“Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; shew me they faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:17-20
Our weekly Christian devotional
Gently tugging the strip of eyelashes from its plastic container, Lexi’s tiny fingers gripped the delicate piece as she held it up to the ceiling light. The black spikes looked like a spider when she closed one eye.
Gingerly placing the spidery mass on top of her own, the little girl copied what she had seen her momma do–at least a hundred times.
Fluttering, blinking and giggling, the false eyelashes tickled as they toppled their way down Lexi’s rosy cheek burrowing itself into the shag carpet.
“Silly girl, are you playing in mommy’s makeup again?” Amanda chided her daughter, turning off the hair dryer.
Lexi silently combed the rug with her pink fingernails, searching for the lost piece.
“Honey, there’s plenty of time for that kind of thing when you get older.” The young mother sighed.
Oh, the price she would pay to be her daughter’s age again…Amanda’s wishes were simple. She hated wasting her nights at the strip club. She’d rather build a fort and eat popcorn with her favorite little person, before she got too old for it.
“Yay!” Triumphantly holding the missing lashes, the child dropped them into Amanda’s open palm.
“Momma, One day I’m going to be just like you!” Burying her head into her mother’s neck, she breathed in the faint smell of vanilla and coco butter.
Lexi’s words sliced through Amanda’s heart. Silently, she prayed that her little girl’s wishes would never come true.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Somehow, I’ve fooled myself into thinking that I could dance with the devil and the curses that it would bring would somehow escape my family and I.
I’m sure that where I am today wasn’t in your ideal plan for my life. My own freewill and bad choices have brought me where I am today.
Lord, it has been so long since I have turned to you for direction. I almost feel like it’s too late for me. But, as long as I have breath in my lungs, I know there’s always a chance that you can turn things around—if I let you.
You said that you would never give us challenges that we couldn’t handle with your help.
Today, I’m calling out to you. I’m no longer going to justify the sin that has been taking my family and I away from your plan for our lives.
Lord, I am re-dedicating my life to you again. I know that I have made promises like this in the past. Sadly, I’ve gone back on them. Forgive me for this.
I need your help. Day by day, hour by hour walk me through my life. Lead me out of these dark places. Direct me where I need to go and what I need to do.
Bless me with favor. Give me a fresh start. Open my eyes to see the opportunities that are already right in front of me.
Help me not to think of myself more highly than I ought to think. I bow myself in humility and am thankful for the opportunity to start afresh with you again.
Light my heart on fire so I never walk back into the flames you saved me from. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”
Thank you for reading our weekly Christian devotional on verses: James 2:17-20
Please check back and see what we have for you next week!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan