But there is a God who made you for a reason, and you life has profound meaning! We discover that meaning and purpose only when we make God the reference point of our lives.
Hillsong United - One Way
As the song plays....as the lyrics go...
"
One way, Jesus
You're the only one that I could live for
"
These lines hold truth to the fact that we should only live for His will and purpose for us.
In Word
Life can be a huge burden.
Religion, too, can be a huge burden. It places demands on us that are clearly higher than our ability to accomplish. It places ideals before us that our earthbound souls long to embrace but cannot ever really reach.
He only told us to come to Him with everything, and He would fill us with Himself. What He has demanded of us, He Himself will fulfill.
In Deed
We get caught up in the folly of self-effort. We think our provision is up to us, so we struggle. We think out righteousness is up to us, so we strain. We think our spirituality is a work of human willpower, so we press on even harder. All the while, Jesus says to us: "Come to Me." He will give us rest.
Faith and complete dependence on Jesus are to precede obedience. When we strive for obedience first, we are overwhelmed with our inabilities.
Take His woke and let Him lead.
Deeper - email devotion
(Job 6:14-17)
When friends or family go through traumatic circumstances, they are acutely traumatised and can act in a number of ways.
When such things happen, it is so important that we do not judge or condemn, but express our love and support repeatedly. It does not help to tell them it is their own fault, or to criticise and lecture. If they have done wrong they probably are already acutely aware, and may be blaming themselves anyway. We need to reiterate God's love for them and be there to help in a practical manner as we are able.
Rick Warren's daily devotion (Day 19)
Meditation means seriously thinking about something.
Psalm 1:1-3
New International Version (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
HIS Word
Acts 4:24-31
New International Version (NIV)
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.