He Has Risen

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Luke 24:5 "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!" 

What is the one single act that defined Christianity? The virgin birth? The revolutionary philosophies of Jesus Christ? The great miracles - feeding 5,000, water into wine, healing the sick? 

While all of these acts of Christ certainly set Him above any other person who has ever walked the earth, nothing compares to His death and resurrection from the dead. Through His resurrection, He conquered sin and death, and gives us that power, as well. 

And now we celebrate this wonderful moment and the joyous consequences that stemmed from it. When I contemplate the amazing grace that exploded from His resurrection, I find myself filled with love in my heart and a most humble spirit.

All Things

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose."

God is using every circumstance in your life to shape you and use you for His purpose! It can be hard for us to accept this idea of God using "all things" in this way. We know that God uses His word to renew our minds and transform us. We can accept that God uses our fellowship with other believers in this way, and that His blessings in our lives assure us of His loving care for us. But "all things"? Yes!

It does not mean that God is pleased with all things. God grieves when bad things happen to you or your loved ones. He knows from His own experience on the cross how physical and emotional pain can make you feel, and He groans with you.

But God sits on His throne above all these things, and He overrules even the most evil purpose and uses even those fallen, evil or senseless things to accomplish His good purpose in your life. That means that you can embrace any circumstance you find yourself in (good or bad) as God’s opportunity for you to grow and to minister in His name to others.

A Gentle Answer

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
 
A gentle answer is not easy to come by in stressful situations. It is hard not to be harsh when the weight of the world weighs us down or when we feel misunderstood or under appreciated.

If you find yourself in a heated argument, take a deep breath and pray. It is hard to remain angry when you are talking to Jesus. Listen to the Lord before you lash out, and His Spirit will restrain you from regrettable words and actions. 

Harshness seems to hibernate in a heavy heart, awakening when it feels violated or disturbed. However, by God’s grace, a soft reply allows reason to run its course rather than passionate words that provoke insult. Emotion is kept in check by calm communication that promotes peace and understanding. The work of the Holy Spirit in your heart moves you from harshness to holiness.

The Treasure Within You

From: Bob Gass Ministries 

2 Corinthians 4:7 "We hold this treasure in earthen vessels..." 

God has given you talents and He wants you to use them. They may lie dormant under layers of failure, fear or low self-esteem. You may be aware of them, yet not know how to put them to work. Maybe you've been going from relationship to relationship hoping to find someone who will acknowledge what's within you and draw it out. But only the God who placed your talents within you knows where they're hidden and how to release them.

Delayed destiny is the devil's delight. By not allowing God to develop your talents you play into Satan's hands, living far below your potential. The fact is; you have so much treasure buried within you that the enemy is out to steal it. You never have to wonder about Satan's motives. Jesus said he comes "...to steal, kill and destroy..." (John 10:10)

God can take nothing and create something wonderful with it. Just think: He made the earth from nothing - so imagine what He can do when He has something to start with! If we ask God to help us recognize and maximize the talents He has given us for His honor and glory...that's a prayer He will answer!

For A Season

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Most everything in life is for a season. Jobs, relationships, hobbies, homes, small children and teenagers, grandchildren, youth, economic upturns and downturns, family vacations, good health...are all for a season. Life on earth is for a season.
 
Perhaps you find yourself in a season within a season. You are eager to move on to a new stage of life, but the Lord still has lessons for you to learn before you transition. Or, you may not want to let go of where you are for fear of what lies ahead in the next chapter of your life. Either way, Jesus will show you the right way, and He will walk with you through the process. 

So, enjoy this season (do not wish it away), slow down, engage with God and all He wants you to experience. Wisdom watches for the winds of change and rides them on the wings of faith.

Biblical Hope

From: Our Daily Bread Ministries

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Biblical hope is unique; it’s a confident trust in God and what He is doing in the world and in our lives. That’s something everyone needs! The writer to the Hebrews clearly stated the importance of hope when he wrote, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Having biblical hope is not foolish, because it has a strong foundation. We hold fast to the hope we have received in Christ because our God is faithful.

He can be trusted with anything and everything we will ever face—both for today and forever. Our hope is grounded in the trustworthy character of the God who loves us with an everlasting love.

Prayerful Waiting

From: Adrian Rogers Ministries 

Psalm 29:4 "The voice of the Lord is mighty. The voice of the Lord is majestic."

Some people think it’s a waste of time to simply sit at God’s feet and listen. It is not a waste of time to wait on God any more than a woodsman is wasting time when he sharpens his axe.

In his booklet “Tyranny of the Urgent,” Charles Hummel wrote, "When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength, we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him….Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service."  

Like the time-out in a football game, waiting on God enables us to catch our breath and discern a new strategy. We call the timeout, but God is our strategist and play caller...if we're wise enough to allow it.

He Was Defeated...But No Treaty

From: Bob Gass Ministries

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober and alert. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 

When nations decide to end a conflict, their leaders sign treaties that allow for the restoration of peaceful relations between them. But here on earth, after the "enemy" was soundly defeated by Christ's death and resurrection, no treaty was ever signed between Satan and God's people. You are still his target. He continues to be a thief who comes to "...steal, kill and destroy." (John 10:10) He still "...prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 

Christ's victory on the cross has positioned you to walk in daily triumph over Satan. However, winning your personal war with the Accuser isn't a matter of brains or brawn; it's a spiritual battle and you can only win it by employing God's strategies for victory.

Being "sober" implies staying in charge of your emotions, thoughts, words, decisions and actions. Being "alert" means being conscious of your weaknesses and Satan's corresponding ploys. You can't afford to coast, run on autopilot, or go with the flow. Being alert exposes Satan's well-laid strategies, enabling you to stop him dead in his tracks.

Guided By The Holy Spirit

From: InTouch Ministries

John 14:16-17 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate (the Holy Spirit) to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth."

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The opening chapter of Scripture tells us that He existed before the formation of the earth and in fact participated in creation (Genesis 1:2, 26). Today, He has the critical role of helping and counseling all believers.

The Holy Spirit is a gift to every child of God. His presence within us isn't something we have to earn or acquire. Rather, it is a marvelous privilege--by indwelling our hearts, He can guide and strengthen, steering each believer away from danger and into truth (John 16:7-8). 

Scripture tells us that Jesus came so we could experience a full life (John 10:10). This is possible only when we listen to and allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Forgiven

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Luke 6:37 "... Forgive, and you will be forgiven." 

Jesus told this story:  "A king decided to bring his accounts up to date . . . In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The man begged for forgiveness. Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. 

But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. This was reported to the king. Then the king called in the man he’d forgiven and said, 'You evil servant. I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'" (Matthew 18:23-35)

When we look at the enormous moral debt God has forgiven us and the price Jesus paid for us to be forgiven, we should be compelled to forgive others. Forgiveness will free us from the torture of festering resentment. We can’t change what others have done to us, but we can write off their debts by handing the accounting process over to God.  

Smile

From: Adrian Rogers Ministries

Proverbs 15:13 "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance." 

What is a smile? Someone once wrote:

"A smile costs nothing, but creates much good. It enriches those who receive it without impoverishing those who give it away. It happens in a flash, but the memory of it can last forever. No one is so rich that he can get along without it. No one is too poor to not feel enriched when receiving it. 

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature’s best anecdote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anybody until it is given away! If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of yours. For, nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to give."

When you get dressed in the morning, don’t forget to put on a smile. Wear a smile all day from the inner joy that only Jesus can bring to your heart! Amen. 

He's In Control

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Proverbs 18:15 "The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." 

We live in a world of information overload and, as a result, we must look to God's Word to find the true values by which we must live. Otherwise, our relationship and other problems will surely overwhelm us.

What we seem to lack is the basic knowledge that is so essential to the well-being of our world. "We are drowning in information, but starved for knowledge," observes trend-spotter John Naisbitt.* The more information we acquire, the less essential knowledge we seem to absorb—often with dire long-term consequences.

So, what's the answer? When the foundations are shaking and you wish you could hide, remember that God is still in control. His power is not diminished by any turn of events. Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. When you feel like all is lost - turn to God. He's in control!

Infinite Wisdom

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Psalm 119:96 "I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain Your commands!"

Everything I can think of in this world of ours has its limits: wealth, time, wisdom, opportunities, even physical life itself. Paul wrote: "For this world in its present form is passing away." (1 Corinthians 7:31) But I'll tell you one thing in my experience that has no limits at all. It's God's Word.

No matter how many times I read a passage of Scripture, there's always something new, something I'd never seen or considered, some fresh Word from the Lord. With the Holy Spirit as our Guide and Teacher as we read and study the Word, we will never exhaust the Bible's wisdom, beauty, and good counsel.

The Bible is full of infinite wisdom, because our infinite God inspired it, word for word. As you read it, the Lord will speak to you, help you, sometimes warn you, but always draw you close to Himself. Comforting!

Windows Of Opportunity

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Windows of opportunity are finite, and before long they are gone. Could be in your personal or professional life. God opens windows of opportunity for you to prayerfully move forward in faith. 

The Lord’s clear glass of possibilities allows you to view vistas of His faithfulness and grace that become companions on your next great adventure in following Jesus. Windows of faith are passages into God’s purpose for you.  

There is a time after death that the window to knowing God is shut, but in the meantime you can demonstrate your faith in Christ with your words and deeds. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your daily walk as you are presented with windows of opportunity.

The Gospel

From: Powerpoint Daily Devotionals

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The Scripture uses many different illustrations to describe eternal life because God doesn’t want us to miss His message. For example, when Christ spoke to farmers, He described the Kingdom of God in terms of seeds and soil. When He talked to shepherds, He talked about one little lamb that was lost, found, and brought home. 

When He talked to parents, He described a wayward son who went away into a far country and then came home to find forgiveness and joy in his father’s house. When Christ spoke to the legally-minded, He talked about justification, that right standing before God that acquits us of every wrongdoing.

Whatever your deepest need is… whatever that longing in your heart is that yearns to be satisfied, your answer can be found in the Gospel. So instead of trying to find satisfactory answers and ultimate happiness in this world, find it in the wonderful news of Jesus Christ, the way to real fulfillment in life.

Talking To God

From: Bob Gass Ministries

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God."

Throughout the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers. These are prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Frank Laubach sought unbroken communion with God by asking Him questions. Every two or three minutes he would pray, "Am I in Your will, Lord? Am I pleasing You, Lord?" 

Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months at traffic lights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff, and a whopping five years standing waiting in various queues. Why don't you give these moments to God? By giving Him your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. 

Simple phrases such as "Thank You, Lord," or "Lord, please be merciful to me a sinner," can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn't leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen, or office, or car, become a chapel. And at the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you began it - talking to God. 

The Good Shepherd

From: Wisdom From The Psalms

Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

On their own, sheep will starve. They do not have enough sense to move on to greener pastures when their own is stripped of foliage. They will wander off into traps, standing helplessly while predators stalk them. Of all God's creatures, few are more helpless that sheep.

It is interesting that God calls us His sheep. We so often think that we have complete control over our lives, and yet in the final analysis, we really are helpless. When we admit weakness, that is our strength, because then we understand our need for God. 

God will protect us, provide for us, guide us from place to place, and never leave us alone. He truly is the Good Shepherd; the best shepherd we could ever hope to find. We need a shepherd. Thank goodness we have the finest.

God's Awesome Love

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Ephesians 3:17-19 "May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith and may charity be the root and foundation of your life. Thus you will be able to grasp fully with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge..."

When you think about all the amazing things God does for us and you ask,"Why would God do that for me?" So often the answer is simply, "Because He loves you!"

But when you go back one step further and ask, "But why does He love me?", our minds are left groping for an answer. King David put it this way in Psalm 139 — "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it."

God has revealed so much of Himself to us in His Word. But He is infinite in all His ways, and there is so much beauty in what goes on in the mind and heart of God that we have not seen yet. Awesome!

God's Love For Us

From: Daily Disciples Devotionals

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  

I remember a day a few years ago when I was talking with someone who kept quoting Zephaniah 3:17. He was deeply impacted by the words in this verse to the point that he could not withhold his emotions. 

What was interesting about this conversation was that this man had spent his life in the ministry, serving in various capacities from missionary to seminary professor. He knew the Lord, walked with Him, talked with Him and loved Him with all of his heart, but did he not really understand how much God loved Him.

The same is true for many of us today. We proclaim our love for the Lord. We pray to know Him more. We deeply desire a life that is fruitful and pleasing to Him. And for the most part, I believe that we spend more time thinking and praying about how to please God and how to live our lives in accordance with His will, than we spend thinking about how much He loves us. Just turn and focus on the Cross to get a clear picture of how much He loves us!