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What We Lose, What We Gain
~ Surrender makes it possible for God's fruit to blossom in our life.
Scripture Reading: Luke 14:25-33
Yesterday, we talked about giving control of our life to God and what we gain as a result. But now let’s go a step further and ask, How do we know whether we are wholly surrendered? We are fully yielded when …
1. We say, “No matter what, Lord, Your will be done.”
We start by acknowledging His right to be in control of our life. Then we follow, even if we don’t fully understand His reasons for where He is leading us.
2. We stop bargaining with God.
As sinners saved by grace, we have no reason to negotiate with God. He redeemed us with the shed blood of His Son and made us part of His family. Our allegiance to Him must be wholehearted.
3. We let go of everything in order to receive from the Lord.
Absolute surrender means we willingly give up our independence and personal preferences (Matthew 10:39). By doing so, we position ourselves to be truly useful to the Lord and to experience deep fellowship with Him. Because we are an open channel ready for God’s use, nothing obstructs the flow of His Spirit through our life and work. It won’t necessarily be easy, but we will always receive more than we’re asked to give up.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/what-we-lose-what-we-gain
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Works in Progress
~ God patiently guides drifting believers back into His will.
Scripture Reading:
"Yet Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands. Lord, do not be terribly angry or remember our iniquity forever." ~ Isaiah 64:8-9
In a studio, the potter has complete power over the clay. The same is true of God: As our Creator, He can do with us whatever He chooses. That might sound scary, but remember that God’s sovereignty cannot be separated from His other attributes.
While the Lord is sovereign, He is also loving, gracious, and thorough — and that influences how He shapes us. Just as a potter works the clay with patience, God forms our Christlike character slowly — one experience at a time. He knows that spiritual maturity can’t be rushed.
And just as clay can slip from the middle of the wheel, we too might find ourselves off-center from time to time — whether due to an old wound, a new hardship, a recurring habit, or something else. However, we don’t have to worry. In His grace, God always maneuvers the drifting believer back into position and begins remolding. He never discards His vessels but patiently works to mold them.
Our Father is a personal Potter. His creations reflect Him, and His Spirit is poured into each believing vessel so He can be an intimate part of our life. The result is a work of true beauty — a saint dearly loved by the Lord.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/works-in-progress
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Light & Dark
~ May the Lord open our eyes to see the glorious light before us this week.
All throughout Scripture God reiterates a consistent, powerful metaphor: light and dark. Scripture depicts the darkness as that which is without God and light as that which has God in it. As “children of light,” it’s vital for us to dive deeply into this concept of light and dark that we might experience the fullness of all God has made available to us (1 Thessalonians 5:5). We must accept that both light and dark exist, that we can engage with both, and learn what it is to choose light at every turn.
In Isaiah 42:16 God says:
“I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground. This is what I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.”
God has not left us to wander in darkness. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6). We who were blind to the paths of God have had our eyes opened through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus. We now have relationship with the Holy Spirit who seeks to guide us into the light with every thought, emotion, action, and decision.
Ephesians 5:14 says:
“...for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: "Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.”
It’s time for you and me to arise from any part of darkness and live in the shining light of Christ Jesus. It’s time for us to wake up from our former lives that were consumed with chaos, lies, and sin, come out of the shadows, and find true life in the light of God’s presence, will, and Word.
God has so much more in store for you than a life lived working to escape darkness. The power of Jesus’ sacrifice has hidden you in Him. His light is your light. But before we can experience this fullness of life available to us, we must allow Him to open our eyes. We must allow Him into the darkest places of our past, thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. We must allow His light to illuminate our darkest of sins in order that those which cause us the most shame might be healed and broken off of our lives.
Just as light can hurt a little at first when we’ve become accustomed to darkness, seeing the parts of our lives that we’ve shut off to God, others, and even ourselves can be painful. But, once we’ve allowed God to illuminate our whole lives that we might see ourselves as we truly are, we will discover a wealth of grace, love, and forgiveness unlike any we’ve ever known. Once we experience the unconditional love of a God who knows all we’ve ever done, thought, and felt, our lives begin to change by His overwhelming goodness. Light is powerful in its ability to heal, set free, and empower.
Take time in prayer to open your heart to your heavenly Father and reflect on this Biblical principle of light and dark. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire to seek the light of God in all things. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the places in your life He longs to heal. And find grace, rest, and forgiveness in the loving presence of your heavenly Father.
The fullness of life is only available in the light. Anything we experience in darkness is a mere shadow of what is available to us with God. Any pleasure we find in impurity, lies, and pride is nothing compared to the inexhaustible satisfaction available in God’s light. Trust God that He absolutely has the best life in store for you if you choose Him. Trust Him that the fullness of joy, peace, purpose, and pleasure is found in Him alone. May your day be filled with the peace and joy that comes from living in the light of God.
_________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/light-and-dark-2023/
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Molded by the Master
~ You have been perfectly designed to accomplish the work God has planned for you.
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-6
If you have ever watched a potter work, as Jeremiah did in today’s passage, you know the wonder of seeing a vessel take shape from a lump of clay. It was an object lesson for the prophet — God was teaching that the nation of Israel needed to be shaped by His hand. In fact, we are all vessels designed and molded by the master Potter.
In the studio, when clay is placed on the wheel, the potter already has a specific design in mind for it. The same is true of us — the Lord has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom. Each believer is shaped differently to worship and honor God. But regardless of how He made us, we all bear our Potter’s unmistakable imprint.
Too often we look around at the talents and abilities of others and wish to be more like someone else. But we have been perfectly designed for God’s purposes, and He makes no mistakes. Know this: As a born-again believer, the Master is pleased with who you are in Him, for you are “awesomely and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Take a moment and ask God to let this truth sink into your heart and mind today.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/molded-by-the-master-2
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Wisdom from the LORD
"This is what the LORD GOD says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land."
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit."
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?"
"But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
~ Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NLT)
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A Gift Already Given
~ We don’t have to strive for God’s favor; we just need to receive and believe.
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-6
In today’s passage, Paul uses beautiful language to describe the believer’s position in Christ: “We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand,” (v. 2, emphasis added). This grace is no puddle that barely gets our toes wet. It’s a mighty ocean that stretches on forever. And it’s grander than we could ever fathom.
God’s grace is an essential concept for believers to understand. He freely offers His favor to mankind because Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross granted forgiveness and salvation to anyone who believes. However, many people think they are enjoying God’s kindness when what they are really trying to do is earn it. And the Lord is very clear that works cannot save us:
"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast." ~ Ephesians 2:8-9
Serving God in order to gain favor or ensure that He continues to bless you diminishes the beauty of His grace. You can do nothing to deserve His kindness! He pours it upon believers freely. So receive it, beloved, and live free in the knowledge that while your efforts are welcomed and cherished by God, grace is a gift already given.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-gift-already-given
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The Provider
"I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:12-13
It is easy for us to compartmentalize the seasons of life. It makes it simpler to cipher what is fun and what is hard and what is in between. The plains can seem boring. What is “in between” becomes a kind of apathy. A complacency that undermines the value of daily living.
God provides in mysterious ways. Within every moment, He provides all that we need for life and for righteousness. His goodness is in abundance. It is even in sorrow. As strange as it sounds, His provision can be found even among the most “boring” of circumstances.
After all, boredom is a matter of perspective. If we are bored, it is no one’s fault but our own. Boredom is an inability or unwillingness to see and celebrate God’s provision. The Israelites got bored in the desert. Bored with manna. Bored waiting on Moses to come down from the mountain. Because of this they missed God’s blessing and incurred God’s wrath.
In all that we are and all that we face, God has already provided. The question is whether we have eyes to see. The Apostle Paul learned to be content no matter the circumstance. That means he learned to adopt a perspective that he was being blessed no matter his surroundings. He didn’t learn this through radical independence, but radical dependence. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” applies to every situation, even the routines of daily life.
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/the-provider/
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God's Gift of Second Chances:
~ God’s desire to forgive and restore is always greater than our capacity to fail.
John 21:15-17 tells us this:
“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed My lambs,” He told him.
A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Shepherd My sheep,” He told him.
He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.”
“Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.”
Before we discuss today’s verses, let’s look at one other passage. Take the time to read Matthew 26:69-75 (see below at end of post) and consider Peter’s emotions in that moment. The more people asked about his relationship to Jesus, the more emphatic his denials became. At first, he said, “I do not know what you are talking about” (v. 70). Then he denied Jesus with an oath, and finally “began to curse and swear” (vv. 72-74).
But when the rooster crowed, he remembered his words from the night before: “I will never fall away!” He had even gone so far as to declare he’d never deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him (Matthew 26:31-35 see below at end of post). For all that false bravado, the apostle failed exactly as Jesus said he would. No wonder he sobbed bitterly.
A few days later, when he saw Jesus on the shore, Peter hurled himself into the sea and hurried to his Savior. Imagine how it must have felt to stand there, dripping wet, staring at the One you loved and had betrayed. After the meal, Jesus allowed Peter to rewrite his answers that had been given in a haze of panic and fear. And with each affirmation, the disciple knew he was both forgiven and profoundly loved. Jesus offers that same experience to us, now and always. He never stops seeking, never stops offering forgiveness to all who call Him Lord and Savior.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
Peter Denies His Lord:
“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
“But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!”
“And again, he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man!”
“After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.”
“Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
~ Matthew 26:69-75
Peter’s Denial Predicted:
“Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away because of Me, for it is written:
“I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” [Zechariah 13:7]
“But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”
“Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”
“I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”
“Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.”
~ Matthew 26:31-35
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The Gift of Second Chances
~ God’s desire to forgive and restore is always greater than our capacity to fail.
Scripture Reading: John 21:15-17
Before we discuss today’s verses, let’s look at one other passage. Take the time to read Matthew 26:69-75 and consider Peter’s emotions in that moment. The more people asked about his relationship to Jesus, the more emphatic his denials became. At first he said, “I do not know what you are talking about” (v. 70). Then he denied Jesus with an oath, and finally “began to curse and swear” (vv. 72-74).
But when the rooster crowed, he remembered his words from the night before: “I will never fall away!” He had even gone so far as to declare he’d never deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with Him (Matthew 26:31-35). For all that false bravado, the apostle failed exactly as Jesus said he would. No wonder he sobbed bitterly.
A few days later, when he saw Jesus on the shore, Peter hurled himself into the sea and hurried to his Savior. Imagine how it must have felt to stand there, dripping wet, staring at the One you loved and had betrayed. After the meal, Jesus allowed Peter to rewrite his answers that had been given in a haze of panic and fear. And with each affirmation, the disciple knew he was both forgiven and profoundly loved. Jesus offers that same experience to us, now and always. He never stops seeking, never stops offering forgiveness to all who call Him Lord and Savior.
______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-gift-of-second-chances
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Power in the Word
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." ~ Romans 10:17
In the famous and epic movie "The Ten Commandments", whenever Pharaoh would make a decision or issue an edict, he would say authoritatively, “So let it be written; so let it be done!” The royal scribes would dutifully record the Pharaoh’s words for posterity. The message was clear: Pharaoh’s words were powerful; they were the guiding force in Egypt.
In an even more authoritative way, the Words of God are alive and powerful:
"For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." ~ Hebrews 4:12
By His Words, God spoke into existence the earth and everything in it. Jesus is called the "Word of God" — the incarnation of the will and Words of God:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." ~ John 1:1-2
And Peter says that by God’s Words — His “great and precious promises” — we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). And Paul writes that our faith comes by hearing “the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
We gain power and maturity in our spiritual life as the Spirit of God illuminates the Word of God on a daily basis. Make God’s Word a priority in your life.
Charles Spurgeon once said, "I hold one single sentence out of God’s Word to be of more certainty, and of more power, than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages."
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~ by David Jeremiah, Turning Point Ministries (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Benefits of Intimacy with God
~ Experiencing God's love enables us to extend His grace and mercy to others.
Scripture Reading:
"I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father." ~ John 15:15
In yesterday's devotional we mentioned we all want to be loved — in other words, to be fully known by another person yet still cherished and accepted on both our good days and bad. This kind of bond is hard to break since both people feel safe. Do you enjoy any relationships like this?
Research shows that this level of love and acceptance is lacking in many instances. For one thing, it’s hard to love someone else unconditionally, much less multiple “someones.” And we might naturally fear others can’t love us that way, either. So perhaps we hold back, afraid to fully expose our heart, lest we be judged or rejected.
But God invites us — and longs for us — to experience that kind of intimacy with Him. In today’s passage, He calls us His friends. If we are completely open with Him and fully trust that He loves us unconditionally, we can love others better. The Lord will also give us spiritual sensitivity and teach us to see people the way He does — as beloved children. We will then become more understanding and be able to extend the grace and mercy we ourselves have received:
"I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another." ~ John 13:34
• What’s one way you can give this type of love to someone else?
• More importantly, what’s one step you can take to cultivate a more intimate relationship with the Lord?
After all, that’s the foundation for everything else.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/benefits-of-intimacy-with-god
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The Power of Love
~ We can show others the heart of God by caring for them as He does.
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32
In today’s well-known passage, Jesus tells a parable about a man with two sons. The younger son made an untimely request for his share of the inheritance and then left for a faraway place. After spending all he had, the young man decided to return home and beg for his father’s forgiveness. When he was still a long way off, his father ran to welcome him — no apologies necessary.
Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son never mentions the word love directly, but it’s there in every one of the father’s actions. Putting yourself in the father’s place and then the younger son’s, reread today’s passage with an eye toward expressions of love. What examples can you find?
Notice that godly love enables us to:
• Respond graciously in trying circumstances.
• Sacrifice without complaining.
• Wait patiently for others instead of pushing them to change.
• Encourage others.
• Forgive those who have wronged us.
• Give generously and serve joyfully at all times.
• Assist people who are struggling.
• Show kindness to those who misjudge or misunderstand us.
Keeping this parable in mind, how can you begin to love others more fully, as the Lord does?
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-power-of-love-2
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The God Who Comforts
~ When pain seems unbearable, ask God to teach you how to rely on His strength.
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
• When life gets difficult, how do you respond?
• Do you begin to doubt God, wondering why He’d let adversity happen?
• Or, do you turn to Him, seeking to better understand His ways and grow stronger in faith?
While in Asia, Paul and Timothy faced hardship and persecution. Today’s passage says they “were burdened excessively, beyond their strength” (v. 8). But they chose to put their hope in the Lord and trusted that He would comfort them in their affliction.
Paul writes, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (v. 5). The apostle explained to the Corinthian believers that the trials he and Timothy endured taught them to rely on God’s strength, not their own. Bolstered by God’s faithfulness in the past and the prayers of other believers, they held on to hope.
We will all face difficulty at one point or another. And when that happens, we should try to respond like Paul and Timothy — trusting in the Lord, even though our pain may seem unbearable. Ask the Lord to comfort you. His power is unparalleled and available to every believer.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/the-god-who-comforts
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Living a Life Worthy of God
"For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God." ~ Colossians 1:9-10
How can anyone live a life that is worthy of God?
If God is perfect, does He expect perfection from us?
No. Our sins don't surprise God. If anything the one sure thing that God could expect from us is failure!
So, if He doesn't expect perfection, what does God desire from us?
He desires:
• Repentance, rather than rejection
• Love, rather than lip-service
• Worship, rather than works
• Obedience, rather than offering
• Relationship, rather than religion.
• Living a public faith, rather than a private faith
• Time with us, rather than testimonies from us
• Our pursuit of holiness, rather than giving us a perfect life
• Our desire to truly know Him, rather than just to know about Him
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~ by Marji "Mike" Kruger, "Anchor Your Life"
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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When Loneliness Overwhelms
~ What should you do when you feel alone?
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:5-6
Solitude can be nice — relaxing, even — especially after a busy day or a long shift at work. Spending time alone can leave you feeling recharged and rested. But loneliness is different.
So, what should you do if you feel lonely?
• First, ask yourself if you’ve accepted Jesus’ invitation to have a personal relationship with Him. He is the nearest, dearest friend you can ever have.
• Second, remember that God repeatedly promises that He will never leave or abandon you (See Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5, 9; Psalm 27:10; John 14:18).
You can also ...
• Pray. Ask the Lord to help you have a right understanding of who you are as His child. Scripture tells us that God loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and that He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Ask Him to help you to feel His love and friendship.
• Memorize the Lord’s promises. We mentioned a few up above, but are there any you want to add? Prayerfully examine Scripture to find a few that encourage you.
• Pray about godly friendships. Ask God to bring the right people into your life — particularly those with whom you can laugh and pray. Friendship is an extension of the Lord’s love and goodness in your life.
________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/when-loneliness-overwhelms
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A Few Sobering Quotes:
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.” ~ President John Adams
“The government of a country never gets ahead of the religion of a country. There is no way by which we can substitute the authority of law for the virtue of man. . . . Peace, justice, humanity, charity; these cannot be legislated into being. They are the result of a Divine Grace.” ~ President Calvin Coolidge
“Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us. The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master.” ~ P. T. Forsythe
“We are only creatures; our role must always be that of patient to agent . . . mirror to light, echo to voice. Our highest activity must be response, not initiative. To experience the love of God in a true, but not an illusory form, is therefore to experience it as our surrender to His demand, our conformity to His desire.” ~ C. S. Lewis
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." ~ Galatians 5:22-23
“There are five Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian — but most people never read the first four.” ~ Gypsy Smith
When people encounter your Gospel today – will the fruits of the Spirit be evident within you?
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No Fear in Love
~ The perfect love of God compels us to courageously love others.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-21
If you’ve ever enlisted in the military, joined a rescue team, or even given birth to a baby, you know people don’t take on dangerous tasks because they falsely believe the mission is safe. No, we agree to face potential peril because someone or something we love dearly is worth taking any risk.
This can help us understand why God so often tells His followers not to be afraid and then gives encouragement to boldly move forward in obedience, courage, and trust. While fear may spur us to action, love is a more powerful motivator. We will do out of love what we would never do out of fear.
So divine love compels us. God — who created this world, who took on flesh to walk among us and redeem us, who died to save us — has given us perfect love. And we demonstrate this love from God by loving each other. Even when we are afraid.
What a mission God has given us — to both receive His perfect love and demonstrate it to each other. In the process of carrying out that mission, we will find that where love abounds, there’s no room left for our fears.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/no-fear-in-love
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God of Fresh Starts
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, all new things have come." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
Water. All Noah can see is water.
You can relate. You've known your share of floods. Flooded by sorrow at the cemetery, anger at the disability in your body, fear of the uncertainty of a pandemic. And you've needed what Noah needed; you've needed hope.
Sometimes, all we need is a little hope. That's all Noah needed, and that's what Noah received. This is how the Bible describes the moment: "When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf!" (Genesis 8:11). Hope is an olive leaf — evidence of dry land after a flood.
Could you use some hope? Could you use a fresh start? At some point in life, we all could! And the oh-so-welcome news of Scripture is this: Our God is a God of fresh starts. He is the God who told a weary and discouraged people: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:19)
But these streams are streams of grace and mercy and love, not the floods that have burdened your heart. So, dear friend, our prayer for you is that you will experience a flood of God's grace to drive away your despair, disappointment, discouragement, and grief.
________________
~ by Max Lucado (https://www.maxlucado.com)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Our Righteousness in Jesus Christ
~ May you see yourself in light of the finished work of Christ today as we make space to see the new nature we’ve been given by God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 describes one of the most powerful outcomes of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. Scripture says:
“For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the power of sin and darkness and set us free to walk in the glorious light of righteousness. You and I have been transformed by the power of Jesus’ death. He took every sin we would ever commit and bore the entirety of their penalty. Through the death of Jesus, you and I are now free to live as new creations formed in the righteous and holy image of our heavenly Father.
When God tore the veil, He demonstrated that our sin and depravity couldn’t hold back His presence any longer. Thousands of years of pent-up longing for restored relationship burst forth proclaiming the newfound nature of God’s people who would choose to accept and follow Jesus.
There is no more important way to end this week of pursuing a greater connection to our heavenly Father than accepting our new standing before God. Even though Jesus defeated the power of sin in our lives, our great enemy continues to tempt us, lie to us, and steal from us the abundant life God intends. He continues to try to rob God of what He so fully deserves: unencumbered relationship with His children.
Satan lies to us and tells us that sin still causes God to withhold Himself from us. We allow condemnation that is not of God to creep in and cause us to believe that our heavenly Father doesn’t want to be with us. But the truth is, God always wants to be with His children. God runs out to us, calls us His beloved, wraps us with honor and His righteousness, and leads us into His glorious embrace.
Take time and renew your mind to your righteousness in Jesus. Ask the Spirit for fresh revelation of your freedom from sin and allow your longings to be satisfied in God rather than the world today.
Praise God that He is a loving Father who loves to be with and satisfy the needs of His children! God longs for us to bring to Him all our problems, insecurities, sin, and shame so He can cover them to overflowing with His merciful love. May you find rest, satisfaction, and healing in the arms of your heavenly Father today.
__________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/our-righteousness-in-jesus-christ-2023/
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Do Not Be Afraid
~ Our loving, faithful, and powerful God will never leave us, so we need not succumb to fear.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:9-10
Throughout the Bible, God’s messengers and prophets tell His people to resist fear. Phrases like “Do not be afraid!” and “Don’t be anxious or worried!” abound. It’s enough to make us think perhaps the world is the safe and comfortable place we’re always dreaming it could be. With all these commandments not to be afraid — often backed up with the promise that God is with us — we might start to feel invincible.
But a closer look tells a different story. To whom did God say these words?
• To Hagar, the abused slave, alone with her young boy and about to perish in the desert. She wasn’t safe. Her life was in shambles. But God saw her.
• To the Hebrew slaves, mistreated for generations, now facing the terrifying reality of spending their life in the wilderness.
• To the exiles who watched their cities destroyed, only to be carried away to their conqueror’s homeland. God promised return — but not for 70 years, a full lifetime.
None of these people were safe, and most of them never would be. Yet God said, “Do not be afraid.” He says this to us today, too, amid our own grief. Though the suffering may not pass, God’s love and faithful presence will never leave our side.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/do-not-be-afraid
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Amen Brother! Glad you stopped by! Pray that all is well with you and yours.
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Faith Guides Us In
~ May your faith increase today, and may your experience of God’s presence deepen as we create space to seek God together.
To see the living God face-to-face is to have our spiritual eyes opened through the important practice of faith. The entirety of our relationship with God really boils down to faith. By faith we trust in Him even though we haven’t seen Him. By faith we believe the Bible is truly His Word. And it is by faith that we enter into His tangible presence where our hearts are transformed and our lives changed.
Paul prays an important prayer at the beginning of Ephesians that I believe God desires for you and me today.
Ephesians 1:17-19 says:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”
We need the eyes of our hearts enlightened. We need to develop spiritual eyes to see all that is available to us in God. We need faith to guide us into the deeper things of God.
Hebrews 10:19-23 says:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
God longs for us to draw near to Him. He longs for us to experience Him unveiled, face-to-face with the eyes of our hearts open and our hearts full of awe and wonder. The single most exciting truth of our lives is that the God of the universe, the Creator of all, can be seen and known. Spending time with Him is more satisfying, entertaining, uplifting, and better than any other way our time could be spent. If we will have the faith to make time and let God move in and on our hearts, practicing faith as God’s Word tells us to, we will experience a reality unknown and unseen to the naked eye. We will experience the reality of heaven: God and man joined together in communion.
Faith is a gift given to those who cry out to know God. It is a gift given by the Holy Spirit in response to our desperation for relationship. If you will seek out more in your communion with your heavenly Father, He will respond with an increase of faith. He will answer your call by carrying you into the depths of His endless love where you belong — where you’ve always belonged.
May God grant you a “Spirit of wisdom and revelation” and open “the eyes of your heart” today as you spend time in prayer.
May we be a people that seek out the fullness of God. May we be children awed by the beauty, majesty, mystery, and love of our Father. God has more in store for us than we could ever ask or imagine if we will seek Him with all of our hearts. Fight the mediocrity of this world for the higher calling of experiencing all that God longs to give you.
_____________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/faith-guides-us-in-2023/
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Infinite Forgiveness
~ Relationships work well when we become channels of God’s mercy and grace.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:15-22
Some people say the most difficult part of any job is not the task itself or the challenge involved but getting along with coworkers. Are you surprised? Getting along with other humans is where things likely fall apart. So, after Jesus drives home God’s intention that not even one of His little ones should perish, the immediate takeaway He gives the disciples is conflict management advice.
Jesus says to point out transgressions privately to a brother or sister in sin. Few of us love confrontation whether we’re on the giving or receiving end. But if we find the courage to address this kind of situation correctly, we may save a relationship.
Of course, confrontation often goes sideways. As Jesus unpacks this possibility, Peter asks how many times he must forgive his brother — even seven times?
That small number represents a large amount of pain to the disciple. But Jesus doesn’t hesitate: Yes, and even seventy times seven times. In Jesus’ culture, the symbolic “seventy times seven” didn’t equal 490; it equaled infinity. In other words, forgiveness is something Christ followers should always practice.
Salvation is instantaneous, but discipleship is a lifelong journey. We will need each other’s encouragement — and the grace and mercy of God — as we learn to forgive the way Jesus taught us.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/infinite-forgiveness
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These Little Ones
~ Every life is precious in God’s sight — and should be in our sight as well.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:10-14
“What do you think?” Jesus asks His disciples in Matthew 18. “If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost?” (v. 12).
Well, what do we think? If we had a hundred sheep and one of them wandered away, I’m not sure any of us would leave the rest to go searching. It’s likely that the single missing animal would feel like a reasonable loss — a small impact on the bottom line, something already factored into the budget.
But in this passage, Jesus makes it clear just how precious “these littles ones” are to Him. He is driving home a point about the person who seems worthless — the one we tend to overlook or don’t care much about: That’s the one God is looking out for.
In other words, God’s spreadsheet doesn’t look like ours. In His budget, there are no calculations for loss with regard to His “little ones.” No one is considered collateral damage. That’s good news, because the One who watches over lost lambs and tiny sparrows is watching out for us as well. But these are also challenging words, for God asks us to live with compassion, too. Thankfully, His grace is sufficient to equip us for this good work.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/these-little-ones
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"I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you.’" ~ Hosea 10:12
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Thanks in Everything
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Think about the events of your day today or perhaps yesterday. Consider all that happened: disruptions, disappointments, delays, delights, diversions, dangers, and more. No doubt you were thankful for some events and not so thankful for others. What may surprise you is that the Bible says you should have been thankful for all those events.
To be more accurate, Scripture says to be thankful in everything, not for everything. That is, be thankful in the midst of a circumstance, whether pleasant or unpleasant, not necessarily for the circumstance itself. God doesn’t expect us to be thankful for an illness, a car accident, or losing a job. But it “is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” to be thankful in the midst of those circumstances. Why are we able to give thanks in every situation? Because “we know that all things work together for the ultimate good to those who love God” and who are called to “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:28-29).
Whether you are reading these words at the beginning or the end of your day, breathe a prayer of thanks to God for EVERY situation and circumstance. God’s giving deserves our thanksgiving.
_________________
~ by David Jeremiah (https://www.davidjeremiah.org)
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Good Things Versus God Things
"For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God." ~ Romans 8:14
The greatest sign that you and I are maturing in our walk with God is when we can discern the difference between "good things" and "God things". When the people of Israel journeyed out of Egypt through the desert, the cloud led them by day. They could move only as fast as the cloud. If they went ahead, they went without God's presence. If they lagged behind, they also lost God's presence.
Each of us must have the discernment to know when God is leading in a matter, or if it is simply a good idea. There are so many things in which you and I can be involved, and the more successful you become, the greater the temptations to enter into things where God has not called you. Entrepreneurs are especially prone to see all the opportunities.
I recall one time when I entered into a project that I thought was a great idea. It would help many people. After two years, the project had to be discontinued. It was a great lesson on understanding what projects have God's blessing on them. There are some projects you and I might get involved in that result in little fruit compared to the investment put into them. That is because they may never have been birthed by the Holy Spirit.
As sons and daughters of God, we are called to be led by the Spirit. This requires a level of dependence on God in which many of us really do not want to invest. It requires listening, waiting, and moving only when God's Spirit tells us to move. Workplace believers are "action" people. We know how to get things done, but our greatest strength can be our greatest weakness.
Today, ask God to make you a Romans 8:14 man or woman who is led by the Spirit of God. Pray against lagging behind or moving too far ahead. Ask God to reveal whether the next project you consider is a "good thing" or a "God Thing."
________________
~ by Os Hillman, TGIF - Today God Is First
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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Who Is Greatest?
~ Christ’s followers find purpose and joy when they trade their earthly mindset for an eternal one.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:1-6
If you’ve spent time around little children, you can attest to the innate human desire to be best, fastest, strongest. “Watch me run! I’m the fastest in the world!” sounds adorable coming from a little boy — but those same words from a grown man would be unsettling. For better or worse, most of us learn to hide our hubris from the world.
Yet when Jesus’ disciples asked, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew18:1), it seems they were trying to one-up each other, thinking as a child would. Am I the greatest? Or is he? Why is he better than me? How could I surpass him?
Jesus responded to the juvenile question with a necessary rebuke: None of them were greatest. Yes, as adult men, they held legal and social status. Yet in God’s kingdom, this sort of privilege would not only fail to gain them power; it would also be a roadblock to true greatness. However, there is a childlike quality God values: To be “great” in His eyes and in the kingdom, we’re to divest ourselves of power and status and become low, as Jesus Himself did (Philippians 2:5-8). In this way, believers are meant to become like little children.
As followers of Jesus, we too are invited to set aside any earthly status we’ve achieved and become humble and childlike. In so doing, we just may find the kingdom of God in our midst.
_________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/who-is-greatest
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Looking Forward
~ Because God promises a glorious future, Christians can find the strength to wait — even when it’s difficult.
Scripture Reading: Joel 1:1-20; Joel 2:1-32; Joel 3:1-21
More often than not, waiting involves a lot of stress — especially when we don’t know how long it will be until the holding pattern ends. During the wait, we sometimes turn away from God and yearn for a time when things felt easier. But what if we turned towards God and looked forward instead?
The prophet Joel spoke to God’s people during a challenging time when their land had been invaded by locusts. Livelihoods were destroyed by drought and pestilence, and people were starving. Those were days full of destruction, darkness, and utter gloom.
Yet God did not point them back to the good old days. Instead, He pointed them to the future, to Himself. He called them to return to Him and reminded them that a day of vindication and redemption would ultimately come. And while it’s true that “ultimately” could be generations away, there is comfort in knowing His promise of restoration is certain. On that day there will be tremendous rejoicing — vats will overflow and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32).
By turning our eyes forward towards that certain-yet-far-off day, we too may find the strength to keep waiting.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/looking-forward
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White as Snow
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." ~ Isaiah 1:18
Looking outside my window at the beautiful white layer covering my yard and driveway, it's hard to believe that this layer is mostly sleet and ice. It looks just like the snow scenes from friends and places just a few miles north of us. It reminds me of the time I visited some friends in Clearview, Canada. During the night, a beautiful snowfall had blanketed the entire area. In the early morning hours, as I ate breakfast and looked outside the window, everything I saw was pure white. The snow had covered everything with its beauty.
In the midst of that beautiful white snow, I saw something moving. It was dirty, and dingy, and filthy. As it approached me, I soon realized that the dirty-looking animal was actually the family pet - a white poodle. In the house, that poodle looked so white and so pure. But against the background of the fresh, fallen snow, that same poodle looked dirty and unclean.
It reminded me of the way God sees us and the way we tend to see ourselves. When we compare our lives to someone else's life, we look "pretty good" and "pretty clean". Our sins don't look that bad - in fact, they don't look "black" at all, they're only a "dull grey". But when we compare our "holiness" to God's holiness, we soon realize like Isaiah, that our "righteousness is as filthy rags". (Isaiah 64:6)
Like the white poodle who looked so white in the house, but so dirty against the new snow, our lives can look "good" to the world and to the people around us, but look "dirty" when we compare our lives to the holiness and the purity of God. Here's the good news... 1 John 1:9 reminds us that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
Forgiven - Cleansed - Pure - Holy. When we confess our sins, that's the way God looks at us. The same snow that reminds us of our unrighteousness can remind us of our right-standing in God's presence when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and confess our sins. The Bible says it this way, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18)
As you see the beautiful white layers covering those dirty areas, remember and claim that promise, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18)
_______________
~ by David Langerfeld
~ To receive The Daily Encourager FREE each weekday, click on the following link: http://go.netatlantic.com/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=thedailyencourager
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When Truth Is Absent
~ We miss God's best when we choose to compromise our integrity.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-25
We often don’t realize how important something is until it’s not there. For example, we may not think much of a light bulb until we’re fumbling in the dark. Similarly, to appreciate how much truth matters, consider the impact of its absence.
When our faith isn’t grounded in truth, we...
...become vulnerable to wrong teaching.
...develop habits that don’t align with God’s will, because we don’t know what it is.
...can stay trapped in emotional bondage.
...experience continual disappointment because our peace is gone.
...can’t grow spiritually.
...grieve God’s heart.
All relationships require honesty. If we develop a reputation for not telling the truth, our friendships and testimony will be damaged. Not only that, but our self-image will also suffer. And unless we repent, we won’t reach our full potential. This isn’t how God wants us to live — He wants so much more for us.
Today’s passage tells us “to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth”. He made us for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11) and wants us to live in truth so we can walk with Him, enjoying all the blessings He has in store for us.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/when-truth-is-absent
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Living Abundantly
~ Our best life is found when we trust God completely and live surrendered to His will.
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:5-12
God created us with a longing to know that we matter. He also designed us to find the fulfillment of that desire through His Son.
Dependence on God is central to an abundant life. Trusting Him with all our heart means giving Him control over everything — our family, finances, emotions, and thoughts. Today’s passage emphasizes how essential trust is to a fruitful life: It cautions against being wise in our own eyes and warns not to lean on our own understanding (vv. 5,7). When faced with decisions, it’s tempting to choose the answer we think is right. But we can’t know all the facts or predict with certainty how others will respond. The Lord, however, does know. He reads our heart and perceives every thought (1 Chronicles 28:9). No aspect of our situation escapes His notice (Psalm 11:4), and He cares about everyone. That’s why He alone is certain which decision will be best.
The abundant life also involves acknowledging God in all we do. Speaking about Him is just part of what it means to give Him recognition. As His children, (those of us who are believers) we are to have a marked resemblance to our heavenly Father — in thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
Life becomes fruitful as we surrender ourselves to God and carry out His will. When His Spirit lives through us (Galatians 2:20), our life will be characterized by significance and satisfaction.
__________________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/living-abundantly
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God’s Guide to a Fruitful Life
~ Is the character of the Savior increasingly evident in you?
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:1-4
Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit” (John 15:5). As we live the Christian life in dependency on the Holy Spirit, two things will become evident in us:
1. We treasure God’s Word.
When we value something, we think about it, study it, and learn all we can about it. By studying the Bible, we learn about God’s character, plans, and promises. Scripture meditation develops our ability to think biblically and deepens our relationship with the Lord. One of the indications that we treasure His Word is a change in behavior — decisions will increasingly be guided by His principles, and actions will reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
2. We adorn ourselves with kindness and truth.
These two virtues are to be our constant companions. God’s truth has the power to expose ungodly attitudes and behaviors, not only in us but also in others. When this happens, kindness helps to protect relationships from damage. What’s more, it can prevent discord and division in churches. God wants us to speak the truth to one another — but to make sure we do it with loving compassion.
As we walk with the Lord, He’ll grow His fruit in us and teach us to follow Him.
_______________
~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/god-s-guide-to-a-fruitful-life
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Having Time Alone
~ God has a better beginning to every day in store for us if we’ll follow Him.
• Why is time alone with God so important?
• Why can’t just going to church, a community group, or a Bible study be enough?
Those of us who have grown up in church or have been going to church for many years have been told that time spent alone with God is vital to our relationship with Him. Many of us, however, were never given a reason why. And in order for us to consistently and effectively engage in this crucial practice, we must understand why it is so important.
Here’s what we learn from Scripture about having time alone with God:
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that Jesus spent time alone with His heavenly Father.
Luke 5:16 states: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Mark 1:35 states: “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed.”
Often in Scripture, Jesus withdrew from the crowd to pray.
So, the first reason to spend time alone with God is because Jesus did. If Jesus needed time alone with His heavenly Father, we can all be sure we need it even more. Jesus walked in God’s presence constantly. Jesus constantly responded to God’s will for His life. He is our perfect example. And even still, He needed time alone with God.
We also see from Jesus’ example that time alone with God empowers us to carry out God’s purpose for our life. It was after withdrawing into the wilderness in Luke 4 that He began performing miracles. Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane filled with grief and sorrow, asking God for a way other than His own death to achieve salvation for His people. After spending time alone with God, He came out of the garden empowered to endure the worst atrocity in history. Spending time alone with God empowers us to live a life filled with a knowledge of God’s purposes and the ability to faithfully see them through.
Lastly, Jesus is clear in Matthew 6:5-6 how we are to pray:
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
God rewards time spent alone with Him in prayer. It’s by praying in secret that we clearly and tangibly encounter God’s love for us. It’s by spending time engaging in conversation with the Spirit that we learn what His voice sounds like. It’s by asking God questions that we discover His will. And it’s by spending time alone with Him that our lives become centered around His nearness and goodness.
All of the money in the world cannot buy the rewards God longs to give you. All the favor of men will not satisfy your insatiable desire to be fully known and fully loved. Receive right now the best gift you could be offered, one-on-one communion with your heavenly Father.
God’s desire to spend time alone with you is not meant to add stress or pressure to your life but to relieve you from it. He is not a God who is after you religiously checking off a quiet time box, but a good Father who longs to fill your life with His grace, power, and love. Spend some time today mulling over these important questions from Brennan Manning written in his book, “The Furious Longing of God”:
“Is your own personal prayer life characterized by the simplicity, childlike candor, boundless trust, and easy familiarity of a little one crawling up in Daddy’s lap? An assured knowing that the daddy doesn’t care if the child falls asleep, starts playing with toys, or even starts chatting with little friends, because the daddy knows the child has essentially chosen to be with him for that moment? Is that the spirit of your interior prayer life?”
May your day be marked by the love of your kind, good Father.
_______________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/having-time-alone-2024/
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Our Sin and the Holiness of God
~ May you experience a more tangible, loving, and powerful connection with your heavenly Father this week as we celebrate living life unveiled.
Scripture Reading:
“Yet because of his physical defect, he may not enter the room behind the inner curtain or approach the altar, for this would defile My holy places. I am the LORD who makes them holy.” ~ Leviticus 21:23
Our heavenly Father is both entirely full of love and completely holy. And in the greatest tragedy of all time, our sin caused the love and holiness of our God to be at opposition with one another. His greatest desire was for unadulterated, perfect relationship with us. And with Adam and Eve that longing was fulfilled. He could enjoy communion with us without separation. But when sin entered the grand narrative of human history, God’s unshakable, holy nature could not allow Him to walk in perfect communion with us any longer. Our sin caused a rift between us and Him that His love could not yet overcome.
So great is the holiness of our God, and so great was the depth of our sin, that a veil was placed between us and our heavenly Father, a veil signifying the horrific separation of God and man. In a description of the veil, Exodus 26:31-33 says:
“You are to make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with a design of cherubim worked into it. Hang it on four gold-plated posts of acacia wood that have gold hooks and that stand on four silver bases. Hang the veil under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony there behind the veil, so the veil will make a separation for you between the Holy Place and the most Holy Place.”
Only one man, chosen to go before God as Israel’s representative, was allowed to pass through the veil once a year on the Day of Atonement. And so great was God’s holiness and our sin that if anyone else was to enter, the power of God’s holiness would kill them. In Leviticus 16:2, God commanded Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.”
In order to appreciate the power of Christ’s sacrifice, we must acknowledge the status from which we have been redeemed. In Luke 7:47, in reference to the depth of a prostitute’s love for Him, Jesus says:
“I tell you, her sins — and they are many — have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
You have been forgiven much regardless of what lifestyle you have come from. So great was the chasm your sin created that you were incapable of communion with your Creator. Without the sacrifice of Christ, you would have no restored relationship with God, no Holy Spirit dwelling within you, and no grace, mercy, or total forgiveness.
So that you might greatly love your heavenly Father today, spend time in prayer focusing on the depth of your sin, which has been sacrificially redeemed by the love of Jesus Christ.
Seeing our sin in light of God’s holiness is a difficult, but wonderful reminder of how greatly God has loved us. Jesus sacrificed everything when we were deserving of nothing. May you live today in response to God’s unmerited favor and grace on your life.
________________
~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/our-sin-and-the-holiness-of-god-2023/
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The Mercy Exchange
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” ~ Matthew 7:5
It is annoying to see others get away with something. We want justice to be done – except when it’s us.
Perhaps when we reflect on this, our longing for justice is an opportunity for self-reflection. Perhaps the injustice we see bothers us because we have something deep within us that needs to be dealt with.
Usually the reason we can see the speck in the eye of another is because we have the same problem. The more the behavior of another annoys us, the more likely we are in need to deal with that behavior ourselves.
The next time someone annoys you, or you are inclined to judge, use it as an opportunity for self-examination:
• What fault is this showing me I need to deal with in myself?
• Is there a slight that needs forgiving?
When we judge, we are doing a job that properly belongs to God. We can trust that justice will reign – God has promised it. At the same time we can be grateful Jesus has borne our sins in full payment for our own injustice. When we see others in sin, perhaps we need to hand it over to God, to let Him deal with it in due time. Or, perhaps we need to do a speck removal. But only after we have dealt with our own issues.
Looking within ourself causes us to fall on the mercy of God. Thank goodness He is merciful!
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~ published by: Yellow Balloons
https://yellowballoons.net/devotional/the-mercy-exchange/
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Freedom in Spiritual Poverty
~ Abundant life is available to us now as we seek to live low and abide in Jesus.
There is abundant freedom from sin available to those who in humility and acknowledgement of their brokenness look to God for help. God’s heart is for freedom. He came, died, and rose again that we might no longer be entangled to the burdens of this world but be set free to experience the fullness of heaven on earth.
Isaiah 61:1 foretold of Jesus’ purposes on the earth in saying:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.”
Through the powerful sacrifice of Jesus in living and dying for us, we have been set free.
But the Bible is clear that walking in the freedom made available by the blood of Jesus only happens as we continually yield our lives to Him on a daily basis.
Romans 6:7 and 11 say:
“For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin". . . "So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 2:16 says:
“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”
And Galatians 5:13 says:
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”
We experience continual freedom as we submit our lives to the purposes, presence, and plans of our heavenly Father.
There is freedom for you and me today if we will choose to live poor in spirit. Jesus set us free, not that we would continue to live for ourselves and the world, but that we would experience the abundant life that comes through humility and submission to our loving God. The Godhead continually models submission and humility. They continually serve one another in an irreconcilable paradox of being three and one. And God is calling us to follow His model.
• Where are you struggling with the bonds of sin today?
• Where does the world seem to have a hold on you?
Submit your life to the capable hands of your loving heavenly Father and ask Him to reveal to you the path to freedom. Look for any parts of your life in which you are still living for yourself and the things of the world. There is no freedom available to us in the pursuits of the world. The abundant life found in God is in direct opposition to the ways and cares of the earth. Choose today to pursue the life God has laid before you, find your enjoyment in His loving nearness, and receive the freedom that comes from abiding in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
May the words of Romans 8:1-4 fill you with faith to seek the total freedom from sin available to you in God. May your day today be marked by victory over the enemy and his schemes. And may your life be filled with the peace and joy that comes from experiencing freedom from the burdens and cares of sin:
“So, now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So, God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”
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~ published by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/freedom-in-spiritual-poverty-2023/
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Life In Surrender
~ I hope today that we all learn about the value of living out our lives in surrender, and experience the life that comes through actually dying to ourselves, that we might live in Christ more fully.
There is a life available to us as believers that few find — a life free from burden, fear, boredom, and emptiness. The problem is that the road to life requires a complete sacrifice of ourselves. The road to purpose, passion, joy and freedom requires that we die to ourselves every hour of every day. Jesus made the way to freedom open and clear for us. Scripture serves as the perfect practical handbook to walk that narrow road. And the Holy Spirit serves as the perfect guide and friend along the way. We have everything we need available to us, however, most of us lack a willingness to sacrifice fully so that the seeds of our surrender lead to the fruition of an abundant life.
Jesus charges us to lose our lives in order to gain life with God. In Matthew 10:39 He says:
“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
The only way for us to truly find abundant life in God is to surrender our life for His sake. In fact, all of creation testifies to this truth. Think for a second of those trying to find their lives on their own instead of in God. Humans have an insatiable lust for affection, purpose, security, and love. No matter how loved a person is by society, it’s never enough. No matter how much money a person makes, they could always make a little more. No matter how driven a person is, there is always more they could be doing. We are lost without God.
Seeing these people makes me evaluate my own life and search for areas I haven’t surrendered to God yet. Thinking about their insatiable lust for more makes me look for my own. I need my life to have purpose. I need to be loved, to have freedom, and to feel satisfied. I experience satisfaction only inasmuch as I have surrendered my life to God. God will not fill what is closed off to Him. He does not force His will upon us. Rather, He waits patiently, quietly beckoning us to lose our lives so that He can lavish on us a life greater and more filled with His goodness than we could have ever imagined.
Our Father longs for us to be loved completely. He longs for us to be completely secure by trusting Him. He longs for us to be fully satisfied.
• Will you answer His beckoning today?
• Will you choose to trust Him?
He is so faithful — more faithful than we will ever fully know. You cannot count all the ways in which He desires to love you. The immense depth of His love is bottomless.
• But will you spend your life trying to search it out?
• Will you search out the depths of God’s love today?
• Will you make as much room in your heart as possible for him to come dwell?
• Will you lose your life today so that you may find it in him?
The road is narrow. It will take work. It will take sacrifice. It will take everything. But you will gain immeasurably more in return.
Listen to the Spirit today as you enter into a time of prayer and respond in whatever ways He leads you.
You can only experience the fruit of the Spirit through things born of the Spirit. God cannot bless sin and selfishness because it isn’t good for you. If God were to bless something that wasn’t best for you, you would keep doing it! If a dating relationship isn’t blessed, if it isn’t born of the Spirit, get out of it. If a friend leads you away from God instead of to Him, stop hanging out with him or her. If a lifestyle choice you are making doesn’t have the peace of God in it, quit doing it. Surrender seems to cost so much at the time, but it will be the best decision you ever make. Set your life on the narrow path God has laid out for you. Live your life in response to the Spirit and to His Word. The life you find in God will be immeasurably greater than any life you could find on your own.
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~ based upon an article by: First 15
https://www.first15.org/devotionals/life-in-surrender-2024/
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A Promise Kept
~ God has been transforming lives throughout history and will do the same today for anyone who trusts Him.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17
The first chapter of Matthew’s gospel records the lineage of Jesus. Starting with Isaac, the miracle child born to Abraham, there are 42 generations until the universe-altering event of the Savior’s birth. Among the names listed, there are schemers, prostitutes, murderers, kings, and idol worshippers. Many of these men and women had their lives transformed by God, and, by His miraculous workings, were given a place of honor in the ancestry of Christ.
The same God who orchestrated it all is the one who promises us eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible records God’s faithfulness in keeping promises made to us, His children. He has reassured us that we who are born again have a place in His family (Romans 8:15). And the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a pledge, ensuring we will receive our eternal inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
We need only enter into a personal relationship with Christ. There are no additional specifications to meet, and God’s blessings belong to us the instant we become His children. Our Father has promised, and we can count on Him.
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~ published by: In Touch Ministries
https://www.intouch.org/read/daily-devotions/a-promise-kept
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