Self Importance

Self Importance
By Steve Crowley

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(ESV)

I attended my fifth high school reunion a few years ago. Many if not all who were in attendance I hadn’t seen or spoken to for years. So in conversation the proverbial question I was asked was “I haven’t seen you years what have you been doing?” Or “What career path did you take?” Before I caught myself I rattled off the various places I lived as well as the positions I held. One question lead to others which lead to more expounding on my career. As I left the conversation I thought to myself boy that sounded boastful I bet I came across as, “look what I achieved.” Did I achieve more success than others? I don’t know but looking back at the evening what difference would it have made if I just made small talk rather than coming across as self important.

Age and maturity enables us to be reflective. We can see things now that we couldn’t see when we were younger. During my career I was career focused, which meant achieving goals and objectives were paramount in my life. Admittedly I had embraced the indulgence of self to achieve what I perceived as stature. It wasn’t until I got right with God and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I then realized my self importance was meaningless when compared to salvation and eternal life with God.

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭9‬a ‭(NLT‬)

If we don’t have Jesus as the most important thing in our lives our self importance is an empty illusion.

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭(ESV)

Our achievements in life are not the measurement of who we are. We are who we are by the grace of God. As a result we should strive to grow closer to God each and everyday.

“Our greatest blessing is not our gifting, our talent, our success or our dreams coming true. Our greatest blessing is to know Jesus and be known by Him.” – Jentezen Franklin

Holy Father, may we humble ourselves before You and thank You for Your grace. Forgive us when we project ourselves to others as anything other than Your child. May we grow closer to You. Our prayer before You is one of seeking revelation of the truth of Your Word. May our hearts be open to hear You speaking to us when we spend time reading our Bibles and especially in our precious alone time with You in prayer. Guide us and may Your light show us the way. We love You and seek You with all of our hearts.

For it is in the name of Jesus that we pray.

Amen

Acceptance

Acceptance
By Steve Crowley

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭(ESV‬)

Would you agree that almost everyone has an innate desire to be accepted? People dress a certain way to be accepted. They behave differently with different groups of people depending on the personality of the groups. I can remember when I was in high school back in the sixties it was izod shirts, alligator belts and khaki pants with Weejuns penny loafers, the uniform of acceptance. If you dressed accordingly you were accepted if not you weren’t.

There are exceptions but for the most part human nature is such that people want to be accepted. But there are consequences to succumbing to the winds of acceptance. People, in particular young people, can get wrapped up in following the wrong crowd. Gangs and cults attract people who aren’t accepted by society so they join organizations that accept them. They then walk down crooked paths and end up in trouble.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭(ESV‬)

God has given us the roadmap to life, His Holy Bible, the Word of God.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭(ESV)

God accepts us no matter what. Even when we mess up and make mistakes when we come to Him with a contrite heart God welcomes us with His arms wide open to hug us letting us know He loves us. So if you or someone you know is seeking acceptance point them to Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for or sins so we could be reconciled with God. Jesus paid the price so we could be called a child of God.

O gracious and loving Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ to this world to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins so we can one day stand blameless before You.

Father, forgive us when we seek the approval of others instead of seeking You. There is no person nor thing in this world that can fill our hearts like You. May we seek You always knowing we are acceptable in Your sight. May You bless us and shine Your grace upon us today and forevermore.

For it’s the the name above all names, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that we pray.

Amen

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭36‬ ‭(ESV)

Distractions

Distractions
By Steve Crowley

“I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(ESV)

Do you remember when you first opened your heart and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Weren’t you head over heels to know everything about Jesus? You may have spent hours upon hours reading your Bible and feeling as if you discovered the true meaning of life. I know I did. In fact I read everything I could get my hands on. I wanted to know the depths of everything pertaining to Jesus. My heart was full of inexplicable joy and a thirst for more of Jesus.

Today I still spend time each morning reading my daily devotionals and spending time reading my Bible but I were to be perfectly honest I find myself distracted by other things which steals my thoughts away from my abiding in Jesus. My focus becomes consumed with daily responsibilities, by current geopolitical events, finances and any number of different things fighting for my attention.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬ ‭(ESV)

The simple truth of the matter is we aren’t able to tackle the personal issues of our lives unless we abide in Christ. We don’t have the strength nor ability to cope with all of the noise surrounding us unless we keep Christ in the forefront of our minds. Yes we may drift but by committing to spending time with God in prayer and in reading our Bible we are assured of God’s presence in our lives.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭(ESV‬)

Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times we allow the noise of this world to mute our times seeking You. We ask You to restore the joy of salvation and to lead us by Your abundant grace. Thank You, for loving us and reminding us to always call upon You as we journey through the maze of life.

Father, we pray in the name of Jesus and ask for Your presence to always be before us.

Amen

“Seek the Lord and his
strength; seek his presence continually!”
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭(ESV)

Called Out

Called Out
By Steve Crowley

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭(ESV)

I got called out by God recently. As I was reading the Bible recently I came upon a verse that hit me deep within my heart. It was literally like I was sitting before God and He looked down at me and said, “Steve, you are guilty of this sin and you have to stop.” Have you ever read a devotional or read your Bible and wham, you are convicted by the scripture verse? It happens to me frequently and it’s not always a conviction of a sin I’ve committed but Scripture has the uncanny ability to speak to my heart.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(ESV)

When we spend time reading our bibles, there are times when a verse or verses jump off the page and kindle a burning reaction deep within us. Sometimes it is conviction of our miscues but often it’s God gently nudging us to understand His incredible love for us. But this particular morning God’s Word convicted me of a sin I’ve struggled with for a long time. I think if we were honest with ourselves we would all admit there are lingering sins we battled with. As Christians it’s not that we are sinless but that we sin less. Spending time in prayer and reading our Bibles God uses His Word to mold us and shape us into being the person He wants us to be. Today as I write this I am grateful that God loves me some much that He calls me out when need calling out.

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(ESV)

Gracious and loving Father, hallowed be Your name. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. By His blood You have washed away our sins.

Father, our prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving. Thank You for giving us Your Holy Word as a guide for us to live the life You designed for us. We also thank You for loving us so much that You call us out when we need to be called out. While it hurts at times we know deep within our hearts it’s a discipline out of love. Thank You. May Your Word always be the “lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

For it in the name of Jesus that we pray.

With a grateful heart, Amen.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭(ESV‬)
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Beautiful Inside and Out

Beautiful Inside and Out
By Steve Crowley

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭(ESV‬)

We live in a world where people compare themselves to others. Our self image is constantly influenced by the media, both big and small screen, social media and especially by our peers. But the question that begs to be asked is, are these influences to be believed? Make no mistake, everyone has an innate desire to be liked and or appreciated. But before we succumb to the peer pressure of others let’s stop and ask ourselves what does God think of us since He’s the one who formed us inside our mother’s womb.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭(ESV)

Not only “Fearfully and wonderfully made,” but God also said He created us in His image.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭(ESV‬)

God is perfect and if a perfect God created us in His image then as a child of God He created us perfect. Yes we make mistakes and yes we have flaws but when we ask Jesus into our hearts to be our Lord and Savior remember God’s love and grace looks past the blemishes.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭(ESV)

Stop worrying about what others think or say about you. The only thing that really matters is that we look to Jesus and rest in the assurance of His love.

““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(ESV‬)

If God is for us and we were created in His image then believe and hold your head high, you’re a child of God.

Father God, thank You for knitting me together in my mother’s womb. You tell us we were fearfully and wonderfully made. May we accept the truth and rest knowing we do not have a need for man’s approval nor do we ever need to hang our heads. We are Your creation created for Your purpose.

Father, we lay down any and all insecurities we may have as we place our trust in You. Be with us, guide us and give us confidence as we walk this journey of life with You.

For this in the name of our beloved Jesus that we pray.

Amen

God I Need You

God I Need You
By Steve Crowley

“Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭38‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s be honest, are there times when we feel all alone and in desperate need for someone in whom we can cling to, to comfort us and to let us know they care? I confess, I certainly have. Whether it is through unintended consequences or the senses of feeling overwhelmed , loneliness can creep in even when surrounded by people. For me, loneliness seems to occur when life’s circumstance are beyond my ability to process so I can resolve them. It could be actually being by myself or surrounded by people but feeling lonely. Why is that?

“But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God;” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭(ESV)

My loneliness is the result of allowing my circumstances to become a barrier to my relationship with God. I unknowingly allow my focus to be consumed by things other than focusing on God.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭(ESV)

God has promised us He is always with us, (Psalm 139:7-10). He will never leave us nor forsake us, (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus has promised to be with us always even to the end of the age, (Matthew 28:20).

So, as I remind myself, the next time loneliness creeps in stop and seek God through prayer and reading the Bible and allow God to speak His reassuring Words of how much He loves us and wants to be with us.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭(ESV)

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭(ESV)

O loving Father, draw near to us and make Your presence known in the mist of the times we allow circumstances to come between us. May we cast all of our burdens upon You and may Your righteousness guide us as we seek You. Thank You for giving us assurance of Your presence that You are always with us even when we acknowledge it. May our hearts be desiring for You and may You fill us with Your abiding love.

We pray in the name of Jesus and through His indwelling Spirit.

Amen

Your Heart’s Treasure

Heart’s Treasure
By Steve Crowley

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ ‭(ESV)

What is it that motivates us to do the things we do? Each of us are driven by the core needs of life, acceptance, security, and purpose. We go about meeting those needs either by surrendering to God to meet them or through self effort. When I reflect upon my life before I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was driven by my desire for acceptance, security and purpose in achieving a successful career. I convinced myself the higher the corporate ladder I climbed and the more rewards I gained through those achievements then I would fulfill and meet the core needs of my life.

“Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭(ESV‬)

Boy was I wrong! My heart, my emotions and desires were set on seeking my treasures in things that were meaningless. Everything I pursued was like pouring water into a cup with a hole in it. I was chasing after something I couldn’t fulfill, which left me feeling like a hamster on a wheel, running but going nowhere. It wasn’t until God, through His mercy and grace opened the eyes of my heart to understand He, God is the one who meets our needs.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭(ESV)

When God is our treasure, the priority in our life, our heart will be filled with joy. His love, His presence will permeate deep within us and we will be one with Him.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭(ESV)

Gracious Father, forgive us for placing our ambitions on earthly pursuits in search for fulfillment that only You can provide. Thank You for giving us Your Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we can be reconciled with You.

Father God, our prayer before You is one of acknowledging You as our priority in all we do. Today may we treasure You above all things. We pray in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Uniqueness

Uniqueness
By Steve Crowley

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬ ‭(ESV)

My wife and I love to people watch. In fact going to the airport or the State Fair you find an incredible diversity of people. It never ceases to amaze me at what we might see. I have come to the conclusion that some people dress differently and their appearance is purposeful so they will be seen. But beneath the facade there is a person in whom God created with a unique purpose. It’s hard for us to see at times due to the outward appearance but God created us differently for us but for His purpose. My family is a prime example. I am one of four boys and while we share similar genetics, same mother and father, we are four different and unique persons. One is a lawyer, one a doctor, one in industrial sales and one in finance. Each of us also have a unique personality with unique abilities to be who God designed us to be. No two people are alike.

“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭21‬ ‭(NLT)

When we use our unique abilities and stop trying to fit into someone else’s mold we find fulfillment and joy. But if we try to be someone we are not we get frustrated and feel like we are chasing something we cannot attain. Let us use our uniqueness and be who God created fulfilling His purpose. When we use our unique abilities we bring honor to God.

“‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’” ‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭(NLT)

Father, thank You for creating every living creature unique. You have a purpose for us and have equipped us to be able to fulfill Your purpose. Help us be the man or woman, boy or girl, to be the person You created us to be.

For it is in the name of Jesus that we pray.

Amen

Hope and Comfort

Hope and Comfort
By Steve Crowley

“He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭36‬:‭15‬ ‭(ESV‬)

Why is it that we have a tendency to take life for granted? We can go about our lives, our routines, day in and day day out feeling as if things in our life, our relationships, our health or even our careers will always be as they are when all of a sudden the bottom falls out. Things go from good to bad as if someone pulled the proverbial rug out from under us. It’s in those moments when we are emptied of ourselves, in our ability to resolve the issue that we turn to God. God Help me!

“But now thus says the Lord, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(ESV)

I do not know what you are facing but what ever it is know that God is a God who loves us and knows exactly what you are facing. Therefore when we turn to God and seek Him through prayer and in spending time reading His Words in our Bible we find comfort as God speaks to us giving us reassuring words of His presence.

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭8‬ ‭(ESV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬, ‭13‬ ‭(ESV)

I pray the God of all mercy and grace encourages you as He encourages me that no matter what we maybe facing He is always with us to strengthen us and give us hope.

Father God, there are so many things in our lives we just don’t understand. It is the afflictions we encounter that cause us to question so many things but when we turn to You and seek You, You give us peace. Thank You for the love You have for us and thank You for Your grace to see us through our afflictions.

Father, we come to You laying our troubles at the foot of the cross knowing You care for us so much You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to us so we can have everlasting life.

For it is in the name above all names, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that we pray.

Amen

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭(ESV)

Noise

Noise
By Steve Crowley

“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.””‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭(ESV)

Do you sometimes feel torn between two worlds? Perhaps the world of current events, politics, geopolitical upheaval or even relationship verses the spiritual world driven by our hearts desire to know and worship God?

Like so many, myself included, we have become consumed by social media. We check our devices constantly throughout the day to stay abreast of the latest news or worse the latest gossip. In our obsession to constantly look at our various social media feeds our minds get consumed by the latest clicks. In doing so we have literally become just like Martha having our focus consumed and distracted by many things rather than what is really important, our relationship with God.

““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭40‬ ‭(ESV)

When we get distracted by our devices to the point where we spend way too much time engrossed in staying on top of every feed, we begin to lose our focus on God. When I look at my grandchildren and talk with my friends who have grandchildren it is alarming at how much social media surfing consumes their lives. But I have to confess, I find myself constantly checking X ( formerly Twitter) to stay on top of the news. In doing so I find myself occupied by the noise. Perhaps we should unplug from our devices and spend more time reading our Bibles and listening to the Words from God.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭(ESV)

Merciful Father, forgive us for the times we become distracted by spending far too much time surfing social media. May we seek You and have the eyes of our hearts returned to You. For Your Word is truth and it is the guidance to our joy.

We pray in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen