dr logans blog

Hebrews 11:1 (NASB ): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Trust and belief in what we can see and feel is not faith. We do not need faith for those things. Our experience with them and knowledge of them give us confidence in them. But what we cannot see or feel, and have no knowledge of or experience with takes faith. It takes faith to believe God’s promises that are ‘yea and amen.’ It takes faith to walk where the Spirit leads us or our Father directs. It takes faith to face the unknown and accept God has it under control. So, today, activate and elevate your faith especially when you do not see and cannot know how it is going to work out because God has it under control.

Gracious Heavenly Father, we believe in Your and have confidence in Your promises, but confess to the times we struggle in our faith. Hear us as we cry out to you today, like the man who brought his son to You, “we believe, help our unbelief.” Amen.

James 1:4 (NASB): “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

It is often difficult to endure, particularly when times are tough. The pain, heartache one experiences is so acute that all one can think to do is to get away from it as quickly as possible. But endurance has a purpose: that we would be perfect or mature and complete, not lacking anything. Things may be really rough right now but continue to hang in there. There is a great reward waiting.

Gracious Father, You know how hard it is for us to endure. Thank You for Your precious Holy Spirit who strengthens our resolve and will that we might endure. Times are tough for some of Your people now, help them to stand even as You have helped and now help us to stand. Amen.

James 1:5 (NASB): “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Of all the things one can think to ask of God, wisdom is generally not one of them. We ask for material things, houses and lands, favor and prosperity, health and longevity. But those things have no real enduring value. Wisdom, on the other hand, does. When Solomon became King in Israel, God allowed him to ask for anything and he asked for wisdom. Consider if we were truly wise, then perhaps the things we desire would be more attainable. Today let us ask for wisdom.

Thank You Lord, for giving generously and without reproach. Today we take advantage of that generosity to ask for wisdom to operate in the various spheres we find ourselves or You have placed us, for Your glory and our welfare. Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB): “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

For the many times we feel confused and lost, not knowing what we should do or where we should go, this is good news. It is good news because the King of the universe, who is omniscient, is neither confused or lost. He knew where we would be and what we would doing and feeling before the beginning of time. So not phased by the precarious circumstances we often encounter, He would have us know that His promises are still “yes and amen.” Let us rest today with assurance.

Heavenly Father, help to rest peacefully today in the knowledge that You have plans for our lives. Give us the desire to know Your plans, follow Your plans, and grow comfortable with the timing of Your plans. Amen.

Romans 8:1 (NASB): “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

No condemnation, no judgment for those who are in Christ Jesus. Though we are all sinners, albeit saved by grace, this is not a free get out of jail card. It is merely the assurance that the price paid by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ guarantees our sin has been covered. Accordingly, we do not have to fear standing at the judgment. The key is in the exception clause, “for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Praise God we can proclaim we are in the number.

Our Father, what joy “floods our soul like sea billows roll, since [You] came into our hearts.” Thank You for the knowledge that life in You guarantees we will be pronounced innocent at the judgment. Help us to now live our lives in the light of that knowledge. Amen.

Psalm 23:5 (NASB): “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

God has prepared such a marvelous spread before us and He does it publicly. Everyone will see and know how blessed we are. That includes friends, family, cheerleaders and haters. His blessings are so bountiful that our cups literally run over. The blessings are not merely figurative, they are tangible. We can see and touch them because they are real. David records that the Shepherd anointed his head with oil, giving comfort and relief. What joy there is in know that our Heavenly Father loves us so completely that He would care for us so deeply.

Gracious Father, thank You for lavishing blessings on us. Though often prone to grumble and complain, today we rejoice in Your tender loving care. Amen.

Joshua 1:8 (NASB): “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

Everything we need is contained in the Word of God. I like to say that is rather like the old Prego Tomato Sauce commercial. In the midst of objections over using bottled sauce a wife responds by pointing out everything her mother-in-law put in her homemade sauce was in Prego. So also, everything we need in order to be successful is in the Word. All that is necessary on our part is daily adherence to it and meditation on it.

Gracious Father, You have given us everything we need to live successfully in this life. Enable us by Your Spirit to consistently and zealously live according to it. Amen.

James 1:2–3 (NASB): Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Joy is not the emotion I would use to describe how I feel about the trials I encounter. Yet James encourages us to do just that. The reason being that trials are tests of our faith, and our ability to endure and overcome them produces endurance in us. I can consider it joy, too, because trials that come as a result of my faith demonstrate faithfulness to the will of God.

Gracious Father, help us today to have joy over the trials we encounter instead of grumbling and complaining. May our faith sustain us and Your power assure us that we might be enabled to come through them like gold. Amen.

Psalm 23:3 (NASB): “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

When I read this verse I think about a song Dottie Rambo used to sing, I go the Rock. It’s lyrics speak better than my words today.

“Where do I go when there’s nobody else to turn to? Who do I turn to when nobody wants to listen? Who do I lean on when there’s no foundation stable? I go to the Rock, I know He’s able, I go to the Rock.

I go to The Rock for my salvation. I go to the stone that the builders rejected. I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me. When the earth all around me is sinking sand, on Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand. When I need a shelter, when I need a friend, I go to the Rock.

Today, Lord, we praise You for being that Rock to which we can run and find restoration and refreshment. Amidst all of the distractions swirling around us today thank You for reminding us that You are standing by us. Amen.

Psalm 23:2 (NASB): “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.”

Like sheep, we do not always know what is best for us. Fixated on what is attractive and even a little promising we will plunge headlong into it when we should stop, rest and reflect. Unnoticed, we will attempt to ford streams and rivers bustling over with raging destructive waters. What great delight serving a Father whose care for us is so complete He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside quiet or still waters.

Thank You, Lord, for being our Good Shepherd. Thank You for making us rest and leading us to avoid that which is not best. Give us today the desire and the will to seek You and to follow You as You lead. “Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, much we need Your tender care. In Your pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Your folds prepare. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have bought us, Thine we are. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, You have bought us, Thine we are. “