Daniel Fast – Day 8 Devotional-“Because of Grace”
Yesterday was a great day! our morning worship was amazing and powerful, great attendance, and the stories I am hearing of what God is doing in people’s lives are just so encouraging. I am so thankful that God is revealing to people how to live for His kingdom. Living for His Kingdom is truly the only way to be happy, find fulfillment, be satisfied, and not the opposite, depressed, anxious, stressed out, unhappy, and on and on!
The membership meeting was a huge success as well. God is providing incredible unity in our fellowship right now! He gets all the praise for it. I am so thankful to be a part of a spiritual movement like a church but in particular, like Crossroads!
I don’t know about you but I have really been captured by all that is going on in Haiti. The devastation is just unbelievable. I can only imagine how helpless the people feel and overwhelmed they must feel. Their situation is just so large! I told Ang last night that I wondered if this is what Jesus meant when He said “their will be wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilences, etc…” to mark the end of days and the end times. ?
Well, in the verses in Prov. today we were told to “not withhold good to those it is due, when it is in our power to do something about it, do not say, go and tomorrow I will give it”. I couldnt help but think of the people in Haiti as I read these verses. I know there are many reasons that I would give and that others would give to not do something, reasons like, “I dont know any of those people there”, “there problem doesnt touch me”, “I have my own problems”etc, etc. But, living for God’s kingdom and just being a Christian, won’t let you or me live with those reasons/excuses. The text in Proverbs won’t let us either.
But instead of being “guilted” into obedience, I wish we were just moved with compassion like Jesus, who “looked upon the crowds and saw they were helpless”. I also wish we were just moved because of grace! O, that the Lord would move in my heart and yours to be compelled because of the love of Christ that He so freely bestowed upon us, “freely we have been given, freely we should give”
I want to encourage you to give toward our church’s efforts to help those in Haiti. Today we are designating this day as a special focus day of prayer and fasting for them and we also are partnering with Samaritans Purse with financial contributions for Haiti relief. You can donate online at our website, or drop a check in the mail or come by our office. Either way, give, not because you have to or feel obligated but simply, because of grace.
Have a great day connecting to our Lord,
Mike
LEARNINGS TO SHARE... 
January 18, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Mike, I am so thankful for this time of The Daniel Fast. My fasting is a little different but I feel it is what God is asking me to do. O have gone through some “dry” time recently where I struggled to connect with God. But He is faithful to “never leave us or forsake us”. My time with Him has been so sweet. Oh, not that He isn’t “pruning” me and showing me things in my life, but I sense His love through it all.
As I have been thinking about the people of Haiti, I can’t help but think of the people of Romania. How can we really help them? How can their lives ever be better? Jesus is their only hope. Oh but what a hope He is!