Your Side #RTTBROS #nightlight

Your Side   #RTTBROS #nightlight

Your side of the street

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." - Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

Reflection:

In our daily walk, we oft encounter those who test our patience and vex our spirits. It is easy to respond in kind, matching harsh words with harsh words, and anger with anger. Yet the wisdom of Scripture counsels us otherwise.

To "keep our side of the street clean" is to tend to our own conduct, regardless of how others may behave. It means responding with gentleness even when faced with wrath, and choosing words that soothe rather than inflame.

This principle finds its root in the teachings of our Lord, who exhorted us to turn the other cheek and to love our enemies. It is not a call to be a doormat, but rather a challenge to rise above the fray and maintain our integrity in the face of provocation.

When we focus on controlling our own attitudes and actions, we free ourselves from the burden of trying to change others. We cannot compel another to act with kindness or reason, but we can choose our own path of righteousness.

In so doing, we may find that our "soft answer" does indeed turn away wrath. And even if it does not, we can rest in the peace that comes from knowing we have conducted ourselves in a manner pleasing to God.

Let us pray for the strength to keep our own side of the street clean, to respond with grace in the face of difficulty, and to trust in the Lord's guidance through all of life's relational storms.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom to control our tongues and temper our reactions. Help us to keep our side of the street clean in all our dealings, that we might be a light in this world and a reflection of Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Know God #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Know God #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10 (KJV)

Devotion: Knowing God in Times of Spiritual Drought

In our walk with the Lord, we often encounter seasons where His presence feels distant, where our hearts seem numb to His love. It's during these times that we must remember that our faith is not built on fleeting emotions, but on the solid foundation of knowing God.

The scriptures tell us to "be still, and know that I am God," not to be still and feel God. This distinction is crucial. Our feelings are fickle, changing like the wind, but God's character remains constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

When we don't feel God's presence, we must lean on what we know about Him. We know He is faithful, for His word declares, "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9, KJV).

We know He is always with us, for Christ Himself promised, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20, KJV). These truths should anchor our souls when our feelings fail us.

In times of spiritual dryness, we must intentionally seek to know God more deeply through His Word, through prayer, and through fellowship with other believers. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, our faith becomes more resilient, able to withstand the ebbs and flows of our emotions.

Remember, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, KJV). Our faith is not sustained by how we feel, but by what we know to be true about our God.

So when you find yourself in a spiritual desert, be still. Don't frantically search for a feeling. Instead, recall what you know about God's character, His promises, and His unfailing love. Let this knowledge be the well from which you draw strength, knowing that even in the driest seasons, God remains faithful and present.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to seek You not just with our hearts, but with our minds. Teach us to know You more deeply, that our faith may stand firm even when our feelings falter. May we find rest in the knowledge of who You are, trusting in Your unchanging nature. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Only God Is Great #RTTBROS #nightlight

Only God Is Great  #RTTBROS #nightlight

Only God is Great

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." 
— Romans 14:8 (KJV)

In the grand halls of history, few moments are as poignant as the funeral of King Louis XIV of France. Known as "Louis the Great" or the "Sun King," Louis XIV reigned for 72 years, the longest of any monarch of a major country in European history. His reign was marked by the expansion of French influence and the establishment of a centralized state.

When Louis XIV passed away in 1715, his funeral was a grand affair, befitting a king who had lived in such splendor. His body lay in a golden coffin, surrounded by the opulence that had characterized his reign. The cathedral was filled with mourners, and the atmosphere was heavy with the weight of his legacy.

As the funeral service reached its climax, the Bishop of Meaux, Jean-Baptiste Massillon, stood before the congregation. In a dramatic gesture, he snuffed out the candle that had been burning beside the coffin and declared, "God alone is great." This powerful statement served as a humbling reminder that no matter how grand or influential a person may be, only God holds true greatness.

The story of Louis XIV's funeral reminds us of the transient nature of earthly power and glory. Despite his immense influence and the grandeur of his reign, Louis XIV's life, like all human lives, came to an end. The bishop's declaration, "God alone is great," echoes the biblical truth that our lives are ultimately in God's hands.

As we reflect on this story, let us remember that our true worth and greatness come not from our achievements or status, but from our relationship with God. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord, and it is His greatness that we should seek to honor in our lives.

May we live each day with the humility and reverence that acknowledges God's supreme greatness, trusting in His eternal power and love.

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Living Water #RTTBROS #nightlight

Living Water   #RTTBROS #nightlight

"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." - John 4:13-14 (KJV)

The Living Water

Water is essential for life, yet we often take it for granted. We go about our daily routines, rarely giving thought to this life-sustaining substance until we find ourselves parched and desperately thirsty. In those moments, we pass by the sugary drinks and artificial concoctions, reaching instead for pure, refreshing water.

Our spiritual lives often mirror this pattern. We neglect our relationship with God, the source of living water, until we find ourselves spiritually dehydrated. In times of crisis or desperation, we suddenly remember our need for Him. We rush to prayer, seeking His intervention and comfort, only when we feel we can no longer manage on our own.

The Lord speaks to this tendency in Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV): "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." How often do we forsake the true source of life, attempting to quench our spiritual thirst with worldly substitutes that ultimately leave us empty?

Christ offers us living water - a constant, life-giving flow of His presence and grace. He invites us to drink deeply and regularly, not just in emergencies. When we cultivate a daily relationship with Him, we find that our spiritual thirst is continually satisfied.

In John 7:37-38 (KJV), Jesus proclaims, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This promise is not just for times of crisis but for every moment of our lives.

Let us learn to abide in Christ daily, drinking deeply from His well of living water. As we do, we'll find ourselves not only satisfied but overflowing with His love and grace, able to minister to others who are spiritually parched.

May we echo the psalmist's words: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" (Psalm 42:1, KJV). Let our souls yearn for God continually, not just in times of need, so that we may never find ourselves spiritually dehydrated, but always refreshed and renewed by His living water.

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Your Name #RTTBROS #nightlight

Your Name #RTTBROS #nightlight

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." - Isaiah 43:1 (KJV)

Our names hold great power and meaning. They are given to us by those who love us, and they represent our identity. Yet in this fallen world, we often feel defined not by our names, but by our shortcomings and sins.

The enemy seeks to reduce us to our worst moments, calling us by labels like "liar," "addict," or "failure." He wants us to believe these sins are our true identity. But God sees us differently. 

Our Creator knows us intimately - every strength, every weakness, every struggle. Yet He chooses to call us by name. To Him, we are not defined by our sins, but by His love and redemption. 

When God called Jacob in Isaiah 43:1, He used both his birth name and his God-given name Israel. This shows that God sees our full identity - both who we have been and who He is shaping us to become through His grace.

Today, remember that your identity is not found in your failures or sins. Your true name - the one by which God calls you - is "beloved," "redeemed," "child of God." Let His voice drown out the accusations of the enemy. Rest in the assurance that the One who formed you claims you as His own.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me by name. Help me to find my identity in Your love rather than in my sins. May I walk confidently as Your child today. Amen.

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