echo devotional

8/13/2019 Echo Devotional

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ECHO

© 2013 Jonathan Pearson

All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the author.

Scripture quotations noted NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New international Version.

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

While you may not resale the ebook or any of its content, you are welcome to share it with

people you know and want to encourage. For questions regarding reproduction of the book

or if you’d just like to contact the author, email [email protected]

HOW TO USE

ECHO is best used one day at a time. You are encouraged to read it in the morning, but any

time during the day is good. The devotional is best read in a quiet and solitary setting. AllowGod to speak to you. A journal would be a great companion over the next 14 days as well.

SECTIONSEach devotional is comprised of 3 sections.

The first part of each day provides a key scripture for you to read. This scripure will be the

basis of the devotional for the day.

The second section is the devotional content section.

The quiet portion of the devotional provides a way to move beyond just reading by allowing

you to mediate in various ways on what you just read. Be sure to have your journal ready

during this time.

Each devotional ends with a ‘share it’ section. This is one sentence that sums up the day’s

devotional. This sentence can be easily shared on all of your social networks.

about the authorJonathan Pearson is a Christian, husband, millennial, communicator, and encourager. He is theOrangeburg Campus Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church, an ethnically-reflective church withmultiple campuses, and Assistant Director of The Sticks, an organization that inspires small townleaders to lead BIG. Jonathan is also the co-creator of MillennialLeader.com, a toolbox for youngleaders. Jonathan writes, tweets, & speaks to communicate Christ, vision, & bold living. Jonathancan be found online at JonP.me and JonathanPearson.net and on twitter as @JonathanPearson.Jonathan is married to Melissa and they live in Orangeburg, S.C.



DAY

1

SCRIPTURE1 John 4:18 (NIV) - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to dowith punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

ECHO DEVOYou are loved.

We live in a world of insincerity and make believe love. It's easy for us to translate the disappointments

we've experienced with the people in our past to the love of God. The truth is, there's nothing to fearwhen it comes to the love of God. You don't have to fear that you're just one mistake away from himleaving you or one failure away from waking up in the morning and having him abandon you. His loveis perfect, so perfect that it leaves no room for fear of anything else.

Whatever you're facing today and whatever you have heavy on your mind and heart about your past,God loves you. Don’t let imperfect humans determine your first view of God. Look past that.

Look at the Father's perfect love.

Don't fear... Just love him back.

QUIETListen. Do you hear it? Try again. Close your eyes. Picture Jesus whispering that he loves you. Thinkabout all that he's done to prove it. Do you think he'd quit on you now? Never.

share ITGod's love is perfect, so perfect that it leaves no room for fear of anything else. #ECHODevo

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DAY

2

SCRIPTUREHebrews 2:18 (NIV) - Because he himself su"ered when he was tempted, he is able to help thosewho are being tempted.

ECHO DEVOI have never been snow skiing. I've been by ski resorts, I've been in stores that sold ski equipment,and I've even watched skiing in the Olympics. I'd even go as far as to say that snow skiing is one ofmy favorite winter Olympic sports. Ask me to teach you how to ski, though, and you'd be in deep

snow without a shovel. I know nothing about the technical aspects of actually skiing. I have no ideawhat it feels like to be rushing down a mountain with the snow under your feet and the wind in yourface.

What we often forget about Jesus is that he's been down the mountain when it comes to the thingswe're tempted with and faced with on a daily basis. He's experienced it. Do you remember? InMatthew 4, Jesus is tempted big time by the Enemy. That's the time we all know of, but Jesus wastempted throughout his life. The Bible goes as far as to say that whatever you're being tempted with,he was too (Hebrews 4:15). Whatever it is you're dealing with... doubt, fear, alcoholism, sexual sin,anger issues, self image problems, or anything else, he's been there. Talk to him about it. Confess it tohim. Ask him to reveal the root of the issue in your life. Ask for the strength to resist. Tell someone else

so they can help you.

He's been there.

QUIETBe still. Get quiet. Feel that feeling in the pit of your stomach? That's what God is calling out in yourlife. Don't let guilt overcome you, but rest in the forgiveness and freedom that has already been boughtfor you. Spend the next few moments In silence and worship Jesus for the freedom he lived and diedfor. Celebrate the victory rather than wallowing in the past defeat.

share ITWhat I'm facing presently has been defeated in Christ's past. He's been there. #ECHODevo

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DAY

3

SCRIPTUREExodus 13:17-18 (NLT) When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the mainroad that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the PromisedLand. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return toEgypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus theIsraelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

ECHO DEVOGod led them in a “round about way.”

Now, if I’m an Israelite, I’m not liking this round about thing. I don’t even like having to make U turnsbecause I feel like I’m going out of the way. I certainly don’t want to take a round about way as theyhad to take. I’ve been in slavery and I’m ready for God to make good on his promise.

Sometimes, God still takes us on a round about way to make good on his promise. It’s not up to me toknow exactly why, but I have to trust the same God that made the promise to make good on thatpromise in His most graceful and wise way. That’s why He’s God and I’m not… He knows.

Whatever God has been promising you: a child, a new job, a family member to accept Christ, a

second chance, acceptance into school, a spouse, healing for a loved one, etc.

Don’t give up because you seem to be going in a round about way. Keep trusting Him… step bystep… call by call, day by day.

QUIETSpend some time thinking about your past experience with God. Remember the times you wonderedhow he was going to get you through things? God's past faithfulness is a great reminder of his futureaction.

share ITGod's past faithfulness is a great reminder of his future action. #ECHODevo

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DAY

4

SCRIPTUREGenesis 7:6 (NIV) Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth.

ECHO DEVOImagine this…

You’re 600 years old. You’re a stranger to rain. You’re asked to build a boat… A big boat.

That seems ludicrous. Ridiculous even. That’s where Noah was. He found himself in unfamiliar territorywith strange instructions.

What did he have? Faith. So he did. He built the boat. He put his faith in action. We miss that stepmany times.

Faith does.

Faith moves us to do something beyond what we would normally think was possible or what mostpeople would consider “normal.”

My question to you? Is your faith doing?

Faith that does moves beyond wishful thinking and into solid belief. Faith that does grows because it’sbeen tested and has passed through the fire. Faith that does looks at what’s around, but trusts Whoholds it all in His hands.

Regardless of how tough it may be or how tired I may get or how big the waters rolling in may seem.Our faith must do.

QUIETFor the next 5 minutes, sit in the quiet and ask God to speak to you about what your faith should bedoing in your life. Think about your normal day. What's God saying should be changed because of theaction of your faith?

share ITFaith means we can look at what’s around, but trust Who holds it all in His hands. #ECHODevo

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DAY

5

SCRIPTUREPsalm 147:5 (NIV) Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

ECHO DEVOWhen I was 8 years old, my family took me to a local city's family festival. You know, one of thosefestivals that all smaller towns have with crafts and entertainment. Well, we had been there for an houror so when I forced my family to the puppet tent. I was watching the demonstration when I kepthearing my mom tell me it was time to move along. After asking me several times (and using all 3 of

my names like moms do) she told me to move with them to another spot. Thinking I had followed, myparents moved on, each believing I was with the other one.

After a couple more minutes of puppet watching, I turned around to say something to my mom andrealized she wasn’t there… No one I knew was around!

I panicked!

I started looking everywhere. After what seemed like an hour, I finally found a police o#cer and toldhim I was in trouble. He asked me a few questions like what color shirt my folks had on and foundthem in a matter of minutes. They were in a crowd of people by the main stage. I couldn’t see them. A

I could see was the back of a bunch of onlookers. The police man could see so much more.

His perspective allowed him to see over the back row of people.

I think we live like this sometimes. We seek God, we wait on God, but we cant see him working.

We have the promise from him that He's going to take care of us and provide for us, but from ourperspective, we dont see it. We dont see the promise in the midst of the perceived problems.

Today, trust Him even when you see nothing but a bunch of backsides.

QUIETBe quiet. Breathe deep. Find your pulse. Feel that? God knows exactly what makes your heart beatand the details of how you're made. You're safe in His hands. He has the power. When you're withHim, nothing is worth your panicking.

share ITGod's power is greater than my perspective. I have to trust him. #ECHODevo

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DAY

6

SCRIPTURE1 John 2:16 (NIV) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the prideof life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

ECHO DEVOThe world o"ers me a lot of things that I crave: stu", popularity, money, a good time.

I admit, I want those things. I have something inside of me that desires every one of those things in

some way, to some extent.

The thing about all of those? When consumed by themselves, they do nothing to satisfy, just providestronger cravings.

In other words, without anything to come back to after we get the ‘stu" of the world’, we’re left withnothing but a deeper and stronger craving for even more stu" of the world. So, we end up on anendless circle to have more money, more popularity, more fun, in order to fulfill our need.

That need is left with a craving as long as we keep trying to fill it with the things of the world.

When we begin to find our identity in something stable, something suitable, something sustaining,something solid... when we begin to find our identity in Christ, all those things get put into perspective

Sure, money is good. Sure, fun is good. Sure, laughing is good. But only when we have an identity toreturn to. Without that identity, all we do is return to the craving.

So, we’re left with a choice. Find our identity in Christ and be filled, or search for a need in the worldand be left craving more.

Only Christ o"ers eternal fullfillment.

QUIET Ask God to reveal to you where you tend to go first to fill the craving. Write down what God says.Spend time asking God to steer you back to him and make Him your first place to go when you needfilling. Signify it by marking through or crossing out the things God pointed out earlier that are wrong.

share ITMy identity isn't tied to my actions. Christ satisfies. #ECHODevo

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DAY

7

SCRIPTUREGenesis 7:1 (NIV) The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, becausehave found you righteous in this generation.

ECHO DEVOWhat if Noah, after all that he had done, all the steps of obedience he’d taken, refused to get in theboat?

What if Noah, after spending his time, energy, and e"ort building this big boat, would have failed tostep inside?

What if Noah, would have failed to make the leap after the preparation?

What if God’s been preparing you for something?

What if God’s been working something in your life?Guiding you through the process.Teaching you step by step.

And you refuse to get in the boat and obey?

Don’t waste what God’s done in and through you because you’re unwilling to get in the boat and takethe step!

Get in the boat and obey.

QUIETGet really still. Close your eyes. Ask God to reveal to you where you need to take a step of obedience

share ITNever wait until tomorrow for what God has called you to do today. Step out and obey! #ECHODevo

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DAY

8

SCRIPTUREPhilippians 3:14 (NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called meheavenward in Christ Jesus.

ECHO DEVOWhen I first got my driver’s license, my friends and I used to have a little fun in our cars.

What we did wasn’t that safe for our lives or for our cars, but here’s what we liked to do…

We’d find a straight stretch of road with little tra#c. We’d come to a complete stop. We’d put our carin neutral, hit the gas, and pop the car into drive.

The result was squealing tires and black marks. We loved doing this.

Ultimately, we were just creating friction between our tires and the road. We were creating friction byforward movement.

I’ve come to realize as my life has progressed that much of life works this way…

Forward movement creates friction. When we’re laying low and staying comfy, friction is usuallyminimal. When we begin to move forward with our lives and pursue the vision and follow the call ofGod, friction becomes heavy.

Paul understood moving forward and the friction that it created. Heck, before his miraculousencounter with Christ, he helped create some friction for believers.

If you feel that the friction in your life has gotten more apparent recently,remember…

Forward movement creates friction.

QUIET Ask God if the friction you may be currently feeling is the friction of forward movement. Write downwhat he says about it. What do you need to do to keep pressing on?

share ITJust because what we're doing is right, doesn't mean it's easy. Keep pressing forward! #ECHODevo

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DAY

9

SCRIPTUREMatthew 5:14-16 (NIV) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither dopeople light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light toeveryone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your gooddeeds and praise your Father in heaven.

ECHO DEVOThere are 2 kinds of light: Natural Light (genuine light) and Man Made Light (fake light).

The sun is a natural light. No matter what, the sun is shining. Regardless of the clouds. Regardless ofthe time of day. The sun is always shining.

A lamp isn’t a genuine light.It can be turned o".The bulb can burn out.The power can go o" and cause the lamp to lose it’s power source.

We are called to be the sun. No matter what the occasion, we are called to shine our light to the world

Regardless of the clouds that come our way. Regardless of the time of day.

We are called to take our light wherever we go. To church. To work. To activities. To the community welive in. To our home.

The people with the genuine light may be a"ected by the clouds, but they won’t be extinguished. Thepeople with the genuine light will never burn out. The people with the genuine light will be used togrow others and light a darkened world. The people with the genuine light will inherent eternal life.

Is your light genuine?

QUIETTake a few moments. Grab a cup of co"ee or turn on some music. Bask in the light of Jesus. When wconcentrate on the love of Jesus, our light is charged and brightened.

share ITTell me how great your sin is, I'll tell you how gracious my God is. #ECHODevo

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DAY

11

SCRIPTURELuke 5:10-11 (NIV) Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

ECHO DEVOMost of us that have been in church know the story of Peter.

Peter was out finishing a long day of fishing when Jesus hijacked his boat and began to teach a crowd

from it. After Jesus gets done teaching, he tells Peter to go out into deeper water. Peter, having justfinished a long day on the job, argues with Jesus a little, but eventually decides to do what he’s told.

After they get in the deeper water, Peter is told to lower his net.

Peter, once again, argues with Jesus. Peter had to be thinking, “Dude, I do this for a living, this is whaI do, I’ve had a long day today. I just wanna go home and sit in the recliner and watch some DuckDynasty (Peter fished, he had to like hunting too, right??).

Finally, though, Peter lowers his net. Luke gives us a beautiful picture of what happened. Peter caughtso many fish that his net could hardly hold them all and the boat started to sink from the weight.

Peter went from catching nothing, to more than he could handle. Peter went from fishing to get by tofishing for eternity. Peter bows down to Jesus and Jesus tells him that he’ll be fishing for people fromnow on.

That moment with Jesus changed Peter’s everything. It changed Peter’s mission. It changed Peter’spriorities. It changed Peter’s everyday. It changed his life. Peter saw what meeting Jesus could do andit changed him.

Has Jesus changed you? Has it changed your day to day life? Your everything?

It did for Peter. Jesus swept Peter o" of his feet.

QUIETBe still. Take a few deep breathes. Can you remember what you were like before Jesus saved andchanged you? Do you remember how it felt? Think about how you feel now that you've met Jesus.Think about the freedom and hope you have now. Thank God for it!

share ITJesus has my everything or nothing. He demands it all. #ECHODevo

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DAY

12

SCRIPTUREDeuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, fothe Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

ECHO DEVOWe need to remember…

God doesn’t forget us even when it seems as if He hasn’t been near.God hasn’t abandoned us even if it seems we’re losing the fight.

God hasn’t given up on us even when He’s had the right to.

God has a grand plan…

A plan for His people to profit. A plan for His people to be with Him. A plan to use you to further His kingdom. A plan for Him to show His might.

Sometimes, it may seem like it’s taking longer than it should or it isn’t turning out as He promised,but it’s all in that same plan.

Today, maybe all you need to know is….

God hasn’t forgotten you, abandoned you, or given up on you. His grand plan is still playing out. Holdon!

QUIETRead Isaiah 12. Mediate on these verses for the next few minutes. Identify the words or phrases inthese verses that talk about how much attention God is paying to you right at this very moment.

share ITGod hasn’t forgotten you, abandoned you, or given up on you. His grand plan is still playing out. Holdon! #ECHODevo

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DAY

13

SCRIPTURE1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in factyou are doing.

ECHO DEVO A few months ago, I was getting ready to go somewhere and accidentally dropped my wedding ringbehind the dresser.

You know how this goes…

I’m in a hurry to leave the house.No one else is at home but me.I know my wife is meeting me and I need my wedding ring.

So, I do what any good husband would do, I got a fly swatter and tried to get to the wedding ringwithout moving the dresser. No luck.

So, I went to plan B. I grabbed one corner of the dresser, lifted, and shimmied the dresser out fromthe wall. I did this on each corner until there was enough space for me to reach my hand behind thedresser and get my ring. Being a little OCD, I did the same thing to move the dresser back to its

original spot (in the indentions that it had made in the carpet before).

A couple of months later, my wife and I relocated with the help of some friends. When it came time tomove the dresser, we each grabbed a corner and carried it out of the house with not much of aproblem. What had taken me a lot of e"ort and heartache took nothing when I had enlisted help fromsome other capable people.

Life is kinda like that. We are so much better, more productive, and more e#cient when we have thehelp of others. When we’re all moving in the same direction with each other. Don’t be a lone ranger.Get help. Move together. Move with some friends, not alone.

QUIETThink for a second - who are those people that help you do the 'heavy lifting' in your life? Write downtheir names. Spend some time thanking God for these people. Today, contact some of these peopleand thank them for being 'lifting' friends (maybe even email them this devotional).

share ITReal friends are like oxygen. You rarely think about needing them because they're always there.#ECHODevo

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DAY

14

SCRIPTURE1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in factyou are doing.

ECHO DEVOPicture this….

You woke up this morning. You got out of bed. You took a shower. You looked in the mirror. Youbrushed your teeth. You got dressed and ate breakfast. You went out the door, drove to work, and sat

down at your desk. The first person you saw at work was a good friend of yours. Being an honestfriend, they ask you why you're at work without combing your hair. You think back to your morning anrealize that you looked in the mirror, but never did anything else. Looking into the mirror didn't combyour hair for you.

While looking into the mirror doesn't automatically comb your hair, it should compel you to comb ityourself. That's what we should be doing with scripture too. It's not just enough to read it, but we haveto apply it. We all know those people that know a lot about something but never do any of it. We can'tbe those kind of Christ followers. His love must compel us to follow him and do what his word tells us

It's a fight. It's not easy to stand out and live out the Bible in our daily lives. We have to stay focused

on why we do it. Jesus makes it all worth it. He compels us to follow him. When we look at him andsee how short we fall and how he loves us through it all, our response should be to follow.

QUIET At some point today (now would be great), do an online search of "scriptures about Christ's love."Spend a few minutes slowly reading through these and thinking about the response you'll give to thistoday. Be quiet and listen to him remind you of his love.

share ITDon't just hear, do! I completed the #ECHODevo. You can have it for free at EchoDevo.info.

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