Eyes Fixed On Jesus

From: Power Point Daily Devotionals - Jack Graham

 

Matthew 14:28-29 "And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."

 

For a good part of my life, I lived near the ocean. And I’m grateful I was able to live near the water because I can better appreciate some stories in the Bible, like Jesus calling out to Peter to walk on water. Now if you’ve ever seen an ocean or a sea when it’s very windy, you know what I’m talking about. It’s not a place where you want to be, especially on a small, wooden fishing boat!

 

Jesus came to His disciples when the wind was at its worst. It was then that Jesus called to Peter—when things looked the most ominous. And Peter, stepping out in faith, walked on the water with Jesus, rising above the chaos and fixing his eyes on the Lord! Of course we know he began to sink soon thereafter and had to be rescued by Jesus...but only after he took his eyes off Jesus!

God always comes through at just the right moment. At the deepest crisis of your life, that’s when He is perhaps more real to you than at any other time. I’ve seen it personally, and I know it Scripturally. So whatever your windy sea is today, you can step out in faith and rise above it by fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ!

The Greatest Tranquilizer

From: Billy Graham Ministries

 

Ephesians 4:7 "Each of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

 

The Christian life is never spoken of in the Bible as a bed of roses. It is uphill, because society is coming one way and the Christian is going the opposite way.

 

But Jesus said that in the midst of your problems, in the midst of your difficulties, He will be there to give you grace and peace. Underneath all the troubles, will be the “still waters” that the Great Shepherd can provide.

 

Many people are trying to steady themselves by taking tranquilizers. Jesus is the greatest tranquilizer of all. He can straighten out your life and put you back on center. Let Him take full control. You’ll go on your way rejoicing, as did those in the New Testament who met Jesus.

God's Self-Revelation

From: Adrian Rogers Ministries

 

1 Corinthians 1:27 "Rather God has chosen the foolish of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak of the world to shame the strong..."

 

God is so wise that the person with the highest IQ cannot figure Him out. If you could come to God with your intellect, then God is not fair because all of the smart people would have a head start and the rest of us would be left standing in the shadows. Your spirituality would be based upon your intellect.

I’m so glad that God has "hidden these things from the wise and the learned, and has revealed them unto babes." (Matthew 11:25)

It’s not that God is so high that few can figure Him out; it is that God has placed Himself at such a level that few of us will get down low enough to see God revealing Himself to us.

Always Confer With Christ

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

 

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Are you severely troubled right now? Are you afraid and confused by the waves and the turbulence God sovereignly allows to enter your life? Then look up and receive the quiet contentment of the Lord Jesus. Reflecting His peace is proof that you are right with God, because you are exhibiting the freedom to turn your mind to Him.

With regard to the problem that is pressing in on you right now, look unto Jesus and receive peace from Him. He will be a gracious blessing of peace exhibited in and through you. But if you only try to worry your way out of the problem, you destroy His effectiveness in you. We become troubled because we have not been taking Him into account.

When a person confers with Jesus Christ, the confusion stops, because there is no confusion in Him. When our Lord speaks peace, He creates peace, because the words that He speaks are always "spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63). Lay everything out before Him, and when you are faced with difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, listen to Him say, "Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Finish Well

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

 

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."

 

Our culture has become enamored with instant results and quick fixes. E-mail, on-line banking, fast food, instant mashed potatoes, hair implants, liposuction, and countless options like them have eroded our capacity for patience and perseverance.

 

So when it comes to spiritual growth, we tend to expect instant transformation rather than viewing our growth in Christ as a long-term—and potentially costly—endeavor. Yet I’ve learned an important truth that’s been verified time and again by the testimony of Scripture: It’s not how you start that’s important; it’s how you finish.

 

Finishing well in the Christian life requires purposeful planning and a clear view of reality on your part. It won’t happen by accident. On the other hand, expecting instant results and quick fixes will result in disappointment, and ultimately, discouragement

The Holy Spirit

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Ephesians 5:18 "...be filled with the Holy Spirit..."

 

The Holy Spirit fuels spiritual living. This is where freedom resides and where fruit bearing takes place. The Spirit and the flesh conflict, but the flesh has been put to death by faith and the Spirit has come alive. Spiritual living submits to Christ.

Spiritual living thrives as we daily surrender our soul to Jesus. The way we became a Christian—by grace through faith—is the same way we continue as a Christian. When we walk in the Spirit we are empowered to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

The Spirit brings wisdom, when we consider ways that are unwise. The Spirit brings conviction, when we begin to drift from our convictions. The Spirit brings comfort, when we struggle with discomfort. The Spirit leads us into God’s will, when we are tempted to follow our own will. The Holy Spirit is heaven’s secret to spiritual living. When we walk by the Spirit we are everything, but if we ignore the Spirit we are nothing.

Spiritual Fellowship

From: Our Daily Bread Ministres

 

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens his fellow man."

 

Social networks on the Internet are on the rise. Even when separated by great distance, people are still able to gain insights and a listening ear from peers on-line. Blogs, Twitter, e-mail, and Web links add to the ways we can receive and give spiritual guidance.

But it’s also valuable to meet face to face with mature believers for mentoring. "Elisha . . . followed Elijah." (1 Kings 19:21), and Paul mentored Timothy as "a true son in the faith." (1 Timothy 1:2) The Master Teacher, Christ Himself, illustrated how to mentor: "He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out." (Mark 3:14)

From these passages we see the value of meeting face to face in a variety of settings so that we can sharpen one another spiritually. Along life’s journey, there are times when we can benefit from a wise guide or provide this same service to one who wants to follow.

Thorns

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

 

2 Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."

Have you ever had something in your life you wish was not there? If God gave you one wish, perhaps it would be to change that one thing. Perhaps it is the source of pain or challenge in your life. You seek God continually for relief from it, but He seems strangely silent.

Paul also experienced an ongoing burden that he called a "thorn in [his] flesh." Bible scholars have speculated as to what this thorn might have been, but no one knows for sure. We do know that it was so hurtful to Paul that he asked God on three different occasions to remove it from his life.

Paul had a great calling on his life. The revelations and faith experiences that God gave him would have been too much for any man's humility. So God, in order to insure His investment in Paul's life, allowed this man a thorn in his flesh to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective. "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness...'" (2 Corinthians 12:9) Perhaps God has given you such a thorn designed to allow you to place greater trust and reliance upon Him. Ask God to reveal to you the blessing of the thorn He has placed in your life.

Your Perception Of God

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

 

Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever."

The most important thing about your life is your perception of who God is. If, to you, God exists to empower your desires and goals in life to become reality, then you will not have the wisdom or perspective to discern His way forward for your life. You will simply set your goals according to your own desires and count on God to bring them to fruition.

But if you truly understand the nature of God in all His glory and omnipotence and infinity and eternity, and mercy and love, then you will realize that God doesn’t exist for you, but you exist for Him. In fact, all things exist for Him.

That reverence ("fear") for God will change your perspective on life and enable you to see clearly the way forward from where you are. What would He want for your life? What would He want you to do? How would He want you to respond to your circumstances? Which way forward would most enable you to serve Him in life? By considering what He wants, you’ll gain wisdom and overflow with praise.

Protective Boundaries

From: New Life Daily Devotions - Steve Arterburn

Deuteronomy 10:12 "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

Skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is risky business. It’s not for the weak hearted. The runs are dangerous and steep. They are tested by the ski patrol, dozens of warning signs are posted, and yellow tape block paths that lead to avalanche danger, loose rocks, or cliffs.

The Christian life is much like the terrain at Jackson Hole. There are plenty of marked runs and rugged terrain to keep the most adventuresome entertained and challenged, but there are also hazardous areas to avoid if we don’t want to get hurt.

That’s why the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit provide us with boundaries. They protect us by identifying life’s harmful out-of-bounds areas; and provide freedom by keeping us unencumbered from sin and its consequences. That’s truly what God was providing when he gave us the 10 Commandments. Open your Bible to Exodus 20 and re-read those with the concept of ‘boundaries” in mind.

Patience

From: Michael Youssef Ministries

James 5:7 "Be patient, therefore, my brothers, until the coming of the Lord..."

It is easy to feel impatient. Maybe traffic isn't moving fast enough and you are going to be late for your meeting. Or you can't get through the checkout lane quickly enough to satisfy your need to be somewhere else. Many times, we grow impatient with a colleague, friend, child, or spouse and forget that God is patient with us and requires us to do the same with others.

The source of true patience is the Spirit of God. His patience toward us allows us the opportunity to grow and to become more like Him. He does not give up on us. When we are stubborn and fail to learn what God wants to teach us, He continues to demonstrate His patience.

One of the causes of impatience is spiritual shortsightedness. Our view is limited. Therefore, many times we only see what has a direct impact on our lives. We become impatient because we can't see life from God's perspective! God has a greater plan. While He does not always show us the details, we can know the big picture—we are in His loving hands.

Love And Truth

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Psalm 27:11 "Lord, show me Your way..."

 

Walk in truth and be lead by love. These are twins of wise living. Love is our leader and truth our motivator. Love is our goal and truth our inspiration. Love is our encouragement and truth our obedience. We need both to become better followers of Jesus. Love and truth work together so we are able to live a compelling Christian life. They bring us into balance.

This is why we look forward to the love of God as a guide for our faith. You can trust God’s love to dispense justice when appropriate, and extend grace and forgiveness as needed. When we look to love as the leader, we trust. We follow love by faith.

Secondly, when we walk in truth, it governs our faith. Truth keeps us rooted in reality. It is obedience to God’s truth that proves our love for Him. Truth takes us back to the question, "What does the Almighty think I should be and do?" Walk in truth, and walk with those who walk in truth. Love leads and truth follows. Go with God and receive gladly His infinite love and insightful truth. He is both.

Make An Appointment

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Amos 5:4 "Seek the Lord that you may live..."

 

Appointments with God honor God. When He is scheduled daily it shows He is your priority. Some people clamor to get on a celebrities’ calendar, yet Christ is accessible 24/7. Indeed, Jesus, the iconic person of all time is available to engage any interested individual at anytime. Almighty God has no handlers or gatekeepers—He is easily reachable by faith.

We set appointments with the Lord because He is the ultimate expert for living. He is the psychiatrist of your emotions and the physician of your body. God is your eternal expert for how to do life meaningfully and abundantly. So, you go to God to learn how to go forward in amazing faith-filled living. Your appointments with the Almighty teach you how to live life well.

Perhaps you start with calendaring five minutes a day with Christ, with a goal to increase it to an hour a day. Just as you turn off your phone and give full focus to those with whom you meet, do the same for Jesus. Create a calm place to be quiet before your Lord. Begin the day by feeding your soul and then your fullness of faith will feed other starving souls.

Endless Possibilities

From: Joe Gibbs Ministries

 

Matthew 19:30 "But many who are first will be last and the last will be first."

 

The medal stand. The winner's circle. The trophy presentation ceremony, followed at noon the next day by an open-convertible parade down Main Street. The sports world knows how to tell who's been successful at accomplishing what they set out to do. You can spot the champion by the title he holds.

But God doesn't work that way. Titles, ranking, and position are not His barometers of success for us, nor should they be of ours. Just because a person seems to be winning doesn't mean he or she has done the best job or is the most deserving of praise. God has His own reasons for letting some taste the rewards of success and letting others continue to battle from beneath the pile.

 

He may allow someone to earn a promotion, not because they are by far the most qualified, but because they have a weakness for power that needs exposing and correcting. God may allow a person to be overlooked at work, not because they don't possess what it takes to advance, but to make them better prepared for a greater opportunity down the line.

 

With God, the possibilities are always endless.

True Peace

From: Michael Youssef Ministries

 

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

 

True peace only comes as a result of living a life filled with the Spirit of God. It is eternal and has only one source—Jesus Christ. Charles Spurgeon writes, "The God of peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are fixed upon Him."

We can try to achieve peace through accomplishments and hard work. We may look for peace everywhere—thinking that new experiences, buying things, or stashing money away will deliver peace. However, apart from God, we will never find lasting peace.

In order to experience the peace of God, we first must have peace with God—which comes as the result of a complete surrender to Christ as our Lord and Savior. Once we are saved, God's peace is available to us. A famous actress once lamented that she had everything she could possibly want, but she still did not have a sense of peace. There are some things that money cannot buy, and peace is one of them.

Full Of Hope

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

 

Isaiah 40:31 "They who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."

 

Heaven’s hope is alive and well. It is waiting for the engagement of faithful followers of Jesus. Like a secret garden accessible by faith alone, there is a luscious environment of hope for our enjoyment. We can sit and smell the flowers of God’s faithfulness. We can stand without fear in the warm light of the Lord because we are full of hope.

 

Hope is the face of encouraging expectations. Pessimism is replaced with optimism. Inertia is replaced with energy. Excuses are replaced with ambition. Defeat is replaced with victory. We can be extremely grateful and unashamed that our hope is in Jesus.

 

Hope is God’s way to love and encourage us. We will find hope in Him. It gives God great joy to give hope to His children. His part is to give; our part is to receive.

Delivered In Adversity

From: My Utmost For His Highest - Oswald Chambers

 

John 16:33 "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

 

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different.

 

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." He is saying, "There is nothing for you to fear."

 

God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength.