How You Can Be Set Free From Sin For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,that we should no longer be slaves to sin-because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.Romans 6:6-7 Canadian journalist Thomas Costain described the life of Raynald III, a fourteenth-century duke in what is now Belgium. Grossly overweight, Raynald was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means "fat." After a violent quarrel, Raynald's younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured Raynald, but decided to not kill him. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald's size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn't released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year-a prisoner of his own appetite. What is it about sin that so easily draws us in? While we read the story of Raynald and shake our heads in disbelief, we're no different when we choose sin and self-indulgence over the abundant life Christ offers. So instead of sin, choose Christ, who died for you so you could experience freedom from the chains of disobedience! Prayer Challenge  Pray and ask God to empower you to recognize sin and overcome it every day! Questions for Thought What are some areas in your life that sin has drawn you in? How can you trust Christ to overcome sin in these areas and experience the joy of freedom?  Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post How You Can Be Set Free From Sin – Senior Living – September 10 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for Awakening Spiritual GiftsBy Laura Bailey Bible Reading"so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." – Romans 12:5-8 NIV I have three girls who may outwardly resemble each other, but their personalities, gifts, and general disposition couldn't be more different. They often struggle to get along past the typical sibling squabble, mainly because their interests, talents, and perspectives on life are diverse. This summer, I’ve encouraged my girls to not just tolerate but embrace each other's differences. I’ve shown them that being surrounded by others whose strengths complement our weaknesses is a blessing.  The night before the first day of school, I sat all three girls on the couch. We read through Romans 12: 5-8, discussing the different gifts that Paul listed. I then asked each girl to share what they believed their sister's gifts were, giving an example of a time they saw them use their gift to serve others. The activity was meant to remind my girls that God has blessed each of them uniquely with particular talents for His glory and to point people to Jesus. Upon starting a new school year, I hoped they would look for ways to serve others using their giftings. We spoke about practical ways they could help others and what it looked like to display these spiritual gifts daily.  Before saying goodnight, my middle daughter Abigail said, "You know what, mom? I just thought of something! Even if I can't meet someone's needs, I have two sisters with different gifts. Maybe we can ask each other for help!" Yes! My mamma's heart swelled. While I wanted the girls to understand and look for opportunities to use the way God uniquely created them, my desire was also that they would see the immense beauty of what it looks like when people work together for the glory of God.  In our key verses (Romans 12:5-8), Paul lists seven spiritual gifts for the church of Rome. Paul doesn't rank or delineate which gifts are of higher importance. We are all on the same team, and each gift serves a purpose, working together as the body of Christ. I have taken spiritual gift assessments a few times, and perhaps you have, too. These are good starting points, but might I suggest that a better approach to discovering your gifting is to think about your church’s needs and ask God to help you meet those needs? We might even end up serving or using gifts that we didn't know we had but that the Holy Spirit equips us for a specific need.  The Holy Spirit graciously gives gifts to His Children, but we are responsible for taking action. God can accomplish his plan without us, but what a blessing that he invites us to co-labor with him as we serve the church body. In this selfless service, we show how the Lord has changed our lives and is actively working in our hearts. Today, look for ways to share your gifts with the world, invite others to come alongside you in your service and enjoy the blessing of the body of believers. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for creating us. Scripture tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that you know the number of hairs on our head, and that we are chosen and loved! Enlighten us to embrace our spiritual gifts and lead us into action. May we diligently look for ways to serve others, bring you Glory, and show the world the love of Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we are tempted to compare or criticize our brothers and sisters in Christ for how they were created. Instead, may we partner with them, working together and co-laboring with the Spirit in the good works you prepared for us in advance.In Jesus' name. Amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes Laura Bailey is a Bible teacher who challenges and encourages women to dive deep in the Scriptures, shift from an earthly to an eternal mindset, and filter life through the lens of God's Word. She is the author of Beyond the Noise, and loves any opportunity to speak and teach women of all ages. She is a wife and momma to three young girls. Connect with her on her website,  www.LauraRBailey.com, Facebook and Instagram. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Awakening Spiritual Gifts – Your Daily Prayer – September 10 appeared first on GodUpdates.

September 10, 2024 Your Race at Your PaceMEGHAN RYAN ASBURY Lee en español "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us ..." Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) A few years ago, my friend and I formed what we called the Slow Girls Running Club: Where the Pace Doesn't Matter. We wanted an excuse to gather some girls together, and we wanted accountability to run just for the fun of being outside and moving our bodies. The girls who showed up varied in all aspects of life, including running skill and speed. Many of them didn't know each other, and some came alone. But they still showed up. And we ran together. We started and ended at the same spot but all took slightly different routes, ran varying distances and went at different paces. The goal was not to compete. It was just to run. Which reminds me of today's verse. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." God has marked a spiritual race for us to run. In this race, we all may move at different paces, facing different hurdles along the way, but the finish line is the same: eternity with Jesus. When we take our eyes off Jesus to focus on the runners around us, that's when we can trip, get hurt or throw ourselves off course. Sometimes we trip and fall because we're trying to run in someone else's lane. Other times we get exhausted from trying to keep up with someone else's pace. The reality is we don't have to compare our paces and races with everyone else's - because the race of life is not a competition. When we focus on what God has given us, we find a better way to live - a way to stop endlessly striving to catch up. Instead, we can run alongside one another, cheering for our fellow runners and telling each other to keep going when we get weary. Maybe today you take a few moments to acknowledge to God where you are striving to catch up. Maybe you admit you are struggling with comparison. Maybe you confess a sin you are hiding. Then watch as those weights that burden you start to fall off and you become better able to move toward all God has laid before you. You are not behind. You don't need to catch up or get ahead. You are here to run a race God has uniquely designed for you. Keep moving forward. God, help me to run the race You've marked out for me. No more competing. No more getting winded from sprinting to catch up. Instead, help me run with freedom and focus, with my eyes on the prize: Jesus Himself, awaiting at the end of the unique race He has laid out for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS What if God has more in store for your life than you've given Him credit for? The pressure of unmet milestones and unfulfilled dreams can make you feel like you've already missed out on the life you were "supposed" to have. But you don’t have to exhaust yourself by trying to keep up - you can enjoy what’s right in front of you. Click here to order Meghan Ryan Asbury's new book, You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love Without Having Everything You Want, which releases today! ENGAGE Connect daily with Meghan on Instagram @meghanryanasbury for biblical encouragement and practical ways to grow in your faith. And don't miss opportunities to get free resources and more tools to help you build a life you love - subscribe to her weekly newsletter at alwaysmeghan.com. FOR DEEPER STUDY Hebrews 12:2, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (NIV). What is the race you feel like God is calling you to run? What is entangling you as you try to run? Is it a particular sin? Comparison? Grief? How can you surrender those things to God today? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Meghan Ryan Asbury. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Your Race at Your Pace –  Encouragement for Today – September 10, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

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