Proverbs 3:11-12~ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Even when discipline isn't mistaken for punishment, people think it's hard, annoying, and pointless. The lazy and sinful part of us doesn't want any limits or directions, even if they are good, because they might get in the way of what we want to do. But the Lord disciplines ... moreGood night brothers and sisters
Proverbs 3:11-12~ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Even when discipline isn't mistaken for punishment, people think it's hard, annoying, and pointless. The lazy and sinful part of us doesn't want any limits or directions, even if they are good, because they might get in the way of what we want to do. But the Lord disciplines us because He loves us and wants to bless us. It shows how much He cares for us. Why? Because He doesn't want us to remain the same, unmotivated, and uninterested people we were before. He wants to help us reach our goal, which is Jesus.
Prayer: Father in the right, I have to say that I don't really like being disciplined that much. Even so, Father, I know deep down that the punishment you're giving me is for my spiritual good. Could you please help me figure out how to use the things that happen in my life to be more like Jesus? In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Romans 8:11~ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8 tells us over and over again how great it is that God's children have the Holy Spirit living in them. We know we will be raised from the dead because we have the Spirit in us. We can be sure of our resurrection because the same Spirit that gave Jesus lif... moreGood morning brothers and sisters
Romans 8:11~ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8 tells us over and over again how great it is that God's children have the Holy Spirit living in them. We know we will be raised from the dead because we have the Spirit in us. We can be sure of our resurrection because the same Spirit that gave Jesus life and brought Him back from the dead is in us. We are not going to die. The power of the Holy Spirit to give life is stronger than death. We'll make it! Even though our bodies will die, the Spirit of God keeps us alive, gives us hope, and gives us the power to win.
Prayer: Holy Father, thank you very much for the gift of the Holy Spirit. To know that the power of the same Spirit who helped create the cosmos and who resurrected Jesus from the grave still resides in me takes my breath away with astonishment and awe. You have decided to dwell inside me, to bless me, mold me, develop me, and conform me to the image of Jesus. Thank you. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Psalm 84:11~ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
The true worshiper (cf. Psalm 84) is given these promises. This worshiper loves being in God's presence and longs to worship with God when he can't. This worshiper puts all of his hope, strength, joy, and happiness in God. God has made these amazing promises to this worshiper! Very similar to Romans 8 and its key v... moreGood night brothers and sisters
Psalm 84:11~ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
The true worshiper (cf. Psalm 84) is given these promises. This worshiper loves being in God's presence and longs to worship with God when he can't. This worshiper puts all of his hope, strength, joy, and happiness in God. God has made these amazing promises to this worshiper! Very similar to Romans 8 and its key verse 28, God says that everything will work out for good and that He will bless those who "love Him and are called according to His purpose" by giving them "all things in Christ" and nothing but good (Rom. 8:32). Why? God has our backs! He is our sun and our shield. He gives us all of His grace and glory, and He won't keep anything good from us.
Prayer: O dear Father, how can I thank You? You have bestowed Your grace upon me in Jesus. You have promised me victory and heaven. I applaud You for Your grace. I appreciate You for sharing Your beauty with me. I relish knowing that You wish to bless me. Now, my Father, assist me through Your Holy Spirit to be the faithful person You wish for me to be. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Psalm 103:8~ The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
God is good, holy, and fair. But as important as these things are, He shows them through His kindness, patience, love, and mercy that overflow. Not only can we obey, worship, and show God reverence, but we can also love, admire, and adore Him! However, perhaps the hardest thing is to be like God!
Prayer: LORD God Almighty, I not only trust in You, but I admire Your faithfu... moreGood morning brothers and sisters
Psalm 103:8~ The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
God is good, holy, and fair. But as important as these things are, He shows them through His kindness, patience, love, and mercy that overflow. Not only can we obey, worship, and show God reverence, but we can also love, admire, and adore Him! However, perhaps the hardest thing is to be like God!
Prayer: LORD God Almighty, I not only trust in You, but I admire Your faithfulness, Your kindness, Your love, Your graciousness, and Your patient compassion. Please let me show each of these virtues more fully. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Proverbs 10:8~ The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Do you cringe when you hear a command from the Bible? What about explaining it? How about getting someone else to take care of it? Or, do you do what the Father says to honor Him? A wise heart sees God's rules as a blessing and a way to stay safe. A fool finds a way to avoid following the rule personally. Let's be honest and ask ourselves, "Which one am I?
Prayerrecious ... moreGood night brothers and sisters
Proverbs 10:8~ The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Do you cringe when you hear a command from the Bible? What about explaining it? How about getting someone else to take care of it? Or, do you do what the Father says to honor Him? A wise heart sees God's rules as a blessing and a way to stay safe. A fool finds a way to avoid following the rule personally. Let's be honest and ask ourselves, "Which one am I?
Prayerrecious and gracious God, my Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me enough to show me your truth and your instructions. Please use my obedience to create your character in me and to make my example a beneficial influence over the people you have put in my life. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
Zechariah 4:5-6~ Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
There are times in our spiritual lives when the problems we face are too big for us to handle on our own. Zerubbabel had to face something like this. God sent a prophet to remind him, and through... moreZechariah 4:5-6~ Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
There are times in our spiritual lives when the problems we face are too big for us to handle on our own. Zerubbabel had to face something like this. God sent a prophet to remind him, and through him, all of us, that our biggest victories won't come from our strength and power. No, the greatest victories, the ones that bring us into God's great story of salvation, will happen when we trust that God's power is greater than our weakness and God's might is greater than our inadequacy. The real question that each of us must answer is very simple: where do we put our trust in our personal lives and in our ministry work, and what gives us confidence? Are they in our skills, knowledge, wisdom, and strength, or are they in God's?
Prayer: Please forgive me, my Father, the LORD Almighty, for believing in my own might too much. Forgive me, God, for being overwhelmed and terrified by the hurdles, challenges, and possibilities set before me. Through your great stories of fidelity and triumph in the Old Testament, please rouse me to trust that your power is at work in me and in your Church, through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
1 John 5:4~ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
This is the companion passage to 1 John 2:17, which says, "The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does God's will lives forever." Our destiny and future are not constrained by the confines of our small blue planet. Our future and hope transcend mortality and are linked to our faith in a resurrected and victorious Savio... moreGood night brothers and sisters
1 John 5:4~ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
This is the companion passage to 1 John 2:17, which says, "The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does God's will lives forever." Our destiny and future are not constrained by the confines of our small blue planet. Our future and hope transcend mortality and are linked to our faith in a resurrected and victorious Savior who will return to take us to His eternal home. This faith is demonstrated by doing God's will, even when the majority of people in our modern culture choose to pursue what is fleeting and transient.
Prayer: Thank you, my Father, for the assurance of triumph, immortality, reunion, and joy. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Do you pass judgment? Do you believe you can assess another person's heart's intent? Are you critical and judgmental of the conduct of others? Jesus wants us to understand that we cannot know what someone's heart is thinking. When we are unreasonably harsh or harshly judgmental of others, we are establishing the standard by which God will evaluate us. I don't know about you, but I refuse to trade God's grace for... moreGood morning brothers and sisters
Matthew 7:1 ~ Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Do you pass judgment? Do you believe you can assess another person's heart's intent? Are you critical and judgmental of the conduct of others? Jesus wants us to understand that we cannot know what someone's heart is thinking. When we are unreasonably harsh or harshly judgmental of others, we are establishing the standard by which God will evaluate us. I don't know about you, but I refuse to trade God's grace for my excessive harshness. I'm going to try harder to look at others with kindness and grace.
Prayer: Dear God, please forgive me for being unduly harsh and judgmental in my assessment of others. Thank you for being so rich and free with your kindness and grace bestowed upon me in Jesus. Please help me to be more generous and forgiving in the way I analyze the aims and motives of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
Psalm 30:5~ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
All consolation comes from God (cf. 2 Cor. 1). Even though He is relentless in dealing with our sin and resistance, it is for our benefit. It will only persist for a brief time before giving way to joy. Please don't give up if you are going through a period of discipline or are dealing with the harsh repercussions of sin. Mornin... moreGood night brothers and sisters
Psalm 30:5~ For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
All consolation comes from God (cf. 2 Cor. 1). Even though He is relentless in dealing with our sin and resistance, it is for our benefit. It will only persist for a brief time before giving way to joy. Please don't give up if you are going through a period of discipline or are dealing with the harsh repercussions of sin. Morning will break, and with it will come God's grace. It's well worth the wait!
Prayer: Father, please bless Your children who are suffering challenges and struggles. Please help them survive through "the night" so that when Your morning arrives, they can experience the wonderful happiness that lies ahead. Please bless the following persons, my Lord, and help them find Your joy. . . . In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
Isaiah 57:15~ For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Jesus' entrance to Earth is entirely and completely congruent with the LORD God revealed in the Old Testament. God is exalted and holy. God is just and majestic. Nonetheless, the LORD God is t... moreGood morning brothers and sisters
Isaiah 57:15~ For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Jesus' entrance to Earth is entirely and completely congruent with the LORD God revealed in the Old Testament. God is exalted and holy. God is just and majestic. Nonetheless, the LORD God is the God of Incarnation, the LORD who sees our plight, hears our pleas, and descends to assist us. God adores individuals, especially those who come to Him knowing they require His love and grace. God provides renewal that penetrates the spirit and heart to those who seek Him with passion, humility, amazement, and reverence.
Prayer: It is my sincere thanks to you, Holy and Righteous Father, for loving me and sending Jesus to rescue me. In humility, I ask you to strengthen my soul within me and enliven my heart and spirit so that I may seek your glory at this time in my life. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.
