​“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.”     John 4:23-24

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Jesus Himself uttered today’s verse to the woman He met at the well in Samaria after she explained “where” she worshipped God. Yet instead, in His response He explains, what “type” of worship God truly requires of us.
 
Some of us go to church out of rote; we simply have kept the tradition of going week after week, because it was fostered by our parents and grandparents. So, we walk in broken and unfulfilled, and we walk out cloaked the very same way. We utter pleasantries, hear the Word, then leave; and, although God may speak directly into our lives while there, we enact no change. So, what’s the point?   If you are coming out the same way that you went in, with no change to your spirit or your truth, what is really the point?
 
In the case of the Samaritan woman at the well, God spoke directly into her life. The truth of her life was that she felt spiritually unfulfilled, ostracized, and completely unworthy. This was her truth. God already knew it; and, this truth is what He needed for her to bring to the altar. And yet, she came day after day to the wellspring thirsty and unfulfilled; worse yet, leaving God in the very same state, thirsty and unfulfilled in reference to her life.
 
The idea of worship in Spirit and in Truth is exactly what it says.  It is the relinquishing of your Spirit to God, where you bring the issues of your existence to the altar for purging.  It means bringing the truth about your feelings, fears, hopes, dreams, desires, and aches to the altar. It means that, if you walked in with a pending issue, that issue is left at the altar when you leave. We are in the midst of a new year; do you still want to do the same old thing?  Do you leave Jesus at the well, thirsty for the utterance of your truth, unfulfilled with the relinquishing of your spirit?  Or, are you really ready to make the necessary changes to be fully quenched in Spirit and in Truth?  Like all things pertaining to God, it comes down to one decision. Do you allow Him to lead your life or not?   The decision is yours alone.
There really is no middle ground –it is either yes, or no.  L.
 
Study Reference: John 4:4-32, John 4:23-24, James 5:12
From: “In Spirit and In Truth.” In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
Photo credit: istock

“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest ye fall into condemnation.”  
James 5:12


Several years ago I was involved in the development of a business with a young man.  As it happens, in a telephone conversation one day, I could not decide whether the answer to his question was, yes or no.  "Well, yes.”  I said. “--I mean no! --Let's just say, maybe!"  I continued, moving my answer back and forth within seconds.  He paused for a short time, and said, "Did you know that the Bible says let your yes be yes, and your no, no?"  The line was silent as he waited for an answer. "Yeah right!  --You know you just made that up!" I said. "--I've never read that in the Bible!"   "No,” He said. “It really does say that."   Oh, really?"  I said, a little sarcastically, "--Find it!"  
​Later that day he called me back, his smile easily coming through the  phone. "—Found it, James 5:12."  As I read the text, I began laughing, "You gotta be kidding!" I said.  There was way too much glee coming from his side of the telephone. "See, I told ya!”  He said, as he laughed out loud. “Now, which one is it, yes or no?" 

The Bible speaks about integrity in many places; and to be certain, Jesus himself presented the concept in various parables so that we could fully understand what it means to value our words. As it happens, today’s passage is actually found in two places in the Bible. A friend once said to me after some level of my teasing him, "Many a truth is spoken in jest!"  -And the truth is, I notice you rarely say anything you don't really mean."  Years later, I realized that I, like so many people, place an inherent value on the words people actually say; and, my expectations regarding what they will do comes directly from their very own words, whether they value them or not. 

We all know someone who speaks flippantly and does not value his or her words, promises, or commitments. Sometimes, this behavior comes from disappointments in childhood where the adults in their midst did not honor their words; so, words lost their value.  In other cases, it stems from the person trying to do so many things at once that, they fall short of their commitments, disavowing their own words. Either way, whether they know it or not, it defines their integrity. 

If you say it, do it. If you really don’t want to do it, say "No." Honor what you believe, and maintain your integrity; because, in the end, it will be one of the few things that count.  L.

Study Reference: James 5:12, Matthew 5:36-37
Excerpt from: "Is It Yes or No?"  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”      
Matthew 6:24

 
Whom do you serve? —Are you torn between two loves?
Most people believe that the Bible says, "Money is the route to all evil, or the root of all evil."  However, money is not the route to evil or the root of evil; it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. —The choice is simple, is God your provider or your money?   

Let’s be honest, money is used to purchase or transact an exchange for the goods and services we need.  In our modern society, it is the rate of exchange for a determined value for the work we do.  If we lived in a society that worked only on a barter system, we would use something else. There are societies all over the world where people barter or exchange knowledge, information, talent, skill, etc., for food, room, board, goods or services. However, for most of us, cash money is the exchange currency we use. It allows us the freedom of choice to select, as we wish, those things that we may not otherwise have access to. The issue is, do we recognize that God is our provider and not the money?

I listened to a young woman, a well-known performer, tell an interviewer how she had just finished a nine-day concert tour attended by thousands of fans; yet, upon going back to her hotel room, she felt complete loneliness and an innate longing for someone to care about her, as a human being—not a performer.  During the same interview, in a moment of introspection, she told the interviewer that, the overwhelming thought of how God had blessed her life, had moved her to tears. So much so, she began to ask Him the question, “Why me?”  In other words,  "Lord, why have you blessed me so abundantly?"  The depth of honesty in her question was truly emotional, for her and the audience.  It made viewers stop to think about their own blessings. 

A few days prior to this, I listened as she spoke to another interviewer while they traveled via limousine; he asked her about her extraordinary wealth.

“You have done quite well in marketing your "brand." —What about the money?” He asked, smiling.  His fine British accent polishing what would otherwise be a truly tacky question.
“It’s just money,” she said matter-of-factly. “—It buys things.”   He nodded in agreement, then added, “Yeah, —but it’s good to have it!”   
“I don’t really think about it.” She said, “That’s what it allows you to do, —not to have to think about getting it. There was a time when we didn't have it.”   She continued.  “Yeah, now we don’t have to think about how we are going to pay the bills. --That’s what it does; it allows you the freedom to not have to think about it.”  

Don’t get confused about money. Sometimes it is a by-product of something you have done. Sometimes it is a windfall, a spontaneous blessing through no effort on your part. But, it is not your provider; it simply allows you to be able to do whatever it is that God has planned for your life, monetarily.  But, don’t be fooled.  God is the provider, and there are multitudes of things that are accomplished every minute of every day without the originator spending one dime of their own money. If God is your provider, whatever you need in order to accomplish His will, can easily be accomplished whether you have money or not, surpassing your greatest expectations.  

Just remember, you will have to eliminate the confusion of trying to serve two masters.  —So, make up your mind; is God, Jehovah Jireh --your Provider, or is it your money?   L.  

Study Reference: Matthew 6:24, 1 Timothy 6:6-12, 6:17-19,  1 Chronicles 29:11-12
From: "Whom Do You Serve." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock

“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”      2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 
I believe this is my favorite verse by far!  It lists the troubled state of various human circumstances; from the nagging feeling of being troubled, to the state of being cast down. It helps us to remember we are not our circumstances.  But, just in case you need a reminder:

If you are feeling troubled on every side, Jesus offers you faith, understanding that nothing can harm you, or hinder your life without God offering you a way out. You are not distressed, fearful, or weary.  You feel strong with the confidence of knowing your heavenly Father is only a prayer away.  

Or, maybe you are feeling a little perplexed. That nagging feeling of confusion when you believe something should have one outcome, but somehow it goes in a completely different direction than the one you prepared or prayed for. Nevertheless, you regroup, retrain, and prepare for a new strategy so you can achieve the desired outcome.  You are calm. You are neither desperate or in despair.  You have no fear. God has your back; of this, you are certain.  Despair is for those who do not know God; those who have no concept of hope, faith, or trust in our Savior.  

Maybe you are the one in this group who is feeling a bit persecuted by those in your surroundings. Your friends have forsaken you, your colleagues are against you, and your family is just not giving you what you need to soar to the top. You feel lonely and persecuted.  But, you know God has not forsaken you.  Your hope is in His promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you, even when everything and everyone else fails.  

And, for those of you who are on the verge of feeling completely cast down, or feel as if you have been left on the ground to be trampled and stoned; remember, what does not take your life, will only make you stronger.  Like a prize fighter training for the heavyweight championship, you may fall down during a bout, but the floor is not where the fight is.  Go back to your prayer corner, replenish yourself, refresh with the Word of God, and go right back in there and finish the fight; you will not be destroyed!  As a matter of fact; your opponents were fortunate the first time. The first time you were not prepared; you did not know they were going to cheat—hurting you in your most vulnerable spot.  You mistakenly thought they would have compassion.  This time you know; you are ready for anything!  And more importantly, you understand that no one; no entity, no power or principality can take from you what God has already ordained for your life!  Yes, cast down; but, definitely not destroyed!  L.  

Study Reference: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 4:6-16
From: "Cast Down, But Not Destroyed." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: cloudfront

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​“Hear My prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me and in Thy righteousness. Cause me to hear Thy loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.”   
Psalm 143:1, 8 


Think about this for a moment; why do you pray?  Are you a petitioner? Are you a repenter?  Are you a pleader?  Or, maybe a negotiator?  Or, could you be a complainer? 

Consider this; if you were listening to your own prayers, what would be the overall theme of your prayers?  Would your prayers sound like, “Oh Lord, help me get through this day! I can’t stand those people I work with!” Or, “Lord, forgive me.  I continue to do the things I shouldn’t do.”   Or, possibly more like, “Help me, oh Lord, I need …I need...
​…I need.”  

Do you find yourself praying and asking God for more things in your prayers rather than simply praising God for his overall presence and mercy in your life? Are you thanking Him for the air you breathe? —For the legs you stand on?  —The eyes you see through? 

As Christians, God is our cavalry in times of trouble—the ultimate knight in shining armor who destroys our foes and clears our path. However, sometimes we forget that the holistic power of prayer is to maintain the spiritual bond that forms the foundation of our relationship with God. It is less about asking for things, and more about praising God for His goodness, presence, and mercy in our lives.  It is the love within our spirit thanking God for the Glory of His presence in this world, in our land, and in our lives.  

It is honest gratitude, including gratitude for our problems; gratitude, with the understanding that there is an evolutionary process that occurs in discovering the solution and receiving a breakthrough.  It is the profound understanding of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He said, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42   It is our keen awareness that there may be something we may want, yet cannot receive, because it is not part of our evolutionary process, or spiritual development to receive it as yet. 

Our prayers are extremely complex. During our prayer time, God communes with us; speaking and guiding us in the divine direction of our daily lives.

Obviously, there will be instances when we earnestly petition God; times when we will plead for forgiveness, ask for direction, beg for mercy, or even complain about a particular circumstance. And, there will be times when we pray for ourselves and intercede on the behalf of others. However, let us not forget that the foundation of our overall prayers should always be to maintain a thankful heart filled wholly and simply with gratitude.   L.   

Study Reference: Psalm 143:1, 8; 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6
From: "Got Prayer?" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: istock

​"Nevertheless, My loving kindness will I not take away from you; nor suffer My faithfulness to fail, My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips."  
Psalm 89:33-34


Throughout the Bible, there were many instances where God prophesied a future occurrence in the lives of His people. He did so in the lives of Abraham, Samson, David, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary, to name a few.  Yet, they all had to wait to see the manifestation of His promise.  Why should you be any different?

Sometimes, we will receive a vision of a future event in our lives while we are still in the midst of an arduous or trialing situation. We remember the prophesy; and yet, it appears as though it will never manifest. Then, we somehow get the inclination that we should help God in producing the vision, and so we do not wait for God’s direction; only to find out, our timing was completely off.  Our waiting becomes a burden, our trust in God becomes an issue, and disappointment appears to become our closest friend. However, do not be dismayed.

You received the vision so you would not lose faith. It was a key; a look into your own future to offer hope, patience, and strength when those arduous and trialing times became way too burdensome. God promised you a better future and will not falter.

According to today’s verse, even on the worse days when your trust and faith is at its lowest, God says, He will not take His loving-kindness from you. His faithfulness will not fail, and nothing that He has promised you will He alter from your life. It is right there in your Bible in black and white.
–Hallelujah!  –Isn't that a terrific prophesy for your life!   L.

Study Reference: Psalm 89:33-34
From: "A Prophesy In Your Life."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: shutterstock

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"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22


We try to obey God by acting as Christ-like as we dare, by reading our Bible and by controlling ourselves as humanly possible. But, if we are honest, we really are no different than the Children of Israel were with Moses. 

Every time I see the movie, 
The Ten Commandments, I think to myself, Pharaoh was a fool!   If I were king, I would have listened! Then I think about the Children of Israel, and think to myself, they just did not get it; didn't they remember the plagues, the promises, or the parting of the Red Sea?  How could they forget the manna and hordes of quail falling from the sky? It was as if the memories of their victories were erased.  Somehow, they forgot all those times when God miraculously brought them through their trials and tribulations. 

Then I think about all the many predicaments God has brought me through. My own personal parting of the Red Sea, where He made “a way, out of no way;” and where obeying would have played a major factor, had I done so. For most of us, obedience has a cost.  Sometimes it cost love, sometimes instant gratification, sometimes friends. 

When we see depictions of Satan, the master of Sin, he is grotesque with horns; however, we know this image is not biblical. The truth is, Sin on the facade is alluring, sexy, enticing, and many times can appear beautiful, at least at the onset. However, we know that no matter how good it can be in the beginning, the consequences will have a lingering effect on our lives. Whatever the cost, obedience to God will eventually bring you ultimate joy!
Yes, it sounds like a cliché; but, it is true nonetheless.  L.

Study Reference: 1 Samuel 15:22, Ezekiel 28:13-15
From: "The "O" Word." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: shutterstock

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“Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith produces patience.”   
James 1:2-3


Patience is one of the hardest things for us as Christians; and, God works with us on a continuous basis to learn the art of patience.  The issue with patience is, our time is limited. We want, what we want, now, not later. It is indicative of our generation. We have learned how to make things faster, streamlining as many things as possible, taking out some of the extraordinary to make room for the mundane and the ordinary. We have become so accustomed to the basic, when we see something just a little above ordinary, we are inspired. 

Take a look around; we have fast food, fast lanes, quick-dry, instant-this, and instant-that.  Gone are the days of slow-brewed, slow-broiled, homemade, and hand-done. The problem is, although we want everything as quickly as possible, God’s timing is still the same.  A day is still 24 hours; and, one year is still 365 days, give or take a leap year.  And although calendar days were originally named by men, “the rising of the sun and the going down of the same,” still represents one day. God’s original clock works on a schedule, both for days and for human beings. This has not changed since the beginning of time.

For most of us, patience is a problem; I am no different. If I could walk faster without running, type faster without practicing, and learn more without studying, I am certain I would sign up in a minute. But the truth is, everything takes time—everything.  We are the decision makers of what we do with our time.  Even when we seemingly have no choice, we have a choice.  We have the choice to work and be miserable, or to work and be thankful.  We have the choice to wait on line with patience, while doing something that interest us, or wait in line tapping our foot and complaining about the slowness of the process.  We have the choice to spend our time with people we love, or waste it with mundane onlookers who could care less about our life. We have the choice to learn something new every day, expanding the horizon of our knowledge; or to sit back comfortably believing we know everything we need to know in this life, remaining closed-minded and archaic.  

...Learn to have patience. Patience with what you do, with whom you love, with what you learn, and more importantly, with God. God answers all prayers necessary for you to have the best of the life you have chosen for yourself. Respect those things not chosen for you and understand that somehow they are not distributed to you for a reason. Acknowledge those things placed in your life, taking the time to reflect backwards so you can learn how certain decisions made in the past have resulted in the here and now. Have patience. Patience removes fear. Be patient; for God created time, and time always wins whether you are patient or not.  -L. 

Study Reference: James 1:2-3
Excerpt from: "Patience:" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Peter Gridley / Getty

​​"Fear thou not; for I Am with thee: be not dismayed; for I Am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of  My  righteousness.”    
Isaiah 41:10 

 
Although we are the first to encourage others, occasionally, even Christians wonder if God listens to our petitions.  This is something we do not like to admit to non-Christians, and sometimes, not even to other Christians, yet it is true.  We really don’t want anyone to know that God may or may not be speaking with us; or, even worse, we may or may not be listening to God.   It is not because our love is in question; it has more to do with our human frailty—our inquisitive nature.  The inquisitive nature that got us into trouble in the first place; those imposing, nagging questions that were created by sin to disrupt our armor of faith. 

We question our certainty that God will come through for us; we wonder whether He will come through in time, and we consume time querying what the outcome will be.  Because of our human frailty, we forget that in God’s economy, the outcome is simply a by-product of the process, even though the process is the part most of us would prefer to skip. 

In this era of our “faster is better” culture, it is difficult to wait for anything.  Yet the slowness of the process is precisely the part that builds our fortitude—it molds and strengthens our character closer to the character of Jesus.  The same goes for your individual circumstance.  Your circumstance is part of the journey, and the journey is part of the process. 

Wherever you are in your journey with God, embrace the process.  Do not bother to try to rush through it; you will only get out of it after you have learned the necessary lesson or lessons to move on.  Learn to strengthen your armor of faith so like the many characters in the Bible, you get through the process armed with the lessons you have learned for the next leg of the journey. Remember, Jesus has not left you; He is simply leading the way and waiting for you.  L.   

Study Reference: Isaiah 41:10  
From: "Embracing The Process. (I)" In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Rui Silvera

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”       
Jeremiah 29:11-13
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American writer, Henry David Thoreau, was born in 1817. He wrote in an era when the male majority literally had all the privileges of a new independence. Yet, he is credited with the quote: “Most men [and women] lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Thoreau wrote this statement contemplating his own personal understanding of quiet desperation and that of mankind.

At some point in our lives, we all suffer from secretly living in quiet desperation. For most of us, it occurs when we believe we are not fulfilling, or have no hope of realizing our God-given potential. For others, it is the full acceptance of mediocrity, both in themselves and others. It is safer to continue in the mundane routine of our daily lives, than to take the risk of the unknown, to break free of the quiet unlit embers that have somehow quelled the fire in our souls.

In today’s verse, God reminds us that no matter how dismayed we become, His thoughts towards us are of Divine Love and complete peace. No matter how discouraging our circumstances, when we call on the name of Jesus, the verse says, He will hear our plea and respond. There is absolutely no reason to go through your life in quiet desperation. At some point, you will have to really believe that God values your life’s potential.  After all, He was the One who placed it in you to begin with.

Take the time to really read your Bible; it was created to inspire deep internal thought about your life in relation to God. Use it as the ultimate tool to guide you in understanding the God-given potential for your life. Pray for guidance to alleviate any inner doubts so that you can internalize the depth of God’s Love towards you. Continue to write down your thoughts as you read. It will recalibrate your thinking to foster action, helping you to develop a keen awareness of your life’s purpose; and, eliminate that quiet desperation we often feel.  Believe that God values your life’s potential, because the contrary would be to agree with Thoreau, and, go to the grave with your song still inside you.  L.

Study Reference: Jeremiah 29:11-13 
From: "Quiet Desperation." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

​“But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid..."    Matthew 14:27-31


Generational strongholds exist in the lives of all human beings. These strongholds are passed down through a combination of community influences and family issues.  It is a level of fear inspired by many things; race, gender, community, class, etc.  I recently read about an experiment where the speaker asked two volunteers from his group to walk in opposite directions. Then he asked the group he was presenting the experiment to, to try to keep their eyes on both men. Of course, it was impossible. The onlookers had to make a choice on whom to keep their focus. The same concept exists in Christianity. You cannot keep your eyes positioned on Jesus Christ (faith) and the principles thereof, and keep your eyes on fear. Both fear and faith cannot live in the same spiritual realm within you, one must take precedence over the other. One may say, "We fear God." However, our fear is not of His power, we understand His omnipotence, but of His disappointment in us. (That’s another discussion for another day)

It's true; some of the strongholds that exist in our lives may keep us from repeating the failings of our parents, i.e. alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual misconduct, poor execution of finances, etc. But many times, it is simply fear. A disabling fear that stops us from accomplishing all that God wants us to accomplish. A fear that secretly tells us that we are not worthy of fulfilling God’s desire for our lives. Why should we allow F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real) to dictate the Divine purpose God has created for each of us?

It goes back to the story of Peter seeing Jesus walking on water. As long as he kept his eyes focused on Jesus he was fine; however, as soon as he began focusing on his surroundings, in this case, the rolling ocean, a perfect metaphor for the inherent drama of life, he immediately began to sink. (Matthew 14:24-32)

So remember, your surroundings are irrelevant; your bloodline is irrelevant. The uncertainties of the future are irrelevant. The stronghold that may be gripping your family, your life, or your past is irrelevant. Release your fear, keep your eyes focused on Jesus Christ, and fulfill your Divine purpose. L. 

Study Reference: Matthew 14:27-31
From: "Releasing Fear." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
​photo: huffpost

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“And Abraham was ninety years and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.”   Genesis 17:24


Have you ever thought it was too late for something miraculous to happen to you?  Or, it was too late for an extraordinary transformation in your life? Maybe you believe you are too old to go back to school; or, too old to have the children you always wanted; or, too old to get married, or remarried. Maybe you are out of shape, and not as healthy as you may have liked. Maybe you always wanted to see the rest of the world, but you stayed confined to your own backyard. Maybe you wanted to write a book, a play, or a script; produce a show, play an instrument, start a new career, or just change your lifestyle. 

It could be that you think your time has passed; now you have a family, children, and a mortgage. Maybe you are that person who truly hates your job, your home, or your surroundings. Maybe you simply want a change. Where can you start? Well, if you are like the “father of many nations,” Abraham, you could start with faith. 
The Bible says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God…"

Abram was seventy-five years old when God told him he was due for a lifestyle change. God asked him to leave his homeland and his kinsmen to venture into a completely new territory. Armed with only his trust in God, and accompanied by his wife Sarai and his nephew, Lot, he boldly ventured into the unknown... —So,...
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...Don’t be afraid if God asks you to step out of your element. Don’t be ashamed of your age, gender, race, appearance, income, household, background, training, or anything else that can be used as an excuse. Know that whatsoever He has asked you to do will be to your life’s benefit. You will be covered, enriched, provided for, and protected. Simply remember, a heavenly covenant has already been established in your name. Take hold and have faith. L.

Study Reference: Genesis Chapters 12 through 17; Matthew 6:30-34
Excerpt from: "Never Too Late. "In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Denis Tabler -adobe stock

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“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”  
Psalm 37:3-5


The Children of Israel learned how to move with God. —But, let’s be real, they really did not have a choice. The presence of God was within their sight as a beautiful cloud, keeping them sheltered from the desert sun by day; and, as a pillar of fire by night, keeping them warm and toasty from the harsh desert wind. They moved when God moved. For them, moving was easily discernible; they could see God’s presence with their eyes. However, given only their faith to go on today, I wonder how they would react. 

Praying and waiting for God to tell you when to leave or not, you have to admit, can be a little frustrating. Suppose it’s a move to a job you need? Or perhaps, moving from an undesirable situation to what appears to be another undesirable situation? —Or, for that matter, staying put? And, this is when you actually have an opportunity to leisurely select between one decision or another. What happens when you feel desperate? What about when your bills are piling up, the cupboards are bare, and you can’t find the resources. --What then? 

The Children of Israel had an amazing visual every day and evening to keep them focused. You do not have God in your sight. --Or, do you?  We see God’s beauty in the earth every day. We have only to look around to see the marvelous works of His hands.  In addition to this, we have His Holy Word as our guide; and, our prayers as our conversations with Him. No matter how much we may lack patience, our Bible says to pray for what we need. So, whether it is an answer to a problem, or help in discerning between several options, like the Children of Israel, we always have God within our midst.  Most of all, remember that our Bible says in Psalm 37:3-5: 

​“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of your heart. Commit your ways unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”
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Continue to trust, pray, and have faith. --You will know precisely when He needs YOU to move.  L.

Study Reference: Psalm 37:3-5   
From: "Moving With God." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Yasu+Junko

​“And the Lord spake unto me, saying, Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward.”               Deuteronomy 2:2-3


​Have you ever felt as if you were going in circles around a mountainous experience, experiencing the same issues over and over again, literally getting nowhere fast?

The children of Israel traveled in the wilderness and around the mountainous region of Sinai for 40 years, instead of what was supposed to be a few days journey across the Jordan River into the Promise Land. Their rut around the mountain was orchestrated by God to eradicate their disbelief and corruption. Then one day, God speaks to them in today’s verse saying, "You have spent enough time circling the mountain, time to change direction."
I am not certain which direction they were going, but we know one thing for certain, it was not north!

Every once in a while, we may feel as if we are in a rut, traveling in a circle, experiencing the same thing over and over again. It is as if you are in the same long-running Broadway play using the same set but different actors, feeling frustrated and underwhelmed.  Yet sometimes, the “routine” or “rut” experience has been orchestrated by God to help you eradicate some issues from your life. For the children of Israel it was disobedience, disbelief, lack of faith, and corrupt morals. For us, it may be lack of forgiveness, disobedience, faithlessness, and lapses in integrity. It can almost appear hopeless, because nothing you do seems to be able to pull you out of it.  And, your prayers seem to fall flat, because somehow you know this is exactly where God wants you to be at this time.

If so, know that there is a lesson or lessons you will have to experience and/ or learn first, in order for you to move forward to fulfill God’s greater expectation. Pay close attention to the lesson, so that when the time comes, you will hear the distinction in The Voice that says, “You have compassed this mountain long enough; turn ye northward!”  L.

Study Reference: Deuteronomy 2:1-3, Psalm 51:10-12
From;"Circling The Mountain." In The Master's Hands; 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Mauricio Sewell

​"Now to Him that is of Power to establish you according to His gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made   known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”  Romans 16:25-26


“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of [God’s] Vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”  This statement was written by the late Poet Audre Lorde; I took the liberty of replacing her word “my,” with the word “God”.  We have to assume when Ms. Lorde wrote this statement she was referring to her own vision for her life.  However, the word powerful seems more profound and fortified with God in the text. 

When we are given the power to step out of the ordinary to embrace the higher aspects of ourselves, we can opt to be fearful, or dare to embrace the possibilities of life and run with it.  Throughout the Bible there are examples of those who chose to embrace God’s power in their lives, simply to find enough trouble to fulfill multiple chapters and verses. Yet endure they did, embracing the process and fulfilling their purpose.  God never said it would be easy, He said, “My Grace/strength is sufficient unto thee.”   2 Corinthians 12:9

There are some aspirations you will have that, unbeknownst to you, are divinely inspired; times when you simply are not certain how you came to want a particular thing for your life, yet somehow the dream lives and burns in the depths of your soul, waiting to be fed, nurtured, and birthed in the reality of your existence.  Do you dare to fulfill its calling, or do you simply fear its strength, cower into yourself, and vanish?  

There will come a time when you are summoned to use your strength in the service of God’s vision, and you will have to decide whether you have one or the other; overwhelming fear immobilizing God’s vision for your life, or enough over-powering faith to conquer your fears and put the vision in motion.  L.  

Study Reference: Romans 16:25-26 
From:"Power to Endure."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell ​
photo: Olympian

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before …I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  
Philippians 3:13-14 
 

Personal study and prayer answers all questions. However, sometimes we need the openness of another person to explain, or to understand, an answer we received in prayer that we are reluctant to listen to. When I was younger, I was committed to meditation.  I somehow believed that by meditating I would learn the answers to the questions I found perplexing.  It was not until I became an adult that I learned it was more productive to meditate on the Word of God, to gain an adequate understanding about the things I questioned. Then, I met a young man who would help me to understand more about God than any other individual I knew at the time. He questioned e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about God, forcing me to actually pay more attention to what I was reading, and intently study what I actually believed. As a result, it increased my curiosity to gain a deeper and better understanding of my relationship with Jesus. 

Often, as Christians, we think those who question us about God are problematic, and/ or confrontational, not understanding that they represent our own lack of knowledge of God’s complexity. Yet, simply put, as Believers our unique focus is to be able to teach others about Jesus.  All of us are damaged by one thing or another, whether we admit it or not; and, all people need the Love of God, whether they know it or not. 
So, the question for most of us is--How do we teach others about Jesus, without sounding like a crazed fanatic?  The answer is, just by being ourselves. Not our regular selfish self, but our higher God-centered self. Our higher God-centered self will always find a way to accommodate others, helping them to grow, learn, and understand the nature of God’s Word.

To apply this principle is relatively simple.  We must work through the common bond that binds us together as humanity. —Love. If we allow it, our love for God and our knowledge of Jesus will be emitted through our actions, our thinking, and our relationships with others. It is in applying these innate characteristics that we will prove, or disprove whether we are ready for a true ambassadorship to represent Jesus. 
--The question today is, --are YOU ready?   L.
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Study Reference: Philippians 3:13-14
From; "Seeking..."  In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock
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​“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”   John 10:27


There are thought patterns governing our lives on a continuous basis. Although some inner thoughts are placed there by society, friends, foes, and family; the majority of them are primarily governed and manufactured by us. These thoughts can be more powerful than our spoken words, and can cause more damage to us than our most lethal enemy. The kinds of thoughts we have can literally mean the difference between success and failure; happiness and depression; righteousness and wickedness; even life or death. 

Working on a project in the psychiatric unit for an out of town hospital, I saw patients that routinely heard voices urging them to commit suicide.  Voices that were so outspoken and unrelenting, some patients would routinely sit for hours at a time speaking out loud—responding to an unseen person.  Most of us would consider them nuts. However, the thing to remember is, we all have those voices; those nagging little inner thoughts that can bombard our lives telling us how bad we are, or how incompetent we are at something. It is the classic image of the little angel and the devil’s imp sitting on your shoulder urging you to opt between good and evil. For some people, the imp has taken possession over their lives. They have allowed those negative thoughts to gain full access so often, there is no room for the thoughts of goodness released by God.  Still, there are some people reading this today that somehow think they cannot relate to the people who hear voices urging them to harm themselves or others.  Yet the truth is, we hear the same thoughts all the time: 

“You are no good!” “You’re too fat” “You’re too skinny!” “You’re so unattractive no one will love you!” “Ugly!” “Stupid!” “You never get anything right!” “You can’t do that!” “You’re an idiot!” “Who told you—you could do that!” “You’ll never amount to anything!” “You are better off dead!” “No one loves you! —No one ever will!”

They are all lies, lies, and more lies. There are tons of these negative, self-deprecating, non-affirming mantras we say to ourselves every day --words that come directly from the pits of hell that should have no life in the mind of a Christian.  Jesus gave us the WORD to live by when we find ourselves lost and struggling to maintain a positive attitude and outlook. These words have truth and power to enforce us with the knowledge that He alone speaks to us. He alone has conquered all other voices; and, if we allow His voice to take precedence in our lives, it will negate any negative power over us. He will never leave us or forsake us, and most of all, He loves us more than we could possibly ever imagine. 

We are called by His name, and hear His voice.  It is not that we cannot fall prey to the voice of the imps around us; it is that we should never allow any other voice to take precedence in our lives, even if that voice, with all its negative overtones, clearly sounds like our own.  L.

Study Reference: John 10:11-14, 10:27
Excerpt from: "Thinking Out Loud." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: bigstock

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"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.”   
​Exodus 17:11-12


There are times in your life when you will have to accept the help of others to accomplish a task God has asked of you. The story of Moses on the mountain raising his staff against the Amalekites to win the battle helps us to understand the acceptance of help from others when we need it.

As part of Moses’ covenant with God, he was to use his staff as a means of accomplishing various tasks for God. We have all seen the scene in the movie, The Ten Commandments, where his staff is used to devour the snakes of Pharaoh. Moses’ staff would prove God over and over again. Yet, in the first battle against the Amalekites, as Moses stands on the mountain with his staff raised high, his hands begin to tire; and, like any of us, he eventually has to drop his arms to his side out of fatigue. The problem is, every time he does so, the Amalekites begin winning the battle. Noticing the problem, Aaron and Hur, who were on the mountain with him, sit him down on a rock, and with each man on either side of him,THEY hold up his hands for him and Joshua's army goes on to defeat the Amalekites. It is a great example of kinship, friendship, honor, respect, love and teamwork, used to win a battle.

Sometimes there are things we must do alone that God will ask of us for our own growth as individuals.  And, there are times when God will need for us to work with others because, working alone is simply not enough to accomplish the task. The Bible says, Moses’ “hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” 

Remember, true friendships are sacred; true friends will find a way to help, even if they have to use their hands to hold up your hands as part of the process.  L.

Study Reference: Exodus 17:11-15 
From: "Accepting Help." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: bigstock

​“Peter, seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till
I come, what is that to thee? -Follow thou Me.”    John 21:21-22

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On occasion we are reminded in the Bible to “mind our own business,” when it comes to what Jesus has asked others to do. Not only what He has asked, but also whom He has asked. For example, as Christians, we somehow believe we should all look the same, speak the same, act the same, even worship the same based on our own meager understanding of God’s Word, not fully understanding that there are unique roles assigned to all Christians based on upbringing, character, physical abilities, social status, dialect, and personality, just to name a few. There is a special correlation between you and those you will speak to concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Your unique capabilities will be used to reach those where countless others have failed. 

In John 21:14-17, after dining with Jesus for the last time after the resurrection, Peter the Apostle is asked by Jesus three distinct times, “Lovest thou Me?” Peter replies, “Yea Lord, Knowest that I love Thee.”   Jesus states, “Feed My Sheep.”   It is a wonderful exchange of God’s directive to all Christians.  However, there is a verse I find even more compelling found in today's verse, John 21:21.  It appears as Jesus is speaking to Peter concerning what he should do for the Kingdom of God. Peter, espying John, whom the Bible refers to as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” instead asks Jesus, 
“What shall this man do?” And Jesus replies, 
“If I will, that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

In other words, do not worry about how another serves God, concern yourself with the responsibility that God has given to you.

There are some who will walk the straight and narrow path to find God, and there are others who will, like the thief on the cross, find God in their very last breath. Let’s not forget, even in our scant human understanding of perfection; we have all fallen short of the Glory of God, and, it is on God’s Honor, by His Grace, and in His Mercy that each person is saved. L. 

Study Reference: John 21:14-24 
Excerpt from:"Minding Our Own Business." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living. 
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: Renjith Kumar

​“Jesus said unto him, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”      Matthew 22:37-40

 
Fulfilling our Purpose is a very specific phrase that causes us more anxiety than most other phrases.  
Consider this; a tool that does not function is useless, no matter how beautiful it is. For example, a beautiful Mount Blanc pen, sleek as it may be, is useless if it cannot write. An impressive Henckel or Wusthof  knife is wonderful, unless it is dull and cannot cut. A gorgeous Patek Philippe precision timepiece, although quite expensive, is worthless in functionality if it does not tell time. The definition of a tool is, a specific device to aid an activity. What is the innate definition of a person—People—God’s Tool?  How about, specific entities to serve God and aid humanity? Ask yourself if you are serving God, and aiding humanity.  If you are not serving God or aiding humanity, —Well... 

If you want to find out what would fulfill your purpose, ask yourself this question, "What would bring me ultimate joy?"  When you reach a conclusion, ask yourself another question, “Then what?”  Keep asking the “Then What?” question until you cannot answer it anymore and you will find out your purpose. 

Many people believe money will fulfill their dreams; however, there are very wealthy people who commit suicide every year. There are others who believe having the love of a precise person will fulfill their dreams; only to find out that, they have entered a nightmare instead. And still, there are others who believe having the "bling" of cars, sprawling mansions, and luxury yachts, will fulfill the gaping hole that is a life away from God; only to find that they have become living curators of old relics.

So again, I ask the question, “What would bring you ultimate joy?”  Did you know that the “Then what?” question was asked to a host of people over the years, and what sociologists found out was that most people ultimately want internal peace and to help others.

Well..., this sounds a lot like serving God and aiding humanity to me.    L. 

Study Reference: Matthew 22:37-40  
From: "Fulfilling Your Purpose." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living.  
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock