Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article The prayer of a "righteous" man is powerful and effective Friday, January 4, 2002 1 John 3:7-8 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as God is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. Their line (God and Satan's) is the same: "You're either with me or against me." There's no middle ground. The United Nations had trouble protecting a no-man's land in Korea. How could I think I'm strong enough to create or protect a no-spirit's land between God and Satan? Do I really think I can separate my own behavior from the seemingly everlasting battle between Good and Evil? So what I do matters more than I can imagine. And what I don't do (the famous sin of "omission") matters just as much. Talk about pressure; how can I handle such responsibility? Once again, I just have to know who I am. I am just a "creature," not a creator. And my strength as a created one lies in saying "yes" and then following, not leading. It's when I strike out on my own that I get in trouble, like deciding for myself what's right and wrong. I don't mean to say this is simple. Distinguishing between God's voice and my own rationalizing is difficult. We learn little about listening to God in school, but it's so much more important than reading, writing and 'rithmetic. When I listen wrong, I become "self"-righteous instead of righteous. Big difference. Lord, let me hear your voice, know your voice, and follow you. I believe you will show me the way. "; Add      Edit    Delete