Helping other ministries get on the Internet. Also includes the “Only One Move” story.
A few of the people we’ve recently helped get on the Internet: an Indian evangelist (top), a missionary to the 10/40 Window (right), and a man whose passion is to remind us to pray (left).
Helping Others Reach Out
One of the goals of our ministry is to use our knowledge of the Internet to help other ministries reach out over the Internet, too.
Most recently we had the chance to work with an evangelist from India. When he shared his powerful testimony with me, I asked him if we could tape it for broadcast over the Internet. He was not only glad to do it, but felt that this was an answer to prayer.
Although he preaches to thousands of people in villages throughout India, he seldom gets to preach to the higher caste Hindus. But because many of those in the higher castes have computers and access to the Internet, he may now be able to reach into their homes as well! Praise God for these new opportunities to reach people who might have never heard the gospel of Christ otherwise!
We recorded his story in both English and in Tamil, his native language, and put it on The Ranch website (Paul’s Story). He tells of how he had lost both of his parents at a young age, causing his entire family to consider suicide. During that crucial family discussion, a missionary came into their house and told them about the God who would never leave them nor forsake them. He concludes his testimony by saying: “Now, if you go to my village you will find not a single non-Christian in that whole village. All my people are blessed now. God changed the entire life of my whole people. They are enjoying the provisions of God and the blessings of the Almighty God. He still lives.”
Please pray with us, even right now, that God will use his testimony on the Internet to reach his people throughout the world.
WWW.101SITES.COM
As we get more involved in helping other ministries get online, we’ve created a new organization to focus on this aspect of our outreach.
It’s called Internet Media Resources and its primary purpose is to multiply what we do on the Internet a hundredfold by getting more ministries online, (hence the name of our new site, www.101sites.com).
This new outreach is fully supported by those who make use of the service. From time to time I hope to highlight some of these ministries here because I believe they will move you towards a deeper level of faith in Christ and a stronger commitment to action.
One of these websites is called Window of Opportunity (www.1040window.org) and is designed to educate Christians about the 10/40 Window. This area of the world contains the largest concentration of people who have never heard about Christ. Our desire is to motivate Christians to get involved in reaching out to these “unreached” people groups.
Another website is called Remember to Pray (www.101sites.com/prayer) and focuses on the ministry of an 81-year old man whose desire is to help us all do just that: “Remember to Pray.”
I hope you’ll get a chance to look at some of these websites on the Internet and encourage your friends to visit them as well.
E-Mail
Back at The Ranch we continue to receive letters that encourage us that God is at work. Here are some recent letters.
One man writes:
“I again would like to thank you for spending time with me yesterday… Many of your words are still ringing in my ears, and a difference was made. For the first time in several months, I actually got some sleep last night (just a few hours), but far more than I have been getting historically… With much of what you said bouncing around in my brain and proving much louder than everything else going on in there, I pretty much just passed out and for the first time in a very long time slept through the night (all 5 hours of it). That is really nothing short of a miracle…
“Secondly, and more importantly, I woke up with something that I have not known in at least two years and that is a sense of some peace. Can’t explain it really, but it’s somewhere between understanding on some level that I will be ok and actually having some value in life again.”
Another man who watches our broadcasts wrote:
“You have been there for me and you don’t even know me. …Thanks for all you do, not just for me, but for everyone that you encounter. I don’t want to leave Lana out. I have felt your prayers and maybe one day I will see you both in person to tell you how much I appreciate your ministry.”
And another writes:
“Just wanted to let you know that I have not as much as looked at any porn sites or inappropriate chat lines since Aug 24th [after we prayed online about this]…God is Good…God bless you in your ministry.”
I hope these letters encourage you, too, for without your prayers and support they would not be possible.
Only One Move
And here’s a story for those of you who need some encouragement in your own faith.
There was a 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy learned quickly. But after three months, he had learned only one move. He asked his teacher to teach him more moves. The teacher said, “This is the only move you’ll ever need to know.”
Soon thereafter, the boy entered a tournament where he quickly advanced to the finals. His next opponent was bigger and more experienced. The boy seemed outmatched.
During the long match, and just when the boy was taking a beating, he made his one move. His opponent faltered and the boy pinned him to the ground.
After the match, the boy asked his teacher. “How could I win with only one move?”
“Two reasons,” the teacher replied. “First, you have mastered one of the most difficult moves in all of judo. And second, the only known defense against that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your greatest strength.
If your weaknesses are getting you down, remember these words from the Bible:
“The Lord said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Please Pray with Us
Thank you Lord:
for turning our weaknesses into strengths,
for using the Internet to reach out to people around the world with the love of Christ,
and for the prayers and support of those who make this ministry possible.
And Lord, we now ask:
for these new Internet ministries to have long-lasting impact,
for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to know how to respond to those who write for help,
and for more people to find their way to The Ranch so they can find their way to You.
Celebrating one year of Internet broadcasts, plus emails from guests. Also includes the “Keep Your Fork” story.
Pastor John Evans from Wales joins me on “Live From The Ranch,” our weekly Internet broadcast.
One Year of Broadcasts
We had some special guests at our house last weekend who came all the way from Wales!
Pastor John Evans and his wife Jennifer began watching our Internet broadcasts earlier in the year from their home in Wales. We’ve corresponded via the Internet ever since. They happened to be traveling in the U.S. for a few weeks, so they spent the weekend with us here at The Ranch. (I was sure to remind them that The Ranch only exists on the Internet and not to expect their own cabin in the woods when they got here!)
We had a great weekend and they joined me on the live broadcast on Sunday night. It underscored to me that even though our ministry is based on the Internet, it has a very “real life” component with “real life” people. The Internet is often simply the first point of contact.
In just a few weeks we’ll have completed our first full year of broadcasting a live weekly message over the Internet. We’ve had several guests on the broadcast this past year and hope to include more in the future. The topics range from sex to betrayal, from healing to faith. And every week, we also give an opportunity for people to put their faith in Christ.
If you’d like to see any of the messages, just click here.
E-Mails
Each week after the broadcast, we open the chat room at The Ranch to people who want to talk or pray in a one-on-one setting.
This past week a man came by the chat room who had been participating in illicit chat and porn sites on the Internet. We talked and prayed and he wrote back the next day: “I thank God for you and the fact that you took the time to talk and pray for me last night! I slept well last night and know that the Lord is going to deliver me from this abomination that I have participated in.”
Another man, who had been struggling with homosexuality, came to us several months ago for prayer and wisdom. He wrote this week and said, “I feel as though I am living a different life now. I can’t tell you the relief I feel. My burden has been lifted!”
Still another man wrote this week after reading one of the testimonies on our site: “I have felt that I had no one to talk to. I accidentally ran across this site and begin to explore. Tears have welled up in my eyes and I now feel that I have hope. I always tried to think that I wasn’t the only one who was going through this, but now I know I’m not, and I now feel that I have the strength to try even harder. Thank you again.”
Although he thought he found the site “accidentally,” I attribute it to your faithful prayers that God would draw people to The Ranch so they can find their way back to Christ. So thank you so much for I know that this fruit will be credited to your account also! (Philippians 4:17).
We’ve recently added several new testimonies to the site, so if you haven’t visited lately, take a look at the section called Read a Story. You’ll find touching stories from people around the world who have written to tell how Christ has changed their lives. Also, if you have a story you want to share about how Christ has changed your life, just send it to me on the contact form.
Opportunities to Speak
I like preaching on the Internet, but there’s nothing like talking to people face to face! I’ve been receiving more invitations lately to preach at churches and special events here in town and in the surrounding area.
I’m especially thankful for the variety of churches that have asked me to speak, as I feel God has given me a message that applies to people of all backgrounds.
Some of these include:
First Baptist Church
Primitive Methodist Church
Park Presbyterian Church
Open Bible Fellowship
First United Methodist Men’s Group
Community-Wide Good Friday Service
First United Family Camp (Gridley, IL)
First Presbyterian Church (Chenoa, IL)
If you ever need a guest speaker for a church service, retreat, or other event, let me know! I’d love to come be with you in person to encourage you that God is real, alive, and active in the world today.
The Best is yet to Come
Before I close, I wanted to share with you a story that reminds us all that there’s more to life than just this life.
There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given 3 months to live. As she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order. The pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.
“There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly.
“What’s that?” came the pastor’s reply.
She said, “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.
The woman explained. “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes from the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. So, when people see me in there in that casket with a fork in my hand, and they wonder what it’s for, I want you to tell them, “Keep your fork…the best is yet to come!”
Our faith in Christ can certainly help us here on earth, but ultimately, our faith in Christ is for much more than that. As the apostle Paul said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
The simple gospel (good news) is that God has given us hope for a future. Jesus died for our sins so that those who believe in him would not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, remember, “the best is yet to come.” And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, there’s not a better day to do it than today. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7).
Please Pray with Us
Several of you sent us notes after the last newsletter to say that you would commit to pray for us for 30 days. Thank you for that commitment, and thanks, too, for those who sent in additional gifts to help us out financially. We appreciate you standing with us.
Thank you Lord,
for creating a way, via the Internet, to reach out with your love to people around the world;
for the opportunities to speak to people face to face;
and for raising up more people to pray for and support this ministry.
And Lord, we now ask:
for more opportunities to speak to as many people as we can;
to raise up still more people to support us in this effort;
and for still more people to find their way to The Ranch so they can find their way to You.
Does God still heal today? Join me for this message for living proof that He does. Chuck and Sharon Giacinto share their own life-changing story. Take heart that the God of the Bible who “forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3) is still alive and active today. (Recorded June 13, 1999)
Watch The Video
Message Notes
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Matthew 9:20-22
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
Outline
1. The Biblical basis for healing in the past and present.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1-2)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them….”When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.'” (Luke 10:1,8-9)
2. Testimony of Chuck and Sharon Giacinto.
3. God wants to increase your faith to be healed.
In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him,saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. (Acts 14:8-10)
Read how God is using the Internet to touch people around the world. Also includes the Starfish story.
The Bigger Picture
I was recently encouraged when I attended the first Internet Evangelism Conference sponsored by the Billy Graham Institute for Evangelism. (I’d recommend you watch Ron Hutchcraft’s speech at http://www.webevangelism.org, under “Post-Conference Info.”)
People from almost two hundred different ministries gathered to share with each other how God is using the Internet to touch people around the world. As I listened to each testimony, the stories of what God was doing sounded remarkably similar to the ones we’ve experienced on our own web site. I caught a glimpse of the bigger picture of how God is using this technology in His overall plan.
When Jesus first said to the disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15), they must have thought it was impossible. And yet what seemed impossible then is now entirely possible.
This year, over 100 million people are connected to the global Internet. With the push of a button, we can send a message to every country in the world within 1 second – all for the price of a local phone call.
The Internet has taken off faster than any other communication technology to date. It took only 6 years for 30% of the households in the U.S. to get connected to the World Wide Web. (It took 39 years for 30% of homes to hook up a telephone; 27 years for that many TV’s; and 16 years for that many computers.)
Email now makes up over 94.5% of all mail messages delivered in the U.S., compared to 5.5% that are delivered by “regular mail.” (According to the U.S. Postal Service, they delivered 198 billion pieces of regular mail last year, compared to 3.4 trillion handled by email.)
With so many people connected to the Internet, it begs the question: For what will it ultimately be used? Is it merely a tool to increase corporate profits, spread pornography, and distribute mass media? Or, is it possible that God is going to use this remarkable tool in an unprecedented way to express the love of Christ to a hurting world? Such thinking may sound idealistic, but God has done it before.
The Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed on the newly invented printing press in 1452. When people speak of the Gutenberg Bible, they link the invention itself with the spread of God’s Word all in the same breath. To this day, the Bible continues to be the most widely published book in the world.
With the Internet still in its formative years, it is not hard to imagine that God will also link this new technology with the spread of His Word. Why would we think that? Two reasons: 1) We have the most powerful delivery system ever known to man, and 2) we have the most powerful message ever delivered. That’s a combination for miracles!
God is on a mission for God. And He will use whatever means He can to reach as many as He can before the end comes. I’m thankful to live in such an age.
The Starfish
Having glimpsed into God’s cosmic plan at this conference, I came back to my computer with renewed vigor to continue to do what God has called me to do. I was getting excited to see that our web site is now visited over 1,500 times a month from people who want to hear more about the works of God. Then I saw another statistic. I saw that the Playboy site gets 5 million hits a day.
It made me feel a bit like a character in the book The Star Thrower by Loren Eisley. It goes like something like this.
Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”
“I guess I should have asked, ‘Why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?’”
“The sun is up, and the tide is going out. And if I don’t throw them in they’ll die.”
“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, “It made a difference for that one.”
We’re Not Alone
I know there are a lot of starfish out there, but thankfully we’re not alone in this task.
God is raising up workers to go into the harvest fields. He is raising up givers to send others into the fields. He is raising up pray-ers to pray for the harvesters (see Luke 10:2).
You may receive many letters asking for funds from worthy Christian organizations. I believe that’s because there is a huge task ahead of us and God wants all of us to be involved to the fullest extent possible.
Let me share about some of the starfish that are out there. A 17-year old man from the West Coast wrote me last week. He said he had recently given his life to the Lord, but now saw that God wanted him to give up his addiction to pornography and homosexuality. He didn’t know how he could do it, so he wrote for help. We talked in our Internet chat room until 1:00 a.m. He left knowing that God is in the life-changing business and He can change this part of his life, too!
A 48-year old man from the East Coast who found my site called yesterday to say he has gone into adultery and can’t find his way out. He’s battling thoughts of suicide and is about to give up on the Lord. We talked and prayed until he had hope that Jesus came to give us an abundant life, and that He forgave us of our sins so that we could be free!
I know there’s not one of you reading this who wouldn’t want to reach out to these people yourselves if they came to your door, to save them from death and destruction and to put them back on the path of life. But to do that, they’ve got to be able to find our door. God has called me to put my door on the Internet, and He is bringing people to it who would have never found it otherwise.
I’m glad to be on the front lines helping these people. But the troops at the front can’t last long without the troops in the back, to cover them from the enemy and to send more supplies. Many of you have helped us greatly to get this far. Let me say plainly: we need your help now more than ever. If you can commit to pray for us for the next 30 days, would you let us know? If you can send us an extra gift, or commit to a monthly gift if you haven’t already, would you do it soon? God is on a mission from God and He’s got a role for every one of us to play.
Please Pray with Us
Thank you Lord,
for letting us all take part in your great mission;
for bringing the harvest that is so evident before us;
and for bringing people right to our door.
And Lord, we now ask:
for you to raise up more workers, more pray-ers, and more senders;
for the full provisions needed to go forward;
and for more people to find their way to The Ranch so they can find their way to You.
Twelve original songs to soothe your soul, heal your heart and clear your mind. 100% Pure Piano by Eric Elder
A Word From Eric
There once was a king who was tormented by an evil spirit. But whenever a young boy named David took out his harp to play, the evil spirit fled and relief came to the king. I believe this music can do the same for you.
Listen Here!
Clear My Mind Piano Book
You can also download the sheet music for all twelve songs from this album. Just click Clear My Mind Piano Book. (The piano book is also available in Paperback or Kindle.)
Two Weeks With God
You can ALSO read an inspiring devotional book based on the songs of this album! Just click Two Weeks With God to read it online, download the PDF, or to listen to the audiobook.
Songs to soothe your soul, heal your heart and clear your mind. 100% Pure Piano from Eric Elder.
There once was a king who was tormented by an evil spirit. But whenever a young boy named David took out his harp to play, the evil spirit fled and relief came to the king. I believe this music can do the same for you. Includes twelve original songs played on the grand piano.
(Suggested Donation: $15 or more)
Click Play to listen to one of my favorites, “Moment by Moment”:
The full piano score for all 12 songs from Eric Elder’s album Clear My Mind.
For me, playing the piano can be just as refreshing as listening to the piano. This sheet music contains the actual versions of the songs used on the CD, and is written at an easy/intermediate level. If you play the piano, or know someone who does, I hope you’ll find playing this music refreshing, too. Great for weddings, receptions, communion, offering, meditations, or background music for special occasions. 8.5″ x 11″ paperback. 61 pages.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
I hope you’ve enjoyed these two weeks with God. I’m sure He’s enjoyed these two weeks with you.
Although today is the last day of this devotional, it’s just the beginning of your time with God. In fact, this whole life is just the beginning of your time with God. The last line of Amazing Grace says it well: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun” (John Newton, 1725-1807).
These past two weeks were to whet your appetite for more of what God has in store for you. He has so much He wants to do in and through your life that you won’t want to miss a day with Him from now on. As Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Stay close to the vine every day. Draw your life from His life, your strength from His strength. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit from head to toe until you overflow. Don’t let a day go by without coming to Him – for His wisdom, for His comfort, for His strength and for His love.
The best way I’ve found to stay close to God is to stay in the Bible. Go ahead and read the whole thing from cover to cover – then read it again and again and again. There’s not a better Book in the world you could spend your time reading. And God promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him, even though He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27, Proverbs 8:17).
Let me close our time in prayer.
Lord, I pray that You would bless those who have spent these two weeks with You. I pray that You would draw them to want to spend time with You each day from now on. I pray that You would continue to speak to them and show them the plans You have for their lives. And finally, Lord, I pray that You would fill them with Your peace, Your love, and Your unending joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
There’s More!
If you like this music and devotional, I’d also like to invite you to join me at The Ranch at www.theranch.org. It’s a spiritual retreat center on the Internet where you can unwind and spend some more time with God. Join me anytime you need a boost in your faith, and invite your friends, too!
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
Not long ago, our family went through a time of transition. While we knew we were following Christ, we were definitely walking by faith and not by sight. All we could see was Christ leading us forward.
Then one morning, I saw the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. It was actually the sun shining through the window as I read my Bible. As the sun lit up the room, I felt God was telling me that a new day was coming; a day when we would clearly see just where He had brought us.
I began to write a song, “I’ve Seen the Sun! I’ve Seen the Sun!” And as I sang, I realized why I was so excited. It wasn’t just the fact that the light had broken through. It was the fact that I could now begin to see with my eyes what I had believed in my heart. My sight had finally caught up to my faith.
As I praised God with this song, I raised my voice higher and higher and out came a new refrain: “I’VE SEEN THE SON! I KNOW HIS NAME! HE DIED FOR ME! AND THEN HE ROSE AGAIN! I’VE SEEN THE SON!”
There will be a day when we will see Jesus face to face! (1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2). On that day we’ll be able to see with our eyes what we have believed in our hearts for so long. We’ll be able to say, “He is real. He is alive. He really does care about us. He really did come back for us so we could be with Him forever.”
John says that we can know that we have eternal life if we believe in Christ: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Faith is no obscure adventure. It is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
One day our faith and our sight will be the very same thing. What an awesome day that will be! Until then, hold onto your faith – it’s worth far more than gold (1 Peter 1:7).
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to renew their faith in You today. I pray You would implant a seed of faith deep in their heart so they will never waver again. I pray they would know that You are real, You are alive, and that You really will come back again for them so they can be with You forever! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
Read 2 Corinthians 4:18. On what should we fix our eyes?
Read 1 Peter 1:7-9. What is the goal of our faith?
Read 1 John 3:2. Although we don’t know everything about the future, what do we know?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song I’ve Seen The Sun. Ask God to renew your faith. Let Him know you believe that one day you’ll see the Son, too!
After You Pray
Just as the sun in the sky is constant and unchanging from day to day, so is the Son of God. He’s always there, whether you see Him or not, whether it’s cold or hot. It doesn’t matter how many clouds may darken the sky. That doesn’t change the fact that the sun is still there. If the sun weren’t there, you can be sure we’d be flung out of orbit and die instantly. In the same way, Jesus is always there, always strong, always steady, always holding us tight – whether we see Him or not. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Lord, I look forward to the day when I will see You face to face!
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
I have sometimes wondered if God has a unique purpose for my life, a special role for me to play in His world. Last Christmas I saw the answer in the pages of the Bible as I read about Mary when she was chosen to give birth to Jesus.
In God’s great plan for the world, He needed a woman to carry His son in her womb. He chose Mary. Her cousin Elizabeth heard the news and exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear” (Luke 1:42)! She was blessed! She had a unique role to fill in God’s plan, that of giving birth to the long-awaited Savior.
I began to think about people in the Bible who were called by God for other purposes. Even though God is all-powerful, He has chosen to work through us as His fellow-workers (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
God needed Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). He needed Paul to share Christ with the Gentiles (Acts 13:46). He needed Esther to marry a king to save the Jews (Esther 4:14). He needed Elijah to speak prophetic words to influence the course of history. Yet listen to what the Bible says about Elijah: “Elijah was a man just like us” (James 5:17).
All the people in the Bible were men and women just like us. And God has created each of us for a unique purpose as well. We really are special! Hallelujah! We’re not cookie-cutter men and women made out of gingerbread. Our fingerprints are unique, our voices are unique, our eyes are unique. And God’s plans for us are unique.
Paul reminds us that we all have a role to play, just like a body needs various parts to function well. Some of us are eyes, some are ears, and some are hands or feet. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
I believe God would say to each one of us, “Blessed are you!” “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let God’s unique plans for you sink deep into your soul.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who wonder if they have a special role to play in Your plan. I pray You would let them know that You do, and that You would show them what that role is. I pray You would also fully equip them to carry out the plans You have for them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear’” (Luke 1:42)!
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Do the parts of the body have unique roles to play?
Read Romans 12:6-8. What are we to do with the gifts God has given us?
Read Esther 4:13-14. Could God have put you into your present position for a unique purpose?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Blessed Are You. Ask God to show you how special you are to Him, and to show you your unique role in His plan.
After You Pray
I also believe that God will give us a sense of fulfillment in our unique calling in a way that we won’t envy the calling of others. Mary was obviously overjoyed to carry the Son of God in her womb, but I don’t think most women would want to trade places with her. There were special demands on her life because of her calling: everything from riding a donkey in her ninth month of pregnancy to watching her son’s execution on a cross. God not only called her for that role, but He equipped her uniquely for that role – just like God is calling you and equipping you for yours.
Lord, I believe that You have a unique purpose for my life!
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
One day I read a verse in the Bible that said, “May He give you the desire of your heart…” (Psalm 20:4). Immediately, I knew what my desire was: to marry Lana.
As odd as it seems to me now, this wasn’t always my desire. I had dated Lana in college, and we loved each other enough, but I wasn’t ready to consider marriage. We moved to different cities and eventually stopped dating.
We still talked from time to time and one day she told me she wasn’t really happy in her job. I said I’d pray for her that week. As I prayed, I also sensed that it wasn’t her job so much as the fact that God really wanted her to have a husband. So I began to pray that God would send her a husband.
You know the rest! Over the next three months, God put in my heart a love for her like I’ve never known for anyone else, before or since. I didn’t even tell her what was happening to me! At the end of three months of praying, the desire in my heart was so strong that I called her to tell her about it. It turns out that when I called, she had just decided to quit her job, but wasn’t sure what to do next. I told her I had an idea!
It was then that I read the verse from Psalm 20. I pleaded with God that He would have her say “Yes!” for she was the desire of my heart. Looking back, I realized that God not only gave me the desire of my heart, but He was the One who put that desire in my heart in the first place.
I’ve heard this described like a dad who buys his son a blue bicycle for Christmas then hides it in the garage. The dad then spends the next few months showing his son blue bicycles in the stores. By the time the son asks for a blue bicycle for Christmas, the dad is happy to oblige!
I want to encourage you to ask God to fill your heart with His desires so that they may become your desires as well. The Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who have been calling out to You for the desires of their hearts. I pray You would put Your desires in their hearts so that their thoughts and prayers will line up with Yours. God, I ask, too, that You would strengthen those who have been waiting for a long time for You to answer their prayers. Let them know that Your promises are true and that You will indeed give them the desires of their hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4).
Read Psalm 37:1-9. What does God want us to do while we wait for the desires of our heart?
Read Luke 22:42-43. Who came to strengthen Jesus when He submitted His will to God’s?
Read Isaiah 40:29-31. What will God do for those who hope in Him?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song My Lana. Ask Him to fill your heart with His desires.
After You Pray
If God doesn’t give you what you ask for, I believe He has something better in mind. Back in college, Lana sensed that one day we would get married. When we broke up, she was surprised, but felt that if I wasn’t the one, God must have someone better in mind for her. During our time apart, I committed my life to Christ. When we got back together, guess what? She got someone better than the Eric she knew! If God would give up His Son for you, you can be sure He wouldn’t withhold anything from you unless He had something better in mind. Continue to trust Him. This is one Father who really does know best.
Lord, I pray You would fill my heart with Your desires.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
I wrote this song as a lullaby for our children, but it has become a prayer of blessing for our whole family.
I established our nightly prayer routine before I was married. I had heard someone say that he made a commitment to pray with his wife every night before they went to sleep. That way, each of them had received a prayer of blessing every day. I liked the idea so much I began that same week to pray daily with my roommate.
When I got married, I continued those nightly prayers with my wife. Now that we have children, we do the same for each of them at bedtime, placing our hands on their heads and asking God to bless their lives. I believe that our prayers, our verbal blessing, and our physical touch can make a difference.
If you have someone in your life for which you’d like to pray each day, I urge you to consider starting that habit today. Our prayer times with each other can be quiet moments of intimacy in otherwise hectic days.
Some of you may not be in a place where you can pray for someone each day in person. But I can assure you that there is someone who is praying for you. The Bible says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
By the way, if you have children and want to try singing this song as a prayer over them, here are the words. It simply goes, “Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children.” The next time through, replace the word ‘children’ with the name of each person in your family. By praying for our children, we can pass onto them the blessings of God, just as Isaac passed them onto his son Jacob, who passed them onto his son Joseph (Genesis 27:25, 48:15).
As you listen to this song, you may also hear a familiar melody in the background. It’s a simple reminder of God’s great love for us.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I thank You for always interceding on our behalf. I pray for those who want to pass on the blessings they’ve received from You to their families. I ask that You would give them the insight and wisdom to know how to do this in a way that’s meaningful to them and honoring to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).
Read Mark 10:13-16. How did Jesus bless the children who were brought to Him?
Read Genesis 48:9-20. How did Israel bless his grandchildren?
Read Proverbs 22:6. How can our influence on our children affect them when they are older?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Lord, I Pray. Pray, by name, for those you love. Also remember to thank God that Christ is praying for you.
After You Pray
In many of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, he prays for the people to whom he wrote and ministered. And at the end of his letters, he would often ask for those people to pray for him as well. If God has blessed you through this ministry, could I ask you to pray for us as well? Here are a few of the prayers Paul asked people to pray on his behalf: “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:3-4). We know your prayers are heard and answered and we appreciate the time you spend in prayer for us.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
This is the first song I ever wrote. I had been asking God what He wanted me to do that day. I was surprised when I thought He said, “Write a song.”
Having never written one before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do! I had played the piano most of my life, but I had only played songs that were written down by others. This time God wanted me to write a new song. The Bible says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3).
On my heart that day was a friend who needed to put his trust in the Lord. He was about to make a decision to leave his wife, but I had pleaded with him that there was another way, the way of Christ.
I had seen God breathe life back into several other marriages as I spoke to them from God’s Word, so I knew the words I was speaking to him were trustworthy. Even though he didn’t know Christ for himself, I prayed that he would at least trust the words I was speaking to him, for I trust in Christ.
Unfortunately, he chose not to trust Christ nor me. He left his wife, and he left a trail of destruction behind him. But I haven’t stopped praying for him, because I know that God answers prayer. Jesus told His disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
A man named George Mueller prayed for many people during his lifetime who gave their hearts to Christ. His journal records that at the time of his death, there were still three people for whom he had prayed daily, but had not yet accepted Christ. But, on the day of George’s funeral, one of them accepted Christ, and the other two did the same shortly thereafter.
We may not always see how God ties up the loose ends of our hopes and prayers for people. But I believe there was a reason that Jesus told his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. One day we’ll see why.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need encouragement to always pray and not give up. Lord, help them to trust that you do indeed have a plan, and that their prayers are not in vain. Lord, give them favor with those they speak to about You, and let the words they speak come out as if they came straight from You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
Read Luke 18:1-8. What encouragement can you take from this parable?
Read Luke 15:4-10. What happens in heaven when someone who was lost is found?
Read James 5:20. What benefits can come from our influence on others?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Trust Me. Pray for someone who needs to know Christ.
After You Pray
God’s Word has power not only when we read it, but also when we speak it. The Bible says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). When we carefully pray about what to say to others, and then ensure that what we say lines up with God’s Word, God can use our words powerfully. In one instance, I talked to a man who was separated from his wife. His family and friends told him to divorce her, and he was on the verge of doing just that. When I spoke to him from the Bible, he said, “You’re the first person who has told me the Truth!” Within a few months he and his wife were back together again. Your words may be the only the Bible some people will ever hear.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
One reason the Bible helps so many people is that it tells real stories about real people who have been touched by a very real God. When we read how God worked in the lives of Moses, David, Paul, Esther, Ruth, and countless others, we see how God can work in our lives, too.
In the same way, people can learn from our lives as well. The Bible says, “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).
I wrote this song after my own struggle about whether or not to share with others my own testimony of what God has done in my life. Although I am still self-conscious at times, I have seen God use my testimony for His glory far too often to ever want to hold back if God prompts me to share.
I’d like to encourage you to share your testimony with others, too. Although sharing it may be uncomfortable, you can know that if God is prompting you, He has a purpose for it. There are many hurting people going through the very same things that you’ve already been through. They need a glimmer of hope that God can work in their lives, too.
The woman at the well didn’t have a particularly flattering background, but after she met Jesus, she went back to her town to tell them what He had done for her. The Bible says, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony…” (John 4:39). The apostle John recorded what Christ had done in his life and the lives of others, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
Peter and John were so excited to tell about Christ, they couldn’t keep quiet even when threatened with imprisonment. “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
The words of our testimony are like gold to God. When we share them, they can be like gold to others, too.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those whom You have touched, that they would be willing to share with others what You have done for them. Lord, I pray that You would show them, even this week, how their testimony could affect someone else’s life. I pray that when they’re ready, Your Holy Spirit would lead them in exactly what to say and when to say it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).
Read Acts 26:1-29. Why was Paul so willing to be honest about what God had done for him?
Read Revelation 12:10-11. What kind of power does the word of our testimony have?
Read Mark 5:18-20. What response did the people have when the man who had been demon-possessed told them what Christ had done for him?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song I Declare(please note that the song numbers on the CD for this week are not the same as the “Day” numbers of the devotional). Thank God for what He’s done in your life. Ask God to put people in your life who might need to hear about what He’s done for you.
After You Pray
Every week I receive letters from people on the Internet who have read my testimony and the testimonies of others on our web site called The Ranch (www.theranch.org). They often simply need someone to talk to who has struggled with their same struggles. They are looking for hope. When they find a Christian who can point them to God’s solution to their problems, they are thrilled, healed and thankful beyond words. If God has helped you through a struggle in your life, would you be willing to share it on the Internet so others could find hope, too? If so, send me your testimony and watch God work through your words.
Lord, help me to share with others what You’ve done in my life.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the first week of this devotional! I’d like you to take today to explore the Bible on your own.
Since the day I gave my life to Christ, hardly a day has gone by that I haven’t opened my Bible to see what God might have to say to me. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read it; God always has something new and fresh to say.
That’s because the Bible is not like any other book in the world. The book of Hebrews says, “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Some days the words seem to jump off the pages as God speaks to me.
It is the best love letter ever written. You could open to any page and you’d see how great God’s love is for you. And like all good love letters, this one is worth reading over and over and over again.
So go ahead and explore it today on your own. If your Bible has an index or concordance in the back, look up a topic that’s on your mind and see what God has to say about it. Or try reading all the way through one of the shorter books in the Bible in one sitting, like Ephesians or First John.
Whether you’re new to the Bible, or you’ve read it many times, know that God can speak to you every time you open its pages and every time you open your heart to Him.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I thank You for telling us so much about You on the pages of the Bible. I thank You that the words are living and active, and that they can speak so personally to each of our hearts. Lord, pour out Your wisdom on those who read Your Word today. And as they get to know You better through these pages, I pray they would want to return to You again tomorrow, and the next day, and every day, for the rest of their lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
For Father’s Day one year I wrote a tribute to my dad. As I recalled various memories of him over the years, I realized what an impact he has had on my life. I wrote this song to go with the tribute to let him know that even though my kids call him Grandpa Bob, he’s more than a grandpa. He’s a Grand Man.
We all, like Jesus, had an earthly father who raised us. But we all, like Jesus, have a heavenly Father as well. The difference between the two can be, at times, like night and day. As a father to my own children, I am fully aware that no father on earth is perfect! But our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Many people, whether they recognize it or not, often view God in the same way they view their earthly father. While sometimes this image we have of God is good, other times it is distorted, and sometimes it is flat-out wrong.
I’d like to encourage you to get to know the God of the Bible, a Father who is good to all and has compassion on all He has made. The Bible says that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8-9). Does that sound like a dad you’d like to get to know better?
At the same time, the God of the Bible disciplines us because of His great love for us. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). Would you like a dad who disciplines you for your own good, and trains you in ways that will bring you peace?
That is the kind of Father we have in heaven. He’s the same Father that Jesus called on every time He went to pray. Jesus says that we are His brothers, and that His Father is our Father (Matthew 28:10-12, John 20:17). If you need a fresh view of your heavenly Father, I’d like to encourage you to come to Him in the pages of the Bible. Take a look at the ways God was a good Father to Christ. In the same way, He’ll be a good Father to you, too.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to know You as their Father. I pray You would show them what You are like, and that You would correct any wrong thinking they may have about You. And Lord, as they come to see You as You are, I pray they would be filled with the confidence and joy that comes from knowing they are Your child. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Read Matthew 7:9-11. How does God compare to earthly fathers in this passage?
Read Hebrews 12:5-11. How does God compare to earthly fathers in this passage?
Read John 5:19. Why was it important for Jesus to know His Father well?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song A Grand Man. Take a minute to thank God for being your Father. Ask Him to make right any of the wrong thoughts you might have about Him as your Father.
After You Pray
God calls us to “‘Honor your father and your mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3). When I wrote a tribute to my dad, it was a great blessing to me as well as to him. I found that the Bible was true when it said that honoring our father and mother is the first commandment with a promise. Honoring our parents is good for them – and good for us. If your parents are still alive, you may want to ask God if there’s something you can do to honor them. Then watch the blessings of God pour out on each of you.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
Many people long for a clear mind. At the heart of this longing is a desire for peace. A true peace that lasts. A peace that doesn’t fade when the bottle is empty, or when the song is over, or when the world closes in. Believe it or not, such a peace does exist. It’s called peace with God, and it’s available to every one of us.
The reason we don’t have peace with God is because of sin. When we do things that we know He doesn’t want us to do, we put a barrier between us and God. Although God is still eager to talk to us, we’re no longer eager to talk to Him. Even when He calls to us, we’d rather turn away, and sometimes we run in fear. But we don’t have to run away, for God has made a way for us to come back to Him and be clean again. That way is through Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all of our sins. When we put our faith in Christ, believing that He has died in our place, God wipes our slate clean. He forgives us so that we can come back to Him with our whole hearts – and with our hearts whole.
God is eager to take us back, like a Father who waits for a lost child to return. Jesus describes our reunion with God like that of a Father whose son ran off and squandered all of his inheritance. When the son returned, ashamed of what he had done, “his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Then the Father said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:20, 23-24).
If you’d like this peace, you can have it today by praying a prayer to God. You can let God wrap His arms around you and welcome you back. And even more, when you put your faith in Christ, you will be able to enter heaven and spend eternity with God (1 John 5:13).
When you make peace with God, He clears your name. He separates you from your sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In fact, He doesn’t even remember them (Hebrews 8:12)! And once you know your name is clear, your mind is sure to follow.
Let Me Pray For You
Note: If you’ve never been at peace with God because of your sins, you can have it today by coming to Him in prayer. Like a father welcoming back his lost son, God will wrap His arms around you and welcome you back, too. And even more, when you put your faith in Christ, you will be able to enter heaven and spend eternity with God . If you would like this peace right now, pray this prayer with me.
“Dear God, I’m sorry for the sins I’ve committed against You and against others. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me so I wouldn’t have to. I ask for your forgiveness. I ask that Jesus Christ would be Lord of my life. And I ask that You would fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can follow You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Take Time in His Word
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38).
Read 1 Peter 3:18a. For what purpose did Christ die for our sins?
Read Romans 5:1. Through whom can we have peace with God?
Read 1 John 5:13. Of what can we be assured when we believe in the name of the Son of God?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Clear My Mind. Ask God to clear your mind and to bring you His peace.
After You Pray
Although peace with God is everlasting, there are times when it comes under attack. Sometimes Satan tries to fill our mind with his lies. Sometimes we have trouble forgiving ourselves. Sometimes the sins of others deeply impact us. Regardless of the cause, the solution is always the same: come to Christ again and again. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Come to Christ anytime you need His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).
Lord, You’ve cleared my name. Now, Lord, please clear my mind.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
The promises God makes in the Bible are rock solid. We can stand on His promises with as much confidence as we can stand on the strongest rock. When doubts or discouragement come against us, we can stand on His word to carry us through. One hymn writer called this “Standing on the Promises of God” (Russell Carter, 1886).
One day, God asked me to do something that surprised me. It wasn’t ungodly, but it wasn’t what I expected. I wrestled in prayer to find out if He was speaking these words or not. As I often do, I asked God to give me a scripture to back up what He was saying. I asked Him, “Lord, what word can I stand on?” Without hesitation, His answer came back: “My Son, you can stand on Me.”
In the Bible, Christ is called the Word (John 1:14). He is as strong as any rock on which we could stand. Another hymn writer wrote, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand” (Edward Mote, 1834).
As I prayed, God brought to my mind other people in the Bible who had also heard perplexing words from God. I thought of Peter, up on a roof, when God asked him to eat food that Peter thought was impure (Acts 10:15). I thought of Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:2). I thought of Jesus, the night before He died, when He pleaded with God to see if there was any other way (Matthew 26:39).
In each instance, these people submitted their finite wisdom to God’s infinite wisdom. As they did, the miraculous occurred. Through Peter’s obedience, God brought the message of Christ to the Gentiles. Through Abraham’s obedience, God brought forth countless descendants. Through Christ’s obedience, God gave all people victory over death, once and for all.
I knew what I had to do that day. With renewed confidence I took my stand on God’s Word and soon saw His wisdom prevail in my own situation. If you feel like you’re sinking and you need a place to stand, you can always stand on Christ, the Rock, the Living Word.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need a solid place to stand. Let them know they can stand on Your promises today. Prove to them that You are faithful to do what You say You will do. Show them that their obedience to You will make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. We ask all these things in the strong name of Jesus, the Solid Rock. Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Read Matthew 7:24-27. What does a wise person do to build a house that will stand?
Read Isaiah 55:8-11. How do God’s thoughts compare to ours?
Read Matthew 26:36-39. How can we apply Christ’s example to our own prayers?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Stand On Me. Ask God to renew in your heart that His Word is trustworthy. Ask Him to bring to mind a promise that you can stand on today.
After You Pray
If you’re looking for a word from God, look in the Bible. It has over 800,000 of them! King David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Bible has answers to everyday questions, as well as to eternal ones. If you’ve been away from the Bible and would like to get reacquainted, You might start in the book of John. Read as much as you can each day, and let God speak to you about your life as well. God speaks in various ways, but He has spoken to me through the pages of the Bible more than any other way. Don’t let a day go by without opening this book and asking God to speak to you through it.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
There are two things I pray that God would impress on your heart today: 1) that He loves you very much; and 2) that He needs you very much.
First, if you doubt God’s love for you, let me tell you again: “God loves you very much.” These are more than just words; God has shown us it’s true. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). You are valuable to God. He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to die for you if He didn’t think you were worth saving. He saved you because He loves you.
Second, God saved you because He has a purpose for your life. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). God has a purpose for our lives: He wants us to bear fruit that will last.
Although God could have used some kind of cosmic loudspeakers to tell everyone in the world about Christ, He has chosen to entrust that job to each of us. Listen to Christ’s final words on earth: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). There are people who won’t make it into heaven because no one ever told them about Christ. The Bible says, “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15).
Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone tell you your feet are beautiful? God saved us because he loved us, and also because He needs us to share that love with others. I want to encourage you today to consider sharing the message of Christ with someone else. Think of the joy of seeing someone in heaven because you told them about Christ. And think of the sorrow of not seeing someone there because you didn’t.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to know today how very much You love them. I pray Your love would overwhelm them, even now. I ask that You would also show them how very much You need them. Lead them to people who need to know about You, then give them the words to speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16).
Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What has God created us to do?
Read John 15:4-6. What do we need to do so that we can produce fruit?
Read Matthew 25:14-30. Do any talents come to mind that God has given you that He might want you to use for His kingdom?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Go Into All The World. Take a few minutes to ask God to reveal His great love to you. Ask Him to bring to mind specific gifts He has given you, and to show you how you can use them to share His love with others.
After You Pray
Our faith can be a very personal thing, but not so personal that others can’t see it. Here’s how Jesus puts it: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). If God has lit your lamp, let it shine.
Lord, show me how I can share Your love with others.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
I recorded these songs on a piano that is very special to me: a restored 1910 “Model B” made by STEINWAY & SONS. I mention this in case you’re a piano buff, but also to relate the following story.
One morning as I sat down to play the piano, a ray of light came through the window and illuminated only three letters of the maker’s nameplate above my fingers. Highlighted before me were the letters W-A-Y.
I began to write a song about Jesus, who said He was “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The melody stirred me so much that I played it over and over, singing to Him, “You are the Way, Lord. You are the Way, Lord. You are the Way, Lord. And I will follow, I will follow You.”
Later that same day, without prior notice, I was released from my job! At least I thought it was without prior notice. I soon realized that God had shown me in the morning that He Himself was taking me in a new direction. Even though I couldn’t see the path ahead of me, I knew which way to go: to follow Christ, the Way. Within a week the path became brighter and brighter.
Although we often want Jesus to show us the whole map at once, He does something even better. He promises to take us there Himself. “Follow me,” He said to Peter and Andrew. “Follow me,” He said to Matthew. “Follow me,” He said to Philip.
Each of these men got up immediately and followed Him. They knew enough about Jesus to know that there was really only one way to go. Peter said it best when Jesus asked the twelve disciples one day if they wanted to leave Him. Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
When the path ahead looks dark, we can count on Christ to give us light. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He alone is the Way.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need direction in their life. I pray that You would go before them and light the path so they can see. I pray that they would stay close to You, and as they do, the path ahead of them would get brighter and brighter. Let them know that You are worthy to follow, for You have the words of eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).
Read John 8:12. What promise does Jesus make to those who follow Him?
Read Proverbs 4:18. What happens to the path of the righteous?
Read John 14:1-6. Where will following Jesus ultimately lead us?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song You Are The Way. Take a few minutes to commit to God that you are willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads you, for He is the Way. Ask Him to light the path ahead of you.
After You Pray
Ultimately, God wants us to follow Jesus not only on earth, but also into heaven. Jesus declared that the only way to come to the Father was through Him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). When we put our faith in Christ, believing that He died in our place for the sins we have committed, we can be assured that God will take us into heaven. Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). There’s only one sure way to get into heaven on judgment day: put your faith in Christ. And when you stand at the gates, Jesus will say, “Let them in…they’re with me.”
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
I am sometimes overwhelmed by the apparent slowness with which God answers prayer. I wonder how many deep breaths I’ll have to take before the answers come. And yet, time after time the answers have come, even if they come gradually, moment by moment.
One of the reasons God takes time to answer our prayers is recorded in the book of Exodus. God told Moses that he would bring his people into a remarkable land, but that it was currently occupied by their enemies. God said, “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).
Because of God’s great love for us, He sometimes delays the answers to our prayers so they won’t overwhelm us when they come. As the saying goes, “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it!” Although we might think we could handle the answer, God knows best and we would do well to follow this advice from Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Don’t be discouraged if God’s answers are slow in coming. God loves you very much. He already sent His Son to die for you. There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you. Jesus tells us that everyone who asks receives, and then He adds these touching words: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:7-11)!
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. The Bible says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8b). Trust Him moment by moment, and soon you’ll see the answers to your prayers.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to renew their trust in You today. I pray that You would show them, even this week, that You are answering their prayers moment by moment. Let them know in their hearts that there’s nothing You wouldn’t do for them, and that if they can trust You with their eternal life, they can trust You for their needs here on earth as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).
Read Romans 8:28. In what things does God work for our good?
Read Ephesians 3:20-21. How much is God able to do for us?
Read John 3:16 and John 15:13. To what length is God willing to go for us?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Moment By Moment. Take a few minutes to bring your requests to God. Allow some time for Him to speak to you, too.
(If you’re connected to the Internet, you can listen to the songs in this book by either clicking on the song title or play button above. To listen to the songs when not connected to the Internet, you can order them either on CD or downloadable MP3’s from www.inspiringbooks.com.)
After You Pray
By the way, never underestimate what can happen in a moment. The Bible says that a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touched Jesus’ robe and was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22). A boy who had been tormented by demons since childhood had them cast out and was healed from that moment (Matthew 17:18). A day will come in the future when a trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and we will be transformed into the image of Christ in a moment, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52, KJV and NIV). Keep trusting Him moment by moment, for in one moment you could see the answers to years of prayer!
Lord, I believe You are answering my prayers even now.
You’re reading TWO WEEKS WITH GOD, by Eric Elder, a 14-day devotional based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!
A 14-day devotional based on the songs from Clear My Mind
by Eric Elder
INTRODUCTION
I believe the music from Clear My Mind will go a long way in helping you to clear your mind. Music has a tremendous power to heal our hearts, soothe our souls, and clear our minds.
But I believe this music can help you in another way too: it can bring you into the very presence of God. And I’ve found that the best way clear my mind is to spend some time with Him. He promises that whenever we have anxious thoughts, we can bring our requests to Him and He will give us a peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).
God knows you better than anyone else. He knows the depths of what you’re going through. He knows where you hurt and how to heal those hurts. There’s nothing more soothing or peaceful than to let Him wrap His arms around you and hold you tight.
If that sounds good to you, I’d like to encourage you to go through this devotional. For the next fourteen days you can focus on Him in a way, perhaps, that you’ve never done before.
By the end of the two weeks, I hope you’ll feel better about yourself, about your situation, and about your relationship with God.
Even more, I hope you’ll finish with a strong desire to come back to God again and again. Because as much as you might look forward to spending time with Him, He is even more eager to spend time with you. That’s why He created you: to fellowship with Him. Always know that He loves you very much.
A 14-day devotional to help you clear your mind and focus on God, based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano album “Clear My Mind“ by Eric Elder
Be inspired as you read about why God sometimes waits to answer your prayers, or where to turn when tragedy strikes, or how to clear your mind and how to find peace with God. Each devotional includes special scriptures pertaining to each topic and thoughtful questions for reflection.
I believe the music from Clear My Mind will go a long way in helping you to clear your mind. Music has a tremendous power to heal our hearts, soothe our souls, and clear our minds.
But I believe this music can help you in another way too: it can bring you into the very presence of God. And I’ve found that the best way clear my mind is to spend some time with Him. He promises that whenever we have anxious thoughts, we can bring our requests to Him and He will give us a peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).
God knows you better than anyone else. He knows the depths of what you’re going through. He knows where you hurt and how to heal those hurts. There’s nothing more soothing or peaceful than to let Him wrap His arms around you and hold you tight.
If that sounds good to you, I’d like to encourage you to go through this devotional. For the next fourteen days you can focus on Him in a way, perhaps, that you’ve never done before.
By the end of the two weeks, I hope you’ll feel better about yourself, about your situation, and about your relationship with God.
Even more, I hope you’ll finish with a strong desire to come back to God again and again. Because as much as you might look forward to spending time with Him, He is even more eager to spend time with you. That’s why He created you: to fellowship with Him. Always know that He loves you very much.
I am sometimes overwhelmed by the apparent slowness with which God answers prayer. I wonder how many deep breaths I’ll have to take before the answers come. And yet, time after time the answers have come, even if they come gradually, moment by moment.
One of the reasons God takes time to answer our prayers is recorded in the book of Exodus. God told Moses that he would bring his people into a remarkable land, but that it was currently occupied by their enemies. God said, “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).
Because of God’s great love for us, He sometimes delays the answers to our prayers so they won’t overwhelm us when they come. As the saying goes, “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it!” Although we might think we could handle the answer, God knows best and we would do well to follow this advice from Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your path straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Don’t be discouraged if God’s answers are slow in coming. God loves you very much. He already sent His Son to die for you. There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you. Jesus tells us that everyone who asks receives, and then He adds these touching words: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him” (Matthew 7:7-11)!
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. The Bible says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8b). Trust Him moment by moment, and soon you’ll see the answers to your prayers.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to renew their trust in You today. I pray that You would show them, even this week, that You are answering their prayers moment by moment. Let them know in their hearts that there’s nothing You wouldn’t do for them, and that if they can trust You with their eternal life, they can trust You for their needs here on earth as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).
Read Romans 8:28. In what things does God work for our good?
Read Ephesians 3:20-21. How much is God able to do for us?
Read John 3:16 and John 15:13. To what length is God willing to go for us?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Moment By Moment. Take a few minutes to bring your requests to God. Allow some time for Him to speak to you, too.
(To listen to the songs when not connected to the Internet, you can order them either on CD or downloadable MP3’s from www.inspiringbooks.com.)
After You Pray
By the way, never underestimate what can happen in a moment. The Bible says that a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years touched Jesus’ robe and was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22). A boy who had been tormented by demons since childhood had them cast out and was healed from that moment (Matthew 17:18). A day will come in the future when a trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and we will be transformed into the image of Christ in a moment, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52, KJV and NIV). Keep trusting Him moment by moment, for in one moment you could see the answers to years of prayer!
Lord, I believe You are answering my prayers even now.
Day 2: You Are The Way
I recorded these songs on a piano that is very special to me: a restored 1910 “Model B” made by STEINWAY & SONS. I mention this in case you’re a piano buff, but also to relate the following story.
One morning as I sat down to play the piano, a ray of light came through the window and illuminated only three letters of the maker’s nameplate above my fingers. Highlighted before me were the letters W-A-Y.
I began to write a song about Jesus, who said He was “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The melody stirred me so much that I played it over and over, singing to Him, “You are the Way, Lord. You are the Way, Lord. You are the Way, Lord. And I will follow, I will follow You.”
Later that same day, without prior notice, I was released from my job! At least I thought it was without prior notice. I soon realized that God had shown me in the morning that He Himself was taking me in a new direction. Even though I couldn’t see the path ahead of me, I knew which way to go: to follow Christ, the Way. Within a week the path became brighter and brighter.
Although we often want Jesus to show us the whole map at once, He does something even better. He promises to take us there Himself. “Follow me,” He said to Peter and Andrew. “Follow me,” He said to Matthew. “Follow me,” He said to Philip.
Each of these men got up immediately and followed Him. They knew enough about Jesus to know that there was really only one way to go. Peter said it best when Jesus asked the twelve disciples one day if they wanted to leave Him. Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
When the path ahead looks dark, we can count on Christ to give us light. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). He alone is the Way.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need direction in their life. I pray that You would go before them and light the path so they can see. I pray that they would stay close to You, and as they do, the path ahead of them would get brighter and brighter. Let them know that You are worthy to follow, for You have the words of eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).
Read John 8:12. What promise does Jesus make to those who follow Him?
Read Proverbs 4:18. What happens to the path of the righteous?
Read John 14:1-6. Where will following Jesus ultimately lead us?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song You Are The Way. Take a few minutes to commit to God that you are willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads you, for He is the Way. Ask Him to light the path ahead of you.
After You Pray
Ultimately, God wants us to follow Jesus not only on earth, but also into heaven. Jesus declared that the only way to come to the Father was through Him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). When we put our faith in Christ, believing that He died in our place for the sins we have committed, we can be assured that God will take us into heaven. Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). There’s only one sure way to get into heaven on judgment day: put your faith in Christ. And when you stand at the gates, Jesus will say, “Let them in…they’re with me.”
Lord, You are the Way. I will follow You.
Day 3: Go Into All The World
There are two things I pray that God would impress on your heart today: 1) that He loves you very much; and 2) that He needs you very much.
First, if you doubt God’s love for you, let me tell you again: “God loves you very much.” These are more than just words; God has shown us it’s true. The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). You are valuable to God. He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to die for you if He didn’t think you were worth saving. He saved you because He loves you.
Second, God saved you because He has a purpose for your life. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). God has a purpose for our lives: He wants us to bear fruit that will last.
Although God could have used some kind of cosmic loudspeakers to tell everyone in the world about Christ, He has chosen to entrust that job to each of us. Listen to Christ’s final words on earth: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). There are people who won’t make it into heaven because no one ever told them about Christ. The Bible says, “‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:13-15).
Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone tell you your feet are beautiful? God saved us because he loved us, and also because He needs us to share that love with others. I want to encourage you today to consider sharing the message of Christ with someone else. Think of the joy of seeing someone in heaven because you told them about Christ. And think of the sorrow of not seeing someone there because you didn’t.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to know today how very much You love them. I pray Your love would overwhelm them, even now. I ask that You would also show them how very much You need them. Lead them to people who need to know about You, then give them the words to speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16).
Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What has God created us to do?
Read John 15:4-6. What do we need to do so that we can produce fruit?
Read Matthew 25:14-30. Do any talents come to mind that God has given you that He might want you to use for His kingdom?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Go Into All The World. Take a few minutes to ask God to reveal His great love to you. Ask Him to bring to mind specific gifts He has given you, and to show you how you can use them to share His love with others.
After You Pray
Our faith can be a very personal thing, but not so personal that others can’t see it. Here’s how Jesus puts it: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). If God has lit your lamp, let it shine.
Lord, show me how I can share Your love with others.
Day 4: Stand On Me
The promises God makes in the Bible are rock solid. We can stand on His promises with as much confidence as we can stand on the strongest rock. When doubts or discouragement come against us, we can stand on His word to carry us through. One hymn writer called this “Standing on the Promises of God” (Russell Carter, 1886).
One day, God asked me to do something that surprised me. It wasn’t ungodly, but it wasn’t what I expected. I wrestled in prayer to find out if He was speaking these words or not. As I often do, I asked God to give me a scripture to back up what He was saying. I asked Him, “Lord, what word can I stand on?” Without hesitation, His answer came back: “My Son, you can stand on Me.”
In the Bible, Christ is called the Word (John 1:14). He is as strong as any rock on which we could stand. Another hymn writer wrote, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand” (Edward Mote, 1834).
As I prayed, God brought to my mind other people in the Bible who had also heard perplexing words from God. I thought of Peter, up on a roof, when God asked him to eat food that Peter thought was impure (Acts 10:15). I thought of Abraham when God asked him to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:2). I thought of Jesus, the night before He died, when He pleaded with God to see if there was any other way (Matthew 26:39).
In each instance, these people submitted their finite wisdom to God’s infinite wisdom. As they did, the miraculous occurred. Through Peter’s obedience, God brought the message of Christ to the Gentiles. Through Abraham’s obedience, God brought forth countless descendants. Through Christ’s obedience, God gave all people victory over death, once and for all.
I knew what I had to do that day. With renewed confidence I took my stand on God’s Word and soon saw His wisdom prevail in my own situation. If you feel like you’re sinking and you need a place to stand, you can always stand on Christ, the Rock, the Living Word.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need a solid place to stand. Let them know they can stand on Your promises today. Prove to them that You are faithful to do what You say You will do. Show them that their obedience to You will make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. We ask all these things in the strong name of Jesus, the Solid Rock. Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Read Matthew 7:24-27. What does a wise person do to build a house that will stand?
Read Isaiah 55:8-11. How do God’s thoughts compare to ours?
Read Matthew 26:36-39. How can we apply Christ’s example to our own prayers?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Stand On Me. Ask God to renew in your heart that His Word is trustworthy. Ask Him to bring to mind a promise that you can stand on today.
After You Pray
If you’re looking for a word from God, look in the Bible. It has over 800,000 of them! King David said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Bible has answers to everyday questions, as well as to eternal ones. If you’ve been away from the Bible and would like to get reacquainted, You might start in the book of John. Read as much as you can each day, and let God speak to you about your life as well. God speaks in various ways, but He has spoken to me through the pages of the Bible more than any other way. Don’t let a day go by without opening this book and asking God to speak to you through it.
Lord, I’m going to stand on Your promises today.
Day 5: Clear My Mind
Many people long for a clear mind. At the heart of this longing is a desire for peace. A true peace that lasts. A peace that doesn’t fade when the bottle is empty, or when the song is over, or when the world closes in. Believe it or not, such a peace does exist. It’s called peace with God, and it’s available to every one of us.
The reason we don’t have peace with God is because of sin. When we do things that we know He doesn’t want us to do, we put a barrier between us and God. Although God is still eager to talk to us, we’re no longer eager to talk to Him. Even when He calls to us, we’d rather turn away, and sometimes we run in fear. But we don’t have to run away, for God has made a way for us to come back to Him and be clean again. That way is through Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all of our sins. When we put our faith in Christ, believing that He has died in our place, God wipes our slate clean. He forgives us so that we can come back to Him with our whole hearts – and with our hearts whole.
God is eager to take us back, like a Father who waits for a lost child to return. Jesus describes our reunion with God like that of a Father whose son ran off and squandered all of his inheritance. When the son returned, ashamed of what he had done, “his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Then the Father said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:20, 23-24).
If you’d like this peace, you can have it today by praying a prayer to God. You can let God wrap His arms around you and welcome you back. And even more, when you put your faith in Christ, you will be able to enter heaven and spend eternity with God (1 John 5:13).
When you make peace with God, He clears your name. He separates you from your sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In fact, He doesn’t even remember them (Hebrews 8:12)! And once you know your name is clear, your mind is sure to follow.
Let Me Pray For You
Note: If you’ve never been at peace with God because of your sins, you can have it today by coming to Him in prayer. Like a father welcoming back his lost son, God will wrap His arms around you and welcome you back, too. And even more, when you put your faith in Christ, you will be able to enter heaven and spend eternity with God . If you would like this peace right now, pray this prayer with me.
“Dear God, I’m sorry for the sins I’ve committed against You and against others. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me so I wouldn’t have to. I ask for your forgiveness. I ask that Jesus Christ would be Lord of my life. And I ask that You would fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can follow You with my whole heart. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Take Time in His Word
“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38).
Read 1 Peter 3:18a. For what purpose did Christ die for our sins?
Read Romans 5:1. Through whom can we have peace with God?
Read 1 John 5:13. Of what can we be assured when we believe in the name of the Son of God?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Clear My Mind. Ask God to clear your mind and to bring you His peace.
After You Pray
Although peace with God is everlasting, there are times when it comes under attack. Sometimes Satan tries to fill our mind with his lies. Sometimes we have trouble forgiving ourselves. Sometimes the sins of others deeply impact us. Regardless of the cause, the solution is always the same: come to Christ again and again. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Come to Christ anytime you need His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).
Lord, You’ve cleared my name. Now, Lord, please clear my mind.
Day 6: A Grand Man
For Father’s Day one year I wrote a tribute to my dad. As I recalled various memories of him over the years, I realized what an impact he has had on my life. I wrote this song to go with the tribute to let him know that even though my kids call him Grandpa Bob, he’s more than a grandpa. He’s a Grand Man.
We all, like Jesus, had an earthly father who raised us. But we all, like Jesus, have a heavenly Father as well. The difference between the two can be, at times, like night and day. As a father to my own children, I am fully aware that no father on earth is perfect! But our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Many people, whether they recognize it or not, often view God in the same way they view their earthly father. While sometimes this image we have of God is good, other times it is distorted, and sometimes it is flat-out wrong.
I’d like to encourage you to get to know the God of the Bible, a Father who is good to all and has compassion on all He has made. The Bible says that God is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalm 145:8-9). Does that sound like a dad you’d like to get to know better?
At the same time, the God of the Bible disciplines us because of His great love for us. “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). Would you like a dad who disciplines you for your own good, and trains you in ways that will bring you peace?
That is the kind of Father we have in heaven. He’s the same Father that Jesus called on every time He went to pray. Jesus says that we are His brothers, and that His Father is our Father (Matthew 28:10-12, John 20:17). If you need a fresh view of your heavenly Father, I’d like to encourage you to come to Him in the pages of the Bible. Take a look at the ways God was a good Father to Christ. In the same way, He’ll be a good Father to you, too.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to know You as their Father. I pray You would show them what You are like, and that You would correct any wrong thinking they may have about You. And Lord, as they come to see You as You are, I pray they would be filled with the confidence and joy that comes from knowing they are Your child. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Read Matthew 7:9-11. How does God compare to earthly fathers in this passage?
Read Hebrews 12:5-11. How does God compare to earthly fathers in this passage?
Read John 5:19. Why was it important for Jesus to know His Father well?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song A Grand Man. Take a minute to thank God for being your Father. Ask Him to make right any of the wrong thoughts you might have about Him as your Father.
After You Pray
God calls us to “‘Honor your father and your mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth’” (Ephesians 6:2-3). When I wrote a tribute to my dad, it was a great blessing to me as well as to him. I found that the Bible was true when it said that honoring our father and mother is the first commandment with a promise. Honoring our parents is good for them – and good for us. If your parents are still alive, you may want to ask God if there’s something you can do to honor them. Then watch the blessings of God pour out on each of you.
Lord, thank You for loving me as a Father.
Day 7: A Day To Explore
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the first week of this devotional! I’d like you to take today to explore the Bible on your own.
Since the day I gave my life to Christ, hardly a day has gone by that I haven’t opened my Bible to see what God might have to say to me. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve read it; God always has something new and fresh to say.
That’s because the Bible is not like any other book in the world. The book of Hebrews says, “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Some days the words seem to jump off the pages as God speaks to me.
It is the best love letter ever written. You could open to any page and you’d see how great God’s love is for you. And like all good love letters, this one is worth reading over and over and over again.
So go ahead and explore it today on your own. If your Bible has an index or concordance in the back, look up a topic that’s on your mind and see what God has to say about it. Or try reading all the way through one of the shorter books in the Bible in one sitting, like Ephesians or First John.
Whether you’re new to the Bible, or you’ve read it many times, know that God can speak to you every time you open its pages and every time you open your heart to Him.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I thank You for telling us so much about You on the pages of the Bible. I thank You that the words are living and active, and that they can speak so personally to each of our hearts. Lord, pour out Your wisdom on those who read Your Word today. And as they get to know You better through these pages, I pray they would want to return to You again tomorrow, and the next day, and every day, for the rest of their lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 8: I Declare
One reason the Bible helps so many people is that it tells real stories about real people who have been touched by a very real God. When we read how God worked in the lives of Moses, David, Paul, Esther, Ruth, and countless others, we see how God can work in our lives, too.
In the same way, people can learn from our lives as well. The Bible says, “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).
I wrote this song after my own struggle about whether or not to share with others my own testimony of what God has done in my life. Although I am still self-conscious at times, I have seen God use my testimony for His glory far too often to ever want to hold back if God prompts me to share.
I’d like to encourage you to share your testimony with others, too. Although sharing it may be uncomfortable, you can know that if God is prompting you, He has a purpose for it. There are many hurting people going through the very same things that you’ve already been through. They need a glimmer of hope that God can work in their lives, too.
The woman at the well didn’t have a particularly flattering background, but after she met Jesus, she went back to her town to tell them what He had done for her. The Bible says, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony…” (John 4:39). The apostle John recorded what Christ had done in his life and the lives of others, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).
Peter and John were so excited to tell about Christ, they couldn’t keep quiet even when threatened with imprisonment. “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
The words of our testimony are like gold to God. When we share them, they can be like gold to others, too.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those whom You have touched, that they would be willing to share with others what You have done for them. Lord, I pray that You would show them, even this week, how their testimony could affect someone else’s life. I pray that when they’re ready, Your Holy Spirit would lead them in exactly what to say and when to say it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3).
Read Acts 26:1-29. Why was Paul so willing to be honest about what God had done for him?
Read Revelation 12:10-11. What kind of power does the word of our testimony have?
Read Mark 5:18-20. What response did the people have when the man who had been demon-possessed told them what Christ had done for him?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song I Declare(please note that the song numbers on the CD for this week are not the same as the “Day” numbers of the devotional). Thank God for what He’s done in your life. Ask God to put people in your life who might need to hear about what He’s done for you.
After You Pray
Every week I receive letters from people on the Internet who have read my testimony and the testimonies of others on our web site called The Ranch (www.theranch.org). They often simply need someone to talk to who has struggled with their same struggles. They are looking for hope. When they find a Christian who can point them to God’s solution to their problems, they are thrilled, healed and thankful beyond words. If God has helped you through a struggle in your life, would you be willing to share it on the Internet so others could find hope, too? If so, send me your testimony and watch God work through your words.
Lord, help me to share with others what You’ve done in my life.
Day 9: Trust Me
This is the first song I ever wrote. I had been asking God what He wanted me to do that day. I was surprised when I thought He said, “Write a song.”
Having never written one before, I wasn’t exactly sure what to do! I had played the piano most of my life, but I had only played songs that were written down by others. This time God wanted me to write a new song. The Bible says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3).
On my heart that day was a friend who needed to put his trust in the Lord. He was about to make a decision to leave his wife, but I had pleaded with him that there was another way, the way of Christ.
I had seen God breathe life back into several other marriages as I spoke to them from God’s Word, so I knew the words I was speaking to him were trustworthy. Even though he didn’t know Christ for himself, I prayed that he would at least trust the words I was speaking to him, for I trust in Christ.
Unfortunately, he chose not to trust Christ nor me. He left his wife, and he left a trail of destruction behind him. But I haven’t stopped praying for him, because I know that God answers prayer. Jesus told His disciples that they should “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
A man named George Mueller prayed for many people during his lifetime who gave their hearts to Christ. His journal records that at the time of his death, there were still three people for whom he had prayed daily, but had not yet accepted Christ. But, on the day of George’s funeral, one of them accepted Christ, and the other two did the same shortly thereafter.
We may not always see how God ties up the loose ends of our hopes and prayers for people. But I believe there was a reason that Jesus told his disciples that they should always pray and not give up. One day we’ll see why.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need encouragement to always pray and not give up. Lord, help them to trust that you do indeed have a plan, and that their prayers are not in vain. Lord, give them favor with those they speak to about You, and let the words they speak come out as if they came straight from You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
Read Luke 18:1-8. What encouragement can you take from this parable?
Read Luke 15:4-10. What happens in heaven when someone who was lost is found?
Read James 5:20. What benefits can come from our influence on others?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Trust Me. Pray for someone who needs to know Christ.
After You Pray
God’s Word has power not only when we read it, but also when we speak it. The Bible says, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). When we carefully pray about what to say to others, and then ensure that what we say lines up with God’s Word, God can use our words powerfully. In one instance, I talked to a man who was separated from his wife. His family and friends told him to divorce her, and he was on the verge of doing just that. When I spoke to him from the Bible, he said, “You’re the first person who has told me the Truth!” Within a few months he and his wife were back together again. Your words may be the only the Bible some people will ever hear.
Lord, I am going to pray and not give up.
Day 10: Lord, I Pray
I wrote this song as a lullaby for our children, but it has become a prayer of blessing for our whole family.
I established our nightly prayer routine before I was married. I had heard someone say that he made a commitment to pray with his wife every night before they went to sleep. That way, each of them had received a prayer of blessing every day. I liked the idea so much I began that same week to pray daily with my roommate.
When I got married, I continued those nightly prayers with my wife. Now that we have children, we do the same for each of them at bedtime, placing our hands on their heads and asking God to bless their lives. I believe that our prayers, our verbal blessing, and our physical touch can make a difference.
If you have someone in your life for which you’d like to pray each day, I urge you to consider starting that habit today. Our prayer times with each other can be quiet moments of intimacy in otherwise hectic days.
Some of you may not be in a place where you can pray for someone each day in person. But I can assure you that there is someone who is praying for you. The Bible says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
By the way, if you have children and want to try singing this song as a prayer over them, here are the words. It simply goes, “Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children. Lord, I pray for my children.” The next time through, replace the word ‘children’ with the name of each person in your family. By praying for our children, we can pass onto them the blessings of God, just as Isaac passed them onto his son Jacob, who passed them onto his son Joseph (Genesis 27:25, 48:15).
As you listen to this song, you may also hear a familiar melody in the background. It’s a simple reminder of God’s great love for us.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I thank You for always interceding on our behalf. I pray for those who want to pass on the blessings they’ve received from You to their families. I ask that You would give them the insight and wisdom to know how to do this in a way that’s meaningful to them and honoring to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).
Read Mark 10:13-16. How did Jesus bless the children who were brought to Him?
Read Genesis 48:9-20. How did Israel bless his grandchildren?
Read Proverbs 22:6. How can our influence on our children affect them when they are older?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Lord, I Pray. Pray, by name, for those you love. Also remember to thank God that Christ is praying for you.
After You Pray
In many of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, he prays for the people to whom he wrote and ministered. And at the end of his letters, he would often ask for those people to pray for him as well. If God has blessed you through this ministry, could I ask you to pray for us as well? Here are a few of the prayers Paul asked people to pray on his behalf: “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:3-4). We know your prayers are heard and answered and we appreciate the time you spend in prayer for us.
Lord, I pray for those I love.
Day 11: My Lana
One day I read a verse in the Bible that said, “May He give you the desire of your heart…” (Psalm 20:4). Immediately, I knew what my desire was: to marry Lana.
As odd as it seems to me now, this wasn’t always my desire. I had dated Lana in college, and we loved each other enough, but I wasn’t ready to consider marriage. We moved to different cities and eventually stopped dating.
We still talked from time to time and one day she told me she wasn’t really happy in her job. I said I’d pray for her that week. As I prayed, I also sensed that it wasn’t her job so much as the fact that God really wanted her to have a husband. So I began to pray that God would send her a husband.
You know the rest! Over the next three months, God put in my heart a love for her like I’ve never known for anyone else, before or since. I didn’t even tell her what was happening to me! At the end of three months of praying, the desire in my heart was so strong that I called her to tell her about it. It turns out that when I called, she had just decided to quit her job, but wasn’t sure what to do next. I told her I had an idea!
It was then that I read the verse from Psalm 20. I pleaded with God that He would have her say “Yes!” for she was the desire of my heart. Looking back, I realized that God not only gave me the desire of my heart, but He was the One who put that desire in my heart in the first place.
I’ve heard this described like a dad who buys his son a blue bicycle for Christmas then hides it in the garage. The dad then spends the next few months showing his son blue bicycles in the stores. By the time the son asks for a blue bicycle for Christmas, the dad is happy to oblige!
I want to encourage you to ask God to fill your heart with His desires so that they may become your desires as well. The Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who have been calling out to You for the desires of their hearts. I pray You would put Your desires in their hearts so that their thoughts and prayers will line up with Yours. God, I ask, too, that You would strengthen those who have been waiting for a long time for You to answer their prayers. Let them know that Your promises are true and that You will indeed give them the desires of their hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4).
Read Psalm 37:1-9. What does God want us to do while we wait for the desires of our heart?
Read Luke 22:42-43. Who came to strengthen Jesus when He submitted His will to God’s?
Read Isaiah 40:29-31. What will God do for those who hope in Him?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song My Lana. Ask Him to fill your heart with His desires.
After You Pray
If God doesn’t give you what you ask for, I believe He has something better in mind. Back in college, Lana sensed that one day we would get married. When we broke up, she was surprised, but felt that if I wasn’t the one, God must have someone better in mind for her. During our time apart, I committed my life to Christ. When we got back together, guess what? She got someone better than the Eric she knew! If God would give up His Son for you, you can be sure He wouldn’t withhold anything from you unless He had something better in mind. Continue to trust Him. This is one Father who really does know best.
Lord, I pray You would fill my heart with Your desires.
Day 12: Blessed Are You
I have sometimes wondered if God has a unique purpose for my life, a special role for me to play in His world. Last Christmas I saw the answer in the pages of the Bible as I read about Mary when she was chosen to give birth to Jesus.
In God’s great plan for the world, He needed a woman to carry His son in her womb. He chose Mary. Her cousin Elizabeth heard the news and exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear” (Luke 1:42)! She was blessed! She had a unique role to fill in God’s plan, that of giving birth to the long-awaited Savior.
I began to think about people in the Bible who were called by God for other purposes. Even though God is all-powerful, He has chosen to work through us as His fellow-workers (1 Corinthians 3:6-9).
God needed Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). He needed Paul to share Christ with the Gentiles (Acts 13:46). He needed Esther to marry a king to save the Jews (Esther 4:14). He needed Elijah to speak prophetic words to influence the course of history. Yet listen to what the Bible says about Elijah: “Elijah was a man just like us” (James 5:17).
All the people in the Bible were men and women just like us. And God has created each of us for a unique purpose as well. We really are special! Hallelujah! We’re not cookie-cutter men and women made out of gingerbread. Our fingerprints are unique, our voices are unique, our eyes are unique. And God’s plans for us are unique.
Paul reminds us that we all have a role to play, just like a body needs various parts to function well. Some of us are eyes, some are ears, and some are hands or feet. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
I believe God would say to each one of us, “Blessed are you!” “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let God’s unique plans for you sink deep into your soul.
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who wonder if they have a special role to play in Your plan. I pray You would let them know that You do, and that You would show them what that role is. I pray You would also fully equip them to carry out the plans You have for them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear’” (Luke 1:42)!
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Do the parts of the body have unique roles to play?
Read Romans 12:6-8. What are we to do with the gifts God has given us?
Read Esther 4:13-14. Could God have put you into your present position for a unique purpose?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song Blessed Are You. Ask God to show you how special you are to Him, and to show you your unique role in His plan.
After You Pray
I also believe that God will give us a sense of fulfillment in our unique calling in a way that we won’t envy the calling of others. Mary was obviously overjoyed to carry the Son of God in her womb, but I don’t think most women would want to trade places with her. There were special demands on her life because of her calling: everything from riding a donkey in her ninth month of pregnancy to watching her son’s execution on a cross. God not only called her for that role, but He equipped her uniquely for that role – just like God is calling you and equipping you for yours.
Lord, I believe that You have a unique purpose for my life!
Day 13: I’ve Seen The Sun
Not long ago, our family went through a time of transition. While we knew we were following Christ, we were definitely walking by faith and not by sight. All we could see was Christ leading us forward.
Then one morning, I saw the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. It was actually the sun shining through the window as I read my Bible. As the sun lit up the room, I felt God was telling me that a new day was coming; a day when we would clearly see just where He had brought us.
I began to write a song, “I’ve Seen the Sun! I’ve Seen the Sun!” And as I sang, I realized why I was so excited. It wasn’t just the fact that the light had broken through. It was the fact that I could now begin to see with my eyes what I had believed in my heart. My sight had finally caught up to my faith.
As I praised God with this song, I raised my voice higher and higher and out came a new refrain: “I’VE SEEN THE SON! I KNOW HIS NAME! HE DIED FOR ME! AND THEN HE ROSE AGAIN! I’VE SEEN THE SON!”
There will be a day when we will see Jesus face to face! (1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2). On that day we’ll be able to see with our eyes what we have believed in our hearts for so long. We’ll be able to say, “He is real. He is alive. He really does care about us. He really did come back for us so we could be with Him forever.”
John says that we can know that we have eternal life if we believe in Christ: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). Faith is no obscure adventure. It is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
One day our faith and our sight will be the very same thing. What an awesome day that will be! Until then, hold onto your faith – it’s worth far more than gold (1 Peter 1:7).
Let Me Pray for You
Lord, I pray for those who need to renew their faith in You today. I pray You would implant a seed of faith deep in their heart so they will never waver again. I pray they would know that You are real, You are alive, and that You really will come back again for them so they can be with You forever! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take Time in His Word
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).
Read 2 Corinthians 4:18. On what should we fix our eyes?
Read 1 Peter 1:7-9. What is the goal of our faith?
Read 1 John 3:2. Although we don’t know everything about the future, what do we know?
Take Time in Prayer
Listen to the song I’ve Seen The Sun. Ask God to renew your faith. Let Him know you believe that one day you’ll see the Son, too!
After You Pray
Just as the sun in the sky is constant and unchanging from day to day, so is the Son of God. He’s always there, whether you see Him or not, whether it’s cold or hot. It doesn’t matter how many clouds may darken the sky. That doesn’t change the fact that the sun is still there. If the sun weren’t there, you can be sure we’d be flung out of orbit and die instantly. In the same way, Jesus is always there, always strong, always steady, always holding us tight – whether we see Him or not. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Lord, I look forward to the day when I will see You face to face!
Day 14: Just The Beginning
I hope you’ve enjoyed these two weeks with God. I’m sure He’s enjoyed these two weeks with you.
Although today is the last day of this devotional, it’s just the beginning of your time with God. In fact, this whole life is just the beginning of your time with God. The last line of Amazing Grace says it well: “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun” (John Newton, 1725-1807).
These past two weeks were to whet your appetite for more of what God has in store for you. He has so much He wants to do in and through your life that you won’t want to miss a day with Him from now on. As Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Stay close to the vine every day. Draw your life from His life, your strength from His strength. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit from head to toe until you overflow. Don’t let a day go by without coming to Him – for His wisdom, for His comfort, for His strength and for His love.
The best way I’ve found to stay close to God is to stay in the Bible. Go ahead and read the whole thing from cover to cover – then read it again and again and again. There’s not a better Book in the world you could spend your time reading. And God promises that when we seek Him, we will find Him, even though He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27, Proverbs 8:17).
Let me close our time in prayer.
Lord, I pray that You would bless those who have spent these two weeks with You. I pray that You would draw them to want to spend time with You each day from now on. I pray that You would continue to speak to them and show them the plans You have for their lives. And finally, Lord, I pray that You would fill them with Your peace, Your love, and Your unending joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
There’s More!
If you like this music and devotional, I’d also like to invite you to join me at The Ranch at www.theranch.org. It’s a spiritual retreat center on the Internet where you can unwind and spend some more time with God. Join me anytime you need a boost in your faith, and invite your friends, too!
About the Author
Described by USA Today as “a new breed of evangelist,” Eric Elder is an ordained pastor, a contemporary pianist, and the creator of The Ranch, a faith-boosting website that attracts thousands of visitors each month at TheRanch.org.
Eric is also an inspirational writer, speaker and performer, having written about God for publications like Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, and having played piano at national conferences like the International Freedom Conference.
By combining the his love for God and his love for the piano into this heartfelt CD and Devotional, Eric has been able to touch the hearts and minds of many. Musicians and non-musicians alike will appreciate his simple, yet rich compositions, and Christians and non-Christians alike will appreciate his practical insights into the issues we all face.
To listen to, download or order more inspiring resources, please visit: inspiringbooks.com
A 14-day devotional to help you clear your mind and focus on God, based on the songs from Eric Elder’s piano CD, Clear My Mind.
Be inspired as you read about why God sometimes waits to answer your prayers, or where to turn when tragedy strikes, or how to clear your mind and how to find peace with God. Each devotional includes special scriptures pertaining to each topic and thoughtful questions for reflection. 65 pages.
About our new CD and Devotional: Clear My Mind and Two Weeks With God.
A new CD, Clear My Mind
God’s Gift of Music
One of God’s greatest gifts to us is one that we can’t touch or see, but one that we can definitely feel. It’s the gift of music.
Scientists can explain how music is produced, how sound waves vibrate and travel through the air, allowing the small bones in our ears to pick up the sound.
But only God can explain how music somehow goes straight to our hearts, touching our emotions, causing us to want to dance, or shout, or cry. That’s why I think it’s such a gift from God. And one I often take for granted.
But over the past few years, God has been showing me how He touches people through music.
A powerful example from the Bible comes from the life of King Saul who was tormented by an evil spirit. But whenever a young boy named David took out his harp to play, the evil spirit fled and relief came to the king (First Samuel 16:23).
Music is mentioned throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. It is often used as a way for people to express their hearts to God, and for God to express His heart to people. Music is so central to religious life that right in the middle of the Bible are the Psalms – 150 songs written by people like David and Solomon and Moses, each pouring out their hearts to God through music.
Clearing Your Mind
A few years ago I began to write my own music on the piano, expressing to God what I felt in my heart. As I did, I experienced what David must have felt when he played the harp. The sounds really soothed my soul. They healed my heart. They cleared my mind.
And I found that when I played this music for others, it had a similar effect on them. God has been showing me that He gives us gifts not only for our own benefit, but also for the benefit of others.
So with the encouragement and support of a number of friends, I’ve recently finished a CD of instrumental piano music called Clear My Mind.
I’ve put the songs on our web site for people who need to clear their minds so they can hear from God. I’ve already been encouraged to hear from people who say that God is touching them through the music.
A man struggling with depression said,
“The CD has become a great means of soothing my soul.”
A woman who had just been through a personal trauma said,
“God was speaking to me through the music” (even though it’s only instrumental!)
And one of my good friends, in a touching burst of honesty said,
“Actually, I didn’t think I’d like the music; but I like it so much, if I heard it in a store, I’d buy it!”
A New Devotional
To go with the CD, I’ve written a fourteen-day devotional based on the songs. It’s called Two Weeks with God.
I believe the devotional will encourage people to get closer to God, whether they’ve been Christians for years or whether they’re just starting to explore their faith. And for the non-Christian, I’ve included a very clear explanation of the gospel along with an invitation to put their faith in Christ.
This project has allowed me to use the three main gifts that God has given me for this ministry – to preach, to pray and to play the piano. I’m excited that we are able to package it in a non-threatening way that will make it accessible to many people.
If you’d be interested in getting a copy of the music and devotional for yourself or your friends, just drop us a note on the enclosed reply form. This is also a great way to help us with our ministry so we can share the message of Christ with more people.
Answered Prayers
Thanks, too, for praying for us that our message and ministry could be brought to people who need to hear from God. I’ve had a chance to speak at several events the past few months – most recently at the community-wide Good Friday service here in Streator. At the end of the service, a number of people made decisions for Christ for the first time in their lives. And still more were visibly moved to tears as the Holy Spirit touched them during the service.
I was especially encouraged as I was preaching when I saw in the audience a woman who had put her faith in Christ several months ago at another event where I spoke. And now, not only she, but also her whole family is attending church together for the first time in years. As I saw her I was thankful that God does indeed cause the seeds we plant to grow.
On the Internet, I continue to be amazed at how God uses this technology to reach out to people around the world.
Just last night I prayed for a man from Japan who had struggled privately with a sin for many years. As he confessed it to me and we prayed for God’s forgiveness, he said,
“Thank you Eric for that touching prayer. I really felt God’s power. I really felt His love. Thank you for this historic day. It has really helped me and touched my heart.”
A pastor from the East Coast has written several times about some of his personal struggles. One day I called him on the phone to see how he was doing. Later, he wrote and said,
“Thank you so much for the call. Little did you know that I was in a downward spin and my thoughts were heading for a bottle of sleeping pills. The timing was perfect. If you had not called I do not know what I might have done.”
I’m fully aware of some of the evils of the Internet, but I’m thankful that God has been using it so powerfully to reach out to people who need His touch in their lives.
In fact, later this month, I will be attending a three-day conference called the 1999 Internet Evangelism Conference, sponsored by Wheaton College and the Billy Graham Institute for Evangelism. They expect 400-500 people to attend who either minister or want to minister on the Internet. I look forward to meeting with others who have a similar vision to use this technology to reach people around the world with the message of Christ.
Please Pray With Us
Thank you Lord,
for redeeming all things for Your glory,
for changing people’s lives through the power of Your Spirit,
and for letting us use our gifts to minister to others.
And Lord, we now ask:
for this CD and devotional to get into the hands of people who need Your touch,
for more opportunities to present Your life-changing, life-saving power to others,
and for more people to find their way to The Ranch so they can find their way to You.
Every week I receive letters from people who struggle with some aspect of their faith.
We exchange emails about some very personal subjects, often about things that they have never shared with anyone else.
As I pray for them and share God’s promises from the Bible, I get to watch their thoughts and hearts transform before my eyes.
Because of your prayers and support for our ministry, I wanted to give you a small sampling of the 150 or so letters I’ve received in the past six months. Because of the confidential nature of the letters, I have taken care not to include too many details that might reveal the writer’s identity, but enough to show the transforming power of God. I hope these touch your heart like they’ve touched mine.
Letters
A man from Canada wrote and asked for urgent prayer because of a difficult time he was going through in his life. I called him on the phone and we talked and prayed for about an hour. He was so filled with the peace of God by the end of our conversation that he was quite overcome by the unusual sensation. He wrote a week later to say,
“Thank you again for calling me the other day. It has been best week of my life in over two years since my separation. I have never felt such a peace of mind. Also I have been sober from adultery. What a wonderful feeling of God’s Holy Spirit. Thanks.”
A man from South Africa wrote after watching one of my Internet broadcasts called, “Having Trouble Believing?” He said,
“I would like to thank you for being obedient to our Lord and Saviour in having such a powerful message on such a versatile and accessible medium as the Internet. Your message has come at such a crucial time for me. I now know that God will reveal all He has planned for me in His Time. I feel that I need to study my Bible more and pray much more than I currently do. God bless you and the important role you play in encouraging others to either get to know God or to renew and strengthen their walk with God.
“Your site has an appeal that I think transcends many barriers people associate with some traditional Christian sites. The appeal of your site for me is that you speak to the whole person and at the same time place God in perspective in a non-threatening way. I’ll be sharing your web address with fellow Christians every opportunity I get.”
A woman from here in the States wrote to me after spending some time on “the trails” at The Ranch. These are virtual trails I’ve set up so people can take time to read scriptures about specific topics and let God speak to their hearts. Afterwards, she wrote,
“I just wanted to write you and let you know how much I enjoy the trails at The Ranch. I met Jesus ten years ago, but struggled all ten years because of the way I grew up – much abuse in every way. I don’t know why I never fully trusted Christ before, but the other night I was surfing around and came to the trails. I first wanted to write you and your wife for help, or explain what a failure of a Christian I was, but GOD stopped me and said, “Talk to me.” I did. I poured my heart out to him instead of to another human person who could only point me to him. I have been set free from fear and much more. Thank you for the trails. I know God used it to do what has occurred. Thank you. Free in him…”
A woman from Canada, with whom I’ve corresponded for some time regarding spiritual matters, wrote:
“Eric, I want to get to know Christ even better. I am not sure how to go about doing this, but I’m trying. Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know that only recently did I discover your other website “The Ranch.” What I appreciate about the site is that I feel that the messages are truly shared with me! Please keep up the good work because your ministry certainly helped open my eyes even wider to God’s message.”
Another man from here in the States asked if I would be his accountability partner regarding a specific sin in his life. For three months I wrote to him each week to check on his progress. By the end of three months he wrote,
“I wanted to thank you for all of the help that you have given me this year. 1998 has been a year of tremendous struggle and phenomenal growth for me spiritually. I feel that I have learned what the concept of “freedom in Christ” means to its fullest extent. I thank God for putting you on my path in order to help me out. I pray that you and your ministry will continue to grow and prosper: ‘Father God, thank you for Eric and his Internet ministry. Thank you because through Eric, You are there when I most need You. Please continue to bless Eric and his family so that they may continue the all-important task of bringing your Word to the people who most need it. Thank you Father in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.’”
A few weeks ago I received a brief note titled, “Help!” After exchanging a few notes of introduction, the man confessed to me something he’s never told anyone in his life:
“Wow, this is probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’ve told God, who is probably the most important one to tell, but you are the first person ever. Pressing the send button is going to be a big step!!”
After we exchanged several more prayers and words of encouragement he wrote, “I cannot believe how amazing it is how bringing this whole deal out into the open has been. Your e-mail address was sitting on my computer, written on a scrap piece of paper – an old receipt I think – for over three weeks. Pressing that send button was one of the best things I ever did.
“To know you are praying is…well…
I’m not alone in this anymore. Hopefully I won’t be in it all at soon. I suppose what I appreciate from you, Eric, is a friend who can say, ‘I know it’s hard, keep going.’ I feel the strength of yours and Lana’s prayers. Just to know that this issue is being specifically prayed for. Sometimes I don’t know what to pray. That’s when the words that you’ve written in prayer minister to me, as I know that God answers the prayers of his saints asked in the name of His Son. You are helping me no end.”
To balance these gracious comments, I do, on rare occasions, get letters like this one:
“I have just seen your website, and I am truly disgusted by the level of stupidity being peddled here.”
After venting his anger and denouncing Christianity, he signed off with these words:
“A happy, intelligent and well balanced GAY ATHEIST. P.S. – There is NO GOD – trust me, I’m always right.”
We Need You
It’s no understatement to say this wouldn’t be possible without you. Your prayers and support have sustained us and freed us to do this work and see fruit like this every week.
The fact is we still need you! We especially need people who will consider making regular monthly donations to this ministry. Perhaps you would want to mention our work to your church or missions committee to see if they would be interested in supporting this outreach. In addition, we’ve been using a borrowed computer for the main web site and will soon need to purchase our own (about $6,000). If God moves on your heart in one of these ways, please let us know soon.
Please Pray With Us
Thank you Lord,
for touching people around the world through this technology,
for bearing fruit in the lives of those who write for help,
and for sustaining this work each month.
And Lord, we now ask:
for continued support to go forward,
for the fruit to increase as this ministry increases,
and for more people to find their way to The Ranch so they can find their way to you.
