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DEVOTIONS
FOR September 22-27, 2008
Topic: “My
Word is My Bond.” Is it? Accountability & Commitment
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Spend time with the devotions this week. Read the Scriptures and then
think how you can apply them to your life.
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MONDAY
September 22
Look
up and read
Deuteronomy 7:9
Do you know what a
covenant is? A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties
or individuals to promise to do something. Have you ever signed a covenant
and made a promise to uphold all that was written? Did you hold to the
covenant or did you break the promise you made? Unfortunately, we live in a
world of broken covenants and promises. Often times, a person’s word is no
longer their bond and shaking hands in agreement no longer means much.
Broken promises and covenants only break trust in people. We hurt others
and we hurt ourselves when we live this way. Have you ever broken trust
with others? I know I have. Yet, God has made a covenant with us that He
will never break! NEVER!!! What He requires of us is that we love Him
and keep His commands. You see, God always holds to his covenants and
promises. The question is will we? Spend some time in prayer today asking
God to help you to hold to your promises and covenants you make.
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TUESDAY
September 23
Look
up and read
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Have you ever thought
about taking a vow of silence? I had a friend in college who took a
vow of silence for 2 weeks. He decided that he wanted to stop spending so
much time talking and he’d rather spend time listening to God. He didn’t
say a word for 14 days! The only way he communicated was with pen and
paper. He actually made it through and learned a lot from his vow. The
verses in Ecclesiastes 5 remind us that when we make a vow we should follow
through with it. It states that we shouldn’t even make a vow if we don’t
think we can fulfill it. Why do we make vows we know we’ll break? God has
made a vow to you that He will never break! Pray today and ask God to give
you wisdom and understanding in committing to your vows. |
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WEDNESDAY
September 24
Look
up and read
Proverbs
17:18
“I’ll bet you can’t
eat this whole can of diced chili peppers?” “Wanna shake on it?” The bet
may seem a bit ridiculous but you know you’ve done something like this
before. Do you know what a pledge is? A pledge is a sign (hand
shake) that is a binding agreement to something. In the old days, most
pledges were sealed with a hand shake and that was good enough. However,
that is not the same today. Today a handshake doesn’t often mean as much as
it used to. But, do you know what God says? God says that what he pledges
to do He always follows through with! The verse here in Proverbs 17 warns
us to be careful in who we “shake hands” with and pledge something to. God
wants us to make commitments but there are times that we need to use caution
with whom we pledge to. Meditate over the verse and pray for wisdom in who
you take pledge with. You know God will always hold to His pledge with
you. Find your trust in Him to show you who to take pledges with.
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THURSDAY
September 25
Look
up and read
Acts
2:42-47
How connected are you
with your friends at school or youth group? If you answered very connected,
do you trust them with your life, sharing your deepest thoughts, talking
about God and holding each other accountable? God has provided a safe place
here at youth group for you to be connected through many different
groups, activities and people. In Acts 2 it describes a group of people
that are completely surrendered and committed to God and each other. The
things that they covenant and connect to are quite similar to what goes on
at youth group. It’s all there for you to commit to and be a part
of. The question is, what’s keeping you from committing and connecting to
others who love and support you? Spend some time in prayer today and
honestly examine your heart and ask God to help you know where to get
connected.
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FRIDAY September 26
Look
up and read
Galatians
6:2
Are you one of those
“tough guys” out there who doesn’t ask for help even when you know you
desperately need it? What do you do when what you’re carrying spiritually
is too much? Why do we put ourselves in that place? A wonderful thing that
God has created for us is other people. He created the body to help with
your burdens. According to the verse here in Galatians 6, we are fulfilling
the law of Christ when we carry one another’s burdens. Why should we
go about our lives lugging our burdens and not letting others come
along-side to relieve us? It doesn’t prove our “independence” simply because
we did it on our own. God himself makes our burdens light if we simply ask
Him and He has provided us with others who can also help ease the pain.
Pray today and ask God to take your burden and to provide others who
can help you through the pain.
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SATURDAY
September 27
Look
up and read
Psalm
119:50 and
Psalm
119:76
Have you ever found comfort in food? How about parties, addictions or sinful
relationships? All of those things end with hurt and emptiness. No matter
how many times we turn to them, they will always let us down. God promises
to preserve our life and comfort us in our sufferings. His unfailing love
should be our true comfort. Sometimes we convince ourselves that everything
but Him will bring us comfort. Find satisfaction in God’s promises!
He will never fail you! No matter how many times we fail Him (and it will
be many), He will always forgive. He will always welcome us back into His
arms when we repent and seek to glorify Him. Here at youth group you can
find this to be a place that you can come and be loved, accepted and find
satisfaction through God’s Word, fellowship, worship and small groups.
The question is; will you commit? Meditate over these two passages and be
real with yourself about your commitments to God, to others and to youth
group. He is our true Comforter; why not commit to getting to know Him more
this year through youth group?
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See you at Sunday
School, Worship and Youth Fellowship this Sunday!
Bible references provided by
www.biblegateway.com
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