pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March

March 20, 2017

Fortress

Defense as Offence
In the ancient world, warfare was conducted only where men and animals could go. A mountain with a castle built on top was both an offensive weapon and a defensive stronghold. The army in the fortified position, then and now, has the advantage.

For the Psalmists this was a meaningful metaphor for the Lord Jehovah Himself. His name was a strong and mighty tower. He was the immense rock of safety and provision in a dry and dangerous land. He was their Fortress.

The Long View
Like a castle on a mountain, the Lord has the long view of life. There is no direction from which an enemy can attack that the Lord cannot see. His fortress-like presence is the essence of safety.

There are provisions in the Fortress for family and friends, troops and staff, adequate for any siege attempted. Expert lookouts are posted at every high point of every outcropping of the mountain and every possible crevasse where spies might seek to break the security of the fortress.

A Comforting Sight
It must have been comforting for the residents of some ancient or medieval city to see the Fortress, their Fortress, on the nearby mountain. Most of the time they took no conscious notice of it but in the peripheral of their vision and the peripheral of their minds, they knew it was there.

They knew also that over the horizon in certain directions enemies lived their lives, worshiping different gods in different ways—strange sounding, violent strangers—a constant threat in the backs of their minds. A measure of confidence could be found in the shadow of the Fortress:

  • There was a ruler in those elevated rooms who knew what needed to be known.
  • There was an army there, ready to defend or to attack.
  • There were spies in and out of the Fortress who knew all about the enemy over the horizon.

However, the Fortress only protected those inside it. Just looking at it may be comforting but being inside it was the real place of safety.

And so it is with us.
We have enemies on all sides who have already crossed the horizon. They have spies among us and assassins on assignment. We need more than a peripheral view of our Fortress. We need to be inside. No enemy can harm us there. We have quarters assigned to us there. We have a place of service as well as a place of safety. The King is there and all is well. He has what we need. He knows what needs to be known.

  • To read His Word is to run to the Fortress and find entrance.
  • To praise and worship Him is to find our residence within the walls.
  • To obey the Lord is to find our assignment in His army.

More than just safety, victory is ours because victory is His. Jesus is our fortress.

Scriptures:
Psalm 18:2; 28:8; Proverbs 18:10 NIV
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Psalm 31
In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth… Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief… But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and lie silent in the grave. … Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight! “Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my stronghold and my defense. I will not fear what man can do to me. Neither will I fear what the forces of darkness may design against me. Since I follow You and since You are light, I walk in a light so bright the shadows of hell cannot hide the enemies of my soul. Your Holy Spirit warns me of evil as it approaches in so many disguises. Your name is on my lips and Your Word fills my heart. My hands are dedicated to Your will and my feet to following You. You are the Christus Victor, and I am safe and courageous in You my Fortress. Amen.

Song:
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Words: Martin Luther; Music: Traditional

1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him

4. That Word above all earthly powers no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March

March 9, 2017

Disturbances

In the atmosphere they are called storms.
In the city they are called riots. Disturbances in the home are called domestic. In the night when dreams disturb us, these dreams are called nightmares.

A disturbance could be defined as a frightening break in the routine.

  • Peace was expected but violence erupted.
  • Quiet was the forecast but noise drove silence away.
  • Confidence in what tomorrow may hold, is shaken by an unexpected turn of events today.

Worry, sleeplessness, tension in the limbs, knots in the neck and pain at the top of the head—all are the resulting disturbances. Sleep, if it comes at all, is shallow and without rest.

No one is immune to these disturbances.
No amount of careful planning can prepare for all eventualities. Any routinely dependable person can experience his/her own life disturbances that in turn create disruptions for us. Life’s disturbances don’t come to us single file. They tend to appear in bunches, piling on us like a sudden and sustained hailstorm. Each single pellet of ice makes a mark negligible in itself but amounting to serious pain in total.

“That’s life!” Someone said (and Sinatra sang!)

Yes, that is life.

Why do disturbances disturb us so?

I believe that deep within each of us is a strong desire for order.
Even those who may not consciously plan each day, do not expect disturbances. They expect their cars to run on inflated tires, their washing machines and dryers to work, and their phones to function—if they remembered to charge them. We expect normalcy. When a new societal disturbance happens often enough in enough places, it becomes the “new normal.” This re-classification does nothing to alleviate the disturbance, it only lowers our expectations a notch or two.

Jesus came to earth to enter this time-bound life that we live. In these days of devotion we think deeply about our Savior and His earthly sojourn.

  • He laid aside omniscience along with His pre-incarnate glory.
  • While He walked among us, he could not see the challenges every tomorrow would bring until the Holy Spirit informed Him.
  • He was tempted in all the ways that we are tempted that must include the temptation to fret, worry, fume, and fear.
  • There is no record that Jesus ever fretted, or worried, or fumed, or feared what might happen next.

The prayer He gave us to pray is rooted in faith not fretting, confidence not worry, peace not fuming, and faith not fear.

Once a violent disturbance struck them all in a boat on the Galilee.
The disciples did all the fretting while Jesus simply turned over, adjusted the cushion He was using for a pillow, and continued to sleep. When His followers woke Him He stretched, yawned, look at the frightened men He had chosen thoroughly drenched from the terrible wind and waves. First He rebuked the storm and then He rebuked them for their lack of faith. At His command the disturbance in the atmosphere grew still and the sea settled down to rest. I’m sure Jesus went back to sleep.

I am not so sure about the Disciples.

Scriptures:
Mark 4:35-41 NIV
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I cannot see the day that stretches before me this morning. I don’t know what will happen, but I will not worry because You know every moment to come. Nothing will happen that is outside the realm of Your authority. Just as You saw me through the night You will see me through the day. Even if a sudden storm arises to blow me about a bit, help me remember that You are safely nestled in my boat, resting in Your strength and sovereignty. If there is need, You will calm the winds and still the waves of any storm I may encounter today. Thank You, Jesus.

Song:
A Shelter in the Time of Storm
Words: Vernon Chalresworth; Music: Ira D. Sankey

1. The Lord’s our Rock in Him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide, A shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain:
Oh Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, A weary land;
Oh Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A shelter in the time of storm.

2. A shade by day, defense by night, A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright, A shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

3. The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm;
We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

4. O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March

March 6, 2017

Shelter

Jesus and His men were used to roughing it.
They probably spent most nights huddled around a couple of fires, the flames dancing in their eyes as they listened to Jesus speak softly, with need to project His voice to a crowd. There was something tender in His voice muffled by the heavy night air speaking visions of another world and truths that must be resident somewhere out there in the darkness beyond the fire’s light. The clear nights with multitudes of stars seeming almost to sing of the glory of the Lord, made thoughts of eternity seem almost within reach.

The day’s events were reviewed. Things they couldn’t laugh at in public were enjoyed with bursts of laughter that would cause others nearby who were likewise bedding down for the night to wonder who this band of twelve, no, thirteen men might be and what they might be up to.

Parables were explained. Deep silences followed the astounding words of Jesus. One simply could not answer; one could only consider. One by one the Disciples would find a place to make a bed as the fires and the conversation grew smaller and smaller. When all the men had found their places and the slow, deep breathing of sleep was all there was to hear, I can imagine that Jesus stood up and stirred the fires a little, perhaps adding some more wood. He would then have another conversation, this one with His father, one that could only be heard in His heart. Soon, even that conversation would end only to be continued before dawn as Jesus, tired from the day as any man would be, found a place to lay His head.

But what about bad weather?
In cold seasons and on stormy nights, Jesus and His men needed more shelter than the stars could provide, hidden as they were by clouds or bright as they were in the frigid winter air. Lodging was the shelter they needed; fires safely contained in stone and vented by chimneys of stone. This was the shelter they needed but the kind they seldom had.

The House at Bethany
This made the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany such a special shelter for them. It must have been a large house to accommodate so many.

  • It is easy to see that Martha’s hospitality gifts were vital to the whole enterprise.
  • Mary’s love for Jesus was itself like a fire that warmed and refreshed Him.
  • Lazarus, perhaps not as strong as his sisters, watched quietly and listened intently.

No Shelter in the Garden
On that last night after their last meal together, deep in the green of the Garden called Gethsemane, a silent storm raged in the heart of Jesus. His time had come. He had set His face like a flint toward the moment that was now upon Him. His sleeping disciples were no solace to Him. The Garden itself was no shelter from the interior storm–the icy winter of His soul.

There was no shelter for Him. He must face

  • the winds of wickedness,
  • the storms of Satan’s schemes,
  • the treachery of the traitor,
  • the swords of the soldiers and
  • He must face all of this alone.

The shelter of the Father’s wings promised in the Psalms was nowhere to be found.  There was no towering rock to give cover; no defense could be made against the madness of men.

No one was ever so alone, so exposed, so vulnerable as Jesus, without shelter on the night when sin ruled the world.

Scriptures:
Matthew 8:20 NIV
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Mark 14:32-42 NIV
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba,e Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus You are my shelter against the storm. You are my rock and my salvation in this weary land. I have built my house upon you. You promised that the rains would fall down, the waters would rise up and the winds would howl and blow against my house but it would not fall. It would not be swamped by the rising flood or break beneath the weight of the winds. Today I remember all Your nights under the stars with no soft bed to receive You. I call to mind all those cold or stormy nights when You found to place to lay Your head. I remember also Your agony in Gethsemane where no shelter could shield You from the tempest in the hearts of men. I want my heart to be to You a shelter like the home of Martha and her kin. Be welcome in my heart and find shelter there. Amen.

Song:
Till the Storm Passes By
Words and Music: Mosie Lister

1. In the dark of the midnight I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me and there’s no hiding place.
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Refrain:
Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

2. Many times Satan whispered, “There’s no need to try,
For there’s no end of sorrow, there’s no hope by and by.”
But I know Thou are with me, and tomorrow I’ll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies.

Refrain
3. When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In the land where the tempest never comes, Lord may I
Dwell wee with Thee when the storm passes by.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, February

February 23, 2017

 

Overwhelmed!

Tsunami!
We have all seen the heartbreaking video of a tsunami looming over a beach and then sweeping away everything in its path. Such a sight is the very definition of “overwhelming.” There is no escape and no place to hide from the rolling destruction. When the wave passed unbelievable destruction was in its wake:

  • Homes and neighborhoods turned to rubbish,
  • Families torn apart as the water seemed to select children to strip from their parent’s arms to sweep them away,
  • Amazing stories of miraculous survival scattered among the bodies taken by the waves.

Life can be something like that.
The Psalmist felt it, the terrifying approach of destruction, a rising flood of misfortune, a pending disaster with no escape in sight.  What to do? Cry out to God! There is a Rock, a safe place to hide, a place the overwhelming food can never reach.

His name is Jesus.
No one has broken through His security system.

  • He sends his angels with weapons, sharpened with grace and wielded in supremacy.
  • No spiritual foe can withstand those who guard us.
  • When our house is built on this Rock, the storms will rage, the rain will drum the walls around us and the winds will attack and retreat to attack again.

But all of this will be to no use for the Rock we build upon is a proven fortress.

  • Hell has thrown its greatest rage against Him and He stood in His goodness, unmoved by evil.
  • He remained in His grief, steady in His faith.
  • In spite of the weakness of his flesh, His spirit was willing.
  • In the midst of such a bloody triumph, He bowed His head and died.
  • Neither man nor Satan took his life; He gave it and in this way He broke the tidal wave of death.

Indeed, Jesus initiated a counter wave of grace.
This was the flooding River of Life, the ceaseless, unstoppable flow of the love of God from the Throne of God and of the Lamb. On the heights of the Place of the Skull, another storm broke, a storm of justice. Eventually all wrongs will be righted and all diseases destroyed as justice rolls down like a river. Safe in the cleft of the Rock we will see the rule of truth, the tide of evil beaten back by a torrent of goodness. As the waters of this flood recede, a new heaven and a new earth will emerge.

“When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

In that safe place, I cannot be overwhelmed for this Rock will never be broken.

What is today’s forecast? Are there clouds on the horizon? Do lightning bolts walk the land in our direction? If so, run to the Rock.

Scriptures:
Psalm 61:1-4
O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Matthew 7:25 NKJV
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Mark 4:36-41 NKJV
Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. …And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Amos 5:24 NIV
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my protection from the whelming floods of evil today. I rest in the shadow of Your wings. That settled, let me be a riverbed where your rolling River of Justice flows to the righting of the wrongs before me, the healing of the wounds around me, and the securing of Your peace which follows me. Thank You for rescuing me from the flood; lengthen my arm as I reach to those about to be overwhelmed and strengthen my grip on those who reach out to me. In Your Name, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Song:
Love Lifted Me
Words and Music: James Rowe

1. I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore
Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry
From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I.

Refrain:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

2. All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul’s best songs;
Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.

Refrain

3. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His love Out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey;
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, February

February 12, 2017

Grace

Grace—a gift, a blessing, a touch from the hand of God—it is no wonder we deem it “amazing.”

Three “Angels”
Actually there are three angels in our lives, sisters of the Spirit who selflessly attend to us: Grace, Mercy, and Peace. They are quiet, these sisters, but quite thorough in their ministries, blessing us with God’s favor, forgiveness and fortitude.

Grace surrounds us, precedes us, follows after us, supports us, and covers us. Commonly defined as the “unmerited favor” of God, grace is a fact of our lives, so prevalent it is easy to lose our appreciation of it. Think of it—God, who is no respecter of persons, favors us! How He can do this is a mystery of His being. He is totally fair with all of mankind, yet some of us move about in a constant rain of grace, soaked by His favor. How can such a thing be?

Jesus is the answer.

Like John the Baptist’s testimony of Jesus, His own statements concerning His mission on this earth are grand and all inclusive:

  • John: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29-30)
  • Jesus: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
  • Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

But there is a condition.
The grace of God is available to all the world, but some do not receive Him.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:10-13

Mysteries surround the dispensation of God’s grace in the world. Jesus told those who received Him to go into the whole world with the story of His grace.

  • Jesus: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
  • Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-17)

For those who have received Jesus and His grace, there remains a danger: We can be tempted to presume upon His grace rather than simply walking in it. There is a vast territory between trusting God and tempting God, between pursuing God’s grace and presuming upon it.

  • Pursuing God’s grace is a process of relationship—presuming upon it is self-centered arrogance.
  • Trusting God in everyday things pleases Him greatly; tempting Him in anything is strictly forbidden.
  • Trusting is humility in action, presuming is pride on display.

God resists—opposes!—the proud but gives Grace to the humble. There is a vast territory between God’s resistance and His help.

Today, if we will humble ourselves before the Lord, He will be drawn to us. He will help us—surround us, precede us, follow after us, support us, and cover us with Grace. We will hear our three sister-angels singing of God’s mercy, His peace, and His amazing grace.

Scriptures:
John 1:12-18; 10
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known…to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
Romans 3:22-25
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
James 4:6
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Hebrews 4:16-5:1
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Matthew 4:7 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'”

Prayer:
Confession of Mercy and Blessing
Psalm 90:13-91:1 NLT (From The Book of Daily Prayer adapted SRP)
Lord Jesus, You come to me in mercy; Your love is my portion today. As this day begins, I feast on Your truth and presence and I will joyfully sing throughout the day and night of Your unfailing love. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us see Your miracles again; let our children see Your glory at work. And, Lord, show us Your approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!

Song:
Amazing Grace
Words: Isaac Newton; Music: Traditional

1. Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

2. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me on.

4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January

January 30

Diversion

Just as we have been called to work for the Lord, we have been called to rest before Him, to rest and be refreshed in body, soul, and spirit. Refreshing the body requires a cessation of physical activity. To refresh the spirit is to drink deeply from the Word of God and to breathe deeply in the atmosphere of Heaven, the holy Presence of God.

How do we refresh the mind?
Often we do it with a pleasant diversion. A mental diversion is not the same as a distraction. A diversion is like a temporary detour on the road we are traveling. It will lead to pleasant or interesting surprises and will eventually bring us back to the road to our destination. A distraction is more like a wrong turn that takes us nowhere, shows us nothing, and leads us far from our destination. A diversion is time well spent. A distraction is time wasted.

Why? Because God made our minds to never stop running. Awake or asleep, our busy brains never stop processing information, (How else can an unfamiliar noise in the house wake us from a deep sleep?) dealing with our fears, and processing our plans. The only way to give the mind rest from all the heavy lifting it must constantly do is to divert it toward something that is equally fascinating but absolutely inconsequential.

Gone Fishing!
When someone goes fishing, the mind is diverted from crucial the daily tasks and is

  • occupied with the business of fishing,
  • absorbed in the beauty of the water and sky, and
  • fully engaged in the demands of landing the limit.

Whether we catch fish or not is not the point. The family will not starve if we return home empty handed. The same can be said for hunting, golf, tennis, hiking, camping, or vegging out in the recliner watching a sporting event or a great classic film. The mind is engaged so it is happy to

  • buzz along doing the math,
  • supervise the movement of hands and feet, legs and arms,
  • remember the lyrics of the songs,
  • measure and admire the ironies of the story,
  • hit that little white ball better than you did last time,
  • climb that next rise on the mountain path, or
  • contemplate the vastness of the sea stretching before us to the horizon.

This mental activity is untroubled by the life and death issues we face all week, so that part of the soul—the worry part, the obsessive part, the responsible part—gets a break, a much needed break.

Another Gift from God
Because we work hard all week, the Lord is pleased to give us interests that ease the emotional strain of the responsibility we carry while letting our ceaseless minds continue to chug along. In the process we are refreshed. When we follow this little detour back to the road God has given us, we bring our whole, refreshed humanity to the tasks before us. Rest is a part of the work He has called us to do. We pray for the anointing of His Spirit so that the work of the Kingdom, and our part in it, gets done.

Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm23:1-3
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your lovingkindness is, indeed, better than life. Thank You for making rest such a noble and necessary thing. Let Your call to rest drown out the fleshly call to busy-ness. Protect us from any hint of a Messiah complex that would lead us to believe that if we leave the frontlines even for a day, the war is lost. What nonsense! You and You alone, Lord Jesus, are Messiah. We are simply Your servants, called to work passionately and thoroughly but not tirelessly. Weariness of the flesh is not sin; it is simply a part of the ordained rhythm of life: work-rest; work-rest. As we rest before You today, letting our active minds explore paths of fun and amusement, we know that You are renewing our strength and soon we will soar again on eagle’s wings. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Song:
Near to the Heart of God
Words and Music: Cleland B. McAfee

1. There is a place of quiet rest Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, Neart to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee Near to the heart of God.

2. There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

3. There is a place of full release Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January

January 25

Life

Life’s most amazing gift from the hand of the Father is life itself. As magnificent as any mountain may be, it does not have life. As dry as any desert may be, as overwhelming as any ocean may be, they support life but they are not alive.

We are.

The earth has spun around again so a new day begins. Our hearts faithfully beat through the night as our breathing was steady and deep in restful sleep. Some of us did not sleep well, our hearts beating faster than they should, our breathing shallow and rapid but angels stood guard and the morning came.

Why?

Because life is precious and must be guarded, protected. The business of God’s holy angels is to worship God and to guard the lives of those He has created. They have a life-gift as well, different from ours, but rooted in the same source.

  • The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and teeming creatures beneath the waves have their own kinds of life, also precious in the Lord’s sight, but lives lived for the benefit of mankind.
  • The flowers in the meadow or rustling on the hillside speak of the beauty of the Lord’s mind.
  • The furrowed fields of grain and the wild meadow and deep forest all sing silently of their life, also from God, but still different from the life of the animal or that of mankind.

We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image and likeness of God. We are not told how breath came to beasts, birds, and creatures of the sea, but we know that our first breath came from our Creator when God “breathed into Adam and he became a living soul.”

We know that we are counted by Him to be worth more than sparrows in frantic flight or flowers who labor not and neither do they spin nor store in barns. Still, they are carefully cared for by our Father. How much more then, will He guard and guide and garrison us?

All of human life is precious in God’s sight, but the innocent hold a privileged place to be cared for by those of us who are guilty but forgiven. When we share this passion with the Lord, we will do what must be done to save the innocent.

Life, God’s greatest gift, demands no less.

Scriptures:
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
Genesis 2:7 KJV
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Psalm 145:15-16
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Matt 6:25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Luke 12:14-15 NKJV
“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of my life. I am so amazed to think of Your hidden processes that brought human life to me. Yet here I am—Your creation, Your servant. I am Yours—all of me, the good and the bad, the talents You supplied, the skills I humbly offer for Your use. As the old hymn says, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days—let them flow in ceaseless praise. Let them flow in ceaseless praise.” Amen.

Songs:
I Live
Words and Music: Rich Cook

I live, I live because He is risen.
I live, I live with power over sin,
I live, I live because He is risen.
I live, I live to worship Him.

Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus!
Because You’re alive—Because You’re alive—
Because You’re alive I live!

Take My Life and Let It Be
Words: Francis Ridley Havergal; Henry A. Cesar Malan

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days–Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January

January 21

Diligence

Diligence doesn’t get the headlines. There will be no news crews camping in your front yard, no reporters pouncing on your every move. However, what diligence gets you is more important than celebrity; it is real success.

The Invisible Factor
The professional athlete and the professional musician seem to live in worlds widely separated by all the visible factors we may call to witness. Yet, there is an invisible factor behind the great catch at the goal line or the great throw from the superstar quarterback, and the great, difficult, nearly impossible passage flawlessly played by the French Horn player or the violinist sitting properly tuxedoed in the symphony orchestra. That invisible factor is diligence. Those flashes of public glory are made possible by hours and hours of diligent practice.

Nothing important happens without diligence; someone has to stick to the job when it would be easier to quit. Diligence demands consistent adherence to the fundamentals of the task, the craft, the art. To gain true excellence the fundamentals must be drilled and drilled until they become automatic, functioning without conscious thought. For the third baseman when the batter shoots a hot one his way, there is no time to think. Muscle memory takes over when the running back sees an opening in the line of scrimmage. Years of diligent practice, including several hours every day, are the source of the eloquence and beauty of a musical phrase that lasts only a few seconds.

Life demands diligence:

  • In the reading and processing of the Word of God,
  • In daily discipline of prayer,
  • In the sacrifice of praise that springs, not from our fleeting feelings, but from the unchanging but ever increasing worthiness of the Lord Jesus,
  • In the life-choices each day presents where we can follow the right path or turn away, and,
  • In the craft of listening to the voice of the Spirit each day, as He points out those He has placed in our path who need a word or touch from us.

A Gift from God
Diligence is not a matter of personality or natural giftings. It is a gift from God. After all, we are made in His image and likeness, Imago Dei, as the ancients called it. He is certainly diligent in his care for us. Because we are an earthly vessel filled with the treasure of His Holy Spirit, we can do well without becoming weary. We can be faithful in the few things He gives us here and someday rule with Him over many things in His Kingdom to come.

Still, diligence is a daily choice. In the words of King David to Solomon his son, we must “Do the Work.”

Scriptures:
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
… without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
Hebrews 6:9-12
… God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
1 Chronicles 28:20
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your diligence in loving me. When I have been selfish, You were still giving. When I was weak You came to me in gentle strength. When I have been wrong, You have shown me my error as You pointed me to the right way. When I have withheld from You my praise and gratitude and adoration through inattention and prayerlessness, You never abandoned me. Grant to me this day the Gift of Diligence that I may be more like You. You have given me work to do today, help me be strong and do the work. All for You, Lord Jesus, All for You! Amen.

Song:
We’ll Work Till Jesus Comes
Words: Elizabeth Mills; Music: William Miller

1. O land of rest, for thee I sigh! When will the moment come
When I shall lay my armor by and dwell in peace at home?

Refrain:
We’ll work till Jesus comes, We’ll work till Jesus comes,
We’ll work till Jesus comes, and we’ll be gathered home.

2. To Jesus Christ I fled for rest, He bade me cease to roam,
And lean for succor on His breast till He conducts me home.

Refrain

3. I sought at once my Savior’s side, no more my steps to roam,
With Him I’ll brave death’s chilling tide, and reach my heavenly home.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January

January 15

Pain

There is no escaping pain.
From annoying aches to agonizing ailments to the sharp arrows of antagonists, life hurts sometimes—often, in fact.

For many the morning requires an inventory of stiff muscles and joints, a rubbing of sore eyes, and a deep draw of air to resupply the blood with oxygen. All of this gaping and stretching and bending and flexing needs to be chased by a good cup of coffee to get us going.

It wasn’t that way in Eden.
Adam and Eve must have sprung from sleep to consciousness with ease. Surely there were no stiff joints, aching muscles, or wounded minds to hinder the beginning of their day. Then one day Adam and the Mrs. had the wrong breakfast and pain registered its enrollment in the human experience.

In the normal course of things, pain increases with age. We are blessed with pills and ointments to fight its effects as the years pile up. In other cases, the young suffer pain and it hurts us to watch them. We don’t understand why it must be so.

Sometimes

  • the strong are struck down to weakness,
  • the able are reduced to disability, and
  • the good are afflicted by evil in ways that defy logic.

Sometimes we can see the cause of the effect and other times there is no cause but the effect remains terrible.

As each day begins, we must do something about our pain.
Whether it is the pain of wear and weakness, the pain of disease and disability, or the pain of the human heart, we must deal with it.

  • Has Jehovah Jireh (“The Lord Who Provides”) provided a place for our pain?
  • Does Jehovah Rophe (“The Lord Who Heals”) send healing and help flowing in our direction?
  • Does the Great Physician still make house calls?

The Balm in Gilead
Better than pills or ointments—though God is not offended when use the healing power of His creation—is His lovingkindess. It is better than life, the Scripture says.

  • He entered this wounded world precisely to feel our pain.
  • Just as the suffering crowds moved Him when He walked this earth, He is compassionate toward us.
  • His wounded back, striped with the Roman whip, took our pain.

By those stripes we are healed. Oh, there is no doubt of this. The only details unknown to us are when and where.

  • Now and here? Many, many times—Praise the Lord!
  • In heaven for sure!

There is no cancer there, no festering wounds, no brokenness, no weakness, no debilitating disease of any sort. We leave the annoying aches and agonizing ailments behind when we cross that river.

But what of the sharp arrows of antagonists? Does he care about them?

It is most amazing to think that our undeserved pain is a point of relationship with Christ.

Completely innocent of all cause, He suffered the pain of the effects of all sin. If we follow Him, this will inevitably cause us pain. Unlike the affliction of the body, the pain of ministry is a strange privilege, a way of identifying with Christ.

So, stretch those sleepy muscles, sip that sumptuous air and swill that simmering coffee! Even with pain you will greet this day with the strength of Jesus. Remember those who suffer greater pain than yours. Pray for those who seek to hurt you and hide safe within the wounds of the Savior.

Scriptures:
Jeremiah 8:21-22 NKJV
For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning;
Astonishment has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?
1 Peter 4:12-17
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. … if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
Philippians 3:10-11
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, because of fall of mankind into sin, life is a painful experience. Sometimes the reasons for pain are clear and sometimes suffering is a mystery, adding to the pain. Whether I know the reason for the pain of the day or it is beyond my comprehension, I know I am not alone. You do not know pain from a distance or in theory only. Like us, You were born in pain. As a child you hurt Yourself like any other child. You worked until Your muscles ached like ours do. You identify with my pain. Thank You, Lord. It is good to know that You are with me when I hurt. I know Your tender touch. Someday You will dry all our tears. Until that day, Your nearness is comfort in times of pleasure or pain.

Song:
There Is a Balm in Gilead
Traditional

Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

1. Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.

Refrain

2. If you cannot preach like Peter, Ify you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, and say, “He died for all.”
Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Devotions, January

January 12

Dawn

Some nights pass swiftly. The eyes close and a moment later, it seems, they open again and a new day has arrived in the interval. Other nights seem to drag on and on as if the dawn were held hostage by some unseen force of evil.

Some nights are peaceful and full of rest. We scarcely move from the moment we fall asleep to the time we awaken. On other nights fear is our bedfellow as thoughts of what happened in the day and dread of what might happen tomorrow rob us of any rest even if there are periods of unconsciousness in the ordeal.

Each type of night, the swift and restful or the interminable and torturous, ends in the same way—the sun rises. The darkness has to flee and with it, the fear. Well rested eyes must be rubbed and dormant muscles must be stretched. Red-rimmed eyes that did not rest must be likewise be rubbed and muscles weak from tension throughout the night must likewise be stretched.

Regardless of how the night was spent, the morning light demands a mental reset. So, we cast aside the covers and rise to meet whatever the day will bring. As we do, we are not alone and neither are we helpless. In fact, throughout the night, whether a pleasant one that disappeared like a dream or long sleepless one that threatens to linger all day, we have never been alone.

In some spiritual corner of our bed chamber our angel kept guard through the night. Our guardian does not come and go with sleep but stays on duty throughout every single night. The stars remained on duty all through the night just in case we went outside to wonder about things. They were ready to tell us again of the glory of the Lord until the light of the sun overcame their light but not their message.

We were never alone, guarded in deep sleep or in fitful tossing, because we are His.

So now we arise to face this day. Whether strengthened by rest or weakened by sleeplessness, we step into the day knowing that we are still not alone. Along with the faithful sun which drove away the power of the night, the Sun of Righteousness has risen again this morning from His rest. He is our light. He is our Sabbath rest. He is our companion. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is the treasure, filling our earthen vessel with His strength and power.

Regardless of how the night was spent, this day will be ours because it is His.

Scriptures:
Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Isaiah 60:1-3
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Psalm 30:4-5 NKJV
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Song:
Morning Has Broken
Words: Eleanor Farjeon; Music; Traditional

1. Morning has broken like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!

2. Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the garden,
Sprung in completeness Where His feet pass.

3. Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2017 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved