Daily Bible Reading
To prevent the frustration of falling behind, which most of us tend to do when following a Bible reading plan, each month of this plan gives you only twenty-five readings. Today we start a few “free days” . We encourage you to catch up on any readings you may have missed this month.
If you have finished the month’s readings, you can use these final days of the month to study the passages that challenged or intrigued you.
Daily Devotion
The Spiritual Algorithm of Keep, Drop, Give and Take
I have a question. How many times have you acted upon your thoughts?
There are things we do without thinking because they are the gift of life and rote repetition. There are, however, those thoughts that become actions.
In the World Wide Web, every social media outlet is able to have an algorithm with or without your consent, that takes the words you speak, or the letters you type, and process them to provide items or places you might want to go. This algorithm is a personalized way of putting before our eyes the things we search for or talk about.
Now, take that same idea and apply it in a spiritual context.
The enemy cannot hear our mind and wow is that a good thing!
But he is allowed to hear what we say. Him being allowed means God is letting him be the adversary. I feel this to be a help for us. This information, I will keep! To always know that I have to be one step ahead helps me prepare for every possible pothole on the road, “being intentional.”
I know that we all know this already. It’s not new news, but thinking about this ancient algorithm really pulls my thoughts into deeper contemplation. We all have good and bad days, things we will not get right.
You wouldn’t decide to go running through a thornbush cutting up your feet with the afterthought of putting boots on, right? The boots come first because there will always be thorn bushes, rocks, or things to hurt our feet. The boots protect, the boots keep us steady as we walk through uncertain areas.
Most of us are able to drop to our knees and give God our attention first.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV
As we speak to our Lord and give Him our life each and every day, we are taking on Christ allowing Him to prepare us to stay protected, carry out His plans as we move through our world, affecting the darkness with our light.
We can download, so to speak, the agenda for the day as we listen to God speak. We can ask, “Who is looking for help, Lord?” God is the mainframe, and we become the action God gives. As people are searching, the spiritual algorithm processes, and the hearts of the hungry are provided with an opportunity through us to meet the One who gave it all just for them. Let God use you. Download daily, and God will put people in your path. But just as an algorithm searches through words, text or spoken, we too must pay attention. I’ve noticed those that are in my circle of influence seem to have gone through things that I’ve gone through or they are currently going through them, which becomes a relatable topic. God does it that way! He knows better than we do that we can’t reach people if we aren’t relatable We need to love them the way God tells us to. It’s all about the algorithm.
Get connected, get plugged in, and you will start reaching people.
“And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23
““Lord,” they said, “we want to see!”” “Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.” Matthew 20:33 -34 NLT
““What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”” “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.” Mark 10:51-52 NLT
““What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.” Luke 18:41-43 NLT
~ Keep listening to the voice of God.
~ Drop what keeps you from seeking God and his righteousness.
~ Give more time to God.
~ Take your light, and shine it, so that blind eyes are open and people will follow Jesus!
This is the spiritual algorithm by which God can move us to reach the lost.
~Susan Jeffries