Don’t let a desire to be in control keep you from trusting God on the unseen and unanticipated twists & turns in your life journey.
Ponderings
Devotionals, prayer & insights from my Bible reading
Prayer prompt for Monday, April 6
As a parent, sometimes I wish my kids would just trust me, because I know what’s best for them. Ouch, God says the same thing to me!
Prayer prompt for Sunday, April 5
What does Easter mean to you? Is it just a one-day checklist item to feel good that you went to church, or does it mean something more?
Eternity on our Hearts (Prayer Devotional for the week of April 5, 2015)
Ecclesiastes 3 is the home of the “time for everything” verses, but if you read a little further, verse 11 is an absolute gem: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (NIV). I love the way the New Living Translation says that God “has planted eternity in the human heart” because it makes me think of how faith grows in our lives over time.
I’ve mentioned before that Easter is my favorite holiday, and it isn’t just because of chocolate (although, I saw that York now has a Peppermint Pattie bunny, so I’m going to raid the discounted stash at the grocery store on Monday!). The thing I love most about Easter is the focus on hope and eternity. Hebrews 13:14 reminds us that this world is not our permanent home, and Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. This brief snippet of time that we call life is just a training ground, a dress rehearsal, a preview of eternity with Christ. The best is yet to come!
I’m a planner; I like to know what to expect, and I’m not a big fan of surprises when it comes to things that I feel like I should have control over. That said, I got a chuckle out of the way Ecclesiastes 3:11 implied that we humans try – in vain, of course – to figure out the things of God. It’s true, isn’t it? We want answers for this, a reason for that, an explanation for something else … yet, the Bible reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9).
It’s ok to not have all the answers or everything planned out just-so. Sometimes, we just have to walk in faith and trust that God does have a plan, even if we aren’t privy to it. He has put eternity in our hearts, and I wonder if perhaps it’s to keep us focused on the end goal of our endless days together in Glory, rather than getting bogged down in the worries of this world. This Easter, let your focus be on eternity.
Prayer prompt for Saturday, April 4
Not all faith-walk changes are instantaneous. Spiritual growth is a process, but we should be aiming to become closer to the Lord.
Prayer prompt for Friday, April 3
If Jesus was introducing you to a friend, how would he describe how the two of you first met?
Prayer prompt for Thursday, April 2
I kinda wish that we knew the man’s name in John 9, yet I’m thrilled that his remarkable story stands alone. Our testimonies speak loudly.
Prayer prompt for Wednesday, April 1
If someone you know was curious about Jesus, do they know and see a difference in your life that would lead them to Him?
Prayer prompt for Tuesday, March 31
How has your life changed since you met Jesus – not only internally/spiritually, but what about externally/character improvements?
Prayer prompt for Monday, March 30
Whether or not you have a dramatic conversion story, your experience of declaring faith in Jesus is worth sharing with someone else.