Sept 22--29

Devotional for February 1-7, 2010

By Minister Mamie L. Pack

Seemed Right

"The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12: 15 NIV

Tears were flowing down his cheeks as he struggled to pull it loose. The more he struggled the tighter the knot became. He yanked. He grunted. He was frustrated. Yet, in spite of all of that, he would not ask for help. I sat in the kitchen watching our four year old try desperately to get his balloon string unattached to a toy that he was using as an anchor. Determined to do it on his own, he would not ask me for help.

So there I sat, watching and waiting. Seeing his tears, I thought surely he would take my help. Gently I asked, "Baby, do you want me to help you?" "No, I can do it myself" was his quick reply. Again, I just continued to sit and watch. Then it happened. The toy broke and the balloon was still attached. It was after realizing that he had broken the toy that he came to me saying, "Momma, will you please help me? I broke it. Can you fix it?" Standing there with the broken toy in his hand, he came to me with tears in his eyes and outstretched hands. He came to me with expectancy.

It just amazes me how one situation with a child can speak volumes to our relationship with Christ. There have been too many times in my life where I have continued to try to handle things on my own. I foolishly told myself that I can handle this or I have this under control. At no point did I go to God, because in my mind, I didn't need the help. Not only did I not see the need to go to God, I didn't see the point in even heeding the guidance of those God had placed in my life to counsel me. Unfortunately, it wasn't until something broke like my heart or a relationship that I realized that I needed God's help.

I can just imagine that God often sits and waits for us to finally get to the point in which we get passed ourselves, or rather our pride, and come to Him for direction, for help, for strength. Just as I reached out to our four year old, God too reaches out to us. He provides for us His Word, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the counsel of our pastors, teachers, and others anointed/appointed to speak life into our lives. It is up to us to humbly submit ourselves to His direction when we seek Him in our personal devotion time, in prayer, and in His word. We don't have to wait until something is broken before we seek Him, but if that happens we serve a God that is always available to us. It is never too late to submit ourselves to His will if we are willing to come to Him with a repentant heart.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I cannot thank you enough for being there with me every step of the way. Thank you for being there even when I didn't realize that I needed you in my life. Lord I pray that you continue to guide me in every way and in every area of my life. Lord I do not seek to solve any problem on my own, instead, I want you. I want your direction, your will, your peace. Guide me on this path so that I do not focus on what things may seem like but instead I continue to press toward the mark of the high calling. Thank you Lord that you have fashioned a plan and a purpose for me. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Suggested Weekly Reading

Monday Proverbs 12: 15

Tuesday James 4: 10

Wednesday 1 Peter 5: 6

Thursday Proverbs 13: 10

Friday Proverbs 16: 18

Saturday Ephesians 2: 9

Sunday Proverbs 11: 2

Application

Choose to place your situation in God's hand instead of your own hands.

About the author:

As a wife, mother, educator, daughter, friend, I, Minister Mamie L. Pack, seek to be an accessible tool to the Lord. It is my desire to use my gifting of writing to reach the lost, encourage the believer, and teach the people through the Word of Jesus Christ. Click here for other writings available at the author's blog www.LifeINowLive.blogspot.com

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Devotional for February 8-14, 2010

Minister Mamie L. Pack

So in love

^“37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 37-40 NIV

In my mind, I can still recall that very first moment my eyes met with his. Oh, how handsome he was standing there smiling at me as if he had waited his whole life for that moment. Yes, I recall the butterflies that tickled my belly with excitement from the first moment we met, to the moment he professed his love for me, even to the moment I became his wife. Even now, that excitement still flutters when I hear him come through our front door. That excitement still flourishes each time I hear him say those three wonderful words, “I love you”.

Before meeting my husband, I really did not quite understand the love that can exist between a husband and a wife. I didn’t understand the connection that grows from that love. When my husband came into my life, I had never had any man love me so unconditionally that he could see my faults but still choose to love me anyway. I was/am amazed at how much love lives in his heart for me. Yet, I understand now that his ability to love me overflows from his ability to love God.

As people are preparing to celebrate or cringe over an upcoming Valentine’s day, I started reflecting what it means to be in love with God. People are going to buy all sorts of items to find that perfect gift that shows their love. Hallmark and American Greetings have hired all sorts of writers to capture those special words that convey just how much others mean to us. But when was the last time we gave Christ a valentine? What do we do to show God and others that we are so in love with Him?

Here in Matthew 22: 37-40, Jesus provides us with very clear ways to show our love for Him. We are to love Christ above everyone and everything else. Our love for Him should come before our love for our spouses, our children, our careers, everything. He guides us to love Him with all our heart or our affections. We are to love Him with all of our soul, or rather life. Out of our love for Him we will give our lives for Him in time, service, and obedience. Simply, we choose to live our life in His will. He guides us to love Him with our mind. Then out of the love we have for Him we are able to love others.

When we are in love with a person, we crave to be near them; to know all we can about them; to tell everyone about that special person. Being in love with Christ is no different. Our love for Him should cause us to crave to be near Him through prayer, devotion, worship, and praise. Our love should drive us to learn all we can about Him. To know more about Him we are to seek Him above all else. When we are in love with Christ, we can’t help but tell others about Him. We will want others to know the joy and the peace we have found in our Heavenly Father.

Prayer

My Heavenly Father, who is my creator, my provider, my healer, my director, my all—there just does not seem a way worthy enough to thank you for being who you are in my life. With each day that passes, I am in more awe over who you are. There is never a moment that you are not in perfect control over every situation. I thank you that you seek to have everything for my good. Lord, I am so thankful to be a receiver of your love and I pray that my love for you may grow with each moment of every day. Show me how to draw closer to you in every area and every relationship in my life. I want to allow my love for you to grow so vast that it touches everything that I touch. Thank you for loving me so much that you sent your son to die on the cross for my sins. Lord, your love overwhelms me. I love you so much, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.