Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Hebrews 12 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Hebrews 12:1-2

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

 


I was listening to Riddles of Restoration from Restoration Park Church yesterday, and God spoke something into my spirit: “If people would chase Me half as hard as they chase the sin in their lives, imagine all that we could accomplish together!!!!” It got me thinking about how much time I have spent asking God to deliver me from something that was all my fault and that I knew was wrong before I did it! What if I would have chosen to follow God instead of following my desires?? What if instead of pleading with Him to get me out of something I created, I was praising Him for what He kept me from?

 

Whatever I am going through dominates my prayer life , and the closer I walk with Him, the more I can focus my prayers on other people and praising Him! I guess what I’m trying to say is that if I spend all my prayer time asking God to bless something He is not a part of or save me from a situation I shouldn’t have been in to start with, then I’m not able to focus on things that truly matter and grow with God!!

 

I’m not saying God doesn’t want to help us or that we shouldn’t call on His name in times of trouble, but what I am saying is God wants to work with us, not for us!!!! He is our loving Father, not our magical genie!!!

 

I love you all, God bless, and Glory to God!!!!

 

 

Hebrews 12:2

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame. 

 

Last night, I was laying in bed thinking about Jesus on the way to the cross and how hard He had to fight to get there, only to experience more pain and eventually death. Think about that for a second. He fought that hard just to get to His own death! He did it because He knew that our lives were hanging in the balance. I imagine everything around Him screaming to give up or to make it stop or that we weren’t worth it, but to Him we are!!

 


To me, Jesus wasn’t just dragging the cross but me and my sins with it! I feel like now, more than ever, we need to have this same fight in us! The determination and perseverance that our Lord displayed needs to be living in each one of us!!

 

I believe the reason we’re struggling is we are fighting the enemy on his terms and on his turf!! We have to rely on God and fight with the spiritual weapons He has given us to overcome: prayer, fasting, praise, His Word, and love!! The only thing stronger than hate is love. Jesus proved that on the cross!! Jesus fought for each one of us; now, it’s time we fight for Him and each other!!!

 

I love you all, God bless, and Glory to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!!!!!!

 

 

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