Afternoon Devotion

January 13, 2021

Afternoon Bible Verse

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Afternoon Bible Study

Years ago, a popular television show followed the story of someone who would be transformed from an ugly duckling to a remarkably beautiful swan. Dentists would give the person a perfect smile, and doctors would perform multiple surgeries to provide an extreme makeover.

However, while the outside transformation was amazing, the inside of the swan remained the same. The person still struggled with insecurities and fears about what people thought. Thus, a complete change did not take place, and many people were left feeling incomplete.

When we come to Christ, a complete transformation takes place. We look and feel differently, and that comes from the change in our hearts. In the Book of Romans, we read about a transformation that takes place in our minds.

As we live in the world, we see and feel the effects of sin all around us. We need God to continuously renew our minds so we do not return to our former way of living.

Everything about us continues to change as we become more like Christ—the way we interact with others, how we feel about ourselves, and even our appearance. The change God brings is thorough and affects every part of who we are.

Afternoon Prayer

God, when I consciously chose to serve you, I knew that you had a lot of work to do in my life. I have lived only serving my own desires. Now, you are transforming my heart and mind to become more like you. The world offers so many things that could pull me away from you—but I want to follow your will for my life. Please help me to live in a way that is good, acceptable, and perfect. 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 12, 2021

Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Verse

Colossians 1:9

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Yesterday's Afternoon Bible Study

Social media allows us to read dozens of prayer requests every day. People post about their families and friends who are ill or experiencing hardships. Young children in far off countries pull at our heartstrings because we want God to do something on their behalf. It can be overwhelming to take it all in.

As followers of Christ, our natural response to someone's needs is, "I'll pray for you." But just as it's easy to click and read their requests, it is also easy to forget to take time to pray. While our hearts may be in the right place, it's important to follow through and lift other's needs to God in prayer.

It is comforting to know that people have prayed for us especially during the times when it is difficult to pray ourselves.

When we pray for others, we should ask God to meet their needs. We should pray that God will fill them with wisdom to make the right decisions and give them understanding. God will hear our requests as we cry out to Him.

The next time we hear someone ask for prayer, we should stop what we're doing and take time, right then, to lift them up in prayer. It is a privilege to offer our petitions to God on behalf of others.

Yesterday's Afternoon Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to come to you in prayer. It is a privilege to offer my petitions to you. My friends and family stay heavy on my heart. You know every situation they are facing and also everything going on in my life. My prayer is that you will fill each of us with the knowledge of your will and your wisdom. Thank you for hearing my prayers. In Jesus' name, amen.