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The Journey with Ron Moore

Discipline

July 18, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Jeremiah 44:2-5

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have seen all the disaster that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of the evil that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they knew not, neither they, nor you, nor your fathers. Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, ‘Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!’ But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods.”

Some people conclude from passages like today’s that God is unloving. Bring disaster on his people? Leave their towns deserted? How could he? The answer is found in God’s love and mercy.

Like a father who genuinely loves his children, God disciplines us. What loving father would let his toddler play by a busy road? If a beloved child continues to waddle toward danger, discipline is applied. The discipline does not show a lack of compassion. Quite the opposite. The father loves his child too much to allow them to be hurt or killed by a car.

God loves us too much to allow us to play by the spiritual life’s equivalent of a busy highway. He loves us too much to allow us to continue to live in spiritual danger. When we ignore his instruction, he applies discipline. The writer to the Hebrews said it this way, “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11 NIV).

Talking to God

Father, none of us like the consequences of sin. No discipline seems pleasant at the time but thank you for loving us so much that you never give up on us. Thank you for applying the discipline that produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. Help us to see your love in your discipline. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

This Week on The Journey Broadcast:

 

1st John

Real Life: Confidence and Contentment

June 29, 2021

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In life, and in marriage, a long-range view can make the difference between contentment and strife.

Ron Moore helps you put on those long-distance lenses so you can find real peace and serenity.

Perfect Peace

June 28, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Isaiah 26:3-4

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Fear shows up at the most inconvenient times. Like the winds of a tornado, it swirls through our hearts destroying the places where calm lived. Fear usually comes with a partner—a call from the doctor with a report of dreaded results, an appointment with our supervisor who may be delivering bad news, the upheaval of the stock market playing havoc with what we thought would be our retirement, a child out late who was supposed to have been home an hour ago.

But our passage today reminds us that fear can be dulled, even driven away, when we keep our mind on the Lord rather than our circumstances. This focus results in “perfect peace,” a deep settled calmness. Why? Because the mind stayed on God trusts him. Life still happens but in the midst of our storms, he is the immovable anchor. And we can trust in him forever. He is the “everlasting rock.”

I don’t know what you are going through today but God does. If you are reading this with a fearful heart, he is inviting you to trust him even as the winds of fear howl around you. He is inviting you to a place of rest and peace. The following prayer is for you. Use it as a guide, make it your own, and trust in the everlasting rock.

Talking to God

Dear Father, I am fearful. (Name the circumstance) is causing anxiety to fill my heart. I am scared of what may happen or what may not happen. Please help me let go of the fear and turn it over to you. Please fill my heart with the perfect peace that you promise. Help me to keep my mind stayed on you. You are the everlasting rock. I cling to you as the anchor for my fearful soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Real Marriage – Nourished

A Son is Given

June 24, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. I can go to him anytime for anything. He is never too busy. No appointment needed. He understands. He sympathizes with my weaknesses. He has been tempted and yet never gave in. His perfect counsel corrects my selfish thinking and gives guidance to my foolish heart.

Jesus is the Mighty God. All things were created by and for him. Apart from him nothing was made that has been made. He touched blind eyes and they saw. He touched withered limbs and they were normal and healthy. He calmed the raging storms with his command. He raised the dead. He conquered death! He is fully God and fully Man.

Jesus is the Everlasting Father. He is eternal. The Word became flesh in the manger, but there has never been a time when Jesus was not nor will there ever be a time when he is not.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He reigns as King and one day will bring peace to the earth. But now he brings peace to the heart. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

For to us a child is born! Enter the King! Exit the darkness! The Light of the World has come!

Talking with God

Father, thank you for demonstrating your love to me by sending your Son—the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace—to die in my place on the cross. Help me respond appropriately to such unfathomable love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Real Sex – Honored

Weak and Strong – Part 2

June 9, 2021

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What are the essential characteristics of the Kingdom of God on Earth? Moreover, what can you do to destroy them…and what can you do to maintain them?

Ron Moore talks about that on today’s broadcast and offers practical guidance on keeping the peace of God in your heart and your church.

Waves of Anxiety

May 30, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Psalm 94:18-19

When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Sometimes we can feel it coming on. Like a person who loses their footing on a steep climb, we can feel our emotions slipping. The waves of anxiety build until they crash into our hearts and drench our souls. Here it comes, the fear of uncertainty.

  • Our teenager is late coming home on a stormy night.
  • Our boss wants to see us first thing in the morning.
  • The doctor wants to run more tests.
  • Our mind swirls in the waiting room for news from the surgery.
  • The doctor says, “I’m sorry. There is no more we can do.”
  • The savings are gone.
  • He walks out the door.

Life is filled with circumstances that cause uncertainty. The stuff of life is beyond our control and it’s the lack of control that causes our emotions to implode. So, what do we do when we feel the fear mounting? The psalmist instructs us to turn hard toward God.

It is our loving Father who comes to our aid. As we take on the crashing waves of uncertainty, he keeps us standing. When our feet begin to slip, he grabs us and holds on tight. His peace passes human understanding. His comfort brings joy even in the midst of stormy trials. When we know God as our Father, certain help is always present with us.

Talking Points

  • Ask God to help you turn to him when fears take hold.
  • Thank God for his comfort in the midst of the emotional storms.

Father, some are reading this with a heart saturated by anxiety. Allow them right now to feel the calming comfort of your Spirit. Give them the certainty of your presence that always provides a deep peace. Let them know that since you are for us, nothing can stand against us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

This Week on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Romans

My Soul Clings

May 27, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Psalm 63:8

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

 Sometimes all we can do is hold on. One doctor’s visit leaves our minds spinning. One phone call changes the course of our days. One text leaves our hearts heavy. We’re not up for reading a book about the theology or the practice of prayer. Sometimes all we can do is cling.

David wrote the words of today’s passage when he was in a desert – a dry time, a lonely time. Maybe you can relate. Today you are in a desert of illness or loss, fear or doubt, confusion or anxiety. Your mind is swirling with questions about the future and real-time decisions. You are exhausted from the tests, the waiting, and the procedures. You are recouping from the treatments. You are reeling after the loss. Sometimes all you can do is cling.

That’s all you need to do! Hold tight to the Father! Fasten yourself to him. The ride may be bumpy so buckle up next to him. His strong right arm is wrapped around you. He’s holding on to you more tightly than you are clinging to him and he will never let you go! Wherever you are and whatever you’re going through, keep clinging to the Father. That is the only place of real protection, encouragement, and peace.

Talking Point

  • Lord, today help me cling to you. Thank you for your strong right hand that holds me up. 

Father, I am clinging to you! Thank you for holding tight to me and never letting go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

The War Within

The Road to Reconciliation

May 20, 2021

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We are powerless in our hostility toward God. Try as we might we can’t love Him on our own. We can’t fear Him as we should. We can’t be at peace.

But, as Ron Moore is about to explain, God, in His love, has a hope and cure that doesn’t depend on us.

No Not One

May 17, 2021

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Is the New Testament teaching of salvation by faith “new?” Did God have one way to save the Jewish people and another way to save the rest of us?  Or can we all find peace with God by doing good things and being good people?

Those are the issues Ron Moore is going to address in today’s broadcast.

Lifted to Safety

May 3, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Job 5:10-11

[H]e gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Maybe you have lost a loved one. Maybe you have lost your health. Maybe you have relocated and left good friends behind. Maybe the love of your life has left you behind. Grief is our response to many different forms of loss. Moving through mourning is a process that makes necessary progress only when our eyes are on the Lord.

Look around you and see the work of God. He provides the needed water for plants, crops, and flowers highlighting the countryside. If he cares that much for the plants, how much more does he care for you!

Grief is natural, but God responds to us in a supernatural way. He never leaves us alone. He never abandons us. He gives us what we need right when we need it. He meets us where we are but doesn’t leave us there. He reaches down to those feeling low and lifts them up. He embraces those who are mourning and brings them to a safe place. Look up! He is reaching out to you!

Talking Points

  • Thank God for providing everything you need.
  • Thank God for reaching out to you. Experience his peace that passes all understanding.

Father, someone reading this is very low. Please lift them up. Someone else reading this is in the pit of grief. Please lift them to safety. Please do your supernatural work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Sanctifying Sexual Desire in Men – Part 1

Addressing the “Strange Melancholy”

March 26, 2021

Podcast (daily-devotion): Play in new window | Download

Devotion Text
 

2 Samuel 22:32

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

When we place our trust and confidence in people, sooner or later we will be disillusioned. When we seek satisfaction in material possessions, our hearts will crash like a person coming down from a drug-induced high. When we worship money, we run after a god who never quite quenches our thirst. False gods always leave us alone and afraid.

As Alexis de Tocqueville recorded his famous observations about America in the 1830’s, he wrote of a “strange melancholy that haunts the inhabitants . . . in the midst of abundance.” Americans believed then, and still believe, that prosperity brings happiness. But as de Tocqueville noted, “the incomplete joys of this world will never satisfy [the human] heart.” (from Tim Keller’s Counterfeit Gods).

David reminds us in today’s passage that there is no God besides the Lord! There is no steady and secure refuge except the Rock! He alone is the remedy for the “strange melancholy” that infects our hearts. He alone fills our fearful and unsettled hearts with peace and joy.

Talking Points

  • Confess your confidence in people, your satisfaction in possessions, and/or your misplaced worship of money.
  • Ask God to replace the “strange melancholy” with a deep satisfaction that can only come from him.

Father, open our eyes and let us see where our confidence is founded. Help us turn from the gods that leave us alone and afraid and run to you—the Rock. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

So What?

Perfect Forever

March 15, 2021

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Who was the king of righteousness and peace? And what does he have to do with your salvation?

Today Ron Moore looks at this mysterious character from the Old Testament to help you discover the Great High Priest.

The Prayer of a Longing Heart

March 5, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Have you been praying for something that God has not provided? In your heart, there is a deep longing that God has yet to fulfill. Then, you have a kindred spirit in a woman named, Hannah.

 1 Samuel 1:10-13

[Hannah] was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.

Prayer is often born from distress and accompanied by tears. A request is unanswered. A desire is unfulfilled. A yearning goes unsatisfied. For Hannah, it was the desire to have a child. Her distress was deep, and her weeping was bitter. She made promises to raise this child to fear God. Hannah was at the point where she couldn’t express the words, so she prayed passionately in her heart. Been there? There now?

The rest of this story included a son for Hannah. I don’t know what the rest of your story will include, but I know who does. Talk to him about the deep longing of your heart.

Talking Points

  • Lay it out before God—the deep longing, the unmet desire, the unsatisfied yearning. Express your heart to God even if words are difficult to say.
  • Tell God that you are trusting him—trusting his answer and his timing. And trust him to give you his peace when the answer comes.

Lord, your Word says that hope delayed makes the heart sick. I pray for those whose heart is distressed by a deep unmet desire. I pray that they will experience a peace that only you can provide. And help them know that their deepest longing is fulfilled in knowing you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Approaching the Throne

Division Damage

March 2, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Judges 20:26-27

Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And the people of Israel inquired of the LORD.

The prayers of the Israelite army were saturated with tears. Israel was at war…with their brothers. Relatives killing relatives. Thousands were killed on both sides. They fought for their lives and cried as they fought. Herbert Lockyer wrote, “In times of national crisis, the courts of the Most High, largely deserted in more peaceful times, are visited. If only people, as a whole, would frequent the temple of God at all times civil strife would not arise (All the Prayers of the Bible, 58).

Division in a country is disheartening; division in a family is devastating. There—in a family—the battles are bathed with tears. When civil war breaks out in homes, lives and legacies are destroyed. Let’s focus today on our homes.

Talking Points

  • For those experiencing division: Ask God to humble and soften the hearts of all involved. Ask him to cause those fighting to call a cease-fire and seek (and grant) sincere forgiveness. Ask for God’s peace to replace human strife. Ask for laughter to replace tears. Ask God for you to be an instrument of his peace.
  • For those experiencing peace: Thank God for the great gift of living together in unity. Ask God to keep all family members from allowing any hurt to fester into bitterness. Ask God to guard the peace in your home.

Lord, allow me to be a minister of your peace. Help me be a spiritual leader who addresses anything threatening the peace of my family. Lord, please guard my home with your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

And…keep praying for God’s peace….

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

The Danger of Disobedience

The Danger of Disobedience

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“Almost” is never a good response when eternity is on the line.  I “almost” made it results in the same destination as it does for the one who was never close.

Ron Moore offers warning and encouragement for the “Almost Christian.” He implores you to take that last step into faith and discover the peace and rest you’ve “almost had” all your life.

The Lord Is Peace

February 25, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

The Midianites overpowered Israel which caused many of God’s people to live in hiding. Gideon was secretly threshing wheat when God appeared to him in the form of an angel—the angel of the LORD. He appointed Gideon to save the Israelites from the Midianites. After the angel proved that he was indeed God, Gideon exclaimed,

Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.” But the LORD said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace (Yahweh Shalom).  -Judges 6.22b-24

The Hebrew word shalom is translated with the English word “peace” but carries a deeper and broader meaning. Shalom means “wholeness” and “completeness.” Author Cornelius Plantinga explains, “…Shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight—a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed…. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.”[1]

God is Yahweh Shalom. He is the Lord of completeness and wholeness, a God who brings delight to our souls. Yahweh Shalom restores things to the way they ought to be. Your sin separates you from God. But there is good news; it is the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). Yahweh Shalom sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to provide you peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20). And he gives you his Holy Spirit who “is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). God wants your life to be enveloped by his peace! He is Yahweh Shalom!

Talking Points

  • Thank God for the shalom he has given you through Jesus.
  • Ask him to provide you with an opportunity to share the message of Jesus with your children or grandchildren in the next few days.

Yahweh Shalom,

Thank you for giving me peace through Jesus. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit who settles my heart with peace. Help me live a life that is complete and whole in you. Help me to live with your shalom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

[1] Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, Eerdmans, 1995, p. 11.

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Drifting Away

Be Still

January 20, 2021

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Devotion Text
 

Exodus 14:14

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

The twins of fear and doubt roll in like thirty-foot waves and crash onto the shores of our souls. They produce anxiety that leads to more fear and “what if” questions that lead to more doubt. Have you experienced those waves of fear and doubt? Are you experiencing them now?

On their freedom march from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites encountered a problem. They looked back to see the powerful Egyptian army in pursuit. They looked ahead to see an uncrossable sea. They were terrified and cried out in fear. Moses calmed them with these words, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today…The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” You know the rest of the story.

Here they come rolling in, the waves of fear and doubt, caused by sickness, job loss, a relationship breakup, illness of a loved one, discouragement, divorce, death. You can’t stand up under the force of the crashing waves. You don’t have to. The Lord will absorb the powerful force for you. You need only to be still. 

Talking Points

  • Ask God to calm your heart with his peace. Ask God to alleviate your doubt, replacing it with faith. Ask God to help you wait on him and watch him work.
  • Ask God to calm your heart about your children—the challenging one, the wandering one, the one living far from God. Ask God to fight for you on behalf of those who hold your heart in their hands.

Today, no doubt, things will come to jolt you out of heart-calmness. Be ready for it. Continue to ask God to help you be still and find your peace in him throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

Passing the Promises

Real and Messy

January 18, 2021

Podcast (daily-devotion): Play in new window | Download

Devotion Text
 

Exodus 5:22-23

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

When God sent Moses to deliver Israel from slavery, things got a little messy. The Egyptian Pharaoh had no intention of letting Israel go, and he doubled down on Israel’s workload. The people lashed out at Moses for making their lives harder. Moses, in turn, lashed out at God. Check out his boldness. “Why have you done evil to this people?” “…You have not delivered your people at all.”

Prayer is not always pretty. Moses boldly expressed the emotions of his heart. He did not question God’s person; he questioned God’s action…and timing. While we always submit to God’s purposes, this prayer teaches us that, like Moses, we can tell God exactly what’s on our minds. Prayer is talking to God. Unload your heart to him.

Talking Points

  • Tell God all that is on your heart—your fears and frustrations. Don’t hold back. God knows what is weighing you down. Cry out to him.
  • Thank God that he is the great I AM. Nothing is too hard for him. Thank him for the truth that he will always keep his promises. Ask for patience and peace as you wait.

And…keep unloading your heart to the Lord throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

Today on The Journey Broadcast:

 

The Extreme Test

Anchor in Peace

January 8, 2021

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Gale force, anxious winds are blowing through our lives and souls. And they threaten to rip our spiritual sails to shreds.

Ron Moore outlines three things we can do to protect our hearts and minds with everlasting peace.

Real Peace

December 7, 2020

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Chaos, fear, and conflict seem to rule the headlines and our daily lives. But that’s not new. It was the experience of Israel just before our calendars changed forever. Then peace dawned, not in the political or social systems but in a lowly Bethlehem manger.

In this half-hour, Ron Moore looks to the humble prince born that day, who, some 30 years after his birth, would bring real and lasting peace to the hearts of all who believe. Listen and learn how you can share that peace in a chaotic world.

Journey Through the Gospels

Would you like to sense the anticipation of the people as Jesus stood up to preach? Would you like to feel the joy and wonder as the scales fell from the eyes of the man born blind? Would you like to see Jesus for the first time—all over again? That can be your everyday experience with Ron Moore’s devotional titled: “Journey through the Gospels.”

In these three-hundred-sixty-five insightful meditations, Ron takes you on a challenging trip through the life of Christ. Along the way, Jesus will touch your soul and spirit with life-changing truths and tender affection.

“Journey through the Gospels” is yours for a gift of any amount.

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