Reading From: Hebrews 4
Rest. God, allow me to rest. Let me have peace in being justified by Christ. Let me enjoy being in your presence. Allow my soul to rest. Give me comfort in knowing that you sympathize with every aspect of my weakness. Allow me to dwell in Your goodness. May I draw near to Your throne of grace. Selah.
Devotion From: Hebrews 3
God, I’ll be honest here…all to often I find myself “looking up to” other pastors out there and putting them on a pedestal. I find myself thinking of how I can adapt the things they do well and apply them to the way I do things. God, keep me from going astray and loosing focus. Help me not to loose sight of Jesus at your right hand. Let me not diminish Christ faithfulness on the cross by magnifying and dwelling on other people’s faithfulness. Jesus, you deserve far more glory than anyone and let me rest in that. Allow my own faithfulness come out of Your own rather than trying to live up to human standards. Each day, renew my hope in You (Hebrews 3:6). Give me the courage and confidence to live out that hope in the life you give me. May my courage and confidence be a testimony of my hope in You.
I am convicted by your strong warning to not be deceived by sin and become hardened against God (Hebrews 3:13). I praise you for the people you have put in my life to be accountable to me. Would you grow a church community around me that would be a source of courage and confidence to be faithful to You.
Father God, each day, may I find rest in your word and the community of believers you put around me. Forgive me of making progress or becoming better an idol by focusing too much on other people. Soften my heart and allow your grace to transform my thinking and motives. Allow me to stay focused on Christ and his faithfulness and him alone. Amen.