Devotion
Live by the spirit, die by the spirit
David Jacobs
It is not always easy to control our natural urges. Our consumer culture seems completely devoid of any moral compass, constantly leading us towards temptation. Turn on the TV, watch any movie, listen to any song, look at any advertisement online or on the TV or in a movie...we are constantly bombarded by sins of the flesh: lust, violence, gluttony, greed, envy. As followers of Christ, the task of resisting these temptations may seem daunting, and it is. However, considering the consequences of relenting and giving in to these temptations, it is obviously worthwhile.
Prayer
The Old Testament commandments are often prohibitive, and God's prophets more strict than the Apostles. In the verses directly preceding these, Paul writes that circumcision, a commandment of Moses, is no longer necessary and does not measure the worth of a man (Galatians 5:6). In the verses above, Paul writes about much of the sins to avoid, but he also mentions what we should pursue: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. These we should perform in abundance, the sins as sparingly as possible. It may sound difficult when you read the words, but it is a guide to make our lives and the world as the kingdom of heaven: one of eternal love and life everlasting.
"Sins are like credit cards: enjoy now; pay later." -Unknown
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.
