GOD'S WORD
- Journey Into the Heart of God -
December 15, 2023
My dear Brothers and Sisters, today we come together to commemorate the annual day of atonement. I want to start this devotional by asking a simple question: Have you ever been on a journey that changed your life?
I want to tell you of an experience a friend of mine told me he had. of the time he went on a mission trip with his church. He told me that he and his church travelled to a far-off village in Africa, and it was an overwhelmingly humbling experience. They were there to help bring clean water, food, and medical supplies to the people in need. But he said what they received in
return, was far more valuable than anything they could bring. He told me that they were given the gift of perspective; the experience of knowing what it is like to be in someone else's shoes.
This brings me to a similar journey we must take as believers, and it begins on the day of atonement. This is the day that marks the start of Yom Kippur, a time of reflection and repentance. Like the mission trip he took, we must go on an inward journey and see ourselves as God sees us. We must look past our imperfections and recognize our need for repentance. In Leviticus 16:30 it says, “For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.”
But atonement is not something we can do alone. We must rely on God’s grace and mercy to help us through this journey. We must surrender our hearts completely to God and trust in His divine plan. As Psalm 32:5 says, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
The journey of atonement is not easy; it requires us to open ourselves up and be vulnerable. We must allow God to search our hearts and examine our intentions. It requires us to be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our mistakes. Then, we can begin to rebuild our lives with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.
On this day of atonement, let us take this journey together as a community of believers. Let us give up our selfish desires and surrender our hearts to the Lord. Let us put our trust in Him and allow Him to lead us on the path of righteousness. My Brothers and Sisters, let us remember that atonement is a process; it is a journey that begins with repentance and ends with renewal.
Brothers and Sisters let's make today our great day of atonement - let us take this opportunity to journey into the heart of God and be restored!
Bring healing Lord, we pray,
to those who, at present,
are burdened with anxiety,
isolation, stress, depression,
those states of mind that
sometimes can be invisible,
but to the sufferer affects
every moment of their life.
Bring to them your peace,
and open our eyes, we pray,
that we might be there
whether friend or stranger
needs someone to listen,
support and bring your light,
into the darkness of their day.
Join us in spreading God's love and compassion to those in need.
