Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
What is the point of knowing love and showing love without a true and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ? When I first published Pray While You’re Prey, I sent a copy to a friend of mine. She wrote me back that she thought the book was good even for non-Christians. The conversation was one I will never forget because that was the day that I found out that a young woman who had been like a sister to me had “fallen in love” with someone who convinced her that Jesus was not who the Bible says He is. She no longer believed in the very Person that had caused us to have an almost decade-long bond. I was crushed and devastated because that was the beginning of the loss of that friendship, but not only that, I could not understand how anyone who claims to love a person could lead them away from the love of God. I did not write a book to tell people how to date and have good relationships. The book and this devotion series are not some sort of how-to manual for finding a mate. If anyone believes that, he or she has completely missed the point. These are testimonies of how God has shown me, in times of obedience and disobedience, that He is God. This is about how no love surpasses His love because He is love. This is about dealing with our human emotions in a Godly manner that results in the uplifting of the Kingdom. I hope that people who are unsaved read this book and devotion series, but not like they would read “The Rules,” or “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,” or “He’s Just Not That into You,” or any other dating/relationship advice book. This book and devotion series is about handling our lives on Earth and our interactions with people of the opposite sex in a way that is pleasing to God. It is about recognizing that no matter what your relationship status happens to be, loving God should be your first priority. This time that we have right now on Earth may be filled with love of family, friends, and even, a significant other or spouse. But, the love of another human being pales in comparison to love that those who confess Christ as their Savior, the one and only Son of God will receive forever and ever. There is no other relationship that will help us to stand blameless before God on the Day of Judgment than a relationship where God can see us through the blood of Christ. That relationship is the important one. Any other relationship, as long as it is a Godly one, is fine, but we cannot forget what our life is all about. The purpose for our lives is the praise and to please God; to live holy and righteously as a testimony to those who may never read a Bible, but will read our lives. We must set an example of how to love one another and keep God as our first love. This is the ultimate courtship. What we do with the time God gives us on Earth shows Him and those who observe us just how real He is in our lives and how much we love Him. We need to pray that we make the most of our relationship with God, and, if it is His will for us to find or be found by a spouse, that we love that person the way God loves us. Because, there will come a day when the courtship will end and the Church, the Bride of Christ, will be with Him forever. And, I cannot speak for anyone else, but I want the end result of my earthly life to be the beginning of my eternal life as a servant with whom God was pleased. Prayer Thank You, God for promising to love us forever. Please forgive me for living as if the things of this world are all that matter. Lord, please help me to always love You first regardless what my relationship status happens to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated.
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Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles |
Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life. | Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “With or without a mate, I can live a full life that is pleasing to God, and I will be rewarded.” |
Apparently, this is a common problem. I found a couple of YouTube videos and computer forums with possible fixes, and went to the computer’s website, but to no avail. The icon still says, “plugged in, not charging.” This has been going on for a few days, but on this day, it hit me that this is exactly how I feel sometimes with my relationship with Christ. I feel like I am plugged in and not charging. In other words, I know that Christ and I are connected, but I feel stagnant in my life. I feel like I am not moving forward with Him. I feel drained.
Yes, I go to church. I worship sincerely. I read my Bible daily. I read devotions. I pray. I try to live a life that is pleasing to God. I am not trying to sound like the Pharisee that was praying in the New Testament. I am just wondering if there is anyone else that has felt plugged in, yet still empty. You feel like you are doing everything that you know to do. You are seeking God to find out what else you need to do. Why are you stuck in this place? Why can’t you move into the next phase of your life?
Well, as I continued to troubleshoot the laptop/battery/charger issue, I noticed a common theme with this problem. The issue generally happened when using a universal charger; that is to say, a charger that is compatible with many different types of computers, but not specifically made for your particular model. That is what I have because it was less expensive than ordering a new part from the company where I bought my computer. And, as I read through several pages that said, “Don’t use a universal charger,” I had an epiphany. Maybe I feel like I am plugged in, but not charging because I am using a universal standard with which to measure my life rather that the standard of the original Source of my life.
So many times, we get caught up in what the world says our lives should be. And, although we pray and praise, we feel like something is being held back from us. We are plugged in with universal chargers and we are not charging. Instead, we must rely on God; live in His presence, with holy reverence. We must realize that there is no universal formula for each of our lives. Rather, God has a unique and individual plan for each and every one of us to live a good life; a full life. And, what is more, for those who believe in Him and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, that life never ends. It will continue throughout eternity.
There is nothing that God is holding back from us, that is literally the oldest trick in the Book (see devil vs. Eve in Genesis). I still probably need a new charger or a new laptop, but I definitely don’t need anything that God has not already given me. We must trust in His plan for our lives, so that we do not find ourselves plugged in, but not charging.
Thank You, God for providing me with
every opportunity to have a full life on Earth and in Heaven.
Please forgive me for thinking that You are holding
anything back from me.
Lord, please help me to not just be plugged in to You,
but recharged daily by Your Word, Your guidance and Your grace.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen
Pray While You're Prey Weekly Devotions
I pray that this 52-week devotional honors Him and blesses you. Enjoy!
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Pray While You're Prey Weekly Devotions by Toni L. Wortherly is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.