Truth & Grace Integrity Morning Devotional
Key Scripture — 2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”
This morning, while thinking about building a website, a spiritual truth settled deeply in my heart.
When building a website, we can download plugins for different purposes. One may improve security. Another may improve performance. Another may help people find the website. Another may add a feature the website needs. But downloading a plugin does not mean it is activated. It can be sitting right there inside the website with the ability to perform its purpose, yet the website receives no benefit from it until it is activated.
And I began thinking about our lives.
What Has God Placed Within You?
How many things has God already placed within us that we have never stirred up? There may be gifts, abilities, compassion, wisdom, courage, leadership, creativity, generosity, discernment, encouragement, or a calling to serve others that God has placed within us. Yet many people may have touched only a small portion of what God has entrusted to them.
Paul did not tell Timothy to go searching somewhere else for a gift. He reminded him to stir up the gift of God that was already in him.
1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
Perhaps sometimes we keep asking God to give us something new while He is calling us to become faithful with what He has already entrusted to us.
Activation Changes How the Website Functions
Once the correct plugins are activated, a website begins functioning differently. Features become available. Connections begin working. Security improves. The website begins operating more closely to the way it was designed.
What happens when we begin walking in what God has placed within us? Our walk begins to change. Our conversation begins to change. Our reactions begin to change. Our priorities begin to change. Our relationships begin to change. And our understanding of who God is in our lives begins to deepen.
But this is not because we suddenly become powerful on our own.
John 15:5 (KJV)
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
The Christian life is not about activating ourselves independently of God. It is about abiding in Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through a surrendered life.
Some Things Need to Be Deactivated
While working with plugins, I also discovered that sometimes a plugin has already been activated, but it is no longer helping the website function properly. It may interfere with something else, create problems, or simply not belong there. It needs to be deactivated.
And I thought about the things we sometimes allow to operate within our lives: bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, jealousy, envy, pride, disobedience, fear, strife, old wounds, and wrong attitudes.
Ephesians 4:31–32 (KJV)
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
God does not merely show us what needs to come out. He shows us what should take its place. Put away bitterness and walk in forgiveness. Put away hatred and walk in love. Put away strife and walk in peace. Put away pride and walk in humility. Put away fear and walk in faith.
Let the Fruit of the Spirit Become Visible
Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
These are not qualities we manufacture through human strength. They are the fruit of the Spirit. As we walk with God, surrender to Him, obey His Word, and remain connected to Christ, the Holy Spirit produces His fruit in our lives.
People should encounter something different through us: love where hatred could have lived, peace where chaos once ruled, forgiveness where bitterness once remained, gentleness where anger once controlled the response, and faith where fear once made the decisions.
The purpose is not for people to look at us and say, “What an amazing person.” The purpose is for our lives to point beyond ourselves and cause people to recognize an amazing God.
Some Things Need to Be Blocked
There was another part of the website lesson. Some things should never be allowed access in the first place. They need to be blocked.
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Spiritually, there are things trying to gain access to our hearts, thoughts, homes, relationships, and decisions. Some we recognize. Others we may not. Sometimes we need to pray: Lord, block what I cannot see. Block influences that would pull me away from You. Block opportunities that look good but are not Your will. Block anything that would plant bitterness, jealousy, division, confusion, or deception within my heart.
And if something is already operating within us that does not belong there, we can ask God to expose it.
Psalm 139:23–24 (KJV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:”
“And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Sometimes we do not even know what needs to be removed. But God does.
We Also Need Updates
Websites need updates. And so do our minds—not because God’s truth changes, but because our thinking continually needs to be brought back into alignment with Him.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Every day we need God’s Word. Every day we need prayer. Every day we need the Holy Spirit. Every day we need God to correct what has become misaligned within us. Spiritual growth is not one installation followed by a lifetime without maintenance. It is a daily walk with God.
What Is Sitting Dormant Inside of You?
Perhaps the question today is not, “God, why haven’t You given me anything?” Perhaps the question is, “God, what have You already placed within me that I have not yet surrendered to You and faithfully used?”
Someone may carry a gift of encouragement but has never opened their mouth to encourage another hurting person. Someone may have a testimony that could help another person survive a season they believe will destroy them. Someone may have compassion but has been so consumed by disappointment that they stopped seeing the hurting people around them. Someone may have wisdom gained through years of hardship that could guide the next generation. Someone may have a calling to serve, teach, lead, give, pray, create, comfort, or minister—but fear has kept it dormant.
What if there is more inside of you than you have ever allowed God to use?
Not so that your name becomes great. Not so people applaud you. Not so you can build your own kingdom. But so that the Kingdom of God is glorified through your life.
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
A Truth & Grace Moment
Maybe today is a day for a spiritual inventory:
- What has God placed within me that needs to be stirred up?
- What is operating within me that needs to be put away?
- What areas of my thinking need to be renewed by God’s Word?
- What doors need to be guarded?
- What is God protecting me from that I cannot yet see?
- Is my life pointing people toward me—or toward the Great I AM?
The goal is not simply to become a better version of ourselves. The goal is to become increasingly surrendered to Christ so that our lives reflect Him.
There are hurting people carrying burdens. There are people trapped in bitterness. There are people living under disappointment. There are people exhausted from comparison, jealousy, envy, anger, and strife. Perhaps something God has placed within you is meant to become encouragement that helps another person turn their eyes toward Him.
Stir up the gift. Walk in the Spirit. Guard your heart. Renew your mind. Put away what does not belong. And allow your life to become an instrument through which God receives the glory.
Prayer
Abba Father, search my heart today. Thank You for every gift, ability, lesson, testimony, and purpose You have entrusted to my life.
Forgive me for the things You have placed within me that I have allowed fear, disappointment, insecurity, distraction, or disobedience to keep dormant. Stir up what comes from You. Help me walk faithfully in the gifts You have entrusted to me—not for recognition, not for applause, and not for my own glory, but for Yours.
Father, reveal anything operating within me that does not reflect Your character. Where there is bitterness, teach me forgiveness. Where there is anger, produce gentleness. Where there is envy, teach me gratitude. Where there is strife, make me an instrument of peace. Where there is fear, strengthen my faith. Where there is pride, clothe me with humility.
Renew my mind through Your Word. Guard my heart. And Father, please block the things I cannot see—the doors I should not enter, the influences I should not receive, and anything that would draw my heart away from You.
Let the fruit of Your Spirit become increasingly visible in my life. Let my walk glorify You. Let my words glorify You. Let my gifts glorify You. Let my testimony glorify You.
And if something You have placed within me can help even one burdened soul find hope, freedom, forgiveness, peace, or a deeper relationship with You, Father, use me.
May people see what You do through my life and glorify You, the Great I AM.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Truth to Carry Today: Something can be downloaded without ever being activated. Ask God to stir up what He has placed within you, remove what does not belong, renew what has become misaligned, and guard your heart from what should never gain access—all for His glory.
Truth & Grace Integrity — Walking in Truth. Living in Grace. Leading with Integrity.