by George | May 24, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
I Prayed For You
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”
Colossians 4:2
When I was in third grade, I missed some time at school due to illness.
The day I came back, the teacher welcomed me, and told the class that I had been sick for a while.
A young lady smiled and said, “I prayed for you!”
Prayed for me? That was the first time I ever heard that expression, but I was touched by her thoughtfulness…
Even at a young age, the young lady realized the value of prayer.
The Apostle Paul realized the value of prayer and encouraged the Colossian believers to make it a priority.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”
Colossians 4:2
First of all, he tells them to “devote” themselves to prayer. The dictionary defines the word devote as: “give all or a large part of one’s time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause).”
Praying and communing with God should be the most important part of our day.
Second, Paul said that when we pray to “keeping alert in it.” Another translation says to be watchful. The idea here is that we are fully engaged in prayer, not just saying the words. We should also be listening for God’s voice.
Last, he reminds us to be thankful in our prayers, having an “attitude of thanksgiving.” Don’t just ask for stuff!
Let’s devote ourselves to prayer. I even put a reminder on my phone so I wouldn’t forget! —
Blessings!
Pastor George Nix
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by George | May 17, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
I Just Wanted To Be With You
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8
In “The Life and Works of DL Moody”, the author says:
“He had told one of his children that he was not to be disturbed in his study, and after a little while the door of the study opened and the child came in. “What do you want,” said the father, and the little fellow looking Up into his father’s face said, “I just wanted to be with you,” and the tears started into the great evangelist’s eyes as he said, “it ought to be like that between us and our God.”
Do you long to be that close to God? I sure do!
Just to spend time with Him, not asking for anything or fretting over daily concerns. Enjoying His presence…
Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ makes this possible…
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We come to Him through faith and He washes away our sins, that which separates us from God:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:7
“Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:22
Just like a little child, we come into His presence and find rest for our souls and a refuge from the storms of life…
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalms 91:1-2
So, let’s draw near to God, and say with the psalmist:
“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.”
Psalms 73:28
by George | May 10, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Louder Than the Others
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
II Corinthians 5:20
This morning, the birds are singing and communicating with each other.
One bird is singing louder than all the others. Is he telling the others about the abundance of worms he found nearby? Could he be sending out a warning about the black cat prowling at the edge of the woods? Or, is this his latest “tweet”?
Whatever he is trying to convey, it’s with a sense of urgency. There seems to be a passion in his voice.
Paul is speaking with a sense of urgency. “Be reconciled to God!”
Merriamwebster.com defines reconciliation this way:
“to restore to friendship or harmony reconciled the factions. b : settle, resolve reconcile differences. 2 : to make consistent or congruous reconcile an ideal with reality. 3 : to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant was reconciled to hardship.”
Sin separates us from God. Jesus came to bridge the gap!
He took our place, bearing our sins. Paul explains:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
II Corinthians 5:21
So, let’s heed Paul’s admonition and come to the LORD by faith, and be reconciled to Him.
Then, we can “tweet” this truth to others…
May our lives be a beautiful melody, a sweet harmony, like the song of the birds in the trees…
