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Intentional Christian Daily Devotionals
 You may read the daily devotionals online (below) or
click here to download and print the booklet (pdf - note that this is in booklet format and should be printed front and back in order to create the booklet) or
click here to download and print individual pages (pdf).
Printed devotional books are available in the Sancutary Foyer and Founders Chapel Atrium. Please begin reading with Day One on Monday, September 15. Then join in small group discussion with one of these groups:
- Ken will lead a small group study on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM starting September 17, in Leach Hall.
- There will be a pastor-led group study on Sunday mornings at 11:15 AM starting Sunday, September 21, in Room 2001.
- The weekly small group lessons will begin in Sunday School classes on Sunday, September 21.
Prayer: Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Presence/Witness: Day 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Gifts: Day 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Service: Day 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32
Commitment: Day 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40
Section One: Prayer
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” James 5:14-15
This past year, my husband has been seriously ill. He escaped death on several occasions and still faces more surgery. Our faith in God was tested. Yet, I truly believe prayer is the reason he is alive today. It’s not because I alone kept praying, but rather because many people in our church were praying for God’s mercy and healing power. I learned how important it is to ask others for their prayers and how to ask God for specific needs. I learned to pray often, and as a result I have reached a new level in my relationship with God.
When we go through difficult times, we often don’t want to burden others with our concerns or we don’t want to appear that we can’t handle the situation. Friends want to help, but we don’t always know how. Prayer is the best answer! Several of my friends/companions told me that it was a privilege for them to pray for us, something I hadn’t even considered. Prayer is the one thing we can always do to support someone. God does answer prayer. And, although it may seem like one voice won’t be heard, God can’t ignore hundreds of voices.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to ask others to pray for us when going through tough times and help us to realize what a privilege it is to pray for someone else. Amen.
Tana is married to Bill. She has been an office volunteer, a member of the Covenant Sunday School Class and on the leadership team of the Rekindle Your Faith campaign.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103
At Lent this year, our pastor spoke to us about his ideas on sacrifice during this season. He told us about the choices he made and encouraged us to focus on Christ and possibly make choices of our own. I felt motivated to introspect and chose to abstain from the two main things in my life that I am addicted to: soda and sugar.
It was tough, but after about three weeks, my cravings finally stopped. Then I had a couple of days in which I was working on a project at home until I was beyond tired. On the day the project was finished, I was exhausted and sore from all the work. I found myself fighting the temptation to drink a soda or stuff something sugary in my mouth all day.
The next day, I sat down to read my Bible, trying to catch-up with our Lenten scripture readings that I'd neglected for three days. Moments after starting to read, a familiar taste filled my mouth. A taste sweeter than pure sugar was over-powering my mouth. I realized that the Word of God was filling me with the sweetest taste I've ever known. I picked up my Bible and read Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I've read these words before, but never felt their power as I did that day. May the words of the Lord remain forever sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Prayer: O Lord, my God and Savior, I praise you and thank you for the strength you give. I know I can call on you and that you are always ready and willing to meet my every need.
Teresa is married to Wes and they have two children and one son-in-law. She serves on the Gardening on the Grounds team and attends Journeys Foundation Sunday School Class.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I awoke with a start. The clock read 3 a.m. I had fallen asleep an hour before, my pounding head pressed into the back of a chair. Having had severe headaches since childhood, I was familiar with the pain.
Later, I attended a women’s prayer group. The ladies laid hands on me and prayed in Jesus’ name. They promised to pray regularly.
My husband, back from his first Promise Keepers Conference, started praying for me with a group of men. We also asked the Prayer Ministry and other friends to pray.
One day I asked my prayer partner, “Why hasn’t God answered our prayers?” She looked at me for a long moment. “ Have you ever thanked God for your headaches?” I had not.
“Okay, God, thank you for my headaches.” With tears streaming down my face, I continued to pray. “Thank you for my husband and my precious children.” God revealed in His gentle way how much for which I had to be thankful. I was reminded of Paul’s thorn in his side (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and knew that I could continue to bear my own thorn.
Soon after, I visited a neurologist who prescribed a medication normally used to control high blood pressure. As the months passed, I was amazed at what God was doing. After all these years, the headaches were gone! God taught me to trust and obey Him and to wait expectantly for His answers to my prayers.
We unleash God’s power when we pray! We are blessed to have others pray to lift up our needs. Is God calling you to pray for His people?
Prayer: Lord, your grace is sufficient for me, for I know your power is made perfect in my weakness. Thank you for suffering for us. Now show us how we may serve you. Amen.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7
As a Christian I have found myself envious of those Christians who, like Paul, have had a life-changing experience. Then I realized that God changes our lives each day in our daily walk with Him. All we need do is let Him take control of our lives and obey His will. We don’t have to be Paul for our lives to change.
At age 12, I asked God into my life. Since that time He as been faithful in His love for me. He is always with me through good and bad times, and I can feel His presence. Heaven rejoices when we ask Him to come into our lives – whether we are 12 years or 35 years old.
I have prayed for the church since becoming part of it, and I have seen lives changed through prayer and the study of God’s word. Being a participant in a family that believes prayer changes lives has had a great influence on me and on the way I live each day. My desire for the knowledge of the Scripture grows daily, and I know that I am growing in Christ. As long as we pray, study His word, and let God take control of our lives we will grow and change. Being aware of God’s love is a great motivator for change.
Prayer: Thank you God, for the loving mercy you show me each day. Please help me to continue to grow in your word and to help others through example and love. Amen.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7
A few years ago, I realized Christianity is more than a religion; it’s a relationship. It’s not about following a bunch of rules. That is where so many people have gone wrong in understanding it. Jesus wants us to know him personally. He wants us to trust Him with our lives. How do we get to know God, who seems so far away at times? The answer is spending time with Him. One way to know God is by reading His Word. Another very important part of getting to know Him is prayer.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we ask of Him.” 1 John 5:14 (NIV)
In Philippians, Paul reminds us that we should not worry about anything, but we should pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7). Not only should we pray and tell God our thoughts and cares, but we should also listen for His answers. God wants a part in the conversation too.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the opportunity to talk to you about anything and everything that is on our minds. Thank you for being a God we can trust with all our hearts. Help us to never neglect spending time with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. This, then is how we should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’”
Matthew 6:7-9
When we joined the church years ago, my husband and I were asked the question that continues to be asked of every person who joins our church. Will you support the church through your prayers, presence, gifts and service? Of course we responded in the affirmative as everyone does. But just what was the commitment we were making? At that time, I was a fairly new Christian who knew little about prayer or how to support my church through prayer. I was certainly willing to make the commitment to prayer but needed help in developing that area of my Christian life.
As I searched for the correct way to pray for my church, the Lord taught me much more than just how to pray for the church. First, I had to evaluate what I knew about prayer. If asked at that time for a definition of prayer I probably would have said something like “It’s talking to God,” or maybe “It’s communicating with God.” In my early years as a Christian, my prayer life was full of ritual, coming from a sense of responsibility (I felt obligated to pray, even if I did not know how.) I believe that may be the case for many others as well. Perhaps this ritualistic approach has been perpetuated from childhood as we have taught and have been taught to “say our prayers.” Ritualistic prayers have been uttered at mealtime and bedtime so often they have become a common and acceptable way to pray. According to Jesus in Matthew 6:7, repetitious prayers are not pleasing to the Father.
When Jesus was asked to teach His disciples to pray, He began by saying “When you pray say ‘Father.” This phrase is a clear indication of relationship between God and the pray-er. That relationship is one core of our Christian faith and without it we can’t possibly say we know God. So that relationship must be developed – a love relationship that comes only from time spent together on a regular basis.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that we can call you “Father.” We come as your children longing to know you more each and every day of our lives. Give us a deep desire to spend time with you so that we can know your will in all things. Amen.
“Why, you do not even now what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14
It seems like yesterday that my mom and dad bought me new clothes for my first day of school; that I walked down the aisle; the clear image I have of my children in diapers. Now they have young children of their own. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 tells us “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die…”
Life is short, and prayer can bridge the gap between this short life and the life to come. Let us consider two questions concerning prayer: Is prayer really important? How should we pray?
In the Old Testament, Daniel learned of King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree – anyone who prayed to any god or man except the king would be thrown into the lions’ den. How important is prayer? Despite the decree, Daniel went to his upstairs room and prayed. Daniel 6:10 informs us, “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God…” Daniel certainly thought prayer was important. In addition to the Bible, history shows the importance of prayer. There is a well-known painting of George Washington and his horse. The most striking aspect of the painting is that General Washington is praying on his knees in the snow.
Jesus provides an excellent model for prayer in Matthew 6:9-14 as he teaches the disciples what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. A church member taught this method that I still use often. He taught us to use our fingers to direct our prayer. 1. Thumb represents family; 2. Index finger reminds us to pray for those who have pointed us in the right direction…other church members and fellow Christians; 3. Tall finger for local, state and national officials; 4. Ring finger for the weak or our enemies; 5. Small pinky finger for self.
Prayer: Lord, you have given us the privilege and responsibility of prayer. Please help us to remember to pray as a first – not a last – resort. Amen.
“By his power God stilled the sea; By his skill he struck down Rahab. By his wind the heavens were calmed; His hand pierced the Elusive Serpent.” Job 26:12-13
“O Lord, God of hosts, who is mighty like you, O Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds you;
You rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves surge, you still them. You crushed Rahab; he was like a corpse; with your powerful arm you scattered your enemies.” Psalm 89:8-10
“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with splendor. O arm of the Lord! Awake as in days of old, As in former ages! It was you that hacked Rahab in pieces, that pierced the Dragon.” Isaiah 51:9
God,
I fear I’m losing my job.
It’s like sinking in a surge.
Help me find some strength
from your mighty power.
Help me defeat my fears
like you slayed Rahab.
And help me still my thoughts
as you stilled the sea.
Amen.
Jason is married to Carrie. He serves on the church library committee, greets the troops and attends the All-Seasons Sunday School Class.
Section Two: Presence and Witness
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24
When we joined the church, we all promised, among other things, to support the church with our presence. Most of us assumed that meant we were to attend church on a regular basis. Indeed we dutifully record our attendance on the program tear-off slip. This record then becomes statistical data that can verify the quantity of our attendance. But what about the quality of our attendance? Is it possible to be in “attendance” but not really present? In our presence, we are talking about the quality of our attendance.
Being present implies more than just occupying a pew or sitting in a Sunday School chair. It means our mind is actively processing the words of the pastoral prayer, the verses of the hymns, the message of the witness, the exhortation of the sermon, and the main points of the teacher. Then, as our mind processes, our hearts can open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit about the transformation in our being that God desires and Jesus made possible on the cross. This transformation is often called sanctification, which is a lifelong process enhanced by our regular presence among fellow believers.
Therefore, if we are to grow into mature Christians whose lives consistently reflect Christ, the quality of our presence in church is critical to that growth. In addition to our own growth, we can help the growth of others by providing them with the nourishing Christian love they may need on a particular Sunday. That is why the church asks and we promise to support it with our “active” presence. Let us all then transform our attendance into active presence and fulfill our promise to the church and to our God.
Prayer: Father God, you are always present in our lives. May our active presence in the fellowship of believers always be acceptable in your sight.
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:4-8
As a married couple, some of our most precious moments together have been in worship. Whether hearing the Word of God in the Traditional Service and feeling His presence in the beautiful music, or by worshiping in the Contemporary Service and taking in the joyous sounds of our praise band, our Lord has shown us what a thrill really is: It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit among a body of believers. Now THAT is exciting!
We should all be thankful as members of our church to have so many opportunities available for worship, service and fellowship. All we have to do is accept His offer and take advantage of the blessing laid before us!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for our church and the unending blessings we receive here. Help us to take those blessings out into the world and become true ambassadors for you. In your precious name we pray. Amen.
“For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
It is amazing how many times we think about God’s presence, but only in spiritual or devotional activities: reading scriptures, singing with the congregations, praying, or serving in some kind of ministry. Sometimes we think about God’s presence when we are being comforted in our spirit at the moments of need, sadness or pain.
However, there are few times we associate God with our daily activities: our job, our studies or the simple act of being home working in the garden. Theses are activities what we do not classify as spiritual, so we don’t relate them to the presence of God in our daily lives.
The reality is that Gods’ presence is with us at all times. It doesn’t matter the activity we are accomplishing. As soon as we become conscious of this reality, our lives as God’s children will make more sense. We can’t live one second away from His presence. The prophet Elijah once said, “…Jehovah in whose presence I live.” By saying this, he declared a reality that is unavoidable to each one of us.
When we are conscious of this, our words and decisions, our relation to others, and our work and attitudes will be reflections of what He is in us. We live the duality when we unconsciously separate God from our daily walk. We can be as the apostle Paul says, “open letters,” so that people can know God. We live each day and each moment of our lives sure that He is in our lives and that each step we give should be an expression of this truth.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for being always with me. Help me so that today, my job, my words, and all that I do of word and of act be expressions that you are there, involved in every situation and letting others know you through my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” Ephesians 3:14-15
Family is important to God. That is why He created families before He instituted the Church. It is no wonder, then, that the health of families in the church determines the health of the church.
My own family is important to me. We have raised our children to know the Lord and to accept responsibility (Ephesians 6:4). Now, we have grandchildren who are learning about Jesus. Victorious Christian living among our family and among all families can be enhanced by remaining in His presence to worship and praise Him. Presence yields spiritually healthy family members.
Our family is large, but with God as our Father, the family is even larger in the church. We have a church vision that all families – traditional, single parents, and extended – will find the key to victorious living through Jesus Christ and through experiencing His presence in worship, Bible study and prayer.
Prayer: Jesus, please help us to strengthen our family as we read your Word, pray together, serve, and attend church regularly together. Help us, as a family, to walk with Him through our church. Amen.
“I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Romans 1:10-12
Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” I’m not quite sure about his percentages, but I do know that there is no chance of success without showing up. In fact, for me, the real significance of his observation is not found in the percentage at all, but in determining what “success” is and showing up is essential to achieve that “success.”
In my life, I have seen the importance of “showing up.” I remember signing up to go on a summer-long mission trip when I was a college student. I had to sign up in December at a time when a summer mission trip sounds like a great idea. As the months rolled by and the time to go got closer, I began to have second thoughts. There were many excuses waiting to be used – “I need to get a good paying summer job” or “three months is a long time.” All of these thoughts (and many more) were tempting me to not “show up.”
Reluctantly, I went on the mission trip because I made the commitment to go. As soon as we departed, my attitude changed. God honored my desire to keep my commitment and my step of faith to go, even when I didn’t feel like going. I never could have imagined what God had in store for me. It was one of the most transforming experiences of my life.
Showing up, or being present, is not success in itself. Too often a church’s determination of success is how many people were present on Sunday. Even individuals can mistakenly judge the health of their own relationship with Christ based solely on their worship attendance.
True success is what happens when the members of our church show up together. Part of the success of showing up is not what you get out of showing up but what others get from your presence.
Prayer: Father, thank you for always being present with us. Thank you for giving us a spiritual family, the church, so that we can come together and receive the love and encouragement we need from you and each other as we read your Word.
“Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.” Romans 1:5
During the recent Olympics we saw many people compete to win Olympic medals, including Michael Phelps and Dara Torres. Most of us don’t have the abilities to compete and achieve these goals. However all of us have the ability to achieve the Lord’s goal set before us to become disciples to the ends of the earth.
To do this might mean simply inviting someone to church and letting the Holy Spirit lead them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Sometimes we have an opportunity to share God’s plan of salvation with others and then allow the Holy Spirit to lead them to Christ. It does not require a seminary education to be able to do this. However, before we can tell someone else about salvation, we must experience it for ourselves.
In order to fulfill this experience in ourselves we must practice the promises we made to the church, with our presence, our prayers, our service and our gifts. If we maintain these, God will impress upon us all the ways we can share his blessing with others.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for this church and for those that strengthen me in my faith. Apportion me the strength to reach out to those that don’t know you, and help them find the path to you. Amen.
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’” Exodus 3:11
This is how Moses responds when God calls him to lead his people out of slavery. This is often our response as well when we read verses in the Bible like, “Go and make disciples.” Who am I to do this? Leave it for someone else! In other words…I don’t have what it takes.
What does it really take to witness to others?
First it takes faith in God. God’s response to Moses was, “I will be with you.”
Second it takes loving others. The old saying is true that “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Witnessing is not about pushing people through Bible studies and programs. It is loving and serving others in order that they might know and understand the love of Christ. Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Third, it takes being a disciple. Our walk with Jesus rubs off on people. As we grow, they will. As we learn, they will. We will never get to a point in life where we “know it all.” God and His Word are too deep for that.
And finally it takes being able to share our lives. Sharing our life means sharing our triumphs and our failures. If only the perfect people are supposed to be disciples, then we wouldn’t have any, would we? Let the people around us in whom we are investing see how we respond to trials and failure, sharing our doubts, struggles and how we overcome them. This makes us real and allows God’s grace to shine.
Prayer: Father, just like Moses, I can think of so many reasons why I can’t disciple and witness to others. Lord, give me courage to overcome those doubts. Amen.
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:14, 15, 34 ,35
When someone asks how many members we have at church and we respond “over a thousand” and then they ask “how many ministers do you have” we also should answer “over a thousand.”
That is because each of us can be a witness/minister for Christ in all of our day to day activities. Witnessing does not have to be giving a testimonial to everyone you meet, but it is allowing for that opportunity by being a servant and friend to those around you. Let them see God’s love in you in order to create a desire to come closer to that light that shines through you.
It’s as simple as an invitation to attend church or a social invitation where others who share your faith will be as well.
Prayer: Lord help me be a witness to others by reflecting your love in all of my actions, in all of my behavior and through my service and relationships with others. Amen.
Gifts
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34
Years ago, when we first joined the church, my wife and I sat through a Sunday school lesson that was taught on gifts and tithing. The teacher that day gave us a challenge assignment to complete at home. He asked us to go home and take out three items: Our check register, our last credit card bill(s), and our bank statement. He asked us to total all of our spending for the last 30 days into 10 or less basic categories and report back the following week on where our heart and treasures were. (I highly recommend setting aside an hour or two to undertake this challenge.)
What quickly became apparent in our personal finances was that we had no idea how much our hearts were in the wrong place. When we compared our giving alongside what we spent on eating out, entertainment, kids’ activities, cable, gadgets, clothing, cell phones, etc. we quickly realized that God was pretty low on the list. We had a long conversation about changing our habits that day. We committed to making the church a focal point of our hearts and we would invest our treasures there. What we also realized was that God had blessed us, and that we had the ability to give so much more, we just had to break the habits that had “eaten” up God’s share over time. Habits that had tricked us into thinking we could not give more because there was not much left at the end of the month.
A former member of Two-by-Two once told me that in his house, they did not have a “giving line item” in their budget. He proceeded to explain that this was because as soon as he and his wife got paid, they wrote a check to the church for their tithe and then later began to work on their monthly spending budget. They had found a way to follow the biblical principle of giving their first fruits every month. At that point there was never a temptation to cut back on God’s share because it was already given. If a sacrifice had to be made in the household budget, reducing giving never entered the conversation. This is a lesson in faith I have never forgotten.
Prayer: Lord, open my heart to cheerful giving. Bless my gifts that they may provide ways to expand your Kingdom. Let me ask your guidance on every financial decision I make to ensure that I am a good steward and make prudent decisions that will glorify you and bless my family. Amen.
“His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’”
Matthew 25:23
To me, good stewardship begins with a good attitude. The attitude I try to maintain is that everything I have belongs to God, and He expects me to be a good steward of His resources.
Becoming a good steward is a process just as growth in other aspects of our walk is a process. By this I mean that if we are growing as Christians and following Jesus’ steps more closely, we will naturally want to be better stewards of God’s money by giving more as we can to His Storehouse each year. Our initial goal is the tithe; but when we reach that, we need to go further. In addition to our annual pledge, we should seek God’s will in our discretionary spending. It’s in this area that we need God’s help. Do I really need to spend several hundred dollars on the latest, greatest golf club or would that money bring more glory to God if I gave to a worthy cause? Rather than just any cause, why not pick one where I can also serve, such as a mission trip or Habitat for Humanity or Medical Outreach? That would really provide extra returns on God’s money!
Prayer: Father, you are the source of all my resources. Forgive me and correct me when I misuse them. Place in me a desire to subject every expenditure that I make to your will. Amen.
“...for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
Years ago, a friend confided in me that she tithed because it was the easiest of God’s commandments to keep. I believed that God was calling me back to a life of obedience, so I made up my mind to work toward tithing. I too believed that it would be an easier first step than trying, for example to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. It took several years to reach my goal of giving 10%. During this same period, my income doubled. I understood this to be Gods way of getting my attention – of showing me that I could trust him and that he would reward any step I took in obedience.
During a subsequent capital campaign, we were challenged to give an additional 2%. I struggled inwardly. I was already meeting the legalistic 10% I should not have to give one penny more. But from this I quickly realized, I was not a cheerful giver. I decided to make the commitment and I asked God to change my heart. God answered that prayer. I can tell you that doubling my income was not nearly as dramatic as His changing my heart.
In all areas of giving: time, talents and treasure, God has poured out his blessings on each occasion when I have stepped out in faith. I’ve found that we can’t out-give God.
Prayer: Lord, it is our delight to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. Help us to renew our commitment to you, to release everything, and to be owned by you. Amen.
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never game me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’” Luke 15:28-30
I once had trouble understanding the “Parable of the Lost Son.” I identified with the older son and how much he must have hurt emotionally when his earthly father welcomed the rebellious, younger brother home with open arms and gifts. He had not received a big feast, celebration, or gifts from his father, although he was the one who worked to do his father’s bidding.
I was obedient and attentive to my parents’ needs and did what would please them. When I went out on my own, I spent most of my time, money and energy to achieve success in the eyes of the world. However, in my Father’s view, I had been like the younger son and had used His gifts for my own desires, doing things my own way. I needed my Heavenly Father, just as the “lost son” needed his earthly father.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for never leaving us and for always being there when we return. Help us to stay focused on you and to see opportunities you give us to share your gifts and love with others. Amen.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:6
When we become Christians, we become stewards of all that God has provided for us.
Each one of us is given a spiritual gift to be used for His glory. Mine is teaching, something that I had never thought of until I became a Christian. However, from that day forward, I had a driving motivation to teach God’s Word.
Materialism had a stronghold in my life before I met Christ, and it took many years to accept that giving starts with the tithe. Giving to God’s work is not because He needs the money, but it is a way that God can help us set priorities in our own lives.
Obedience to God is the bedrock of Kingdom living. God uses our gifts, but He deserves the motivation to be from our hearts.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the great opportunity to be stewards of the time, talents spiritual gifts, and material resources you have provided. Thank you for a church like ours in which to use them. Please, Lord, do not allow us to neglect so great a privilege. Amen.
“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it.’” Malachi 3:10
I committed to tithe as a college student when I accepted God’s challenge in Malachi 3:10. This passage reveals tithing to be more about faith than money. While God has established the tithe as His plan for supplying the needs of His “storehouse” or church, and though the tithe is to be given proportionally, that is to return one tenth of what one receives, the true purpose of tithing is to indicate trust in God and His promises to bless those who believe and obey His word. To define it personally, it means asking the question: Do I believe God will follow through on His promise to bless me if I return 10% of what I receive to His storehouses?
In addition to faith, tithing requires action. It causes one to take an honest look at spending habits and often requires change. However, for those who acknowledge God with the tithe, a peace, comfort and assurance develop that far outweigh and outlast anything that money can buy. In fact, for the trusting, faithful steward, the thought of not tithing becomes much more difficult than the thought of beginning to tithe. Tithing becomes an essential way of life and an integral part of walking with Christ.
Prayer: Father, we acknowledge you as the Creator and Owner of all things. Thank you for entrusting a portion of your resources to your people. Give us strength and faith to trust you more as we return your tithe. Amen.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13
So many times we here in the USA appear to foreigners to have all we need materially. We’re a wealthy nation compared to so many other nations around the world.
Material wealth can be deceptive. Sometimes an outsider will falsely view a situation when an overabundance of material wealth is involved. Many of us right here in our church are very comfortable; we have been successful by the world’s viewpoint. We hold important positions in our place of employment, and some of us are very successfully self-employed. But all the material gain from success in our business does not mean that our personal lives are always successful.
True success is all about getting our lives right with God. What the world deems as successful living may leave us with that empty feeling in the end. But true success comes when we turn our lives and all that we have over to Jesus Christ. Give it all to Him. He’s the only one who will never let us down. When we’re able to let go completely and let God, we’ll be moving from a successful lifestyle to one of victory in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us a spirit of power, love and self discipline that we can rise above the world’s standard for success and set our sights on Jesus. May we always strive for truly victorious living through Him. Amen.
“But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. “
2 Corinthians 8:7
Giving back to the Lord a portion of what He has given to us ought to be an act that brings great joy to our hearts. The question for us is, “How do we give?” When committed to Him, we give joyfully and generously.
There was once a little boy who went to church with his aunt. When the collection plate was passed, he put his dime in with all the other loose change and quite a large pile of dollar bills. When he got home, he said to his mother, “I can’t understand why some people paid a dollar in church. I had a real good seat right down front for only a dime.” That little boy may have expressed the sentiments of many others without realizing it!
Someone once said that you get out of life only what you put in. Paul said it this way, “Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.” Let us never have an attitude like the little boy, but let us be eager to give the best that we have - an offering unto the Lord.
God does not want us to give grudgingly. We should give because of our love for Him and for others. What a privilege it is to bring our offerings into the storehouse where our money is used to reach around the world for the good of His kingdom.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of giving to you. Help us to give joyfully and generously. Amen.
Service
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men.”
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
A few years back, I reigned as the Copy Queen for the Children’s Ministry. At the time, K-3rd graders were using a complex curriculum. Rev. Nathan heavily edited each lesson and there were STILL a bunch of pages each week for me to download and copy. My next step was to take all the papers to the church and fight with the copy machine. Each page was copied in a different color, then cut, folded, and organized as required.
I started this job excited. I was helping! Good for me. After a couple of months, I was grumbling over the time-consuming, back-breaking, tedious work of shuffling those papers. I felt I was invisible and no one appreciated me.
Then one week came the memory verse above, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23.
Well, now, that stopped me in my tracks. I was serving the LORD here, not anyone else. That was the most important thing! I made myself a copy on hot pink paper, and taped it over the copy machine. Thereafter, I served with a happy heart. It was still the same dull job, but I got over myself. I began serving the Lord.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for this church and for giving us all a place to serve you. I pray that no matter the job we find ourselves doing, that we will all see the big picture: That we are serving YOU! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Lesa is married to Scott and has two children, Alice (5) and Jack (3). Lesa serves as the KidsTown Sunday School Superintendent.
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8
I have read the resurrection story my whole life, but it wasn’t until about a year ago that I truly embraced the meaning of this verse. Just five words of this verse strung together in just the right order have changed my perspective on what it means to serve God.
“Afraid yet filled with joy” are simple words taken separately, but together they form a powerful bond that, I believe, gives us the key to service. “Afraid” is defined by Webster’s as “filled with fear” and actually describes perfectly how I often felt about service opportunities that were outside my comfort zone. Those might have included anything that was beyond a one-time event or might cause me to have to interact on a more emotional level with people who weren’t just like me. I was afraid of not being able to do a good job, of having to invest too much time or that it might not be my thing. So there I was a professing Christian who was too “filled with fear” to step outside the box.
Did you know that the word “yet” can mean “and despite this”? So now the two words “afraid yet” become “filled with fear and despite this” which sounds much more hopeful. If we take this a little further “filled with joy” becomes “to complete having received intense or elated happiness.”
As Christians our basis for happiness comes from Jesus Christ. So to be “filled with joy” is to be complete knowing that Jesus is our source not only for comfort, but also for boldness and confidence.
My perspective (heart!) about serving changed when I realized: I can go forth in boldness and confidence despite my fear! Fear doesn’t take precedence over what Jesus desires to fill (complete!) us with when we step into service.
Prayer: Dear Lord, open my heart to service for you. Fill me with boldness and confidence as only You can, despite my fears. In your name, Amen.
Joan is married to Hal and they have two children. Joan serves with Project Read and Project Fun!
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and for my household we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Forgive me for jumping ahead, but in tomorrow’s devotional, James 2:17 is quoted and indicates that faith without deeds is dead. I feel that I can easily apply this to our church, as I further believe that without the emphasis on service that we have instilled in the last few years, our church might well be on its deathbed as well.
I have watched as the work of so many volunteers has breathed new life into our church. We have moved so far from focusing destructively inward to an outward focus on the needs of others, which has generated a new power within the church. I believe the next few years will be even more transformational as we expand the ways we serve others in our church, in our community and throughout our world.
I don’t believe we can truly love and understand one another until we attempt to serve together in whatever fashion we are capable of. I have served in many ways in the church over the years, and have failed miserably at some; had a level of success in others. But in every instance, I have become closer to the church I love; have created relationships with so many incredible people; have found role models that inspire me; have been reminded of my limits; have stretched those limits and most importantly; have been directed to a deeper relationship with God.
If you have not had the opportunity to serve in this church, you are missing out on so much that the Lord is just waiting to bless you with.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for presenting me with so many opportunities to grow closer to you through service. Thank you for allowing me to be your hands and feet. Bless others as you have blessed me through service to your church. Let the works of this church be a living illustration of your love to all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Steven is married to Lisa and they have two children. He serves on the Stewardship Committee.
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
I am in awe when I think of how God created each of us and equipped us with special talents to serve Him. Job 10:8 tells us that we are shaped and made by His hands. That means that God special ordered each of us; therefore, we ought to count it a privilege and an honor to be His servant.
God has given each of us special gifts, and we should use whatever gifts we have to serve others. “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?” (James 2:14) The Bible also tells us in James 2:17 that faith without deeds is dead. If we just attend church and consider ourselves religious but we are not serving Jesus Christ, it may indicate that we lack faith. The Bible reminds us in Titus 3:1 that we should be ready to do every good work. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
Whenever we see a need, that is God’s way of giving us an opportunity to illustrate faithfulness and love for Him. I’ve heard some say, “I am not good at anything,” or “I’ll wait until I get more experience.” But when God provides the opportunity to serve, that is the right time, and He will equip us to fulfill the assignment. So it is every Christian’s obligation to serve. Let us remember John Wesley’s motto, “Do all the good you can by all the means you can by all the ways you can in all the places you can and at all the times you can to all the people you can for as long as you can.” Jesus came to serve others; as Christians, can we do any less?
Prayer: Dear Lord, you have blessed each of us with special gifts. Please help us to always know that our gifts are from you and that we are to use all that we have to serve others for your honor and your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:2-3
Jesus’ entire life on earth exemplified serving – first serving God and then serving His people. Just like Jesus, every one of us has been put here to serve. Not only did God know us before He made us, but he made us with a desire and ability to serve.
In the Old Testament, Gideon had a deep desire to please the Lord. He was willing to serve God when and where the Lord willed. As a Christian, my first desire is to please and serve God.
I have served in many areas in church. Before I make a final decision on where to serve, I pray and ask the Lord for guidance as to where He wants me to serve. When I feel His call to an area, I then pray and ask the Lord to empower me to do the best I can do so that He may get the glory. This helps to keep me humble. I can tell with each task that He gives me to do that it is always through His power that I was able to get the job done correctly and in the right time. Asking God to lead and guide me to serve has always resulted in many blessings from Him.
Prayer: Dear God, give me a servant’s heart and lead me to where you want me to serve in your church. Amen.
“… for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
When we are asked to serve, we need to recognize that it might be God’s calling, and the response we make should be considered prayerfully. When we are serving, we should have a positive and supportive attitude towards the areas of services that we selected from our commitment cards.
A while back, I was asked to teach a men’s Bible study and a Sunday school class. I did not know when I accepted that God would use that time to renew and strengthen my relationship with Him. Preparing the lessons and studying the Bible each week have helped me to better understand and live out His plan for me. The encouragement and love I received from those around me have been blessings beyond what I deserve.
Serving God where He wants is very important. We all have a difficult time just doing what God wants. Volunteering requires that we are faithful (Matthew 6:24), humble (Acts 20:19), enthusiastic (Romans 12:11), loving (Galatians 5:13-15), and eager (I Kings 19:19-21) in our service. Everyone should listen to his heart and determine where God wants him to serve. God’s blessing will always follow when we recognize His call to serve Him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please guide me to where YOU want me to be. Continue to direct my paths and gifts to your service. Let the blessings that you have given me be shared through me with everyone I meet. I ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.
“Jesus said to him, ‘…it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”’”
Matthew 4:10
I have always believed that God did not call on me to be successful but just to be obedient. I have never known for sure what I would be doing in His work from one day to the next, but I have always said to Him, “I am available, Lord; use me.”
I have a plaque on my desk that reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I look at this verse every single day and ask Him to take this day that He has made and use me in some way to bring glory to Him.
Prayer: Lord God, take my service, however small, and use it for your kingdom’s work and for your glory only. Amen.
“A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him he took pity on him.” Luke 10:31-33
God wants us to not only attend service on Sunday, but also extend the “worship service” to serve others outside the church.
As we drove down the highway to a previous church, we saw a man sanding in the hot sun holding a sign. The sign stated that he was hungry and needed help. We did not want to be late for Sunday School so passed the man in need. Suddenly, God started to speak to our hearts as we approached church. What would Jesus do? Would he continue to the synagogue or stop for a stranger in need?
As Christians, we were hurrying to attend the worship service, but His service was also required on the highway with a man who was hungry. Needless to say, we turned the car around in order to serve this stranger with food, encouragement, time and love.
The look on his face was all the thanks we needed. Jesus did not send us to this stranger to judge him, but to meet his physical needs. We were Christ’s hands and feet to provide help. As we left, my husband and I were filled with humbleness that God had taught us a lesson about service and God’s timetable.
Prayer: Jesus we thank you for providing your grace that rescues and saves us from our sins. May we follow your example by providing service and love for those who are less fortunate. Amen.
Commitment
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.” Matthew 16:24-25
“Committed! No turning back. No way out. The very thought sends chills up the spines of so many whose lives thrive on non-commitment. Whether it’s a mortgage or a move, they fear the ultimate prison of never turning back. Keep all options open. Never make a commitment to anything unless you are absolutely forced into it.”
I read those words nearly 20 years ago in an article handed to me by a friend who was training me as a volunteer leader for a ministry to teenagers. My friend reminded me that my desire to minister to others would require commitment on my part and that commitment was a commodity in short supply in our culture. We want prenuptial agreements. We want recognition at work during the day while we post our resumes on job sites as soon as we get home. We want services without service contracts and relationships that we can walk away from with no strings attached. Our grandparents may have valued community and loyalty, but today we value options and personal freedom.
When Jesus called his disciples into ministry, it was a call to radical commitment. To “shoulder my cross,” I must voluntarily serve others in a way that will kill my own selfish ambitions and allow others to see the love of Christ through me.
Obviously this type of commitment involved more than identifying the easiest item on the commitment card or just signing up for the same thing I volunteered for last year without even praying about it. Our church will never be able to be all that God wants it to be unless we radically commit to serving others. We will never experience the personal joy and fulfillment that God intends for us until we give our lives away.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please show us where you want each of us to serve this next year and give us the courage and determination to follow through on those commitments no matter what. Amen.
“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4-5
Webster’s dictionary defines the word “commit” as to “pledge, bind, engage or to put in charge or trust.”
When I was 12 years old, I walked the aisle to take my pastor’s hand and there accepted Jesus as my Savior. However, I didn’t make Him Lord of my life until many years later. That real difference is commitment, and it really starts the process of enjoying the life that God has for us now. It’s like a marriage; we have to work at it daily.
Be being committed, we can grow in our Lord’s work by giving of ourselves in our time, our talents, and our finances! God has truly blessed me and my family, and I want to praise, honor, and glorify Him every way I can. We are all created to honor and glorify our Lord! In Matthew 5:16 Jesus tells us, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven”.
Prayer: Dear Lord, We praise your name today, and we thank you for all the blessings you give us every day. Help me to live the life that will glorify you each day. Forgive me of my shortcomings, let my life be pleasing to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
As a coach, I was often amazed at the influence I had on young lives. One evening, a ninth grade boy announced to me that he was going to quit. His voice quivered as he extended his uniform to me and said, “Coach, this is not fun anymore, and I want to quit playing.” He was experiencing problems with his girlfriend, and some of his friends did not play. They were all having a good time while he had to work!
I looked him in the eye and said, “You have exactly 5 minutes to get in the locker room, get that uniform on, and get on the practice field! You made a commitment to play, and I will not allow you to quit and let everybody down—most of all yourself. You cannot quit!”
He got the message and was the first player on the field. Later, when he was a senior, he was elected team captain and received a lot of recognition. He became a dedicated leader.
About 14 years later, I saw this young man again. He had graduated from college, was married and had kids. He had become very successful. We visited for a while. As I started to leave, Jack told the story of his trying to quit. He said that I had taught him a valuable lesson that had helped him through many tough times. He had felt like quitting many times over the years, but he just could not do it. Commitment had meaning.
I often remind myself that as a Christian I have made a commitment to God. Through all of life’s difficulties, He will be there to help me, but He will not allow me to quit because He is counting on me.
Prayer: Father, thank you for never giving up on me. Help me to never give up in my commitment to be obedient to you. Amen.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself to me.” Galatians 2:20
Commitment is a choice I make, driven by a motivation great enough for me to make that choice. Some examples of motivation for prior commitments are the fear of a coach’s wrath, the obligation of the marriage vow I gave before God to love my wife “until death us do part” and the commitment to my profession, motivated by a drive for accomplishment. This presents a question for me: What are the motivations driving the choices I make in my commitment to God?
Early in my Christian life, the motivations in my commitment to God were based on the same thing – fear of retribution from God, obligation to the vows I made when I joined the church, and accomplishment or earning my standing with God. Over time, as I made the choice to spend time with God in His word, these motivations have changed. I have found that the most motivating force in the world is the love of God. To experience His love without fear, without the need for a vow, or without the requirement to accomplish, frees me to become the one I was really created to be: His unique creation with something to offer this world that nobody else can offer. His love gives me true fulfillment, purpose and peace.
Prayer: Lord, please help each of us choose to let your love motivate us to become everything you created us to be, both as individuals and as church family. Amen.
“And he summoned the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’” Mark 8:34
This passage occurs as Jesus and his disciples are approaching Caesarea Philippi. Because the disciples’ knowledge of him is limited, Jesus instructs them about who he is –the Messiah – and the need for him to suffer, be rejected and killed, but rise again.
Jesus ends this instructional session by telling his disciples and the surrounding multitude the three costs of commitment: 1) deny self, 2) take up your cross, and 3) follow me. These are explicit expectations and leave no room for debate. Each cost applies to all Christians, including you and me.
Prayer: Lord let me freely commit to your will, and follow you. Amen.
“As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’” 1 Kings 9:4
This tells the tragic story of Solomon. When he is anointed king, he begins to do many great deeds for the kingdom of Israel. In the passage, God issues a warning to Solomon. He goes on to say that if he does not obey God, God will cast Israel out of his sight and their house will become a heap of ruins.
By chapter 10, Solomon has become richer than all the kings of the earth, and everyone is seeking his wisdom. He has it all! But later, Solomon turns from God; God takes his hand from him, and the downfall begins.
Solomon began making bad choices. Choice is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. “You always have a choice; it always makes a difference.”
We as a church can learn a great deal from the example of Solomon’s life. God has given us a tremendous amount of everything. We have wealth, power, influence, wisdom and facilities. We now have choices to make.
Prayer: Dear God, may you never take your hand from our church. Help us to make the choices that are in your will for our lives. Amen.
“So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:19
Ask yourself this again: “Will I be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by my prayers, my presence, my gifts, my service and my witness?”
Take this time to renew your vows, strengthen your faith, reflect on what God has done for you in the prior year, and again commit to the following:
- Pray regularly for our church and it’s members.
- Attend with an open heart that you might be open to grow and help others grow by your presence.
- Give as joyfully as God has given to you.
- Serve. You will never know the fullness of the love given to you until you give it to others.
- Witness. Let your actions and words reflect your faithfulness in Christ because his love deserves no less.
Prayer: God, help me live a Christian life. Help me be a model for my children so that they know the importance of a living relationship with you. Help our church grow spiritually. Help us meet the needs of our neighbors wherever they might be. Lead me to be your hands and feet. Give me the voice to openly share my faith, whether through action or word among all those that may be searching for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said. But he denied it before them all. ‘I don't know what you're talking about,’ he said.” Matthew 26:69-70
We are all familiar with Peter’s commitment to Jesus prior to this passage. He had promised, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Peter failed on that commitment within hours of making it as we read in the passage above.
Peter is a reminder that the strongest of us will still fall short. But he is also a reminder that we should never give up despite our mistakes, our weaknesses, our sins and our past failures. Getting back up, committing again and picking up the cross are what we are expected to do as Christians.
What will you commit to this year? When will you release control to God? Where will you store up your treasures? How will you work to strengthen your faith?
Prayer: Lord I commit myself to you. I commit to support your church. I will seek your guidance and keep fresh my faith in you. Amen.
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