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Sacred Whispers Devotional

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Righteousness Exalts A Nation
Jan 20 3:55 AM

Righteousness Exalts A Nation

Jan 20 3:55 AM
Jan 20 3:55 AM

Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 14:34

I recently had a conversation with a young person who was on the fence about voting in this year’s election. He noted his distrust of the Electoral College and disappointment in the political system and politicians in general. In his opinion, they all seem to do what they want to do and tell us what they think we want to hear. I could not help but agree as I too recognize that our political system could use a lot of improvement.

Too often we see dishonor of their oaths of office, corruption, political jockeying for more and more power and a blatant disregard of “the will of the people”. The last 12 years, particularly on a national scale, has revealed some of the darkest places of the human heart, especially in pursuit of power, and 2020 has seemingly been the all time low.  The politicizing of our response to Covid 19, the resurgence of racial tensions, and the sheer nastiness of this election, tempts me also to feel that it is hopeless; so why even bother. Why vote, why speak up, why even try to stand for what is right?  Afterall, this world is ‘going to hell in a handbasket’ as it is said.

Shortly after the conversation, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “it is righteousness that exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”  This scripture, found in Proverbs 14:34 changed my perspective. If we as Christians fail to show up, in the darkness, then what hope is there? Our collective righteousness lifts up our world and counters the collective evil and sin that is bringing it down.  The only way that people see the light, is it shines in darkness. 

Jesus put it this way in Matt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Despite the darkness, lets choose to be the light. For indeed, it is righteousness that exalts a nation.

 

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Carol Alexander

Thank you Minister Botts for reminding me that I have to be light in darkness.

Posted on Wed, Jan 20, 2021 @ 6:46 AM CST

Brenda Madison

I couldn't agree with you more Minister Botts. We are so tired of the doom and gloom. But we have to keep pressing on. Those that came before us I'm sure that grew tired and wanted to give up. But yet they still persevered. As Christians we must keep the light shining brightly. There is always hope because Jesus Christ lives in our hearts. So we continue to lift up our heads, do the right thing and keep moving. Thank you for that word. Be Blessed.

Posted on Thu, Jan 21, 2021 @ 2:44 PM CST

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Day 1
Jan 01 12:32 AM

Day 1

Jan 01 12:32 AM
Jan 01 12:32 AM

Before reading today's devotional, listen to "Goodness of God" from the Sacred Whispers Playlist.

WHAT DO THE BIRDS KNOW?

By Marlin D. Harris

“Look at the birds of the air...”

Matthew 6:26

My wife has a very peaceful pastime activity.  If the weather is right, she loves to sit out on our back patio and look out into the trees in the backyard and watch the birds melodically singing while perched on one of the tender branches.  They come in red, orange, dusty brown and ever so often, blue.

I have often wondered when I would sit with her, what do these birds know that we don’t?  They seem to be so at peace nestled on a tiny branch, or nipping at a leaf or berry for food.  Gently they come, and haplessly land on some tree and softly belt out their melodic tunes as they call out to one another in a ritual that they never tire of repeating.  This they faithfully do each morning as soon as the sun rises over the eastern hemisphere. They sing.  Even after the fiercest storms, they sing.  Even when the clouds hang low and the morning sky is smeared with a gloomy grey, they sing.  Even when the trees have lost their leaves and the berries have all fallen away; yet still, they sing.

Perhaps this is why Jesus instructed us to “Look at the birds…”  We have not learned faith and trust in God until we have learned how to be at peace.  Peace is that one emotional quality that when possessed, it has the power to master all of our other emotions.  Peace has been called the great stabilizer.  Real peace locks anxiety away in its cell, and refuses to allow worry a voice in the meeting chambers of our hearts.  Peace transforms the darkness from being a paralyzing presence that haunts us in the night, into a comforting blanket that lulls us to sleep.  Peace is that rare treasure that few people have been able to find.  But we need not lose heart; God has laid bare in His Word how we can find it.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us clearly how to find peace.  It says, “God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in Him, because he trusts in You.”  Without using any ambiguity, the Bible teaches that the man who would be at peace, keeps his mind on God and trusts in Him.  

Perhaps the birds know this.  They have learned how to trust God.  It is as if God has established a covenant with them whereby He has promised to provide for their food, and their shelter and they simply fly about trusting that.  It seems too simple to be profound – but it is.  Trusting in God is the only way to peace.  Trust in God happens when you are absolutely convinced of His trustworthiness.  When you are convinced that God is faithful and will always honor His promises, then you will trust Him.  When you are convinced that God is wise and navigates the circumstances of life in such a way as to bring about the greatest possibilities for personal growth, then you will trust Him.  When you are convinced that God loves you and will walk with you through every season of your life’s journey, then you will trust Him.

Be assured that trust is not a casual matter. You only learn to trust over significant periods of time.  Trust is not a confidence that is easily achieved, but it has to be nurtured through the intimacy of relationship.  The more you know someone, the more you trust them.  The more you do life with God, the more you learn to trust Him.  Peace can’t be found without trust, and trust can’t be found without relationship.

Secondly, the birds know how to sing.  I am not proposing that you learn how to physically sing, but rather I am suggesting that you and I learn how to adopt the ‘spirit of singing’.  We must learn how to sing even when the deepest sorrows are knocking at our door.  You see, your song is your victory, and you can only sing it when you have found peace.  No matter what happens to you, don’t ever lose your song.  In that beautiful hymnbook of the Old Testament, the book of Psalms, we are admonished and instructed to sing a song unto the Lord over 55 different times.  We are told to sing unto the Lord a new song (Psalm 96:1), to sing of His wondrous works (Psalm 105:2), to come before His presence with singing (Psalm 100:2), to sing of His mercy and judgment (Psalm 101:1).  On and on, verse after verse, the Psalms instruct us to sing.  Could it be that the psalmists understood that when we sing, somehow we defy the sadness and sorrows that seek to silence our voice and rob us of our joy?  Your song – your worship of God – that is your power.  And if you can push past the sorrow and sing your song, you will soon see peace welling up in your soul like springs of water overflowing the banks of the river. 

I truly believe that this is what the birds know.  This is why they sing, even when the wind is contrary and the storm clouds loom above.  They sing because, like Job, they know that their Redeemer lives (Job 19:25).  They sing because they know that weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).  So the next time you see a bird singing sweetly in the trees, don’t let him sing alone.  Wipe the tears from your eyes, and muster up the spiritual strength to sing your own song.  And when God hears your song, surely He will dispatch His angels to come to your aid and strengthen you with His peace.

PRAYER

Be our Peace-Giver, O God. Let not our hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  You are our hiding place and in You we find our peace.  O Lord, be our refuge from the noise, and our shelter from the storm.  We look to You to calm our hearts from our fears, and grant us, Your children, peace.  In Jesus’ Strong Name we pray, Amen.

DAILY SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

Take a few minutes every day this week to listen to your favorite Worship song.  Perhaps when you are driving in your car, or just as you rise from bed to prepare for your day.  Press the pause button on your life for just a moment, and take time out to worship.  You will find that it is very difficult to worship and worry at the same time.  You have a song. Find it, and sing it with all of your might.

 


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Download Fasting Guide

Listen To Sacred Whispers Playlist

Day 31
Jan 31 12:51 AM

Day 31

Jan 31 12:51 AM
Jan 31 12:51 AM

THE WEIGHT OF THE WAIT

By Marlin and Monica Harris

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;and they shall walk, and not faint

Isaiah 40:31

We (Monica and Marlin) wanted to share a few thoughts with you as we come to the close of this fast. What a journey it has been sitting at the feet of Jesus each day and listening to the ‘sacred whispers’ of the Holy Spirit as He speaks His peace and hope to our hearts. We have all cried, laughed and learned together as we have been on this amazing journey of self-discovery. We are becoming our best selves. We are challenging the old habits of our past, and finding new paths to walk in. 

 

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Day 30
Jan 30 12:23 AM

Day 30

Jan 30 12:23 AM
Jan 30 12:23 AM

Streams in the Desert 365 Devotions, Pages 452-453

By L.B. Cowman, Editor

“…there we saw the giants.”

Numbers 13:33

Yes, the Israeli spies saw giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw God! Those who doubt still say today, “We can’t attack…; they are stronger than we are” (v. 31). Yet those who believe say, “We should go up and take possession... for we can well able to do it” (v. 30). 

These giants represent, for us, great difficulties, and they stalk us everywhere. They are in our families, our churches, our social life, and even our own hearts. We must overcome them or they will devour us, just as the ancient Israelites, fearing those in Canaan, said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size” (v. 32). We should exhibit faith as did Joshua and Caleb, who said, “Do not be afraid..., because we will devour them” (Numbers 14:9). In effect, they told the others, “We will be stronger by overcoming them than if there had been no giants to defeat.” 

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Day 29
Jan 29 12:21 AM

Day 29

Jan 29 12:21 AM
Jan 29 12:21 AM

YOUR BEAUTY IS NOT FOR SALE

By Marlin D. Harris

What do you see when you look in the mirror? What does the image that looks back at you say when you walk by a reflecting glass or even see yourself in a photograph? 

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Day 28
Jan 28 12:43 AM

Day 28

Jan 28 12:43 AM
Jan 28 12:43 AM

THE WIDOWMAKER

By Dr. Reggie Anderson

(Content taken from “The One Year Book of Healing: Daily Appointments with God”)

“No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.”

Acts 2:26-27

 As a primary care physician practicing rural medicine in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee, I have witnessed a lot of healing. Some of it has been through the work of medical professionals, whom God uses to carry out his good work, and some have happened supernaturally—the result of God’s direct intervention.

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