your daily crossroad
Take a Number
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
We have an ancient cherry tree in our backyard that had seen better days and looked like it was dying, so I called in an arborist. He checked it out and declared that it was “unduly stressed” and needed immediate attention. “Take a number,” my wife, Carolyn, muttered to the tree as she walked away. It had been one of those weeks.
Indeed, we all have anxious weeks—filled with worries over the direction our culture is drifting or concerns for our children, our marriages, our businesses, our finances, our personal health and well-being. Nevertheless, Jesus has assured us that despite disturbing circumstances we can be at peace. He said, “My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).
Jesus’s days were filled with distress and disorder: He was beleaguered by His enemies and misunderstood by His family and friends. He often had no place to lay His head. Yet there was no trace of anxiety or fretfulness in His manner. He possessed an inner calm, a quiet tranquility. This is the peace He has given us—freedom from anxiety concerning the past, present, and future. The peace He exhibited; His peace.
In any circumstances, no matter how dire or trivial, we can turn to Jesus in prayer. There in His presence we can make our worries and fears known to Him. Then, Paul assures us, the peace of God will come to “keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). Even if we’ve had “one of those weeks,” we can have His peace.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Dear Lord, thank You that I can come to You with every care and Your peace will guard my mind. Amen.
I think we can all relate to today’s devotion but what’s important is even when we’ve had “one of those weeks” or for some you may be having “one of those days”, is in those moments we remember that in the midst of troubles, peace can be found in Jesus. What simplicity and yet such truth and power. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is John 14:15-27
Who Say Ye That I Am?
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. (Luke 9:18-20)
“Whom say ye that I am? ” As many people began to discuss and debate who Jesus really was, Jesus asked His disciples this question. Did the people closest to Jesus even know or believe in Him? Peter’s answer was correct. Jesus was, and is, the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is the Messiah, the One who came to earth to redeem us from sin and save us from eternal darkness. But even though Peter confesses rather boldly in this statement who he believes Jesus to be, not too long after this, Peter would also deny Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62). In Jesus’ greatest time of need, His closest friends deserted Him. So it is not just in words that we need to know and confess who Jesus is, but also our actions testify of our belief in Him. Do your actions line up with your words?
Today, take time and pray for situations that you may encounter with others who have questions about your faith. Pray for strength and courage to speak up and stand up for Jesus. Pray that you can be His witness. Only the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of Jesus Christ to our hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to those you love and to use you as a testimony as to His saving grace and mercy. Pray that your words and actions will line up with His Spirit.
We must strive to be an example of His love and grace in our words and actions. What a reminder. Look to Him for an example, open your Bible and read it, watch how God will speak to you and guide you through the scripture. He is faithful.
Make today beautiful
Today’s Reading is John 13:15-17
Our Real Hope
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)
The world news is depressing. There seems to be so much suffering in the world. Why must we suffer? As children of God, why must we go through such painful trials and tribulations?
The next point for us to remember is this: Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The peace that Jesus promises is not always consistent with our definition of peace. The peace of God is a feeling of inner comfort and joy, which cannot be explained or humanized. How do we get such peace? We ask for it in faith. We pray. We seek Jesus. We continually lay our cares at His feet. We ask the Lord to give us an eternal perspective so that we can keep our focus on His purposes and not our own. Romans 8:17-25 is a great passage of Scripture that reflects this message of an eternal hope. The Apostle Paul speaks of our suffering with Christ, a suffering that all of creation must endure because of sin. “We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23)
For us today, our only hope is in Jesus. His living Word is our eternal food. His Holy Spirit is our living water. His very presence in our lives will change our hearts and minds with a wisdom and understanding that goes beyond our earthly desires. Jesus never promised that we would not suffer, but He did tell us to be of “good cheer.” Even though we will have tribulation in the world, we have His peace and He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)
What a devotion to start the week out with, what power and ammunition to stand against the enemy with than all these settings of scripture throughout this devotion. I don’t know about you but today I needed to be reminded of where my true source of hope comes from, Jesus! He has overcome the world and anything we are facing or may be facing. Be of “good cheer”!!! Amen!!
Make today Beautiful!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:17-25
Faith and Prayer
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
God rewards faith. Christianity started with the faith of Abraham. Faith means that we do not see to believe. So, praying is an act of faith. When we pray, we are acknowledging that God exists and listens even though we do not see Him. God rewards our faith by answering our prayers.
I have noticed that when I first came to Christ, He answered my prayers pretty quickly. It was as if I was in “obedience school” and He wanted to reward my good behavior of including Him. As I grew in my faith, I next noticed that God answered some prayers quickly but other prayers, He did not answer at all. He was then training me to learn how to pray and ask for certain things differently. When I studied the Word to see God’s heart on the matter or asked God to clarify my motives of why I was asking, He would answer those prayers as well as what I asked.
Now, after having walked with the Lord for many years, my prayer life has changed again. I have more of a conversational prayer life than an “ask and believe and receive” prayer life. Now, I talk with the Lord about my requests. I ask Him to reveal His heart to me about the matter and I wait to see if there is any change in my heart as I also search the Scriptures to hear His heart. The requests themselves have now become smaller in comparison to the relationship of talking and listening and learning from Him. There is no request or unanswered prayer that becomes more important than my ongoing relationship with Him. So my faith is rewarded in a completely different way than answered prayer; my faith is rewarded by enjoying His presence in the process.
God is good. Learn to seek Him in faith. It starts with prayer requests and continues until you are praying without ceasing. You will not be disappointed. How could we ever be more satisfied than with the very presence of God Himself?
As I take a moment and reflect on the past weeks devotions I realize prayer has been the main focus. It’s important that we realize how vital prayer is in our relationship with God. It’s not something that should be taken lightly. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. There is so much power in prayer.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Hebrews 11:1
Staying Spiritual During the Holidays
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. (Luke 1:14)
If the holidays are about our faith, family and food feasts, then why do we struggle the most with staying spiritual during these times? Shouldn’t these times bring us peace on earth and joy to the world? But the reality for many of us is that we become emotionally stressed out, financially maxed out and physically burned out trying to keep up and keep it all together. Day after day, we become burned out and stressed out and now, our faith becomes affected as we start questioning God, “Are You hearing me?” and “Why won’t You help me?” Like Eve in the garden, we question God’s goodness and His basic command. Eve exchanged the peace of God for a piece of fruit but we exchange His presence for presents. The serpent tempted Eve to compromise and we know that Jesus called him a murderer from the beginning. He is still up to the same old tricks. We are allowing the enemy to have too much influence at times. He kills our dreams, steals our peace and destroys our hope for the future. Jesus came to earth to reverse the process of death and yet our undisciplined lifestyle of choosing not to obey can lead to negative consequences in our lives.
To stay spiritually minded during the holidays, we need to keep our eyes focused on the Lord and include Him in our thoughts. Instead of talking to ourselves, we need to start talking to Him and then give Him the time to talk back. The enemy will use every scheme he can against us to distract us from maintaining a walk with the Lord. It has been said, “If the devil cannot make you bad, he will make you busy.” To combat the temptations to over commit in your time and finances, we must stay in the Word of God to renew our minds and to surrender to His will over our natural-born desires. Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome and live a life pleasing to God that brings peace in the midst of chaos.
Joy to the world begins with each of us individually. Joy cannot come without the conscious awareness of the Lord’s promised presence wherever we go and whatever we do. By allowing our thoughts to think about God in the daily routines of life, we allow the Lord to have the ability to move through our actions. Only then can we truly maintain the Spirit of Christmas and sing the song, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”
When I read this I felt it needed to be shared. What truth!! I pray this causes many to slow down and reflect on what truly matter this Holiday season. Slow down and allow God to use you in such a way that your mind set shifts from not enough to I have more than enough when Christ is truly the center of my life. Allow Him to be present. He truly is the greatest gift.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Isaiah 26:3
Stop Talking to Yourself
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:3)
Does God want to be involved in every decision we make? Is it necessary to pray about every little detail? Many would say that God doesn’t care, He saved you and He gave you a mind to think things through for yourself. I would completely disagree. After spending years of praying over the details in life, I have come to appreciate all He does for me just by including Him and looking for His fingerprints in my life.
But how does this work? Well, for a great starter, stop talking to yourself and start talking to the Lord. If you are late, talk to God about it. If you are confused, include God in it. Talk to Him as a friend, a counselor and a companion. He says that He is all those traits so get to know Him in those ways. In every relationship, there needs to be two-way communication. Prayer obviously is your part in the communication process with the Lord. But the Bible is God’s way of speaking back to you. So let’s say it is on your heart to buy a new car. Start talking to Him about it. Ask Him to change your heart if it is not His will or to lead your heart in the car buying process. Next, go to the Bible and ask the Lord to give you verses to guide you in this decision. If some verse pops out to you, pray over it and ask God to make His message clearer through that verse. If He does give you the go ahead, do further research with that promise. Keep talking to Him and keep going back to the Word, asking for specific direction. Whatever you include Him in, the Lord will work with you from dealerships to your finances. As you grow in the knowledge of God’s guidance, you will gain a peace in your decision of what to purchase. Regardless of the outcome, you will have assurance of God’s hand in the process. Walking through these decisions in our lives with God is the only way to assure peace. The more we include Him in every decision, the more we grow in our knowledge of Him, which leads to a closer walk with the Lord.
Are you in the midst of a trial or major decision in your life? Are you searching for answers in various places? Knowledge can bring peace, but the knowledge of God brings everlasting peace that continues to surpass our understanding. Start out everyday in God’s Word. Take time to put His Word in your heart and mind. Before the day is through, you will need to hear from the Lord on something that crosses your path. The knowledge of His Word will give you peace and assurance in ways you could never imagine. Try it and see what God will do.
Wow, I needed to be reminded of this today. I must admit there are times I talk to myself and this devotion challenged me to stop doing that and in those moments, not matter what it is that I’m talking to myself about, I need to direct my conversation back to Him. Seek His thoughts and His guidance. He’s truly that real. Ready and waiting for me to acknowledge Him and to just talk to Him about every single aspect of my life. Not just this and that but every single aspect. God is my refuge and strength.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love (John 15:10).
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 139
Down With a Shout
And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. (Joshua 6:16)
The story surrounding the city of Jericho is amazing. The Bible tells us that the walls came down with a shout. Just imagine the fear that already existed within the people in the city. For six straight days, the Israelites arose early in the morning and marched around the city of Jericho. A regiment of armed guards in the front, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant in the middle, and another regiment bringing up the rear marched around the city, never saying a word, just blowing their trumpets. Then, on the seventh day, they did it again, but not once, but seven times! And on the seventh time, at Joshua’s command, they shouted with their voices…and the walls came down. What an awesome display of God’s power!
We learn a lot from this story and this verse. We learn that God is sovereign and has a plan for all things. We learn that God’s ways are not our ways and that His works seem mysterious at times. We learn to trust Him, obey Him and wait on His timing, despite what we think. We learn that the battle is His, not ours. We may want to use all of our weapons and all of our own strength, but God can strike the enemy with one word or one shout! We learn that we serve an awesome God, for He is God alone and there is none other. Let Him take down your walls today. Follow Him, trust Him and obey Him. Stop looking for worldly proof and evidence, just put your faith in His Word and start marching to the beat of His drum.
When I read this I knew it needed to be shared, what truth. I pray it blesses and brings light and encouragement to someone’s life today. Help me Lord, even on the darkest of days to trust you and to march to the beat of Your drum. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust (Psalm 91:2).
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 91
Waiting for God
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)
Our culture is an “instant” society. Because of inventions like the computer and the microwave, we’re used to quick results. A fast pace isn’t necessarily bad, but we should guard against becoming so set on immediate fulfillment that we can’t wait for God’s timing.
Abraham probably rationalized his decision, figuring that God wanted him to have a son—and since it seemed impossible any other way, surely this must be what the Lord wanted him to do! But it wasn’t. Abraham had to deal with the consequences of his actions, including jealousy and resentment between Sarah and Hagar. These problems in turn created further difficulties, both in the short term and throughout history.
God was faithful, though—14 years later, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Yet the consequences of Abraham’s decision to step out of God’s plan remain with us. The two boys became the fathers of nations that are still in conflict.
Like Abraham, we might believe God’s promises but prefer immediate results. Or we may just want things to be done our way. Instead, ask the Father to lead you. Then wait for Him. His way may not be what you think you want, but it is always best.
When I read this it caused me to stop and reflect back on my life and the decisions I chose to make because I was tired of waiting on God and how different would things be had I continued down the path of my own choosing, thinking I knew what He wanted for me. God is so patient and loving. How he guarded me and protected me and guided me back to where He wanted me to be, despite my own self centered ambitions all because I was “tired” of waiting on Him. God is so faithful, He sees your heart and no matter how far you have strayed or chose your own way, He is able, ready and waiting for you to come back to Him and surrender your ways over to Him. His way is always best. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you (Isaiah 46:4). Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace, and your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 27
What Is Your Choice?
The prophet Jeremiah foretold the coming destruction of Jerusalem. The people hated him for what he predicted, but the Lord’s words were true. The day came when the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and Jeremiah was taken captive along with many others. But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard in the Babylonian army, said to Jeremiah: “The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you” (Jeremiah 40:2-3). Even the enemy invaders saw the judgment of God upon His people. Jeremiah; however, was given a choice. He could go to Babylon or stay with the people left in their land. Jeremiah chose to stay.
Today, we have a choice as well. We can go with the Babylonians and pursue the things of the world, or we can remain in the place where the Lord has placed us. Sometimes the land we are living in is filled with hardships and afflictions. Sometimes we are tempted to choose the things that promise relief, even when they may not be God’s will for us. Choosing the harder path does not come naturally for us, but it is usually what is best in the end. We must remember that our time here on earth is but a vapor, a brief moment. But eternity lasts forever and ever.
One of God’s greatest leaders boldly proclaimed in Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Make your choice today to serve the Lord. Do not stop serving Him during the hard times. Hold fast and firm to the choice you make today. Our Lord is faithful and just to get us through to the end.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think, what a mighty, mighty God we serve. One of my most favorite scriptures in the Bible is Joshua 24:15, what a profound statement, as for me and my house, we will serve The Lord!! It’s important that we don’t just quote that scripture then continue our daily lives but truly mean it and live by it, He is truly faithful and He will get you through to the end, it’s up to you to trust Him to do so. No matter what your facing, He is greater and He is able!
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!!
Today’s Reading is Joshua 24:15
God Made You
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
It is an exhilarating experience to live the new life, with Christ inside me enabling me to live it. As a man was riding along in his Ford, suddenly something went wrong. He got out and looked at the engine, but he could find nothing wrong. As he stood there, another car came in sight, and he waved it down to ask for help. Out of a brand new Lincoln stepped a tall, friendly man who asked, “Well, what’s the trouble?” “I cannot get this Ford to move,” was the reply. The stranger made a few adjustments under the hood and then said, “Now start the car.” When the motor started, its grateful owner introduced himself and then asked, “What is your name, sir?” “My name,” answered the stranger, “is Henry Ford.”
The one who made the Ford knew how to make it run. God made you and me, and He alone knows how to run your life and mine. We could make a complete wreck of our lives without Christ. When He is at the controls, all goes well. Without Him, we can do nothing.
Lord, so often I forget to give You complete control and I fail. Teach me to rely completely on You for my strength and needs. Amen.
When I read this it blessed me. What a simple yet powerful truth, without Him, we can do nothing. I wouldn’t want to live my life without Him in it. Trust God, even when you don’t understand His plan. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:6).
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Timothy 1:12
Hope for the Promises
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. (Jeremiah 33:14)
There are times when I wonder if God will ever answer certain prayers of mine. There are prayers that I pray knowing that the Lord has put them in my heart. I have verses of Scripture and biblical illustrations to support these same prayers. I keep journals that detail the dates and descriptions of the promises the Lord has given me. But still I wait and wonder, not about the what but about the when and the how. Where is my faith?
These are the times when I stop and reflect more closely at what I know about my God. I must remind myself of His character traits. Unlike me, He is perfect in every way–so perfect that He is not capable of doing anything out of His character. For example, one of God’s character traits is love. 1 John 4:7-8 says that “love is of God” and that “God is love.” Therefore, everything God does is motivated by love. If the Lord has me waiting and has not answered certain prayers, then His reasons for waiting are based upon His love for me. Another example of God’s character traits is that He is truth, perfect truth. Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie. He is incapable of lying; therefore, everything He has promised me will come to pass. God keeps His promises. But I must remember that He controls the timing, the process and the outcomes, for He is God.
When I step back, I can understand more clearly than when I am in the midst of being anxious over things. We all have seasons in life where we wonder if, and when, God will answer certain prayers. It is in these times that I find myself being tested most in my relationship with the Lord. Do I really know Him and believe Him and trust Him? I go to His Word and start asking for help and comfort. I confess my lack of faith. I am honest about my anxieties and worries. Then, I know I just need to be still and know that He is God. Before long, I am praising Him and my hope has returned. Don’t give up and don’t give in to the temptation to be discouraged and dismayed. Remind yourself of just who God is, what His true character is, and let His Word fill you with hope and joy for the promises that He has given you.
Be still and know that He is God! What truth! I needed to be reminded of this today. My faith has been tested and anxiety has tried to creep in but I know in whom I have believed. I would encourage you to remind yourself, not matter the outcome, no matter the delay, He’s still God and He controls the timing, the process and the outcomes, for He is God. Trust His timing!
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4:7-8
Get God’s Attention
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
When I read this setting of scripture my first thought was, what more needs to be said. But, I want to share something I read. I felt it was filled with such truth and in a way many can relate to.
The verse above from Jeremiah 29 may be one of the most popular sections of Scripture within the whole Bible. For me personally, it was one of the first that I ever committed to memory. So often, there are times in my life when I just need to hear that the Lord is thinking about me and that He wants to give me “a future and a hope.” Many times, I have difficulty grasping the truth of that statement. The God of the universe, the Lord of heaven and earth, actually has time to think about me? Is that really possible? Not only is it possible but also there is so much more: He wants us to call upon Him, pray to Him, seek Him, find Him, search for Him. God Himself wants us to want Him.
One morning I got up early to pray and knew I needed to spend some time on my knees, literally. As I positioned myself on the floor, my dog soon discovered where I was and proceeded to demand my attention. He began nudging me, licking my face and pressing his body into a position where I could no longer deny his presence. He was insistent to the point that I continued in prayer while petting my dog. I must admit he is irresistible in his persistence and extremely affectionate. In those moments, I sensed the Lord impress upon my heart that He was doing the same thing to me. I knew in that moment that the Lord wanted me to give Him the same kind of attention. He wanted me to know that His love is unconditional, irresistible and affectionate. And He just wants to be loved back. He wants my prayers, but He also wants my never-ending desire to seek and search for Him, to never settle when I may not sense His presence. He is always with me, but sometimes I need to press into Him and not give up until I get His attention.
Just like my dog knew how to get my attention, knowing that I would respond with love and affection, the Lord knows how to get our attention and our response should be the same. But we need to learn how to respond to Him. We need to call upon Him, seek Him and press into Him. We need to give Him our love and affection. He just wants our hearts but He also wants us to sense His nudging. The next time your child or your pet demands your attention, especially in the areas of love and affection, just remember that the Lord is seeking the same kind of attention from you. And no one gives it back better than He does.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Jeremiah 29:11-14
An Alternative to Anger
The book of Proverbs teaches, “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife” (20:3). Strife is that friction that either simmers under the surface or explodes in the open between people who disagree about something.
God has given us the resources to live peacefully with other people. His Word assures us that it’s possible to feel anger without letting it boil over into rage (Eph. 4:26). His Spirit enables us to override the sparks of fury that prompt us to do and say things to strike out at people who upset us. And God has given us His example to follow when we feel provoked (1 Peter 2:23). He is compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Ps. 86:15).
Dear God, Please help me to manage my anger in a way that does not lead me into sin. Give me self-control through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
When I read this it challenged me to be aware of how easily frustrated or angry I get and in those moments I pray, God help me to be compassionate, gracious and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Just as He does. What an example we have to follow after. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through you. Be the change you want to see in the world, and even in those moments when you have every right to be angry or upset, stope and think, how would Christ handle this situation and show love. Don’t blow out someone else’s candle, even if you feel you have the right to do so, you don’t. Allow God to deal with that person or situation and go to Him in prayer. He always has the answer.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 20:1-15
He is Faithful
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). (Hebrews 10:23)
At times it is so easy to quote this scripture with faith until your faith is put to the test but it’s in those moments of testing when you realize how faithful He truly is. We can’t have a testimony without first being tested. It is important that in those times of testing that we declare our faith, steadfast without wavering.
I don’t know what your going through but He does. He sees all things great and small. If I can leave you with this one simple, yet powerful truth, it is, He is indeed faithful that promised and it doesn’t matter what the enemy tries throwing at me or in my path, I will raise my hands, I will raise my voice, I will sing a new song and I will trust Him. I encourage you to do the same. Stop looking at what’s going on around you and look up, don’t look down and around but up. He’s still God!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 146
Because You Prayed
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
What do you do with your worries? Do you turn them inward, or turn them upward?
When the brutal Assyrian King Sennacherib was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, he sent a message to King Hezekiah saying that Judah would be no different from all the other nations he had conquered. Hezekiah took this message to the temple in Jerusalem, and “spread it out before the Lord” (Isa. 37:14). He then prayed and asked for help from Almighty God.
Soon afterward Isaiah the prophet delivered this message to Hezekiah from the Lord: “Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him” (Isa. 37:21–22). Scripture tells us that Hezekiah’s prayer was answered that very night. God intervened miraculously, conquering the enemy forces outside the city gates. The Assyrian army didn’t even “shoot an arrow” (v. 33). Sennacherib would leave Jerusalem, never to return.
Three words in God’s message to Hezekiah—“Because you prayed”—show us the best place to go with our worries. Because Hezekiah turned to God, He rescued him and his people. When we turn our worries into prayer, we discover that God is faithful in unexpected ways!
Father, please help me to turn my worries into prayer. My problems are better in Your hands than in my own. Amen.
I don’t know who this is for today but when I read it, I felt a nudge in my spirit telling me, this is it. I felt someone needed to be reminded of this today. No matter what you face, no matter what your up against, always pray and remember, He is faithful. I loved what it said, don’t turn your worries inward but upward. When we try and internalize our worries and fears we do nothing to benefit our spirit in any way but when we pray and release our fears and worries upward, He is faithful to deliver us out of all our troubles. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:17). Remember, Prayer moves the hand that moves the world
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 4:6