Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Devotionals by J.M. Farro


The Best is Yet to Come


"But you have saved the best till now." - John 2:10 NIV

One of the things I love most about the Lord is that sometimes, all we have to do is simply think about a matter that is troubling us, in order to experience His comfort and reassurance. While I do believe that it delights His heart to "pray about everything," as His Word tells us to (Philippians 4:6 NLT), I also believe that there are times when He desires to encourage us before we even ask. This was the case for me recently, when I was thinking about all the good things I must have missed out on, because I didn't surrender my life to the Lord until I was almost 40 years old. By then, I was married and had two children in their teens. I can only imagine how much better my life and my family would have been if I hadn't waited so long to get serious about my relationship with God. As I thought about these things in my quiet time with the Lord, He led me to some reassuring promises from His Word. Joel 2:25-26 (NIV) says: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten...and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will My people be shamed." Only God Himself could restore to us the years that were spent and wasted apart from Him and His perfect plans for us. I have discovered that though we may have missed out on the Lord's "Plan A" for our lives, if we will begin to wholeheartedly devote ourselves to Him, He will begin to unfold a "Plan B" for us. When He does, we can't help but praise Him for His miracle-working power, and His eagerness to deliver us from shame and regret.

One divine promise that I claim often is Job 8:7 (AMP): "And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase." I especially appreciate the "latter end" part of this promise, because it emphasizes blessings received later in life. One translation says, "He will make your later years very great." Since my first book wasn't published until I was 50 years old, I have a special appreciation for this divine promise, and I have hope that it will continue to be manifested in my life in various ways. As we get older, it's tempting to think that we should be slowing down and retiring from life. That may be the world's way, but that's certainly not God's way. The Bible says: "[The righteous] will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green." (Psalm 92:14 NIV) Even if you have retired from your career and your job, the Lord has important work for you to do. If you will offer your life and your God-given gifts up to Him with sincerity, and if you will ask Him to use you for His glory, He will put you to work in His kingdom, and you will experience more meaning and purpose in your life than ever before. Then you will continue to "bear fruit" in your later years, and you will "stay fresh and green," instead of becoming idle and stagnant. The psalmist wrote: "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come." (Psalm 71:18 NIV) As we get older, we have a greater responsibility to bring more people into God's kingdom through our testimony and our example. As each succeeding generation gets further away from God, our part in the Great Commission becomes more valuable every day.

The Lord spoke an encouraging word to me the other day, and I believe that He wants me to pass it on to you. As I pondered how quickly my life is passing by, He told me, "The best is yet to come!" I challenge you to take this word of encouragement to heart today, and open the door to greater blessings and rewards than you've ever experienced before!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your ability and eagerness to restore to me the years that I have wasted living apart from You and Your plans for me. Today, I surrender to You all that I have, and all that I am. Put me to work in Your kingdom, so that the gifts You have given me will be used for Your glory, and for the good of others. May I continually declare with complete confidence and conviction - "The best is yet to come!"


- J. M. Farro

 

go to main Devotionals page
go to Devotionals archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, March 14, 2025
ALBUMS
Shout Praises Kids! Español Buen Dios [Integrity]
UPPERROOM 1350 (Live) [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
1K Phew All I Need - Single [Reach]
Anchor Hymns Walk With Me/How Precious Your Presence (feat. Caroline Cobb, Sarah Kroger, and Stefan Cashwell) - Single [Integrity]
AZ Christlike Greater Works - Single [Syntax]
Big Daddy Weave Let It Begin - Single [Curb]
Blanca This Won't Take My Praise (feat. Taylor Hill) - Single [Curb]
Jekalyn Carr Don't Faint - Single [WayNorth]
Clemency Whole Heart - Single (independent)
Coqui only Idol - Multi Single [DREAM]
Just Cordell Wait - Single (independent)
Adriel Cruz We're Not Alone - Single [Syntax]
Grace Graber, Daniel Spriggs My Favorite Part - Single (independent)
Illustrate, Procyse Mask Off (Daniel DeGree Remix) - Single [Polished Arrow]
Knaladeus Your Love - Single [Syntax]
LO CLOUD Stars Align - Single (independent)
Newsboys How Many Times (oh how You love me) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Blessing Offor Lift Me Up - Single [Capitol CMG]
Nate Parrish Small - Single (independent)
Josiah Queen Yesterday is Dead - Single [Capitol CMG]
Emmy Rose Tend (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Tedashii Heavy Heart - Single [Reach]
Todd Tilghman Holy Place - Single [StowTown]
Brandon Watson Too Far Gone - Single (independent)

Next Friday, March 21, 2025
ALBUMS
Kayla Berry Soar - Single (independent)
Diatheke ...And The Word Was God [Rottweiler]
Ellie Holcomb Sing: Spring Songs [Capitol CMG]
Jesus Culture Worthy of Hallelujah (Live) [Capitol CMG]
Tauren Wells Let The Church Sing - EP [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Pat Boone ONE - Voices for Tanzania - Single [Lamb & Lions]
Faith Worship Arts The Lifter (Live) - Single [DREAM Worship]
Life.Church Worship Christ In Me - Single (independent)
Seph Schlueter Turn It To Praise - Single [Provident]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out the newest JFH Metal compilation - FREE!
Get JFH's 13th free indie compilation now!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images