Devotion
And the Truth Shall Set You Free
Frances Taylor
Today there are so many voices claiming to tell us the truth. We have various radio and television stations reporting, each one with its own version of the truth, quoting people who are supposedly telling the truth. But what truth is it? And whose truth? Most of what we hear is contradicted in the next hour and sometimes by the very person or persons that were quoted the hour before! Much of what we hear is taken out of context and is actually not representative of the truth. So how do we know who or what to believe? Jesus tells us how to know what the truth is. If we abide in HIS word, and are truly his disciples, we will know the truth. Jesus gives us a yardstick by which to judge the truth of what we hear. The Gospels give us the teachings of Jesus so if we want to be set free, this is where we need to go to verify what we hear is true. It is our responsibility to check it out. We can't just take for granted that the media is telling us the truth. We have seen in history how easy it is for people to be brainwashed by media. It happened in Germany in the 1930's and 1940's; it happened in advertising when movie theaters used to project images of candy or popcorn subliminally during movies just to increase the profits at the concession stand! We need to protect ourselves from falsehoods, listen to Jesus' advice, and we will be free.
Prayer
Dear Lord, it is not always easy to tell truth from falsehoods. Give us the wisdom to pay attention to the words of your Son Jesus. 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.
