Devotions
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GRASSHOPPER SYNDROME
How would you like a grasshopper protein shake? It is one of the latest innovations companies are looking to, aimed at athletes and sports nutrition that will improve their performance. The grasshopper shake is packed with important ingredients — like amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and magnesium. Quite frankly, I have eaten grasshoppers before, so thank you, but I’ll pass. Unlike the Grasshopper shake, the power and promise of God has remained the same from the beginning of time. The victory is ours but do we have the power and vision to claim the victory, or do we see ourselves as grasshoppers against a giant of a task. In the book of Numbers, chapter 13, we find these words: The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. Twelve leaders went out and saw the land, only two had vision while ten could not see past the obstacles. The ten became vulnerable to exaggeration leading to paralyzation and emotional devastation. They cried, complained, imagined the worst and then gave up. God pledges deliverance, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life... I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, …Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5-9) But we ask How, why am I missing it? Here are “Four C’s” for insight: 1 CONSCIENCE: Our conscience loses sight of the vision because of fear, lies, or a seared and calloused conscience. We saw giants: we are like grasshoppers in our own sight, oh they might step on us, smack us between two bricks, they probably had a can of bug spray in one hand and a fly swatter in the other. We know what is right but choose to ignore it, reason it, or avoid it. The Holy Spirit that should be our conscience has been locked in a box out of fear to use it, be questioned or made fun of. 2 CONTROL: We want to be in control but if someone else can tell me what to do, I’m not in control. May I offer up to you a way to have total 100% control; GIVE IT AWAY, if you give control of your life and your situations to Christ, that will be the one thing you can do that says I am in total control, and I choose, I decide to do this; I give all to him to control. The difficult part becomes keeping ME out of His control of ME. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) God wants us to respond with Faith and in that faith through Prayer to reach the true power. 3 CONVICTIONS: What are your convictions; job, family, career or Christ. Are they only Preferences and not convictions? The children of Israel had a preference and not a conviction to leave Egypt, because at every adversity, their direction re-focused on “we were better off back in Egypt”. Christ demonstrated conviction versus preference in the garden when he asked 3 times, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you …………. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:6-7) 4 CHRIST: As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (1 Peter1:3-4) Christ has demonstrated the power over death through his love for us. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior. (Jude24) God is our Savior, wise, glory, majesty, dominion, and power. NOW and FOREVER. Joshua and Caleb focused on the Lord and His power, not on their own abilities. Other opinions did not matter, only what God promised. They focused on the goal. Stop looking at the obstacles, excuses and problems. Look instead at Gods almighty power and the power of the Holy Spirit through you to give you a clear vision to assure victory. Not Grasshoppers and Giants. Yours In Christ, Rev. Jerry Schmid
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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