I attended a women’s conference recently and one of the songs we sang during the opening worship was an old spiritual I hadn’t heard in a long time.

• Jesus, I’ll never forget what You’ve done for me.
• Jesus, I’ll never forget how You set me free.
• Jesus, I’ll never forget how You brought me out.
• Jesus, I’ll never forget, no, never.

This chorus came back to my mind as I read of King Hezekiah and his son Manasseh, yet another couple of kings who forgot what God had done when they trusted God. Hezekiah had a long history of victories thanks to his submission to God, but for a short time, “Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem” Second Chronicles 32:25 (NKJ). Thankfully, he soon “humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah” Second Chronicles 32:26.

Although Manasseh was just 12 years old when his dad died and he became king, his advisors must have reminded him of the spiritual legacy of trust in God passed down to him. Nevertheless, Manasseh forgot all the blessings God had reigned on Jerusalem because of their obedience. He “rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven[a] and served them. He also built altars in the house of the Lord… built altars for all the host of heaven… caused his sons to pass through the fire… practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger” Second Chronicles 33:3-6. Manasseh’s lapse of memory regarding the God he should have obeyed led to his capture by the captains of the army of the king of Assyria. Hardship tends to jog the memory so “when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God” Second Chronicles 33:12-13.

Reading these accounts, the connection between trust and blessing is clear: trust God, win in life; forget God, lose in life. If you know the tune of the song above, sing it whenever you are tempted to turn from God and do things your way. (If you don’t know the tune, make one up.) God has proven Himself over and over again in the pages of Scripture and in the lives of His saints past and present. What He’s done for others, He’ll do for you. Remember that and worship God today for being the memory jogger.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

When Hezekiah was king, he encouraged and led all of Israel and Judah to turn completely back to the Lord starting with keeping the Passover. Since this hadn’t been done in such a long time, he had to postpone the celebration for one month because there weren’t enough priests who had been properly consecrated to take care of all the offerings. Also, there needed to be enough time for all the people to travel to Jerusalem who wanted to come to the feast (see 2 Chronicles 30:3). Then, once the Passover started, it was discovered that all the people had not properly sanctified themselves “yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written” Second Chronicles 30:18.

We’re in the Old Testament reading this account, and we tend to see the God of the Old Testament as harsh and unyielding, but we’re delightfully surprised to find in this story that that is not the case. Second Chronicles 30:18b-20 says, “But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’ And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people” (NKJ).

It may have been a long time since you prayed, attended church, or even thought about God. You might feel like you don’t even know how to approach God now, and you might figure that too much water has passed under the bridge for you to even try. Be encouraged. Stop thinking that way. The Passover under King Hezekiah was a month late, the priests had to hurry to get ready, and the people didn’t even know how to sanctify themselves properly, but God looked past all that because they had prepared their hearts to seek God.

It’s never too late to turn to God. It may seem like the wrong time, you feel like you’re at the wrong place, and you come with perhaps the wrong approach, none of those things matter. Your heart wants God and He can see that through all the “wrongs.”

Worship Him today for being the welcoming arms always ready to take you in.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Ezra the prophet enjoyed the favor of the Persian King Artaxerxes. The king had placed satraps and governors over Jerusalem, but he wrote a letter to them stating that he was allowing Ezra to lead a delegation back to the city to rebuild the temple. He realized he needed to show some respect to the powerful God of the Israelites because he said, “Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?” (Ezra 7:23, NKJ) Not only did Artaxerxes give his permission, but he also provided supplies and money from his own treasuries to finance the project.

Ezra realized that the favor of this foreign king had come his way thanks to “the good hand of God” Ezra 7:9 and 8:18. He also realized that his deportment was a witness to this king. After all the riches were accumulated, Ezra and his group had to get it all to Jerusalem, but it would be a treacherous journey because of the possibility of ambushes along the roads. Ezra faced a dilemma.

• Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23

Ezra had done all this big talking to the king about how great his God was. He had so convinced the king that the man had put his own money toward a project that would honor the God he didn’t even serve. For Ezra to then turn around and request protection would be a boldfaced denial of all he had claimed God could do.

If we say our God is a powerful protector, we had better be about the business of leaning on Him when we are threatened. It is a witness to the world when we live out what we claim. Our dependence upon Him gives God the opportunity to show Himself strong. Worship God today for being our protector.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

#HeartForTheWord

When I’m teaching my English students about crafting conclusions to their compositions, I tell them a poignant statement I once read: Any writer can stop writing; great writers finish. Then I turn their attention to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens as the quintessential example. That book doesn’t only start with the amazing opening line “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…,” but it also concludes with a marvelous closing line: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the original great Finisher. In his greeting to the believers in the church at Philippi, Paul tells those folks that he is “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6 (NKJ). The Greek word for “complete” in this verse is “epiteleo (ep-ee-tel-eh’-o)” which means “to fulfill further, execute, terminate, and accomplish.” Paul was encouraging those believers and is encouraging us today to hang in there because God intends to finish in their lives that which He has started.

When we get to a place where it seems God is no longer using us, or we have somehow blown our effectiveness in the Kingdom, we must hearken back to a time when we were on fire in our zeal. We were certain of what God wanted us to do. God doesn’t change so neither has His call on our lives. Jesus is able to bring to fruition that which He began in us.

Keep working. Second Chronicles 15:7 says, “Be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” God’s great first line in our lives was affecting our salvation through His Son; Jesus now has no intention of stopping His writing of our story until He drafts our amazing closing line. Worship God today for being the great Finisher.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

People usually use the phrase “get the hell out” in a derogatory manner. They are most often shouting it to someone whose company they no long desire. However today, believe it or not, I discovered a new use of the phrase from the words of the writer of the 86^th division of the Psalms. The Psalmist says, “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Yourname. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol” Psalm 86:11-13 (NKJ).

You see, the Psalmist realizes there is at least one huge benefit attached to living for God. Once he knows God’s ways, he determines to live by them. Once his heart is linked to God’s heart, he will respect God’s name by his obedience to God’s word. All of that results in praise, with the ultimate realization being that he notices that he has gotten the hell out of his future.

We too get the hell out of our future when we allow God to teach us His ways, walk in His truth, and unite our hearts to fear Him. We too will praise God with all our hearts and glorify His name every day of our lives. Worship God today; He’s praiseworthy because of His merciful action of delivering us from the depths of hell.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

We live in the information age. Thanks to the Internet and devices like our desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets, we can access a wealth of information just by typing in a few words. Whenever we want to know something—anything—all that’s needed is for us to “do a search.”

Things were not quite that easy back in Old Testament times, but records were kept, and information could be sought out. One such incident happened in the book of Ezra when the builders of the temple were challenged. Tattenai, the governor of the region containing Jerusalem, noticed that the Jews were rebuilding the temple and asked them who had given them permission to do so. When the builders told him they had permission from the powers that be, he wanted to check out their story, so he sent a letter to King Darius asking about the matter.

Ezra 6:1-2 tells us, “Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in the archives, where the treasures were stored in Babylon. And at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found, and in it a record was written” (NKJ). Sure enough, the former ruler, King Cyrus, had issued the decree that the house of God be built at Jerusalem. King Darius didn’t just stop at telling Tattenai that fact; he added his own decree and a request:

• Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered. And whatever they need—young bulls, rams, and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the request of the priests who are in Jerusalem—let it be given them day by day without fail, that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Ezra 6:8-10

This story teaches us some lessons about working for God.

1. Work candidly. Be involved openly in doing the work God has called us to do. Unless God has placed us in a ministry that involves undercover operations, we should not be ashamed of what God has called us to do. Anyone can see it and even challenge it if they’d like.
2. Work consistently. We should not stop working for God just because we are challenged. When Tattenai confronted the workers, they answered him but kept right on working. “But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius” Ezra 5:5.
3. Work confidently. When our work is firmly based upon the Word of the Lord, we can be confident in knowing God will back us up and supply abundantly for the work to be accomplished.

If we are involved in work we clearly know God has told us to do, we can expect to be challenged. We need to keep working, but hand the confronters a Bible and tell them simply, “Do a search.” All God-inspired work will be backed up somewhere in the pages of Holy Writ where the treasures of truth are stored. And we shouldn’t be surprised if those same challengers end up helping in the completion of the work. Worship God today for being the validation of our work.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

Most of us have heard the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In other words, as long as something is working, there’s no need for change. Perhaps that bit of wisdom wasn’t available for King Asa of Judah because in Second Chronicles chapter 16, he changed the way he dealt with God, and that change led to his own ruin.

Asa and the people of Judah had been experiencing peace and prosperity. The people had followed the king’s example and everyone relied on God. In chapter 14, they saw God deliver them from an attack by a million-man Ethiopian army when they had been greatly outnumbered. In chapter 15, God encouraged the king by letting him know that because of his trust in God, his work would be rewarded. Oded’s prophecy and the king’s reaction were as follows:

For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage… 2 Chronicles 15:3-4, 7-8 (NKJ).

For a while after this, King Asa and the people were gung-ho about pleasing the God. They “removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin… restored the altar of the Lord… [and] gathered in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with [King Asa]… They offered to the Lord at that time seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep from the spoil they had brought. ¹² Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul… Then they took an oath before the Lord with a loud voice, with shouting and trumpets and rams’ horns. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.” The king even removed his own mother “from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah; and Asa cut down her obscene image, then crushed and burned it by the Brook Kidron” 2 Chronicles 15:8-17. Chapter 15 ends by telling us “and there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa” (15:18).

Ah, but then comes chapter 16. After 35 years of enjoying the peace that came with serving the Lord with his whole heart, a problem arose. King Asa had apparently become self-confident. The three-and-a-half decades of comfort had hypnotized him into the belief that he could handle his problems without God.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Keep depending on God and doing things His way. That’s what works. Worship God today for being trustworthy.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,

Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),

at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk

Also still available:

Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

We’ve all probably heard the phrase “less is more.” Usually, that wording is used to discuss the impropriety of an over-dressed woman, an over-decorated room, or an overly wordy conversationalist. We want things toned down; someone is just doing too much or trying too hard. We give the soft advice, “Less is more.”
But when reading Second Chronicles 13 and 14, we find that the phrase “less is more” can take on a totally different meaning. In these two chapters, God helps considerably less people beat up on considerably larger groups. In chapter 13, Abijah’s 400,000 choice men of Judah rout King Jeroboam’s 800,000 choice men of Israel (13:3). Then in chapter 14, after Judah had been enjoying ten years of peace under Asa, the Ethiopian army of “a million men and three hundred chariots” decide to attack (14:9). Asa only had an army of 580,000 (14:8).
In both of the above cases, less proved to be more because the numerically smaller side had a secret weapon: God. Abijah had warned Jeroboam saying, “Now look, God Himself is with us as our head… O children of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper!” 2 Chronicles 13:12 (NKJ). And Asa had cried out to God, confidently praying, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” 2 Chronicles 14:11-13 (NKJ). What was the outcome? Abijah’s men reduced Jeroboam’s army down to 300,000 before it was all over (13:17), and “the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled… [and] were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the LORD and His army (14:12-13).
What we’re facing may seem as large as a million-man army, but if God can handle all those men with swords, shields, and slaughter on their minds, certainly He can handle issues that threaten to overwhelm us. All this news gives a whole new, encouraging twist to the words of First John 4:4 which states, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” doesn’t it? (NKJ). Worship God today for being more than the majority.
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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),
at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

After Jesus’ resurrection, the apostles had a rough go of it as they traveled the known world preaching the Gospel. An example of one of those hard times happened when Paul and Barnabas got to Iconium. Acts 14:1-3 reports, “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (NKJ).
The surprising phrase in this passage is “therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly.” What? Even though people’s minds were being “poisoned” against the apostles’ message, Paul and Barnabas stayed a long time, continuing to contend for the faith.
Do we keep at it when we find ourselves in day-to-day conversations about the reality of our God, the truth of the Word, and the importance of belief in Jesus? Or do we get frustrated, wave folks away with the back of our hand, and use as an excuse for our giving up that we are not going to “cast [our] pearls before swine”?
In the first place, let’s stop misusing Scripture. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine” as Jesus says Matthew 7:6, must not be referring to witnessing. We are supposed to consistently spread the Gospel to everyone who doesn’t know Him already. We cannot give up on people who need to know the truth. We cannot allow ourselves to get frustrated because folks disagree, react negatively, treat our message disrespectfully, or even try to stir others up against us.
The encouragement for Barnabas and Paul to keep at it is mentioned at the end of the Acts 14 passage quoted above. “…the Lord… was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” Acts 14:3b. This incentive proves to us that God will have our backs too as we contend with others for the faith. God will bear witness to His own Word, and is still able to grant signs and wonders by our hands to validate His Word. Worship God today for being the energizer of our witnessing efforts.
____________________________
©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),
at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)

I’ve heard it said that the most boring parts of the Bible are the “begats”: “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son… and called his name Seth… And Seth… begat Enos… And Enos… begat Cainan…” etc., etc., etc. (Genesis chapter 5) Then there are more boring lists of names throughout the Old Testament history books, ancient people we don’t know who fought with David, built the tabernacle, or served in the worship of the Lord. When we are diligently reading through the Bible, admittedly, it’s tough not to yield to the temptation to skip these chapters so we can get to the good parts.
Let me challenge you by saying, “Not so fast.” Since “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…” Second Timothy 3:16 (NKJ), consider that God had a reason for moving His authors to include these lists. For example, First Chronicles chapter 26 tells us of the gatekeepers and the men over the treasuries of dedicated things in the tabernacle. From time to time, certain men were not only named, but were given descriptions.
• Of Obed-Edom, it is said that “God blessed him. (verses 4-5)
• Of Shemaiah, Obed-Edom’s firstborn and his line, it is said “they were men of great ability.” (verse 6)
• Then again of all Obed-Edom’s family the passage proclaims they were “able men with strength for the work.” (verse 8)
• Zechariah the gatekeeper was known as “a wise counselor.” (verse 14)
• The Hebonites are called “capable men.” (verse 31)

Blessed, having great ability, displaying strength for the work, wise, capable: these are all amazing, complimentary descriptors. Skipping over the chapters containing all those names would have caused us to miss the fact that our names can cause God to have good things to say about us. What’s in a name? When our name comes up before God, is there anything associated with it that would cause God to single us out and describe us in a positive way? I am certainly hoping that when God thinks of my name, Sharon, He readily adds a positive comment like “Sharon, a woman who lives out the life I purposed for her”; or “Sharon, producer of work that glorifies Me.”
But we don’t have to guess about what God adds to our names. He has said of us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people… called… out of darkness into His marvelous light… the people of God… (those who have) obtained mercy” First Peter 2:9 (NKJ). Do what I did: place your name in front of each of those phrases for an immediate uplift:
• Sharon, part of a chosen generation
• Sharon, one of a royal priesthood
• Sharon, a member of a holy nation
• Sharon, God’s own special person
• Sharon, called out of darkness into His marvelous light
• Sharon, a woman of God
• Sharon, having obtained mercy

What’s in a name? Since our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, all God has said about us, is true of us. Worship God today as the One who has named us and who speaks well of us when He thinks of His children.
____________________________
©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

Pick up a copy of Sharon’s newest release,
Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children
available from Judson Press (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=17387),
at bookstores, and on all major online book buying sites.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JH_gbinMk
Also still available:
Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame
from New Hope Publishers (http://www.newhopedigital.com/2010/08/power-suit/)