#devotio

I was summoned without explanation.

When I entered the commander’s office, he was already watching me. Silent. Still. Waiting.

I reported as ordered. He told me to relax—unusual, almost wrong—but I complied.

Then he approached.

He grabbed my face, studied me closely, and said something that stayed with me:

“You’re still yourself.”

Before I could understand, everything shifted.

A pressure built around me— no, inside me. My body moved without my consent. I dropped to my knees, head lowered.

Not ordered.

Not chosen.

Done.

Control lost.

Body no longer mine.

The room grew hot. I looked up.

He had changed.

“I am Ifrit.”

His presence filled everything.

He told me he had marked me the moment he summoned me — that he had been watching, protecting me from other devotees who would have turned me into a mindless follower.

That explained the nights. The whispers. The calm.

It was him— protectibg me.

Warmth spread through me. My thoughts slowed. Resistance faded.

I didn’t feel fear.

I felt… aligned.

Like I belonged to something greater.

He offered me a choice:

Train under him, leave the normal path, and become something more—someone others would follow.

Or refuse, and likely lose myself within a week to another devotee.

Then he released me.

Everything stopped.

I was myself again.

Fully aware.

I understood the choice.

There wasn’t really one.

“I accept.”

Even now, I can still feel it.

Not control.

Not entirely.

But something inside me that answers to him.

---------

⬅️ previous part (4)

1️⃣ first part

"Your body is my body"

"My body is yours"

There's no more you and no more it.

There's just us now—just me.

Fully devoted,

Devoted to infect and grow.

Made—forged, merged, to devour and to spread.

by Rev. George Bowen

Devotional for January 4th

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void." - Isaiah 55:11

A vast deal of rain falls upon the sea; a great deal upon the desert; upon immense tracts of earth where there is no cultivation. It is in fact but a comparatively small part of the snow and rain that yearly descend from the skies, that is made instrumental in the fertilization of the earth. Yet who will say that the rain and snow descend in vain? In many regions yet unvisited, the rain that periodically falls is an invitation to man to go forth and fulfil his mission, to subdue the earth, to co-operate with the providential processes of God in making the wilderness to blossom as the rose, and to plant groves of myrtle trees where briar’s and thorns now abound. If men choose to congregate in immense numbers in the narrow confines of cities, leaving the earth unsubdued and unreplenished, at least God will show that he is not wanting to the earth. The responsibility of most of the desolations of earth, is with man.

It is not to be denied that God’s word is abundantly proclaimed without saving results. Out of a thousand hearers one is affected; and he that hears it once with the heart’s response, hears it with insensibility a thousand times. But imagine an army sent forth with an assurance of victory; it may be that thousands of javelins are hurled without result; that there are many repulses from this and that fortification; many unsuccessful skirmishes; but the expedition is at length crowned with success and when it returns, returns victorious. The multitude of unsuccessful endeavors preceding the final triumph only served to display the prowess of the enemy and the severity of the strife; and thus to enhance the value of the victory.

God’s word shall not return to him void. It shall accomplish that whereto he has sent it. For it is to be borne in mind that there are mighty resources in the word of God, and that it can at any time summon to its aid twelve legions of angels. For instance among the words of God are these: - Ask of me and I will show thee great and mighty things which thou hast not known. Omnipotence is with it. Let the faith of those who have the word be only adequate, and it will clothe itself with all the strength of God. Christ, who has all power in heaven and earth, holds that power in behalf of his word militant. The works that I do, shall the believer do; and greater works: whatever he shall ask, I will do it.

Still on that losing streak? You should try this character man!

You look at the champion your friend just sent you. You cannot help but stare at his pecs, his abs and...

The champion puts on a leather shirt hiding his muscular body and a red spiral covers the screen.

keep staring

You can't help it. You don't want to stop staring at your screen

Lock in bro

your mind settles.