Day 146 - Devotion
📖Daily Reading
Isaiah 1
🎥 Video
Join me on my morning walk as we rise and shine together by walking through the Bible daily and learn a practical applicable coaching nugget from the ultimate life coach - our creator (whatever that means to you). No judgement zone here, all are welcome, we are all on a spiritual journey because we are after all spiritual beings having a human experience.
📝 Reflection
Isaiah 1: 3 & 17
3- “Even an ox knows its owner and a donkey recognizes its master’s care - but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.”
17 - Learn to do good. See justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
Here we go again.. back to the people of Judah and their lack of devotion to God and getting ‘off track’. This is a really interesting juxtaposition after coming off of Song of Songs all about love and intimacy. The love, intimacy, that God desires to have for us that should be the motivation behind devotion, right?
The word devotion and the original root of the word is ‘from a vow’. The definition is: an act of prayer or private worship, a religious exercise use, the act of dedicating something to a cause, the state of being loyal and dedicated. When we choose to love we often do things to ‘prove’ or demonstrate this love. These are the promises and the vows we make with ourselves and others, that are usually followed by actions, rituals, demonstrations of this love or ‘devotion’.
If we get too caught up in the actions, rituals and the proving; those things can easily become the things we are devoted to instead, and we can lose touch with the meaning behind them. This is what Isaiah is saying in this first chapter, God is letting them know that their sacrifices, burnt offerings, ceremonies and festivals have become meaningless. They are just going through the motions and ‘checking the boxes’ ☑️.
If you are a good list checker like most of us - are you doing this in some areas of your life that you were once truly devoted to? This happens all over the place and it is often a slow slide, not an overnight thing. We make vows to our spouses, to God, to our children, our churches, workplaces .. all the time and before we know it we are just checking boxes and not taking the time to really be devoted. Devotion is deep and it takes time. Our lives are so full, our responsibilities are many, we are often too scattered to truly be devoted to anything.
No judgement here- I am not the ‘pot calling the kettle black’ - I am right there with you! Devotion is not easy, simple maybe, but definitely not easy. We have to know our priorities and live our lives accordingly. It feels good to be needed, to be busy, and to check all those boxes. This actually why we make vows for the long term- to hold us accountable when things get boring, annoying, inconvenient etc.. I know this has inspired me to reevaluate and take stock what I ‘think’ I am being devoted to, what I want to be devoted to and re-aligning my time, energy and resources accordingly. Maybe we all need to add an additional box on on our lists in a form of a question- am I devoted or am I just checking the boxes? ✅?
✍🏼Daily Journal Prompt
Am I devoted or am I just checking the boxes? ✅?
📖Tomorrows Reading
Isaiah 2-4
Coaching Opportunity
Let's make 2023 the year of YOU by laying a solid foundational mind set! The world needs what only you have to offer! Give yourself the best gift ever, the best version of you is ready to rise & shine!
Book your free📞Wake Up Call today to learn if this is what you have been waiting for!
If you have stuck with me this far, then you are not reading this by accident, I believe God has a plan for you and is calling you forward!😉🤩
CONNECT WITH ME
Subscribe to Rise & Shine✨Together Daily Encouragement
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felecia.b.holmes (personal)
Rise & Shine Together Private Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093183278239989
You Tube: Rise & Shine Playlist
|