Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Source Of All Wisdom

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn
 
Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise..."
 
Wisdom does not spring up overnight—it takes time. To become wise, we must seek God’s wisdom and live according to His Word. And, we must not only learn the lessons of the Christian life, we must also live by them.
 
If you seek to live a life of righteousness and wisdom, you must study the ultimate source of wisdom: the Word of God. You must seek out worthy mentors and listen carefully to their advice. You must associate, day in and day out, with godly men and women. And, you must act in accordance with your beliefs.
 
When you do these things, you will become wise . . . and you will be a blessing to your friends, to your family, and to the world.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

God's Game Plan

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries
 
Proverbs 21:2 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart."
 
Activity can become competition to the best results, because sincere but inappropriate actions can lead to the wrong outcomes. On the surface of a busy life it can look like good things are being accomplished, but below the genuine intentions is the sandy foundation of unacceptable results.

Take the time to evaluate your life and work to God’s game plan. An ongoing audit of your actions will help you reap right results. Behaviors like honesty, humility and accountability will lead to the fruitful results of respect, trust and wisdom.

Wise activities lead to a life and work that, by God’s grace, withstand the winds of worry and the storms of insecurity. Let God guide you, and you will go a long way with the substance of rock solid results.

Monday, November 28, 2011

A Priceless Gift

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Colossians 3:16 "Let the Word of God, rich as it is, dwell in you..."

George Mueller observed, "The vigor of our spiritual lives will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our lives and in our thoughts." As Christians, we are called upon to study God’s Holy Word and then to share it.

The Bible is a priceless gift, a tool for Christians to use as they share the Good News of their Savior, Christ Jesus. Too many Christians, however, keep their spiritual tool kits tightly closed and out of sight.

Jonathan Edwards advised, "Be assiduous in reading the Holy Scriptures. This is the fountain whence all knowledge in divinity must be derived. Therefore let not this treasure lie by you neglected." God’s Holy Word is, indeed, a priceless, one-of-a-kind treasure. Handle it with care, but, more importantly, handle it every day.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

For Christ's Sake

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries
 
Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."
 
Kindness has a powerful effect on people: It makes them care. It is the gift that keeps on giving. It seems you cannot pay forward enough with kindness. No one has ever complained of receiving too much kindness. You cannot overdose anyone on kindness. On the contrary, it is healing and wholesome.
 
Kindness is a picture of Christ. It is not only godly, it is God-like. Therefore, diffuse the rumblings of harsh words and replace them with kind ones.

People cannot hear what you say if how you say it is unkind. A kind delivery of hard words has a much higher probability of acceptance. Kindness comes from a grateful and prayerful heart that is focused on Christ. You cannot help but be kind when you are captured by divine kindness. Extend the quality of kindness, which has been extended to you. For Christ’s sake, we can be kind to one another.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Choose Wisely

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn
 
James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
 
Because we are creatures of free will, we make choices—lots of them. When we make choices that are pleasing to our Heavenly Father, we are blessed. But when we make choices that are displeasing to God, we sow seeds that have the potential to bring forth a bitter harvest.
 
Today, as you encounter the challenges of everyday living, you will make hundreds of choices. Choose wisely. Make your thoughts and your actions pleasing to God. And remember: every choice that is displeasing to Him is the wrong choice—no exceptions.
 
Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. - C. S. Lewis

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Right Perspective

From: Joel Osteen Ministries
 
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
 
So many people today wonder what God’s will is for their lives. Oftentimes, they look for big things like signs and supernatural events. But really, God’s will for us unfolds each and every day as we obey Him and serve Him with a thankful heart.
 
When you wake up every morning with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving, you just took a step toward your destiny — you are walking in the will of God. When you go throughout your day thanking God for ordering your steps, you are taking another step in His will.

Today, remember to keep the right perspective. We should have goals and dreams and look forward to a bright future, but the way you live your life today is what’s going to get you to where you need to be tomorrow. Keep praising, keep believing and keep thanking Him because that’s what will keep you moving forward. Submit every area of your heart to Him and walk forward in His will for your life!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Equipped

From: Os Hillman Ministries
 
Habakkuk 3:19 "The Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights."

God equips His people to scale the heights even in the midst of great challenges. He enables us to go to the higher places with Him where we are set apart from the world. Sometimes the way we have to go to get us there is through suffering and sorrow, but if we rest in Him and trust Him we come out where He wants us.

When Jesus told the disciples He was going to send the Holy Spirit to them, it was in order for them to scale the mountain before them with a new form of power they had not experienced. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

If you find yourself in a place of doubting God and His plan for your life, know that this is a normal aspect of your journey in God. However, know that God has made available His Holy Spirit in order for you to accomplish the tasks that lie ahead.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Dash

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

1 Timothy 4:8 "While physical training is of limited importance, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for eternity."

Our culture is obsessed with the outward appearance and trying to lengthen life. We exercise regularly. We eat the right foods. We supplement our diets with vitamins and minerals. We get our physical check-ups in the hope of extending our lives for a few more years.

There is a place for taking care of ourselves physically. We don't want to neglect that. But you can put too much emphasis on the physical, neglecting the spiritual. Certainly do not neglect the physical. God has put your soul in a human body. So take care of it.

Even so, understand that you will live as long as God wants you to live. Not less or more. You don't determine your date of birth, and you don't determine the date of your death. You do, however, have a lot to say about that time in the middle, "the dash." "Therefore we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Unity

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries
 
John 17:23 "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me."
 
It is good and pleasant to live in unity. It is bad and unpleasant to live in disunity. Unity is Christ-centered. Disunity is man-centered. Unity talks with others. Disunity talks about others. Unity is productive. Disunity is destructive. Unity prays to God. Disunity plays with God.

You may be battling divisive politics in your church, work, family or school. Do not be persuaded by personalities or emotion, instead let the truth and the facts forge your faith, and do not allow fear to drive you to feud. Let love lead you through the process of unification. Love overcomes petty politics and personality conflicts.

God blesses a motivation of love, because He is love. Trust the Lord to lead you, your family, your friends and your team members into unity around common principles, values and behaviors. Unity around Christ causes the world to wake up and watch, wanting what you have. It unleashes the opportunity for the Lord to grow you into an influencer for Him.

Monday, November 7, 2011

In The Right Position

From: Bryant Wright Ministries
 
Joshua 1:7 "...Do not swerve from it either to the right or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go."
 
A key to success in racquetball is being in the right position on the court. With the ball coming at you from every angle, this sport can make you react like a klutz if you are out of position. Proper positioning can determine a successful reaction; otherwise, watch out for a whiff!
 
In life, being out of position makes us unprepared for all the challenges that come our way. God has given us the Bible as our playbook and guide as to how to be in the right position as we take on life.
 
God is the ultimate coach for successful living. We can be confident in placing our complete trust in His wisdom. When following His playbook to the "t", we will always find ourselves in the proper position to succeed in life. A good player will be prepared having studied his playbook regularly. Allow God's Word to prepare you for the challenges of life.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Battle Fatigue

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

2 Chronicles 20:15 "Do not fear or lose heart...for the battle is not yours but the Lord's."

There are days fatigue takes your faith to its breaking point. You grow weary of financial struggles. The pain of separation has sapped every ounce of energy from your being. The pressures at work have crushed your spirit. It seems like one additional problem could send you over the edge. You may be suffering from spiritual battle fatigue.

Spiritual battles require spiritual resources. Battle fatigue requires engagement with God. He is there to renew your mind with the truth of His Word.

While God is strengthening you, Jesus is fighting for you. Jesus understands the wiles of the devil. He has met him face to face and has overcome Him by the Word of God. And so shall you.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

He Is Here

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Matthew 8:26 "He replied, 'O you of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."

Sometimes, like Jesus’ disciples, we feel threatened by the storms of life. During these moments, when our hearts are flooded with uncertainty, we must remember that God is not simply near; He is here.

Have you ever felt your faith in God slipping away? If so, you are in good company. Even the most faithful Christians are, at times, beset by occasional bouts of discouragement and doubt.

But even when you feel far removed from God, God never leaves your side. He is always with you, always willing to calm the storms of life. When you sincerely seek His presence—and when you genuinely seek to establish a deeper, more meaningful relationship with His Son—God will calm your fears, answer your prayers, and restore your soul.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

When In Doubt

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn
 
Proverbs 16:9 "In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps."
 
The world will often lead you astray, but God will not. His counsel leads you to Himself, which, of course, is the path He has always intended for you to take. Are you facing a difficult decision, a troubling circumstance, or a powerful temptation? If so, it’s time to step back, to stop focusing on the world, and to focus, instead, on the will of your Father in heaven.
 
Everyday living is an exercise in decision-making. Today and every day you must make choices: choices about what you will do, what you will worship, and how you will think.
 
When in doubt, make choices that you sincerely believe will bring you to a closer relationship with God. And if you’re uncertain of your next step, pray about it. When you do, answers will come—the right answers for you.