Sunday Devotion and Prayer. June 11, 2023
                                                          “Restoration”

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” – Hosea 6:1

The moment sin reared its ugly head, in the form of a snake, in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3, brokenness entered the scene. Undoubtedly, we live in a broken world full of broken systems, situations, and people. Sin leaves a ripple effect that continues year after year, generation after generation. It affects every individual. You cannot walk through life unscathed.

This is no different for Christians as it is for non-Christians. Matthew 5:45 says, “…for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we are exempt from trials and heartache. Sometimes we’ve chosen a destructive path. Other times, God makes us dwell in darkness (Lamentations 3:6). It’s not uncommon to forget God can still restore you when you’re in the muck and the mire of a trial. Our situations sometimes cloud our view of all God is.

I don’t know what you may be facing today, but I want to remind you God is still in the business of restoring! He can still restore a broken relationship, shattered marriage, limp body, prodigal child, tattered heart, and scrambled mind. With man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). God doesn’t always restore the things we have in mind. Instead, He restores our peace, joy, hope, and contentment, despite our uncertain situations. Regardless of what God chooses, He still restores!

In addition to this, let’s never forget God has the final say. When He speaks, the storm is silent, the seas part, the lame are healed, and the blind see. He has the authority over everything because He is the creator of all things. If you’re going through a tough season, keep pouring your heart out to God. He is not weary of your tears. He knows the words you cannot seem to utter. He sees the pain no one else can see. But also remind yourself God can still do exceedingly abundantly more than you can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your fatherly care for us. Father, nothing is hidden from You. You know what each one of Your kids is going through. Father, when we are in the thick of a trial and feel too broken to be of use, would You remind us You still work all things together for good? Remind us You have good plans for our lives and that You are our hope and future. Please hold all our broken pieces together and keep us close to You.

Father, You see everything. You see behind every closed door. You hear every whispered comment. You know what no one else may know. Please be our advocate. Please fight for us when we cannot fight for ourselves. Please be our shield and our protector. Please restore to us the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). Father, I ask that You would make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil (Psalm 90:15). I ask that if we are in a season of weeping, that joy will come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Father, I ask that You would restore us to the joy of our salvation and uphold us with your generous Spirit (Psalm 51:12).

Father, we need You. We are lost without You. We know that apart from You, there is no good in us. Please do not forsake the works of Your hands (Psalm 138:8). the Father, help us to be patient during the season You have us in. I pray we will look more like You in everything we do and say. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for being a God who restores. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen!

                                 Friday Devotion and Prayer. June 9, 2023
                                                    “Grow Strong in Faith”

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God,” -Romans 4:20.

I once knew a precious elderly woman at a church I attended. She was strong in her faith. So much that I’d watch people get up from their seats, walk over, and ask her to pray for them. And this woman knew how to pray! Her passion for the things of God was evident. She’d press her eyelids closed and wrap her hands firmly around yours, committed to not letting go until God said so. I saw her as an example of what our faith should look like. God gives us inspiration for our faith journey in Romans chapter four. Through this powerful passage, God is teaching me to view my life experiences as opportunities to develop a deeper faith in him.

Abraham’s story reminds us of what strong faith looks like. He was no stranger to adversity, but he chose to believe. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” (Romans 4:13). It’s hard to keep believing as time passes and we don’t see any hope. Sometimes we feel weak, and our faith can follow. So, what set Abraham apart as a man of strong faith? Romans 4:18 says, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken…”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines faith as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” In my own life, there have been times when I believed in God, but I didn’t fully trust him. I held onto control instead of holding onto God’s goodness. But God has always been faithful. He taught me how to hope in him, even when my situation appeared hopeless. My faith began to grow when I chose to believe, trust, and hope in Jesus.

I’m thankful today for those faith pioneers who’ve shown me the way. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have that level of faith? To be a person who others come to for prayer and encouragement? Let’s be like Abraham and never waver from our beliefs. Let’s wrap our hands firmly around God’s promises and commit to not letting go. May we grasp every opportunity to grow stronger in the faith.

Heavenly Father,
Your Word tells me that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) I want to grow strong in the faith, but I’ve struggled to ask for your help. Forgive me for avoiding opportunities you’ve given me to develop a stronger faith. Open my eyes to the path you’ve set before me. Help me grow strong in the faith and show a passion for your Word that draws others to you.

Father, I believe, trust, and hope in you alone. I understand that faith begins with trusting you in difficult circumstances. Help me to change my perspective on the challenges I face. Through adversity, my faith can grow. When I see obstacles ahead of me, help me overcome my fear. I know you are with me through it all, and with you, nothing is impossible.

When someone comes to me for prayer or encouragement, remind me of your promises. Give me the words to pray and the boldness to believe in big things. Thank you for the struggles I’ve gone through in the past that have helped me to be the person you created. When my faith is weak, I will turn to you. Above all, I pray my faith journey will bring glory to you, Lord. In Your Son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

                            Tuesday Devotion and Prayer. June 6, 2023
                                       “How God Views Children”

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” – Psalm 8:2

It’s powerful to read the descriptions in the Bible of how God views children and babies. He cares for them and has beautiful lessons woven into learning from them. Psalm 8:2 powerfully reminds us that praise from these little ones has created strongholds against the enemy, to the point of silencing the avenger. The contrast between an innocent baby to an avenger is vast.

However, baby-sized faith, mustard seed faith, moves mountains spiritually! Today we will come before God like little children, nothing fancy, just our hearts. We will seek Him and remember the truth that He is working on our behalf, and we can depend on Him.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You that we do not have to be the most well-spoken or equipped to pray to You. Thank You that You invite the least of these to come to You. We are welcomed in Your presence by Your blood Jesus. Thank You that as we praise You, even with simple songs, words, or actions, it is pleasing to You and powerful against the works of the enemy. You are our God. You are not only Ruler over all creation, but You are also our adopted Father. By Your grace, we are saved. We cry, Abba Father. Dad, thanks for being perfect. Thanks for loving us fully. Thanks for caring for our deepest and smallest wounds. Thanks for protecting us from evil, giving us life, and bringing us into Your family forever.

When we get tempted to focus on spiritual intellect, help us to be childlike in our faith and remind us of the heart of dependence and need we have from You. Hold us, please. Help us when we fall. We cannot live without You. You have promised to always be with us and never leave us. Thank you for Your presence and Your love. Thank You for giving us Your identity, even though we fail.

As we look and observe the actions and lives of little ones daily, we may better understand how we are supposed to live in a relationship with You, totally dependent, trusting, and believing. You are the Perfect Father. Where our earthly fathers (or lack thereof) have tainted our view of You, would You please give us a corrected perspective of Your goodness and love? Show us and reveal how You are everything we have ever longed for, and You are our good Father who delights in giving us the good gift of Your Spirit. Where we feel hurt, broken, or hold shame from earthly fathers and their sin, mend us and reveal who You truly are and how You never let us down.

God, we pray You would hold us close to Your heart. Please help us. We, like children, all need You to survive and sustain our lives. We cannot live without You. The very breath we each take in now is by Your creation. We are in awe that You are sovereign and reigning overall. You say in John 1:12 that all who receive Jesus, You give the right to be children of God to those who believe in Your name. We come to You today not just as servants before a king or workers to a boss but as children to our Father. This love is great, personal, and real. We do not deserve it, and we cry out to You for Help demolish strongholds from the enemy. Bless us with Your full armor. We humble ourselves to have child-like attitudes of belief and confidence in You. We love You, Father, praise You, and thank You for adopting us into Your forever family through Jesus. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.