Tag Archive | devotion

Grateful for God’s Grace

Mar31

The majority of devotions I’ve written this month, I have written about, “Loving Your Neighbor”, a challenge for anyone.
God has taught me a lot through these “neighbor” verses, making me aware of just how hard hearted I can be sometimes because my neighbors don’t meet my criteria. I am reminded that God loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, you, and the world.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.16.NASB1995

I am to love my neighbor as Christ loved me. These are the ones I now pray for and I will practice loving my neighbor.

If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
James 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.8.NASB1995

🌹A good man will obtain favor from the Lord, But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
Proverbs 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer Appreciated

May1

Under the weather
Propped up in bed
No devotion today
But sending God’s blessing your way.

‭The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’
Numbers 6:24-26 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/num.6.24-26.

🌹Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Do This in Remembrance

Mar27

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.11.23-25.NASB1995

Every time we, as Christians, take the Lord’s supper, we are reminded that we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ.

Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:16 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.10.16.NASB1995

Jesus came serving the Father, surrendered to His will. Jesus gave His life out of love and in obedience to the Father. As followers of Christ are we willing to surrender our lives to serve our Lord? Whatever the cost?
‭
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.20.28.NASB1995

‭
🌹Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”
1 Kings 8:61 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.8.61.NASB1995

‭Jesus paid the ultimate price, His life for you. Are you ready to surrender your life for Him?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Then I Will, Says God

Mar11

Last week’s devotions, March 4-7, 2024,  were a criteria of what God’s people look like. We humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways.

This week we will look at God’s response to our obedience to these and His blessing upon us.

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, . . .

then I will hear from heaven,
2 Chronicles 7:14e

‭‭Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
Isaiah 58:9 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.58.9.NASB1995

It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
Isaiah 65:24 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.65.24.NASB1995

God, You are a God who hears the cry of Your people. As we humbly bow in prayer, seeking Your face and repenting of our sin, let us hear what You have to say. Speak to us through Your word under the guidance of Your Holy Spirit,  we pray. Amen

I will hear (Let me hear) what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly (stupidity).
Psalms 85:8 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.85.8.NASB1995

‭‭🌹“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
Psalms 91:14-16 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.91.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

30 Days of Thanks – D8

Nov8

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Psalms‬ ‭95:1‭-‬2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.95.1.NASB1995

‭‭Singing joyfully echoes from the deepest parts of a thankful heart. A heart of thanks for salvation found only in Jesus Christ that makes us aware of His presence through His Holy Spirit that resides in the true believer. Yes, let us come into His presence with thanksgiving!

🌹Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.
Psalms‬ ‭81:1‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.81.1.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Attitude of Thanksgiving

Oct31

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/col.4.2.NASB1995

“Pray with an attitude of thanksgiving”. . .

I’d never really thought about an attitude of prayer, except maybe as solemn, with reverence and sometimes with awe. I personally, many times, approached God with an attitude of pleading, crying, selfishness, whining, complaining, self focused prayer. Like children approach their parents in conversation.

BUT. . . Wow!!!
First of all, in prayer, we approach the throne of grace. The throne where Almighty God sits. The God who created the entire universe, and we as well. There is nothing He can’t accomplish. God will answer our prayers. If God will answer our prayers, our prays should be prayed with an attitude of thanksgiving as if we had already received.

🌹“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Matthew‬ ‭7:7‭-‬11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.7.7.NASB1995

🙏Pray with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Rewarding Corporate Prayer

Aug22

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 NASB

Continually. Devoted. Prayer.
Continually devoting themselves to prayer. The Bible, knowing and practicing it, is important to the body of Christ, His church. Fellowship and the breaking of bread together is also important. And Prayer.
Prayer is where we are witness to the movement of God. In us individually. In others. Most importantly in the body, working together to accomplish the will of the Lord God. His kingdom come. His will be done.

Private prayer has it’s reward but also does corporate prayer. Rewards of corporate prayer:

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:43‭-‬47 NASB

🌹Wow! The power of sincere, devoted, corporate prayer in the fulfilling of God’s kingdom will.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Therefore Finale

Dec13

“Practice these things and you will not stumble“: 2 Peter 1:10

and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:7 NASB

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; (outdo one another in showing honor.) Now as to the love of the brethren, we ourselves are taught by God to love one another. By God’s Word and our Teacher, the Holy Spirit abiding in us. We have been anointed with the receiving of the Holy Spirit of God who teaches us about all things, and is true and is not a lie. We have been taught to abide in Him. Abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. Romans 12:10/1 Thessalonians 4:9/1 John 2:27-28 NASB

So to know that you know that you know . . .

Read God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; practice what you have learned; and abide in Jesus. Abide in His righteousness, His power, His way. Work together with brothers and sisters in Christ, fulfilling what God set us apart for, His purpose.

🌹If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:29 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Recommended reading: John 15

Prayer – One Mind

Jan26

These all (Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James)with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Acts 1:14 NASB

“Continually devoting themselves to prayer.” Gathering for prayer. Together. Continually. They needed to keep the connection open with Jesus which is through prayer. They needed to be unified as the body of Christ which is through prayer.

🌹 Want to know the heart of God and your Christian brothers and sisters? Spend time with them in prayer.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Life as Usual

Sep9

Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Daniel 6:10 NASB

Do we allow situations in life dictate our walk with God?

Daniel spent time with the Lord three specific times a day – bowing in humble thanks. A decree came down that any man who bowed down to anyone besides the king himself would be thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel’s choice was God over anyone else and any situation. His priority was God.

🌹How about you? Is God above all others and every situation in your life? Is He your priority? Are you God-centered? Is your life “as usual” no matter what is going on around you?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon