Month: August 2014

God Hears

“God Hears” By Kirk Hunt

 

And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

 

Genesis 21:17 NKJV

 

Once again, Hagar encounters God in the trackless wilderness. This time, she and her 14-year old boy have been exiled permanently from Abraham’s household. Still, Jehovah Roi, the God who sees, is watching over her and the boy. God is so close, that He hears the boy crying.

 

Ishmael is the result of Sarah trying to fulfill God’s promise through human means. With Isaac’s birth, Ishmael became an inconvenience. Disinheritance and exile are harsh penalties for the ill-timed jeering of a 14-year old boy.

 

Sarah’s callous and calculating maneuver is not the final word. Ishmael, the son of a slave, remains a son of covenant. God delivers on His promised outcome for Ishmael, as well as Isaac.

 

Ishmael became a great nation in his own right. He and Isaac peaceably buried their father, Abraham, together. God’s covenant with Ishmael was never in doubt.

 

God’s covenant with you is never in doubt. Your current circumstance is never the final story. God watches and listens for you.

 

You are never alone. You are never uncared for. Do not let your feelings, confuse you about the facts.

 

Think:           God sees and cares for me, no matter how my situation unfolds.

 

Pray:               “Lord, You listen for my voice. I trust You to deliver Your promise to me.”

 

 

Copyright © August 2014, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

God Sees

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“God Sees” By Kirk Hunt

 

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

 

Genesis 16:13 NKJV

 

In that culture and era, a woman had less intrinsic value. Hagar was a woman and a slave. Her status made her replaceable, expendable and potentially disposable. Still, she had the complete attention of the God who sees.

 

Jehovah Roi, or alternatively El Roi; God, who sees you. God is not just omniscient, but He focuses on His children. Whatever the world says you are, or are not, God sees you, and He is doing something about your situation.

 

No matter how battered and bruised you feel. No matter how alone and isolated you seem. God, sees you.

 

He has a plan. He has already plotted out an outcome. If you follow His path, you will receive all of the good He has prepared for you.

 

God’s supervision of your life does not mean your here and now is without difficulties. Hagar, a beaten, battered fugitive, encountered God at a nameless waterhole, in the trackless wilderness. God showed her a much brighter future than she could see or know.

 

Perhaps you feel alone. You may feel like no one sees you or cares about you. God sees. God cares. He will deploy His vision for your life. Just have the courage to stay the course He has set for you.

 

Think:           God sees and cares for me, no matter how difficult my situation.

 

Pray:               “Lord, You see and care for me. Give me faith to follow Your vision for me .”

 

 

Copyright © August 2014, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Open Our Eyes

“Open Our Eyes” By Kirk Hunt

 

And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

 

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

 

Maybe your relationship with Jesus is so deep and rich that nothing surprises you. Perhaps your relationship with God is so intense that you and He discuss everything in detail. That level is my goal, not my current testimony.

 

Many mornings I wake up and wonder: How is God going to work it out? When? Have I been forgotten?

 

Don’t get me wrong: I trust God. He is sovereign. He has proven Himself over and again. If He says I should, I will. If He say it will, then it shall. Still, some days, my too human hearts longs to see. On occasion, He has let me peek.

 

Elisha obviously had a close relationship with God. Elisha’s servant lived and worked in the daily presence of God and supernatural miracles. Yet, he needed his eyes opened to see the divine power and provision around him.

 

God is too faithful to forget you. His power is more than enough for any circumstance. You need your eyes opened to see His presence and purpose in your life.

 

Wanting to see is okay. He understands His human children. If we seek His heart and purposes, He will let us peek.

 

Think:           I want to see God’s presence and purpose in my life.

 

Pray:               “Lord, open my eyes to Your power and provision for my life.”

 

 

Copyright © August 2014, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.

Can You Be Pruned?

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“Can You Be Pruned?” By Kirk Hunt

 

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

 John 15:2 NKJV

 

Too often, God’s people see the less-than-pleasant events of their lives as, bad, negative or an attack. We do not often enough see the events of our lives as God’s plan for our improvement. This Scripture bluntly says that the pruning of a saint is a good thing.

 

John does not say that pruning is a pleasant or joyful experience. In fact, pruning is defined as, “the selective removal of parts.” All of the real word implements of plant pruning have sharp, cutting edges. Some have motors or engines. Please, do the math.

 

Still, John does say that afterwards, you will bear more fruit. Too often, saints covet the visible stature and success of Godly brothers and sisters. Too often, saints flee the pruning that makes “more fruit” possible.

 

As important as developing a gift or talent is, refining character and integrity is far more significant. Godly character will carry you through when no level of talent can. Righteous integrity will guide you when no amount of giftedness will do the job.

 

God wants to make you beautiful and bountiful. Be glad when you see Him approaching with the saws, shears and clippers. Or, at least, hold still and trust Him and His plan to make you more than you are.

 

Think:           His pruning will make me more, and better, than I am.

 

Pray:               “Lord, do what it takes for me to bear more fruit, in You.”

 

 

Copyright © August 2014, Kirk Hunt

This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.