1 Chronicles 22:19
19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.”
Today, the devotion includes the verse that we discussed when we met on that Wednesday night 31 days ago and agreed to challenge ourselves to spending some time with God daily. I sincerely hope that over the last 31 days you’ve made God a priority and spent time with him each day. Below are the bullet points from the message I presented that night:
Big Idea:
A commitment to devotion will build up your life to be used by God.
The deal:
• You devote your time to those things that you place value on
• Devotion is an act of love and worship
• Devotion is where true change happens
The reality:
• Devotions are time with God
• They can be in the form of Bible study, prayer, private worship, or anything else outside of corporate worship
• They are another way to “tithe”
The challenge:
• From where you are today, do more
• Pray that God will truly change your life through this process
• 31 days of devotions – blog: RefugeSeniorHigh.blogspot.com
For me, the last 31 days have been amazing. To be honest, when I first thought of the challenge, I thought it was a really good idea, but was quite unsure of my follow through. I have been able to complete all 31 days and have been blessed to have things to write about each day. In fact, I have heard compliments and testimonies from a lot of people because of this blog. It has shown me a lot about my life and I hope that it’s done the same for you.
So, today, pray that God will give you the resolve and strength to continue making time with Him a priority. Ask Him to continue to show you that time with Him equals obedience and that when you are obedient, He blesses you. Finally, pray that your devotion time will truly change you and make you more like Jesus.
Please let me know how your 31 days have gone. I would love to hear your story of how God is changing you through this time alone with Him. Post here or on Facebook what God has done in your life throughout the last 31 days.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 30
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (New International Version)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
As we get to day 30 of our 31 day devotional challenge, I think this verse is appropriate for us all. I sincerely hope that you’ve been able to stick with this every day and that it’s had a positive impact on your life. If you haven’t been able to quite do devotions every day, I at least hope you’ve done it most days and that you will continue doing this for the rest of 2011.
But, my prayer for all of you is that, if nothing else, God has given you a sense of peace throughout this devotional challenge. I believe that peace in our busy lives is difficult to find and I hope that you’ve found moments of peace as you’ve spent time with God. Often times, we may not get the answers that we’re looking for, but I pray that God has given you His peace knowing that ultimately He is in control of your future and your current consequences.
Many times we pray to God expecting an answer. And, often times, He doesn’t respond in the time frame or even the way we think He should. However, I firmly believe that peace should be a by-product of turning our cares and our requests over to His capable hands. And I think that this is something we should search for.
Additionally, when we’re faced with a big decision in our lives, we should pray for His peace. Because I believe that when we feel peace about a decision, that is when we know that it is God’s will. And, remember, we’re not just talking about calmness or quietness, we’re talking about a peace that “surpasses all understanding.” It’s a peace that we don’t even understand or fully comprehend, yet it is there anyway and it helps us move forward in life.
So, today, pray that God will give you His peace. Ask Him that it comes at all times, in every way, and in every circumstance. Pray that He will help you to pray first for peace and then for answers so that you can know His amazing love in your life.
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
As we get to day 30 of our 31 day devotional challenge, I think this verse is appropriate for us all. I sincerely hope that you’ve been able to stick with this every day and that it’s had a positive impact on your life. If you haven’t been able to quite do devotions every day, I at least hope you’ve done it most days and that you will continue doing this for the rest of 2011.
But, my prayer for all of you is that, if nothing else, God has given you a sense of peace throughout this devotional challenge. I believe that peace in our busy lives is difficult to find and I hope that you’ve found moments of peace as you’ve spent time with God. Often times, we may not get the answers that we’re looking for, but I pray that God has given you His peace knowing that ultimately He is in control of your future and your current consequences.
Many times we pray to God expecting an answer. And, often times, He doesn’t respond in the time frame or even the way we think He should. However, I firmly believe that peace should be a by-product of turning our cares and our requests over to His capable hands. And I think that this is something we should search for.
Additionally, when we’re faced with a big decision in our lives, we should pray for His peace. Because I believe that when we feel peace about a decision, that is when we know that it is God’s will. And, remember, we’re not just talking about calmness or quietness, we’re talking about a peace that “surpasses all understanding.” It’s a peace that we don’t even understand or fully comprehend, yet it is there anyway and it helps us move forward in life.
So, today, pray that God will give you His peace. Ask Him that it comes at all times, in every way, and in every circumstance. Pray that He will help you to pray first for peace and then for answers so that you can know His amazing love in your life.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 29
2 Thessalonians 2:4 (New International Version)
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Although it’s not exactly what this verse is talking about, upon reading it, my mind immediately went to the gods that I have set up in my own life. Or better yet, what things do I allow to oppose what I believe and exalt itself above the God that I worship? And, do I use religious things to keep me from doing God’s will in my life?
We spend a lot of time doing things that are not getting us any closer to God. We have activities in our lives that we think we can’t do without, yet they don’t bring us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. We even have things that we miss church to do because we feel as though we cannot miss it or else, somehow, our lives would be incomplete. These are the things that “oppose” and “exalt” themselves “over everything that is called God.”
Also, there are moments where we place religious things ahead of God’s will so that they set themselves up “in God’s temple, proclaiming to be God.” There are things in life that we know are sinful. When we see others who live this lifestyle or do these things, we let it interfere or come between us and our faith and we forget that the greatest commandments where to love God and love others. In other words, we get so wrapped up in judging and condemning other people, that it becomes something that proclaims itself to be God when God tells us to love everyone, unconditionally.
So, what activities do you have in your life that you are letting come between you and God? What things do you do that keep you from having a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ? What religious things have you allowed to set up in God’s temple that proclaim themselves to be God fooling you into thinking that they are God?
For me, I have always placed a high emphasis on ‘success.’ I used to do anything it took to get me what I had pictured in my mind as success. This meant that I would work long hours and even compromise my integrity to get where I wanted to be. In essence, I allowed this pursuit of ‘success’ to come between me and God and it caused me to stop going to church – it definitely opposed God in my life and I allowed it to exalt itself over God.
So, pray today that God will give you eyes to see the areas of your life where you have been separated from God. Ask Him to show you what things are being exalted over him and ask for His forgiveness. Finally, pray that the religion you subscribe to doesn’t outweigh and supersede the God that you serve and the faith that you have.
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Although it’s not exactly what this verse is talking about, upon reading it, my mind immediately went to the gods that I have set up in my own life. Or better yet, what things do I allow to oppose what I believe and exalt itself above the God that I worship? And, do I use religious things to keep me from doing God’s will in my life?
We spend a lot of time doing things that are not getting us any closer to God. We have activities in our lives that we think we can’t do without, yet they don’t bring us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. We even have things that we miss church to do because we feel as though we cannot miss it or else, somehow, our lives would be incomplete. These are the things that “oppose” and “exalt” themselves “over everything that is called God.”
Also, there are moments where we place religious things ahead of God’s will so that they set themselves up “in God’s temple, proclaiming to be God.” There are things in life that we know are sinful. When we see others who live this lifestyle or do these things, we let it interfere or come between us and our faith and we forget that the greatest commandments where to love God and love others. In other words, we get so wrapped up in judging and condemning other people, that it becomes something that proclaims itself to be God when God tells us to love everyone, unconditionally.
So, what activities do you have in your life that you are letting come between you and God? What things do you do that keep you from having a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ? What religious things have you allowed to set up in God’s temple that proclaim themselves to be God fooling you into thinking that they are God?
For me, I have always placed a high emphasis on ‘success.’ I used to do anything it took to get me what I had pictured in my mind as success. This meant that I would work long hours and even compromise my integrity to get where I wanted to be. In essence, I allowed this pursuit of ‘success’ to come between me and God and it caused me to stop going to church – it definitely opposed God in my life and I allowed it to exalt itself over God.
So, pray today that God will give you eyes to see the areas of your life where you have been separated from God. Ask Him to show you what things are being exalted over him and ask for His forgiveness. Finally, pray that the religion you subscribe to doesn’t outweigh and supersede the God that you serve and the faith that you have.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 28
2 Thessalonians 1:6 (New International Version)
6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
Often times, we try to play God and do His job. Paying people back when they wrong you is exactly one of those times when we do that. But, we see here that God “will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.” So, let’s consider this principle for our lives…
Who is it that has done something so bad to you that you have been thinking about getting revenge? Who have you already exacted revenge on that you need to ask for forgiveness? What other areas of your life are you playing God? What situations and people do you need to turn over to God and let Him fulfill his promise in this verse?
For me, anyone that does anything wrong to me, I want them to experience exactly what they put me through. Not that I want to necessarily get revenge, but I find myself almost hoping that they get back what they dished out to me. It’s because of impatience that I want to act on my own rather than wait on God to pay back the trouble that I’ve been caused. And, in reality, I may never see or even know that God has done anything in their lives.
So, today, pray that God will give you the resolve to let God be God. Ask Him to show you who you are trying to pay back trouble to. Finally, pray that you will truly learn to “turn the other cheek” and understand that God will live up to His promise.
6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
Often times, we try to play God and do His job. Paying people back when they wrong you is exactly one of those times when we do that. But, we see here that God “will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.” So, let’s consider this principle for our lives…
Who is it that has done something so bad to you that you have been thinking about getting revenge? Who have you already exacted revenge on that you need to ask for forgiveness? What other areas of your life are you playing God? What situations and people do you need to turn over to God and let Him fulfill his promise in this verse?
For me, anyone that does anything wrong to me, I want them to experience exactly what they put me through. Not that I want to necessarily get revenge, but I find myself almost hoping that they get back what they dished out to me. It’s because of impatience that I want to act on my own rather than wait on God to pay back the trouble that I’ve been caused. And, in reality, I may never see or even know that God has done anything in their lives.
So, today, pray that God will give you the resolve to let God be God. Ask Him to show you who you are trying to pay back trouble to. Finally, pray that you will truly learn to “turn the other cheek” and understand that God will live up to His promise.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 27
Today I'm posting a Devotional that relates to this week's message in Refuge. Enjoy!!
YOU, NOT ME
By Sarah Anderson
(Read Mark 2:1-12 before reading this devotional.)
Something about just hearing the word “friendship” makes me feel good. I immediately start thinking about long phone conversations, inside jokes, road trips, a good meal together, a good cup of coffee and a lot of laughs. When I think about friendship, a lot of great things come to mind. But the truth is a friendship made up of only the great stuff isn’t really a friendship at all. It’s a fantasy. Because anyone who has been friends with someone for a long time can tell you that as much fun as solid quality friendship can be, it can be a lot of hard work too. It isn’t always convenient and it definitely isn’t always easy.
At one point in His ministry, Jesus encountered some guys in Capernaum who had learned firsthand the sometimes inopportune and awkward demands of being a friend. When Jesus had entered the city, He went to a house to begin preaching His message. Word had spread about Him and what He was able to do—His reputation proceeded His arrival so that once He got in town, not only were people ready to hear Him, they crowded the house He was in, gathered outside the doors and windows, and were willing to do just about anything to get a closer look at this rumored Messiah. There was talk that He was a healer, a miracle worker and that in a seemingly effortless way, He could restore sight to the blind, movement to the lame and hope to the desperate.
With that much hype surrounding Jesus’ arrival, it was no surprise that the crowds took to Him immediately, surrounding every square inch of space available around Him. And the guys this story is about were no different than the rest of the town—they were five guys whose curiosity was piqued and whose interest was stirred. They too wanted to hear what Jesus had to say. Only one problem. One of the five was a paralytic. As in totally paralyzed. As in living his life on the space of a 3x6 foot mat. Every day. Day in. Day out.
Let’s get honest here. Let’s say what everyone else is thinking. When it came to getting to hear Jesus, this paralyzed guy was kind of slowing the rest of them down. I mean it took all four of his friends to carry him, and if they wanted any chance of getting to the action, then they had to leave this friend behind. Surely he would understand. Surely he would see that he was more a hindrance than a help. Surely he wouldn’t mind if they promised to bring him around next time Jesus made a public appearance.
But these four guys weren’t about to leave their friend—the one who needed the touch of Jesus more than anyone else—behind. They weren’t about to put their interests, their desires, their expectations before the wants of their paralyzed friend. So, the book of Mark says, the four friends carried the fifth guy. They each took a corner of his mat, and they lifted him, shouldered him, somehow moved him to the house where Jesus was, only to find the crowds more than they could handle. They couldn’t get close enough. They could hardly hear a thing from the outside. Their plan was interrupted. So they gave up? Nope. So, they cut their losses and said maybe next time? So they left their friend on the mat and bumped and pushed their way closer to hear what Jesus had to say themselves? No. They got creative. They climbed on the roof. And then they made an opening there. As in, they damaged private property. And then somehow they got their paralyzed friend on the roof, and with whatever strength they had left, they lowered him, slowly, carefully, but probably not quietly, into the room where Jesus was teaching.
And while the people there may have been a little put out, a little frustrated by the disturbance, Jesus wasn’t at all. In fact, Jesus takes note. Not just of the man on the mat coming from the roof, but of the four men who worked to get him there. The book of Mark says that when Jesus saw their faith—not the paralyzed man’s faith, but their faith, the faith of all five men and not just the one—He did more than what everyone expected. He invited the paralyzed man to pick up his mat and walk.
Jesus stopped what He was doing when He saw the faith of five friends. It silenced Him. He noticed it. He made an example out of five guys who saw the bigger picture of friendship than just convenience, ease and a benefit to themselves. What these guys understood was that friendship very rarely has to do with only the good stuff and the easy stuff. That oftentimes the friendships that go the distance, the friendships that people take note of, the friendships that end up silencing the people around you are the ones that are marked by selflessness, the ability to drop personal needs for the sake of someone else’s. The friendships that get our attention are the ones where someone is willing to get a little uncomfortable for the sake of the one who needs him or her.
How far are you willing to go when it comes to being inconvenienced for the sake of a friend? Are you willing to carry the mat? Are you willing to put yourself aside and risk some embarrassment, just so you can get that friend to the feet of Jesus? What lengths are you willing to go to?
Who around you could use some help carrying their mat? Who could use some extra strength, some additional care, some added encouragement? Who needs you to be the kind of friend you have the potential to be? And what will it take for you to start acting like this friend they need? Yes, it can be hard. Sure, it may be uncomfortable. But you have more than just the world’s attention when you live this way. You have the eye of Jesus on you. You have the attention of the very One whose love you are modeling. He notices love, service and friendship of this magnitude. And where He is involved, anything can happen.
Monday, March 14, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 26
1 Thessalonians 4:7 (New International Version)
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
Let’s face it, sexual temptations are all around us. It is quite difficult to avoid being tempted by something we see or something we hear or read. No matter which way we turn, sex and sexual innuendo are thrown at us at an alarming rate.
I mean, I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. And, we all struggle with it to varying degrees. Some of us don’t struggle at all while others struggle to a large degree. This is one of the areas of life that far too many people find themselves in a mess that they don’t know how to get out of. And, unfortunately, many people succumb to the pressure and give in to doing things that ultimately destroy their lives along with any relationships they have.
I want to urge you that the message in today’s verse is that complete purity should be the goal. This includes both purity of body, mind, and spirit. Additionally, the instruction we receive here is to not just stop at purity in the sexual sense, but to live a life that is holy. This means that all areas of your life should be in line with a pure life – sexually, relationally, etc.
Are you sexually pure? Is there any area of your life that is not pure? Do you value your purity and vow to keep it that way until you are married? What things do you need to change in your life to be in line with this verse? Do you have an accountability partner that holds you accountable to a higher purity standard?
For me, this used to be a tough area for me. I have had to take a strong stance in my life to remove anything that might be a temptation to me. This includes the TV shows I watch or the movies I rent. It also includes the things I look at and the things I read (both online and in print). Consuela and I have come to learn that “the small stuff matters.” In other words, everything that goes into your mind/heart plants a seed, no matter how small it may seem at the time. Everything matters.
So, pray today that God will reveal any area of your life that is impure. Ask Him for the strength to fight back against temptation and not give into it. Finally, pray that He will help you take the necessary steps and realize the goal of living a holy life.
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
Let’s face it, sexual temptations are all around us. It is quite difficult to avoid being tempted by something we see or something we hear or read. No matter which way we turn, sex and sexual innuendo are thrown at us at an alarming rate.
I mean, I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. And, we all struggle with it to varying degrees. Some of us don’t struggle at all while others struggle to a large degree. This is one of the areas of life that far too many people find themselves in a mess that they don’t know how to get out of. And, unfortunately, many people succumb to the pressure and give in to doing things that ultimately destroy their lives along with any relationships they have.
I want to urge you that the message in today’s verse is that complete purity should be the goal. This includes both purity of body, mind, and spirit. Additionally, the instruction we receive here is to not just stop at purity in the sexual sense, but to live a life that is holy. This means that all areas of your life should be in line with a pure life – sexually, relationally, etc.
Are you sexually pure? Is there any area of your life that is not pure? Do you value your purity and vow to keep it that way until you are married? What things do you need to change in your life to be in line with this verse? Do you have an accountability partner that holds you accountable to a higher purity standard?
For me, this used to be a tough area for me. I have had to take a strong stance in my life to remove anything that might be a temptation to me. This includes the TV shows I watch or the movies I rent. It also includes the things I look at and the things I read (both online and in print). Consuela and I have come to learn that “the small stuff matters.” In other words, everything that goes into your mind/heart plants a seed, no matter how small it may seem at the time. Everything matters.
So, pray today that God will reveal any area of your life that is impure. Ask Him for the strength to fight back against temptation and not give into it. Finally, pray that He will help you take the necessary steps and realize the goal of living a holy life.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 25
1 Thessalonians 3:7 (New International Version)
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
With less than a week left in the 31 Day Devotional challenge, I want to encourage you that we are very close to completing our fifth book of the Bible! This is no small feat and is a very extraordinary thing for us to be able to say that we’ve done! Just imagine what you could do if you kept this up for the rest of the year…you just might complete the entire Bible!! That is my challenge to you…
But, today we focus on this Scripture which speaks so clearly to one of the benefits of surrounding yourself with Godly people. Too many people only see those that they go to church with on Sunday morning. Then, the rest of the week, they’re at work where they are surrounded by people and environments that are less than Christian. Now, don’t get me wrong, we all need to be out in the world ministering to those around us, but I think the verse today gives us insight as to why it’s also important to have Christian friends around us.
Have you ever been to a point where you were ready to give up? I mean, this Christian thing, well you gave it a chance, and it’s just too hard? Maybe you feel like Paul here – you’re distressed and persecuted and you’re to a point where you almost can’t go on another day?
If that’s you, Paul gives us the direction here that, by having brothers and sisters in Christ around you, you are able to tap into their faith and their stories of faith. In other words, when you are weak, you can be strengthened by the acts of faith of those around you.
Here’s what I mean. Have you ever heard a story where a Christian has overcome some obstacle in their life that you walk away from it thinking “man, if they can do THAT, then I can do THIS”? Their tremendous story of hope, or restoration, or God’s triumphant blessing in their life gives you such encouragement to deal with whatever you’re going through. That’s what I’m talking about here.
For me, I find encouragement in others often. In the life of ministry, there are often moments where I feel as though the mountain is too high or the waters are too deep and I just can’t do it. There are times where the idea is just too big or there just aren’t enough people or resources to carry it out. Or, there just isn’t enough time in my week or days in my month to get things done and I’m not sure that I can continue to juggle everything effectively. Then, I see someone like Pastor Todd who has his hands full with a LARGE family in addition to making a transition into a new position in a new city, and I think to myself “man, if he can do THAT, then I can do THIS!”
So, today, pray that God will give you strength to continue on another day. Ask Him to place others in your life that you can be encouraged by their faith by, especially when you are distressed and persecuted. Finally, pray that your faith can be that to someone else someday.
7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
With less than a week left in the 31 Day Devotional challenge, I want to encourage you that we are very close to completing our fifth book of the Bible! This is no small feat and is a very extraordinary thing for us to be able to say that we’ve done! Just imagine what you could do if you kept this up for the rest of the year…you just might complete the entire Bible!! That is my challenge to you…
But, today we focus on this Scripture which speaks so clearly to one of the benefits of surrounding yourself with Godly people. Too many people only see those that they go to church with on Sunday morning. Then, the rest of the week, they’re at work where they are surrounded by people and environments that are less than Christian. Now, don’t get me wrong, we all need to be out in the world ministering to those around us, but I think the verse today gives us insight as to why it’s also important to have Christian friends around us.
Have you ever been to a point where you were ready to give up? I mean, this Christian thing, well you gave it a chance, and it’s just too hard? Maybe you feel like Paul here – you’re distressed and persecuted and you’re to a point where you almost can’t go on another day?
If that’s you, Paul gives us the direction here that, by having brothers and sisters in Christ around you, you are able to tap into their faith and their stories of faith. In other words, when you are weak, you can be strengthened by the acts of faith of those around you.
Here’s what I mean. Have you ever heard a story where a Christian has overcome some obstacle in their life that you walk away from it thinking “man, if they can do THAT, then I can do THIS”? Their tremendous story of hope, or restoration, or God’s triumphant blessing in their life gives you such encouragement to deal with whatever you’re going through. That’s what I’m talking about here.
For me, I find encouragement in others often. In the life of ministry, there are often moments where I feel as though the mountain is too high or the waters are too deep and I just can’t do it. There are times where the idea is just too big or there just aren’t enough people or resources to carry it out. Or, there just isn’t enough time in my week or days in my month to get things done and I’m not sure that I can continue to juggle everything effectively. Then, I see someone like Pastor Todd who has his hands full with a LARGE family in addition to making a transition into a new position in a new city, and I think to myself “man, if he can do THAT, then I can do THIS!”
So, today, pray that God will give you strength to continue on another day. Ask Him to place others in your life that you can be encouraged by their faith by, especially when you are distressed and persecuted. Finally, pray that your faith can be that to someone else someday.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 24
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (New International Version)
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Fathers are an interesting topic and the father/child relationship is so vitally important for all of us. Studies say that a father’s involvement (or lack of involvement) determines the direction of a child’s life and how secure (or insecure) that child will be in their identity. Additionally, there have been many studies that have shown, time and time again, that fathers influence their children in ways that a mother alone just can’t do.
For some of us, the thought of our father is an easy one. He’s there and he attends all my school events. He supports me and he encourages me. He loves me unconditionally and shows me affection on a regular basis. He teaches me right from wrong and fills my life full of weighty things like integrity and character. For us, this Scripture describes our father to a “T.” He is “encouraging, comforting, and he urges us to live lives worthy of God.”
For others, the topic of our fathers is not an easy one. Our father is a workaholic, so we never see him and he is not at any of my events. He misses out on the most impressionable and important moments of my life. Or, maybe our father is absent emotionally. He’s home, but disconnected from any emotional relationship with me. Or even worse yet, he is absent physically and emotionally. You may not even know who he is.
For those that fall in the second category I described, you probably long for the encouragement and comfort that Paul speaks of in this verse. You hope for the day when dad will grab you up, hug you, apologize for what he’s done to you and your family, and continue a long life full of love and affection. I want to encourage you that whether or not that ever happens, you have a Father that loves you in such a way that no earthly father could ever do – that Father is God.
God longs to be our Father. He wants to have a relationship with us that gives us everything that our father either gave us or didn’t. He wants to love us. He also wants to encourage us, comfort us, and urges us to live lives that are worthy of Him and His will for our lives. I don’t want this to be some philosophical concept that can never be attained for you. But, I really want it to be something that you strive for each and every day.
For me, I had a good dad. Of course, there are things that I wish he would have done better. But, for the most part, he was a good dad. My downfall is not appreciated the type of father I had. I took him for granted and, to a large degree, still do today. Because of this, I feel like our relationship has been fractured to an extent. And, I feel as though I’ve missed out on some things over time.
So, today, if your father has been involved in your life in a positive way, thank God for that relationship and ask that God never lets you take it for granted. If your father is absent in some way, ask that God will reconcile the relationship and gives you the patience to wait on His timing. Above all else, pray that God will be your Father and ask Him to show you the way to deepen your relationship with Him.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Fathers are an interesting topic and the father/child relationship is so vitally important for all of us. Studies say that a father’s involvement (or lack of involvement) determines the direction of a child’s life and how secure (or insecure) that child will be in their identity. Additionally, there have been many studies that have shown, time and time again, that fathers influence their children in ways that a mother alone just can’t do.
For some of us, the thought of our father is an easy one. He’s there and he attends all my school events. He supports me and he encourages me. He loves me unconditionally and shows me affection on a regular basis. He teaches me right from wrong and fills my life full of weighty things like integrity and character. For us, this Scripture describes our father to a “T.” He is “encouraging, comforting, and he urges us to live lives worthy of God.”
For others, the topic of our fathers is not an easy one. Our father is a workaholic, so we never see him and he is not at any of my events. He misses out on the most impressionable and important moments of my life. Or, maybe our father is absent emotionally. He’s home, but disconnected from any emotional relationship with me. Or even worse yet, he is absent physically and emotionally. You may not even know who he is.
For those that fall in the second category I described, you probably long for the encouragement and comfort that Paul speaks of in this verse. You hope for the day when dad will grab you up, hug you, apologize for what he’s done to you and your family, and continue a long life full of love and affection. I want to encourage you that whether or not that ever happens, you have a Father that loves you in such a way that no earthly father could ever do – that Father is God.
God longs to be our Father. He wants to have a relationship with us that gives us everything that our father either gave us or didn’t. He wants to love us. He also wants to encourage us, comfort us, and urges us to live lives that are worthy of Him and His will for our lives. I don’t want this to be some philosophical concept that can never be attained for you. But, I really want it to be something that you strive for each and every day.
For me, I had a good dad. Of course, there are things that I wish he would have done better. But, for the most part, he was a good dad. My downfall is not appreciated the type of father I had. I took him for granted and, to a large degree, still do today. Because of this, I feel like our relationship has been fractured to an extent. And, I feel as though I’ve missed out on some things over time.
So, today, if your father has been involved in your life in a positive way, thank God for that relationship and ask that God never lets you take it for granted. If your father is absent in some way, ask that God will reconcile the relationship and gives you the patience to wait on His timing. Above all else, pray that God will be your Father and ask Him to show you the way to deepen your relationship with Him.
Friday, March 11, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 23
1 Thessalonians 1:2 (New International Version)
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
This Scripture spoke to me in a less than obvious way. So, I ask that you bear with my thoughts tonight as they are probably not what you heard when you read this verse. For me, the words written in 1 Thessalonians 1:2 challenged my prayer life.
Consuela and I have many opportunities to pray for others. We participate in the prayer teams at the main church service, we lead Refuge and hear all kinds of prayer requests there, and we have friends, family, and co-workers asking us to pray for them often. So, our lives are full of many times where we need to “continually mention” people in our prayers.
However, I can say that our prayers for others are hindered by our own busy lives and lack of diligence in remembering all of the prayer requests we hear. In other words, we forget and therefore do not always follow through when we tell someone that we would pray for them. This is a burden that falls heavy on my heart and is the challenge that God laid on me when I read this verse.
So, who have you told that you would pray for them and haven’t? Who should you be continually mentioning in your prayer time with God and are not? What habits can you put in place to help you remember to follow through on this important practice so that you can tell others that you are lifting them up to God?
Pray today that God will help you to follow through when you tell someone that you will pray for them. Ask Him for the memory to recall of the needs that you know those around you have. Finally, pray for those people that immediately came to your mind as you read this (and if you can’t think of anyone, Consuela and I are always grateful for your prayers).
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
This Scripture spoke to me in a less than obvious way. So, I ask that you bear with my thoughts tonight as they are probably not what you heard when you read this verse. For me, the words written in 1 Thessalonians 1:2 challenged my prayer life.
Consuela and I have many opportunities to pray for others. We participate in the prayer teams at the main church service, we lead Refuge and hear all kinds of prayer requests there, and we have friends, family, and co-workers asking us to pray for them often. So, our lives are full of many times where we need to “continually mention” people in our prayers.
However, I can say that our prayers for others are hindered by our own busy lives and lack of diligence in remembering all of the prayer requests we hear. In other words, we forget and therefore do not always follow through when we tell someone that we would pray for them. This is a burden that falls heavy on my heart and is the challenge that God laid on me when I read this verse.
So, who have you told that you would pray for them and haven’t? Who should you be continually mentioning in your prayer time with God and are not? What habits can you put in place to help you remember to follow through on this important practice so that you can tell others that you are lifting them up to God?
Pray today that God will help you to follow through when you tell someone that you will pray for them. Ask Him for the memory to recall of the needs that you know those around you have. Finally, pray for those people that immediately came to your mind as you read this (and if you can’t think of anyone, Consuela and I are always grateful for your prayers).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 22
Colossians 4:3 (New International Version)
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
One of the things that describes our community of Refuge is the word Evangelism. We have committed to the vision that our youth movement should be about sharing the Gospel with the lost in our schools, church, and family. So, I think it’s important to dive into one of the most important aspects of sharing our faith with others.
This all-important aspect is the fact that God opens the doors for us to share our message with others. Our responsibility is to be ready for and be aware of when a door is opened so that we can fulfill our obligation in the equation. Ultimately, we must understand that it is up to God to change the heart of the lost and it is only up to us to share our faith, our story, our testimony. He will take care of the rest.
So, now that that enormous weight has been lifted from your shoulders, how free do you feel to share your faith with others? Who is it that you think God might be opening a door for you to talk to about the wonderful News of Jesus Christ? Where is a door opening at school or at home where you can fulfill God’s call in your life?
For me, it might be pretty obvious – Refuge is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my faith with others. However, what I must keep in mind on a weekly basis is to not force the opportunity. I must be patient and diligent waiting on God’s timing and for Him to open the door for me to share. You see, it may look easy for a pastor or youth group leader to do what they do, and in some ways it is, but it really takes a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and a discernment of where God is working in the lives of those in the room.
So, today, pray as Paul has instructed in this verse that “God may open a door” for you to share your message. Ask Him to give you the discernment and awareness of where He is providing you with an opportunity to share your faith with someone else. Finally, pray for the right words to say that would effectively minister to the other person and that it would plant a seed that will bloom at the right time.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
One of the things that describes our community of Refuge is the word Evangelism. We have committed to the vision that our youth movement should be about sharing the Gospel with the lost in our schools, church, and family. So, I think it’s important to dive into one of the most important aspects of sharing our faith with others.
This all-important aspect is the fact that God opens the doors for us to share our message with others. Our responsibility is to be ready for and be aware of when a door is opened so that we can fulfill our obligation in the equation. Ultimately, we must understand that it is up to God to change the heart of the lost and it is only up to us to share our faith, our story, our testimony. He will take care of the rest.
So, now that that enormous weight has been lifted from your shoulders, how free do you feel to share your faith with others? Who is it that you think God might be opening a door for you to talk to about the wonderful News of Jesus Christ? Where is a door opening at school or at home where you can fulfill God’s call in your life?
For me, it might be pretty obvious – Refuge is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my faith with others. However, what I must keep in mind on a weekly basis is to not force the opportunity. I must be patient and diligent waiting on God’s timing and for Him to open the door for me to share. You see, it may look easy for a pastor or youth group leader to do what they do, and in some ways it is, but it really takes a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and a discernment of where God is working in the lives of those in the room.
So, today, pray as Paul has instructed in this verse that “God may open a door” for you to share your message. Ask Him to give you the discernment and awareness of where He is providing you with an opportunity to share your faith with someone else. Finally, pray for the right words to say that would effectively minister to the other person and that it would plant a seed that will bloom at the right time.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 21
Colossians 3:13 (New International Version)
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiveness is a basic principle in Christianity. It is something that we all want and need for our lives in order to experience the full grace of Jesus Christ. We all have done things in our lives that have been against His will for us and have been contrary to what we know we should have done, and we need forgiveness for our actions.
However, the harder concept with forgiveness is not necessarily that we need it – it is that we need to give it out ourselves. People wrong us multiple times throughout our days here on earth and so the practice of forgiveness should be one that we are accustomed to giving to people. But, I would venture to guess that there may be someone in your life that you think has done you too wrong to forgive them.
So, who is it? What person have you stopped talking to, stopped having a relationship with because they did something to you and you refuse to forgive them? Who is that family member, friend, co-worker that needs your forgiveness just the same as “the Lord forgave you”?
You see, by you refusing to forgive them, that hurts you much more than them. Often we try to make someone feel pain by not forgiving them. But the reality is that it hurts us far worse because we are obsessed with what they’ve done and they have moved on with their lives.
For me, I find that when someone attacks my character – like saying that I intentionally did something to make their jobs harder in some way – it is harder for me to forgive them. I take it quite personally and tend to dwell on their words to the point that it makes me more upset than when it first happened. However, they have often times moved on with life and my unforgiveness is doing nothing but impacting, in a negative way, my own life. But, when I forgive them and then work to mend the broken relationship, my world improves instantaneously.
So, pray that God will help you identify unforgiveness in your life. Pray, using the person’s or people’s name(s), that He will give you the heart to truly forgive them. Ask God for the strength to restore the relationship and to minister to the other person through your forgiveness.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiveness is a basic principle in Christianity. It is something that we all want and need for our lives in order to experience the full grace of Jesus Christ. We all have done things in our lives that have been against His will for us and have been contrary to what we know we should have done, and we need forgiveness for our actions.
However, the harder concept with forgiveness is not necessarily that we need it – it is that we need to give it out ourselves. People wrong us multiple times throughout our days here on earth and so the practice of forgiveness should be one that we are accustomed to giving to people. But, I would venture to guess that there may be someone in your life that you think has done you too wrong to forgive them.
So, who is it? What person have you stopped talking to, stopped having a relationship with because they did something to you and you refuse to forgive them? Who is that family member, friend, co-worker that needs your forgiveness just the same as “the Lord forgave you”?
You see, by you refusing to forgive them, that hurts you much more than them. Often we try to make someone feel pain by not forgiving them. But the reality is that it hurts us far worse because we are obsessed with what they’ve done and they have moved on with their lives.
For me, I find that when someone attacks my character – like saying that I intentionally did something to make their jobs harder in some way – it is harder for me to forgive them. I take it quite personally and tend to dwell on their words to the point that it makes me more upset than when it first happened. However, they have often times moved on with life and my unforgiveness is doing nothing but impacting, in a negative way, my own life. But, when I forgive them and then work to mend the broken relationship, my world improves instantaneously.
So, pray that God will help you identify unforgiveness in your life. Pray, using the person’s or people’s name(s), that He will give you the heart to truly forgive them. Ask God for the strength to restore the relationship and to minister to the other person through your forgiveness.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 20
Colossians 2:8 (New International Version)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
We allow so many people into our lives through different means. Our friends, our classmates, our family, the TV characters, the music artists, etc… We listen to what they say and we make a decision whether or not we believe what they’re saying and ultimately whether we will adopt their principles and philosophies.
Some people will try to lead us toward a life that is all about immediate satisfaction. While others will try to make us believe that what we have and who we are aren’t good enough. And others will say verbally abusive and damaging things to us destroying any hope that we have for tomorrow.
What happens when we listen to these people in our lives is that they take us “captive.” Notice that the Scripture doesn’t just say that they influence us – it says they take us “captive.” They have control over us and they can cause us to do things that we may not otherwise do. In fact, they can cause us to make decisions that are not in line with what we know to be true.
For me, I used to buy into the philosophy that success is the equivalent of the biggest paycheck or the most accolades one could get. I was more concerned about fame and praise than I was in relationships or serving others. But, this verse calls us to the higher purpose – Christ.
So, who are you allowing into your life that shouldn’t be there? Who is holding you captive with their deception and hollowness? What principles do you believe and follow that are not in line with the truth of Jesus Christ? What area of your life do you need to break free from the bondage of influence from others?
Pray today that God will help you see the areas that you live in captivity. Ask Him to give you the strength to resist the ways of the world and follow His way. Finally, pray that God will use you as a positive influence in the lives of those around you – not as one who holds others captive.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
We allow so many people into our lives through different means. Our friends, our classmates, our family, the TV characters, the music artists, etc… We listen to what they say and we make a decision whether or not we believe what they’re saying and ultimately whether we will adopt their principles and philosophies.
Some people will try to lead us toward a life that is all about immediate satisfaction. While others will try to make us believe that what we have and who we are aren’t good enough. And others will say verbally abusive and damaging things to us destroying any hope that we have for tomorrow.
What happens when we listen to these people in our lives is that they take us “captive.” Notice that the Scripture doesn’t just say that they influence us – it says they take us “captive.” They have control over us and they can cause us to do things that we may not otherwise do. In fact, they can cause us to make decisions that are not in line with what we know to be true.
For me, I used to buy into the philosophy that success is the equivalent of the biggest paycheck or the most accolades one could get. I was more concerned about fame and praise than I was in relationships or serving others. But, this verse calls us to the higher purpose – Christ.
So, who are you allowing into your life that shouldn’t be there? Who is holding you captive with their deception and hollowness? What principles do you believe and follow that are not in line with the truth of Jesus Christ? What area of your life do you need to break free from the bondage of influence from others?
Pray today that God will help you see the areas that you live in captivity. Ask Him to give you the strength to resist the ways of the world and follow His way. Finally, pray that God will use you as a positive influence in the lives of those around you – not as one who holds others captive.
Monday, March 7, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 19
Colossians 1:22 (New International Version)
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
Here we see Paul comparing the death of Jesus to the sin offerings that the Jewish people would make under the Law. He draws a direct line between our sin and Christ’s death that brought us reconciliation with God. In other words, God offered the sacrifice for our sins…we just have to accept it and acknowledge it.
So, where are you at in your Spiritual walk? Do you know the peace that comes from knowing Christ as your Savior? Do you understand fully the enormity of what God did by offering the sacrifice of His son to make up for our sinful ways? Do you see the hope and the assurance in this verse that one day we will stand before God – Holy and perfect in every way?
This verse is the basis for our entire belief system and without it we would be just like everyone else. But, we’re not. We are the reason God did this and His love should be what guides our lives and ultimately our faith in Him. So, have you been reconciled to God? If not, won’t you take that step today?
Admit today that you can’t do it on your own and you need God. Ask Jesus to come into your life to become your Lord and Savior. Tell Him that you will continue to serve Him all of your days and pray for strength to take the necessary steps to mature in your faith. Oh, and tell someone the decision you just made to accept Christ into your life!
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
Here we see Paul comparing the death of Jesus to the sin offerings that the Jewish people would make under the Law. He draws a direct line between our sin and Christ’s death that brought us reconciliation with God. In other words, God offered the sacrifice for our sins…we just have to accept it and acknowledge it.
So, where are you at in your Spiritual walk? Do you know the peace that comes from knowing Christ as your Savior? Do you understand fully the enormity of what God did by offering the sacrifice of His son to make up for our sinful ways? Do you see the hope and the assurance in this verse that one day we will stand before God – Holy and perfect in every way?
This verse is the basis for our entire belief system and without it we would be just like everyone else. But, we’re not. We are the reason God did this and His love should be what guides our lives and ultimately our faith in Him. So, have you been reconciled to God? If not, won’t you take that step today?
Admit today that you can’t do it on your own and you need God. Ask Jesus to come into your life to become your Lord and Savior. Tell Him that you will continue to serve Him all of your days and pray for strength to take the necessary steps to mature in your faith. Oh, and tell someone the decision you just made to accept Christ into your life!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 18
Philippians 4:6-7 (New International Version)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How often do you worry? How often are you focused on the uncertainties of the future? At what points in life do you find that you try to figure things out on your own the most? For me, it’s more often than I would care to admit. In fact this Scripture has ministered to me on numerous occasions over the last several years.
There are a number of things in this verse that should open our eyes to discovering further the character of God. The first is that we should not be anxious “about anything.” And, I think that’s important. We often find ourselves in situations that are ‘severe’ enough that we allow ourselves to worry and obsess over them – to an unhealthy degree. But here we see that we should not be anxious about anything. Not the test that’s coming tomorrow. Not the job that we recently applied for. Not our sick relative. Nothing.
It then tells us what we should do when we feel anxious – pray. And not just pray and ask for what we want, but also to give God thanks. I believe that means we should thank Him for whatever we’re worrying about too. That may be tough in most situations, but it is something that could certainly mature us in our faith, huh?
Finally, we see in verse 7 what will happen if we are not anxious and we turn it all over to God along with our thanks – he will answer the prayer in exactly the way we asked Him to. Just seeing if you were paying attention! No, He won’t necessarily answer it in the way we want. But, what the verse does promise us is that He will send us His peace and He will guard our hearts and our minds. In other words, we know that God is faithful to help us and that, when we place our problems, and hopes, and dreams in His capable, loving hands, we can find a peace that “transcends all understanding” in the midst of whatever we’re going through.
As I said in the beginning, I find that I am a worrier. My mom is a worrier, so I come by it honestly. However, it can get unhealthy if I let my mind go too far and I allow the thoughts of the enemy in my head and dwell on the what-if’s of life too much. This Scripture is a good reminder that the peace of God is much better for me than the anxiety of my own imagination.
So, today, pray that God will give you the ability to see when you are worrying and not letting God be God in your life. Ask that He give you the peace that transcends all understanding no matter what situation you are up against. Finally, ask God to protect your hearts and minds so that you can live your life free of the worry that brings so many people down these days.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How often do you worry? How often are you focused on the uncertainties of the future? At what points in life do you find that you try to figure things out on your own the most? For me, it’s more often than I would care to admit. In fact this Scripture has ministered to me on numerous occasions over the last several years.
There are a number of things in this verse that should open our eyes to discovering further the character of God. The first is that we should not be anxious “about anything.” And, I think that’s important. We often find ourselves in situations that are ‘severe’ enough that we allow ourselves to worry and obsess over them – to an unhealthy degree. But here we see that we should not be anxious about anything. Not the test that’s coming tomorrow. Not the job that we recently applied for. Not our sick relative. Nothing.
It then tells us what we should do when we feel anxious – pray. And not just pray and ask for what we want, but also to give God thanks. I believe that means we should thank Him for whatever we’re worrying about too. That may be tough in most situations, but it is something that could certainly mature us in our faith, huh?
Finally, we see in verse 7 what will happen if we are not anxious and we turn it all over to God along with our thanks – he will answer the prayer in exactly the way we asked Him to. Just seeing if you were paying attention! No, He won’t necessarily answer it in the way we want. But, what the verse does promise us is that He will send us His peace and He will guard our hearts and our minds. In other words, we know that God is faithful to help us and that, when we place our problems, and hopes, and dreams in His capable, loving hands, we can find a peace that “transcends all understanding” in the midst of whatever we’re going through.
As I said in the beginning, I find that I am a worrier. My mom is a worrier, so I come by it honestly. However, it can get unhealthy if I let my mind go too far and I allow the thoughts of the enemy in my head and dwell on the what-if’s of life too much. This Scripture is a good reminder that the peace of God is much better for me than the anxiety of my own imagination.
So, today, pray that God will give you the ability to see when you are worrying and not letting God be God in your life. Ask that He give you the peace that transcends all understanding no matter what situation you are up against. Finally, ask God to protect your hearts and minds so that you can live your life free of the worry that brings so many people down these days.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 17
Philippians 3:12 (New International Version)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Of course, we all want to be like Jesus. After all, that’s why the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets caught on so well. But, for those of us that need a more tangible example, we should have those in our lives that are our example or mentor. Also, we should look to people we read about in the Bible as examples of where we want to be. Paul is this for me.
As I read his teachings, my mind can’t help but to picture him as a Spiritual giant. Someone who has it all together and hardly ever fails in their walk with God. It is similar to how we probably view our pastors or deacons or maybe that person that we hear folk tales about in church history. Paul was someone that was an example to so many people and certainly lived his life with a faith that was as big as faith could probably be.
But, what we see here in Philippians is that he was not perfect either. In fact, he says that he has not yet reached his goal or attained what God has promised him. That is so refreshing to me! As one who fails often in my walk with God, I need the reassurance often of the fact that God isn’t done with me yet. I heard someone whom I view as a Spiritual giant say tonight that “we all have shortcomings and we all have blind spots.” That makes me know that I am not alone in my journey to be all that God has called me to be.
Who are your Spiritual giants? Are they worthy of the title? If so, are you in a place to ask them what they are working on in their own Spiritual journey? It is great to have those that are more mature than you spiritually in your life, but it’s also important to have honest conversations with them so you don’t set unrealistic expectations on yourself to achieve a perfection that’s just not possible here on earth.
So, pray today that God will place someone in your life as a Spiritual mentor. Ask Him to show you ways to interact with them so that you can see where they’re growing in their walk. Finally, pray for the strength to continue to grow and to not let setbacks in life to detour you from His ultimate plan for your life.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Of course, we all want to be like Jesus. After all, that’s why the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets caught on so well. But, for those of us that need a more tangible example, we should have those in our lives that are our example or mentor. Also, we should look to people we read about in the Bible as examples of where we want to be. Paul is this for me.
As I read his teachings, my mind can’t help but to picture him as a Spiritual giant. Someone who has it all together and hardly ever fails in their walk with God. It is similar to how we probably view our pastors or deacons or maybe that person that we hear folk tales about in church history. Paul was someone that was an example to so many people and certainly lived his life with a faith that was as big as faith could probably be.
But, what we see here in Philippians is that he was not perfect either. In fact, he says that he has not yet reached his goal or attained what God has promised him. That is so refreshing to me! As one who fails often in my walk with God, I need the reassurance often of the fact that God isn’t done with me yet. I heard someone whom I view as a Spiritual giant say tonight that “we all have shortcomings and we all have blind spots.” That makes me know that I am not alone in my journey to be all that God has called me to be.
Who are your Spiritual giants? Are they worthy of the title? If so, are you in a place to ask them what they are working on in their own Spiritual journey? It is great to have those that are more mature than you spiritually in your life, but it’s also important to have honest conversations with them so you don’t set unrealistic expectations on yourself to achieve a perfection that’s just not possible here on earth.
So, pray today that God will place someone in your life as a Spiritual mentor. Ask Him to show you ways to interact with them so that you can see where they’re growing in their walk. Finally, pray for the strength to continue to grow and to not let setbacks in life to detour you from His ultimate plan for your life.
Friday, March 4, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 16
Philippians 2:3 (New International Version)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
I had to read this verse a few times before I really grasped its meaning. I mean, I understand that we should humble ourselves and think of and value others higher than ourselves, but what did the first part of this verse mean? I believe that every part of every verse has significance, so I knew there had to be nuggets of truth here somewhere…
So, my first goal was to figure out what Paul meant by “selfish ambition.” He says that we should “do nothing out of” it. Then it hit me. How often do we do things because it is going to put us in a better position? Think about it.
When you are trying to decide on where to get that part-time, summer job – do you think to yourself “where can I make the most money and work the best hours” or do you think “where can I work that I will be able to serve the most people and share my faith with others”? Or, when you are trying to make your college choice – are you thinking “what college is ranked highest and has the best dorms and nightlife” or do you think “where can I go to get an education so I can change the world and make Jesus more famous”?
It’s easy in most major life decisions to get caught up in the WIIFM syndrome – What’s In It For Me? The promotion at work, the friends that I have, the future I’m planning for myself. But, doesn’t this Scripture call us to do better than that. I see that it tells to make our ambitions God’s ambitions and our goal with our future should be to “value others above” ourselves.
The next thing that I had to figure out was the phrase “vain conceit.” To me, this is the opposite of humility. In other words, you’re not just conceited, you have vain conceit. Here’s what I mean. Conceit means that you think highly of yourself and you almost have an excessive appreciation in an unhealthy way. But, someone can be conceited and it could be based on a factual part of them. For example, I could be highly intelligent and could be conceited about that. But, “vain conceit” is different.
“Vain conceit” means that the conceitedness that you have is worthless and has no value. In other words, it’s not true. So, what areas of your life do you think higher of yourself than you ought to – both with things that are true about your abilities, skills, looks, etc., but also in areas that are not true about you? Where do you consider yourself better than others?
For me, I struggle more with the selfish ambition than the vain conceit. I often make decisions that have my best interests in mind and keep me in my comfort zone. Now, I wonder what my life would be like if I really considered others when I make major life decisions. I mean, what if I looked for my next job or promotion based on how many opportunities I would have to share my faith with others?
Today, pray for God to show you the areas where you have selfish ambition or vain conceit. Ask for forgiveness in those areas and ask Him to give you a heart to truly change them. Finally, seek God’s will for your future and pray for a renewed humility in your life.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
I had to read this verse a few times before I really grasped its meaning. I mean, I understand that we should humble ourselves and think of and value others higher than ourselves, but what did the first part of this verse mean? I believe that every part of every verse has significance, so I knew there had to be nuggets of truth here somewhere…
So, my first goal was to figure out what Paul meant by “selfish ambition.” He says that we should “do nothing out of” it. Then it hit me. How often do we do things because it is going to put us in a better position? Think about it.
When you are trying to decide on where to get that part-time, summer job – do you think to yourself “where can I make the most money and work the best hours” or do you think “where can I work that I will be able to serve the most people and share my faith with others”? Or, when you are trying to make your college choice – are you thinking “what college is ranked highest and has the best dorms and nightlife” or do you think “where can I go to get an education so I can change the world and make Jesus more famous”?
It’s easy in most major life decisions to get caught up in the WIIFM syndrome – What’s In It For Me? The promotion at work, the friends that I have, the future I’m planning for myself. But, doesn’t this Scripture call us to do better than that. I see that it tells to make our ambitions God’s ambitions and our goal with our future should be to “value others above” ourselves.
The next thing that I had to figure out was the phrase “vain conceit.” To me, this is the opposite of humility. In other words, you’re not just conceited, you have vain conceit. Here’s what I mean. Conceit means that you think highly of yourself and you almost have an excessive appreciation in an unhealthy way. But, someone can be conceited and it could be based on a factual part of them. For example, I could be highly intelligent and could be conceited about that. But, “vain conceit” is different.
“Vain conceit” means that the conceitedness that you have is worthless and has no value. In other words, it’s not true. So, what areas of your life do you think higher of yourself than you ought to – both with things that are true about your abilities, skills, looks, etc., but also in areas that are not true about you? Where do you consider yourself better than others?
For me, I struggle more with the selfish ambition than the vain conceit. I often make decisions that have my best interests in mind and keep me in my comfort zone. Now, I wonder what my life would be like if I really considered others when I make major life decisions. I mean, what if I looked for my next job or promotion based on how many opportunities I would have to share my faith with others?
Today, pray for God to show you the areas where you have selfish ambition or vain conceit. Ask for forgiveness in those areas and ask Him to give you a heart to truly change them. Finally, seek God’s will for your future and pray for a renewed humility in your life.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 15
Philippians 1:6 (New International Version)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
This verse is one of the most encouraging one’s to me and is something that I try to reflect on often. What we see here is two main concepts – the first is that God is still working on us and the second is that there will be a day when His work will be complete in us. As we contemplate this verse today, may we find the wisdom that He is trying to speak into our lives.
It feels good to know that we are all still a work in process, doesn’t it? I mean, we all have areas of our lives where we are trying to do better and be better. But, it feels great to know that we are not expected to be perfect in our walk with God…only on the path towards it and open to the work that He is doing in us today.
The other thing that is an enormous encouragement to me is the fact that there will come a day when His work is complete in me. In other words, I will, one day, be perfect as He is perfect. I will realize a day when all of the things that I struggle with today will be no more. There will come a day when all of my hang ups and troubles will be no more. That day will be when Jesus comes to take all of His people home with Him.
For me, I try to run and run and run; and work and work and work; and focus and focus and focus, yet I still can’t seem to overcome some of the things that I would like ‘fixed’ in my life. I am constantly disappointed in my efforts because I often feel as though I should be further along in my maturing process than where I am today. But, this Scripture tells me that we are all work in processes. Even the ‘super-Spiritual’ man that I admire in our congregation is still being perfected by Jesus Christ.
Today, pray that God will allow you to accept your shortcomings. Not to be satisfied with them, but to accept them as part of the work He is doing in your life right now. Ask Him to give you the patience to wait on His timing before He perfects these areas in your life. And, finally, pray that He will help you live expectantly of that day when you will see Him face to face and finally be perfect.
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
This verse is one of the most encouraging one’s to me and is something that I try to reflect on often. What we see here is two main concepts – the first is that God is still working on us and the second is that there will be a day when His work will be complete in us. As we contemplate this verse today, may we find the wisdom that He is trying to speak into our lives.
It feels good to know that we are all still a work in process, doesn’t it? I mean, we all have areas of our lives where we are trying to do better and be better. But, it feels great to know that we are not expected to be perfect in our walk with God…only on the path towards it and open to the work that He is doing in us today.
The other thing that is an enormous encouragement to me is the fact that there will come a day when His work is complete in me. In other words, I will, one day, be perfect as He is perfect. I will realize a day when all of the things that I struggle with today will be no more. There will come a day when all of my hang ups and troubles will be no more. That day will be when Jesus comes to take all of His people home with Him.
For me, I try to run and run and run; and work and work and work; and focus and focus and focus, yet I still can’t seem to overcome some of the things that I would like ‘fixed’ in my life. I am constantly disappointed in my efforts because I often feel as though I should be further along in my maturing process than where I am today. But, this Scripture tells me that we are all work in processes. Even the ‘super-Spiritual’ man that I admire in our congregation is still being perfected by Jesus Christ.
Today, pray that God will allow you to accept your shortcomings. Not to be satisfied with them, but to accept them as part of the work He is doing in your life right now. Ask Him to give you the patience to wait on His timing before He perfects these areas in your life. And, finally, pray that He will help you live expectantly of that day when you will see Him face to face and finally be perfect.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 14
Ephesians 6:2-3 (New International Version)
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
The word honor has the following 2 words in its definition: admiration and respect. So, here we see Paul quoting one of the Ten Commandments that tells us to “honor our father and mother.” Throughout the beginning of the sixth chapter of Ephesians, he takes us through the idea of respecting and honoring others and beginning with our father and mother.
Not that we needed a reason, but Paul then goes on to tell us the ‘why’ behind his instruction. Ultimately he says that we do this so that it “may go well with” us and so that we “may enjoy a long life on the earth.” And this is the promise to being obedient to God’s command.
Now, for some of you, the thought of honoring your parent(s) may seem like a far-fetched idea. It may make you sick to your stomach and there are many others in your life that you would rather honor than him/her. Let me just say that this Scripture still applies to you. But I think it brings us to a tipping point in our discussion of this verse.
What does it mean to really honor your father and mother? Does it mean that you accept whatever behavior they exhibit and comply with whatever destructive thing they ask you to do? Does it mean that you condone their sinful behavior? Does it mean that you put up with their verbal/physical abuse? The obvious answer to these questions is an emphatic “no.”
So what does it mean to honor your father and mother? I feel that for some of us, honoring them simply means that you pray for them, you love them as Christ loves them, and do your best to find some good memories to hold on to. For others, honoring them is showing them, in tangible ways, that you admire and respect them.
For me, this has been an area of focus over the last few years. As I went through college I grew apart from my parents. Now that I am older and have kids of my own, I find that I long for time with my parents. I am trying to do a better job of reaching out to them and deepening my relationship with them.
So, pray that God will help you understand how this Scripture applies to your family situation. Ask Him to give you tangible ways to honor your parent(s). Finally, pray that your relationship with your parent(s) would be one that honors not only them but also God.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
The word honor has the following 2 words in its definition: admiration and respect. So, here we see Paul quoting one of the Ten Commandments that tells us to “honor our father and mother.” Throughout the beginning of the sixth chapter of Ephesians, he takes us through the idea of respecting and honoring others and beginning with our father and mother.
Not that we needed a reason, but Paul then goes on to tell us the ‘why’ behind his instruction. Ultimately he says that we do this so that it “may go well with” us and so that we “may enjoy a long life on the earth.” And this is the promise to being obedient to God’s command.
Now, for some of you, the thought of honoring your parent(s) may seem like a far-fetched idea. It may make you sick to your stomach and there are many others in your life that you would rather honor than him/her. Let me just say that this Scripture still applies to you. But I think it brings us to a tipping point in our discussion of this verse.
What does it mean to really honor your father and mother? Does it mean that you accept whatever behavior they exhibit and comply with whatever destructive thing they ask you to do? Does it mean that you condone their sinful behavior? Does it mean that you put up with their verbal/physical abuse? The obvious answer to these questions is an emphatic “no.”
So what does it mean to honor your father and mother? I feel that for some of us, honoring them simply means that you pray for them, you love them as Christ loves them, and do your best to find some good memories to hold on to. For others, honoring them is showing them, in tangible ways, that you admire and respect them.
For me, this has been an area of focus over the last few years. As I went through college I grew apart from my parents. Now that I am older and have kids of my own, I find that I long for time with my parents. I am trying to do a better job of reaching out to them and deepening my relationship with them.
So, pray that God will help you understand how this Scripture applies to your family situation. Ask Him to give you tangible ways to honor your parent(s). Finally, pray that your relationship with your parent(s) would be one that honors not only them but also God.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
DEVOTION - Day 13
Ephesians 5:24 (New International Version)
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Today we’re looking at a verse that has been grossly misinterpreted over the years…mostly by men. And, you may be asking yourself right now what this has to do with you since you’re only in high school. Well, I thought I would tackle this from the other side of this sentence – the one that has to do with the church submitting to Christ. And maybe by the end you will have a perspective on how this translates to the marriage relationship.
So, we see here first that the “church submits to Christ.” What does this mean? Merriam-Webster tells us that submitting means to “yield authority to” someone. So ultimately when a church submits to Christ it understands that whatever happens in that church is because of Christ and His will for them. In other words, they may have to put aside what they may think is the best or right action at the time for the direction and will of God, understanding that He has a perspective that is bigger than theirs.
Now, if we stopped there, this presumption could be quite scary given both the church/Christ relationship as well as the husband/wife relationship. However, we know something that this Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us – that Christ loves the church. So, submission to His will becomes easier because we know whatever He does is done with love as the primary focus.
Submission then really boils down to an issue of trust. I have always said that the way to build trust is to be vulnerable. If others see you as you really are, then they will begin to trust you because they know you and your character. The same holds true with Christ. We know His character is one of love. His actions are based on His love for us, so we can trust that our submission, as an act of obedience, will be blessed. In a marriage relationship, the same can be true – that a husband who truly loves his wife will not take advantage of her submission, but will honor it and do what is in her best interest.
For me, I struggle with submission to Christ because I want to be in control and know the end result without going through the journey. Although he has blessed me beyond what I deserve and has never disproved my trust, I still find myself hesitating on giving Him my complete trust. However, as I continue to grow in my faith and He continues to show me His faithfulness, I find it easier to submit to Him and His will for me.
So, today pray that God will show you where you have not completely submitted to Christ in your life. Ask that he forgives you for these times and gives you the resolve to want His will for your life more than your own. Pray that your submission to Him will be complete and full so that you can experience His amazing love in your life.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Today we’re looking at a verse that has been grossly misinterpreted over the years…mostly by men. And, you may be asking yourself right now what this has to do with you since you’re only in high school. Well, I thought I would tackle this from the other side of this sentence – the one that has to do with the church submitting to Christ. And maybe by the end you will have a perspective on how this translates to the marriage relationship.
So, we see here first that the “church submits to Christ.” What does this mean? Merriam-Webster tells us that submitting means to “yield authority to” someone. So ultimately when a church submits to Christ it understands that whatever happens in that church is because of Christ and His will for them. In other words, they may have to put aside what they may think is the best or right action at the time for the direction and will of God, understanding that He has a perspective that is bigger than theirs.
Now, if we stopped there, this presumption could be quite scary given both the church/Christ relationship as well as the husband/wife relationship. However, we know something that this Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us – that Christ loves the church. So, submission to His will becomes easier because we know whatever He does is done with love as the primary focus.
Submission then really boils down to an issue of trust. I have always said that the way to build trust is to be vulnerable. If others see you as you really are, then they will begin to trust you because they know you and your character. The same holds true with Christ. We know His character is one of love. His actions are based on His love for us, so we can trust that our submission, as an act of obedience, will be blessed. In a marriage relationship, the same can be true – that a husband who truly loves his wife will not take advantage of her submission, but will honor it and do what is in her best interest.
For me, I struggle with submission to Christ because I want to be in control and know the end result without going through the journey. Although he has blessed me beyond what I deserve and has never disproved my trust, I still find myself hesitating on giving Him my complete trust. However, as I continue to grow in my faith and He continues to show me His faithfulness, I find it easier to submit to Him and His will for me.
So, today pray that God will show you where you have not completely submitted to Christ in your life. Ask that he forgives you for these times and gives you the resolve to want His will for your life more than your own. Pray that your submission to Him will be complete and full so that you can experience His amazing love in your life.
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