Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Here are just a few of the why verses.  I mean these are some of the things that stand out as most important and what make us stronger.  Think through, pray through and push through these and the others that stand out to you. God First.  That’s why! Isaiah 55:6  CSB   Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Psalm 46:10  NLT   “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” God’s Wisdom.  That’s why! James 1:5  NLT   If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  Proverbs 3:5-6  NLT   Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Serve Others.  That’s why! Proverbs 31:8-9  NLT   Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice fo...

  Psalm 145:2-3  NLT   I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. 3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. In those verses David declared and promised that he would choose to praise God every day and no matter what.  There is something about praising God that changes us. His life was not only changed by God by recharged, refreshed and renewed as David made time for the presence of God.  Go to those times of celebration, like when the Ark of the Covenant returned home and he danced in the streets, and on to the times of deepest hurt, like in the death of a son or of falling in to sin.  David chose to remember and bless the Lord or praise the Lord. When we choose to bless God at all times we set ourselves up to be blessed.  Literally the results of blessing God and praising God show up in our lives.  That happens for many reasons but the biggest one is we have realigned ourselves to G...

  Yesterday we began a new series from Psalm 103.  This is a powerful chapter written by King David who had personal experience and deep love for God.  The challenge is to go deep in the Word of God and let that overflow in your life. Psalm 103:1-2  CSB   My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits. David’s heart is overwhelmed with praise toward God.  This was real.  This was deep.  From the deepest place in His life.  In fact, he wants to make sure that his soul does not forget all the benefits that have come from Him because of this relationship.  Those benefits are the things that life can’t give us but faith can.  David goes on to give us a short list in verses 3 through 5.  He mentions forgiveness, healing, love and more.  He had experienced God which left His life changed forever. How often do we forget all that the Lord ...

  Another song has grabbed my attention, my mind and made it’s way to my heart.  Last night at our recovery service the worship leader shared this powerful worship song by Brandon Lake titled Gratitude .  Here are some of the lyrics: All my words fall short I got nothing new How could I express All my gratitude? …  So I throw up my hands And praise You again and again 'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah Hallelujah And I know it's not much But I've nothing else fit for a King Except for a heart singing hallelujah Hallelujah … Come on, my soul Oh, don't you get shy on me Lift up your song 'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs Get up and praise the Lord, … So I throw up my hands Praise You again and again 'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah Hallelujah And I know it's not much But I've nothing else fit for a King Except for a heart singing hallelujah Hallelujah What got my attention?  It is two lines in particular that keep playing in my h...

  Romans 1:9  NLT   God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. It is the beginning of a new week, and there is so much going on.  There are needs for us to pray for and to meet.  There are people whose lives have been and are being changed by Jesus all around as well. I just returned from an Emmaus Walk weekend.  These events are incredible opportunities for Christians to grow in their faith and to learn how much God love them and each of us.  I am grateful that we get to encourage others as well as be a part of their walk with God. Maybe someone around you today needs to be encouraged by your walk with God.  Freely talk about what God is doing and how He is working in your life.  That very well might be the light someone needs to guide them, to lighten their load or even get them started following Jesus. Then there are...

Praise God for all He has done and is doing.  back2school is just one place that He is working.  Take some time to thank God today for what you have seen, how you have experienced Him and where He is leading you. Psalm 26:12  NLT   Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord. The more I see Him and praise Him the stronger I can stand! Psalm 103:2  NLT   Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. The more I praise Him the less I forgive Him. Ephesians 1:3  NLT   All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. We are blessed.  Big time.   May we praise Him today and every day knowing that all blessings come from God, and may we see how we have every blessing. Spend time today praising God! Psalm 150:6  NLT   Let everything that breathes sing praises to t...

It is Holy Week. Full of meaning. This is an important week for those who have chosen to follow Jesus.  It is an invitation to a holy, to a celebration of new life.  His love is depicted, draw out in vivid and living color in Holy Week. Love for you. Love for me.  Walking further in to the week we watch the life of Jesus being poured out over and over again.  He lived not for the moment but for eternity.  He gave not for a simple feeling but a lifetime of peace.  He loved not for pleasure but for the fulfillment of God’s unending plan. That the depth of what Easter and Holy Week share with whoever will come to its window and peek.  That is what can be experienced if we choose to walk through the door choosing life based upon what really matters. Early in Holy Week Jesus continued to do what made much sense to Him and through His calling from the Father.  When He walked through the Temple, this is what we found: Matthew 21:12-13  NLT   Je...

  I’d like to share a little something different today.  Maybe not real different, but it is something that I got to thinking about over the last month through the news of revivals happening with college age students across the nations. There are many ways to praise God.  The fact is we just need to praise Him.  Who we praise says a lot about us.  Think a little deeper with me. Stand Up Nehemiah 9:5  NLT  …“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! Posture speaks volumes.  In conversations we need to not only listen but look like you are listening. In praise posture speaks volumes.  When someone you want to honor comes in to your presence, you often stand to greet them. We can do the same for our great and gracious God.  Stand up to show honor.  Stand up to change your mindset or even to ...