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Christian Devotional – August 12, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 44:4–Again and again I sent my servants the prophets who said, “Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!” TRUTH: God tried to warn the people, to get their attention. He sent prophets to warn them and sought to steer them clear of the dangers of their ways. The people were not interested and did not obey, so God was going to bring judgment on them. God gives us multiple opportunities to hear His word and choose to follow it. Do we listen for these promptings. RESPONSE: Father, I want to obey You in everything and I will be looking and listening for ways to show…
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Christian Devotional – August 10, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 42:7–Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. TRUTH: The people asked Jeremiah to tell them the word of the Lord. They wanted to hear and they promised to obey. However, the Lord did not speak right away to Jeremiah. Jeremiah prayed and sought the Lord for 10 days before he received the message to take back to the people. How long will we seek God for answers? How long are we willing to wait for God to reveal His will? God will move in His own timing. We can trust in Him and wait on Him. RESPONSE: Father, You know best. You see the…
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Christian Devotional – August 6, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 38:20–“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you and your life will be spared.” TRUTH: No matter what God is telling us to do, we will have reasons and excuses that will come to mind for why we shouldn’t. The Lord has a plan for us, but it can be scary and Satan is quick to whisper all sorts of reasons to us to disobey. The Lord desires our obedience, but He doesn’t try to rationalize with us or explain reasons. He desires our obedience simply because we love Him and know…
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Christian Devotional – August 2, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 34:11–But afterward they turned around and took back the male servants and the female servants whom they had set free, and brought them into subjection for male servants and female servants. TRUTH: The Lord had given the people a specific command: free the male and female servants that you have. So the people obeyed and let them go. However, just after that, they went out and took their servants back. The Lord wanted the people to understand that partial obedience is still disobedience. They Lord wants us to honor the directions that He gives. He wants to help us, but we have to be willing to follow Him…
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Christian Devotional – July 5, 2013
VERSE: Jeremiah 6:16–This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” TRUTH: If we are seeking and looking for the path that God desires for our life, then He will lead us to that path. However, even then we must choose to walk down it. The Lord does not force us down that path, even after He has shown it to us. Yet, so many people seek after the Lord and then when faced with…
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Christian Devotional – June 29, 2013
VERSE: Acts 28:31–He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ–with all boldness and without hindrance! TRUTH: Just as a reminder, Paul was still under house arrest. He could not leave, yet scripture shares that he was without hindrance. Do we get caught up in our situation and circumstances and allow that to hinder our obedience? If Paul can be unhindered from prison, then we can be unhindered no matter where we are. RESPONSE: Father, I will stop focusing on my situation and circumstances. I will focus only on You. Through You I will be bold no matter what situation You have placed me in!
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Christian Devotional – June 2, 2013
VERSE: Acts 27:25–So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. TRUTH: Courage and faith go together. We will have courage only in the areas where we have faith. As we trust in God and believe that He will do what He says, then we can act in confidence with courage. Do we confidently obey what God has directed us to do? We know that our courage to do what He asks is a direct reflection of our faith in what God has promised us. RESPONSE: Father, this statement was true for Paul and it is true for…
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Christian Devotional – June 25, 2013
VERSE: Acts 24:26–At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. TRUTH: Felix listened to Paul speak and share his beliefs several times, yet Felix never realized the change that was evident in Paul’s life. He kept thinking that Paul would act like everyone else. Paul, as a follower of Christ, had no intention of acting like everyone else did in this situation and offering a bribe to Felix in order to be released. Even when we are in difficult situation, do we rely on Jesus or do we start trying to fall back on…
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Christian Devotional – June 24, 2013
VERSE: Acts 23:1–Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day. TRUTH: Paul had just finished giving testimony before the Pharisees and Sadducees and they were very upset with what Paul was saying. He ends by stating that he has done every aspect of His duty to God and He has a clean conscience. Are we able to say the same? Just like Paul had been obedient to God and had a clear conscience, could we say the same about ourselves? RESPONSE: Father, I will seek to do all You ask of me so that when I…
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Christian Devotional – June 23, 2013
VERSE: Acts 22:1–Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense. TRUTH: Paul had been accused of doing wrong and he stood up to give his rebuttal to their accusations. Would we be prepared to give a defense for the reasons we believe in Jesus Christ and seek to obey Him? What would we say? Does our own life reflect Jesus so much that someone would even accuse us of having a relationship with Him? We are to be bold and uncompromising in both our witness for God and our explanations for why we follow Him. RESPONSE: Father, give me the boldness to share the reasons for why I do what…