Devotion
Cries to God Are Heard
David Jacobs
Times of desperation come from time to time in life. Sometimes it's a school test, or it can be something as grave as waiting to hear the results of a surgery. Whatever it is, it can be overwhelming, and even those of us who struggle in our relationship with God can't help but cry out and call upon His mighty name.
When our hearts are filled with fear or dread or even anxious hope, crying out to God may feel like the only thing we can do, the only option on our plate. We are not alone in this. The Bible is filled with stories of people crying out to God in desperation and hopelessness.
There is one important truth that we must know about these cries, these outpourings of emotion, and that is that the Father hears them. He hears each and every one. God heard Moses' cry of anguish in Exodus 17 (3-7) and he heard His people's cry to deliver them in Judges 3 (9-11), and he hears you whenever you cry out in great need. In fact, He wants His children to cry out and call on His name when great burdens weigh on our hearts, and when we are unsure what to say to God, he sends His Holy Spirit to intercede the message of our hearts.
Prayer
It is important to know that there is a difference between our cries to God and our prayers. In prayer, we bring many things to the Father at once, emptying our hearts before His throne, listening to what He has to say to us. Our time of crying out to God comes when we are so overcome with emotion that we can't help call on him.
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.
