GHG SHORT DEVOTIONALS - 26 (MAKE A VOW EVEN AFTER YOU RECEIVE A BLESSING)

In the book of Jonah we read about two different situations in which vows were made.

1. IN THE MOMENT OF DISTRESS

Jonah 2:9  "...I will pay what I have vowed..."

Jonah was in distress. As he went away against the word of God, he was thrown into the sea and ended up in the belly of fish. From there he prays to God that he will pay what he have vowed. He made a vow in distress and he prayed that he will fulfill it.

As we read in Judges chapter 11, Jephthah made a vow as he faced the army of Ammon. 

Many a times even in our lives as we go through troubles and problems, we make a vow to God seeking His help to come out of the troubled situations. 

But then in Jonah we read about a certain group of people who did a wonderful thing.

2.  IN THE MOMENT OF JOY AND SAFETY

Jonah 1:16  Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

On a particular day the mariners got into huge problem because of Jonah. They faced a life threatening situation. But then when they threw Jonah into the sea, their problem immediately ended. They knew that they were safe. God never expected anything from them and even if they would have gone on their way simply nothing would have happened against them.

But then those mariners did a wonderful thing. As they were Gentiles, they trembled and feared God. Then they made a vow. 

Have we ever made a vow for the goodness and blessings that we received from God? Let's also make vows in His presence and honor God when we receive goodness from His hands. God bless you.

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GHG SHORT DEVOTIONALS - 25 (FULFILL YOUR VOWS THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO THE LORD)

Ecclesiastes 5:4 “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed.”

In Judges 11, we read about a man Jephthah. When he went to fight against the people of Ammon, he made a vow to the Lord saying whatever comes first out of the doors of his house when he returns back will be given as burnt offering.

God gave him victory over the army of Ammon. As he returned back to his house, his only daughter came first with joy to meet him. Jephthah's heart broke as he remembered the vow he made to the Lord. But then he says,

Judges 11:35  "...For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it."

1. Though he got a great victory on that day, Jephthah had never forgotten the vow he made to the Lord when he was in distress before.

2. Then when he went through a situation in which he has to offer his only daughter as burnt offering he never ran away or backslides from his vow. He fulfilled the vow he made to the Lord though it had cost a lot to him.

Today Holy Spirit wants me to remind you to fulfill the vows that you have made before in the presence of the Lord.

Whatever you have vowed in God's presence, be it a small one or big one, He has taken that so seriously. So remember your vows that you made to God and fulfill it immediately. It might cost your joy or pleasure. But just fulfill it so that you will be blessed.

Ecclesiastes 5:5  “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

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GHG SHORT DEVOTIONALS - 26 (LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BEFORE GOD)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" - Job 1:8

On a particular day, the Lord Almighty spoke about one man called Job. God saw him leading a righteous life among all those were on the earth. None on the earth were living a righteous life as Job. 

1.     Even today can the Lord Almighty consider you and say about you with such boldness as He spoke about Job on that day? Are we fearing God and shuns evil as Job did? If God places us in position or rank according to our righteousness, where will we be standing?

Soon Job lost all his wealth, health, his children and everything that he had. 

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” - Job 2:9

Job lived a righteous life before his family. 

2.     Sometimes we fail to live a righteous life before our family but to others around us we act as if we were righteous. And at times we succumb to the trials and temptations that we face and lose our righteousness. Today God wants us to live a righteous life before our own family and to do only what is right at God’s sight.

“…Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live." - Job 27:5-6

Job himself had decided to live a righteous life before God at any cost till he dies. Job lost everything that he had but he lived a righteous life that he had no reproach within himself.

3.     You might lose anything in your life. You might be in a terrible situation. At any cost do not fall into temptations and lose your righteousness.

4.     God has called you to live a holy life as He is holy. Let God rejoice over you as you stand for Him at all situations. 

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GHG SHORT DEVOTIONALS - 24 (BE SOLD OUT COMPLETELY FOR GOD)

Genesis 22:1 ...God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."

When God called Abraham, and When he said 'here I am', he had put aside his own self and went before God with complete surrender and obedience. He was ready to do anything that God is going to ask him to do. And then when God asked him to sacrifice his only son as burnt offering, he obeyed without reasoning and questioning God.

1. God has called you to do his will and you know that you are called for a purpose. Are you sold out completely for God's purpose? If you give yourself completely for His calling, He will use you mightily.

2. God wants you to bring something that is precious in your sight to His alter. It might be a relationship or someone or something, just take it to God's alter and do what He asks you to do.

Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

After three days of Journey Abraham reached the place and he said to his men that he and Isaac will return back.

How could Isaac return back since he is the burnt offering?

Abraham trusted God and His promise. God has already told him that through Isaac his descendants will be called. Abraham knew that God's promise will never fail and so he went through that tough situation boldly though he was kept in that situation by God.

3. Situations might change. Your situation might force you to believe that it's all over. It's not going to be over and it's never going to be over because God has promised you that you will live. He will never forsake you and His promises will never fail.

4. Because Abraham kept his faith upon God, he had not lost his son. Just trust in God. You shall not lose anything. You will be rewarded by God.

#GHG Short Devotions

GOD'S PROMISE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER'17