"Who Are You On An Ordinary Day?"

By: Daniel Darling,

Christian Author and Speaker

“And she held the jug so that he could drink. When he had satisfied his thirst she said, ‘I'll get water for your camels, too, until they've drunk their fill.’ She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels. The man watched, silent. Was this God's answer? Had God made his trip a success or not?” Genesis 24:20-21 (Message)

It wasn’t a special day. It wasn’t a grand occasion. It wasn’t met with great fanfare.

Instead it was an ordinary trip to the well on an ordinary day. But on this particular day, young Rebekah so impressed Abraham’s servant, the man sent by the wealthy patriarch to find a suitable mate for Isaac.

What impresses me about Rebekah - and what likely impressed Abraham’s servant - was Rebekah’s spirit of servanthood. Let’s think about this. Like most young girls, she took at least two trips to the well, one in the morning and one in the evening. It was a routine she’d carried out thousands of times. Lower the bucket deep into the well, bring it back up again, fill up the heavy clay pot, hoist it on her shoulder, and make her way back to her home.

On this particular day, she was probably tired from a long day’s work. She probably wasn’t in a very talkative mood. She was probably hoping to get her pot filled and get it home.

But there was something different about Rebekah. Rebekah had the heart of a servant. Her eyes reached beyond her own circumstances and saw the needs of others. With aching arms, she lowered that bucket into the well several times, filled her pot, and fed the thirsty camels of Abraham’s servant.

Anyone can primp or get to looking mighty fine for a first date. Anyone can put on his or her best behavior for a teacher or coach. Anyone can freshen up for an important interview. But what about those chance encounters when you’re caught off guard? If people saw you on an ordinary day, would they be impressed? Would they see something different about you?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good at impressing the “important people” in my life. But who am I on an ordinary day at the well? At school? At home on a weekend? In the car on the interstate?

Does the spirit of Christ shine through me? Can people see something different? Something attractive?

It is in these nitty-gritty routines of life where we are most tested. This is where God comes to us with opportunity for growth.

Rebekah was ready. Are you?

My Prayer for Today:

Dear God, help me to live for You on those ordinary days when it seems as though nothing big is happening. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Teen People of the Bible, by Daniel Darling

Compassion International

Think About It:

Who am I when no one is looking?

Do I try to butter up the “important people” in my life at the expense of those who seemingly don’t matter?

How do I treat those kids who are considered outcasts? Do I join in the taunts or do I befriend them, even if it costs me some popularity?

Live It:

Begin approaching each day as an opportunity for God to shine through you.

Approach simple, hidden tasks with as much gusto as the big ones.

Find someone today who needs encouragement, who doesn’t have a lot of friends, who is kind of an outcast—and deliver some warmth and encouragement.

Power Verses:

James 2:1-4, “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?” (NASB)

2 Timothy 4:2, “Stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome…” (Amplified)

Psalm 112:4, “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Daniel Darling. All rights reserved.

"Pick Up the Phone and Call"

By: Elizabeth Robertson

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.” (NIV)

My friend Catherine and I have always been inseparable. Since the eighth grade, we’ve always been just a phone call away. Even when we lived in different cities, we never let distance stop us from always calling one another to hear about the exciting and many times not-so-exciting details of our lives.

In college, I spent a summer studying in Asia and even that didn’t prevent us from using the phone to talk. Catherine found a deal on the Internet that allowed us to talk from one corner of the world to the other for just 3 cents a minute! Each morning, Catherine would call and fill me in on all the details of her life—who she saw at the beach, what boy she had a crush on, what she had for dinner that night, what she was learning in her devotionals, the things she watched on TV—she would tell me everything. Then I would tell her all about my new experiences—the food, the people, the places, the exciting stories, and even the boring stories—I made sure not to leave anything out.

It is such a gift to have a friend that I can tell everything. I love knowing that wherever I am, all I have to do it pick up the phone and no matter what time it is, she’ll be there to listen to whatever I have to say.

As wonderful as it is to have friends who willingly listen to every detail of our lives, there is someone even more willing to listen to everything we have to say. Today’s verse shows us that God wants us to call to Him, and He promises that when we do, He will tell us great and unsearchable things!

In today’s world, there are so many ways to get in touch with our friends—phones, e-mails, text messages, and instant messaging. Even though communicating with our friends has never been easier, let’s not forget to call to God as well—He’s always waiting with listening ears to hear what’s going on in our lives. No matter what, we can always call to God. Just like our friends, He loves us and He wants to know us. He cares about our fears, our loneliness, our heartaches, our dreams, our joys, our victories…He wants to hear it all!

I used to assume that the God of the Universe doesn’t have time to listen to the little details of my life, and so I was quick to run to my friends, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! God is a God of details. Look at a the tiny details of a snowflake that make each one beautiful and unique, or all of the small details that go into the miracle of a new born baby—both examples are evidence that God cares about the big details and the little ones. The same way that our friends want to hear everything, our heavenly Father loves us and He wants to hear from us even more. All we have to do is call to Him.

It is so wonderful to have a God in heaven who longs to hear from His children, and not only will He listen, He will respond. What are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and give Him a call!

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, Thank you so much that you want to hear from me! Thank you that when I call to you, you listen and respond. I’m so thankful for a God who wants to hear from me! In the same way I pour my heart out to my friends, may I pour my heart out to you. Lord, you are my Father and I want to share my life with you. Thank you for caring enough about me that you want to listen to what I have to say. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Do I ever think that God is too busy to listen to me?

When I have something to talk about, do I always turn to my friends first?

Are there things in my life that I think I can share with my friends and not share with God?

Live It:

Spend some time talking to God like you would talk to your best friend. Don’t hold back—He wants to hear from you!

The next time you really need to talk to someone, try turning to God first and then calling up your friend.

Power Verses:

Philippians 4:5b-6, “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV)

Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (NIV)

Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Elizabeth Robertson. All rights reserved.

"Lean on Me"

By Kristen Sigmon

Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” (NASB)

We all know the song “Lean on Me.” It’s a classic! Who doesn’t love to sing it with a good friend by her side? Have you ever stopped to think about what the words are saying though?

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow

Chorus:
Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don’t let show

Bridge:
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’d understand
We all need somebody to lean on

(Chorus)

If there is a load you have to bear
That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
If you just call me

Read the last verse again. When we’re in need and have a load we can’t carry, we’ve got to call on each other. We can try to carry our own burdens, but eventually we will fall under the heavy load. That’s why God gave us family and friends. We need each other. As our key verse shows us, Paul commands us to bear each other’s burdens.

First, we must understand what our burdens are. Our burdens can be physical, emotional, spiritual or relational. They may involve family issues, torn relationships, sickness, disappointments, failures, stress of too many things going wrong at one time…the list is endless. What is your burden right now?

Second, we need to know what it means to bear one another’s burdens. It means to be there for someone who is struggling. It means being sensitive to that person’s needs and struggles and being willing to support them and help them carry their load. It means following Jesus’ example by serving that person. Bearing one another’s burdens also means relying on Jesus to help you. In all our burdens, Jesus is there to help us bear them. He wants us to turn to Him, and He promises to never leave us or forsake us. Not only does He help us by carrying our burdens, He also gives us strength to help carry the burdens of others.

So, there are two ways this command to “bear one another’s burdens” applies to your life. First, when someone you know is struggling, you have a responsibility to come beside that person and be there for them. Second, you have a responsibility to allow others to be there for you and help you bear your burdens also.

If you’re like me, you have a stubborn desire for independence and self-sufficiency. I don’t like having to rely on anyone for anything, especially when I am burdened, weary and weak. However, do you realize what a blessing and privilege it is to have someone to lean on and to let someone be there for you? It is also a blessing and privilege when someone allows you to be there for them. We must never forget this.

We have got to fight our stubborn independence that isolates us from others. God created us for community. Without others to share our burdens with and whose burdens we can share, we cannot become all that God created us to be. We learn much more about God and ourselves through relationships than we could ever learn on our own. It is through relationships that we become more Christ-like, find healing from our woundedness, and learn to truly love others and be loved by others.

My Prayer for Today:

Dear God, Thank You so much for family and friends. Relationships are truly a gift from You. Father, please teach me how to carry others’ burdens and how to let them carry my burdens. Thank You that You help us carry our burdens also. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Who do I know who is burdened in some way?

What are the unique gifts and abilities God has given me that I can use to help them?

Do I have someone who I share my burdens with? Who might I be able to share my burdens with?

Live It:

Pray and ask God to make you sensitive to the needs and burdens of others around you. Ask Him to show you how you can help them.

Here are some ideas:
-Help them by serving them in a practical way

-Take time to listen to their struggles

-Encourage them by sharing appropriate Scripture with them

-Pray for them

-Ask your parents or your pastor for other ideas on how to help a struggling friend.

If you do not have someone to share your burdens with, ask God to bring someone in your life who you can share them with. Also, remember that God is there to share your burdens with all the time. Just call on Him.

Power Verses:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one…If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (NIV)

Psalm 68:19-20, “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.” (NIV)

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Kristen Sigmon. All rights reserved.

"Father Knows Best"

By: Autumn Sisk

Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (NIV)

Have you ever questioned God’s decisions for your life? Even wonder why He let something bad happen to you or someone you love? In our world, most of us think that God should never let anything bad happen to a good person, but should save the bad stuff for the bad people. God’s children should always have everything exactly the way they want it. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

When something happens that doesn’t fit our thinking, then we naturally question God. We question Him when we don’t make the cheerleading team or the honor roll. We question Him when we are the only girl without a date to the prom. We question Him when boyfriends break up with us, and when our parents won’t let us stay out late with our friends. We definitely question God when we lose loved ones to cancer or car accidents.

I have questioned God many times in my life for reasons such as these. It seems though, that each time I said to God, “What were you thinking?” or “Why did you let this happen?”, that He taught me a lesson about life and about His ways. Often God uses those times that we question His decisions to teach us to trust Him completely. After the storms in life pass, we can usually find something wonderful that came from that storm. Here is one example of this from my life.

God blessed me as a child with tremendous athletic ability. My parents allowed me to develop my abilities by getting me involved in competitive tennis when I was ten years old. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was being recruited by quite a few large colleges for tennis. It was a very exciting time, but also very stressful. My last summer of junior tennis was a tough one. My ranking had slipped due to some poor play at important tournaments, thus many of the schools that had been actively recruiting me disappeared from the radar. When it came down to decision time, I had two schools who were still very interested. I visited the first school, only because my parents made me, and saved my favorite school as my final visit before the decision was to be made.

Both schools were offering me a full-scholarship, but I had my heart set on this certain school. I even went out and bought paraphernalia with the school’s logo on it! Three days before I was to leave to visit my “chosen school,” the coach from that school called me. He kindly explained to me that he no longer had a scholarship for me. He was very sorry that it wasn’t going to work out. I don’t think he knew what he had just done to my heart.

Before I could hang up the phone, the sobs started and did not stop for several hours.

I had so many thoughts running through my head. To top things off, I had already told the coach at the other school “no thank you” to her scholarship offer. I was now left with no scholarship and my family could not afford to pay for my college.

When I got off the phone and told my parents, they were shocked. We all prayed for God to intercede. I was pretty upset with God at that point because He had not given me what I wanted. I just didn’t understand why He would allow this to happen. I had worked so hard through my teen years to get a scholarship and help ease my parents’ financial burden of putting me through college. This could not be happening.

The next day, I went to school. When I arrived home that day, my mom met me at the door with a smile. She told me that after hours of prayer, my dad had called the coach of the school that I had already turned down. He explained to her how my family wanted me to attend that school, but he understood if she had already given the scholarship to someone else. (My parents never told me which school they wanted me to attend before that moment.) The coach was moved by my dad’s call, and told him that she would be thrilled to reinstate her scholarship offer to me. This time I accepted. I didn’t really understand until I arrived at college why God didn’t let me go to the other school.

College was an incredible experience for me. The school God chose for me was a perfect fit for me. I excelled in tennis, met my best friend and many other wonderful people there, and could not have been happier. I never looked back. I remembered my mom telling me that God always works things out for His reasons, but they always end up being for the best of His children too.

Did I mention that I stayed in the city where I attended college after graduation?

Oh yeah, and I found a wonderful career teaching tennis at the club where I met my wonderful husband. None of this would have happened if God had just given me what I wanted. I’m so glad He didn’t.

Now, if I ever begin to question God, I always recall how He has worked things out in the past, and I rest assured that He is still in total control.

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, I know that You hold everything in your hands. Please remind me today not to second-guess You when things don’t go as I have planned. Teach me to put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Think About It:

How often do I question God’s ways?

Do I have faith that God will lead me down the right path?

When things don’t go the way I think they should, how do I react?

Live It:

Make a point to read God’s word daily and take note of the times when God shows His faithfulness to His children.

Keep a journal of each time you don’t get something you had your heart set on. Write down your feelings. Every few weeks, go back and read your journal to see if your feelings have changed.

Pray and ask God to allow His will to be done in your life.

Power Verses:

Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (NIV)

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” (NIV)

© 2008 by Autumn Sisk. All rights reserved.

*Special Announcement*

Hi ladies! We need your help! First, we need more devotion writers! If you are interested in writing devotions for this site, please contact us and we will send you a packet with more information. Also, we need to know what kinds of topics you would like to learn more about. What are some of your questions about life, family, friends, relationships, God, etc. that you would like answered? We want to post articles that are relevant to you, so we are asking for your input. You may send any ideas or inquiries to Kristen@proverbs31.org. Thanks so much for your help!