DEVOTIONS

Monday, August 1 – “But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:24) How is your relationship with God?  Is your relationship grounded in the fear that you are going to mess up in some way?  Well, let’s take care of the pain first – You have messed up and you will mess up again.  Now, here’s the good news – God “exercises kindness, justice and righteousness”.  You can get real with God, without fear.  This is the understanding Jeremiah is teaching.

Tuesday, August 2 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) The world teaches you to expect the thief.  God came as Jesus so that you could learn to expect a full life.  Does this mean that there aren’t any thieves out there?  Of course not.  This means that the thieves that are out there are nothing compared to the abundant life that God desires for you to live.  Don’t let the thieves win.  Don’t let the bad news win.  Let the good news win.  Live the abundant life that God has for you. 

Wednesday, August 3 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) You can’t always control what happens.  But you can always control how you respond to what happens.  Your response is your choice.  Your response is a window that reveals what you believe.  Your doing will always reveal your being.  Today, you are invited to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, in response to what happens.

Thursday, August 4 – “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20) How do you know that you can get real with God?  Because “if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in”.  Not just the perfect ones, the poor ones, the rich ones, the young ones, the old ones, the white ones or the religious ones, but anyone.  In fact, until you get real with God (open the door), God will never be real to you.  Until you get real with God (open the door), God will simply “stand at the door and knock”. 

Friday, August 5 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11) Your life has been nothing but the pursuit of trying to figure out who you are and what you are to do.  You aren’t alone in this pursuit.  For all of us are doing the exact same thing.  God has a plan.  And it’s a really good plan.  A Plan to “prosper you” and “give you hope and a future”.  Don’t you think it’s time that you gave God a try?  Today, get real with God, so that God can be real to you.  In all of this realness, you will discover the plans God has for you.  

Saturday, August 6 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The good news – God will forgive you of any sin.  The bad news – You must get real about your sin, in order to experience this forgiveness.  Jesus paid the price on the cross.  Through his death and resurrection your sins have been forgiven.  But, just as the hospital has all that is needed to save your life; if you never go to the hospital, all that potential to save is wasted.  If you never go to Jesus, all that potential to save is also wasted.  Don’t waste it.  Get real with God, so that God can be real to you.