Monday, August 19, 2019

8/19/19-8/23/19 Devo Two - Life Changes

This is the second devotional for the week of August 19-23. This is a devotional from the Our Daily Bread website. Read this devotional and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below the post. Three or four sentences would be good. Your comments give you devotion credit.


Devotional Image

Life Changes

"Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness"
Ephesians 4:24

Stephen grew up in a rough part of East London and fell into crime by the age of ten. He said, “If everyone’s selling drugs and doing robberies and fraud, then you’re going to get involved. It’s just a way of life.” But when he was twenty, he had a dream that changed him: “I heard God saying, Stephen, you’re going to prison for murder.” This vivid dream served as a warning, and he turned to God and received Jesus as his Savior—and the Holy Spirit transformed his life.

Stephen set up an organization that teaches inner-city kids discipline, morality, and respect through sports. He credits God with the success he has seen as he prays with and trains the kids. “Rebuilding misguided dreams,” he says.

In pursuing God and leaving behind our past, we—like Stephen—follow Paul’s charge to the Ephesians to embrace a new way of life. Although our old self is “corrupted by its deceitful desires,” we can daily seek to “put on the new self” that’s created to be like God (Ephesians 4:22, 24). All believers embrace this continual process as we ask God through His Holy Spirit to make us more like Him.

Stephen said, “Faith was a crucial foundation for me changing my life around.” How has this been true for you?

By:  Amy Boucher Pye

Reflect & Pray

When you look back over your life,
what comes to mind as key moments that prompted change?
What long-lasting change resulted?
"Jesus, You’re alive and working in the world and in my life. 
Help me become more like You day by day as I leave the old self behind."
Posted by at

6 comments:

  1. Myra KaelinAugust 20, 2019 at 11:21 AM

    In looking back, I see less of moments that prompted change, and more "hindsight is 20/20" moments. I can see that where things didn't always go as I had planned, God had a greater plan for my life. Keeping my Faith strong in those moments helps me to receive the "no" or "wait" Word just a little bit easier.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Holly RossAugust 21, 2019 at 9:30 AM

    “Faith was a crucial foundation for me changing my life around.” How has this been true for you? It's an interesting question, I have always known the Lord He has been a pretty steady source in my life but, there was a time when I could feel there was distance between me and God. There were people in my life, that He didn't want me associated with of course I couldn't see it- but the Lord majorly intervened and I was able to finally see clearly. When I look back I can see how he paved my path and lead me in the right direction, I am truly grateful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VCS Conservatory - Reggie CoatesAugust 29, 2019 at 11:01 AM

      I am grateful too how patient God has been with me and how He has turned me around at crucial times I was going the wrong way.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousAugust 28, 2019 at 7:38 AM

    This made me reflect on a book I'm currently reading, Atomic Habits by James Clear. It's so true that God provides us with a way and can help maneuver us away from "misguided dreams." I'm trying to add upon the good changes I've already made in my life and hope I can proceed in a good direction.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Justin McPhersonSeptember 19, 2019 at 11:13 AM

    It is interesting to think about a specific turning point where God has prompted change...my entire life I was brought up under Christian thinking for me the first thing that came to mind was God prompts change daily. He asks me to be patient and kind when I want to be angry and mad. For me I ask the Holy Spirit to change me daily so I can live a life of Faith closer to God's will.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Melissa GunterDecember 9, 2019 at 10:25 AM

    Thank you, Jesus, for using dreams, people, and circumstances to give us truth and redirect us, especially when we are making bad choices. I had a turning point early on when I saw how a boyfriend's family (future husband) seemed to understand and get life and then compared that with the family I grew up in and how much didn't work. I knew Jesus, but hadn't seen such an earthly example of how and why we should choose Him. It was a clear picture of how I wanted my life to be and I am so thankful to God for showing me that as a young adult.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)