IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009

There’s a song with the line: ‘Freedom is the Power to do Right!’ And pondering that brings on some reverse thinking: if freedom is the power to do right, then if I am doing wrong I must not be FREE. And If I am not FREE, what am I? Does doing wrong rob me of FREEDOM? But what is right and what is wrong? Don’t we essentially know innately what is right and what is wrong? Don’t we have a sense of “weight”, heaviness and just can’t feel at ease, just can’t breathe comfortably when we do wrong? Don’t we have that? Praise God we do! If we do not, our hearts have been seared. And that’s a whole other devotion. Bottom line is, doing wrong is bondage. Doing our own thing, if that thing is contrary to ‘Thus Saith The Lord’, is NOT Freedom. Freedom is the Power to do what is Right! I like that! So how free am I? How free are you? We are free to the degree we do the right thing, right?

Romans 7: 18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.] 19 For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.

A perfect description of Bondage, isn’t it? So where and how the FREEDOM? Where the POWER? Romans 7: 25 O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

There is POWER IN THE BLOOD. Not just in any blood; but just in the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ do we have the POWER to be free; the power to do the Right thing! And unless we are doing the right thing, we are not FREE. Are we?

Luke 24: 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Acts 1: 8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

And the Power of doing the Right Thing will witness in Jerusalem (in our homes), in Judea (in our community) and Samaria (the world even beyond us). Are we free? How free are we? How free do we WANT to be? That is the question!

 Psalm 145:

17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 

Father, thank You. Thank You that You have already made us Free; help us embrace that freedom; help us submit to the HOLY SPIRIT that You are in us and we will KNOW Freedom not just think about it but experience it. Thank You. Today is a new day; thank You. Thank You for new mercies today and Full Power to do the right thing all day this day; help each of us believe today. And Father, renew us all in mind and body and spirit and those who are ill and sick, restore them for Jesus sake. And comfort, guard, protect and empower our IDOK Troops to live and do right today. Bring a sense of urgency to the Body of Christ to do the right thing in all our comings and goings. Bring Your Blessed conviction upon every sinner and give grace and faith to repent for Jesus sake. Comfort, heal, encourage, correct, exhort, bring need provision to each one listed here. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Friends at work.

Public and Private School Teachers.

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

IDOKs Military Families.

IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.

Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html

Military at home – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran Josh.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

As I post this it is 46°F and smoke haze in Balad, IQ & the time there is 8:08 AM AST on January 29, 2009.