Humility

04
Mar
2024
Breathing In God’s Grace

Breathing In God’s Grace

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” – Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)

Focus on What Truly Matters

Our hectic lives often leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from what truly matters.

In the busyness of our days, we can lose sight of the essential things God desires from us: reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.

Yet, these requirements are not oppressive burdens but invitations to breathe in God’s grace and find fulfillment in aligning our lives with His purposes.

Reverence

To fear the Lord does not mean to cower in terror but to stand in awe of His majesty and power.

When we recognize our own smallness in comparison to His greatness, our perspective shifts. Reverence helps us realize that our lives are not our own, but gifts from the One who created us.

This humble acknowledgment opens the door to true obedience.

Obedience: Following God’s Path

Obedience is not mere rule-following but a response of love and trust. When we walk in obedience, we allow God’s wisdom to guide our steps.

His commands and decrees are not arbitrary restrictions but signposts pointing us toward the abundant life He desires for us.

As we follow His path, we discover that His ways are indeed for our good.

Embracing the Giver

Love is the heartbeat of our relationship with God.

It is more than an emotion; it is a deep commitment to embrace the One who first loved us. When we love God with our whole being, our priorities align, and our actions flow from a place of genuine devotion.

Love transforms obedience from a duty to a delight.

Living with Undivided Devotion

To serve God with our entire heart and soul is to live with undivided devotion.

It means bringing every aspect of our lives – our thoughts, desires, decisions, and actions – under the Lordship of Christ. When we do this, we experience a profound sense of purpose and unity, no longer fragmented by competing allegiances or divided affections.

As we breathe in God’s grace and align our lives with His desires, we discover the true freedom and fullness that come from walking in reverence, obedience, love, and wholeheartedness.

Let go of lesser things and cling to the essentials, finding our deepest satisfaction in the One who asks us to give Him our all.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness, Humility
06
Dec
2023
Self Examination

Self Examination

2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Heart Checkup

It’s easy to go through life without taking time to examine our inner self. Like neglecting routine health checkups, we may feel fine on the outside but have unchecked issues brewing on the inside.

That’s why this verse challenges us to take our spiritual pulse – to openly look within and evaluate the condition of our hearts.

Just as a doctor checks vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure, we need to regularly assess indicators of our spiritual health.

  • Are we pursuing intimacy with God through prayer, scripture and worship?
  • Do we readily repent when convicted of sin?
  • Are spiritual fruits like love, joy and peace evident in our lives?

Examining these aspects helps reveal the state of our connection to Christ.

Mirror Test

Introspection is difficult. We often avoid looking closely at our reflection in the mirror of God’s truth.

Careful self-examination may reveal complacency, pridefulness, or areas of disobedience. Yet scripture calls us to honestly assess ourselves in light of God’s standards.

His Word is a mirror that shows us who we really are.

This verse reminds us to hold ourselves accountable; we need God’s Spirit to reveal blind spots in our lives. His conviction leads to confession, keeping our hearts tender and responsive to His transforming work in us.

As we surrender to His lordship, our lives come into tune with His will and His ways.

Running Diagnostics

We don’t have to guess about the condition of our spiritual life. This passage encourages a diagnostic self-check, prompting raw honesty before God. Opening our hearts to His examination positions us for growth and change.

Ask God to search your heart and reveal anything that shouldn’t be there. Listen for His gentle conviction and willingly walk in repentance.

His Word promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive and purify us. God longs for intimacy with us and obedience brings great joy to His heart.

1 John 1:9

As we run regular checkups on our spiritual health, we’ll experience fresh grace, renewed passion and the blessings of an unhindered relationship with Him.

The Great Physician

Ultimately this verse points us to Christ, the master healer of our souls. Only He can diagnose the deepest needs of our hearts and bring true transformation. His unfathomable love compels us to live fully for Him.

Actively pursue spiritual checkups as a vital part of your walk with God. His searching and cleansing light leads to wholeness, freedom and abundant life.

Your Great Physician stands ready to heal and restore your heart to the fullness He intended.

If you like these daily devotionals; perhaps you would be interested in our daily
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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith, Humility
03
Dec
2023
Transforming Seed

Transforming Seed

1 John 3:9 – No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

Regenerated by God

When we place faith in Christ, we experience new birth by God’s Spirit.

The Holy Spirit takes up residence within, imparting Christ’s resurrection life.

His living presence germinates internally, taking root in our hearts. Our remade desires bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

No Longer Enslaved

Before knowing Christ, sin easily entangled us. But the Spirit’s seed brings power to resist temptation.

Though we still stumble sometimes, sin no longer chains us.

Growth Takes Time

Our transformation in Christ is a process.

The seed is planted at conversion but takes time to grow. Nurturing spiritual disciplines foster maturity and holiness.

Lord, Grow Your Seed in Me

Lord, thank You for planting Your seed of life within me. I confess that sin still trips me up sometimes. I ask that by the Holy Spirit, Your seed would take deeper root in me, transforming me from within. Nurture holiness in me until Christ is fully formed.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Humility
16
Jul
2023
First Fruits

First Fruits

Every good thing we experience in life comes from a source of unwavering goodness. James 1:18 reminds us of this truth, saying,

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.”

This verse speaks to the generous nature of God, who desires to bring forth new life within us and bless us with every good and perfect gift.

When James speaks of being “born through the word of truth,” he is highlighting the transformative power of God’s Word in our lives.

It is through the message of truth found in the Scriptures that we encounter the life-giving power of Jesus, leading to a new birth and a transformed existence.

God’s Word has the ability to bring forth spiritual life within us, enabling us to become a reflection of His goodness and a testimony of His grace.

As we reflect on James 1:18, we are reminded of the faithfulness of God to create and sustain us. He is the source of all life, both physical and spiritual, and every good thing we enjoy is a reflection of His loving provision.

We are called to recognize and acknowledge the source of these blessings, offering gratitude and praise to the One who has given us new life and showered us with His abundant grace.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Holiness, Humility
15
Jul
2023
Rejected

Rejected

Have you encountered seasons of pain, sorrow, and rejection?

In Isaiah 53:3, we find a profound description of the suffering servant, who is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. The verse says,

“He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem”

These words remind us of the depth of Jesus’ sacrificial love and His willingness to enter into our human experience, including the most painful aspects of it.

As we contemplate Isaiah 53:3, we are invited to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ suffering and rejection.

In a world that often values success, popularity, and self-preservation, Jesus chose to identify with the brokenness of humanity.

He willingly embraced rejection and endured immense suffering for the sake of our redemption. This reveals the extent of His love for us and His commitment to reconcile us to God.

The suffering and rejection Jesus experienced serve as a reminder that we are not alone in our own struggles. He understands our pain and walks with us through the darkest valleys of life.

His example challenges us to respond to suffering and rejection with grace and compassion.

Just as Jesus extended love and forgiveness to those who rejected Him, we are called to imitate His character by loving others, even when it is difficult.

In moments when you feel despised or rejected, find comfort in knowing that Jesus intimately understands your pain.

He is the compassionate Savior who suffered for your sake and offers healing and restoration. Draw near to Him, seeking solace and strength, and may His example inspire you to love others with the same selflessness and grace that He has shown you.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility, Prayer, Trust