Today, I surrender myself to You, Lord. I woke up in a state of confusion and I’m not sure where to go or what to do. But I surrender myself to Your will, Father. And I trust that You have a plan and that You have designed my life to teach me what You would have me learn. I accept Your call and lay down my own thoughts and ambitions… and I listen, Lord. I listen for Your voice in my ears. So meet me where I am. Show me what You want to show me. I am Yours. Forgive me for the things that I have done this morning that are against You. Forgive me for all the things I do on a daily basis that are sinful and unrighteous. Mold and make me into the servant I long to be for You; that I know is Your will for me to become. I ask for Your will to be accomplished through me, Lord. I ask for Your will to be made known in my life, and through my life. Today, I surrender myself to You, Lord. I surrender myself to You.
This morning…
Are you hurting this morning?
Are you wondering how much more you can take?
If you are, you are not alone. Many of us woke up this morning with heavy hearts, and tear-swollen faces, wondering how we are going to manage another full day of, what could be, more stress and more pain. To all of us who are feeling like the weight of the world is on our shoulders this morning, I offer life-changing words of hope. I would like to direct your attention to His Word.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
My prayer this morning is that we would all take the Lord’s “yoke” or “teaching” upon us, and that we would trust Him in everything He says to us through His Word.
Deep~
Our Daily Bread – Devotion
April 11, 2008
Listen To His Promptings
READ: Acts 16:6-10
READ: Acts 16:6-10
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. —Acts 16:7
On Friday, my day of rest as a pastor, the Holy Spirit prompted me to call a young single mother in our faith community to see if her car had been repaired. I had some reservations about making the call, but I obeyed.
Little did I know that my obedience would help save her life. She said later: “Friday at work I was planning on taking my life; but in a time of need, I believe God was there for me. He had Pastor Williams call me, and just by listening to his voice, I knew that God loved me.”
The apostle Paul must have had reservations when the Holy Spirit prompted him and his team not to go into the provinces of Asia and Bithynia. Instead, they felt the Spirit’s call to go into Macedonia to preach the good news. In each situation, they obeyed the Spirit’s promptings. As a result, Paul and his team were instrumental in giving birth to a new faith community in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15).
As believers in Christ who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:22), our desire should be to please Him. May we not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) by ignoring His gentle promptings. When we obey Him, we might be used by God to lead someone to Christ, to disciple new believers—or even to help save somebody’s life. — Marvin Williams
Holy Spirit, we would hear
Your inner promptings, soft and clear;
And help us know Your still, small voice
So we may make God’s will our choice. —D. De Haan
Make the right choice: Obey the Spirit’s voice.
Counting My Blessings
Today, a local family lost their 9-year-old son. He was playing with a school mate in front of his house when a man pulled up in a car, got out and shot the boy, then abducted him and drove off. This evening, they found his body in a nearby field. And authorities have not yet caught the perpetrator. I’m choking up as I write this, and I have prayed for this unfortunate family as they walk through, what must be, the most difficult and darkest time in their lives. I can not even imagine losing one of my children, and I pray against that happening every morning.
I’m not sure what caused me to write about this tonight, except that I sit here counting my blessings with a heavy heart. If you are a Christian please remember this family in your prayers tonight. And everyone take notice of how absolutely short our time in this life really is.
Blessings to you all…
Deep~
deepwaterwalk 