IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010

I want to tell you (like you don’t know it already) that GOD is AWESOME.  He CONTROLS everything!!! Even my itty bitty life.

Psalm 37: (New Living Translation) ²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Acts 8:1-13 And the persecution of the Early Church was on! JESUS told the Church in Acts 1:8 that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the remotest part of the earth.  It took persecution to move them out.

What will it take to move us out?  The command was to the remotest part of the earth … we still have not done that.  And now would you not agree that to the remotest parts of the United States of America the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST is needed?  What will it take to get you and me to proclaim the GOOD NEWS to America? Persecution?

So how is today Acts 8:1-13 a testimony to me that FATHER GOD is so in control?  Because the book that led me to Acts 8:1-13 is a book that I had been out of for well over a month and yet when I picked it up again, it was right on target, dovetailing and confirming that getting involved in the rescue of America is the right track for me.  And I dare say for IDOKs everywhere.

I’m telling you!  HE IS AWESOME!  He is in CONTROL of it all!!

So! What’s He speaking to you?  Do you have some ideas birthing in your heads as to what you can do?  If you do and if you will please share them with us.

See if you agree with Beth’s (Moore) Praying of God’s Word Today (page 130 of John 90 Days With The Beloved Disciple): “Like Paul–whom You used, oddly enough, to be a leading cause of scattering the early believers–I want to be able to say that I am grateful for difficult times, knowing that they actually result in the advancement of the gospel (Phil. 1:12) and a fresh sense of dependence upon You.  Therefore, I will not be ashamed when trouble comes, hoping that now as always, with all boldness, You will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:20). “

Philippians 1: ¹²Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

Philippians 1: ²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

And ending for today with a question Beth asked me on page 128. “In fact, when has ease and comfort ever drawn you closer to JESUS? Describe your walk with God when things are going smoothly. “

I’m not asking you to share your answer with me, but please do answer to the Holy Spirit.   A world of people are depending on our answers.

Again, we have come to that time we pray.  I’m here and they are there on the other side of their screens in various places, each of us with a calling on us from You.  And perhaps they like me have been talking this for a long time and wondering just when the talking will become walking.  Preparation is important and You are the King of it for this time was prepared by You before the foundation of the world so we trust You to rally us in our respective places to this Call upon us.  To whatever degree we are today prepared we are here and now reporting for service.  Today. Right now in JESUS NAME.  Today right now we invite You to display Your Glory through us in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.

And today right now in accordance with Your command we pray.  We pray for people.  People on our List for Prayer.  Our IDOK Soldiers. Our local churches.  Our Pastors and Leaders. Our children. Our grandchildren. Our friends and neighbors. Our spouses, sisters, brothers, cousins, nieces, and nephews.  Every living soul still on this planet that we have ever encountered however long ago.  For all of them and for ourselves we pray for a broken and contrite heart, a heart broken over our own sins and the sins of this Nation and the world; so broken that we will repent ourselves and for them and that You, Holy Spirit, will blow fresh wind and fire on us like we have never experienced before. Do not, LORD, do not allow us to say these words and get up from this screen and go on our comfortable ways and refuse to let You change us. Do Not do not let that happen to us.  I implore You, Holy Spirit, to come in Your Glory and breathe on us until we are consumed by You.  Come, LORD JESUS, Come.  Amen and amen.