Devos 2/20-2/24

2.20.17 

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.’ Luke 7:37-38

Instantly, this woman described in Luke heard of Jesus’ attendance at the Pharisees house and immediately brought what she had to offer to him. No hesitation, she poured out her affection upon Jesus. Now, her actions are quite strange if you really think about it, but she didn’t care. All she wanted to do was to give Jesus the most important thing she could, her heart. Her tears flooded his feet which represented the love that was flowing deep within her. She had no words, but Jesus knew her intentions were real, raw and authentic, straight from the depths of her heart. Later, in the story we see that Jesus forgives this woman of her sins for the great love that she shows. God isn’t this mean, demanding, judging God. No. He wants to fully captivate you with his glorious presence so let him. God is calling you today to give all of yourself to him. Have an authentic time with the Lord today. Maybe that means to literally fall at his feet and weep. Whatever it may look like for you, pour out your affection on Jesus and let his love lavish on you. Declare this over yourself today.

Jesus I am giving you my all, I surrender to you. I lay down my brokenness, pain, burdens, struggles and sins. As I give you my heart I wait patiently for you to captivate me with your love. I love you Jesus 

2.21.17

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” –Psalm 90:1 

Have you ever thought about what God saw in the beginning? Was it a color, was it simply just space? We can’t really grasp a clear picture of what nothing and empty really look like, but it’s interesting and vastly incredible to try and imagine what God saw before anything was created. You see, I think a lot of times our minds trigger the thought of doubts, but not just doubt in ourselves or other people but God himself.  Doubt causes disbelief and uncertainty, which can ultimately lead to a separation of God completely.  Why is it that we are so quick to doubt God? Is it because of something we asked for and didn’t get? Is it because of a traumatic event? Yes, those experiences can certainly create the tendency to doubt in the Lord, but God initially didn’t create destruction to happen in our lives. He created a perfect and sinless world, but temptation entered and stole what God had intended to be perfect. God cares for his people and that never changes. God is constant. Throughout every generation there are changes, but God remains the same. God was there for Abraham and David and Esther and Moses ad Noah and Peter. The list is endless, but he is there for you too. He is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER. The next time that doubt creeps into your mind, remember that God was here in the VERY beginning and he is with you now. He is as constant as the sun rising. We don’t have to think about the sun rising because it just always does. Often we forget that God is always there, but he is. Pray against doubt today and let your mind be put to ease.

 

2.22.17

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” –Psalm 119:18

Life is frustrating, chaotic and difficult and some days you just want to throw in the towel and give up am I right?  Yes, I have been here too many times to count, but wow in the midst of this whirlwind God brings clarity and I mean literally.  When I’m feeling defeated, broken down and downright discouraged, that’s when God helps me to see things from a different angle. It’s as if I had been wearing only one contact or not even bothered to put glasses on. Ha and with my 20/80 vision that’s just dangerous. We often get frustrated of how things are playing out in our lives and take matters into our hands, but what if all along God was just trying to open your eyes to something new or go in a slightly different direction? When we mediate on Gods truth and hear from him specifically we begin to see a clear direction and to view life in a whole new light that we have never experienced before. God is waiting for us to release our selfish hearts so we can let go of how we want to see things and rely on his perfect plan. Let God reveal clarity in your life today. Ask God to give you his lenses.  Let your selfishness fade out of the picture so Gods plan can be the center focus of your life. Believe in his perspective so you can follow with him and not in front of him.

2.23.17

“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer.” –Psalm 61:1

Prayer. Something we hear a lot as believers and are often expected to do. Today, I want you all to write down what prayer means to you and why it is important. Is it something that you just do, because it’s what you know to do or do you really mean what you pray? Most of us would say that we pray because we really want to right? You see, I would like to say that’s true for me, but that’s not always the case. Honestly, it’s sad to admit it, because there are times that I unconsciously just pray, because that’s what I know to do. God has revealed to me that when I don’t come with the right attitude, my heart is closed off from really grasping his attention. What do I mean by this? The other day, I was struggling with feelings of loneliness. Well, I wrote out some scripture and declared those verses over my life to let Gods truth penetrate my heart. I began to slowly pray and passionately cried out to him from the very depth of my heart. I didn’t care how long I sat there or how slowly I spoke. When I opened my eyes I could feel the difference in my heart, because honestly it felt like it was going to burst out of my skin it was so full of God’s presence. When coming to the Lord in prayer, our attitudes matter. Prayer is so rich and powerful. It’s your communication line with the Lord, so invite him into the conversation. Let him know that you sincerely and genuinely want to speak from your heart and that it’s not just something that “you do” Pray passionately.

2.25.17

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, and he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his mane sake.” –Psalm 23: 1-3

It is instantly revealed in this verse that God is our shepherd and as long as he is the leader we lack nothing. Lack nothing. Let’s mediate on this for a second. This means that we can be content with where we are now and with where we are going, because we trust the leader in which direction to go. “He guides me along the right paths for his name sake…..” This means we can trust in God to provide. “He makes me lie down in green pastures….”  We are able to have a safe place to rest, whether that is physically or spiritually. This means we can turn to him for any fears and he will restore us with his peace. “He leads me beside quiet waters and refreshes my soul……”  This means we are able to be content in general, because God holds every part of us and fulfills us with all that we need so we in fact lack nothing with God as our shepherd. Pray for God to be the shepherd. Let him take the lead and lead you besides quiet waters. Let him refresh your soul today.