Devotion
What are you hiding?
David Jacobs
My family is as supportive as any family that I have ever witnessed. They have loved me as much as they could, and God knows I have indeed tested them at times! Why then, in my times of trouble, have I hid from them? Why did I not go to the people that have loved me the most, helped me the most, and know me the best in my darkest hour? It is easier said than done, of course, and practice makes perfect.
If you have ever raised a child or even a dog, there are moments when you can see when they have done something wrong. With my dog, the moment that I walk in the door I can usually tell if she has done something that she is ashamed about. She will slink away from me, often not even greeting me at the door. If she does welcome me, it is with a noticeable difference in excitement. I have always treated my dog with love, but when she does something that I won't like, she knows it. Can't you picture Adam and Eve acting similarly here?
Adam and Eve knew they went against God. Like a young child with a sibling, Adam quickly points the finger at Eve to blame her and not take responsibility for his actions. If you were Adam and Eve, how would you act? God gave them life and has shown them only paradise, and they seem to forget it immediately! Do not take this love for granted! Go to your loved ones and seek help from them, admit your faults if you need to, and quickly ask for forgiveness. Nobody is perfect, but we can learn from Adam and Eve and our own mistakes and get better and closer to whom we genuinely care about.
Prayer
Merciful and almighty God, forgive me for my transgressions against you and those around me. I am weak, O God, and I often forget that with you, I am strong. Grant that by your guidance we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them. In the name of Jesus, who reigns in heaven with you and the Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.
Devotion
My Refuge, My Fortress
Frances Taylor
When we are in trouble, where do we turn? Is God our first thought? Do we really believe that God is our fortress, and our refuge? From the beginning Scripture tells us to trust in God. From Adam and Eve, we find human beings want to trust in themselves first. When we fail, then we turn to God. Ever wonder what it might be like to turn to God first? If we turn to God and place our trust in him, it would save us a lot of unnecessary anxiety. The key is trust. We need to trust that God knows best, that he is with us through whatever is going on, that our prayers are being heard. The difficulty is that we think we know what's best and we can get upset when God has other plans. We pray and don't like the answer, or don't want to wait for the answer.
I remember a story once told me about how we can miss God's answer because it wasn't the answer we wanted. A woman had to work to pay her bills and her mother got sick and needed full time care. She ...
Morning Prayer
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )
Inspiration
I must admit that in times of trouble I have demanded that God show me a sign, talk to me, anything to reinforce my faith in him. What an ego I have! We are blessed to be given the gift of life on earth and life everlasting. It is through his mercy that we have the opportunity to be saved at all. Seek this opportunity and ye shall find it.
Prayer
Father! My heart cries out to you for mercy! We are the clay, and you our potter and all of us are the work of Your hand. Our ancestors have praised you, and now it is our blessing to do the same. I pray that you will use me as a tool for good, and deliver me from sin. I wish to do all things in your holy name, as your son, Jesus Christ, did for us. In his name I pray, Amen.
