I did it.
I finally did it.
After writing devotionals for nearly 10 years, I figured it was time to make my favorite devotionals available in an easy to read PDF format for those wanting to get back into the Word daily.
Thanks for all your prayers, love, and support.
I’m so glad this day is finally here!
[Day 30] – “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” Joshua 23:14
When you fly do you prefer take-offs or landings?
Landings symbolize a finale. The end. Usually by the time we are landing we’re so warn out from the flight and ready to get off the plane that we forget. We can forget to appreciate that we actually made it. Finished. Done. But, instead life goes on because we must keep going.
Do you ever stop to look back and see God’s faithfulness in your life?
This month has been especially designed to help us do just that. This month we learned how to let go go. Exercise Faith. Take Refuge. Have a Mary-Spirit. Be humble.
Give thanks. Wait. Love Others. Get rid of failure. Share one another’s burdens. Live Joy. How to pray. Spread the Good News. Add value. Breathe Peacefully. Jump. And of course, learning how to fly. What an incredible journey it has been.
May we not forget the truths we learned along the way that God is faithful to do what He promised.
* * * * *Dear God,
We are confident that you will finish the work that you started in our lives. Inspire us Lord. Encourage us when we fall down and may we never grow weary or tired of doing good to our brothers and sisters along the way.
Amen
[Day 29] – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
How does fruit grow? That’s easy, on trees right?
Most of them do, but some of them grow on a vine. But, what does it take for fruit to grow? Water. Soil. Sustenance. Sunlight. Pruning.
Practically speaking, what does that look like in our own lives? The water, soil, sunlight, etc?
Trials. Trials help build our character. We don’t just become “loving” overnight. Joy doesn’t stem from our circumstances like happiness does. Joy comes out of an abundance of remaining in the vine. The same goes for the other fruits of the spirit.
It’s not a matter of how ripe you want to be, God’s ultimately the one who decides that.
For instance, on any given day God could be working on growing your patience or your love. Maybe tomorrow it’s how peaceful you are or how gentle you need to be.
God’s a good Gardener as we saw a couple weeks ago and he knows just the right amounts of trial seasoned with some time in the Son (with Him of course) and oxygen (that’s the Holy Spirit) and our Sustenance (which is the Word of God).
* * * * *Dear God,
We ask you to make us into spirit fruit. The kind that fully ripens to spread the knowledge of who you are to other people. Let others want the kind of joy that we have because we are rooted in you.
Amen
[Day 28] – “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Today, we’re going to fly!
Why? Because being squeezed out of our comfort zone can be pretty scary. It’s easy to give into lies that tell us we can’t keep going, so we retreat. We lose faith. Give up. Quit.
We need to know the truth of who we are in Christ before we soar to the heights to be with Him.
To get us started I’ve posted a link of the most significant piece of literature to combat the lies we believe against ourselves. It is written by Neil Anderson entitled “Who Am I?” Please print and put it on your bathroom mirror. It just might save your life as it did mine years ago when I was first learning how to fly.
Did you know when an eagle encounters harsh winds in a storm it stretches out its wings toward heavens and flies above?
* * * * *
Dear God,
Give us the grace and power to stretch out our feeble arms and legs and rise above our current challenge. You understand that we will make mistakes and grow weary of doing good. Thanks for keeping us accountable and for proving to us that we have what it takes to fly like an eagle.
Amen
[Day 27] – “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32
How do you decide when it’s time to move on?
Most people would rather stay where they are and never move. Comfortable. (Yeah, I’m talking to you). But, life’s not about easy street or staying put. That’s not what God meant for you or for me.
He has more in store for us than we could ever think or imagine. He will sometimes let our options run out, water run low, or squeeze us out until we get a clue that there is something wrong with our lives.
You don’t think God knows you need that job? Those relationships? Your sanity?
Once we are honest with God about our situation we should watch and wait as God intervenes. He may even move you into bigger and better things. Don’t just anticipate it. Expect it.
Ready? Set? Jump!
* * * * *Dear God,
Give us wings to fly in the face of adversity. Show us this plan that’s beyond our human ways of thinking. Enlarge our borders and may your hand be upon us. As we begin to run let us not cause pain to those we leave behind to follow hard after you!
Amen
