Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  What are the things in this life that satisfy you the most?  It might be a person or relationship, a thing or a situation, or one or many things.  Yet for the Christ follower, the best and most important is God Himself. We were made for relationships.  Go back to the beginning of time when God created the world and Adam.  Genesis describes for us all that scene, and there are two things that stick out that humankind, you and me, desperately need. We need God and need not to be alone.  On the human side God created Eve after he created Adam so that man would not be alone.  Adam also was made for a relationship with God.  That is the deepest relationship.  It is a the level of the soul. Yesterday I shared from Psalm 103 where David said that he worshipped and blessed God from deep in His soul.  It is in the soul where our deepest longings are found.  Listen what David said satisfies Him. Psalm 63:1  NLT   O God, you are my...

  Yesterday we began a new series from Psalm 103.  This is a powerful chapter written by King David who had personal experience and deep love for God.  The challenge is to go deep in the Word of God and let that overflow in your life. Psalm 103:1-2  CSB   My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits. David’s heart is overwhelmed with praise toward God.  This was real.  This was deep.  From the deepest place in His life.  In fact, he wants to make sure that his soul does not forget all the benefits that have come from Him because of this relationship.  Those benefits are the things that life can’t give us but faith can.  David goes on to give us a short list in verses 3 through 5.  He mentions forgiveness, healing, love and more.  He had experienced God which left His life changed forever. How often do we forget all that the Lord ...

  The Bible overflows with the character of God, and as I have shared recently, these verses lead us to pray Scripture back to God.  We learn about God, how He works and even how He loves and cares for us, His children. Take a few minutes to read through some verses of the Bible and note the things you learn.  Mark what sticks out.  I am constantly amazed and grateful and encouraged by the greatness of our God. Psalm 3:3  NLT   But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 5:7  NLT  Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. Psalm 7:17  NLT   I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 8:1  NLT   O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. Philippians 1:29  NLT   For you have been given not only the pri...

  Hosea 6:1  NLT   Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. Come back.  Come home.  Have you heard that before?  When you left that time or place or people that you miss so much. Return to the place where you found love and strength. That place where God worked and you knew truth was held on to. Come back to God where life can return to you and there is more to come.   Run to God who loves and knows you.  Drifting from God is something we all most likely know too much about.  Drifting can happen quickly but often is subtle and slow.   That is why God reminded us to be light to this world.  We are not the light, but we hold the light.  We point to the light, and the light is Jesus.   Matthew 5:14-16  NLT   “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and the...

  This has been a great week as a team from our church went on a mission trip to help build a church in eastern North Carolina.  They continue to serve, and I was able to spend two days serving. So many things rush through my mind as we worked in the church’s new building.  First and foremost, I am overwhelmed with the responsibility and opportunity that the church has to impact their community and the world.  Second, I was reminded of what still needs to be done in the building we are working on.  And third, it is obvious that we all have the same call. That call is to worship God and to help others see and come to know God.  May we take up that challenge and be who God called us to be.  He is worthy, and we are needy.  That is why I remind you of the facts from Psalm 1.   This is a powerful statement that has long been part of my faith.  Read this and make it part of how you walk with God and serve others. Psalm 1:1-3  NLT   ...

  Pray for the students.  This week and the past few weeks have reminded me of the important investment and incredible opportunity we have to love students.  Every age from the very young to college age students are around us. Choose to be an agent of change and strengthening.  This could be words of encouragement or even some time well spent with students.  Teach them at church.  Shoot basketball with them.  Go to summer camp as a counselor.  Do something to impact the younger generation and support the ministries that work with them. Graduations are happening or have happened.  College students are moving in the work force or getting ready for more study.  High school students are seeing opportunities for college, work or more years of study.  And others are having the joy of summer and such. Pray for these students.  I found an article that encouraged us to pray in some certain ways for students.  Use these as a guide: ...