Walk with Me in the freedom of forgiveness. The path we follow together is sometimes steep and slippery. If you carry a burden of guilt on your back, you are more likely to stumble and fall. At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross. When I unburden you, you are undeniably free! Stand up straight and tall in My Presence, so that no one can place more burdens on your back. Look into My Face and feel the warmth of My Love – Light shining upon you. It is this unconditional love that frees you from both fears and sins. Spend time basking in the Light of My Presence. As you come to know me more and more intimately, you grow increasingly free.
Psalm 68:19
English Standard Version
Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
1 John 1:7–9
English Standard Version
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 4:18
English Standard Version
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
A couple of weeks ago I started attending BSF, my brother and my oldest son have been asking me to attend for years and thought this would be a good time to get going with it, as well because my brother is now the weekly teaching leader. Right now, we are studying Acts, specifically Acts 2. It has been good to dive into the Word. I think what I appreciate about these studies is the questions, while not numerous, are self-examining. I notice as I age (52 now), I also seem to be more aware of my sin, but also thinking about more of what I spend my time doing and what I value. Let's face it, there are a lot of routines with life and going through the motions. Thus, it is nice to come back to the Word which sort of re-positions me and trains me, in Christ. Yet, I admit struggling with doing thing differently, yet this I see is a personal struggle, done on my own strength. One of the amazing truths I have been reminded of in this study is that the Holy Spirit is with me, in me, guiding me, speaking to me all the time, and shaping me, with the purpose of God wanting me to receive His power (Acts 1:8) in order that I might do great things (John 14:12) of being His witness. Today's reading talks of "the path we follow" and burdens. Psalm 68:19 says that "God bears our burdens." I John 4:18 says "love casts out fear."
My Prayer (2019)Lord, I sense you speaking to me today about burdens and what seems to weigh on me each day, if I am not careful. I do realize that my time is spent often in service - serving my mom right now who is struggling through a multi-month sickness and my wife supporting her father 400 miles a way who recently had a stroke, and also continue to work my full-time job, serving my family - but I think the burdens I am speaking of are the thoughts and concerns and worries that often weigh me down when I am just preparing for the day or in between these acts of service or even when I am doing those acts. And you are there saying - I got this. Lord, are there things you have called me to do through your word that I am not doing because I spend too much of time in fear or wondering about outcomes or results? O God forgive me. You have probably been speaking to me, but I'm too busy worrying to listen. Lord, I want to commit to knowing You more and letting you be in control. I will step aside and let you take care of it. Show me where you are working and how I can join you.
Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.
Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.