Good Morning Seeking, Listening, Fruitful Followers of Jesus! AMEN! Pronounce that over you and us in prayer today. Believe it! Live it! God has great plans for you today! Rejoice and follow well!
I gotta fly to my, hopefully, last cardiologist appointment. And I am meet for lunch with some leaders and brothers from Emmaus for lunch to discern what God may have for us together. I covet your prayers for God to speak and lead us.
Check out the thread through our devotionals today. What a reminder! We must always depend on God! As we do and follow well, we will turn the world right side up! We are sent, like Jesus, and with Him in us to love and change and lead people to Truth, Hope and new life. We are made to live a full and fruitful life and that comes available and alive when we come to Christ. How are you living the hyphen? God has plans for you just as you are and for whatever season of life you are in. Listen, receive, process and go love well today! Keep seeking, listening and trusting as you take each step of faith through this day. God is with you and will lead, protect, provide and transform you and situations and people around you. Rejoice, Trust. Listen. Follow well! And know true joy and peace. Amen!
Shalom shalom!
TWFYT
ODB:
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As I prepared for my mom’s celebration of life service, I prayed for the right words to describe her “hyphen years”—the years between her birth and death. I reflected on the good and not-so-good times in our relationship. I praised God for the day my mom accepted Jesus as her Savior after she saw Him “changing” me. I thanked Him for helping us grow in faith together and for the people who shared how my mom encouraged and prayed for them while showering them with kindness. My imperfect mom enjoyed a meaningful hyphen—a life well-lived for Jesus.
Not one believer in Jesus is perfect. However, the Holy Spirit can enable us to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way” (Colossians 1:10). According to the apostle Paul, the church of Colossae was known for their faith and love (vv. 3-6). The Holy Spirit gave them “wisdom and understanding” and empowered them to “[bear] fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (vv. 9-10). As Paul prayed for and praised those believers, he proclaimed the name of Jesus, the one “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (v. 14).
When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, we too can grow in our knowledge of God, love Him and people, spread the gospel, and enjoy a meaningful hyphen—a life well-lived for Jesus.
By Xochitl Dixon
REFLECT & PRAY
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What qualities characterized a person you know who lived a meaningful life? How can you enjoy living such a life this week?
Holy Spirit, please give me more opportunities to share Jesus with others as I enjoy a meaningful life.
For further study, read A Resilient Life: Strength for Today from the Sermon on the Mount.
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Twin themes of gratitude and love run throughout Paul’s introduction to his letter to the church in Colossae. “We always thank God,” he writes, “because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people” (Colossians 1:3-4). This love for our Father binds all believers together in love. Paul also noted how we “share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (v. 12). Our faith in Christ brings with it a sense of community and a love for each other.
Tim Gustafson |
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CS
UR Merciful Lord
If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - John 8:36 (NIV)
I was resting one morning when my wife called me outside. When I got there, I saw a little bird playing with a string. A while later the bird’s neck became entangled in the string. It was fluttering its wings and trying to get free, but the harder it tried the tighter the string became. When I tried to help the bird, it bit me. Finally, my father held the bird, and I removed the string to free it.
Later as I reflected on this incident, I realized that I, too, make bad choices. When I give in to temptation, everything seems fine at first. But ultimately I find myself in a situation that is nearly impossible to escape. I tend to try to get out of the situation on my own, but eventually I am like the bird, helpless and trapped.
Though all our efforts may fail, Jesus never fails us. When we call on him in prayer, he is always ready to free us from our bondage, be it something from our past, an addiction, or guilt. Only Jesus can save us. If we repent and believe in Christ, he will set us free.
Today's Prayer
Merciful Lord, thank you for coming to deliver us from our sins. Redeem us and renew us so that our lives may be pleasing to you. Amen.Harvest
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July 30 - Repentance Unlocks the Kingdom
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Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, resisted the temptations of the devil and began His ministry. He spoke His message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17) and began recruiting messengers: “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!” (Matthew 4:19)
Repentance forms a vital part of our relationship with God. It unlocks access to the Kingdom of Heaven, to intimacy with the Almighty. Without repentance, we remain ignorant observers of the King and His kingdom. With repentance, we can engage the King and His kingdom. When engaging in repentance, belief and faith overcome the soul and we remain not only followers of Jesus, but messengers powered to turn others into followers, too.
Lord, I value my relationship with You above all other living beings and things. I desire full alignment with You, Your will, and Your ways. I repent generally for all my known and unknown sins, and I believe over time, You will specifically show me what I’ve done, said, or thought that’s wicked or displeasing in Your sight. At the point of Your revelations, I will repent specifically.
I declare over myself that I’m quick to repent, and my life reflects the fruit of repentance. I thank You for the gift of repentance and for every opportunity I can repent. As a lover and follower of You, I desire to share the Good News of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I desire my life to reflect Your kingdom and to build Your kingdom. I repent for any time I resisted Your nudge to share the truth about who You are. I recognize that You, Jesus, are my Lord and Savior. Lord, I declare I want to follow You in every aspect of my life.
Thank You for the grace and mercy You unconditionally extend to me. I’m excited that You will teach me how to capture people for the Kingdom of Heaven.
I praise You that I will be fearless. I praise You that I will be strengthened to love others as myself. I praise You that for all my days I will love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
--Adapted from Praying What Jesus Says by Natasha Miller. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
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- Praise “God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”
- Thank him for being your Father through Christ Jesus.
- Confess tendencies to act like a spiritual orphan.
- Commit yourself to more consistently remembering the responsibilities and privileges of being God’s child.
- Ask him to help you bring honor to the family name.
- Pray that your local congregation will bring pleasure to the Father through its weekly worship times. Ask God to help all members and regular attendees act with true family love toward one another.
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Prayer Points taken from Patterns for Prayer by Alvin VanderGriend. This book is available at prayershop.org. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.
Connection (Devotions for Everyday Life) © 2024 is a free devotional published daily by Harvest Prayer Ministries. Subscribe here. |
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