Devotionals

live it first ministries

...to live is Christ - Philippians 1:21

Devotionals

"Listening to the Beeps"

During a recent visit to New Orleans my friend graciously loaned me her car. I was backing out of the driveway when I heard some beeps and then bang! I hit a telephone pole. I was showing my friend the bumper when she asked, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” Her husband saw us inspecting the car so he came over to see what we were doing. We told him what happened and he looked at me and said, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” They didn’t ask if I saw the pole only if I heard the beeps. You see, they could understand if I hit the pole and there were no sensors because the pole was in my blind spot. But there are sensors in this car with beeps that get louder and faster when the driver gets too close to something. The sensors are designed to help the driver avoid damage to property and persons but they can’t prevent an accident. The driver must heed the warning. And there is a cost for not heeding the warnings. Fortunately, in this case the damage was minimal but some injuries cannot be reversed. I shudder to think of what could have happened!

You know, in our lives God warns us to keep us from injuring ourselves and others. I thought about their question, “Didn’t you hear the beeps?” I did hear the beeps but for some reason they weren’t registering as a warning. I wondered about the times I may have tuned out the Lord like I tuned out the car sensors. I think we all may have done that at one time or another. If so, why?

1) Maybe we are not used to the sensors. I don’t have rear sensors in my car so I wasn’t paying attention to them. Sometimes believers are new in their faith and aren’t used to hearing God so they don’t pay attention to His warnings.

2) Maybe we disregard the warnings because we are in a hurry or we get distracted. This is usually my problem. I am an activator and I want to “Do it now!” I’ve had to learn that “Fast doesn’t mean best.” Plus, I’m the ultimate multi-tasker. When I hit the pole I was backing out while trying to put on my seatbelt and adjust the seat, etc. No doubt, God directs my steps but sometimes I’m moving so fast I’m half a mile down the road before realizing He said, “Take a right turn here.”

3) Maybe we are familiar with God’s voice and we are not rushing ahead of Him but the warnings don’t match our senses. I remember dismissing the beeps because I didn’t see anything so I assumed they were reminding me to “Buckle up.” I was relying more on my senses than the sensors. The sensors are accurate and designed specifically for blind spots. Just because I didn’t see the pole didn’t mean it wasn’t there. Sometimes we do this with God. We trust our senses more than we trust His Sensor (The Holy Spirit). But we don’t always know when we are in imminent danger.

God is perfect and more accurate than any car sensors. God never sleeps or naps. He doesn’t go on break or take a vacation. He sees everything and He loves us immeasurably. We can be sure He is directing our paths but we need to trust Him! If we hit a pole it’s not because God didn’t warn us it’s because we “didn’t hear the beeps.” Backing in to the telephone pole reminded me that I need to slow down and listen to God, especially during this time of sabbatical. When I trust the Sensor more than my senses I will travel safely and remain on the right path.

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"Our Praise Liberates Others"

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:25-26, NLV, emphasis mine).

If you have been in or around Christian circles for any length of time you have heard about Paul and Silas and the power of praise. One of my favorite songs is “Praise You in this Storm” by Casting Crowns. I have heard and I have seen how praise sets us free. Like Paul and Silas I have praised God around midnight (my darkest hour) and experienced the Lord’s power and deliverance. Before today, I focused on the principle of the power of praise to set me free and I used to think there was nothing greater. But there is! Our praise can set others free! Paul and Silas were not the only ones who experienced freedom. “The chains of every prisoner fell off!”

Don’t you just love it when you read a Scripture you’ve read countless times before and you see something new! I hear you saying, “But none of the prisoners were let go.” Just because they stayed in jail doesn’t mean they stayed in bondage. The jailer was saved and I like to assume the prisoners also experienced freedom that night. Sometimes the Lord is not willing to remove me from my trials but He is always willing to break the strongholds.

For a long time now I’ve been praying for someone I love to experience true freedom. Today the Lord encouraged me with this passage. I believe He was saying, “Debi, keep praising me. Your praise carries the power to set this individual free.” Yes, only God’s power can break the chains and set the captives free. But God set in place a strategy that dispenses His power through us. I don’t understand it, but He makes us the extension of Himself in this world. I’m so grateful for those who prayed for me, for those who never gave up on me no matter what I said or did. If someone had not believed God on my behalf I would still be in chains.

If you’re praying for someone to be set free be encouraged. Add a little praise to your prayers and watch God work. Just don’t be surprised by the earthquake! About six weeks ago, I ramped up my praise and suddenly something worse happened. At first I was tempted to think, “Well, that didn't work!” when I remembered the earthquake. God used an earthquake to shake the foundation before opening the prison doors and removing the chains. Apparently, we're more open to change when our foundation is shaken. It seems that God wants to make sure we're ready to walk out of prison before He removes the chains.