Devotion
Where Do You Need Healing?
Frances Taylor
We all need healing, but are we "blind" to where we need healing the most? Bartimeus in today's gospel knew what needed healing and who he needed to go to in order to obtain healing. Physical needs, such as Batimaeus' blindness, are obvious, but spiritual, emotional or psychological healing can be hidden even from ourselves. Those whose specialty includes marketing or advertising are well aware of this and use this to create a need for their products in us. Sometimes it is hard to see what we really need – or hard to admit it. Are we still carrying pain from a betrayal, a loss, an unfulfilled need buried so deeply that we are afraid to open the wound? Are we suffering from an addiction to drugs, alcohol, gambling or our phones? We are told there is a new "condition" called FOMO, the fear of missing out of something. These addictions can take away from our families and even our ability to hold down a job, Doctors know that wounds sometimes need to be opened in order for healing to occur. Jesus is the Doctor who knows were our deepest wounds are found and is waiting for us to come to him in order that they may be healed. Bartimaeus knew this. We need to have the faith in Jesus to bring our wounds to the light and love of his healing power, but first we need to have the courage to face them. Let's take advantage of every opportunity to ask for healing. Jesus is waiting.
Prayer
Gracious God, open my eyes to the areas of my life where I need healing. I ask you to light the dark spots in me so that I may see more clearly the things that I need to change. I come to you, Lord, in the firm belief that you want me to be healed, and ask you to do it. Amen.
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.
