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Here Am I: Called to Be Counted Worthy
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Here Am I: Called to Be Counted Worthy

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 28 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day five with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be counted worthy.

Called to Be Counted Worthy

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NIV)

Are there people in your life who see you as being worth more than you see yourself?  What do you think they see that you can’t?  Why?  Do you have a tendency to over value yourself or under value yourself?  What would those closest to you say?  Why?  What influence does being valued by others have on your feelings of worthiness?  Does being considered worthy increase your desire to live up to the worthiness others see in you?  How will being counted worthy by God help you to live and work more fully in His power?

When we compare ourselves to the holiness of Jesus, it should quickly become apparent that we will never be worthy on our own.  The good news is that Jesus sees beyond our choices, both good and bad, and sees the individual that has been created in His image.  He chooses to count us worthy because of His great love for us.  Even in the midst of our sin, God counted us worthy of His love displayed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  Being counted worthy by God, even when we know we’re not, ought to compel us to see others from the same perspective with which God views us.

As you pray about being counted worthy by God, ask God to encourage you through His desire for you to be His.  Pray that you would look beyond your limitations and faults to see all that God can do in and through you because He counts you worthy.  Pray for a heart of compassion for those who have been knocked down by this world and need to know that God has called them to be counted worthy.  Pray for the humility needed to see others as God sees them.

In prayer,

Tom  

Here Am I: Called to Be Chosen
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Here Am I: Called to Be Chosen

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 29 days I continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day four with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be His chosen people.

Called to Be Chosen

“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 17:14 (NIV)

Have you ever been a part of the choosing of teams?  How did you feel while waiting to be chosen?  Why?  Were you ever the one to do the choosing?  How did that feel?  Why?  How does the perceived importance of the one doing the choosing influence your feelings about being chosen?  What if the one choosing is God?  Have you ever been chosen for something that you really wanted but knew you weren’t fully qualified for?  What did being chosen do for your confidence?  How comfortable are you with the idea of being chosen by God?  Why?

It seems I have more experience of wanting something and not being chosen than of being chosen, but I suppose that makes being chosen by God even more spectacular for me.  To know I will be with Jesus in the midst of His victory is an incredible thing.  To be called by the creator of the universe as His chosen one lifts me to a level that is far beyond what being chosen for anything else could do.  The good news that Jesus wants us to share is that He has called everyone who will respond to be His chosen and faithful followers.  We are chosen not because of us, but because of Him.

As you pray about being called by God, ask Him to make you more aware of how valuable you are to Him.  Pray that you would live life with the knowledge that God has chosen you to be His.  Pray for a life of faithfulness that not only accepts being chosen by God, but shares that relationship with others.  Pray that you would see value in each person you meet, knowing that God chooses all who would come to Him.  Pray for the courage to live as one chosen by God.

In prayer,

Tom  

Here Am I: Called to Be a Child of God
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Here Am I: Called to Be a Child of God

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 30 days I will be sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day three with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called to be a child of God.

Called to Be a Child of God

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.“
1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Who are your parents?  What influence have they had on the way you live?  Why?  What were some expectations of you as a child in your family?  Were there responsibilities and privileges as well?  In what way?  If you have children, what do you expect from them?  What benefits do they have as your child?  What do you think of when you hear the word child?  Does that answer influence how you feel about being called a child?  In what way?  How does God’s love influence your desire to be called His child?

There is little that makes me more proud than to have my parents refer to me as their son when they are talking to others.  It is meaningful because I know the love and pride they convey with that word.  When John describes the depth of God’s love, he does so by indicating a Father who lavishes His love upon me to the extent of calling me His child.  While the honor of being called a child of God is great, so are the responsibilities and privileges that come with that position.  As a child of God I not only inherit that which belongs to the Father, but I also reflect Him to the people that know me as His child.

As you pray about being called a child of God, ask God to help you know the love He pours out upon you.  Pray that you would make the most of the honor and privilege that comes from being a child of God.  Pray that you would live up to the expectations that God has for you.  Pray for God’s help in living a life that honors your Father well and reflects Him to the people around you.  Pray that you would always find joy in being known as a child of God.

In prayer,

Tom  

Here Am I: Called to Be a Blessing
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Here Am I: Called to Be a Blessing

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 31 days I will be sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day two with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called to be a blessing to others.

Called to Be a Blessing

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.“
1 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

Who has been the greatest blessing to you recently?  Why?  Would your name be someone else’s answer to that question?  Why?  What does a blessing look like to you?  Is that answer different depending on if you are giving or receiving the blessing?  Why?  Have you ever been intentional about being a blessing to someone?  Did it work?  How did that effort affect you?  Why?  Is there someone that comes to mind right now that you could be a blessing to?  What will you do about it?

As a Christian, it shouldn’t take long to think of someone that has been a blessing to you — even if (and that’s a big if) the only one on that list is Jesus himself.  I think the bigger question for us to wrestle with, is who am I being a blessing to.  The way we live life, the way we speak, the way we listen, the way we give, even the way we receive are all ways that our life can be a blessing to someone else.  While blessing those who bless us should be an easy thing to do, God calls us to also be a blessing to those who do not treat us, or Him, as they should.  In blessing others, we find God’s blessing grows in our life.

As you pray about the blessings you receive, ask God to help you be a blessing to the people around you.  Pray for the wisdom to know how to be a blessing to people regardless of how they treat you.  Pray that you would know the greater blessing which comes from giving of yourself to help others.  Pray that your response to God would assure you of an inherited blessing as you treat others as He would have you do.  Pray that you would be mindful of the opportunities God gives you to bless others.

In prayer,

Tom  

Here Am I: Called to Belong
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Here Am I: Called to Belong

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 32 days I will be sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day one with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called to belong to Jesus.

Called to Belong

“And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.“
Romans 1:6 (NIV)

Where do you belong?  Who do you belong to?  Which of those questions are you most comfortable with?  Why?  Have others ever made you believe you didn’t belong in a particular group or situation that you wanted to be a part of?  In what way?  How did you feel?  What does it take to make you feel you fit in or belong in a place or situation?  Is an invitation enough?  Why?  How involved are you in helping others feel they belong in groups you are a part of?  How has God backed up His invitation of belonging with substance that makes you know you belong?

Most of us have a desire to feel useful and needed — to know we belong wherever we are.  We’ve also accepted invitations to places where we’ve felt out of place as the invitation alone was not enough to give us a sense of belonging.  When God calls us to belong, it is not an invitation to join a group or club; rather it is calling us to belong to Jesus.  It is Christ who gives us a place to belong when He is the One we belong to.  Belonging to Christ means we belong wherever He is and wherever He sends us.  It also means others who belong to Christ deserve our acceptance as well.

As you pray about where you belong, begin with a recognition of who you belong to.  Pray that you would grow in your understanding of what it means each day to belong to Christ.  Pray that you would have the courage to accept God’s calling in your life — both in belonging to Him and in belonging wherever He has work for you to do.  Pray about how you make others feel when they are around you.  Pray for a sense of community and belonging with all who are in Christ.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Learn to Pray
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The Heart of a Child: Learn to Pray

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is the final day of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty-two with an important reminder to let God’s Word teach you to pray as a way of life.

Learn to Pray

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’“
Luke 11:1 (NIV)

How do you view prayer?  How much is prayer a part of your life?  Are there things that you don’t pray about?  Why?  Does prayer feel as natural to you as breathing?  If not, why not?  Do you ever feel that the prayers of someone else are more effective than yours?  Why?  In a healthy relationship, what do little children tend to talk about?  Would becoming “like a little child” before God change the way you pray?  In what ways?  Who could you learn from about prayer?  Who could you teach about a lifestyle of prayer?

If children trust you, they will often volunteer information that you may not even want to know.  Their honesty and transparency comes from a pure heart that hasn’t been taught there are some things you just don’t talk about.  It is that heart that I go to when I want to learn, and teach, about prayer.  Somewhere along the line, many of us have been taught proper discretion in our conversations with others and somehow we have applied that to the things we will talk to God about.  A lifestyle of prayer recognizes that nothing is hidden from God and frees us to be in communication with Him about everything.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help them know His understanding of whatever is on their mind.  Pray that He would help you to examine yourself for anything you’ve been afraid to talk with Him about.  Pray that He would increase your desire to build your relationship with Him through the conversation we call prayer.  Pray that God would surround you with people that you can learn from, and that you can instruct, in a lifestyle of prayer.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Walk In Truth
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The Heart of a Child: Walk In Truth

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day thirty-one of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty-one with an important reminder to let God’s truth be your guide for every aspect of life.

Know the Greatness of God

“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“
3 John 1:3-4 (NIV)

How do you determine what is true?  Is there a difference between knowing what is true and walking in the truth?  Explain.  How truthful are you?  Would the people who know you the best agree?  Would God agree?  Why?  How much effort do you put into pursuing truth?  Does your pursuit of truth inspire others to seek God’s truth?  How do you feel when those you have instructed no longer live in the way they were taught?  Why?  Does your life bring joy to the people who shared the truth of God with you?

In a culture that seems to thrive on half-truths, deceptions, and straight out lies, choosing to walk in the truth can be a very lonely path.  As children of God, His desire is that we would not only know His truth, but that we would apply it and live it in everything we do.  Our adherence to the truth of God’s Word sets an example that those being born into Christ will take notice of.  Just as we want people to accept the instruction we give them, we rob God of joy when we choose to not walk in the truth that He has given.  Our greatest joy can be had when we see people walking in truth because of our example.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you examine how diligently you pursue His truth.  Pray for the courage to proclaim Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life” in a world that rejects absolute truth.  Pray that your obedience to the truth would bring joy to those you have learned from.  Pray that the children around you would learn of God’s truth from both your words and your actions.  Pray that you would be filled with joy as you see children walking in the truth.

In prayer,

Tom  

The Heart of a Child: Know the Greatness of God
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The Heart of a Child: Know the Greatness of God

Praying for children has been heavy on my heart during this current season of school and church buildings being closed with the need for social distancing, self isolation, and stay at home orders.  I pray often that families will be able to shield children to some extent from the negative emotions that cling to this COVID-19 pandemic.  This is day thirty of the devotions from my “The Heart of a Child” book to help each of us pray for a child of any age, including our age.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you understand, and live, some important traits of living and praying with the heart of a child.

Here is day thirty with an important reminder to know the greatness of God and then live according to His definition of greatness.

Know the Greatness of God

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.“
1 John 4:4 (NIV)

What makes a person great in the eyes of the world?  In your eyes?  In God’s eyes?  What ways are those responses similar or different?  Why?  Do you believe greatness comes from a person’s physical body or from something inside them?  Explain.  Has your view of what makes a person great changed from when you were a child?  In what ways?  Have others ever considered you greater than you view yourself?  What do they see that you don’t?  How will knowing God’s greatness, and seeing it in His children, change the way you live?

Ask most people what makes a person great and you will likely receive as many answers as the number of people you ask.  Some view greatness based on physical, mental, or even social ability.  Others see it as a product of the influence you have on people.  God actually defines His view of greatness when He says, “Whoever would be greatest of all must become servant of all.”  When God’s Spirit lives within us, not only should we recognize the greatness of God but we ought to be exhibiting that greatness as we serve others.  When we view God from the eyes of His child, we find the greatness that we need.

As you pray for a child of any age, ask God to help you recognize His greatness dwelling within people.  Pray for the courage to understand greatness from God’s perspective.  Pray that you would be an example to the children around you as you live in God’s greatness by serving others.  Pray for the humility to serve God, and serve people, when the world wants to convince you that you ought to be served by others.  Pray for a child-like heart that can see the greatness of God.

In prayer,

Tom