April 28th-May 2nd Devotional
5 Day Devotional
Listen to the devotional podcast here
Day 1: Relatability and Remembering Your Encounter
Reflection: The sources highlight Peter as a relatable figure, known for speaking before thinking or jumping out of boats. It's acknowledged that many people, including the speaker, can relate to Peter's actions.... The journey of faith isn't always instant; for Peter, it took multiple encounters with Jesus before he reached a place of conversion where he completely submitted his life to the Lord.... This reminds us not to be "too high on our horse" about our own paths, recognizing that we too might look back and see moments where Jesus was reaching out before we fully realized it. The sources ask us to reflect on our own encounter with Jesus – where were you, who were you with, and how often do you recall that moment when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, entering into a relationship with Him.... This moment, whether called receiving Christ, asking Jesus into your heart, being saved, or surrendering to Him, is described as a glorious experience....
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the journey of faith, which often unfolds through multiple encounters with You. Thank You for the relatable example of Peter. Help me to remember the glorious moment when I first crossed paths with You and accepted You as my Savior. Let that memory deepen my gratitude and dependence on You. Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that my journey with Jesus is real, just as Peter's was.... I acknowledge that God's grace met me, possibly in multiple encounters, leading me to surrender my life to Him.... I remember and cherish the moment I crossed paths with Jesus and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior....
Day 2: Seeking and Being Found
Reflection: The first encounter described in the sources takes place after Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. John the Baptist points Jesus out to two of his disciples, one of whom is Andrew, Peter's brother, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God".... These two disciples then leave John and follow Jesus.... Jesus turns and asks them, "What are you seeking?".... This question is more profound than just asking why they are following; it asks what they seriously desire deep within their hearts.... The Greek word for "seeking" implies devoting serious effort to one's desires, striving for something with an investigative feel. Jesus speaks to them first, asking what they want. This encounter reveals that sometimes we are seeking Him even when we don't realize it....
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for seeking us even when we weren't fully aware we were seeking You.... Thank You for asking the deep question of what we truly desire.... Help me to understand the depths of what I am seeking and to recognize that You are the answer to the desires of my heart. Thank You for allowing me to follow You.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that Jesus sees the deepest desires of my heart. He asks, "What are you seeking?" and invites me to follow Him.... I am seeking Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was revealed to the world....
Day 3: Staying with Jesus and Transformation
Reflection: When Jesus asked the two disciples what they were seeking, they responded by asking, "Rabbi, which means, teacher, where are you staying?". This response, though seemingly simple, was understood in that culture as a request for uninterrupted time with Jesus, an invitation to stay with Him.... Jesus invited them to "Come and you will see," and they stayed with Him that day. We can only imagine what it was like to spend the night with Jesus. The next day, Andrew finds his brother Simon (Peter) and excitedly tells him, "We have found the Messiah, which means Christ".... The word "found" can mean finding without looking, stumbling upon. Andrew brings Simon to Jesus, and Jesus looks at Simon and declares, "You are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter". Names were significant in those days, and Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter ("the rock") was significant. This initial encounter, bringing Peter to Jesus, was facilitated by Andrew, his friend or family member, becoming Peter's "Andrew".
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us to "Come and see" and to spend uninterrupted time with You.... Thank You for revealing Yourself as the Messiah, the Christ.... Thank You for the power of encountering You, which leads to transformation, even changing our identity, just as You changed Simon's name to Peter.... Help me to always desire more time in Your presence. Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that when I crossed paths with Jesus, I found the Messiah.... Spending time with Him is transformative.... Through Jesus, my identity is changed; I am no longer defined by my past but by who He calls me to be....
Day 4: From Lostness to Redemption
Reflection: Before encountering Christ, many people experience a state of being lost, in pain, dealing with the devastation of sin, feeling condemned, sinful, dirty, and like an orphan.... Sin not only affects the individual but also has a "rippling effect" on others, especially loved ones.... This pain can become something people get used to, staying in a place that has grown comfortable. However, God does not want us to reside in that state. When we cross paths with Jesus and receive Him, the "sting from guilt" is washed away. We are no longer sinners, but "grace receiving forgiveness given washed clean" individuals, adopted into the family of God, no longer orphans.... Jesus doesn't just save us from hell; He saves us from ourselves. This is called being redeemed. Redemption means what the enemy tries to convince you that you are, you are not; you are a child of the King, washed by the blood of Jesus, a son or daughter of the Most High God.... We are like an old, cast-away table that Jesus sands, stains, and restores to something more valuable than it was originally. He takes away the "self inflicted Satan enticing pain" by shedding light on the lies and removing the pain. We are no longer guilty of our sins; we are forgiven, found not guilty....
Prayer: Gracious God, I confess the times I have felt lost, burdened by pain, guilt, and the devastation of sin.... Thank You for not leaving me in that state. Thank You for sending Jesus to cross paths with me, to wash away my guilt, to forgive my sins, and to redeem me.... Thank You for adopting me into Your family and calling me Your child.... Help me to fully grasp the freedom and restoration found in being redeemed by You.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that I am redeemed by Jesus. I was lost, but now I am found.... I was in pain and dealing with the devastation of sin, but Jesus washed away my guilt and removed my pain.... I am no longer guilty or condemned; I am forgiven, washed clean, and adopted into God's family.... I am a child of the King, a son/daughter of the Most High God!....
Day 5: Being an Andrew
Reflection: The sources emphasize that Peter's first encounter with Jesus was possible because his brother Andrew found him and brought him to Jesus.... This highlights the crucial role of friends, family, or co-workers in introducing someone to Christ. Just as Andrew invited Peter to "come and see", we are encouraged to do the same for others. There are people who are lost, in pain, dealing with sin, feeling condemned, and longing for a family, even if they don't know it. We can help them cross paths with Jesus, the one who can deal with everything they are going through.... The call is to "be an Andrew".... We are urged to "get busy" being an Andrew, inviting somebody into crossing paths with Jesus, because we don't know when He is returning.... We are to go out and seek the lost so they can cross paths with Jesus and be found.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for the example of Andrew and the call to share the good news of crossing paths with You.... Burden my heart for those who are lost, in pain, and dealing with the devastation of sin. Give me courage and opportunity to be an "Andrew" to them, to invite them to "come and see" You.... Help me to get busy sharing the hope and redemption found only in You, as we await Your return.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that I will be an Andrew. I will get busy inviting others to cross paths with Jesus.... I will seek the lost so they can be found in Him. I am called to share the transformative power of encountering Christ with my family, friends, and co-workers....
Listen to the devotional podcast here
Day 1: Relatability and Remembering Your Encounter
Reflection: The sources highlight Peter as a relatable figure, known for speaking before thinking or jumping out of boats. It's acknowledged that many people, including the speaker, can relate to Peter's actions.... The journey of faith isn't always instant; for Peter, it took multiple encounters with Jesus before he reached a place of conversion where he completely submitted his life to the Lord.... This reminds us not to be "too high on our horse" about our own paths, recognizing that we too might look back and see moments where Jesus was reaching out before we fully realized it. The sources ask us to reflect on our own encounter with Jesus – where were you, who were you with, and how often do you recall that moment when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, entering into a relationship with Him.... This moment, whether called receiving Christ, asking Jesus into your heart, being saved, or surrendering to Him, is described as a glorious experience....
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the journey of faith, which often unfolds through multiple encounters with You. Thank You for the relatable example of Peter. Help me to remember the glorious moment when I first crossed paths with You and accepted You as my Savior. Let that memory deepen my gratitude and dependence on You. Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that my journey with Jesus is real, just as Peter's was.... I acknowledge that God's grace met me, possibly in multiple encounters, leading me to surrender my life to Him.... I remember and cherish the moment I crossed paths with Jesus and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior....
Day 2: Seeking and Being Found
Reflection: The first encounter described in the sources takes place after Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. John the Baptist points Jesus out to two of his disciples, one of whom is Andrew, Peter's brother, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God".... These two disciples then leave John and follow Jesus.... Jesus turns and asks them, "What are you seeking?".... This question is more profound than just asking why they are following; it asks what they seriously desire deep within their hearts.... The Greek word for "seeking" implies devoting serious effort to one's desires, striving for something with an investigative feel. Jesus speaks to them first, asking what they want. This encounter reveals that sometimes we are seeking Him even when we don't realize it....
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for seeking us even when we weren't fully aware we were seeking You.... Thank You for asking the deep question of what we truly desire.... Help me to understand the depths of what I am seeking and to recognize that You are the answer to the desires of my heart. Thank You for allowing me to follow You.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that Jesus sees the deepest desires of my heart. He asks, "What are you seeking?" and invites me to follow Him.... I am seeking Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was revealed to the world....
Day 3: Staying with Jesus and Transformation
Reflection: When Jesus asked the two disciples what they were seeking, they responded by asking, "Rabbi, which means, teacher, where are you staying?". This response, though seemingly simple, was understood in that culture as a request for uninterrupted time with Jesus, an invitation to stay with Him.... Jesus invited them to "Come and you will see," and they stayed with Him that day. We can only imagine what it was like to spend the night with Jesus. The next day, Andrew finds his brother Simon (Peter) and excitedly tells him, "We have found the Messiah, which means Christ".... The word "found" can mean finding without looking, stumbling upon. Andrew brings Simon to Jesus, and Jesus looks at Simon and declares, "You are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter". Names were significant in those days, and Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter ("the rock") was significant. This initial encounter, bringing Peter to Jesus, was facilitated by Andrew, his friend or family member, becoming Peter's "Andrew".
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for inviting us to "Come and see" and to spend uninterrupted time with You.... Thank You for revealing Yourself as the Messiah, the Christ.... Thank You for the power of encountering You, which leads to transformation, even changing our identity, just as You changed Simon's name to Peter.... Help me to always desire more time in Your presence. Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that when I crossed paths with Jesus, I found the Messiah.... Spending time with Him is transformative.... Through Jesus, my identity is changed; I am no longer defined by my past but by who He calls me to be....
Day 4: From Lostness to Redemption
Reflection: Before encountering Christ, many people experience a state of being lost, in pain, dealing with the devastation of sin, feeling condemned, sinful, dirty, and like an orphan.... Sin not only affects the individual but also has a "rippling effect" on others, especially loved ones.... This pain can become something people get used to, staying in a place that has grown comfortable. However, God does not want us to reside in that state. When we cross paths with Jesus and receive Him, the "sting from guilt" is washed away. We are no longer sinners, but "grace receiving forgiveness given washed clean" individuals, adopted into the family of God, no longer orphans.... Jesus doesn't just save us from hell; He saves us from ourselves. This is called being redeemed. Redemption means what the enemy tries to convince you that you are, you are not; you are a child of the King, washed by the blood of Jesus, a son or daughter of the Most High God.... We are like an old, cast-away table that Jesus sands, stains, and restores to something more valuable than it was originally. He takes away the "self inflicted Satan enticing pain" by shedding light on the lies and removing the pain. We are no longer guilty of our sins; we are forgiven, found not guilty....
Prayer: Gracious God, I confess the times I have felt lost, burdened by pain, guilt, and the devastation of sin.... Thank You for not leaving me in that state. Thank You for sending Jesus to cross paths with me, to wash away my guilt, to forgive my sins, and to redeem me.... Thank You for adopting me into Your family and calling me Your child.... Help me to fully grasp the freedom and restoration found in being redeemed by You.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that I am redeemed by Jesus. I was lost, but now I am found.... I was in pain and dealing with the devastation of sin, but Jesus washed away my guilt and removed my pain.... I am no longer guilty or condemned; I am forgiven, washed clean, and adopted into God's family.... I am a child of the King, a son/daughter of the Most High God!....
Day 5: Being an Andrew
Reflection: The sources emphasize that Peter's first encounter with Jesus was possible because his brother Andrew found him and brought him to Jesus.... This highlights the crucial role of friends, family, or co-workers in introducing someone to Christ. Just as Andrew invited Peter to "come and see", we are encouraged to do the same for others. There are people who are lost, in pain, dealing with sin, feeling condemned, and longing for a family, even if they don't know it. We can help them cross paths with Jesus, the one who can deal with everything they are going through.... The call is to "be an Andrew".... We are urged to "get busy" being an Andrew, inviting somebody into crossing paths with Jesus, because we don't know when He is returning.... We are to go out and seek the lost so they can cross paths with Jesus and be found.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for the example of Andrew and the call to share the good news of crossing paths with You.... Burden my heart for those who are lost, in pain, and dealing with the devastation of sin. Give me courage and opportunity to be an "Andrew" to them, to invite them to "come and see" You.... Help me to get busy sharing the hope and redemption found only in You, as we await Your return.... Amen.
Christian Declaration: I declare that I will be an Andrew. I will get busy inviting others to cross paths with Jesus.... I will seek the lost so they can be found in Him. I am called to share the transformative power of encountering Christ with my family, friends, and co-workers....
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