Connect with usCONNECT CARD

Breathe

Day 15: Respond In Humility

1 Peter 5:5 - All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Devotional · · · What is humility? Some define it as self-degradation, thinking poorly about yourself. Yet the simple meaning of humility in the Bible is a lowliness of mind. It means to not think of yourself as more important than others, especially God. We respond with a humble reverence at the revelation of God, acknowledging His worth and realigning our lives to His reality. We also live then as God’s people, called to walk humbly with one another as well as with our God (Micah 6:8). We are to imitate Christ’s humility, doing nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit. We don’t think of ourselves as better than others, but look out for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4). Clothed in humility, you are free from pride and arrogance. You are able to ask for forgiveness, be a peacemaker and love others well in Jesus’ name.

Prayer · · · Father in Heaven, we acknowledge that it is in our nature to put ourselves before those around us, and even before You. We know that without Your Holy Spirit’s working and leading in our lives, we are unable to lead the life of humility that You command of us. So, Lord we ask that You would transform our heart and thoughts from the inside out. Help us to have the mind of Christ. May we see people as You see them and may we adopt Your selfless love for our brothers and sisters.

 VIEW DAY 16

Day 14: Realign From Our Ways To God’s Ways

Isaiah 29:13-14 “These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder.”

Devotional · · · We often judge a method of worship by how we felt about it. Did it stir our hearts? Do we feel better after engaging in it? Was it to our liking? Did people do it in a way that I deem acceptable? Do we feel accomplished after engaging in it? This trap of preference performance turns us away from true worship. It is God and God alone who has the authority to judge whether or not worship was acceptable or not. The reality is that this judgement has little to do with our method and much more to do with what is being spoken from our hearts. Only God can recognize if hearts were realigned to Him through a particular act of worship. There is no fooling God in worship—either it is pure and motivated by Him and to Him, or it is not. Consider taking time today, before lifting up this prayer, to meditate on Psalm 51 and Psalm 139.

Prayer · · · Merciful God, Search me and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me in Your everlasting way. Help me Lord to recognize any areas where I’ve been worshiping according to my own way with my heart disconnected from the words I sing. Enable me to worship You in spirit and in truth, in line with Your will and Your way. Be gracious to me, according to your unfailing love. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and I will declare Your praise! Lord, You are faithful and just. Thank you for the ever-present forgiveness found in Christ. Help me to worship You, My Lord and My God, with my whole heart.

 VIEW DAY 15

Day 13: Realign From Me To Us

Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Devotional · · · When we are saved by Jesus, we are saved into a family with God as our Father. But, isolation is a persistent temptation. The enemy wants nothing more than to convince us to live out the Christian life by ourselves. God’s institution of corporate worship fights back against this. When we come together in unity as a church we take on the corporate identity of the Body of Christ—all using our gifts for the benefit of each other, all striving toward maturity in Christ. (Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:4-6) When we gather as a church to worship we proclaim the reality of God over “us” not just “me.” In this proclamation and worship we not only remind ourselves of truth but also support our brothers and sister in the family of God, building one another up in love. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Prayer · · · Heavenly Father, change my heart. I often pursue my walk with You apart from others even though You have provided Your church, along with gifts for each member, as a source of love and encouragement. Help me to learn more of what it means to be saved by Jesus, not only as an individual but as a member of Your church, a part of Your family, a citizen of Your kingdom. Allow my worship to be something that affects the community I am a part of. As I turn towards You in obedience and love may others be encouraged and spurred on to do the same. May your love and grace abound throughout our church as we all respond in reverence to the revelation of who You are and all You have done, acknowledging Your worth and realigning our lives to Your reality.

 VIEW DAY 14

12345678