A Real Friend with Benefits
Scripture: Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV - Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Some of us don’t know the real meaning of friend. We use the term so loosely. We selfishly use our so-called friends for personal gain, we mistreat them, we see them as someone we can take from … never pouring back into them and their lives. Their lives matter too!
When a ‘friend’ betrays us (or vice versa), we quickly ‘unfriend’ them. Hmm … what if God treated us like that every time we betrayed (disobeyed) Him? What if He didn’t wanna be our Friend anymore?? Think about all the benefits we would lose, His benefits. Can we do life without Him? What would we be missing out on??
Psalm 103 tells us some of the benefits we have in the Lord. He forgives ALL our iniquities (immoral or grossly unfair behavior, definition from search.yahoo.com). In other words, wickedness, sinfulness. He heals ALL our diseases – physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial, etc. He redeems our lives from destruction – seen and unseen. He crowns us with (His) lovingkindness and tender mercies – He covers us! He satisfies our mouths with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. He executes righteousness and justice for ALL who are oppressed. The list goes on and on, His Holy Word is full of His benefits. His Word through song shares His benefits too – think of the lyrics to What A Friend We Have In Jesus.
Ask yourself one question – could I make it without God and His benefits? My friend, the answer is no! There is no way, left to ourselves, that we could make it without God working in us and through us. Even in these uncertain times we live in, we have a choice to trust God! We have a choice to let go and surrender total control to Him (we never had control of anything anyway). We have a choice in whom we call ‘friend’.
Some friends we can do without … God is not one of them!
Prayer: Father, thank You for being my Friend! You are the Best Friend I can have. Forgive me for not taking advantage of Your benefits that came as a ‘package deal’ when I accepted Your Son Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Oh how I have missed out on so many opportunities to walk through Your handpicked trials with Your confidence, grace and obedience … all because I wanted to do things my way. Forgive me, Father! I thank You that Your Love never fails, It never gives us, It never runs out on me! And I am grateful for the privilege to call You Friend! In Jesus’ Name we always pray … AMEN!
(by Cassaundra Turner)
Some of us don’t know the real meaning of friend. We use the term so loosely. We selfishly use our so-called friends for personal gain, we mistreat them, we see them as someone we can take from … never pouring back into them and their lives. Their lives matter too!
When a ‘friend’ betrays us (or vice versa), we quickly ‘unfriend’ them. Hmm … what if God treated us like that every time we betrayed (disobeyed) Him? What if He didn’t wanna be our Friend anymore?? Think about all the benefits we would lose, His benefits. Can we do life without Him? What would we be missing out on??
Psalm 103 tells us some of the benefits we have in the Lord. He forgives ALL our iniquities (immoral or grossly unfair behavior, definition from search.yahoo.com). In other words, wickedness, sinfulness. He heals ALL our diseases – physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial, etc. He redeems our lives from destruction – seen and unseen. He crowns us with (His) lovingkindness and tender mercies – He covers us! He satisfies our mouths with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. He executes righteousness and justice for ALL who are oppressed. The list goes on and on, His Holy Word is full of His benefits. His Word through song shares His benefits too – think of the lyrics to What A Friend We Have In Jesus.
Ask yourself one question – could I make it without God and His benefits? My friend, the answer is no! There is no way, left to ourselves, that we could make it without God working in us and through us. Even in these uncertain times we live in, we have a choice to trust God! We have a choice to let go and surrender total control to Him (we never had control of anything anyway). We have a choice in whom we call ‘friend’.
Some friends we can do without … God is not one of them!
Prayer: Father, thank You for being my Friend! You are the Best Friend I can have. Forgive me for not taking advantage of Your benefits that came as a ‘package deal’ when I accepted Your Son Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Oh how I have missed out on so many opportunities to walk through Your handpicked trials with Your confidence, grace and obedience … all because I wanted to do things my way. Forgive me, Father! I thank You that Your Love never fails, It never gives us, It never runs out on me! And I am grateful for the privilege to call You Friend! In Jesus’ Name we always pray … AMEN!
(by Cassaundra Turner)
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
February
People Are Laughing Out Loud at My BibleMe, Myself, and I (Depression)I Have to Qualify to Run the RacePreach, Preacher!Does He Know You?LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part II)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part II)PRAISE God for WITNESSES!Sock LintSock LintNO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part I)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part II)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part I)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part II)MORE THAN 'SUPER,’ MORE THAN 'HERO'!HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part I)HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part II)MAKE FEBRUARY THANKSGIVING HISTORY MONTHTAKE HEED HOW YOU WALKTrust and ObeySpiritual ImmaturityMake It PersonalCain was Able and So are YouClimate Change
March
Loving My SpouseStop! In the Name of Love!Ask Not, Have Not!Beneficial GraceThe Incomparable ChristRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IIDETRIMENTAL DELAYSFootprints On the Mountainside Part IFootprints On the Mountainside Part II...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...The Heartbeat of His HeartThe Wayward and The ObedientThe Potter and His Vessels of ClayGod Can Use Anybody!You’re Canceled!Today’s Assignment!There You Go, Again!I Messed Up!The Worker and The Work!Repent and Obey!God Can Reach Anybody, But Will You?Wonder Working PowerThere is Work for You to Do!Yes, God Does Reveal Himself to Us!Now Hear ThisImperfect, But Usable!Preach the WordGod Can Save AnybodyThe Hard WordThe Message of Salvation from God
8 Comments
Amen! Thank you Casey for this encouraging devotional!!!
Amen! Thank you for a much needed reminder; What A Friend We Have in “Jesus”!
Amen! 🎶What a Friend we have in Jesus!🎶 Thank you sister Casey for this encouraging devotional!
Amen Sis. Casey! Very encouraging and powerful devotional!
Amen! Sis Casey. Thank you There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus- no not one!
Amen! There is no friend like the lowly Jesus. Thanks for keeping it real, Sister Turner.
Amen! Amen!! And Amen again!!! What a Friend I have in Jesus. Thank you for being a friend!!!
Amen! Lord! Teach me how to be a better friend