Dear Ones,
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. We had a fun birthday party here yesterday! Mark’s plane in N.C. was delayed 3 times yesterday so he didn’t make it here last night but will be coming this morning and later going to the Lake.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We are all called to bear fruit once we come to know the Lord, for we are fellow workers in His kingdom to reach others to become part of the family of God. Often it means revealing ourselves to others as in opening the door of our hearts and becoming vulnerable. We need God’s help to love others and to smash the idols we have in our lives. Self seems to always want to rear its head and say, “What about me, me, me!” But the Lord wants to help us and free us of selfish pursuits and help us grow in love and faith.
What the Lord asks for is not easy and in ourselves it is impossible; but He wants us to lay down our lives for Him and for others, and to love even our enemies. He wants us to do His will above our will out of love and obedience to Him. Our prayer daily is, “Thy will be done!” Not my will!  That means we have to become good listeners to hear His voice deep in our hearts. I think many people expect that if they pray that and obey, they will be miserable because they aren’t getting their own way. But the truth is just the opposite, for when we do His will from our hearts, we will experience deep joy. The song comes to mind by John Sammis in 1887
“If we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He shed on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
The verses that follow speak of how He will bear our burdens and share our sorrows and take away our doubts and fears; but and it is a big but, he says we have to lay everything on the altar! When we do this, we will experience joy and sweet fellowship in His presence.
Let us be willing to lay the idol of self on the altar and obey His will and then wait and see what joy will overflow our hearts.
Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to smash any idol in your life that you may be free to do His will and bear fruit for His kingdom.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy