Devotions by Susan Waters of Exceeding Joy

Ask!

Luke 18:41 Amplified Bible

What do you want Me to do for you? He said, Lord, let me receive my sight!

What do you want Jesus to do for you? Don’t sit around and wait; ask!
Sometimes people don’t ask because they feel they don’t deserve something,
they don’t want to bother God, or the feel it’s not important enough. Don’t
buy into those lies. Ask!

It’s not wrong to have dreams and desires. In fact, I believe God wants us
to stretch and dream. We cannot out-dream God. All-too-often, we short
change ourselves by small thinking. Think big and ask.

Ask for yourself and ask for others. Ask, ask, ask. Don’t ever do without
because you didn’t ask.

Father, I ask for:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Serving

Matthew 20:28 The Message

” That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served –
and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held
hostage.”

Isn’t it nice to go to a resort and enjoy a relaxing vacation? You sit on
the beach with a good book, sipping away on a fruity drink, listening to
the waves. Meanwhile, the housekeep staff is busy cleaning your room and
making your bed. Other staff is preparing all the wonderful meals for you
to indulge.

Sound good to you? It sure does to me! It’s nice for a vacation, but that’s
not the everyday life we are called to live. Like Jesus, we are called to
serve others.

There are many ways we can serve. The obvious ones being physically serving
someone by our actions. There are many other ways we can serve as well.
Praying for others, encouraging them, and ministering to them are also ways
of serving.

Serving starts in the heart. Jesus led by example. Let’s follow in His
footsteps.

Father, I desire to have a heart to serve. Lead me in the way You want me
to serve others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stop Trying

1 Thessalonians 5:23 New Living Translation

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole
spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord
Jesus Christ comes again.

So many people are stuck in this a cycle of trying to be good, perfect, or
holy. Stop trying – you can’t do it! The harder you try, the more you’ll
fall short. If you could do it on your own, Jesus went to the cross in
vain.

God will change us if we allow we allow Him. Let Him lead you. Fall in love
with Him and you will automatically enter into the journey of becoming more
like Him.

Father, I choose to enjoy my relationship with You, and allow You to change
me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Called And Set Apart

Romans 1:1 New King James

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to
the gospel of God.

Did you know that you have been called and set apart; by God? Each person
has been called to a special task by God. What has He called you to do?

Often, we have several callings on our lives, but there will always be at
least one main one. I’m always surprised at how many people don’t know what
they are called to do.

What is your passion? What do you enjoy doing? It may be preaching,
teaching, helping, training, praying, singing, etc. There are far too many
to list. Each calling is unique to the person. No two preachers are the
same, just like singers are different.

Don’t try to be like someone else. Find out what God has called you to do
and enjoy doing it the way He created you to flow in the gifting He has
given you.

Father, show me the call You have placed on my life. Show me the steps I
need to take to walk and grow in that calling. In Jesus’ name. Amen.