From my newest book, Soul Songs for Summer, devotional entries for August 1 through August 8. Book can be purchased on Amazon.com, written by Betty Whitaker Jackson.
August 1 Scripture
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3: 12-15)
When we get rid of the junk, expressed in the previous verses in Colossians, we need to replace it with the means of grace, evidence of our changed nature as new creatures. God directs our steps, leading to perfect harmony when we are part of His kingdom. Death to self, the old creatures we were before Christ, tarnished by the fallen world. Even if we grow up in the church, we are to guard against selfish actions, thoughts, attitudes and practices, and live in obedience to our higher calling.
Then we will know the joy of living in perfect harmony with others and know the blessings of being right with God because we hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Prayer:
Lord, direct my steps in my new walk as a redeemed lover of Your kingdom. Help me to live in love for my fellow believers, and to be, as much as possible, compassionate, kind, humble, meek, always thinking about the other person and putting to death my personal desires in order to serve Your kingdom with grace, mercy, and love. And when I fail, teach me to immediately ask for Your forgiveness and also ask forgiveness from others I may have harmed. Renew a right spirit within me. In Your name. Amen.
August 2 Scripture
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3: 16-17)
Let us practice thanksliving. Let every moment of every day, as much as we can assume this identity, be filled with the joy of the Lord, and let us be in a constant attitude of gratitude. I wrote a book called Thanksliving: Attitude of Gratitude after embracing this concept. Am I perfect at it? No, but I am striving. I think of a hymn, scripture, or a contemporary Christian song that addresses the issue. (YouTube has many on every Christian concept!) God blesses me with new understanding, and He provides just the attitude-change I require. I wish that for all of us, for it lightens our burdens of illness, harsh criticism, depression, and difficulties which attack us from time to time. Try following these remedies when life throws us challenges.
Jesus is the reason we can be thankful. Be thankful we have such an advocate Who suffered far worse to save our souls from the devilish things of this world.
rayer:
Lord, I say thank You, especially after I can overcome difficulties and challenges, because I can persevere, grow in character, and then can counsel others facing the same dilemmas. I’ll sing hymns, read scripture, pray, encourage others, and worship You. I thank You for challenges which grow me up. You strengthen me every day in every situation because I am Yours. Amen.
August 3 Scripture
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed— and though you get praise when you do well for yourself his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49: 16 -20)
In the New Testament, Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than putting a camel through the eye of a needle. We are warned about materialism, saving up treasure on earth rather than treasure in heaven. I was convicted of this recently by a comment regarding grocery products, eating out, and feeding the poor. Just look at our bank statements to see what our financial priorities are. Let’s think about what’s most important and what our tithe and beyond-tithing looks like. Can we be more generous?
Prayer:
Lord, I am told to store up my treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not consume.. Today, let me take stock of my finances. Do I take the first fruits, the top ten percent to give to the church for its ministries? Do I support church planting, give to the food bank, sponsor a missionary’s finances, take groceries or meals to shut ins, contribute to the local anti-abortion clinic? Do I tithe my time and volunteer for worthy projects? I answer, “Yes.” Let me watch my motives—are donations mere tax deductions, or do I willingly share my assets? Where my treasure is, there is my heart also. Guard my decision-making, in the “little” things. Like the mercy fund. Amen.
August 4 Scripture
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 2:9 -10)
Paul reveals that he has some physical disability and has asked God to take it away, more than once. He is, in a way, complaining that he is somewhat compromised, but God tells him to rely on His strength. I’m wondering how often we think volunteering for just one more project is just plain inconvenient. Today, let us look at our excuses when we’re asked to take on a task. Is that relevant today? Is it inconvenient? Probably. Is it taking us away from something else we feel is more important? Maybe. Do we make excuses? Sometimes. The question is, do we comprehend that the blessings of service often benefit us in the final outcome? God blesses our efforts. We learn new skills, set priorities, recognize a need we can fulfill, and ultimately are blessed by sharing our time, talents, and finances.
Prayer:
Almighty God, use my humble abilities any way You can. Let me be Your hands, feet, tongue for You and surely, I will see the blessings You provide when I say “Yes,” rather than, “But I have other plans.” Remembering that I am to love others more than myself, let me share who I am to glorify Who You are. You provide the strength when I say “Yes,” with a smile and hearty effort. “My Pleasure!”, “Thank you for asking me.” “I’ll do my best to help! Amen.
August 5 Scripture
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
(Colossians 3:3-4)
When Nicodemus asked about being born again, Jesus told him He is a new creation when He follows the Way. We are not our own; we are bought with the price of Jesus’ sacrifice. He lives in us and we are His. What a mighty responsibility and privilege at the same time. Do you understand the immensity of being born again? Through our second birth, we die once. Others who do not know the blessing of rebirth face mortal death and final judgment, doomed to the second death of complete separation from our God because of their unbelief. We believers, however, will appear with Him in glory. Could there be a greater gift? I think not.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice, and for sending the Holy Spirit so that I can know You in this life and for the life to come. I pray You will guide me to tell others about Your love, to see those around me who are perishing because they do not yet know You. Give me opportunities, Godincidences and not-by-chance-but by Your design to share Your Gospel’s message. Make me bold, winsome, eager to share the good news You have revealed to me. In Your precious Name. Amen.
August 6 Scripture
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of His servant; none of them who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
(Psalm 34: 18-22)
Beyond scripture, I remember Mr. Rogers, imparter of all good things to children’s broadcasting and a Presbyterian pastor said something his mother had taught him. “In every disaster, look at the helpers,” In my octogenarian experience, I have had difficulties and disappointments, but I have always found what the Bible calls “the balm in Gilead.” (Jeremiah 8:22) If I seek God’s hand, then God soothes me. He is sovereign, and I will learn from the experience if I put my hope and trust in Him for the outcome. Does that mean, literally, that we will never know broken bones? Not necessarily, but we will know His strength is sufficient if we call on His Name when troubles come. I trust that will be your experience as well.
Prayer:
Lord, when tragedy strikes, let me immediately call on You to provide the strength, confidence, and assurance You are present with us.. Often big disasters bring questions of “Why, Lord?” of “How can I cope with this?” May others who know You bolster me up. Remind me that You are in charge, even in this new reality. Thank you for loving me through tough times, so I can rely more on Your grace and mercy. Amen.
August 7 Scripture
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
(Ephesians 6: 23)
One of my favorite parts of every worship service is the benediction. I love this definition: (www.dictionary.com )
“A benediction is a blessing — either a formal one that you might hear in a church service or an informal one that you might utter when you take any leap of faith.” It is a dismissal from the presence of other saints worshipping together when we are “sent out” indeed with a “leap of faith” that soon we will again congregate to share in the blessing of corporate worship together. I often wish total strangers with, “God bless your day!” hoping that person, whatever his faith walk or straying from it will think, for just a moment, that someone cared enough to wish him more than “Good morning,” or “How are you doing?” It is good to give benediction to those we love, at the end of a phone call, or with a hug before they, and we, take a “leap of faith” that all will be well with us and them as well.
Prayer:
As I leave worship, I extend my open hands as if to receive a gift, Who knows what will intervene before that blessing in a week, or perhaps longer for those I may never see again before heaven. “Bene,” as the prefix means good, and what better benefit can I receive from our pastor than blessing our time away from each other as much as he blessed our time in fellowship together. Jesus says, “Peace I leave with You,” and I am blessed by that thought. Amen.
August 8 Scripture
Blessed is the death of His saints. (Psalm 116:15)
Today would have been my father’s 101st birthday. He died a week after his sixty-first birthday…much too soon. This verse was chosen by our beloved pastor. I remember thinking, as he extoled my father’s wonderful contributions as a businessman, devoted head of our family, community leader, and member of the consistory of our church how much he would be missed. He left an enormous hole in each of these pieces of his legacy. Yet, as I later reflected, Dad would have hated being eighty-five, where my husband and I are now. He was a vital, happy, productive, loving, generous, man.. All who met to honor him knew, on a much smaller scale, of course, that God sacrificed His precious Son at a much earlier age, so that we all could live in His presence. And heaven is a much better place than we can experience here. Imagine the surprises that await us where all those precious to the Lord are gathered. Precious, indeed, is the death of His saints, for it is merely a beginning of paradise.
Prayer:
Lord, I honor those who have passed to glory ahead of me, those who have escaped the bondage of gravity, illness, disappointment, busy schedules, demands, and frustrations. They are resting in Your eternal arms if they embraced Jesus in this life. I thank you for those who have blessed my life and now reside with You. I thank You that Jesus ascended to sit at Your right hand, and that one day I will be privileged, because of His precious sacrifice, to personally receive the promise of entering Your presence. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.
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