Watching

Love this little devotional. May we become vigilant like those who were watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.

God Bless.

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." - (Revelation 16:15)

Devotional

John warns the Christ return may take us unaware so we must be watchful. A woman waits for her fiance to return from the war, years have passed without any news about him so she presumes that he is dead. Hesitantly she decides to "move on" with her life, gets married to someone else and starts a family. It's very easy to get off track when waiting for someone's return. Christ will return, so let us be watching, clothed in faith and righteousness waiting patiently. Let us be diligent and productive as we wait for Christ's return.

Psalm 31 Devotional

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide

We need to know Him more. And to do this, we need understanding. And we get understanding from the help of little devotional's like this one.

In all things, may we strive to know everything there us about the one who continously is tryong to lead and guide us in the way of life.

God Bless.

The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide

The Spirit has access to all the wisdom and knowledge of God. When we abide in Him, He leads us continually into truth—causing us to grow and mature spiritually. He is our teacher (1 John 2:27), and those who depend on Him will know where to go and what to do because they are following His heavenly directions.

Romans 8:14 tells us: “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” If you are a child of God, you have access to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is the best guide ever because He has all the information you need from the past, the present, and the future. I am old enough to remember when people did not have GPS software on their phones (or on anything else!). We actually had to keep maps in the glove boxes of our cars—folded maps made of paper!

We’d use them to figure out how to get to a new address. Looking back on those old days of studying maps (and asking for directions at gas stations), I wonder how any of us found our destinations. The Holy Spirit is like your internal GPS, except that He never gets confused or offers wrong information. But if you want to know the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you must learn to discern His voice and His subtle nudgings.

-Author Unknown

Praying In The Will Of God

Most of us has an understanding that God has a will of His own but what we don't have is the drive to understand what that is.


Call it what it is...selfish at it's finest. But to be all we can be, we must start to seek His will not only for our lives but for those things He cares about and who knows, it just might line up with what we want as well.


God Bless.


Praying in the Will of God
My Father knows what I need, even before I ask Him.
The prayer of petition is a prayer that we use to make requests of God. It has a legitimate, albeit small, place in prayer, for God knows what we need before we even ask Him. Many people think that praying means going to God with your shopping list. But that is not what He needs or requires.
We all have needs, from time to time, but if we can learn to pray, that is the greatest answer. As my friend Bob Mumford used to say, “What should I do? Give people just one nugget out of the mine or show them the way to the mine itself?” I might pray for you, and you might be healed—that is a gold nugget. But I could also show you the way to the mine. Then, you could get as many gold nuggets as you wanted.
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.(1 John 5:14– 15)
So, if we have a petition, and we are praying in the will of God, we should end that petition knowing that we have what we asked for. If we pray according to the will of God, then we know He hears us. If we know He hears us, we know we have that for which we have asked.
Thank You, Father, that You know me completely. I proclaim that when I pray according to the will of God, I know that He hears me. And if I know that He hears me, I know I have that for which I ask. My Father knows what I need, even before I ask Him. Amen. 


-Author Unknown 

Quote Of The Day - Character

Amen!

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer “Character is doing what you don’t want to do but know you should do.”

– Joyce Meyer

Resist The Devil

Resisting isn't easy to do when  your world is falling apart and the only thing you seem to be able to do is look at your situation and wonder how you are going to survive.

Be encouraged my friend by this little devotional and keep resisting.

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

Incomprehensible

We truly don't understand the depth of the goodness of who God is and what He wants to do for us.

We need to srip living like we are defeated and have nothing going for us when in fact, we have everything we need in Him.

God Bless.

"But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" - (1 Corinthians 2-9)

Devotional

Paul's declaration that it is impossible for men to understand God He is incomprehensible. Because of our love for God we yield to Him and He imparts supernatural wisdom, knowledge and understanding to us. Whatever our eyes can see, our ears will ever hear, or we can imagine, NONE of those can compare to what God has in store for us. It is incomprehensible impossible to understand or comprehend, unintelligible, limitless! This revelation makes me very happy and you should be too. Our Daddy loves us and has made extra special provisions for us. SMILE!

Psalm 31 Devotional

Wanna Learn Something Cool

This little devotional gives an interesting perspective on a well know story in the bible.

Just wanted to throw it out there for consideration.

God Bless.

Wanna learn something cool about Jesus today?

I love the story in the Bible when Jesus shows up at the last minute to save his followers from a sinking boat in the middle of a wild storm. Just when everything seemed lost, Jesus walks on the water to rescue his disciples … you know the story, right?  But, have you ever noticed that in the version of this story written by Mark—who was actually on the boat—that Jesus actually “meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:48).  Wait.  What?  So Jesus planned to walk past them and let them drown?  That doesn’t seem right.  I had always questioned this verse until I looked deeper into the phrase: “pass them by”. You see, this phrase was a first-century symbol for God that is actually used throughout the Bible. Look it up for yourself! In the book of Exodus, God tells Moses He will “pass by” him so Moses can see Him. In 1 Kings, a book written by a prophet named Jeremiah, we see that God does the same thing to Elijah. So the idea of Jesus “passing by” is not meant to indicate that Jesus was ignoring them … but that he was about to reveal himself as being God! And to underline the point, Jesus then calmed the raging storm to prove he is God!  Isn’t that cool?!

So ... I pray that Jesus may “pass by” you today—so that you will know that no matter what storm you’re walking into or how fast your boat is sinking, he is God and he has got it all under control.  For reflection: And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them — Mark 6:48

You Will Let Him Be God

The following is a word to live by. Encouragement overload below. A reminder He cares and loves you.

God Bless.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6

The LORD is lifting the heavy burden from off your shoulders. He is removing from you the weight of responsibility to change anything or anyone. He is helping you place all of the burden on Him. You will place all of the responsibility on Him to change, to heal, and to deliver. You will give it all to Him. It’s by His Spirit that He will save you and your family. It’s by His Spirit that He will heal your disease. It’s by His Spirit that He will cause you to be completely free. Your days of being weighed down are over. You are free in Jesus name. Your days of misery are over. You will learn to live in His peace. You will rest in Him by learning to cast your cares and anxieties on Him. You will let Him perform what He promised you He will do. You will let Him be God! (Study 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 20:6; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30)

-Author Unknown

God Answers The Prayers Of The Righteous

Any argument and doubt on the subject matter ends with the words written below.

In the words of Jesus, it is finished.

God Bless.

God Answers the Prayers of the Righteous

by Joyce Meyer

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 
—James 5:16
When people struggle in their prayer lives, they often think it is because they are unholy and unrighteous so they try to behave better, hoping that then their prayers will be answered.
The truth is that if we are born again, we are righteous. We may not do everything right; but we are 100 percent righteous through Christ. Second Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (NKJV). There is a difference between righteousness and “right” behavior. Righteousness describes our standing—our position or condition before God—because of the blood of Jesus.
We cannot make ourselves righteous; only the blood of Jesus makes us righteous, as if we had never sinned at all. God views us as righteous even though we still make mistakes. Because He sees us as righteous, we have a God-given right to pray and expect God to hear and answer us. Always do the best you can to behave properly and do it because you love God, but remember that He hears and answers your prayers because He is good, not because you are.
God’s word for you today: You have been made righteous by the grace of God.

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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.

Sufficient Grace

Love, love, love this! Wisdom over load. Nothing more need's to be said but God Bless.

Sufficient Grace

by Joyce Meyer

My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.
—2 Corinthians 12:9
Do you ever wonder why God does not always deliver you from your bondage and problems immediately? The reason is because only the Lord knows everything that needs to be done in the lives of His children—and the perfect timing for it to be done.
You are not always delivered from your distress at the precise moment you call on the name of the Lord. Sometimes you must endure for a while, be patient and continue in faith. Thank God, during those times in which the Lord decides for whatever reason not to deliver you right away, He always gives the grace and strength you need to press on toward eventual victory.

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From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Wait Patiently For The Lord

Patience isn't one of my forte's so I welcome the words written below. They encourage me to keep going and it is my hope you will find the encouragement you need to keep fighting the good fight.

God Bless.

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. It is rare that we "rely completely" or "wait patiently" for the Lord. For us as believers, remember that He reached down into the "mud and mire" (NIV) and brought us out. Jesus is the rock that gives us secure footing, and is the reason for our "new song" offered to God. Trust in the Lord. Put on display the story of how the Lord saved you for others to see. They could hear the truth because of your obedience to God!

Verse/Commentary courtesy of 'Verse-A-Day' android app. http://www.verse-a-day.com/Apps

Prayer

Insight and wisdom to help get us to the next level of in this Christian walk.

God Bless.

Prayer

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name

- Matthew 6:9

Every word of our Lord's model prayer is remarkable and vital, but it is especially important to notice first what he puts first.

He begins with these wonderful and welcoming words: our Father. Even God's chosen people, the people of Israel, had never been encouraged to approach God in the Old Testament with such familiarity and warmth! True, Jesus had addressed almost every one of his prayers to his "Father", but what an unexpected and pleasant surprise for him to beckon us to enjoy the same intimacy.

Yet, in the same breath, Jesus reminds us not to grow complacent or presumptuous in the presence of our Father, because he is no ordinary father -- he is our Father in heaven. The heavens are his throne and the earth is his footstool.

But even this is good news, isn't it? The very One to whom we are encouraged to pray is the One who has the power and authority and wisdom to fulfill our desires and answer our prayers. No matter how big the issue might be, or how impossible the request might be, there is nothing that we cannot bring to our Father in prayer and there is nothing that he cannot do.

And what is to be the first request on our lips, the chief desire of our hearts? Hallowed be Your name. Recognizing that our heavenly Father is worthy of our every praise and devotion, we are to hallow (set apart and above) his name in our hearts. If his name is sacred in our hearts, then his name will be consecrated in our choices, our actions, our lives.

Our dear and heavenly Father, may your great name be hallowed in us!

 http://www.baptistbiblehour.org/resources/devotional/prayer-7/

The Way The Truth The Life

Just an everyday remembrance, He is all we need!

God Bless.

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - (John 14:6)

Devotional

Jesus is described as the Son of God by John and highlights His deity. If you want to find the way to God, know the truth and get eternal life there is only ONE way, one avenue, and one person – Jesus Christ. Anything or anyone else who offers such a package is false. To get to the President you must go through a security guard (several in fact), you will not get to him any other way. Sure you can try, but it will be a useless effort. Cut to the chase go through Jesus, the way, truth and life.

Psalm 31 Devotional

Salted With Grace

I believe this little devotional is for such a time as this. People don't need fire and brimstone but truth, love, and the Holy Spirit drawing them into the kingdom.

May we stop being our selfish beings and pray for the heart of God to fall upon us so lives can be changed.

God Bless.

Salted with Grace

By American Bible Society

You walk away from that conversation with a coworker, thinking, “That didn’t go well.” You realize your meaning wasn’t clear, or that you said something actually opposite to what you meant. Did your colleague feel offended? Did he receive your well-intentioned advice as being too pushy? At this point you might defend yourself (to yourself): “I said what I was supposed to say. If he’s offended that’s his problem.” You could shrug off this lingering feeling of something done poorly, or left undone. But there’s a quiet voice—you recognize it as your own—muttering wistfully: this isn’t how it’s supposed to go. You want to share the hope of what you believe, to tell others who Jesus is, to bear witness. But you suspect you weren’t a very good witness. Instead of offering your coworker a tantalizing glimpse of something better, you have the feeling that you only confirmed his stereotype of Christians as moralistic, arrogant, trite. What went wrong? Colossians 4 can help us troubleshoot. The passage starts with prayer, persistent prayer. We pray for opportunity, but also for ourselves—that we would be alert to opportunities and speak well when they occur. Then we need wisdom. This involves understanding the other person’s unique personality, history, needs. Wisdom always brings a wider perspective. What does that person think of what you’re saying? Imagine which part of the Bible would most comfort or challenge that friend in this moment. Finally, our communication needs flavor. Our text connects this “saltiness” with grace. As the Good News Translation puts it, “Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting” (verse 6). Avoid badgering.

This is grace. Don’t just trot out a set of theological truisms. Use your prayer-infused wisdom to connect biblical meaning to your friend’s life in engaging ways. Forget the formulas and honestly express your own experience with God, even in your imperfection and brokenness. Share the Scriptures that challenge you, puzzle you, bother you. Welcome your friend into the grace that you enjoy.

Your Crown

He is returning sooner than we know! Let us hold out so we can obtain something above and beyond what we can imagine.

God Bless.

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." - (Revelation 3:11)

Devotional

A portion of the letter to the church in Philadelphia. We have been hearing for a long, long time Jesus is coming back again, soon. Many laugh at the saying because soon has been a long time coming. As Christians we are promised many rewards, let us hold fast to the faith we have in Christ until He returns. Quickly is relative our understanding and interpretation is different from that of God's, so hold firm and you will receive your crown which is your just reward of endurance. Your relationship with Christ and your sacrifice for the body is worth holding on to guard it dearly so that no one takes your crown.

Psalm 31 Devotional

Quote Of The Day - When We Trust

Amen Joyce! Wisdom written below. May you find as much encouragement in these words as I did.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer

When we trust God more than our feelings, it confuses the devil. I mean, when he throws you his best shot and he can’t budge you from believing God, he won’t know what to do with you anymore.

– Joyce Meyer

Quote Of The Day

He is ferocious! Don't allow him to devour you.

It is a fight to the finish and I plan on winning. Hold out and join forces with me in putting him back in his place.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer

“1 Peter 5 – Be well balanced because Satan ‘roams about like a hungry lion seeking who he can devour.” 

– Joyce Meyer

Listening Is An Exercise In Independence

 Depth and thought provoking.

Hopefully, non-confusing but oh, so worth sticking it out to read this whole devotional.

God Bless.

  Listening is an exercise in interdependence, which nurtures a teachable spirit. — Alicia Britt Chole

The Underestimated Danger of Not Listening by Alicia Britt Chole, from The Sacred Slow

Jeremiah 29:11-13 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture:   “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:10 is not:   This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My good promise to bring you back to this place.” When seventy years are completed: one year for every Sabbath Year God’s people refused to embrace. “But you did not listen to Me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused My anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.” Therefore the Lord Almighty says this:   Because you have not listened to My words... This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. — Jeremiah 25:7-8, Jeremiah 25:11, emphasis mine How hard it is to anticipate the full reach of willful sin. Who among the people could have guessed that not listening would lead to idolatry?

(1) Not listening seems so small, almost benign, and easily justified as a temporary postponement of obedience. Yet, not listening is perhaps the first exhale of lovelessness. Listening is a posture of attentiveness, which acknowledges the presence of another. Listening is an exercise in interdependence, which nurtures a teachable spirit. Not listening is not. Not listening is a posture of arrogance, which ignores the contributions of another. Not listening is an exercise in independence, which breeds a rebellious spirit. By not listening, God’s people “brought harm to [them]selves” (Jeremiah 25:7). Which returns us to the ancient and forfeited power of the Sabbath Year — of space squandered, of listening denied. Which returns us to the current and immeasurable potential of the Sacred Slow — of space devoted, of listening cherished. Much has changed since Moses first announced the original Sacred Slow. Slavery is now illegal, few completely live off the land, most debts are held by banks, not by brothers, and we can hear God’s Word by pushing a button, not only on communal feast days. Two things have not changed. We still struggle to listen and obey, and not listening is still toxic for our souls and communities.

Today, we are in dire need of sacred and slow seasons to physically, figuratively, and emotionally release slaves, rest land, cancel debts, and hear God’s Word in community. As Marjorie J. Thompson stated, “In a world driven by the need to accomplish and acquire, in a world where we judge one another on the basis of performance, God calls us to the radical trust of rest.” (2) On this side of the empty tomb, we have the privilege of discovering what Jesus called “rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29) at depths and dimensions our ancestors in the faith ached to realize. In Jesus, soul-rest is entered through the Cross (3) as Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection release us from slavery to sin and free us from the vanity of works-based righteousness. With and in Jesus, we then guard and grow that rest willfully through accepting forgiveness and rejecting the self-punishment of shame, stewarding our bodies and creation as God’s art, forgiving and giving to others as Jesus has forgiven and given to us, and respecting God’s Word personally and living it out in community.

This Sacred Slow is an ongoing invitation to truly listen. This Sacred Slow is an ongoing exercise in an open-handed existence. Excerpted with permission from The Sacred Slow by Alicia Britt Chole, copyright Alicia Britt Chole. Published by Thomas Nelson.   * * * Send via Email |  Share on Facebook       Your Turn “The radical trust of rest”… In our busy, aggressive, ambitious culture, rest does take radical trust! We rush everywhere. We go-go-go 24/7/365. And, we disobey the Lord when we neglect stopping and truly listening to the Voice of God. We want to hear from you! Come share your thoughts on rest with us on our blog. ~ Devotionals Daily Comment Find Stillness and Intimacy with God Brand new release! Save 30% off  The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith by Alicia Britt Chole Quick fixes and fast faith aren't satisfying or sustainable. Spiritual Mentor Dr. Alicia Britt Chole will help you find intimacy and unhurried honesty with God List Price: $16.99 Sale price: $11.89 (30% off)   Buy Now     What's This Book All About? If yesterday’s word was “simple,” tomorrow’s word will be “slow.” Our culture is shifting from fast food to health food both physically and spiritually. Self-care, soul-care, life coaches, and spiritual retreats all show our dissatisfaction in quick fixes and fast faith. The Sacred Slow is an invitation to unhurried honesty before God. Formatted as 52 experiences, The Sacred Slow reminds readers on every page that God never wanted to use them: He always wanted to love them. Experienced devotionally or in small groups, each chapter features a short but unexpected reading and two options for application: a thought focus or a heart exercise. The content is the overflow of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s 30+ years as a spiritual mentor to leaders and learners. The tone is personal, practical, and penetrating. The fruit is sustainable (as opposed to event-based) intimacy with God. Filled with exercises, thought focuses, and guided responses, learn to be still with God and develop an honest relationship with Him. The basis of The Sacred Slow is rooted in 3 certainties: 1. Nearness with God is a possible for any Jesus follower, regardless of personality or position in life.  2. Intimacy with God is attainable, but not accidental. Sustained nearness is the cultivated fruit of intentionality. 3. Spiritual intentionality connects us with God and with what He sees, celebrated, and weeps over. About the Author Alicia Britt Chole is a speaker, author, leadership mentor and the founding director of Leadershipii.com, a non-profit devoted to the soul care of leaders. Whether spoken or written, Alicia’s messages address both head and heart and are often described as grace-filled surgeries. Alicia and her husband, Dr. Barry J. Chole, direct a prayer retreat home called Rivendell and parent their three children in the Ozarks of Missouri where the stars shine brightly and their dogs bark loudly.     Learn more about the The Sacred Slow     Footnotes from this devotional excerpt, "The Underestimated Danger of Not Listening" 1. See also Jeremiah 44:1-6. 2. Marjorie J. Thompson, Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005), 48. 3. A breathtaking bridge from the Old Testament Sabbath Year regulations to Jesus’ New Testament announcement of release is built by Shead, who sees a crescendo in the Sabbath and Jubilee emphases that reaches a peak in Jesus’ bold recitation of Isaiah 61. Though an extended quote, Shead’s explanation is simply too beautiful to paraphrase: “The pinnacle and culmination of this process, in terms of where the OT witness is heading, is the sermon of Jesus recorded in Luke 4. And the key word of the sermon, a word which, almost on its own, carries the process from Leviticus to Luke is ἄφεσις — which brings us to the Septuagint... Indeed, the long evolution of Leviticus 25 can virtually be equated, in the LXX, with the evolution of the meaning of ἄφεσις. One might almost say that its original legal-economic, and subsequent political edges have rubbed away, leaving behind the word used now in the NT to mean ‘forgiveness.’ ... What has been offered since Luke 4 is forgiveness and restoration to a life of sabbatical blessedness in a new creation. Jesus’ miracles of release for the oppressed and sight for the blind were signs of this, but the real sign was the miracle of his resurrection from the dead. It is only here that the Day of Atonement timing of Leviticus 25:10 makes complete sense” (Shead, “Theology of the Sabbath Year,” 31, 32–33).   Inspired by today's devotion? Share it with someone!      Devotionals Daily ~ our mission is to help you grow and share your faith. Copyright © 2017 HarperCollins Christian Publishing, All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN, 37214 USA Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy Manage Your eMail Preferences or Unsubscribe  

Fifteen Tactics For Joy

Some good insight in this little devotional.

God Bless.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

In this life of sin and pain, joy is embattled. Just like faith. And Paul says to Timothy, “Fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). So it is with joy. We must work for it and fight for it. Paul said to the Corinthians, “We work with you for your joy” (2 Corinthians 1:24). How then shall we fight for joy?

Here are 15 pointers.

Realize that authentic joy in God is a gift.

Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly. And don’t be put off by the paradox of these first two pointers!

Resolve to attack all known sin in your life, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Learn the secret of gutsy guilt — how to fight like a justified sinner.

Realize that the battle is primarily a fight to see — to see God for who he is.

Meditate on the Word of God day and night.

Pray earnestly and continually for open heart-eyes and an inclination for God.

Learn to preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself.

Spend time with God-saturated people who help you see God and fight the fight.

Be patient in the night of God’s seeming absence.

Get the rest, exercise, and proper diet that your body was designed by God to have.

Make a proper use of God’s revelation in nature — take a walk in the woods.

Read great books about God and biographies of great saints.

Do the hard and loving thing for the sake of others (your verbal witness and deeds of mercy).

Get a global vision for the cause of Christ, and pour yourself out for the unreached.

Every one of those has Bible verses to support it. If you want to see them, they are in the book, When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy.

Quote Of The Day - Emotions

I have to admit, I am guilty of this on so many levels of my walk.

But my prayer is, for me to have a handle on them instead of them having a handle on me.

Any once else? The world doesn't need emotional fools but people who know who they are and walk in authority.

May it begin with me.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer Your emotions are very unstable and should never be the foundation for direction in your life.

– Joyce Meyer

Better Than Everest

Good to know!

Read and be blessed.

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more solid and stable than Mount Everest. Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28. Outside Romans 8:28, all is confusion and anxiety and fear and uncertainty. Outside this promise of God’s all-encompassing future grace, there are straw houses of drugs and pornography and dozens of futile diversions. There are slat walls and tin roofs of fragile investment strategies and fleeting insurance coverage and trivial retirement plans. There are cardboard fortifications of deadbolt locks and alarm systems and antiballistic missiles. Outside are a thousand substitutes for Romans 8:28.

Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown over anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life. When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28 — from measles to the mortuary — they are the freest and strongest and most generous people in the world. Their light shines and people give glory to their Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

-Author Unknown

Praying Brother In

Are you like me and have family members who are choosing the world and not Christ?

Well, this little devotional is might just be an answer to prayer or at least the motivation to keep on going seeking to save the lost.

I for one am not giving up, there is to much at stake. May we stay strong and vigilant for our love ones need us more than ever before.

God Bless.

Praying Brother In

by Kenneth Copeland

“The god of this world [the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

Do you know how to pray your family into the kingdom of God with skill? I have found that many Christians don’t. They throw prayers in every direction and hope something comes of it. That’s especially true when they pray for the lost. I’ve met people who’ve prayed for 20, 30 or 40 years without results. Knowing how to pray with skill can change that. Understand this: If you’ve been interceding for your brother (or anyone else), there’s nothing wrong with him except the devil! No human being who truly understood the salvation Jesus offers would reject it of his own free will. No one! Why, then, are so many people still unsaved? Second Corinthians 4:4 tells us that the devil is the one who has blinded their minds. Once you realize that it’s the devil—not your brother—who’s the real problem, your first prayer step becomes clear. You must get the devil out of your brother’s way. Jesus said you can’t enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except you first bind the strong man (Matthew 12:29). So bind him. Say, “You spirit operating in the life of my brother, blinding him to the gospel to keep him out of the kingdom of God, I bind you now. I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. I carry His authority and righteousness, and in His Name I command you to desist in your maneuvers. I spoil your house according to the Word of God, and I enter into it to deliver my brother from your hands.” Now, you may not be able to cast that devil entirely out of the situation, because your brother may invite him back in faster than you can cast him out. But you can bind that spirit and keep it bound. It may keep you busy for a few days, but you can do it. You’ll find your next prayer step in Matthew 9:37-38. Jesus, looking out at the multitudes who needed ministry, said to His disciples, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” It’s the Word of God that brings faith for salvation (Romans 10:17). See to it that the Word comes across your brother’s path. “How?” you say. “He won’t listen to me!” Maybe not, but God knows who he will listen to, and He’ll send that person halfway around the world to talk to your brother if necessary. Once you’ve prayed for your brother like that, from then on, put your faith in action by treating him like he’s saved—not like he’s no good. Talk to him about the good things of God the way you would if he were already born again.

Then just stand back and watch how things change. You’ll be amazed. Speak the Word “I bind the spirits blinding the minds of my loved ones concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ. I obey the command of Jesus by asking the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into this harvest, for it is truly plenteous.” —2 Corinthians 4:4; Matthew 9:37-38

Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. We’re here for you, 24/7! Also, visit www.kcm.org/youversion to receive a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

When Everyone Deserts You

Here is something to entice your mind.

Desertion is something everyone who calls themselves a Christian goes through and how we handle it will determine the way we live our lives.

Remember, the goal is to live our best lives at all and any given time.

God Bless.

When Everyone Deserts You

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:16–18)

This morning I was lingering over these magnificent and heartbreaking words. Paul is in custody in Rome. So far as we know, he was never released. His last letter comes to an end like this. Consider and be astounded! He is deserted: “no one came to stand by me.” He is an old man. A loyal servant. In a foreign city, far from home. Surrounded by enemies. In danger of death. Why? Answer: So he could write this precious sentence for our discouraged, or fearful, or lonely souls: “But the Lord stood by me!” Oh, how I love those words! When you are deserted by close friends, do you cry out against God? Are the people in your life, then, really your god? Or do you take courage in this magnificent truth: “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) — no matter who deserts you? Do you strengthen your heart with this inexorable oath: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)? Then let us say, “The Lord stood by me!” Question: What was threatened in 2 Timothy 4:18? Answer: that Paul might not attain the Lord’s heavenly kingdom! But over against the threat Paul cries, “The Lord will . . . bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.”

Question: How was Paul’s attaining the heavenly kingdom threatened? Answer: “Evil deeds.” “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” Question: How could an evil deed threaten Paul’s attaining the heavenly kingdom? Answer: by tempting him to forsake his allegiance to Christ through disobedience. Question: Was this temptation the “lion’s mouth” from which he was rescued? Answer: Yes. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8–9). Question: So who gets the glory that Paul did not yield to this satanic temptation, but endured to the end in faith and obedience? Answer: “To him [the Lord] belong glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 5:10). “To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18) Question: Why? Wasn’t it Paul who stood firm? Answer: “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me!”

-Author Unknown