Day 10:
(Scripture)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Evening Devotion
Paul gives the church a list of things that we should do. Nowhere in this list do we find complaining, God will forgive you if you sin, or speak your mind in prayer. None of these bring about spiritual strength. They only weigh us down spiritually and remove our minds from taking hold of the spiritual atmosphere. We must let them go and embrace that which will build us up.
Earlier today I found myself in an area of frustration and began to complain because of problems I was going through. I found a quiet place to pray and realized my mind was completely packed with anger and frustration that I could not be effective in prayer. I just kneeled and asked God to release my mind. Everything slowly began to leave and I had nothing left to think about.
I chose to stay still as I heard God speak to me. Sometimes these are the best prayers. The ones that we receive and out us back into the place where we can rejoice and abstain.
(Prayer)
Lord Jesus, this world around us is becoming more polluted by the day. Constant murders. Multiple hurricanes. Everyday the death toll rises! The land is being polluted by the sins of mankind to the point that people do not know how to behave. The world is becoming worse and You are calling the church to rise up.
We are not conditioned by the ways of this world because we follow Your method for success. We rejoice when things are rough. We pray even when we cannot. We give thanks even when we are hurt. Refusing and denying anything evil. God, You are calling us to live this way because it is time to rise up so the world can see. The world needs to see the JESUS STANDARD which picks us up, calls us to a higher level, and helps keep us standing when others are falling. We need You to help us live to this standard because we cannot do it without You!
Amen!