Devotion
You Are Never Alone
Chipo Biti
How comforting it is to know that God is always with us. Sometimes, the journey can become very challenging when you are a Christian. Setting out to preach the gospel is no easy feat, especially when you are surrounded by people who actively speak against the Gospel. The fear of persecution can become very real at times. But this does not mean that you need to feel ashamed of the way you feel. No. Let me let you in on a little secret:
God knows you far more than you know yourself. Your fears are not a surprise to Him.
If God wasn't expecting you to feel intimidated or afraid, He wouldn't have spent so much time assuring you in His word. There are times where the going will get tough. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus knew that the new disciples were going to go through. Jesus often warned His followers of the trials, tribulations, and persecution they would face for standing for His name. But He never left it there.
He always emphasized on the fact that His disciples would never be alone. This applies to us. Ever Christian is a disciple of Christ - someone who has chosen to learn from and follow the ways of Christ. This means that we are to know the commands Christ gave us - instructing us to love God with all our heart, mind, body, and soul and to also love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
The road to loving your neighbors is rarely a pleasant road. The world is filled with people who possess various personalities and beliefs. There will be good days where you will come across people who will be friendly towards you and they may even connect with you on a godly level. But there will be many days where the people around you will frustrate you, hurt you, and discourage you.
Prayer
This is where the love of God kicks in and teaches us how to love one another. This is another part of Christ being with us always. He is always there to show us the right way to go. He is always there to comfort us when we are hurt for loving the people around us. He is there to refresh and remind us of how worthwhile the journey is.
He is always there and He always will be.
Night Prayer
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Inspiration
Lillies in a field seem unimportant compared to the turmoil and strife erupting in the world today, which makes Christ's statement ever more precious. God provides nourishment to the lilies and adorns them with beauty. They are as carefree in an open field as we are, resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father. He promises to love and protect us, shield us from evil, and bless us unconditionally. His promise brings us hope and encouragement as we walk along the road toward salvation.
Prayer
Dear Father, we know we are safe in Your arms as You nourish our souls and adorn us with unconditional love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
