Small Steps Devotions for Feb. 20 - 26

Monday 

With or Without

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life" (Romans 1:16, 17 NLT). 

Go ahead, ask me... Ask me.... I'll tell you!

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Without Him, I am nothing.

Without Him, I just take up good space but with Him, all things are possible. It's not about me, it's ALL about Jesus, and what He did for me.

The Good News, no, the Great News is that although I'm nothing special, we are all special in His eyes. He came for each of us so we might be saved by His grace through our faith. Thank you, God!

Father, I pray for boldness in our Christian community. I pray that we will speak truth with love. May we speak with the very power of Christ, who lives in us. Lead us, this day, so that we might be a shining light for your truth and your love, and your mercy and your grace. I ask and pray in the mighty name of your risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tuesday 

The Visible Walk 

The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead (Mark 9:31b NLT). 

Are you a proclaiming Christian and still continue to live a life that is dishonorable to God's Word? If you are, I submit that, you are betraying Christ, not unlike those who handed Him over to be crucified.

Be careful how you live and be aware of your actions. Because of your actions, you may drive people away from Christ. People are watching and can't wait to use you as an example of a hypocritical Christian.

Thanks be to God that we aren't saved by our actions but by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Lord, help us live and walk a reputable life, a life that honors you. In your mighty name we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday 

Under His Grace 

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts (Colossians 3:16 NLT). 

As the people of God, we don't praise Him enough. We don't truly appreciate all He has blessed us with. We have turned into an entitlement culture. We just expect God's goodness and blessings.

Just look around, there are those who have it better than us but look again, there are many that have it worse. No matter our situation, we are living under the grace of God. No matter our human situation, we are covered in His love. We should get on our knees and praise Him, from whom all blessings flow.

Thank you, Lord. Help us remember to praise you in the good times and in the bad times. When our human condition is not good, remind us that we have much more to be thankful for. Thank you, Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Thursday 

Choice 

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life (1 John 5:20 NLT). 

Friends don't wait until it's too late. One day, either Christ will come again or your life will end and you will go to heaven or hell. It's your choice. Jesus loves you too much to force Himself on you.

We have the free will to choose. My prayer is for everyone to fully understand the love, mercy, and grace of God. It's each person's choice if they want to accept Him or not. I pray you will say yes to Christ.

Lord God, open the hearts and minds of those who are refusing to accept you as their Savior. May they experience your love, mercy, and grace. It's in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.

Friday

Mercy = Forgiveness 

Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt (Matthew 18:32-34 (NLT). 

Jesus speaks volumes about mercy and forgiveness, and we should listen closely. Because of God's mercy for each of us, He sent His Son to die for us so that we might have a relationship with Him.

Without the mercy of God, we would not have any hope.

Because of God, we have ultimate and unlimited hope.

On this earth, shouldn't we grant mercy (forgiveness) to others? Shouldn't we forgive and help others feel that same “freeing” forgiveness?

Jesus speaks about this, and we should heed His words. We should forgive, as we have been forgiven. Yes, I know it's easier said than done, but it is not just recommended by our Savior but commanded. In order to be forgiven, we must forgive.

Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean that we forget, but we forgive, put it behind us and move on with life. We each deserve a life that is far better without this burden of unforgiveness which tramples our hearts and destroys our souls. Forgive, not only for those who sinned against us, but forgive for your well-being.

Dear Lord, we all struggle with forgiving others for actions that were taken against us. Lord, help us remember that we (our sin) nailed you to the cross, and even after that, you said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Father, if Jesus can forgive us for what we did to Him, let us see how important it is that we forgive each other. Lord, we know that we are unable to accomplish this level of forgiveness without your help. Please, Lord, give each of us the ability to forgive even the worst crimes against us, all the way to the petty issues that people have betrayed us with. Lord, grant us your wisdom and the power of your love, mercy, and grace. I pray this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Saturday 

Light Overtakes Darkness

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT). 

When you are driving into the darkness of night, what do you do?

You reach up and turn on your headlights.

As you walk into the darkness of this broken world, what do you do?

You turn to Jesus!

Lord God, I pray for all those who are walking through this life in darkness. I pray they will find your light. Lord, I pray they will open their minds and hearts to discover your blessings on this earth and your promise of an eternity in heaven. I pray had hope in your mighty name. Amen. 

Sunday

Richly Blessed 

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 NLT). 

God has richly blessed us to be alive and enjoy days like today. No matter if it's windy, rainy, snowy, or beautiful outside, each day is a blessing from God.

He has also blessed us with all that we need and many times, much more than we need. I feel as Scripture states, we should enjoy all that He has given us and all that we have worked for because all things are a blessing from our heavenly Father. This life goes by quickly so enjoy it and live to its fullest.

Thanks be to God.

Father God, we are truly blessed as your children. Lead us and direct us today and might we follow Jesus closer than ever before. Amen.