Devotion
Hope in the Trials
Chipo Biti
We are at peace with God, the Father, as a result of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us when He came to earth to fulfill the will of God. Through faith, which is expressed through receiving salvation and submitting to Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives, we activate that personal reconciliation with God. We have to make an active and conscious decision to be saved. It won't fall on us from the sky.
The Bible states, in Romans 10:9-10, that the one who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and they believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead then He will be saved. This all has to do with the actions we take to affirm our salvation. Confessing and, most importantly, believing the gospel in our hearts.
Through Jesus Christ, we have access to the grace that we did not merit in any way. This grace is what has made us children of God. It is by grace we can look at our futures with eager expectation of the glory that is to come.
It is because of Jesus Christ, and the peace that we have with God, that we can rejoice and be steadfast in times of trials and tribulations. Instead of shaking and cowering away, we stand boldly because we know that God is with us. Our hearts are strengthened during the challenges we face. We build up patience so that the next time a similar trial comes our way, we will confidently endure.
Prayer
That is what we call experience. Experience is when we are familiar with a situation that has come our way. We won't shake or fret as much. If anything, we will be far more confident because we know that we got out of it the first time, we will get out of it again. This is what we call hope. Knowing that we are safe in the loving embrace of God, never to fail or fall away.
Christ is the source of our strength. In Him, we can face all things, boldly knowing that we will come out just fine.
Devotion
Good Brings Forth Good
Frances Taylor
And evil brings forth evil. Honest people can be trusted to be honest and dishonest people can't be trusted, because they lie. Whether we like it or not, we are judged on our actions. People are always watching us, just as we watch others, if we are honest with ourselves. It takes time to get to know people. Because of that, we watch what they do, what they say, so that we can decide how well we want to know them. We all shield ourselves from pain or misunderstanding by only revealing ourselves a little at a time. If someone is always gossiping about their friends, we wonder what they are saying about us, when we're not present. If a co-worker brings home office supplies, are you comfortable leaving your valuables around? It is only when others prove themselves trustworthy that we are willing to share ourselves with them; that we are open to bringing them into our lives. We look for the "good trees" to include in our lives, and once we ...
Morning Prayer
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Inspiration
Immanuel, as rendered here and in the gospel of Matthew from the original Hebrew, often translates to "God is with us" -marking the name foretold in the Old Testament of our Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ. Indeed, God is and always has been with us. May his message of goodness and compassion shine through to our current age, where his name is still as relevant as ever.
Prayer
Lord O Heavenly Father, I give thanks to the pure Virgin through whom your word was born unto the world. Praise be your enduring song of hope for man and mankind, that you are always with us, in sickness and in health, in life as in death. May we glorify your truth in all we do, for then as now, forever more, Immanuel, Amen.
Night Prayer
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Inspiration
The world tells us to get what we want by all means necessary. The Devil enjoys weaving evil through a man's thoughts, making it seem okay to fight, steal, or kill to receive what they think the world owes them. As Christians, worldly treasures have no value; the love of God is the only incentive we have, and we joyfully live our lives according to His will. Although the world has a different opinion, we will continue to shine the love of God through our lives; living without violence and jealousy.
Prayer
Dear Lord, the world is filled with greed and the desire to obtain what we want at all costs. Forgive us for our jealous nature and teach us to live our lives as an example to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
