UPLIFTING DEVOTIONS

My name is Mary Bachert, and my husband Dan and I are both born again Christians and have been married for over 39 years. We have 4 children all married to their Christian sweethearts, and they have blessed us with 13 grandchildren.

It has been my passion to write for many years, but felt intimidated after comparing myself with others, who were far more talented, so I did nothing about it.  However, in July 2010, the LORD kept prompting me to obey HIM, and so began this devotional blog. I want GOD to use me as a vessel to bring honour and glory to HIM through these devotional outreaches. If there is one thing that I don’t want to happen, it is to realize at the end of my life, that the talents and gifts GOD gave me, I hid under a bushel. 

So may the LORD bless you as you read them and if they are a blessing to you, then share them with others.  Then, why not invest in eternal treasures that will last forever, rather than the temporal ones which will pass away.  Remember, it is never too late to start!

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME, that I am the LORD which exercises lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth:  for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.     Jeremiah 9: 23, 24

 

Do you have the faith GOD wants?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  But without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he that cometh to God must believe that HE exists, and that HE rewards them that seek HIM.   Hebrews 11: 1, 6, 8

O FATHER, I confess that so often my faith consists of “I hope” rather than “I believe.”

From my FATHER’s heart:

MY dearest child—your “hope” might only last for a few minutes, weeks or months, but faith doesn’t have a time frame, because it looks to ME and what I say!  Faith doesn’t come from positive or wishful thinking, like the world wants you to believe.  Oh you might see some results at times, but that is not Biblical faith.  Faith is not feelings.  Remember, that was the very thing you stumbled over before you trusted Christ. You thought Acts 16: 31 said, “Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and you shall feel saved, but you couldn’t drum up any feelings.  However, when you realized that it said, you shall be saved, at that moment you confidently put your faith and trust in ME and MY Word.  Was there someone standing there and literally handing you GOD’S salvation?  No, but by faith you believed and accepted what I said, and you have the promise and the proof from GOD’S Word, the Bible.

So MY child, why not bring your prayers and petitions to ME, and then believe that I will answer.  You can confidently put your trust in ME because I am trustworthy and I am the Truth!  It is impossible for ME to lie.  When I ask you to do something, obey, even when you don’t know how it will work out in the end. That is faith, and if you don’t have faith, then it will be impossible for you to please ME.

My prayer: O FATHER, help me to have that faith that trusts YOU, because of who YOU are and what YOU say!

Give me YOUR Wisdom, LORD!

How much better to get wisdom than gold!  Proverbs 16: 16

Heavenly FATHER, at the beginning of this New Year, will YOU please fill me with YOUR wisdom in every decision that needs to be made?  May I treasure this blessed privilege in knowing that I am YOUR child, and may I be kept from bringing dishonour to YOU or YOUR precious name in any way.  I know that I have failed YOU so many times, and that is why I am crying out to YOU for YOUR help.  O LORD, keep me pure until I breathe my last. Help me throughout my life here on earth, to live a life that is well pleasing to YOU.

I am reminded of David in Psalm 51: 1-12 when he could cry, “Have mercy on me, O GOD, according to YOUR steadfast love...Against YOU, YOU only, have I sinned and done what is evil in YOUR sight...wash me and I shall be whiter than snow...hide YOUR face from my sins... Create in me a clean heart, O GOD...Restore to me the joy of my salvation!”    

LORD, help me never to think that I am better than everyone else, for none of us are immune to the devils’ temptations. “Pride precedes a disaster and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall.” Proverbs 16: 18 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10: 12

And so my prayer for this New Year is: “LORD, keep me from sinning against YOU;  fill me with YOUR wisdom daily and help me to shine brightly so that others can see YOU through me!”

 

 

Deliver me from sin and temptation!

For we do not have a HIGH PRIEST (JESUS) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but ONE who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4: 15, 16 ESV

LORD, temptation comes in so many ways.  I confess that I overate these last few weeks.  It was all about satisfying my own needs at that moment, and even though I was prompted by the HOLY SPIRIT, I didn’t listen.  Everything was about “me” and I deliberately chose to leave YOU completely out of the picture!  FATHER, I have sinned. 

From my FATHER’S heart:

MY child, you are forgiven!  The day you trusted CHRIST, that verse in 1 John 1: 7 took effect. “The blood of JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S SON, cleanses us from all sin.”  That is past, present, and future sins, but remember, even though you are forgiven, there are consequences that follow sin.  

Let me remind you, that you don’t need to give into the foolishness of temptation.  You make the choice! “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”  James 1:14

When temptation comes your way, run from it!  You say it is impossible for me to run, because YOU don’t understand the circumstances.  I do understand, but don’t be so selfish by just thinking of you! All the devil wants you to think of is “the now”, not the guilt and everything that will follow.  If you don’t flee temptation, it will ruin you and have disastrous consequences on many others. 

So today, make it a priority to start reading your Bible, and begin memorizing scriptures so that you will be prepared to resist the devil and flee from him in times of temptation!  Ask for MY help when confronted and you can rest assured I will show you a way out, but you must choose MY way and not your own!

My prayer:  FATHER, help me daily to ask for YOUR help and that my choice and prayer will be “LORD, deliver me from this temptation!”
 

 

Too busy not to pray?

O FATHER, at this time of the year, things are very stressful and hectic, and time seems to slip away.  LORD I confess that other things are taking the place of praying and spending time with YOU!

From the FATHER’S heart:

MY child, why is it that?  Is it not worth your time to come to ME first thing in the morning, and to ask for MY help and wisdom throughout the day?  You say that you are stressed—is that because you are trying to do things on your own?  Do you not think that the very GOD of heaven could give you the strength and wisdom that you need?  So why aren’t you spending time with ME and praying, even if it is only a few minute?

Is it because you don’t love ME enough?  If you really do love ME, how are you showing it, because  love is proved by actions.   “For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM, should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3: 16  GOD so loved that HE gave HIS only SON!  Do you love ME enough to give back to ME?

My prayer:  FATHER, in JESUS name, forgive me!  Help me to love YOU more and to give back to YOU!  This Christmas season, may I be reminded that the reason JESUS came into this world, was to die on the cross to save me from my sins.

Rejoice, pray and give thanks!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you.   1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Gracious FATHER, as I read these verses I wondered why they are in that order because if it was me I would have put praying first, then giving thanks and then rejoicing, but that isn’t the way it is written.

From my FATHER’S heart:
MY child, do you know why that is?  It is because I want you to be rejoicing always, no matter what.  When you think of all I have blessed you with, should you not rejoice?  Should you not be delighted that you are born again, saved by the grace of GOD?  Should you not be happy that you are a child of the KING?  Are you not filled with tremendous joy when you think of all the blessings that you came into, the moment you trusted CHRIST?  When you think that I love you with an unconditional love, shouldn’t that fill you with gladness to the highest degree?  Rejoice MY child! MY only SON left MY side to come down to earth to be born of a virgin and laid in a manger!  The very GOD of heaven became man so that he could save you from your sins by dying on the cross, and bearing the judgment that you deserved.  HE provided a way for you to be in heaven, not by works but by HIS precious blood.  If that doesn’t cause you to experience joy and happiness, then there is something wrong.

So be joyful, and continue to pray without ceasing.  You have seen the miracles that happened in your family these last two weeks and you know that man could not have performed them.  It took “ME” working behind the scenes.  That is why you are to give thanks in all circumstances, because even though things might not be going the way you think they should, give thanks anyway.  You cannot see what I am doing, but I want you to know that according to MY plan, things “will” work out in the end!

My prayer:  O FATHER, help me to rejoice daily in YOU, to never give up praying and to be thankful, no matter what my circumstances.