God's Work

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

John 4:35 "Do you not say, 'In four months the harvest will be here'? I tell you look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest."

The disciples had no sense of urgency about God’s work. "There is plenty of time to get busy with that in the future," they said. But Jesus said, "Look around you! Can’t you see how many people need the work of God in their lives? Get busy with God’s work!"

Putting God’s work first doesn’t mean that you quit your job or change your profession. It means that whatever you are doing, you are looking for ways to minister spiritually into the lives of the people around you.

God wants to reach into the lives of people you know today. Are you available for Him to use you in those people’s lives?

Two Roads

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth so high are My ways above your ways and My thoughts above your thoughts."


Every day of your life, two roads are set before you. You can choose to follow God’s desires or you can choose to follow your own desires. One of those roads leads to spiritual growth and greater sensitivity to God’s work in and through you, to meaning and a sense of rightness about your life. The other road leads to the deterioration of your spiritual life and the hardening of your heart, to being half-hearted, lukewarm and limp.

God is inviting you to set as one of the foundational values you live by that His desires are more important than your desires. As you leave your own desires in God’s hands, you’ll find more and more joy in seeking after what He wants for your life.

"There are two kinds of people: Those who say to God, 'Your will be done'; and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.'" - C.S. Lewis

Pure Motives

From: Oswald Chambers Ministries

Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness..."

The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. 

Jesus is saying, "If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind." Your motives must be pure. The purity that God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do through His redemption.

No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations— He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature— He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.

The Most Important Commandment

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Mark 12:29-30 "Jesus answered, 'The most important commandment is... You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'"  

As we strive to love God, all around us, every day, there is a constant battle for our minds. That is why we need to study the Word of God, so we can know the mind of God and what He expects of us and how He wants us to live. You're not going to learn that by reading the daily newspaper, listening to talk radio or sitting in front of the TV.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 55:8 and 9. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." 

That's a beautiful passage in the Word of God to describe why the Word of God is so unique. Because everything we read here in this life tends to be contrary to what God's Word is saying. We need to immerse ourselves in the Word of God as a way of getting to know God, so that we can love God with our minds.

Facing The Giants

From: Daily Disciples Ministries

1 Samuel 17:32-33 "David said to Saul, 'Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' And Saul said to David, 'You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.'"  

Do you ever feel like you are in the midst of a battle where the odds are stacked against you? Today, we are all in a battle and there is one clear enemy. Make no mistake about this fact: "Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Satan will use whatever tactics he can to get to us, to keep us from fighting back or maybe directing us to the wrong battle. He will play tricks on our minds so that we see giants that are not real. Fear and deception are his primary tools.

Fear keeps us from facing the giants. Deception keeps us off balance, off point, and indecisive. So often, the battle takes place in our own minds with giants conjured up in our thoughts, but we must understand that this is not God’s will for us.

Where did David get his courage? He believed in all that he had been taught about God, and he had witnessed God’s faithfulness and protection in his own life. In faith, we face the enemy head on. Victory is ours in Christ.  

True Joy

From: Michael Youssef Ministries

John 15:11 "I have told you this so that My joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." 

Polls and surveys consistently show that the top three things people want the most in life are love, happiness, and peace. So often we confuse happiness with joy. There is a difference. Happiness is the result of getting what we want. However, getting what we want only offers a temporary form of happiness that fades over time. This kind of happiness is dependent on our circumstances, and can be accompanied with a fear that we may lose whatever it is we feel has made us happy.

Joy, however, is a fruit of the Spirit. It comes from within and not from external conditions. Jesus said that we are to abide in Him so that our joy can be complete (John 15:9-11). We can experience the joy of the Lord regardless of our circumstances because joy is dependent on our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The world tries to persuade us that joy is found in material possessions, worldly achievements, and social status. However, true joy comes from the knowledge that we have an eternal home prepared and waiting for us with Jesus Christ.

Remain Nimble

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Psalm 25:9 "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

God’s will is a series of discoveries. It is the transition between discoveries that tests the true nature of my faith. I can press forward by faith, or I can analyze the situation until I am paralyzed by uncertainty.

The Holy Spirit directs a life on the move, not one that is stuck—preoccupied with either pleasure or pain. Make prayerful plans, but all the while remain nimble to the nudge of God’s Spirit. If you fall in love with your plans, you may miss adjusting to the Almighty’s way.

There is a reward to those who remain true to God’s call. It may only be the satisfaction of knowing you faithfully followed the Lord, but this is all that matters in the end. As a pilgrim passing through this life, launch your next eternal endeavor and experience the righteous ride with Him. Nothing risked may mean nothing lost, but every journey for Jesus is great gain. Discover what He wants today, and it will lead to what He wants tomorrow.

Too Blessed

From: Our Daily Bread Ministries

Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!"

On my daily commute to and from the office, I have plenty of time for reading—bumper stickers on cars, that is. Some are surly, others clever, and still others downright distasteful. One bumper sticker I saw recently, however, gently challenged my heart about the way I often engage life. The sticker simply said, "Too blessed to complain."

I must confess that I felt convicted as I pondered those words. Too often I find myself lamenting moments in life that don’t go my way, rather than focusing on the wonderful gifts my heavenly Father has given me.

Reading that simple message that day brought me a renewed commitment to be more actively and intentionally grateful because my God has been good to me in more ways than I could ever count. Even in the worst of times, we have much to be thankful for.  

Still Small Voice

From: Bayless Conley Ministries

1 Kings 19:11-12 "...  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

If your life is in crisis today, you need to remind yourself how God leads. Do not look for it in outward, powerful manifestations—the strong wind, an earthquake, or fire. Rather, listen for that "still small voice." That is how Jesus speaks to us today.  

God has given you and me His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. And when God leads you, it is going to be through the still small whisper of the Spirit in your heart. 

Yet many people want more than that. Some people think, "I'm in a desperate situation. I need something more!" You and I need nothing more, because through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have God on the inside. So if God is going to guide you, He is going to do it from within…through that "still small voice."

Fruitfulness

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Psalm 1:3 "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season. And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."

Fruit-bearing is the natural result of healthy growth in the tree. If the tree is in the right soil, receiving the right water, then it will be fruitful!

God’s plan for you is fruitfulness. That is, Christlike character and godly choices can be the natural outflow of your life! God wants to change your inner life so much that a godly way of living (the fruit of the tree) is the natural outflow of what God is doing inside you!

Prune out of your life those things that pour the world’s way of thinking into you. When you focus your life on what God is saying to you in His Word, then your mind is renewed, your inner life is transformed, and what is happening on the inside of you shows up on the outside of you.

The Pruning Process

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

God tells us our relationship with Him is analogous to a vine and its branches. He prunes away branches that don't bear fruit. Either they have no life in them, or they exist for another purpose. Professional pruners know which branches are not serving the purpose of the gardener. They have no fruit buds. The shade they create keeps the light and air from the developing fruit on the good branches. That is why they are lopped off. 

But even branches that bear fruit can develop side branches that do not. They are pruned so that the nutrition will continue to go into the fruit bearing areas. They are pruned to aim them into the light. That makes them even more fruitful.

Is God pruning some area of your life or ministry? His purpose is to make you more fruitful. 

Developing Faith Through Adversity

From: InTouch Ministries

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 "Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness...'"

It doesn't seem fair, does it? Paul spent his life serving Christ, and yet he experienced continual suffering. Why would God let one of His most faithful servants go through so much pain? This isn't just a question about Paul; it's an issue we face today. In our minds, the Lord should protect His loyal followers from hardships, but He doesn't necessarily do so.

Some would say faithful Christians don't deserve to suffer, but from God's perspective, suffering is what produces faithful Christians. If we all had lives of ease without opposition, trials, or pain, we'd never really know God, because we'd never need Him. Like it or not, adversity teaches us more about the Lord than simply reading the Bible ever will.

I'm not saying we don't need to know Scripture; that's our foundation for faith. But if what we believe is never tested by adversity, it remains head knowledge. How will we ever know the Lord can be trusted in the midst of trouble if we've never been challenged by hardship? For example, how would Paul ever have known the strength of Christ if he had never been weakened by pain, persecution, and adversity? Depending on your response, trials can be God's greatest means of building faith.

Turn On The Light

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

John 8:12 "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

Do you ever get lost when you wake up in the dark? Like, you try to get up, but you keep hitting your head on a wall and can't find the edge of the bed? Next thing you know, you're tripping over something or walking into a table. But when you turn on the light, everything is clear.

This is exactly what a a lot of folks are trying to do. They're trying to make it through life in the dark - spiritual darkness - and much self-inflicted pain and unnecessary falls take place, because they think they can just "feel" their way around. 

But Jesus tells us He's the Light of the world. He means He is the enlightenment about God, man, and life. Without Him, we're in the dark spiritually. We keep stumbling, falling, and feeling frustrated about it all. Turn on the light, really see God, and understand life? If you do, where you're truly headed will become a lot clearer.

His Good Purpose

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 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, if not seemingly impossible, 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"?

It does not mean that God is pleased with all things. God grieves when you bear the brunt of someone else’s sin. He is angry when a drunk driver slams into the car of someone you love. He knows from His own experience on the cross what that physical and emotional pain you are experiencing is like, 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.

Don't Plan Without God

From:Oswald Chambers Ministries

Psalm 37:5 "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

Don’t plan without God. God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the plans we have made, when we have not taken Him into account. We get ourselves into circumstances that were not chosen by God, and suddenly we realize that we have been making our plans without Him— that we have not even considered Him to be a vital, living factor in the planning of our lives. And yet the only thing that will keep us from even the possibility of worrying is to bring God in as the greatest factor in all of our planning.

In spiritual issues it is customary for us to put God first, but we tend to think that it is inappropriate and unnecessary to put Him first in the practical, everyday issues of our lives. If we have the idea that we have to put on our "spiritual face" before we can come near to God, then we will never come near to Him. We must come as we are.

God will not keep your heart from being troubled. It is a command— "Let not your heart be troubled..." (John 14:1) To do it, continually pick yourself up, even if you fall a hundred and one times a day, until you get into the habit of putting God first and planning with Him in mind.

Exercise Your Faith

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please God..."

When someone wants to build muscle, they know it doesn’t happen all at once. They don’t go into the gym on Thursday evening at 7pm and come out at 8pm bulging with muscles. No, they know that it’ll be a long steady process of exercise that makes them strong.

In the same way, God’s letting you know that He allows annoyances, difficulties and trials along life’s road to gradually strengthen your faith. When difficulties come along, don’t view them as obstacles to your faith, but rather as opportunities from God for you to trust Him and grow.

If you want to strengthen your faith, exercise it...daily!

The Pursuit Of Happiness

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…"

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson tells us that all men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” One thing’s for sure, Americans have been pursuing happiness ever since and with a passion!

Happiness is a by-product of being in God’s will and making the most of your gifts and talents. However, the pursuit of happiness solely for one's own sake, never leads to happiness.

Instead develop the gifts and abilities He’s given you for His glory and for service to your fellow man. In the process, you may discover happiness. But pursuing happiness, well, you’ll never find it that way. Pursue God in Christ and happiness results.

Bearing Fruit

From: Ed Young Sr.

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."  

God can do anything He desires, but has chosen humans to be His co-laborers. It takes God’s provision and an individual’s "toil" to produce the harvest. 

Without God, we can do nothing. Without our effort and cooperation, God won’t accomplish His aims. This is not because He is weak or unable, but because He is faithful to His covenant. 

God appointed Adam and Eve to tend the Garden, and the Garden would supply what they needed. This covenant of provision and performance stands. And the guarantee is that whatever we do in and through God will always bear fruit.