Willpower : The Fair-weather Friend Devotion

aaahhhh - This was my morning devotion today. It is so true - my willpower gives out on a daily basis. How about yours? I need the infilling of the Holy Spirit daily to accomplish the things He has laid on my heart as a wife, mother and serving in adoption/orphan ministry.
Let this devotion pour into those place in your heart that need this word today. :)

But I say, walk and live (habitually) in the Holy Spirit (responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit); then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (human nature without God). Galatians 5:16
Willpower sure sounds like a great thing. We are led to believe that we have enough of it to fight off every temptation that comes our way. And sometimes it works. But let me tell you a little secret about willpower. Willpower is your best friend when things go well, but it's the first friend to check out when you get weary. I have found that if I really don't want to do something, my mind gives me plenty of reasons why I don't have to. My emotions even join in, saying, "I agree because I don't feel like doing it anyway." Our souls (mind, will, emotions) would love to run our lives, but the Bible says we are to be led by God's Spirit. We are never instructed to be willpower-led, we are told to be Spirit-led. Willpower and discipline are important and vitally necessary to a successful life, but willpower alone won't be enough. Determination gets you started and keeps you going for awhile, but it is never enough to bring you across the finish line. Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, say the Lord of hosts." What happens if, instead of turning first to willpower in your time of need, you turn to God instead? God releases His power into your willpower and energizes it to bring you across the finish line. Willpower does not get the credit for our success, God does. Jesus said in: John 15:5, "apart from Me(cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing."
written by Joyce Meyer
Dear Lord, Thank you for your love and grace that are ready to pour over us everyday. Help us to seek you and your word first and foremost when we feel weary. You lead us beside still waters where it is calm and where we can hear your tender voice speaking to us even in the midst of our busy days. We love you Lord! Amen.

Happy New Year!!! :)

I read this devotion a couple weeks ago and the truth's in it have been coming back to my mind frequently.

John 18:33-40

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? You own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being haded over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "you say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit.

The substitution of Jesus for Barabbas seems like a monstrous tragedy -- a preference for mediocre evil over blazing goodness. But the substitution was not fatal, for God made an act of atonement out of it whereby Barabbas might be saved.

Dear Lord, I pretend indignation at the crowd's choice of Barabbas, but I do it too, choosing dull mediocrities over blazing virtues, the familiar and comfortable ways of the world over the challenging, spirit-stretching way of Christ. Forgive me and train me in better choices.

In your precious name I ask these things. Amen.

This devotion was written by Eugene Peterson.

In this coming year:

*May we Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and act according to God's will and leading in our lives.

*May we not be afraid to say "yes" to what He is putting on our hearts.

*May our lives and actions have eternal purpose in not only our own lives but, in the lives that we come into contact with everyday.

*May we keep our eyes and ears in tune to the needs of the widow, the lonely and the orphan and advocate for them.

Proverbs 31:8

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed.

Happy New Year to you and your families!!!! :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

God sending His son Jesus to us was THE greatest gift ever. In Jesus we find grace, mercy, forgiveness and adoption into our forever family in Heaven.

I find it very interesting that Jesus' earthly life began and ends with adoption. His adoption of us is for eternity there is no beginning and there is no end. While Jesus was on earth he had an adoptive father - Joseph, who I am sure had many days of asking "what have I signed up for?". Then as Jesus hung dying on the cross in:

John 19: 26 - 27

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Eugene Peterson wrote the following about this scripture: Even while doing the cosmic work of atonement, Jesus attended to domestic details; he gave his mother another son, and his disciple a new mother. The gospel creates new family ties, both of affection and responsibility, for us.

Dear Lord, whom do you want me to love? Whom do you want me to care for? Enlarge my sense of family beyond the walls of this house; increase my capacity for affectionate responsibility beyond this immediate family. I ask these things for your glory dear Lord, Amen.

God's Word

God's Word

I read the following statement written by Eugene Peterson

and it resonated in my heart and I wanted to share it with you:

"We would learn not to interpret God's word by our feelings but that out feelings would be interpreted by God's word"

I recommend many books on this blog to encourage you on this journey that God has called you. God's word is by far the first and foremost book that we should refer to when we are seeking His will.

God's word is certain, steady and true.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.

Our feelings come and go. We need God's word to become heart knowledge not just head knowledge.

The only way we can let that knowledge move from our head to our heart is to act on the truth in God's word. Be obedient to what God puts on our hearts. Then as things get challenging in what he has called us to do, make sure that we go back to his promises and his counsel in His word. If you have trouble remembering them I suggest that you write the scripture on an index card and carry it around with you for quick reference.

Isaiah 40:31

Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

:)

Greater Works

"Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and , in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12

God does not want us to be docile followers of Jesus, so overawed by him that we never attempt anything but pale imitations of his works. He intends people full of initiative, expanding in countless ways the ministry of redemptive love he launched.

Father in heaven, it is hard for me to think of doing greater works than your Son. What those works are is your business; the willingness to shed my lazy timidity and start believing and praying after the manner of Jesus is mine, in whose name I ask for help to do it faithfully. Amen.

devotion written by Eugene Peterson

This devotion blessed me this morning. We can do nothing without His love and mercy. Let's commit to be bold in the calling that He has placed on our hearts. It can be both scary and exciting to be obedient to His calling. Don't let fear keep you from doing what God has put on your heart. :)