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Serving God: Guard Your Heart With Truth
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Serving God: Guard Your Heart With Truth

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day two in the eighth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Guard Your Heart With Truth

“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman.“
Psalm 15:2-3 (NIV)

Have you ever had your heart broken by someone spreading lies about you?  How does your heart change when you begin believing lies about yourself?  How is your serving affected when you start accepting lies about others as truth?  What is the lie about you that the enemy uses with the greatest effectiveness?  What would God’s response to that lie be?  How does a heart saturated in the truth of God’s Word guard you from the attacks of the enemy?

God says that our enemy prowls around like a hungry lion seeking someone to devour.  Many people are eaten alive from the inside out as their heart is first broken, then embittered, by the deceitful words the enemy uses people to hurl at them.  It is only by guarding our hearts with the truth of God’s Word that we can overcome the accusations of failure, loser, rejected, hopeless, unloved, unworthy, and so many more.  It is also by guarding our hearts against such accusations of others, that we are able to serve them wholeheartedly as serving the Lord.

As you pray, ask God to guard your heart with the truth of His Word.  Pray that you would always serve with a guarded heart.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Guard Your Heart Against Temptation
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Serving God: Guard Your Heart Against Temptation

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day one in the eighth week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Guard Your Heart Against Temptation

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.“
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

What things tempt you?  Is it easy or difficult for you to talk specifically about temptations you face?  Why?  How do you feel about Jesus equating a lustful look with adultery?  Why is it important to guard your heart as you serve, and not just your actions?  Is it easier to stop a tempting thought or to stop a sinful habit?  Are you a positive or negative influence on the thought-life of those you serve?  Why does this matter?  How does guarding your own heart help others to guard theirs?

We are bombarded on a daily basis with many things that can easily become temptations in our hearts and minds.  I’m afraid that far too often we refuse to acknowledge temptation because doing so would call for a change in our television viewing, our internet practices, and/or our daily conversations.  Until we recognize the serious threat that temptation is, we will likely not guard our heart as we should.  Serving like Christ is messy work.  Doing so with an unguarded heart is simply asking for trouble.

As you pray, talk honestly with God about the temptations that you struggle with.  Pray that you would use regular time spent in God’s Word and prayer to guard your heart each day.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Friendship With God
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Serving God: Friendship With God

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day seven in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Friendship With God

“You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.   And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.   You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.“
James 2:22-24 (NIV)

How would you describe your relationship with God?  How do you think God would describe it?  Is it easy or difficult for you to think of yourself as God’s friend?  Why?  What would you need to do for your friendship with God to grow?  Are you doing it?  What would He need to do?  Has He done it?  What role does belief have in your friendship with God?  How does a growing friendship with God help you as you serve? 

Sometimes we know ourselves so well that the idea of friendship with God seems impossible.  Fortunately, God knows us even better than we know our self and He desires that we would be friends with Him.  Our friendship with God forms and grows much like any other.  It involves a belief that He desires such a friendship and a growing trust that He will honor our relationship with Him.  When we have a friendship with God that is pure, we are able to know how to serve through friendship in ways that please God.

As you pray, ask God to remove any doubts you may have about His desire for you to be His friend.  Pray that you would understand God’s perspective on belief, action, and friendship as you apply those attributes in the way you serve.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Sacrificial Friendships
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Serving God: Sacrificial Friendships

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day six in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Sacrificial Friendships

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.“
John 15:12-14 (NIV)

What would you give to help a friend?  What wouldn’t you be willing to give?  Are you sure?  What do you see as the purpose of your friendships?  Do you live as if your friendships are primarily for your benefit or theirs?  What would they say?  How willingly do you give of yourself to those you serve?  What things do you feel you are sacrificing to serve in the way that you do?  Are you happy about doing so?

While most of us can probably quote the scripture, “It is more blessed to give than receive”, we tend to have a difficult time putting it into practice on a regular basis.  We may give, but we often miss the “blessed” part because we aren’t really giving anything that costs us in a sacrificial way.  Serving well requires that we give of ourselves in so many sacrificial ways.  We must give of our time, our resources, our strength, our comfort, our emotions, our “whatever it takes”.  Serving through friendship will require that we lay down our self to help another.

As you pray, ask God to help you see an accurate view of your current friendships.  Pray that you would grow in being a friend that lives sacrificially.  Pray that your serving others would reflect a Christ-like attitude of sacrificial friendship.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Pleasant Friendships
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Serving God: Pleasant Friendships

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day five in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Pleasant Friendships

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.“
Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)

If you had an entire day free, who would you spend it with?  Why?  Do you have friends who you trust to give you good advice whether you seek it or not?  Which is easier, to give advice when it is wanted or unwanted?  What does that say about friends who give godly advice even when you don’t want to hear it?  Are you more likely to give counsel that is needed and helpful or simply what the other person wants to hear?  Why? 

I don’t know anyone who enjoys being deceived.  Or do I?  Sometimes we don’t want to hear the truth so we surround ourselves with people who will tell us what we want to hear instead of what we need to hear — in other words, people who will deceive us.  This creates a huge issue in a friendship because we really know they’re not honest about the issue at hand and we begin to wonder what else they’re not honest about.  As we serve, it is important that we maintain pleasant friendships by having the courage to give earnest counsel.

As you pray, ask God to help you examine the counsel you usually give others.  Pray that the counsel and advice you share with your friends would be both truthful and loving.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Careful Friendships
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Serving God: Careful Friendships

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day four in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Careful Friendships

“A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.“
Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)

How much influence do your friends have on you?  How much do you influence them?  Have you ever been hurt by someone claiming to be your friend?  Have you ever hurt someone who claimed you as a friend?  Do you consider friendship to be something that is given or earned?  Why?  What are some dangers of not being careful in friendships as you serve?  Is it possible to be too careful?  Why?  How will careful friendships improve your serving today?

The people we associate with most closely often have the ability to influence us for good or bad, depending on their character and ours.  We also are able to influence others for good or bad through our friendships with them.  As we serve, it is important that we develop careful friendships where we build one another up for God’s glory.  Some of those we serve need a friend that will listen to them, some need a friend that will tell them God’s truth, most need both.

As you pray, ask God to guard your friendships.  Pray that you would be careful with the direction your friendships lead you and your friends.  Pray that you would be careful in the way you use the influence of your friendships with those you serve.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Intercessory Friendships
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Serving God: Intercessory Friendships

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day three in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Intercessory Friendships

“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.“
Job 16:20-21 (NIV)

Have you ever needed someone to speak on your behalf?  If you needed someone, who would you ask?  Who would volunteer?  Are there people you pray for on a regular basis?  Do they know?  Are there people praying for you?  How do you know?  How likely are you to stand up for those you work with if they are accused of doing something wrong?  Would they stand up for you?  How would thinking of yourself as an advocate for those you serve change the way you serve?

Satan seems to have two primary weapons through which a lot of bad things happen — deceit and accusation.  Often times he uses them together in ways that become fatal to our friendships and to our spiritual walk with God.  The Bible teaches that both the Holy Spirit and Jesus currently intercede before the Father on our behalf.  It also makes it clear that we are called to intercede through prayer for the people who are in our life.  As we serve through friendships, one of the greatest things we can do is to pray for, and with, those we serve.

As you pray, ask God to show you how to pray for the needs of your friends.  Pray regularly for those you serve with.

In prayer,

Tom

Serving God: Face to Face Friendships
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Serving God: Face to Face Friendships

It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day two in the seventh week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Face to Face Friendships

“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.“
Exodus 33:11 (NIV)

How many friends does your social media account say that you have?  Is that number an accurate count of real friends?  Why?  In what ways are your social media friendships different from face to face friendships?  How are they similar?  How would having a face to face friendship with God change the way you serve others?  What friendships do you need to work on today in order to serve others more effectively?

Most of the time face to face interaction with people scares me.  Yet it seems God continually calls me to serve in ways that requires time to be spent with people.  I’ve learned that what I can’t do from my own strength, God can do through me in His strength.  As I spend time face to face with people, God strengthens them and me for greater works of service.  More importantly, as I spend time face to face with God, He gives me the courage to serve others as their friend.  Often times it is through the simple act of sitting and listening that God reveals how to best serve those we are listening to.

As you pray, seek God’s face as one seeking a friend.  Pray that God would show you true friendship.  Pray that He would fill you with a desire to be a friend to those you serve.

In prayer,

Tom