Reflections of a lost sheep

  31 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Past gains When Paul spoke of "these things," he was referring to his credentials, credits, and successes. After showing that he could beat the Judaizers at their own game-being proud of who they were and what they had done-Paul showed that it was the wrong game. Be careful of considering past achievements so important that they get in the way of your relationship with Christ. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————- Reflections What were your past gains? Are you proud of it? It’s very human of us to want to kind of tell the world our achievements or accolades. Sometimes, it is as if we are afraid that the others didn’t know. I am guilty of that too. That is also where pride is evident in our lives. Not a good thing but good thing that we are being made aware, for pride is worth nothing and can cause our own down...

  30 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Are you an encourager? When we speak fearlessly for Christ, or live faithfully for him during difficult situations, we encourage others to do the same. Be an encouragement by the way that you live. “And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————— Reflections I remember the testimonies I heard and the lives I saw transformed by Christ. It is definitely uplifting and encouraging at the same time! Some of the testimonies are those of His healing powers, where He made the impossible possible, where it went beyond medical logic or defies all logic even. It’s really awesome how God can work! Or cases where post op recovery was so speedy and pain free! There were also cases of salvation where we saw how God turned someone who suffers from depression and isola...

  29 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion He will carry it to completion Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him. “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————————- Reflections Probably the problem lies with us, that we often look to ourselves, our own strengths to finish anything, including G...

  28 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Remembered with Joy This is the first of many times Paul used the word joy in his letter. The Philippians were remembered with joy and thanksgiving whenever Paul prayed. By helping Paul, they were helping Christ's cause. The Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever he wanted them to do. When others think about you, what comes to their minds? Are you remembered with joy by them? Do your acts of kindness lift up others? “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy”Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ———————- Reflections If I remembered correctly, the book of Philippians is one that is filled with loads of joy and the irony of it is that it was written while Paul is in prison. A book that is written when one is being confined, with restricted freedom, facing four walls, one can hardly imagine how one would be filled with so much joy. This particular learning for me so t...

  27 Oct 25 (Day 300) Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Keep praying How can anyone pray on all occasions? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God's desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don't have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God's powerful influence. Praying for "all believers everywhere" means praying for all believers in Christ; so pray for the Christians you know and for the church around the world. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —————- Reflections What I learnt along...

  26 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Serve the Lord and not men Paul's instructions encourage responsibility and integrity on the job. Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. And Christian employers should treat their employees fairly and with respect. Can you be trusted to do your best, even when the boss is not around? Do you work hard and with enthusiasm? Do you treat your employees as people, not machines? Remember that no matter whom you work for, and no matter who works for you, the One you ultimately should want to please is your Father in heaven. “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭N...

  25 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Influence of the Holy Spirit The affects of alcohol are obvious, but what happens when we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit? In these verses, Paul lists three by-products of the Spirit's influence in our lives: singing, making music, and giving thanks. Paul did not intend to suggest that believers only discuss religious matters, but that whatever we do or say should be permeated with an attitude of joy, thankfulness to God, and encouragement of others. Instead of whining and complaining-which our culture has raised to an art form-we are to focus on the goodness of God and his mercies toward us. How would others characterize your words and attitudes? “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,”Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬-‭1...

  24 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Improper language Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Paul cautions, however, that improper language should have no place in the Christian's conversation because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us. How can we praise God and remind others of his goodness when we are speaking coarsely? “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections The above devotional reminds me of this verse. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.”James‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ When we are made new in the Lord, this should not be and we ought to recognise improper language, obscenity or coarse joking comes from our inner most being and our hearts. If we follow Jesus, are we...

  23 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Nursing our anger The Bible doesn't tell us that we shouldn't feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly. If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within. Paul tells us to deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships rather than destroys them. If we nurse our anger, we will give Satan an opportunity to divide us. Are you angry with someone right now? What can you do to resolve your differences? Don't let the day end before you begin to work on mending your relationship. ““In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ——————- Reflections We need to take our thoughts captive, be mindful and realise whatever that i...

  22 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion Saved by grace through faith Grace is God's voluntary and loving favor given to those he saves. We can't earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can gain it, because it comes only from God's mercy and love. Without God's grace, no person can be saved. To receive it, we must acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves, that only God can save us, and that our only way to receive this loving favor is through faith in Christ. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,”Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ————————— Reflections When we read about being saved through faith, the verse from Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬ “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift ...

  21 Oct 25 Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion You reap what you sow It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It's a natural law to reap what we sow. It's true in other areas, too. If you gossip about your friends, you will lose their friendship. Every action has results. If you plant to please your own desires, you'll reap a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you'll reap joy and everlasting life. What kind of seeds are you sowing? “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ ———————— Reflections We can also find in the bible, verses that tells us not to do evil. In fact many other religions also said the same thing. However, I am reminded of this verse from the bible. I...