Preparation

From: Through The Bible Devotionals

James 1:2-3 "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." 

This must certainly sound strange to most ears, joy in the face of trials. James explains that we should be joyful because the testing of our faith develops a quality of character in our life that is like that which Christ exhibited, perseverance.

Without that quality, our effectiveness for the Lord will end when the going gets tough, and it will get tough. That is why the Lord allows the trials of many kinds to come our way.

God is more concerned about your preparation for eternity than He is about your temporal happiness. He is making you into a mature and complete Christian, one who lacks nothing. The training process is not easy. Solid growth comes through difficult conditions. So don't complain, be joyful! God has a plan for your life. This trial is for a glorious purpose.

Loyalty

From: Every Day Light - Selwyn Hughes 

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides."

A university professor, writing on the subject of loyalty, says an interesting thing: "There is only one way to be an ethical individual and that is to choose your cause and then to serve it. This central loyalty to a cause puts other loyalties in their place as subordinate. Then life as a whole is coordinated because all lesser loyalties are subordinated."

Translate his thinking into New Testament language and you find an interesting similarity. The "cause" we choose is Christ and His Kingdom, and when we seek them first, then all other things, including self-control, are added to us. 

This does not mean, of course, that once we become Christians we automatically become people of supreme self-control. We have the potential for that, but it becomes a reality only as we continually surrender and submit to Christ's control.

Hope

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Is your hope in God conditional or unconditional? Is it merely words or the conviction of your heart? You know your hope is all in with the Almighty when your life overflows with the power of the Holy Spirit. Bad news only emboldens you to look for the Lord’s creative solutions to sticky situations. You hand over people out of your control over to Christ’s control.
 
God is the object and author of your hope. Joy comes from being justified by Jesus. His peace produces perseverance. Christ’s hope is all I need to persevere though pain, change and challenges. His hope anchors my soul in His unchanging grace.

When Christ’s hope has its way—He shows you the way. Open hope’s door; it hinges on God!

Your Destiny

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

Ephesians 1:18 "May He enlighten your innermost vision that you may know the great hope to which He has called you..."

Whenever God calls you into a new thing, you can expect to do things you've never done. God will anoint you in areas you considered your weakest traits. God turns shepherds like Moses into leaders of nations. He turns farmers like Gideon into reformers. He turns impetuous and unstable personalities like Peter into leaders that can transform a culture and lead a movement.

When God looks at an individual, He looks at their future, not their past. He is always looking at the person He has created you to become, not the person you are now. When Samuel anointed the young shepherd boy, David, to be the next king of Israel, it would be years before this would happen. However, God already knew who he was to become.

How do you think God views your life? Think about the destiny He has chosen you to fulfill...and be willing to answer His call! 

Blessings And Responsibilities

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "...Give constant thanks; such is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Another great Thanksgiving Day! A time when the entire United States pauses...with family, friends, and individually, to reflect on God's blessings.

Glad to see a full house at Mass this morning. "A nation that stays on its knees in thanksgiving to God enjoys the blessings of God." - Boyd Bailey

Reminded of the responsibilities God requires of His blessed: "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and more will be required of the person entrusted with more." (Luke 12:48)  

True Thanksgiving

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Colossians 3:16 "Let the Word of Christ dwell among you richly as you share with one another all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." 

It is easy to get caught up in busy living and forget to thank those who gave us a chance to develop our gifts for God’s glory. Have you gone back and blessed the teacher/mentor/coach who inspired your career? When was the last time you looked your parents, or any relative, or friend, in the eyes and explained how their example of consistent character caused you to follow hard after Christ? True thanksgiving takes time to say thank you!

Furthermore, it is praise and thanksgiving to God that is the pinnacle of gratitude. Your gratitude to God generates generosity and bubbles up joy in your heart. Your marriage of humility and thanksgiving invites a dinner reception that feasts on contentment, peace, hope, happiness and security.

Open wide your mouth with words of thanksgiving and watch the Lord do wonderful works around you. The more you grow in the grace of God, the more thankful you become. Gratitude always speaks up!

Equipped By The Holy Spirit

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman

Habakkuk 3:19 "The Sovereign 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 tremendous difficulties, 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..." (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.

Choose To Live Powerfully

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North  

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

In everything you do, you have a choice. You can do it in your own power, or you can do it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God has placed His Holy Spirit in your life to empower your life to be lived for His glory. The world we have grown up in teaches us to rely on our own abilities in life; it teaches us to believe in ourselves and be confident in ourselves. But God wants us to believe in Him and be confident in Him.

If you choose to live life in your own power, you will only accomplish normal things. But if you choose to live life in God’s power, following His leading, then your life will be marked by the activity of God which cannot be explained by your own abilities. Learn to put God first in your choices and depend on His power in everything you do. Choose to live powerfully.

He Will Teach Us

From: Adrian Rogers Ministries

Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of Your teachings."

Have you ever thought you could just go to the Bible and pull some truth out of it for your life? You cannot do that. Your mind will never comprehend the things of God apart from the Holy Spirit illuminating you.

First, we must lay our intellectual pride in the dust, and with open arms and a heart of faith approach God’s Word for wisdom, discernment, and knowledge. Then He will teach us.

It took a supernatural miracle to write the Word of God. It takes a supernatural miracle for you to understand it. When God begins to write His Word upon your heart, you are going to lead a supernatural life! 

My Grace Is Sufficient

From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman Ministries 

2 Cor 12:9 "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." 

If there is one thing that is consistent throughout scripture, it is this: God calls people when they are not ready. God will never call you into service when you think you are ready. This is intentional on God's part.

When God calls, you will most likely be in the most unlikely circumstances to receive that call. You will be in the midst of a crisis, you will lack resources, you will not have the skills you think you need. This too is the way of God.

God does this because He wants you to know your call is only based on His ability, not yours. When you think it is based on you, this is a false humility. Has God called you to something you have failed to do because you felt you were not ready? Let God accomplish great things through you. 

A Personal Letter From God

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries 

Psalm 119:105 "Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."

Wise men and women meditate on God. There is a heart and a passion to hear from Him. This is the goal of meditation. It is a process of really listening to the Lord. His desire is for us to listen to Him and others for the purpose of becoming more like Jesus.

We meditate personally and corporately. We individually hear God speak. His intimacy is unrivaled in the way He loves us specifically for who we are. Personally, He has a plan and a purpose that we come to appreciate and understand in solitude and silence. But we also meditate on our Master among the masses. Our spirit engages with His transcendence and holiness through the coming together with other believers in bold proclamation of our belief.

Dig out time daily for meditation on your Master. Listen to Him through His written word. This is a personal letter from your heavenly Father that oozes with His unfailing love. The more you meditate on His word, the more you comprehend Christ’s great love for you. And, as you are able, fulfill His greatest command of loving Him and loving others. Meditation migrates us toward our master, Jesus. It is His tool of transformation.

Steward Well Your Citizenship

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Proverbs 29:2 "With good men in authority the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan."

Citizenship in a free country is a gift from God, and not to be taken for granted. It is a stewardship with privileges and responsibilities. Voting is a responsibility of citizens to provide feedback to the God-ordained institution of government. Your vote is their performance review...since they work for us!

Public service is a public trust. Therefore, elect men and woman of principal who, as statesmen, will risk losing their House or Senate seat because they govern by unwavering values founded in the Scriptures. God is in control, but He expects participation from people of the state.

Godly men and women value life, especially in those who are unable to defend themselves. The unborn and the elderly are on the top of their list of whom to protect. They value marriage, one man and one woman engaged in holy matrimony. They reject a redefinition of marriage from those driven by money and immorality. They value national security because freedom is not free. It requires sophisticated vigilance from terrorism and nuclear threat. Most importantly, they value God and His Word.  

We are citizens of a greater kingdom who have a temporary assignment to engage in our earthly kingdom. Therefore, steward well your citizenship while you can.