Scripture Of The Day: "...And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." - Colossians 1:20 (ESV)
Consider how illogical Jesus' crucifixion looked to first-century observers. The Romans, who were concerned with power, probably wondered how a mighty God could allow enemies to kill Him. The Greeks valued wisdom and no doubt thought, There must surely have been a better way than the cross! And the Jews, who longed for victory over oppressors, probably felt bewildered to see Jesus humbly let Himself be brutally killed.
Yet, what seemed foolish was actually a brilliant plan. Through the cross, the Lord powerfully revealed His character. First, we see His unconditional love in dying for those who sinned against Him (John 3:16). Second, His righteousness is apparent—only the perfect sacrifice of His own blood could satisfy the penalty for sin. Third, He shows His faithfulness by redeeming us at so great a cost. And fourth, Jesus demonstrates power by conquering sin and death.
In addition to all this, the cross exposed and disarmed Satan (Col. 2:15), who no longer has authority over Christians. Though he can tempt and try followers of Christ, the Holy Spirit is there to strengthen and guide believers to victory.
One last benefit of God's remarkable plan is that we are eternally secure because of the price Jesus paid. That gives us hope and confidence about our future.
Though the cross seems absurd to those who don't understand, God's children know it is the Father's wise design. We have assurance for today and security for tomorrow only because of this amazing event that occurred over 2000 years ago. We have no need to fear, but every reason to hope.
[By Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cross-Bearing
Scripture Of The Day: "When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" -Mark 8:34 (NKJV)
Sometimes, we will say, "We all have our crosses to bear. My cross is my supervisor at work," or "My cross is this health problem," or "My cross is this relative." But I think we have lost the meaning of the cross.
If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross down the street, there would be no question in your mind where that person was going. You would know that he was about to be taken outside of the city, laid on the cross, and crucified.
Someone carrying a cross was someone who was about to die. So when Jesus said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," His disciples would have understood what He meant.
Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God's will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God. What it does mean is that you now will have life and have it more abundantly as Jesus promised, because you want God's will more than your own. Jesus said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).
Sometimes, we will say, "We all have our crosses to bear. My cross is my supervisor at work," or "My cross is this health problem," or "My cross is this relative." But I think we have lost the meaning of the cross.
If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross down the street, there would be no question in your mind where that person was going. You would know that he was about to be taken outside of the city, laid on the cross, and crucified.
Someone carrying a cross was someone who was about to die. So when Jesus said, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," His disciples would have understood what He meant.
Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God's will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God. What it does mean is that you now will have life and have it more abundantly as Jesus promised, because you want God's will more than your own. Jesus said, "Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).
Are you taking up the cross and following Jesus? Bearing the cross will affect and influence every aspect of your life. The result will be life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.
[by Greg Laurie}
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Cross: Strength & Grace Under Pressure
Scripture Of The Day:
As we enter the season of the Cross, I thank Our Lord and Savior not only for the finished work He completed through His ultimate sacrifice…the work of our salvation – but also for the Cross as a daily reminder of true strength and grace under pressure.
We can learn a lot about dealing with the pressure, burdens, and crosses in our own lives by examining what Scripture reveals of Christ’s words and behavior on the Cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) Talk about grace! Here Christ shows us a great response to pressure: avoiding the “blame game.” Rather than looking for who or what we can blame for our present trouble, we should immediately ask God to come into the situation – and ask for His strength and grace to handle the pressure at hand.
He said to his mother: "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple: "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27 NIV) Even while He was going through it, Jesus was able to offer words of comfort, care and support to those around Him. While our cross might be painful to us, others around us may very well be suffering as well. Ask God to give strength to not only you, but your friends and loved ones as well. Praying for others during your own trials can help take the focus off your own pain, and open you up to God’s healing Spirit.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)~ It’s fine to let God know what you’re going through, during your times of trouble. God is not afraid of your emotions, your doubts, or your questions. When Jesus asked His Father this question, He already knew the answer: God had not forsaken Him, and His ultimate victory was only a few days away. Even as you ask “Why me, God?” -- know that God has your back…and that you have ultimate victory and salvation throuogh Christ!
"I am thirsty…" (John 19:28 NIV)~ When He let those around Him know of his thirst, although death was imminent, Jesus was still acknowledging the needs of His temple/body. Accordingly, we must also take care of ourselves as best we can -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually -- during times of trial. Exercise, eat right, and rest your body to retain your strength!
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”…(Luke 23:46 NIV)
Ultimately, we must accept God’s will for our lives. We must put our lives into God’s hands, as Jesus did, with total faith and trust, believing that His will for our lives will prevail, no matter how difficult our present trial is.
As we enter the season of the Cross, it’s important to let God know through prayer and thanksgiving that we are glad He is there for us at every moment of our lives. And look to the Cross to find strength and grace during your own times of trial and pressure…because His grace truly is amazing!
[By Pastor Paula White]
Be Blessed!
Dawn"Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.'" Luke 23:46 (NIV)
Monday, March 28, 2011
When Praise Becomes A Sacrifice
Scripture Of The Day: "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." - Psalm 106:1 (NKJV)
There are times when it is a sacrifice to offer praise to God, quite frankly, because we don't really want to. There are times when we are down or depressed or things aren't going that well. We don't really feel like praising the Lord.
Yet the Bible is filled with admonition after admonition to give glory and praise and thanks to God. Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."
Notice that the Bible does not say, "Give thanks to the Lord when you feel good." Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" I don't praise God because I feel like it. I praise God because He is worthy, regardless of what I am going through.
Praise can be a sacrifice sometimes. I have found that when, out of obedience, I begin to praise the Lord, the emotion will begin to engage with my act of obedience in time. The point is, I should do it because God tells me to.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of ten men who were miraculously touched by Jesus. Because these men had leprosy, they were the outcasts of their society. Yet Jesus went out of His way to touch them and heal them of this dread disease. Only one, a Samaritan, returned and gave thanks and praise to God.
Jesus then asked a provocative question: "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18). In many ways, I think He is still asking this question today.
[by Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
There are times when it is a sacrifice to offer praise to God, quite frankly, because we don't really want to. There are times when we are down or depressed or things aren't going that well. We don't really feel like praising the Lord.
Yet the Bible is filled with admonition after admonition to give glory and praise and thanks to God. Psalm 106:1 says, "Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."
Notice that the Bible does not say, "Give thanks to the Lord when you feel good." Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" I don't praise God because I feel like it. I praise God because He is worthy, regardless of what I am going through.
Praise can be a sacrifice sometimes. I have found that when, out of obedience, I begin to praise the Lord, the emotion will begin to engage with my act of obedience in time. The point is, I should do it because God tells me to.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find the story of ten men who were miraculously touched by Jesus. Because these men had leprosy, they were the outcasts of their society. Yet Jesus went out of His way to touch them and heal them of this dread disease. Only one, a Samaritan, returned and gave thanks and praise to God.
Jesus then asked a provocative question: "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18). In many ways, I think He is still asking this question today.
[by Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Friday, March 25, 2011
The Moment of Truth
But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23
In 1990, the band Milli Vanilli was awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist. They were quite successful in their day, selling millions of albums. But then it was revealed that they did not do the vocals on their own recordings. Some studio singers had done that. Their Grammy was returned. There came a moment when Milli Vanilli had to face the music.
And there will come a day when everyone will have to face the music as well. There are some who are putting on a good show right now as Christians. They have just about everyone convinced. They have their parents convinced. They have their husband or their wife convinced. They have all of their friends thinking they are very committed believers. But they are living a double life and are fooling them all.
One day, they will face the music. One day, that which is hidden will be revealed. There will be nowhere to hide, and they will realize the only people they were fooling were themselves.
That is why Jesus said, "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16). That is a repulsive idea, and it is why Jesus used it. He was trying to make a point. He was effectively saying, "I can't stand people who are lukewarm."
What does it mean to be lukewarm? It is a person pretending to be a Christian who is not. To be lukewarm is to be a genuine imitation, a fake. One day we all will stand before God himself. And even if someone has done a brilliant job of fooling others in the church, they, too, will have to face the music.
So don't play games with God. Don't be a fake Christian.
[By Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
More Than Just Belief
Key Bible Verses: And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. (1 John 2:3-4) Dig Deeper: James 1:21-25, 2:14-26
Maybe you're thinking, I believe in God. Isn't that enough? I mean, a lot of people don't believe in God, but I do. Isn't that what he wants from me? Those are fair questions. But believing in God isn't all he wants from us. The Book of James says even the demons believe in God, yet they tremble because they know that they're relationally separated from him (James 2:19). Obviously, there is more to the whole Christian thing than just believing in God.
Growing up, my family was what I'd call "cultural Christians." We'd go to church on Christmas and Easter. We'd help a neighbor in need. We'd donate canned goods to food drives. We'd pray at Thanksgiving meals. But that was basically the extent of it. Even though I believed in God, all I knew was about him—and very little of that. I didn't know him. And because I didn't know him the way best friends or spouses know each others, I lived according to my own rules.
[ Today's Key Bible Verses say rather pointedly that] my very actions revealed my lack of intimate knowledge of God. [Do those verses] seem harsh? I prefer to think of it as straightforward and honest. Truthfully spoken by someone who truly cares and wants the best for us.
My Response: I will read today's Dig Deeper, reflecting on the proper place of obedience and good works in the life of a Christian.
Thought to Apply: The Scripture plainly teaches that practice is the best evidence of the sincerity of Christians. Our reason teaches us the same thing.—Jonathan Edwards (preacher, theologian)
[By Craig Groeschel ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Maybe you're thinking, I believe in God. Isn't that enough? I mean, a lot of people don't believe in God, but I do. Isn't that what he wants from me? Those are fair questions. But believing in God isn't all he wants from us. The Book of James says even the demons believe in God, yet they tremble because they know that they're relationally separated from him (James 2:19). Obviously, there is more to the whole Christian thing than just believing in God.
Growing up, my family was what I'd call "cultural Christians." We'd go to church on Christmas and Easter. We'd help a neighbor in need. We'd donate canned goods to food drives. We'd pray at Thanksgiving meals. But that was basically the extent of it. Even though I believed in God, all I knew was about him—and very little of that. I didn't know him. And because I didn't know him the way best friends or spouses know each others, I lived according to my own rules.
[ Today's Key Bible Verses say rather pointedly that] my very actions revealed my lack of intimate knowledge of God. [Do those verses] seem harsh? I prefer to think of it as straightforward and honest. Truthfully spoken by someone who truly cares and wants the best for us.
My Response: I will read today's Dig Deeper, reflecting on the proper place of obedience and good works in the life of a Christian.
Thought to Apply: The Scripture plainly teaches that practice is the best evidence of the sincerity of Christians. Our reason teaches us the same thing.—Jonathan Edwards (preacher, theologian)
[By Craig Groeschel ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Praise Is What I Do!
Scripture Of The Day:
"Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." - 1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV)I have come to know that as the challenges and temptations of life come my way, that if I can just make my way into a praise, if I can just turn my attention to the goodness of God, if I could just position myself to praise him, it is in my praise that I find the strength to deal with whatever it is facing me.
There’s something about the praise. It’s in the praise that I recount how good God is, has been, and will be to me. It’s in the praise that the pain lessens, the struggle subsides, and the spirit begins to rise.
We spend every day, sometimes all day, tangling with temptation, fighting with frustration, following God’s voice with hesitation...and that will wear you out. Every time we deal with a challenge, we have to release a portion of what God deposited in us the last time we spent time with him. He can only deposit in us if we’re hooked up to him. We hook up to Him through worship; we hook up to Him through prayer; we hook up to him through praise. When you feel like you’re running on empty, just praise Him. When you need refueling, praise Him. When the day has you feeling defeated, the situation has you subdued, and the problem has you paralyzed, just praise Him. Praise is what I do.
In 1 Samuel 30, we see David and his men coming home to Ziklag after battle only to find that the Amalakites, the enemy, had raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground. In addition to this, the Amalakites, the enemy, had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone.
What has it been like when you have come home only to find that your home has been broken into, your car has been broken into, your personal stuff taken; your material possessions messed with? The flesh rises up, the pressure goes up, your vision is blurred; you’re just angry. When you have to battle the flesh in the moment, it takes every ounce of strength you have to stay holy.
When the emotions take over, that’s when we must dig deep and allow the Holy Ghost to stay in control. The bible says in verse 3 that when David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. What does this say to us today? There will be tears, there will be discouragement, there will be fear, but it’s through our praise that we remember “greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world.” (1John 4:4)
It is through our praise that we remember that if God be for you who can be against you? It is through our praise that we remember, we’ve been through this before, we’ve seen this before. It is through our praise that we remember how God delivered us last time.
Acts 16:25 tells us that at around midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was an earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed.
Somebody called on the Lord in the midnight hour. And when they called on the name of Jesus, he answered them.
He turned their midnight into morning. He turned their sorrow into a shout. He turned their problem into praise. He turned their worry into worship.
When Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God, the prisoners heard them.
There are some prisoners sitting right next to you; There are some prisoners who need the bands loosed;
There are some prisoners who need to know what to do to get loose; The answer is simple. Tell them, “Praise is what I do!”
By Pastor Marvin Moss
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Matter Of Perspective
14) And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and Beginning and Author of God's creation:(A) 15) I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16) So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! 17) For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. (B)18) Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. 19) Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].(C) 20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 21)He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. 22)He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). Rev. 3: 14-22 (AMP)
One of my favorite stories is about the Texas rancher who was doing agricultural consulting for a farmer in Germany. He asked the German farmer about the size of his property, to which he replied, “About a mile square.” When the German asked the Texan about the size of his ranch, the rancher explained that if he got in his pick-up truck at dawn and drove until sunset he would still be on his ranch. Not to be outdone, the farmer replied, “I used to have an old truck like that!”
All joking aside, it’s important to have the right perspective. Unfortunately, the Christians in Laodicea had the wrong perspective about wealth (Rev. 3:14-22). By all appearances, they were rich. They had plenty of earthly goods and thought they needed nothing—not even Jesus. But Jesus had a different perspective. In spite of their material prosperity, He saw that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (v.17). So He invited them to become truly rich by seeking what only He could provide: purity, character, righteousness, and wisdom.
Let’s not make the Laodicean mistake. Instead, let’s keep our perspective right about what it means to be rich. True wealth is not measured by what you have but by who you are in Christ.
In Christ we’re rich beyond belief, With wealth the world cannot see; We have new strength and character,
New righteousness and purity. —Sper
[by Joe Stowell]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
One of my favorite stories is about the Texas rancher who was doing agricultural consulting for a farmer in Germany. He asked the German farmer about the size of his property, to which he replied, “About a mile square.” When the German asked the Texan about the size of his ranch, the rancher explained that if he got in his pick-up truck at dawn and drove until sunset he would still be on his ranch. Not to be outdone, the farmer replied, “I used to have an old truck like that!”
All joking aside, it’s important to have the right perspective. Unfortunately, the Christians in Laodicea had the wrong perspective about wealth (Rev. 3:14-22). By all appearances, they were rich. They had plenty of earthly goods and thought they needed nothing—not even Jesus. But Jesus had a different perspective. In spite of their material prosperity, He saw that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (v.17). So He invited them to become truly rich by seeking what only He could provide: purity, character, righteousness, and wisdom.
Let’s not make the Laodicean mistake. Instead, let’s keep our perspective right about what it means to be rich. True wealth is not measured by what you have but by who you are in Christ.
In Christ we’re rich beyond belief, With wealth the world cannot see; We have new strength and character,
New righteousness and purity. —Sper
[by Joe Stowell]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Our Awesome God
9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne,(A) who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders(B) fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast(C) their crowns before the throne, saying, 11(D) "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for(E) you created all things, and(F) by your will they existed and were created." Revelation 4:9-11
In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things?
Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First: it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.”
Second: our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We will desire righteousness and be quick to repent of sin.
Third: our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.
Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But, as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. The more you do that, the more your prayers, behavior, and faith will be impacted.
[by Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things?
Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First: it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.”
Second: our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We will desire righteousness and be quick to repent of sin.
Third: our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.
Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But, as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. The more you do that, the more your prayers, behavior, and faith will be impacted.
[by Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Purpose of Time Alone with God
Scripture Of The Day: "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." - Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
The ultimate purpose of spending time with God is to commune with God. Man is made for relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and thus, in order to have fullness of joy and to be what God wants him to be, he needs to cultivate that relationship. How this is done will make all the difference for making our devotional time a meaningful, edifying, and truly purposeful time.
James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.
When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.
A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.
Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.
Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.
[By Brent Barnett]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
The ultimate purpose of spending time with God is to commune with God. Man is made for relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and thus, in order to have fullness of joy and to be what God wants him to be, he needs to cultivate that relationship. How this is done will make all the difference for making our devotional time a meaningful, edifying, and truly purposeful time.
James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." The reason we must have time with God is because God asks us to. He puts the responsibility on us to make the first move to reach to Him in drawing near. He wants us to want Him, and so He waits for us with open arms hoping that we will run to Him. The promise for us is sure that if we draw near to Him we can be sure that He will be there for us. He won't run, He won't hurt us, He won't ignore us, He won't abandon us, and He will listen. He is the perfect friend and Father, and He always has all the time we could ever need. In addition, He has the power to effect change, move mountains, and truly impact our lives immediately and directly. It is such a privilege to be a child of God Who can approach the Sovereign of the entire world to move to meet our needs.
When we come to realize that life is about relationship with God, we will get the most out of our devotion time. If we start to think that life is merely about doing things for God rather than enjoying God Who does His work in and through us, we will lose our joy and our first love (Revelation 2:4). Life to the full is knowing God (John 17:3). Eternal life and the abundant life (John 10:10) are found in cultivating a personal relationship with a personal God through Jesus Christ. This is what our heart longs for, and if we start replacing God with activities for God or any other idol, we will lose our joy and wonder why God feels so distant. The beauty of an intimate walk with God is that we can know His will (1 Corinthians 2:16), we can have our joy made full (John 15:11), and we can expect our prayers to be answered (John 15:7). There is rest, security, and certainty when we are near to the heart of God. But we must take the time to spend time with God to listen to Him, learn from Him, and love Him.
A productive quiet time is one in which we encounter God's heart for us through His Word. We read it, study it, and meditate upon it such that the Spirit is able to give us enlightenment concerning its meaning and His desired application for our lives. The Scripture is not meant to be mere data and information, but it is language expressing God's love and intents to us and for us. It is thus more than letters on a page, being God's handwritten note to us about His love and purposes for us. It is very much alive (Hebrews 4:12). When we read God's Word to see what God's heart is and how He wants our hearts (James 1:25), then devotions are meaningful and purposeful.
Devotions should also involve time in prayer. We should listen to God through His Word, and then we should speak to God through prayer. It is essential that we open our hearts fully before God, especially since He sees them for what they are anyway. It is silly to not express our full longings when God knows what they are anyway. We should cast our worries and cares upon Christ (1 Peter 5:7), we should pour out our needs to Him, and we should pray for the things which He has told us to pray for, such as for His kingdom to come and will to be done in various areas in our sphere of influence and in the world. We want to see His name lifted up in spirit and in truth. Once our hearts are enraptured with God, it is only natural to pray for others to know the same thing.
Psalm 16:11 says, "You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
We were made for God, so let us spend time alone with God to hear from Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him, to learn from Him, and to listen to Him. He alone can give us strength and meet our deepest needs, so let us draw near to Him regularly, starting today.
[By Brent Barnett]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, March 14, 2011
Called for a Purpose
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23
People will endlessly debate the whole issue of election: Who is chosen? Who is not chosen? How are they chosen? But all too often, no one will ever ask why they were chosen. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . . " (John 15:16). Why were believers chosen by God? They were chosen to bring forth fruit.
And one way to bring forth fruit is by a change in conduct and character. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." In this verse, the word for "love" in the original language is agape, used more than any other word for love in the New Testament. And how do we define love? It is joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and so forth. So this verse deals with our attitude toward God, toward ourselves, and toward others.
But is it even possible to know love, joy, and peace in this cynical age? According to Scripture, they should be the present experience of every believer. It is joy, a joy unspeakable, regardless of circumstances. It is peace that passes all human understanding. This all comes as a result of our walk with God.
Then we have patience, kindness, and goodness, virtues that we show toward others. Patience speaks of longsuffering toward others. Kindness speaks of our disposition. Goodness speaks of our words and deeds. Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control speak of who we are as people.
Believers talk about the power of the Holy Spirit. But we also need the fruit of the Spirit. That is what Jesus is looking for.
[By Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
People will endlessly debate the whole issue of election: Who is chosen? Who is not chosen? How are they chosen? But all too often, no one will ever ask why they were chosen. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . . " (John 15:16). Why were believers chosen by God? They were chosen to bring forth fruit.
And one way to bring forth fruit is by a change in conduct and character. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." In this verse, the word for "love" in the original language is agape, used more than any other word for love in the New Testament. And how do we define love? It is joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and so forth. So this verse deals with our attitude toward God, toward ourselves, and toward others.
But is it even possible to know love, joy, and peace in this cynical age? According to Scripture, they should be the present experience of every believer. It is joy, a joy unspeakable, regardless of circumstances. It is peace that passes all human understanding. This all comes as a result of our walk with God.
Then we have patience, kindness, and goodness, virtues that we show toward others. Patience speaks of longsuffering toward others. Kindness speaks of our disposition. Goodness speaks of our words and deeds. Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control speak of who we are as people.
Believers talk about the power of the Holy Spirit. But we also need the fruit of the Spirit. That is what Jesus is looking for.
[By Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Friday, March 11, 2011
Our Awesome God
Read -Revelation 4:9-11
In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things?
Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First, it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.”
Second, our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We will desire righteousness and be quick to repent of sin.
Third, our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.
Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But, as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. The more you do that, the more your prayers, behavior, and faith will be impacted.
[by Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blesed!
Dawn
In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things?
Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First, it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.”
Second, our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We will desire righteousness and be quick to repent of sin.
Third, our faith is impacted. Grasping that Jesus is holy, good, and powerful grows our trust in Him. Knowing our awesome God and remembering His great works will further build our confidence in Him.
Do you personally know our loving and holy heavenly Father? He invites you into an intimate relationship with Him. But, as with any good friendship, time and intentionality are necessary to understand Him and learn His ways. The more you do that, the more your prayers, behavior, and faith will be impacted.
[by Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blesed!
Dawn
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Yet I Sleep.......
Scripture Of The Day: “'Why are you sleeping?' he asked them. 'Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.'” Luke 22:46 (NIV)
Luke 22 --“Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (v. 46) -- the echoes of these ancient words reverberated through the corridors of my soul. I was convicted – guilty as charged.
Just hours before he would carry all of humanity’s sins on his shoulders and in his own body, Jesus spoke these words to his friends, disciples, the men who would be responsible for his world-wide mission. He invited them to enter into and share his agony through intercessory prayer. But, they were exhausted with grief and the self-absorbed pursuit of moving up the leadership ladder. How could they sleep while their Master suffered? What a shame! Well, over 2000 years later, he speaks these same words to me.
I am in that garden, sleeping. My Savior invites me to be with him and to pray with him, but I am distracted by gadgets, schedules and my agenda. I am exhausted with grief and hopelessness, self-absorbed pursuits, and the lack of curiosity. My Savior has invited me into his pain. Yet, I sleep. My Savior has invited me to agonize with him over murder, abortion, rape, slavery, genocide, infanticide, abusive relationships, failing marriages, oil spills and hurricanes, and earthquakes. Yet, I sleep. He comes to me and finds me sleeping.
“Why are you sleeping?” he asks me. “Huh? I’m busted. I’m embarrassed. I’m not gonna stunt, pose or try and manage an image. I offer no words of excuse or rationalization. I was sleeping – plain and simple.
Jesus, I’m sorry.” I wipe the sleep from my eyes and the drool from my mouth, only to recognize that while I was sleeping, he was praying. He has been praying and agonizing over the pain, the brokenness, the sins, the fear, and the anxiety in our world, but I was sleeping. My Savior kneels alone on his praying ground, deeply troubled. Yet, I sleep.
Because I am sleeping, I am not praying. And, because I am not praying, I am more prone to fail. I am in the garden, sleeping, and I am prone to give into all kinds of temptations: irrational fear, unnecessary anxiety, blatant satanic lies that my sins can outrun God’s grace, the delusional belief that I know better than God and can control my own life, and feeding my flesh is more important than feeding my spirit. No more! Not today! It’s time for me to:
Together let’s enter into this exhausting, powerful, and intimate spiritual habit with my Savior. He invites us to be alone with him and to be devoted to talking to him daily. Let’s awake and pray so we won’t fail him and others we love.
[By Pastor Marvin Williams ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Luke 22 --“Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.” (v. 46) -- the echoes of these ancient words reverberated through the corridors of my soul. I was convicted – guilty as charged.
Just hours before he would carry all of humanity’s sins on his shoulders and in his own body, Jesus spoke these words to his friends, disciples, the men who would be responsible for his world-wide mission. He invited them to enter into and share his agony through intercessory prayer. But, they were exhausted with grief and the self-absorbed pursuit of moving up the leadership ladder. How could they sleep while their Master suffered? What a shame! Well, over 2000 years later, he speaks these same words to me.
I am in that garden, sleeping. My Savior invites me to be with him and to pray with him, but I am distracted by gadgets, schedules and my agenda. I am exhausted with grief and hopelessness, self-absorbed pursuits, and the lack of curiosity. My Savior has invited me into his pain. Yet, I sleep. My Savior has invited me to agonize with him over murder, abortion, rape, slavery, genocide, infanticide, abusive relationships, failing marriages, oil spills and hurricanes, and earthquakes. Yet, I sleep. He comes to me and finds me sleeping.
“Why are you sleeping?” he asks me. “Huh? I’m busted. I’m embarrassed. I’m not gonna stunt, pose or try and manage an image. I offer no words of excuse or rationalization. I was sleeping – plain and simple.
Jesus, I’m sorry.” I wipe the sleep from my eyes and the drool from my mouth, only to recognize that while I was sleeping, he was praying. He has been praying and agonizing over the pain, the brokenness, the sins, the fear, and the anxiety in our world, but I was sleeping. My Savior kneels alone on his praying ground, deeply troubled. Yet, I sleep.
Because I am sleeping, I am not praying. And, because I am not praying, I am more prone to fail. I am in the garden, sleeping, and I am prone to give into all kinds of temptations: irrational fear, unnecessary anxiety, blatant satanic lies that my sins can outrun God’s grace, the delusional belief that I know better than God and can control my own life, and feeding my flesh is more important than feeding my spirit. No more! Not today! It’s time for me to:
- Get up!
- Arise!
- Wake up! Pray!
- Intercede!
- Talk to God! and
- Be devoted to prayer!
Together let’s enter into this exhausting, powerful, and intimate spiritual habit with my Savior. He invites us to be alone with him and to be devoted to talking to him daily. Let’s awake and pray so we won’t fail him and others we love.
[By Pastor Marvin Williams ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Eyes of The Lord
"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." - Psalm 34:15–17
Over and over, the Bible talks about the "eyes of the Lord" on us. What does that mean? And what difference does it make?
1. The eyes of the Lord are inescapable. Proverbs 5:21 tells us that "a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths" (See Proverbs 15:3 too)! God sees it all because He's watching.
2. The eyes of the Lord are synonymous with what's right and true. Deuteronomy 6:18 says, "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you." We read about Old Testament kings who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD," and leaders who "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD." The eyes of the Lord are constantly gazing on us and moving us toward what is good.
3. The eyes of the Lord are focused upon and attentive to His own. While God sees everything that happens on your block, He has a predisposition to fix His attention upon what's going on in the lives of His children and to extend loving care toward us. 1 Peter 3:12a says, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer." Because you love Christ, God pays attention to you in a special way.
4. The eyes of the Lord are searching for people to bless. God is looking for people on whom to show His favor. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless (fully committed) toward him." He's flat-out looking for people who want to experience His strength. He's never tired of picking out His children in the crowd.
5.
[by Dr. James MacDonald]
Be Blessed!
DawnThe eyes of the Lord are provoked to grace when He observes a righteous person. Genesis 6:8 says that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (NKJV). What a great challenge; what a great promise. I hope that when God sees you and me, He says "Get more blessing over to that child; He loves My Son! And help her; she's following My way."
Over and over, the Bible talks about the "eyes of the Lord" on us. What does that mean? And what difference does it make?
1. The eyes of the Lord are inescapable. Proverbs 5:21 tells us that "a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths" (See Proverbs 15:3 too)! God sees it all because He's watching.
2. The eyes of the Lord are synonymous with what's right and true. Deuteronomy 6:18 says, "And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you." We read about Old Testament kings who "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD," and leaders who "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD." The eyes of the Lord are constantly gazing on us and moving us toward what is good.
3. The eyes of the Lord are focused upon and attentive to His own. While God sees everything that happens on your block, He has a predisposition to fix His attention upon what's going on in the lives of His children and to extend loving care toward us. 1 Peter 3:12a says, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer." Because you love Christ, God pays attention to you in a special way.
4. The eyes of the Lord are searching for people to bless. God is looking for people on whom to show His favor. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless (fully committed) toward him." He's flat-out looking for people who want to experience His strength. He's never tired of picking out His children in the crowd.
5.
[by Dr. James MacDonald]
Be Blessed!
DawnThe eyes of the Lord are provoked to grace when He observes a righteous person. Genesis 6:8 says that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (NKJV). What a great challenge; what a great promise. I hope that when God sees you and me, He says "Get more blessing over to that child; He loves My Son! And help her; she's following My way."
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Redefining Time Alone With God
Scripture Of The Day: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Marriage has a way of changing your entire perspective. My wife loves spending time alone with me. I venture to say it is one of her favorite activities.
Early in our marriage, I misunderstood what this meant. For me, alone time meant sitting back and watching a movie or a basketball game on television together. This was “good, quality” time. Yet, she longed for more. There was something missing. There were times when she wanted my undivided attention, but I was too busy trying to figure out a movie’s plot or listening to unending commentary about a player’s personal life.
How much more does the Lover of our soul long for that alone time with us? Sure we can turn on a Gospel album and sing along with the lyrics. It might paint a vivid story of who God is and how He has blessed us beyond measure. How is that any different from my idea of movie night representing quality alone time? We might even go to worship every Sunday and listen to what others have to say about our God through the preaching of the Word. How is that any different from me not wanting to miss a word any of the commentators say about my favorite players?
I learned one thing when I began to unplug myself from all the distractions. My relationship with my wife became more intimate. I began to learn things about her I would have never learned had I not taken the time out to do one thing: listen. Many of us have the wrong impression when it comes to alone time with God.
We think alone time is more about the things we say TO Him rather than the things we hear FROM Him.
Jesus knew this all too well. Any time he came back from spending alone time with God he would have clear direction in his ministry. This is because he listened more than he spoke. He stole away from all the miracle-seeking crowds. He never let his stature in the community keep him from the one thing that sustained him: spending time alone with God. In the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, he rose “a long while before daylight” to spend alone time with God (Mark 1:35) (Not that early birds are more spiritual than night owls. Find a time that works best for you.) Interestingly enough, when the disciples found Jesus and told him that everyone was looking for him, he said: “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38). Alone time with God has a way of extracting purpose. It has a way of giving you direction. Most of all, it has a way of allowing you to hear the voice of God.
I can honestly say that my marriage is stronger now than it was before. That’s because I had to recalibrate my idea of what it meant to spend time alone with my wife. Maybe some recalibration is necessary in your life today as it pertains to God. Maybe your relationship with Him isn’t as strong as you’d like. Eliminate some of those distractions that you think might be helping. God longs for more than you listening to a 12-track composition about Him. He longs for more than you recounting what others say about Him. He just wants it to be about you and Him. Try it. I guarantee you will strengthen your bond with our Creator.
[By John C. Richards, Jr.]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Marriage has a way of changing your entire perspective. My wife loves spending time alone with me. I venture to say it is one of her favorite activities.
Early in our marriage, I misunderstood what this meant. For me, alone time meant sitting back and watching a movie or a basketball game on television together. This was “good, quality” time. Yet, she longed for more. There was something missing. There were times when she wanted my undivided attention, but I was too busy trying to figure out a movie’s plot or listening to unending commentary about a player’s personal life.
How much more does the Lover of our soul long for that alone time with us? Sure we can turn on a Gospel album and sing along with the lyrics. It might paint a vivid story of who God is and how He has blessed us beyond measure. How is that any different from my idea of movie night representing quality alone time? We might even go to worship every Sunday and listen to what others have to say about our God through the preaching of the Word. How is that any different from me not wanting to miss a word any of the commentators say about my favorite players?
I learned one thing when I began to unplug myself from all the distractions. My relationship with my wife became more intimate. I began to learn things about her I would have never learned had I not taken the time out to do one thing: listen. Many of us have the wrong impression when it comes to alone time with God.
We think alone time is more about the things we say TO Him rather than the things we hear FROM Him.
Jesus knew this all too well. Any time he came back from spending alone time with God he would have clear direction in his ministry. This is because he listened more than he spoke. He stole away from all the miracle-seeking crowds. He never let his stature in the community keep him from the one thing that sustained him: spending time alone with God. In the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, he rose “a long while before daylight” to spend alone time with God (Mark 1:35) (Not that early birds are more spiritual than night owls. Find a time that works best for you.) Interestingly enough, when the disciples found Jesus and told him that everyone was looking for him, he said: “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth” (Mark 1:38). Alone time with God has a way of extracting purpose. It has a way of giving you direction. Most of all, it has a way of allowing you to hear the voice of God.
I can honestly say that my marriage is stronger now than it was before. That’s because I had to recalibrate my idea of what it meant to spend time alone with my wife. Maybe some recalibration is necessary in your life today as it pertains to God. Maybe your relationship with Him isn’t as strong as you’d like. Eliminate some of those distractions that you think might be helping. God longs for more than you listening to a 12-track composition about Him. He longs for more than you recounting what others say about Him. He just wants it to be about you and Him. Try it. I guarantee you will strengthen your bond with our Creator.
[By John C. Richards, Jr.]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, March 7, 2011
Are You a Praying Person?
One of the clear marks of a true Christian is that they pray . . a lot!
After his unexpected and radical conversion, the notorious Saul of Tarsus began to pray. In fact, when the Lord sent Ananias to go to him with words of encouragement, He said, "Behold, he is praying" (Acts 9:11).
Are you known as a person of prayer? The Bible tells us that we are to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
This verse tells us we should be praying with "all prayer." We use the word "pray" a lot. It is a pretty general term. But know this: you can pray publically and privately, verbally and silently. You can be kneeling, standing, sitting, lying down, or even driving. You can pray with your eyes open or closed!
The main thing is to pray! You can pray in any position, at any time, anywhere. Sometimes we think that the Lord will hear our prayers better if they are prayed in a church building. But that is not necessarily true.
Surely God will hear your prayer wherever you are. The main thing is that you are "praying always."
The word "all" in this verse speaks of the frequency of prayer—morning, afternoon, and evening. We are to "pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God . . ."
Daniel had enemies who set a trap for him because they knew he prayed. So what did he do after this decree was signed that no one could pray to God?
"But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God" (Daniel 6:10).
Do your enemies know you pray? Let's all look for opportunities to pray in the coming weeks.
[By Greg Laurie]
After his unexpected and radical conversion, the notorious Saul of Tarsus began to pray. In fact, when the Lord sent Ananias to go to him with words of encouragement, He said, "Behold, he is praying" (Acts 9:11).
Are you known as a person of prayer? The Bible tells us that we are to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
This verse tells us we should be praying with "all prayer." We use the word "pray" a lot. It is a pretty general term. But know this: you can pray publically and privately, verbally and silently. You can be kneeling, standing, sitting, lying down, or even driving. You can pray with your eyes open or closed!
The main thing is to pray! You can pray in any position, at any time, anywhere. Sometimes we think that the Lord will hear our prayers better if they are prayed in a church building. But that is not necessarily true.
- Daniel prayed in a lion's den.
- David prayed in a field.
- Peter prayed in (and on) the water.
- Jonah's prayer was heard from the belly of a whale!
Surely God will hear your prayer wherever you are. The main thing is that you are "praying always."
The word "all" in this verse speaks of the frequency of prayer—morning, afternoon, and evening. We are to "pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God . . ."
Daniel had enemies who set a trap for him because they knew he prayed. So what did he do after this decree was signed that no one could pray to God?
"But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God" (Daniel 6:10).
Do your enemies know you pray? Let's all look for opportunities to pray in the coming weeks.
[By Greg Laurie]
Friday, March 4, 2011
Carry the Light
2) Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. 3) Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Psalm 96: 2-3 (NLT)
In the New Testament, the word light is identified with goodness and holiness. Darkness, on the other hand, is frequently associated with unrighteousness or evil.
Jesus described Himself as “the Light of the world” (John 9:5). He invited the people to put their trust in Him so that they might become sons of light (John 12:36). The apostle John called Jesus “the true Light,” who gives illumination to all (John 1:9). Our enemy Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light, has blinded the eyes of many so they do not recognize the truth of the gospel message. As a result, they fail to believe (2 Cor. 4:4).
The word light has significance for believers too. At salvation, we were transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:12-13 niv). Freed from slavery to sin, we were adopted by our heavenly Father and given a future home in heaven as well as a new family now—our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are no longer in darkness; instead, we walk in the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
Now we are “children of light” (Eph. 5:8), and our calling is to carry the truth about salvation and eternal life to an unbelieving world. Jesus has commissioned us to share the gospel message and to live it out in our daily life.
The apostle Paul understood what it meant to carry the light of the gospel to others. He dedicated himself to sharing the good news with those who did not believe and to nurturing the faith of other Christians. Like Paul, we are called to be light bearers to those around us.
[By Dr Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
In the New Testament, the word light is identified with goodness and holiness. Darkness, on the other hand, is frequently associated with unrighteousness or evil.
Jesus described Himself as “the Light of the world” (John 9:5). He invited the people to put their trust in Him so that they might become sons of light (John 12:36). The apostle John called Jesus “the true Light,” who gives illumination to all (John 1:9). Our enemy Satan, who masquerades as an angel of light, has blinded the eyes of many so they do not recognize the truth of the gospel message. As a result, they fail to believe (2 Cor. 4:4).
The word light has significance for believers too. At salvation, we were transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col. 1:12-13 niv). Freed from slavery to sin, we were adopted by our heavenly Father and given a future home in heaven as well as a new family now—our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are no longer in darkness; instead, we walk in the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
Now we are “children of light” (Eph. 5:8), and our calling is to carry the truth about salvation and eternal life to an unbelieving world. Jesus has commissioned us to share the gospel message and to live it out in our daily life.
The apostle Paul understood what it meant to carry the light of the gospel to others. He dedicated himself to sharing the good news with those who did not believe and to nurturing the faith of other Christians. Like Paul, we are called to be light bearers to those around us.
[By Dr Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, March 3, 2011
An Appointment With God
Scripture Of The Day: "The Lord God called to Adam, 'Where are you?' " - Genesis 3:9
In addition to walking in harmony with God, Amos 3:3 provides another nuance of meaning. It also gives the idea of keeping an appointment. Did you know that you have an appointment with God? You do. It is there, written in eternity. In fact, God wants to meet with you on a regular basis.
I wonder just how many times each day God wants to speak to us and He can't get a word in edgewise? The Lord might say, "I have wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you are too busy. This morning, I wanted to talk to you, but you didn't have any time for me. You read the newspapers and watched TV and talked on the phone. You never opened the Word. You never prayed. At lunch, I tried to say something, but your prayer was so fast. Later, I tried to talk with you. You have been so busy. You have an appointment with me. Why don't you keep it?"
Remember how Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden? He would hear the voice of the Lord in the garden in the cool of the evening. One day, Adam missed that appointment because of sin. God said to Adam, "Where are you?"
I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: "Where are you? Where were you? I have been looking for you. I wanted to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you."
Just imagine, the Creator of the Universe wants to spend time with you. Is there any appointment that is worth keeping more than this one?
[by Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
In addition to walking in harmony with God, Amos 3:3 provides another nuance of meaning. It also gives the idea of keeping an appointment. Did you know that you have an appointment with God? You do. It is there, written in eternity. In fact, God wants to meet with you on a regular basis.
I wonder just how many times each day God wants to speak to us and He can't get a word in edgewise? The Lord might say, "I have wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you are too busy. This morning, I wanted to talk to you, but you didn't have any time for me. You read the newspapers and watched TV and talked on the phone. You never opened the Word. You never prayed. At lunch, I tried to say something, but your prayer was so fast. Later, I tried to talk with you. You have been so busy. You have an appointment with me. Why don't you keep it?"
Remember how Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden? He would hear the voice of the Lord in the garden in the cool of the evening. One day, Adam missed that appointment because of sin. God said to Adam, "Where are you?"
I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: "Where are you? Where were you? I have been looking for you. I wanted to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you."
Just imagine, the Creator of the Universe wants to spend time with you. Is there any appointment that is worth keeping more than this one?
[by Greg Laurie]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Created To Love
Scripture Of The Day:
Have you ever wondered if your life has a purpose? The Word of God says it does—one that is both noble and desirable: Every believer was created by God to love and be loved.
God loves you personally and individually, without limit or qualification. He desires to shower you with His affection and kindness. Let me assure you of several things:
God's love is the most important thing we can know about Him. The very essence of God's being—in other words, His personality and nature—is love (1 John 4:8). It is the reason Jesus came to earth, lived a victorious life, and then died to restore man's relationship with the Father (John 3:16). The most important decision we can ever make is to receive this gift of God.
The Lord's affection is absolute, unwavering, and sacrificial. Moreover, God's love is not subject to favoritism. He cares for the sinner as much as He does for the saint. In our human pride or our desire to be "somebody special," we may find that fact difficult to swallow. But God grants love to each person.
The Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, and the sun shines on the righteous and the wicked (Matt. 5:45). This means that with or without faith in God, everyone experiences certain benefits and blessings from Him. But the person who receives Jesus as Savior is in a position to reap the blessings that accompany an outpouring of love into his or her life.
The Lord's love is not based upon what we do, what we have, or what we achieve. He freely gives it to us simply because we are His creation. You cannot win or earn more of God's favor—it has nothing to do with performance. Accept and delight in that truth. The most important response we can make is to reciprocate God's love.
John said it simply and eloquently: "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NKJV). And Jesus said the first and foremost commandment was this: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). The only acceptable response to God's great outpouring of love toward you is to love Him back.
We can choose to rebel. And while this doesn't affect God’s nature, it will change us. Those who refuse to acknowledge and receive divine love cut themselves off from great blessing. Not only that, but such individuals typically yield to anger, hatred, and bitterness. To harden one’s heart toward God is the supreme act of rebellion—in doing so, a person hurts himself far more than he hurts others. Humbly receiving God, on the other hand, brings good into one's life.
Satan constantly tries to convince us that if we follow Jesus, we will have to give up personal freedom, identity, and pleasure. But those who live apart from God's love inevitably discover their rebellion did not make them any freer. They may not go to jail, but they end up in emotional or psychological prisons—caught in addiction or trapped by feelings of resentment. The longer they live separated from the Lord's love and mercy, the less pleasure they find in life. In that situation, it is easy to become cynical, jaded, critical, and in the end, apathetic to nearly everything.
But those who embrace and reciprocate God's love enjoy inner freedom they never imagined. They develop as individuals, discovering hidden talents and abilities. They experience true delight in God's creation and know the joy of perpetual discovery.
When we choose to love and obey God, we can be sure He will guide us toward doing what will bring about the greatest fulfillment in life.
God's love is our ultimate reason to hope. If we know with certainty that God loves us and desires good for our lives, what is there to fear? Hope in Christ is for everyone. It compels us not to remain in a state of dread, doubt, or worry but to seek transformation by the Holy Spirit's power. Trust encourages us to anticipate God's best and look for the dawning of a new day.
Our heavenly Father is generous—even extravagant—in His love. Open your heart and let the Lord shower more of His good gifts upon you. You won't regret yielding your life to Him.
[By Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn"We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
Have you ever wondered if your life has a purpose? The Word of God says it does—one that is both noble and desirable: Every believer was created by God to love and be loved.
God loves you personally and individually, without limit or qualification. He desires to shower you with His affection and kindness. Let me assure you of several things:
God's love is the most important thing we can know about Him. The very essence of God's being—in other words, His personality and nature—is love (1 John 4:8). It is the reason Jesus came to earth, lived a victorious life, and then died to restore man's relationship with the Father (John 3:16). The most important decision we can ever make is to receive this gift of God.
The Lord's affection is absolute, unwavering, and sacrificial. Moreover, God's love is not subject to favoritism. He cares for the sinner as much as He does for the saint. In our human pride or our desire to be "somebody special," we may find that fact difficult to swallow. But God grants love to each person.
The Bible tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, and the sun shines on the righteous and the wicked (Matt. 5:45). This means that with or without faith in God, everyone experiences certain benefits and blessings from Him. But the person who receives Jesus as Savior is in a position to reap the blessings that accompany an outpouring of love into his or her life.
The Lord's love is not based upon what we do, what we have, or what we achieve. He freely gives it to us simply because we are His creation. You cannot win or earn more of God's favor—it has nothing to do with performance. Accept and delight in that truth. The most important response we can make is to reciprocate God's love.
John said it simply and eloquently: "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NKJV). And Jesus said the first and foremost commandment was this: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). The only acceptable response to God's great outpouring of love toward you is to love Him back.
We can choose to rebel. And while this doesn't affect God’s nature, it will change us. Those who refuse to acknowledge and receive divine love cut themselves off from great blessing. Not only that, but such individuals typically yield to anger, hatred, and bitterness. To harden one’s heart toward God is the supreme act of rebellion—in doing so, a person hurts himself far more than he hurts others. Humbly receiving God, on the other hand, brings good into one's life.
Satan constantly tries to convince us that if we follow Jesus, we will have to give up personal freedom, identity, and pleasure. But those who live apart from God's love inevitably discover their rebellion did not make them any freer. They may not go to jail, but they end up in emotional or psychological prisons—caught in addiction or trapped by feelings of resentment. The longer they live separated from the Lord's love and mercy, the less pleasure they find in life. In that situation, it is easy to become cynical, jaded, critical, and in the end, apathetic to nearly everything.
But those who embrace and reciprocate God's love enjoy inner freedom they never imagined. They develop as individuals, discovering hidden talents and abilities. They experience true delight in God's creation and know the joy of perpetual discovery.
When we choose to love and obey God, we can be sure He will guide us toward doing what will bring about the greatest fulfillment in life.
God's love is our ultimate reason to hope. If we know with certainty that God loves us and desires good for our lives, what is there to fear? Hope in Christ is for everyone. It compels us not to remain in a state of dread, doubt, or worry but to seek transformation by the Holy Spirit's power. Trust encourages us to anticipate God's best and look for the dawning of a new day.
Our heavenly Father is generous—even extravagant—in His love. Open your heart and let the Lord shower more of His good gifts upon you. You won't regret yielding your life to Him.
[By Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn"We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Turning Point In Prayer
Scripture Of The Day: "...Your will be done" - Matthew 6:10
Prayer is both the most exhilarating and the most frustrating experience in life. When God answers your prayer, it's a feeling like no other. You stagger around for days, awestruck because the Creator of the Universe reached down and worked in your life. You know a miracle happened, big or small, and that God did it for just one reason: because he loves you. When your feet finally touch the ground, you stop bumping into walls long enough to ask a crucial question: "How can I make that happen again?"
So often our prayers don't get answered the way we want. When that's the case, it can be so disappointing it drives you to tears. It's especially hard when you asked God for something undeniably good—someone's healing, a job, or mending an important relationship. You can't understand why God didn't answer the way you wanted. You see other people getting their prayers answered and you ask, "Why not me?"
Then you start to second-guess yourself, thinking maybe some hidden sin in your life is keeping God from intervening. If you can think of it, confess it and repent of it. But the truth is that we are all sinners and can never come before God totally free of sin. Fortunately, our great mediator is Jesus Christ, the spotless sacrifice who can bring our requests before his Father knowing God will deny his Son nothing.
Still, we keep looking for a pattern. We think about times we got exactly what we wanted and try to recall everything we did. Is there a formula we can follow to control how God answers our prayers? We believe praying is like baking a cake mix: follow three simple steps and it comes out perfect every time. Despite all the books that promise such a thing, there is no secret procedure we can use to guarantee the results we want.
With all that in mind, how can we avoid the frustration that commonly accompanies our prayers? I believe the answer lies in studying the way Jesus prayed. If anybody knew how to pray, it was Jesus. He knew how God thinks because He is God: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30, NIV).
Jesus demonstrated a pattern throughout his prayer life all of us can copy. In obedience, he brought his desires in line with his Father's. When we reach the place where we are willing to do or accept God's will instead of our own, we have reached the turning point in prayer. Jesus lived that: "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (John 6:38, NIV)
Choosing God's will over our own is so hard when we want something passionately. It is agonizing to act as if it doesn't matter to us. It does matter. Our emotions try to convince us there is no possible way we can give in. We can submit to God's will instead of our own solely because God is absolutely trustworthy. We have faith that his love is pure. God has our best interest at heart, and he always does what is most beneficial for us, no matter how it appears at the time.
But sometimes to surrender to God’s will, we also have to cry out as the father of a sick child did to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24, NIV). Like that father, most of us surrender our will to God only after we hit rock bottom. When we have no alternatives and God is the last resort, we grudgingly give up our independence and let him take over. It doesn't have to be that way. You can begin by trusting God before things get out of control. He will not be offended if you test him in your prayers. When you have the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the Universe looking out for you in perfect love, doesn't it make sense to rely on his will instead of your own puny resources?
Everything in this world that we put our faith in has the potential to fail. God does not. He is consistently reliable, even if we do not agree with his decisions. He always leads us in the right direction if we give in to his will. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus said to his Father, "…your will be done." (Matthew 6:10, NIV). When we can say that with sincerity and trust, we have reached the turning point in prayer. God never abandons those who trust him.
It's not about me, it's not about you. It's about God and his will. The sooner we learn that, the sooner our prayers will touch the heart of the One to whom nothing is impossible.
[By Jack Zavada ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Prayer is both the most exhilarating and the most frustrating experience in life. When God answers your prayer, it's a feeling like no other. You stagger around for days, awestruck because the Creator of the Universe reached down and worked in your life. You know a miracle happened, big or small, and that God did it for just one reason: because he loves you. When your feet finally touch the ground, you stop bumping into walls long enough to ask a crucial question: "How can I make that happen again?"
So often our prayers don't get answered the way we want. When that's the case, it can be so disappointing it drives you to tears. It's especially hard when you asked God for something undeniably good—someone's healing, a job, or mending an important relationship. You can't understand why God didn't answer the way you wanted. You see other people getting their prayers answered and you ask, "Why not me?"
Then you start to second-guess yourself, thinking maybe some hidden sin in your life is keeping God from intervening. If you can think of it, confess it and repent of it. But the truth is that we are all sinners and can never come before God totally free of sin. Fortunately, our great mediator is Jesus Christ, the spotless sacrifice who can bring our requests before his Father knowing God will deny his Son nothing.
Still, we keep looking for a pattern. We think about times we got exactly what we wanted and try to recall everything we did. Is there a formula we can follow to control how God answers our prayers? We believe praying is like baking a cake mix: follow three simple steps and it comes out perfect every time. Despite all the books that promise such a thing, there is no secret procedure we can use to guarantee the results we want.
With all that in mind, how can we avoid the frustration that commonly accompanies our prayers? I believe the answer lies in studying the way Jesus prayed. If anybody knew how to pray, it was Jesus. He knew how God thinks because He is God: "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30, NIV).
Jesus demonstrated a pattern throughout his prayer life all of us can copy. In obedience, he brought his desires in line with his Father's. When we reach the place where we are willing to do or accept God's will instead of our own, we have reached the turning point in prayer. Jesus lived that: "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (John 6:38, NIV)
Choosing God's will over our own is so hard when we want something passionately. It is agonizing to act as if it doesn't matter to us. It does matter. Our emotions try to convince us there is no possible way we can give in. We can submit to God's will instead of our own solely because God is absolutely trustworthy. We have faith that his love is pure. God has our best interest at heart, and he always does what is most beneficial for us, no matter how it appears at the time.
But sometimes to surrender to God’s will, we also have to cry out as the father of a sick child did to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24, NIV). Like that father, most of us surrender our will to God only after we hit rock bottom. When we have no alternatives and God is the last resort, we grudgingly give up our independence and let him take over. It doesn't have to be that way. You can begin by trusting God before things get out of control. He will not be offended if you test him in your prayers. When you have the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the Universe looking out for you in perfect love, doesn't it make sense to rely on his will instead of your own puny resources?
Everything in this world that we put our faith in has the potential to fail. God does not. He is consistently reliable, even if we do not agree with his decisions. He always leads us in the right direction if we give in to his will. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus said to his Father, "…your will be done." (Matthew 6:10, NIV). When we can say that with sincerity and trust, we have reached the turning point in prayer. God never abandons those who trust him.
It's not about me, it's not about you. It's about God and his will. The sooner we learn that, the sooner our prayers will touch the heart of the One to whom nothing is impossible.
[By Jack Zavada ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
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