A Deceitful Life
Hi everyone, it is Pastor Dave with a daily devotion journal guide for you today. So, if you have your Alone With God journal, open that up to a “Daily Devotion” page. And – grab your Bible, and open it to 1 Peter Chapter 3, verse 10.
And here’s what I really want to suggest to you. First of all, if you don’t have an Alone With God journal, I’d suggest getting one. Go to wordbymail.com and order an Alone With God journal. Then, when Daisy finishes her introduction, she’ll read this verse. And when she reads this verse, I’d encourage you to go ahead and hit pause on this audio guide. And then read through the verse a few times yourself. Begin to just meditate on the verse. Get a good handle on the verse – what it’s saying – and allow the Holy Spirit to start speaking to you.
And then, when you have the verse in your heart, then listen to Daisy’s devotion. It’s only about four minutes from when she reads the verse. So, listen to those four minutes with her, and as you’re listening to Daisy’s devotion, maybe be looking at the verse. Listen intently. And be listening for the Holy Spirit to apply this verse specifically to your life. And, even in Daisy’s devotion, as she speaks transparently and honestly with you, maybe see if the Holy Spirit might point to something in your own life.
And when Daisy’s finished with the devotion, then stop this audio guide, pray, and then go ahead and write in your Daily Journal page of your Alone With God journal. So, write, following the brief instructions under each of the sections – Meditate, Apply, and Respond. Write there, being real with God. Just follow those simple one or two-sentence instructions. Write out what your Meditation, Application, and Response are, and then write your prayer to God to finish and thank God for this time with him. Thank him for this special time alone with him.
Here’s Daisy.
Hey, y’all, it’s Daisy. Today I want to share one of my Alone With God journal entries with you from this week. And I also want to remind you that our relationship with God is built by spending deliberate, intentional time with him, and really allowing yourself to be fully honest and fully seen by him.
So, if that feels intimidating, or you don’t know where to start, or you think it will take too much time – do not worry. Our Alone With God journal is crafted for you. It had you in mind when it was being made. There are journal prompts, and it just guides you to help you learn how to build a deeper relationship with God. And it’s really, really easy. It’s really simple. It won’t take you all day. But it will change your life. And I do not leave the house without it. It is my most prized possession. So, you can get a copy of the Alone With God journal at wordbymail.com. You will not regret it.
So, without further ado, let’s spend some alone time with God together.
1 Peter 3:10 (ESV) 10 Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Honesty is one of the most crucial characteristics of being a Christian because it comes with aligning ourselves, and our values, and our lives with the truth of Jesus Christ. To know and to walk with God earnestly is to tear down the walls of dishonesty because dishonesty is just a protection mechanism against shame. But God does not ask us to be perfect; he does not expect us to be perfect. He knows us. It is so silly to hide from him. He only asks us to be vulnerable and open with him so that he can be our strength. And when we lie to ourselves, or we lie to others (and especially when we lie to God), we really miss out on the true connection of the way God designed us and the way that God designed relationships. And that can cause us to stumble into hot water pretty quickly.
So, when we live honestly, we find a life of abundance and peace and joy because there is nothing holding us back from the love of God. There is no separation, no shame, no fear, no smoke and mirrors. And we also know that when we are honest with God about our shortcomings and confess that we need him, he always completes us and he always comes to our rescue.
Honesty is how we encounter the Father. God really cares about the state of your heart. When we live in fear, we wrap our heart in barbed wire, and we use lies to try and escape the shame of not feeling good enough or lovable. And all God really wants to do is love you exactly where you are and how you are today because that is how we grow. Honesty with ourselves, honesty with others, and honesty with God allows us to be a blank canvas. When we let go of the shame, and we embrace the truth, and we embrace how wonderful it is to be imperfect, it just brings so much glory to God, and his grace is truly sufficient for us in those moments.
So, I want you to ask yourself, Am I living an honest life, or am I trying to portray myself -to God, to others – maybe even to me – as someone that I’m not. Is my relationship with myself, and is my relationship with God honest?
Let’s pray. Father, please help me to make honesty a priority in my relationship with you as well as in my relationship with others. Please use my shortcomings to magnify your greatness. And help me to find comfort in my discomfort. And teach me to love myself through your eyes so that I do not need to use lying as a means to cover my shame. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, if you have enjoyed this devotional and you are inspired to take the reins of your relationship with God, I would love for you to get our Alone With God journal at wordbymail.com. And I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.
And here’s what I really want to suggest to you. First of all, if you don’t have an Alone With God journal, I’d suggest getting one. Go to wordbymail.com and order an Alone With God journal. Then, when Daisy finishes her introduction, she’ll read this verse. And when she reads this verse, I’d encourage you to go ahead and hit pause on this audio guide. And then read through the verse a few times yourself. Begin to just meditate on the verse. Get a good handle on the verse – what it’s saying – and allow the Holy Spirit to start speaking to you.
And then, when you have the verse in your heart, then listen to Daisy’s devotion. It’s only about four minutes from when she reads the verse. So, listen to those four minutes with her, and as you’re listening to Daisy’s devotion, maybe be looking at the verse. Listen intently. And be listening for the Holy Spirit to apply this verse specifically to your life. And, even in Daisy’s devotion, as she speaks transparently and honestly with you, maybe see if the Holy Spirit might point to something in your own life.
And when Daisy’s finished with the devotion, then stop this audio guide, pray, and then go ahead and write in your Daily Journal page of your Alone With God journal. So, write, following the brief instructions under each of the sections – Meditate, Apply, and Respond. Write there, being real with God. Just follow those simple one or two-sentence instructions. Write out what your Meditation, Application, and Response are, and then write your prayer to God to finish and thank God for this time with him. Thank him for this special time alone with him.
Here’s Daisy.
Hey, y’all, it’s Daisy. Today I want to share one of my Alone With God journal entries with you from this week. And I also want to remind you that our relationship with God is built by spending deliberate, intentional time with him, and really allowing yourself to be fully honest and fully seen by him.
So, if that feels intimidating, or you don’t know where to start, or you think it will take too much time – do not worry. Our Alone With God journal is crafted for you. It had you in mind when it was being made. There are journal prompts, and it just guides you to help you learn how to build a deeper relationship with God. And it’s really, really easy. It’s really simple. It won’t take you all day. But it will change your life. And I do not leave the house without it. It is my most prized possession. So, you can get a copy of the Alone With God journal at wordbymail.com. You will not regret it.
So, without further ado, let’s spend some alone time with God together.
1 Peter 3:10 (ESV) 10 Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
Honesty is one of the most crucial characteristics of being a Christian because it comes with aligning ourselves, and our values, and our lives with the truth of Jesus Christ. To know and to walk with God earnestly is to tear down the walls of dishonesty because dishonesty is just a protection mechanism against shame. But God does not ask us to be perfect; he does not expect us to be perfect. He knows us. It is so silly to hide from him. He only asks us to be vulnerable and open with him so that he can be our strength. And when we lie to ourselves, or we lie to others (and especially when we lie to God), we really miss out on the true connection of the way God designed us and the way that God designed relationships. And that can cause us to stumble into hot water pretty quickly.
So, when we live honestly, we find a life of abundance and peace and joy because there is nothing holding us back from the love of God. There is no separation, no shame, no fear, no smoke and mirrors. And we also know that when we are honest with God about our shortcomings and confess that we need him, he always completes us and he always comes to our rescue.
Honesty is how we encounter the Father. God really cares about the state of your heart. When we live in fear, we wrap our heart in barbed wire, and we use lies to try and escape the shame of not feeling good enough or lovable. And all God really wants to do is love you exactly where you are and how you are today because that is how we grow. Honesty with ourselves, honesty with others, and honesty with God allows us to be a blank canvas. When we let go of the shame, and we embrace the truth, and we embrace how wonderful it is to be imperfect, it just brings so much glory to God, and his grace is truly sufficient for us in those moments.
So, I want you to ask yourself, Am I living an honest life, or am I trying to portray myself -to God, to others – maybe even to me – as someone that I’m not. Is my relationship with myself, and is my relationship with God honest?
Let’s pray. Father, please help me to make honesty a priority in my relationship with you as well as in my relationship with others. Please use my shortcomings to magnify your greatness. And help me to find comfort in my discomfort. And teach me to love myself through your eyes so that I do not need to use lying as a means to cover my shame. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, if you have enjoyed this devotional and you are inspired to take the reins of your relationship with God, I would love for you to get our Alone With God journal at wordbymail.com. And I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.