8-week program kicks off comprehensive ‘spiritual fitness’ initiative as lead devotional to Shine Bright 365
June 13, 2022
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — D. L. Moody Center’s (moodycenter.org) latest new eight-week devotional, “Becoming Useful to God,” focuses on cultivating eight characteristics essential to the life of every Christian. Building on the revolutionary book “Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody” by D. L. Moody Center President Dr. James Spencer, the devotional provides a tangible, easy-to-follow guide that users can follow to grow closer to Christ and become useful to God themselves.
Spencer stated, “When I wrote ‘Useful to God,’ my hope was that I could make some small contribution to ‘arousing Christians to a deeper sense of their responsibility.’ As participants walk through the devotionals and complete the various exercises, I pray that they will have a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that as we trust God enough to obey Him and to walk according to his wisdom, we will not only be blessed beyond measure, but will be useful to God.”
The first week of the devotional is titled “Surrendered” and walks readers through Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. Spencer notes that just as Abraham was willing to give up the thing he held most dear — his long-awaited heir promised to him by God — modern Christians must also be willing to surrender everything to Christ.
As Spencer comments in the devotional, “We surrender to God by allowing our faith to be made complete by our works (James 2:22-24). As we demonstrate our willingness to set aside our ambitions, desires, and understandings to follow God’s lead, we begin to live a life surrendered to Him.”
“Becoming Useful to God” is a free offering from D. L. Moody Center as part of it’s “Shine Bright 365” initiative. “Shine Bright 365” is a year-long comprehensive campaign designed to encourage believers to shine bright for Christ in a dark world. The project is inspired by the famed evangelist D. L. Moody himself, who stated, “In the place God has put us, He expects us to shine, to be living witnesses, to be a bright and shining light. While we are here our work is to shine for Him.”
Spencer summarized, “Modern life is complicated, but the message of the Gospel is simple. The purpose of ‘Shine Bright 365’ is to cut through all the distractions and bring Christians back to the basics of our faith.”
The D. L. Moody Center is also pleased to announce the launch of their new 10-day Bible plan, Living As If God Exists (Because He Does), on the YouVersion app.Inspired by the ‘Go Dark, Shine Bright’ campaign, this plan encourages readers to turn their focus from their own stories to step into God’s big story.
The D.L. Moody Center is an independent non-profit organization located in Northfield, Massachusetts. Dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of Dwight Moody, the D. L. Moody Center is a catalyst for spiritual formation in New England and beyond through evangelism and discipleship.
As a destination for spiritual renewal, the D. L. Moody Center is not a school. Nevertheless, there is much to learn by studying D. L. Moody and what God accomplished through his life which began in New England, at the Northfield, Massachusetts campus, the heart of Moody’s ministry as well as his childhood home.
Learn more about D. L. Moody Center by visiting moodycenter.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
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