Devotion
Ask, Seek, Knock
Frances Taylor
Today's gospel passage makes it seem so simple! Ask God for what you want and you'll get it; look for what you want and you'll find it; just knock and doors will be opened to you. However, Jesus reminds us that God is a good father and will not give us what is wrong for us! When you were young, did you ever ask your parents for something that was just not right for you? Perhaps your children have done the same to you. You don't give a baby a steak, nor do you give a toddler a 10 speed bicycle. You wouldn't let your children look for milk in the cabinet where you keep your cleaning supplies. But sometimes we are looking for what we think we need in all the wrong places. Yes, Jesus tells us to keep asking for what we need and we will receive it, but he also expects that we will be asking for the right things. We are bombarded with ads that tell us what we need to do or own in order to be happy, but are those things truly what we need? Jesus tells us that we need hearts that are open to others, that we must be people of peace and forgiveness, and when we ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, we will surely receive. When we pray, do we ask God to give us those things which He knows we need in order to be happy, or do we ask for what the media says we need? If we leave the decisions up to God, then we will always receive what we ask for; we will find what we are looking for; and doors will open at our knock.
Prayer
Gracious God, help us to know what things to ask for that will lead us to know of your glory. Amen.
Night Prayer
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Inspiration
Christ's words are everlasting. Though kingdoms around us rise and fall, the Kingdom of God reigns forever. We have faith in every word spoken by our Lord and Savior because He is trustworthy, dependable, and will never break a promise. His promise of salvation brings us hope and happiness; Christ's message is more precious because it is eternal. We are delighted to serve our heavenly Father and will continue to praise Him for His love and dedication.
Prayer
Dear God, You are the beginning and end. We trust Your Word because You have repeatedly proven Your unconditional love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
False Gods
Frances Taylor
Moses spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain and the people were frightened. Okay, God had performed many feats of power in Egypt to get Pharaoh to let them leave. He blocked the chariots of Pharaoh's army so that they could escape, he dried up the water so that they could reach dry land, fed them with manna and fowl in the desert so they wouldn't go hungry and they promised to obey God's commandments, and now they were worshipping a golden calf. What had God not done that they didn't trust him? We can look at them and say that they were fools, but they could probably look at us and say the same. When we remember all that God has done for us, why don't we trust him? Now we don't go out and carve an idol out of gold, or even wood, but we do manage to find idols just the same. Sometimes the idol is ourselves because we feel that we are the only one we can trust. For some the idol is money which people think can solve all the problems of the ...
Morning Prayer
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Inspiration
What Jesus Christ did through his death on the cross and his resurrection is something that humans cannot understand. Only God has the wisdom to understand. Yet, it is through our faith that this is real and true that we are saved. The crux of our salvation lies in believing in something only God truly knows. The glory of this mystery will be revealed to us in eternity.
Prayer
Dear God, your works are too amazing to comprehend. As humans, our earthly wisdom is not enough to understand Jesus' death and resurrection, but I believe it is true. As creator of the universe, I know you can do far more than I can imagine. Your ways are not like our ways. While I am living in my earthly home, give me the wisdom I need to share my faith with others in a way that they will understand. In Jesus' name, amen.
