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

 

A Determined Commitment!

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof…but yield yourselves onto GOD… Romans 6: 12, 13

Gracious FATHER, since I have let things go and not really cared about anything, my life has turned upside down. Priorities got set to the side, because at the time they did not seem important. I did whatever I felt like doing without caring about the consequences, but now those decisions I made are catching up with me!

From my FATHER’S heart:

MY dearest child, you needed that wakeup call! That is why the HOLY SPIRIT brought those verses to your attention last night. “Stop letting sin have mastery over your life.” In your day to day living you need to stop giving in when confronted with sin. You can make all the excuses you want, but I see what is really in your heart, for nothing is hid from ME! You know what is right and what is wrong, for the answers are in MY Word, the Bible! So why not make that commitment today to do what is right? Remember, them that honour ME, I will honour!

My prayer: O LORD, please help me to get back on track, so that I don’t give in to whatever Satan sets in front of me. Let me stop and think of the choices I am making and what the cost of it will be in my life. Let me not stray from YOUR ways, in order to satisfy my selfish wants! Help me to have that determined commitment in my life to serve you!

With GOD we shall gain the victory!

Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With GOD we shall gain the victory, and HE will trample down our enemies. Psalm 108: 12, 13

O FATHER, will I never learn that turning to man will not help me?

From my FATHER'S heart:

MY dearest child, the HOLY SPIRIT led you to these verses today for a reason. You have fell back into the same trap of thinking that you can do it on your own or with the help of man, not just in your personal life but in your business life as well. No matter how many people promise to give you help it will not work because your help needs to come from ME.

Can I do things that men cannot do? Absolutely! Can I pick up the unfinished business where you left off because of despair and discouragement? Absolutely! When you feel there is no hope, can man give it or can I? People have given you advice, but has it worked? Have you ever wondered why it isn't working? It is because you need ME to win the victory over the things that are causing shipwreck in your life. I alone can give you the aid to overcome your enemies whether they be temptations, procrastination, sin or whatever. Why not change your attitude and your ways and come to ME for help. Let ME be the ONE you turn to! Make ME your top priority and let ME crush these enemies of yours so that you will realize that your help is coming from the LORD!

My prayer: O LORD, I must confess that no matter how hard I try to make things work it doesn't last. So today please help me to change my ways and turn to YOU for the help that YOU alone can give.

How long has it been since you talked with the LORD?

How long has it been since you talked with the Lord
And told HIM your heart's hidden secrets?
How long since you prayed, how long since you stayed
On your knees till the light shone through;
How long has it been since your mind felt at ease
How long since your heart knew no burden
Can you call HIM your friend how long has it been, since you knew that HE cared for you!

How long has it been since you knelt by your bed and prayed to the Lord up in heaven
How long since you knew that HE’d answer you—
And would keep you the long night through;
How long has it been since you woke with the dawn and felt this day is worth the living?
Can you call HIM your friend, how long has it been—
Since you knew that HE cared for you!

Music was written by Mosie Lister
Lyrics were written by Jack Field

Jim Reeves recorded “How long has it been,” three months before he died in a plane crash in July 1964.

Am I wrestling with GOD?

But Jacob said, “I will not let YOU go unless YOU declare a blessing upon me.”..and HE said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob (trickster, schemer, swindler), but Israel (contender with GOD); for you have contended and have power with GOD and with men and gave prevailed.”  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen GOD face to face and my life is spared...”  Genesis 32: 24-30

O FATHER, I confess that when I pray I do not wrestle with YOU till I get an answer, the way Jacob did.

From my FATHER’S heart:
I know that MY dearest child, and maybe things would change if you prayed like Jacob did. 

Have you ever stayed on your knees all night, burdened for someone or something?  Or is yours a quick prayer and then you crawl into bed and fall asleep?  What are your priorities? Have you met ME face to face overcome and overwhelmed with such a great need?  Are you earnest when you pray for loved ones that they will trust CHRIST as their SAVIOUR and be preserved from getting involved in this evil world?  Is there someone who is sick that you want to see healed?  Are your praying for financial burdens to be lifted, marriages to be healed, families to be brought back together, Christians to be preserved, etc? 

Whatever your prayer is, make sure that you are praying for the right reasons!  I want the circumstances to be able to be used by ME in such a powerful way, that they will know for sure that it was ME who answered your prayer!

My prayer:  FATHER, help me to pray earnestly and may YOUR power be seen in whatever answer YOU give!

When we fail, HIS compassions fail not!

I am not worthy of the least of all YOUR mercies, and of all the truth that YOU have showed unto YOUR servant...Genesis 32: 10

LORD, why would you have mercy on me when I fail YOU so many times?

From my FATHER’S heart:

MY child, have you forgotten that MY love is unconditional?  Have you forgotten that every morning the slate is wiped clean?  I give you a fresh opportunity to start again and again!  In Lamentations 3: 22-23 it says, “It is because of the LORD’S mercy and loving-kindness that you are not consumed, because HIS (tender) compassions fail not.  They are new every morning:  great and abundant is HIS faithfulness!” How can the words of these verses not give you hope? 

However, when you think of how you have been blessed so greatly by ME and of MY loving-kindness and divine compassion to you, should that not make you cry out in humility and appreciation for all that I have done for you!  Think of the different ways you have failed ME, and yet you have not been consumed!  Oh, what mercy!

Who on a daily basis shows goodness to you the way I do?  There isn't anyone!  That MY child is why it should cause your heart to overflow in ceaseless worship and praise to the ONE who bestows HIS mercy upon YOU daily, and keeps you in the hollow of HIS hand!

My prayer:  O FATHER, help me to be kept humbled when I think of who I am and who YOU are, and of all YOUR mercy and grace poured out upon me daily!