Daily Devotional: Monday, Nov 23
Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Dangerous Dreams
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Run by Hillsong United; The Time Has Come by Hillsong United; Cannons by Phil Wickham; Hosanna by Hillsong United.
Read: 1 Peter4:1-13; Rev 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 30:4-5
Think: My wife and I have been reading a really interesting devotional lately, and I highly recommend it for couples, it is called "Devotions for Couples" by Patrick Morley. The good thing about it is you actually have to read it together, and then of all things, you actually have to talk to each other about it!! Last night we read about "In Joy and In Sorrow". This refers of course to our wedding vows that we pledge ourselves to each other in joy and in sorrow. We were challenged by the question's "Are you emotionally dry? Have you been sharing your sorrows with each other? Have you been sharing your joys with one another?"
Truth be told we all reach those places where we feel emotionally dry, what is striking about our Lord and Savior is that He was never emotionally dry, He was emotionally full at all times (full of joy and sorrow). We realized in our discussion that we readily share our sorrows with each other. I am quick to tell my wife about my sorrows of the day....but how quickly do I tell her about my joys of the day? To my chagrin, I discovered it is not very often. Perhaps my emotional dryness is me spending too much time focusing on the sorrows of life.
Likewise with our Lord, how quick am I to tell him of my sorrows and my troubles, my sorrows spill out with great regularity in my prayers, but the joy that He has given me are sometimes tucked away, forgotten, unacknowledged. How heartbreaking it must be for our Lord to only hear of my sorrows.
In the devotional reading this week, Revelations (Rev 2:4-5) asks us to "remember the height from which you have fallen...repent and do the things you did at first". Have I taken for granted the grace which was granted to me? Can I remember to rejoice that my sin is forgiven, that I am a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)? Surely I should find joy each day with the knowledge of this. We know Jesus' compassion for our problems, our weaknesses; let us also remember his desire to hear about our complete day, which is incomplete without sharing also with Him the joy that He has provided (Psalm 20:4-5) .
Scottish minister Oswald Chambers said this: "Many will confide to you their secret sorrows, but the last mark of intimacy is to confide secret joys."
Do: Share with someone today not only the sorrows in your life, but the joys of your life. Share your joys and sorrows with our Lord today; he wants to hear all of it!! Take a moment to acknowledge Him, the Creator of the universe, for the secret joys He has placed in your life. Ask Him to open your eyes to the joys of His creation.
Pray: Lord Jesus you created the world and everything in it. In my selfishness I sometimes forget to focus on the wonder of your love for me. Help me this day to not only see you as a helper and comforter for my sorrows but as the One who loves and provides for me each day. Let me seek your face this day. Help me rejoice in Your presence. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
