Seeds Of Hope Daily Devotional: submission

Showing posts with label submission. Show all posts

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Looking for God's Gift

A young child ran to his neighbor’s workshop in tears. His friend put his strong arm around the small boy’s shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong, my young friend? Why are you crying?”

“I can’t sing and I can’t play,” sobbed Antonio.

“Well, my little friend,” said Amati, “there are many ways of making music. If you have music in your heart, nothing else matters.”

Antonio felt better after hearing the comforting words of his friend. And the expression of concern he felt through the hug made him know that someone cared for him deeply. As a result of this kindness he began to visit with Amati and started to learn the craft of making violins. The day finally arrived when the violins made by Antonio Stradivarius were recognized as the finest violins in the world.

God has a perfect plan for each of us. He wants to take the “raw” gifts He has given us and transform them through His power into deeds of power and glory that reflect His grace.
Though at times it may seem as though we are struggling to find a purpose in life and a way to honor Him, we must always remember that He will never leave us or forsake us as long as we look to Him for guidance.

God wants what is best for us but we will never know what that is until we surrender our lives completely to Him.

Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to recognize the fact that You have something unique for each of us to do to build Your Kingdom and willingly surrender ourselves to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1,2 …I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship...Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Looking for God's Gift

A young child ran to his neighbor’s workshop in tears. His friend put his strong arm around the small boy’s shoulder and asked, “What’s wrong, my young friend? Why are you crying?”

“I can’t sing and I can’t play,” sobbed Antonio.

“Well, my little friend,” said Amati, “there are many ways of making music. If you have music in your heart, nothing else matters.”

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Decrease To Increase

A nearby church called a new pastor. He was well received and in a short time the church began to grow. The attendance at Sunday school and worship services increased beyond expectations. Even the increase in the number of people at prayer meeting surprised everyone.

“Congratulations on the way your church is responding to you,” I said after being introduced to him. “What are you doing differently than most other churches to see such growth?”

“I’m decreasing,” was his strange reply.

“Decreasing?” I asked with a question mark on my face. “Are you on a diet?”

“Well, not really,” came his quick reply. “It’s what John said about Jesus: ‘He will increase if I will decrease.’“

John’s willingness to decrease is an important first step in humility. Those of us who want to serve God with the gifts He has given us are always tempted to do what John did in reverse order: we want the attention and focus to be upon us and what we are doing when blessings occur and success arrives.

We must never forget that it is always about Him. If we want to see Him at work in our lives, we must do as John did so consistently: point to Him and make Him the “main attraction.” We must never put ourselves first. We must stand aside and let His Kingdom grow through us!

Prayer: Lord, it’s difficult to get out of the way and not want to be praised in what we do for You. We pray for hearts that are humble and lives that are surrendered to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Becoming Christ-Like

A sculptor was beginning a new project and a reporter came to interview him about his work. He had never talked to a sculptor before so he asked, “What are you going to create?”

“A horse standing on its hind legs,” he answered.

“How will you do such a thing?” he wondered.

“By knocking off everything that doesn’t look like a horse,” he replied.

Paul in writing to the Corinthians said, “Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” God, we are reminded by Paul, is in deed and in fact, shaping us into the likeness of Christ.

As Christians, we need to know and accept the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We may at times think that we are at the end of our rope but as followers of Christ we are never at the end of our hope!

As the sculptor worked with his block of marble, so is our loving Lord working with us to “knock off” everything in our lives that is not Christ-like. We sing our songs and say our prayers and tell others that “we want to be like Him.” And someday we will be.

But until that day arrives we must be patient and willing to submit to His will, allow Him to work in us and on us so that He may work through us.

Prayer: We know, Heavenly Father, that You have a plan for each of us to become like Your Son. Give us the desire to work with You while You complete your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Submitted

A reporter was sent to study the revivals of D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, while he conducted meetings in England. He listened to him night after night, talked with him, walked with him and even ate with him. He was determined to discover the secret to Moody’s success.

Following his observations, he concluded, “I can see nothing in Moody to account for his marvelous work.”

When Mr. Moody heard the story he laughed and said, “That’s the very secret. There’s nothing in me that can explain it. It is the power of God. The work is God’s, not mine.”

Early in his life, Mr. Moody heard a preacher say, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man who is fully submitted to Him.” Said Moody, “I’ll be that man!”

The sum of the Christian life is submission to the Lordship of Christ. When Paul wrote to the Romans he begged them to “present their bodies,” meaning “their whole being,” everything about them. He then added that they should present their bodies “as a living sacrifice” – meaning that since they had been born again and were now alive in Christ they were to live fully and faithfully and forever honor Him in a life of service.

Moody said, “I’ll be that man.” We need men and women like that today – surrendered and serving, working and witnessing. Are we willing to do as Moody did?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, stir our hearts, trouble our minds and convict our souls until we surrender our entire life to You in selfless service. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:1-2

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Self-Made Man

A man brought his arrogant, bitter and cruel boss home for dinner. He had spoken often about how difficult it was to work for him. His son stared at the guest for quite some time but said nothing.

Finally, the boss asked, “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because,” said the boy, “dad says you are a self-made man and I’m wondering why you made yourself the way you are.”

The Bible tells us that we were created in the image of God, that we were intended to be like Him.

Whenever we try to make ourselves into something other than what God intended for us to be, we end up in disaster. God has great plans for each of us. He wants our lives to be filled with the joy that comes from knowing His Son, Jesus Christ as our Savior. He wants us to feel the comfort of His presence. He wants us to realize that His peace is available when our hearts are troubled.

Most of all He wants us to give Him first place in our lives. When we do this, we will enjoy the full potential He has for us and have life with a capital “L.”

Prayer: Father, there are times when each of us think mistakenly that we know what is best for us. Help us to seek You with all of our hearts so that we may be who You want us to be: in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: Matthew 6:33

Today's video seed: "Don't Be Discouraged"

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Skippers

Read Psalm 55:6-16

Two women were gossiping. One said, “Give a man enough rope, and he’ll hang himself.”

“Not so,” said the other. “I gave my husband enough rope and he skipped.”

We have a lot of skippers, haven’t we?

Think of Jonah. Trying to dodge his duty of preaching in Nineveh, he skipped. Did he find relief? No, he only found remorse.

Think of Demas. Trying to run from his responsibility of gospelling with Paul, he skipped. Did he find success? No, only shipwreck.

Success and satisfaction aren’t found in skipping struggles, but in submission to the Savior. The trusting soul is always the triumphant soul!

Prayer: Enable us, heavenly Father, to accept nothing but Thy guidance, to serve nothing but Thy will, and to seek nothing but Thy glory. Grant that by Thy grace we will be loyal in love, kind in action, and pure in spirit: through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Today's video seed: "Fellowship With Jesus"

Friday, October 23, 2009

eSeed: Victor Or Victim

Read James 4:7

In the War of 1812, an American general, William Winder, in spite of having a four-to-one advantage over the British, was defeated and taken prisoner.

“Free him,” said the British officer. “His incompetence makes him an ideal opponent.”

Later, when the British attacked our nation’s capitol and burned much of it, Winder was in charge.

Anything in your life that’s not consecrated to the Lord is claimed by the devil. He delights in having you in charge of the Lord’s work. He knows he will win the battle.

Just now submit your all to the Lord, and resist the Devil. Then he’ll run from you, not over you.
Prayer: We submit ourselves to Thee, Father. In all our thinking and doing may Thy word instruct us, Thy love motivate us, Thy strength sustain us and Thy spirit guide us: through Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Enjoy today's video devotional from Guido Gardens...