DEVOTIONS

Memorial Day – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) What in your life causes you to be anxious?  When was the last time you prayed about it?  When was the last time that you made a petition to God with thanksgiving?  When was the last time that you made a request for God to help you overcome your anxiousness?  If its been a while, maybe its time to present your request to God again?  If it hasn’t been a while, maybe its time to present your request to God with thanksgiving? 

Tuesday, May 31 – “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” (Psalm 143:10) Do you pray for God to give you what you want?  Or do you pray for God’s will to be done, regardless of your personal wishes or desires?  The goal for your prayer life is to align your will with God’s will.  Your prayers do not and cannot control God. Prayer is a gift from God to control you and your submission to the will of God.  Prayer opens you up to the leading of Holy Spirit.  Prayer doesn’t open up the Holy Spirit to your leading.  

Wednesday, June 1 – “To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:12) Ministry is service.  Sadly, too many people have redefined ministry as a job or a way to find favor or a way to gain power.  Ministry, at its very core, as it was intended and designed by God, is service.  And it’s service that isn’t designated, deemed, determined or ordained by people.  It’s service designated, deemed, determined and ordained by God.  Service can have no scent of personal motivation.  Yet, it can be filled with personal gratification.  Service isn’t ministry if you are doing it for fame, fortune or power.   

Thursday, June 2 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) How in the world are you supposed to be “joyful in hope” and “patient in affliction”?  By being “faithful in prayer”.  There is no hope and no patience with a hit-or-miss, sometimes I remember to pray, life.  You don’t know how to be “faithful in prayer”?  I beg to disagree.  You know how to be faithful to your favorite news channel, podcasts and streaming services.  You know how to be “faithful in prayer”.  You have simply been praying to the wrong things!   

Friday, June 3 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Every person is submitted to someone or something.  Some are submitted to money.  Some are submitted to addictions.  Some are submitted to a career or a body image or a way of life.  Such as vowing to never be submitted to anything or anyone.  So, since you are submitted to something or someone, why don’t you make the choice to be submitted to God?  The only one you can be submitted to with the added benefit of causing the devil to flee from you!

Saturday, June 4 – “There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:5) Ministry is service.  You have a ministry.  You have been created and gifted to be of service to God.  Your service, your ministry, might not look like someone else’s but that doesn’t mean that it’s less important.  Some feel that they can’t be submitted to God because they can’t preach or teach or sing or pray.  Thus, submission to some other person or thing seems more practical.  Don’t let this world tell you how to serve.  Don’t let this world tell you who to serve.  For if you do, you are serving this world.