Walk Alone: God In Me

I was honored with leading a beach devotional for two youth groups yesterday. The message I would deliver was titled “God In Me.” I hope you are blessed by this study.

Devotional:
When looking at this word, most Christians have an understanding that this is a defined as a small or shorter Bible study. Being used in this context has lost meaning for what it is suppose to represent. Devotion is a love, a loyalty experienced with great joy and enthusiasm. If you show enthusiasm for the God you serve through any Bible studies, then you are able to partake in a true devotional relationship.

If you are not familiar with the Parable of the Talents or would like to refresh you memory, please read Matthew 25:14-­30

So often I hear sermons upon sermons about how we need to find our natural talents, our spiritual gifts and use these for the Kingdom, to advance the Kingdom. Yes this is true, but let me challenge you with one thought. What if your 5 talents, your 2 talents or 1 talent was simple converted to time you were suppose to invest in praying for other people? What if prayer was a seed you were suppose to sow to show love to the people around you?

Could it be that simple? I believe it can. If you are asking types of questions or thinking thoughts such as:

• Well how do I do this when I don't get along with everyone?
• I don't know any of these people
• I'm too shy
• I can't stand these people

If the disciples allowed excuses like this to stop them from talking to people, we would not have the gospel today. It becomes less about you and more about Jesus’ commission to reach the people. When we see the disciples do amazing things, it was because they left their comfort zone on behalf of the gospel. They did not allow their temporary emotion to outweigh eternal purpose. At the very least, none of these types of thoughts should ever stop you from praying for people.

I would like to challenge you with a few very real and practical thoughts that will allow you to exercise your faith:

• Start praying for people around you, regardless of how you feel about them or if you know them or not.
• Be willing to lend your ears before your advice.
• If you are in proximity of a person you believe you should pray for, ask them if they have any requests.
• Make an effort to find out what other people care about, then start to actively care about that too. Why? So you can share an honest demonstration of love. It may not be important to you but it will show that person that they are important to you.
• When in the depths of a conversation concerning faith, it is in these moments that God tells us the Holy Spirit will provide the utterance of what we are to say. Not until we are in this moment of vulnerability and relying on the spirit in faith, He will provide the words of what we need to say or actions we need to do. Yes, study yourself to show yourself approved but rely more on the spirit to move rather than your own intellect.

If these thoughts and ideas start to make you feel uneasy, perhaps it is because you do not believe you may be wise enough to navigate these waters. I am here to tell you that your choices are not supposed to be dictated by your temporary emotions, in this case your emotions of feeling uneasy or uncertainty. Where does wisdom begin? Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. I am fearful of God and what will happen if I do not go out and serve His people. Fearing God and the repercussions of my disobedience outweighs my temporary emotions of not feeling ready or thinking I am not wise enough to go out and serve His people. Start praying for wisdom and start studying your Bible about wisdom specifically. Wisdom will arise because His word will not come back void. You have not because you ask not. Ask for wisdom and continue to pray that you grow in wisdom. When you do this, your uneasy feelings, your fear will be taken from you.

Proverbs 3:21-24 - 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

These are ways we can invest our talents of time, communication, prayer and love. This is how we all can reap and sow with no excuses of being “talented enough.” We do not get to choose the people around us but we do get to choose how we interact with them. We do get to choose our attitude we have with them and toward them. Wisdom God gives us in life, in answered prayers and lessons are suppose to be reinvested. We are able to do this by the God that is in us all.

Isaiah 11:22 - The Spirit of Lord is also known as the Spirit of wisdom. The God in me, the God in you is always with you and always prepared to help others. You just have to believe.

Talk soon & God bless,
MG

P.S. - If you have read some of my others posts, you might know I find great insight when I walk alone at the beach. This is a great read to reflect on if you are close to a beach and can prioritize some alone time. I encourage you to take a walk and reflect on the insight from this post.
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