Online Devotions for Fall 2006 Issue

Online Devotions for Fall 2006 Issue

Devotions
September 2006

The devotions for September were written by Chris Massa and Pamela Torres.
Chris Massa recently served as a campus ministry intern at Carnegie Mellon University

and as a worship leader. A music composition graduate of West Chester University, Chris is
currently working at Starbucks to support his composing habit. He lives in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.

Pamela Torres was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and was raised in Northern Virginia.
She is a student at Carnegie Mellon University. Currently, she is discerning God’s call, whether
to the traditional mission field or corporate America as a civil and environmental engineer.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 Holman
Bible Publishers.

DEVOTION .001
DAY 1
Job 38:1-30,42:1-6
It’s autumn as I’m writing this, and the leaves are starting to change colors. Nature’s lush greens
are giving way to hues of yellow and orange. I often climb out of the window and sit on the roof
of my house. Sometimes I bring along a book to read, but often I just sit in silence, taking in the
wonder and beauty of it all. I believe that God’s creation should have a dual, almost
contradictory, effect on us. We should feel unique and dearly loved by God, but we should also
feel humbled and small in His presence.

I find it fascinating that, when Job’s protests are at their most arrogant, God mentions His
Creation. I can detect a certain amount of sarcasm in His voice as He says, “Where were you
when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its dimensions?
Certainly you know!” (vv. 4-5). In the presence of God, in the light of what He has done, the
appropriate response is never one of pride or arrogance, but of humility and brokenness.

DAY 2
Jeremiah 29:11-14a
After creating the light and the darkness, the heavens and the earth, the water and the land, and
the fish and the animals, God rolled up His sleeves and said, “I’m not through yet.” If I were
God (and I’m certainly glad I’m not) I probably would have rested on the sixth day, because the
first five would have tired me out. But that’s not what God did. On the sixth day, He created His
masterpiece. He created humanity.

One of the problems with an understanding of creation that denies the existence of God is
that it simultaneously denies the value of humankind. After all, if creation is an accident, then
you and I must be accidents as well. I think so much of what we do is to attempt to prove our
worth to ourselves, to find meaning and significance. But if we truly believe that all is
meaningless, how can we ever expect to find it?

But this is not how God sees us. He made us not as an afterthought or as a joke, but as
His greatest works of art. He made us intentionally and purposefully, and He didn’t stop there.

He did not create us with the intention of letting us flail around helplessly. Rather, He created us
with a purpose in mind, with a hope and a future.

DAY 3
John 1:1-14
“And God saw that it was good.” This sentence, and two variations of it, occurs seven times in
the first chapter of Genesis. I think it’s so beautiful that, with every new thing that God created,
He kept standing back from it like an artist, saying that it was good. There was no point in the
process where He looked at His handiwork, wrinkled up His nose and said, “Well, it’s not bad,
but it needs some work.” That’s simply not what happened. He got it right on the first try.

And yet, just three chapters later, a man would kill his brother, and two chapters after
that, humankind would have fallen so far that God would send a flood to wipe out everybody but
one man and his family. I don’t pretend to understand all of this, but the fact is that sin found a
home on earth very early on. Maybe it was all too good to last.

Thank God that the story doesn’t end there. The Gospel of John starts at the beginning as
well, but with a very different purpose in mind. Here, at the dawn of time, is a Word, a Word that
is not only with God, but is God. This Word is Grace and Truth, made flesh in the person of
Jesus Christ. This Word is God’s plan for salvation. In other words, while God saw that what He
made was good, He also was fully aware of the trouble that would come. God, in His wisdom
and compassion, did more than create a world that He knew would fall into sin; He created a
plan for its redemption.

DAY 4
Romans 8:18-27
According to Genesis 1:26-27, we are made in the image of God, but what does this really mean?
Is God tall and gangly with thick glasses and curly hair? Did God struggle with acne and
loneliness through most of high school? I’m kidding, of course, but do you see my point? When
we hear that we are made in the image of God, I think we too often misinterpret this and turn it
around, creating God in our image instead of seeing ourselves in His.

Romans 8:18-27 offers an exciting glimpse into what this concept means. This image of
God within us is not something that is in the past, but it’s also not something that we can fully
lay claim to. But it is in us, like a child in its mother’s womb. It is growing and kicking, causing
pain and discomfort, all leading up to that day when our full glory, the glory of God within us,
will be revealed. I don’t fully understand all this, but I do know that just thinking about it makes
me turn my eyes and heart toward heaven. What is clear is that this “image of God” stuff wasn’t
an afterthought. It is who we are, who we are created to be. It is our destiny.

DAY 5
Luke 12:22-34
We humans have a remarkable capacity to worry, regardless of the circumstances. If things are
going badly, we worry that they will never go better. If things are going well, we worry that they
will not continue to go well. And, when we run out of other things to worry about, we usually
resort to the worry-to-end-all-worries, the ultimate question: Death.

Jesus teaches us to not worry, and He uses examples from nature. Neither birds nor plants
need to worry, and yet, God cares for them. This is a passage that we’ve heard many times, but I

think it takes on even more meaning in light of creation. God created the birds and the lilies, so it
only makes sense that God would take care of them. However, as wonderful as a lily is, it is not

made in the image of God, not like we are. God loves us in a way that is unique among all of His
creation. I believe that for us to worry shows more than a lack of trust; I think it shows a lack of

faith and understanding into the nature of God and His relationship with us. In other words,
Christ’s teaching not to worry is more than a suggestion; it is a commandment.

DEVOTION .002

DAY 1
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
I believe that we are guilty of taking for granted the blessing of work. But believe me, I winced
as I typed that sentence. The blessing of work? And yet, the creation account in Genesis makes it
pretty clear that Adam was given control of the land, but that he needed to work for his food. I
think it’s easy to miss this point, but it would have been completely possible for God to create
the earth differently. After all, if God didn’t want Adam to work, He could have created the
plants so that they grew on their own. Clearly, God wanted Adam to work.

I work in a coffee shop, and I tend to see my job as either a responsibility (to be less of a
financial burden on my parents) or a necessary evil (to pay my rent and to buy stuff), but work
goes deeper than that. I think God wanted Adam to work to glorify Him, and I believe He wants
us to work for the same reason. When we see every opportunity to work is a way to serve Him, I
think work can begin to be the blessing that it is. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory” (1 Cor. 10:31).

DAY 2
Matthew 5:21-26
God clearly blesses relationships between people, after all, God created Eve because it wasn’t
good for Adam to be alone. But let’s leave romantic relationships for just a moment (don’t
worry, we’ll come back) and focus on the relationship between any two people, whether lovers,
family, friends, or none of the above.

Anger is one of the most powerful emotions we have in us. It is capable of so much, but
not much that’s good. Instead of creating, like so many emotions can do, anger destroys. I think
it’s very fitting that we’d talk about anger here, in Genesis, where in just a few chapters, anger
will lead one man to kill his brother.

Quite simply, anger gets in the way of our relationship with God. Our ability to love God
is directly influenced by our ability to love and forgive others. As you read verses 23-24, does a
specific individual come to mind? If not, I’m sure you can think of somebody. Do whatever you
have to do to forgive that person. Take it from one who has let unwillingness to forgive get in the
way of loving and serving God. In light of all God has done for us, is it really too much to ask for
us to forgive each other?

DAY 3
Ephesians 5:22-33
Now, more than any other time that I can remember, marriage is in the news, and for more than
one reason. For starters, there are celebrity marriages, which seem to be synonymous with
celebrity divorces. Apparently, marriage is similar to an old pair of socks; wear them if they’re
comfortable, but throw them away if they get worn out. Secondly, there’s so much debate as far
as what does and does not constitute marriage. Is it permissible, even possible, for two people of
the same gender to take the wedding vows without completely violating everything that these
vows stand for?

I believe that both of these topics do little more than scratch the surface of the real issue
at hand. By treating marriage like a social commodity or a political position, we have devalued
it, forgetting what it truly is. Marriage is, above all else, a sacred covenant between a man, a
woman, and God. Yes, I suppose there is a political axe to grind on the topic of marriage, but
that is not something I want to do at this time. I do believe, however, that if we recognize
marriage as what God created it to be, as a covenant rather than an arrangement or a platform, all
other questions related to it will fall into place.

DAY 4
Matthew 5:27-30
Throughout the Bible, God is frequently referred to as being jealous (Exodus 34:14 actually
takes it a step further by saying that “Jealous” is one of the names of God.). This can very
confusing until we understand the nature of the relationship God wants with us. God expects a
totally exclusive relationship with us, that is, He demands that we will love and worship no one
else, and if this covenant is broken, jealousy is His appropriate response.

It’s the same with marriage. Marriage is a sacred covenant, and when this covenant is
violated, jealousy is appropriate, even expected. In other words, the standard of exclusivity in a
relationship makes jealousy completely appropriate.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it very clear what “exclusivity” means.
Simply stated, you don’t have to have sex to commit adultery. And, I don’t think “adultery” just
means infidelity within marriage; I think it also means infidelity before marriage. As strange as it
may sound, this means that you don’t have to have sex to have sex outside of marriage.

God’s standard is a difficult one, but at least it’s clear. Commit yourself to sexual purity,
not only in action, but also in thought. Yes, it will be hard, but reread the last part of verse 30 if
you question whether the difficulty is worth it.

DAY 5
Psalm 103:1-22
OK, let me be honest with you. I felt like a hypocrite as I wrote yesterday’s devotional. As I was
writing about the importance of sexual purity, I was aware of so much impurity in myself. I think
I understand some of what Paul meant when he referred to himself as the chief of sinners.

As much as I don’t want to offend you, I know that the same is probably true for you. If
you’re anything like me, you have fallen many times, committed adultery more times than you
can remember, many more times than you would care to remember. And yet, you keep
remembering. The guilt that you feel, that you harbor inside yourself, won’t let you forget.

But it doesn’t need to be like that; in fact, it shouldn’t be like that. Psalm 103 is one of the
most beautiful pictures we have of how awesome God’s forgiveness is, and yet, we have so
much difficulty accepting this forgiveness, particularly in the area of sexual sin. I believe that
one of the main reasons for this is because we refuse to forgive ourselves.

As Jesus said in John 3:17, “God did not send His Son into the world that He might
condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Just as God has forgiven
you, let the Great Physician heal you as only He can.

DEVOTION .003
DAY 1
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Before the moment we began our walk with Christ, God has always given us the freedom to
make our own decisions. Just as He gave Adam and Eve the option of trusting Him or eating
from the Tree of Knowledge, God makes it clear that “everything is permissible,” but of course
not everything is constructive. Humanity has fallen, but through Christ we have the option of
being rescued and not continue the road of damnation that was initiated by Adam and Eve.

Instead of hiding and trying to resolve our sin through our own untrusting strength, let us
find refuge in Christ and flee from our sin. The sacrifice of Christ was for the purpose of making
us righteous before God. Let us not stand in the way of this fulfillment by holding on to our old
self. Thus, it essential for us to daily choose to surrender our will to God, and in that way
allowing everything that we do be for the glory of God.

DAY 2
Romans 7:7-25
There is a daily battle fought within us that we sometimes are deceived to think does not exist. I
have seen in so many of my Christian friends (and in myself) a disbelief in the reality of the
spiritual realm that governs our world. I once heard that the invisible forces and laws of physics
is what control the visible world we live in (e.g. gravity makes objects fall on earth). Therefore,
it is the spiritual forces that truly control our physical lives.

There is a true battle inside of us, where our old self will do anything to intervene with
the true desires of our spirit. As Paul described, we do what we do not want to, yet we cannot do
what we desire. This struggle only proves our necessity to be broken daily due to our huge
dependence on Christ’s power to overcome that struggle. Before I thought that being broken by
God was a once-in-a-blue-moon occasion; however, now I have come to realize that it is
something our hearts need to yearn for daily in order to allow Christ to live in us instead of us
living for ourselves.

DAY 3
Hebrew 3:7-14
I can fully sympathize with Adam and Eve because I know I have doubted and knowingly
disobeyed God because I thought I knew what was best for me. This is how Satan deceives the
soul: giving you the confidence to build up your ego and underestimating what you know God is
telling you. Then you get into this cycle where you hear yourself more than you hear God until
you actually believe that you know more than God. Pride is such a powerful tool for Satan to use
against us.

Our daily prayer as followers of Christ should be continuous brokenness of the heart so
that our pride does not build up and blind us from the true blessings of God. I know that
sometimes it is impossible to believe in the promises God has set before you, and it is OK. What
is frightfully wrong is not doing anything about this unbelief. The most powerful thing that we
can do is pray. Pray to God, asking Him to help you with your unbelief. Be sincere! Ask Him for
the desire to follow His will, ask and you will be given, seek and you will find!

DAY 4
Isaiah 9:1-7
There is so much joy in knowing Christ! If we stop and think of who we were: we were “the
people walking in darkness” condemned to an eternal separation from the one thing that makes
us complete, our Creator. Sometimes I forget and do not fully acknowledge the awesomeness of
Christ’s sacrifice. To think that God really does want to pursue us to the point of completely
humbling Himself to a human body, yet we still fuss over insignificant details.

Knowing that the moment we come to Christ we begin our eternal heaven with God, does
it really matter what grade we got on a certain course or what we did or did not eat? If we truly
understood what redemption through the death and resurrection of Christ meant daily, we
immediately would let go of everything we so desperately cling to in this world. Let the desire of
our hearts be to focus on the meaning of a personal relationship with the Creator, our creator
from this day onward. Each morning you wake up, may the first thought be that you know God
and the first desire that you want to know God even more.

DAY 5
Romans 8
Though we have that internal struggle of being bound to our sinful nature, yet burn with the
desire to follow the spirit and sometimes feel like there is no point in trying because we end up
failing, we should not lose hope. It is important to analyze where we put our hope. Do we really
place our hope in Christ or do we place it on ourselves? Whenever we try to do things out of our
own strength, there is no doubt that we will fail. This is because the battle demands more than we
could possibly give.

Nevertheless, we have the strongest and wisest warrior inside of us—Christ. He is the
only one who can win our battles. Therefore, it is very important to stop thinking that we can
change our behavior by promising that we will never do this and that again or that this the
absolute last time that we will fall into a particular sin. Instead, our focus should be on the
freedom we are granted through Christ. It is time to hand over our life-driver’s license and our
co-pilot self-certification for the back seat, allowing Christ to take full control.

DEVOTION .004
DAY 1
Luke 14:25-33
The cost of being a follower of Christ is the highest ever—it demands your whole self. It is this
attitude that Abel had when he sacrificed the best of his work for God, and God was pleased by
it. What God demands of us is honoring and loving Him as the true and only God. This means
loving God above ourselves—above our comfort, above our sleep, above our career, above our
family, above our health, above everything and anything.

Our life should be completely focused around Christ. This means safe-guarding our time
with God over getting that extra study time to make the “A” you always wanted in that certain
class. This means going to a foreign country, if God calls you, where you might not know the
language and the food might upset your stomach. This means fulfilling God’s desire to share
Himself with all peoples and all nations of the world. We cannot put exceptions to when, where,
or how we want God to work. Pray that God will destroy that one thing that prevents you from
putting your yes on the table even before knowing what the question will be.

DAY 2
Exodus 2:11-15
If we let anger take control of ourselves, we are asking for big trouble. When Moses allowed his
anger for injustices overcome his actions, the result was death and shame. God was not able to
use Moses at that time because he lost credibility before the eyes of the Jews. In the same way,
we might hinder God from using us in extraordinary ways because we let the sin of anger get in
the way. Allowing sin to rule in such a way creates a gap in our relationship with God. Though it
may seem like a very small gap, it is not supposed to be there in the first place.

Sometimes we allow this “small” gap to grow, and before we know it we are completely
disconnected from God, wondering where everything went wrong. This in turn makes us more
vulnerable to fall into the deceptions of Satan. It is very essential to resolve anger in a godly
manner, allowing God to take control of your emotions. Pray that God may give you wisdom in
such situations, and that you may see your fault before trying to justify your actions.

DAY 3
Matthew 16:24-28
It is essential to focus our lives around Christ. Failing to do so, allows Satan to distract us as he
distracted Cain. It is Satan that whispers sin into our ears, but it is our decision to allow it in or
not. By taking up our cross daily, we remind ourselves that we are still bound to our weak and
sinful human bodies, but that we choose to deny anything that this world has to offer so that we
may follow Christ and gain the opportunity to spend an eternity knowing our Creator.

Acknowledging our unrighteousness allows us to become vulnerable to the will of God.
This, in turn, allows us to be more sensitive to the movement of God (e.g. His will). Knowing
how God works in our lives and in our surroundings gives us the option to join Him in His
works, or become busy with menial worldly tasks. It is at this point where we must evaluate for
ourselves whether we know that to lose our life for Christ is to find true life. Let the prayer of
our heart be to lose ourselves in the true life that Christ has to offer.

DAY 4
Ephesians 4:17-32
We no longer live in bondage to sin, but rather, we live in the light of Christ. Due to this
liberation, we should no longer desire to live in our flesh (e.g. desire to be angry). The desire of
our hearts should be to be holy, as God is, who resides in us as the Holy Spirit. The desire of our
hearts should be of unity, for we are all part of the same body. The desires of our heart should be
to forgive, just as God has forgiven us. Sometimes we allow pride and the desire to be right to
take over us.

This is very dangerous, for we can become judgmental, but only God judges. Knowing
our tendency to be right and our desire for another to be wrong, let us seek Christ’s humbleness
and examine ourselves before proceeding in feeding the flames of our anger. Pray that God may
point out anything that you might be doing wrong and pray that the same will happen with your
brother so that you may both come together and worship God through forgiveness and
reconciliation.

DAY 5
Matthew 5:21-26
Christ makes it very clear that we will be judged whenever we are angry with our brother. To be
angry with your brother is to be angry with the body of Christ. God has shown us perfect love so
that we may receive it, learn from it, and reproduce it with others. Anger starts with a very small
almost unnoticeable seed. If we allow it to grow, it will grow.

The best thing to do is to take care of it as soon as you recognize it is present. Allowing it
to grow will only further damage your relationship with that person, with yourself (you are also
part of the same body), and more importantly with God. You love yourself so much that you
forgive yourself after every fall, especially the ones that seem to repeat themselves. Let us pray
that Christ’s commandment of loving one another becomes a reality in our lives, no matter how
much it hurts our pride.

Devotions
October 2006

The devotions for October were written by Lisa Augustyniak and Lauren Krogh.
Lisa Augustyniak is a freshman chemical engineering major at Carnegie Mellon

University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is originally from sunny Tampa, Florida. Lisa loves
video games, tennis, and Apple computers.

Lauren Krogh is a freshman biology major at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh;
she is originally from San Diego, California. She enjoys singing, dancing, cooking, crafts, and
sports of all kinds.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002,2003 Holman
Bible Publishers.

DEVOTION .001
DAY 1
James 2:2-4
Sometimes it feels like nothing we do matters to God, like He doesn’t care. God loves and cares
about us enough to have created us and rejoices when we follow Him. We have the power to make
God joyous but we also have the same power to break God’s heart. When our thoughts are filled
with violence and sin, God weeps because He knows there is something better.

As much as He loves us, as a parent He must punish us for our wrongdoing, otherwise we
would never learn what is right. However, God’s love is so great He even gives us a way out of
that punishment in His own Son, Jesus. In choosing Jesus as our Savior we leave behind a family
heritage of sin as a member of the human race and embrace a new history of grace and mercy as a
member of God’s family. As you go through your day, remember the mercy you have been shown
and seek to show that same forgiveness to others.

DAY 2
Hebrews 12:1-2
What is the craziest thing you have ever done? Ever built a boat in the middle of the desert because
you thought it might rain? It is not difficult to imagine the heckling Noah must have received for
embarking on such a task. Imagine the faith he must have had to work on that task for years of his
life. Like Noah, when we hear God’s call we shouldn’t be afraid to give it all we’ve got for as long
as it takes, even if it doesn’t make sense at the time.

God has wonderful plans for us but often He reveals those plans in pieces. It is only after
we look back on our lives that we see a complete masterpiece. Were God to reveal His whole plan
to us at once it would be overwhelming and not only this but by presenting His plan piece by piece
God gives us a chance to grow to trust Him more and more. Instead of asking for God to reveal
His plan, thank Him for keeping it secret and giving you the chance to trust God, to love God, in a
way that truly pleases Him.

DAY 3
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Natural disasters can be extremely frightening events. I am from Florida and in Florida we know
hurricanes. We know how they look, how they sound, and most importantly how to prepare for
them. However, if you were to send a tornado down our way we might be in trouble.

The idea of being prepared provides great comfort in frightening times. The story of Noah
and the flood is on the surface a story of judgment; but if you look a little deeper, you will find that
it’s a story about being prepared for the storms of life.

The people of earth weren’t prepared for the storm and they drowned. Noah, on the other
hand, knew God, who then prepared him. Knowing God likewise prepares us for the trials and
tribulations life brings. The comfort that comes from that preparedness is one of God’s greatest
gifts to His children, to us as Christians. One of the main ways God prepares us for life is teaching
us through His Word. The Bible is an amazing source of knowledge and insight into the ways of
God. The better prepared you are for the storm, the more time you can devote to helping others
prepare.

DAY 4
1 Corinthians 15:58
What does it mean to make a promise? A promise is an act that requires devotion, concern, and
steadfastness. When God promised that He would never again curse the earth, even though people
would not change from their evil ways, He was showing the vastness of His love. It is an amazing,
loving act that He would allow His creation to continue and give us another chance.

The Lord is constantly giving us second chances. His forgiveness is new each day. That the
Lord keeps no record of the evils we commit is a beautiful gift. Noah’s actions tell us something of
how to respond to God’s forgiveness. Noah responded humbly, providing a sacrifice as the Lord
required. Because of Jesus, God no longer requires the sacrifice of blood but He still desires us to
sacrifice our hearts to Him. As small as we are in the vastness of the universe, how much smaller
are we in the eyes of God? Yet even our tiny gift of devotion can truly please God. Let us strive to
be as steadfast to God in our promise to Him as He is in His promise to us.

DAY 5
Romans 8:28
“Sometimes I feel small in the scope of it all and then I’m reminded again that the very same God
that dreamt of the ocean and set the stars into place, well He knows me by name.” These are the
words of Salvador in the song “When I Pray.” It is easy to forget that God has made everything
around us. The same God that we pray to and worship, the Lord of all things, is also our dear
Friend.

The rainbow that God gave as a sign of His love is an analogy to how we view Him in our
lives. The rainbow, though always present in the sky, is only seen clearly when the dark storm
clouds roll in. Likewise, although God is always present, we don’t see the fullness of His beauty,
like beauty of a rainbow, until it is framed by the dark sky. God brings balance to our lives, when
we are filled with sorrow He brings hope. That balance in our lives brings a joy that is so much
more than the transience of happiness. In knowing God we never can be truly sorrowful because
no matter what happens, God takes care of us, always, forever.

DEVOTION .002

DAY 1
Hebrews 11:8-10
Many people who pass the test of faith fail the test of blessing. What is the test of blessing? In
blessing us, whether with material gifts, talents, good fortune, or anything we have, God also
challenges us to be able to give up those blessings at any time God requires. God calls us not to
depend on the gifts that He gives but the giver instead.

Abraham was greatly blessed by the Lord. The Lord gave Abraham a whole nation, yet
Abraham remained obedient. Imagine what an intense test it must have been to have a nation
created based on your legacy. Let us look to him as a model for how we view our “things” in this
world. Let us remain focused on the Giver of these things, the Giver of life itself. In doing so we
transcend material dependence and make ourselves ready to be truly blessed by God in the fullest
sense of the word. Are you failing the test of blessing? If so, pray that the Lord shows you the
truth. As you overcome the temptation of material wealth, pray also that God continues to bless
you that you may glorify Him through it.

DAY 2
Deuteronomy 28:1-3
Many times we find that the greatest thing we can do for God is obey Him. There is no greater gift
of thanks that we can give our Lord than this. The key to passing the test of blessing is a love for
God greater than a love for anything in this world. Abraham’s love for God was greater than his
love for the “stuff” the Lord gave him. As soon as he had the opportunity, Abraham turned his
attention back to the Lord through a sacrifice.

There is so much in this world that can distract us from the true, wonderful beauty of the
Lord. However, if in whatever you do or say or think you devote it’s outcome to God and His
glory the result is a life unburdened by regret. When you find yourself devoting less time to God
and more time to “stuff,” take the opportunity God has given you to give up these pointless things
and serve Him.

DAY 3
Psalm 119:35-37
One of the things in life that is most painful to see is when people hurt others for their own gain.
That action is heartbreaking for both parties involved because of what it demonstrates about
priorities. In order to act in such a way, one’s first priority must be placed on one’s own gain
instead of upon God and His people.

Abraham’s actions as he went to Egypt show exactly the misplaced priorities that cause this
kind of sadness. When Abraham chose to lie about Sarah being his wife he also chose to place his
trust in his own wisdom instead of God’s. Likewise, when we sin we are placing our
understanding above God’s, telling God that we know better for our lives than He does. This, of
course, cannot be further from the truth. If only we could trust for a moment in God’s greater
wisdom He could save us from much suffering in our lives. Often times it may not be evident at
the time that we are hurting someone with our actions but any time you are sinning you are hurting
someone, even if it’s yourself. The next time you find yourself tempted by reason or logic to
disobey God’s teachings, remember Abraham and the misery that comes with a life unlived for
God.

DAY 4

2 Corinthians 6:2-4
Throughout life there are many opportunities to take leadership roles. Whether it is through an
organization or simply among friends and family, the chance to lead others is a gift from God. In
the long history of man there are many examples of poor leadership. The Roman emperor Nero
caused the empire to wither and die, not to mention the lives of countless individuals under his
reign.

However, historical figures like George Washington remind of us of one of the most
important traits of a good leader: being able to give up one’s power for the good of the people. A
good leader seeks the well being of those in his charge above his own. A good leader is wise,
patient, and slow to anger. Most importantly, a good leader is Christ-like, reflecting God’s love in
all ways. A leader needs to be a model for his or her people. Remember that if you are ever placed
in a leadership role, you have a responsibility to God and those you serve to lead them well. In
whatever you do, work as though you were working for the Lord. In doing so, God will be able to
do great things through you.

DAY 5
2 Timothy 3:16-18
We know that it is difficult to give our blessings back to God; to return to His glory the beautiful
things He has put in our lives. It is so tempting to use those things for our own glory. At the end of
Genesis 13, Abraham found himself blessed with more than anyone before him. God built upon
Abraham an entire nation. The lesson here is that as we succeed with small amounts of blessing
God will place us in charge of more and more. God wants to give us everything but He won’t if
He knows it is going to hurt our walk with him. While it may seem logical to pray for the blessings
we feel we need to serve God effectively that sort of prayer is unnecessary. God equips us with
exactly what we need to serve Him in the way He has created us to serve Him. As we draw nearer
to God and our purpose in God’s plan unfolds He will equip us more as is needed. We don’t need
to ask God for these gifts because He willingly gives them. So wherever you are in life, and
whatever you have, thank God for it because you have exactly what you need to serve Him.

DEVOTION .003
DAY 1
Matthew 17:19-21
Persistent, unyielding doubt in the power of God torments the heart and plagues the mind. We have
all felt the sting of doubt. Whether it was doubting God’s power to save us in a particular situation
or doubting the very existence of God, this lack of faith is extremely confusing and painful to
endure. God knows our faith is small. It was Jesus, God made flesh, who said that if someone has
faith the size of a mustard seed he can move mountains.

This comparison puts into sharp perspective the minuteness of our own faith in God. How
can God work through us if our faith is so weak? How can we know and understand His will if
we are struggling to trust in His strength or even His very existence? We don’t have to believe
God’s strength because whether we believe in it or not, the fact remains that He, being God, has
infinite strength. Even though Abraham had so little faith he couldn’t believe that God could
provide him a single heir, God gave him an entire nation of descendants. God understands our
frailty far better than we do; so if you have faith in God, any at all, then it is sufficient for God to
do His work through you.

DAY 2
Proverbs 16:8-10
“You are a very intelligent person. Really, I can tell. The decisions you have made in your life have
been good ones and they will take you on a path to true happiness.”

This is something we often hear from well-meaning mentors, career counselors, and even
family members, but this kind of encouragement is nothing but a wonderful lie. The idea that we
know what’s best for our lives is a concept that will lead us down a path of suffering and regret.
Our view of the world is so limited; we cannot know what is best for ourselves.

God, on the other hand, knows what the future holds and so much more. By letting God
make our decisions, our lives will be guided by wisdom far beyond our own. Waiting for God’s
timing is often the place where we fail to let God decide our path. This was the case for Abraham.
He couldn’t wait for God to give him an heir by his wife so they decided to seek other means to
fulfill their desires. This led to the birth of Ishmael and consequently generations of strife between
the descendants of Ishmael and those of Isaac. As you relinquish your decision-making to God,
pray that He gives you the strength to operate your life according to His timeline and not your own.

DAY 3
Psalm 20:6-8
The question of how we should present ourselves to the Lord requires our attention and careful
consideration. The Old Testament says that we should approach the Lord with “fear and
trembling.” This may at first seem a contradiction to the New Testament that speaks of Jesus, and
therefore God, as our friend and dear father. However, the two are directly linked because God, as
our father, deserves our respect in a way similar to how we respect (or should respect) our earthly
parents. It is only when we love the Lord that we can approach Him with the “fear and trembling,”
the supreme respect, that He deserves.

We must always remember that while God is our dear Father He is also the maker of the
universe and we must be careful never to forget our place. When we come into God’s presence our
desire to give all the glory to God should displace our desire for self-glorification. Any pride,
however small, we feel in our hearts prevents us from wholly communing with God. When God
made His covenant with Abraham, Abraham fell face first to the dust. Even though God gave

Abraham a place of great power, which could very well have been a source of much pride,
Abraham responded in a decisively humble way. Whenever we approach God, in prayer, worship,
or any other manner, let us not forget whom we are talking to and act accordingly.

DAY 4
Deuteronomy 10:12-22
People have made use of symbols since the dawn of civilization—symbols to represent themselves
and the groups they belong to as well as what they believe in or the religion to which they adhere.
God made use of the symbol of circumcision to differentiate Abraham and his descendants as
God’s chosen people. Likewise in the New Testament, Jesus calls for us to “circumcise our hearts”
as a symbol that we belong to Him. To circumcise one’s heart is to show through actions that we
belong to God. As we show the love and kindness to those around us—those whom Jesus showed
when He was on earth—we distinguish ourselves as God’s children.

People around us can see that our actions are somehow different, that there is a peace in us
that cannot be explained. In the same way that circumcision was a sign of the old covenant, this
circumcision of the heart is a sign of the new covenant. There is nothing we can do to make this
mark of the new covenant on ourselves; it is God working in us that makes it. God does this that
we have no reason for pride in our hearts. As you do God’s work in the world, remember that
your actions are a reflection of His love, not a source.

DAY 5
Romans 12:1-3
So often we limit God’s power in our lives by not trusting in His greatness. We like to think that
we will include Him in part of our lives by keeping Him in a box reserved only for emergencies.
Even Abraham, who regularly communed with God, still could not believe that God had the power
to make big changes in his life.

God desires greatly to be our gracious King if only we turn from worshipping the things of
this world. We as humans have come to believe that the world is innately good, how could it be
otherwise? But it is in fact Satan, who seeks to destroy us as God’s children, who encourages us in
this philosophy. Let us not fall into the trap he has set and instead seek that our minds be renewed
and refreshed by God’s way of thinking. There is a distinct difference between living in the world
and being of the world and Satan seeks to blur the line. Many people allow their eyes to be covered
to God’s truth because they cannot let go of what they believe to be true and their lives in this
world. As we continue, let us know the power of God and seek always His greatness, for when
we seek His greatness it is returned to us everyday and our lives become something truly beautiful.

DEVOTION .004
DAY 1
James 4:2-3
Does prayer have power? The Bible is full of God’s promises to hear the cries of His people and to
answer the requests they lift up to Him. Yet, I often find myself doubting God’s power or
willingness to answer my prayers. I think, “Maybe this person’s heart is already too hardened for
God to work in his life,” or “Maybe what I’m asking for isn’t important to God.” The Bible says
that God answers every prayer of His children. He may not give us the answer we hope for, but
there is no such thing as an “unanswered prayer.”

We are to approach God’s throne with confidence and boldness, expecting God to fulfill
His promise to listen to us. In this we demonstrate faith and hope, which pleases God. When you
pray, what do you expect God to do: listen carefully? grant your requests? ignore you? talk back?
Practice approaching God with the expectation of answered prayers. He has promised not to let
you down.

DAY 2
Hebrews 4:12-13
One of my father’s favorite sayings when I was growing up was “Don’t give me any lip!”
Sometimes I felt that I couldn’t express my feelings for fear of offending or angering my father.
However, our Heavenly Father is not like our earthly father. God does not demand perfection from
us, but He does demand honesty. God created us and He knows our hearts. When we talk to Him,
He doesn’t want us to say what we think are the “right words” or mindlessly repeat cliché praises
and phrases. God wants us to tell Him how we feel and to mean the words that we speak to Him.

In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren points out, “What the world sees as audacity,
God sees as authenticity.” Expressing our frustration, bitterness, doubt, confusion, and anger to
God is the first step to a closer friendship with Him. We don’t need to fear punishment for these
feelings. Rather, God is pleased with our honesty and rewards authenticity. How authentic is your
time with god? What feelings of resentment, bitterness, and doubt are keeping you from
experiencing closeness with God?

DAY 3
John 15:17-19
God is love. God doesn’t just show love or give love; His being is the essence of love. Our two
greatest purposes on earth are first to love God in return, and second to love our neighbors as we
love ourselves. God commands this of us, but He doesn’t promise that it will be easy. There are
times in life when everything is going well, and persecution and trial seem far off. Yet, at other
times, we feel bombarded with hardship and intense discrimination. At those moments when we
feel most overwhelmed, we often wonder what we are doing wrong. However, persecution is not a
punishment. It is a sign that we are following God. When we aren’t actively obedient to God’s call
on our lives, Satan has no reason to work against us. It is when we begin carrying out God’s
purposes that we come most under trial.

What is your life like right now? If you’re cruising along without a worry in the world, you
might want to examine your obedience to God’s two greatest commands. When was the last time
you showed love and stood up for someone else even if it meant persecution or difficulty? The
Bible tells us that if we are truly imitating the character of Christ, we will not be able to avoid
persecution.

DAY 4
Jeremiah 29:11-13
God has a plan for your life. You are not an accident. God had your unique personality and
character in His mind before He laid the foundations of the universe. Because of His great love for
you, God wants only the best for your life. He knows what is best for you in every situation you
face. Yet, God does not want robots that are programmed to obey Him. God wants us to love Him
out of gratitude, joy, and freedom. God shows us what paths to take to avoid sin and ungodliness.
Because of His great mercy and compassion, God leads us into righteousness and away from sin.

God knows that we are human and cannot ever fully comprehend His ways and His
extreme devotion to us. However, when God mercifully reaches out His hand to lead us to safety,
we should not hesitate to obey His leading. One of the most famous paintings in the Sistine Chapel
is Michelangelo’s The Creation of Man. Michelangelo shows God reaching His hand down from
heaven to meet Adam’s hand stretched out from earth. The distance separating God’s hand from
Adam’s is so small that all Adam has to do is straighten his finger in order to touch God. And
that’s all God asks of us. He doesn’t require that we build up spiritual muscle before we start
following Him. He simply wants us to have enough faith to reach out a single finger. He promises
to lead us the rest of the way. In what areas of your life has God shown you mercy? How have
you responded? Has it increased your love and obedience to God? In what areas of your life do
you need to stretch out your finger to God and take hold of His mercy, compassion, and love for
you?

DAY 5
1 John 1:5-10
God detests sin. God punishes disobedience and those who choose to turn away from His
commands. It is because of God’s great love for His creation that He abhors wickedness. God
knows the suffering and sorrow that come from sin, and doesn’t want His children to be subject to
such pain. Although God is love and is merciful to His people, we should not take God’s love for
granted. He is a just and powerful God, and will not leave sin unpunished.

If you have believed in Christ as your personal Savior and have given your life as an
offering to God, you need not fear God’s wrath. However, God still detests the sin in your life,
and commands you to confess it to Him, repenting of those things that displease God. Sin can be
hard to admit and even harder to give up. But God tells us that we cannot experience the fullness of
the life He has planned for us until we submit our entire lives to Him, willing to accept the
correction of the Holy Spirit. From what area of sin in your life does God call you to flee? Follow
God’s leading so that He can destroy that area of sin and free you to live the life of joy and hope
He has designed for you.



DEVOTION .005
DAY 1
John 15:9-17
God called Abraham His friend. The most holy, perfect, majestic, powerful, righteous Lord of All
is not ashamed to call sinful, imperfect humans His friends! Friendship with God is one of the
most amazing benefits of a life devoted to Christ. However, just like any other relationship, we
have to work to deepen our friendship with God. One way we do that is through obedience. In
John 15:14 Christ says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

Although God calls us His friends, He does not call us His equals. In his book The
Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren makes the analogy that we are the friends of the king in a royal
court. While we have special access to the king, we are still His subjects and must obey His
commands. Our friendship with God is a privilege, and is based on love and a desire to follow
Him out of gratitude for all that He has done for us. Obedience to God is how we deepen our
friendship with God and demonstrate our love for our Savior.

DAY 2
Deuteronomy 28:1-3
God desires our obedience. He tests us to determine our willingness to trust and follow Him.
However, simple obedience is not enough. God sees our hearts. When we obey God with an
ungrateful or bitter attitude, we do not grow closer to God. In fact, our bitterness can actually lead
to distance from God. Rather, God wants us to trust Him out of love and gratitude. Can we trust
God? How do we know He has only the best in mind for us when we do not understand why He
tests us?

If God never did anything else for you, you can know that He loves you because of the
sacrifice He made for you: His beloved Son’s death. This was the ultimate act of love and
demonstrates the fulfillment of God’s promise to work for the good of those who love Him. In
Christ’s death, we also see another reason for obedience to God: we are following Christ’s
example. Jesus obeyed God’s purpose by willingly giving up His life on the cross. Through
obedience to God we become more like Christ and strengthen our friendship with God. Where in
your life do you need to follow Christ’s example of dying to self in obedience to God?

DAY 3
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
Life is a test. The Bible is full of instances where God tests humanity’s obedience, character, love,
faith, integrity, patience, and loyalty. Today, God still tests His children daily. God watches every
response we make to people, success, failure, criticism, betrayal, change, tragedy, and illness.
Realizing that every word we choose to say and every action we take is significant in developing
our character, and that every decision is an opportunity to become more like Christ helps in
understanding that nothing is insignificant.

At first it may seem overwhelming that every choice has eternal consequences and
implications. However, God wants His children to succeed and makes plans to reward us in
heaven every time we pass a test on earth. What’s more, God promises to never give us a test He
knows we can’t pass. If we choose to obey God, we can store up for ourselves daily rewards and
treasures in heaven. What an awesome opportunity God gives His children! What daily tests have
you been failing? Do you complain about the weather? Are you easily frustrated with those around
you? Where can you start storing up rewards in heaven through choosing to obey God?

DAY 4
2 Chronicles 7:14
When was the last time God answered one of your prayers? Yesterday? A week ago? A year ago?
Ten years ago? When was the last time you asked God for something specific in your life or in
another’s life? A prayer cannot be answered until it is offered. In this case, God answered the
servant’s prayer before he had even finished praying.

Answered prayers are powerful evidences of the love God has for us. Answered prayers
strengthen the faith we have in Him. Whenever I begin to doubt God’s presence or His love, I
remember how He has taken care of me and generously answered my requests, and I am reassured
in my faith. Developing a habit of prayer and expecting God to answer is an important part of
learning to depend on God. It reassures us of His faithfulness to us and motivates us to trust and
obey Him. What is the greatest source of worry and doubt in your life? Begin praying about that
issue and trust God to answer your prayers and to take care of that area of your life. God wants
you to trust Him, and He will meet you wherever you are if you trust Him to fulfill His promises to
you.

DAY 5
Philippians 1:21-26
Why is obedience to God so difficult sometimes? Yielding to God means we have to put Him
above ourselves. Living in a culture where everything is about personal gain and self-indulgence,
putting anything ahead of ourselves is a foreign thought. The world tells us that the only way to be
happy and successful is to be aggressive, to accumulate material possessions, and to be in charge
of your future. But the Bible gives us a different perspective. It is when we die to our personal
desires and self-glorifying nature and place the reigns of our lives in God’s hands that we really
begin to live.

Fear is a huge obstacle to trusting God. We fear that by giving our lives to God we are
losing something important. But what we give up (worldly pleasures) is nothing compared to the
glorious riches we gain in Christ. What’s more, when we choose to be obedient to God on earth,
He blesses our faith with rewards on earth also. These blessings may come in the form of wealth
and possessions, but what’s most rewarding is the joy, peace, and hope that God promises His
children. Whether we face hardship or success on earth, we can rejoice and be glad that our
obedience stores up for us a wealth of treasures in heaven, where we will spend eternity with
Christ. What area of your life are you hesitating to surrender to God? What do you fear that you
will lose by giving it up to Him? Reassure yourself that anything you may lose will be replaced a
hundredfold with eternal blessings that will not fade away like earthly possessions and
achievements.

Devotions
November 2006
The devotions for November were written by Sarah Norton and Anissa Burnley.
Sarah Norton is a senior international studies major at Louisiana State University,
originally from Cleveland, TN. She enjoys gardening and singing, and she will be attending
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary this fall to pursue a MA in intercultural studies.
Anissa Burnley is a graduate student at California Baptist University in Riverside,
California. Her two favorite things on this earth are coffee and people, but reading good books and
listening to great music are major runner-ups! She has a Bachelor of Arts in communication and
behavioral science and is currently working on a Master of Arts in counseling. She grew up in San
Diego, CA.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 Holman
Bible Publishers.

DEVOTION .001
DAY 1
Proverbs 16:19
In Genesis 37, was Joseph trying to make his brothers jealous by declaring God’s plans? The
Bible shows no indication that Joseph was showing off. He was just reporting to his family the
good things that God had been showing to Joseph in his dreams.

My point is this: are you making others jealous of you? Do you tell others (your family,
friends, classmates, and coworkers) what God has been revealing to you every day? As Christians,
we should make others jealous by the way we show Christ through our lives! Non-Christians
should look at our lives daily and think, “Man, I wish I could have it all together, like he does”, or
“If I could only be like her. She seems to know what life is all about!”

Proverbs 16:19 says, “Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder
with the proud.” The Bible calls us to be humble. However, through our humble actions, God will
show others around us His love. Will you make others around you jealous by living your life for
Christ today?

DAY 2
Psalms 32:1
When I was little, if my mom took either of my sisters out of school for the day, I had to go too. I
would fake being sick so she would have to come get me from school. Back then, if my mom took
me out and not the others, that was favoritism to me. Now I see real favoritism in class, work, and
church. I even had a professor that did not give girls As! In business, favoritism causes huge
problems. If a supervisor favors one employee over another, it can lead that person to think that
their work is less important and give up. But, you know, God never plays favorites. It may
look like He is blessing others and not you. That is not the case. God loves each of us equally. If
He had to die on the cross for one person, He would have. He loves us that much! So when you
see others’ blessings, do not think it is because God loves them more. He loves you just as much.
Stop and pray for God to show you your blessings. He may be blessing you in different ways.
Psalms 32:1 says, “How happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin are
covered!”

DAY 3
Psalms 144:12
Some days I feel like jealousy is not a choice for me, it’s a chore. I am forced to live my life trying
to fill others’ shadows. I have two amazingly beautiful and endlessly talented sisters to whom I
compare myself constantly. What a horrible way to live!

A wise woman once told me that if the church is made up of the people, the men are the
substance and the women are the decorations. What a wonderful analogy! Some girls could be the
fine decorative columns, some could be the ornate stained-glass windows. As for me, I want to be
the spring flowers that are placed every Sunday in front of the pulpit. God created us to radiate His
beauty to the world. It is sad that this saying is becoming cliché, but we are created in His image,
and He is perfectly beautiful!

DAY 4
Exodus 34:14
As I searched through my Bible looking for some insight on jealousy, I noticed something. The
majority of the verses that contain the word jealous or jealousy refer to God’s holy jealousy. “I am
a jealous God,” “For I am jealous for you,” “the Lord whose name is Jealous.” Then a thought hit
me: if jealousy is one of God’s most written about qualities, why are we so cursed with it?

God is a jealous God, but when I get jealous it’s bad…why is that? It seems like such a
simple idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I got confused. After some prayer and
counsel, it hit me. Jealousy is all about the object of one’s desires. I get jealous of a girl’s pair of
jeans or her new sunglasses. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of his status as “the chosen son.” God
desires that we love none other than Him. He is jealous for our affections. He desires that we put
aside our idols and let Him fill that God-shaped space in us that only He can fill. God created us to
love Him. When we put other people, things, relationships above Him, He gets jealous that He is
not first in our lives. What do you have in God’s space? Be sure that it is Him, for He is a jealous
God.

DAY 5
Job 5:2
As a college-aged female, jealousy is at the top of my list of daily struggles. It is hard for us to look
at other girls at school, work, and church and not be jealous. As girls God made us to seek after
beauty in our lives and the lives of others. It is hard-wired into our system. As for the guys, I hear
that you get jealous over what a guy has, not how he looks. It is the same story for you. God made
you to be a natural provider for your family.

However, as Christians, we need to allow God to harness those desires and use them for
His glory! Job 5:2 says, “For anger kills a fool, and jealousy slays the gullible.” Try this every time
you start to feel jealousy toward a person today, stop and pray for that person. Pray for their
family, their job, future mate, especially if you know them. This allows God to use your
recognition of another person for His glory!

DEVOTION .002
DAY 1
Proverbs 20:11
How do we use our smallest choices, good or bad, to work for His glory? It is amazing that the
smallest acts of kindness by others impact us in big ways and vice versa. When I was little, I
remember asking my Mom about angels. She told me a story about my grandparents. Some time
ago, my grandparents were at a convention for his work right after Papa had heart surgery. Papa
was having chest pains when they had to get upstairs to their room with their entire luggage in tow
(this was in the day before elevators and handicap accessibility laws). Papa was very tired and they
were not able to carry their entire luggage up the stairs at once. They decided to leave a couple of
the larger pieces at the bottom of the stairs and come back for them in a few minutes, after Papa
caught his breath.

They opened the door of their room, turned on the lights, put down their stuff in the room,
and there was a tall, blond lady standing in the doorway behind them with their suitcases. The
young lady put down the suitcases, and Nana thanked her. But, when Nana followed her out to
thank her again, she was gone! Whether or not the young lady was an angel, only God knows. But
either way, that was a small act of kindness that my grandparents still talk about and is being
shared through our family. Just as God used Joseph’s actions to save His chosen people, God can
use your actions to impact others in a big way.

DAY 2
Proverbs 3:5-6
Did you ever have something occur in your life in which there was no clear human understanding
of how or why it happened? Illnesses and death occur, jobs are lost, countries fight each other, and
the effects of nature devastate neighborhoods or entire villages. That is just how life works.

Humans are not capable of comprehending all the things of God. He made us that way. His
plan is that we turn our lives completely over to Him and not be burdened with having to
understand it all. And trust can be difficult in this world! Culture (and perhaps our parents!)
challenges us to be strong, to work hard for what we want, and to blaze our own paths!

But God is God and He is in control; we are not. The quicker that we realize our
responsibility to trust completely in Him for everything, the sooner we can rest in Him and not
worry! He promises to guide us down the right path, simply if we trust in Him and consider Him
in all our ways!

DAY 3
Jeremiah 29:11-13
One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11-13, “ ‘For I know the plans that I have for you’—this
is the Lords declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find
Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’ ” I have to remind myself daily that I do not
know the future. I know! What a revelation! It is part of my human will to want to do things on my
own. But I can’t. I do not know the future.

However, I do know the One who knows the future. One time, one of my struggling
friends asked me to boil down the Christian life into one sentence. She was trying to figure out if it
was worth her continuing on the path she was on, even though it was hard. I was stumped. How
do you boil down all of God’s truths into just one sentence? So I prayed, and the verses above
from Jeremiah came to my mind. I told her that Christianity is all about surrendering your will to

the One who made you and loves you, so that He can bring the best possible good out of your life.
Only He knows the big picture and only He can bring good out of our lives. Our lives are
meaningless without Him! Remember that as you go throughout your day today. Surrender every
little decision to Him, because He holds the future.

DAY 4
John 14:15
Even for the most disciplined individual, there are days that they do not want to get out of bed.
Honestly, I rarely struggle with this. I am what you could call an “early bird.” When my sisters and
I were little, I used to get up extra early on Saturdays to watch cartoons, like at five or six o’clock.
My family wouldn’t see the light of day for four or five more hours.

I now have some noisy apartment neighbors who like to party on Saturday nights. They
usually get really loud and wild about three o’clock in the morning each week. It’s enough to drive
the kindest person over the edge. Honestly, it is really hard for me to honor God right then and
there. I usually can keep my mouth shut and my fists from banging on the wall, but it is really hard
for me to honor God the next morning when I need to get up and go to church.

Every one of us has those moments when we could do what God asks, but is so much
easier to do the opposite. Since my neighbors have moved in, I have learned a secret—I have to
know my weaknesses. I know that on Saturday nights my neighbors are going to make too much
noise. So, before I go to bed, I set two alarm clocks, one placed where I can reach it and one placed
across the room so that I am forced to get out of bed. If we know going into a situation that we will
be tempted to disobey God, we need to prepare ourselves ahead of time to accept nothing less than
full obedience from ourselves. In John 14:15 Jesus told us, “If you love Me, you will keep My
commandments.” Today, will you show God that you love Him by obeying His commands right
where you are?

DAY 5
1 Peter 3:15
The story in Genesis 39—50 has a lot of different elements. However, there is one aspect that
always sticks out to me when I read it. God used hardships in Joseph’s life to lead him to a
position of influence, leadership, and blessing. What amazes me about the Christian life is that God
can use anyone. He can use a drug addict, cheerleader, businessman, pregnant teenager, college
student, and a slave, as is the case with Joseph.

God gives us trials and pitfalls to teach us, not to harm us. So, no matter what is going on
in your life right now, allow God to use the circumstances to bless others and Himself. If Joseph
had not been captured, sold into slavery, and falsely accused, he would not have been able to meet
the Pharaoh and climb up to a position of leadership where he eventually helped save his people.

Where is God leading you through your hardships? Are you open to Him working through
your life and even your struggles? What about your past? Is there a piece of your past you need to
share with another today? First Peter 3:15 says, “…set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in
you.” Are you ready with your answer?

DEVOTION .003
DAY 1
Romans 13:11-14
If you have any concept of being a sibling, you can relate to the favorites game. It’s hard to love the
sister who you think is the favorite. It’s tough not to want the privileges that your brother earned.
But jealously and discord are not godly qualities and we should seek to avoid them, especially in
family life. Families have been torn apart because of a brother or a sister wanted something that did
not belong to them; because Mom or Dad treated the other “better” (examples: Jacob and Esau, the
brother in the parable of the lost son).

God has a plan for unity in our lives. Jealousy drives this plan away and replaces it with
division. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, unity is a key to being effective for God. Our
relationships with our families would be so much sweeter if we were not so concerned with
blessings of others, except to thank God for them. We are called to clothe ourselves with Christ,
concerning ourselves with helping our families, not thinking of ways to hurt them. Start seeking
ways you can be a blessing to your family, rather than being concerned with how good they have
it. As you show love toward your family, people will begin to see the difference God can make in a
household of people who are trying to help one another along to do life His way.

DAY 2
Colossians 3:1-10
Most of us probably would say that we aren’t the jealous type. But the truth is that we all deal with
jealously from time to time. Jealousy is an attitude that creeps into our hearts when we are not
satisfied with what God has provided for us. It begins as way of thinking little thoughts here and
there. Many times it is in frustration, almost always because we lack something someone else has:
a position, a possession, maybe even a person. We convince ourselves that they do not deserve it
and we would be much better off if we had it. We must rid ourselves of the mindset that causes this
lack of satisfaction in our lives; our insatiable need for what we don’t have.

Setting our hearts and minds on things above allows us to focus on what is truly important
in our lives. God is renewing us day by day. By concentrating on kingdom things, we are really
able to set aside the trivial things in life. If we continue to be ruled by the things the world tells us
we need, we will never have enough and will constantly battle jealously. However, by changing
our mindset we can learn to be satisfied with what God has already so graciously provided in our
lives.

DAY 3
Proverbs 16:28; James 1:13-15
With all the sin that is fighting for our attention, it would be wise to keep in mind that much of it is
linked to each other. Our jealous hearts are one of the pathways to gossip. We may see something
someone else has and gossip about how undeserving they are of it. Soon we have caused
dissension and division, not to mention how bitter our hearts become. What began in the heart and
mind turned into a hurtful pattern that destroys relationships. This downward spiral of destructive
behavior started by jealously, that we chose not to control.

It is important that we understand the process of sin in our lives so we might overcome it.
When we find ourselves steeped in sin, it usually started out small, then grew until we found
ourselves once again behaving as slaves to sin rather then heirs of righteousness. By practicing
self-control (with the help of the Spirit) and catching and confessing sin right away, we can better
guard ourselves from sin. I must constantly keep watch over my heart and mind in order to stop

destructive behavior from becoming a pattern in my life. By asking the Spirit to show us our sin,
we can stop them from growing deeper and taking root in our lives.

DAY 4
John 13:1-17
It is very important for us to see people the way God sees them. Having a God-view of people
changes the way we treat the people we encounter. We tend to treat others according to the way we
perceive them. If we see them as lower than ourselves we either ignore them or treat them badly.
Those in higher positions we tend to try to make friends with, hoping that they will boost our
position, benefiting our agenda. But Jesus, our Example, did not treat people this way.

Instead, He chose to love all people, choosing to find ways to serve them rather than
Himself. His decision to wash the disciples’ feet (including Judas Iscariot) is an example of how
we are to treat everyone around us, regardless of the position they hold or whether or not it will be
of any benefit to us. Jesus knew Judas was going to bring harm His way in just a short time, but
He chose to show the full extent of His love toward him anyway.

What about us? Can we choose to love and serve those who we know have no desire to do
good things toward us? God desires that we follow Jesus’ example of showing love to all people,
no matter what it cost us. If we can begin to grasp what it is that God thinks and feels toward a
person, then we can better love and serve them, enemies included. Ask God for ability to see
everyone just as He sees them: with love and compassion.

DAY 5
Ephesians 4:29—5:2
It’s no secret that our tongue is among the hardest things in our lives to control. It is easier to react
to life than to stop to think about how we might personally affect the lives of others with our
words. The world around us is supposed to see a difference in our lives: the way we behave and
the words we speak. Instead of speaking rashly, we should carefully consider the words we use in
our conversations.

Think about whether or not the things that you are about to share are useful to build anyone
up or if they will only unhelpful words that you cannot take back. In our effort to look more like
Christ, we are called to be careful that the words we share bring honor to God. This is no easy
task, but we are still commanded to pursue holiness in this area of our lives. Make it a goal to only
speak words that are loving, helpful and encouraging to those around you. As the saying goes: If
you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!

DEVOTION .004
DAY 1
Psalm 73:12-19
Have you ever asked yourself the question, Is following God’s way worth it? If so, then you’re not
alone. It can be difficult to look around and see people who are not following God become
successful. We begin to question our commitment to the Lord, doubting that He is all that He
claims to be. But we need not envy those who do not fear the Lord.

Over and over in His Word, God assures us that we will not be put to shame for following
Him. Moreover, those who do not follow Him are only headed for destruction. Just because the
circumstances that we mapped out for ourselves are not happening does not give us reason to
abandon our faith to live like the world. Even in the midst of difficulties or in places of waiting we
can be assured that God’s way is always the best way. Sometimes it is the harder way, but I think
we can rest knowing that God will guide and direct us, because He has good things planned for
our lives.

DAY 2
Proverbs 16:1-4,9
I think it’s safe to say that for the most part we have a hard time seeing the big picture. It can be
very easy to get caught up in the struggle we are dealing with at this very moment and forget that
God has a plan that exceeds our bubble. God is in the process of calling a people to Himself, of
redeeming humanity for His glory and we are only a part of that process. Because we are so
nearsighted there is a tendency to be upset or anxious if our plans do not work out the way we
designed them. We would do well to remember that God is Sovereign and in complete control of
the universe (our lives included).

If you have given your life over to Him, then you have given up control of your life and are
allowing Him to take you on this journey of life to accomplish His purposes. Sometimes this leads
us down roads we did not plan, but we are asked to continue to be faithful in our commitment to do
things His way. It involves trusting God to do the best thing for His glory, knowing that His glory
is what we are ultimately after anyway. There is no promise that life will turn out exactly as we
have mapped it out, but we can count on the fact that if God is directing our path, He will lead us in
the right direction.

DAY 3
Hebrews 12:1-3
One of my favorite quotes is “Wherever you are, be all there.” It’s a hard principle to remember.
Daily, we find ourselves pulled in many different directions and can be easily overwhelmed by all
the choices we need to make. I find myself day-dreaming about the next phase of life, worrying
about life situations or stressed about the next meeting I need to attend. But when we place our
focus on the task at hand not only can we enjoy life more, but we also can give more because we
aren’t torn in so many directions.

When the writer of Hebrews encouraged us to fix our eyes on Christ, he must have realized
how easily we can become distracted. Jesus Christ is our example of how to live fully right where
we are and we can trust that we are in the Father’s care. There is no need to be so scattered and
unfocused because of the security we have in God’s sovereignty. Regardless of the circumstances
we find ourselves in, we know that our Heavenly Father is taking care of our business, freeing us
up to take care of kingdom things. As you go about life, enjoy the place you are in right now,

keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus so that He can perfect and complete your faith. Spend time in the
presence of the Father and remember “Wherever you are, be all there.”

DAY 4
Joshua 24:14-15
Do you ever find yourself in a situation in which you are the only one who wants to do what is
right? When circumstances get tough it is easy to bail out and go the way of the world. The world
is full of empty promises that claim to make life easier and more fulfilling. The truth is that there is
nothing that will satisfy us outside of Christ, so it is wise of us to seek the Lord and serve Him in
faithfulness. Serving God with our whole lives leaves us free of worrying about how life will turn
out.

We can be confident that no matter what it looks like today the situation you find yourself
in will work out to the glory of God. This does not mean that we will always get what we want, in
the manner we would like it, but we can rest assured that God will do more than we can ever ask or
imagine. Choose today to serve God no matter what the circumstances are like in your life.

DAY 5
John 6:53-69
There are days that I think about what the Bible asks of us and it can be very overwhelming. I
compare it to drinking water out of a fire hose; it’s enough to knock you over! Our situations,
relationships, jobs, and so forth, can really be chaotic and even turning to the Bible can leave us
confused if we aren’t sure how to interpret our experience in the light of what God has already
said. But even in the midst of overwhelming life situations or confused thoughts on what God has
said, we can see comfort because God doesn’t change.

Jesus said a lot of really hard things to the disciples and the others that followed Him, and
when people deserted Him, He gave the disciples the same option. However, the disciples knew
there was no one better to trust. We would do well to follow their lead in this. No matter how
frustrating it is not to understand everything about the Christian walk, we know who Jesus is and
can trust Him with our lives. Jesus holds the words of eternal life and there is nowhere else to go.
This is a never-changing truth that we can count on even when we are not capable of fully
understanding all that God is doing in and through our lives.