Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! Hope you have time to relax and be refreshed. We got home last night from our retreat time and were pleasantly surprised as our A.C. was fixed and apartment comfortably cool again. PTL!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
What a wonderful gift we received from dear friends to go on retreat with them to a lovely place in the woods by a quiet lake. We were surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and enjoyed quiet time with the Lord and also in fellowship with our friends.
Our assignment we were given when we first arrived was to read Galatians 5 and rate ourselves from 1-10 of how much we felt we were in step with the Spirit. Then we were to reflect on the passage and ask the Lord to impress on us the aspects from Galatians 5 that we wanted His input and guidance over. We were also to read Psalm 16 for additional guidance.

  Even before the retreat I felt the Lord speaking to me of not settling for less than what He has for me. I had just read from Genesis 11 of Abraham’s father, Terah, who was told to pack up and go to the land of Canaan. But when he got only as far as Haran he settled there until he died. I have always thought, why didn’t he continue going? He missed out on the Promised Land! In my own life it was a word to me not to miss what the Lord has for me but to keep going into all that He has planned for me, the land of milk and honey! Not only for this retreat but for my life and to finish strong!!

  To enter that land also means keeping in step with the Spirit and to continually die to my own flesh.  More of Him and less of me! That is a daily struggle, but it is my desire and prayer. As I meditated on Galatians 5 we were to choose a fruit of the spirit that we wanted the Lord’s input on, and mine was kindness. I want to serve others and stop what I am doing to meet their needs but not always sure what the Lord is asking of me, and whether there is actually time for it. But the Lord reminded me there is always enough time to do what He calls me to do, and I need to listen carefully and stay in step with the Spirit! God initiates and I am just to respond.

  As I meditated on Psalm 16 and it being just after the assassination attempt, I took hold of verse 8, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken.” Again, knowing that my life is in God’s hands and no matter what happens in this world, “my flesh dwells secure.” (verse 9)

So much more as the 4 of us shared together and prayed together and Al and I went home filled to overflowing with the joy and peace of the Lord.
Challenge for today: What fruit of the Spirit do you feel lacking in and ask for God’s input! (Gal. 5:22-23)
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy