VERSE: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ESV)

 

DEVOTIONAL: When the light bulb comes on, and we realize that we were created for heaven and not hell, EVERYTHING changes. Imagine that moment in the life of the ONE that you are praying for—when they trade the ashes of their life into the beauty God has for them. When they experience the freedom that they have been looking for their whole life. When they are adopted out of the kingdom of darkness, into the Kingdom of Light! It’s going to be a great moment when they realize they are created to be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

No matter what their life may have included up until this moment, God can forgive them. The death of Jesus on the cross paid for all sins, by all people, of all times. We only have to accept that forgiveness.

 

PRAYER: Lord, I pray for my ONE __________ to accept the forgiveness that only You can provide. I can see in my mind the moment they realize that they were created to spend eternity with You. I would love to be there when it happens, Lord, but I’m much more interested that it does happen. In Your way. In Your time, Lord. Let my ONE turn to You and be rescued from their sins and their past. Amen.

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VERSE: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

 

DEVOTIONAL: How much do we go through our day seeking approval? We often seek approval at work, in our relationships, and even in our walk with Christ. This, unfortunately, is a misunderstanding of God’s love. We can never do enough to earn God’s love. We can, however, accept His love that is given freely through His Son, Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 cuts through this misconception, reminding us that our salvation and the love of God are not achievements, but gifts. Grace, by its very nature, is unmerited favor. We are invited to experience God’s grace not because we earn it, but because God freely gives it simply through placing our faith in Jesus alone. This passage assures us that our salvation is not a result of our worth, but a gift from God.

Our journey with Christ is transformative. This means as we walk with Christ, through His grace, we cannot simply stay where we are. We must, through grace, become more like Christ each day. This journey is not about proving our worth. Our worth was already assigned when Christ died for us on the cross.  

Take time to reflect on Ephesians 2:8-9. Move forward today in the freedom that comes from knowing your relationship with God is secured through grace and not through your actions.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the incredible gift of Your grace. Help us to understand the love and mercy you have given to us through Jesus Christ. Through your Holy Spirit, teach us to live in the freedom of grace. Allow our lives to point others to the gift of grace You freely give. In Jesus' name, amen.

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VERSE: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

 

DEVOTIONAL: As much as you love and care for your ONE—the wayward relative, the friend without a clue, or the neighbor who has abandoned all hope in the midst of their struggles—remember this: Jesus loves them even more! More than the stars, the oceans, or anything in all creation, Jesus loves your ONE! He came for them. He gave His all for them. So that they would have freedom in Him! As you pray for your ONE, your prayer should be that they finally open their mind and heart to Him, that they begin to understand how much He cares for them, and that they would be drawn to Him.

There are so many things that compete for our attention in this world. We are constantly pulled in many directions including work, family, and other responsibilities. So when your ONE hears about church, it might feel like just another commitment on their calendar. But Jesus is the only thing in this world that is life-giving!

Your prayer should be that your ONE begins to see this and experience it.  And then, as they step towards a loving Savior who knows and loves them completely, they would be drawn to Him even more. Drawn to His presence. Drawn to His church. Drawn to His heart.

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray for my ONE. I pray that in the barrage of things competing for their attention that they clearly see You. Help them to tune out the distorted values of this world and turn their mind and heart towards You. May they see how much You love them. Amen. 

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VERSE: How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 

DEVOTIONAL: As Christ-followers, we have received the greatest gift of all time, and we have been instructed to share it with those who do not have it! That gift is the good news of Jesus Christ—what He did for you and I on the cross.

Today, let’s take a moment to thank God for His saving grace and ask Him to help us share it with others as best as we can. Christ has sent you—yes, YOU reading this!—to be a light that shines for Him. He will equip you and guide you if you step into this God-given task. What an honor it is to be considered worthy to tell those who do not know Jesus about the hope that we have in Him!

 

PRAYER: Lord, help us receive the message that You have for us. Help us to fully understand Your love and grace. Then, Lord, help us to go into our community and share the good news of Jesus to ALL! In our words and through our actions, guide us to be a bright light that shines for You and points people to You so that they may receive the message You have for them. Bring our family and friends to faith in You, Lord. Thank You for Your grace in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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VERSE: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33 


DEVOTIONAL: Have you ever had a time where it seemed like the calendar was running your schedule instead of you? What seemed like every free moment was already planned with something else that needed to be done? It is in these moments of realization that we must make a change—to slow down and ask: what are we trying to accomplish by being so busy?

There have been times in my life where I have needed to remove things from my schedule because I wasn’t trusting the Lord. I felt that I needed to work as hard as I could and as long as I could to make sure things got done. Instead, I should have been trusting God to take care of those things. This doesn’t mean to neglect your responsibilities; it does mean to trust that the Lord can do more in one day of rest than you could do in seven days of work.

Matthew 6:31-33 reminds us that we need to be reliant on the Lord and know that He cares for us so much that He has everything under control. Once we do this, there is a massive peace that we will notice—the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding. Knowing that our Abba Father, the King of the Universe, has it all under control and for our good will take a lot of stress out of our lives. So, GIVE IT TO GOD!

I hope that when you do this, you will use those free minutes to go to the Father in prayer on behalf of your ONE. Pray for them to have soft hearts and attentive ears. So, when you tell them the good news of Jesus Christ, they will be receptive and inquisitive. In fact, take the next several minutes to spend in prayer. Ask God to show you the ONE that you need to share the Gospel with and invite to church. Pray that God will give you the words to say to them as you invite them in.

 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, show me the areas in my schedule where I can remove things to make You my top priority. I give You all the worry, stress, and anxiety that’s in my life. Help clear my schedule so I will spend more time with You. Give me the words to say as I invite my ONEs to know You and come to church. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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VERSE: “On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Acts 16:13-14 (NIV)

 

DEVOTIONAL: When I attended U of H (go Coogs!), I used to frequent a local basketball court. One day, I was having a really bad day and just kept shooting shots for hours. Eventually, a guy I didn’t care for walked in and began giving me a hard time. While I was trying to focus on shooting, he kept trying to ask me if I was okay. Finally, I stopped and looked at him and said, “Do you really want to know if I’m okay?” And he said, “Yes, I do.” So, I shared with him how I’d felt like I’d let God down.

He wasn’t a Christian. Most of the time, he would speak negatively about girls and pretty much everything else, so I tried to avoid him. But as I shared my struggle, he began to ask questions about God. Within minutes he asked me how he could accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior; God opened his heart! It was amazing! I was going through a rough time, but God used it for good. The following week, Michael began attending church with me and even started volunteering.

When God wants to open a person’s heart to the Gospel, we just need to be obedient and allow Him to use us even if we don’t feel like it. It’s reassuring to know that our job is simply to give the invitation and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. This Easter, as you pray for your ONEs, ask God to give you the courage to invite them to church and for their hearts to be open.

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help our ONEs’ hearts to be ready to hear and receive your Gospel. Help me to have the courage to invite them to church. Thank You for using me to grow Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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VERSE: “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

 

DEVOTIONAL: Gensis chapter 1 describes in detail the Creation account.  Merely by speaking, God brought all things into existence.  Of course, the first sentence spoken by God were the instructions, “Let there be light.” And those four words changed everything…  With the words of His mouth God began to push back the darkness for all time.  In fact, what God did for the world physically at creation, was a picture of what God would do spiritually for all mankind by sending Jesus to the earth.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes this point in his second letter to the believers at Corinth.  Sadly, Paul reminds us not everyone can see the light because they have been blinded to the glorious truth of God's grace by the “god” of this world.

Although unequal to God in power, Satan wants nothing more than to keep people distracted from experiencing the light.  He does this by keeping people focused on the worries of this world and consumed with the busyness of life.  As believers, we must recognize spiritual warfare is real, while at the same time believing God can remove the veil covering the eyes of those who are spiritually blind.  In fact, our greatest weapon is prayer.  We can ask God to open the minds and hearts of our family and friends to the light of God’s love.

 

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for opening my eyes to the truth.  I pray that just as Jesus healed the eyes of the blind, that spiritual hearts would be open to who You are and their need for Jesus. Amen.

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VERSE: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

 

DEVOTIONAL: When I was in Junior High, all I wanted was a pair of Nike shoes.  They were the shoe of choice for anyone who was anyone.  What I did not know is the brand Nike was named after the goddess of victory from Greek mythology.  Of course, that name makes perfect sense if you’re trying to sell shoes aimed at athletes and sports enthusiasts; I just wanted to be cool. 

In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shares a powerful character trait of the one true God.  Paul tells us God has given us the victory through Christ.  In other words, we can experience victory spiritually because of what Jesus did on the cross.  Because Jesus conquered sin and death, we are no longer condemned to death, nor are we controlled by sin.  We have the victory through Christ!

Paul then challenges his audience to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.  So, what does that mean?  On one level, it means striving to reach your ONE by praying for them and seeking opportunities to introduce them to Jesus.  Although, it may seem like a losing battle at times, just remember nothing you do for God is in vain.  You can praise God; the victory is coming.

 

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for giving us victory over sin and death.  I ask, as the 99s pray for their ONEs, that You would do what only You can do: reveal yourself to them so they may experience victory. Amen.

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VERSE: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Hebrews 12:1

 

DEVOTIONAL: Sometimes in our minds, we dream about how it will go when we invite our ONEs to church: they’ll see God working in our lives; they’ll ask us questions about God; we succinctly and skillfully answer their questions and encourage them to come to church; they attend church and feel welcomed and included; they make a decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and all of heaven celebrates (Luke 15:10). Sometimes it happens just like that… but many times it doesn’t.

We may have people that we have been praying for and inviting to church for decades, but still they don’t come. We may have friends, family, or neighbors who we know desperately need Jesus, but even our most loving exhortations feel like pouring water on a rock. Nothing seems to sink in. Nothing seems to elicit a faithful response. And in the face of that disappointment, we run the risk of giving up. But we must remember that no ONE is too far for God to reach. No ONE is beyond His grasp. We cannot give up because victory doesn’t come quickly or easily. The Bible calls us to persevere and to continue in faith, believing that God will reach our ONE.

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help us to remember that salvation comes from You and let us not grow weary in praying for our ONEs. We cannot give up. We cannot lose heart. We must spread the seeds and continue to pray for the harvest. Amen.

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VERSE: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” Colossians 4:3-4

 

DEVOTIONAL: God is the One who gives us opportunities in our lives. Ephesians 2:10 says that God has prepared “good works” for us and that “we should walk in them.” Meaning, God in His grace and mercy ALLOWS us to be a part of the good work He is doing here in people’s lives and eternities. God is also the One who opens the door and gives us opportunities to share our testimony—to tell someone who is lost that we were once lost, too, until we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Savior!

As Paul was writing this letter to the Colossians, he was literally bound in chains but still asked God to make opportunities for him and the early Church to spread the Gospel to all. What an honor we have, Church family, to go into our communities and families and tell everyone about the good news of Jesus Christ! Let’s pray today to take advantage of every opportunity that Christ gives us to the best of our ability.

 

PRAYER: Lord, open the doors in our lives and give us the strength to share all YOU have done in our lives. Help us to proclaim Your name, Lord! We know where we have found true grace, hope, and forgiveness—in YOU alone. Guide us in our lives and thank You for allowing us to be a part of the work You have for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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VERSE: “…and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20

DEVOTIONAL: The scene is set. The disciples are praying. Thousands of people have made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost. The disciples walk outside and are greeted with people from a multitude of nations. With the boldness given to them by the Holy Spirit, they begin to proclaim the Gospel! In another scene, a little while later, Phillip meets an Ethiopian eunuch reading from Isaiah. The Holy Spirit has led him there to share the Gospel as well.

In both of those events, we see the Holy Spirit move within believers to share the Gospel with those around them. It was not the believers’ responsibility to save the people, but to share the Gospel of Jesus, who can save them! They knew that through the power of the Holy Spirit, they could boldly share the truth. We can assume they did not care about rejection or not knowing the “right words” to share. Ephesians 6:19 says, “…that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”

Jesus calls us to go and share the Gospel with everyone. Yes, EVERYONE! It’s okay if you do not know the “right words” to say. Start sharing why you believe what you believe and share the amazing things that God has done in your life! If a question comes up that you are not sure about, tell them you will search the Bible and ask your pastor and get back to them. 

The reason most people are afraid the share the Gospel is because they feel as if they don’t know enough, or they fear being rejected. As we have seen in these verses, the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say and the boldness to say them when you ask for it! Rely on Him and His promise that when you speak His word, it will not return void. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Use this verse as you begin sharing the Gospel with your ONE.

 
PRAYER: Lord, help me be bold in my faith. Remind me that You will draw people to Yourself. Give me the words to speak and the truth to share when I have those conversations. Help me, as I walk with people, to be an example for them as I do life with You. Help me, Lord, to go boldly and share the Gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

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VERSE: “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (ESV)

 

DEVOTIONAL: The principle of sowing and reaping is often applied to areas of our faith life, but rarely to our prayer life. But the principle applies there as well. When we pray for our ONE, we are sowing a seed. And that seed is sown in good soil. The best soil. The arms of God! 

If you have been praying for your ONE for a week, keep praying. If it’s been a year, keep praying. If it’s been years, keep praying. Just keep praying. At some point, that door is going to open for your ONE to the Gospel and they will have a chance to make a decision for Christ. If they choose no, keep praying. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.

 

PRAYER: Lord, You love to answer the prayers of Your children. And You love to see people come to repentance and new life. As I pray for my ONE, I realize that You want them to come to faith even more than I do. Help me to keep praying for them, knowing that their chance to hear the Gospel is coming. Help them to have a heart that is tender and ready to find forgiveness and freedom. Help me to keep sowing those seeds in prayer. Amen.

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VERSE: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

 

DEVOTIONAL: In Acts 1:8, Jesus informs his disciples of a powerful promise and command. This promise is not for the apostles alone but extends to all believers. It captures the essence of our mission as Christians: we are to be witnesses of Christ to the world.

Being a witness for Christ is more than sharing words; it's living a life that reflects Christ’s love, grace, and truth. It's about putting the Gospel in our actions. Jesus assures us that all who place their faith in Him will receive the Holy Spirit, which empowers us to be effective witnesses in our communities and beyond.

Our witness should cover “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Where is my Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria?  In simple terms, think of Jerusalem as your home, workplace, and community. Judea and Samaria then extend to broader and sometimes more challenging fields, encouraging us to step out of our comfort zones. "To the ends of the earth" is the global scope of our mission, emphasizing that no person is beyond the reach of God's love.

As we step out in faith, empowered by His strength, our lives can make a profound impact on the world around us, drawing others closer to the hope found in Jesus.

 

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for trusting us with the mission to be Your witnesses. Thank You for providing Your Spirit for courage, wisdom to share Your message. Guide us to be mindful of the opportunities You present each day, whether they be in our own "Jerusalem" or to the ends of the earth. Equip us to serve and speak in ways that honor You and extend Your kingdom. In Your name, amen.

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VERSE: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

 

DEVOTIONAL: In 2021, a Florida man was asked to move out of his family’s home to make room for a massive 600-million-dollar development. The 1,300-square-foot house was old and did not have much market value, but the real estate development company offered the family nearly a million dollars for it. Everyone else in the neighborhood sold, but not this family. You see, the man had promised his mother that he would never sell the home because it was his father’s special possession. His father worked all his life to buy the home; it took him twenty years to find the house.

 

Well, you may not know this, but God chose you! You are His own special possession created in His image! The word chosen means you were hand-picked. Think about it—God knows everything about you. He knows all your mistakes, all the times you will or have rejected Him, all the times you doubted Him, and yet He still chooses you. Why? Because He loves you, and His desire is that you would share the message of how He called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me. Please help me to share the Gospel and invite my ONE, and many others, to church with me this Easter. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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VERSE:  “…so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…” Colossians 1:10-11
 

DEVOTIONAL: As we wrap up week one, recall what we have prayed for this last week. We said we would be devoted to prayer, have humility, be surrendered to Jesus, have our focus on the mission, be unified, and compelled by love. When we do these things, we definitely need to be strengthened by God’s power.

Look at it this way: imagine for a moment that you are walking through the woods at night. There is no moon, so you have to use an old flashlight with those big batteries and non-LED bulbs. As you walk, the light grows dimmer and dimmer, until it’s so dim it can’t even light your next step. This is what it is like to walk through life without relying on the power of God, standing firm on His word.

Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When we rely on Christ and His word, it is like having the power of the sun in a flashlight. It will be a shining beacon to direct us to the people that need to hear the Gospel. Easter is right around the corner, and we have the opportunity to not only go out and invite everyone we know to church, but we also have the honor to pray for them!

With the power of the sun in the palm of our hands, or the power of the Son within us, we can proclaim with boldness the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We can share the truth found in His word, and we can invite people to come to know Him. This can be with our words, our social media, or simply by handing them an Easter invite card. Whichever way you do it, do so knowing that the power of the Holy Spirit lives in you, and will give you the boldness to do so.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I pray for Your boldness as I go out into this world. I pray for Your power to come out of my mouth when I speak Your truth to those around me. Remind me that it is not my job to save people, but only to share You with them. Light my path, and direct me to the people who need to hear who You are. Thank You for everything. In Jesus’ name, amen.
 

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VERSE: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

 

DEVOTIONAL: Think about the last time you felt compelled to do something.  Maybe you gave into an overwhelming urge to eat tacos for lunch, or out of seemingly nowhere you decided to pick up the phone and call a friend you haven’t spoken to in months.  If so, then you understand the power of compulsion. 

The Apostle Paul describes such a force as he writes the Corinthian church.  Paul faced incredible hardships for his faith, yet he was never deterred from the mission God placed on his life.  Preaching countless sermons, starting multiple churches, and writing half of the New Testament, Paul was one of the most influential leaders of the church.  So, what was it that drove Paul to reach so many for Christ? 

LOVE! 

Paul’s heart was marked by the irresistible power of Christ’s love.  After coming face to face with Jesus, Paul was no longer compelled to live for himself, but to glorify the One who died for all.  In a similar way, when we recognize the extent of God’s love for us and realize the love God has for those far from Him, the same love that motivated Paul compels us to live for others.

 

PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for loving us.  I pray New Hope would be a place where people experience the love of Christ, are marked by the love of Christ, and can’t help but be compelled to love others in the name of Christ. Amen.

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VERSE: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6 ESV

 

DEVOTIONAL: Followers of Jesus Christ who are full of joy and are seen obviously enjoying getting together with other believers are some of the most powerful evidences of the greatness of God. Who else could take a group of people who didn’t know each other, put them together in a church, a LifeGroup, or a serving team, and turn them into a group of people who endure difficult moments through the encouragement of others? Only God!!

 

When we live in that manner, when we live in harmony with other followers of Christ, our worship becomes even more powerful. God takes our individual voices and puts them together into “one voice” to glorify His Name. A church that lives in harmony is able to raise one loud, mighty voice that cuts through the noise and centers Jesus Christ as the answer to the needs of this world.

 

PRAYER: Lord, I am so thankful for the ministry of your Church. Your people have helped me through difficult moments in the past. They have prayed with me and they have prayed for me. I can’t believe how You take a group of people and unify them. As we get closer to Easter this year, would you unify my church even more than before? I know that when we are unified, our worship becomes a mighty noise that brings You glory. And when You are lifted up like that, You will draw people to You! Amen.

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VERSE: “…Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

 

DEVOTIONAL: The best place we could ever be is inside God’s will for our lives. In this life, we have a tendency to want to go our own way, to plan our own course, to decide things based on our own desires. But God has a plan for you, and that plan may be different than your own plan! His word says that His will is good for us (Romans 12:2). So as Christ-followers, we should want to be in His will here on this earth, and we should want the things that He wants. In other words, we should align ourselves and our desires with God’s will and His plan for our time here on this earth. Today let’s take time to pray that God would make His will known in our lives and help us to stay on the right track.

 

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being a God who cares and is with me every day. Thank You for Your will, which Your word says is good and perfect. Help me to be aligned with Your will in my life. Help me to walk each day into the plan that You have for my life. I want more of You, Lord, and less of me. I know that I have selfish tendencies and desires that are not from You. Please cleanse my mind and my heart, Lord. Help me to see the things You need me to do and give me the strength to do them boldly. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Verse: "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." Romans 12:1

 

DEVOTIONAL: In our walk with Christ, surrender is not a one-time act.  Surrender is a daily choice. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice to God. This verse challenges us to consider what it means to live fully surrendered to Jesus in every aspect of our lives.

Being surrendered to Jesus means acknowledging Him as Lord over every part of our lives. It's recognizing that every breath, every moment, and every gift comes from Him. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we are invited to respond by offering ourselves back to God. This offering is not just spiritual; it is also our physical actions, our decisions, our desires, and our plans. It is total surrender to Christ.

Surrender is our act of worship. It goes beyond a song or a weekend service. Surrender is a lifestyle that honors God. When we surrender, we allow God to use our lives for His glory. We trust God's power and goodness, even in uncertainty.

A life surrendered to Jesus is marked by transformation. It is moving farther away from who we are and moving more toward who Christ is. Surrendering to Jesus invites us into a deeper relationship with Him. As we daily choose to surrender, we discover the peace and purpose only found in living according to God's plan.

PRAYER: Father, I offer my life to You as a living sacrifice. Help me daily to surrender every part of my life to You—my plans, desires, fears, and dreams. Teach me to be devoted to You alone. Allow my life to reflect the love and character of your son Jesus to the world around me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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VERSE: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

 

DEVOTIONAL: When this passage was written there was a great shift in Israel. King David passed away, and his son, Solomon, had become king. There were several days of celebration and a huge party dedicating the Temple of the Lord. One night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said the very words of 2 Chronicles 7:14. God’s instruction was clear: if His people wanted to hear from Him, they should (1) humble themselves and pray; (2) seek His face; and (3) turn from their wicked ways. Then God would not only hear them, but He would forgive them and heal their land.

Humility and prayer go hand in hand. When we pray, we kneel or bow our heads, demonstrating submission to God. Humility is a characteristic tahat Jesus demonstrated in Philippians 2. Humility makes the good great! God loves a person with a humble heart who seeks His face.

To seek the face of God is to seek God’s presence, not just the gifts He bestows. Imagine a child coming to her parents daily asking for gifts repeatedly, but never stopping to listen and just spend time with them… sounds kind of like the teenage years! That would be a one-way relationship. If you love God, don’t treat Him like a genie. Instead, seek His face by desiring simply to be in His presence.

To turn from our wicked ways is to repent. To repent means you do a 180 degree turn and change your direction by going away from sin and toward God.

As Easter approaches, keep in mind that to prepare your heart, you should humbly pray, seek the presence of God, and repent.

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Please help the people of New Hope Church to prepare our hearts to receive Your blessing this Easter. Amen.

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