Daily Devotional
Are You Fully Surrendered?
“‘Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:29-31
August 14, 2024
Ponder This
Every now and then, I’ll come behind a car and it’ll have a bumper sticker that says, “God is my copilot.” Some people treat God like a business partner, but He’s not—He is Lord. Many times, we want to use God, but God’s not going to be used. You want God to answer your prayers? Then submit yourself to Him completely as Lord.
These people were committed to Him. They wanted God to give them power to express His Word. They prayed, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word” (Acts 4:29). Is that the desire of your heart, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to obey the Great Commission?
It was the expression of God’s Word that got them in trouble to begin with. They didn’t ask, “Lord, move us to more favorable circumstances.” They didn’t say, “Lord, keep us safe.” They prayed, “Lord, give us more of what got us into trouble in the first place. Lord, we’re in trouble for preaching Your Word. Now, give us boldness to preach it some more. We want to proclaim Your Word.”
- What is the difference between Jesus being Lord and being a business partner?
- How have you submitted and committed your ways to the Lord? What has changed? What needs to change for you?
Practice This
Pray with other Christians, asking God to use you to spread the Gospel.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
