Daily Devotional: Monday, July 26

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Hiding

Weekend Music links on iTunes: God is with Us by Michael Olson; All Because of Jesus by Fee; Strong Tower by Kutless; Come Thou Fount arranged by Canvas.

Read:  Luke 15:11-22, Romans 12:1-3 

Think:  In listening to Pastor Ben speak about the prodigal, I was reminded of my own rebellion.  I had grown up attending church with my mom and accepted Christ and walked with Him during my teen years.  After graduation, my move away from home also became a move away from God. 

There was definitely some “wild living” in my time away from my Heavenly Father.   When I look back, I can clearly see times when He protected me from harm.  I remember being so disappointed that I didn’t get what I was hoping for, or when the guy I was attracted to didn’t respond to me.  Now, I praise Him for watching over me during my time away from Him.   As my partying life slowed down, I began to feel more secure in who I was, having settled down with the man I’d soon marry.  I didn’t realize I was “in need” (vs.14) when a friend insisted I read a new age book called “Prescription for Happiness.”   One might not expect this would be how the Lord would run to me, throw His arms around me and kiss me.(vs.20)  In that book, I read that the way to happiness was to be found within myself.  As I thought about this more, I remembered that the God of my youth was far more powerful than anything that was inside of me.  His love poured out over me in a dramatic way as I found my way back to His arms. 

The transformation in my thinking was radical.  I repented from wild living and my mind was renewed.  My friends wondered what was up with me.  Not long after, my husband came back to the Father, as well.

Do: Thank God for loving you unconditionally and meeting you just as you are or were.  Pray for the prodigals you know to return to the Father….and REJOICE and CELEBRATE when they do! 

Pray: Thank you, Father, for protecting and rescuing me from the grip of the enemy.  Help me to never take your grace for granted.  Give me compassion for those who have strayed from your hand.  Help me to love them back to you and to give mercy freely, as it was given to me. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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