christianity

Unapproachable Light

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Memorizing 1 Timothy 6 has been a rich experience. There are such great truths to think about. Verse 15 described the Lord as, “…the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of Lord.” 

Verse 16 further described Him, “who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

As I was working on verse 16 my mind went into a kaleidoscope of verses. Think about the new Jerusalem. Revelation 21:23 says, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

1 Corinthians 15:54 says, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality…” When we are with the Lord eternally, we will be immortal and can dwell in His unapproachable light. Now, we cannot even look full on at the sun.

God’s Ways Are Unsearchable ~ Part One

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Isaiah 40 is a great chapter. I visit it when I need perspective. The words are so picturesque. Verse 12 says, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountain in scales and the hills in a balance?”

Verse 25 says, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.” Verse 28 says, “…The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” 

Here is one I love. Job 26:14 says, “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!…”

God’s Counsel Is Immutable ~ Part One

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Hebrews 6:17 says, “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it with an oath.” Immutability means unchangeableness. 

I love this about the Lord. Ephesians 1:11 says, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

What is God’s will? 2 Peter 3:9 says that He is longsuffering, “…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Jesus died on the cross for all. Everyone without exception has the opportunity to accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Job questioned God, and God answered. Job 38:2 says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” If you haven’t read this chapter in a while, I encourage you to do so. The marvelous power of God is displayed before Job.

What Kind Of Fruit Are You Bearing?

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 24:30-31 is a great illustration of what happens when we neglect the vineyard in our hearts. It says, “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.”

What a picture of fallow ground. At my old place, the back part of the property was fallow ground. It grew weeds that propagated weed seeds that wreaked havoc with my garden beds. Thistles and nettles were abundant.

Fruit that will glorify the Lord comes through our intimate communion with Him. It is in our quiet time with Him that He reveals the hidden weeds in our heart that choke out His word. Matthew 13:22 says of thorny fallow ground, that the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke His word ~ rendering us unfruitful.

God’s Purpose ~ Part One

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

2 Timothy 1:9 says, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

As I was memorizing this verse, I stopped to savor this point. God’s own purpose and grace. I encourage you to say this: I am saved according to God’s own purpose and grace. Roll it around in your mind, savor every word, and let it permeate your heart. 

Then take your thoughts to the truth that this was all set in place before time began. Genesis 1:4-5 says, “…God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”

We live by time. God orchestrates our lives through His purpose for each of us that will never be thwarted. Job 42:2.

God Is Unequaled

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

I love Isaiah 40. I encourage you to read it. I review it when I start to lose perspective. Verse 12 says, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?’ 

Verse 18 says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? Verse 23 says, “He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.”

Verse 25 says, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.” Verse 28 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”

Verse 29’s promise, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”

Recall All Things

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Here is my online devotional that posted today.


Recall All ThingsSeptember 16 2024, Written By Marilyn Adams
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.John 14:26
In 1983 I took a written test for a bookkeeping position. I was really surprised when it asked for a definition of terms. I had learned them when I was in high school, but had never used them in the workplace.

Knowing that the Holy Spirit can recall all things, I asked Him to help me answer each of the questions. He brought back to my mind the things that I had studied 17 years prior.

No matter what situation we are in, the Holy Spirit is present to help us. He will bring Scripture to our mind when we ask him to help us with a decision. He will recall the truth from his Word that will stop us from embracing a temptation. In our time of fear or distress, he will recall a verse which will calm our mind.

At the moment that we receive Jesus as our personal Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit of God to live in us forever. He is our helper, comforter, teacher, and guide.

Paul instructed his readers in Galatians 5:16. It says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Our flesh hates the word of God. When we hide it in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will bring it to our minds. That instant recall will effectively protect us from the devil’s hidden traps.

Father, I am so grateful that you gave me the gift of your Holy Spirit. Help me to always follow his leading, so I do not get blindsided and derailed with hidden fleshly lures. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Throughout this day: Take some time to pray about a situation that is concerning you, and specifically ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind what God’s Word says about it. If you realize that you need to get more of his Word into your heart, ask him how and where to start.

Upheld By God

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

We are included as He upholds all things. Psalm 63:8 Amplified is one of my anchor verses. It says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

That takes me to Isaiah 41:10. If you haven’t memorized it yet, I encourage you to do so. It says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Psalm 104:5 says, “You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever.” 

In Job 38 God asked Job some questions. Verse 4 says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Verse 6 says, “To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone.” If you ever question God’s ways in your life, read Job 38-42:2.

Stuck In A Rut~Part One

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

A rut in a deep groove. There are physical as well as emotional and spiritual ruts. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth.”

Addictions are a spiritual rut. They are formed from a destructive mindset that is constantly fed by self-talk lies. Galatians 5:16 says, “…Walk in the Spirit: and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Our flesh strongly opposes the Holy Spirit. I like to think about it like this. Try connecting two magnets. They repel each other because they are polar opposites. Verse 17 says, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

Destructive mindsets are houses of thoughts that radically oppose God’s way. They will only fall when we renew our minds with God’s word. 

The Power Of Understanding

~ jma47 ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In Proverbs 2:1-6, Solomon gave his son the bookends of gaining understanding ~ if, then.

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 

yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, 

if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 

then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”

Understanding doesn’t come from just reading. What we read has to be applied. It becomes part of our heart’s belief system. As I read the above verses, I hear the Lord speaking to me. He wants me to receive and treasure His words in my heart.”