Motivated by Compassion

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Easter

This week leading up to Easter I would like to share some devotionals with you from my new book Praying through the Gospels.  I have included some links at the end of the devotion, if you would like to order the book.  Praying through the Gospels is pretty simple.  It’s just a small reflection in prayer on different aspects from the Gospels and what Jesus did for us.  Hope you enjoy this week of devotionals!

Act of Compassion

 When those who were around Him saw what was going to happen,

they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”

And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No more of this.”

And He touched his ear and healed him. Luke 22:49–51, NASB

Lord, it is so impressive to see this act of compassion toward one of your capturers. You displayed a tremendous act of kindness during a very difficult time. You were betrayed
by one of your own disciples, arrested, and on Your way to face six trials, which would ultimately lead to your sentence of crucifixion, You were about to take on the sins of the
world, and all your disciples deserted you. Yet you stopped to show compassion. You stopped to perform a miracle for someone who didn’t deserve it. You stopped to redirect the thoughts of those around you, and you stopped to show the glory of God!

Lord, so often when I’m going through something difficult, I have a low tolerance for others. I do not show compassion as readily as I should when my heart is aching.

Lord, I pray that I will be more like Christ and show compassion to others even in the midst of my own pain.  May I not miss a moment of what you have for me, Lord!  Please help me to direct my thoughts and my actions toward you! May I better reflect the mindset of Christ that I see in these verses.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5

Praying through the Gospels CoverTo enjoy more devotionals like this one you can order my book Praying through the Gospels.  You can order it by clicking on any of the links below…  (If you are looking to make a bulk purchase for your church, ministry, school, or Bible study please contact me personally and I will be happy to give you a discount on the books.  My email address is godisalwaysfaithful@gmail.com)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books A Million

Tate Publishing Bookstore

Weight of our Sins

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cropped-img_02991.jpg

This week leading up to Easter I would like to share some devotionals with you from my new book Praying through the Gospels.  I have included some links at the end of the devotion, if you would like to order the book.  Praying through the Gospels is pretty simple.  It’s just a small reflection in prayer on different aspects from the Gospels and what Jesus did for us.  Hope you enjoy this week of devotionals!

 Overwhelmed

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

Matthew 26:38

Lord, I can’t begin to imagine how overwhelming the thought of the cross, the separation from the Father, and the weight of our sins were. Lord, thank you for not giving in to how you felt that day. Thank you for moving forward even when the weight of the world was on your shoulders.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 

Matthew 26:39

Lord, may I follow your lead. May this be my prayer as I daily surrender myself to the work of your hands. May I not seek to have my will accomplished, but may I seek to
accomplish your will!

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly,

and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 

Luke 22:44

Lord, I cannot fully imagine the anguish you faced.  Lord, please help me to never forget what you felt and how you moved on from there. Please help me to not give in to
the moments in my life when I feel blah. May I press in as you pressed in and seek to fulfill my father’s purpose, even when it hurts.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted
himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23

 

Praying through the Gospels CoverTo enjoy more devotionals like this one you can order my book Praying through the Gospels.  You can order it by clicking on any of the links below…  (If you are looking to make a bulk purchase for your church, ministry, school, or Bible study please contact me personally and I will be happy to give you a discount on the books.  My email address is godisalwaysfaithful@gmail.com)

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books A Million

Tate Publishing Bookstore

Time for Pruning

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John 15.5

This week leading up to Easter I would like to share some devotionals with you from my new book Praying through the Gospels.  I have included some links at the end of the devotion, if you would like to order the book.  Praying through the Gospels is pretty simple.  It’s just a small reflection in prayer on different aspects from the Gospels and what Jesus did for us.  Hope you enjoy this week of devotionals!

Pruning Time (Day 21)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  (John 15:1–2)

Lord, please prune any part of me that is not bearing fruit for you. May the transforming life of Christ pulsate through my very being as I cling to the nutrients found in the source of life.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  (John 15:4)

Lord, I want to abide in you. I want to find nourishment for my soul in the life-giving nutrients that flow from your being. May the sap of the Holy Spirit flow freely through me, and may I bear fruit for you!

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5)

I can’t do anything without you, Lord! It’s so important for me to steal away as many moments as I can with you throughout my day. I know that nothing in my life will be well done without the power that comes from waiting on you and seeking your purpose through it.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  (John 15:7)

Lord, today I feast upon the truth I find in your word.  May your words be stitched into the very fiber of my being that I may live out my days for your purpose. Lord, today is yours. May I live it out in a way that honors you alone!

Praying through the Gospels CoverIf you would like to enjoy more devotionals from my book Praying through the Gospels, you can order it through one of the following links.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books A Million

Tate Publishing Bookstore

Mighty is Our God

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The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; the world also is established, that it cannot be moved.

2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up the roaring of their waves.

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Full of Hope

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Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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