Pray While You’re Prey Weekly Devotions for Singles
I know a lot of people who say that the Bible is outdated. They think that the Bible was written so long ago that it should be changed to apply to the way we live today. For me, I have come to realize that the Bible is God’s perfect, living Word. I know this because I can read the Bible, the words of which have not changed, and at different points in my life, God gives me something completely new in that passage of Scripture. It is not that the Bible that is some antiquated instrument of oppression that needs to be rewritten, it is that our hearts need to be transformed. We need to cling to God and not to this world. I will admit that it is easier said than done. Following God’s Word is not simple, but it is right. Does accepting God’s salvation and following His Word mean that life becomes sunshine and rainbows everyday? No, but it tells us this in God’s Word. Following God’s way leads to the loss of those things in our lives that are detrimental and unnecessary, but that does not make it hurt less when we lose relationships or go through suffering. However, when I start to think about whining about squeezing through the narrow gate, I think about how much more suffering Christ went through just to save my life; a worthless life that He did not need to save. Yet, His compassion was so great that He lived in a perfect way, suffered torture and died, so that I could live forever. So, what do we need to do? We need to trust God. We need to believe His Word and His promises. We need to hold on! There is a hymn that says, “Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God's unchanging hand .” Yes, if you look around at the world and the people in it, it will seem like God is holding out on you. The devil has been using that lie since Adam and Eve. It seems like it is more beneficial to live the world’s way. It seems that you will have more success in life, career, and relationships if you just follow the world. It seems this way, but that is deceptive. God’s way is perfect. If we just move close to Him, and take refuge in Him, He will shield us. There will be rough times. We are human beings and we have emotions. There will be times when you feel lonely or like a failure. There will be times when it doesn’t seem like living God’s Way is worth it, but those are the times when you have to press in to Him. Continue to follow His perfect Way, continue to read His flawless Word, and continue to seek His will for your life. If you are saved, this is just the beginning of your life. There is a whole, new world after this one. You have eternity to think about and not just what this temporal life has to offer. I believe that holding on will be worth it. Prayer Thank You, God for being perfect in ALL of Your Ways. Please forgive me for trying to accomplish things in my own way. Lord, please help me to take refuge in Your loving arms, so You can shield me. 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
I am not sure when you are reading this, but I am writing it the night before Palm Sunday. Last week, I had writer’s block and could not think of anything encouraging to write; so, though I was frustrated about it, I decided that I should not write a devotion and try again this week. I did not want to just throw something together. I wanted to be inspired by God to write what people need to hear. So, I tried again today. I scrolled down the page to my planned topic for this week of the devotions and I saw No One Else. I immediately knew that I needed to write this on the weekend of Palm Sunday, which is celebrated the week prior to Resurrection Day (or as most people refer to it, Easter). Palm Sunday celebrates the time when Jesus was praised, about a week before those same people praising Him would shout, “Crucify Him!” Jesus, the blameless, Almighty, all-powerful, Son of God would be heralded as a savior one week and pay the ultimate sacrifice the next week. And, He chose to be that sacrifice despite the fact that the very people He came to save treated Him like garbage. But, let’s not be so haughty as to condemn those people before we look in the mirror and ask ourselves how we treat Jesus. This devotion series is not just about being content while you are single; it is about allowing yourself to be devoted to Christ. It is about finding comfort and solace in Him. Have you ever praised Jesus one week only to ignore Him the next? Perhaps, it did not even take a week. Maybe it was a few days or a few hours or, dare I say, just a few minutes. We, and I am including me, are quick to offer praise when Jesus is being who we think He should be. Yet, we are quick to question Him when the circumstances of our lives are not how we wish them to be. When we do that we are no different that the people who laid down palm branches to honor Him one day and spit on Jesus just a few days later. Jesus could have said, “Daddy, I don’t want to do this.” Make no mistake about this, Jesus did not have to die for our sins. He showed a love that we cannot even fathom. He showed a love that NO ONE ELSE would dare show. Can you imagine dying for the people who treat you like dirt? I can’t, but Jesus did. He gave Himself as a ransom for you and me and for all people; for anyone who would accept Him as Lord and Savior. So, really examine your heart. Do you appreciate that no one else has done for you what Jesus did? No boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other or spouse could even come close to that kind of love. So, shouldn’t we be more desperate to get close to the One who died for us than we are for our human relationships. It is not that relationships are bad. I will be so grateful when God sends me my forever husband, but I cannot forget His sacrifice because no one else will ever love me that. Prayer Thank You, God for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the One and Only mediator. Please forgive me for taking Your Sacrifice for granted and complaining or thinking that You don’t love me because I don’t get my way. Lord, please help me to always remember Your loving gift at Calvary’s cross and to Honor You above all others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen Find this song and more music on the Toni LaShaun Music website.
*Scripture quotations are from the New International Version ©1984, unless otherwise indicated. |
Pray While You're Prey Weekly DevotionsI pray that this 52-week devotional honors Him and blesses you. Enjoy! Archives
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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. |