Devotion
Called into Confidence
Chipo Biti
Time and time again, we are exposed to the profound love of God. One can never get used to it. One can never understand the depths of the love that God has for His children. Because of who God is, we always expect Him to pick "perfect people" (if such a thing exists) for the tasks that He intends to carry out on earth. We are always surprised when we discover the people God ends up choosing - even if it is ourselves. All of the great men and women of God that you see did not start there. There was a time where if someone had told you that God was going to use those particular people mightily, you would have thought that it was impossible.
Samuel hadn't had the word of the Lord revealed to Him yet when God called for Him. Samuel didn't know the Lord yet! But that did not stop God. It didn't faze Him. At some point, you will realize that "perfect timing" is a myth. We always assume that we have to be in a perfect position in our lives before we can be qualified to be missionaries for God. This couldn't be any farther away from the truth.
Prayer
The truth is, our version of perfection will never match up to God's standard of perfection. So we shouldn't try and waste our time by delaying our obedience to God's call while we wait for "the right time". The concept of "the right time" is a myth. When God calls you, regardless of where you are in your life, then you need to know that that is the right time. Sometimes the call won't come with an audible voice. The call could come through an inward witness. A time will come where you will receive a strange confidence that will let you know that it is time.
When that time comes, seize it. When God has given you the go-ahead, you have every reason to feel confident about the journey ahead of you.
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
