Daily Devotional ~ Rise Above Your Circumstance
Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Alive & Breathing" by Matt Maher.
Daily Verse: Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
☆ Colossians 3:2 ESV
Let's Talk About It: I'm not sure if this happens to you, but as soon as I become conscious each morning, before I even open my eyes, before I even know what time it is, I hear worship music in mind, and I immediately go into prayer thanking God for whatever is on my heart. Sometimes it's a crying out in desperation, but most times, it's a joy that overflows out of me.
This morning I got up in a great mood. I woke up in prayer. I read my devotional for the day. I went out to let the chickens out, change their water, give them more feed and love on them a little. I came in, grabbed a bagel, and started finishing last night's dishes before church started.
When I was nearly done, water just began pouring out from the closed cabinet under the sink onto my bare feet. I shut off the water, called in my hubby, and grabbed a ton of towels.
Before I go any further, what's your thought right now? Would you be agitated, annoyed, joyful, expectant?
Can I just tell you, I responded in a way that was all Holy Spirit. As I was cleaning the gallons of water still spilling out, I started proclaiming, "God's going to give us a new kitchen! He must think we need new cabinets."
Not the typical response. Not for me anyhow. It was then I realized I am walking in joy. No matter what happens, I am looking for the rainbow. I'm looking for what God is still doing, because you better believe His hand is on each and every one of us right now!
Maybe we won't get a new kitchen, and maybe the cabinets won't need replacing. That's a blessing for sure. But they both sound like blessings, right? The situation sounds win-win when we view it from these two perspectives.
That's Jesus. He is the Win-Win situation for each and evey one of us. And He's the only way that we can be fighting a fire, or standing in a fire, and find Him right there with us, fighting beside us.
We get to choose our reactions. Let's look to those things above and rise above our circumstances. God's got us, and the whole world, in His hands.
Additional Reading: Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
☆ 1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your precious Spirit that lives in my heart. Thank you for renewing my mind. Thank you, Lord, for everything you have planned for me and my family. God, your Word says that you work all things for good for those who are called.according to your purpose and I thank you for evey setback today, because I know that you are working even those things out for my Good. You are a good, good Father. We love you Jesus, and we thank you for your grace. In Jesus name I pray, amen.