Scripture"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."Romans 12:2 (MSG)  Devotional ReflectionA life placed before God becomes a life transformed by God. Paul warns against becoming so well-adjusted to the surr...  Read More

Scripture"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life, and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him."Romans 12:1 (MSG)  Devotional ReflectionPaul intentionally uses ordinary language. Sleeping. Eating. Going to work. Walking around. ...  Read More

Scripture"Is there anyone around who can explain God?Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?Everything comes from him;Everything happens through him;Everything ends up in him.Always glory! Always praise!Yes. Yes. Yes.So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating...  Read More

Scripture“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”James 5:16b (NIV)Devotional ReflectionJames declares that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. That statement immediately raises an important question: Who is righteous? Scripture tells us that none of us is righteous on our own. Even our best efforts cannot make us right before a holy God.The good news of...  Read More

Scripture“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”James 5:15-16a (NIV)Devotional ReflectionJames not only teaches us to pray; he teaches us how to pray. He speaks of “the prayer offered in faith.” Faith is not ...  Read More

Scripture“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”James 5:13-14 (NIV)Devotional ReflectionAs James brings his letter to a close, he reminds believers that what we say to God matters. Prayer, in its simplest form,...  Read More