Father in heaven, guide us today so that our actions reflect our faith. Don’t let our behavior contradict your message of love and forgiveness. May our conduct show the world that we truly are your disciples.
We need to shine. But, how necessary is a lamp in the sunlight? Sharing our belief with other believers is not enough. If we are going to be light-bearers of the Word, we need to be willing to shine in dark places, too. Father in Heaven, guide us as we step out of our comfort zones and into the dark. Help us to shine your light so all can see and come to know you.
It’s certainly not enough to say we have faith; we must live our faith.
Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them. [Mahalia Jackson]
If only all of our options were this clear-cut! If only every contract we sign was this concise! There is no money down or fine print, no hidden qualifications, and no undisclosed obligations. Even pre-existing conditions don’t matter. Our choice is well-defined for us: love, obey and commit to God or not. Life or death; the choice is ours.
An essay by Loren Eiseley that first appeared in The Unexpected Universe, tells of an old man walking on the beach. He sees a young girl who appears to be dancing. As he draws nearer, he realizes that she is reaching down to the sand, picking up starfish stranded by the low tide, and gently tossing them back into the sea. When he asks her why she’s doing it, she tells him that if she doesn’t, they will surely die. He reminds her of how long the beach is and of the great number of starfish on it and tells her she cannot possibly make a difference. Her simple reply, as she throws another one back into the ocean, is, “It made a difference to that one!”
I don’t think God expects any of us alone to change the world but He does expect each of us to try to change our little corner of it. We all may not accomplish extraordinary things, but all of us can live an ordinary life with extraordinary love.
Thank you, God, for your many blessings. May I be as generous to others as you have been to me.
When we hoard what we have been given, we block the door to receiving more. If you are feeling stagnant in your life, share some of what has been given to you. … When you give, you open the door to receive more. [From “More Language of Letting Go” by Melody Beattie]
Devotions of the Heart 