Stormwall Devotional @StormwallDevo

The Demand for Miracles Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet … —Matthew 12:38-39 Nothing represents immaturity in the Christian faith more than the demand for miracles. Yes, God still performs miracles, and yes, we absolutely should seek for the miraculous in our lives. God wants us to live in the supernatural, and to experience the fulness of His power and love. Jesus “went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38), demonstrating the perfect will of the Father. Paul operated “in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” knowing that the Gospel would be rendered impotent and unattractive if it were only “persuasive words of wisdom,” or philosophical principles for a good life (I Cor. 2:4-5). But what is unhealthy is to place our faith in miracles, rather than in God. We are called to trust in God, and to wait patiently for His deliverance. We welcome miracles, but we do not demand them as a condition of our love or trust in God. We don’t follow signs and wonders, we follow the Spirit, who most often is speaking to us in a quiet whisper, not in an enthusiastic crowd seeking “signs and wonders.” Jesus had publicly performed many miracles, but it wasn’t enough for the Pharisees. They wanted something that would match their expectations for what the Messiah looked like. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the beast, so was Jesus interred in the earth before his resurrection. This was not the sign the Pharisees were looking for or wanted to see, and they refused to believe. The Hebrews had seen God’s deliverance from Egypt and miracles at the Red Sea, yet still they refused to trust and obey the Lord. In recounting Israel’s experience in the wilderness, Asaph writes, “They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” (Ps. 78:18-19 ESV). There are times in life when a miracle is required, and should be sought after. God invites us to call upon Him for supernatural deliverances. But be careful that you don’t demand of God that He do something in a certain way according to your preconceived expectations. He is God, and you are human. In the same vein, don’t miss the miracle by refusing to see or accept it when it comes in a way you didn’t expect. “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Is. 30:15). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/22yaI

The Real Peace And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Phil. 4:7 It is no challenge to be at peace when all is going well. When circumstances are benign, when conditions are favorable and a springtime sun shines down, anyone can be free from anxiety. But try to find peace when a job is lost, when bank accounts dwindle, and when bills remain overdue and unpaid. Or while waiting for a medical report when sickness is present, and the pain is unrelenting in its constant reminder of dis-ease. Or when someone close turns away in bitterness, anger, and resentment. Or when a family member choses darkness and despair rather than coming into the light. Or when reputations and lives are attacked by false accusations and lies. Those are serious challenges, but even trivial matters can rob us of peace. Anxiety feeds upon itself and grows. It demands our constant attention. When we allow it, our thoughts become obsessed with the object of dread. This only empowers it further. We lose sight of God and of His power. All we behold are circumstances that have now grown larger than life, distorting our vision of all else. The peace of the world is fleeting. It demands that we control and change the circumstances before it is delivered. The peace that Jesus offers is not like this. The peace of Christ, which “surpasses all understanding,” is invariable. It is not based on circumstances, on whether things are going well or poorly. It can be found in the prison cell or hospital bed as readily as it can in mansions or celebrations. The secret to discovering the peace of Jesus is to train the eyes of our heart to constantly look at Him. This is a discipline borne of practice and facilitated by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter was able to walk on water only when his eyes were fixed on Jesus. As soon as he lost focus on Him, and he saw his circumstances with natural eyes, the waves overwhelmed him, and he began to sink. Nonetheless, Jesus reached out and rescued him (Mt. 14:22-33). The immature Christian prays to be delivered from his circumstances. The mature Christian prays to see the beauty of Jesus and the power of God revealed through them. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you His peace, which never fades away. Jesus has promised us this: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (Jn. 14:27). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/713RL

Your Enemies Are Your Bread “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our bread. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” —Numbers 14:9 Joshua and Caleb had seen the promised land with their own eyes. They knew firsthand that it was beautiful and richly abundant, with all manner of resources and produce. They also knew that God was giving the territory and its bounty as an inheritance and home for the people of Israel. But the land was filled with the enemies of God’s people, including the fearsome Anak—giants descended from the Nephilim. When the people of Israel heard this, they trembled with fear; they “lifted up their voices … and wept all night.” They grumbled against the men God had appointed to lead them: Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, threatening to stone them. The people refused to believe God and His promises, and rebelled against Him and His anointed ones. What the congregation of Israel did not understand, but which Joshua and Caleb perceived, was that God was going to use these enemies to strengthen and encourage His people, and to prove Himself holy in their midst once again. God had told them as much, but the people refused to listen or believe. God could as easily have wiped out the Canaanites through plague or famine. But He wanted His people to fight and to win in the name of the Lord. They were to go to war in the courage and confidence of knowing that God was with them, and would fight with them against their enemies (cf. Deut. 1:21,29). Joshua and Caleb had the courage to believe God, and, eventually, this courage would be contagious amongst the people of Israel. King David also understood that his enemies were to be his prey. He says of God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” (Ps. 23:5). David’s battles were difficult, but they made Him stronger. He struggled and he suffered, yet he endured and prevailed in conflict after conflict. And most importantly, these taught him to trust in God for deliverance and victory. God intentionally brings us into conflict with our enemies. They see a feast of our souls and lives, and try to steal, kill and destroy what is dear to us (Jn. 10:10). Just like Haman, whom we read in the book of Esther tried to kill the righteous Mordecai and the people of God, the wicked do not realize that they are the ones being fattened for the slaughter; that God will make a meal of them on our behalf. We are called to combat, not entreat with, our spiritual enemies. There is no need to seek out the conflict; God will bring it to us. Once engaged, there is no point in trying to fight within our own power. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). God will protect and defend us for the honor of His name, and we will grow rich in faith and character through the process. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/3CP5m

Keep Moving Forward Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, … —Hebrews 12:1 The secret to winning in life is the same as the secret to completing a marathon or any other feat of endurance. It matters not how fast we move, nor whether we feel lost, discouraged or defeated along the way. The most important thing, no matter what else happens, is that we must keep moving forward. Inertia creeps. The enemy tries every trick he knows to get us to give up the fight. He wants nothing more than for us to quit in despair and exhaustion, to say “it’s too hard, it’s not worth it.” The enemy uses FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) to paralyze us from acting. The Accuser reminds us of past defeats and losses to discourage us from taking new risks, saying “you tried that before, it didn’t work, it’s pointless to try.” The result of all of this is that too many believers have quit the race, and some just before the finish line. We can keep moving forward no matter what the circumstances because we have an unshakable confidence in God, and in His lovingkindness towards us. We remain confident because God’s word tells us: He has taken away our sin and His judgments against us, He has cleared away our enemies, and He Himself is in our midst. Therefore, God commands His people, “Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp” (Zep. 3:15-16). This confidence, born of the completed work of the cross and our heavenly position in Christ, is essential to the perseverance required to keep moving forward in life and in faith. “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:35-36). The military principle of “fire and maneuver” for a small infantry unit speaks to the idea. In combat, a soldier under fire is most vulnerable when he remains in one place and doesn’t engage the enemy. His best chance of survival is to take to the offensive and to move rapidly from cover to cover, while his comrades lay suppressing fire to harass and distract the enemy. The same basic principle applies in spiritual matters. We must go on the offensive and take ground, even if little by little, while partnering with other believers to cover one another in prayer and intercession. How is this to be done? The continuation of the passage from Hebrews 12 explains it is by: “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep moving, and to “not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/Y2BrZ

Remaining Steadfast in Trials “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. —Job 13:15 The time comes in every believer’s life when things don’t work out as hoped or as planned. We prayed, we fasted, we sought the Lord, we believed in faith, and yet the desired end didn’t arrive. Rather than getting better, the situation got worse. Perhaps there was a bereavement, a devastating financial loss, chronic disease or sickness, or a formerly close relationship now estranged and beyond repair. We prayed for protection and life, but mishap, loss, or death resulted. We are left dumbstruck; our faith broken. We did everything we knew to do. We start to question what we believe, whether we can hear God’s voice, whether He cares. The voice of the Accuser steps in to say, “You followed the Lord, and this is the result? What kind of God is this? You are alone.” The temptation is to despair, to abandon faith and our trust in God. We are offended. We are provoked to blame God and to resent His apparent inaction on our behalf. Those around us, once standing with us in faith, now offer neither encouragement nor hope, but rather point the finger. Job’s wife’s only remaining advice to her bankrupt and suffering husband was “Curse God and die!” What is a believer to do in such moments? Job’s response provides the roadmap. Job’s declaration of loyalty and trust is one of the most poignant in scripture. Despite all he had lost, all he had suffered, Job refused to curse God, and instead worshipped Him. Job declared that he would hope in God for justice and restoration, but if not, so be it. In the meantime, he would continue, like the persistent widow (Lk. 18:1-8), to stand and argue his case before God. Job knew that he had done nothing wrong despite his friends’ accusations that he must have sinned greatly for this tragedy to occur. In their view, God wouldn’t allow the righteous to suffer like this, so the problem must lie with Job and his hidden sin or rebellion against the Most High. Job chose to stay true to God, and to cling to his righteousness, even though he could not understand what had befallen him or why. We too must get to the place where we no longer serve God for what He will do for us, whether we get what we want in life, whether our road is made easy, but simply for who He is. We must choose whether we will follow Christ even if all of our plans are shipwrecked in the process. We must decide whether Jesus plus nothing else is more valuable than all the world offers. This faith can only be proven in adversity. Joseph had to wait many years, and suffer great hardship, before he saw God’s promises fulfilled. In the meantime, the promises of God provoked, tested and refined him to prepare him for his purpose (Ps. 105:19). God can be trusted. He has not failed or abandoned you. Let Him do—through whatever means necessary—what He wants, which is to see His Son formed in you (Gal. 4:19). Remain loyal no matter the circumstance. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/l64Dy

Through Many Trials and Tears I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. —Psalms 6:6 The believer is no stranger to grief and sorrow. We feel our own pain, and, by willingly entering in and partaking in the griefs of others, we share in the suffering of Christ, the “man of sorrows and one acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3). This is as it should be. God allows us to feel deeply our own pain and that of others so that we can have compassion and intercede for them, and to bring healing. We have the privilege of sharing in the Father’s heart of love for the lost, for the broken, and for the hurting. Indeed, the Spirit of Christ is constantly searching out these most beloved wounded ones. The world seeks to avoid pain and suffering, for it has no solution to it, but the believer learns to embrace it. We know that in deep sorrow and even despair, there remains a profound hope and the real, unseen life through the power of the resurrection, both Christ’s and ours. He is a very real and present help in time of trouble (Ps. 46:1). The world can heal superficially, but the love of Christ, working through our hands, can heal deeply and permanently. For ourselves, suffering bereavement, loss or trauma often leaves permanent scars. These scars are not ugly, but a beautiful mosaic of our unique story. These experiences can be used by God to bring blessing and life, and should not be disdained. These events and their associated feelings are like a chamber in the house of our soul. This room is normally locked away and unused, but once in a while we are forced to open and reenter it. Details, memories and powerful, usually dormant feelings return through people, through reminiscences, through geography, through images, and even through smells. While it is unhealthy to live in this room from the past, occasionally God permits us to revisit it. He wants to meet us there. While painful, this process can be healing in its own right. When we allow God entry alongside us, we grant permission for Him to access our hearts and to heal us of the past. He comes gently in this moments; His touch is always healing. Take your deepest pain to the Lord. You are safe with Him there. He comes with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/N4XYC

The Generous Will Prosper The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. —Proverbs 11:25 Generosity is the nature of God, for “He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor” (Ps. 112:9). It is therefore that anyone who wants to follow Christ must learn the discipline of living generously like the One who said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It is in the practice of giving—especially when difficult—that generosity and liberality become the character of the one who trusts in God. God instructs His children to bring Him an offering of the “first fruits” of their produce (Ex. 23:19, Deut. 26:2). In giving the tithe (the first ten percent of produce, gains, or income) we acknowledge that we have received as a gift from God what is His to begin with. In this practice, God is teaching His children to acknowledge the Source and to trust Him for future prosperity and increase. Generosity has its own reward. The Book of Proverbs instructs, “Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;” Why? “So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Prov. 3:9-10). Honoring the Lord with the first fruits brings about a cycle of blessing. God will never forget the generosity of the giver. Just as the reward of sowing is reaping a harvest, so is increase the reward of generosity. God particularly rewards giving to the poor and needy. “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed” (Prov. 19:17). Giving when we ourselves are in need or lack, or when all the instincts of the flesh are to withhold and horde with a closed fist, creates a powerful spiritual force for good. It is impossible to give to God and not be repaid with interest. In the matter of generosity, God invites us to prove His faithfulness in practice. “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows” (Mal. 3:10). He will be proven true to His word. Learn to trust God completely in your financial and other resources. Generously open your hand to others more needy, and watch in amazement as God pours out every spiritual and material blessing in your life. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/nGr92

The Ways of the World When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. —Genesis 3:6 John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” writes towards the end of his life a letter of encouragement to the church. He speaks of the overcoming love of God but also warns his audience to not “love the world or the things of the world.” Here when he speaks of the world, John does not mean its people or the nations. He is not speaking of the same thing as when he wrote, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). The Father loves his creation, and has made the nations for the glory of His Son. Rather, John is referring to the worldly system of sin that sets itself in opposition to God. John explains, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (I Jn. 2:16). Those who love the world cannot have the love of the Father in their hearts. They have made no room for Him, and besides, He is a jealous God who demands all of us. He will not share us with another lover. We see in the passage from Genesis how all three worldly temptations came from the Evil One and overcame “the first Adam” and thus all of humanity. Eve saw that the fruit was “good for food” (the lust of the flesh), that it was “a delight to the eye” (the lust of the eyes), and that it was “desirable to make one wise” (the boastful pride of life). Ever since this fateful event, humankind has walked in separation from God, seeking to fulfill its lusts for pleasure and acquisitive power, and attempting to attain gnosis (hidden knowledge) apart from Jesus, the One who is Wisdom incarnate. Jesus endured the same temptations when the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tested by Satan. After fasting for forty days, the devil provokes Jesus to appease His hunger by turning rocks into bread (the lust of the flesh), to bow down and worship him in exchange for the kingdoms of the world (the lust of the eyes), or to use His limitless powers to prove to all the world that He is the Son of God (the boastful pride of life). Jesus is confronted with “every temptation known to man” (Heb. 4:15), yet, unlike Adam and his descendants, He overcomes them all by the power of the Spirit and the word of God. (Mt. 4:1-11, cf. Lk. 4:1-13). Fill yourself with the love of the Father, and make no room for the world and its objects of worship. You have all you need in Him. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/LxD0R

Reconciled into Righteousness We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. —II Corinthians 5:20b-21 The Spirit of God is constantly calling His children home. He speaks both through the internal voice of conscience and through the words of others to renounce our sin and return to God. The Father longs to be reconciled with His sons and daughters, and will go to great lengths to bring this about. The mystery of reconciliation with God is two-fold. First, that when we repent and return to God, we are completely forgiven. The blood of His Son Jesus Christ completely purifies us. John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9). Our sins are wiped clean, cast away forever, never again to return. But forgiveness is only half of it. The second facet of the mystery of reconciliation is that, in exchange for our sin, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ. We take off our filthy rags, are washed clean, and we put on pure garments of righteousness. Isaiah proclaims, “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Is. 61:10). When the Father sees us, He doesn’t see our sin or our flawed humanity. He sees Christ and His righteousness. This is how we are able to approach the throne in prayer and supplication. It is not only that we are cleansed from sin and forgiven our transgressions, but we are also made one Spirit with Christ (I Cor. 6:17). God welcomes us to approach Him and He hears our prayers because of “Christ in us, the hope of Glory” (I Col. 1:27). Yet some believers fail to enter into the fulness of reconciliation. They receive forgiveness of sin but refuse to accept the righteousness of God as belonging to them. They confess their sin, ask God to absolve them, and acknowledge that they are forgiven. But they stop there. They will not accept the garments of righteousness, insisting that they are unworthy sinners. This is not humility, it is pride, and worse. The refusal to accept what God has given at the inestimable price of His Son’s brutal torture and death makes a mockery of God’s gift and of Christ’s sacrifice. Yes, we were wretched sinners who deserved hell. But we are such no longer. We are children of the most High God. We walk in garments of white before Him, and we are heirs alongside His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Accept your position and your raiment. Now walk accordingly. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/huSH6

Treasures Hidden in Darkness Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold. —Job 28:1 God has hidden treasures for us that He intends we diligently search out and find. These gifts of His grace and goodness are composed of great riches from both spiritual and material realms; gold and precious jewels of great value alike. Like children on Eastern morning, he invites us to search for and discover the golden eggs he has hidden for our surprise and lasting enjoyment. God’s gifted eggs are always Fabergé quality. Of all these resources hidden away in advance for us, the greatest is wisdom. This is because wisdom is the key that opens the treasure chests of most everything else. The Book of Proverbs advises, “the beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding” (Prov. 4:7). Through wisdom, we discern what is valuable and what is worthless, what is lasting and what is fleeting, what is honorable and what is disgraceful, what will live on to eternity and what will be burned in the fire. In the wisdom of God, He determined that we would be better off and more matured into our true selves if we have to search for what is valuable, rather than having it delivered on a silver platter and spoon feed to us. We value what is costly and we cherish what we uncover through diligent effort and time. The spiritual gifts hidden in secret—yet available to the one who searches—include prophesy, tongues, healings, miracles, and revelations of understanding not availabe from reason or logic alone. The material treasures awaiting us include personal relationships and community, meaningful vocation, physical and mental health, abundant resources of blessing, seed for the sowing and bread for the eating, and many other unimaginable riches. It is all there. We just have to dig for it. Hear the word of the Lord over your life: “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name” (Is. 45:3). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/Y39V6

The Blood of Christ By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. —Hebrews 10:10 The “will” the author of Hebrews speaks of is the will of God for humanity. It is the expressed heart and longing of God from all eternity for reconciliation with rebellious but beloved children. The previous verse tells us of Jesus’ desire to obey the will of the Father: “Behold, I have come to do your will” (Heb. 10:9). Jesus is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8 NKJV). It was planned in the Father’s mind long before sin entered the world to do away with sin once and for all. Yet there is only one way to annihilate sin forever, and that is by the shed blood of Jesus of Nazareth, whom John the Baptist prophetically recognized as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29). This redemption would be costly. Without the “shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” of sin. (Heb. 9:22). Ritual animal blood sacrifice was necessary to put off sin temporarily, and was always a requirement to come into the presence of God, but it was never sufficient. Abel offered a blood sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to God, while Cain’s offering—which did not include blood—was rejected (Gen. 4:1-8). But “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” (Heb. 10:4). It would be the shed blood of Jesus Christ, eternally begotten of the Father, perfect and sinless, who would purchase from sin and death all humanity once and for all time. Jesus is “the mediator of a new covenant.” His sacrifice is once and for all, thanks to His “sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel” (Heb. 12:24). This sacrifice can be rejected. Men can turn away from Christ and refuse to be sprinkled with the blood that would forever cleanse them. Sadly, those who willingly reject the blood will be forever lost and condemned to hell with the devil and his angels. But the one who gratefully receives and shares in the body and the blood receives salvation, healing, restoration, and life eternal. It is for this reason we must take the table of the Lord seriously. There is power in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. There is salvation and cleansing of sin and healing of body and mind in the Eucharist, for Christ is Himself present there. Too many Christians don’t understand the Communion table or treat it as a mere symbol. Paul said that this is why many continue to suffer and not healed, or even die. “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep” (I Cor. 1:11). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/lsrwe

Safe from Slander You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. —Psalms 31:20 One of the favorite attacks of the enemy is slander. He works to incite others to speak evil of the believer, to make false accusations, to gossip and spread rumors. This is often effective because it is so painful. We are hurt by others’ words. The closer they are to us the deeper the wound. Our human nature provokes us to defend or at least protect ourselves. But this reaction is what the enemy seeks. He wants to distract us, to get us to focus on the conflict, to fret about what others are saying, to take revenge, and to exhaust oneself trying to correct the record and restore one’s reputation. Jesus understands this pain perfectly well. He Himself was falsely accused, constantly slandered, lied about, and called all kinds of names both to His face and behind His back. He was labeled a blasphemer and a spawn of the devil, among other things. Religiously hypocritical and powerful men conspired for three years to have Him arrested or otherwise stopped. He chose, in obedience to the Father, to not defend Himself. Jesus “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:7 KJV). He refused to be distracted or drawn aside into debate by men with evil motives. He moved on and stayed focused on the ministry that His Father had given Him. Whether He won them over or not, He always spoke truth to power. In following Jesus, God calls us to similarly lay down our reputation and our right of self-defense. He asks us to trust that He will defend us, rather than relying on ourselves. For most of us, this laying down of our rights is very difficult. It feels unnatural. But it is absolutely necessary for His defense and justice to work. Like Jesus, we too must be willing to be of no reputation. We must not live in the fear of man. Words sting and blows wound, but Jesus commands us, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28). While attacks may come, God promises that the arrows of accusation and slander will have no long-term effect. He promises to be our Defender, but only so long as we don’t try to seek our own vindication or retribution. The Lord declares over you, “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me” (Is. 54:17). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/3nedm

With Wings Like Eagles Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. —Isaiah 40:31 The ways of the world are to honor and esteem the young, the beautiful, the strong, the rich, and the powerful. These are appealing to the eye and senses. Yet God regards them not. For all of these, their beauty fades like the flower, their strength withers like a vine under the noonday sun, their riches make itself wings and flies away (Prov. 23:5), and their power is soon overtaken by others younger and faster. The ways of God invert the values of the world and instead honor humility, weakness, surrender, dependency and trust. These ideas are offensive and indecipherable to Pagan and secular mindsets alike, and they are mocked to scorn. To pray for one’s enemies, to turn the other cheek, to prefer others to oneself, to not take revenge or defend oneself appear self-abnegating and worthy only of disdain. But in the kingdom, these are the secrets to life and to spiritual power. God takes no pleasure in the strength of men, but rather favors those who fear Him, and who wait for Him to deliver them in His lovingkindness (Ps. 147:10). He will not ignore such a one who leans on Him. God uses adversity in our lives to bring us to a place where we have little choice but to learn His ways. This is the way of the Cross. Resist His hand which leads us toward surrendering our own power and natural strength, and we only make the road longer and more difficult for ourselves. All human effort will eventually fail. Even “vigorous young men” will flag and fall, but God promises that those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless (Is. 40:29). Unlike human effort, the strength that God provides is limitless. We can run and not get tired, we can walk and not grow weary. This is the same power that enabled the prophet Elijah to outrun King Ahab’s chariot from Mount Carmel all the way to Jezreel (I Ki 18:46). This is only possible one way, and that is through the power of God operating in broken and weak vessels fully yielded to Him. Wait on the Lord. Rely not on your own strength, but fully trust in Him to empower you to do exponentially more than you could ever achieve in your own power. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/VL7Z7

Prepare the Way A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” —Is. 40:3 The voice that Isaiah heard still speaks today to those who have ears attuned to hear. But what does it mean to clear the way for the Lord? How might we make a smooth highway in the desert wilderness of our hearts and lives? The voice says to make the rough places smooth. “Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley” (Is. 40:4). Mountains of pride, ego, and self-will must be razed. Valleys of shame, insecurity, fear and doubt must be elevated, and filled in with the confidence of God. Rocks and obstacles of our past experiences and trauma, our prejudice about the nature of God and our wrong ideas and philosophies—all that clutters the way—must be removed, and the underbrush of daily distractions, irritations, and the persistent demands of others, regularly cleared, like weeds from a garden that can spring up overnight. The objective of this leveling is to make a highway for God to come our direction, but not just to pass through. We want to create room for Him to take up residence. We want him to make our heart His home. Like any building project, the ground needs to be prepared first, that the foundation may be laid level and true. He is a magnificent king, and deserves not a humble shack but a great and expansive palace. He must have dominion over all the land. There can be no rebel holdouts on his property, no corner of sinful resistance. And there can be no slaves there, only sons and daughters who participate in their inheritance. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom shall not pass away (Dan. 7:14). The reward is in the promise. It is that the glory of the Lord can manifest in our lives. This is surely for our benefit, because He truly loves us, but it is not just for our good alone. It is for others to see, to desire, and to partake in. “Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Is. 40:5). God will be glorified on the earth when we prepare the way in our hearts. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/5XO8b

Restored from Sickness The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health. —Psalms 41:3 Anyone who has ever suffered from the sudden onset of food-borne bacterial illness or a stomach virus knows the indignity that severe gastrointestinal sickness brings. All of a sudden, life comes to a screeching stop. All plans, all aspirations, all schedules are put on hold to focus on the urgent matters at hand. The wider world disappears, and our life narrows to a small path between bed and toilet. All hopes and desires are reduced to a singular wish for the agony to come to an end; to be put out of one’s misery. Today’s ambitions are simplified to one goal, to be able to make it to the toilet on time. Sleep becomes a far off country. The last thing one desires at this moment is for others to be around. We want to bear our humiliation alone, so that no one would see us this way. But sometimes we need help. All of our ego, our pride, the pomp and circumstances of life are suddenly worthless. We are as helpless as a baby. We realize no one is an island. The Lord uses moments like this to get our attention. For some of us, it is the first time He’s been able to get us to stop running and slow down. The distractions and responsibilities of normal life fall away, at least temporarily, and we come face to face with ourselves, and with God’s still small voice. In these moments, He is reminding us of our need, of our dependence on Him, and of our priorities. He doesn’t want us to be sick, but he can use the healing process to teach us. It is a moment to perfect our surrender. In the moment of sickness, we can let go of our pride and practice humility and obedience. In our helplessness, it is easier to trust Him. Especially when we know God’s promises and His nature. He is the one “Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion …” (Ps. 103:3-4). We can rely on Him to fulfill His word. He will sustain you upon your sickbed. He will take something evil and redeem it for good. And He will restore you to full health. Trust Him in the process. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/1UWSl

Abide in the Vine “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” —John 15:4 Jesus had abided with the disciples for three years. They had worked and lived together, shared meals and fellowshipped daily, and traveled as a team if not a family. The disciples had sat at Jesus’s feet, heard and misunderstood His teaching, saw hundreds of miracles, and learned to minister to others in His name and power. But now He has told them that He is going away, and that where He is going they cannot yet come. But he will not leave them alone. He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever (Jn. 14:16). Jesus explains how they can remain connected to Him, expanding on a metaphor that they readily understood. He was as the vine, and they were as the branches. Remain attached to the vine, and they would be nourished and watered. Become severed from the vine, and they would shrivel up and die, made as useless as the dried stick throw in the fire. The branch can produce no fruit unless it remains connected to its source of life. Jesus promises that if they remain in the vine, that they will produce an abundance of fruit. Jesus says that the Father will bless them so much that “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this …” (Jn. 15:7-8a). To abide in Jesus is to spent time in His presence, to sit at His feet, to listen, and to feed on His word. Fill your heart and mind with the Word of God. Surround yourself with it day and night. Let it seep into every part of your life like tea from the bag into the water around it. Just as the Father loves the Son, so does the Son love those who are His and who abide in His love (Jn. 15:9). Abiding means following and obeying. Jesus tells His disciples, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (Jn. 15:10). Jesus is the Word made flesh. His word is living and active. It contains its own power, its own lifeforce. Let it loose in your life and it cannot help but transform you. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/XDIgW

Forgiven for the Glory of His Name “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins." —Isaiah 43:25 Other religions teach that you can overcome your sins and shortcomings by doing good works, by improving your karma, by trying harder to please God. This is not the gospel. Our sinful nature is a permanent stain that cannot be removed or washed away, except by the blood of Jesus Christ. We do not deserve forgiveness for sin. If we deserved it, we could earn it. But we don’t, and we can’t. Forgiveness is the free gift of God given to an undeserving and unworthy people who have rebelled and committed high treason against their Creator. Yet He declares our sins forgiven and forgotten forever. This is an imponderably deep mystery that must be brooded on daily. It reflects the nature and love of God, His goodness and His lovingkindness, and also His holiness. God makes clear that He does this not because we deserve it, but for the glory of His holy name.  He does it for His own sake, for His own honor. He does it for the glorious reputation of the name which we trample on and profane nearly daily by our sinful acts and our dishonorable behavior in the eyes of all the world. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.” What God declares clean and good let no one declare otherwise. But we are not just washed and cleansed from sin, then placed on the shelf like a newly-scrubbed dish. Cleansing and forgiveness is merely the first step. We are then begun to be made like Him, growing daily in His image. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you … I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes.” (Ez. 36:25-27). Do not offend God—and reject the blood of Christ—by refusing to accept that you are made pure and holy and indwelt by His Spirit. Thank God today for His forgiveness, for His cleansing, for a new heart and a new spirit. Ask Him to cleanse you “by the washing of water with the word” that removes all the filth of daily life (Eph. 5:26). Rejoice in the gift and grace of your forgiveness, and live in the light of it. And then, “Go and sin no more” (Jn. 8:11). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/9bK5M

Never ask, “Where is the money going to come from?” in matters of faith. What God commissions, He will provision.

Forgetting the Past “Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? —Isaiah 43:18-19a Too many people—and not just the elderly, with whom it might be more expected—live their lives in their pasts. They are unable to move on from old situations, old relationships, old failures and old disappointments. They may be afflicted by specific traumas, haunted by recurring memories, or simply unable to move forward from sorrow. Their hearts remain full of bitterness, accumulated offense, resentment, and regret. As a result, their growth in Christ and maturity as well-orbed human beings is equally retarded. Christ has come to relieve us of the burdens of our past. God promises through Isaiah, “you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more” (Is. 54:4). In this context, widowhood can mean anything dear lost along the way, whether a loved one, a friendship, an opportunity, standing or reputation, a chance that will never come again. The power of Christ can heal memories, restore loss, redeem even the most horrible of situations. Too many people hold onto the past like a prized possession. Some try unsuccessfully to relive it. But we have to agree with Jesus to let go of the old things. This includes old relationships that you know you must finally leave behind. The past is like old baggage that the Lord is saying we are not able to bring onto the journey that He has for us. He has a future and a new life for us, but we must be unburdened of that which weighs us down. He stands with hand extended, asking us to hand it over to him. Yet He will not take it from us until we are willing to let it go. We hold back, we delay, and we struggle. All the while his other hand holds a beautiful gift hidden behind his back. Come to the Lord today and intentionally lay down those things from your past that keep you trapped there. He will exchange them for something new, something beautiful, and something pleasantly surprising. Look for it as it may not be obvious. Like seeds planted in good soil, it will develop slowly. The new thing is often hidden in unusual or unexpected places. “I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert” (Is. 43:19b). Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He holds our past and out future. His promise to us from His throne in heaven is, “Behold, I make all things new!” (Rev. 21:5). Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/MRadV

The Pain of Betrayal Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. —Psalms 41:9 David’s words prophetically foreshadow Judas’s treasonous betrayal of Jesus, who sold the Son of God into the hands of corrupt priests for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus anticipated the betrayal, but nonetheless became “troubled in spirit” knowing that one who had been with Him, who shared His life, His joys and His sorrow, and who had guarded the treasury of the ministry, would turn on Him for filthy lucre that would rot in his treasonous hands as soon as he grasped it (Jn. 13:18-30). Jesus felt the pain—all too common to man—of the proverbial ‘knife in the back’ delivered by a trusted friend. He knew what was to come, but chose to allow it. David experienced the pain of betrayal throughout his life. David grew up as one rejected, slighted by his father and brothers, relegated to tending sheep, running errands and other lowly tasks. King Saul, who once had welcomed David into his household as a son, would turn on him and seek to put him to death. David remained a fugitive for years as his former father-figure hunted him like a wild animal. Yet David remained loyal to Saul and his family, and went out of his way to not seek revenge or harm the king. Years later, once David was himself king, he was betrayed by his own son Absalom, who declared himself king in David’s stead. David was further betrayed by his most trusted strategic advisor and friend, Ahithophel, who abandoned his loyalty and life-long service to David in support of mutinous Absalom’s failed coup. One gets the feeling that Ahithophel’s infidelity and treachery wounded David even more than young and rebellious Absalom’s revolt. Ahithophel is the prophetic forerunner of Judas. Both were trusted friends of the one they betrayed, both sided with the enemy to plot their king’s death, and both were suicides by hanging, a curse for their actions. Despite the betrayals, David had confidence in the Lord, not in man. He knew that God alone could be trusted, and that God Himself would defend Him. David may have been betrayed by men, but he was protected by God. “By this I know that You are pleased with me, because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.” Knowing God would never abandon him, David proclaims, “You set me in Your presence forever” (Ps. 41:11-12). The pain of betrayal may come. If so, put your trust in God, not in man. Lean on Him. Seek not your own revenge, and you will come clean through it. He has loved you with an everlasting love, and He is always faithful. Read more and subscribe on Substack to receive Stormwall Devotional sent to your email every morning: shorturl.at/cRaLm