Devotion
Visualize your future today
David Jacobs
It is very hard for any of us to achieve the things we desire or dream of without visualizing them. When I was fourteen years old, I recall thinking about how badly I wanted to attend my dream college. I would spend nights, lying awake, envisioning myself in a position where through my faith and determination, I achieved my goals. As we learn in Revelation 4:1-11, John has an experience where he sees God sitting on his throne and describes the beautiful scene. "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2). Through John's vision, we learn that God shows us his dedication to us and provides us with the affirmation that he is ultimately the creator of all things we see possible
Prayer
John's experience with God shows us that through worship, our ideal futures can become our present. As followers of Christ, it is up to us to give thanks to God, similar to the way the elders in John's vision give thanks. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11) In showing our appreciation for Him, the futures we visualize and hope to create can exist sooner than later.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
