Daily Devotional For Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Today is “Wonderful Wednesday”, Southside. Genesis 1:1 says this: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (NASB). This tells me first, there was no beginning until God started one. Our lives are full of beginnings. For example, the beginning of our first steps, the beginning of our first words, the beginning of riding a bike, the beginning of going to school, the beginning of going off to college and getting married. When we think about this, these beginnings were only possible for us due to God. Whatever beginning God gives us, such as responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit to come to Christ, it is always good. Always!
The second thing this tells me is we have a choice of whether or not we follow God’s beginning for us or our own. It is these beginnings we make on our own that lead to sin, pain, misery, anxiety, and etc. We see this in the Garden of Eden. It was Paradise. It was perfect. But even in the beginning God gave Adam a choice of how he wanted to go with God’s beginning for him. And as you know, well both Adam and Eve chose a different path and we all have paid for it since. Have you noticed how quickly we can take something good from God and corrupt very quickly? I think one of the reasons we do this is we are first, possessed with ingratitude for all God does for us and second, we believe the good we have has been by our own hands.
Just listen to people talk about the good in their lives and listen for the pronouns they use – me, my, mine, and I for example rather than saying God, the Lord, or Jesus. We all seem to enjoy taking credit for the good in our lives rather than giving the credit to God. King David reminds us of this in Psalm 24:1, The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it” (NASB). Everything we have and are belongs to the Lord.
The Bible says this in Acts 17:28,” For in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (NKJV). Being is dependent upon a beginning. We are the only created life that God created in His own image. This means that our being is only possible by living out His image in us. Any other path leads to death, disease (dis-ease), and destruction. Our beginning is by the hand of God and many of our new beginnings in life are by the hand of God. It is God who gives us our ability to talk, walk, run, learn, speak, hear, see and etc. This is the point of James 1:17, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (NASB).
Assignment: This week be intentional to thank the Lord for every good thing in your life. For example, don’t just thank Him with grace at meal time. Thank Him for the stove, the refrigerator, the plates, utensils, the table and chairs where you eat the meal. When you drive, thank Him for your car, the gas, and etc. When you go to sleep at night, thank God for your bed. In others, cultivate an attitude of gratitude with God for all the good in your life.
Scripture To Meditate On: Psalm 107:1, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I have to confess that I take most of the credit for the good in my life rather than giving You all the credit. Lord, help me to cultivate an attitude of gratitude towards You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly