Going Above and Beyond

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Going Above and Beyond

Andrea Lende • September 9, 2022

I Corinthians 15:58

Going Above and Beyond

You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Going-Above-and-Beyond-e1njrr1

I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].

Paul encourages us today with our verse.

He tells us to be firm and unwavering, serve the Lord with excellence, and do more than what is expected.

He reminds us that nothing is wasted in God’s economy.

God uses every moment, every circumstance, every person, every trial, every difficulty, and every triumph for His glory.

Everything is His.

Paul’s life is a great example of human diligence, God’s preparation, and a divine redirection.

Paul had been a religious zealot working tirelessly at his position in life.

This position led him to persecute Christians, so he needed redirecting.

The Lord used him in an extraordinary way with a shift in mindset and heart.

I relate to Paul’s work ethic.

I wasn’t always working on the right project, but I did give it all the energy I had.

Even if it may not have the right project, the Lord didn’t waste the opportunity to teach me and draw me closer to Him.

And now with little hindsight, I can see the Lord used every second of my life to teach me something I need to know right now.

So, we receive Paul’s message today and stand strong, firm, and unwavering.

We continue to be diligent in our efforts and go above and beyond.

As we remain steadfast in God, He will use our efforts for His glory.

Today I choose to remain steadfast and strong in the Lord as I pursue serving Him.

May you find as you are diligent in your work or service, the Lord will bless you and none of your efforts will be wasted.

Daily Prayer:

O Lord, thank You for working in all the circumstances of our lives. Thank You for using Paul to remind us to be strong, unwavering, and diligent in our service to You. Strengthen us so we can serve as You ask. Help us go above and beyond what is expected of us, Lord. Help us do more than we think is possible in Your strength, Lord. Go before us and light our path. Increase our faith and confidence in You and help us overcome the obstacles in our way. Help us bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing our prayer.

Answer: I AM with you in all you do and will strengthen you and light the way for you.

Response: Help us follow You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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By Andrea Lende • December 27, 2022

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By Andrea Lende • December 26, 2022

This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.

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By Andrea Lende • December 22, 2022

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This is a picture of red Christmas balls and the words Merry Christmas

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By Andrea Lende • December 20, 2022

Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.