Devotionals for October 21, 2022

Join us as we continue Take Heart sermon series this Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30am! 

Luke 5: 5-16

“15 Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and
to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

To say the pressures Jesus had around him were a lot would be an understatement. I don’t know if there has been another human in history who has had to carry so much. Yet, we never see Him break under the weight of it. What we do see, on a number of occasions, is Jesus withdrawing to be alone with the Father- to be refilled and renewed with the presence of God. Jesus knew something vital- that the presence of God within must always be greater than the pressures which surround them. If the pressures outside are greater, we will break under their weight of them. When the presence within is greater, we remain whole. We can still feel the pressure, but we are not consumed by it. With the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can acknowledge that the atmosphere around us may be overwhelming, but we do not have to allow that to overwhelm our spirits.

Q: When Jesus withdrew to be with the Father- what did that look like?

Q: Is the pressure greater than the presence in your life?

Q: Pray and ask God to show you which part of your day can be repurposed and given to God in order to withdraw and renew your soul in Him.

"And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one."

God, I ask for your protection today. Guard my mind against the lies of the devil. Guard my emotions against the desires of my flesh. Guard my soul against the deceptions of sin. Strengthen my resolve to choose You today. To choose to read Your word, to open my mouth in song and sing your truth over my life. To abide in Your love, to remain in your presence, to keep in step with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.