Happy Wednesday! This week our reading has been filled with challenges. Each verse I read caused me to reflect on my personal life and walk with Jesus. How about you? Today’s verses have me pondering on old things that have kept me from doing new things (e.g., old tradition, thoughts, and projects), aligned to what Christ is calling me to do.

 Please feel free to share your thoughts on this weeks devotions  or scriptures and how they have challenged or encouraged you. Enjoy today’s devotion. 

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 9:14-17 NLT

“14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.””

REFLECTION
Jesus did not mix his words, he was direct in his response and always provoked others to think deeper. Jesus was clear – he was doing a new thing. 

There were multiple analogies listed in these verses:

• Fasting while with the bridegroom – many fast as a religious tradition and/or to draw closer to God. In the case of the disciples they were already in His presence and there was no need for them to fast, but Jesus was clear that there would be a day when He would not be physically with them.

The Pharisees could not see or perceive what Christ was doing, they could only see with their limited background and vision. Christ was making all things new – he bringing everything into order, healing, saving, restoring, etc. Some of the people missed what Jesus came to do and yet, even today someone is missing what Jesus came to do.

Jesus wants to do something new in you. He desires to make us new. Will you allow Him to make you new?_____

Will you spend some time in prayer today and ask the Lord to examine your heart and make you new?_____

PRAYER
Father God, thank you for your saving grace. Thank you for the opportunity to be made new in you. Lord, forgive us for desiring to stay the same old way and justifying it by our own thoughts about ourselves. Lord, we are tired of walking around in confusion and chaos. We are tired of believing the lies of the enemy. Lord, we don’t want to live our old ways or by the godless standards of this world. Lord, we want Your truth – we desire for you to change us and make us new through Your word, grace, and mercy. So Father, today, we ask that you come into our hearts and our minds, and remove the things that are not aligned to your thoughts about us, or your will for our lives. Lord, expand our thinking and focus our eyes on you. Lord, renew us. Fill us up with your words, your Holy Spirit, mercy, grace, wisdom and compassion.

Lord, continue to transform us everyday so that we do not become complacent or self-righteous or dull in our walk with you. Lord, awaken us.

Lord, we pray for those who are struggling with something (e.g., unemployment, sickness, marriage, finances, children, parents, work, school, life) today and we ask for you to help us all. Lord, we pray for the woman who is having surgery today. We ask that you be with the doctor’s and other medical professionals as they care for and perform surgery. We ask for a successful outcome and quick recovery. We thank you for answering prayers for the lady who was in the hospital and is now home. Lord, we pray for those who don’t know you or have strayed away. Lord, draw them closer to you. Lord, forgive us for the times when we have turned away from you or failed to be obedient to your direction. Guide us all to draw closer to you and align our lives with you.

 In Jesus name, amen.

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