What works is the Devil currently attempting to use to distract you in your faith journey? May the passages below remind you that God’s got this. Therefore, be full of peace, faith, and courage as He lives in and through you.

1 John 3:8 (HCSB) The one who commits sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works.

John 16:33 (HCSB) I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

1 John 4:4 (HCSB) You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Romans 8:37 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

1 John 2:13 (CSB) I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one.

1 John 5:4 (HCSB) because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

Song: More Than Conquerors by Rend Collective

​Real Dudes,
Last night for my devotions I read 2 Peter 2, which sparked the interest to share the following passages with each of you. Let me encourage you to soften your hearts and allow the Lord to speak into you this morning. What change are you going to allow Him to make in your life today?
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Judges 8:21b (NIV) ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’

Proverbs 5:22 (HCSB) A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him; he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.

2 Peter 2:19-20 (HCSB) They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.

Romans 6:1-7 (HCSB) The New Life in Christ
6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be  in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.

John 8:30-36 (HCSB) Truth and Freedom
30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

Galatians 5:1 (ASV) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

Romans 6:16-18 (HCSB) 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

One author states that, “Once we come to Christ in repentance and receive forgiveness for sin, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit who comes to live within us. It is by His power that we are able to resist sinning and become slaves of righteousness. Jesus’ disciples belong to Him and want to do the things that please Him. This means that the children of God obey Him and live in freedom from habitual sin. We can do this because Jesus has set us free from the slavery of sin (John 8:36), and thus we are no longer under its penalty of death and separation from God.” Full Article entitled What does it mean to be a slave to sin? on gotquestions.org

Need a relationship with Christ? Click here to learn more about the Steps to Peace with God by Billy Graham

Song: Whole Heart by Hillsong United “sin has no hold on me, ‘cause Your grace holds me now.”

​Real Dudes,
Skip and I were both unable to attend this months Ox Strong get together, but it was encouraging to hear that we had 24 in attendance. I’ve heard that Pastor Anthony Nieuwsma did a fantastic job speaking on Biblical Accountability. If you were unable to attend, then here’s the link to his message to us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZURkglZ0xuA&t=123s. Hope you’re able to set aside some time to go back and view this.
I’m looking forward to being the guest speaker on April 9th at Ox Strong. I’ll see y’all then Lord willing.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Real Dudes,
Last year I used John MacArthur’s book Drawing Near as my nighttime devotionals…here’s a link to it on the computer if you’re interested Link to Drawing Near...A daily devotional.
A good friend of mine recently sent me a text that deals with drawing near (located at the end of this article). Anyway, I couldn’t help but want to remind each of us to be drawing nearer to the Lord every day. Hopefully you’ll find the article below to be spiritually fulfilling and healthy for your growth in Him. I’ll be away from my computer for a while, so take your time navigating the content I’ve provided you.
Enjoy,
Nate

4 Reasons God Appeared to Elijah with a Still, Small Voice

• Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Contributing Writer
• 2021    26 Apr

 "and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." - 1 Kings 19:13
If you are not familiar with the story of Elijah I would encourage you to spend some time reading it. By the time we get to 1 Kings 19, Elijah had just experienced a tremendous victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. As a result of this victory, a hit was put out on him. Queen Jezebel wanted him dead and made it very clear this was her intention. When Elijah heard this, he did what many wise men of God would do. He ran for his life. By the way, this is not figurative this is literal. He ran away and hid because he was afraid. This is also a reminder that no matter how great a man or woman of God is they are still human. Elijah had human emotions. Highs and lows. Great boldness and great fear all coming from the man of God. By the time we get to 1 Kings 19 Elijah is tired, he’s dejected, he feels all alone, and he is ready to give up. This depressed version of Elijah makes his way to Horeb, the mountain of God. It is in this place that God visits him, and God speaks which leads us to the verse I want you to look at.
The Meaning of God's "Still, Small Voice"
"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'” – 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV, bold emphasis added)
The ESV, NLT, and CSB translations also word it as 'whisper,' while other translations word it as: "and after the fire a still small voice ." (KJV & NKJV) and "and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing." (NASB).
There are so many things you can pull from this story but the question I want to pose to you is this one. What is the significance of God appearing to Elijah in a gentle whisper in 1 Kings 19?
What's Important About God Speaking in a Still, Small Voice?
1. It was what Elijah needed.
For a moment I want you to put yourself in Elijah’s shoes. You have just won a tremendous victory where God showed up and proved he was God. Now you are running for your life. Elijah was so distraught that he didn’t want to live anymore and his desire to be a prophet vanished as well. In this moment Elijah didn’t need the power and strength of wind, an earthquake, or a fire. If God would have appeared out of the wind, the fire, or the earthquake I think that would have overwhelmed Elijah in his fragile condition. What he needed at that moment was the calming reassurance of God’s presence. God knew this and he met him in that manner.
2. It revealed the tender nature of God.
While God is judge and all-powerful and can do what he wants, when he deals with you and me he very rarely comes with the fire. This does not mean that God doesn’t bring judgment because he does, but that is not his first response. God is a lot calmer when he deals with us than we are when we deal with people. God deals with us more often than not with grace and loving-kindness. I believe this was part of the significance of God appearing to Elijah in a gentle whisper. This revealed the tender nature of God. As important as it is to know the God of fire and brimstone that does not draw us to him. It is his kindness, his mercy, his compassion, his love that draws us in. I believe God was displaying that to Elijah. Paul reminds us of this in Romans,
"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" – Romans 2:4
Remember at this point in Elijah’s life he was in a broken place. God met his brokenness with tenderness, which is what he often does with you.
3. It was a foreshadowing of things to come.
All throughout Scripture we see God from time to time move in dramatic ways. However, those are really the exceptions. More often than not when God’s presence shows up it comes like the gentle whisper. I want to give you an example of what I mean. In the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Bible says he came in like a rushing wind and tongues of fire were over the heads of the disciples gathered there. At that moment they began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them. Do you know how many other times that happened in Scripture? None. Yes, the Holy Spirit came and filled people but there was nothing like that day of Pentecost. It is important to understand that the dramatic mountain top events are not typical of how God deals with us in the day-to-day. These are outside the norm. Yes, they can happen but most of the time there is a calm, reassuring sense of God’s presence that you carry with you from day to day. There will be moments when you sense it greater than others but for the most part it is steady and consistent like that gentle whisper.
4. It is the place that God speaks from.
There is one more thing I find in the significance of God appearing to Elijah in a gentle whisper. In 1 Kings 19 after God appeared in the gentle whisper, he spoke to Elijah. I believe this is the same way he speaks to us. Other translations call this the still small voice. When God speaks to your heart this is often how it happens. Not the loud thunder but the gentle whisper of a still small voice.
I got saved when I was 6 years old. However, whenever the pastor would preach a hard sermon and make an altar call, I would go up again. I guess I just wanted to make sure. As I got older, I began to wonder was I saved at six or was it those other times over the years when I went up to the altar. One day when I was 18 years old, I was walking to catch the train. I was heading to class at college and this question was on my mind. I remember the exact place I was standing and the school I was walking in front of when God spoke to my heart in this gentle whisper. Here is what he said. That moment at six years old when you prayed was the moment I saved you. I have never questioned it since. What is the point of this story? The same way God spoke to Elijah. The same way God spoke to me. It’s the same way God speaks to you.
Listen for God's Still Small Voice Today
If there is one thing that is required for God to show up and speak in this manner it is this. You must make room for his presence and you must tune your ear to his voice. What I mean by this is that the ones who hear God speak most often are the ones who have prepared themselves to listen. Most people will not hear God speak audibly; you may hear God speaking to your heart through prayer, or you may hear God speaking to you through reading the Bible. Jesus has left us with an advocate and helper who lives within all believers, the Holy Spirit. 
I would encourage you to take moments of stillness. As powerful as God is his presence so often shows up in the most gentle, loving fashion. Like he did with Elijah he wants to meet you in your personal space. A hidden treasure in the significance of God appearing to Elijah in a gentle whisper is that God met with him one on one. Regardless of your situation, God cares. He is not too busy to meet with you. In fact, he invites you in. He wants to meet with you one on one and help you with your most pressing situation. Don’t worry he’s not coming with earthquakes and fire. He’s coming with gentle compassion because he loves you and cares for you and wants to meet you right where you are. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/reasons-god-appeared-to-elijah-in-a-gentle-whisper.html

A good friend of mine sent me this text one day from a devotional he’d read, “God doesn't whisper so that you can barely hear him. It is to draw you closer like a father embracing his child. Therefore, keep leaning closer. You’ll hear Him. And in the meantime, enjoy His embrace.”

​Additional Verses to Lean Into:

• James 4:8 (ESV) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Psalm 73:28 (NKJV) But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

Songs:

• Draw Near by Kristian Stanfill
• Draw Near to God by Russ Taff & Leigh Nash
• Your Nearness by Shane & Shane

Hymns:

• Nearer, My God, to Thee
•  I am thine, O Lord...Draw Me Nearer by Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr.

Prayers:

• How to Draw Closer to God: 6 Powerful Prayers