Author Archives: lrbartel

Mar 08 2017
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Devos

“7 Wonderful Provisions from God for His People that Begin with the Letter ‘P’”

Anyone who knows me at all is aware of my warnings about poorly done topical Bible studies – the risk of taking Scripture out of context and actually distorting God’s word and misrepresenting what it says. So today’s post is a bit of an anomaly for me! This morning however, I really believe God dropped a precious topical Bible study into my heart. It began during my time of reflection during “coffee with the Lord” and continued developing during my morning “prayer run.” And I am not at all certain it is complete yet… perhaps more to come.

I’m entitling it “7 Wonderful Provisions from God for His People that Begin with the Letter ‘P’” … Enjoy!

  1. Pardon+ – Not simply pardon – “justification” – His forgiveness, pardon, and righteousness accredited to guilty sinners in need of a Savior. Romans 3:21-24; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
  2. Presence – “I will never leave you or forsake you!” Hebrews 13:5 (cp. Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Joshua 1:5-6); Matthew 28:18-20
  3. Power – “Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world” – 1 John 4:4; Ephesians 4:20-21
  4. Promises – “All the promises of God find their ‘yes’ in Christ” 2 Corinthians 1:18-20; 2 Peter 1:3-8
  5. Provision – “He will meet every need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19 cp. Matthew 6:25-33
  6. Protection – He protects those who are His own and doing His will. Psalm 91 cp. Luke 10:19; Acts 18:9-10
  7. Purposes – Even when experiencing the Heavenly Father’s discipline His purposes for us are positive and good and He will fulfill them in our lives! Jeremiah 29:11 cp. Hebrews 12:5-11
Mar 06 2017
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Devos

How “Coffee with the Lord” came to be… and its personal benefits in my life

Coffee with the Lord
My personal devotions have always been very important in my life since my senior year in High School! I would have to say they have been one of the very top reasons I have enjoyed a life of Spiritual victory and growth as well as effectiveness in Christian service. I attribute that to a high school teacher, Dean Shenaman, who happened to be a Christian. He impressed me because he saw the Christian life as an adventure, not merely a duty or responsibility and challenged me to spend personal time with the Lord daily.
 
This morning I was asked to share with the sophomore and junior classes at SAGU about the importance in my life of what I call “coffee with the Lord” (my personal devotions). Here’s a list of the benefits of “coffee with the Lord” – my regular personal devotions – that I shared with them…

A List of 12 Personal Benefits of Regular Devotions

  1. Solutions to persistent concerns and issues in my life have often been revealed to me during my time of daily devotions.
  2. Some of the most creative ideas and effective ministry strategies have surfaced during my time of daily devotions.
  3. My daily devotions provide a regular opportunity for me to hear God’s voice and communicate with Him about my concerns.
  4. A consistent devotional life provides a regular opportunity and context for God to speak to me about what He considers to be the important issues in my life.
  5. My ability to resist temptation and overcome “besetting sin” is directly linked to the regularity and quality of my devotional life.
  6. My daily devotions provide a regular opportunity for me to gain perspective on the issues of my life and give me an opportunity to receiving Spiritual refreshment.
  7. The “satisfaction quotient” of my personal relationship with God is directly related to the quality of my devotional life.
  8. I’ve found that those I lead tend to emulate my devotional life (that’s either very good or very frightening).
  9. I’ve discovered that effective ministry flows from a “full reservoir” – Keep your reservoir full!!
  10. Worship becomes richer and God more real to me as a result of my regular times in His presence.
  11. I’ve discovered that when I have devotions regularly my relationship with the Lord is an exciting adventure, not simply a duty or an obligation.
  12. Not only that, when I have daily devotions… I grow! Grow!! GROW!!!

 

Mar 06 2017
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Devos

I pray, not based upon my merit or righteousness, but His forgiveness and grace!

prayer-for-forgivness
I just finished reading Psalm 17 this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord.” Oh how I wish I were able to appeal to God to answer my prayers based upon my own righteous and sinlessness, as David seems to do in this Psalm! I can’t! I know how many times I’ve fallen – I’m deeply aware of the times I’ve failed!
 
In Psalm 17 David said, “Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! … You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing… My steps have held fast to your paths my feet have not slipped.” (vss. 1, 3, 4-5)
 
Could you make that claim and use it as the basis for your appeal for God to answer your prayer? I can’t! In fact, I think (no, more than that – I know) that apart from the forgiveness and grace of God, neither could David! (If you doubt that you need to read Psalm 51 and II Samuel 11-12). It was David who said, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened: He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!” (Psalm 66:18-20)
 
So my appeal to the Lord to answer my prayer must be based upon God’s forgiveness and grace, not my personal merit! I must come to the Heavenly Father in the Name and merits of Jesus, the Righteous One, my Savior! That being said, as a child of God, I can make David’s words in Psalm 17 my own (and I do!)…
 
“Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer… From Your presence let my vindication come! Let Your eyes behold the right! … I call upon You, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me; hear my words. Wondrously show Your steadfast love! … Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings… As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with Your likeness.” (From Psalm 17 ESV)
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