Hope's Harbor Podcast - Gritty Bible Devotions

Jesus proclaims that He came to recover sight for the captives, but what does it mean to be a captive? There are actually a lot of us captive. We don’t see ourselves as captives because we have not been beaten or chained up somewhere.

We may only think about physical captivity when thinking of being captured, but in reality, there can be many things holding you back from seeing and experiencing freedom.

I want to share with you some areas where we get caught up in old habits and behaviors that keep us blinded by fear, guilt, or shame.

This episode will empower you to break free from your past so that even though Satan has tried to hold you down before, you will see by the power of the Holy Spirit you can be free.
Full show notes @ hopesharbor.net
Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions Episode #11

Title: Heart and Mind of Jesus – Sight for the Blind – Part 2 of 2

Date: 6/14/2021

Contact: [email protected]

Key verse(s): Luke 4:18 – “and recovering of sight to the blind.”

Intro: In Episode 10 we examined some of the causes of spiritual blindness and the need to be able to see from GOD’s viewpoint. Also, how we must choose to see by understanding and acknowledging our harmful behavior, then making the determination to become free from destructive habits.

I explained how I had to see the need for psychological counseling and how GOD used pain to bring me to the point of yielding to treatment. (It was the best thing I ever did concerning this issue of blindness.

Devotion focus: To see the truth equals freedom when acted upon - John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

· To know is to perceive, be sure of, to understand.

· Freedom and deliverance come through knowing Bible truth.

· Blindness as a captive leads to long-term bondage –

Continued from Episode 10

· The pain was so bad at times tears ran down my face as I fell into bed fully clothed at the end of a workday.

· My wife at the time, before she kicked me to the curb, told me on one such occasion, I needed help. That I needed to talk to someone.

· The pain was so bad by this point I relented and made an appointment.

· The long-term result was the counselor helped me immensely.

· He did so by teaching me about the mind. He had me read books to help me understand that the violence that happened to me in childhood, lead to this level of anxiety I lived in daily.

· Now, here is where the crucial point is made. This is where I need you to pay close attention if this is something you’re facing in your life.

· This is the point: The knowledge I gained was necessary before I could change. But knowledge alone does little to bring improvement to our lives though it is the portal through which we must pass.

· It is when we ACT on the information that change, freedom begins to occur! This is why I put Actions to Consider at the end of every episode.

· Now don’t get me wrong – there were times I discovered some principle or discovered the root of the mental issue I faced – that discovery was wonderful!

· One such discovery happened during a shift at work. I was a police officer, on patrol, and as I drove around I was listening to Dr. James Dobson interview Dr. Jim

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Paul tells Christians in Romans 12:2 not to be like the world, which means its beliefs and practices. He also warns in 2Cor 11:14 - 'And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.' Satan who likes for people to think he doesn't exist or that his influence isn't too big in this world - one way being through humor - "I'm looking at you Loki!" Do you know what I mean?
Full show notes at hopesharbor.net
Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #27

Title: Renewing the Mind

Date: November 8, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

Key verse(s): Renewing the Mind – Key verse: Romans 12:2 – ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

Intro: Why do you think Paul warns Christians, ‘do not be conformed to this world?’ First, he means the world's belief systems, practices, and customs when they oppose GOD and His Word.

Second, the world’s systems belong to a malevolent being, Satan.

And by the way, one of the ways Satan operates is to minimize his presence and influence in the world. He does this by using humor. When many people picture Satan or the Devil, what image comes to mind? Yes, a man with a red suit, small horns, and pointy tail, and a pitchfork.

But he is a highly intelligent being with much experience at deceiving and destroying people. However, I don’t want to get off on a tangent here.

It’s better to focus on renewing our minds according to GOD’s design and using the Bible as our guide.

Devotion focus: Our mind’s focus determines renewal or not

What we allow our mind to focus on determines our outlook on life, shapes our decisions, affects our reactions.

If I focus only on negative thoughts (think national/world news – politics, etc.) it wouldn’t take me long to slide into depression.

But if I focus my mind on positive, healthy thoughts such as GOD’s sovereign power over all creation, including controlling the destiny of nations; if I think about GOD’s love which He declares in Romans 8:38&39:

Romans 8:38 – ‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

Romans 8:39 - ‘nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ then I’m less likely to fall prey to destructive thoughts.

My experience with renewing my mind has involved counseling in the past. I learned through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to replace negative, toxic thoughts and self-hatred with positive truth about my position before GOD.

And then, understanding my position led me to understand better my identity within GOD.

I’m going to cover just a few verses to help with the process of renewing your own mind, if this is something you want to do. They have to do with something Jesus said in John 15:9; what He prayed in John 17, and Paul wrote about in Colossians 3:3.

John 15:9 - "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”

John 17:9 - "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.

John 17:16 - They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

John 17:20 - "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

Colossians 3:3 – ‘For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.’

If you and I could only believe these verses alone, we could face most anything in life that

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

I must apologize. The titles of E20 and E21 got mixed up in my covid brain. It may be I should have waited before resuming the podcast. It's just that I missed sharing GOD's encouragement through these devotions. Regardless, I made corrections as much as I could and ask for your patience and understanding. When taken together E20 and E21 present a look at obeying GOD's sovereign will, that part of His will He will not change no matter how much we pray otherwise; and His permissive will, that part of His will in which He allows us the freedom to choose options available to us throughout life. Thank you -
What do you think of when obeying the will of GOD comes to your attention? Is there dread, or fear, or even indifference?
It will help you to pray before listening today and ask GOD to give understanding about His will. After all, GOD wants us to know His will in order to obey it. A good prayer for this is found in Ephesians 1:18 where Paul prayed for the following: ' the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,'
Full show notes at hopesharbor.net
Episode #20

Title: Obeying the Will of GOD – How it is Done

Date: September 20, 2021

Contact: [email protected]

Key verse(s): Luke 6:46 - "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?"

Intro: During a bout last week with the Delta variant of covid-19 I was so sick I couldn’t pray. It was the prayers of GOD’s people that stood between me and death for a couple of days until, by the efforts of doctors and staff in ICU, I began to improve.

During several long nights when I couldn’t sleep I read my Bible and I came across the passage in Luke where a rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked a question.

Luke 18:18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus told him to obey the commandments. The man said he’d kept them since his youth.

Jesus gave him one more thing to do: Luke 18:22 ‘So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."’

Even in my virus dimmed mind what Jesus said leaped out at me and rang a bell.

I thought about what this meant to me. For the ruler it was specific. He was rich it says in another passage in Luke 18:18, and he went away saddened because the cost for him to follow Jesus was too high for him.

But for me, after thinking through Jesus’ words throughout that night and several following I began to realized the command was for me to release all sense of possessing ...

What does this have to do with obeying GOD’s will?

Devotion focus: There is more to knowing GOD’s will than reading it in the Bible. That is knowing as in the letter of Scripture and knowing the spirit of GOD’s will.

The first, the letter, or what is written of GOD’s will when followed as a burden can lead to legalism. The second, understanding the spirit of GOD’s will helps us understand what GOD intends for us when we obey His commands.

One example of this is found in John 15:10 – “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

It goes without saying we are to obey GOD, and here the promise is if we obey His commandments we will abide in His love.

For full show notes go to hopesharbor.net
Next week’s devotion: Part 2: Knowing the Will of GOD – How to discover it

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Many people wonder why God would allow some of his children to suffer. Philippians 1:29 is clear on this and states Christians are granted the permission "to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Today I want to look at different aspects of suffering and draw from lessons imparted when we face certain types of suffering. By doing so - drawing out these lessons- will show us not only what God has tried teaching us through our pain, but how he loved us all along as well.
Hope’s Harbor - Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #13 - Part 1 of 3

Title: Suffering – Not if but when

Date: 6/28/3031

Contact: [email protected]

Key verses: James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into [different] (many/various) temptations (trials/tests to show trustworthiness);

James 1:3 - Knowing this, that the trying (testing to show worth) of your faith works patience (endurance/perseverance).

James 1:4 - But let patience (endurance/perseverance) have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire (complete/mature), wanting (lacking) nothing (nothing is left to do concerning growth as mature Christians).

Intro:

In the previous 11 episodes, Luke 4:18 was the focus. This one verse contains 5 promises Jesus gave us and all have to do with relieving suffering.

1. He brought salvation to relieve the suffering of sin, especially eternal suffering

2. He offered to heal those who are broken in their hearts and minds and bring relief to mental pain

3. He made possible freedom from captivity to relieve the pain of destructive habits and thoughts

4. He offers sight to the spiritually blind to relieve the darkness of not knowing the truth which sets us free

5. And He sets free those who are in bondage, oppressed by suffering.

Now, concerning the next 3 episodes, keep these questions in mind as we go through this 3 part series on suffering.

Suffering = pain – So, what does God intend to do with our suffering?

What led to original suffering? (sin)

What can now lead to it? (sin or God’s will)

What do we do about it? (relieve it when possible, endure it when not)

What to do with it? (learn from it /use it)

Who suffers? (the sinner or the righteous?) Philippians 1:29 tells us: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”

What in creation suffers? (Heaven and earth – the whole creation groans: Romans 8:22 – “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Today I want to look at the different aspects of suffering and draw from the lessons imparted when we face certain types of suffering.

By doing this – drawing the lessons out – I believe will give us the intended blessings of God in return for the pain we go through.

Also in this series, we’ll study different ways to comfort others who are suffering. By helping to meet their needs for consolation we’ll serve Jesus in deep and meaningful ways. (Matt. 25:35-36) – [Note: This passage in Matt 25 is tied in with the stern warning earlier in this chapter to serve God with all the resources He gives us.] We’ll go into Matthew 25 in more detail in E15.

Today’s Devotion focus:

· Not if but when (James 1:2-4)

Full show notes at Hopesharbor.net

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net

Goodness - what does it mean to you? Most everyone thinks of themselves as a good person, and they are... for the most part. But what does the Bible say about goodness?
Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #35

Title: Goodness – the opposite of evil? Or something else?

Date: January 3, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

Key verse(s): Gal 5:22 – ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...’

Intro: Normally when goodness is taught from Scripture we may think of the phrase ‘Good and Evil.’ This is understandable for those who know the account in Genesis 2 in which the phrase is used.

It is also used in Hebrews 5:14 – ‘But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.’ Just to make sure of the distinction I want to make between the common thought or understanding of good and evil, good in Hebrews 5:14 means: beautiful, valuable or virtuous, honest, meet, or worthy.

And evil in this verse means worthless, depraved, injurious: - bad, evil, harm, ill, noisome, wicked.

However, I want to focus on goodness, not just as an opposite to evil, but rather on how goodness within us may be shared with others.

This is the goodness from the key verse: Galatians 5:22 – ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is... goodness...’

goodness, that is, virtue or beneficence: - goodness. From the root meaning of A primary word; “good” (in any sense, often as noun): - benefit, good, well.

Before going further I want you to think of what goodness you want in your life.

What benefit do you need?

Devotion focus: Goodness versus the evil of not caring about the needs of others -

The definition of goodness in Galatians 5:22 contains the meaning of benefit and this is what I hope to get across, the opportunity to benefit others. And not from a sense of duty or obligation only, but from genuine concern about the welfare of our sisters and brothers throughout this world, this tiny sphere hanging in space.

Goodness and kindness are closely linked in their meanings. And I see the importance of them GOD is trying to get across to us by the use of both these terms when describing His nature to us in Galatians 5:22.

Keep in mind GOD’s nature in His essence is not like our even though we have personality traits like GOD. His nature is singular but is described in different ways throughout the Bible to help us understand Him better.

Think of it this way even though the analogy falls short: a single diamond cut into whatever shape has different facets, will reflect light in different ways and colors all the while remaining a single jewel.

GOD’s nature is described as if it’s several different traits opposing each other, such as His love vs His hate; His anger vs His gentleness. This is incorrect thinking about GOD’s nature. GOD’s goodness is His nature throughout His being.

Without going too deep into this, the fact goodness is listed as a fruit (nature or characteristic) of GOD’s Spirit tells us the importance of us developing or allowing GOD to develop goodness in and through our actions.

Other people need goodness shown to them, given to them, benefiting them. This applies to the saved of GOD, His children, and to those who have not discovered His love for them.

GOD’s children are our brothers and sisters and therefore family to us. We owe them goodness. Those who are outside GOD’s family, they are often referred to as ‘lost,’ are not excluded from GOD’s goodness.

This truth is declared inLuk

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net