Looking back, my word of the year for 2021 was refine, meaning to remove impurities or unwanted elements. On this Sing Sunday, will you allow God to refine you? Will you surrender and make yourself available for God’s glory?
We can be thankful for the parts of us that fail in Psalm 73:26 NIV — My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
I am thankful that God continues to refine me. I am thankful that He is my strength and my portion forever. Let’s worship together!
2 Timothy 2:20-21 MSG — In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
Join us as we finish out our week with Deborah sharing on ministry! May we all be willing to be an open vessel for God!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV — But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Join us as we wrap up our week on prayer rooms and being. Today we encourage you to be planted in God’s word.
How can we be strong and courageous for God in a dry and weary land? In the song Psalm 63 by Jeremy Riddle, he encourages us to seek and worship God. We are humans who have a tendency to create unrealistic expectations and easily get discouraged by the people, places, and things of this world. If we seek God wherever we go and choose to see God in all our people, places, and things, then we can gain his strength and courage.
Do you take for granted that the same God that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us? Let’s pray.
Dear God, thank You for Your power that lives in me. Help me not to look to this world for unrealistic expectations. I seek Your strength so that I can be courageous for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Do you desire to embody the fruit of the Spirit? Paul also talks about works and deeds. It is natural as humans to strive for the fruit but get caught up in worldly adoration, traditions, and rules. In our striving, sometimes we might lose sight of God and how His Spirit provides daily fruit for us to embody. I recently listened to Jordan Howerton, worship leader and songwriter, speak on the Holy Bible App. He shared on Galatians 5:25 NIV — Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
He talked about how it’s not just what the Spirit can do through us, but also within us. He also shared on their song Bloom by CCV Music. He used the words of the song to pray. I would like for us to do the same. Let’s be the fruit of God.
Dear God, where You walk the flowers bloom. You turn deserts into gardens when You move. God, this barren land can give good fruit so come tread the ground inside my heart and make it new. God, let it bloom. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen
I recently listened to Podcast, episode 52 by Jess Connolly called “Is Ambition a Dirty Word?” In Philippians Paul writes about a healthy ambition, full of humility. We also know that there is an unhealthy ambition that James writes about in James 3:16-18 NIV — For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
In your time of prayer and devotion, take some time to reflect and ask God if you have any selfish ambition. In the song Single Mind by Jeremy Riddle, he sings how we should long to please God because He should be our heart’s desire. With that in mind, let’s be ambitious for God today.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the teachings from Paul and James. I come to You with a humble heart today. Guide me in removing any selfish ambition. I long to please You Lord! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
I recently dedicated a space in my closet to retreat and pray. It is still a work in progress just like I am a work in progress. How can we love others well? Spending time in prayer and devotion to God. The most important commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Before we can be a light for others, we must first ignite our fire within. In the song Temple by Jeremy Riddle, he sings we should have a desire to fill our temple and have a burning desire for God’s Glory.
Will you choose to be a light for God today? Will you choose to love yourself so that you can love others well? Will you love your neighbor as yourself? We can show others we love them by praying for them. Do you currently have a space that you can retreat to for devotion time and prayer? If not, I encourage you to create a space.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for commanding us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Give me the burning desire to be a light for You. May I bring You glory, honor, and praise as I shine Your light. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
