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DEVOTIONS
FOR September 28-October 3, 2009
Topic:
Oh Yeah, I'll Be There. Will You?
Importance
of Accountability and 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 28
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 the
promises and covenants you make.
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TUESDAY
September 29
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 30
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
October 1
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 October 2
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
October 3
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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