Devotion
God’s word is the judge
David Jacobs
A few years ago my father died. He was a larger-than-life figure to me and I have always felt inadequate in some way because I constantly compare myself to him. He was an excellent student; I was a decent student. He worked incredibly hard; I got by with charm. He was the best father anyone could hope for; I felt unable to take care of even myself at times. I spent so much of my life doing things to prove that I was worthy to him, not based on things that I wanted to do but by doing things that I thought he would want me to do.
Right before he passed away, he told me that he was proud of me. He told me that all he ever wanted was to give me a better life, to be fulfilled, and for me to be a good person. I had made mistakes, but he seemed to not even remember them. All of the guilt and insecurity that I had felt was my own. I was projecting my own beliefs on how he felt onto myself...and they were not even accurate!
Many Christians are wracked with similar feelings of guilt, anxiety, and insecurity regarding their faith, behaviors, and even thoughts. Read these verses and understand that Christ did not come to judge you! He came to save you, by sharing his word and showing you a path to peace. The world can seem to be filled with darkness, and our faith constantly challenged. Christ was the light for the world and for all believers. Let that light shine inside you, share it with the world, and stamp out the darkness that fills you with feelings of guilt, despair, and worthlessness. God shared his light; go share yours!
Prayer
Generous God, help me to spread light to the world. Assist me in changing my feelings of guilt and insecurity to feelings of hope and love. You sent your son, Jesus Christ, to save us. I will do all that I can to follow your Word, so that his sacrifice will not be for naught. I pray all of this in your holy name, thanking you for showing me the way, Amen.
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.
