UPLIFTING DEVOTIONS

My name is Mary Bachert, and my husband Dan and I are both born again Christians and have been married for over 39 years. We have 4 children all married to their Christian sweethearts, and they have blessed us with 13 grandchildren.

It has been my passion to write for many years, but felt intimidated after comparing myself with others, who were far more talented, so I did nothing about it.  However, in July 2010, the LORD kept prompting me to obey HIM, and so began this devotional blog. I want GOD to use me as a vessel to bring honour and glory to HIM through these devotional outreaches. If there is one thing that I don’t want to happen, it is to realize at the end of my life, that the talents and gifts GOD gave me, I hid under a bushel. 

So may the LORD bless you as you read them and if they are a blessing to you, then share them with others.  Then, why not invest in eternal treasures that will last forever, rather than the temporal ones which will pass away.  Remember, it is never too late to start!

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth ME, that I am the LORD which exercises lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth:  for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.     Jeremiah 9: 23, 24

 

Am I grateful for all that I have been blessed with?

In HIM we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through HIS blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offences (shortcomings and trespasses) in accordance with the riches and generosity of HIS gracious favour.  Ephesians 1: 7

O FATHER, thanks for loving me so much that YOU gave YOUR only SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST to die for my sins.
 
From the FATHER’S heart: 
MY child, it thrills ME to hear you return and say thank YOU for what MY SON JESUS did for you on the cross.  So often believers take it for granted, and I hardly ever hear a word of thanks throughout the day.  Have they ever thought of where they might have been today, if JESUS had not intervened on their behalf?  I have been so generous to you with grace and mercy, and also in blessing you with not only material blessings but with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 1: 3)

Can you think of some of the blessings you are enjoying today financially, physically and spiritually? Maybe times are tough for you right now, but stop and think of what you really have—for many don’t have even that!  You have been delivered from your sins by the precious blood of JESUS!  You have hope that there is coming a day, when you will be at home with your blessed SAVIOUR!  You have peace within, knowing that all is well for eternity.  You have MY SON the LORD JESUS interceding on your behalf, and I am walking alongside of you guiding you in the right ways.  You have ME to turn to, when you need to be comforted and sustained in times of need, knowing that I am listening at all times. 

So today MY child, change your attitude to one of thankfulness!

My prayer:  Thanks LORD, for all that YOU have given me and may I be more thankful!

Written by Mary Bachert
February 23, 2012

Please guide me, O LORD!

He did not seek guidance from the LORD...therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David.  1 Chronicles 10: 14

O FATHER, forgive me, for so often I don’t seek YOUR guidance; instead I do my own thing and go my own way. 

From the FATHER’S heart:
I know that MY child, but have you ever thought that if you would have asked for guidance from ME, you would have made a lot less mistakes in your lifetime. I could have guided you in the right way, but you didn’t ask ME!  You went on ahead in your own selfish ways, thinking your ways were best but they were not!   I want you to ask for MY guidance and help, no matter what you are facing today or what decisions need to be made.  If you do, it will save you from disaster.

So often, MY children don’t want to surrender their will to me, because they are afraid if they become submissive, they will lose their independence!  That is a lie from Satan!  I can promise you that it is your SAVIOUR and your MASTER who is guiding you, and HE only will give you the best of the best to help you become more like HIM!

In Matthew 11: 28-30, I have promised, “Come unto ME all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you, and learn from ME, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light.” Now you can see that I am not the hard taskmaster that you thought I was! You can trust ME to guide you!

My prayer:  “O LORD, guide me this day to do what is right in YOUR sight!"

What is controlling me today?

For the love of GOD controls and urges and impels us...and HE died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for HIM Who died and was raised again for their sake.  2 Corinthians 5: 14-15

O GOD, does the love of CHRIST control me like it should?  Do I live for HIM or for self—sadly, I would have to say self.

From the FATHER’S heart:

Why do you think that is MY child? Is it because you place “things” as more precious and more valuable than HIM? 

If that is true, then you need to be honest and realize that you do not value HIM as you should.  This very ONE the LORD JESUS, died for you so that you would never spend eternity in Hell.  Do you realize what HE endured for you?  HE suffered the wrath and judgment of your sins on the cross, pain and loneliness that you cannot even begin to comprehend, and yet what appreciation does HE get back from you?  If it is very little, that is so sad, because in all reality it should break your heart and cause you to want to serve HIM more! 

MY child, don't live any longer to please self but rather live to please HIM, the very ONE who loved you and gave HIMSELF for you!  JESUS died and rose again and is in heaven today interceding on your behalf.  Think of HIS love for you and what HE did on the cross, and let this control your actions and your words.  Remember the day you trusted CHRIST as your SAVIOUR you became HIS; so never, never forget the cost of your redemption. 

My prayer:  LORD, O please help me to love HIM more!

Written by Mary Bachert
February 15, 2012

Have I used words to hurt someone today?

A gentle tongue (with its healing power) is a tree of life...Proverbs 15: 4
Death and life are in the power of the tongue...Proverbs 18: 21

LORD, I think I was right in what I said, but what if I wasn’t? Forgive me and help me to seek forgiveness from those I have hurt.

From my FATHER’S heart:

MY child, I want you to know that once words have been spoken, they can never be taken back.  Words can hurt so bad that they make you want to die or they can lift you up and give you hope.  So how are you doing in that area of your life with your words? 
I want you to ask yourself these questions before you speak, “Is this kind?” “Is it true?” “Is it necessary?”  The next thing I want you to do is to stop and think, “Is my intent by saying this, to put the other person down, and lift myself up by making it look like I have all the answers and know more than he or she does?”  Or, is it to lift the other person up by acknowledging that they are right and to give them encouragement and hope.
When you can honestly answer those questions, you will know whether you should say it or not. 

My prayer:  O LORD, YOU know that I have uttered words that should never have been said.  Thank YOU for bringing these questions to mind because YOU know that I needed them. May I learn to ask myself these questions before I speak, so that I become an encourager rather than a discourager, for I am either building up or tearing down.

A Vision of Faith

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help and YOU will not hear?...
"Look around (you, Habakkuk", replied the LORD) ..."and see...for I am putting into effect a work in your days (such) that you would not believe if it were told you...write the vision; make it plain...so he may run who reads it...if it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay...the righteous shall live by his faith."  Habakkuk 1: 1, 8; 2: 2-4

O FATHER, help me to have a vision of faith like that.

From my FATHER’S heart:

You can have it, MY child! Write down your vision and make it plain.  Continue to read it daily so that anyone else, who reads it, knows what the outcome will be. Do you realize that I am doing a work behind the scenes that you cannot see and if I were to tell you the results right now, you wouldn’t believe it.  You can't see the end right now, and you think the results should have been here by now, but I say to you, "Wait patiently!  They will come."  Yes MY child, there is coming a day when faith will give way to sight!  It is like a snowball rolling down a hill getting bigger and bigger and there is nothing you can do to stop it. That appointed time will be here and will not be able to be delayed any longer!  It will come to pass!

That is the vision of faith that you need in your life because you don't know what is going to happen today or  tomorrow, but I do.  Trust ME in what I can and will do.

My prayer:  LORD, help me to have faith like this in my life!  I am also reminded that faith will give way to sight when JESUS comes, at the appointed time.