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!

                                 Thursday Devotion and Prayer. June 8, 2023
                                                        “Intercession”

“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; [12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:.” – Colossians 1:11-12

The Apostle Paul traveled far and wide, spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. He founded several churches, and many of his letters were to those congregations. However, the church in Colossae was not a church he founded or visited, yet he wrote a personal letter to them. The church in Colossae was likely founded by Epaphras, who was converted to Christ during the time of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. Paul’s letter to the Colossians was prompted by a visit from Epaphras, who shared a good report of the congregation and the church’s spiritual challenges and doctrinal errors.

Paul had never met the Colossians, yet he prayed a powerful prayer for them. When we don’t know what to pray for someone, we can turn to Paul’s prayer for the Colossians in chapter 1, verses 9-14, for guidance. He prayed the Colossians believers would honor and please the Lord in four ways: fruitfulness, maturity, power, and gratitude. Paul prayed the Colossians would honor the Lord by bearing fruit. His word choice indicates bearing fruit is present and continual. Fruitfulness is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in individuals. Fruit trees produce fruit according to the kind of tree they are, and Christians are no different. We can pray for other people to bear fruit as they submit to the working of God in their life. Initial salvation kick starts our growth and maturity in Jesus Christ. Effective Christian life and ministry flow from a consistent increase in the knowledge of God. It is not mere head knowledge but personal knowledge through applying what we learn about Christ to our lives. We can pray for someone to have an ongoing life of discovery and adventure with Jesus.

The Colossians faced criticism, intimidation, and pre-Christian mindsets. They needed empowerment to endure with patience which is what Paul prayed for and what God provided. Christians today face discouragement, disappointment, pressure, and persecution. We face trials, temptations, and tests from various sources: our pre-Jesus past, criticism for following Jesus, and attacks from our adversary, the devil. These combine to distract us from devotion to God, make our influence ineffective, trap Christian leaders, and destroy the work God wants to do. We can pray that Christians be “strengthened with all power. . . that [they] may have great endurance and patience” (1:11).

Paul emphasized rejoicing in his letters. Joyful gratitude helps us remember our Heavenly Father’s gift of salvation. People will always want to disqualify what God has done in our lives. A joyful, grateful heart is one way to strengthen our hearts because we remember that God qualifies, rescues, and brings us into his kingdom. We can pray Christians will express their joy and gratitude over what God has done.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for calling us to pray for others and giving us the words to pray in this letter to the Colossians. As we pray, we ask they will continually bear fruit as they serve you. May they know you more and more in a personal way.

May you empower them to face persecution with endurance and patience. And may their heart overflow with joyful gratitude as they remember how you rescue, qualify, and bring them into your kingdom. Pour your Spirit upon them as they seek to live for you. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

                               Monday Devotion and Prayer. June 5, 2023                                                            “Our Children Need to Know God’s Love”