Category: Current Devotional
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2–3 minutesIt has been an absolute joy to walk with you through tackling loneliness. When we started this 7-day journey the goal was to come to recognize the permanence and sufficiency of God as we targeted loneliness as a hindrance to the fullness of joy promised in Scripture. I pray you have been challenged to examine your life and take action against the false dependencies that have cropped up in your life. In closing, I want to provide you with a few scriptures, some resources, and cover you in prayer as you continue a diligent walk with Christ. VERSES TO REMEMBER…
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5–7 minutesAs we will be concluding this devotional on loneliness tomorrow, I want to remind you that this isn’t a cure-all. This study reveals truths that are aimed at empowering us to look at loneliness for what it is and remove the facades masking the false dependencies that have ultimately failed or will fail us. In that process, we can choose to submit to God and godly authority to pursue adjustment and correction thereby becoming equipped to allow God to fill the vacancies left by the dissipation, unreliability, and abandonment of those things we have leaned on instead of Him. There…
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4–6 minutesIt would be nice if we could end here. There would be such assuredness if the cumulation of knowledge, introspection, surrender, and seeking resulted in a lasting adjustment. We could systematically learn, submit, and apply truths to produce perfection in areas of our lives one by one. We would always be forward facing; never having to go back and readjust previously addressed weaknesses, faults, and flaws. That would be quite nice, but it is not realistic. Let’s go ahead and bust that idea right out of the gate. Paul wrote in Romans 7:21-23, “so I find it to be a…
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5–7 minutesLoneliness is a place that God was always meant to inhabit. Life’s distractions may have previously obscured its source or severity from our view. That’s why we are told through scripture that we should rejoice in the testing of our faith. Until our dependencies are tested and are shaken or fall we may not be aware of how much we are relying on things other than God. 1 Peter 1:6-7 states, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than…
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4–6 minutesBefore we move on, it necessary that we take the time for reflection. As we work through any devotional or teaching that if we lack intentionality and accountability, it can become part of a spiritual checklist. Rather than being a growing experience, we can take wonderful scriptural truths and place them into a storehouse of knowledge failing to apply a single bit of it. Change comes not when we simply agree with truths, but take the steps to utilize those truths in our life on an ongoing basis. If a doctor prescribes medicine or treatment plan our choice in whether…
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5–7 minutes
Identifying the source of loneliness in our lives is important. We started that process yesterday by first defining what it is and what it isn’t. To jump in further let’s examine what it really looks like in our individual lives. Most views of loneliness are in relation to an attachment to people, as briefly discussed yesterday, that is not always the case. A great number of people describe a feeling of loneliness when they are surrounded by others, even loved ones. It can develop when absolutely no changes to our social interactions have occurred. Loneliness is a deeper and more…
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4–6 minutesI want to start off by saying that missing someone or something is quite different than loneliness. Let’s look at Genesis. From Genesis 1:9-25, God created a beautiful world. He created water, vegetation, and animals. Then in Genesis 1:28-31, God tells mankind that all that has been created has been given to them for their provision and enjoyment. Further Genesis 2:18 states, “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” God has created us for connection. He has created us for interaction with each…
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2–3 minutes
The feeling of loneliness is one we have probably all felt at some point. Previously, it may have just been in passing or an inconsistent nag that would pop up at times. Now more than ever, a simultaneous feeling of isolation has found its way into many of our hearts. Those who may not have struggled with it in the past may be getting their first glimpse of persistent loneliness. Those with long time struggles may feel they are spiraling into a deeper, more permanent encounter. It has, as long as I can remember, been a great struggle in my…
