True Devotion

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is biweekly and a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we examined Heart Treasures. This week we will examine True Devotion.  When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

 PROMISE: Jeremiah 31:3 Amplified Bible

PARABLE: Though the roots of Valentine’s Day are questionable, modern-day Valentine’s Day is set aside to celebrate friendships, marriages, and romantic partners. It is a day that focuses on love and devotion. Love and devotion in a relationship take work. This Valentine’s Day, I participated in a Secret Sister gift exchange and virtual fellowship. As we opened our gifts, it was interesting to see how even though some of us did not know each other well our gifts reflected the personalities and prayers of the recipients. We each prayed and allowed the Holy Spirit to be the Gift Giver. So certainly, the gifts matched the sisters. I received a spiritual self-care journal and a Women of Color Devotional. The sentiment of being seen and known by God was affirming. 

 After the Zoom, I realized that to sustain these friendships it will take each of us to be devoted to investing in the sisterhood community, learning about each other, and taking the time to encourage and empower each other. True devotion is about lasting love, loyalty, and enthusiasm. It goes beyond one day of acknowledgment. It is about enduring with patience and serenity, regardless of what comes, looking for the best in each one, and remaining steadfast during difficult times without weakening, fading, or ending. Marriages, friendships, and romantic relationships are challenging because WE are a part of them. Our human nature is not always devoted to the work it takes to maintain a healthy love for others. The true devotion of Jesus can serve as our example of how to express and experience love devotion.

The love of Jesus is everlasting. His death, burial, and resurrection are a testament to His true devotion. There is no greater love and demonstration of devotion than the love that Jesus showed at the cross. This love was not just a “one and done” day. The sacrifice was a commitment to an everlasting love that continues to draw us to God. As we draw to God, we learn to love God, ourselves, and others not just with our words but in our actions. 

PONDER and WANDER: During this month where we focus on love, if you choose, I invite you to take time to ponder the question: Is there someone in my life to whom I have said “I love you” but have not shown my love? What does true devotion look like? 

Soul care training exercise:  

• Reflect and let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what does true devotion look like?
  • Notice without judgment and with a curious awareness what comes to your mind. Invite God into your sanctified imagination. Ask him to show you who He wants you to increase your devotion to.
    • Focus on who God shows you and decide how you will show your love insteading of just saying you love.

PRAYER: Abba, I love you. Help me to show you my true devotion. Let my words not just be lyrics of a song, writings in a journal, or spoken phrases. I am so glad you chose to love me with an everlasting love. Let your love for me overflow in my love for others. Let me be devoted to sharing your love with someone who needs me to be the arms and legs of Jesus. In the loving name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to devote your heart to God and let the work of your wandering fill you with wisdom.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post True Devotion appeared first on Resonant 7.

BONUS Guided Meditation. I invite you to take 4 minutes to listen to the True Devotion guided meditation.

Image attributions:  Text art app with words added