Lifetime Daily DevotionsSample

I'm CleanFor I am jealous for you
with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you
to one husband that to Christ
I might present you as a pure virgin.

                                II Corinthians 11:2 (NAS)

        Just what is a "devotional"? I would say something that expresses my devotion as a Believer to the Lord. Well, these thoughts'if they apply to you'will certainly increase your devotion for Him. Some of you will weep as you read and follow through on the thoughts. Others won't really relate. I think all of us would benefit from this simple act of cleansing.
        We were leading a retreat with a group of college students. The girls shied away from me for the first several sessions'(She's old! How could I EVER relate to her?) They were listening, though, and by Saturday afternoon every spare moment was filled'meeting and talking with these precious people
        I wasn't shocked when ALL of the girls had the same problem. "I have been sexually promiscuous'before I became a Christian and even after accepting Christ. I feel deceitful. I feel dirty, used, unworthy of His love'I'm a mess!" I knew I needed something special for them'they were all so very sincere'hurting'guilt ridden. So as I prayed the Lord gave me a "show and tell" for these little ones of His. It was so wonderful to have them hug me and tell me how this little exercise from the Lord had set them free.
        This isn't just for us women. It may be that some of you males'who would never ever share such turmoil or questionable behavior'will want to join us. If you're a female, get a lovely crystal goblet, an expensive one if you can afford it, but one from Wal-Mart will do. If you're a male, get a sturdy coffee cup. These represent YOU. As I talk about the goblet, I'm also talking to you'the macho coffee cup.
        Now:

Fix a sink full of hot, soapy water.
Take your goblet (cup) outside. Remember this receptacle represents you.
Mix some mud, thick mud, and if you have a dog, put some dog droppings in that mixture. Find something nasty. In other words, make a smelly, dirty, ugly mess. And use your hands'they wash beautifully!
Start smearing that foul mess on the beautiful goblet (cup), thinking as you do of all the times when you have been sexually involved'when you have surrendered your body to someone. Don't leave out a single episode, no matter how painful it might be to think of it again. Wash your mind of every thing that you are ashamed of, where you have sinned against yourself and others, rubbing the filth on to the goblet over and over. You're going to have one dirty container in your hand when you finish, aren't you? That's good.
Now, be sure you don't have anything in hidden corners of your mind. No one is ever going to know what you confess but you and the Lord'and He already knows everything! Do you see what you have done? You've taken this unblemished "person" (the lovely goblet) in all her innocence, this woman-creature that God created, that He saw as priceless, pure, and cherished, and you have soiled her almost beyond recognition. You've taken a man'yourself'created in His image and used him to gratify your sexual pleasures. Ponder that. Don't hurry. Talk to Him. Tell Him that you are sorry.
Go to an outside faucet and rinse off most of the mud'not all of it.
Go into the house to that hot, sudsy water and slowly submerge your goblet/cup'or plunge it if you like. Start washing it, thanking the Lord for making you a new person, for washing away all of the filth, for forgiving you for all the things you've talked to Him about'and'by the way'all the things you will ever do!
Now rinse it clean, then take a dry towel and polish that goblet/cup until it looks like new.
It IS new as it represents you. II Corinthians 11:2 says this: "I have betrothed you to one husband that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin." Do you see what He has done for you? He doesn't even see those sins! They're gone. They've been washed away! You're the pure virgin that is presented to Christ. The episodes have been buried in the deepest part of the sea! No one can dredge them up again! No, they're not gone from your memories, but you can control what you think about, right? You've learned from your teaching1 that Satan will serve up thoughts he wants you to think about'to immerse you in'getting you right back where you were. DON'T LET HIM DO THAT TO YOU! Isaiah 26:3 says, "I will give you perfect peace, dear one, IF you will stay your mind on Me."

Write down what you have just done and claim it as truth for yourself. Put the goblet on your dresser with a ribbon of your favorite color around it. Put up little reminders'no one needs to know what they mean except you. Cut out a picture of a lovely goblet and put it on your mirror. Do whatever you need to do to keep this ever before you.
Pray and thank God for cleansing you'for the person you now are'and for the indwelling presence of Christ to strengthen, empower, and love you. What a beautiful "vessel" you now are! Pure! Clean! Forgiven! A virgin, betrothed to a wonderful, amazing, Husband'your Lord, Jesus Christ.

And I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in
righteousness and in justice,
In lovingkindness and in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the Lord.

                                Hosea 2:19-20 (NAS)

1Bill Gillham: Lifetime Guarantee