DEVOTIONS

Happy Valentine’s Day – “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) With everything there is a catch.  Faith in Jesus isn’t a blank check.  Yes, you can ask for anything, but only that which is asked according to God’s will, will be given.  If you ask for something outside God’s will, you will get an answer.  It will be “No”.  God never promised that you would be wealthy, healthy and free of problems.  God has promised grace, forgiveness, indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and eternity in heaven.  In other words, God has promised to walk with you, guide you and love you.   

Tuesday, February 15 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) For what do you hunger and thirst?  Is it money?  Is it power?  Is it respect?  Is it righteousness?  Take some time today and answer that question for yourself.  If you are unsure, pay attention to the decisions you make, the conversations you have, the activities that rise to the top of your calendar and your relationships.  Being hungry and thirsty for righteousness is the will of God for you and your life.  God will always feed that hunger and quench that thirst. 

Wednesday, February 16 – “You desire but do not have, so you kill.  You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.  You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2) “I wish I would win the lottery” said Sam.  Paul asked, “Did you buy a ticket?”  To which Sam replied, “No”.  You can’t win if you don’t play.  Likewise, you can’t expect to receive from God, if you never take the time to ask God.  And you can’t ask God, if you don’t have a relationship with God.  So, today, work on your relationship with God.  Reading this devotion is a good start.  Now pray.  Have a conversation with God today and see where that conversation leads.    

Thursday, February 17 – “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Your dog gets out and your idea of looking for her is to stand on your front porch and call her name.  When she doesn’t immediately come back you throw away all of her food, her bowls, her bed and her favorite toy.  For she is obviously gone.  Crazy right?  But haven’t you done the exact same thing in your relationship with God?  You had a need, you prayed once and when God didn’t immediately answer, you believed that God was gone.  Wouldn’t you seek your lost dog with all of your heart, until you found her?  So, why wouldn’t you also seek God with all of your heart?

Friday, February 18 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) How many times have you prayed to God thinking that is what you are supposed to do?  How many times have you prayed to God because that is what you wanted to do?  The difference is your faith.  Supposed to faith is faith that’s measuring up to someone else’s expectation. A faith based on your relationship with other people.  Want to faith is faith that is all about your relationship with God and God alone.  The former is earnestly seeking to please other people. The latter is earnestly seeking to please God.

Saturday, February 19 – “The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (Luke 17:5) This is a three-word prayer, from the lips of the guys who lived with Jesus for three years, that will change your life.  You can pray for God to increase your faith.  And faith is the very thing that you need to deepen your relationship with God.  Faith is the very thing that you need to build a better boat.  Increased faith is only a prayer away.  The genie in the lamp tells you that you aren’t allowed to wish for more wishes.  Not so with God.  God tells you to pray for more faith!