Time Out! Devotions

Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Early Christians were urged to:

• “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17);
• “always be prayerful” (Romans 12:12);
• “pray at all times and on every occasion” (Ephesians 6:18).

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in a place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of prayers less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God. Seek to live in uninterrupted awareness. Acknowledge His presence everywhere you go. As you stand in line to register your car, think, “Thank you, Lord, for being here.” In the grocery as you shop, “Your presence, my King, I welcome.” As you wash the dishes, worship your Maker.

(from Come Thirsty by Max Lucado)

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

The One to whom we pray knows our feelings. He knows temptation. He has felt discouraged. He has been hungry and sleepy and tired. He knows what we feel like when the alarm clock goes off. He knows what we feel like when our children want different things at the same time. He nods in understanding when we pray in anger. He is touched when we tell Him there is more to do than can ever be done. He smiles when we confess our weariness.

He wants us to remember that He, too, was human. He wants us to know that He, too, knew the drone of the humdrum and the weariness that comes with long days. He wants us to remember that our trailblazer didn’t wear bulletproof vests or rubber gloves or an impenetrable suit of armor. No, He pioneered our salvation through the world that you and I face daily.

(from No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)

(from – http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/loveworthfinding/)

“He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” Job 33:28

On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied Jesus – three times! In spite of Peter’s lack of loyalty, Jesus extended an invitation of mercy to him and said, “Come and dine.”

There on the shores of the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and prepared a table of restoration.

Can you imagine what was going through Peter’s mind? Guilt and gladness, fear and fascination, wonder and worship – a kaleidoscope of emotions! He could not believe that he was being invited to the table of the One he had deserted just days before.

And not only was he being invited but restored! The depth of Jesus’ covenant love is not exhausted when we sin. There is forgiveness and restoration.

Read this account of restoration in John 21:4-19. Rejoice over God’s plan of restoration in your life.

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up.

(Psalm 30:1 – NKJV)

In God’s book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with Him. Share the throne with Him. Reign with Him. We count. We are valuable. And what’s more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn.

You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person.

That is why He treated people like He did. Think about it. The girl caught making undercover thunder with someone she shouldn’t — He forgave her. The untouchable leper who asked for cleansing — He touched him. And the blind welfare case that cluttered the roadside — He honored him. And the worn-out old windbag addicted to self-pity near the pool of Siloam — He healed him!

(from No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)