Open Line
A blog where you want to be: http://talk.thelife.com/
One of the quickest ways to interrupt your relationship with God is to allow a wedge to come between you and someone else. It’s a sure way that the enemy of your soul can cool your heart toward God and reduce your testimony of love to a watching world.
Psalm 15 is a beautiful guideline for those who want to keep their open line to God. Listen…
“LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless (without rebellion)
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without interest
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken??? (Psalm 15)
~ Father God,
May my heart be Yours today.
* Keep my attitude free from rebellion
* Help me to do what pleases You in my actions.
* Keep my words truthful and loving.
* Help my motives to be pure and my comments to be life-giving.
* Help me not to tolerate evil and to honor those who lift up Your name.
* May I be one who keeps my word, generous and trustworthy.
* May my heart be steadfast and open to You every day in every way.
In Jesus’ strong name I pray, amen.
About the Author: This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Learn more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Who can dwell in God’s presence? When your faith is shaky how can this Scripture help identify a possible cause? Are you willing to let God look deeply in your heart and spur you on?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional: http://talk.thelife.com/
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Check out the related article, “Curing Ill Will”: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/malice.html
Copyright
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What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
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Welcome to the Devotional Blog Bema! It’s awesome seeing some of our regular cwt chatters finding the devotional blog and participating on it!! See you in chat!
Dear Stacy
I just want to underline how much I am enjoying the devotions and the blog is an inspired idea. I have only come across it in the last 2 weeks and enjoy being able to interact with others as we enjoy and learn from the daily input. Glad that you challenge us at the end of the devotional so it has an ongoing effect through our day as we consider God’s call on our life. I love praying back God’s word to Him….there is no way we can pray out of His will when we pray in this way. Many blessings on all your ladies involved in this ministry.
Dear Stacy,
These teachings always seem to be right on the mark for me. I actually get really excited to get my email in the morning to see what God is guiding me to learn. Thank you. Today I realized I was holding rejection in my heart for my ex boyfriend. We have hurt each other so much and it’s very strange because we both think we are going to get married, but are waiting on God to reveal if this is His plan. I am always struggling with making this relationship and Idol and my faith wavers because of what I want so much. God has used it to show me to depend on Him. In the last few weeks I have been building up a bitterness that I didn’t know I had towards my ex and your teachings guided me to face this. I also received a confirmation in my own devotional study time to not hold bitterness in my heart and to forgive. It is not easy, but I thank you for listening to what God is showing you that we need for each day.
God Bless!
You are most welcome! and I agree that it is awesome to have online support long with the face to face support in our churches.
Thank you for the repsonse Joyful. It’s really nice to have support from other Christian women online as well as in our church. Thanks for the encouragement:)
Mandi
Dear Mandi!
How very true! And how awesome of God to show you that this is about spiritual battle…..It has really helped me to stop and realize that in dealing with others. That the battle isn’t against flesh and blood…not against that person at all. But that the enemy of our souls wants to raise enmity between us! So way to go! and God bless you as you continue to be encouraged by these daily devotionals!
This came at the perfect time. We were coming home from my brother’s wedding with our almost 7 year old daughter and our 9 week old son. The trip had been quite an ordeal for our son since I was in the wedding and coudln’t be with him all day except to feed him. Plus, all the different faces at the wedding…he just really had a hard time. I was feeling bad about not being able to be with him when he needed me.
We dropped off my daughter at my mom’s house and proceeded to my husband’s grandparents house before we headed home since they had never seen our little Jonathan yet. While there we felt like they were being horribly rude and some things that were said led us to believe they were making harsh accusations towards us. Needless to say we left a little quicker than what we normally would and talked about it for almost 1/2 the way home (over 1 hour). I was very upset at my husbands sister who was also there because of feeling betrayed by her.
Reading this made me realize how I really need to put things into perspective once again. To not be angry at the person, but to realize this is a spiritual battle, not a battle against the flesh. Praise the Lord, He kept me from emailing my sister in law out of hurt, anger and spite.
Sometimes it’s so easy to lose site of what we really need to be doing here on this earth and how we should really be reacting.
I thank the Lord that we have this e-mail devotional. It seems like what is sent to me everyday is exactly what I need to be hearing. Thank you so much to all of those that make this available.
Mandi
These devotionals have been so excellent Stacy! I have found that it has been helpful to have the same theme throughout the month…and I know that in the Devotional Chats, women have found them very helpful and encouraging! Keep up the good work!
I never thought about how our relationship with God affects our relationships with others. It is so very true, that truth really hit home with me after this past weekend. If I know I haven’t been as loving as I should towards others I will withdraw from God as I then no longer feel worthy to sit before him.
I keep reminding myself that Jesus loves me and wipes away my sins. I don’t need to be afraid to sit before him. Thank you Lord for all the messages I have received today to remind me of this.
I have found that as long as I keep my focus on Jesus and seeking His will for my life, my other relationships all
stay in line. As I seek His mind, He continues to lead and direct me. When I fail, He is there to catch me and set me right again. May I never forget that He is my strength and power for living each day of my life as He gives it to me.
hi stacy,
if I read a lot of bible verses, my relationships and my patient for other people is greater than before.
the love I feel from jesus is adapted by my mind and heart and I give it to others.
leonie
Gail has done something beautiful here, showing how a Scripture passage applies to our lives and then demonstrating how to pray that Scripture back to God. This is a powerful way to meditate and pray.
I remember when I first discovered the truth that my vertical relationship (with God) and my horizontal relationships (with people) are interrelated. When I’m not right with God, I struggle to relate rightly with people. When I’m not right with people, I don’t feel right with God. When I’m not plugged into God, I run out of energy to love. When I have an grudge against someone, it’s hard to pray about anything. Have you experienced something like this?
On another note, I’d like to get some feedback on the women’s devotionals in general. What have you enjoyed about this month’s devotional series on complicated relationships? What can be do to better serve you with the email devotions? Post your brainstorms or email them to editor@christianwomentoday.com.