Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Thirty Five When I Call You Scripture: Psalm 138:2 When I called, You answered me; You greatly emboldened me. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “There have been many nights when I woke up with a problem, or some sudden clarity, or just wanting to talk. It was a wonderful feeling to know that I had a friend who wouldn’t curse me out for calling so late, who would listen to every word I had to say, and who would lead me down the best path that I could choose.” Every day when I get off work, I call my mom for a daily debrief. It gives me a chance to find out about her day, give her a rundown of my day. I get a chance to vent if something out of the ordinary happens and my mom is a fantastic listener. It is a very rare occasion that she interrupts me or offers unsolicited advice. She talks and I listen. Then, I talk and she listens. It is fantastic. But, there are some times when I need someone to talk to and it is way too late to call my mom or even one of my friends. As fantastic as it is to talk to my mommy, it is awesome to know that I have a Heavenly Father that I can call on at anytime. I really am not much of a talker anymore. I am a very introverted person and my mom is the main person with whom I talk for an extended period of time. I much prefer to write, e-mail, message, or text. And, the beautiful thing about God is that I never have to open my mouth to communicate with Him. All I have to do is open my heart. We all need someone that we can reach out to at any time. While it is nice to have a family member or friend who we can always call, God desires to be the first Friend that we think of when we want to talk. He will always be available. If we have something great happen, He wants us to bring it to Him. When something hurts us, He wants us to bring it to Him. When we are excited, He wants us to share it with Him. When we are confused, He wants us to come to Him. It’s not that it is wrong to speak to someone else because God can use others to speak what He needs us to hear, but God wants us to seek His face first. In the Psalm, it says, “When I called, You answered me….” How many of your friends and family members can you say that about? Even though we may have the best intentions, it’s impossible for us as human beings to be there for each other all of the time. So, thank God for God. Thank God for His omniscience and omnipresence. Thank God that He can hear me call and you call and answer all of us at the same time. He’s just good like that. And, just like the psalmist, once we realize that when we call on the name of Jesus, something awesome is bound to happen, we can finally step boldly before the throne of grace and make our requests known to God. We can call on Him knowing that, whether it’s early in the morning, late in the evening or in the middle of the day, He will listen and He will answer. You are never alone. God hears you when you call Him. Prayer Thank You, God for answering me every single time I call on You. Please forgive me for seeking help from anyone other than You. Lord, please help me to remember that You will always be there for me and have my best in mind. 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
Week Thirty Four Purify Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “Each and every human who confesses the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior has a never-ending obligation to seek holiness and righteousness in every deed.” During the Lent season, forty days before Easter, many people of all different religions think of something to give up for forty days. I did not grow up observing Lent, so I do not know the purpose and I am sure that each person must search his or her heart to know their true purpose of observing Lent. From what I have observed, most people go on this fast in order to grow closer to God, which is always a good thing as far as I am concerned. Some people choose to give up particular foods or drinks: fatty foods, fried foods, chocolate, carbonated drinks, or alcoholic drinks. Some people give up behaviors like watching television or hanging out with certain people. I can see how in choosing to sacrifice things that we love we can honor God and grow closer to Him as we deny our fleshly desires. But, why limit ourselves to just the Lent season. Each and everyday of our lives, we should be seeking to live a life that is a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God. We should constantly be seeking to purify ourselves. We should take inventory of our lives and notice any person or habit that has become an idol to us. We should be honest with ourselves and decide daily if we are putting God first in our lives or if we are living to please someone else, even if that someone else is the person we see in the mirror. God sent Jesus to this earth to walk in human form and to show us that our lives can be lived without the filth and grime of sin. Yes, Jesus was God Son, but he was also human and faced with every temptation with which any of us could ever possibly be faced. And yet, Jesus was able to pass every test this world threw at Him, even unto death just so that He could show us how to live and to help us know that He is there for us. Admittedly, there have been times when I thought about fasting from certain foods or behaviors and the thought of not getting my daily nap or not getting to eat a Snickers bar has been terrifying. However, there is nothing scarier than knowing that I am consciously making the choice to include filth in my life on a daily basis and I am justifying it by pointing out all of the “good things” that I do. No, napping, eating candy, or drinking soda is not the filth; allowing ungodly thoughts, words and actions into my life is the filth. So, rather than trying to fast once a year, we all need to purify daily. We need to grow in Christ and grow closer to Christ. We must seek holiness and righteousness in every deed, and the only way to accomplish that successfully is through Christ who gives us strength. Prayer Thank You, God for giving us all an example of One who could live life free from all impurities. Please forgive me for ignoring areas of sin in my life. Lord, please help me to purify and die to self daily, so that I can live in holiness and reverence for you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Thirty Three Know Your Worth Scripture: Esther 1:12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. (Read Esther Chapter 1) Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I have met many [people who do not feel] worthy to truly have the best that God has to give... ” She walked into the gym, and the guys gawked and the women squawked. I looked up and thought, “Oh my, what was that poor child thinking when she left the house.” She was dressed to the nines for a basketball game, and I guess there is nothing wrong with that; to each her own. What was wrong was that it was freezing cold, yet, her clothes were thin and her midriff was exposed, along with all of her other assets. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that this young woman was, in fact, young. It broke my heart to see her flitting about, scantily clad, and flirting with anyone who would give her attention. I was nearly brought to tears to see this young sister sending out all of the wrong messages and not seeming to care what anyone thought of her. There is nothing wrong with being an individual. In fact, being unique is wonderful. Still, each and every day, I see young women and young men who devalue themselves by how they speak, how they dress and how they act. With this particular young lady, once I saw how the adult who accompanied her was dressed, I realized that she either didn’t know any better or didn’t care to know any better. But, we as the human race, and especially those of us who claim to be Christians, need to do better. Do we not understand that, when people see how you dress, act, talk, and walk, they make a decision about the God you serve based on how much you value yourself? I love the story of Queen Vashti. Knowing that she had everything to lose for disobeying the king, she refused to make a spectacle of herself in front of him and his friends. Queen Vashti took a stand that too many of us, men and women, are unwilling to take. She knew that she was worthy of far more than being a showgirl for her husband. We, single Christians, and any Christian for that matter, must take and stand and know our worth. When you are invited into a situation that will devalue you, run--don’t walk--away! God will never bring someone into your life that is going to desire for you to act in a way that makes you look foolish. God does not give us mates that are willing to mortify us in front of their friends or family or co-workers. And, if you know your worth, you will not allow yourself to be put in such a predicament. Could it cost you your relationship? Yes! But, which relationship is more important, your relationship with someone who objectifies you, or, your relationship with the One who made you who you are. You must remember, as W.C. Fields said, “It ain’t what they call you; it’s what you answer to” that matters. The only way that we will ever receive the blessed mate that God wants to send us is if we know our worth. Too many single Christians think that they are unworthy of God’s best and that kind of negative thinking can do unfathomable levels of harm. So, look yourself in the mirror, and remind yourself that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. And, never ever let anyone convince you otherwise! Prayer Thank You, God for helping me realize that I am worth of love and respect. Please forgive me for allowing people in my life that do not respect me and for disrespecting myself. Lord, please help me to hold my head up high and always stand for what is right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Thirty Two All We Need Is Love Scripture: 1 John 5:2-3 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome… Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “If you don’t love God’s people, then you don’t love God. If you profess to be a child of God, then you are one of His people that you have to love.” I try to get out of the house every once in a while just to be sure that I don’t become a complete hermit. Sometimes, it is easier than other times to be in public by myself. Most times, I am perfectly comfortable getting a meal or even watching a movie alone. Being alone is a part of my life and I have grown to value this time of singleness. Then, there are the times when being out in public by myself is terrifying and painful. Fortunately, those times are not nearly as often as the enjoyable times, but when they come around, I have found that I need to take a deep breath and get back to the basics. What are the basics? I have to remember that the key to fulfilling my purpose here on earth is obedience to God. In fact, that is how I show God I love Him. I mean, let’s face it, there is NOTHING I can give to God. He owns the Universe. All He ever asked us for was love. He commanded that we love Him above anyone or anything. And that love is shown when we obey Him and love His children. Many people make living this life so much more complicated than it has to be when all we have to do is love. This is not about romantic love. This is about something much deeper. This is the kind of love that causes you to take a leap of faith even though you are scared out of your mind. This is the kind of love that makes you show compassion and mercy towards people who are malicious and hateful towards you. This is the kind of love that makes you look in the mirror each day and shout praises for being fearfully and wonderfully made. All we need is love. We do not need some magic formula. We do not need a conference or convention. We do not need a strategic, hook-up plan. We need love. We need to love God first. We need to love ourselves. We need to love others. It’s just that simple. Once you start pouring out love from your life, more love is poured back into your life. That is not to say that you should go around doing good deeds because you want to benefit in some way because then, you have the wrong motives. But, just live in obedience to God each and every day. If you stumble, don’t stay there; ask God for forgiveness and keep moving forward in love. The bottom line is God is love. And, God is all we need. Everything else in life falls into place when He is at the center of it all. Choose to love and you choose live the good life, even in the rough times. It is a love that will never fail. Prayer Thank You, God for Your example of the right way to love. Please forgive me for not showing my love for You through obeying Your commands. Lord, please help me to show love to the children of God and to love myself even when I feel unlovable.. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
Week Thirty One Who Says You’re Not Good Enough Scripture: Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Quote from Pray While You’re Prey: “I have had the occasion to think that I was the bottom of the barrel. I wasn’t pretty enough; I was book-smart, but not street smart enough; I just wasn’t…enough.” People who know me now would never know that, for most of my life, I struggled with self-esteem issues. If I am being honest, when I look back at my relationship mistakes and failures, many of them stemmed from the fact that I undervalued myself. Growing up, I was tall and lanky. In kindergarten, I was scolded by a teacher because she thought I was supposed to be on the big kids’ playground, not the kindergarten playground. It seemed like I was about a head taller than everybody else. To exacerbate the situation, I had some health problems and was quite sickly, so I was ridiculously skinny. And, I had eczema, so when my skin wasn’t dry and flaky, I had scars from scratching all my itches. I was quite the awkward child. I had no fashion sense whatsoever. I was smart, but I quickly learned as a little girl (from my peers, not my parents) that intelligence is intimidating, not attractive. By fifteen, I had glasses and braces, and, needless to say, no boys were knocking down my parents’ door to try to take me out on a date. I made up for feeling inadequate by trying to outperform and out-achieve others. I was an honor-roll students, participated in plays, represented my high school on the mock trial team, and placed in our school’s pageant. I won scholarships, got into every school for which I applied for entry. The list went on and on because I thought that doing all of these things would make me feel like I was good enough. My parents made every effort to tell me how great I was and that I could do anything. Unfortunately, their praise and pep talks were drowned out by all of the negativity that perceived was coming from my peers. When I got older, and out of my very long awkward phase, the pendulum swung in the completely opposite direction. I went right past self-esteem into pure, unadulterated conceit. I was pretty and I felt pretty and people (meaning guys) started to notice. But, that inner awkward girl was ill-prepared to handle the attention gained by her cocky counterpart. I did whatever I needed to do to keep the attention because I thrived on getting attention. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered that the only One I truly need love from is my Heavenly Father. He is the only one that I should be working and living for, and not so He can give me praise, but at a testimony of praise back to Him for all He has done in my life. The reality is that, regardless of what we look like, how smart we are, how accomplished we may be, God, the Father, knew that spiritually, we were not good enough to receive His love. And yet, while we were still not good enough, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sins to unite us with Him. He does this so that those who believe in Him can be good enough and live lives that are more than enough through Him, here on Earth and for eternity in Heaven. If He loved us that much, when we really were not good enough, who is anyone else to say that once we are His, we are not good enough? Is there really anyone’s opinion that matters more to you than God’s? Who said you were not good enough? Family? Friend? Enemy? You? Well, I have news for you, friend, God says, “You might be all messed up, but I sent My Son to clean you up before you even asked or accepted it, and I offered it because I love you.” You don’t have to get better, live better, or do better before you come to Christ. He accepts us as we are and heals and delivers us into being better. No one who claims to love you should ever make you feel that you are not good enough, including yourself. God does not lie and He said that you were good enough to love when He sacrificed His Only Son. Prayer Thank You, God for loving me before I knew how to love You or even love myself. Please forgive me for placing the opinions of others higher than Your opinion of me. Lord, please help me to know that I am loved and lovable despite what my circumstances look like. In Jesus’ Name, Amen *Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. |
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