Devotion for Today

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We Must Decrease

August 23, 2013

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.
–Lamentations 3:40

Our modern philosophy of self-reliance and self-sufficiency has caused many to believe that we can make the grade without God. “Religion,” they argue, “may be all right for certain emotional people, but you can’t beat a man who believes in himself.” But this self-confident generation has produced more alcoholics, more dope addicts, more criminals, more wars, more broken homes, more assaults, more embezzlements, more murders, and more suicides than any other generation that ever lived. It is time for all of us to take stock of our failures, blunders, and costly mistakes. It is about time that we are putting less confidence in ourselves and more trust and faith in God.

Prayer for the day

As I examine my heart, I see so much of self there. I ask that You would forgive me, Lord—my confidence will be in Your leading.

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19 Comments

William says 8.24.2012, 7:22 p.m.

Recently I asked the Lord for help realizing I could not heal myself. Thanks be to God.

San says 8.23.2012, 5:23 p.m.

To be focused on Christ is healing for the soul.It is spiritual healing.Too many people are focus-ed on themselves.Strength and power are theirkeywords.Gentleness en humility are the key-words for all those who want to follow Jesus.

Matthew says 8.23.2012, 3:48 p.m.

Interesting philosophy, Mr Graham, I see where you're coming from but I'm afraid I take issue with every sentence. A rise in non-believers does not automatically equal a rise in crime, addiction, broken homes or suicides and most certainly not Wars!

Tad says 8.23.2012, 11:31 a.m.

I can relate to this. There are many times in my everyday activities that i have an opportunity to glorify God, and I always take the credit. Today's prayer is perfect for me...Glory to God :)

Jim says 8.23.2012, 09:31 a.m.

On a trip to an area where people have only the essentials to sustain life, I realized that LESS IS MORE and MORE IS LESS. The more stuff I have the less I seem to rely on Him and these people having so much less actually had more of Him. Forgive

George says 8.23.2012, 08:56 a.m.

I have had the same concerns not just of myself, but of what I see before us. There is such divisiveness in our country compared to when I was a teen during the '60s. We need to turn to God for answers, instead trying to find them ourselves.

Joe says 8.23.2012, 08:33 a.m.

Amen. Dear Jesus please take over my life, my loved ones lives, and all our lives. For You alone are deserving of all our love and all the glory.

fed up says 8.23.2012, 07:49 a.m.

I was on a Christian forum till people started attacking Billy Graham and stating he is in free masonary who started all this.?

admassu a. says 8.23.2012, 07:07 a.m.

O Lord..open my eyes.

Carolyn G. says 8.23.2012, 06:46 a.m.

Without Christ I am nothing. I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. I count all things a loss without Jesus. Thank God we are never alone.

mariette says 8.23.2012, 05:02 a.m.

we do not live for ourselves and have to be the hands and feet of JESUS

Gerry says 8.23.2012, 01:51 a.m.

I know for certain that without God in my life I would fail at everything that matters. How do I know ....because I tried ,many years ago. Looking back I am very thankful God mercifully stuck by me , and continues each day.

Gyphtie says 8.24.2011, 06:46 a.m.

Less of self and More of thee, Lord!

Zaw says 8.24.2011, 05:51 a.m.

I am totally agreed with Billy Graham.Today, we need to trust in God more than any other ages.The more we trust in God, the more we have confidence to overcome our problems.

Judy says 8.23.2011, 2:31 p.m.

I must become less, He must become more...let it be so with me, Father...

Joyce says 8.23.2011, 2:18 p.m.

I so agree with you Erica, wrapped up. But come to think of it, we have choices to make whether it's stay wrapped up or not. I pray often about when situations are hard to handle and just let God take care of the rest by faith and hope it's for the best.

Arthur Magezi says 8.23.2011, 1:56 p.m.

I greatly love Billy Graham. He is my mentor that I have never met physically. I would love o kneel at his feet and let him lay hands on me. How and where can I get this great man of God?

Gerry says 8.23.2011, 06:41 a.m.

Are you in total control of you life?? Who are we? What have we accomplished? What do we possess, that our Heavenly Father has not provided. The person driving routinely to work today that gets killed by a head-on collision, had no idea that this would be their last day on earth. The sooner we accept that on our own we are really powerless and destined for ultimate failure....... the quicker the Lord can help us toward Divine Success as determined by Him alone.

ERICA says 8.23.2011, 00:47 a.m.

I think of the lyrics in the song by Mercy Me called, In the blink of an eye. The part that says "How can I further Your kingdom When I'm so wrapped up in mine ..." It is so true! We all get wrapped up in ourselves and like another part of the song says, "Sometimes I feel disappointed by the way I spend my time.."