If you want to see what God can do through you, it begins within, but it shouldn’t stop there. By taking action and serving others in Jesus’ name, we can make a significant, lasting impact. In this 7-Day LOVE Week Devotional, be encouraged to look beyond yourself and begin delivering hope to those around you.
Elevation Church
Day 1
Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16
No More Hiding
At Elevation Church, our vision statement is “See what God can do through you.” It’s easy to say, but it can be much harder to live out. Often our tendency is to hide from opportunities because we think we are unqualified, unfit, or unworthy to do God’s work. We may feel this way, but we shouldn’t let it prevent us from acting in His name or shining our light.
In Matthew 5:14-15 it says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.“
In verse 14 when it refers to followers of Jesus as being the “light of the world,” notice that it says “the world.” There’s nothing small-minded or shy about this call to action. To hide your light would go against your very purpose as a follower of Christ.
Today, there’s an opportunity for you to shine your light and be a beacon of true hope and joy for the world around you. The good news is that you already have everything you need to serve others. With Christ, you have a firm foundation on which to stand as well as a light that shines from within and will never go out.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift it is to serve You. Thank You for allowing me to be Your light and to point people to Your love and grace. I pray that I can put my fear behind me and let my light shine brighter than ever before. Amen.
Day 2
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10
God’s Gifting
It’s one thing to know that God has designed you with a purpose. It’s another to know the specific gifts and abilities that He’s blessed you with for fulfilling that purpose.
One of the best ways to discover these gifts is by stepping into an opportunity to serve others. It’s often by taking action in the direction of God’s will that God reveals our strengths and abilities. He gave us gifts — not so that we can keep them to ourselves — but so that we can use them to strengthen and encourage others.
Your gift may be different than your friends’, family members’, or co-workers’, but you can rest assured that God gave you your gifts for a purpose and He wants you to use what He put inside of you. You don’t need to be perfect or have it all together. You simply need to be available.
Find joy in serving today, and as you do, take notice of the good gifts God has placed inside of you.
Heavenly Father, thank You for who You are and for giving me unique gifts and abilities. Help me put my gifts to work and steward what I have well. You have a plan and a purpose for my life, and as I step into an opportunity to serve, reveal to me how I can make a difference for You. Amen.
Day 3
Scripture: Matthew 25:35-40
Saying “Yes” to God
When you make time to serve and give to others, you may think your impact doesn’t make a significant difference. Whether you package meals, sort a hygiene kit, or process donations at a nonprofit, you may not see the direct impact you’re making. Even so, these small acts of generosity matter more than you may realize.
Matthew 25:40 says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” God doesn’t want us to think our efforts don’t matter; rather He wants us to focus on the greater truth, which is when we serve others, we are truly serving Him.”
It doesn’t matter how insignificant the task may feel. When you love and serve others, you’re pleasing your Father in heaven. He doesn’t need you to do anything, but He does want to work through you.
There are many things that can compete for your attention. You may have a to-do list a mile long but when you say “yes” to helping someone else, you’re giving back to a God who has given you so much.
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing us to do Your work. You don’t need us, but You do choose to work through us. Thank You that You see our efforts and our work does not go unnoticed by You. I pray You give me the courage to step into action to help all the people who need it. Amen.
Day 4
Scripture: Philippians 2:13-16
Shifting Your Perspective
Serving others gives you the opportunity to shift your focus. It gives you a chance to meet new people and encounter different perspectives. And sometimes when you meet someone who is experiencing something different than you, you even get a clearer perspective on your own circumstances.
Serving gives you an opportunity to tune into what God wants to teach you about yourself and how you are viewing your situations. When you serve, take notice of a laugh from a small child or the small details as someone shares their story. Doing so can shift your focus from the negative in your own life so you can see the positive impact you have the opportunity to make on others.
Scripture tells us that God “works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” Even if things are not going the way you thought they would, we can rest on the truth that God will use the detour to teach you something, to fulfill His good purpose and to bring Him glory.
When you serve others, you are giving God space to transform you into the person He has called you to be — someone who radiates His goodness and love. It’s not guaranteed that everything is going to go exactly as you imagined, but when you lean into Him and make space to serve, your life will align with His purposes for you.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for all you are doing in my life. Things may not always go the way I planned but when I shift my focus on You and Your good plans for my life, I can gain a higher perspective on my situation. Help me to have the same perspective that You do. Amen.
Day 5
Scripture: Romans 15:13
Authentic Joy
We all have things in our life that spark a true feeling of happiness. Maybe for you it’s driving with the windows down while your favorite song blasts through the speakers on a hot summer day. Or maybe it’s hiking through a lush forest when the leaves start changing colors. Or perhaps it’s spending time with a friend and laughing until your cheeks hurt.
Happy moments are great, but true joy stretches even beyond this level of happiness. Happiness depends on our situation and feelings, but joy is something you can have despite the circumstances you may face. Happy moments may not come every single day, but you can have joy daily because of the everlasting hope Christ gives you. He has created you in His image and you can come to Him with every need because He already knows what you need. You can trust Him. He has good plans for you, and because of this truth, you can have an authentic joy!
Today, focus on the hope that comes from knowing God and His presence. As you serve, remind yourself that each moment of your life is a gift, and God wants you to experience His joy through it all.
Heavenly Father, joy is a gift You offer us every day. I pray that I can trust You today and let You be the source of my joy. I pray that it can overflow to others around me so they can experience the same joy and hope that only comes from You. Amen.
Day 6
Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25
Be a Bringer!
Think of a close friend. They’re probably a person that you spend the most time with, who knows you better than most people, and who you can count on. Spending time with your friend is fun, comfortable, and you feel a sense of joy when you’re in their presence. When you serve together, you have an opportunity to further your friendship with someone else by inviting them to join you. In fact, Scripture even tells us that we should “consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Serving others allows us to not just say we love and care for other people, but to actually show it!
New experiences bring people together, and when individuals get out of their comfort zone together, relationships get stronger. When two people work alongside each other Ecclesiastes 4:9 says “they will have a good return for their labor.” You can accomplish much more in a shorter amount of time when you work with someone else and God will honor your hard work.
Serving together provides a great opportunity to build new friendships or to further establish the friendships you already have. So, why not invite them to something that can change a life, impact a community, and even create some memories in the process?
Dear God, Thank You so much for all the people You have placed in my life. I pray for opportunities for us to serve You together. I pray we can make a positive impact when we open ourselves up to be servants for Your glory. Amen.
Day 7
Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7
Why Does My Back Hurt?
Sometimes after a long day at work, meeting deadlines, discussing projects with co-workers and completing paperwork, the last thing you want to do when you arrive home is cook dinner, do laundry, and serve your family. Perhaps you’re a new mother or father, constantly picking up your newborn and so you’re having a hard time saying “yes” to that friend who wants you to come and help them move to a new house. It can be difficult to continually posture your heart to be that of a servant because your back may hurt when you do — but that is exactly what Jesus did!
There are many stories in the Bible where Jesus served others. One in particular is recounted in John 13 which is when He washes His disciples’ feet. Although Jesus is the King of Kings, His mission while on the earth was to serve the people around Him. You would think Jesus would want to sit back and relax on a throne, but instead He was found kneeling down washing feet. Do you have the same posture as Jesus did?
Jesus served others to set an example for how we should all live and treat others. In this moment, Jesus put aside His personal preferences and demonstrated care and empathy. Serving was not an obligation but an opportunity for Him to show how much He loved His disciples.
Every time you serve others, you get to show characteristics of Jesus and become more like Him. If Jesus’ desire was to serve the people of this world, we should be challenged to do the same. It’s not just about exhibiting bursts of faithfulness and obedience; it’s about embodying a lifestyle of humble servanthood.
Heavenly Father, thank You for who You are and how You love me. I pray that my desire to serve You only grows stronger. Speak clearly to me and show me what opportunities You want me to step into so that I can serve You wholeheartedly.