Friday, April 28^th

 

Devotion for Friday

Continuing on . . . With less

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8-9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Think about what the team will be taking home with then? No, we’re not talking about the sunburn, the paint under your nails and the souvenirs in your suitcase. These past weeks have been a gift from God. Hopefully their world has been rocked and their heart is beating a bit differently. They have experienced the pain and poverty of the poor and may ask, “Why do I have so much and they have so little?” or “Why wasn’t I born here in this poverty?”

God allows us to experience these hard situations in life to help us re-evaluate. You may have some of your own “baggage” that needs to be left . . . at the foot of Calvary’s cross. Your baggage may include bad attitudes, thoughts, habits, worldly desires or grudges against others. This “baggage” can become so heavy that it threatens to sink life’s ship. Baggage properly thrown overboard brings freedom that can only come from God.

God allows us to go through storms too. Even though they are difficult, God promises to be with us. When we see and experience difficulties, like the ones you’ve experienced in your lives, we can more clearly see our own “baggage.”

Pray that you may come to recognize your "baggage" and be able to leave it at the foot of the cross.