Are You Ducking God?
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him.” - Daniel 9:9
There is a popular phrase the kids say now when they believe someone is avoiding an outcome. They try to put pressure on the person by asking the question, “are you ducking smoke?” The term “ducking” means avoiding and “smoke” means trouble, confrontation, or a consequence.
Are you ducking smoke? In other words, are you avoiding trouble, confrontation, or a consequence? Many athletes will use this phrase as a form of trash talk when they think someone doesn’t want to compete against them.
My question for you is, are you ducking God? Are you avoiding Him because of something you have done, or because of the person you have become? Maybe you are too ashamed to stand before Him. Or maybe you are afraid if you do, He will just unleash the worst of consequences upon you.
Maybe they are deserved. Maybe they aren’t. But what if that wasn’t who God is? Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him.”
Both believers who have strayed from Him, and nonbelievers who know they need Him, are too often afraid to reach out to God. They are afraid because of what they have done that they are unworthy of calling on Him.
They know they are in trouble, but they think God is just some harsh judge ready to rain down punishment. But that is not who He is. Daniel speaks of a God of mercy and forgiveness. God isn’t just sitting there, ready to punish you.
He is a Heavenly Father that wants a personal relationship with you. He wants you to come to Him with every concern, worry, and problem you have. He will help you.
Are you ducking God? If so, why? Are you afraid of His punishment? Remember, He is a God of MERCY and FORGIVENESS. He loves you and He wants a relationship with you. Call upon Him today. It’s time to stop ducking that smoke.
There is a popular phrase the kids say now when they believe someone is avoiding an outcome. They try to put pressure on the person by asking the question, “are you ducking smoke?” The term “ducking” means avoiding and “smoke” means trouble, confrontation, or a consequence.
Are you ducking smoke? In other words, are you avoiding trouble, confrontation, or a consequence? Many athletes will use this phrase as a form of trash talk when they think someone doesn’t want to compete against them.
My question for you is, are you ducking God? Are you avoiding Him because of something you have done, or because of the person you have become? Maybe you are too ashamed to stand before Him. Or maybe you are afraid if you do, He will just unleash the worst of consequences upon you.
Maybe they are deserved. Maybe they aren’t. But what if that wasn’t who God is? Daniel 9:9 says, “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him.”
Both believers who have strayed from Him, and nonbelievers who know they need Him, are too often afraid to reach out to God. They are afraid because of what they have done that they are unworthy of calling on Him.
They know they are in trouble, but they think God is just some harsh judge ready to rain down punishment. But that is not who He is. Daniel speaks of a God of mercy and forgiveness. God isn’t just sitting there, ready to punish you.
He is a Heavenly Father that wants a personal relationship with you. He wants you to come to Him with every concern, worry, and problem you have. He will help you.
Are you ducking God? If so, why? Are you afraid of His punishment? Remember, He is a God of MERCY and FORGIVENESS. He loves you and He wants a relationship with you. Call upon Him today. It’s time to stop ducking that smoke.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else TomorrowA Love Letter, Not a Rule BookFaith That Moves Without ProofWhen Desperation Strips Away DignityTrusting God in the SmokeThe Miracle Was Not Just for YouWhen Familiarity Kills ExpectationThe Timing of God Is Never AccidentalA Savior Who Shows Up to Ordinary MomentsWhen the Wine Runs OutTake It to Jesus FirstDo Whatever He Tells You to Do
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God
No Comments