Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain

Are you spending time in prayer, in God’s Word, in His Presence to prepare yourself and others for the trials coming? Are you loafing or preparing for the fight of your life against our enemies? Sharing the following devotional written by Ohio elementary school teacher, Debra Neal. This is part of a free, Monday thru Friday devotional service of The Christian Public Servant, a publication sponsored by the Regent University Robertson School of Government. To receive their daily devotionals via email, contact  epatterson@regent.edu. 

Reading

Daniel 12:3 (NIV) Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Reflection

Being a mother and a teacher, I’ve wondered about the mother and teachers in Daniel’s life.  We know little about them, but we do know a lot about their living legacy—Daniel.  And the same with Timothy. We know little about his mother and grandmother, but much about their living legacy—Timothy.

God fully equips us to serve as we walk through the doors of our current mission field. But I am concerned with the trend of many Christians—forgetting morning devotions/scripture and time at the altar for prayer. Instead, we seem to fill our minds, and our children’s minds, with worldly particulars: TV, video games, social media. We are quick to prepare meals, but we are slow to give spiritual nourishment to face the “lion’s den” or “the race” encountered each day. What will it profit if you or I gain the whole world but lose the soul?

Imagine the impact if you and I begin with purpose of heart to train for the fight of our life: facing the lion’s den or that marathon race.

God’s mission for me is to prepare souls for that fight. I will pray and inform parents and coworkers of our spiritual responsibility. Maybe that means removing things from our homes, or at least from our morning routine, and replacing them with God’s word and prayer.

How about you? Will you do the same? And are you prepared for the fight of your life?

Are you eating the Bread of Life and drinking Living Water? Are you praying for protection over your family and co-workers so that when they face their den of lions, or their race, they will be fully equipped to shine like the brightness of heavens or stars that will shine forever and ever?

Today at work, and everywhere you go, be a living legacy. Be dedicated to the fight of your life—just like Daniel and Timothy. Let your mother and grandmother, sons and daughters, say: you fought a good fight, you finished the race, and you kept the faith.

Yes. Today, prepare for the fight of your life.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I bind the enemy from wasting my life with useless information. I ask You for help in managing my time in such a way that I am prepared for that lion’s den and that marathon, which I will certainly encounter today and every day!  In the precious name of my Lord, I pray! Amen.