Afternoon Devotion
January 6, 2025
Afternoon Bible Verse
James 1:2-3
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Afternoon Bible Study
In some places of the world, dirt roads are common. They allow you to travel through remote and scenic areas, which gives you a beautiful drive.
However, these types of roads are very susceptible to potholes. Heavy rain washes away gravel that keeps the road stable. For the driver who is unaware of the changes in the road, a pothole can cause damage to a vehicle and turn a lovely drive into an unpleasant experience.
All of us hit potholes at different places in our journeys through life. Many times, they catch us off guard and can have a profound effect on us.
In the New Testament, James writes a letter to the Church. He encourages them to "count it all joy" when they face difficult circumstances because it will produce godly character in them.
However, these types of roads are very susceptible to potholes. Heavy rain washes away gravel that keeps the road stable. For the driver who is unaware of the changes in the road, a pothole can cause damage to a vehicle and turn a lovely drive into an unpleasant experience.
All of us hit potholes at different places in our journeys through life. Many times, they catch us off guard and can have a profound effect on us.
In the New Testament, James writes a letter to the Church. He encourages them to "count it all joy" when they face difficult circumstances because it will produce godly character in them.
Yet joy is typically the furthest thing from our minds when we go through tough or tempting situations.
There's a reason why James says that the trying of our faith will produce patience—because these situations try our patience. We might be gliding through life and suddenly hit a pothole that makes us feel stuck and discouraged. But James reminds us that God can use these troubles to make us more like Him.
So the next time you see a pothole in the road, think about the potholes of our lives and how God uses them to draw us closer to Him.
There's a reason why James says that the trying of our faith will produce patience—because these situations try our patience. We might be gliding through life and suddenly hit a pothole that makes us feel stuck and discouraged. But James reminds us that God can use these troubles to make us more like Him.
So the next time you see a pothole in the road, think about the potholes of our lives and how God uses them to draw us closer to Him.
Afternoon Prayer
God, you are aware of every trial I'm currently facing. I know these difficulties provide an opportunity to know and trust you like never before. If it is your will, please remove the struggles I'm facing. But if it will help me grow closer to you, then give me the strength to endure until the end. Then, I will give you all the praise for providing everything I need to be in life. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.
-C.S. Lewis
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.
-Elbert Hubbard
The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.
-C.S. Lewis
If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to.
-Dorothy Parker
Yesterday's Devotional
January 5, 2025
Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Verse
Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Study
The phrase "all or nothing" has become popular in business, sports, and many other areas of life. We are constantly challenged to "go big or go home." But how does that mindset fit into our walk with God?
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that we should be fully devoted to our relationship with the Father. He specifically mentions every part of our being—heart, mind, and soul. It's not enough to love God with our hearts but not our minds. Or to have Him as the master of our soul, but not guiding our hearts. The only way to serve God in a way that honors Him is to give it everything we have.
In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us that we should be fully devoted to our relationship with the Father. He specifically mentions every part of our being—heart, mind, and soul. It's not enough to love God with our hearts but not our minds. Or to have Him as the master of our soul, but not guiding our hearts. The only way to serve God in a way that honors Him is to give it everything we have.
We see an example of this type of devotion in the lives of Jesus' disciples. When they chose to follow Jesus and travel with Him, they left their entire lives behind. To go all in, their professions and families took a back seat. They didn't look back. They chose to follow the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind.
We can be devoted in our walk with the Lord. It begins with allowing Him to give us the strength to follow Him. When we choose an "all or nothing" attitude, we are modeling the example that Jesus and His disciples set for us.
We can be devoted in our walk with the Lord. It begins with allowing Him to give us the strength to follow Him. When we choose an "all or nothing" attitude, we are modeling the example that Jesus and His disciples set for us.
Yesterday's Afternoon Prayer
Lord, you deserve all the worship I can give. I don't want to praise you with my mouth but not with my heart. Keep my mind focused on you so I can glorify you with my thoughts. I need your help to give my all for you. I know that I can only live "all in" by the power of your Spirit. Please give me the strength I need. In Jesus' name, amen.