Devotionals

Philippians 3:10, NIV
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.”

In the area I live in there are many ‘senior citizens’ (including me!), and one of the indications is the large number of mobility scooters (known as buggies) that frequent our streets. Someone I know decided to go out for a ride on her buggy, and asked her elderly husband to help get the machine out of the shed where it was kept. After a few false starts it was manoeuvred backwards out of the door, where it then got stuck across the threshold as the battery had gone flat with the effort. The elderly lady was frustrated, as she’d been about to launch out round the block for a breath of air, and the trip had to be postponed whilst the battery was recharged. It was a power problem.

There are often times in life when our spiritual battery feels flat. It maybe that we’re in a worship event where everyone around us seems enthusiastically lost in wonder, love and praise, but we feel outside it and disconnected and frustrated. Or perhaps we’ve scheduled a special extended quiet time with God, but it seems like He didn’t put it in His diary, so He doesn’t show up. (He’s there all the time of course!) Or maybe it’s prayer ministry time, but we can’t hear what God might be saying to us.

Sometimes the problem comes from our own attempts to empower ourselves. The soul goes into a self-charging mode, which gives a temporary experience, but not a lasting inner resource. Paul exclaims that he wants to know and experience the dunamis, (dynamic power, or enabling) of Jesus, ‘I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10).

He qualifies the word dunamis by saying it’s the power of the resurrection of Christ. It’s a lasting, loving, and living power that he wants to know, not a temporary, human experience.

This power is also personal. Jesus wants to empower us each individually with His power. I’m reminded of the story in Luke 8 where Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood, without really identifying her. He then says that “I know that power has gone from me”, and He wanted to know who it had gone to. There was a personal connection established.

When we go flat, we need to ask Jesus for that personal spiritual re-charge, a reconnection with the source of dynamic power for living. Only when this happens will we be able to fully function spiritually, and this will affect our worship, prayer, witness, and daily walk with God. No more ‘flat buggies’ for us!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your willingness to keep us recharged through the indwelling of Your Spirit in us. Help us to realise where we’ve been trying to self-charge with emotional substitutes, and enable us to be reconnected with You on a daily , so we’re full of Your dynamic power. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

Psalm‬ 27:10‬, ESV
“For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”

I believe rejection is painful, but abandonment from one`s parents is the deepest pain of all. Shadrach Maloka was abandoned as a two week old baby by his 14 year old mother, who left him to drown in a toilet. By God’s grace he was rescued and taken to hospital, but never knew who his parents were.

One day he read Psalm 27:10 to Stephen Lungu, who had been abandoned by his mother at the age of 6; ‘For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in’ (Psalm‬ 27:10‬).‬‬

He explained it was the promise of God and His Son Jesus to those who had been unwanted by their mothers and fathers. There was an amazing transformation in Stephen`s life. Stephen was a homeless, violent, gang leader, who couldn’t read or write, but he was able to become a powerful, international evangelist. (Stephen published his story ‘Out of the Black Shadows’ in 2001).

Experience of ministering to many hurting people shows that a baby or young child who is abandoned concludes “It must be my fault. I`m so bad that no one wants me”. A child is unable to reason that a parent is too ill or confused to look after him. He doesn’t know the tragedy of death or other circumstances beyond human control. The sense of unworthiness and guilt becomes secretly embedded in the child`s spirit.

The whole of Psalm 27, written by King David, gives God`s people a lifeline in times of trouble and insecurity. We find great encouragement in the following verses: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (verse 1); `For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock` (verse 5); `I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!` (Verses 13-14‬).‬‬‬‬

Some of us haven’t experienced abandonment from parents, but we may struggle with various rejection issues from early childhood. Deep inner healing comes from finding we can forgive our earthly parents for what they have done, or not done, and in expressing our hurt and pain to Jesus.

Our heavenly Father is kind and loving and wants to pour His love and comfort into all the wounds we have carried. He will ‘take us in’. He will ‘lift us high upon a rock’ and establish us in a transformed life, according to His perfect plans for us.

Prayer: Thank You, loving heavenly Father, that You are the perfect parent and that You draw us close to You. You heal our wounds, and You are our light and salvation. You are the stronghold of our life, and You hide us in Your shelter. We trust in You, and wait for You. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

Psalms 121:2, NIV
“My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”

I want you to imagine this scene. It’s 8.30 in the morning, and a man has just come to put a head rest on my father’s wheelchair (He’s recovering from a severe stroke). We have managed an entire year without one, but, because of travelling considerations, the occupational therapist insists one is needed. She’s right of course, and I know it, but I wish we could have organised a more mutually, convenient time. My father awkwardly transfers to his recliner, while the man inserts a metal plate into the back of his wheelchair. Metal shavings fall all over the carpet and I am wondering whether the vacuum cleaner will blow up when I try to suck them up. 

My sister’s pug dog is being extra bouncy and has to be forcibly removed to another room. She’s excited that we have guests, and wants to be a part of all the activities. I lock her in the bedroom with me, and she barks repeatedly to be let out. In the background I can hear the drill as the man continues to work. It’s taking much longer than we expected. That will prove a problem as Mondays are packed with activity, and I’d hoped he’d be finished before the next person came. The pug’s now scratching with vigour at my bedroom door. I want to add that this is the same pug that has escaped our care twice this week, and is already in my ‘bad dog book.’ 

I discipline the pug several times, to no avail, and begin to feel quite stressed. I’m not particularly very ‘chipper’ in the mornings on the best of days, but today I’m feeling more irritated than normal. Then I hear a noise that disturbs me greatly, and I grimace.

Looking down at the pug, I see that she’s just left a nasty puddle on my carpet. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. I fetch the disinfectant, put on a disposable glove, cover the patch in paper towel and soak up the mess. I can’t believe how much water such a small dog can hold. It is barely nine in the morning and I’m ready to hop back into bed, pull the covers over my head and start the day all over again.

Before the day is out, two carers, the pharmacist, the man who mows the lawn, a saleswoman, one of my sisters and two friends will also visit. Some are expected and some aren’t.Each time there’s a knock at the door, the pug jumps to attention and starts planning her next escape. She’s an opportunist if ever I’ve met one, and somehow manages to squeeze through the legs of one of the carers. She heads down the street with me in hot pursuit. Muttering through clenched teeth, I proclaim, “this is the last time I baby sit this dog” and I mean it. With the help of three others, I finally catch her and put her in the back yard. The neighbours won’t appreciate her barking, but I’m now out of options. Eventually she quietens down, and I take a big sigh of relief. 

Your circumstances are probably very different to mine, but we can all identify with a ‘bad day’ and all the rollercoaster emotions that accompany it. Substitute the pug in my story for a crying or sick baby, or a demanding boss, or a multitude of other scenarios, but the bottom line is the same – emotionally exhausting. Life doesn’t always run smoothly, or to plan, and we can all testify to that fact. Let me ask you a question though, that I’ve had to stop and ask myself as well. Where’s God in the midst of all the bedlam and madness?

Let me assure you that He’s right there in the midst, available and ready to help if we ask Him to. Jesus has walked this earth like one of us, and well identifies with how messy and overwhelming life can be sometimes. When we cry out to Him, He not only hears our prayers, but comes rushing to our aid. He may not always still the storm immediately, but we can trust Him to faithfully stand beside us in the midst of it and bring His peace. That peace passes all understanding. Looking back with hindsight, I realise I should have prayed for help a lot sooner than I did this morning! I also wonder if I should have sedated the pug! (Said with tongue in cheek)

Prayer: Thank You, God, that You’re with me, for me and a present help when I need it. Help me to remember that next time my heart feels overwhelmed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

Hebrews 12:2a, NIV
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…”

The Flying Wallendas is the name of a circus act and daredevil stunt performers, best known for performing high-wire acts without a safety net. Shortly after the great aerialist Karl Wallenda fell to his death in 1978, while doing his most dangerous walk, his wife, also an aerialist, said, “All Karl thought about for months before was falling. It was the first time he’d ever thought about that, and it seemed to me that he put all his energies into not falling rather than walking the tightrope.”

Can I just repeat a small section of the above paragraph? “It seemed to me that he put all his energies into not falling rather than walking the tightrope.” Is that how we live the Christian life? One of focusing more on not sinning, rather than focusing on following Jesus. Are we more concerned about failing at what we’re doing than about doing it?

Karl Wallenda had walked tightropes with ease across massive gaps way up high without a safety net for years. He had practiced hard and was supremely confident in his ability. His focus had always been on putting one foot in front of the other, and getting to the other side. Then, for some reason, his focus turned inwards and ultimately he failed. The very thing he feared happened.

What is your focus? Not making mistakes, not sinning, not letting God, your wife, your husband, your children, your parents, your pastor, your boss or yourself down? If so, then I suggest that your focus is wrong. Our focus needs to be on Jesus – the perfecter of our faith.

Let that sink in for a moment! We are not the ones who make our faith perfect – He does! The rest of Hebrews 12:2 helps us see the difference a right focus has. ‘For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ On the cross Jesus focused on the joy set before Him. You and I are that joy!

Prayer: Lord Jesus I choose from today to no longer focus on the negatives in my life. To no longer focus on how I might fail You or anyone else. Instead I choose to fix my eyes on You, determined with Your grace to follow You, putting one foot in front of the other. I know that underneath me are the everlasting arms – there to catch me and hold me fast, whenever I fall or fail. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

1 Thessalonians 4:3, NIV
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”

A while ago I read something on a friend’s Facebook page that really challenged me, and caused me to examine my own heart. The quote is an excerpt from a prayer written by Cardinal Charles Belmonte: ‘From a desire of being preferred, deliver me Jesus. From a desire of being consulted, deliver me Jesus. From a desire of being approved, deliver me Jesus… That others may be loved more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it… That others may be chosen, and I set aside, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised, and I go unnoticed, grant me the grace to desire it… Grant me the grace to desire it from You.’

While reading this prayer I became aware of the mixed emotions this stirred up inside my heart. It is a very natural desire to be approved, and praised and chosen and loved. In itself there is nothing wrong with it. But I realised that some of my ambivalent emotions regarding what I would be asking God to do when praying this prayer, was because of some of my own insecurities and the areas where I needed to grow. It magnified some attitudes and weaknesses, and even some things that were rooted in past wounds, which demanded attention and a surrendering to the Lord.

The word ‘sanctification’ means to be set apart for special use, and becoming holy unto God. Once we commit our lives to the Lord, we are redeemed from sin and our spirit is born again and made new. However, this is only the beginning of a process of growing to be more like Jesus – the process of sanctification. This is a life-long project that God undertakes with us.

While I was looking at my heart which seemed so full of pride and imperfections, I sensed God’s voice reminding me that I was never meant to tackle this life-long project of sanctification in my own strength. The contrary is true! The journey of sanctification was meant to be an exciting venture of faith-stretching experiences and stepping-out-of-the-boat moments, but also one of valley experiences and flat-on-my-face failures. But never once would I need to walk through any of these seasons alone. He would be working WITH me all the way! God gave me a wonderful promise in His Word:

‘Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight’ (Philippians 2:12-13).

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You walk with me through every season of my life, and that You are all the while patiently working with me and in me to will and to work for YOUR good pleasure. Thank you that You always see the end result of the ‘construction project’ in my life, and never give up on me. I consecrate my life afresh to You to have Your way in me. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

Luke 10:20, NIV
“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

When I studied history I learned about some tribes in Africa in which child-naming was a big event on the calendar. There were special people in tribe that were responsible for child naming. The child would cry and cry as these people shouted out different names, but when the right name was shouted out they would stop crying. Then they would know the baby had accepted the name. Sometimes this would go on for weeks, so it was a relief when they got it right.

Nowadays, with the influence from the west, it`s different. People are naming their children after celebrities or events. Recently Obama jetted into Kenya with Air Force One, and now there are some children called Obama Air-force-one. Others even name their children with a whole sentence. There is a Kenyan celebrity who named his two children ‘Keep It Real’ and ‘I Am Blessed’.

No matter what your name is the Lord knows you by that name, and it`s written in the book of life, if you`re a Christian. Some people struggle with the fact their bosses don`t even address them by name, because we feel important, valued and singled out when someone calls us by name. In the early days in Kenya girls wouldn’t disclose their name to just any guy who approached them. So for a guy to get a lady`s name was considered a triumph, and it indicated step one of a lady trusting him and a birth of a friendship.

It`s so amazing and affirming to know that the Lord address us by name. It shows how important we are to Him. He doesn`t address us as just part of the crowd. ‘When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus” (Luke 19:5). It doesn`t matter if you feel unworthy or you`re in a mess. He will still call you by name, because you matter to Him.

‘Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”’ (Luke 8:58). I`m so pleased that Jesus mentioned Abraham. That`s how well He knew him. Even in his absence He referred to Him. But the way He mentioned Abraham is the same way He mentions our name when interceding for us before the Father. How do you feel when people of great influence mention your name? The other day Peter Horrobin, the founder of Ellel Ministries was teaching and he mentioned my name. How did it make me feel? You could see the glow on my face.

What if you saw the queen had tattooed your name on her palm? In the Bible God says ‘See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands’ (Isaiah 49:16). What`s your name? Say it out loud and say, “I love my name … It’s engraved on God`s palm”. If you could see all the names that appear on His palm, you’d see your name is one of them.

So let`s live a holy life, so our names won`t be blotted out from the book of life. ‘The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book’ (Exodus 32:33). ‘The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels’ (Revelation 3:6).

Bring the names of your loved ones who aren’t Christian before the Lord, and pray for their salvation. And let’s always greet people by name.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for my name. I speak a blessing over it, and I thank You that You know me so well. Help me to know myself as You know me. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

“People will come from east and west, north and south, and will take their place at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

I woke up early in the morning and couldn’t stop thinking about the parable of the great feast which is in Luke 14:15-24. Whenever I read it years ago my focus was primarily on the excuses that the different people had to not want to attend this feast. And somehow I understood it to say I shouldn’t buy anything, do business, work or get married, but I should wait for God’s calling to the feast, and that’s what being a Christian was all about.

But I couldn’t work out how to do that in practice. Because we do need to do all these things during our time here on earth, while we wait for Jesus to return and for the big feast that the parable is talking about.

This morning my focus moved to those who did attend the feast. These people were gathered from the streets and alleys in the town, and also from the roads and country lanes. Basically they were gathered from everywhere. It says they were poor, crippled, blind and lame. What they had in common was that they all needed help in various ways. The poor have to beg, the blind need someone to lead them, the crippled need help on their way and the lame must trust others to carry them.

Thinking about this parable, I realise it means that God accepts those who need help, and seek that help from Him rather than from things like work, financial security or relationships. God knows what we need and wants to help us. His main focus is our relationship with Him. But He also delights in giving us those other things, because they make us glad, and then we’re grateful to Him.

So, are you poor? Seek riches in Him. Are you blind? Let Him guide you. Do you feel crippled? Receive His help. Yes, even if you’re lame and totally dependent upon others, receive His help and let Him carry you.

Jesus is full of grace and truth, and He says that He is ‘the way, the truth and the life’. He came to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind. Seek His help, and He’ll help you on your way. And when the time comes, either for death, or His return to earth, you’ll join Him in His big feast in heaven. Take it to heart today that, no matter what the circumstances, you can look to Him.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that You prepare a feast for us in heaven. Thank You that You help me with what I need today. Thank You that You see where I’m heading. Lord, if I’m on the wrong path in any area of my life, lead me to the right path. Thank You that You don’t turn Your face away from me, but that You receive me in Your grace. Thank You that You carry me today, where I need that. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV
“Be very careful, then, how you live, not unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Six months ago I discovered a very small amount of water in the sink unit cupboard. I wiped it up and forgot all about it until five months later I noticed water squelching through the cement joining the ceramic tiles on the kitchen floor. Needless to say I was full of regret. I had neglected a small thing which grew to the extent things became chaotic. For six weeks noisy dryers were operating, the kitchen floor had to be taken up, new plumbing put in and cupboards replaced. I lived to regret my neglect.

The Bible exhorts us over 70 times to be careful. In most instances the exhortation is with regard to how we live our lives in relationship with God. It also warns us of things we definitely must not neglect if we are to please God and live in true relationship with Him. Never count anything small with God, because, if we neglect now a seemingly little thing in our relationship with Him, we will certainly regret it later. To be neglectful is to be careless; it can lead to circumstances we would never welcome.

Firstly we are told not to neglect our salvation, but rather to work it out in spiritual growth and development (Hebrews 2:3 or Philippians 2:12). Salvation is a free gift of grace. It is life eternal to be lived out in the here and now, and enjoyed through eternity, but it not an insurance policy. Salvation is deliverance from sin and its power. To work it out here and now is to live in spontaneous obedience to Jesus as overcomers, and to be involved in the advance of His kingdom.

Secondly the Bible warns us not to neglect God’s Word (Psalm 119:16), but to hide it in our hearts. The word of God is alive. It fits into every situation of life. In extreme, desperate situations the Holy Spirit recalls to us the Word of God, which we are told to hide in our hearts. It becomes to us strength, comfort, safety, peace, assuring us of the Divine Presence, bringing assurance, trust and confidence, knowing that we are safe and sheltered in the shadow of the Almighty, whatever is going on around us.

Thirdly, we are not to neglect meeting with other believers (Hebrews 10:25). The love, concern, friendship and fellowship of other believers are very precious. Isolation and individualism are not part of biblical Christianity, for we belong to the family of God and we all have one Father. We are exhorted to give to one another, to love, comfort and care, but when you are the recipient of such tender care and concern from your fellow believers you are blessed indeed. God uses them to bring His heart of compassion to you. You know that when they say they will pray they do pray and God always answers prayer.

Finally, we are clearly told not to neglect the spiritual gift(s) we have been given (1 Timothy 4:14). Every believer has at least one definite spiritual gift. Because it is a gift from the Holy Spirit it is certainly going to be fruitful when He opens the door for us to use it. These gifts are gifts of grace – undeserved and unearned. If you don’t recognise your gift ask God to show you what it is and pray that He will lead you into situations where you use it for His glory. If we neglect our gift, on the day when we stand before Him we will certainly regret this, because we will lose our reward.

What we all need today is a passionate love for Jesus, which will deliver us from neglecting the precious things on His heart. Passionate love will put within our hearts the one desire to put Jesus first, and to be abandoned to His will and His ways. To know this blessedness our spirits must be fed from the hidden springs of life-giving water, which are found when we are rooted and grounded in Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me to be Your child. Please put within my heart a passionate love for Jesus that will lead me into paths of obedience to Him. I choose to hide Your Word in my heart, and to live day by day in the light of Your presence. By Your grace, may I never neglect or be careless about the things that are precious to You. Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog

“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, NIVI first learned these words as a young child. They are probably the most well-known verse in the w…

John 3:16, NIV
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

I first learned these words as a young child. They are probably the most well-known verse in the whole Bible. With childish understanding I had learned and understood that Jesus loved me so much He died for me. The message deeply impacted me and even though I was very young I knew Jesus and I knew he loved me.

One day, after a now long-forgotten childish escapade, when my parents had discovered the outworking of some original sin, I felt the consequences of parental displeasure. As I came to terms with the discipline I had just experienced I was heard, through my sobs, as I sat on the bottom of the stairs, to be saying, “Nobody loves me! Nobody loves me!” But then, barely whispered through the tears came the words, “Yes, Jesus loves me!”

I knew I’d done wrong, but I also knew that the word ‘whosoever’ from John 3:16 meant that I was included within the meaning of the verse and that Jesus still loved me! We are never too young or too old to need to know this profound truth – that the word ‘whosoever’ is all inclusive for all those who believe. And that the verse does not say that there is any extent of sin which places us outside the love of God. His arms are spread wide to welcome ALL who believe.

The message of this verse may be simple, but as with many things in life it is often the most simple things that are the most profound. Today I often have to speak with both men and women who have gone a long way off track and in their returning to the Lord have poured out their heart about the extent of sin they have wilfully experienced – some find it hard to believe that the message of John 3:16 truly is for them and that they are still loved and wanted. But the Scripture says that this message is for all who believe – it even included John Newton, the notorious former slave trader who later wrote “Amazing Grace.” He had understood the amazing grace of God for all that is implicit in this most wonderful of verses.

If you are struggling with believing that its message includes you, maybe now’s the time to find the bottom step of a staircase and through the sobs of repentance to hear God’s word in your heart and respond with the words that meant everything to me as a child, “Yes, Jesus loves me!”

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that there is no sinner who is beyond the extent of your love – and that the words of John 3:16 were written as a message to me from the One who loved me so much He died for me. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Click here to read Peter Horrobin`s blog