Daily Devotional
Surrender to Be Used by God
“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’”
Acts 8:26-29
August 23, 2024
Ponder This
Sometimes people ask, "Why doesn't God use me?" It may be that you’re not making yourself useable. God never leaves a surrendered vessel unfilled. And God never leaves a filled vessel unused. If you surrender yourself, He’ll fill you with the Holy Spirit. God can’t fill that which is already filled. You’ve got to empty out yourself, your ambition, your pride, and your sin and say, “Lord, fill me.” He will, and what God fills, He uses.
God has a plan for you, just as he had a plan for Philip so long ago. Philip was an ordinary person God used in an extraordinary way. God’s ways are often unknown. Phillip had no way of knowing he was going to be used of God to witness to a very important and strategic man. All he knew was God had spoken and said, “Go south to Gaza.” Philip followed God by taking the next step that was in front of him, and it had major impact. You have no way of knowing how God is going to use you. Surrender to Him and He will give you the next step.
- Do you desire for God to use you? Why or why not?
- What are some other examples from Scripture of those who were used by God? How can you relate to their stories?
Practice This
Surrender to God in prayer, asking Him to use you.
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.’”
