By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. (Genesis 2:2, NIV) God is our example. He chose to rest on the seventh day because of all the work He had done. If God chose…
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:2
Imagine a world without rest. Being expected to be awake and busy 24/7… talk about a shortened life span! None of us would be around for long. God used the seventh day of creation to demonstrate to us that we need to rest.
So we need to take that to heart, by getting a good rest at night, because He gives His beloved sleep. And we need to have a day of rest and worship each week, when we are refreshed and rejuvenated. As well, we need periodic vacations, a break from our job routine to spend time with the ones we love and recalibrate ourselves.
We need spiritual rest also; and that comes from the Holy Spirit. But we also need to implement the rest principle as we work for God. We cannot minister constantly without burning out. It is important to follow our Creator’s example and plan times and seasons of rest
Prayer: Lord, help me to intentionally build rest and relaxation into my schedule, and not feel guilty about it. This body You gave me has to last a lifetime, so help me to take good care of it.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind… And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… male and female created he them… And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:25-31
Imagine a world without animals. No horses to ride, dogs to scratch or kittens to pet. No goldfish to feed, cows to milk or sheep to shear. Sound kind of boring? Animals serve many purposes and meet many needs.
The Bible talks about many instances where God used animals for His purposes. A donkey taught Balaam a lesson in obedience. A whale put Jonah in time out for a few days until he was willing to follow the call of God. Lions showed Daniel’s king who was the one true God.
And God calls us His sheep. He is our loving Shepherd who cares for us and protects us. Yes, we can learn many things from what was produced on the sixth day of creation before God made Adam and Eve.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the ways You speak to us through Your creation. And thank You for creating me! Help me to always be attentive to Your voice.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good… And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” Genesis 1:21,23
Imagine a world without fish and birds. Without the thousands of varieties of sea life and the innumerable species of flying creatures. These serve as examples to us of the imaginative depths of our Creator.
When we look at the variety and intricate details that God implemented on the fifth day of creation, it reminds us of an important spiritual truth. We are not just another cookie-cutter person. God specifically designed us to be unique and each of us is valuable to Him.
So be inspired by what God created and placed in the ocean and air. Jump like a whale, sing like a dolphin. Soar like an eagle and enjoy the view of all that God created for your pleasure.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the interesting world You created for me to enjoy. Help me to live life to the fullest, and to revel in the pleasure You receive when I give You glory.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also… And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” Genesis 1:16,19
Imagine a world without stars. After sunset, the sky would simply be black. No constellations to capture our interest, no North Star to guide us on our journey. Just… nothing up there. But thankfully, God planned something special on the fourth day of creation. He made sure that there would be something in the sky to alleviate the darkness of night.
And He did the very same thing for our souls. There are times when God allows us to experience a time of testing, frustration or grief. Circumstances look dark and hopeless, but He gives us a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.
He comforts our souls through the promises in His Word. We may weep all night, but joy will come in the morning. His mercies are new every morning. He will never leave or forsake us. These spiritual stars keep us on track as we go through trials.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that even when my situation seems bleak, Your love and hope are still shining through the darkness. I know You will bring me through and there will be joy on the other side.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.” Genesis 1:12-13
Imagine a world without plants. What a drab landscape it would be if there were only dirt and rocks to break the monotony. No tall trees to provide shade, no grass to cushion our feet, no colourful flowers to brighten our day. If God had not chosen to create plant life on the third creation day, it would be sorely missed.
It is no different spiritually. There must be growth in our daily Christian life to keep our relationship with God from becoming a meaningless religious routine.
It is a good practice to periodically reflect on our walk with God. In what areas have we grown over the past few months? What parts of us are flourishing? Are there any areas that need attention, maybe some extra sunshine and watering? Growth is beautiful!
Prayer: Lord, I want to be constantly growing in You. Show me any areas of my spiritual life that have become stagnant, and help me to reach higher and draw closer to You.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” Genesis 1:7-8
Imagine a world without water. The entire planet would be a desert, plants would be shriveled and brown and life would slow down to a crawl. The second day of creation gave us a precious resource.
The same is true spiritually. Without living water, souls become parched, hope dries up, and motivation virtually disappears. Life becomes a mere existence with no promise of change.
But when we allow God to flood our spirits with the water of His Holy Spirit, everything is refreshed. Hope is rejuvenated and life becomes worth living again. Just as we need a steady supply of water to survive physically, we need to soak in God’s presence on a daily basis.
Prayer: Lord, let me drink daily from the fountain of living water. And pour the water of Your Spirit over me, in me and through me.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:4-5
Imagine a world without light. Everything else that God made during creation week would go unnoticed and unappreciated. Life would be dull, dark, depressing and boring. With light comes clarity, joy, hope and alertness.
The same is true in regard to our spiritual existence. The Father of lights shines into our soul and the darkness is eradicated. We begin to see clearly the things that previously confused us. Our daily lives are infused with joy because we experience unconditional love. We are full of hope for the future, here on earth and in heaven eternally.
And the spiritual illumination we have received causes us to feel truly alive, excited and full of passion for the Kingdom of God. He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for illuminating my life. Let your light shine through me to those around me, and may they be drawn to You.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people! (Psalm 66:5 from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation).
- Awesome! This overused word is interwoven into conversations to describe anything above average. It is attached to artistic performances, gourmet foods, clothing accessories, websites, widgets, gadgets, and travels. The King James Version translates awesome as “terrible.” Imagine this scene. We’re looking over the splendid (awesome) Grand Canyon. I smile and shout out “Terrible!” You wouldn’t understand my reaction. Others nearby might wonder at my absence of appreciation. If I said “Awesome!” you would understand how impressed I am with God’s creation. That’s the intention of this modern translation when the Psalmist recognizes the magnificent miracles. Awesome! That word belongs to God.
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Prayer : Lord, when I see Your creations and witness Your miracles, I am overwhelmed. All I can say is awesome! Amen.
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Devotion by Violet Carr Moore