Change Yourself~

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and we DEVO readers will be doing our part. And even though I didn't see the headlines anywhere, every first Thursday in the month of May is set apart for a time of collective national head-bowing. Our President himself prayed this morning and said, "All of us have the freedom to pray and exercise our faiths openly. Our laws protect these God-given liberties, and rightly so. Today and every day, prayers will be offered in houses of worship, at community gatherings, in our homes, and in neighborhoods all across our country. Let us give thanks for the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit, whether individually or in fellowship."

 

AMEN! to that.

 

Yesterday's DEVO ended with this question:

"If this young wife and mom was not driven to despair, then to what, or shall I say, to Whom was she driven?"

 

Notice what the President said above--that we have the freedom to practice our faith as we see fit. We have a choice to make. We can either practice or not. We can seek God or not.

 

This young woman chose to go to God. It might be more accurate to say she RAN to God.

 

When it all started falling apart, it was very clear to her, like it should be to you and me, that there are some things we can not change. She could not undo the infidelity.

 

But there was one thing she could change, and it was herself.

 

How did she change herself? Ask her and she will tell you that previously she might have flipped out and broken down. But something had already been happening in her life that had her steadily approaching God with confidence.

 

One of her children had a health concern that prompted this mom to make prayer a regular part of her diet.

 

At first, when they were visiting different doctors and getting opinions, it was a struggle not to give in to panic. But over and over again our friend acted on Hebrews 4:16, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

 

Like all of us, some days she needed His help more than others, but when the other issue surfaced, she was already well-practiced in prayer.

 

She knew her only hope was to keep it up.

 

The only One Who could help her keep her attitude in check was God.

The only One Who could keep her from getting bitter was God.

The only One Who could keep unforgiveness from growing in her heart was God.

 

But let's be honest; she had to make the effort. No one could our would force her. No matter how much someone begs for forgiveness, we don't have to give it if we don't want to.

 

And in her world, where family and friends alike, practically conspired against her marriage by telling her to dump him or get back at him, she chose a different route. One that was difficult, one that was scary, one that was more often than not lonely, and one that was foreign to her except one thing--JESUS would be travelling with her.

 

What does our journey look like when Jesus travels alongside?

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

We join our voices with everyone else today on the National Day of Prayer, and we thank You for the freedom to practice our faith in this fellowship of DEVO readers. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is forget about the things we can not change and instead change ourselves with your help. We are grateful for the invitation that You have given us all to come boldly to Your throne and ask for help. HERE WE ARE! Help us. In Jesus name, AMEN~