Wisdom

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Proverbs 4:7 "The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding."

 

Wisdom is easily accessible and it is imperative we listen and learn from its instruction. Wisdom invites in God’s blessing.

 

For example, financial wisdom is to avoid debt, save, and pay cash. Relational wisdom is listening with understanding to another’s needs, repeating back what you heard, confirming your comprehension, and if appropriate, offering ideas that may bring benefit. Business wisdom is building your enterprise on honesty and integrity, not compromising your convictions for profit.

 

Wisdom has worthy things to say, so listen for it each day and learn. Train your ears to listen for wisdom in sermons and everyday conversations. Expose your eyes to wisdom found in books and in the Bible. Lastly, look for wise behavior to emulate from those who enjoy the fruit of faithful living. Wisdom speaks out, so you can live it out.

Proper Positioning

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

 

Psalm 25:4 "Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths."

 

One of the important keys to success in racquetball is being in the right position on the court. With the ball coming at you from every angle, believe me, 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!

 

Likewise, 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.

God Is In Control

From: InTouch Ministries

Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."

When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, "God, Why is this happening?" Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to "cause all things to work together for good for those who love God."

Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. However, I have experienced Him turn my mourning into gladness and have seen bountiful blessings and benefits come from my darkest hours.

As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin.

One Nation Under God

From: InTouch Ministries

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If My people, upon whom My name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek My presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from Heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land."

 

The United States of America was founded on biblical principles with the intent to guarantee freedom of worship. But over time, we have removed the Lord from many aspects of public life.

 

Prayer in schools, for instance, was deemed unconstitutional. What was once a “nation under God” has turned into a country that tolerates a growing number of sins and yet belittles absolute truth.

If a nation turns its back on the Lord, His judgment is inevitable unless the people repent and make Him Lord once again. As believers, our responsibility is to pray that God would draw the heart of our country back to Himself—and to help the gospel and truth spread through our land.

Antidote For Depression

From: Billy Graham Ministries

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

 

Christians are not altogether immune from depression. The fact is: the trend of events and the mounting tide of evil are enough to give one sobering thoughts—Christian or not.

 

David, the sweet singer of Israel, was not always on top of his depression. Sometimes his glad song was turned to a depressive mourning. "My tears have been my meat day and night, while continually they say unto me, Where is your God? Why are you down?"

 

I find that the cure for depression is praise. In other words: be so busy counting your blessings, that thoughts of gloom and despair will be crowded out.

The Word

From: Through The Bible Devotionals

 

John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."

 

In the first chapter of Genesis we see God speaking creation into existence. The Word was the instrument of creation. The Word was with God. The Word is God. He does not speak anything that is not completely true to His very nature.

It has been said that the first chapter of John is the most intellectual description of God ever written. A fisherman wrote it with no other education than that of the Holy Spirit and from being with Jesus for three years. The Spirit of God is telling the Greek mind that Jesus is the fundamental reality behind all things. Those things may pass away, but He will never change.

Consider: How should that affect our attitude toward the world we see around us? How should it affect our attitude toward the situations we face today?

Focus On God

From: Joel Osteen Ministries

 

Proverbs 3:6 "In all things be mindful of Him and He will direct your paths."

 

In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. Just because we’re believers or doing the right thing doesn’t make us exempt from trouble. The scripture says, “The rain falls on the just and the unjust.”

 

When something unexpected happens or you find yourself facing a crisis, don’t automatically go into “panic mode” or just fall apart emotionally. Realize that the crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you to make your crooked places straight!

Instead of focusing on your problem, focus on your God. Focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you, leading and guiding you. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good. So keep moving forward knowing that He has a good plan for you!

Intimacy With God

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

John 17:21 "..that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us..."

God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose.

The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen in our lives either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy.

Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done”, then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best.

Hope

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

 

1 Timothy 4:10 "And for this we labor and strive, that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the savior of all men, and especially of those who believe."

 

The one thing I need more than anything is hope; we all want something to hope for and someone we can trust. God alone is able to perfectly fulfill both needs. You’ll never regret placing your hope and confidence in Him. The Lord said, "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” (Jeremiah 17:7)

 

Placing your hope in programs, the government, your job, or the economy (anything but God) is like expecting a tree to flourish in the barren desert. Your thirst continues because these things or people are unable to satisfy your deepest needs. But placing your hope in the Lord changes everything. Jesus said, “The water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:14)

 

Where is your hope? Is it in things, which will come and go, or is your hope in the living God?

The Word Of The Lord

From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries

 

Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."

One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it's still the world's best-selling book.

An anonymous author has written: "'It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller's road map, the pilot's compass, the soldier's weapon, and the player's game plan. It's a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy."

The Bible is "...The Word of our God [which] stands forever..." (Isaiah 40:8). "Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps."

"I Will Be With You"

From: Ambassadors for Christ International - John North

 

Isaiah 43:1-3 "...Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

God loves you and wants to care for you! A loving parent always watches out for his or her children. If the child falls into deep water, the parent jumps in to pull them out. If the child gets too close to a cliff, the parent pulls them away.

You are God’s child. "You are Mine!" He says. "I will be with you." No matter what trouble you’re in; no matter how desperate your situation; no matter what sickness you’re diagnosed with; no matter what danger you encounter; no matter what threatens to overwhelm you—God will be with you, sustaining you, strengthening you, encouraging you, enabling you to face any situation with confidence in Him.

God says, "I have redeemed you; I have called you by name." There will still be rivers to cross and fire to walk through. Life will have pain. But through it all you’ll hear, "I will be with you."

Developing Faith

From: Bayless Conley Ministries

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."  

Faith is something God has already given us. "...God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3) It's up to us to develop it. The Bible—God's Word—is the food. As you feed upon it, your faith will be strengthened.

As you feed upon and digest God's Word, that truth becomes the raw material that will build faith. It is faith food. Most people who struggle with their faith are feeding on the wrong things. Faith comes unconsciously when you feed upon God's Word.

So today, if you feel like you are struggling in your faith, then change your diet. Start feeding more on God's Word!

Waiting Has Its Rewards

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

 

Lamentations 3:25 "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

 

Do you find waiting tough? Most twenty-first century people do. We don’t want to wait in traffic, wait in line, wait for the economy, or wait for a table. So the thought of waiting on God sets us back on our heels. We think our timing is what matters and then God says, “Wait!” And it can be especially difficult to wait on God.

 

The Lord will reward you for waiting upon Him. You can remain calm when it appears that nothing is happening when you think it should. Waiting is a response contrary to the ways of the world. But when you learn to wait, you’ll find the winds of adversity will lift you up, like wind beneath the wings of an eagle, instead of knocking you down. “Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

 

As you develop a patient faith in God, you will be able to endure to the end of the race . . . and win. As you seek God and wait on Him to complete His work in your life, you will be find strength. Try it and see!

Equipped

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

1 Samuel 17:39 "David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. 'I cannot go in these,' he said to Saul, 'because I am not used to them.' So he took them off."

 
David, the young shepherd boy, heard the challenge from the Philistines to send someone to fight Goliath. No one volunteered to fight except David. King Saul reluctantly agreed and offered David his armor. David put on the weighty equipment, but quickly concluded he could not fight in this heavy armor. He gave it back to king Saul.

God equips each of us in such a way that is unique to our strengths and abilities. David knew who he was and who he wasn't. David was trained as a shepherd to use another weapon. For David, it was a slingshot. David showed great maturity in realizing he could not be effective with Saul's armor.
 
What are the gifts and talents God has given to you? Have you ever tried to accomplish a task with tools you were not trained or equipped to use? God allows each of us to develop skills that are unique to our life. He will not call you to use someone else's tools.

We Win!

From: Powerpoint Daily Devotionals - Jack Graham

Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the authorities, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

As we look at our world today, many Christians are wringing their hands and wondering, “What in the world is happening?” We see war, crime, violence, murder, and sexual immorality, and we think, “Is this really God’s world?” Well, the answer is yes, but we also live in a world under conflict.

You see, Satan has been given dominion over much of the world. He rules over the powers and authorities of this dark world. And because of that, he creates chaos and discord in the world as much as he can. This is the reason why there’s so much sickness and sin pervading our world today.

But the great news is that Jesus is in control. Though Satan’s power is real, it’s temporary. And one day, Jesus will rip open the sky and return, defeating sin, death, and Satan once and for all. We win!

George Obviously Had It Right

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 20 "Be careful not to forget the Lord, your God, by neglecting His commandments and decrees and statutes...lest, when you have eaten your fill, and have built and lived in fine houses, and have increased your herds and flocks, your silver and gold, and all your property, you then become haughty of heart and unmindful of the Lord, your God... You shall perish for not heeding the voice of the Lord, your God."

 

On September 17th, 1796, George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." In His Prayer At Valley Forge, he entreated God: "Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me Thy servant, who humbly prostrates myself before Thee."

On another occasion he said, "To the distinguished character of a patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian."

America was founded as a Christian nation. The founding fathers had a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Today, there is a movement designed to remove God from our history and our foundations. When we do this, America will no longer be good. And when America ceases to be good, we will cease to be great. And it will be all bad news from there!

Poured Out Soul

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

1 Samuel 1:15 "...I was pouring out my soul to the Lord."

 

Once you pour out your soul to your Lord, you can leave it with Him and move forward in the power and peace of the Holy Spirit. Fill your now emptied soul with your Savior, and let Christ cover you with confidence, serenity, and security.

A poured-out soul gives the Lord more to work with. His love will lift you higher and higher to heights of affection that make angels envious. What is poured out, He fills; what is broken, He mends; what is hungry, He feeds; what is thirsty, He quenches; what is hurt, He nurses. Allow Jesus to be the keeper of your soul. His nurture and care are unparalleled. A soul made whole generates gratitude and generosity.

A soul poured out flushes out faithlessness and fear, allowing it to be filled with faithfulness and trust. When you pour out your soul to the Lord, He fills you up with Himself. A life full of Jesus is the best place to live.

Total Confidence

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

 

Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for and conviction about things we do not see."

 

Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him.

 

Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.

God ventured His all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now He wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in Him. Jesus prayed, "This is eternal life, that they may know You..." (John 17:3) The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time.

No Excuses

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Joshua 1:9 "I command you: be strong and courageous. Do not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go."

As I read through the book I was amazed at how when the Lord spoke to Joshua, Joshua never stood before the Lord with excuses. He didn’t attempt to refute why he couldn’t capture the territory the Lord had already given him. He never grumbled and complained about his childhood or his feelings of inadequacy or his anxiety or anything else you can think of.

He simply moved forward in faith. As a consequence he led the entire nation of Israel to conquer and settle in the Promised Land.

If you would arise each day with the same simple faith of Joshua, a faith that simply trusted the Lord as shown by your actions and behavior, just think about what area of your life you could capture. You can turn the tables on the enemies of your past...and present!

Seek Wise Counsel

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Proverbs 11:14 "For lack of guidance a people falls; security lies in many counselors."

If you desire spiritual growth, then you’ll need wise counselors in your life. Even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, recognized the need for wise and godly counsel. Turning to trustworthy counselors in times of confusion or uncertainty can help you preserve your spiritual strength.

Where else can you look for wise counsel? Solomon’s father David looked to God’s Word, saying, "Your decrees please me; they give me wise advice." (Psalm 119:24) And the prophet Isaiah made it clear that the Messiah himself would be our great counselor when he came. He said, "....These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

Jesus is the one who grants wisdom, hope, and purpose to life, even and especially in times of confusion or trouble. Good counsel comes from God’s word and from godly people. It can come from professionally trained pastors, counselors, or from people who understand your specific issues and care for you. Whatever the case, you’ll do yourself a great service if you seek wise counsel.

We Know Who Wins

From: Powerpoint Devotionals - Jack Graham

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

I heard about a little boy who was reading a Superman comic book. Well, it was late one night and his mother had already told him to turn out the light and go to bed. But he just couldn’t stand it, so he reached over and read the very end of the book and he found out that Superman defeated the villain, got the girl, and everything was just fine.

So that little boy closed the book and said, “All right, Superman, you’re going to be okay. I’ve read the end of the book!” He didn’t have any trouble getting to sleep once he knew that because all of his anxiety was completely gone once he knew how the story ended.

That’s the kind of confidence you can have in Jesus Christ. You can pray believing in a God of might and a God of majesty who reigns now from heaven, and will one day finish the story as the victor with the faithful at His side!