07/01/2020
July IF:Table
Since we can’t meet together right now I thought I’d share the devotion for this month. Questions to ponder are at the end.
Billy Graham said, “God delights in faithfulness, not fruitfulness.” I truly believe that when we reframe our lives that way, it changes everything! In this season, it can become so easy to grow weary in our days. We are reliving the same day over and over again, and we wonder if anything we’re doing is really making an impact on our families, our coworkers, or our world. We’ve got to realize, instead, that God is after our obedience and He’s after His glory. His stories for us are not going to build our kingdoms or our names; they’re going to build His. So how do we make this season all about God? We obey.
What has God called you to do in this season, right where you are? Is it homeschooling your three children or virtually discipling your high school small group or going into work every day to care for the sick and hurting? None of these jobs are easy, but God has called us to be faithful. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” How can you use the gifts God has given you to be faithful to Him and to the people around you? I have to say that I have seen so many of you pursue faithfulness and persevere over the last few months. You have had to learn a whole new way to lead and love others. You have STEPPED UP in such a challenging time, and it is truly remarkable what God can do when we are completely surrendered and seeking only after His glory.
As we look forward, I feel antsy. I feel ready to be with all of you again and say this will all be over soon. But the truth is that none of us really knows how to move forward in the weeks and months to come. The enemy wants us to sit here and be useless and feel sorry for ourselves and be passive recipients of life while we wait to see what is going to happen. But that is a sad state of affairs. The dangerous people are those who get up, grab the sword, and go fight.
My husband’s grandfather is in his 90’s. He fought in World War II, dropped out of an airplane, his parachute didn’t open, he crashed, he blacked out, and ended up as a prisoner of a war camp in Germany. It was dark and horrible. The man had everything stacked against him. But he came home and decided to be a great husband, to build a great life, and to obey God. He raised his kids to love God. He chose the good fight. He chose delight and joy and gratitude because He thought it was worth it. Life may feel really unfair right now, but we have a choice.
So let’s move forward together. Let’s lean on one another in community, let’s seek God earnestly in prayer, let’s be faithful to what is in front of us each day, all for His glory. Me? I’m putting my head down, obeying God. God decides where it goes and how it goes. Are you with me?
Q.1
How have you experienced both joy and disappointment in the last few months?
Q.2
Describe a time when you felt that you had everything stacked against you. How did you respond?
Q.3
When you go throughout your days, what is your motivation? Are you keeping God’s purposes in mind, or are you concerned about your own desires?
Q.4
How can you choose to serve God as we move forward?
They have added some conversation starter questions that you can use with your family. They are below.
family cards
Q.1
What’s been the hardest part of the last few months?
Q.2
How do you respond to difficult circumstances? How can you remember that God is with you?
Q.3
Where have you seen God provide for you in this season? Let’s give thanks for His goodness!
Q.4
How can you serve God as we move forward?
