Time Out! Devotions

(devotional by Rebecca Ondov from OurPrayer.org)

Jesus answered and said to him, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:23 (NKJV)

I jogged to my car, dragging God with me as I zipped through my daily prayers. Bless Mom and Dad, I prayed, and down the list I went. Then my mind skipped to the errands I needed to run before my friend Autumn and her seven-year-old daughter Carissa arrived for a sleepover. God, I’ll catch some time with You this afternoon.

Afternoon melted into evening and before I knew it, Autumn and Carissa were knocking on my door. My golden retriever puppy Sunrise bounded after Carissa, who ran away squealing in delight. The two tumbled on the lawn until dinner, and afterward they were at it again. We popped corn; Carissa shared hers with Sunrise. When we snuggled into blankets and turned on Anne of Green Gables, Carissa wanted Sunrise next to her.

During a break in the movie, Carissa tugged on my pant leg, “Rebecca, where does Sunrise sleep?” she asked.

“In my walk-in closet.”

“Do you think I could sleep with her?”

Autumn nodded, so after the movie I laid pillows on the floor next to Sunrise’s bed and tucked Carissa into a sleeping bag. As I glanced over at my prayer chair, I remembered my broken promise. Oh, God, I never did get back to You!

I looked into the closet at Carissa snuggling next to Sunrise. God, that’s what I want to be—passionate about being with You. Please be with me everywhere I go.

Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of Your friendship.

Only God knows the depth of love that we have for Him. He said of King David, “He is a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22 – NKJV). Yet we know that David was a man of war. He lied, had a man murdered, and on at least one occasion, committed adultery. How could God love such a man? Better yet, how could God allow this man to rule over the nation of Israel? The answer is wrapped up in one word: GRACE – not ordinary grace but God’s grace, which is something we cannot earn on personal merit.

Despite his failures, David had a passionate love for the Lord. He could not help but love the One who gave him life and offered forgiveness for his sin. Though he failed many times, the desire of his heart was to love and obey God. And it was this love that both propelled King David to greatness and allowed him to petition his heavenly Father when he was utterly undeserving.

If we are ever to abide with our heavenly Father the way David did, we must first come to a place where we realize our complete helplessness before God. It was impossible for David to be “good” apart from the goodness and love of the Lord. The same is true for us. We cannot live the Christian life independently of God’s grace.

Easter is a time when we come face to face with the reality of the cross, where God’s passionate love for humanity was displayed. It was here that Jesus died for our sins and, in doing so, erased all of our guilt and shame.

Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). For eternity, God’s love and passion has been fixed on you. No matter who you are or where you have been, His love reaches out to you. If you will accept Him as your Savior, realizing that His atoning death paid the full debt of your sin, then you will be saved. The passionate love of God will fill your heart, and you will receive the greatest gift of hope this world has ever known. (See “Do You Know God?”)

(from April 2009 issue of In Touch magazine – by Dr. Charles Stanley)

Have a great day!