But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Matthew 9:22

Many years ago, a friend gave me some advice about working from home. She said to always arrange my desk so that I faced the door. This way, when my children entered the room, they would see my face. She learned that after the first drawing her son ever did of her was of her back turned to him as she worked at her computer.

When we are in need of healing and revival, the Word of God tells us to humble ourselves, pray, seek and turn. The action to turn away, both spiritually and physically from sin, turns us toward Jesus. And when we face Him, what can we expect?

I love the story in Matthew 9 about the woman with a blood disease. Twelve years she suffered from the disease. But when Jesus was passing by, she knew, seeking wholeheartedly, that He would make her whole. She came behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. And when she reached out to the Savior, He turned toward her.

You know, Jesus didn't have to turn around. He is God. He knew someone touched Him and was healed. And He was in route to perform yet another miracle that God would be glorified. But when Jesus was sought, He turned. This happened on more than one occasion in the Bible. 

As I approach Him with my diseased, sin-sick heart, as I turn from my wicked ways and seek His face, Jesus turns to meet me. How deep the Father's love for us.

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

A couple of weeks ago, our dryer stopped working. Many women will understand me when I say laundry is my archenemy. I could liken it unto sin, but that's another devotion entirely.

Living in a household of six people makes falling behind in laundry not so pleasant. However, my mom, being the amazing saint she is, voluntarily showed up at my house every morning, collected the dirty laundry, and brought it back clean and folded the next day. After a few days of this, Joe asked what we should do about the dryer. Honestly, I was totally fine with no dryer… my mom, the laundry fairy, was making my dreams come true! I didn't have an answer to the problem, because I wasn't seeking one wholeheartedly.

God's Word has much to say about seeking the Lord. I am drawn to Jeremiah 29:13, because it is a word to those in captivity to search for God with all their hearts. If I had to pinpoint a major reason that I miss out on revival in my life, it would be that I'm not consistently, desperately seeking God. In times of crisis is when I seem to truly search for Jesus with all of my heart. It's at that time when I finally acknowledge the truth I've held all along: Jesus is the only way. 

I want to search for Jesus with all of my heart, not because my circumstances are desperate, but because I am desperate for more of Him.

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: I Samuel 12:23

I was ready. I had studied and knew exactly which bills I supported, which I didn't, and why. Joe and I had six appointments that day at the state capitol, and I was prepared to inform these senators and representatives on why they should support our position. 

It turned out that my information and ideas were the least significant part of our meetings. When we would wrap up, Joe would ask the legislator if we could pray for him or her. Regardless of whether we saw eye-to-eye, every single one welcomed the time of prayer, stepping out from behind their desks and joining hands with us as Joe prayed God would guide them and grant them wisdom and strength to make difficult decisions. 

In I Samuel chapter 12, Samuel is addressing the Israelites after they had chosen to be like other nations and selected Saul as their king. Once Samuel had explained the error of the people's ways, he told them in verse 14, "If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:"

So interesting. The charge to keep the nation in God's will is not to the king, but to the people. If they will fear, serve and obey the Lord and not rebel, then they AND their king will follow God. In verse 23, Samuel tells them that if he ceases to pray for the people, he will be committing sin against God.

There is so much wisdom for me to learn in chapter 12. The direction of our nation is not dependent upon who is "king" but the prayers of God's people. Even when the elections have ended, my responsibility to pray has not. There is no ceasing.

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they would not hearken. II Chronicles 33:10

While I'm extremely grateful to be an American, I honestly don't think we teach humbleness well at all. We speak often of being proud of our country, proud of our heritage, proud of our children and proud of our accomplishments. 

Pride is an emotion that seems most often elicited by actions. Well-pleased speaks more to the character behind the decisions. God didn't say He was proud of Jesus at his baptism, but that He was well-pleased with Jesus, His Son. 

Manasseh inherited the throne from his Godly father Hezekiah at the age of 12. The Bible is very specific about his evil deeds and leadership, saying he was worse than the heathen nations God destroyed. And we are told that when the Lord spoke to Manasseh and the people to warn them, they didn't listen.

Praise God, in vs. 12 - 13 we are told that in captivity and suffering, Manasseh prayed and humbled himself to God, and God heard him and returned him to Jerusalem. And Manasseh began to set things right with God. But I can't help but think about the pain and destruction that could've been avoided had Manasseh listened when God spoke. 

Are we listening, America? Are we listening, church? 

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:12

From October to March, my son Caleb practiced basketball three times a week at the same facility in Bethany. For the first few months, if someone else was taking him, I had no idea how to tell them to get to the gym. Why? Because I just turned when my GPS told me to, and that always worked. 

I think most of us have experienced arriving at point B from point A, only to discover we don't really remember the details of the journey. All that we had to do to reach the destination was be willing to go.

In Psalm 51, David asked God to do a lot of moving in his life. This is David's prayer of repentance after being confronted by the prophet Nathan of his sin. Some of these requests are for God to wash, purge, blot out, make, create, renew, restore, uphold and deliver. How wise of King David to realize that his actions lead to devastation, and only God's actions could bring revival to his life. We are also reminded in this passage in verse 17 that God will not despise a broken and contrite heart. 

We serve a God of action. I find that extremely exciting. In fact, sometimes I get so excited that I want to do more than just be willing to follow God's action. Thinking I have His next move figured out, I tend to jump in and move for God instead of with Him. That never really works out well for me. 

When revival is happening in me, God is moving to restore the joy of my salvation, restore our communion, restore life. And all I need to do is be willing to take the journey. 

Lori C. 

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

This year after we planted the garden, Caleb reminded us to pray that God would bless it. Our prayer is for a bountiful harvest, but before that can take place, much work is to be done by the seed or plant in the soil below.

The evidence of God abounds in the earth, and when we consider the job of a plant's roots, it is a reflection of what Colossians 2:6-7 explains as we are rooted in Christ.

The main purposes of a plants roots are:

1. Absorb water and nutrients - This happens when we take in God's Word.

2. Anchor and support - This reminds me that as my faith increases, I am more deeply anchored.

3. Store food and nutrients - This is my "abounding therein with thanksgiving," remaining thankful always and staying spiritually healthy.

4. Reproduce - When I am rooted in Christ, I am bearing fruit and sharing His love with others, that His church may reproduce.

When God is working a revival in my heart, after he has rebuilt my ruins, it is time for me to be replanted and rooted in Him.

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: Amos 9:11

Have you ever experienced "sin-sposure" - having your sins exposed in the presence of others? You know, like when you are having a spirited phone discussion AT your husband about why the laundry didn't get done, only to learn that he needs to take you off speaker phone because it is getting awkward for others in the room with him? Or when you call your child into another room when you have company to threaten them, only to discover that your guest's child is in the hallway hearing everything? …Not that I can relate to either of those…

There you are, standing in the shambles of your sin moment. And you've been seen. What now?

The first 10 verses of Amos 9 paint a gruesome picture of Israel's desolation. Because of their sin, death and destruction ravaged their nation. Sin brings destruction. Yet in verses 11 - 15, we read of God's promise to rebuild and replant the fallen kingdom - to "raise up the ruins."

I have allowed sin to destroy some very beautiful things in my life. But that is not where my story ends. Standing in the rubble, in the midst of the ruins, with a repenting heart my revival begins. And with each step, I begin to see God restoring the broken as only He can do.

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Isaiah 44:22

Recently, my friend Rachel Loop and I had ourselves a little adventure on our way to a retreat. Arriving well after sundown, we were making our way through a secluded, wooded, unfamiliar area to find the lodge. With no GPS or phone signal, we drove through what appeared to be a dried out river bed after crossing an eroding bridge. With each turn, we both became increasingly confident that we might be the subjects of a future 48 Hours episode. When we could finally see the lights of the lodge, we celebrated. And the drive home in the daylight was a piece of cake!

At that retreat, a devotion was given about returning. Did you know that the word "return" is used more than 400 times in the Bible? Over and over, the Lord reminds us that He longs for our return. Revival in our lives begins with repenting and returning. How beautiful to consider that when we repent, we turn away from our sin and turn back toward God - the act of returning. Like Rachel and I experienced, the return journey is light and peace and life.

Lord, why do I always wait so long to return? You've made it so simple and freeing. 

Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  Isaiah 57:15

Every Spring, we are blessed to step outside and witness the hand of God reviving the earth. Looking out at our orchard yesterday, I noticed one, very strong-looking tree had not yet begun to bud with little hints of greenery like the others. I'm not a horticulture expert, but I'm hopeful that just maybe, what is going on deep in the roots and inside the trunk and branches will result in a late blooming, healthy and revived tree.

That tree is much like I am. Revival begins deep inside my heart, and only when I'm prepared in my soul. In Isaiah 57:15, we are taught that the most High whose name is Holy meets us in our lowest state of contrite (deeply grieved and sorrowful for having sinned against God) and humble spirit. In my most broken, leafless, lifeless state, God comes to bring life again. 

I'll keep praying and cheering for my tree. That's what Jesus is doing for us. Are we prepared for His revival? 

-Lori C.

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments

A church had an unusual ritual every Sunday morning. Before the church sang the Doxology, they would stand up, everyone turned to the right facing a blank white wall, and they sang. Every Sunday without fail they did this. A newcomer to the church was confused by this and asked, “Why do you do this?”

No one knew. The only answer they could come up with was, “We’ve always done it this way.” But that answer did not satisfy the newcomer. Other people were asked the same question. Finally an elderly man who had gone to church longer than anyone else remembered the reason.

It seems that at one time they didn’t have hymnals and the words to this song were painted on the large white wall. Everyone stood, turned to the right facing the wall and sang. Over the years the words faded and the wall was repainted numerous times yet no one remembered the significance for standing and turning toward the wall.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

I remember!

-Dennis

To manage your subscription to the Daily Devotionals click here.

0 comments