1.4.2023 Devotion

The devotion for January 4th is based on Hebrews 13:6-7. It talks about how we tend to react to situations instead of responding in a healthy way. Reacting can lead to rebellion, anger, envy, judgment, or depression. But God wants to set us free from this dependency on others. The question "What can mere people do to me?" reminds us that others' words and actions shouldn't affect us significantly. Instead, we should trust in God to shape our responses. By turning to God as our helper, we can break free from old patterns and find new life. This is today's devotion for Wednesday, January 4th, 2023. The scripture comes from Hebrews 13, 6 through 7. So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all that is good that has come from their lives and follow the example of their faith. When we are wounded, as we all inevitably are, we tend to react to what happens to us instead of responding in a healthy way. Our reactiveness can take a variety of forms. Some people act out in rebellion and anger. Others act it in by becoming envious, judgmental, or depressed. Either way, when we are living reactively, our lives become more contingent on what others do and say. But God longs to set us free from our bondage to such dependency. He wants us to take our life back to recover from these unhealthy patterns. The writer of Hebrews offers a valuable tool for our recovery in the form of a question. What can mere people do to me? In other words, what others say and do can no longer affect me in any significant way. In fact, I'm fearless now, because instead of reacting to other people, I trust in God to shape my responses. When you feel yourself pulled into old patterns, try speaking this verse aloud. It can help you turn reactive living on its head. So ask yourself this first question, what, if any, reactive patterns do you recognize in yourself? Second question, ask yourself, how does turning to God as your helper change that? And then ask God, Lord, with confidence, I say that because you are my helper. I do not fear. Thank you for the ways you are helping me break free from old patterns to find new life in you.