing she loved most, I give to you my life as a tribute to the new life which You have given me. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Amen!

"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
(Psalm 22:3)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."  (Mark 6:52)

How easy it is to forget! Psalms 103 admonishes us to "forget not all His benefits" yet the disciples, even though they had been with Jesus when the loaves and fishes were multiplied and He fed the thousands, they soon forgot this obvious miracle when fear gripped their hearts in the midst of the storm.

We are so much like the disciples . . . we so soon forget His benefits! We forget the wondrous works He performed yesterday when today's problems seem to grip our hearts! It's almost as if our hearts become hardened because of fear . . . fear will turn the softest heart to stone! Fear is a killer . . . a killer of faith and hope . . . a killer of trust in God's unchanging hand!

The next time you're faced with circumstances beyond your control, quickly turn to God's Word as a testimony of the great things He has done for countless others in the face of danger, heartache, overwhelming circumstances, etc. Then quickly think about His goodness toward you and your family in the recent past and how He worked everything out for your good according to His promises in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Do you love Him . . . are you a part of His purpose on this earth? Then, this promise is to you . . . everything will work together for good! Don't fear, and never forget the work He has already done in your life.  Remember the miracles of yesterday and it will be easy to trust Him for His protection today, no matter what the situation is! He's real . . . He changes not . . . He's working on your behalf!

Father, help me remember the testimonies You have built in my life when life's circumstances seem to overwhelm me. Lord, I don't want to forget Your benefits   . . . I don't want to appear to have a hardened heart, but I want to hold on to Your unchanging hand! Lord, the things You did yesterday serve only to prove that You will never leave me nor forsake me and that You're working all things together for good because I love You! And, Lord . . . I Love You! Amen!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:42 KJV)

I don' t know about you, but this verse speaks to me loud and clear. Not just Sunday, not just at church, and not just when it's convenient. Daily. In the temple. In every house. Continually.

The early church wasn't built on casual or occasional teaching and preaching. The apostles and new believers were intent on fulfilling the Great Commission. They had a sense of urgency to tell the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Heart of God International Ministries has developed a missions training manual that focuses (among other things) on preparing the entire team to witness openly and unashamedly, and to prepare themselves to minister one-on-one with others with anyone they meet. We ask each team member to sit down for a few minutes and write down their salvation experience as well as a plan for explaining the message of salvation. Then, we take turns witnessing to each other in preparation for the mission outreach. By the time we're done with the training each team member has gained confidence in sharing Jesus with others.

We all need to develop an urgency to tell everyone the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For the most part, we are much too timid and sometimes even fearful of openly sharing our faith in an effort to lead someone to faith in Christ.

This is something we need to work on changing in our lives this year; today is the day to begin. Take a few moments and write down how you would share the plan of salvation with someone you don't know. Begin by sharing a brief testimony (keep it brief but to the point), and then gently begin to unfold the plan of salvation.

"And [Jesus] saith unto them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" (Matthew 4:19 KJV) Those are Jesus' words, not only to His disciples, but to us today if we are His disciple. We are to be "fishers of men" if we follow Him.

Are we fishing? Or, did we fall asleep in the boat and forget what we set out to do?

Don't waste another day. Follow the Apostle's example by teaching and preaching daily in the temple and in every house. In other words, wherever you are, be a "fisher of men"!

Father, help us to remember this is why You have established Your kingdom in us--so that we will daily be teaching and preaching regardless where we are or what we're doing. Help us all to feel true urgency for the lost and to reach out with the message of Your saving grace. Lord, help me be bold. Help me be strong. Help me be a fisher of men. In Jesus' name, amen.

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15 KJV)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"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 allowing His light to be 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!

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. 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 which purchased 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. 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

"Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."  (Psalm 60:12)

Surely there is no argument—it is God who does all things for us.

But, while we agree He does all things for us, we have an obligation to trust, to obey and to have hope . . . the true badge of courage. If God is on our side, and He is, what need do we have for fear? In and of ourselves, we are weak, yet it is He that puts strength into us and inspires us with courage and resolution in the face of our problems. But as valiant as our actions sometimes seem, any and all success must be attributed only and entirely to Him; it is He that shall tread down our enemies, and not we ourselves. All of our victories are from Him; therefore, at His feet all our crowns must be cast.

Many times we adopt a "victim mentality" thinking that it is always someone else's fault that bad things are happening to us – that someone or something is always after us or that something will always go wrong because "bad things always happen to me". We look to blame others for our circumstances rather than taking responsibility ourselves. God expects us to take responsibility for every one of our actions and to bring ourselves (our motives and actions) into subjection to Him. And, although we may not be able to control every circumstance, we can control our response. We're not "victims" . . . a price too dear has been paid to purchase for us the VICTORY. We aren't "victims" . . . we're "victors". Victors through the shed blood of Christ, Victors because the Sovereign Victorious dwells lives in us, moves in us, and has established His throne in our hearts.

Acknowledge the victories He has won for you. Think about where you might have been had it not been for the Lord, then Praise Him for His work in your life today . . . and every day. Remember always that you are not a "victim" of any one or any circumstance; you are a VICTOR in Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Victorious King.

Lord, you are the Victor and because of You I am no longer a victim of circumstances. Because of You I merely fall benefit to the victories You have won. You are everything, and I am nothing. May my life be one of praise to You for all that You have done for you have tread down my enemies and freed me from the bondage of sin and death. Help me to remember always it is offensive to the completed work of the cross for me to adopt a "victim mentality" regardless of the circumstances. May I honor Your work by living a victorious life through Jesus Christ my Lord. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Amen.

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things
under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."  (Ephesians 1:17-23)

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

"I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not." (Song 3:2)

Read today's verse. Now, read it again and begin to feel the desperation of this one's "seeking"! It's a picture of a seeker, one who rises from bed, goes out into the city streets, into the broad ways, and seeks "him whom my soul loveth".

The word "seek" in this verse is translated as to "beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for)" . . . certainly not a casual want or desire! This is an intense seeking – a seeking that is a requirement, a seeking that even includes begging and striving to find! Seeking "whom my soul loveth . . ."

When was the last time you arose in the morning and set on a quest to seek the One whom your soul loveth? Or, perhaps it would be better to ask whom does your soul love? Wouldn't you say that that which we seek after is that which we love the most?

As we begin a new year, let's consider how seriously we take our daily search for the Lord. Where does the Lord fit into our daily schedule or routine? Is He first? Does He get snuck in where there are a few free moments? Does He get put off till we're so tired we can't keep our eyes open or our hearts focused? Is our seeking of the Lord an intense seeking? Have we become like some who may not even feel it necessary to be so intense about our pursuit of God?

This is a new year, a time of new beginnings, or at least a new start. Let's take advantage of this new year to examine our hearts and make a commitment to pursue God with all that is within us. That which we pursue with this type of intensity is that which we love. Do we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength? Then let's pursue Him whom our soul loveth in hot pursuit!

Isaiah 55:6 admonishes us, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." Pursue Him more than anything! Seek Him and you will find Him . . . that's a promise!

Father, I confess that my pursuit of You has often been weak and lacking the drive of one in hot pursuit. Father, I want this year to be different—to be a new start and a new beginning for me as I commit to seek You with all that is within me. Father, promised that if I seek You,You will be found. Lord, I want You – I want to know You, I want to know Your love more than ever before. I am determined to feel that desperation for You, to need You more than my very next breath. Help me to find "him whom my soul loveth"! In Jesus' name, amen and amen!

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt 7:7-8)

©Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved