Devotionals
The Company We Keep
When I was young, I wanted to fit in. I wanted someone to like me. I tried really hard which, of course, made people not like me very much. I was annoying. I would do anything to have people like me. I followed some foolish people and did foolish things to have a sense of belonging.
The problem is most people will act in ways that are contrary to God. It is part of our sin problem. If your companions don’t know God or don’t follow God, neither will you. We long to belong and that feeling begins more important than God.
God knows how weak we are. He knows that we will wander off like sheep. So, He gave us guidelines and instructions in His Word. He gave us reminders like this to pay attending to who you let in your life. There are people who will sound correct but will lead you astray.
Seek friends that take God seriously. When issues arise, have friends that will lift you up in prayer and pray with you. Wisdom comes from God. Without Him as our center, we are fools. That feeling of wanting to belong is placed in us so that we seek after the One we actually belong to.
A godly friend is a gift from God.
Looking for a speaker? Let Dana bring God’s truth to your event. danawalkswithgod.com
Am I Good Enough?
When I was visiting with my aunt Eddye, we were talking about end of life. She admitted that she was scared that she hadn’t done enough or been good enough to go to heaven. The question is a scary one.
As we talked, I brought up this verse. I asked her if Jesus was Lord of her life. She said yes. Then I asked her if she believed He had been raised from the dead and she said yes. That is the criteria to receive God’s grace. That is how a person is saved. There is no doubt after that.
God knows we are weak and frail creatures. We are also stubborn and sinful. He loves us anyway. The beautiful thing about salvation is that God does the work. We have to accept Jesus’s sacrifice and follow Him. Although, we will not do it perfectly, our salvation is no in jeopardy.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow more and more like Jesus. As we walk in the God deeds that God prepared in advance for us, we do good out of gratitude not as a requirement for salvation. It is a free gift.
Don’t place an additional price on a debt that has already been paid.
Looking for a speaker? Let Dana bring God’s truth to your event. danawalkswithgod.com
Where in the World Are You?
When I was a sophomore in high school, I applied for a scholarship to spend a year in Germany. I made it into the final selection but was not chosen. It was a huge consideration because leaving the country was something I never thought I would do.
I have been blessed to do some traveling abroad. I have been to Mexico, Belize, Hong Kong, Belgium, Italy, England, France and the Netherlands. Not bad for a small town girl. Even with all of that travel, I have only seen a fraction of places. I have only interacted with a few people.
Jesus calls us to go into the world and preach the gospel. One does not need to travel far distances to do so. Over half of American never go to church. So, going into the world is as close as our neighbor. Invitations to church go a long way to break the barrier.
Jesus knew that people would not see their need for him. He understood that the message of the world is that the here and now are all you need to think about. And, unless someone shows them that they are in danger, the world will never know they need a Savior.
As Christians, we need to warn the world.
Teach Me
I find systems to be very helpful. Once I have a system in place, I can follow it and maintain it. Take my closet. I never knew what to wear. I definitely didn’t know how to put an outfit together well. But, then, I had a friend come in and help.
She helped me see what things needed to go and what things I definitely needed. We organized my closet by type and color. She showed me how to put pieces together and gave me confidence in what I wore. I just needed some instruction and a system.
The Bible gives us instructions and systems to manage our lives. God reveals His character in the scripture. It is there that we understand how we should live. It helps provide systems that can keep us in track as well. Reading God’s word and praying are components of the system as well as attending church.
These things provide us the information we need to live life. When we accept Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to help instruct us and counsel us. When we listen to the Spirit, we can walk with confidence in the way God calls us to be.
Feeling lost? Jesus is the answer.
Looking for a speaker? Let Dana bring God’s truth to your event. danawalkswithgod.com