DEVOTIONS

Monday, January 9 – “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Your days are numbered.  You will one day take your last breath.  Today’s verse is merely a prayer for God to teach you to “number your days”.  A prayer for you to be ever aware that life is fleeting.  Not to waste a moment.  Not to waste a hurt.  Not to waste a gift.  An invitation for you to be present in your life.  An invitation for you to see the possibility of this day.   

Tuesday, January 10 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) You understand the concept of time.  You understand what it means to look into the future.  You even make plans for the future.  But, when it comes right down to it, all you can do is have faith in the future.  This faith in the future is the very thing that allows you to fully live in the present.  For it allows you to focus on that which is.  As opposed to that which will be.    

Wednesday, January 11 – “Each of you has the possibility of using whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10) You are gifted. The question for you today is if you are using your gifts for the benefit of those around you.  If teaching, are you teaching?  If resources, are you generous?  If writing, if storytelling, if music, if leadership, if hospitality, if compassion, if mathematics, if encouragement, if organizing, are you using your gifts to make this world a better place? Or are your gifts just that, your gifts?  A gift never shared is a gift never received.

Thursday, January 12 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) What is your light?  Too many think that a light must be some kind of a “out-front” gift – leadership, teaching, speaking, performing, etc.  The truth is this, light means whatever gifts you have been given.  It takes all kinds of gifts to light up the world.  No one gift is better or worse than another.  All gifts were meant to shine, so that through all of us, this world will not find itself in the dark.      

Friday, January 13 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34) If somebody had to try to understand who you are, simply by examining a typical month of your bank account, what would they think?  Money is a gift.  How you use the gift of your money reflects who you are.  You aren’t defined by the gift of your money. But how you use the gift of your money will shine a light on who you are.  Take some time today and examine your spending habits.  Where is your treasure located?  Into what do you invest your money? 

Saturday, January 14 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) Who you are and what you have is all wrapped up in a life that is fragile.  A jar of clay that can be broken at any moment.  If you knew that today was the last day of your life, what would you do?  If you knew that this week was the last week of your life, what would you do?  If you knew that this year was the last year of your life, what would you do?  If your answers are any different than what you normally do, ask yourself why?