Monday Devotion and Prayer – July 17, 2023

                                    Monday Devotion and Prayer. July 17, 2023.
                                          “The Biblical Woman and Man”

“ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3:17

When it comes to what God is concerned most about, it is a matter of the heart, not what we see on the outside. I am reminded of this exhortation from the Apostle Paul to the church at Colossae: Colossians 3:17 tells us, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Whether you are single, married, a stay-at-home mom or dad, a working mom or dad, a woman or man with a successful career, retired, or a woman or man with expansive life experience and wisdom, God has called you to be a biblical woman or man by living your life solely for the Lord with a heart full of thankfulness for all that He has done for you.

Your worth isn’t about how hard you can slay or hustle, how immaculately clean your home looks, or how well-behaved your children are. Real beauty comes from total dependency on God. What blooms in your life will be beautiful because of Him.

Your story of walking with Jesus is not about your works or what you can do in your own power or strength, it is about working with grace and allowing it to do its work in you and through you. The more you lean into His grace, the more you will see growth and maturity in your heart and life. Through this dependency on Him, you will make Jesus famous and not your own name. God alone will receive all the glory that is due to His name. May we learn how to surrender our life to Jesus every single day and trust that He will use it all for His glory.

Heavenly Father,
Men and women long to be biblical men or women, but I do not want to get swayed by what others tell me what that should look like. I want to look to the scriptures first and foremost. You are not concerned with what we look like on the outside, but You are more concerned with the posture of our hearts. Help us to serve our family and community without grumbling or complaining as we depend solely upon You each day. I pray that You would use every trial and difficulty in my life to conform me to the image of Your dear Son. I long to give You glory in all that I say and do. Help me lean upon Your grace to be the woman/man You have called me to be, to further Your Kingdom, and tell of Your goodness and faithfulness. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.