I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God
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About this ebook
The sun rises, the day begins, and the world begins clamoring for your time. But the whisper of God calls you to be with Him?and it's the best part of your day.
Beloved pastor Charles Stanley has been teaching the Word of God for forty years?lovingly, reverently explaining the wonders of Christ's Good News from the pulpit, in his internationally acclaimed radio program, and in more than thirty-five best-selling books. In I Lift Up My Soul, Dr. Stanley's inspirational gems?filled with personal wisdom and words of encouragement?will lead you to your heavenly Father day after day.
Each day in I Lift Up My Soul, you will find a verse from Scripture, recommended reading, a guided prayer, and an inspirational and instructional message designed to lift your heart and soul from the earthly to the eternal. Your day will be transformed.
Charles F. Stanley
Dr. Charles F. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church Atlanta, Georgia, where he served more than fifty years. He was also a New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy books. Until his death in 2023, Dr. Stanley’s mission was to get the gospel to “as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, as clearly as possible, as irresistibly as possible, through the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.” This is a calling that In Touch Ministries continues to pursue by transmitting his teachings as widely and effectively as possible. Dr. Stanley’s messages can be heard daily on In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley broadcasts on television, radio, and satellite networks and stations around the world; on the internet at intouch.org and through In Touch+; and via the In Touch Messenger Lab. Excerpts from Dr. Stanley’s inspiring messages are also published in the award-winning In Touch devotional magazine.
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Reviews for I Lift Up My Soul
4 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This devotional contains some of Charles Stanley's best works in a concise, potent form. The daily reads and daily thoughts are well put together. Plus, having a devotional that comes from the many years of experience that Charles Stanley has it a very huge plus.I very much would recommend this devotional to new, and mature, Christians alike. I like how the verses to read are usually not long. This allows for a simple thought to be reinforced and meditated upon throughout the day. This is my style of thinking which makes this devotional a must-use for me.**I received this complimentary copy from Booksneeze.com. The thoughts here are my own.**
Book preview
I Lift Up My Soul - Charles F. Stanley
I LIFT UP MY
SOUL
I LIFT UP MY
SOUL
DEVOTIONS TO START
YOUR DAY WITH GOD
CHARLES F. STANLEY
9781400202898_ePDF_0004_001I Lift Up My Soul
© 2010 by Charles F. Stanley
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION, © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission; those marked TLB are from The Living Bible. © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved; those marked KJV are from the KING JAMES VERSION; those marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Material reprinted from previously published volumes—On Holy Ground, Into His Presence, Seeking His Face, Pathways to His Presence—may have been edited slightly from the original.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stanley, Charles F.
I lift up my soul : devotions to start your day with God / Charles F. Stanley.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4002-0289-8
1. Devotional calendars. I. Title.
BV4811.S8155 2010
242'.2—dc22
2010020906
Printed in the United States of America
10 11 12 13 14 QG 5 4 3 21
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
PSALM 25:1
Contents
January 1
January 2
January 3
January 4
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
January 9
January 10
January 11
January 12
January 13
January 14
January 15
January 16
January 17
January 18
January 19
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 23
January 24
January 25
January 26
January 27
January 28
January 29
January 30
January 31
February 1
February 2
February 3
February 4
February 5
February 6
February 7
February 8
February 9
February 10
February 11
February 12
February 13
February 14
February 15
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
February 20
February 21
February 22
February 23
February 24
February 25
February 26
February 27
February 28
February 29
March 1
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 12
March 13
March 14
March 15
March 16
March 17
March 18
March 19
March 20
March 21
March 22
March 23
March 24
March 25
March 26
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30
March 31
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
April 5
April 6
April 7
April 8
April 9
April 10
April 11
April 12
April 13
April 14
April 15
April 16
April 17
April 18
April 19
April 20
April 21
April 22
April 23
April 24
April 25
April 26
April 27
April 28
April 29
April 30
May 1
May 2
May 3
May 4
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 8
May 9
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 13
May 14
May 15
May 16
May 17
May 18
May 19
May 20
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 26
May 27
May 28
May 29
May 30
May 31
June 1
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
June 6
June 7
June 8
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
June 27
June 28
June 29
June 30
July 1
July 2
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
July 8
July 9
July 10
July 11
July 12
July 13
July 14
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
July 19
July 20
July 21
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
August 1
August 2
August 3
August 4
August 5
August 6
August 7
August 8
August 9
August 10
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 16
August 17
August 18
August 19
August 20
August 21
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 25
August 26
August 27
August 28
August 29
August 30
August 31
September 1
September 2
September 3
September 4
September 5
September 6
September 7
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 14
September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 26
September 27
September 28
September 29
September 30
October 1
October 2
October 3
October 4
October 5
October 6
October 7
October 8
October 9
October 10
October 11
October 12
October 13
October 14
October 15
October 16
October 17
October 18
October 19
October 20
October 21
October 22
October 23
October 24
October 25
October 26
October 27
October 28
October 29
October 30
October 31
November 1
November 2
November 3
November 4
November 5
November 6
November 7
November 8
November 9
November 10
November 11
November 12
November 13
November 14
November 15
November 16
November 17
November 18
November 19
November 20
November 21
November 22
November 23
November 24
November 25
November 26
November 27
November 28
November 29
November 30
December 1
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 5
December 6
December 7
December 8
December 9
December 10
December 11
December 12
December 13
December 14
December 15
December 16
December 17
December 18
December 19
December 20
December 21
December 22
December 23
December 24
December 25
December 26
December 27
December 28
December 29
December 30
December 31
Personal Notes
About the Author
JANUARY 1
Wake Up to a New Day with the Lord
SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 143:8 –12
KEY VERSE: PSALM 143:8
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
What is it you crave first thing in the morning? Does a steamy, fresh-brewed cup of coffee or tea catch your attention? Does your morning seem incomplete without your usual cereal or plate of eggs? Do you feel as if you can’t make it out the front door without reading the morning paper or watching one of the cheerful morning shows?
In Psalm 143:8, David wrote, Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul
(NASB). David saw the necessity of seeking God to direct his steps. He looked to God for guidance for the needs of each day.
A sign of spiritual growth is longing to be with the Lord in a time of Bible study and prayer each day. Whether in the morning or at night, is there a time in your day when you spend time with the Savior? Is it a time that you guard jealously?
Henry Ward Beecher said, The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day.
Nothing, not even coffee, will begin your day like time alone with God. Seek Him so that you may grow closer to Him. Go into His presence so that you may sing for joy and be glad all your days (Ps. 90:14). When you make plans to meet God, He will place an intimate joy within your heart. Then you will learn to hunger for His Word.
Father, give me a hunger for Your Word. Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning. I lift up my soul to You.
(PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 2
The Goodness of God
SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 18:18 –23
KEY VERSE: PSALM 86:5
You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Concerning the goodness of God, Henry Thiessen explains, In the larger sense of the term, the goodness of God includes all the qualities that answer to the conception of an ideal personage; that is, it includes such qualities as God’s holiness, righteousness, and truth, as well as His love, benevolence, mercy, and grace.
The rich young ruler called Jesus Good Teacher,
but the Lord was quick to reply, Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone
(Luke 18:19 NASB). Faithfully, Jesus was doing exactly what the Father had sent Him to do: point men and women to their heavenly Father. He also was involved in training people to seek God not out of fear, but out of a desire to know and experience His goodness and mercy.
In The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer concludes, Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart.
Often we seek Him because we have heard that He is good.
But we stop at this point and miss learning about the deeper goodness of God. Make sure that as you discover more about God’s goodness, you also take time to grow in your devotion to Him.
Lord, let me grow in my devotion toward You. I wait each day for a divine encounter with You.
(SEEKING HIS FACE)
JANUARY 3
The Call of Faith
SCRIPTURE READING: GENESIS 12:1– 9
KEY VERSE: HEBREWS 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Suppose you plan a wonderful surprise vacation for your family or friends. The big day finally comes. The car is loaded, everyone has taken care of all those last-minute details, and your tank is full of gas. Everyone piles in the car and fastens seat belts in anticipation of the trip.
Finally someone asks the fateful question, Hey, where are we going?
And you say with great authority, Well, I don’t know exactly.
After the bewildered looks and cries of dismay, probably the only one left in the car with you is the dog, and he isn’t looking too certain either. People simply don’t make big trips without knowing where they’re going—unless God asks them to. And that is precisely what God asked of Abram and his family: Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great
(Gen. 12:1–2 NASB).
God gave Abram some very important information, but He did not hand him a road map. Why? He wanted Abram and Sarai to trust Him for the journey. Abram did not know where they were headed, but he knew their future was blessed, more than he could conceive.
Are you letting God take you in His direction, or are you still insisting on a travel plan?
Lord, take me in Your direction. Help me learn to walk by faith. I know my future will be blessed, more than I can imagine. No travel plan is necessary for my journey—I need only You as my Guide.
(ON HOLY GROUND)
JANUARY 4
Satisfying Your Heart
SCRIPTURE READING: COLOSSIANS 3:12–17
KEY VERSE: COLOSSIANS 3:15
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Wasn’t life simpler when you could plunk down a quarter and get a steamy cup of java? Now, to buy coffee, you must make a hundred different decisions. Would you like a latte, cappuccino, espresso, macchiato, or frappuccino? Flavored with mocha, caramel, vanilla, amaretto, or hazelnut? Would you like it caffeinated or decaf? Tall or grande? The options are endless and create a sense of satisfying whatever your heart desires. It is natural for situations to go from simplicity to chaos when the heart is involved.
However, Scripture has an indictment for the heart, as Jeremiah 17:9 reveals: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?
Sometimes the reason circumstances become more complicated is because the simplest answers are challenging to the heart. Even though you really do know what to do, the decision would take a great deal of courage and commitment. As you wait to find a solution that caters to the whims of your heart, answers become increasingly difficult to find.
The only answer is for God to direct you. As Colossians 3:15 teaches, Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
Is it Christ who rules your heart and directs your path? His is the greatest satisfaction your heart will ever know.
Lord, my heart wanders as it wills. I give it to You, so that You may guide it around the pitfalls of its own longings.
(PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 5
Your Talents
SCRIPTURE READING: LUKE 19:12– 27
KEY VERSE: LUKE 19:17
He said to him, Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.
An essential ingredient for success in the personal or corporate realm is productivity. Businesses must be profitable if they expect to survive. Employees must work hard and wisely if they are to progress.
Although the believer’s identity and security in Christ should never be confused with his performance (the Father unconditionally loves and accepts him), God expects him to be productive in the use of his natural talents and spiritual gifts. This is clear in the parable of the talents, where the industrious servant is rewarded and the indolent worker is reprimanded for his lack of initiative and effort.
The fear of failure is perhaps the greatest obstacle for many Christians. We flunk a course, flub an assignment, disappoint a boss, and decide we must not be made of the right stuff. What heresy! Failure is never final in God’s eyes. Look at David, Moses, Mark, and others who blew it but still found great favor with God. All God desires is that you learn from your mistakes and trust Him to help you.
A productive, satisfying life can be your experience. There will be unexpected lapses and momentary pauses as you seek to maximize your talents, but in the end, you will hear God say, Well done, my good servant
(Luke 19:17 NIV). This is reward enough.
Father, I praise You that failure is never final in Your eyes. Remove my fear of failure and replace it with divine confidence. Help me learn from my mistakes.
(ON HOLY GROUND)
JANUARY 6
The Life of God
SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 11:1– 45
KEY VERSE: JOHN 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Think about your best friend for a moment. Try to remember your very first meeting. What if your best friend had handed you a long list of dos and don’ts, telling you any violation would lessen his care for you? Obviously your relationship would never have progressed. Who would want such a friend?
Yet many Christians act as if this is their view of Jesus. But He did not hand you a list of conditions when you accepted Him. What He gave you was His life.
In the New Testament, there are several Greek words for life. Bios (origin of biology), generally translated, means lifestyle.
Another Greek word for life is zoe, which means life as God has it.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly
(NASB). In John 11:25, He stated, I am the resurrection and the life
(NASB). In both cases, Jesus used the word zoe. How awesome to hear from our Lord Himself that the life as God has it
is within us, a magnificent gift of His unconditional love.
Since you have this life, His life, you already have the very best. He dwells within you to encourage and empower you. As long as you are within God’s will, sustaining energy will flow through you from His eternal wellspring. Within His will, you’ll never tire of living for Jesus.
Father, help me walk in Your will so that sustaining energy from Your eternal wellspring will flow through me.
(SEEKING HIS FACE)
JANUARY 7
Your Best Friend
SCRIPTURE READING: JOHN 15:12–17
KEY VERSE: PROVERBS 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Do you remember having a best friend as a child? This person went everywhere with you, from recess in the schoolyard to adventures around the neighborhood. You had small fights and squabbles occasionally, but you stuck by each other when difficulties came along.
As an adult, you may have a friend like this today, but you are certainly aware that such friends are rare indeed. The blessing of a friend who understands your deepest thoughts and needs and loves you through the hard times is a gift from the Lord. It is important to recognize, however, that the best friend in the entire world can still let you down at times. It is not a cliché to state that Jesus is your only true Friend.
Joseph Scriven, an Irishman born in 1819, discovered this truth in a powerful way. The night before he was to be married, his beloved fiancée drowned. Grieving deeply, Scriven decided to move to Canada and begin a new life, dedicated entirely to letting the Lord use him in others’ lives. Out of this experience and several others, he penned the words to the favorite hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Can you imagine writing this poetry after going through such pain? Scriven saw the Lord’s faithfulness. He knew firsthand that when all earthly supports and emotional props disappear, Jesus is there to love and comfort eternally.
Jesus, You are the best Friend I will ever have. Thank You for Your faithfulness and this wonderful relationship we share.
(INTO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 8
Encouraging Sagging Saints
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 16:10–21
KEY VERSE: HEBREWS 6:10
God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Stephanas. Fortunatus. Achaicus. Aquila. Priscilla. Although names not on the tip of your tongue, these people were instrumental in the formation of the early New Testament church. Paul mentioned their indispensable labor in his parting instructions to the church at Corinth. Without defining their specific contributions, he remarked that their ministries refreshed and revitalized believers, including himself.
The local church today frequently errs in the notion that its pastor and staff members are the sole nucleus for the work of the gospel. They have vital functions, but the saints themselves share and participate in the growth of Christ’s body.
Your name may not be on the bulletin. You may not be a deacon or elder. But you have been equipped with spiritual gifts to strengthen the saints. A note with a brief word of encouragement, a phone call to someone in your Sunday school class, lunch with a discouraged parent, a small gift to someone in need—these are discreet but practical and encouraging ways to lift the spirits of sagging saints.
Ask God to show you how you might refresh fellow workers. Let Him lead you in appropriate ways to demonstrate His gentle love: God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints
(Heb. 6:10 NASB).
Dear God, teach me to be an encourager and a source of hope to others. Show me how to refresh my fellow workers, demonstrating Your love in appropriate and practical ways.
(ON HOLY GROUND)
JANUARY 9
God’s Plan for Your Future
SCRIPTURE READING: JEREMIAH 29:11–14
KEY VERSE: JEREMIAH 29:11
I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Are you aware that God knows exactly where you are and what you are doing right now? What about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next? God is just as aware of what you will be doing at 10:42 a.m. on any random morning five years from now as He is mindful of what you are doing now.
Contrary to secular thought, we are not bouncing around haphazardly through time and space. The same God who created the universe and everything in it also has a specific plan for every single person on earth. Because He is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He alone knows the ultimate outcome of each decision we make. Therefore, only God can be trusted to guide our daily steps as we seek to follow Him.
The Lord revealed through Jeremiah, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you . . . thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope
(Jer. 29:11). These two things—hope and the expectation of a bright future—are in short supply these days. However, we have the assurance of almighty God that He already has a plan to provide us with both.
In Christ, the hope for our eternal future is secure. However, God is still intimately interested in your day-to-day living as well. Invite Him into your decisions; only He knows how to get you where He wants to take you.
Father, I am so thankful that You are interested in my day-to-day living. I invite You to guide me in every decision and get me where You want to take me.
(PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 10
Personal Intimacy
SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 142:1–7
KEY VERSE: PSALM 142:5
I cried out to You, O LORD:
I said, "You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living."
The goal of a married couple is not just to stay married but to develop a personal intimacy that touches body, soul, and spirit. Likewise, the goal of a believer is not just to be a Christian but to cultivate an intimate, devoted relationship with the heavenly Father.
In both instances, honest, sincere, and consistent communication is the key to such oneness and nearness. The Christian experiences that process through a deepening, growing, expanding experience of praise, worship, and prayer.
God’s goal in intimacy is not just to answer your petitions, hear your complaints, or solve your problems. Although He does address each of these needs, they are only a part of the Lord Jesus Christ’s ultimate purpose— oneness and union with Him.
God wants you to know Him; to enjoy Him; to live continually in the light of His favor, wisdom, and truth. He desires a genuine relationship with you, His child. Daily worship and prayer are where you and the Father are drawn into intimate relationship—where His love for you and your love for Him become the bedrock of your faith.
Make it your goal to know God intimately. Learn to worship and praise Him . . . then watch your prayer life move into a new dimension.
Heavenly Father, my goal is to know You intimately. Teach me how to worship. Teach me how to pray.
(INTO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 11
Joyful in All Things
SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:15–18
KEY VERSE: PHILIPPIANS 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Jesus often instructed those He healed to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice to God. In doing so, the people were acknowledging God’s mighty work while giving praise to Him instead of just focusing on the healing itself.
There was a release of joy and praise as the people went before God, thanking Him for what He had done. Joy is foundational to the Christian life. The Bible teaches us to be joyful in all things.
Can this mean that even when we fail to see God’s miraculous hand at work in our lives, there is joy? Yes. Imprisoned and away from those he loved, the apostle Paul wrote, Even if I am being poured out as a drink offering . . . I rejoice and share my joy with you all
(Phil. 2:17 NASB). It is possible to be joyful, even if your world seems to be coming apart at the seams.
Because of Christ’s love and devotion to you, you can be joyful in times of disappointment, heartache, and personal loss. Joy is not based on your circumstances; it is based on a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you feel sorrowful, take your sacrifices of praise to Him. Let His arms of encouragement engulf you and hold you close. Joy is not just external; it lives deep within your heart.
Thank You, Lord, that I can be joyful in times of disappointment, heartache, and personal loss. Your joy is not just external. It lives within my heart.
(SEEKING HIS FACE)
JANUARY 12
The Eternal Adventure
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 JOHN 5:6 –13
KEY VERSE: 1 JOHN 5:9
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
When someone testifies about something—a product, an event, another’s character—the testimony is only as strong as the character of the person giving it. And when it comes to God, there should be no question about what He says. His words are truth.
But there is an even greater benefit to knowing God. As we draw near to Him, we learn that He not only provides the guidance we need at every turn in life, but He also gives us clear direction on how to accomplish His plan for our lives.
John wrote, If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son . . . and this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son
(1 John 5:9, 11). The assurance of our salvation is based on God’s Word. We do not have to be afraid that one day we will fall from His grace. This cannot happen to those who have accepted Christ as their Savior. God’s love is eternal. There is never a moment in time when He turns His love in another direction. It is always focused on us.
He provides us the assurance we need through what He has testified about His Son. The moment we accept God’s Word as truth and receive Christ as our Savior, we are saved. The eternal adventure begins with great assurance!
Thank You for salvation and assurance. Thank You, Lord, that Your love is forever focused on me.
(PATHWAYS TO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 13
The Dedication of Your Life
SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 138:1–8
KEY VERSE: GALATIANS 6:9
Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Julian of Norwich (1343–1413) lived through plagues, poverty, and war. But a serious illness brought her into a new awareness of God’s personal love. In I Promise You a Crown, a compilation of her writings by David Hazard, she wrote:
It had come to me that nothing can keep us from knowing the joy of heaven while we remain under the cross—that is, in humble obedience to God no matter what is sent to us. . . . I will tell you what faith showed me in its light. In my struggle, I saw the terror that lies in forsaking the power of the cross. For in making our soul submit, as Jesus submitted, we are remade into the image of Christ. This will never happen if we seek only earthly blessings. When I understood this, I did not want to look up, as if I had already achieved a place in heaven among the blessed. I knew that to do so would make my soul proud and arrogant in itself. And so I made my choice.
And I can tell you this: I would rather have remained in my terrible pain until the Day of Judgment than to try to come into heaven by any other means than the Way of Jesus. The light of faith had shown me He had bound this bundle of suffering to me. And faith showed me He would unbind me when suffering had done the work of His will in perfecting me.
Let the dedication of your life be set on pleasing Jesus above all else.
Dear heavenly Father, I rededicate my life to You today—to serve Your purposes, fulfill Your plans, and please You above all else.
(INTO HIS PRESENCE)
JANUARY 14
The Power Within
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26 –31
KEY VERSE: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
God has equipped you for every good work. The presence of the Holy Spirit is His guarantee that no matter what you face, He is committed to providing the power and strength you need to accomplish the task, get through the hurt, and end up victorious in Him.
D. L. Moody had only a fifth-grade education, but he became one of the greatest evangelists of our time. He was never ordained to the ministry, yet God used him to lead thousands to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The book More Than Conquerors tells us: During the nineteenth century when mass media consisted of only printing presses and public oratory, more than 100 million people heard or read the gospel message of D. L. Moody. The evangelist spoke to at least 1.5 million people in London during four months in 1875, long before radio and television.
God chooses to work through those who seem unqualified so He can shame those who rely on their own abilities (1 Cor. 1:27–29).
There is only one way God can be glorified in your life, and that is through your willingness to lay aside your talents, skills, and personal desires in order to follow Him in obedience. Sacrifice and submission lead to a life of tremendous hope, freedom, and eternal joy. D. L. Moody could do nothing apart from the Savior, and what he did through the power of the Holy Spirit can never be duplicated.
O Lord, thank You for equipping me for every good work. Your presence is my guarantee of success. Help me accomplish the task, get through the hurt, and end up victorious in You.
(ON HOLY GROUND)
JANUARY 15
This Grace in Which You Stand
SCRIPTURE READING: EPHESIANS 2:1–10
KEY VERSE: EPHESIANS 2:5
Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
There are times when we say words that we wish we could take back. Or perhaps we do something in such a way that we wish we could retrieve our actions and correct them. As these moments mount, we wonder how much longer our favor with God will last. We seek His forgiveness, but we wonder if we are in danger of exhausting God’s grace for our lives.
The truth is this: you cannot exhaust the grace of God. He loves you, even when you act unlovable. He does hold us accountable for our words and actions. When our words or actions hurt another, we need to admit what we have done and ask God and the person we have