PASTORS' DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Apr
29

Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up.

Richard Waialeale

Scripture
Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Observation
How much am I willing to give myself for the sake of saving lives and winning souls to Jesus AND what kind of legacy am I going to leave behind for others to follow?
Jesus say’s the plans that I have for my life usually doesn’t match up to the plans God has for my life.
I remember watching a special of the Jimmy Valvano story.Valvano had a 19-year career as a head basketball, then became a broadcaster for ESPN and ABC.Won numerous championships in basketball as well as awards in broadcasting.In June of 1992, Jimmy Valvano was diagnosed with bone cancer. By July, he found out that it had metastesized.His plans was definitely different from God’s plans. But that didn’t stop Valvano.While speaking at the inaugural ESPY awards, he announced the creation of the "Jimmy V Foundation", an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. He announced that the foundation's motto would be "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."His speech became legendary, and he closed the speech by saying, "Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul."Don't give up. Don't ever give up."
Application
Don’t ever give up identifying God’s direction and plan for my life. I must always be ready to change courses that I believe God is moving. I understand that the directions God moves, will mean I will not see His overall plan clearly, but if I can stay close to Him, I will sense the change in direction for my life. I must take each day as it comes and move in it to the fullest. Be watchful, prayerful, humble and obedient to the necessary changes of my life to God’s plan. Your Grace is sufficient for me.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for reminding me of how much You love me to change me from Glory to Glory. Move me Lord so that I can be in Your image. Amen.

Devotions for April 29

2 Samuel 4,5
Psalm 139
Matthew 16

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