Archive for the ‘Devotions’ Category

What Do I Say?

Monday, October 5th, 2009

By Roline Thomas

In an episode of the TV sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond”, the rambunctious Frank Barone is caught by the store manager sampling trail mix. While Frank’s son Ray and granddaughter Ally look on, a heated argument ensues between the store manager and Frank. As a result, Ally becomes frightened by her grandfather’s public display. When the three returned home, Ray speaks to his father about the negative impact his behavior had on Ally. Initially Frank defends his actions, but later he decides to talk to Ally. Frank asks Ray, “What do I say?”

Frank doesn’t know what to say to Ally because he never talked to her before. He admitted to reading stories and singing songs to her, but he never had a real conversation with her. As I listened to Frank Barone’s confession, I thought about a time in my life when I did not know how to talk to God. Indeed, I was saved, attended church services, read my Bible, and sang songs to Him, but I really did not know how to talk to God. I listened to people whom I labeled “prayer warriors” pray in a powerful and confident manner. I didn’t know anything about sending up timbers and expecting a blessing.
Being a city girl, I did not understand the meaning of being mindful that “my bed was not my cooling board and my blanket was not my winding sheet.”

Prayer is our lifeline to God. Prayer unleashes God’s power so that he is able to work in our lives. God is waiting for you to talk to him. He is waiting for you to acknowledge him, think about him, and show him love, honor and respect.

Matthew 6:7 says. “When praying, do not say the same thing over and over again, just as the heathens do, for they think that they shall be heard for their use of many words.” When you talk to God he doesn’t want to hear the same prayer over and over. Prayers prayed in that manner lose their meaning and becomes insincere.

God deserves more than memorized prayers. He deserves to hear your own heartfelt words. Acknowledge who God is in prayer. He is our Father in heaven. Confess your sins. Thank Him for all he has done, is doing and will do in your life. Talk to him in detail about your needs, hopes, dreams, joys,
and everything else that is having any kind of importance or effect on your life.

Consistency is a key in prayer. If you don’t talk often to God, you will find yourself not knowing what to say, much like Frank Barone.

Posted in Devotions, Prayer | 4 Comments »

Bragging Rights

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Bragging Rights
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD.” – Jeremiah 9:23b-24a

Isn’t it amazing how we brag?! We boast about our magnificent homes, luxurious cars, fattened wallets, to die for wardrobes, higher educational achievements, fabulous careers, and our significant other.

There is nothing wrong with being proud of your accomplishments When I look at my daughters and my husband, I want to tell the world of the amazing feats that each have achieved. However, God says, He is the only one to be bragged on. Why not?! Doesn’t everything we have and accomplished come from God?

Have you bragged on God today? Have you told someone how proud you are to serve Him? Do you ever converse with people and just can’t seem to stop talking about Jesus? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it’s time for you to REALLY get to KNOW God. Spend intimate time alone with God. Read his Word. Talk to him in prayer. Let Him speak to you. I have discovered that I only brag on those who I personally know. I challenge you to cultivate your relationship with God by getting to know Him in a personal way.

Be Blessed,
Roline

Posted in Devotions, God's Glory | 4 Comments »

Let Your Light Shine

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Are you holding back your gifts and talents because you are afraid of how others may perceive you? So that you won’t come across as a know-it-all, do you withhold truths? Do you purposely not do your best so that you won’t upstage another person?

All who profess to be Christians have God’s glory within him. Evidence of man receiving the gift of God’s glory is found in Jesus’ prayer in the Garden at Gethsemane. In the Bible, John 17 contains the following verses:

10-And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
22-And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

Jesus says the glory of God is within us. That’s powerful. How powerful is this Glory of God? The woman with the issue of blood reached out to touch Jesus. She did not touch Jesus’ flesh, but she touched something that was touching Him. Because she touched that which was touching him, Jesus felt that virtue or power had gone out of him. In other words she had drained Him. The woman had pulled from Jesus’ glory!

As believers, we have that same glory of God within us that was in Jesus. POWERFUL! Have you ever ministered and you felt drained? That’s because people were being blessed by the glory of God within you. They tapped into your glory!

Marrianne Williamson made a very profound statement:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

We as Christians must stop portraying “false humility”. You know—when they get up to sing and state – “pray for me, my voice isn’t all that good” —and then they sing better than Patti Labelle. Or musicians declare, “I don’t play that well”—knowing they are skillful in their craft! Having false humility does not allow the Glory of God to be manifested in you. Actually it’s lying! You can be honest and humble.

When you let your light shine before men, without holding back, men will see your good works. And because you demonstrate the glory of God within you, others in turn will glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Don’t dim your light, let it shine bright.

Roline Thomas

Posted in Devotions, God's Glory, Living | 8 Comments »