The Truth

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North 

John 8:31-32 "If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Be sure and notice this: it is Jesus Himself making this statement. The religious legalists of Jesus’ day didn’t like His take on God’s word. They thought that religious people shouldn’t associate with anyone who wasn’t a fellow-legalist. 

They looked on those who surrounded Jesus as "sinners". They criticized Jesus for going to parties with these people. They couldn’t comprehend it when Jesus said that was what they should be doing too, because those secular people were the ones who needed to be exposed to God.

If you get to know God’s word, you’ll see that its purpose isn’t to constrain you, but a very relational book to help you experience true love and joy...now and forever. Jesus said that if we were to sum up the whole Bible, we would see it showing us how to love God and love people.

Blessings

From: Daily Disciples Devotional

Ephesians 1:17 "May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant you a spirit of wisdom and insight to know Him clearly."

Blessings are not true blessings unless they come when we are able to handle them. Think of areas in your life that you would love to see the Lord work in you today. The list can go on and on. God wants to deliver you and bless you, but He will only give you what you can handle. God knows what is best for us. Even the blessings can become curses if we do not have the wisdom, maturity and honesty to handle them.

The Lord's timing is never too late nor too slow. He is patient and kind, assessing the whole situation, so that when He fulfills His promises in you, you will be able to receive them in peace. We want the quick fix or the instant gratification. We want the immediate and the miraculous. 

However, God's ways are not our ways and He desires to give us a future life in His promises. Little by little, complete victory will be yours by having faith and patience day by day.

Your Life's Story

From: Our Daily Bread Ministries

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all...written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God..."

Have you ever thought about the idea that our lives tell a story? In every situation—good, bad, or indifferent—people around us are watching and listening to the story we are telling. Our story is communicated not only through our words but also through our attitudes and actions as we respond to life’s buffetings and blessings.

Paul reminds us that as followers of Jesus, our lives are like letters "...known and read by all.. written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God..." Our children and grand-children, spouses, neighbors, and co-workers can all observe the story we’re telling.

What is the story that those around us are reading through the letter of our lives? Stories of forgiveness? Compassion? Generosity? Patience? Love? If you’ve experienced the joy of a grace-filled life that comes from the Spirit of God in you, then welcome to the joy of being one of God’s great storytellers!

Exercise It

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

1 Peter 3:7 "...so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

If you want to strengthen your faith, exercise it! "Use it or lose it!"

When someone wants to build muscle, they know it doesn’t happen all at once. They don’t go into the gym on Thursday evening at 7pm and come out at 8pm bulging with muscles. No, they know that it’ll be a long steady process of exercise that makes them strong.

In the same way, God’s letting you know that He allows annoyances, difficulties and trials along life’s road to gradually strengthen your faith. When difficulties come along, don’t view them as obstacles to your faith, but rather as opportunities from God for you to trust Him and grow.

Get With Him

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 
 
You are tired and troubled with nowhere to turn. This is when you can turn your eyes upon Jesus. He offers a constant invitation to come to Him. Burdens bear down on your back of responsibility like a ton of bricks, but Jesus is there to ease the pressure. Health, work and family problems assault your mind and body like unceasing fire from the enemy, but Jesus is there to soothe the pain and anxiety through prayer. 

Take Him at His word and yoke up with His humility and gentleness. His invitation to rest is received by faith. The yoke of Jesus gives hope and encouragement to the soul. Start by aligning your calendar with Jesus time. A partnership with Christ requires time and attention. You cannot maintain a relationship with Him without investing in Him. 

Therefore, slow down each day and listen to the voice of the One who created the world with a word. His words are powerful and freeing. They are comforting and convicting. Get away and get with Him! 

Uniquely Formed To Bless Others

From: Bayless Conley Ministries

Psalm 18:33 "This God Who girded me with might, kept my way unerring."

God gives us all strength, yet I believe there are specific things He gives each of us that make you and me strong individually. The book of Psalms says in 33:14-15, "From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually." In the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul writes, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."

We are collectively the body of Christ, but God has wired us each differently. He has put certain deposits in one person that may not be in another person. He has given one person a certain kind of strength that may not be another person's strength.

There is something uniquely you that gives you strength and character and presence, something that God has put in you. Remember, God individually fashioned you. "You knit me in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13) There is something wonderfully unique about you, through which God wants to bring blessing to others.

Hindsight

From: Winning Walk Ministries - Ed Young 

Ephesians 1:17-18 "May God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of Him. May the eyes of your hearts be opened..."

Sometimes we just don't see God coming. We don't realize that He desires to meet with us, that He wants to be a part of every aspect of our lives. However, often when He comes close, we're largely unaware.

Moses experienced the presence of God in some pretty spectacular ways. Once he asked God to show him His glory, but God warned Moses that what he asked was dangerous: "No one can see My face and live," He said. Instead, He offered an indirect alternative. He would hide Moses in the cleft of a rock, and shield him with His hand. Then, when God had passed by, He would allow Moses to see His back. Moses saw God, but only in hindsight.

Aren't we like that? We may say we want to see God, but we couldn't survive His direct approach. But when He has passed by, when we've had a brush with glory, we see Him in hindsight. We say, "Oh yes, that was the hand of God. He was with me there. He touched my life, and I didn't even realize it at the time." 

Seek to daily stretch your awareness of God's glorious presence.

Always Make Room

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

Luke 24:36 "While they were still speaking about this, He stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'" 

As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him. We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. 

Would we be surprised if God came into our home or place of work in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way.

Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point...and you will know it! Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.

Serving Others

From: New Life Daily Devotion - Steve Arterburn

1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." 

Finding a way to help others is an expression of faith. It shows that we believe in the sovereignty of God. We don’t’ have to wait until the problem or pain in our life is gone, because we know God can use it for good.

Finding a way to help others requires that you ask two questions: "What is God doing?" and, "How can I get into the flow of His activity?" When we ask these questions, ideas will come. And once we begin doing this, the 'why is this happening' question, which once seemed so important, becomes irrelevant.

The best answer to why is always what. When we stop asking, "Why has God allowed this?" and begin asking, "What does He want me to do with it?", we’re ready for God to start His work in us, and that prepares us for service.

Born Of The Spirit

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said to him, ’Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’"

Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind. We don't know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living the life God wants for you. 

Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed "that they may be one just as We are One." (John 17:22) Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ.

Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.