Thursday Devotional - God is With Us on this National Day of Prayer 5/5/22

Did you know the United States has had an officially declared National Day of Prayer for 70 years (since 1952) and it’s been designated the first Thursday of May for 40 years (since 1982)???

How will you pray on this National Day of Prayer?

If you’re unsure, here is an encouraging verse. 

Romans 8:26        ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

This is one of my favorite verses on prayer because it talks about asking the Holy Spirit to help us when we don’t know how or what to pray!

As we ask the Spirit to help us pray, we’re to pray continually about anything and everything, but length isn’t important.

Matthew 6:7-8      ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

There is a never ending list of people and situations that need prayer, but praying for ourselves is vital daily.

Matthew 26:41     ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

If you would like to join others in prayer today, there is an organized cross-company (many companies) Teams prayer event and gathering today: Teams meeting link for National Day of Prayer event. I plan to join! There will be leaders from various companies leading through an hour of prayer from 1-2 pm EST (12-1pm UTC). 2022 Theme: Exalt the Lord who has Established Us (from https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/)

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us, Without Stooping to Our Threats 4/28/22

Do you know people who say they don’t believe in God because He hasn’t proved Himself to them? Do they expect God to prove Himself according to their own terms?

Even during Jesus’ life, many people wanted Him to prove He was God according to their own terms.

Matthew 27:38-44       ³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Jesus and God aren’t subject to our demands. They are our Creator and not the other way around. God can protect His own reputation however He chooses. God isn’t compelled to react to a human’s threat or bargain. 

God was with Jesus on the cross and even planned it! He wasn’t about to scrap His plan for the sake of proving who He was to a bunch of hard-hearted skeptics.

The next time you and I hear someone threaten God or try to bargain with Him, what are some questions we could lovingly ask them without getting defensive or argumentative?

Some I thought of are as follows:

Do you want to believe?

Are you willing to consider the proof God has already given?

If not, maybe it’s best we end the conversation for the time being. We can continue to pray for them and let them know that we are available should they sincerely want to consider the proofs of God in the future.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us, Continually Teaching Us 4/21/22

 As a family, we read through Matthew 26 and 27 last Good Friday and throughout Easter Weekend. Alexis was very interested to know what happened each day leading up to and right after Jesus’ crucifixion. Sarah wondered how the soldiers could watch Jesus and not believe. She thought several must have believed, but didn’t tell anyone. What amazed me, was how Jesus continually captured all the possible teaching moments even while he was being betrayed, arrested, wrongly accused and abandoned!  

Matthew 26:47-56  While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Wow! Jesus kept calmly teaching, even as they arrested Him!

Like Sarah, I wonder how many people, besides the disciples, thought back to Jesus’s profound words!

In moments of crisis, it is sometimes hard to recognize God’s teaching moments as He walks through the crisis with us. In hindsight, we can often look back and see it, though. Can you think back to a recent crisis in your own life? How did God walk with you through it and what did He teach you?

Alice 

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us as We Remember Jesus on Maundy/Holy Thursday 4/14/22

What happened the day before Jesus was crucified?

The first thing that comes to mind is Jesus celebrating the Passover and instituting the Lord’s Supper/Communion. This is usually the main focus at Maundy/Holy Thursday services.

As I was reading Matthew 26, it struck me how many different conversations and significant events happened on this day before Jesus’ death.

Jesus’ Passover meal/Last Supper with His disciples

Jesus predicted his betrayal

Jesus instituted Communion/Lord’s Supper

Jesus predicted the disciples’ abandonment of Him

Jesus predicted Peter’s denial 

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane

Judas betrayed Jesus

Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant

Jesus was arrested

Jesus was questioned by the Sanhedrin

Peter denied Jesus

All the disciples abandoned Jesus, but He never abandoned them.

Matthew 26:31-35 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Not only did Jesus not abandon His disciples, but He told them where He would meet them after His resurrection! What a gracious, faithful and loving Savior!

Let’s ask God to help us be grateful for all the ways Jesus used his last day to give his disciples and us valuable lessons, truths and instructions. Which one will you focus on today? 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us in Service to Him 4/7/22

My niece, Maria, and I discussed Matthew 25 the other day and she said she didn’t think she was “serving” enough. She referenced the verses in Matthew 25 where Jesus told His disciples what God the Father and King would do when Jesus returns in all His glory.

Matthew 25:34-40 ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

As I talked to Maria about this, I pointed out several ways she was serving, whether it was through the food distribution at church or feeding pumped milk to her newborn sister at home! She’s helping at home without being asked, while her sick brother is in the NICU.

Pondering our conversation later, I was reminded that she also “visited” and “preached” to those in prison unintentionally. She recently wrote a letter of encouragement to our former Pastor, and he was inspired by it for his next sermon and his next prison visit!   

Like Maria, maybe you wonder if you are “doing” enough to serve God. However, if you and I are truly soaking up God’s Word and letting it change our hearts and lives, then we will naturally live it out in everyday acts of service. We won’t have to “try” harder. It will be second nature. The Holy Spirit living in us will help us stop and recognize the needs around us and prompt us in how best to help.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us in Uncertain and Scary Moments 3/31/22

My new nephew, Michael, is still in the NICU. There have been several uncertain and scary moments this past week. As I’ve cried out to God for healing and help, He’s reminded me that He loves and cares for Michael the most. He has Michael in His hands, has a plan for his life, and will fulfill His plans. He is with Michael through all of this, each step of the way. God is Michael’s Creator and sustainer!

Psalm 139:13-17   For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!

As I’ve prayed for Michael, God reminded me of several of these truths from Psalms. God already knows all his needs. God has a plan for Michael and will complete it. God knows what is wrong and how best to help his body function as intended.  

God created you, too, and has a plan for your life! Let’s remember He’s our Creator and Sustainer, especially when we face uncertain and scary moments. He is with us!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us in Labor and the End Times 3/24/22

God helped my sister, Jane, give birth to twins (Michael and Margaret) on Monday night! There were several different days Jane thought she was going into labor, but it wasn’t quite time. However, when it was finally time, it happened quickly and was obvious!

Jesus said it will be similar for His second coming and the end times.

Matthew 24:3-8, 26-27   ³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains…

²⁶ “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

We might think it is close, but it won’t be quite time. Then, when Jesus returns and it is time, it will be evident to all!!!

There will be tough times before Jesus returns, but God will be with us through it. We can be certain of that and certain of Jesus’s return!

P.S. – please pray for Michael, as he has been in the NICU. We know God is with him and we’re trusting God will help his body regulate all he needs to function properly.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! 3/17/22

What do you know about St. Patrick?

He supposedly died on March 17, 460 AD. Hundreds of years later it was designated as a Christian Feast Day, which is now celebrated around the world in various forms.

St. Patrick was known for being a humble and creative missionary to Ireland. Ironically, he wasn’t Irish, but was born into an extremely wealthy family in Britain. Captured by pirates at 16, he served as a shepherd during his captivity. Instead of abandoning his faith, he exploded in devotion to God through prayer during his captivity!!! He later was ordained and eagerly journeyed back to Ireland to spread the gospel to the pagan country.

St. Patrick was truly humbled and continued the rest of his life as a humble missionary. He lived out Jesus’s teachings on humility.  

Matthew 23:1-3, 5a, 11-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach…⁵Everything they do is done for people to see…

¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Now that I know a bit more about St. Patrick, I want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day quite differently! How will you celebrate differently today?

St. Patrick was a humble man of prayer, so mirroring that is one way…

We can’t just decide to be humble, but we can ask God to help us grow in humility, devotion and a heart of prayer.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us to Produce Fruit 3/10/22

Are you quick to say “yes” or quick to say “no?” How about when it comes to doing God’s work? 

Matthew 21:28-31 & 43   ²⁸ “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

²⁹ “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

³⁰ “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

³¹ “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you…

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

We can’t produce fruit in our own strength by trying harder. We can submit to God and willingly let Him change us and work through us to produce fruit (to do the good works He has planned for us).

The Pharisees appeared to follow God, but it was all in their own way and strength. The tax collectors and prostitutes humbly followed and surrendered to Jesus and then He enabled them to influence others for His kingdom in mighty ways!

Let’s be quick to say “yes” to Jesus’s work and obediently follow through with what He asks of us. He will be with us each step of the way!   

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us When We’re Last 3/3/22

 Most of us don’t like to be last, whether it’s waiting in line, a grade on a test, or competing in a race or game. Edmund (5) especially doesn’t like to be last, whether it’s getting out of the car, taking his shower, getting his teeth brushed, playing a game, or picking a book. In fact, yesterday afternoon we went for a run and he led the pack for the entire first mile. Then, he started crying on the second mile, because he wasn’t in front!

Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Servanthood doesn’t come naturally. God can help us grow in humility and a willing attitude of sacrifice for others.

Where are you and I wanting to be first? What might it look like if we asked God to help us be “last” or a true servant to others in that situation?

Alice