Mark 16:15 MSG — Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.”

Testify Tuesday has become a weekly title on Tuesdays for our blog. What does that mean to you? The definition of testify in Merriam-Webster dictionary is to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief; bear witness. You and I are called to share the good news in our daily walk. How do you bear witness to others about your relationship with Christ? What is a ministry that you use to carry out your mission to share Christ with others?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sending Your son Jesus to die on a cross for my sins. Open my eyes to moments each day that I can share Your message with others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

Spend some time today reading and meditating on the scriptures that will be focused this week.

Mark 16:15 MSG — Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.”

Psalm 91 NKJV

1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV — I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

‭‭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.

@biblegateway

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.

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

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. 

In the devotion on How To Pray in Five Dimensions by Rick Warren, he shares how there are dimensions to prayer. I encourage you to take some additional time today to read it. In one of the dimensions he encourages us when praying to look inward at Jesus in us. We read in Ephesians 3:20 NIV – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Did you catch that? God’s power is at work within us. We have all the courage and strength we need. We also read in Romans 8:11 NIV – And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his spirit who lives in you. 

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. 

@biblegateway 

@jeremymriddle 

@pastorrickwarren 

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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

@biblegateway

@ccvmusic 

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

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.

@biblegateway 

@jeremymriddle

@jessaconnolly