Parable of the Watermelons

God created watermelons to either be round or football-shaped, so how did those melons in the picture become square? Someone purposely tampered with them to modify their shape. The melons were each placed inside a plastic box when they were small. As they grew, they were molded into the exact shape of the container.

The parable of the square watermelons shows us how this world tries to mold us into something that God never intended us to be. The political correctness mold dictates how we must talk and think. It constantly tries to brainwash us—telling us that right is wrong, and wrong is right. The world imposes its sexual immorality mold on us, while God tells His followers to stay morally pure (1 Thess. 4:3). Young people are pressured fit into the popularity mold so they will make bad choices that can ruin their lives. If we listen to these wrong voices long enough, we'll eventually turn into a square melon.

God says, "Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold" (Rom. 12:2, Phillips Transl.). To keep from being squeezed into the wrong molds, your inward character must be stronger than the pressure being applied from the outside. If you squeeze a cracker in your hand it will crumble because the outward pressure is greater than the inward strength. But you if squeeze a baseball, nothing will happen because the inside is greater than the outside.

To keep from being squeezed, purpose in your heart to love God more than this world (1 John 2:15). Daily walk with God. Stay in contact with the Lord every day by talking with Him in prayer and listening to Him. Read His Word every day. Don’t make this a legalistic duty, but do it to stay in fellowship with Him. Start today. It will keep you from getting bent out of shape. 

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

Desperate for a Miracle

If God Knows What I Need, Why Should I Pray explains that prayer has 4 purposes. One purpose is to show God how desperately we want something. In Mark 5:25-26, a woman had an infirmity for 12 years but no doctor could cure her. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him and touched His robe—and was instantly healed.

Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around and asked, “Who touched my robes?” (v.30) Even though a crowd had been pressing against Him, this woman’s touch was different from the rest. Jesus didn’t get upset at her but said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (v.34). He had healed many people by touching them, but this woman reversed the process and received her healing by touching Him. Notice four things about her faith:

1. DESPERATION. She was desperate for an answer. She never asked, “If it be Thy will.” She correctly assumed that it was God’s will to heal her.

2. EXPECTATION. She said to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well” (5:28). Faith expects God to do a miracle, even when the situation seems hopeless. She had suffered 12 years, but it still wasn’t too late.

3. CONNECTION. She was the only one in the crowd who touched Him with faith. Power was pulled out of Jesus in response to her touch (v.30). Like an electrical cord being plugged into an outlet, touching Him connected her with God’s power.

4. RECEPTION. She didn’t wait for Jesus to touch her. She received her miracle by reaching out and taking it for herself. Later we find that whenever Jesus went into towns, many people were touching the tassel of His robe to be healed (Mark 6:56). Apparently this woman set a precedent for others to receive healing in the same way.

Do you desperately need a miracle? Learn from this woman—reach out and touch the God who can do what is humanly impossible (Mark 10:27). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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Discover the 4 Purposes of Prayer. Read If God Knows What I Need, Should I Pray?

Watch this awesome video  “Who Am I?” by Casting Crowns performed with white gloves and black lights. (14.5 million views on YouTube)

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

Leaping Instructions

Jesus said, "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. (Luke 6:22-23)

    I’ve seen people leap for joy when their football team scores a touchdown. 

    I’ve seen people leap for joy when a player hits a 3-pointer to win a basketball game.

    I’ve seen people leap for joy when they win the Publisher’s Clearing House. But I’ve never seen anyone leaping for joy when they’re hated by others.

Jesus said to “leap for joy”—not when your team wins, but when evil is being unleashed on you. One time when I was being attacked by a mean-spirited person, another pastor told me, “You need to follow the leaping instructions. Jesus told us to jump for joy when we’re under attack.” I had never thought of that before—to literally leap for joy. Jesus said to "be glad in that day,” not after you die and go to heaven.

The key is to understand what’s taking place in heaven at that very moment. You must realize that when you’re being hated for doing God’s will, the Lord is giving you an incredible reward in heaven that will last throughout eternity. If He would pull back the curtain and you could see this reward, you would be doing cartwheels and leaping for joy. But since you can’t see it right now, you’ll just have to take Jesus’ word for it.

LEAPING INSTRUCTIONS. (You can also leap for joy when you are discouraged or depressed). Find a private place where it’s just you and the Lord. Start jumping up and down while you’re praising God. It’s that simple. Leap just like you jumped for joy when your team won. But now you’re doing it because God is blessing you in the midst of a horrible situation. And don’t be surprised if your depression and discouragement also leave you. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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Prayer can change your circumstances! Read If God Knows What I Need, Should I Pray?

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Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett

Man's Rejection Can Be God's Direction

During the Great Depression, Wallace Johnson, a dedicated Christian, was devastated when he was fired from his job at a saw mill. Wallace felt the world had just caved in on him. His worried wife asked, “What are we going to do?” Wallace thought through his options and told her, “I’m going to mortgage our home and go into the building business.”

His first venture was constructing two small buildings. God blessed his business and within five years Wallace had become a multi-millionaire. He later founded the Holiday Inn motel chain. In an interview, Wallace said, “Today, if I could locate the man who fired me, I would sincerely thank him for what he did. At the time it happened, I didn’t understand why I was fired. Later I saw that it was God’s wondrous plan to get me into the ways of His choosing.” What looked like the worst thing that could happen actually was the best thing. (The Sure Cure for Worry, Kent Crockett, Chosen Books, p.149-150).

Perhaps you’re devastated from being rejected. Instead of being furious or taking vengeance, view your rejection as God’s direction. Keep in mind that rejection is a common way the Lord directs people to a new and better place. He has the ability turn someone’s curse on you into His blessing. “The Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you” (Dt. 23:5). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com

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Did you know that prayer can change your destiny? Read If God Knows What I Need, Should I Pray?

Receive these devotionals (free) by email: You can subscribe in the box on the right at www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com (Your email will not be given out. You’ll receive an email when the new devotional is posted)

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net  Twitter: @KentCrockett