DEVOTIONAL

Prayer : Father, I thank for this new day and a new beginning in my life may everything I do and say bring glory and honour to your name. As I read your most holy word, please speak to me, encourage me, and bless me so I may bless others and please help me to live out your words through Jesus Christ my Lord, through Him and in Him in the unity of the Holy spirit all Honour and Glory be yours today and always. Amen

Invitation to Confession : Father God I come before your throne of grace and mercy, I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, today I ask to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ 

Praise and worship : Psalm 29:10-11 “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace”.

Worship song :  The Servant King (Graham Kendrick)
From Heaven, You came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
"Yet not My will but Yours", He said

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving

This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King

God’s words : Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an in-heritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”.

Devotional : I am asking myself today what has God called me to do? Am I fulfilling His purpose and will for my life? When I first came to the Lord, I gave my life to God and said I would serve Him for the rest of my life, in fact that has always been my desire. All my Christian life I feel God has gifted me to share the Christian faith with believers and unbelievers using the gifts He has given me. I am discovering more and more when you are fulfilling Gods purposes you will be content and experience even when life is hard.  I love Paul the apostle because he was some who loved and served God. Throughout his ministry he suffered all kinds of hardships, trials, and persecutions. Perhaps no one else has ever faced as much hardship, opposition, or relentless suffering as Paul did, but de-spite all the difficulties He served God with incredible humility and tears. 

He said In Acts 20:19 “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents”. One thing Paul knew was that the sufferings and trials of life produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. We must never forget that all the difficulties we face, and experience will strengthen our character and an understanding of Gods purpose and plans. 

Paul’s relationship with God was very deep and therefore throughout his life he knew whatever difficulty he faced nothing could separate him and us “from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28. Although life was difficult for him, he never gave up and continually served God with humility and tears and lived to glorify Jesus. If we know in our hearts the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God, it will help us to cope with any hardships and difficulties that come our way. 

When we face hardship and discouragement, we need to remember God is with us and He has equipped us to handle any difficulties that come into our lives and the best quipping God has giving us is His living presence. In life we live with conflict, disappointment, and pain. We all experience tragedy and times of trials and difficulties. It’s in those times we need to remember God is at work somehow in some way for our good and for His glory. Every difficulty in our life, whether big or small, is something God will use to produce more strength, faith, and perseverance in us if we let Him. 

Paul says in Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Paul the apostle knew all about troubles and suffering. He also understood and experienced the comfort of God that is why he could say in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles."

It’s important to understand that that when we are being "comforted" it doesn’t mean that the problem will go away. When we are comforted, we receive strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. To be comforted by God means he stands by our side and takes our hand and helps us through our troubles. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles. You remember the poem Footprints in the sand, this poem tells the story of a man who had a dream that he is walking along the beach with Jesus. When the man looked back, he saw places during his life where there were two sets of footprints and other times there were only one. The man assumed that during the hard times in life Jesus had left him to walk alone. This bothered him and so he said to the Lord "You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always."

"But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?" The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you." (Mary Stevenson wrote the poem in 1936).  When we experience troubles in life, let us never forget Jesus is God with us. We may not always feel is presence, but we can be assured He gives us strength and carries us through the storms, loving and caring for us. So, when we are going through times of darkness we can always say “Days of darkness still come o’er me, Sorrow’s path I often tread, But His presence still is with me; By His guiding hand I’m led”. (I will sing the wondrous story)

What has God called me to do and how do I serve Him according to the gifts he has given me? (reflect). What I do why do I do it and why do I do what I do? Do I serve the Lord for the extension of His kingdom or is to please man and seek their praise? (reflect). 

Serving God is an act of worship. If I see it in this way than what I do I will do with attitude of Joy and for the glory of God. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”. My desire should be to glorify God in everything I do in my thoughts, and actions. This is not easy, however Paul says to Gods people in Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”.

Personal Prayers : 

Closing Prayer : Father God thank you for calling me to love and serve you, please help me as I serve you to do it so that your name will be honoured and glorified. And help me to do it with an attitude of Joy and humility. And father I ask you whatever you have called me to do help me to do it with a cheerful heart. Thank you for the privilege and Honour to serve you and thank you that “We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling, And needing more each day Thy grace to know: Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing, “We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.” (we rest on thee)