Welcome to Day 11. My heart is so full to hear how God is using these small moments in your life to cultivate and produce fruit in your life. Each of you is always in my prayers. Thank you to those of you who have just encouraged me through this process you are a gem to my life! To all of us, may our hearts be open to His voice in the next 10-15 minutes. Here are some helpful tips to best utilize your time.
- Choose an ordinary place to become a sacred-ordinary holy ground. This could be your favorite chair, the back porch steps, or a coffee shop.
- Set aside anything that could distract you for the next 10-15 minutes. If you are using your phone or laptop for these devotionals put it on due not disturb. If you are using a printout, set aside your phone or smartwatch. This time is intentionally meant to be with The King.
- I suggest picking up a journal so that you can jot down some ideas that stick out to you from your time with Jesus. As you continue to meditate on it throughout your day, write it down.
- Pick a consistent time. For you, it may be the final moments in your day, early in the morning before anyone wakes up, or your daily office lunch break. When doesn’t matter as much as being consistent.
I pray that during this time of meditation, reflection, and prayer God will reveal himself to us so we can draw near to him. Shall we begin?
August 15 John 4:1-15
- Let’s Begin with Prayer. Pick a posture whether kneeling, sitting, or sitting up straight with the palms of your hands facing upward.
- In this season of prayer, play a song that you can sing that reminds you of His presence. This is the song that I have been playing all week if you like to join me. “I Trust In God” by Elevation Worship.
- Read John 4:1-15 Write some of your thoughts down. Here are some questions to consider to help navigate your time studying scripture.
- Where did I feel resistance? Where did I feel delight? What portion of scripture did I experience God’s nearness?
Some Thoughts I Like To Share,
This is by far one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I really resonate deeply with the woman at the well. So let me get started. The word that always sticks out to me in verse 4 is, “Had.” I was in a conversation with a couple from Texas just last week and they were laughing about how it was because of them I had to move from El Paso to Tulsa so I could make an appeal for baptism for them. At first I thought it was comical but then I began to think about how our King actually works and thinks. What He is willing to do for just one person! How He is willing to move heaven and earth just so one person may hear the Goodnews of the gospel and be called out our their shame. So I let them know not to just laugh at it but I told them God HAD to SEND me here just for you. That is truly the type of God He is. The type of King we get to serve.
As you well know the fact that the woman was going to the well at a certain time of day when none of the other ladies were able to come. The author wants to make it apparent that even in her desire to be seen by no one at the well there was ONE who was there before she arrived. I love this picture of our King! He enters the place we run away too. There is no mountain to high or valley to low that He cannot find us.
The final thing I was like to point out is the bucket. The image of the bucket has forever change my life. I view the well as her heart and the bucket and the rope of God’s power to reach her heart. So when she utters the words my eyes fill with tears because I too have prayed that same prayer. Father, my heart is unreachable and everyone in my life has never had enough rope or even a bucket to reach it. What makes you so different! How can you reach this heart of mine! Then I hear his words speak over me, “I am like no one you have ever met, let me in and not only will I have enough rope to reach your heart but I will change forever.”
- Let’s Begin with Prayer. Pick a posture whether kneeling, sitting, or sitting up straight with the palms of your hands facing upward.