From my book, Soul Songs for Summer, here are the devotional entries for the week of July 12-21:
July 12 Scripture
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)
King Solomon requested the gift of wisdom from God; it put many things into perspective. God’s universe is orderly in its complexity. In this writing, there is a balance, isn’t there? Our acquired wisdom comes when we understand that our sovereign God rules the universe and that His patterns are consistent. Life’s transitions fade one into another, but when we look at the panoply of history, or the sequences in our own lives, Solomon summarizes man’s mortal journey quite beautifully. Life is under God’s control and rejoice that He orders nature to balance the good with the bad and makes everything just right.
Prayer:
Lord, whatever my circumstance is on this scale of contrast, help me recognize change is inevitable, and I must recognize You are in charge of the hills and valleys of my experiences; You make all things right. In times of distress, relief is ahead. You never allow me to remain in the nighttime or winter; daylight and summer come. Thank You for the hard times so that the good ones are so much more pleasant. Thank You for blessing me with both, and that You never leave me languishing for long. I love You, Lord. Amen.
July 13 Scripture
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)
When God calls us, He provides. Our worship pastor, Dr. Paxson Jeancake, puts it this way: “God does not call the equipped; He equips the called.” Putting service to others in perspective, in our mortal being, we may grow weary when serving others, but Paul urges us to persist, to give our all, for eventually, if it is God’s will that we are doing this service with the correct motives—not for ourselves but for those we serve—the fruit will make itself obvious. Many a missionary who plants seeds may not see the harvest; some plant, some water, some bring in the harvest, but we are to notice the harvest may (and will be) in eternity. Let us carry on with that truth.
Prayer:
Lord, give me the strength to carry on, especially in serving other believers, for the sure harvest is waiting. Give me the grace to know that it may not be MY harvest, but it is Yours. All in good timing, You will bless the efforts of those who bless others, and I am encouraged in the giving of God’s message to others so that the increase by the Spirit’s blessing will one day occur. I pray You will especially bless those planting churches and serving people with the Gospel who may wait years to see their work flourish. Bless those under persecution. Thank You for the early church leaders. I and all nations benefited from their efforts. Amen.
July 14 Scripture
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:8)
I like the two implied meanings of morning in this verse. It can be a request for God to bless the first things we think about or address in our days, so that we give the first fruits of our time to the Lord of the universe, asking His blessing on the day. This may be known as our “Quiet time.” Or, it can magnify the importance of teaching our children in the “morning of their lives,” to put God first in their lives and their attention. The proverb “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”, is good sound advice.(Proverbs 22:6)
Either way we interpret the “morning,” it means that we intend to put God first, before all else, and before other things take hold of our attention. Before things get hectic and rushed, we can endeavor to spend time and enthusiastic conversation with the Lord. We may find this a pleasant way to bring order to chaos. Does that mean we have to be legalistic about it and feel guilty when we don’t? Not at all. Some of us are not at our best first thing in the day. But, we must find time to worship and ask God’s guidance each day—perhaps several times a day. To Him, we lift our souls. Otherwise, we can drift away.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to lift my soul to you always, even in the whispered prayer while waiting for the traffic light to change, or in a doctor’s “waiting room.” Guard those times for me. Make it my refuge in this busy, chaotic life. Help me pay full attention to this priority. I look forward to our time together. Seeking Your blessing. Amen.
July 15 Scripture
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
(2 Corinthians 12:1-7)
It is awesome how God gifts His people to serve others. Because He has created each of us with distinct personalities and talents and fits us for His service, the Holy Spirit calls us in different capacities to further the Kingdom’s work. Some are pastors, some teachers, some healers, and some take on the role as examples to those we serve. No one person is commissioned to do all things. We are to share the load, and God’s Spirit provides the right person for each task. The church is designed as a community to bless others, including its own members and those who are seeking the Savior. We encourage each other in ministry. Gone are the days when we called our pastors to be glorified office workers, visitor to the sick and shut-ins, the holder of every committee meeting all week long, and the leader of every Bible study. No. We are all called to serve roles to help carry the load. It’s Biblical, and gives opportunities for people to match their talents to tasks where they can do the most good.
Prayer:
Lord use me wherever You need me to accomplish Your purposes.(Psalm 84:10) Help me to share my gifts for the benefit of the whole congregation but not to show off or become irreplaceable. Help me to not call attention to myself but to Your working through me. In His service, Amen.
July 16 Scripture
Jesus said, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2)
I am in the process of establishing a small flower garden outside our apartment. Plants don’t always like coming to a new environment. Most have lived in protected warehouses, shielded from the sun, never knowing days without watering. Sometimes I have to severely cut them back so they can endure harsh Florida conditions. What’s our soul condition right now? Is it time to submit to the Lord’s pruning shears? Summer’s a good time to predict our life’s harvest
Prayer:
Lord, prune out the time-wasters, the trivialities that never will bear fruit for You, discipline my time, talents, and efforts so that I can effectively bloom where You have planted me. In my Bible study today, we thought about this—if others see my life today, how am I “advertising” that I am a Christian by my habits, speech, leisure time activities, and caring attitude for others?” Is today a good time for the Gardener to take the shears to me so that I can flourish for the Kingdom and give God the glory? Pruning may be painful. I recognize that, but Lord, You are in charge of my life. Fill me with a yearning to serve You best in my thoughts, actions, speech, habits, and witness to others what it means to bring Your blessings as an effective witness in a hurting world that needs Jesus. But, keep me humble, not showy! Amen.
July 17 Scripture
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for You lift my soul (Psalm 143:8
I’m sitting on my little porch, hearing the bird calls, watching the anode lizards dashing around being lizards, and reveling in the sunrise. There are just enough dark clouds on the horizon that the sun peaks through, sending golden rays like smiles. The trees wave in response, glistening with dew diamonds. All I can do is thank God for another day and pray for my loved ones, for This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24) Each day of the school year I send a Bible verse or a coloring page with scripture on it to my grown children, friends, and my granddaughters. It is good to begin the day thinking about God’s grace and mercy and praying for His guidance for the day. It just keeps us grounded, doesn’t it? How’s your morning going?
Prayer:
Merciful Father, thank You for raising the sun this morning, for giving the birds cheerful trills to sing, and sharing Your world ready for another day. May we all see Godincidences of Your presence. Help me to show grace in patience, mercy in understanding, and love in the potential frustrations that may face me. Let me take time to talk with residents here in this facility who have no one who visits, who depend on others for physical help, and who are discouraged by recent diagnoses. Help me advocate for those who can’t figure out their phones (I honestly think they’re smarter than we are!) Because I am beginning the day with You, I am energized. Praying that for you, dear reader. Amen.
July 18 Scripture
Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.(1 Peter 3:3-4)
I was taught as a child to wear “Sunday Best” as part of the worship experience. Mom curled my hair, I always wore a dress-up dress, and hats and gloves were the order of the day. Now, most evangelical churches say “come as you are. God sees your heart, not your outward appearance.” I guess there’s probably a happy medium somewhere, but I’m glad that now I can cut my hair, put on a little lipstick, and even polish my nails if I wish. What’s important is that God looks at the heart, and in Peter’s day, he wanted women to have the “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” That never goes out of style for a Christian.
Prayer:
Lord, You tell me to come to You just as I am. I do not need to “clean up” to find Your acceptance, and I’m eternally grateful I don’t have to wear a hat or “act proper,” like Grandma who “kept Sundays.” Those afternoons, sitting on her scratchy horsehair settee were sedate—quiet conversation, no games, strict warnings to behave quietly. Legalism never saved a soul, Yes, I worship. Yes, I preserve family time. Yes, Sundays are special, but “warts and all,” You want us to come to You, Thank You for Your grace. We do not need to “clean up” to find Your acceptance and the gift of salvation. Praised be Your Name for that, Lord. Amen.
July 19 Scripture
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-20)
I love the book of James, an “advice column” like “Dear Abby” newspaper features in the “old days,” but James addresses the baby Christians of the new church being established in the first century. There’s lots to digest. Every verse is a jewel. I urge you to read it and see the gist of its message—not only good guidance through the ages, but very appropriate for today.
In this time of “speak your piece,” “anything goes,” podcasts and tweets and chatrooms, we can take guidance in verse 20: If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and keep unstained from the world. Oh, do we need mercy here!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray the Holy Spirit will help me on my sanctification path.. Use summertime to assess where I am and lead me to become Your ambassador. With Your gentle pruning, I can demonstrate a changed heart because I sit at the feet of Jesus. Help me to love and serve you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love others more than myself. Guide and direct my baby steps today, Lord. Amen.
July 20 Scripture
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction. They loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress. He sent out His word and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of men! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!
(Psalm 107)
I love this Psalm, the entirety of it. In my Bible, the heading at the top of this page introduces a litany of God’s blessings to the people of Israel, yet they often strayed from God. Hopefully, we do not. Yes, there were miracles in the Old Testament: Abel, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Abraham, Rahab, and the list goes on: stories of faith and trust in God taught the Jews to look forward to Messiah Who made all things new with His teachings and His resurrection. I praise God that we have these testaments in our hands, God’s Word. How often do we honor it by literally devouring its truths every day?
Prayer:
Lord, guide me and I’ll practice thanksliving aloud, verbally, today. Inspire me to talk of You on the way, from morning to night, and to worship You informally proclaiming, “It’s a God Thing!” “Thank you for that parking space,” “Bless the ambulance driver and the one he’s going to serve.” Almighty God, yet Abba, Father, I worship You today in the beauty of holiness and grace, and in chaos as well. For my good and Your glory. Amen.
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