Devotion
When Trouble is in the Air
David Jacobs
If you have never been in a blizzard, you might not know just how powerful its swirling snow can be. Your vision becomes obstructed, and not just at long distances. The familiar becomes unrecognizable to the point that you might not even notice you are walking two feet from a barn that could provide you with shelter.
The writer of Psalms 25 was in a sort of blizzard of the mind, facing so many difficulties that it was impossible to see things clearly. Not knowing where to find shelter from this storm, the writer looks to God for freedom from the difficulties that afflict his mind. He knew that God has committed Himself to instructing his children. Since He sees all things, He is able to give us insight into our situation when we wait on Him.
When the Lord delivers his insight (sometimes right away, sometimes after waiting for a long time), we are often surprised by it. We may come to God expecting vengeance against the ones that hurt us, but instead received a reminder from the Spirit that vengeance is God's. Whatever our trouble is, God provides us guidance and watches over us like a parent watches over their children. Knowing this makes the blizzard a lot less scary.
Prayer
God has not only given us His truth, but has promised to teach us how to apply that truth. For example, someone might ask us to borrow money in an amount that seems unreasonable. After meditating on the request, God might reveal that persons need to us and call us to act.
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.
