Monday, November 27, 2017 True Service vs. Self- Righteous Service: The Discipline of Service, Part 2 (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster)

Monday, November 27, 2017

True Service vs. Self- Righteous Service: The Discipline of Service, Part 2 (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster)

“True service comes from a relationship with the divine Other deep inside. We serve out of whispered promptings, divine urgings. Energy is expended but it is not the frantic energy of the flesh. Thomas Kelly writes, “I find He never guides us into an intolerable scramble of panting feverishness.” (Foster, Richard J.. Celebration of Discipline: The Path To Spiritual Growth (p. 127-128). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.)”

“True service builds community. It quietly and unpretentiously goes about caring for the needs of others. It draws, binds, heals, builds.  (pp. 129-130).”

Scripture:

Philippians 2:1-7

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Devotional:

As the Lord ministers to us about the discipline of service, I am thankful for the refreshing ministry of Pastor Foster in reminding us to remain close to the earth when approaching service. Most of the members of our group live in the United States, which is a free market society based on competition and can often become centered around personal gain at the expense of others. We as a planet also admire those who gain the spotlight through talent and cultivate personality worship. It can be challenging to live in the reality of God’s Kingdom, the way of the humble servant tending to be eclipsed by the show of the public altruist. It is my hope that we will each examine the areas we serve and trust the Lord to keep us humble. We need not become anxious about our motives, only let the Lord guide and if needed get us on His path to follow His way. He will always meet us where we are. If any of us are struggling with a heart that seeks to take credit, I pray that the Lord will simply melt that from us and infuse us with His sweet and loving heart to serve.

Prayer:

Thanksgiving:

Lord, I worship You and lift You this morning! This is Your day, Lord. I rejoice in You, I am glad in You! I choose to lift my hands even if they are hanging low. I thank You for this awesome creation, I thank You for my family, I thank You for this time with You.  I thank You for shelter, clothing, food, clean air and water. I thank You for the beautiful changing of the seasons, and the approaching Christmas season when we all get to bow our hearts in a deeper adoration of You as we celebrate Your coming to rescue us. I thank You for access to Your throne and intimacy with Your heart. I thank You for health and healing. I love You, Lord!

Confession:

I thank You, too, Lord, that I can come to You with my struggles and failings.  I choose to live a life of daily confession before You and start fresh with Your mercies each day. I confess my need for You, and lift my heart for examination. (This is not an exercise in self-flagellation or condemnation, but a daily dependence on the Lord and a place of honest vulnerability that creates a foundation for deeper intimacy and greater freedom.) (Mine today: I confess once again my tendency to slip back into unhealthy eating patterns. I know that I went too far this Thanksgiving season. I see it is a slippery slope. I thank You that You have already begun to help me to regain my footing, but I want to be fully honest with You about this continuing challenge. I want to be freed from the desire to overindulge in unhealthy foods. Help me to continue to increase in my balance, so that I am not enslaved by any external dependence or unhealthy lifestyle choices.)

Supplication:

I lift my circumstances to You for Your touch and intervention today. I depend on You. God. You are the One Who will cause all things to work together for good. It doesn’t always feel like my situations are working for good, so I give it to You. (My needs today: Back to fitness, and I have a class I love but am dreading because I am always sore for days when I miss. I can’t really go to the gym when Christian is home from school so it’s been over a week. I ask You for courage to endure, and I thank You for the amazing results. Help me to maintain the right focus. Also, I have been fighting sinus/ear congestion that could become an ear infection. I pray You will heal my body so that I do not need antibiotics. I also pray for healing for my kids who constantly have to fight sickness this time of year. Show me how to increase our immunities with natural methods. Help increased education to come to us amid the noise of a thousand different inputs.)

Intercession:

I lift my children to You today. I thank You that You have called me to intercede for them, and I ask that You will lead me as I pray. (Journal needs, concerns, progress and victory. I share mine here in hope that my vulnerability will pave the way for your own prayer time. Please feel free to share your needs and concerns in the comments for us to pray for you! Chloe today: I thank You that we have had 3 nights of mostly uninterrupted sleep after a few weeks of regular interruptions. I pray that this will continue to be a pattern. I also pray for her health, as she has also been fighting ongoing fevers. I thank You that we have avoided complete illness, but ask that we would instead have complete health.  Christian today: I thank You that he is making good progress with toileting. Please intervene in causing him to initiate. We still have to take him and remind him to go every time. He is still also hiding for BM, though over the break was willing to sit for a few BMs when we would catch him in time. I pray that he will poop only in the toilet, and that he will choose to go into the bathroom when his body signals both pee and poop.)

Thanksgiving and Consecration:

I thank You again for this time with You, Lord! I give you this day and I bless You and honor You. Seal this time and protect and bind our family under Your wings. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

Blessing and Benediction:

Gal. 6:18 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers (and sisters!). Amen.