Friday Devotion and Prayer – June 23, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv. …
Author: Etta Mhoon-Walker
Wednesday Devotion and Prayer – June 21, 2023 –
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv.
Wednesday Devotion and Prayer. June 21, 2023
“Find Eternal Meaning”
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9
It was another long day; I stayed constantly busy but couldn’t exactly tell you what I’d done all day. Have you ever had a day like that? You put your head on the pillow, utterly exhausted, but didn’t check one thing off your chore list? Your body aches, yet, you didn’t get to that workout, the yard work went undone, and you didn’t come close to hitting your daily steps. Your mind refuses to turn off because even though you put in a full day’s work, making sure the kids did their homework and prepped for the event this weekend, you still have a laundry list of things to do.
Life is so busy, isn’t it? It doesn’t matter your season; there will always be things to do. And yes, we make various choices to make our already overflowing calendars bleed with get-togethers, dates, and events, but life’s day-to-day can be overwhelming. Many people think the book of Ecclesiastes is depressing, the “Debbie- downer” of the Bible. But, when we filter these ancient words of wisdom through the correct biblical lens, the message is really one of hope and encouragement.
As a society, we have transitioned from working to living to living to working in many areas of our lives. We can get so quickly wrapped up in everything it takes to live in this world, placing too much value on what we do, accomplish, or achieve. It’s not enough to simply exist; we must chase the mighty dollar, run the rat race, and look like a cover model while doing it all. No wonder we are exhausted; if we constantly pour our energy into things that have no eternal significance, no matter how much we do or have, it will never be enough. Allow the words of Ecclesiastes 1:9 to give you comfort,
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
The fate of the world doesn’t depend on what you do! What happened yesterday, last month, or a hundred years ago will ultimately occur again. That’s not disheartening; that’s uplifting! The dishes will always need to be done, bellies are in constant need of food, and the grass will continue to grow; your chore list will never be completed—and that doesn’t make you a failure. Let us pursue lives that have eternal meaning in whatever we do!
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us these wise words from Solomon; we are grateful for the opportunity to read and study the Scriptures. Help us shift from an earthly perspective to an eternal mindset, realizing that only the things of You will last forever. Guide as we make decisions, and above all, hide the words of Colossians 3:23-24 in our hearts. Let whatever work we do be for the Lord since we know our inheritance is from You. You are who we are serving. Let us do it wholeheartedly.
Like your servant Solomon, we humbly ask for wisdom and discernment as we seek to be lights in this dark world. We pray for those who don’t know You as Lord and Savior and desire to receive Your Truth. We also pray for those who have lost their way, choosing to follow the prince of this world. May we live in a way that will lead them back to You? Thank you, Lord. We love you. In Your son Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Sunday Devotion and Prayer – June 18, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv.
Sunday Devotion and Prayer. June 18, 2023
Happy Father’s Day
“Prayer for Those Near and Far From Their Fathers”
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” -John 10:10
For those who are far from, or without, their dads this Father’s Day, know you are not alone in how you feel. We look to our heavenly Father for comfort today, as we miss being near our dads here on earth. Whether we are parted from our fathers by distance, divorce, or death, prayer is God’s gift of comfort. When we don’t understand, we can turn to Him knowing He holds all the answers.
Heavenly Father, praise You for our fathers here on earth. We know that you placed them perfectly and precisely in our lives. And though life doesn’t always look on this earth like we feel it should in our hearts, we trust Your perfect love, plan, and purpose. Thank You for our dads. Without them, we would cease to be. They are part of your plan for our lives.
Some dads provide for us in ways that simply amaze us. Dedicated to their families, they work countless hours to foster our happiness and dreams. Other fathers are gifted at connecting with us emotionally, guiding and encouraging us down hard paths and through difficult journeys of decision. Thank You for their faithful pursuit of You and
diligence in pointing us to You, too.
Some of us don’t know who our dads are or have adopted dads with whom You have blessed our lives. Still, others of us mourn the complete loss of our fathers through death on this earth and desperately need to remember Your goodness, Lord. When Father’s Day reminds us of the gaping hole they have left in our hearts, heals any hurts we harbor, and helps us to hold on to all of the love we have experienced from our relationship with them.
Help us to find peace in Your will for our lives and their absence. In the ways of the world that we don’t understand, swoop in with Your Spirit and remind us that we don’t need to understand …and sometimes can’t. In our faith, we trust You and Your love for us. Help us to fill in the gaps that we are incapable of.
Fathers living far away from us don’t love us any less. Please help us find peace in that gap this Father’s Day, too.
Though miles separate us, nothing can part the love of a father for his child, innately placed by You alone. Remind us to be thankful for our loving fathers, though they may be far away. To be in touch emotionally spans the empty distance between us. Bless our fathers while we are away from them.
Forgive us, Father, for the things we want to blame our earthly fathers for. Remind us of their humanity. We are imperfect and can never expect any human being to fill our hearts and provide for us completely. That role is reserved for You alone, God. You deserve the vast space of our hearts, and we must remember that.
As much as we love dads, miss, and look up to our dads, they are only people, just like us. Maybe some of us feel bitterness, anger, and resentment towards our dads … but we must remember to compassionately embrace their humanity amid our feelings. They battle the same curse of sin we do, incapable of perfection. Whether we look to our fathers’ leadership in faith or pray for their salvation, we have to release our judgment to You, God.
Father, bless our dads today in a special way. Release them from any guilt they may harbor for mistakes they have made as parents, knowing we also travel that road. Bless and heal any heartaches or physical hurts that ail them. Lift their spirits, as they may miss us today due to the physical distance between us. Assure them they hold a special place in our hearts, lives, and Your love. In Your son Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
Saturday Devotion and Prayer – June 17, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv. Saturday …
Friday Devotion and Prayer – June 16, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv. Friday Devotion and Prayer. June 16, 2023 …
Thursday Devotion and Prayer – June 15, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv.
Thursday Devotion and Prayer. June 15, 2023
“God’s Protection”
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” – Psalm 28:7
In the Bible, God refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep. And He says we are the sheep of His pasture (John 10:11-14). Sheep are rather defenseless animals. They do not have sharp teeth or claws to ward off predators. They are covered in heavy wool that makes them susceptible to overheating if not groomed regularly and vulnerable to drowning if they fall into deep waters. They are known for getting themselves into precarious situations. And they need a shepherd’s constant care and protection to stay safe and alive.
All the above scenarios are ways God lovingly communicates His willingness to protect and help us. He reminds us we can trust Him to care for us, especially when we are afraid and struggling with doubt and worry. The Good Shepherd protects His flock, even at the expense of His own life! God sees us. He is our source of strength and our shield from the enemy’s fiery darts. He longs for us to come to Him when we need help. We can trust Him, and even when we are afraid, we can sing praises of thanksgiving, knowing our hearts are completely safe and secure in His tender, strong, shepherding hands (Psalm 28:7).
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for reminding us we are vulnerable without you. We face many dangers, and we are defenseless without You! But Lord, with You, we are safe. You don’t leave us helpless and defenseless. We are protected. You act as a shield, and You give us strength.
You are the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep. You care for us. You watch over us. You never leave us and always have Your loving gaze locked on us. Forgive us when we wrongly think about how you watch over us. Lord, sadly some of us feel as if You are an unloving force just waiting for us to mess up. But Lord, that is not how You look upon us at all. You delight in us.
And you sent Your Son to cover up all our sins and blemishes. When we are in Christ, You don’t see our mistakes. You see Your spotless lamb. You delight in us like a father delights in His child. And nothing can separate us from Your Love. Thank You for protecting us. Thank You that even though danger lurks around us, we are so safe we can sing! Thank You for being completely trustworthy and a secure place to run when we are afraid. We love You and trust You! In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Wednesday Devotion and Prayer – June 14, 2023
By: Bishop Dr. Etta Mhoon-Walker, PhD., DDiv. Wednesday Devotion and Prayer. June 14, 2023 …
