DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father, I thank for this new day and a new beginning in my life may everything I do and say bring glory to you. As I read your most holy word, please speak to me, encourage me, and help me to live out your words through Jesus Christ my Lord, through Him and in Him in the unity of the Holy spirit all Honour and Glory be yours today and always. And as I come before your throne of grace and mercy, I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, today I ask to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 3:3-4

"But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.” 

Worship Song Sung or Said:  I Surrender All (Judson W. Van DeVenter)

https://youtu.be/j04Bx9pKwpU

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me, Jesus, take me now

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly thine
May Thy Holy Spirit fill me
May I know Thy power divine

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour

I surrender all
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour

I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all

God’s Word for Today: Romans 12:1-2

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” 

Devotional/Study: (Part 1)

Today I want to look at this verse which may take a few days as it is the one of the keys to living a life that glorifies God, a life that that pleases Him and a life that has the mind of Christ. This verse is so important because living out Paul’s instructions will help me to live a better life for myself. 

Paul writing to the Christians in Romans knew that the Christians were under great pressure to live according to the values of the Roman Empire. In this chapter Paul reminds the believers because of all that Christ has done he urges them to offer themselves as living sacrifices for this pleases God and is worship to Him. 

Knowing the pressure these Christians were under he encourages them to not conform to the lifestyle of the age they were living in. Instead, they were to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. And if they lived this way, they would know Gods good and perfect will. He also encourages them to live a life of love and teaches how they should behave towards one another (v9-21). 

I have read these two verses many times but never really spent enough time thinking, reflecting, and digesting these words deeply. I think these verses are going to take me a few days as I reflect and work out how to live out these instructions. 

As we seek to offer our body as a living sacrifice and allowing God to come to the secret places in our heart, we will discover-er something amazing that God the creator offers Himself to us. 

Because of this wonderful truth I can say with David in 1 Chronicles 29:10-12 "Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head overall.” Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things.” In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” 

Although I don’t understand many things that happen and why. As I look around the world, I see so much evil and unrighteousness and an incredible battle between good and evil. It seems to me there is a sense that Satan has some control who Jesus describes as "prince of this world.” John 12:31-32 "31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Paul points out in 2 Corinthians 4:4 "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” And in 1 John 5:19 "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

So, it seems to me that God has allowed Satan to have some sort of control of the world, however because God is God, He is the one who has absolute power and has defeated Satan through the cross. Because of the cross I believe and know I belong to Jesus and one day will be with God forever. And I have that assurance that one day in the future according to Revelation 20:10 "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

What concerns me at this time how profession Christians are being influenced to conform to the pattern of this world. Having said that I have to admit sometimes it is difficult to separate ourselves from the world because of the fear of man and the pressure of political correctness. And it seems we have fallen for Satan’s deception and embraced and allowed values and ideas that are unbiblical creep into the life of the church, and it seems to me Satan is slowly bringing the world values into the life of the Church. This idea of not conforming runs right throughout the Bible. 

The prophet Ezekiel said in chapter 11:12 "And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.” 

In Leviticus 18.3 the Lord commands Moses to say these words to the people of Israel, "You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.” 

This land of Canaan was occupied by immoral and idolatrous people. God wanted His people The Israelites to keep themselves pure and set apart for God. He did not want them to be caught up into the pagan culture and beliefs of that society. 

I feel day by day living in the UK is getting harder because of ungodly culture and beliefs of elements of a society that rebels against the ways of God.

Do I fear man more than God? 

Am I prepared to stand firm in the faith?

Personal Prayers: