Malachi | Kristi's Morning Devotional

For years the words “victorious living” were not a part of my vocabulary. Life was a daily struggle – Dave going off to work each day, raising two small children, tightening the budget, stressful days and sleepless nights.

There wasn’t much joy or peace in our lives. We loved the Lord and felt it was our lot in life to just struggle through down here and when we got to heaven it would all be worth it.

Then one day we heard a preacher on television talking about Victorious Christian Living. We listened as he preached, writing down every verse he used and asking ourselves if this was really true. After the program was over we looked up the verses to make sure they weren’t taken out of context. We knew Scriptures could be twisted to say just about anything so we wanted to make sure that the intent of these verses matched the message being preached. They did.

“But we have power over all these things through Jesus Who loves us so much. ³⁸For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! ³⁹The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 NLV

That message gave us a hunger to know more of God’s word. We began to apply the Scripture to specific areas of our lives. We found that we could trust God’s word in every situation. It didn’t happen over night, it was a process.

I knew so many Christians like me. Living with a motto of “hope for the best, expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed”. I wanted to share with them the victory I had found in God’s word.

I wanted everyone to know that God is a good and loving Father. His plan is for us to be victorious. We don’t have to earn His love, He gives it unconditionally and His word explains all of this. Since then I have taken every opportunity I am given to help others understand the powerful life God has provided for us.

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMPC

That’s why I write this blog. That’s why I have written “Like A Diamond”. Our lives in Christ are multifaceted. Each facet causes us to sparkle with the brilliance of God’s love, grace, compassion and forgiveness. We have great value to our heavenly Father. He sees us as precious treasures “Like A Diamond”.

If you struggle with victory in your Christian walk or know of someone that does then I believe this book will be a help to you. It is eleven chapters filled with Scripture and teaching on who God has designed us to be.

My prayer is that we all shine “Like A Diamond” for God’s glory!

Books ordered here will be autographed.

Now before you think that I am going to wax poetic about the joys of living in the desert, I want to share some thoughts with you that the Lord brought to me yesterday in my quiet time.

I have been dealing with some issues that require decisions and actions on my part. I was telling the Lord that I didn’t want to make a decision based on my own knowledge, fear or a sense of urgency.

It was then that I remembered these verses.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. ⁶With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. ⁷Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the Lord and stay away from evil. ⁸If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverbs 3:5-8 ERV

I don’t want to do things or make decisions based on my own “common sense”. I want everything I do to be God-led and God-directed. My intelligence and understanding give me a limited view of the things before me, like a flashlight on a dark night.

But trusting the Lord completely and relying on His understanding of the situation is comparable to the light of the sun at noonday. Nothing is hidden, everything is revealed. I would much rather walk in the light of the sunshine than with the light of a flashlight.

Remember a few days ago in the story of Saul/Paul. Saul was met on the road to Damascus by a bright blinding light from heaven. That’s God’s light and it’s so much greater than any light we use. The same light appeared with the angels to the shepherds when they announced the birth of Jesus.

Trusting the Lord and His wisdom is far beyond my own wisdom and understanding.

“But for you that honor my name, victory will shine like the sun with healing in its rays, and you will jump around like calves at play. ³When I come to bring justice, you will trample those who are evil, as though they were ashes under your feet. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!” Malachi 4:2-3 ERV

God caused the sun to stand still for Joshua when he was fighting a battle. The sun represented God’s power and promise working for the Israelites. As long as it was present they were winning.

“The Lord was helping the Israelites defeat the Amorites that day. So about noon, Joshua prayed to the Lord loud enough for the Israelites to hear:

“Our Lord, make the sun stop
    in the sky over Gibeon,
and the moon stand still
    over Aijalon Valley.”
So the sun and the moon
    stopped and stood still
until Israel defeated its enemies.

This poem can be found in The Book of Jashar. The sun stood still and didn’t go down for about a whole day. ¹⁴Never before and never since has the Lord done anything like that for someone who prayed. The Lord was really fighting for Israel.” Joshua 10:12-14 CEV

So yesterday, after my quiet time I took Glory, our dog, for a walk. While I was on the walk the Lord reassured me to “wait” pursuing my own idea for a solution and to trust Him. After all, His ways are perfect.

This morning I woke refreshed. I plan on living this day in the “Son Shine”!

Category: Malachi

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