Monday, February 13, 2012

Trust in God

"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?" -Isaiah 2:22 NIV


We all look to celebrities, to our families, to talk show personalities for answers to our problems. When a tragedy strikes a nation or a calamity occurs we turn on our television and see what the television personality says or call our family for answers. While people can offer advice that will satisfy our immediate needs, we can always find ourselves still in need of answers.

Instead of looking to man and trusting in man's pursuits, let us pursue God for His answers to the fears and worries of the world.


©2012 MLMichaels

Friday, February 10, 2012

"I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands...." --Daniel 9:4

We found part of this verse from Daniel in our devotion from Monday from the book of Nehemiah. Daniel quotes this verse from Nehemiah as a part of his prayer to God. Daniel was telling God how awesome He is through his prayers, later asking for forgiveness for his sins and the sins of his people.

When Daniel was finished with his prayer, the verse says that Gabriel, the same Gabriel that stood before Mary to give her good news and Zechariah to give him news of Elizabeth's pregnancy, came to him and told him in the 9th chapter, 22nd verse of Daniel,  "I have now come to give you insight and understanding."

It is interesting that for Daniel when he prayed this way about God, the steps were put in motion for Him to receive an answer from God.



© 2012MLMichaels

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Awesome is the Lord!

"How awesome is the Lord most High, the great King over all the earth!" --Psalm 47:2 NIV

"The Lord Most High is awesome beyond words, but this didn't keep Bible writers from trying to describe Him."1

It is interesting that as I try to write about God, I do just that, try. I find that the words I use are the same. The words are trying to describe an awesome, awe inspiring, terrific, tremendous God. Yet, even those words seem small compared to who God truly is.

Even the choicest vocabulary words with all of there deep meanings do not compare to who God is.


1-Life Application Bible. (1984). Study Notes. (1991) Tyndale House Publishers Inc. Wheaton, Ill.

© 2012MLMichaels

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Great and Awesome!

"Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God."--Deuteronomy 7:21 NIV


In the midst of suffering and fear we have a tendency to shrink back from life. We are afraid of the giants in the land who appear to be large and overwhelming.1  When faced with a large problem or a large fear, let us turn from looking at the problem or the fear and place our eyes on our awesome God.


1-Jeremiah, David. Dr. (2009). "Slaying the Giants in Your Life: You Can Win the Battle and Live Victoriously." Study Guide. Turning Point for God. San Diego, CA.

© 2012MLMichaels

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

God of gods!

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." --Deut. 10:17 NIV


I love listening to the song "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever".1 There is something about the words of this song that displays the majesty and awesome ways of God. It is wonderful to know that the Lord we serve is Lord above other lords, and God above other gods. He is "great, mighty, and awesome". 2

Lift you head today from the pain and anguish of the burden you carry and see the kind of God that you serve! Awesome!

1-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y7aus-UL_4&feature=related. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2011.
2- Life Application Bible. (1984). Verses. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, MI.

© 2012MLMichaels

Monday, February 6, 2012

An Awesome God

"O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands." --Nehemiah 1:5 NIV


I like to stand in our backyard and look out on the night sky, sometimes, and see all of the constellations in the sky. On a clear night the stars are so bright and so many that I am in awe. At times I wonder about how God created such beauty and such awesomeness. That kind of "awesomeness" could only come from an awesome God, one that inspires awe.1

When we think of all that God can do in the universe and how He created such great things, we can begin to realize that what we go through, although very wounding, is very small in comparison. I believe God loves us with such a fervent, real love that His awesomeness helps us put everything into perspective.

When life is overwhelming remember that life and all its problems are not so big in comparison to a great and awesome God.

1-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awesome. Retrieved Feb. 5, 2012.

© 2012MLMichaels

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Direct Your Hearts

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." -II Thessalonians 3:5

We've already discovered that the character of God is love and Christ's character is perseverance. When we are submitted to the Lord and to His timing in our lives, through the difficult times, He will direct our hearts in order to become more like God and like Christ demonstrating characteristics of the Father and Son. 1

1-Life Application Bible. (1984). Notes and Commentaries. Tyndale House Publishers Inc. Wheaton, Ill.

©2012 MLMichaels