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Day 171/172 of 365: My Abba

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Father / My Father

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Family, today’s devotional is surrounding an Aramaic word that is very close to my heart. You have read several times when I start my prayers I still call God Abba.

I love the Lord and I have so much reverence for Him, I call Him Abba because he has been the most amazing Father. He makes me feel whole, loved, and seen. I know who I am through his eyes.

Abba is used three times in the Bible.

Mark 14:36
New International Version

36 “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Romans 8:15
New International Version

15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.”

Galatians 4:6
New International Version

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.”

What stands out to me about the word Abba is that it is not distant. It is not formal. It is not reserved for perfection. It is intimate, close, and spoken from the place of trust.

Jesus used this word in His most vulnerable moment in the garden of Gethsemane. In His distress, He did not turn away from the Father, He turned toward Him. Even while asking if the cup could pass, He still said, “Abba, Father…” That tells me something powerful: intimacy with God is not the absence of struggle. It is the presence of trust in the middle of it.

And in Romans and Galatians, we are reminded that this same Abba is not only the Father of Christ, but through Him, He becomes our Father too. We are not outsiders trying to earn access. We are adopted. We are welcomed. We are given the Spirit who teaches our hearts to recognize God as Father, not in fear, but in love.

So on this Father’s Day, I offer this thought:

Even if earthly fatherhood has been complicated, absent, or painful for some of us, there is still a Father who does not reflect those wounds.

There is an Abba who does not abandon, who does not withdraw love, and who does not misunderstand our hearts.

He sees fully. He stays fully. He loves fully.
And maybe today, the invitation is simple:

To let the heart learn again how to say, “Abba, Father,” not as a concept, but as a refuge.

Let Us Pray

Abba, Father,

Thank You for being near when life feels heavy and for being steady when everything else shifts. Thank You for adopting us into Your family and calling us Your own.

Teach our hearts to trust You more deeply. Heal what has been broken in our understanding of fatherhood. Replace fear with peace, and distance with intimacy.

Abba, for those who struggle today, those who miss a father, those who never had one, or those whose wounds are still tender, meet them gently and clearly.
Remind us that we are seen, known, and loved by You.

We rest in You today, Abba. In Jesus name, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Official audio of Chris Tomlin’s “Good Good Father”
Subscribe to Chris Tomlin’s Channel: https://christomlin.ln…
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Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 170 of 365: Jehovah Shammah

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Is There / The Lord Is Present

יהוה שמה

YAHWEH SHAMMAH

The Lord is There

Greeting, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, I have truly enjoyed this two-week journey of writing about the Hebrew names of God found in the Old Testament. Part of me truly wants to continue this journey into next week.

Tonight’s choice of Jehovah Shammah is especially meaningful to me. Throughout this two-week journey of learning about the Hebrew names of God, I have realized one very important truth: God is still the same today for me as He was for everyone in the Old Testament. God has always been there for me. No matter what I was facing, God has been forever faithful. It is also the reason that I lift my hands when I worship or just sit and cry. I am continually amazed at the never-ending love of God.

As we look at Jehovah Shammah in the context of where it is used in the Old Testament, the message is beautiful: God’s greatest promise is not that we will never walk through difficult places, but that we will never walk through them without Him.

Let’s look at Ezekiel 48:35 as it is the first and only time that Jehovah Shammah is used.

Before I share the scripture, I feel I should give it context. Ezekiel was a prophet used by God to rebuke and warn Israel—whom God called a “rebellious and stubborn” people. I know that I often encourage you to read the entire chapter to gain understanding of the text. The Book of Ezekiel is different. It is one where it is necessary to start at Ezekiel 1:1 and study the entire 48 chapters.

I know that sounds like a lot, but the chapters are very short. Unless you read Ezekiel in its entirety, you will never understand the full weight of our scripture selection today.

Ezekiel 48:35
New International Version

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[a]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

The Lord is there.”

Oh how I wish I could adequately explain the loving grace that has taken place and resulted in this verse. More than anything, what I want you to take away is this:

Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Jehovah Shammah will walk with you through the journey—just keep your eyes on Him.

There is an old church song that says:

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND….STAYED ON JESUS

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND, STAYED ON HIM.

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND STAYED ON JESUS, HALLELU, HALLELU, HALLELUJAH!!

Let Us Pray

Father God, Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Who Is There:

We come before You with grateful hearts, humbled by the truth that You are not a distant God, but a present One. You are the God who remains, the God who dwells with Your people, and the God who never abandons what He has created.

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season. Thank You that even in the places of struggle, even in the seasons of waiting, even in the moments of uncertainty, You are still there. You have never left, and You will never leave.

Teach us to recognize Your presence when life feels heavy. Teach us to see You not only in answered prayers, but also in the quiet strength to keep going. Open our eyes so that we stop mistaking silence for absence.

Father, as we walk through our daily lives, remind us that we do not walk alone. Go before us, walk beside us, and uphold us when we are weak. Let Your presence be our peace, our strength, and our steady place of rest.

For every heart reading this today, let there be a renewed awareness: The Lord is there. In the home, in the workplace, in the waiting room, in the night season, and in the early morning hours, You are there, Lord.

And Lord, we thank You that this promise is not dependent on our perfection, but on Your unchanging nature. You are Jehovah Shammah, and Your presence is our assurance.

We give You honor, we give You glory, and we give You our trust. In the name and authority of Christ Jesus we pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

May 27, 2010 Rayshan Booker / Sunday Morning service at Eastside OK

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 169 of 365: Jehovah Sabaoth

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord of Hosts / The Lord of Armies

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, this evening we are exploring the character of God as Jehovah Sabaoth.

Several of the names and characteristics of God that we have studied up to this point appear only a few times in the Old Testament. That is NOT the case with Jehovah Sabaoth

Jehovah Sabaoth was used approximately 270 in the Old Testament, signifying divine authority, protection, and might. It portrays God as sovereign ruler of angels, stars, and human armies alike.

Two of the most familar passages, at least to me, are 1 Samuel 1:3 and Isaiah 6:3. Let’s take a look.

Remember, I always suggest that you read the ENTIRE CHAPTER in order to get full understanding and the context of the the passage. Reading the whole chapter will also increase your one on one with the Lord as well as continue to familiarize you with His voice as you study.

When I first started reading and studying the Bible seriously, I would ask the Holy Spirit to help my understanding of what I was reading and to help me become sensitive to His voice.

First Passage

1 Samuel 1:3
New International Version

3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord.

The man this passage is speaking of is Elkanah son of Jeroham who is the husband of Hannah. Hannah was barren but prayed to God for a son. God heard her prayer and gave her a son whose name was Samuel. Without reading the entire chapter it would have been difficult to understand why he was there making a sacrificial offering.

Second Passage

Isaiah 6:3
New International Version

3 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
    the whole earth is full of his glory.”

In the earliest ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, translators often used Kyrios Pantokrator (“Lord Almighty”) as an interpretive equivalent to Jehovah Sabaoth.

Question, can you determine which familar passage of scripture this verse is referencing? If you are not able to recognize the passage that is actually a GREAT thing. It means that when you go back to read the character in its entirety it give you yet another opportunity to spend time with the Lord. In this instance, I recommend starting from Isaiah 1:1 and reading all the way to the end of Isaiah 6.

This passage is regarding the visions Isaiah had concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Tonight’s devotional regarding Jehovah Sabaoth is regarding the universal sovereignty of the Lord. There is a reason that it was used over 270 times in the Old Testament alone. God does NOT CHANGE.

Tonight, be thankful that God is same Sovereign Alighty God for Elkanah, Hannah, Isaiah as he is for you and me.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father,

Tonight we come before You with humble hearts, recognizing You as Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, the Lord Almighty, the Sovereign King over all creation.

You are the God who commands the armies of heaven, the God who sits high and lifted up, and the God whose glory fills the earth. There is no power greater than Yours, no authority above Yours, and no circumstance outside of Your rule.

Lord, thank You that Your greatness does not make You distant. Thank You that the same God who reigns over heaven hears the prayers of Your children. Just as You heard Hannah’s cry, You hear us. Just as You revealed Your glory to Isaiah, You reveal Yourself to those who seek You.

Forgive us for the moments when we look at our battles and forget that You are the One who fights for us. Help us to trust that You are already present in every situation we face. Teach us to surrender our fears, our worries, and our plans into Your capable hands.

Jehovah Sabaoth, remind us that our confidence is not found in our own strength, but in the One who holds all power. When we feel overwhelmed, remind us that heaven’s armies are under Your command. When we feel unseen, remind us that You are the God who sees us.

May our lives declare, as Isaiah heard proclaimed in his vision, that You are holy, holy, holy. May we walk in reverence, trust, and worship before You.

You are the same Sovereign God yesterday, today, and forever.

In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

RCA Inspiration
Jehovah Sabaoth (God of Angel Armies) (Edit) · Donald Lawrence · The Tri-City Singers · Brittany Stewart
Jehovah Sabaoth (God of Angel Armies) (Edit)
℗ 2020 Provident Label Group LLC, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Released on: 2020-05-22
Associated  Performer: Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers feat. Brittany Stewart

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 168 of 365: Jehovah Rohi

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, you may not have heard the Hebrew name Jehovah Rohi, but you probably know this name of God very well in English: The Lord Is My Shepherd.

One of the first passages of scripture that many of us were taught, along with The Lord’s Prayer was the 23rd Psalm of David.

When I think visualize a shepherd taking care of a flock of sheep, I cannot help but think about the Lord.

Family, a shepherd has so many characteristics.

A shepherd is one who:

1. Cares for and watches over his flock.

2. Will fight any battle he needs to in order to keep his flock safe.

3. Will correct any sheep that wander away or become stubborn, because the shepherd knows the danger they cannot see.

4. At the same time, if that very same stubborn sheep gets lost, all the shepherd has to do is listen for its cry and the shepherd will leave to go and bring back the one that was lost. The shepherd does not forget the flock he is watching, but when one is missing, his heart goes after the one that is lost.

Doesn’t that sound just like God?

How amazing is it to be loved like that?!

Family, how has the Lord been Your Shepherd? Why not tell him Thank You this evening for all the ways he has been a Good Shepherd and a Good Father.

Jehovah Rohi – The Lord Is My Shepherd

Tonight, our scripture will also serve as our prayer.

Let Us Pray

Psalm 23

Tree of Life Version

Adonai-Ro-eh

Psalm 23
1 A psalm of David.
Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His Name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me:
Your rod and Your staff comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

CCLI Song # 7111981
Written by Joshua Sherman and Steven Musso. Psalm 23 is derived from the famous Psalm of David, a wonderful modern Gospel Song perfect for large worship teams or choirs featuring a call and response to encourage the Church to raise her voice!

© 2018 Tent Peg Music (div. of New Nation Music [Admin. by Music Services, Inc.])
The Emerging Sound Publishing (div. of New Nation Music [Admin. by Music Services, Inc.]) Touched By A Fire Music (div. of New Nation Music [Admin. by Music Services, Inc.])

#PeopleAndSongs #JoshSherman #Psalm23

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 167 of 365: Jehovah Tsidkenu

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Our Righteousness

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, we have the joy of learning more about the character of God each day. This evening we see that before anyone in 2026 said, “Try Me And Find Out” that God said it first.

Through the Prophet Jeremiah the Lord gave a harsh warning to those who were sitting on the Throne. The Lord was telling them throughout Jeremiah not to take the role of King lightly.

Here is what he said in Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jeremiah 23:5-6

New International Version

5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

And God repeated his promise again in Jeremiah 33:14-16

Jeremiah 33:14-16

New International Version

14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

15 “‘In those days and at that time
    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
    he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it[a] will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’

Family, has God ever made a promise to you or shown you a glimpse of what will be?

Sometimes it feels like forever for the promise to be fulfilled. We were expecting a month’s or maybe even a couple of years, right?

God’s timing is so very different from ours. One thing I can say without a shadow of a doubt, God’s timing is worth the wait.

Let me tell you, the enemy will try anything and everything to get you to take the counterfeit blessings, the generic blessing, or even the “well it’s close enough” blessing.

A counterfeit usually looks convincing. If it looked obviously wrong, we would reject it. That is why waiting on God requires knowing His voice.

The Prophet Jeremiah told the rulers of the day, since you have treated my people so poorly, I am preparing “A righteous Branch from the line of David and he will be called The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

Family, Im reading this and I see all characteristics of God coming through that we have been studying over the last couple of weeks.

God has loved us from the very beginning.  The Old Testament is filled with do many examples of God’s faithfulness to love us and never forsake us.

Yes, God Is:

Our Banner

Our Peace

Our Righteousness

And He sees us.

If that is not a reason to praise Him, I don’t know what is. Praise God!!!

Let Us Pray

Beautiful Abba,

We come before You with grateful hearts, knowing that You are the Lord Our Righteousness.

Father, thank You that before we ever knew how much we needed You, You already had a plan for restoration. Through every generation, through every promise, and through every season of waiting, You have remained faithful.

Lord, forgive us for the times we have tried to rush what You were preparing. Forgive us for the moments when we were tempted to accept what was “close enough” instead of trusting that Your promises are worth the wait. Help us to recognize the counterfeit blessings that distract us from the perfect plans You have prepared.

Father, when we cannot see the full picture, remind us that You can. When we feel forgotten, remind us that You are El Roi, the God who sees us. When we are overwhelmed, remind us that You are Jehovah Shalom, our peace. When battles surround us, remind us that You are Jehovah Nissi, our banner and our victory.

Lord, thank You for sending the Righteous Branch, the One who brings salvation and restoration. Thank You that our righteousness is not dependent on our perfection, but on Your mercy, Your grace, and Your unfailing love.

Teach us to wait with faith. Teach us to trust Your timing. Teach us to walk in the identity You have given us, not because of who we are, but because of who You are.

May our lives declare that You are faithful from generation to generation.

In the precious and holy name of Christ Jesus we do pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Track 9: Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Righteous Ruler

Experience the justice and righteousness in “Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Righteous Ruler,” track nine from the album “The Names of God.”

This song celebrates God’s role as the Righteous Ruler, highlighting His perfect justice and the freedom found in His decrees.

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 166 of 365: Jehovah Nissi

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Is My Banner

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, today we start on the second week exploring the names of God in the Old Testament. I have truly been blessed by going deeper into each biblical account and seeing the nature and character of God revealed through His names

This evening our text comes from Exodus 17:15. You know I love reading the entire chapter to get full picture of what is happening in the text.

I want you to visualize the Israelites journey of Exodus through Egypt. They are crossing miles and miles of desert on their journey to the Promise Land. They have with them all their families and all of their livestock.

All of a sudden they begin to get attacked by the tribe of Amalek whose original founder was the grandson of Esau. Now, we will read Exodus 17:8-15.

Exodus 17:8-15
New International Version

The Amalekites Defeated

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.

9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.

11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on one side, one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner (Jehovah Nissi).

Family, notice something important about this moment. The Israelites were not attacked while standing still in Egypt. They were attacked while moving forward toward the promise God had given them.

Sometimes opposition comes not because we are outside of God’s will, but because we are walking in the direction He has called us to go.

What another amazing example of God being “I AM WHO I AM.”

Family, how many times have felt the Lord direct you in a specific way, whether it was to guide you away from dangers or toward a blessing?

I can remember plenty of times where I have said:

“Something doesn’t feel right in my spirit.”

Has that ever happened to you? How many times have you kicked yourself for not listening to the still small voice inside?

Because Moses knew the voice of the Lord; he, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill and were obedient to the Lord’s instructions.

Family, Moses did not build an altar to celebrate Israel’s strength. He built an altar to declare that the victory belonged to the Lord.

Jehovah Nissi means The Lord is my banner. Our victory is not found in our own strength, but in the God who fights for us.

What a blessing to know that the Lord is STILL our Banner!!!! Amen.

Let Us Pray

Holy Abba,

Tonight we come before You with grateful hearts, remembering that You are Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Our banner.

Father, just as You led the Israelites through the wilderness, You continue to lead Your children today. You know every road we walk, every battle we face, and every place where we feel weak. Yet You have never left us without Your presence.

Lord, remind us that our victories do not come from our own strength, our own wisdom, or our own ability. Like Moses standing on the mountain, we must lift our eyes to You and remember that our help comes from You.

When the battles of life come unexpectedly, teach us not to fear. When we feel tired from the journey, remind us that You are still our refuge. When we cannot see how the battle will end, help us trust the God who already sees the beginning, the middle, and the victory.

Father, forgive us for the times we have ignored Your gentle prompting. Forgive us when we have relied on our own understanding instead of following Your voice. Give us hearts that are sensitive to Your Spirit and willing to obey.

Lord, You are our banner. We belong to You. Our identity is not found in our circumstances, our struggles, or our battles, but in the God who stands above them all.

May our lives become an altar of remembrance, just like Moses built on that mountain; a testimony that You are faithful, You are powerful, and You are always with Your people.

Thank You for being our I AM. Thank You for being Jehovah Nissi.

In the mighty and precious name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen, Amen and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Official Live Performance Video for “Still” by Jonathan McReynolds and Jamal Roberts
Stream “Still” here: https://jonathanmcreyn…​
Subscribe to Jonathan McReynolds’s YouTube channel: https://jonathanmcreyn…​
Text “Jonathan” to 708-402-4837 to join Jonathan’s fan club text list and receive updates on music, merch, tour and more!

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

165 of 365: I AM WHO I AM…When I Needed Him The Most…

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

Greetings Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, tonight’s devotional is a little different because of a few things happening in my life right now.

It is no coincidence the order God chose for me to write about the names of God.

Tonight, I find myself needing all of them.

I need…

Jehovah Shalom — because I need His peace that surpasses my understanding.

El Shaddai — because I need the God who is more than enough to hold me when I feel like I cannot carry what is before me.

Jehovah Roi — because I need the God who sees me, knows my heart, and sees every tear that falls when no one else does.

Jehovah Rapha — because I need the God who heals, restores, and strengthens.

And most of all right now…

I need Abba. I need my Father.

Because there are moments when we do not need all the answers. We need to know that we are held by the One who already knows the beginning, the middle, and the end.

Tonight, I am reminded that God did not reveal His names to us simply so we could learn them. He revealed them so we would know who to run to in every season of our lives.

He is still Jehovah Shalom when our hearts are troubled.

He is still El Shaddai when our strength feels small.

He is still Jehovah Roi when we feel unseen.

He is still Jehovah Rapha when healing is a journey.

And He is still our Abba when we simply need to come home to Him.

Because when life brings seasons we did not expect, we can find ourselves searching for answers. But sometimes God does not immediately give us every answer. Sometimes, He reminds us of something even greater…

He is still with us.

The same God who revealed Himself as “I AM” to Moses is still the God who meets us in every season of our lives.

He is not just the God of yesterday’s victories.

He is the God of today’s uncertainties.

He is the God of tomorrow’s unknowns.

And tonight, that is enough.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Tonight, I come before You not with perfect words, but with an open heart.

You know every thought I cannot organize, every fear I cannot explain, and every burden I am carrying.

You are Jehovah Shalom, be my peace when circumstances feel uncertain.

You are El Shaddai,  remind me that I am not held together by my own strength, but by Yours.

You are Jehovah Roi — thank You for seeing me completely. You see the parts of my journey that others may never understand. You see the tears, the questions, and the silent prayers.

You are Jehovah Rapha,  bring healing where there is hurt, restoration where there is weariness, and strength where I feel weak.

But tonight, more than anything, I need You as Abba.

Hold Your daughter close.

Remind me that my worth has never been measured by my circumstances, my abilities, or what I can accomplish. My identity is found in being loved by You.

Teach me to trust You with the things I cannot control. Teach me to love with grace, to walk with wisdom, and to rest in the knowledge that You are already in every tomorrow.

Thank You for being every name I need.

In Jesus’ name, Amen, Amen an Amen

Worship Video of the Day

Listen to “Heal” on all streaming platforms:
https://jamalroberts.l…

Follow Jamal Roberts:
   / officialjamalroberts  
   / jamalrobertsofficial  
   / officialjamalroberts  

#JamalRoberts #gospelmusic #newmusic

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Day 164 of 365: Jehovah Rapha

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The God Who Heals

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, I pray you have enjoyed this latest mini series on the names of God and their meanings. I hope you have been able to see that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

One thing I would highly recommend is for you to the entire chapter where each scripture is coming from. Reading the entire chapter gives you a bigger picture of what is happening and helps you to see that we are more alike than we are different. The Bible does not hide the weaknesses of God’s people; it reveals them so we can recognize our own need for Him.

The name of God I am focusing on today is Jehovah Rapha, which means The God Who Heals. The first time it is used in scripture is in Exodus 15:26. In order for you to a better picture of why Jehovah Rapha was used, I went a couple of verses back to verse 22.

Exodus 15:22-26

New International Version

The Waters of Marah and Elim

22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[a]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

This scripture is important for several reasons. Here is what stands out to me the most:

  1. Moses had a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord. Whether it was listening to God’s voice through the burning bush, as God instructed Moses to go before Pharaoh and demand the release of God’s people, or crossing the Red Sea, Moses knew the Lord’s voice because of relationship.
  2.  Moses was the one who turned to God when the people were faced with bitterness and disappointment.  While the people grumbled, Moses cried out to the Lord. His relationship with God positioned him to hear the instruction that would bring healing.
  3. Why did Moses hear God’s voice? Moses heard his voice because he cried out to God. The other people where grumbling and complaining but the Bible only mentions  Moses praying and crying out to God.
  4. What have you or I missed from God because we were not listening for His voice? Have I spent more time focusing on my need, or have I brought my need before the One who can provide and heal?

What did God heal in today’s scripture? In today’s scripture God gave the promise of healing to the people of Israel …IF…

  1. IF you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes
  2. IF you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you

As I studied Jehovah Rapha, I was reminded of Exodus 3:13 when Moses asked God, “Who shall I say sent me?” God’s answer was simple yet eternal: “I AM WHO I AM.”

At the time, Moses could not have known every challenge that lay ahead. He could not see Pharaoh, the Red Sea, the wilderness, or the bitter waters of Marah. Yet God already knew. That is why He did not give Moses a temporary answer for a temporary problem. He revealed His eternal nature.

When God’s people needed deliverance, He was there.

When they needed provision, He was there.

When they needed guidance, He was there.

When they needed healing, He was Jehovah Rapha.

The need may change, but God never does. He is still the great I AM. He is everything we need in every situation, and there will never be a moment in our lives when He ceases to be sufficient for us.

Let Us Pray

Dear Abba,

Tonight, we come before You and we thank You for being Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.

Lord, as we reflect on the waters of Marah, we are reminded that there are moments in our own lives when what we encounter feels bitter. There are seasons where our circumstances do not look like what we hoped for, where our hearts become weary, and where we may wonder how You will bring something good from what we are experiencing.

But Father, You showed Moses that bitterness was not the end of the story.
You did not abandon Your people at the bitter waters. You met them there. You revealed Your power there. You provided a way when they could not see one.

Lord, teach us not to become so focused on the bitterness that we forget the One who stands beside us. Help us not to only rehearse our struggles, but to bring our needs before You, the One who sees, the One who knows, and the One who heals.
Just as You transformed the waters of Marah, transform the places in us that have become bitter. Heal the wounds we carry. Restore the areas where disappointment, fear, and weariness have taken root. Make our hearts tender toward You again.

Abba, help us to remember that Your healing is not only about changing our circumstances; it is also about changing us. You are able to bring peace where there was turmoil, hope where there was discouragement, and sweetness where life has left a bitter taste.

May we be like Moses, not turning first to complaining, but turning first to You. May our relationship with You become so deep that we recognize Your voice even in difficult places.

Thank You for being the God who does not just see our need, but provides for it. Thank You for being the God who does not just hear our cries, but responds with love.
You are Jehovah Rapha. The God who heals. We love you and give you all the glory and honor. In the precious name of Christ Jesus we do pray. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Do you need to know Jesus as Healer? In Hebrew, Jehovah Rapha means “God who Heals”  As you listen to this song, may you be overwhelmed by the power of Jesus’ name as Healer. Matthew 8:16, Exodus 15:26, Philippians 4:7

Find out more about Stephen Mcwhirter

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 163 of 365: Jehovah Jireh

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The Lord Will Provide

The Lord Will See To It

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, thank you for walking with me on this journey of exploring a few of the names that God was called in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.

If you have been with us since the beginning of the series then you have been following the last couple of days of the two part series on El Roi (The God Who Sees Me). The two part devotional showed the power of waiting and trusting in the Lord and what can happen if you don’t.

I want to say that tonight’s devotional is a testament to Abraham seeing everything that happened between Hagar and Sarai (soon to be Sarah) and his decision to make a better choice, when it was his turn to wait and trust the Lord’s timing.

In all truth, Abraham loved the Lord long before the Sarah and Hagar drama. His life was a testimony of a man who desired to follow God, even though, like all of us, he had moments where waiting on God’s promise was difficult. But Abraham’s journey reminds us that faith is not the absence of mistakes; it is the willingness to keep walking with God and grow from them.

Family, if you were in Abraham’s position what would you have done?

Do you think he told Sarah what the Lord told him to do?

Do you think Sarah would have let him go?

Genesis 22
New International Version

Abraham Tested

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Family, after witnessing the pain caused by taking matters into their own hands, Abraham faced a moment where he had to decide if he truly believed the God who made the promise was also the God who could fulfill it.

Let Us Pray

Loving Abba,

We come before You with grateful hearts, remembering that You are the God who sees us. You see every waiting season, every unanswered question, every promise we are holding onto, and every moment when we are tempted to take control instead of trusting You.

Lord, we thank You for showing us through Abraham’s life that faith is not built in moments where everything is easy, but in the moments where we must surrender what we cannot understand. You saw Abraham’s journey. You saw his mistakes, his growth, his obedience, and his desire to follow You.

Father, forgive us for the times when we have tried to make happen what You asked us to trust You for. Forgive us for the moments when impatience caused us to move ahead of Your timing. Teach us that the God who makes the promise is also the God who has the power to fulfill it.

Lord, help us remember Hagar’s story and Abraham’s story together. Remind us that You see the broken places, You see the wilderness seasons, and You see the mountains where our faith is tested. You are not absent in any part of our journey.

Give us the faith of Abraham, not a faith that never struggles, but a faith that keeps returning to You. A faith that trusts You when we cannot see the outcome. A faith that believes Your provision will meet us exactly where You lead us.

Father, teach us to release our timelines, our fears, and our need to understand everything. Help us to rest in the truth that Your eyes are always upon us and Your plans are always greater than our own.

You are El Roi, The God who sees me. You are also Jehovah Jireh, The God who provides. You are the God who keeps every promise. We surrender our hearts to You tonight and choose to trust Your perfect will.

In the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord. Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Music video by Tamela Mann performing God Provides. (P) 2016 Tillymann Inc.
http://vevo.ly/0du2dt​

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)

Day 162 of 365: El Roi – Part 2

Sacred Journey Devotionals: A Journey To WholenessLeave a comment

The God Who Sees / The God Who Sees Me

Greetings, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, last night we spoke about God being called El Roi, The God who sees me by Hagar who was the maiden servant to Sarai, Abram’s wife in Genesis 16.

Without repeating all of Part 1 from last night, Hagar was being mistreated by Sarai and was running away to the desert. An angel of the Lord came to her and instructed her to go back to Sarai.

Being seen and spoken to by an angel of the Lord was the first time Hagar felt acknowledged and valued. That is the reason that Hagar worshipped God in that moment.

Now, here is what I truly want to discuss. Hagar had done nothing wrong. She was obedient to Sarai and gotten pregnant by Abram as Sarai directed her.

Why did Sarai not trust God to give her all that she asked for? I know that it is hard for all of us to wait, but waiting has a purpose. 

Waiting produces patience. Waiting is not standing still doing nothing, when you have a relationship with God. Waiting requires worship, prayer, and listening to God for direction.

So what did Sarai get because of her disobedience of not waiting on God? She got Genesis 16:11-12…

Genesis 16:11-12
New International Version

11 The angel of the Lord also said to her (Hagar):

“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,[a]
for the Lord has heard of your misery.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward[b] all his brothers.”

Verses 11 and 12 was a foreshadowing of what was to come between Ishmael and his half brother Isaac. The world would not realize it yet but another major religion would be birthed through the descendants of Ishmael. Islam.

Here is what is interesting, all of this happened because one woman did not wait on God and took matters into her own hand and convinced her husband to go along with her decision. (Just a footnote that this story has a lot of similarities to Adam and Eve).

Family, let me ask you this. If God saw the Egyptian Hagar’s pain and had angels tend to her in the desert, would it not also make since that God felt Sarai’s pain of not being able to bear Abram a child?

So now, Sarai had to wait until she was 99 years old for the Lord to promise her a son. Sarai had to wait for the Lord To see her…. all because she was unwilling to wait.

What God has for you is for you. You won’t have to lie, cheat, steal, or do anything else. Just wait, I say, on the Lord. He sees you.

Let Us Pray

Abba,

Tonight we come before You as Your children, grateful that You are El Roi, the God who sees.
You saw Hagar in the wilderness when she felt abandoned and forgotten. You saw Sarai in her barrenness when year after year passed without the fulfillment of Your promise. You saw their pain, their fears, their struggles, and their mistakes. Nothing was hidden from Your eyes.

Lord, how often we are like Sarai. We know what You have spoken, yet the waiting becomes difficult. We grow weary when answers seem delayed. We become anxious when doors remain closed. Sometimes we are tempted to take matters into our own hands, believing we must help You accomplish what only You can do.

Forgive us for the times we have rushed ahead of Your timing. Forgive us for the moments we have trusted our own plans more than Your perfect wisdom. Teach us to remember that Your delays are not Your denials. What You promise, You will accomplish in Your perfect way and in Your perfect time.

Father, help us to rest in the confidence that You see us. You see every prayer that has gone unanswered. You see every tear shed in secret. You see every burden carried in silence. You see every promise we are still waiting to receive. And because You see us, we can trust You.

When waiting feels difficult, strengthen our faith. When impatience rises within us, give us peace. When fear whispers that You have forgotten us, remind us that El Roi never loses sight of His children.

Help us to wait with expectation rather than frustration, with worship rather than worry, and with faith rather than fear. Let us trust that Your timing is always better than our own. May we never run ahead of You, but walk closely beside You, confident that the God who sees us is also the God who guides us.

Thank You for loving us enough to withhold what is premature and to provide what is best. Thank You for being present in every season of waiting. Thank You that even when we cannot see what You are doing, You are faithfully working behind the scenes for Your glory and our good.

We place our hopes, our dreams, our prayers, and our timelines into Your hands. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

2019/ Remnant Music

Brand new single from James Wilson
From the upcoming album “Songs For the Church”.
Get the single ‘Wait on the Lord’ now at https://apple.co/2BOEaJB

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA