Devotions by Ed Handkins (edhandkins7@bellsouth.net) . Check out other thoughts at www.edhandkinsministries.com .

Week 1 – Day 1
HELP!

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (RSV)

Two sailors were adrift on a raft in the ocean.  They had almost given up hope of being rescued.  One man started to pray.  “Dear Lord, I know I’ve led a sinful life.  I’ve been unkind to my wife and I’ve neglected my children, but if you’ll save me, I promise…”

“Stop!” shouted the other sailor, “I think I see land.”

Sometime we try to bargain with God.  This type of “foxhole religion” (promises we make during times of stress) is really an attempt to manipulate God.  We try to use our promises to get God to do thing the way we want them done.

Jesus is the “Lamb of God” but we cannot pull the wool over His eyes.

God offers us his Grace – His undeserved gift.  In response He calls us to follow Him each day.  He wants us to follow, not to lead.

Prayer: Ask God to help you live today the way He would have you live.

Week 1 – Day 2

The Cosmic Candy Machine

And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 (RSV)

Sometimes we treat God like a cosmic candy machine.  We put in the coin of our prayers, church attendance, offerings or good actions and believe that God owes us the results.  If we end up facing difficulties, after we have been a good person, we get mad at God.  Because we have been good we really feel God owes us a life of happiness.  We have put in our coins and we expect Him to deliver – like a candy machine. If He does not we will beat on the machine.

God wants us to do good for others because we are following Him – not to manipulate Him and to “earn” His favor.

Prayer: “God help me to do good today in order to say “Thank you” for all you have done for me.

Week 1 – Day 3

Spare Tire

Whereas the aim our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 (RSV)

Sometime we try to use God like a spare time.  When we are in trouble, we take God out of the trunk and use Him until the trouble is over.  After the crisis, we try to put Him back in a safe place – a place where He is near, but where He cannot have any affect on the rest of our life.  Of course, we will call Him when we are in trouble again.

God wants us to call on Him in times of trouble but He does not want us to try to bargain with Him.  He doesn’t want our promises.  He wants us.

I really believe the most effective prayer we can pray is “Help me!”  It means we give up on our self and put our trust in Him.

Jesus said the Spirit of God is like the wind.  We cannot tell where it comes from and we cannot tell where it is going.  God is not ours to manipulate and use.  He is ours to worship.

The next time you are tempted to try to manipulate God, stop!  Instead of making promises, getting angry, or trying to convince God that He owes you happiness, just ask God for His help.

Prayer: Tell God you cannot make it without Him.  Ask Him to help you live the way He would have you live each day.

Week 1 – Day 4

Everyone is Different

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (RSV)

A nun ran out of gas on a country road.  She had to walk to a farm to get some gas.  The farmer gave her enough gas to get her car started so she could drive it to the pump.  The only container he could find was a beer bottle.

As the nun was pouring the gas from the beer bottle into her car a protestant minister came by.  He stared at her in amazement.  After a minute or so he exclaimed, “Sister, we may have our differences but I’ve got to admire your faith.”

We tend to think about the differences between people.  We have different churches, different clubs, different races, different political views, different likes, and different jobs.  When we focus on our differences there seems to be no end.

Every person has something worth admiring.  There is something good in every person if we will only take time to notice.

Even the devil – We can admire his persistence.

Today is a good time to look for something you can admire in a person who seems to have nothing to off you.  You may be able to turn an enemy into a friend.

We are a collection of imperfect people.  For those who would look for evil there is enough darkness.  For those who would seek for good there is enough light.

Prayer: Ask God to help you see something to admire in those near you today.

Week 1 – Day 5

Prayer

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.  Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:7-8 (RSV)

Nancy, a four-year-old, was making her first visit to the adult worship service.  She was puzzled when the entire congregation kneeled.

“What are they doing?” she asked her mother.

“Shush,” whispered her mother.  “They’re praying.”

“What?” exclaimed Nancy, “With their clothes on?”

Yes, all of us can pray even with our clothes on.

There was a time in my life when I really questioned the value of prayer.  I thought, “When I pray, I am talking to someone I cannot see, touch, or taste.  Can that be real?”

Then I met my wife-to-be.  When I came to understand love, I started to understand prayer.  I came to love Donna.  When we were separated she was always in my thoughts.  When we were together we would spend hours talking about everything and anything.

I realized love could not be seen, touched, or tasted but love is still very real.

Communication is the heart of prayer.  No one could just think up the idea of prayer.  We have a built-in desire to communicate with the One who made us – the One who loves us.  His love is the force that calls us to pray.

Prayer is as real as love.  The urge to pray is a God given response to His love.  Without prayer the universe would be unbearably lonely.

Prayer: “Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to change.  And when I am right make me easy to live with.”