Trusting God's Character

What would you classify as a character of God? Do we truly know what they are? How well do we truly know God?

It doesn't matter if you just became a Christian or if you been one for years, what matters you put your trust in Him to do good in every area of your life no matter what. And sometimes it is easier said than done.

However, trusting is is the heart of being a Christian and we are commanded to do just that so I am thankful for little devotional's like this to help me get through the tough times.

God Bless.

Trusting God’s Character

Rest in the knowledge that you are loved: ‘we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.’ Neither goodness nor love are qualities that God merely possesses – they are the essence of his being. God loves because his nature is to love. To imagine that God does not love us is to deny his true nature and to repudiate his character.  

-Author Unknown

Go To God First

I wonder what life might be like if we went God first about everything instead of putting our lives and problems out there for all Faceback friends to see.

I would bet, Facebook stock would plummet and possibly go back to what it was created for, a way to stay in touch with family and friends without the long distance expense. 

And who knows if there would be a need for Twitter? But unfortunately, people haven't learned a darn thing and we open ourselves to be the topic of gossip and judgment.

But like this little devotional has put it, there is an answer available that won't make us look like idiot's and all we have to do is talk to the Man, called Jesus and tell Him all about our troubles, then let go and let God.

We can do it! We can start a revolution today!

God Bless.

Go to God First

by Joyce Meyer

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 
—Psalm 91:15
One time, a member of my extended family did something that really hurt me, and I felt rejected as a result. After it happened, I was sitting in the car in a lot of emotional pain and I said, “God, I need You to comfort me. I don’t want to feel like this. I don’t want to get bitter or develop resentment. I’ve experienced this same kind of pain from this person before and I don’t want my day to be ruined by it. But I’m having trouble handling it and I have to have Your help.”
Do you know what happened? God took the pain and all my bad feelings went away! But how many times, instead of turning to Him in prayer, do we turn to other people, mistakenly thinking that telling them all about what happened will comfort us, but it doesn’t?
The truth is that talking about something that hurt us only stirs up the pain in our emotions more and makes it more difficult to overcome. We tend to do everything we can think of before turning to God, and nothing ever changes the situation. We would be so much better off if our first response to every emergency and every kind of emotional pain were to pray. If we will depend totally on God, letting Him know that we need Him more than anyone or anything, we will experience major breakthroughs in our lives.
God’s word for you today: Make God your “first responder.”

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From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

I Was Only Joking

I love to be orney, but I have come to realize when I have gone overboard.

I have also realized, I am guilty of doing exactly what this little devotional accuse people of doing.

I do it without truly taking account of what my actions may cause that person to feel.

I know I have hurt people in the past but thank God I can change the course of my tongue as well as what I think is ornery.

If we truly understood what our actions do to people, then I think we would think more before we speak. I believe there is hope in reigning in our actions but first we must be willing to lay down our kidding way's and begin building bridges of love.

God Bless.

Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” (NLT) -Proverbs 26:18-19

We do this carelessly every day, make a negative comment towards someone and brush it off as a joke. However this is a treacherous act that is damaging to that friend and any onlookers who think of you as a friend. Sift your joke through the filter of love and warmth and avoid using jokes as a weapon.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Heroes Of Faith

The Lord has been dealing a lot with me about what it means to have faith in this day and age.

And what I come to know as a fact, I have a lot to learn. And who better to learn from then the ones who started the faith movement anyway.

By all means, I am not there yet as they were but thank God, I ain't where I was. And I am encouraged by litle devotionals like the one below.

This little devotional helps to remind me, anything is possible for those who believe, walk with, and trust in the God of the Universe.

Thank You, Jesus! And may God Bless you on your journey to the land of milk and honey.

Heroes of Faith

The Jewish Christians to whom the Epistle to the Hebrews is addressed were demoralized and discouraged. Christianity had proven difficult for them. It was radical. It set aside centuries of tradition.

It emphasized a new but troubling kind of spiritual freedom. In short, it incurred the wrath of the Jewish religious establishment. Many converts were ready to turn back and to leave the uneasy, uncharted waters of faith for the comfortable, familiar life of works and moral effort. This was the choice they faced: depending on the Law or following Jesus, trying to appease God or trusting in Him, a complicated religious system or a simple relationship with the living God through Christ. After reminding these immature believers of the superiority of Jesus Christ, the writer of Hebrews, beginning in 10:19, demonstrates for them the superiority of faith. Faith means we cannot see the outcome, we are not sure what lies ahead (11:1). But we are convinced of the reality of God (11:6). In other words, “We’re not sure what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.” Faith means clinging to the hope that God will eventually triumph; He will come back to earth in judgment, to reward those who have sought after Him (11:6).

And so we obey. We do God’s bidding, even when submission is hard. It is the response of obedience that qualifies the characters in ch. 11 as people of great faith. Abraham and Sarah believed God; consequently, they obeyed Him, regardless of the consequences. It is this kind of willing trust that pleases God (11:6).

Anything less will not do. Those who do not have faith cannot see past the physical world around them. They are limited by their temporal circumstances and are blind to what God is doing. But those who open their spiritual eyes can see the spiritual realities which transcend this world. Their hope is in God’s strength and in His faithfulness. In that hope they find the strength to endure. When it comes to faith, the world scoffs. Faith, at best, seems like a great waste; at worst, it seems almost suicidal.  Do we really want to give up all the pleasures of this world for something elusive and ethereal? Faith is never easy. But the more convinced we are of the reality of an all-good, all-powerful God, the more our trust will grow, and the less we will be overwhelmed by doubts and temptations.

THINK ABOUT IT:  How can faith in God affect your daily life?  What are some ways that faith has already changed the world around you?

-Faith That Moves Mountains Devotional

Dear Brothers And Sisters

You don't have to read a long devotional to get how you should love as a Christian.

I don't think I could put it any better than how this little devotional has put it. Sometimes it is about you but more often than not, it is about all those people around you.

So may you pick up the mantle and begin to pray for your neighbors, your town, your city, your county, your state and when your done, sit back and watch what God will do for you as well as others because you choose others over yourself.

God Bless.

Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. (NLT) -Romans 15:30

How does it feel when you find out someone has been praying for you? It's a touching feeling to know someone who loves you is putting their weight into petitioning God for your causes. It is a sign of love. Are you praying for those that you love and joining in their struggles?

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Five Reasons To Be Fearless

Need a reason not to fear? Well, here is five insightful ones.

After reading this little devotional, the word fear shouldn't even be in our vocabulary.

God will come through for us, I, more importantly, He promises to never leave us alone or where we are at in life.

So, say it with me, fear be gone!

God Bless.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

The reason God wants us not to be afraid concerning money or other things of the world is because that fearlessness — that freedom from anxiety — will magnify five great things about him.

First, not being afraid shows that we treasure God as our Shepherd. “Fear not, little flock.” We are his flock and he is our Shepherd. And if he is our Shepherd, then Psalm 23:1 applies: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” — that is, I shall not lack anything I truly need.

Second, not being afraid shows that we treasure God as our Father. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” We are not only his little flock; we are also his children, and he is our Father. He really cares and really knows what you need and will work for you to be sure that you have what you need.

Third, not being anxious shows that we treasure God as King. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He can give us the “kingdom” because he is the King. This adds a tremendous element of power to the one who provides for us. “Shepherd” connotes protection and provision. “Father” connotes love and tenderness and authority and provision and guidance. “King” connotes power and sovereignty and wealth.

Fourth, not being afraid shows how free and generous God is. Notice, he gives the kingdom. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He doesn’t sell the kingdom or rent the kingdom or lease the kingdom. He is infinitely wealthy and does not need our payments. So, God is generous and free with his bounty. And this is what we magnify about him when we are not afraid but trust him with our needs.

Finally, not being afraid — not being anxious — shows that we trust that God really wants to do this. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” It delights him. He is not begrudging. It makes him glad to give us the kingdom. Not all of us had fathers like this, who were made happy by giving instead of getting. But that sorrow is not the main thing any more, because now you can have such a Father, and Shepherd, and King.

So, the point of this verse is that we should treasure God as our Shepherd and Father and King who is generous and happy to give us the kingdom of God — to give us heaven, to give us eternal life and joy, and everything we need to get there. If we treasure God in this way, we will be fearless and God will be worshiped.

-Solid Joy Devotional

Please Don't Please Men

Men pleasing. We all do it and are probably doing it right now. It is just something we do.

Is it the lack of confidence or something deeper?

I don't know the answer ro the question but what I do know is this little devotional helps put things into perspective.

And perspective is something we all need to make it through this world and not just to make it, but to thrive.

God Bless.

Please Don’t Please Men!

Paul encourages us to do all things as working unto God and not unto man. Our work and actions are never unto men but we are to give our best to our audience of one - the Lord. Never forget, that while no one is watching, God sees all you do. For example, when Joseph was approached by Potiphar’s wife, he could have easily given into the act of adultery, thinking no one would ever know, but he chose to do the right thing and we all know how beautifully God blessed and honored him.

We will save ourselves a good amount of pain by not pleasing men. And trust me, it does get tiring after a while. When you stop striving to make others happy but only focus on giving your best unto the Lord, you will find yourself enjoying whatever you put your hands to, and life becomes easier and happier. God wants you to give your best to Him every day and find fulfilment in your life. There’s a saying, ‘Give your best, God will do the rest!’ God wants you to be sincere and make wise choices even when you are not being watched, which may not be very easy, but be sure that as you do what is right in His eyes, the Lord will reward you. That’s His promise and He never fails!

Prayer Loving Lord, let whatever I do, be with my whole heart and only unto You. Let me not strive to please people around me. Also, give me the strength to do the right thing, even when I’m not being watched.

Amen.

-Author Unknown

Doing The Right Thing

Amen to the word's written in this little devotional.

Doing the right thing is probably the most hardest thing about this Christian walk. It ain't easy and sometimes you just plain don't want to but the rewards of doing the right thing out weight anything we could even imagine.

So if this is the case, then why don't we do it from the get go? Because we are human and God knows this and this is why He allows little devotionals like this to come across our path.

So be encouraged and challenge yourself to go out into the world and do good for others.

God Bless.

Doing the Right Thing

This is the most difficult part of a Christian’s life. I’ve often seen that doing good is painful. It seldom pays off and one doesn’t see the fruit of it too soon. I would say, the fruit of doing good is slow. Standing in queues, paying taxes honestly, obeying traffic signals when we’re in a hurry to get somewhere and the roads are empty, not giving a bribe to get the job done quickly, doing things legally... all this can be painful and requires immense honesty that may land you on the longest and slowest route to your destination. I’ve also seldom seen goodness pay off. It’s actually taken advantage of and leaves us feeling used. But that’s what we do to Jesus all the time, we take advantage of His goodness. Yet He does not stop. The only way to show that we are His disciples is to walk that painful path of doing the right things He has asked us to do - all the time! Have I missed doing the ‘right thing’? Sure.

Many times! But as I’ve progressed in my walk with God, the Holy Spirit has gently shown me that this is Christ-likeness and putting on the garments of Christ. Jesus’ death did not have an immediate impact. It took time. Following Jesus, His disciples faced prison, famine and finally, death. That’s painful! But hold on a moment! What is the reason we hang onto Jesus in spite of all these hardships while following Him? The answer lies in our love for Him. We could do without some illegal shortcuts and pleasures rather than be without Him. The end result? There is an immense joy that follows as He, our Lover and Bridegroom, draws closer to us, in the beautiful relationship between God and man.

Prayer Lord, I pray that even if I did not do all the right things so far, I will make an effort to consciously follow You and always do the right and godly thing in any given situation.

Lord, this has to be with Your help. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

-Author Unknown

Decision Making

I hate making decisions but I also know decision making is part of being an adult. Am if I am completely honest here, I haven't really got a good track record in this area.

I have always let either my mind or other people make them for me and it's been disastrous making life more complicated than need be.

So I can so appreciate this little devotional and the words written within. I also know this little devotional is meant to serve as a guide to help me make more positive decision's and not only that but to help settle an old age argument I have had with myself and that is: it is always best to get God involved in any and all decisions I have to make so my life isn't  full of choas but one of peace and joy.

God Bless.

Decision Making

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil

- 1 Thesslonians 5:21-22

The standard by which we are to accept or reject every idea, emotion, or opportunity is whether it is "good" or "evil." No middle ground is mentioned.

How do we know what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong? The only infallible benchmark we have is God's Word, the Bible. We can not make decisions based upon our feelings at the moment, the advice or rationale of others, or society's changing ideas of what is acceptable.

Nor are we to make decisions only after "trying out" all our options. We are not told to "experiment with everything" but to prove (test) all things. Experience, emphatically, is not the best teacher. Instruction is. And in the Bible we find the instruction we need regarding how we are to live, what priorities we are to hold, and how we are to view the world around us.

Once we have applied God's Word to any particular issue in our lives, we are then told to whole-heartedly pursue the indicated course of action. If a thing is good, we are to "hold fast" to it, not substituting or selling it for anything. If it is evil, we are to "abstain" from it, not sampling or teasing with it in small doses.

Do you have a decision to make? Test it by the touchstone of God's Word, and then cling to the good and right path, abstaining from even the appearance or possibility of evil.

 http://www.baptistbiblehour.org/resources/devotional/decision-making-2/

Learn To Love Yourself

To say that I love myself as of today would be a lie. To say I would live myself in a couple day's or months, or years is something I know I will be still working on. 

I know to love yourself is a command but I got to tell ya, I think God might have got his wires cross on this.

But I know He hasn't because if I truly knew who He is and who I am in Him because of what He did, then loving wouldn't be a problem.

So maybe it is time to shift the focus and start believing what God say's about who I am and stop focusing on what I see in the mirror because what I have found out is mirrors lie and they show no remorse for their pitiful lies either so why do I have ro follow their example?

I don't thank heavens so loving myself is now an obtainable goal not in the future but today, right now, this moment, and all I have to to is reach out and touch the hand who made me.

God Bless.

Learn to Love Yourself

First Scripture:  Jeremiah 31:3-4 God wants to restore you. He wants to offer you the ring of acceptance. He wants to reconcile you to the Kingdom. He wants to invite you to sit at His table. As it is written in Isaiah 61:7, “Instead of shame . . . you will enjoy a double share of honor.”

Once we get ahold of the truth of grace, not only does it empower us to forgive and love ourselves, it should also prompt us to forgive and love others. Because, let’s be honest, there’s a Prodigal in all of us. And sometimes it takes learning to love through a mess to get to the miracle. You can read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, let’s put it in modern times.

You may relate to the following scenario. Lisa was raised in the church. Her parents were great people who loved Lisa and wanted only the best for their daughter. She made the mistake of her life when she began to date Bill. After several months, Lisa was head over heels in love and wanted to marry him. Lisa knew he had a drinking problem. He also had lots of excuses. She knew he did not like to go to church with her much, but she convinced herself that she could change him. Despite her pastor’s warnings and her parents’ pleadings, she went ahead and married him. About a year and a half later, she was in a living hell. Bill’s drinking evolved into physical abuse, and Lisa filed for divorce. She was heartbroken. She had ignored all the warning signs. Any time children of God marry children of the devil, they are going to have trouble with their father-in-law. The good news is, God never gives up on us. Recovering from bad choices you have made can be a heart-wrenching experience, but God is always ready to restore you, to give you a new start.

The Big Idea:  Learning to love others begins by learning to love yourself. 

-Author Unknown

Quote Of The Day - Don't Wait To Feel

Amen, let this quote be one of those things in life we live by not just for a day but for a lifetime.

I am sure it will prove to be worth it.

God Bless

Quote of the Day -

Joyce Meyer

“Don’t wait to “feel” like doing a thing to do it. Live by decision, not emotion.” 

-Joyce Meyer, Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits: 14 New Behaviors That Will Energize Your Life

Two Ways To Remember Jesus

I love this little devotional. When I read it, I knew I had to share it with you. Unfortunately, I don't know who wrote it but who ever did has some crazy good insight into Jesus.

So, be blessed by it, remember Jesus, the only one to rise from the dead so we can live a blessed life full of victory and abundance.

God Bless.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel. (2 Timothy 2:8)

Paul mentions two specific ways to remember Jesus:

Remember him as risen from the dead. And remember him as the offspring of David.

Why these two things about Jesus? Because if he is risen from the dead he is alive and triumphant over death — including our death! “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). Which means that no matter how serious the suffering becomes, the worst that it can do on this earth is kill you. And Jesus has taken the sting out of that enemy. He is alive. And you will be alive. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). But more than that, the resurrection of Jesus was not a random resurrection. It was the resurrection of the son of David. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David.” Why does Paul say that? Because every Jewish person knew what that meant. That meant that Jesus is the Messiah (John 7:42). And that meant that this resurrection was the resurrection of an everlasting King. Listen to the words of the angel to Mary, Jesus’s mother: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31–33)

So, remember Jesus, the one you serve, and the one for whom you suffer. He is not just alive from the dead, but he is alive as a King who will reign forever — of his kingdom there will be no end. No matter what they do to you, you do not need to be afraid. You will live again. And you will reign with him.

-Author Unknown

The Joy In Worship

If you don't love to worship the Living God, then this little devotional is for you.

I love it and gives insights into how worship can change not only your situation but also changes your attitude towards everything you put your hands to.

According to the bible, worship is not only for participating but essential for changing those lives who are all around you.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 98 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. - Psalm 98:1

Music has been a part of creation since the beginning of time. Birds sing their songs. Trees rustle and strain with the blowing of the wind. Seas pound or gently lap in rhythmic waves on the shores. In the human experience, music resonates with the depths of our souls. With all its melodies and harmonies, rhythms and refrains, music is a fitting expression of worship. Worship of the holy, almighty, creator God reminds us who God is and who we are in relationship to him. Psalm 98 is an expression of jubilant, joyful worship. With trumpets blasting, hands clapping, and people singing and shouting for joy, there is a great celebration of all the wonderful things God has done—and all creation joins in! Every day our lives can show that we are bringing joyful worship to God. Our lives are the music that tells the story of the redemption and hope we have in Christ. Through our lives others hear the joyful music of what living in relationship with a loving God is all about. And hopefully they will want to be a part of that music too. What music will your life express for the Lord today?

Prayer: God, you compose the melodies and harmonies of our lives, and you invite us to move in rhythm with you. May the song of our hearts be filled with joy, and may the tune of our lives be pure and true. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Laurie Zuverink

Seriously, Don't Worry

When I first read the title of this little devotional, I had to laugh. Did Joyce Meyer think she was cute and funny by titling a devotional the way she did?

Better yet, does she not live in the same world as we do? It seems there is a reason to worry every second of every day. But I am so thankful, she is honest in how she deals with every day life.

So with that beinging said, you can either take her advise to heart by not worrying or you can go your own way and live in the abyss of worry where there doesn't seem to be a life perserve available. 

Indeed, the choice is yours and neither choice is easy but one can not only change your life for the better but it has all the possibilities for changing the lives of others.

Choose life today and in the days to come.

God Bless.

Seriously, Don’t Worry!

by Joyce Meyer

And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age? 
—Luke 12:25
Don’t worry. Be happy. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying many times. Have you noticed that it’s easier said than done? I believe that to actually stop worrying requires having experience with God. I don’t think there is any way a person can fully overcome habits of worry, anxiety and fear—and develop habits of peace, rest and hope—without years of experience trusting and receiving God’s love.
This is one reason why having faith and continuing to have faith in the midst of trials and challenges is so important. We must steadfastly resist the temptation to give up or to start being anxious or worried when life becomes difficult—and keeps getting more difficult. During these hard, trying seasons, God is building in us the patience, endurance and godly character we need in order to eventually develop joyful hope, strong love and confident expectation in Him.
When you find yourself in the midst of a battle against our enemy, the devil, remember that every round you fight produces valuable experience and strength. Every time you endure an attack, you become stronger. You become better able to hold your peace and resist fear, anxiety and worry. To endure means to outlast the devil and you have got what it takes to do so.
Loving God means trusting Him in every situation and refusing to allow the enemy to control you, torment you and rob your peace through worry. It will take practice and experience with God to break this habit, but you can do it by His grace. Commit to the process of becoming a worry-free, trust-filled person who lives in the peace and joy God wants you to experience.
Love God Today: Today, refuse to worry, be anxious or allow fear to operate in your life. Declare your trust in God in every situation.

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From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

In The Stillness

I love to be still. I am not a person who enjoy's a busy or chaotic life. I like the simplest of thing's.

Yet, there are times when the stillness of life can cause me to panic and think to much which causes me to get into trouble.

But when it comes to God, I know therr are times when being still is necessary to be able to hear the voice of God.

And I also know that stillness can cause God to move on your behalf in a big way because God doesn't work well with chaos because He is the Father of peace and patience.

So for my two cents worth, stillness can be our greatest weapon in our arsenal to make it through this thing called life.

God Bless.

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 19:3-13 After the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. - 1 Kings 19:12-13

Elijah had been overwhelmingly busy. God had just used him powerfully to defeat the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). But Elijah had no time to celebrate that victory, for his enemies now wanted to kill him. Exhausted and afraid, he fled to the wilderness. The wilderness can be a lonely, desolate place. Yet it was here that God nourished and strengthened Elijah again. God came and spoke with Elijah, and his voice was not thundering or overwhelming. God did not shout to get Elijah’s attention. When Elijah was ready to listen, God spoke in a gentle whisper. Sometimes the noises of our lives—our many activities, hec­tic schedules, high-tech devices, or other distractions—drown out the voice of God. Sometimes it seems God is far away, or altogether absent, and joy seems hard to find. Joy comes when our lives are centered in Christ. Satan works hard to keep joy away by filling our lives with noise. To hear the voice of God reminding us of his faithfulness, goodness, and love, we need to follow the instructions of Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Let’s take some time today to silence the noise and be still, listening for God’s whisper.

Prayer: Lord, we confess that we have often let the flurry of distractions in our lives drown out your voice.

Quiet us and center us in you. Remind us of your goodness. Fill us with your joy. In Christ, Amen.

Laurie Zuverink

Make Sure Satan Know He Is Defeated

The devil, our earthly enemy, is someone we will have to deal with as long as we are alive on this earth.

Yet, our forever Father, has made a way of dealing with this enemy in a manner that he should always be under our feet.

And I love how this little devotional gives us insight of Satan's plan in our lives and how we are to defeat him.

We must remember, satan has nothing on us because we are redeemed and are no longer under his control so when Jesus returns may He find us faithfully resisting the enemy and living a life we were meant to be living...a life in Him.

God Bless.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

The more real Satan appears in our day — the more obviously active — the more precious the victory of Christ will become to those who trust him. The New Testament teaches that when Christ died and rose again Satan was decisively defeated. A time of limited freedom is granted to him, but his power against God’s people is broken and his destruction is sure. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) “[Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14)

“[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15) In other words the decisive blow was struck at Calvary. And one day, when Satan’s time of limited freedom is over, Revelation 20:10 says, “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” What does this mean for those of us who follow Jesus Christ? “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies!” (Romans 8:33) “[Neither] angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39) “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) “They [the saints] have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)

Therefore, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” He has been defeated, and we have been given victory. Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.

-Author Unknown

Depth Of Love For Us

If we truly want to live, we must understand God's love for us.

If we truly want to be overcomers, we must understand God's love for us.

And if we want to be world changers, than we must understand God's love for us.
There is nothing like it, it is the sweetest thing I know and I want to understand it and live by it more.

And I think I can begin living by it with the little help from the word's below. This little devotional is a great guide to help me through those times, I may doubt or can't seem to feel it.

But I know, His love never dies and never stops trying to pull us into His loving arms.

God Bless.

Depth of Love for Us

As I have pondered the love of Christ for us, and the different ways that the Bible presents it to us, I have seen four ways that the depth of Christ’s love is revealed.

First, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by what it costs him. If he sacrifices his life for us, it assures us of deeper love than if he only sacrifices a few bruises. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love by the greatness of what it cost him.

Second, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by how little we deserve it. If we have treated him well all our life, and have done all that he expects of us, then when he loves us, it will not prove as much love as it would if he loved us when we had offended him, and shunned him, and disdained him. The more undeserving we are, the more amazing and deep is his love for us. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love in relation to how undeserving are the objects of his love (Romans 5:5–8).

Third, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by the greatness of the benefits we receive in being loved. If we are helped to pass an exam, we will feel loved in one way. If we are helped to get a job, we will feel loved another way. If we are helped to escape from an oppressive captivity and given freedom for the rest of our life, we will feel loved another way. And if we are rescued from eternal torment and given a place in the presence of God with fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, we will know a depth of love that surpasses all others (1 John 3:1–3). So we will see the depth of Christ’s love by the greatness of the benefits we receive in being loved by him.

Fourth, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by the freedom with which they love us. If a person does good things for us because someone is making him, when he doesn’t really want to, then we don’t think the love is very deep. Love is deep in proportion to its liberty. So if an insurance company pays you $40,000 because you lose your spouse, you don’t usually marvel at how much this company loves you. There were legal constraints. But if your Sunday School class makes all your meals for a month after your spouse dies, and someone calls you every day, and visits you every week, then you call it love, because they don’t have to do this. It is free and willing. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love for us in his freedom: “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). To push this truth to the limit, let me quote for you a psalm that the New Testament applies to Jesus (Hebrews 10:9). It refers to his coming into the world to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin: “I delight to do your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). The ultimate freedom is joy. He rejoiced to do his redeeming work for us. The physical pain of the cross did not become physical pleasure. But Jesus was sustained through it all by joy. He really, really wanted to save us. To gather for himself a happy, holy, praising people. He displayed his love like a husband yearning for a beloved bride (Ephesians 5:25–33).

John Piper Devotional App

So Don't Be Afraid, Little Flock

Worry. The work of satan himself. It comes straight from hell itself and yet, I still do it even though I know better.

It's like my brain automatically generates worry when something happens. Better yet, the only time I seem to function in it is when I can't control something or something doesn't go my way.

I hate what it does to ya. It keeps you up all night; makes you second guess God and sometimes even makes you angry with Him (let's be honest here...); it makes you sweat and irritable with your love ones.

I see no benefit that comes from worry but instead a whole lot of headaches, heartaches, and possible bowel irritation's and fluctuations of stomach pain.

God, worry is irritating and debilitating but totally overcomable if we just believe in the One who overcame it in the first place.
So yeah, it's definitely doable and let's get to it the benefits are tremendously life saving.

God Bless.

"So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom." (NLT) -Luke 12:32

Why do we worry? Where does our worry come from? Is it placed in a mistrust in God? Can you hear the tender love in those words, "Don't be afraid, little flock?" Our heavenly Father actually wants to relieve us of those worries and then share with us His Kingdom. Put aside your worries and take peace in your Father's gift.

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Praise The Lord

God,

I take You for granted and only praise You when I am in trouble and I see no way out.

Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness but Lord, God my Father, I want to grow up and become a much more effective Christian than what I am.

Lord, to do this, I know I have to praise You in the good times as well as the bad.

Lord, I have to praise You in the morning and in the evening and every time between.

Lord, I praise You for this storm. I praise that You have already walked through it for me and now are walking along side me as the storm rages on.

Lord, I praise You for what is on the other side. I praise You because You care about all my needs and Your seed doesn't have to beg for food or their needs to be met for You have seen to it already.

Lord, I thank You and praise You that I am the head and the tail.

I praise You for who You are, what You have done, and what You will do in my furture.

Amen.  It is done.

Praise the Lord

We spend time praising the Lord regularly. We sing songs of praise, greet one another with the phrase, ‘Praise the Lord’, read verses from the Bible about praise and so on. But do we do it as a ritual or consciously?

How often do we really stop to meditate and ponder on the many things God has done for us? Often we get so caught up with the present situation or with the problems of the future that we tend to forget to appreciate the things God has done for us. We subconsciously overlook the struggles that God has brought us out of. We overlook the love and the blessings that God is showering us with. We tend to overestimate our problems and underestimate our God. If you just pause for a moment to think of all that God has done for you, there will be so many things that they can’t be numbered. The places that God leads us to, the things He blesses us with and the plans He has for us are the best. God’s mercy and favor in our life cannot be compared to anything. Thus, even when your soul is downcast or disturbed, put your hope in God and praise Him. Let us do as the psalmist says,

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2 NIV).

Prayer Lord Jesus, I praise You and exalt You for all You have done in my life and all that You are continuing to do in me, through me and for me. Amen.

-Author Unknown

Who Am I, O Lord God

Amen and I do the words of this little devotional with a humble heart for you see, He truly has brought me through some tough times and in times I didn't even know what He was doing.

For He is a good God and He will never leave me or forsake me. He will do bring me through again and again.

And I will continually keep looking back and remembering what He has done for me and my family for you see, He is worthy of my appreciation and love.

God Bless.

Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? (NLT) -1 Chronicles 17:16

Have you looked back on your life to see how far God has brought you? Have you seen the protection of your family? The Lord has been good to you. Even though you have come through some tough times, the Lord has brought you very far. Go on, take a look back. Humble yourself before the Lord.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

You Will Never Get Ahead Trying To Get Even

I have to be straight with ya, I have major hurt's where my family is concerned. Deeper than what I thought they were.

So when something devastating happened last week, I began my usual routine and panic but God began dealing with me about my hurt's and when I found this little devotional, I knew I had subconsciously have tried to get even or wanted to.

NOTHING hurts more than being hurt hy the people who you thought loved you. It's okay to hurt but what we do with it, is what concerns God more.

God Bless.

You Will Never Get Ahead Trying to Get

Even Scripture:  Philippians 3:13-14

When you have been wronged, a poor memory is your best response. A good forgettery is what all of us need. Have you ever noticed how a jeweler shows his best diamonds? He sets them against a black velvet backdrop. The contrast of the jewels against the dark background accentuates their luster. In the same way, God does His most stunning work where things seem hopeless. Wherever there is pain, suffering and desperation, Jesus is there. There is no better place for the brilliance of Christ to shine. I do not know what is going on in your life as you read this devotional, but I do know this: The pain you feel today is the pain you can heal. I have never felt the pain of addiction. I have never felt the pain of losing a child. I have never felt the pain of divorce. I can only offer people the advice of God’s Word and prayer. But people who have been through those valleys and felt that pain are more qualified to help heal someone going through the same crisis. What is important to remember; however, is that regardless of the source of your pain, God can heal you. It has been said that family provides us with life’s greatest joys and at times life’s deepest sorrows.

When I think about how hard it is to make the family work, the challenges that come and the complications involved, it is really something else. Family members know how to tick us off. They can get on our nerves. The people we love the most are the ones who potentially, through offenses, can infect us if we do not react right. But I have learned that with challenges come opportunity. And family also provides the greatest opportunity for us to learn how to love like we’ve never been hurt.

The Big Idea:  The pain you feel today is the pain you can heal.

-Jentezen Franklin's Love Like You've Never Been Hurt Devotional