Daily Devotional ~ Gracefully Broken

Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Gracefully Broken" by Matt Redman ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Daily Verse: Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
☆ Revelation 2:10 NLT

Let's Talk About It: Today's verse is something that resonates deeply within me. 21 days after I rededicated my life to the Lord (after years of backsliding in the military), I found myself in the hospital, fighting for my life. One day I was fine, the next I was rushed to the hospital with a blood infection and facial and orbital cellulitis. Both are deadly infections that are not easily remedied.

As I sat in that hospital, I felt like I was in prison. I had very little faith that I was going to get better. As the doctors recommended surgery, and the pain increased, I was ready to give up. But Crystal, she would always walk right in the room, ask me if I was I ready to go home yet, and tell me that the sooner I call upon the name of the Lord, the sooner I would leave.

I remember one day in particular. I had already been in the hospital for 5 days. Crystal came in with some goodies and asked if she could lay hands on me. I nodded yes, not having even enough energy to speak, but the truth is, I wasn't sure if God wanted me healed.

As she prayed and declared healing, thanking God that I would be out of there in 5 more days, something started stirring deep within me. I can't really explain it, but I honestly believe walls of doubt were being crushed below her life-giving, faith-filled words. She was fighting a battle, and neither of us really realized that at the time.

If you ask her today why she did what she did, she will tell you that God called her to do that. After staying up all night the night before, laying face down on the floor praying, she heard a voice in the wee hours of the morning, "I want you to go lay hands on him and tell him I am doing a good work. He will be home with you on Thursday."

There is so much more I could testify to concerning this moment in our lives. I'll save those for the next devo I write. In the meantime, I want to challenge you. I know in the natural it looks like we are all but defeated, many of us cowering in our homes afraid of a virus and death, but can I remind you, brothers and sisters in Christ, you will not die. Nothing can kill you.

The fact of the matter is, none of us truly die. We either spend eternity in splendor with Christ or eternity in the lake of fire. And that is determined by our choices here, not God. God has laid the foundation of truth in His Word.

It's time to repent. Can I be honest, my breakthrough happened in the hospital when I repented. I was swimming in pride and arrogance before my "10 days of suffering." I cared more about my looks than I would like to admit. I thought rather highly of myself. But God, he loved me too much to continue to let pride rule my life. He loves you too much to see you live eternally in damnation too. It's time to repent. It's time to make Jesus the Lord of your life once again.

Additional Reading: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
☆ Revelation 2:17 NLT

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for this day. Today Lord, I offer myself as a living sacrifice. I haven't always lived out my life according to your will but that changes now Lord. As I take this moment to reflect on your goodness and eveything you've done for me, I can see your mercy and grace interwoven into every single day of my life, even those days I didn't allow you to have control over. I thank you God that you forgive me because of the precious blood of Jesus. Lord, thank you for taking my sins to the Cross with you. Lord, your death is not in vain as I ensure that every day I live, I am determined to breathe new life into your people by sharing your Word with them daily. Jesus, help me to be your hands and feet. Teach me how to love people, see people, and treat people as you would. May my life not be about me anymore Lord, but about you and for your glory. I love you Jesus and in your mighty name I pray, amen.