Tag: Devotional

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Romans 1:20 (NIV) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

One characteristic of the heart of God is that He desires to be known. If you were to ask 100 people where they often feel connected to God, chances are high that a majority of them would say they feel connected to God when in nature.. There’s something about the silence, the stillness, and the wonder we experience in God’s creation that leads us to directly to Him. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:20, God’s eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen through His creation. 

Today, take the opportunity to consider where in nature you have felt connected to God? With this being the start of a new week, take a few moments to plan exactly when you will experience the presence of God through His Creation. Don’t just assume it’ll happen. Make a plan to experience His presence. Give your heart and soul the nutrients you need – the very presence and knowledge of a loving God. 

READING & PRAYERS:

ROMANS 1:20, HEBREWS 3:4, ISAIAH 40:28, ROMANS 11:36

QUESTION: When have you experienced the presence of God in nature? What do you think made that encounter so memorable? 

QUESTION: When will you experience the presence of God in Creation this week? Write it down, make a plan, and experience His presence. 

Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess I don’t always recognize that I need You and presence in my life. Sometimes I put off being with You, only to come to You when I’m in great need. But I’m recognizing that I do need Your presence and am always in need of it. Help me to experience Your presence this week. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:

In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with? 

In what ways have you resisted God’s word within you this week? 

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Have you ever met somebody who seems to always have something kind and encouraging to say? Would others identify you as that kind of person? There are a lot of Scripture passages about speaking words that give life and encouragement to others. But one common one is Hebrews 3:13, which in the NIV reads, But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Interestingly, the word Encourage in this passage is translated differently in other English translations. The Greek word used here has a lot of nuance to it, and there isn’t one good word in English which adequately defines it. The word may be translated as, “comfort, exhort, desire, call for, beseech with a stronger force than asking, requesting, or even begging.” So to Encourage one another daily, is to be abiding (or ROOTED) in Christ so deeply you just can’t help but to exhort, desire, even beg for others to experience what you’re experiencing. Not so they will be a better person. But simply so that they will experience the love and grace and wonder of God on a deep, deep level in their own lives. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     HEBREWS 3:13, EPHESIANS 4:29, PROVERBS 15:4, PROVERBS 16:24, HEBREWS 10:24-25

QUESTION: Who is somebody you know who may need to hear words of life and encouragement today? Consider writing them a card, or giving them a call. Let them know you are with them and for them. 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize it may be easy for me to identity somebody who may need to hear words of life and encouragement today. But help me to remember, each and every day, that everybody I interact with needs to hear words of life and encouragement. As I continue to be ROOTED in You, I pray that You would provide me words of life to share with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Matthew 18:15-20 is a passage many will turn to to remind themselves how to confront somebody in both grace and truth. While this is a great passage on the topic, the verses preceding it are equally important. 

Matthew 18:12-14 reads, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”

The fact that Matthew has this passage flow directly into another one about confronting those who have committed a sin — it isn’t a coincidence. The purpose of confronting somebody who has sinned against you isn’t to scold or criticize them, it is to healthily bring them back to the body of believers. Yes, there are truths to be spoken. But there is also tremendous grace, and a desire to invite them back into the unity of the body of Christ. 

READING & PRAYERS:

     MATTHEW 18:12-20

QUESTION: Can you think of a time when you have seen this passage lived out well? How did it lead to a stronger relationship between the people involved? 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I am more interested in being right than I am interested in being gracious. Once again, I pray that you will continue to help me see the fullness of grace You have shown me. Change the head-knowledge I have of Your grace and make it heart-knowledge, so that others may see Your heart in and through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, there’s a scene which reveals the heart of Christ in a wonderful way. Edmund, the sibling who had set out to betray his siblings, comes to discover that the White Witch is evil and crafty. As such, he returns to his siblings and those who follow Aslan – the clear Christ-figure of the story. 

Upon Edmund’s return, Aslan has a conversation with Edmund and nobody else. Here is how C.S. Lewis writes it: “There is no need to tell you (and no one ever heard) what Aslan was saying, but it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot. As the others drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him. “Here is your brother,” he said, “and—there is no need to talk to him about what is past.”

Lewis, an exceptional writer, captures the imagination well. The reader is left wondering and imagining exactly what Aslan said to Edmund. But whatever truths were shared, they were shared with tremendous grace. The impact upon Edmund’s life is evident in this reading; “…it was a conversation he never forgot.” 

READING & PRAYERS:

     JAMES 3:1-18

QUESTION: What is a good, but difficult conversation somebody has had with you that you’ve never forgotten? What did they do or say that made it so memorable? 

QUESTION: What would help you grow into somebody who can share difficult truths but do so with tremendous love and grace? 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I am very good at communicating what I think is the truth, but I neglect to share that truth with love and grace. At times, I have even used Your Word as a weapon against others instead of as a way to encourage others. Continue to help me see the fullness of the grace You have shown me, and help me reflect that grace upon others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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There are some Scriptural principles which are so important we need to be reminded of them time and time again. Some may begin to read a passage and think to themselves, Wait a second, I just read this last week. I should probably read something different today. But just because what was read before may still be in our minds, it doesn’t mean it has made a permanent place in our hearts and souls. 

Today’s Scripture reading is one such passage. Those who are followers of Christ may know in our minds that it’s important to abide in Christ. But until abiding in Christ becomes a complete and total priority in our lives, we must continually remind ourselves just how important it really is. 

When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that we are able to bear much fruit. When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that the distractions and interruptions of our lives amount to only a whisper. When our roots are deeply united with Christ, it is then and only then that we can live life at the speed of our souls, and not the speed in which others think we should live.

READING & PRAYERS:

     JOHN 15:1-17

QUESTION: In your own words, write out what you think it means to abide in Christ (or remain in Christ, or be united with Christ). What is one thing you can do today to make abiding in Christ your greatest priority?

Take a Step: This week, continue to utilize the One Minute Pause app at least twice daily to begin practicing being with God and resting in His presence. The app is free, and is available on iPhone and Android devices. See pauseapp.com for details.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I simply pray that my roots will grow deep, deep down into the Gospel. May Your heart become my heart, and may others see You in me. I choose to be rooted in You – to abide in You today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:

In what ways have you seen God at work within you this week? Within your family? Within others you may interact with? 

In what ways have you resisted God’s word within you this week? 

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Take a moment to clasp your hands together, ensuring to keep your fingers intertwined so your hands are locked together.

For those who have professed faith in Christ, this is what our relationship with God was intended to look like. God is deeply connected with your heart and soul. But because of the brokenness of our world, we sometimes pull away from that. We dig our roots down into something else we believe will bring us joy. We dig our roots down into something else we believe will bring us peace. We did our roots down into something else we believe will bring us love. 

Two things occur when we attempt to do this. First, at some point in time we discover that our roots are not pulling in nutrients that are helping us to survive and thrive. Instead, our roots are pulling in poison and causing us to whither. 

And second, we also discover that through it all, God didn’t let go of His hold on us. We may have attempted to side-step His love and grace, but He continued to hold on. He continued to say, “You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.” 

READING & PRAYERS:

     JOHN 15:1-17

QUESTION: Which verses in this passage stick out to you the most? In what ways may God be inviting you to rest in Him today? Be specific. 

QUESTION: Be honest: Do you believe God is saying to you, “You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased?” If not, take some time to explore why.

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3 or 5 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Christ is the vine, and I am one of the branches. This truth reminds me that very little is in my control outside of being rooted in Christ. It also reminds me that I will only produce good, healthy fruit as a result of where my roots are. May I be rooted in You not just in this moment, but all throughout the day. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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If you were to write down the 3-5 things you most value in life, what would you write down? Family? Relationships? Honesty? Integrity? Something else? 

On the surface, the majority of us could say what we value to others without too much difficulty. But if you were to explore what’s deep beneath the surface, you may discover you have been putting a higher value on some things that didn’t make your list of what you say you value. 

Here’s a simple exercise: Look over all of your purchases and credit card receipts over the previous 3 months. If somebody else were to look at these same receipts, what would they conclude about what you value? 

Similarly, take the opportunity to write down exactly how you have spent your time over the past 2-3 weeks. How much time did you spend sleeping and resting? How much time did you spend at work? How much time did you spend with family and friends? How much time did you spend in prayer, or more deeply rooting yourself in Christ? 

Questions such as these reveal what we truly value.

READING & PRAYERS:

     COLOSSIANS 3:5-11

QUESTION: What are you willing to give up in order to be more deeply rooted in Christ? 

QUESTION: What are you unwilling to give up in order to be more deeply rooted in Christ? 

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3 or 5 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today I recognize that I may say I value certain things, but the questions in today’s reading show that what I actually value may differ. As I continue to dig my roots deeply into Christ, help me to recognize what matters most and invest my time, energy, and resources into those things. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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You’ve probably heard this illustration before, but your life is a lot like an iceberg. Only 10% of who you really are is visible to the rest of the world. There are other parts of you that go really, really deep beneath the surface. 

On an average day, you may be willing to share some of your thoughts, beliefs, convictions, hurts, habits, or other hangups with a trusted family member, colleague, or friend. But the things that are really, really deep beneath the surface may remain hidden. Either you’re afraid of what may be lurking there, or you’re so ashamed of what may be lurking there you’re unwilling to share those things with others. 

But the things that are deep beneath the surface are worthy of your time and exploration. This is where your roots are. And because this is where your roots are, what’s there won’t always remain hidden. In time, even your deepest secrets will be revealed.

As you read today, take the opportunity to prayerfully reflect on what may be deep beneath the surface in your own life.

READING & PRAYERS:

     LUKE 18:9-14, 1 CORINTHIANS 4:5, GALATIANS 5:19-23

QUESTION: In the Luke 18:9-14 passage, what sticks out to you the most? Which of the characters in this story does your life most represent? 

QUESTION: In the Galatians 5:19-23 passage, which of the fruit listed here is most evident in your life? If you’re up for it, ask your spouse or another close friend to affirm your answer.

Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3 or 5 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I would like to think that my actions and decisions reveal more of the Fruit of the Spirit than the Fruit of the Flesh, but I recognize this isn’t always the case. Help me continue to dig my roots deeply into You so that the world may better see and experience Your love, grace, and goodness through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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