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Read Proverbs 5:15-23
“Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running wa- ters out of thine own well” (v. 15).
We were created with very real needs for relationship, love, acceptance, a sense of self-worth, recognition, and purpose. Our Heavenly Father has lovingly made provisions for each of these needs. God never fails His child, but we fail each other. We experience rejection instead of recognition; abuse destroys our sense of self-worth. It is hard to love or receive love. We have a choice. Will an unmet need control life, or will we allow God to control when, where, and how our needs will be met? This choice has life-changing importance. Turning to the world to meet legitimate needs often starts a downward spiral. Decisions are made; attitudes develop. Motivation that originated as a desire for relief, escape, recognition, comfort, or acceptance turns destructive. The attempt to meet a need becomes bondage — a bondage unwanted and hard to break free from. No longer the master, the individual unwittingly becomes the victim of the choices made.
We have the opportunity and responsibility to choose whether to be the master of our desires and needs or to allow them to have mastery over us. Lord, help us to be careful in meeting the needs of others and allow you to meet our needs! (LAD)

Lord, I choose to trust you with this day.

This week's featured devotional is from the Monday, February 16, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Photo credit: "Israel - Nimrod - fortress cistern" by Matt Mickelson used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Resized, text added.

Read Psalm 31:17-24
“Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous” (v. 18).
Several men were seated in a circle talking, and the subject turned to fishing. As it often happens in such circles, one story is told, and another tops it with his story of success. Glenn, who could have been described as having some cognitive limitations, was among the men. He had a story of his own. He said he had caught a very big fish. He was asked, “How big?”
“Well,” he said, “it was so big it took a half hour for the hole in the water to close up!”
Now that was a story!
As I remember it, about that time the group erupted with laughter and dispersed. They had been bested by someone they thought was incapable of such declarations, but remember that lying, shading the truth, and exaggerations come under the condemnation of God.
God is truth. God expects truth from the lips of His people. Truth is the very fabric of the gospel, and we discredit it if we fail to tell the truth. God tells us about how really sinful and helpless we are apart from God, and by God’s grace we will dwell in a realm where truth and truth alone is the order of the day. (Lonnie Witt)

They who practice lying are not a reflection of the Author of truth.

This week's featured devotional is from the Wednesday, February 11, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Photo credit: "38 Pounder from Eldean" by Tim Creque used under CC BY 2.0 / Resized, cropped.

Read Matthew 21:12-16
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves” (v. 12).
Since my husband grew up in a builder’s home, we enjoy looking through model homes, finished or not. If it is furnished and decorated, the house tells a lot about the people living there. I especially remember a furnished one we toured that had a million dollar price tag. There were three levels of living space, two kitchens, and a guest house, all beautifully decorated. But what impressed us most was the fact that there were Christian mottos on the walls and an open Bible prominently placed on the office desk. We concluded that the family living there loved Jesus.
What would people conclude about us if they could see the furnishings of our “heart houses”? Would the decor indicate wrong attitudes and desire for things that would displease our Lord? Or would the beauty of a heart surrendered to God be evident?
What if Jesus came physically into our churches, what would He find? Is our church a place where truth is taught and careful living encouraged? Would He find evidences of love, peace, and joy? Or would He need to drive out strife, self-will, and pride? May we open the doors of our hearts and let Jesus drive out what is displeasing to Him. (Leta Witt)

Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay; come into my heart, Lord Jesus.
— Harry D. Clarke.

Let us strive to decorate our lives and churches with a love that is evident.

This week's featured devotional is from the Thursday, February 5, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.
Photo Credit: Cayman Brac Mission Home by Zenia Woods

Read John 4:13-19
“For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly” (v. 18).
It is a common thing in the news, especially in election years. This or that politician stands with head bowed, admits to an extramarital affair, and withdraws from the race. You might think that after having seen so many die political deaths over sexual misconduct that all those interested in public office would be especially careful to avoid it. The list, however, continues to grow. Why did these men even attempt a candidacy when they were behaving indiscreetly? They, like so many of us, forget that no matter how secret our sins seem to be, they will be found out.
God is never fooled by our attempts to hide sin. We may try to overlook it, explain it away, talk around it, or even lie about it, but God sees, He knows, and He prods our consciences until we either admit our sin or turn away from Him entirely.
Are you trying to hide sins in your life? Are there things about which you do not like to pray? Take time today to ask God to search you and reveal to you any hidden sins. (Karen Speak)

Search me, O God, and know my heart today.
Try me, O Savior; know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, and set me free. — J. Edwin Orr

“Be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

This week's featured devotional is from the Wednesday, January 28, 2015 entry of Opening the Word.

Photo credit: "Just looking into the darkness" by Fabio used under CC BY 2.0 / Canvas expanded to 960 pixels wide.