Spiritual Habits

Food for your soul.

God Blsss.

Spiritual Habits: 

Quiet Time Getting time with God each day is one of the spiritual habits of effective people. We develop spiritual fitness by having a quiet time each day for Bible reading and prayer. What's the reason for that? To get direction from God: "Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk." (Psalms 25:4 TLB) 

Sometimes we can get so busy in life that we can forget the direction we're going. Like the pilot in World War II flying over the Pacific who radioed back, "I have absolutely no idea where I'm going. I'm lost. But I'm making record time." Many times we get very busy. We need to slow down and get direction from God. This means we spend time with God on a daily basis; we talk to God in prayer; we let Him talk to us from His Word; and we listen for his direction. Jesus is our model; he "often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." (Luke 5:16 NIV) 

You can't get to know God if you're always in a crowd. You get to know God in a one-on-one encounter. Notice the Bible says Jesus withdrew often; his quiet time was His source of strength. And Jesus teaches that we are strengthened as we develop a deep and intimate relationship with him: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:7 NIV)

-Author Unknown 

God Smiles

Here's something to think on.

God Bless.

God Smiles When We Praise 

Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else. God loves it, too. He smiles when we express our adoration and gratitude to him. Noah's life brought pleasure to God because he lived with a heart of praise and thanksgiving. Noah's first act after surviving the flood was to express his thanks to God by offering a sacrifice. (Genesis 8:20) 

We praise God for who he is, and we thank God for what he has done. (Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 116:17) David said, "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord." (Psalm 69:30-31 NIV) 

An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy! My mother loved to cook for me. Even after I married Kay, when we would visit my parents, Mom prepared incredible home-cooked feasts. One of her great pleasures in life was watching us kids eat and enjoy what she prepared. The more we enjoyed eating it, the more enjoyment it gave her. But we also enjoyed pleasing Mom by expressing our enjoyment of her meal. It worked both ways. As I would eat the great meal, I would rave about it and praise my mother. I intended not only to enjoy the food but to please my mother.

Everyone was happy. Worship works both ways too. We enjoy what God has done for us, and when we express that enjoyment to God, it brings him joy - but it also increases our joy.

-Author Unknown 

Watch Out

Truth Bomb!

God Bless.

Watch Out for Distractions

Joyce Meyer –

1 min read

Pink flowers sitting on an open Bible ready for reading a daily devotional.

Adapted from My Time with God

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

 Proverbs 4:25 (AMPC)

We probably experience more distractions in our lives today than at any other time in history. The world is indeed a busy and a noisy place. All the electronics that we own are enough by themselves to do a thorough job of distracting us; however, to get anything accomplished, we need to focus on our purpose.

I am simply reminding you today to be persistent in not letting people and things distract you from the will of God for your life. Today matters, so be sure you don’t waste it on nonessential things.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, help me to stay focused on my goals, and help me to be diligent in not allowing useless distractions to steal my time, amen.

Quote Of The Day - We Must

Amen! 

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer

“We must meditate on what God has done in our life instead of what we are still waiting on Him to do.” 

– Joyce Meyer

Quote Of The Day - The Good

Word's to live by.

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day – Mother Teresa

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

– Mother Teresa

When God Says Wait

This...

God Bless. 

When God Says Wait 

Even as you make a decision to follow the dream God places in your heart, you can expect a delay. God will not fulfill your dream immediately because this is another step toward building your faith. 

In Habakkuk 2, God says, "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled." When delay comes to your dreams, you'll most likely start asking the question, "When, Lord? When are you going to answer my prayer?" And we hate to wait. We don't like to wait in a doctor's office, or in traffic jams, or at restaurants, or for Christmas presents, or for anything else. But what we hate worst of all is waiting on God. We all have to go through these waiting periods. Even Jesus waited for thirty years in the carpenter's shop before setting out on his public ministry. Why do we wait? It teaches us to trust in God. We learn that his timing is perfect. One of the facts we have to learn is this: God's delay never destroys his purpose. A delay is not a denial. Children must learn the difference between "no" and "not yet," and so must we. Many times we think God is saying, "No," but he is saying, "Not yet."

-Author Unknown 

Prayers Have An Impact

Again,  I want you to be encouraged by the word's written below. 

God Bless. 

Prayers Have an Impact 

Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You're praying about something and Satan whispers to you, "This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you're doing? God is not listening. Don't waste your time." Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God's sovereignty. Why does He do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust His wisdom and His goodness. Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. (LB)

Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you. Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask." It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's. I may not be able to change a situation but I can pray and God can change it.

-Author Unknown 

Your Actions Matter

Food for thought and your soul.

God Bless.

Your Actions Matter

If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. (NLT) -1 Corinthians 3:14

Do you know your actions matter to Jesus? He tells us that our work will be judged. All that we do with Jesus at the center, we will be rewarded for. All our other efforts in this life, will amount to nothing. When we meet Jesus face to face we will feel the loss of our wasted days and the joy of work done in His name. Are your actions being done with Jesus in mind? Let us live each day with eternity in mind! 

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

http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/devotion.html?devo=SfVGl3Sxpr

The Love You Give

I may have posted this before but I wanted to share this.

God Bless. 

The love you give to other people must be able to weather all seasons. People tend to make the mistake of thinking that love is only about feeling good. They believe that love is about the good times and nothing else. But that could not be any further from the truth. In friendships, family, and other meaningful relationships you will need love to help you through the tough times too. The tough times tend to come far often than we expect them, too. Challenges come in different shapes and sizes; they always arrive when we least expect it. 

The love you have for your friends and your family should not be conditional or seasonal. You need to understand that people are going to let you down in life - whether you like it or not. Instead of shutting them out, choose to love them and forgive them for their shortcomings. We also have to acknowledge the fact that we, ourselves, are not perfect and we will make mistakes too. In those moments, you will hope for love and forgiveness too. It's very easy to judge others when you are the one who is on high ground. 

Love keeps you together when it seems like all hope is lost. With the world we live in, it isn't very hard to lose hope. The physical, natural, and economic disasters that occur on a daily basis are enough to weaken the strongest hearts. But that is why we have friends and family - to get through everything together. No one was born to be an island. We have been blessed with the gift of companionship so that we can love one another through the great moments and through the storms. Love is enough to give a person the boost they need to carry on with their day.

-Author Unknown 

Pride

Pride...the good, the bad, and something to think about. 

God Bless. 

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Inspiration 

Pride goes before the fall. It is a well-known saying, but do we give it much thought? It was pride that first brought sin into the world, and pride that drives every selfish decision we make when we seek to be God’s of our own lives. Even as Christians, if we forget that we are acting in God’s power and try to use our own strength, we will be reminded swiftly of our limits and our need to rely on Him.

Prayer 

Father, thank You for saving me from my prideful and destructive ways. Your power and Your grace are all that I need. Please guard my heart against pride so that all that I do may be for Your glory, not my own. Teach me to lean on Your wisdom and Your power so that I may remain in step with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

-Author Unknown 

Quote Of The Day - God Wants

Need a reminder? Here it is.

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer

“God wants you to trust Him and have a happy expectation for something good. If you’re in a tough situation today, expect it to change. If you’re in a good situation today, expect it to get even better. God is a God of hope.” 

-Joyce Meyer, The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude

Pray For Others

Beware, truth below.

God Bless. 

Pray for Others 

The quickest way to change a relationship from bad to good is to start thanking God in prayer for people. Praying for them will do two things -- change your attitude and change them. Positive praying is much more powerful than positive thinking. People may resist our help, spurn our appeals, and reject our suggestions, but they are powerless against our prayers. When you say to somebody, "I'll pray for you" what do you say? What do you pray? The more specific you are in prayer the more specifically you get an answer. In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul spells out exactly what he's praying for people. "And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God." (NIV) These verses give you four things you can pray for people today - "Abound in love " Pray that they will grow in love. "Discern what is best " Pray that they make wise choices. "Be pure and blameless " Pray that they will do the right thing. "Filled with the fruit of righteousness " Pray that they will live for God's glory.

-Author Unknown 

Prayers Have An Impact

Interesting and brings out your thinking cap.

God Bless. 

Prayers Have an Impact Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? You're praying about something and Satan whispers to you, "This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? What do you think you're doing? God is not listening. Don't waste your time." 

Prayer works because God is in control. The basis of all miracles is God's sovereignty. Why does He do one and not another? Because God is in control. We have to trust His wisdom and His goodness. Ephesians 3:20 says, "God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes." (LB) Prayer can do whatever God can do. His resources are available to you.

Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask." It's encouraging to know that things that are out of my control are not out of God's. I may not be able to change a situation but I can pray and God can change it.

-Author Unknown 

The Love You Give

Interesting and thought provoking. 

God Bless. 

The love you give to other people must be able to weather all seasons. People tend to make the mistake of thinking that love is only about feeling good. They believe that love is about the good times and nothing else. But that could not be any further from the truth. In friendships, family, and other meaningful relationships you will need love to help you through the tough times too. The tough times tend to come far often than we expect them, too. Challenges come in different shapes and sizes; they always arrive when we least expect it. 

The love you have for your friends and your family should not be conditional or seasonal. You need to understand that people are going to let you down in life - whether you like it or not. Instead of shutting them out, choose to love them and forgive them for their shortcomings. We also have to acknowledge the fact that we, ourselves, are not perfect and we will make mistakes too. In those moments, you will hope for love and forgiveness too. It's very easy to judge others when you are the one who is on high ground. 

Love keeps you together when it seems like all hope is lost. With the world we live in, it isn't very hard to lose hope. The physical, natural, and economic disasters that occur on a daily basis are enough to weaken the strongest hearts. But that is why we have friends and family - to get through everything together. No one was born to be an island. We have been blessed with the gift of companionship so that we can love one another through the great moments and through the storms. Love is enough to give a person the boost they need to carry on with their day.

-Author Unknown 

The Big Idea

This...

Encouragement. 

Wisdom. 

God Bless. 

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

-Author Unknown 

Quote Of The Day - Real Love

Food for thought.

Encouragement. 

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer

“Real love has little to do with gooey emotions and goose bumps; it has everything to do with the choices we make about the way we treat people. Real love is not theory or talk; it is action. It is a decision concerning the way we behave in our relationships with other people. Real love meets needs even when sacrifice is required in order to do so.” 

-Joyce Meyer, Trusting God Day by Day: 365 Daily Devotions

The Lord’s Face

Food for thought. 

Be encouraged. 

God Bless. 

The Lord’s Face

Today : The Lord’s Face

TODAY’S VERSE

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT

At first this just seems like a benediction that you hear after church on Sunday. A nice platitude to give you some hope throughout the week. But when you stop to really read this passage it is a tremendous reality that you need to really consider. Why? Because, believing this passage can change your life. It starts out stating that God wants to bless and keep you. What a wonderful reality. You can come to God knowing that it is His full intent to bless you. But then the author adds a very personal twist. He is saying that God wants to make His face shine upon you. This means that God Almighty is fully aware of you and is turning His face deliberately toward you so you can make full contact with Him. What an invitation. Today, right now, God has turned His face toward you. His goal is to be gracious toward you and give you peace. He is looking, will you look back? Stop now, experience the presence of the Lord.

TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, thank You that You have taken such a personal interest in me. I want to know You better. Please be gracious toward me, help me experience Your face shining upon me, and give me peace.

AMEN

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION & MEDITATION  

I experience the peace of God

Take a moment and meditate on today’s verse. Think of the words, “The Lord bless you and keep you.” Feel the safety and security that He gives you. See His face shining upon you. Sense His graciousness toward you. God is turning His face toward You. Let that image fill your heart. Experience His peace.

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God’s Rest

Who doesn't need the rest of the Lord’s?

Be encouraged. 

God Bless. 

God to bring them into his rest

 (Numbers 14). 

And today, as the book of Hebrews explains it, the situation is similar: we need to trust in the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus so that we can enter into his rest—enjoying the full, eternal life that God has in store for us.

This is also called the “Sabbath-rest for the people of God,” and the Sabbath day is a weekly reminder pointing to that rest. Repenting of sin and placing our faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus brings us into his rest. So we do well to ask, “Have I entered his rest, or am I still struggling in my own strength to find peace with God?”

Lord, thank you for the gift of true rest through faith in Jesus. Amen.

-Author Unknown 

Justice

What the world needs now is justice.

Be encouraged. 

God Bless. 

Justice requires that debts be paid. God created us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

But every day we fall short of God’s requirements, adding to our debt. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came from heaven to become human and live among us. He kept God’s law of love perfectly. Then, although he was innocent, he gave up his life on a cross for us, paying the debt of sin for all who would believe in him.

This is the good news that we are called to believe so that we can enter God’s rest. In the Old Testament, some of God’s people disobeyed and would not accept the good news that God would give them the promised land. They would not trust in Him.

-Author Unknown 

Quote Of The Day - God Wants You

Some food for thought also some word's to live by.

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day -Joyce Meyer

“God wants you to trust Him and have a happy expectation for something good. If you’re in a tough situation today, expect it to change. If you’re in a good situation today, expect it to get even better. God is a God of hope.” 

-Joyce Meyer, The Power of Being Thankful: 365 Devotions for Discovering the Strength of Gratitude

Quote Of The Day - It Is Easy To Love

Truth...

God Bless. 

Quote of the Day – Mother Teresa

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.

– Mother Teresa

Earnest Intercession

Here's something to think about. 

God Bless.

Charles Spurgeon Quote of the Day

Earnest intercession will be sure to bring love with it. I do not believe you can hate a man for whom you habitually pray. If you dislike any brother Christian, pray for him doubly, not only for his sake, but for your own, that you may be cured of prejudice and saved from all unkind feeling.

~Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)