Author: Brad Whitt
07 Dec Devotional Thought – The Draw of the Divine
"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3
God says that He has loved us "with an everlasting love" and it is because of that love, and with that love, that He has “drawn” us. What does it mean to “draw” someone? Well, as I understand it, “to draw” is the opposite of “to drive.” So, the truth that I take from this verse is this: “Because I love you, I do not force you. I desire to win you by my love.” I believe that is true, because as Adrian Rogers often said, “Forced love is not love at all.”
05 Dec Devotional Thought – Heaven’s Prompting For Prayer
"Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession." Psalm 2:8
It was God Himself who spoke these words to the Messiah, prompting the Lord Jesus what to pray for. This simple verse suggests something very important then about the nature of all successful prayer - that it must first be prompted by the Father. You see, my prayer doesn't change His mind or cause Him to move. No, it is His mind that is to determine my prayer and direct my movement. That's why effective prayer isn't so much of a petition as it is a prophecy. My Father says to me, "Here is my will, ask for this."
02 Dec Fridays Are For Family – A Father’s Touch
This past week the Whitt family spent a great deal of time traveling together as we celebrated Thanksgiving with my wife's parents in Texas. It was a whirlwind trip, with several preaching opportunities and very little down time. Now, I'm always looking and thankful for any opportunity to preach, but I'm becoming even more grateful for any opportunity to be able to spend time with my two children without the normal demands of the average work week.
While we were traveling together over the Thanksgiving weekend there were two moments that certainly grabbed my attention and heart as a daddy. The first was on our flight out to Texas. Jack and I were sitting beside each other, waiting for the plane to taxi on to the runway. When the plane started to speed up for the take off, Jack scooted over real close to me and grabbed my hand with both of his. He didn't look up at me or even say anything, but I knew immediately why he had done that. He did if for the same reason I used to grab my dad's hand when I was scared or unsure. He wanted the security that can really only come from a father's touch.
30 Nov Devotional Thought – The Promise of Divine Prosperity
"He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3
At first blush this appears to be an amazing, astounding - almost unbelievable - promise. What a grand incentive for a good man to be, well...good. Think of it. Who wouldn't want the good, godly man to be prosperous? Who wouldn't want such a man to see whatever he touched turn to gold? Who wouldn't think it a good thing for one like the Psalmist describes in the beginning chapter of his hymnbook to be blessed materially, financially, personally?