Time Out! Devotions

(devotional by Bayless Conley from Christianity.com)

Perhaps you are in a very stressful time in your life right now, and you feel you can’t go on.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  In fact, some of the greatest men and women of God have gone through what you are going through right now.

One of those individuals is the prophet Elijah. After a great spiritual victory over the priests of Baal, we find him on the run, wondering whether life is even worth it.

We catch the story in 1 Kings 19:4-6,

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree.  And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough!  Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”  Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.”  Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water.  So he ate and drank, and lay down again.

Elijah had reached that “zero” place in his life.  There was nothing left.  He had given it all and the tank was empty.

Maybe that describes you right now, you are on the verge of quitting.  You figure, “I’ve had enough.  I’m done.  Enough pressures, enough hassles, I cannot ride this thing out anymore.  My strength is gone!”

Well, did you notice that when Elijah was at the end of his strength, that was when God intervened?  Being out of strength, being at zero, is not a bad place to be. If you will look to God, He is prepared to meet you in your moment of need.

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
and view today’s Answers with Bayless Conley broadcast at LightSource.com.

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Four Things God Wants to Help You With

Did you know that God desires to help you? It’s true! God is in the business of helping people, and He wants you to rely on Him to help and sustain you.

In this two-part message called “Four Things God Wants to Help You With,” Bayless Conley reveals key areas of your life where God can and will assist you.  When you listen to or watch this message, you’ll see why you were never meant to live this life alone!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

God’s care for us extends to the details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort (Isaiah 49:13).

The Lord’s compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer—we can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.

Consider how the compassion of God was demonstrated through Jesus’ life. He interacted even with the “untouchables”—people whose bodies were infected with a contagious disease (Luke 17:11-14). And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.

Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions (Matthew 14:14). He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort—new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to persevere (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

And what about the messes we get into? Peter’s betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness (John 21:15-17). Thomas’ doubts were answered by Jesus Himself (John 20:27). Our mistakes won’t stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.

God’s comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it’s declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we’ve experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others (2 Corinthians 1:4). People everywhere are in great need of His compassion.

(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from the May 2010 issue of

In Touch magazine)

Matthew 9:18-30 (NCV)

¹⁸ While Jesus was saying these things, a leader of the synagogue came to Him. He bowed down before Jesus and said, “My daughter has just died. But if You come and lay your hand on her, she will live again.”¹⁹ So Jesus and his followers stood up and went with the leader.

²⁰ Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came behind Jesus and touched the edge of His coat.²¹ She was thinking, “If I can just touch His clothes, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw the woman and said, “Be encouraged, dear woman. You are made well because you believed.” And the woman was healed from that moment on.

²³ Jesus continued along with the leader and went into his house. There He saw the funeral musicians and many people crying. ²⁴ Jesus said, “Go away. The girl is not dead, only asleep.” But the people laughed at Him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been thrown out of the house, Jesus went into the girl’s room and took hold of her hand, and she stood up.²⁶ The news about this spread all around the area.

²⁷ When Jesus was leaving there, two blind men followed Him. They cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

²⁸ After Jesus went inside, the blind men went with Him. He asked the men, “Do you believe that I can make you see again?” They answered, “Yes, Lord.”

²⁹ Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “Because you believe I can make you see again, it will happen.” ³⁰ Then the men were able to see.

God changed a situation that had been a problem for years. Like the leper (Matthew 8:1-3) and the demon-possessed man (Matthew 8:28-32), this bleeding woman was considered unclean. For 12 years, she too had been one of the “untouchables” and had not been able to live a normal life. But Jesus changed that and restored her. Sometimes we are tempted to give up on people or situations which have not changed for many years. God can change what seems unchangeable, giving new life and hope.

The local synagogue rabbi didn’t come to Jesus until his daughter was dead — it was too late for anyone else to help. But Jesus simply went to the girl and raised her! In our lives, Christ can make a difference when it seems too late for anyone else to help. He can bring healing to broken marriages, release from addicting habits, and forgiveness and change to scarred lives. If your situation looks hopeless, remember that Christ can do the impossible!

Jesus didn’t respond immediately to the blind men’s pleas. He waited to see how earnest they were. Not everyone who says he wants help really wants it badly enough to do something about it. Jesus may have waited and questioned these men to make their desire and faith stronger. If, in your prayers, it seems as if God is too slow in giving His answer, maybe He is testing you as He did the blind men. Do you believe God can help you? Do you really want His help?

The blind men were persistent. They went right into the house where Jesus was staying. They knew Jesus could heal them and they would let nothing stop them — that’s faith! If you believe Jesus is the answer to your every need, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from reaching Him!

(from the Life Application Bible – Living Bible edition)

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up.

(Psalm 30:1 – NKJV)

In God’s book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with Him. Share the throne with Him. Reign with Him. We count. We are valuable. And what’s more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn.

You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person.

That is why He treated people like He did. Think about it. The girl caught making undercover thunder with someone she shouldn’t — He forgave her. The untouchable leper who asked for cleansing — He touched him. And the blind welfare case that cluttered the roadside — He honored him. And the worn-out old windbag addicted to self-pity near the pool of Siloam — He healed him!

(from No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)