Devotion
Humbling Ourselves
Chipo Biti
When we try to live our lives according to impulses inspired by pride and our egos, we are simply setting ourselves up for failure. There is no good that can ever come from thinking that we know better than God. When we try to rush for opportunities that we are not ready for, we simply end up setting ourselves up for embarrassment.
When people are not used to delayed gratification, they believe that they deserve to get whatever they want whenever they want it. This is not a wise way to live. When this happens, we ignore God's instructions and we choose to follow our own way instead because we believe that it is far better than the path that God has planned out for us. But this is the truth: we cannot do anything significantly meaningful without God. If we try to live our lives on our own terms it means that we are turning our backs on God.
Humility means that we acknowledge God's leadership over our lives and how we are nothing without it. Humility acknowledges that on our own, we are not the superbeings we think we are. If we were, we would not have needed God to save us from ourselves.
Prayer
When we choose to humble ourselves under God's leadership, and we choose to follow His guidance instead, we will walk in the right way. Our time of recognition or appreciation will come in due time. When it happens we will not treat it like the be all and end all of our lives because we will be fully aware of what truly matters - God and His will for our lives.
When we try to rush the process, we end up delaying it because of the mistakes that we inevitably made.
It is far more rewarding to let God guide you. This will also stop you from experiencing embarrassing situations that could have been avoided.Devotion
Humbling Ourselves
Chipo Biti
When we try to live our lives according to impulses inspired by pride and our egos, we are simply setting ourselves up for failure. There is no good that can ever come from thinking that we know better than God. When we try to rush for opportunities that we are not ready for, we simply end up setting ourselves up for embarrassment.
When people are not used to delayed gratification, they believe that they deserve to get whatever they want whenever they want it. This is not a wise way to live. When this happens, we ignore God's instructions and we choose to follow our own way instead because we believe that it is far better than the path that God has planned out for us. But this is the truth: we cannot do anything significantly meaningful without God. If we try to live our lives on our own terms it means that we are turning our backs on God.
Humility means that we acknowledge God's leadership over our lives and how we are nothing without it. Humility acknowledges that on our own, we are not the superbeings we think we are. If we were, we would not have needed God to save us from ourselves.
Prayer
When we choose to humble ourselves under God's leadership, and we choose to follow His guidance instead, we will walk in the right way. Our time of recognition or appreciation will come in due time. When it happens we will not treat it like the be all and end all of our lives because we will be fully aware of what truly matters - God and His will for our lives.
When we try to rush the process, we end up delaying it because of the mistakes that we inevitably made.
It is far more rewarding to let God guide you. This will also stop you from experiencing embarrassing situations that could have been avoided.
Devotion
The Lost Coin
Frances Taylor
We all know the story of the lost sheep and the prodigal or lost, son, but do we remember the story of the lost coin which is sandwiched between the two in Luke's Gospel? The ten drachma were most likely the woman's dowry and very important to her. She rejoices with her friends just as Jesus tells us the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner repenting. I hope the angels rejoice several times a day! These three parables tell us how important it is to repent, to turn our lives around and get back on the right track. I once taught in a juvenile facility where a young man told me he was bad and could never be better than he already was. He was sixteen years old! He had already given up hope. He couldn't see any way out of the life he had been leading. I tried to tell him he wasn't a bad person but had made bad choices. He couldn't believe me. I wondered how many times in his young life he had been called "bad?" I still am bothered when I hear a parent,...
Morning Prayer
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Inspiration
Though the shepherds were startled and afraid by the angel, they could hardly be blamed perhaps for not recognizing the absolute significance of the events that were coming to faithfully unfold in front of their eyes that very night. Little did it perhaps yet dawn on them what miraculous event was coming to pass. However, can we even now dare to fully comprehend the magnitude of Christ's teaching and salvation? Have you truly considered its implications for your life? Be not like the shepherds, for one has already heard their ...
