From Our Hearts

DEVOTION: When worry strikes, if we’re not careful, we can get discouraged or even depressed. We can respond to life negatively, and take our eyes off God and His promises to take care of us. Our hope in Him is the answer to all of life’s issues. Sovereign God is still in control.

DEVOTION: Jesus was the Son of God, yet he was the ultimate servant. Perhaps my favorite verse about our Lord is Matthew 20:28: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." One thing that touches my heart about this truth is that it is written in the book of Matthew, and Matthew is the Gospel that most exalts Jesus, as Messiah, the King! Yet, serving was a strong quality in King Jesus’ life – a priority and a way of life for Him.

DEVOTION: Jesus also must have been considering His own future suffering when He encouraged John the Baptist that his suffering and humble service were for the greater purpose of offering redemption and eternal life for all. This is a wonderful time to thank God for the gift of His Son, our Savior, and those saints who came before us proclaiming the Gospel.

DEVOTION: Trust is essential in any relationship. If you want to have friends who are honest with you, then (you guessed it) you must be honest with them, even if it means having a difficult conversation. Honesty is one of the benefits of a true friendship. The Bible puts it this way: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted… and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel” (Proverbs 27:6, 9).

DEVOTION: Being friendly and approachable is a Jesus quality. You may believe that anyone could talk to you or ask something of you, but you may also be sending a message that says you already have enough friends, or you’re too busy to be bothered. Ask God to look into your heart. Pray for an approachable spirit that will reflect the heart of Jesus.

DEVOTION: As a Christian, you already have a perfect friendship. You have a friend in Jesus Christ. But God also provides other people with whom you can and should have friendships. The bible teaches us that it is not good for man to be alone and that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Genesis 2:18 and Proverbs 27:17). 

Lord, help me to always see you as the most important friendship in my life. And help me to seek and develop relationships that are healthy, godly, and meaningful to both my life and theirs.

 

 

DEVOTION: Commitment, loyalty, and selflessness are so essential in any friendship. David and Jonathan’s friendship was characterized by these qualities even in the midst of adversity. They loved and encouraged each other in the Lord.  They met as young men and warriors, and our last glimpse of their faithful friendship is of David mourning Jonathan’s death. Theirs was a to-the-end-no-matter-what friendship. Choose to be like David and Jonathan. 

DEVOTION: Every prayer you lift up for your friends reaches God’s ears and heart. Ask Him to use His power, strength, and wisdom to help the people you care about. Are you friends with others who encourage and build you up in the faith? Are you making the effort to grow spiritually so you can be that kind of friend to others?

 

DEVOTION: Think back on the days when you were courting your wife. What did you do to nurture your relationship with her? Take a moment to write a list, then make a commitment to do some of these activities again—the activities that helped you to become best friends.

DEVOTION: Your friendship and love relationship with your husband must be faithfully and diligently nurtured, even in the midst of the duties and chaos of raising your children. Here are 3 things you can do to help become your husband's best friend.

DEVOTION: When we love people, we can’t help but pray for them because we carry them in our hearts. Start by praying these six ways and then build upon them from there.

DEVOTION: Our emotional state often sets the standard and tone for our home. Here are three guidelines for gaining emotional stability so that we can make our home happy.