Devotion
Lift you up
David Jacobs
I can still remember one day when I made a huge lapse in judgment. I said something that I should never have said to my girlfriend at the time, making her incredibly upset. It seemed as if I said the thing solely to make her upset and sad, and it made me questions what I was doing with my life and with her. To make matters worse, I didn't want to admit fault, didn't want to admit my mistake to her, because it made me rehash the pathetic behaviors that I had displayed. Our relationship ended soon after, but it took me 2 years to apologize to her for the remarks that I made. At least it was better late than never, or that's what I told myself.
Everybody falls down. Everybody makes mistakes. It is not about falling down, it is about how you get up. With a strong faith in God, when we fall, He will strengthen us through His divine word. We will have the power that we do not even know exists, fortified by our rock, redeemer, and strength. As Isaiah says, we will be lifted up on eagles wings, and when even the young fall after growing faint and weary, the Lord will lift them up, and they will be strengthened.
Prayer
Think of a time where you stumbled mightily. How did you respond? Were you cowardly like I was? Or did your faith in God strengthen you, lifting you up faster than you fell?
Devotion
Abraham is Father of All
Frances Taylor
There are questions in every age about the importance of the Old Testament for Christians. Abraham is considered to be the Father of Faith for Jews, Christians and Muslims. We forget that it was Abraham who believed in the doctrine of only one God. It is through him and his descendants that this tradition comes down to us. Another fact that we can overlook is that Jesus was Jewish. He was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, died, rose and ascended into heaven as a Jew. Because we believe that he was the Messiah, the Christ, and we follow him, we are called Christian. Without the Old Testament, we wouldn't understand the promise of salvation; we wouldn't understand why it was important for Jesus to be of the family of King David. We would not understand his teaching either, because Jesus quoted from Scripture – the Old Testament – frequently. He told us that he came to fulfill the Scriptures, not to abolish them. In the same way, we can ...
Morning Prayer
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Inspiration
We have a responsibility, as Christians, to abstain from the sinful practices we partook in before we became saved. While it may be a gradual process of change, we should ensure that we are putting in our best to play our part in resisting temptation. God enables us to resist temptation, but it is up to us to actually resist.
Prayer
Dear God, I pray that I will always be a person of action. Father, I take delight in my new life in you and I do not desire otherwise. I pray that in times of temptation, may I act on the strength you have given me to flee and/or resist. May I never rely on excuses or procrastination, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Inspiration
We have chosen to surrender our lives and serve the Lord. We serve Him by witnessing, completing missionary projects, and ministering to those in need. There is always work to do and a world full of people to help. We will look for opportunities to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ by any means necessary. We are servants to one another as a service to the Lord; He will never forsake us.
Prayer
Dear God, Help us see the world through Your eyes. We desire to serve those around us by reflecting Your love through our actions. You will never forsake us, and we will continually lift praises of thanksgiving to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
