Grace And Peace

From: Billy Graham 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."

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.

Listen Well

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Matthew 17:5). "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is My Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'"
 
What does it mean to listen well? Think of those you admire as good listeners. What are some of the traits they exhibit which mark them as excellent listeners? Perhaps it is their engaging eye contact, their warm conversation, or an empathetic ear. You feel understood and valued. 

Those who learn good listening skills embrace an "others first" way of thinking that places their own need to be heard down the priority list. Indeed, good listeners are magnetic in the way they attract others into their sphere of influence. If you are a good listener, be wise by investing in those who really want to change and follow after the Lord.

So listen well by first listening well to the Lord. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8) Once you have heard from Him, humbly listen to others, discern their needs, then connect them to Christ and His ways. Indeed, good listeners lead others to love God and listen to His heart. Listen well, and watch God work! 

From: Bob Gass Ministries

Exodus 12:11 "...have your sandals on and your walking stick in your hand..." 

The Boy Scout motto is "Be prepared," and it's a good one. In Exodus, God told Israel, "...have your sandals on and your walking stick in your hand." In other words, "Be ready when I tell you to move!" Maybe there's an area in your life where God is telling you it's time to move, but fear is making you hold back. 

Don't! Change is just evidence of growth. What worked yesterday can be tomorrow's recipe for failure. You can't become who you are destined to be, if you insist on staying as you are. Change isn't the enemy. Once you start seeing yourself as a lifelong learner looking for ways to grow and improve, change becomes your friend. Learn from the people you meet, pursue new ideas, strategies and ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Our homes change as our needs ebb and flow. Our places of employment change as the winds of economic forces blow or new opportunities come... friendships change as family needs and employment pull us away... Many of these changes become enjoyable new seasons...sometimes they're painful. But no matter what season of change you find yourself going through...you can find comfort in Joshua 1:9 "...Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go."

From: In Touch Ministries

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

If we read the Bible, we'll find countless stories of God's faithfulness. For example, Paul lived through hardship, persecution, pain, and all kinds of terrible circumstances. The apostle wrote these well-known words: "God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose." This testifies to the fact that for those who trust in Him, God turns every difficulty, loss, and separation into something good.
 
God, the sovereign ruler of this universe, is in control of your life. Don't make the mistake of thinking He isn't, simply because He does not operate according to your will and schedule. From Abraham to Isaiah to David to Job to Jonah to Paul to John, we see God's constant love and care for His people.

His Word is a lamp that will give us clear guidance when circumstances are bleak. It offers the best direction we will ever find. When we meditate upon it, pray over it, grapple with it, and incorporate it into our lives, His light chases away the darkness.

Strength For Life's Journey

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Psalm 18:2 "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." 
 
Our Savior Jesus Christ is reliable to give us strength for life’s journey. He gives physical strength to soldiers in the heat of battle. He gives emotional strength to defeat our demons of depression and sirens of self-reliance. He gives spiritual strength to traverse over mountains of disbelief and hills of doubt. 

God is reliable to reveal a way of escape when we feel trapped by temptation’s snare. Our ego tends to grow in the good times, but our character grows most in the difficult times. 

Our Heavenly Father bids us to join Him and rest when we are in conflict and confusion. When we enter into the gates of His fortress with thanksgiving, our thoughts are drained of anxiety and our perspective gains peace. We sleep well at night knowing our first defense is Almighty God. He is 100% reliable for strength and protection!

The Prince Of Peace

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

June 14:26-27 "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Jesus promised that, if we loved Him and obeyed His teaching, the Father and He would come and make Their home with us. The Holy Spirit will live in us. If He is at home with you, your life will express the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and gentleness to others. It is God's desire to make His home with each of us, but there is a prerequisite, to love Him and obey His teaching.

Jesus explained how that is possible. The Holy Spirit would be sent to teach and remind us of Jesus' words. That is His main role within us. He is teaching us the perspective of the Father, what to say, how to say it, and His own attitude toward the world around us. By reminding us of the words of Jesus, He is teaching us to distinguish light from dark and showing us how to respond.

The presence of the Holy Spirit is the Father and the Son at home in us. His presence is the peace of Christ. That peace transcends situations, because we know that the God who oversees all things is with us through it. The peace of the world is dependent on situations being calm. The peace of Jesus is only dependent on His presence. That is why He can again say, "Do not let your hearts be troubled", and adds, "do not be afraid." 

Free Gift

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but might have eternal life."

Have you ever allowed yourself to truly feel the depth of what it means to be loved by God? It is not that we all deserve to be loved and so He loves us. Just the opposite! We have hurt His feelings, offended His justice, defied His authority, rejected His love, broken His laws, ignored His self-revelation, grieved His Spirit, and ignored His truth.

Yet He loves us, and reaches out to us, and introduces Himself to us, and softens our hardened hearts, and helps us see our need for Him. He offers us forgiveness, and welcomes us into His family.

"The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Still, just like any gift—no matter how much it cost, no matter how valuable it is, no matter how much we need it, no matter how much love is in the heart of the giver—the gift must be accepted and received by the person to whom it is given.

The Big Picture

From: Michael Youssef Ministries

Colossians 3:12 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

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 and you have something else important to get done. These daily irritations can zap your strength and cause you to lose sight of what really matters.

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.

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. Often 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.

Transition

From: New Life Daily Devotionals - Steve Arterburn

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  

If you tear open a cocoon to set a butterfly free, the creature’s wings will be severely underdeveloped. This is because the very act of struggling to leave the cocoon strengthens the butterfly’s wings, preparing it for flight.  

We too have times of transition and metamorphosis, yet our remedy is not unlike the butterfly’s. If we try escaping God’s cocoon before He’s done transforming us, we risk undermining and delaying what He’s trying to do. 

So when you’re experiencing time in the cocoon, relax! In the stillness, you hear God. In the waiting, your character is formed. If you wait upon God and allow Him to release you from the cocoon, you’ll be strong and prepared to fly in ways you never could have if you’d left the cocoon too soon.

The Dash

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

John 15:8 "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

What are you supposed to do with your life? According to Scripture, we are all placed here on this earth to glorify and honor God and produce spiritual fruit in our lives. We exist for the pleasure of God and to bring glory to Him..

We don’t determine how long we will live on this earth. We may try. We can hang out at health food stores and take all kinds of vitamins and do all the right things, and we may even improve the quality of our lives by doing these things, but it is God who determines the length of our lives. It is God who decided when we were to be born. And it is God who decides when we will die. We have nothing to say about those dates. But we have everything to say about the dash in between them.

So what do we do with the dash? How do we live out the dash? We are here to glorify God. We don’t all have the same talents, but we have all been given our lives. So let’s not waste them in the pursuit of nothingness. Let’s invest our lives in the pursuit of God.

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Revelation 21:5 "The One Who sat on the throne said, 'Behold I make all things new...'"

While it is true that God is sovereign, it is also true that God allows us to exercise our free will. God actually respects the free will of mankind. Some people think that mankind will solve all its problems. They are foolish enough to believe that a politician can fix things . . . or technology . . . or psychology . . . or a focus on ecology. But it isn't politics or psychology or technology or ecology that will fix it. It is only the divine will of God.

We need to turn to God. One day the Lord will right all the wrongs in our universe. Today it is upside down. Everything is topsy-turvy. What once was perceived as good is now viewed as bad. What was once thought of as bad is now being elevated to a position of good.

But one day it will be made right. God will right all of the wrongs. God won't abandon His creation; He will restore it. Christ has not yet established His kingdom on this earth, but one day he will return to our planet and bring it back to its Eden-like state. Known as the Millennium, it will last for one thousand years. A new world is coming. One day, heaven will come to earth.

A Grateful Heart

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Ephesians 5:20 "Give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
Gratitude to God is the language of those who love the Lord. Because they love the Lord, they trust the Lord. Because they trust the Lord, they thank the Lord...always. Thankfulness to our Heavenly Father goes directly to His heart. Like a valuable package sent overnight express, gratitude reaches God immediately and unimpeded. 

It’s much easier to thank the Lord for the good things that come our way, but its more difficult to be grateful when things seem unfair. Thus, we immediately shift our thinking to thankfulness when our flesh wants to flirt with grumbling. The quicker we close the gap from initial offense to forgiveness and thanks, the quicker we resume our walk in the Spirit.

Your capacity for thankfulness directly relates to your capacity for joy. A happy heart is a grateful heart. A mark of mature faith is an ever grateful heart. Yes, learn to thank the Lord for everything and you will grow to not need anything but Him. Trust in God always thanks God!

"That's All You Need To Know"

From: PowerPoint Daily Devotionals - Jack Graham

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

It’s amazing to think about all the advances in human thought that have been brought about over the years. Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree one day when an apple fell on his head, inspiring him to coin the Universal Law of Gravitation. And when Gutenberg saw a scribe diligently copying a scroll, he thought there must be a better way and invented the printing press.

It was Einstein who conceived the Theory of General Relativity and turned the science world on its head. And the great writer William Shakespeare penned some of the most prolific theatrical plays in the history of the world.

Yes, mankind has had some amazing thoughts that have changed the world. But I believe none of them compare to the profoundly simple words of the shepherd-king named David, who wrote, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1). In that phrase, He summed up the essence of life: to acknowledge God and find our satisfaction in Him. And as someone once astutely said, "That's all you need to know."

Fear Not!

From: Ken Cayce Ministries

Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."

When you really catch a vision of Jesus in your spirit, you, too, will be totally overwhelmed, when you really understand His awesome power and majesty! God's message to you today, is the same as it was to His Apostle John: Fear Not! The same message the angel gave to Mary at the annunciation: Fear Not!

The phrase "fear not": is used over eighty times in the Bible  and generally it is to quiet the fears of man in God's Presence. God is also saying to you today, as He did to John: do not fear your desperate circumstances. Do not fear the future. There is nothing to fear because Jesus has conquered death and hell. He has absolute power and authority and He wants you to see Him as He really is, high and lifted up, exalted above all things in heaven and on earth.

When you face sickness, disappointments, heartaches, financial problems, and family problems do you see Christ standing beside you as the Great High Priest making intercession for you?  God wants to take you beyond the limitations of your natural mind so that you may see Him as He is and really know Him in the fullness of His manifested power. The Apostle Paul prayed that the Ephesians would receive "a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." (Ephesians 1:17) Paul was not talking about head knowledge, but a revelation deep within their spirits. 

Wisdom And Self-Control

From: Daily Disciples Devotionals

1 Corinthians 12:7-8 "To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom..."

Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is....self-control."

Wisdom and self-control are not natural traits. They have to be developed in a person. Wisdom is given by God and self-control is the last attribute listed in the fruits of the Spirit. It is through life experiences that we gain wisdom and it is through intense trials that we learn self-control. However, experience and trials do not necessarily mean that people become wise and self-controlled.

God desires to develop both of these traits in all of us. When God can trust you, He entrusts you with greater gifts and callings. Obviously, God tests our hearts through a variety of trials in life. How we react and respond to those trials shows us where we place our trust. 

A person with wisdom and self-control blesses God and others, as well as themself. Ask God for wisdom and pray for self-control.  

Love Is The Winner

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

1 Corinthians 13:13  "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

   

Love is the highest and best motivation. Like beauty pageant contestants, faith and hope accompany love as the top three finalists, but love is crowned the winner. It reigns because it brings out the very best in the lover and the one being loved. Similar to an invisible force field, love protects us from ourselves and compels us to give ourselves to others. It generates goodwill and garners trust.   

Love is loyal when most are disloyal. Love steps up when some step away. Love believes the best and doesn’t think to assume the worse. Love looks out for the interests of loved ones above its own needs. Love loves when unloved, love loves when lonely and love loves when loved. Love loves the unlovely, the unconcerned and the underutilized. Love looks for potential where impatience sees disappointment.

Furthermore, make sure your motivation for love is inspired out of your intimacy with Christ. The more consistent your love relationship with Jesus, the more capacity you have to love. The world’s noise drowns out the gentle words of Jesus, "I love you," but in your daily quiet time you hear and feel His presence. God’s love motivates you to love with intentionality!

Perseverance

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Hebrews 10:36 "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." 

The fortitude to press forward in the face of resistance is the mark of a steady saint. God’s will is momentarily celebrated on the mountain top, but most of the time is lived climbing a rocky face or regaining balance along a slippery slope. Traversing up or down requires perseverance.  

What is the will of God for you right now? You can’t go wrong doing the next right thing. Don’t be overwhelmed with what needs to happen six months from now, rather focus on living today to its fullest. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with faith and wisdom for today. Doing God’s will today leads to doing God’s will tomorrow.

Your Heavenly Father sympathizes with your tension over two conflicting options. He wants you to use this test to lean into His heart and mind. You do God’s will by doing the next right thing. Walk close with Christ and He will lead you in His will.

Hope

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."  

Faith creates hope, so where faith is conceived hope is birthed. Hard times try to hinder hope’s comforting company, but it is unhindered where faith in God is the focus. Those who hold on to hope are happy. Where faith peers hope makes clear. Where there is a wall, hope finds a door. Where there is darkness, hope looks for a light.  

What is hope? It is confidence in Jesus Christ, period. Confidence He is faithful. Faithful to follow through with His promise to provide us peace in the middle of our turmoil. Faithful to answer our prayers in His most productive process.   

Wait on the Lord and hope in Him. He helps you when you feel helpless. He empowers you when you feel powerless. He encourages you when you feel discouraged. He gives joy when you feel joyless. Hope never disappoints. It gives life and a reason to live.