I am finding it difficult to get my head around all of this that is happening. Last night, I hosted an online prayer gathering for our church. We prayed for a long list of people who are affected by this crisis. I know how my life is being affected by this. But as we began to pray, I realized there are so many different situations where people are being affected in ways that I … [Read more...] about Earnestly Seeking God
Devotions
What is Gained
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13–14, ESV) Your life is … [Read more...] about What is Gained
Spiritual Heart Surgery
Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2:13, ESV) Repentance runs deep. Joel describes returning to the Lord as rending your heart and not your garments. He is saying that repentance is more than superficial change. Repentance … [Read more...] about Spiritual Heart Surgery
Seeing Where I Went Wrong
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” (Joel 2:12, ESV) Martin Luther said, “A whole Christian’s life is one of repentance.” Repentance is often seen as a dirty word in our culture. No one wants to be told that they are a sinner. We are quick to blame everyone and everything else for our … [Read more...] about Seeing Where I Went Wrong
No Others
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” (Joel 2:12, ESV) God does not want to be put first. He wants to be put center. At the center of your day At the center of your marriage At the center of your careerAt the center of your budgetAt the center of your friendships He is not another thing … [Read more...] about No Others