Grow Devotes | Grow Churches

Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Our Peace

“So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The Lord is Peace…” Judges 6:24 Jehovah means “Lord and Existing One” and Shalom means “peace and wholeness.” The shalom peace of the Lord is found multiple times in the Old Testament, but the name Jehovah Shalom is found only once when Gideon used it to name a place of sacrifice. Gideon was visited by the Angel of...

Jehovah Mekoddishkem: The Lord Who Sanctifies

“… I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” Leviticus 20:8 Jehovah means “Lord” and Mekoddishkem means “sanctifies.” God told His people, “I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” It also means to consecrate, dedicate, separate, prepare, or to be hallowed or holy. God asks us to sanctify ourselves, to set ourselves apart for Him, but here God is saying, “I will sanctify you.” God will set us apart. God will...

Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is There

“The LORD is there.” Ezekiel 48:35 A name in the Bible has meaning, describing the character or purpose of a person or place. Jehovah Shammah (Strongs 3074) is a Hebrew word for God; Jehovah means “the Lord,” and Shammah means “there.” The name Shammah comes from the root sham, used to describe location and time. It also means to “be in” a place, thing, matter, or circumstance. The name Jehovah...

His Name is Jehovah Yahweh

“I am the Lord (Yahweh) your God…” Exodus 20:2 A name declares the character of the one called by it, but the name Yahweh or Jehovah is a name that God called Himself. Many believe that the name came from another Hebrew word hayah (1961) used in Exodus 3:14 when God told Moses to say, “I am that I am” has sent you, meaning “to be or to become or...

Giving It All Away

“Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31 Often we think of the abundant life that Jesus promised us, and we see ourselves financially blessed with an overflow to give to others. However, in Mark 10:17-31, Jesus asked a rich young ruler to give away all that he had. Jesus didn’t ask the rich man to give from his overflow; He asked him to give...

Notice Him

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” James 1:17 When my husband and I did missionary work, we relied upon the giving of others to meet our financial needs. Some of our supporters were consistent and faithful. Others gave when they were able. Some gave every month, and some gave one-time gifts. As God opened doors to travel into...

He Satisfies

“…unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by non means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 Before a baby is born, the child has never known hunger or thirst because he or she was connected to a continual life source. Once the baby has been born and separated from their mother, the child will begin to experience need and want. The baby will be hungry,...

No Wanting

“Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:10 A seeker is a person who is reliant on the one they seek. If you were self-sufficient, doing it all on your own, then there would be no need to seek anything or anyone else. A seeker realizes who God is and goes after Him as the source of our life and our love. What is a...

God First in Our Day

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” Psalm 5:3 First in Your Day There is really no commandment or obligation to seek God at the beginning of your day. However, let me share four reasons why someone would want to spend the first part of their day with God. 1. When you know...

God First in Finances

Proverbs 3:9, 10 “(9) Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Honoring God means that we value Him above anyone or anything. It means that we have decided to put our trust in Him instead of relying upon our own ability and strength. It’s about yielding...

God First in Relationships

“..the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His.” Isaiah 33:6 Amplified Version When Jesus sent a message to the church in Ephesus in Revelation chapter two, He told them that He had noticed the good works they were doing. Then He says, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” The Greek word for “left” is aphiemi, which means “to...

God First in Pursuit

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 Seeking God is the pursuit of God and the advancement of His kingdom. When we make God our pursuit, we are open to receive His alignment in every other area of our lives. By seeking a holy lifestyle and the wellbeing of His church, we invite His supernatural grace...

More Than First

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…” Mark 12:30 God doesn’t want to be first in your life; He wants to be Lord over your life. To make something or someone first means that something or someone else is second, as if divided into parts. God doesn’t want to have part of...

True Love is What I Wanted

“It is true love that I have wanted…” Hosea 6:6 (Phillips) Often we focus on what we desire, but let’s consider what God desires. A desire is an appetite for something or someone that causes us to want to pursue the object we have affection for. It is a longing that experiences fulfillment when it is satisfied. God is a passionate God who longs for what He wants, and He...

True Love of a Father

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 There is a word in the Hebrew that describes a deep love that is commonly translated as mercy or compassion. It is a word that comes from a root word for womb and it has been used to describe the strong love of a parent for a child. God...