The Sunday called "my eyes"

 An Emoji Devotions for Sun 7th March, 2021

Topic: The Sunday called “my eyes” 

By H.U. Wenger

In the old church order the Sunday has its name from Psalm 25, Verse 15: “My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare”.

Highlights: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with my eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

 “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” (Psalm 25:16 – 21)

The eye-contact is an utterly important thing in every conversation. Important things between partners are not resolved in writing or over the phone. We rather want a personal meeting in which the partners are face to face. The look into each other’s eyes, gives us some assurance. In first King 18 and 19 the Old Testament shows us a memorable example on what is going to happen, when a man of God loses the sight of the LORD’S eyes. 

Elijah has just fought the battle with the priests of Baal and he has been triumphant. All the people of Israel have shouted: “The LORD is God, the LORD is God!” And with it, they agreed to the demise of the 400 priests of Baal. After that triumphant day, King Ahab returned to his palace and he reported to his wife Jezebel all that has happened. Jezebel was enraged and he sent a message to Elijah: “May the Gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Because of that threat Elijah’s eyes have been diverted from the Lord and were now directed to the enraged Jezebel and so Elijah began to run for his life. He was so disappointed with God that he wanted to die from the hand of God. “I have had enough LORD. Take my life; I am not better than my ancestors.” The Lord does not argue with Elijah – he lets him sleep for a while and then gives him a new aim that makes him search again for the LORD’S face, for his eyes that will guide him on his way. Elijah learns that it is not the unrestricted powers of the LORD that conquer and convince with regard to the human soul. It is the goodness and love of God that causes man to turn around and to trust in the Lord, because he is the only one, who can release our feet from the snare. 

Elijah did meet God’s eyes again because the Lord guided him with his eyes and Elijah was willing to look into God’s eyes and follow his guidance. He gloriously finished his path and was finally raptured into heaven in a fiery chart. 

You may feel lonely and afflicted today. Your troubles may look invincible and you may be in great anguish. Turn your eyes again to the LORD. No Jezebel and no power of the earth is a match for the love and goodness of God. In him alone is your rescue and comfort. 

Prayer: Dear LORD, please help me that I will never divert my eyes away from you. Teach me your way and guide me with your eyes. Amen.

God will never forget you

 An Emoji Devotions for Sat 6 Mar, 2021

Topic: God will never forget you

Highlights: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16

Look around, if you can see what God is saying up in that highlighted Verse and you felt good about it, then I congratulate you. It takes being born again to SEE the kingdom of God. So many people can see but cannot recognise. But when you being a born again Christian could see and can recognise but forgets easily. No wonder Jesus gave a parable about a farmer sowing seed. "Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

God does not forget animals let alone the ones he created in His own image. (Read Matthew 6:26-34)

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!" Isaiah 49:15

Even if you forget this phrase in the future "remember, God will never forget you."

Prayer: God I pray to please hear me. Do not allow me to forget that you already have me in mind. Give me the spirit of remembrance and honour for you. In Jesus name. Amen

starting to look like each other

 An Emoji devotion for Fri 5 Mar ,2021

Topic: starting to look like each other

Text:For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Couples who are in tune with each other often mirror each other's habits and body language. It shows that there's emotional comfort and trust in their relationship. Scientists state that partners tend to change their own habits throughout their married life. For example, if one of them was trying to quit smoking and started eating healthy food, the other one often did the same.

You should start to look like Jesus. Are your true friends doing the will of God as you do?

"So don’t be foolish with your lives, but learn what the Lord wants you to do"

What does God want your friends to do.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

To offer their body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable... Romans 12:1

To not conform to the ways people of the world become desperate for social trends and fame. Romans 12:2

It is the will of God that they abstain from fornication. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Don’t be drunk with wine, which will ruin your life, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Eph 5:19a

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. Matthew 21:28-31

Start to look like each other. Start to think like each other. Mingle with people who do what God wants.

Prayer: Lord Jesus please give me grace to mingle with those who do your will and live with them peacefully. In Jesus name. Amen

Laban's Syndrome

 An Emoji Devotions for Thu, March 4, 2021

Topic: Laban Syndrome

Highlights: When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25

To succeed in this life is in God's hands but to fear and fail is orchestrated by the evil inside of you as what you think is not actually what God thinks. There is a syndrome in everyone born of a woman which I call the Laban Syndrome: It is the fear of failure leading to dependence on man's power rather than God's power. It is giving God a nod of approval to receive his trust but failing to deliver at the end. It is like giving an excuse all the time because you are enjoying  indulgence. Afterall I am not a judge and God is the King. If we are lucky enough our dream wife or husband could match 20% compatible with our life's expectations or none at all.  Stealing his older brother's inheritance, Jacob feared his brother's wrath and fled to Harran. ... And he got a job, he loved his job so Jacob served Laban seven years for Rachel;  and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. Gen 29:20 What is the Laban in your life? Your job or your quest to marry? And How have they shaped your life so far. Has any type of Laban switched your heartthrob for another one. What did you do to tLaban's syndrome and how did it affects you? Malachi 3:8

Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.

When God is speaking. Listen to what God is saying! Should people cheat God?  In what way have you been living in Laban's syndrome?

Prayer: God almighty, prepare and connect me through the Holy Spirit to you with a nice and cordial relationship. Help me to align well with you by fulfilling my vows and if I have owed you anything please pardon me. In Jesus name. Amen.

In the Valley of Baca

 An emoji devotion 4 Wednesday March 3 2021

Topic: In the Valley of Baca

Highlights: As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. Psalm 84:6

That which seemed an impediment turns to a furtherance; at least, no misery can be so great, no estate so barren, but a godly heart can make it a well, out of which to draw forth water of comfort; either water to cleanse, and make it a way to repentance; or water to cool, and make it a way to patience; or water to moisten, and make it a way of growing in grace; and if the well happen to be dry, and afford no water from below, yet the rain shall fill their pools, and supply them with water from above. If natural forces be not sufficient, there shall be supernatural graces added to assist them, that though troubles of the world seem rubs in the way to blessedness, yet in truth they are none, they hinder not arriving at the mark we aim at, they hinder us not from being made members of Sion, they hinder us not from approaching the presence of God. No, my soul, they are rather helps, for by this means we go from strength to strength, from strength of patience, to strength of hope; from strength of hope, to strength of faith, to strength of vision; and then will be accomplished that which David speaks here; Blessed is the man whose strength is in God, and in whose heart his ways are. Sir Richard Baker. 

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together; and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. Isaiah 11:6-7

Prayer: O Lord be my all sufficient helper in all times. Amen

Cattle Breeders Generations

 An Emoji Devotions for Tue 2 March, 2021

Topic: Cattle Breeders Generations

Highlights:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Abraham was a cattle breeder. He is the father of faith. In fact all Israelites have cattles. Job 42:12 - So the LORD blessed Job's latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. In Psalm 50:10

With so much cattles there will E very much milk and wool in the land. In Psalm 50:10  God said "every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills." Jacob served Laban for 14 years to rear cattles for him and David was a shepherd. When our Lord Jesus was born, God revealed it first to some shepherds in Bethlehem. (See Luke 2:10-12)

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” Luke 2:8-9 (NIV)"

There must be something special about cattle breeders which attracts God to them. Most important thing is that portray same qualities as God to protect their cattles.

They feed, they care, they nurture, they protect and even lay down their lives for their cattles. Isaiah 40:11 "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

Though there are bad eggs amongst cattle breeders but Jesus said in John 10:11-12 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

This is the reason why you surrender  your life to Jesus Christ and be one of his sheep. A sheep is soft-Hearted, upright, elegant. Sheep is a meek animal. They are usually very quiet and gentle, holding themselves aloof from the world.

Our Lord Jesus said in John 3:3 "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

Are you born again?

Prayer: Lord Jesus the good shepherd make me one of your sheep. Guide me, care for me and nurture me. I want to be born again into your sheep folds. I will be gentle, meek and mild to your commands as written in the Bible. Love you Jesus my shepherd. Amen.

How do I center my focus on God?

 An Emoji Devotions for Mon, 1 March 2021

Topic: How do I center my focus on God?

Highlight: Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalm 119:164

Happy new month to you from where you are! I wish all readers of Emoji Devotions glorious manifestations in spiritual awakenings this month. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

When Jesus said "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness". He is pointing to honourable worship and reverence to God. It is Most honourable way to live;- Let me show you something; when you have plans, who do you tell first? The most honourable way is to tell God first about it. By telling God first about your plans in secret shows you have refevence for Him. Note that I do not talk about the things you need*. I say it's most honourable to tell your plans to God first! "Seek ye first the kingdom..." means seek God's approval first before you *do* it. Have you ever prayed like this? "Dear heavenly father, these are my plans for today."

As a child of God, our maker is our father and he deserves to truly know what is going on in our lives. Some will say, "is He not God who knows all things?" But If God says " is she not my daughter who has sharp eyes to see, she does not need my help" . Which is more justified? Remember, When God left Job for Satan to handle?, see what happened to him within an hour: Job 1:14b-18 "....They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you (Job)!”

If what you are planning is really important then you need to tell God first so you can be justified when you are enjoying the reward.
If you do not learn from Job, you can learn from Jesus. Matthew 6:33

That is how to center focus on God.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.


Prayer Exercise: Give thanks to God for his support and protection. Tell Him about your plans for today, repeat same exercise each day. Write down the transformation you observe at the end of each week?