It's a rare and special gift when you have a friend who checks on you, supports you, and wants nothing but the best for you with no hidden motives. In today's world, many relationships are built on convenience or personal gain. That's why genuine friends stand out like precious gems. Such souls are truly hard to find.❤️Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward is letting go of what’s familiar. But you can’t grab hold of new opportunities while clinging to the past. Choices may feel uncomfortable, but they also mean freedom.
Happy Saturday Y’all 🌼💫
Dear God, thank You for this day and for being the light that pulled me out of the darkness I couldn’t find my way out of on my own. Your word in John 12:46 says, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” God, I’m so grateful that You didn’t leave me where I was. There was a time when I was lost and struggling, and it wasn’t until I fell to my knees and said I need Your help that everything changed. Thank You for a promise that says I don’t have to stay where I am, that faith in You pulls me out of the shadows and into Your light. Help me walk in that light today and never go back toward the dark. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. -Isaiah 9:2
Dear God,
Thank You that You are trustworthy and that I can place the full weight of my heart, my actions, and my devotion on You. You are good, faithful, and worthy of my trust. Thank You that I can confidently trust You with my life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
Help me to trust You more each day. Help me to run to You when life is good and when life is difficult. Be my strong tower and my refuge when I feel weak. Teach me to lean on You and find strength, peace, and comfort in Your presence through every season.
In Jesus’ name, amen. 🙏
Perhaps this will make more sense to us if we substitute the word "baptized" for the word "circumcised." Does Baptism make a Christian any more than circumcision made a Jew if the person does not follow the ways of the Lord? Just as the Israelites were called to follow the Law of Moses, we are called to follow Jesus. If we do not, then we are baptized only in water, but not in the Spirit which determines the actions of the heart. Jeremiah continued to remind the people of their lack of fidelity. They were worshipping idols giving in to lying and deceit, creating violence within the community, and basically ignoring everything that they had promised to do. What about us? When we decided to become Christian, we knew that we were promising to follow Jesus. I know I have said this before, but, what makes us different from our friends and neighbors who are not Christian? Would anyone know by our words or our behavior that we are followers of Christ? Are we kinder, more forgiving, less inclined to anger or foul language? Are we true witnesses of Jesus working for justice for the poor and the vulnerable? What makes us different? If we can't think of anything, then maybe we have to see what changes we need to make. I can remember speaking to a group of people who were complaining that they didn't see too many young people in church. I asked them, "Why would the young want to go to church when all they heard from the "adults" who were there was complaints about how they dressed, or their tattoos, or their pierced eyebrows, etc.?" They couldn't answer me. And they would consider themselves to be good "Christians!" I would disagree. They may have gone to church, but they weren't acting in a Christ-like manner. We are called to be Christ in the world, so that everyone can see the goodness of God. Let's meditate on this passage from Jeremiah and see if it applies to us.
We may have terrible thoughts about our enemies, we may wish upon those who criticize or ridicule us vengeance and injury. Yet, this only degrades us in the eyes of the Lord, for it allows some of the Devil's favorite sensibilities into our hearts. The next time such thoughts may creep within one's mind, focus instead on turning this into trust, for God will always in the end punish the unjust.Heavenly Father, in the mold of Your only begotten son Jesus Christ, let reconciliation enter into my heart for all those who have wronged me. Place instead in me, trust in Your justice and judgment, so that I may not err in debasing myself, but rather focus on building up the strength of my faith in You, O Lord, my Almighty. Amen.
