March 10: Matthew 7:7-12
Key Verse: Matthew 7:7
‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Devotion:
Have there been times in your life when you have dared not ask for something in your prayers just because you think it is not possible, or not probable and you didn’t want to be disappointed? That is not the way God works – He is the God of the impossible and will answer prayers according to His perfect way. If we do not ask, then how will He answer your prayers?
We cannot really imagine just how awesome God is and how much he wants to do for us – but when we start asking for the things which seem impossible and He answers, then we begin to see a new side of God answering the impossible! Don’t hold back on your prayers because you think you don’t deserve it. Don’t hold back because you have done things wrong in the past. Open up your heart and humbly ask God to answer your prayers.
When someone asks us to do something and we do it, it is either because we want to do it or because we can do it. If someone asks us to do something impossible, we generally would tell them it is not possible, but help them out in ways we can. When we bring our prayers to God, we cannot imagine anything which is impossible for Him to answer. Ask!
I love to do things for others, I like helping out where I can and if someone asks I would rather say yes than no. But if someone does not ask, I get a bit lost because I am not very good at telling people’s needs without talking to them and them opening up to me. Now, whilst God does know everything, He would rather you open up to Him and tell Him about everything before you ask.
Points to Ponder:
How many people do things for you without asking?
How many people do things for you because you asked?
March 9: Psalm 51:16-17
Key Verse: Psalm 51:17
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
Devotion:
Even during the time of great sacrifices, people of God were realising it was not the animal sacrifices which were important, but the heart of the person offering the sacrifice. What good is a named sacrifice if the person offering it has said sacrifice in abundance and would not miss out by sacrificing it?
God wants us to show Him we are willing to offer what we have, what we treasure, so we can know who our real treasure is – not the things of this world, but God. If we are willing to put aside the things of this world and embrace God with everything, we are on the right track to have Him as number one in our lives.
God wants to be able to look after us, to guide and protect us; if we are far too concerned with the things of this world then we are not likely to listen to Him with the right attitude in our hearts and minds. If we are willing to put aside the desires we have from or of this world, then our desire will line up with God’s desire for us to have a better life with Him.
If we are willing to offer wholly from what little we have, God is going to be more pleased with us than if we offer the biggest and best because we can afford it! When we offer wholly from our hearts, we are giving our all and not withholding what we have or can do from God. Do not be afraid to give it all because He is willing to support us through everything!
Points to Ponder:
What do you think God deserves?
Will you try to give Him everything?
March 8: Isaiah 55:10-11
Key Verse: Isaiah 55:11
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Devotion:
I can remember as a youngster looking at the over simplistic pictures which depicted the water cycle: the rain clouds, the rain falling, turning into streams then rivers then the ocean. The sun warming the ocean and water evaporating eventually being made back into the clouds… What they didn’t tell you about was the water would carry all manner of nutrients and allow so much more to happen. They didn’t tell you about the sun being required for the photosynthesis which allowed the plants to grow and soak up those nutrients – that was another lesson!
When we hear about bibles being given to others we don’t think of all the little things which will come out of those simple acts. We don’t think about the person who will have their eyes and heart opened just by reading the words. We don’t think about the kindness which will grow in the person who hears the words. We don’t hear about the people who will take those words and give them to others. We don’t always get to hear about our God who has planned this!
When I read the bible nowadays, it is mostly in electronic form and the words are not words written by a skilled hand on a sheet of paper, but formed by electrons and shining lights. But those words still take my heart and allow it to grow and spread joy where I can. It is the Author and the words which mean things and not just the ancient manuscripts which were faithfully copied generation after generation.
God has made sure we get to remember enough of His words so we can get to know Him and the love Him. We get to hear the affects of those words on many people over many years. We get to hear how people have submitted to God and been transformed by knowing those words. Long may it continue!
Points to Ponder:
How much of your bible have you read?
Will you think about those words and try to remember them?
March 7: Leviticus 19:11-18
Key Verse: Leviticus 19:13
Do not defraud or rob your neighbour. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
Devotion:
I’m sure many of us can get most of the ten commandments right because we hear a lot about them; but this is just a small section of the commandments God gave through Moses. Here we have another look at what God was trying to impress on the people. God does not want us to take the laws as they are written and stick to them according to your interpretation or your translation of the words… God wants us to think about the words He has given us and apply them through our hearts!
When I see the back-biting and slandering which is going on because of the war in Ukraine, I want to be able to shout out some of the lesser thought of commands God has given us such as these highlighted today! Don’t gossip about the people around us. Don’t defraud them, don’t keep things away from them, don’t hold back money owed to them…
When Jesus reminded us to love our neighbours, it was not an idle word said in the heat of the moment; this was Jesus trying to get us to stop and think about how we are treating the people who are around us. The Russian leaders are ignoring these words and doing and saying things which are wrong and even evil; but then so are some of the Western leaders unfortunately!
If we are going to spend time praying for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine like we pray for our brothers and sisters in our church, we should also be willing to treat them like our brothers and sisters and not leave them to their demise just because we didn’t sign a treaty at the right time and place with them. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ; isn’t that enough?
Points to Ponder:
How do you treat your family?
How do you treat your church family?