1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. Read more
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)
This is one of my favorite verses from the sermon on the mount. It speaks to the truth inside all of us. We all hunger for something beyond what anything in this world can satisfy. At times we might try to satisfy that hunger with temporary things or people, but eventually we come to realize that God is the only One who can fully satisfy the hunger within us.
Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?
2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
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
To 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)
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!
If you would like to enjoy more devotionals from my book Praying through the Gospels, you can order it through one of the following links.