This is Arvell Craig with the Monday Morning Devo. for Decembr 15, 2014
Nearly everything God expects from us, he supplies.
The attributes of a Christian, the evidence, the markers, the fruit, etc., are all from or of the Holy Spirit.
No one comes to God unless they are drawn of the Holy Spirit. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them. It’s not an independent conviction or revelation or realization. It’s Him.
If there’s any positive change in us, it’s Him working in us to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
If we love him or love others, it comes from His love.
1 Corinthians 4:7 // For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Understanding the supremacy of God in all things is one of the most powerful and healthy beliefs we can have. Understand how God is author and finisher; He conceives, germinates, and delivers.
But oftentimes, we expect ourselves to play too much of a role–we rely on ourselves instead of him.
God expects to be our all in all. But he will readily allow us go forth alone.
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. God can direct every step when he’s invited. Or he can direct only the major decisions. But aren’t the small decisions that turn into habits the things that primarily direct our lives?
So in one sense, all I’m saying is directing us back to the first level of prayer written about in the November 24, Monday Morning Devo.
Asking God for daily bread–daily provision–influences our lives.
But in another sense, it’s also about understanding our roles, to neither stop taking the glory in our success nor remaining guilty and defeated in our failures.
We don’t give God enough credit.
We don’t trust that His wisdom is involved in every up and down, detour and stumble.
As Joseph told his brothers, what you meant for evil God used for good.
This is one thing the devil doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand how he becomes a pawn for God to use to accomplish His purposes in our lives.
This is the secret of Paul’s contentment, I believe. He understood how every situation he went though was an instrument of God’s composition.
That is why he said in Philippians 1:18, even if Christ is preached from people with wrong motives he would still rejoice.
“In every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
This is a huge inner shift that I believe will bless us: seeing God’s infinite wisdom, trusting Him and relying on Him, decreasing our self-development and increasing our reliance on Him.
Let’s Pray:
God, I commit this day to you. I commit every detail of my day and life to you. Help me see You as the source and author of every good thing in my life. Help me to trust Your wisdom and grace to rectify every mistake I make. Father, be glorified in me. Through my weakness show Yourself even more strong.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.