Persistent Faith

Mark 5:30-31

30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” 31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?”

The woman found in this scripture was considered unclean. She had been bleeding internally and it was considered wrong to touch anyone that was around her. She thought that if she could just touch the robe of Jesus she would be healed.

Jesus’ response was interesting. He simply asked the question, “Who touched my robe?” The thing was, many people were brushing against his robe, but only one person wanted to be healed. Only one was person showed the kind of faith it took to be healed. Sometimes, we have to not doubt and be persistent with our faith.

This woman didn’t just sit around and wait for Jesus to come to her. She probably had to overcome many obstacles to get to Jesus. What is interesting is, Jesus healed this woman, but later in chapter seven of Mark, he told the Pharisees what makes a person unclean is not what you eat or your appearance, but rather what comes out of a person is what makes them unclean. Jesus saw this woman’s faith and healed her body because she believed. We have to go to God with the same kind of faith if we want God to do something in our lives.

Dear Jesus, help me to have more faith. Help me to believe that you can change my circumstances. I trust that you have my best interest at heart and I fully give you control of my life. Thank you for loving and providing for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Not Always Right

Mark 2:17

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

If you have ever been to a physician, you know that he or she will run tests and maybe even a physical to make sure you are doing well. Jesus was telling the Pharisees that he is the “Great Physician.” Unlike people who are not sick or righteous, Jesus was saying he came to heal the ones who know they are sinners.

Have you ever met somebody who thought they were always right no matter what? They would never accept anyone else’s opinion and always thought they had the right answer. The Pharisees always thought they were right. They were always trying to trap Jesus and plotted to kill him whenever Jesus would silence and rebuke them. Instead of the Pharisees turning from their sins, they thought they were justified to arrest Jesus and crucify him because they thought they were right.

The Pharisees thought they did the right thing and sent Jesus, a man who never sinned, to the cross. Remember this principle: Just because you think you are right doesn’t mean you are always right. We have to be careful to judge others because even though they might sin in the open, it doesn’t give us the right to cast judgment on them. Instead, our response should be how can I help this person? How can I show them the love of Jesus today? Maybe they haven’t been taught and shown how to live according to God’s commandments. 

That’s what Jesus was trying to get the Pharisees to see. You’ve heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” You see, even tax collectors in Jesus’ day were made disciples and they turned their world upside down in their lifetime. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been and what you’ve done. As long as you can accept that you are a sinner saved by grace, Jesus will accept you and make you new.

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving sinners like me. Thank you that I don’t have to earn my way into Heaven, but it was only through the sacrifice you made on that cross for me and for the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Twelve Disciples

Matthew 27:54
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”


Right around three o' clock Jesus said his last words before he died, "It is finished!" At that time a huge earthquake tore the temple into two and many were raised from the dead and were walking among the people. If they didn't think Jesus was the Son of God, surely they would believe now right?


Actually, even after Jesus' resurrection the guards came up with a plan so they wouldn't get in trouble and said that the disciples came in the middle of the night and stole Jesus' body away from the tomb. This story is still being talked about today by the Jews. How interesting it is that we see these people refuse to believe that Jesus is the Son of God even after all these things they saw with their own eyes happened. When the disciples came to see Jesus' ascension the scripture says that some still doubted. But that didn't stop Jesus by saying to go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.


Jesus showed us a perfect example of how to live by. He showed us how to love and forgive others. He showed us how to pray and how to live according to the scriptures. He even set a new standard of living and spoke with authority. Many were amazed by his teaching but few actually lived by it. Jesus changed the world through twelve people. How amazing is it that it can only take twelve people to change your town, your state, and your country. If we surround ourselves with twelve godly people and live by God's commandments we could turn this world upside down just like Jesus' disciples did.


Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Thank you for being the Son of God. I pray for courage to speak the truth in love to others and to make disciples. Give me the knowledge and ability to reach my friends, family, and people I don't even know yet for the gospel. In Jesus' name, Amen!

Hot or Cold

Matthew 26:32-34

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

The night Jesus was arrested; He told his disciples that they would be offended by him that very night. Peter, with pride said, he would never forsake Jesus, but Jesus told Peter he would deny him three times before the rooster crowd that morning. Have you ever been afraid to speak up about your faith for Christ? All the disciples were scared and all went hiding when Jesus was arrested.

I think we can all relate to Peter’s story. He was a very outspoken, passionate person. He obviously, never counted to ten many times. He simply acted on instinct. When he cut the soldiers’ ear off it was out of passion and love for Jesus. It just wasn’t shown in the right way. Peter would even deny Jesus that very same night. How could someone risk his own life one second and the other second deny he knew Jesus?

There will be times when we will be on fire for Jesus and would do anything for him. Other times we are going to slip and fall. I think Jesus was allowing us to see how he wants us to be; either hot or cold. He doesn’t want us to be on the sidelines and live lukewarm lives. He would rather us deny him or accept him as Lord and be completely devoted to his commandments. Dr. Bailey Smith said this in his sermon today: “God would rather you be lost and take no one else with you than to be lukewarm and take hundreds down with you to hell.”

Dear Jesus, help me to have a passion to live out my life for you in the right way. Give me everything I need to be a light for you. Help me to not be lukewarm and sit on the sidelines while just a few do the work. Help me to plant the seeds of hope to a lost and dark world today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Supernatural Strength

Matthew 19:26

26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible

Did you ever grow up watching superheroes as a child? I can remember growing up to Batman and Superman. They all show some kind of super human strength that ordinary people don’t have. They would usually fight against the bad guys and win in the end.

We like to see the good guys win don’t we? We love to watch really great action movies and sit in amazement of what will happen next. What Jesus was trying to tell us in this verse is simple; we need to rely on God’s supernatural strength. With God everything is possible. But you have to have faith and believe that or nothing will happen. God wants us to pray and seek after him. He wants us to go to him for everything.

Like all these superheroes that want to do good and help people, God wants to do the same in our lives. The only difference is God is real. Maybe you need to ask God to move some mountains in your life today. Maybe you need to pray for more strength and power. Whatever it is, God will answer your prayers and give you what he feels is best for your life.

Dear Jesus, thank you for who you are. Thank you for giving me your love and mercy. Help me to have strength and power to accomplish what you have for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Greater Than Yourself

Matthew 16:24-25

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

                 

Have you ever had real purpose in your life? Have you ever felt a calling greater than yourself to fulfill? Jesus came to fulfill his purpose that no one else could have done. The amount of prophesies he fulfilled was impossible for anyone else to accomplish. Be thankful that Jesus was able and willing to come and fulfill his purpose here on earth so that some could receive him as Lord.

This scripture says we must take up our cross and follow him. If we hang onto our life, we will lose it, but if we give up our life for his sake, we will find it. Back in Jesus’ day, to carry your cross meant you were going to die. How interesting is it that the tool used to kill Jesus is the very thing that Jesus says for us to carry.

We really should pay closer attention to what Jesus said in these verses. Following Jesus is never going to be easy. Jesus said the road will be difficult and few will find it. It’s easy to love this world and everything in it. It’s not easy to lay yourself down everyday for someone else. If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, we have to be committed and willing to die for him.

Dear Jesus, help me to die to myself daily and pick up my cross for your sake. I understand the road will be difficult and can lead me to tough situations. I pray for courage and strength to follow your will today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Righteous Anger

Matthew 13:12-13

12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these parables, for they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

Have you ever had a hunger for something? You just had to eat that hamburger or steak that you were thinking about all day to satisfy your craving for it. This scripture is saying that those who crave and hunger after the things of God will understand it, but those that hear and do nothing with their knowledge; it will be taken away from them.

We as followers of Jesus Christ should pursue holiness and righteousness. Granted, we won’t always act holy and do the right things all the time, but we should be striving to become more like Jesus everyday. Jesus wasn’t always Mr. nice guy all the time though like we like to think. He was in fact, bothered by some and became very angry in the temple when people were using it as a place of thieves and robbers. Jesus was basically showing us that sometimes we have to stand up for the truth and be bold and courageous, but there are times we should stay silent.

This doesn’t give us the right to go grab a whip and start hitting people and turning over tables for no reason. What it is showing us is, Jesus wants us to make the right decisions even in our anger. Jesus showed us that we can have righteous anger. That doesn’t mean we lose our cool and start saying things we shouldn’t. What it means is, we have to make the right decisions when we are angry. 

Remember, there are times to stand up for the truth and there are times we need to be silent. Jesus stood silent in front of King Herod because he knew the truth would fall on deaf ears. So Jesus is showing us to be careful who we speak the truth too. Always pray that God would show you what to do in situations that may or not require you to speak up about the truth. The truth is, people already know the truth because God has made it plain to them (Romans 1:18-20). The truth has been revealed to us throughout His creation. In the end, people will have no excuse not to live for God. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing me to hear and apply the truth today. Help me to hunger after you daily. Help me to be steadfast in your Word and apply it to my life. Help me to make righteous decisions wherever I go today. I pray for discernment when and when not to stand up for the truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Reaching the Summit

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus was praying to his Father and then said these verses. Jesus was saying for us to look to him for refuge. Jesus offers us hope and salvation to anyone who will accept him as Lord. What a wonderful promise to know that Jesus will accept us when we repent and turn from our sin and give us peace and rest.

We will all face uncertainty and difficult situations. Our faith and hope in the Lord will be the only thing that will help us get through those tough times. When we will go through trials and tribulations, we have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Don’t act like there’s a big mountain blocking your way. If you look at it as one step at a time, eventually you will reach the summit. 

There will be times when we will finally reach the summit of our obstacles. Most the time, we will be climbing and struggling to get there. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, then we will have no fear and will overcome anything we will face. Remember, God sees and knows our situation and won’t give us something we can’t handle. Why is that? Because when we place our trust in Him, He will handle it for us. All we have to do is look forward and keep lifting our eyes to Him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your awesome and perfect love. Thank you for being my refuge and strength. Help me to fix my eyes on you no matter what the situation. Restore to me my salvation today and help me to find peace and rest in you today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!  

Don't Throw Your Pearls to Pigs!

Matthew 7:6

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

We like to think everyone we talk to about the gospel will listen and turn from their sin and be saved. But many will turn against your efforts and even try to hurt you. Some will not care or want to listen because they don’t understand the true meaning of God’s love. Some are so used to their sin they don’t want to change and all our efforts will be for nothing and leave us being taken advantage of and hurt. That’s what Jesus was referring to when He said don’t throw your pearls to pigs. We need to have clear instructions by God before we ever go into an uncertain situation when we want to reach people for the gospel.   

So how do we know where to go present the gospel? This is a great question to ask. The only way we can truly know is by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only way we can know where to go share the gospel. We need to pray for the Holy Spirit to move on our behalf before we ever go anywhere to present the gospel. We need to pray for God’s wisdom and discernment whether we should go to certain places or else we will be wasting our time, money, and efforts.

God wants what He made holy to stay holy. The Israelites didn’t keep the temple holy and were publicly sinning inside the temple gates and God had to remove Himself from the temple. Whenever we sin and keep on sinning without repenting, God can distance Himself from places of worship and from our lives until we get things right with Him. 

Challenge yourself everyday when you wake up and when you go to sleep to ask God for forgiveness for your sins and do everything you can to live right with one another. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your life and ask Him where God would want you to go to reach people for His name. But be ready and sensitive enough for God to change your plans when He wants to do something different.

Dear Jesus, I pray for wisdom and discernment today. I pray that you would prepare the places that you would have me go so I can shine your light throughout my community and around the world. Help me know where and where I shouldn't go and direct my steps everyday to reach the lost. In Jesus’ name, Amen! 

City On A Hill

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Shining our light to this world should be just like a city on a hill. A city on a hill will shine light for miles at night. Our light should shine the same way in our communities and in our homes.

God’s light wants to shine through us and in us daily. We should be using His light to reach others and help others in need. Constantly shining our light will help expose the darkness. God wants His light to shine in the darkest places of the world. The question is will we be faithful to carry our light like a city on a hill or will we be afraid to go?

Pray that God will begin to show you where He wants to shine His light in your life. Maybe you have some friends and family that you need to go to and share your light with. Maybe you have heard about a need you can fill. Always shine God’s light whenever you can. God is always watching and directing our light to shine in every corner and dark hole. He wants to reach the entire world for His glory.

Dear Jesus, help me to shine your light to my community today. Help me help others in their time of need. Give me the courage to share to others about what you did for us on the cross. I pray for wisdom and strength to shine my light in the dark places that you send me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Give Out of Love

Malachi 3:10

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

Giving tithes and offerings are an essential part of being a follower of Jesus Christ. God desires us to give ten percent of everything He has given to us back to Him. Giving a tithe shows your fear and respect for the Lord. It also shows your faith and commitment to the Lord.

When we give our tithes to our local church, God says He will pour out His blessing so great we won’t have enough room to take it in! Many churches are closing their doors today because people have stopped bringing their tithes to their church. God wants us to give and be faithful to where He has us. He wants to pour out a blessing so great on us that we will continue to give cheerfully so we can bless others in our communities and all around the world.

Continue to be faithful to giving your tithes and offerings to the Lord. Don’t just give a little bit if you can afford to give more. God can use your simple act of faith in ways you can’t even imagine. But don’t just give because you want a blessing in return. Do it because of your love for Jesus and wanting to make an impact for His Kingdom. God wants everything you give to Him to be used for His glory. So take a leap of faith this month and commit to giving more than you have before and watch what God will do with your faithfulness.

Dear Jesus, help me to be faithful to giving to your storehouse. Show me how I can give more and do more for your kingdom. Thank you for allowing me to have the opportunity to plant seeds of hope all around the world through my tithes and offerings. Help me to stretch out my faith and commitment to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Worship Him Alone!

Zechariah 14:9

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD—his name alone will be worshiped.

Jerusalem will one day be the focal point of the entire world’s worship to God. One day the mountains will fall and tremble. All the mountains that God created will be flattened and the Mount of Olives will be the highest place on the earth. God desires us to worship Him alone. The Bible says, He inhabits the praises of His people.

                   

Many of us have gone to secular concerts or watched one on television. Many of us have been to a football game or watched one on television. For many, this is their worship. One thing is for sure, people want to worship someone or something. Unfortunately, many of us worship the wrong things in life. We make for ourselves idols and devote our lives to it. We seldom see God for who He is really is and forget about how awesome and how fearful we should be of Him.

The Bible also says, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The question is, will you make Him Lord of your life while you’re here on earth or will you wait till it’s too late? Remember, God loves us so much and died willingly in our place so we can accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. If you have been a Christian for a long time or just for a little while, learn to develop a lifestyle of worship. Worship is what God desires us to do daily. Find ways to worship Him and give Him the praise and honor He deserves today.

Dear Jesus, today I just want to worship you for who you are. Thank you for taking my place and dying for my sins. Thank you that I can come boldly to your throne and worship you. Help me be a sacrifice of worship for your great name! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Living Water

Zechariah 13:1

“On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.”

                    

Have you ever been really thirsty? Have you ever had a shortage of water and couldn’t find anything to drink? Sometimes our lives our empty and dried up and we need God’s never ending fountain to fill us up again.

Jesus referred Himself as the “living water.” He was saying that when we trust in Him, our cup will never run dry. We will always enjoy His never ending mercies and forgiveness when we trust in Him. When you feel like there’s nothing you can do about a situation, don’t go and fill yourself with your own selfish desires. Let God fill you with what He desires for your life. God will give you a fresh start and cleanse you of every sin and impure thing you have ever done. 

Thank the Lord for giving you His “living water” today. Tell Him how much you appreciate His new mercies every morning. Let God fill up your cup daily so you can run the race He has set before you.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being the “living water” in my life. Thank you for giving me a fresh start today so I can make things right with you. Help me to set all my desires and needs towards you today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Finish the Task!

Zechariah 8:9-10a

“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals…”

Have you ever listened to something you know you should do, but because of other things going on in your life you put it off? The people of Israel had done this for 15 years. They heard from the Lord through the prophets to finish rebuilding the temple, but had no sense of urgency to finish the task. The Lord told them too: “Be strong and finish the task!” 

Some of us need to listen to these words from Zechariah. The Lord told them to finish rebuilding the temple. Remember, God always has a plan. God could have rebuilt the temple Himself, but He chose to use His chosen people to finish the task. When God tells you to finish the work he has for you, don’t wait for 15 years to finish the work. Start on it as soon as possible. God can provide the people and resources now just as much as He can 15 years from now.

Allow God to show you how to finish the work He has for you. Let God bring the right people into your life. You will need lots of help to accomplish His plan. Having the right kind of help is essential to finishing God’s plan for your life. Align yourself with positive, motivated people that you can trust and watch what God will do in your life.

Dear Jesus, help to be strong and finish the task you have set before me. Give me wisdom and discernment to know how to finish the work you have for me. Put the right people in my life and help me not to put off what you have called me to do! In Jesus’ name, Amen! 

Let God Get the Victory!

Zechariah 6:13

Yes, he will build the Temple of the LORD. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’

In this scripture, we see Judah was split into two districts: One, the king ruling the nation’s political life and second, the high priest ruling its religious life. God was telling Zechariah that one day both positions would be filled by one person. This was very unusual for this day.

God was referring to Jesus Christ to one day be king and high priest over the entire world. Jesus will one day sit at the throne in the temple of Jerusalem. Jesus will rule over all the earth and we will worship and praise His name for all the things He has done for us in our lives. We have a lot to look forward to as followers of Jesus Christ. Remember, no eye has seen and no ear has heard the things that God has for those that love Him.

Remember, put God first in your life. Keep Him number one on your mind every moment of every day. Don’t let Satan steal your joy and peace. Don’t let him confuse you anymore. Go to God and tell Him that Satan doesn’t have any hold on your life anymore. Let God get the victory today and watch how God will transform your life!

Dear Jesus, I am so excited about the chance to see you face to face. I’m ready to see your awesome splendor and be a part of your great plan. Thank you for using your light through me today for your glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Where Are You Going?

Zechariah 2:1-2

When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. “Where are you going?” I asked. He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”

The book of Zechariah shows us a picture of God’s grace and gives His people hope for the coming of the Messiah. This scripture refers to the measuring line that symbolizes the restoration of the people and Jerusalem being rebuilt. We can always count on God to have a plan for restoring His people. He will be patient with us and give us many chances to get right with Him. Thats how awesome and merciful God is.

This scripture also asks the question, “Where are you going?” Have you been going forward or backwards in your life lately? What chooses are you making that will help or harm you today? We will all face obstacles in our life. We will all have tough chooses to make. When life gets tough, trust God! That’s all we can do. God doesn’t have to owe us an explanation for why we go through setbacks and discouragements. He does promise that he will be there when we face trials and tribulations though.

Sometimes you will go through life not where you think you should be, but it’s where God wants you for now. The only thing you can do at that point is to pray and trust God for His provision in your life. Just know that it is only temporary and God is preparing you for where He wants to take you next. Sometimes God wants us to be broken so He can do a work that only He can do in us. The more we decrease the more God can increase. Remember to empty out your life before God daily and allow Him to fill you with the things that He has for your life.

Dear Jesus, I don’t understand everything that happens in my life. I don’t know how every situation will end up, but I trust you and will accept your will for my life. I thank you for providing for my needs today. Give me the strength to live today for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Respond To God's Call

Haggai 1:13

Then Haggai, the LORD’s messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: “I am with you,” declares the LORD.

In the book of Haggai, the people were called to rebuild the temple. The people were living luxurious lives while forsaking the rebuilding of the temple. After God told Haggai and His people to rebuild the temple, they immediately responded within weeks of him telling them. God started to stir up His Spirit inside the leaders of the nation and the people began to work on the temple.

When you stay faithful to God’s calling on your life, you will begin to see God’s Spirit move throughout the land. When you lead worship, preach a sermon, teach Sunday school, go door to door, God’s Spirit is moving throughout the people and wants them to receive Him as Lord. Whatever God has called you to do, stay faithful to Him and remain on the offense to work for Him.

God says he will be with you when we follow after Him. No matter what happens, remain true to God’s calling and watch God move in a way you never thought possible. If God calls you to do something that is small, be faithful. If God calls you to do something big, be faithful. God calls all of us to do different things, but they all are for the same purpose. Continue to reach people where they are and continue to love them no matter what they do to you.

Dear Jesus, help me to respond to your calling on my life. Give me the wisdom and the strength to be faithful in all I do for your glory. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your plan. Help me to love and forgive people no matter what they do to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Purify His Bride

Zephaniah 3:9

“Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the LORD together.”

Have you ever wondered what worship will be like in Heaven? Who will be singing? Who will be leading the choir? Who will be playing instruments? Who will be reading God’s Word? Do you realize that we will continue to grow in the Lord in Heaven? We still have a lot of things to learn about God and His awesome greatness. The great thing is we will experience His presence for all of eternity while we do these things.

God says He makes all things new! What a great thought to know that we are made new through His Son Jesus Christ when we invite Him into our heart. The Lord will purify us and make us in one accord with Him. One day Jesus is going to purify His bride, the church once and for all, and every tribe, tongue, and nation will worship together in one accord. No longer will we have different denominations and different churches scattered everywhere. No longer will we be divided by race and culture differences. No longer will we be divided on doctrine and personal beliefs. We will all be together experiencing the presence of the God who created us.

It’s pretty awesome to think about what God is going to do with His bride, the church, in the future. The church plays a huge part in accomplishing God’s plan for the end times. Remember, whatever your role is in the church, God won’t let what you do go unnoticed. In fact, He is going to bless your work and your faithfulness to Him. Be encouraged today because God sees and knows everything that you do for His name.

Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your bride, the church. Thank you for giving me opportunities to use the gifts and talents you have given me to use for your glory. I look forward to the day when the church will worship together in one accord. Thank you for purifying me today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

In God's Time

Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

Have you ever poured out your heart to God and wondered if he was hearing your prayers? I’m sure from time to time we feel like this. Habakkuk was praying earnestly for God to stop the evil doing around him and let justice finally prevail. The Lord answered him and told him he was going to do something amazing in his day.

We need to remember, even though our prayers are heart felt and genuine, God knows what is best for our lives. He knows when the proper time is for us to receive blessing and when we need to be content. God wants us to pray to Him and rely on Him for everything. What God is looking for is our faithfulness and commitment to Him. When evil is all around you, go to God in prayer and ask Him to give you the strength to prevail over it.

God will never give us something we can’t handle or overcome. Don’t let the evil one prevail in your life. Submit your petitions and prayers to God and ask Him to deliver you from anything you are going through today. God loves you and wants His Spirit to lead and guide your steps. He wants you to live to your full potential and be a blessing to someone else. He wants you to be filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaim His name to the nations so others can have eternal life.

Dear Jesus, fill me with the Holy Spirit and lead and guide my steps today. Deliver me from the evil one and help me to overcome any temptation that comes my way. Help me to pray to you about anything and help me to earnestly seek you daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Strong Refuge

Nahum 1:7-8

The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night.

How would you rate your walk with the Lord today? Are you seeking Him out daily and reading His word and praying? Are you so overwhelmed with your job and your family that you have a hard time spending time alone with God? Are you down and discouraged because you don’t know how you’re going to get out of the situation you’re currently in? What we can learn from all of these things is this; if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. If we fall away from God, we will have a hard time figuring anything out because we have in essence, put our lives in our control.

As this scripture says, The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. If we don’t stay close to God, then we can’t expect God to move in our lives when things go wrong. It’s easy to blame God, but God is the only answer for our problems. That kind of thinking only shows how much we don’t know about God. But when you devote your life to God, you will realize how much love He has for you. You will see things in a new way that you never saw before. The trials of this life will be little hurdles to overcome, not mountains.

When you put your faith into motion, you will experience something most people don’t experience. Many people say they can’t believe in something they can’t see, but that is exactly what having faith is about. John 20:29 says, Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." We have to have faith and believe that Jesus is our strong refuge in times of trouble. We have to believe He has our best interest at heart. Don’t worry about the darkness and evil of this world. God knows all about it and has called us to share His light to the dark places of this world. 

Dear Jesus, thank you for being my strong refuge in times of trouble. Today, I seek you alone and make you Lord over all of my life. Help me to draw near to you and learn from your Word. Give me the faith that can move mountains so I can be a light in a dark world. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Overcoming Fear

Micah 3:8

But as for me, I am filled with power with the Spirit of the LORD.

What are some things you are afraid of? Some of us are afraid of spiders and snakes. Some of us are afraid of heights. Whatever it may be, we don’t have to be afraid of anything when we have the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us. Jesus said that He would trample the serpents’ head under our feet. Whatever fear you are facing isn’t from God, it’s from the evil one.

Satan wants to keep us from reaching our destiny. God has ordained and planned out our lives from beginning to end. He knows all the setbacks and road blocks we will face. He knows all the joys and victories we will experience when we honor Him with our lives. What we have to realize is God wants the very best for us. He wants us to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit so we can accomplish His plan here on earth.

Micah said he was filled with power from the Spirit of the Lord during a very trying time in his life. We will all have trying times and setbacks, but don’t let your fear of not knowing the outcome keep you from God’s plan. Everyday you have to get up and say this is a new day and a fresh start. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday. You have to say to yourself, I will strive to be the best I can be today and live in a way that honors and pleases God. The Bible says, I will fear no evil, for my God is with me.  When you live with power from the Holy Spirit daily, you will overcome any evil that will come your way.  

Dear Jesus, help to live with power from the Holy Spirit. Help me to live out everyday for your ways. Give me the boldness to overcome any fear in my life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!  

Be Steadfast and Strong

Micah 2:13

Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile, out through the gates of the enemy cities, back to your own land. Your king will lead you; the LORD himself will guide you.”

God showed Micah two great events that were going to happen: 1) Judah’s return from captivity in Babylon; 2. The great gathering of the saints when the Messiah returns. Micah didn’t know the time when all this would happen, but he did know that God said it would happen when He wanted it too. This gave the people hope and helped them turn from their sin.

There are times in our lives when we might have little hope about something. There are times when we might not know the future outcome of our circumstances. This is not time to panic, but to believe God has something better waiting for you when you persevere through it. We need to not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough problems of itself. We need to remember to let God show and lead us to what He has for our future. We have to be steadfast and strong to live for God. We can’t waiver and give up, but be bold enough to fight the good fight and conquer the evil one when he sends us road blocks and tempts us to do wrong.

Dear Jesus, help me to be strong and steadfast in you today. Lead me to where you would have me to be. Help me to not waiver under any circumstance and help me conquer any evil that comes my way today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

God of Second Chances

 

Jonah 3:1-3

Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

Does God require us to have a degree or any experience to serve Him? The answer is simply, no He does not. Degrees are nice and can help you grow in your field of service, but it is not a requirement of serving the Lord. All God asks is a willing heart that is broken and will serve Him alone.

Jonah feared going to Nineveh and ran away from the Lord. He didn’t want to tell the people of Nineveh because he didn’t want them to have the chance to repent and turn back to God. I’m sure there are people we don’t like, but when their soul is at stake should it matter what we think about them? All God wants us to do is show His love to people, even people we don’t like. We don’t have to agree with the things they do, but we are supposed to love and rebuke them when they are doing wrong.

Jonah had a mission and didn’t listen the first time. God gave Jonah a second chance and saved his life by being swallowed inside a whale for three days. Are you grateful that God is a God of second chances? He’s even willing to give us more chances too. We have to be willing to listen to God’s call. It might take a second or third chance to get it right, but God is patient and will get you to where He wants you to be when you answer His calling on your life.

Dear Jesus, thank you that you are a God of second and third chances. Thank you for being patient with me and showing me your will for my life daily. Give me the knowledge and the wisdom to follow in your footsteps today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Picking Fights

Obadiah 1:21

Those who have been rescued will go up to Mount Zion in Jerusalem to rule over the mountains of Edom. And the LORD himself will be king!”

Have you ever fought with a sibling? I can remember fighting over the remote with my younger brother and picking fights with my older brother as a child. Edom and Israel were constantly picking fights with each other. You can date it back to the days of Esau and Jacob found in Genesis 25:19-26. Israel had descended from Jacob and Edom descended from Esau.

From time to time, we will get into little fights and argue with each other about things that don’t really matter. In this case, Edom was picking a fight with God’s chosen people, Israel. The Bible says, if you don’t want to help God’s people, then you are an enemy of God. Watching innocent children dying on the streets of starvation and doing nothing about it is sin. Having the opportunity to help someone in need and doing nothing, is sin. Not sharing the gospel with someone when you have the opportunity too, is sin.

What do you spend most your time doing throughout the day? Do you spend most your time fighting, arguing, and complaining about someone or something? Do you spend most your time on the internet or watching television? Do you spend anytime in God’s word and prayer? How much time do you spend sharing the gospel with someone at work? These are important questions to ask because if we don’t conquer these questions in life, we will ultimately be living for something that doesn’t really matter. The only thing that matters is reaching people for Christ. All the fighting and arguing leads nowhere and it can end pretty ugly sometimes.

Remember, keep moving forward and follow God no matter what. When you have an opportunity to share your faith, seize the moment and watch how God will use it for His glory. All the other things we do are secondary. Don’t let petty things over take you and lead you down a slippery slope.

Dear Jesus, help me to be a doer of the word today. Help me to put my faith into practice and motion. Give me opportunities to share my faith with someone today. Help me not to focus all my time and energy on things that don’t matter. Help me to prioritize my time and my thoughts for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Victory Over Evil

Amos 5:14-15b

Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.

We should be thankful that God is our helper in times of trouble. God will help us when there seems to be no other way. Sometimes we have to go through pain and suffering, but God will always be there when we go through it. He will be our comfort and refuge when we seek Him.

Remember, Jesus had to suffer and go through the pain of dying for our sins. We should never forget the amount of strength and boldness it took for Jesus to do that for all of mankind. He faced every kind of temptation we did, but never sinned. If Jesus had sinned, we would have never been able to be forgiven because it required a perfect Lamb to die in place of our sins. Whatever you may be going through, never forget that Jesus already went through it 2,000 years ago so we can have victory of the evil of this world.

Dear Jesus, thank you for dying in my place. Thank you for living a perfect life and taking on my sin and shame so I can have eternal life. Give me the boldness and strength to live for you everyday. I place my life in your hands today! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

The Lord's Voice

Joel 3:16

The LORD’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.

Everything God has made is under His control. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Unfortunately, it will be too late for many because they refused to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior here on earth.

This scripture says, God will be a refuge for those that trust Him and live for Him alone. Do you trust Him with every decision you have to make today? Are you giving Him complete control over your life? This is something we have to learn over time. Not everything we do is easy to give up. Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” One day, the Lord’s voice will roar throughout His creation seeking out those who love Him and judging those that don’t.

Each day you have is another chance to get things right. It’s another chance to say this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. When was the last time you felt joy and peace in your life? Hopefully, you won’t have to think long, because these things have already been given to us for those that believe in Jesus. If you haven’t made Jesus the Lord of your life yet, ask Him to come into your heart today. Maybe you know Him, but have fallen away from the faith. Make today the day you get things right and live everyday from here on out for His plan and purpose for your life.

Dear Jesus, thank you for being in control and that I don’t have to worry about anything. Take everything from my hands and help me to love and do more for your kingdom. I pray I will follow your ways and pick up my cross daily no matter what the cost. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Call On His Name

Joel 2:32

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.

Joel is another great book of the Bible showing the awesome greatness of God. In chapter 2, we see God still willing to show mercy and compassion on His people. After all His people did against Him, God was still willing to forgive them and give them His blessing if they repented and turned back to Him.

Can we ever understand why God chooses to forgive and love us when we fail Him so many times throughout the day? I don’t think we are supposed to answer that question. Only God can answer that question and He does through His love. Whenever you feel convicted or feel shame for something you did wrong, don’t let it consume you and your thoughts. Ask God to forgive you and move past it so you can find victory in His love today. For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Dear Jesus, I pray to receive your unfailing love in my life today. Even though I make mistakes, I will not let them consume my thoughts and bring me down today. I pray that I will move forward and not backwards today. I pray for your blessings today in Jesus’ name, Amen!

A Thankful Heart

Hosea 13:4

"I have been the LORD your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior.

In Hosea’s day the people had become self-sufficient. They didn’t need God anymore and lived however they wanted too. They knew God, but they didn’t worship Him and thank Him for the blessings that God gave them. Many say they know God, but few live for Him.

Always remember to thank God daily for the blessings of life. Thank Him for having a place to live, fresh and clean water, food to eat, and clothes to wear. These things we can easily take for granted and forget who provided them. We should always live with thanksgiving in our hearts for what the Lord has done in our lives.

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me and providing for my needs today. Help me to be thankful at all times and not become so absorbed with things that I forget where the blessings come from. In Jesus, name, Amen!

Love More

Hosea 10:12

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.”

Would you say that you love easily? Are you a person that is about loving people no matter what they’ve been through? Jesus was all about loving people. In fact, His love for the world came right out of Him. People would touch Him and they would be healed and changed forever by His love and compassion.

If we want to love people more, we have to learn how Jesus loved. God loves us so much and wants us to share in His love. Jesus always showed compassion for others. People like the Pharisees that thought they were righteous were in fact, the ones that were so far from God. Their hearts had become so hard that they couldn’t love. As this scripture says, we need to plow up the hard ground of our hearts and allow God to shower righteousness upon us.

We all have something we struggle with and have a hard time letting go sometimes. If we learn to let God deal with our hearts, we will begin to experience His love like never before. Allow God to have the opportunity to show you His righteousness today. Let Him give you a heart that loves more and does more for others. Learn to let go of whatever it is you are holding onto and see how God will make it better.

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me despite all my mistakes. Help me to live righteously today and give me opportunities to love others more. Help me to receive your unfailing love and allow me to see your love in new ways today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!