SERVING GOD FOR WHO HE IS, NOT JUST FOR WHAT HE GIVES (2)

TIMES OF REFRESHING DAILY DEVOTIONAL www.thefountspring.org

DATE: THURSDAY, 6 JUNE 2024

So, when our relationship with God is primarily focused on what we can receive, we run the risk of reducing our faith to a series of transactions. Transactional faith limits our understanding of God. It causes us to view God as a means to an end. Viewing God as a means to an end confines our perception of His infinite nature. God is not merely a dispenser of blessings but the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of our lives. A transactional faith fails to appreciate the fullness of who God is.

SCRIPTURE: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
— Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

REFRESHING FOR THE DAY: Transactional faith can lead to disappointment. When our expectations are centered on receiving specific blessings, unmet desires can lead to frustration and doubt. This can weaken our faith, causing us to question God’s goodness and faithfulness when things don’t go our way. Transactional faith is self-centered. It places our needs and desires at the center of our faith journey, rather than God Himself. It shifts our focus from serving God to serving our own interests, which can lead to a self-centered spirituality. Stay Refreshed!

NOTE THIS: Our relationship with God is not a contract but a covenant, rooted in love, grace, and His eternal character.

RESPONSIBILITY: Regularly examine the reasons behind your prayers and actions. Ask yourself if you are seeking God’s hand (what He can give) or His heart (who He is). This reflection can help realign your motivations with a genuine desire to know and love God.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You with a humble heart, asking for Your divine guidance and wisdom. Search my heart and reveal my true motives, Lord. Show me if I am seeking Your hand rather than Your heart. Help me to desire a deeper relationship with You, grounded in love and reverence for who You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

PROPHETIC WORD: May the Lord refine our intentions so that our prayers and actions will align with His will. May He lead us in the way everlasting, that we may grow closer to Him and serve Him with a pure and sincere heart. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

BIBLE TEXTS: Psalm 100:2-3; 139: 23-24

As always, thank you for reading and until next time. May today’s Times of Refreshing refresh, encourage and empower you! For more please visit: www.thefountspring.org or contact us on contact@thefountspring.org