Devotion
When the going gets tough . . . Pray?
David Jacobs
David is a dynamic figure in the Bible, performing incredibly good deeds as well as heinous sins. He is anointed by God, the King of Israel, the slayer of Goliath (1 Samuel 17), but also murders an Amalekite for putting a dying Saul out of his misery (2 Samuel 1), and forces Uriah the Hittite, the husband of a woman that David committed adultery with, to the front lines because David wants Uriah's wife to be his own (2 Samuel 11). Why does God care so deeply about David when he is so emotional and sinful? The answer lies in these verses.
David is consistently faithful and obedient to God. With the Philistines closing in on him, David turns to God in prayer as he often does. God cares so deeply about David because David cares so deeply about God! It is as simple as that. Does David sin? Absolutely. Does he stray from God at times? Certainly. Does he always come back to God and trust the Lord with all of his heart and soul? He does. God rewards his loyalty and obedience once again, smiting the Philistines and avenging the death of his former friend Saul. He stays calm, keeps his faith, and is strengthened by God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, purveyor of truth, I humbly come to you seeking to be more faithful to you, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. May the blessings of my mind and meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Lord, I am yours. Like David before me, I will come to you in times of trouble. You know that I have sinned and will sin again, but I vow to come back to you, this day and everyday. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. 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.
