19 Jul 2009
[Five daily devotions regarding how to fulfill your call and divine destiny]
God has made and is constantly making provisions for all of His children to fulfill their divine destiny and bring glory to their Father. He has and will always do His part. Will we do ours?
Day one: Meditate on the perspective statement and the scriptures below and answer the questions that follow.
Perspective: God’s Economy ……… I can do nothing on my own; He is everything and He can do everything. Through Him, I can do all things He has planned for me. Pride will always cause my defeat and true humility will always open the way for God’s power to reside in my life.
- John 15:4-5 (NASB)
4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
· Philippians 4:12-13 (NASB)
12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
· 1 Peter 5:5-7 (AMP)
5 Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Read through each of the scripture verses several times reflectively then answer the questions below.
For best results, write out your answers on a separate paper.
1. You often face with a new challenge, opportunity, or task. What percentage of the time do you acknowledge that this matter is a part of the Lord’s plan for your life?
2. Do you normally think that you have a good idea or past experience and can handle this task without assistance? If yes or no ….. please give some examples.
3. In God’s economy you are seen as a branch and can do nothing apart from the vine. When a person considers God’s economy when facing a new challenge how does this consideration show? Can you give an illustration of how you have done this?
4 How does an attitude of dependence on God show? How does an attitude of dependence on man show? Which attitude most often shows in your life? Can you illustrate of this tendency?
Today we are looking squarely into the mirror of God’s word to compare it to our daily attitudes. Our attitudes make up the foundations of our life. We will not make significant lasting growth changes in our lives unless we first make changes in our perspectives [attitudes].
What perspectives does the Lord want you to adjust? Please write these in a place where you can come back to them several times over the next few weeks. Attitudes are like habits …. they take time to adjust permanently.
Tommorow ... the power of humility
Jeff Williams
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