Be Content Where You Are (It Will Actually Impact You!)

I just finished my devotion for the day, and I am so broken and emotional from it.
It's about the church.

I'm doing a Beth Moore study: "Stepping Up." It focuses on the Psalms of Ascent.
Today's focus was Psalm 122.

The subject today was focusing on the church and how we should desire to go to church. But to be honest, a lot of the times I don't. And I've been very convicted about that tonight. A lot of the times, I just feel like church misses the point. I desire this deep relationship with the people I come in contact with; I don't want to go to a big church and I can't find one here in Jackson that I'm in love with. I haven't found my "home."

So, I just want to go through today's with you. I hope God meets with you the way He did with me.

Each one of us has a different heritage God uses to fashion us into the servants he wants us to be.-Beth Moore

We are all placed in the exact circumstance, the exact place that we are for a reason-we are to be servants. Servants of the world that doesn't give back most of the time; even Christians don't give back. Sometimes you won't get a response, and I know it can be draining, trust me, it's a struggle I deal with every single day; I give so much of myself and a lot of the time I get ignored, and it's hard. BUT God WILL sustain you!

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.-Philippians 1:3-8

It made me smile to read about how Paul LOVED his fellow Christians; he found joy in them! He LOVED praying for them. This is the relationship I desire; being so intimate with someone that you know exactly what they need prayer for; and I believe that's a huge part of being in the body of believers.

Accepting that no fellowship of believers is perfect, what are a few things you really love about yours?
Are you glad when someone says to you, "Let's go to the house of the LORD?"

In some ways, you and I may think of ourselves as exiles, not because of disobedience to God, but because we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20) with ankles chained to earth.-Beth Moore

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:
5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away!
7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
Jeremiah 29:4-7

What was God's essential point to the exiles in Babylon? (Jer. 29:4-7)

How can we draw a parallel between verse 7, Psalm 122:6, and our own cities?
Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper. (Psalm 122:6)

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with the places we've gotten our mail, but God intended to use every stop to equip us as servants...You may feel like an exile within its city limits, but just as God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, He wants to prosper you there. His method may not be through all your city can do to edify and serve you. It may be what you can do to build up your city--one neighbor, one teacher, one trash collector at a time. -Beth Moore

How is God using your town or city to equip you to be a humble servant?
How is God using you in your town or city?

Remember- You're here for a reason, and are exactly where you are so that you can be shaped into who you're meant to be to glorify Him.