Dear Ones,
Hope you had a restful Labor Day and time to do some pleasurable things. Today I am going to do some more baking and replenishing food for the freezer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Recently I celebrated my birthday and the whole day was wonderful with cards on our door every time I opened it, friends stopping over, gifts, flowers, many phone calls, etc. By the end of the day, I felt so blessed and loved! But as wonderful as the day was, it would not be good for me to have that every day. I’m afraid my life would very narrow and all about me, me, me.
If Jesus is not our focus, our world gets small and life gets centered on self and my needs, my wants, my concerns. It is not a good way to live because we will not find contentment always wanting more. Most of the problems we have in life come from the “self” getting in the way and failing to put the Lord in first place. We are meant to be His sons and daughters and to go His way, not thinking, “What is best for me?” or “What do I want to do?”

I often pray, “Lord, you are the potter, I am the clay, mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still.” No we won’t always get our own way, and it is a good thing we don’t, for we how would we grow? He wants to shape us into the most beautiful vessels for His glory. When we are centered on self, our world is very small. Paul says in Phil. 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourself.” If we are honest, we may admit we feel light and joy-filled when we are helping others and giving of ourselves, for there is less of us and more of Him.

Let us not be like spoiled children who demand all the attention, wanting their own way, but rather ones who express gratitude and value others as highly as themselves.

Challenge for today: Serve someone else today out of gratitude to the Lord and not to receive something in return.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy