Go and DO!! Donkey!!!!

Okay, so I missed writing a devotional yesterday. I was at the Doctor with my grandmother, JoAnne, so I was not able to write. I am going to combine both yesterday and today's devotionals together.

21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.
24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.
26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"
29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."
30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.
31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the LORD asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. [a] 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."
34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."
35 The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"
38 "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."

After consulting with the Lord his God, Balaam (Bay lum) heard clearly that he was to go with the princes to Balak. Balak had asked him to curse the Israelites. God had asked him to go, but to only do what the Lord told him. On his travels to Balak, Balaam rode upon his female donkey. An angel appeared before them three times, yet Balaam did not see them until the donkey began to speak. It was then that an angel of the Lord appeared to him. It says that God was angry. Why do you think He was angry? It doesn't say. I think God was angry because Balak wanted to curse the Israelites and they were protected by God. They were his chosen people.

29 Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."

Balaam obviously feared his Lord. He consulted him about the trip. God must have felt that he would seem a fool if Balaam cursed the Israelites. Both Balaam and the Israelites feared the Lord. God's anger in this situation was similar. This is probably more how God was feeling. Balaam went when he was told to, but God needed him to know how serious it was that he did and said exactly what the Lord told him. It says his path was a reckless one. The Lord wanted him to approach slowly and learn that he must be obedient to the Lord. Had Balaam pushed on to Balak and not been approached by the Angel, then he may not have known how serious the mission was. What if he swayed and cursed the Israelites?

Reading on, we find that Balak and Balaam meet. Balaam didn't waste any time letting Balak know that he was there to do God's work and that he was going to say only what the Lord his God asks.

How many times do you think you have been sent on a mission to say or do only what God asks. How many times have you succeeded? Did fear get in the way? What about your flesh? Did you boldly state your mission? When someone comes to me and says they have something that the Lord has told them to share with me, I listen.

What can you do today to listen to God more clearly? Does he need to send a speaking donkey to get your attention? How willing would you be to go on a mission for the Lord and do and say only what he asks?

Lord, thank you for this scripture. I pray that we will always be open to you and that we would be open to others who are being obedient to you. May you be blessed by our words and actions, for they ultimately define who we are.

Please continue to pray for Baby Lauren and JoAnne Adams.

Confess

Day 1
Confess

homologeo: “to speak the same thing,” “to declare openly by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of fact”.

Confession is to be in agreement with God. By speaking the same thing, calling sin, sin and saying Christ is Lord you are declaring your agreement with Him.

Wow!! So, I have to admit when I start studying the word confess I thought I would be focusing on repentance and the importance of confessing sin. Little did I know that when I took a real look at scripture that I would be focusing on two important parts of my faith. I hope you will enjoy this study, it has certainly changed my perspective. God does amazing things when he pulls us into his word to find the truth. Confession is not just about acknowledging your sin, it is a declaration of what you believe and why you believe it.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1 John 1:8-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Romans 10:8-10
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

2 Corinthians 9:12-15
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!


Day 2

I want to focus on confession of sin today. Mainly to help us understand how it affects our relationship with God. Have you ever come to a place in your walk with God where you feel far away from Him? You know He is there but you are not taking time with Him. I have found, after much reflection, that when I am making excuses, not having enough time for sincere prayer or making time to get into the Word I am keeping something from God. Sometimes it is a conscious choice. Other times I will go a week or more and not realize that I have not had a real conversation with God. Usually, after sifting through my justifications and excuses I will find that there is something that I just don’t want to fess up to yet. Yep, I am admitting to you all. I sin and don’t always want to admit it.

Now that you are over the shock, I will get to my point. When I finally confess sin for what it is, sin, I get back into the relationship with God where I belong. I will still have to pay the consequences for the choices I make, but by taking responsibility for them I am once again in the hands of my creator. It isn’t that I ever left his hand, but by putting a barrier between myself and God I was cutting off the blessings and joy of being in His presence.

David gives us a heartfelt confession in the psalms. He chose to separate himself from God. You can read of his pain and struggles of not having that relationship. After confession, God forgives him and loves him. We know that David still had to pay the price for his choices but we also know that he once again finds peace in his life. I have included Psalm 51 for you to read. I know it makes today’s devotional a little long. Take the time if you can to read and feel what David was feeling when he opened himself up to confession.

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

Day 3

Romans 10:8-10
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

How much importance is placed on confessing with your mouth in these verses?

2 Corinthians 9:12-15
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Why must actions accompany our confession with our mouth?
What indescribable gift is this scripture giving thanks for?

Day 4

To be in agreement with God, what an amazing concept. Not only do I agree that sis is sin, but because I confess that Jesus is Lord my sins have been covered by His sacrifice. Confession is understanding that I am now a new creation in God’s eyes. Wow! How amazing is God’s grace?

Do you find it easier to confess sin over confessing your place in the Kingdom? Is it easier to confess your place in the Kingdom and not admit your sins? As Christians we are called to find balance. Can you be humble, call sin-sin? Can you proclaim the gift of forgiveness and mercy and not be self-righteous?

Take a moment to read about Paul’s struggle with sin and the gift of Life that we are given

Romans 7:7-8:17
Struggling With Sin
7What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.
11For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 8
Life Through the Spirit
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.


Day 5
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ~Romans 10:10

Take a moment to evaluate your relationship with God. Is there something you are keeping from Him. When was the last time you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord? Is your life an expression of what Christ did for you?

Heavenly Father, I praise your Holy Name. I am truly unworthy of the gift you have given me. Forgive me for my sins. Lord, I want to be in agreement with you. May my words and my life be an expression of my confession of your grace and mercy. Thank you Lord for your Word that teaches and shows me the plan you have for me. In Jesus Name…..