Attitude of Gratitude
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)
While there will always be things to complain about, if we look carefully there are always blessings to be thankful for. When Paul describes our newness in Christ, “thankfulness” is the only characteristic mentioned more than once. In fact it is mentioned three times. “Be thankful,” he says in Colossians 3:15. Sing to God “with gratitude in your hearts” (v. 16). And whatever you do, be sure to be “giving thanks to God the Father” (v. 17). Paul’s instruction to be thankful is astonishing when we consider that he wrote this letter from prison!
Today, let’s make the choice to have an attitude of thankfulness.
Lord, teach me the liberating joy of being thankful! Help me to find the blessings that are locked up in the things I complain about and to regularly express my gratitude to You and others. Amen.
I recently read this and again, I needed this today. God always has a way of meeting me right where I am.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Colossians 3:12-17
What A Friend!
The Maker of all things is the Maker of all human beings, and each of us is deemed worthy of His individual attention and love. God demonstrated that love in person on the gnarly hills of Israel and ultimately on the cross.
When Jesus visited earth in the form of a servant, He showed that the hand of God is not too big for the smallest person in the world. It is a hand engraved with our individual names and engraved also with wounds, the cost to God of loving us so much.
Now, when I find myself wallowing in self-pity, overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness that is articulated so well in books like Job and Ecclesiastes, I turn to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s stories and deeds. If I conclude that my existence “under the sun” (Eccl. 1:3) makes no difference to God, I contradict one of the main reasons God came to earth. To the question Do I matter? Jesus is indeed the answer.
Father, when we are overwhelmed by the ache of loneliness and pain, we can run only to You. Jesus showed us how much we matter to You, and we thank You! Amen.
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.
O, what peace we often forfeit
O, what needless pain we bear–
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
–Joseph Scriven
Together!
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:6)
The apostle Paul recognized the power of Christians working together in many of his letters to the early churches. He urged the Roman believers to accept each other the way Christ had accepted them and said, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5–6).
Unity with other believers enables us to broadcast God’s greatness and also helps us to endure persecution. Knowing that the Philippians would pay a price for their faith, Paul encouraged them to strive “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God” (Phil. 1:27–28).
Satan loves to divide and conquer, but his efforts fail when, with God’s help, ”Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).
Today’s Reading is Romans 15:1-7
Fishers of Men
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. (Mark 1:17)
I recently read. Simon and his friends were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus arrived and called them to follow Him. He gave them a new purpose. No longer would they fish for fish. As Jesus told them, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).
With this new purpose set for their lives, these men were taught and trained by Jesus so that, after His ascension, they could be used by God to capture the hearts of people with the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ. Today, we follow in their steps as we share the good news of Christ’s love and salvation.
May our lives both declare and exhibit this love that can change the lives, purposes, and eternal destinies of others.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Mark 1:16-22
Fasting
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. (Joel 2:12-13)
The beauty of Christ’s far-reaching redemption is illustrated at the start of verse 12. “Turn ye even to me” Even now. The God of all heaven and earth wants you and me, even now. Even at our worst, even when we’ve turned our back on Him, abandoned and betrayed Him. Even now, He wants us to return to Him. And revealing His cards, He even tells us what will happen when we do. He will not send calamity upon us as our just deserts for rejecting Him. He tells us to return to Him for He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Even now, He is abounding in love for you, Sinner. At your worst, He will be slow to anger, even compassionate and gracious toward you. Return, not for the beating which you so richly deserve, but for the mercy, grace and lavish love that He longs to pour out on your head.
Fast in repentance and meditate not on what your body is lacking but what your soul lacks. Weep over the sin that drew you away from such a great Love. Rend your heart in grief over what you have done and return that He may heal your wounds, draw you close and demonstrate His abounding love for you.
I recently read this and wanted to share the importance of fasting with you. I pray it provokes you to fast and draw closer to God. Together, prayer and fasting will transform your life and your relationship with The Lord. If you feel you are not strong enough right now to fast on your own, find an accountability partner to fast and pray with you and for you. We are to lift each other up on our leaning side.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Joel 2:12-13
The Rock!
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
Psalm 61:2 continues to be at the forefront of my mind, it has been on my heart throughout the day yesterday and again when I woke this morning so when I came across this devotion I knew it was worth sharing. I don’t know who needs this word today but I do and I pray it also meets someone right where they are today. Thank You Lord for meeting me right where I am and being faithful through your word to uplift me and encourage me today. No matter what comes you are the rock that is higher than I. You are my strong tower and I and my family are safe.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 18:1-2
Turn to Him!
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. (Psalm 110:7)
Before you face your next major task, visit the spring of refreshment that is God Himself. Come to Him with all your weakness, weariness, helplessness, fear, and doubt. Then drink deeply of His power, strength, and wisdom. God knows all your circumstances and will supply a store of comfort, of spiritual strengthening and consolation. He will lift up your head and give you strength to go on.
Father, at this moment I turn to You for strength in my weakness, energy for my weariness, and faith in my doubt. Amen
When I read this I couldn’t help but think how fitting it is to start this week out with such an encouraging word. Not only are we facing an election that may have some fearing and doubting or maybe your just feeling weak, weary and or helpless. We all need to be reminded that if we let Him, God will give you the strength you need to go on and He will lift up your head, He will comfort you and strengthen you no matter what your facing, go to Him and trust Him. He is my strength in weakness, energy for my weariness and faith in my doubt. Amen! Look up!
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:2)
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 61
Serve with a Clean Heart!
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)
I recently read. We might claim to love others without selfish ambition or vain conceit, but the true state of our hearts isn’t revealed until we put our love into action. Though at times we may feel tempted to grumble, know that as a follower of Christ, our call is to put our love for our friends into practice—with a clean heart.
May we find ways to serve our family, friends, and neighbors for God’s glory.
Read Luke 22:22–27 and consider how you can pattern yourself after Jesus the servant, looking especially at the words, “But I am among you as he that serveth.”
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 1:27-2:4
In Christ Alone!
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)
In five days, the Presidential election will occur and we will find out which sinner in need of grace will be the next leader of our country. If you’ve been following this election closely, as I have, you likely are struggling to understand how it is that in a country our size, we seem to be incapable of finding any candidates more trustworthy or respectable than the two before us.
But, depending on your standing with the Lord, you ought to be able to take some comfort from Paul’s words here about the government. No authority can exist apart from God’s will. And for those of us who belong to the Lord, we can take comfort in knowing that, even if these leaders we dread come in to power, their power can reach only as far as the Lord allows. Our God is infinitely more powerful and infinitely more loving than any politician ever could be. He sees and knows each of us as an individual, but He also sees and knows our country.
God has used leaders in the past to both judge and bless a country and only He knows the future of our country under its next leader. But for the Christian, while we must submit on some level to the government God allows, we can rest knowing that the true authority belongs to Christ and Him only.
It can be easy to get caught up in the political drama, to panic about the future of our country’s laws, taxes and morality, but when we panic, we are forgetting Who is truly in control. I love the lyrics of “In Christ Alone.” The first verse says, “In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.”
Regardless of who is elected President next week, we have to remember that our hope ought to be in Christ and Christ alone. Not in the Republican, Democrat or Independent party. Not in a candidate or a court. In Christ alone can we have solid ground, heights of love and depths of peace. The last line of that verse stood out to me today: When strivings cease. We have to stop striving to find the king or leader that we think will make all things right. He already exists and He is already on the throne. We just have to stop striving and kneel before the King of kings of Lord of lords and worship Him for all that He is and all that He gives.
I realize this is a bit lengthy but as I read it this morning I couldn’t help but feel it needed to be shared and pondered. What a great reminder, especially right now when all hope seems lost, remember, in Christ alone, amen.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:38-39
Run to Him!
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
There are moments in our lives when God calls to us and says, “Run to Me!” Something troubling is on our heels. The faster and farther we go, the more closely it pursues us. We can’t shake it. We’re too afraid to turn and confront the trouble on our own. But the reality is that we aren’t on our own. God is there, ready to help and comfort us. All we have to do is turn away from whatever scares us, and move in His direction. His Word says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10).
Dear Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. I need the kind of peace that only You can give. Help me to turn to You when I am troubled. Amen.
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 18:4-12