Elizabeth George's Blog, page 2

Faith of a Mustard Seed

We’ve all struggled at one time or another with our ability to fully trust God. I never truly realized the extent to which I wrestled with Him over both the simplest of things, and the big things, until I had children. Yet, I would always hear Him whisper to my spirit, “I will protect them. Trust me.”

As the mother of girls I may have had misplaced faith in that fact. After all, girls tend to be more cautious. But maybe you’re the mother of boys. You might hear God ask you to trust them to His care and immediately begin to think of all the dangers that could beset them. But again He says, “Trust me.”

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20).

A friend once shared a story with me. As she meditated over scripture and asked for revelation of what God wanted to show her, she began to pace the floor and pray. Then she heard Him whisper to her spirit to sit down. Obeying God, she sat down in the nearest chair and that is when He dropped revelation into her spirit.

Sometimes we have more faith in a chair’s ability to sustain us than we do in God’s ability to sustain us.

We never question whether or not the chair will hold us, or if it has a flaw in it somewhere, or whether or not it has secure footing. We certainly don’t question whether or not it loves us enough to hold us up. We just sit. We simply trust. We don’t walk around and test all of the chairs to see which is the strongest or which seems better for the job. We sometimes have more faith in a random inanimate object than we do in our loving and eternal, living God.

My friend confessed that she now shakes and pushes on chairs almost every time before sitting in them just to make God laugh. God showed her that another root of not trusting or having little faith is pride. It is the pride in our own ability to make what we perceive to be better decisions than God. We think we have a faster response time than God, and more love for our children than God. Yes, she admits, she truly thought, and said it often, that nobody loves her kids like she does. She didn’t mean for that to include God, but obviously, in her heart she had.

You see, the profound part about her chair shaking escapades is that she knew clearly that she didn’t worship a chair or put more trust and faith in it than she did in God. What she began to realize was that her faith was in herself. Her trust was in her knowledge. She knew the chair would hold her because she had sat in it before. She trusted herself more and that is why she now had a problem trusting God with other areas of her life.

Pray and ask the Lord to help you put more faith and trust in Him. He is our Father and Creator. Ask Him to take your faith, even as small as a mustard seed, and use it for His glory.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for using our small faith. Thank You for being worthy of trust. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

A Mom After God’s Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children by Elizabeth George helps you make God an everyday part of your child's life.

REFLECT:

In what areas of your life have you misplaced your faith?

REMEMBER:

We’ve all struggled at one time or another with our ability to fully trust God. But He can use even our small faith for His glory.

One Decision at a Time

How did men and women in the Bible accomplish great things for God? There wasn’t any secret formula or bestselling book on success for them. In fact, they were ordinary people like you and me. What made them effective was their willingness to obey God—one decision at a time.

Life requires that you make decisions, and obviously there are a variety of levels of decisions to be made. Some are simple, and others complex. Each and every decision you make, regardless of its level of intensity, can have long-lasting consequences. Your impact on the lives of others is cultivated with each decision you make, no matter how small. If you had to make any of these serious decisions on your own, it could create stress and anxiety.

But God hasn’t left you without help. He has given you His Word to show you the way as a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). He has also given you spiritually mature Christians in your church who can help provide guidance. As I look back on other decisions I’ve made, I realize I learned many times the hard way that, when I didn’t pray, seek God’s wisdom, or ask for godly advice, I just about always make wrong decisions.

So, speaking from experience, here are some guiding principles to use before making a decision:

No decision made without prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)

When in doubt, don’t (Romans 14:23)

Always ask “What does the Bible say?” (John 17:17)

Always do what you know is right (James 4:14)

Don’t let fear influence you (1 John 4:18).

Thank the Lord for His wisdom, follow the principles He has provided in His Word, and conquer each day's decisions with the confidence only He can provide.

RESPOND:

Father, may this day be filled with small steps of obedience. Thank You for Your help in making decisions. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Each new day presents opportunities to grow your faith, manage your work and

your goals, and make good use of the time God gives you. But making the right choices moment by moment isn't easy. Prepare to create a more beautiful and productive life and make each day more meaningful. God's best awaits you when you choose to live His way!

REFLECT:

Take time today to reflect on decisions that need to be made, and pray for wisdom in making them.

REMEMBER:

Thank the Lord for His wisdom, follow the principles He has provided in His Word.

Power in Prayer

There are few things that can change a marriage the way prayer can. While I was an associate pastor, a couple came to my office for marriage counseling. After we pinpointed several areas of concern in their marriage that needed their attention, I asked the husband to commit the couple’s desires to the Lord. As the man finished praying, I looked up to discover that his wife was crying. She explained through her tears that this was the first time in ten years of marriage that they had prayed together as a couple!

Too often we find ourselves in a situation where things in our marriage are festering inside of us and instead of taking those things to God, we hurl them at our spouse or gossip about them to our friends and family. If we want things to change then why would we do this?

The Bible instructs us to make our requests known to God. In fact, we are instructed in Philippians 4:6 to make our requests known to God though prayer and supplication. Most of us know that prayer is the general term for conversing with the Father, but do you know what supplication means? It means to pray with a sense of need. What greater need might we have than to save our marriage if there is trouble on the horizon?

The Bible gives us many examples of others who have done this very thing:

Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah to conceive (Genesis 25:21).Hannah prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:11).Zacharias prayed for a child (Luke 1:13).Paul prayed for the salvation of his countrymen, for the Philippians, and for Timothy.Jesus prayed about His death (Matthew 26:36-46).

Our Savior and these heroes of faith prayed for specific needs, desires, and requests. You and I are to do the same. Be faithful to lift up the personal needs in your life and those of your loved ones to God through specific supplications and petitions. Then watch to see how God will answer. If you really want to see some change, take your spouse’s hand and unite together in prayer. Mountains will move. Try it.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to strengthen your marriage. Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, or formal, or take more than a few minutes. Make it as simple and easy and natural as you can for both of you.

I guarantee you will both be blessed, and it will also do wonders for your marriage. After all, what is the old saying? “The couple who prays together stays together.” Prayer together is a shared spiritual experience. It is a strong tie that binds two hearts and souls together. And imagine the mutual joy you’ll experience as you witness God’s answers to your prayers…together!

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for Your promises to us. Thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

15 Verses to Pray for Your Husband  will help you make it a habit to pray for God’s guidance in partner’s life.

REFLECT:

How can you set aside time to pray as a couple? What issues are you worrying about that you can take to the Lord in prayer?

REMEMBER:

Make it a point—and a practice—to come before the Lord in prayer together as a couple.

The Death and Resurrection of Christ

Christ’s death and resurrection is a core value of Christianity. The resurrection is the focal point of every truth Christ taught His disciples while on Earth. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). It was the resurrection that turned Jesus’ brokenhearted followers into courageous witnesses and martyrs who, in just a few years, would spread the gospel across the Roman Empire and beyond. The resurrection proclaimed the fact that when Jesus died, so did death. Here are three reasons why Christ died:

Jesus died to buy you back from the bondage of sin. Jesus told His disciples that He must die, and He told them why: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, mankind came under the bondage of Satan, sin, and death. Jesus’ death paid the ransom price that was necessary to satisfy God’s holiness and justice. God’s holiness required that the penalty be paid, and God’s love provided that payment in the death of the Son ( John 3:16). Jesus’ perfect life was the only sacrifice that could be offered that would satisfy God’s justice. Jesus died so you don’t have to die.

Jesus died to prove His power over death. Jesus had to die not only to pay the penalty for our sin, but also to show His power over death. The apostle Paul said Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead”(Romans 1:3-4). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves He is God and that He possesses eternal life, and that He can therefore give this same eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Jesus died to defeat death. At first glance, Satan appeared to be victorious in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, and their sin resulted in immediate spiritual death and ultimate physical death. Even at the cross, when Jesus died, Satan seemed to have won. But God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus rose from the dead. Death is no longer a source of dread or fear for us—it “has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Christ overcame death, and a day is coming when all those who are in Christ will overcome it, too.

Are you a believer in Christ? If so, you will not experience spiritual death. With that in mind, take to heart the apostle Paul’s challenge to “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for the resurrection and the reality that death is defeated! Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Commit your heart and life to Christ now, with the goal of becoming a man after God's own heart--you'll find it the most rewarding pursuit ever!

REFLECT:

Take time to thank God for what His death and resurrection means to you.

REMEMBER:

Christ’s resurrection is a core value of Christianity.

Proclaim His Coming

The Savior of the world certainly came to earth in an unexpected way. He came as a servant of God to sacrifice himself for us. It wasn’t immediately apparent to others that Jesus was the Messiah, the King, they were waiting for.

But God had prepared a way. Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was very popular among the people of Israel. Large crowds followed him, heard him preach, and submitted to his call for repentance from their sinful lifestyle. At the peak of John’s popularity, Jesus came to the Jordan River, where John was con­ducting his ministry. John recognized Him and humbly told his followers, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of Him…He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28,30).

But even John the Baptist wasn’t entirely enlightened about Jesus’ full mission. John the Baptist had introduced Jesus to the people as the One who would bring judgment with His coming (Matthew 3:11-12). Later, when John was put in prison, he heard that Jesus was heal­ing the sick, and not bringing judgment as John had thought. He wondered if Jesus really was the One.

Some of John’s disciples were sent to ask Jesus to confirm that He was the Messiah. In response, Jesus confirmed John’s message that He was the Messiah and sent them back with the confirmation of many miracles and fulfilled prophecies.

Rather than reprimanding John for his unbelief, Jesus said that John was “more than a prophet,” and that “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Mat­thew 11:9,11). Using Old Testament scriptures, Jesus shared God’s description of John: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.”

Jesus wanted the people to know how unique John was. Jesus was grateful that the Father had sent John as His herald, His messenger. Unless someone preceded the King to tell people of His arrival, how would they know that the King was coming?  Jesus’ words conveyed how thankful He was for John. And He wanted to ensure that John was never forgotten. Jesus also must have been considering His own future suffering when He encouraged John that his suffering and humble service were for the greater purpose of offering redemption and eternal life for all.

Do you proclaim Jesus as the Savior of the world to the people around you? This is a wonderful week to thank God for the gift of His Son, our Savior, and those saints who came before us proclaiming the Gospel. Take time consider who you could proclaim the Gospel to or invite to church this Easter Sunday.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, thank You for the privilege of proclaiming Your coming to a watching world. Amen

RENEWING RESOURCES:

Bare Bones Bible Handbook by Jim George is the perfect tool to discover fascinating and inspirational stories from the Bible. This resource is a fast and friendly overview of every book of the Bible.

REFLECT:

How can I tell more people about the coming of Christ?

REMEMBER:

Take time consider who you could proclaim the Gospel to or invite to church this Easter Sunday.

The Supreme Model of Joy

Jesus Himself gives us the supreme model of joy in the midst of life’s dark pain. There was probably no greater source of pain in the ancient world than crucifixion on a Roman cross, but we read in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus, “For the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” Knowing that His suffering would result in great joy, Jesus looked toward His future with the Father as He endured the excruciating pain of death on the cross.

As one Bible commentator notes, “Despite the misunderstanding, the rejection, the hatred, the pain He endured from men while incarnate among them, the Lord never lost His joy in the relationship He had with His Father. And that joy He gives to each of His followers.” The same wondrous joy that Jesus experienced in His darkest hours is yours and mine today. Won’t you look to God for that joy? Let it help you endure your dark and pain-filled days.

What can you and I do to cultivate this fruit of joy in the Lord in our daily walk with God?

Offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually—even when you don’t feel like it (Hebrews 13:15). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, this act of thanksgiving transforms our pain into praise.

“Consider it all joy… when you encounter various trials,” writes James in chapter one verse two. As I said earlier, let the very hindrances to joy become the soil out of which joy blossoms! This is what happens when we let hard times drive us nearer to the Lord, the only Source of gen­uine joy and real hope.

Give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Whatever is happening—good or bad—give thanks to God for His sovereignty, His perfect timing, His per­fect plan, and His unconditional love.

Bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1). Offer unceas­ingly the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). The Spirit can—and will—use your praise to touch you with God’s joy.

Focus on the reality of God’s promises. Every time you open your Bible, read with a marker in hand and look for powerful promises that can change your out­look to one of joy. Go a step further and memorize those verses you like best and meditate on them.

Look up. Shift your eyes and your hopes away from your suffering and focus instead on the splendor of God (Psalm 121:1-2).

Obey God’s command to be joyful always (1 Thessa­lonians 5:16). As author Jerry Bridges notes, “We are not to sit around waiting for our circumstances to make us joyful. We are commanded to be joyful always… we should continually be growing in joy.”

Go to God to be filled with His joy whenever you need it.

RESPOND:

Father, my heart overflows with the love and blessings You’ve given me. Even in the midst of my trials and sorrow I can be joyful in my heart because I know You are in charge. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

If you are facing a difficult or painful situation, you are not alone. Draw on God’s Word and the experience of others in ”Finding God’s Path Through Your Trials” by Elizabeth George.

REFLECT:

What trials are you going through right now? How can you use them to point you to Christ?

REMEMBER:

Shift your eyes away from suffering and onto the splendor of God.

God Rescues Us

We live in a world of fires, floods, earthquakes, and other kinds of disasters from which people need to be rescued. Some of these rescues are performed by police and fire personnel, while others are done by other specially trained individuals. These professionals spend a lot of time preparing for the possibility that they might need to rescue a person. Their ability to do the job well can mean the difference between a victim escaping alive or being lost.

Have you ever thought about the fact that God is in the rescue business? But with God, it’s a different kind of rescue—He takes those who are dead in their sins and gives them life. Rescue began in eternity. If you are a believer in Christ, your salvation was not a recent development on God’s part. Your rescue was planned in eternity past and executed in the realm of time.

This rescue was accomplished in time. The Bible says, “You were dead in your transgressions and sin” (Ephesians 2:1). Because you were spiritually dead, you could not comprehend your need to be rescued. You were spiritually lost and didn’t know it. Unless God intervenes in the life of an unsaved person, he or she will continue down the path to eternal destruction. But thankfully, God does intervene and gives certain people the desire to be rescued.

A good example of God’s intervention is seen in the life of a woman named Lydia. Acts 16:14 says, “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” At God’s appointed time, Lydia’s eyes were opened and she realized she was in a burning building and responded to the gospel. Salvation is accomplished as God opens the hearts and minds of people to repent of their sins and accept Christ’s death as the payment for their sins. The apostle Paul said it this way: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

Out of gratitude for God’s grace and mercy, lift up ongoing praise to God! Be excited about telling others who need to be rescued that Christ offers them salvation and a new life in Him! Knowing that only God can save should prompt you to pray for unsaved family members, friends, and workmates. Ask God to open their hearts to the gospel. You are not saved for your own purposes, but to praise God, honor your Savior, and serve His people as you wait expectantly for your coming inheritance. What a glorious day that will be!

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for rescuing us! Help us to live in thankfulness to you during this Easter season.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

You will experience peace, order, and joy when you follow God's guidelines for every area of your life as you embrace God's plans for you. Find real purpose through a life of prayer and practicing God's priorities, as you determine to be A Woman After God’s Own Heart.

REFLECT:

How has God rescued you?

REMEMBER:

If you are a believer in Christ your rescue was planned in eternity past and executed in the realm of time.

Trust in My Might or God’s?

Confidence is a quality that everyone desires. Self-confidence suggests that one trusts in his or her own abilities. The “self-made” person has a firm trust in their education, professional abilities, athletic skills, looks, health, or material resources. Their belief in themselves produces a state of mind and manner that is marked by freedom from uncertainty, self-doubt, or embarrassment. But there’s another kind of confidence. This confidence is also is based on trust. However, it’s not a trust in self, but a trust in God. Who better to demonstrate the confidence that comes from trusting God than God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus? Even at the early age of twelve, while teaching at the temple (Luke 2:41-52), Jesus was confident in His identity as the son of God.

Likewise your confidence must come from your identity in and with Jesus. He has made you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and given you a fresh start. Your past has been forgiven. The slate of your sins has been erased. Your present is empowered by Jesus’ Spirit. And your future is guaranteed for all eternity. You are one with Christ. Therefore, there’s no reason to be fearful of anything. Oh, you must have a healthy respect for the fragility of life and the need for wisdom and safety precautions. But there’s no reason to be anxious about your normal activities.

If your confidence for some challenge is wavering, maybe you’ve lost sight of who it is you are to trust. Trusting in yourself is shaky ground. Trust instead in the rock that is solid—Jesus Christ. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7).

Jesus once instructed His disciples before sending them out for ministry. He cautioned them, explaining, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16). This doesn’t seem like a very good way to instill confidence in a newly appointed evangelistic team, does it? Jesus wanted to give His new team a realistic picture of what they would face. He told them the truth to make them wiser about what was really out there.

But Jesus wasn’t finished. To ensure that the disciples’ confidence wouldn’t waver, He ended His pep talk with an assurance of God’s care. He clearly communicated that the same God who takes care of the insignificant little sparrow would surely take care of them. Jesus then told them, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).

God places great value on you. Savor this truth! In fact, you are so valuable that He sent His only Son to die for you (John 3:16). And because of God’s love, you never need to be afraid of personal challenges or difficult trials. Yes, times of trouble will come, but rather than hiding in fear, have the confidence to trust your all-wise and loving heavenly Father. The wolves are out there, but the Good Shepherd knows that you are one of His sheep. He is always there with you and for you!

RESPOND:

Lord, You are the Solid Rock worthy of my confidence. Thank You for Your love, care, and protection. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In “Relying on the Power of the Spirit” by Elizabeth George, you can study the book of Acts, which is filled with incredible examples of God's Spirit at work in the lives of His people. Step out in the Spirit's power and yield yourself completely to all God wants to do through you.

REFLECT:

How have you seen God’s care for you grow your confidence?

REMEMBER:

When your confidence wavers, turn your focus to Christ and what He has done for you.

Recognizing God’s Purpose for You

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.

Do you ever have what I call doubtful days—days when the dull routine of duty weighs you down? Or days when the curve balls of surprise, disappointment, and tragedy leave you feeling like you’re striking out? I remember when my life had no purpose. As an average woman with an average marriage, two average preschool daughters, and an average house, I shook my fist at the kitchen ceiling one average and desperate day and cried, “There has to be more to life than this!” My lack of purpose caused me to wonder, to doubt, and to rage.

But, praise God, He used my search for pur­pose to help me recognize that I needed Jesus Christ! I became a Christian several months later. And suddenly I saw the purpose of everything in my life because I saw that God had a purpose for me! Knowing that God has a purpose for my life and for my salvation brings me great joy and hope. You see, now that I know there is a use and a reason for my life, and days, and minutes, and I also know I can no longer live my life according to my own desires, plans, dreams, or whims. I am to live totally for God’s purposes. Therefore, I am not to make decisions based on pleasing people. No, I must please God! You see, I exist to serve Him and His people according to the gifts He has given me and in the situations where He places me.

One evening while looking at pictures of English garden mazes in a coffee-table book at a friend’s home I thought, “Why, this is the way life is!” These intriguing puzzles, created by six- or seven-foot hedges, were used initially to provide people with some entertaining exercise after their meals. Similarly, we follow along the maze of life, randomly making turns and choosing our paths.

Then we come to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. From that point on, we have purpose—to serve God. We’re still traversing the maze of life, but now we have direction. God keeps us moving forward as we pray and dedicate our lives to serving Him, becoming more Christ like, and spreading the Gospel.

While we’re in the maze, we never know who or what we’ll encounter. Why, we don’t even know exactly where we’re going! But we do know that we are to keep moving. And as we continue on according to God’s will and His leading, He fulfills His purpose for us. God doesn’t ask us to understand the twists and turns, the why’s and the how’s of life. He asks only that we trust that He is working His pur­pose in us as we live out our purpose of serving Him.

Now we’re right back to the incredible promise of Romans 8:28! We know God has a purpose for us. That’s yet another sparkling reason why we can have joy and hope in Him each day…no matter what happens in that day. And knowing that God has a purpose for us makes every day significant.

RESPOND:

Jesus, lead me through this maze of life. Help me to believe in Your supernatural guidance and accept my purpose from You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“Living with Passion and Purpose” by Elizabeth George focuses on Jesus' teachings and the principles He lived by. This study of the book of Luke helps women know Him more intimately.

REFLECT:

Do I trust in God and His purposes for my life?

REMEMBER:

God fulfills His purpose for us.

Christian Ministry

Sitting in our Sunday school class, I listened as my husband Jim taught a series on the “one anothers” in the New Testament. He taught about the ministries each Christian is to have to “one another” in Christ’s church. This particular Sunday Jim spoke on edifying one another— encouraging them, building them up, contributing positively to their lives, and benefiting them in some way.

After summarizing the lesson, Jim chal­lenged our class. He exhorted, “With every encounter, make it your aim that people are better off for having been in your pres­ence. Try in every encounter to give something to the other person.” I have never forgotten these words. What a great and simple way to positively influence the lives of other people. Everyone needs edification and encouragement, and we are free to offer that when we have hearts filled by God.

Sometimes we can feel immobilized in our service toward God by an over-emphasis on spiritual gifts or a fear of not being the right person for the job. You might think, “If I am not a natural encourager, maybe I should serve on the parking team instead.” Or, “I’m not wealthy. How can my contributions make a difference?” We are all unique in our giftedness and the hurdles toward serving God and others. I found it a relief to learn that are three ministries that you, I, and all Christians can have.

When I read Balancing the Christian Life by theologian Charles Caldwell Ryrie, I discovered three ways of serving others in the faith that are not only listed as specific spiritual gifts, but they are commanded of all Christians. They are serving, giving, and showing mercy (Romans 12:7-8). Hear how Dr. Ryries defined them:

Serving is sometimes called help or ministering. “It is the basic ability to help other people, and there is no reason why every Christian cannot have and use this gift.”

Giving is another ministry you and I should be involved in. “Giving is the ability to distribute one’s own money to others, and it is to be done with simplicity which means with no thought of return or gain for oneself in any way.”

Mercy is next. “Showing mercy is akin to the gift of ministering and involves succoring those who are sick or afflicted. ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction’ (James 1:27).”

Serving, mercy, and giving: each is a specific spiritual gift, but each is also commanded of us as Christians. And each was carried out and modeled for us by our Savior, in whose steps we are to follow. So commit now to kindle your efforts to serve, show mercy, and give, and thus fulfill the law of God and encourage His people.

RESPOND:

Thank You, Lord, for Your gifts of service, giving, and mercy. Help me to follow in Your steps by ministering to others. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES: 

In “Following God with All Your Heart”, Elizabeth encourages women to embrace radical faith as they serve God by helping people and accomplishing His projects.

REFLECT:

How can you serve, show mercy, and give in your local congregation?

REMEMBER:

All Christians are called to serve, show mercy, and give to others in the faith.