Gentleness

Gentleness goes a long way in any conversation, relationship, or situation. Proverbs says that it has the ability to turn away wrath; its power is great and truly incomprehensible.

When you interact with someone, Colossians says we should do it in grace, that how we speak to them should bring out the best in them. Particularly in a tense moment or one with an unbeliever. Being kind with someone when your instinct is to lash out or correct is gentleness in action.

Therefore, when anger begins to brew in you and in the other person, it’s our responsibility to diffuse the tension. Choose to turn the table by responding in kindness and gentleness.

Whether it’s a relationship with another person or as a part of the body of Christ, choose gentleness to guide you. Doing this will speak volumes to those around you and help foster unity in your relationships.

Make it a point daily to pray for gentleness, that God will help you in the way you interact with and respond to others. Gentleness is not always easy but it is always necessary.
 
Read: Colossians 4:5-6
 
(This Devotional was taken from a devotion in the YouVersion/Bible.com app/Website)


Humility

Humility has the perspective to put others first. It has the assurance that serving others is far more valuable than worrying about one’s own life. Philippians speaks so boldly to this that it should radically change your heart in the pursuit of humility.

It’s in humility we consider others better than ourselves. That’s hard if we are honest. It’s human nature, in our condition of sin, to think about ourselves first. It’s why personal expenses are covered before an offering goes to missions.

Or why some look for anything to get them out of a service project to help the homeless. Or why climbing the corporate ladder is usually a bit messy and hurtful.

Putting others before yourself is hard and requires sacrifice. It means stepping back and allowing others to take the credit. It manifests in celebrating the success of others when they are recognized. It shows up in church on Sunday when you commit to volunteer.

It’s this very practice that cultivates unity. When you begin to put others first and to serve the people around you, you are fostering an environment of connectivity. Furthermore, practicing it will go far in any of your relationships. Go the extra mile to serve your spouse, friend, or coworker and you’ll see unity ignited.

Humility is hard but start serving others and direct all your focus onto God, and you’ll see the “me” inside you begin to grow faint in the distance. In addition, you’ll see unity begin to take shape.

Read: Philippians 2:3-4
 
(This Devotional was taken from a devotion in the YouVersion/Bible.com app/Website)


Following God’s Plan

We may not feel ready or certain about making a move, but God lovingly gives us a chance to flex our faith and trust him for the outcome.

Scripture has this to say about following God’s plan, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see . . . By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:1, 8, emphasis added). Are you in the middle of one of life’s surprises right now? Are you at a place you never expected to be? Are you unsure of what will happen next?

Welcome to reality.

While the myth that we should “know” God’s plan for our lives still floats around Christian circles, the truth is quite different.

We live by faith and not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). If you knew every aspect of God’s plan for your life, clearly labeled in triplicate form, why would you need faith?

The moment of absolute certainty rarely comes. Consider Abraham. He didn’t have a clue where he was going. But he went anyway. Think of Samuel, whom God called as a child. Do you think a young boy understood the scope of God’s plan for his life? Certainly not. But these people moved forward in faith, as did all the spiritual heroes.

We must move forward. In preparation, we pray and seek godly counsel. We search the Scriptures and meditate on God’s truths. And then it comes time to decide. To make a move. We may not feel ready or certain, but God lovingly gives us a chance to flex our faith and trust him for the outcome.

The Bible is about people in a fluid, dynamic relationship with God. It’s not a treasure map. It’s not a blueprint spelling out Steps A, B and C for God’s plan for you. Instead of outlining methods to find God’s plan, it teaches the principles of finding God’s heart. The living God leads through relationship. When we understand this, we start to seek his face, not his hand. We stop wanting to find God’s plan so that we might find God instead. No longer capriciously wanting the “answer,” we want the one who knows the answer.

Reflect:

When was the last time you stepped out in faith and trusted God for the outcome? Do you need to do that today?
 
Read (You can use the bible in our app to read scriptures):
  • Jeremiah 29:13
  • 2 Corinthians 5:7
  • Hebrews 11:1
  • Hebrews 11:8
 
(This Devotional was taken from a devotion in the YouVersion/Bible.com app/Website)


Love

Love covers all wrong (Proverbs 10:12) / Follow the way of love (Corinthians 14:1)
 
There are many things in life that we can simply take or leave, but love is not one of them. Paul’s description of love is short but full of power. Love suffers for a long time. Our modern society encourages us to get rid of people in our lives who are difficult to get along with, whether they are friends, family or acquaintances. Yet this attitude runs in complete contrast to the love described by Paul. True love puts up with people who would be easier to give up on. If our love is directed towards others, we will rejoice in the blessings they receive rather than desiring those blessings for ourselves. The selfless love that God call us to, does not involve pride or glory. In fact true love does not seek its own, we will set aside our own plans, agendas and entitlements for the good of another. When we truly love others we are careful not to be touchy concerning other people’s words or action towards us. This does not mean that love is blind or naive. When we love, we may recognize problems and failures in people, but we do not lose faith in the possibilities of what people might become. Love never gives up, knowing that God can change lives for the better. This is the kind of love the Lord shows us.
 
Prayer:
Lord, may I love like you. Please help me to see others through your eyes. May I set myself aside to rejoice for others, to be there in someone’s time of need. May I love more and more like you. In Christ Name, Amen.


Stand Still

STAND STILL MY SOUL, FOR SO YOUR LORD COMMANDS:

Even when your way seems blocked, leave it in his wise hands;
His arm is mighty to divide the wave.
You will see how God can work the “impossible” for you.
For with a great deliverance he does save.
Be not impatient, but in stillness stand,
Even when surrounded on every hand,
In ways your spirit does not comprehend.
 
God cannot clear your way till you are still,
That he may work in you his blessed will,
and all your heart and will to him do bend.
Be still, for just when you are still can God
Reveal himself to you. Until through you
His love and light and life can freely flow.
 
In stillness God can work through you and
reach the souls around you. He then through
you can teach his lesson, and his power in
weakness show.
 
Be still and know the Father does know
best the way to lead his child to that fair land,
where longing souls are satisfied, and know
their God, and praise for all that he has planned.

-Author Unknown



Be Still

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way walk in it”. (Isaiah 30:21)

Are you uncertain about which direction you should go? Take your question to God and receive guidance from either the light of his smile or the cloud of his refusal. You must get alone with Him, where the light and the darkness of this world cannot interfere and where the opinions of others cannot reach you. You must also have the courage to wait in silent expectation, even when everyone around you is insisting on an immediate decision or action. If you will do these thing, the will of God will become clear to you. And you will have a deeper concept of who He is, having more insight into his nature and His heart of love. It will be a heavenly experience a precious eternal privilege, and the rich reward for the long hours of waiting.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Teach me your truths that I may walk in them. May I disappear for a while to be alone with you. That I may hear your still small voice to give me guidance and direction. Thank you. In Jesus Name, Amen!

 



Where Is God?

Do you ever experience sleepless nights, tossing and turning and simply waiting for the first glimmer of dawn? Is your night one of discouragement or failure, whether real or imagined? Do you feel no one understands you, and your friends have pushed you aside? Take heart, your maker will come near to you (read James 4:8) and give you a song of hope, which will be of his providence. Be ready to sing the song your Maker imparts to you. Focusing on God often causes him to draw near to your grieving heart, when that happens, why not ask your Maker (God) the Holy Spirit to fix your thoughts on Him and believe He can fill those lonely, dreary nights with song. Trust in Him at all times, pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Be strong and let your heart take courage all you who hope in the Lord.
 
Prayer:
Father, I take courage today to come to you, even in the times that I cannot seem to feel your presence. I will still choose to draw myself to you. As I take the step to focus on you and step out in faith I trust you will reach out to me and give me peace of mind, fill my loneliness and give me that song of hope. In Jesus Name, Amen!


Watch & Pray

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)
 
Jesus was at Gethsemane and said to his disciples to “sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and two sons of Zebedee. He said to them my soul is deeply grieved, remain here and keep watch for me. He came to his disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter could you not keep watch with me for one hour?
 
Dear friend, never go out into the danger of the world without praying first. There is always temptation to shorten your time in prayer. Do not use excuses to resign yourself from prayer. Temptations are waiting to confront you, and you are not prepared to withstand them. When we give in to laziness, moments of prayers that are missed can never be redeemed. We may learn from the experience, but we will miss the freshness and strength that would have been imparted during those moments. We do not know all that Jesus gained from his time in prayer, but we do know this – a life without prayer is a POWERLESS LIFE. It may be a life filled with great deal of activity and noise, but it will be far removed from him who prays day and night to God. Please do not be caught sleeping. Jesus has called you to be his disciples, can you not tarry for one hour?
 
Prayer:
Lord, Please remove any distractions that would deter me from time with you. May I wake up every morning starting my day in prayer with you so that I may be equipped for my day. I want to spend more time in you. I do not want to fall into temptation as my day goes on. I want to seek you and you alone and I know by spending time in you that is wear my strength comes from, this strength will help me in fighting the temptations that come my way. Thank you for who you are and all you do. In Christ Name, Amen!
 


Obedience

Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is, for delay obedience is disobedience. Each time God calls upon us to do something, He is offering to make a covenant with us. Our part is to obey, and then He will do his part to send a special blessing. I know we often postpone doing what we know to do, and then later do it as well as we can. Certainly this is better than not doing it at all. Postpone obedience can never bring us the full blessing God intended or what it would have brought had we obeyed at the earliest possible Moment. What a pity it is how we rob ourselves as well as God and others.

Obedience is the fruit of faith, Patience is the early blossom on the tree of faith.

Prayer:
Lord, May I be a servant of immediate obedience. Convict me in such a way that when I tend to brush it off I need to repent and obey. In Jesus name, Amen!


Wait

Often the Lord calls us aside from our work for a season and asks us to be still and learn before we go out again to minister. The hours spent waiting are not lost time. Quite often God will ask us to wait before we go, so we may fully recover from our last mission before entering the next stage of your journey and work. Wait, yes patiently wait till you hear with the inner hearing, the voice that will call for you. The Master will guide you to him. Perhaps it may be today that the Master will quickly open the gate to your future. Sometimes the wait may be long, but He holds His purpose for you. He cannot be wrong, the Master is never late. He knows you are waiting for Him to unlock the gate to your future. Yes Wait, Yes patiently wait.
 
Prayer:
Father, Today I will wait patiently for I know my life is held in your hands. I will rest and be still. When the waiting period is over may I be strong, brave and filled even more so filled with the Holy Spirit. In Christ Name, Amen.