Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. (Song of Solomon 8:7, ESV) Some of the most valuable things in life cannot be bought with money: respect, loyalty, trust, wisdom, happiness, true…
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10 Most of us have read or heard this scripture read and, in our minds, have said that it is impossible for a woman to reach the high ideal that is portrayed. The writer of Proverbs…
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible) The Apostle Paul wrote, “…I have kept the faith.” We only keep things we value. Upstairs in my guest room is a…
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” Psalm 103:2
God is daily showering us with blessings: life and breath, health and strength, joy and peace, just to name a few. How easy it is to forget the source of these things and just take them for granted.
We need to consciously remember the benefits God has given us. A great way to do this it keep a “blessing box”. Every day, write down on a slip of paper something God has done for you, and put it in your box.
When negative situations come your way, and you are tempted to feel discouraged and depressed, it’s time to pull out your blessing box. Sit and read all the benefits God has showered on you, and it will give you faith and hope for the future.
Prayer: Lord, thank You so much for all of Your kindness to me. Spiritual blessings, physical blessings, emotional blessings… I can’t even count them all. Where would I be without You?
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:17
We all need to be corrected sometimes; and rather than resenting the process, we need to value it. How else can we learn?
The verse above is from a passage that describes the scriptural method of correction. Go alone to the person who has offended you. If they won’t listen, take one or two others with you and try again. If that doesn’t work, take it to the Church.
The whole purpose of this procedure is restoration: “thou hast gained thy brother”. If both parties seek to have a right spirit, then correction will be given and received properly, and a relationship will be saved.
Prayer: Lord, show me if there is any relationship that I need to mend. Maybe I need to lovingly confront someone, or maybe I am the one who wronged someone else. Let me value correction and preserve my friendships.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14
Our spiritual gifts are something that we must not neglect; we need to value them. Each of us have been uniquely called and equipped for a special place of service in God’s Kingdom.
Sometimes we become aware of our spiritual gift through the prophecy or prayer of another person. And that doesn’t mean it is fully developed instantly. Sometimes the seed is planted, and we have to grow into it by using it.
What spiritual gifts has God placed in you? Are you an administrator, an evangelist or a teacher? Do you have a ministry of compassion, of helps or of encouragement? Whatever gift has been given to you, guard it carefully but also make sure it grows!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the spiritual gifts You have given me. Help me to develop them and use them to further Your kingdom.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13:16
Life is so busy, but it is very important that we don’t forget to do good. We must build time in our schedules for helping other people, encouraging and ministering to them.
God is so pleased when we do this. We could sacrifice money or other things, but He loves the sacrifice we make when we do good.
There are many opportunities every day for well-doing: in your own home, at work or school, out in the community. Ask God to open your eyes to chances to do good.
Prayer: Lord, I want to value well-doing. I want to be a blessing to those around me. Show me who I can minister to today.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” Proverbs 4:5-6
Wisdom is something we need to be sure not to forget. More than anything else, God’s wisdom will protect and keep us, no matter what we face.
We invest so much time in gaining knowledge, learning new skills, developing our talents and earning money. But how much time do we invest in seeking wisdom? It will make a much bigger difference in our lives and success than these other things.
Wisdom from experience is not complete. We need the wisdom that comes from God, and according to James 1:5, God is ready to give it to us liberally.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek Your wisdom and not rely on my own ideas, especially when making crucial decisions. Help me to value the wisdom You give me.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.” Psalm 119:176
Just like we must not neglect our salvation, we also must not forget the Lord’s commandments. Failing to follow them causes us to get lost like a sheep who has wandered off.
By His grace, God continues to seek to restore our relationship with Him. And if we have hidden His Word, His commandments in our heart, we will never be able to forget them. Even if we get off track, they will help us back onto the right path.
We guard the Lord’s commandments by reading and memorizing them. Suppose one day the Bible was forbidden in your country like it is in many. Would you have enough of His commandments in your heart to sustain you?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your commandments that keep me on the straight and narrow way that leads to life eternal. Help me to value them and to hide them in my heart.
Devotion by Liane Grant