Consider this. You have a master that you serve. You belong to this master. You are made to follow and worship such a master. This is your design, your nature; this is what you do. Call it other things—choosing your own destiny, doing things your way—but you serve. You can believe that you are independent, that you are in control, that you are on top and in charge, but you follow and you worship. In great wonder and beauty and glory, this is how you are made. You are made to belong to someone. You are made to belong.
Now, if you belong to someone, all of who you are belongs to that master. If you belong to God, your past and your present and your future belong to Him. He bought them. Did you hear that? He owns your past, you don’t. He has purchased you, and your past is His to redeem. So you can let go of it and give it to Him. He also possesses your future, so you don’t need to worry about tomorrow. And He owns your present moment, your “right now” so that you can release it to Him as well. He can handle all of this quite well; far, far better than any other master you can choose.
Life in Him is meant to be this simple and good.
PRAY
Lord, thank you that You have saved me and purchased me with your death. I belong to You. May I find all my deepest desires for belonging, peace-filled surrender, freedom to follow someone I can fully trust, serving well and doing things of great lasting value, worshiping in celebration and wonder and free-flowing praise. May I find all of these things of my heart met in You. May I accept no substitutes or alternatives. Please deliver me from all deception and grant to me a heart filled with You and focused on You alone. Amen.
READ
1 PETER 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Showing posts with label daily devotional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daily devotional. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Am I Worthy?
REFLECT
We can make the mistake of thinking that prayer requires heroic efforts, a certain lifestyle or a mindset that is clear and unconfused. We can think ourselves out of praying. There are, of course, times when we pray out of some terror that has surrounded us. We know we are desperate for God’s immediate aid, if we are to continue breathing the breath of life. At times like those, our prayer is often little more than one word, Help. Yet, apart from those times of desperation, we can shy away from developing a regular and steady prayer practice because we think God has certain criteria that will either be difficult or impossible to meet. Instead, we continue chugging out our days and nights, struggling alone with our trials and temptations, our hurts and questions, our stress and anxiety, with only a casual communication with the loving Creator.
This is the surprise; there are no criteria. There are no expectations. We do not have to become perfect before we pray. We do not have to achieve holiness before heaven will stoop to hear our poor and paltry voice. It takes only a glance, an intention, a sliver of desire, a moment of acknowledgement, and suddenly, the gap that seemed as wide as a valley becomes as close as a whisper, out of a recognition that God has come near.
PRAY
Lord, help me to no longer be overly concerned as to the whens or whys or hows when it comes to prayer and just simply remember that it is the Who that I am praying to that matter. You receive all of our prayers in the same way you love us—unconditionally. Thank You. Amen.
READ
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you…
We can make the mistake of thinking that prayer requires heroic efforts, a certain lifestyle or a mindset that is clear and unconfused. We can think ourselves out of praying. There are, of course, times when we pray out of some terror that has surrounded us. We know we are desperate for God’s immediate aid, if we are to continue breathing the breath of life. At times like those, our prayer is often little more than one word, Help. Yet, apart from those times of desperation, we can shy away from developing a regular and steady prayer practice because we think God has certain criteria that will either be difficult or impossible to meet. Instead, we continue chugging out our days and nights, struggling alone with our trials and temptations, our hurts and questions, our stress and anxiety, with only a casual communication with the loving Creator.
This is the surprise; there are no criteria. There are no expectations. We do not have to become perfect before we pray. We do not have to achieve holiness before heaven will stoop to hear our poor and paltry voice. It takes only a glance, an intention, a sliver of desire, a moment of acknowledgement, and suddenly, the gap that seemed as wide as a valley becomes as close as a whisper, out of a recognition that God has come near.
PRAY
Lord, help me to no longer be overly concerned as to the whens or whys or hows when it comes to prayer and just simply remember that it is the Who that I am praying to that matter. You receive all of our prayers in the same way you love us—unconditionally. Thank You. Amen.
READ
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you…
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Body of Christ
REFLECT
As part of Christ’s body, we each have been given a special role to play. Each member of the body is important and belongs to every other member of the body. We need one another, and we each have a work to do. When every member of the body does its work, the body is healthy and grows to be all God wants it to be. Your part is needed. The Word says if you are not doing your part, you are actually missed.
Did you know that each and every member of the body has received gifts and talents to be used? Yes that’s right…you! God has gifted you. You know what? He has done so not for your benefit but for the benefit of others! Our gifts are to be used build up others and to build up His church! We were created to be in community with one another. To do life together, not as individuals, but as fellow journeyers seeking to grow closer to God and to one another, one relational opportunity at a time.
Reflect upon how you are using the gifts that God has given you. How are they being shared with others around you? Are you seeing the opportunities, the intersections along the way, where God has placed someone or something that needs what God has given you to share?
PRAY
Lord, please reveal to me the gifts You have given me. Show me the special function You have for me within the Body of Christ. Please enable all believers to use their gifts for Your glory. Allow us to help build your church one relationship at a time. Amen.
READ
Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
As part of Christ’s body, we each have been given a special role to play. Each member of the body is important and belongs to every other member of the body. We need one another, and we each have a work to do. When every member of the body does its work, the body is healthy and grows to be all God wants it to be. Your part is needed. The Word says if you are not doing your part, you are actually missed.
Did you know that each and every member of the body has received gifts and talents to be used? Yes that’s right…you! God has gifted you. You know what? He has done so not for your benefit but for the benefit of others! Our gifts are to be used build up others and to build up His church! We were created to be in community with one another. To do life together, not as individuals, but as fellow journeyers seeking to grow closer to God and to one another, one relational opportunity at a time.
Reflect upon how you are using the gifts that God has given you. How are they being shared with others around you? Are you seeing the opportunities, the intersections along the way, where God has placed someone or something that needs what God has given you to share?
PRAY
Lord, please reveal to me the gifts You have given me. Show me the special function You have for me within the Body of Christ. Please enable all believers to use their gifts for Your glory. Allow us to help build your church one relationship at a time. Amen.
READ
Romans 12:6-8 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Monday, March 22, 2010
PURPOSE
REFLECT
Ever thought that you were strategically placed? Where you live, work, or go to school—all of it is for a purpose. God chose the exact time and place where you would be living right now! You are part of a bigger plan, His plan. You were placed here for a purpose.
Sometimes it is hard to see God’s plan when you are in the middle of the practical duties of everyday life. It can all become so routine and sometimes burdensome. Trust Him; He has a purpose for you right here. Pray and ask Him to show you. Some of us just may need a little reminder.
PRAYER
Lord, show me what my part is. How am I strategically placed? Use me for Your Kingdom work. Empower me to do things I never thought I could do. Amen.
READ ON YOUR OWN
Acts 17:26-28 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Ever thought that you were strategically placed? Where you live, work, or go to school—all of it is for a purpose. God chose the exact time and place where you would be living right now! You are part of a bigger plan, His plan. You were placed here for a purpose.
Sometimes it is hard to see God’s plan when you are in the middle of the practical duties of everyday life. It can all become so routine and sometimes burdensome. Trust Him; He has a purpose for you right here. Pray and ask Him to show you. Some of us just may need a little reminder.
PRAYER
Lord, show me what my part is. How am I strategically placed? Use me for Your Kingdom work. Empower me to do things I never thought I could do. Amen.
READ ON YOUR OWN
Acts 17:26-28 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thoughts, Words and Actions
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Choose your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become your behavior.
Study your behavior, for it becomes your character.
Examine your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Choose your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become your behavior.
Study your behavior, for it becomes your character.
Examine your character, for it becomes your destiny.
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