Blog Entries tagged 'passion'

Finding Our Calling

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:00:00 +0100

I find it devastating to see people waste their lives in dead-end jobs and they don't bother changing because they have nothing else to drive them.

2 Peter 1.1-11

Reference: v.10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.

Explore: Some people love looking through the job section of the newspaper. Even if they are secure in their own position they just like to know what else is out there. I am NOT one of these people. When a church or organisation asks me to apply for a job my head goes into a spin. All those questions that I've swept under the carpet come to the front: What is God's direction for this season of my life? What are my skills and abilities? Can I serve God better else where??? All these soul searching questions throw me off task. However, once the soul searching is done I have greater clarity and purpose on the task I have decided to commit to.

Application: Our time is precious. I find it devastating to see people waste their lives in dead-end jobs and they don't bother changing because they have nothing else to drive them. I think we should spend more time finding what our strengths and passions are instead of looking for the best paying or most prestigious job. When we are working within our passion the personal rewards outweigh the pay or the position. When Simon Peter wrote this passage he did not say that our calling would be an easy task. He said that we would never fall. I don't think this means in an earthly sense. I have found that follow my calling has brought much heartache, tears and struggles. But it has brought me closer to God and in that sense I have not fallen.

Prayer: Lord, open our eyes to Your ways. Help us to discern Your calling in our lives. May we be brave and courageous to fulfill the tasks ahead of us. Amen.

Have you discerned your calling?

God Experience, not God Review

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:00:00 +0100

There is a big difference between talking to someone who has actually seen the movie than talking to someone who has only read a review about it.

2 Corinthians 1.1-11

Reference: v.4 ...(God) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the confort we ourselves have received from God. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I really enjoy watching movies. And I love to talk to other people about the movies they know too. There is a big difference, however, between talking to someone who has actually seen the movie than talking to someone who has only read a review about it. When someone has seen the movie for themselves they are able to speak from personal experience which comes with a great deal more emotion. When someone has only read a review about a movie they can only tell you what someone else has said about it. If you have seen the movie for yourself then you bring much more persuasion and passion to your experience of the acting and cinematography.
When we speak to people about God we can share a great deal about all we have read and heard from others. However, the real passion comes when we are able to express our understanding of God from our own personal experience.

Application: The early disciples experienced all sorts of trials and difficulties, however they also experienced many joys and comforts from God too. The Apostle Paul was helping the early church to use all their experiences to help others who wanted to experience God as well. While we can learn a great deal from reading and hearing other people's experience, it is also important to share our own experience of God. It may not be a lightning bolt moment, it may just be a small whisper. Either way, people are able to gain a better understanding of our loving, compassionate and comforting God if we are willing to share our personal experience of who He is.

Prayer: Lord, often I hold my faith so close as it means so much to me personally. Help me to open up about my own experiences so others can see all that You mean to me. Amen.

What is an experience of God that you could share with others?

Sleep Walking

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100

While it's cute to watch a baby fall asleep, it's absolutely hilarious when you see it happen to an adult!

1 Thessalonians 4.13-5.11

Reference: v. 5.6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, butlet us be alert and self-controlled. (NIV Bible)

Application: We were babysitting an eight-month-old baby the other night. When it was her bedtime I had the pleasure of rocking her in my arms until she drifted off to sleep. There is nothing quite like a sleeping baby. But I love to watch them the few moments before they are asleep. Their eyes gradually start to droop and when they shut fully they will quickly open them again, as if to say, 'I'm not asleep, I'm not tired.' But slowly their lids will start to close again until finally their whole body becomes limp. While it's cute to watch this happen to a baby, it's absolutely hilarious when you see it happen to an adult! Those warm conference sessions after lunch can be a killer!
I get the feeling that this passage is talking about two types of 'asleep'. On one hand there are those who have 'fallen asleep' and gone to be with the Lord and on the other hand there are those who are 'asleep' as in those who are ignorant and living in darkness to the salvation in Christ.

Explore: It is sad when people sleep through their lives. I don't mean that their eyes are droopy and they spend most of their time in bed. People can sleep through their lives whenever they are not living to their full potential. I think Christians and non-Christians alike can live like that. If we are just wading through life and not living with passion and purpose, then we too are 'asleep'. There are always times when we need routine and consolidation - there are also times when we do actually need to sleep! - but if we have no vision or purpose to what we are doing then it's like we are asleep.
God has blessed us with so much. He calls each and every one of us to live for Him. His path is not always easy but it gives us purpose and vision for a better tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all you have done for us and given to us. Let us not waste these precious gifts by sleeping through our lives. Amen.

How 'awake' or 'asleep' are you right now? What would help you to live a life that is wide awake for God?

Actions Follow the Heart

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100

It can be quite inspiring meeting really passionate people. However when people are so passionate about one particular topic you see that their focus always leads them back to their area of passion.

1 Kings 11.1-13

Reference: v.4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. (NIV Bible)

Explore: It can be quite inspiring meeting really passionate people. However when people are so passionate about one particular topic you see that their focus always leads them back to their area of passion. I know a person who loves the gym. She started attending the gym to get fit but soon her whole timetable was configured around when she could fit in a gym session. She became so passionate about the gym that she took a part time course and became a personal trainer. She has now quit her job and works at a gym and so is able to spend even more time there. She is so focused on the gym that every conversation ends up with a story about the gym, her Facebook status is always a reference to the gym and now her main circle of friends are from the gym. Her heart was set on the gym and so her actions have followed.

Application: Our actions follow our heart. Solomon's heart became focused on his wives and concubines and so his actions followed. If we set our heart on something our actions follow as well. The verse from Matthew 6.21 is very true: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. While it is good to have many interests and ways of expressing our talents, it is important for us to keep in check where our heart is. If our heart is set on God then our actions will follow God. If our heart is set on the things of this world then our actions will follow them too.

Prayer: Lord, we know that you are all we need but so often we are tempting by other delights. May our hearts stay focused on you, our God and our King. Amen.

If someone looked at your actions today, what would they say your heart is focused upon?

Lone Ranger

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:54:28 +0100

While it's good for us to strive to fulfill our passions it is so important that we spend time encouraging those around us so that they too may fulfill their passion.

Acts 18.18-28

Reference: v.23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I always pictured Paul as a bit of a lone ranger. He was so incredibly passionate about what he did I thought that would become extremely intense for anyone who was around him for long periods of time. Of course, he had his partners along the way but they often changed as well. He was so full-on and often confronting that I wondered whether he felt lonely at times.
However, in this passage we hear that he 'strengthened all the disciples'. It seems that while he was pretty hard core in speaking out to the Jews and Gentiles by trying to convince them to believe in Jesus, he was also inspiring and encouraging towards those who already believed.

Application: Our passion will drive us to do great things. If we are fulfilling our passions then we have the energy and the drive to overcome many challenges and complete many accomplishments. However our drivenness can often push others aside and our intensity can set us apart from our support groups.
Just as Paul took time out in his evangelistic mission to strengthen his fellow believers, we too must take time to build up those who surround us. While we need to continue to strive to fulfill our passions- whatever our God-given gifts may be- it is so important that we spend time with fellow colleagues/friends/believers and encourage them so they, too, can fulfill their passion.

Prayer: Lord, often we have such tunnel vision towards a goal that we forget to care about people along the way. Help us to stay focussed on our passion but not lose sight of those who love and support us. Amen.

I will go

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:53:47 +0100

David was willing to step out into battle with all his troops

2 Samuel 18.1-18

Reference: v.2b The king told the troops, "I myself will surely march out with you."

Explore: The king had been fleeing Absalom and his army for a while now but it was now time for them to stand and fight. As David gathered all his troops he declared that he was willing to go out and fight with all his men. In contrast to yesterday's reading, we see here a man willing to do what he commands his followers to do.

Application: David began as a servant leader and continued to be until late in his reign when he fought against his own Son and the army of Israel. It shows the integrity of a leader if they are willing to put themselves on the line for what they believe is right. It shows some of the really important characteristics of a leader: passion, purpose, dedication.
Often we sit under leadership which is apathetic and complacent. Yet when we have the opportunity to work with people who are passionate and purposeful we are able to feel like we're really having an impact. No matter what you do, you are a leader to someone. Be an inspiring leader by being willing to put your own life on the line for the cause.

Prayer: Lord, even when we are in the leadership position often the task feels daunting and overwhelming. Give me courage to work for what I truly believe in. Amen.