Devotion
Your Will Above Mine
David Jacobs
A night out at a fancy restaurant --or even the town diner-- is always a great delight. You don't have to worry about cooking for the night, a cooking staff will take care of that, and a waiter is there to cater to your every desire.
Sometimes we imagine prayer being like ordering at a restaurant, telling God what we want in our lives. But God is no waiter! When Jesus prayed, he asked that God's will be done rather than his own, and we are called to do the same. Prayer is not a way of asking God for things, but rather a way for us to connect to God and to know his will.
Of course, giving up our own will is one of the hardest and scariest things we do as Christians. However, we are comforted in knowing that God's will has our best interests! Just as Jesus was strengthened as he asked for God's will to be done, we will also be strengthened and taken care of by God.
Prayer
Thought: Before and during prayer, it's good to be mindful of why we are praying for the things we ask of God. Personally, I have taken to examining each part of my prayers and asking myself, "Is this what I want, or what God wants?"
Night Prayer
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
Inspiration
We humble ourselves before the Lord when we come to Him with earthly burdens. We understand we do not have the power to control or fix our problems alone, so we lay our egos down and align our lives with the will of God. We are proud to be His servants and accept His help throughout our struggles. His love is unconditional, and His wisdom parallels none other.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we humble ourselves before You, seeking Your wisdom and guidance all the days of our lives. Thank You for Your presence and unfailing love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
You are a Temple of The Holy Spirit
Frances Taylor
This is a hard saying in today's world. Sexual immorality is so rampant and public that few people believe it to be immoral! People no longer think of sexual behavior outside of marriage as wrong and, in fact, have no problem with going from one person to another quite publicly, broadcasting their behavior on social media and if you're famous enough, on twitter, on TV, in magazines, etc. What happened to "Thou shalt not commit adultery?" I guess I'm old fashioned. I'm not about to condemn anyone who truly loves another and is faithful to them regardless of marriage, but I don't understand and cannot condone random sexual encounters that are not based on love but lust, have no desire for permanency but are literally just to satisfy a sexual itch.
Sorry if I offend anyone, but if we believe that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit to be kept holy, how can we treat them as what – toys, prizes? I'm aware that women have often ...
Morning Prayer
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
Inspiration
Think of a grudge that you held on for a long time. Did you feel better from holding this grudge? Now think about this deeper: what if God held a grudge against us? Wow, how blessed we are that he forgives our sins! He leads by example, forgiving those of us that do exactly what he asks us not to do. We all should all be more forgiving, like God is to us.
Prayer
You sent your only son to the world to die so that we may be forgiven, merciful God. Forgive me, once again, for being too selfish and proud to not forgive those that trespass against me. I wish that I can sin less and ask for forgiveness and guidance when I need it. I thank you for sending your son to us, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
