Red Flags: A 10 Day Devotional On RelationshipsSample

Day 8: Red Flags in Me #1

I heard a story about a young boy in Texas who found a rattlesnake in his toilet. As if that isn’t horrible enough, when the snake remover came to take care of the issue, he found 24 more rattlesnakes living underneath their house. What lies beneath the surface will eventually find its way out into the open. 

It’s the same way with our lives—what lies underneath the surface of your heart? James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” 

The issues outside of us all stem from the battles within us. We’ve looked at red flags in dating, red flags in marriage, and now it’s time to look at the red flags in us. Most of the conflict we face comes from something deep within our hearts. In our fast-paced culture, it’s hard to stop, reflect, and look inward to the true condition of our hearts. Below are three red flags you might find in yourself:

1) You’ve stopped wanting to grow in your relationship with God and just feel stagnant.

2) You stop feeling excitement, passion, sadness, or any type of emotion and just feel numb.

3) You start to withdraw from the people you love. 

How are you doing emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically? Is your heart full of joy and peace or fear and anger? If you have any of the red flags we covered today in your life, take courage; you’re in good company. Many of the characters in the Bible had red flags to spot, deal with, and overcome as well. 

If you see red flags in your heart, I want to encourage you that it’s possible to change. You don’t have to stay where you are. Remember that God loves you, He has a calling for your life, and you’re in His hands. He’s got you. Take some time to rest, get quiet, and be alone with Jesus. Let Him refresh your soul as you bring up some things that are underneath the surface to your Father so He can bring freedom and healing! 

Pray with me today: “Heavenly Father, help me to see the red flags within me so I can make changes and grow into all that you’ve called me to be. I want to become more like Jesus, so work in me to mold me and make me into His image! I surrender my heart to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Watch the full message “Red Flags in Me” here.