Discernment

From: In Touch Ministries

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."

In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true?

The only way believers can guard against deception is to ground themselves in God's Word. The more time you spend filling your mind with the Lord's thoughts, the more discerning you will be. However, just knowing biblical truth isn't enough. You must put what you learn into practice so that it becomes more than head knowledge.

The goal is to let God's Word become such an integral part of your thinking that it guides all your decisions. Even if the situation you're facing isn't specifically addressed in the Bible, scriptural principles provide the needed wisdom for every choice. In addition, the Holy Spirit was given to each believer as a Helper, whose job is to guide you into all the truth.

When The Going Gets Tough

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

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. Trust God. He has a plan for your life. Your trial is for a glorious purpose. 

Work In Progress

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Sometimes when we look at the blank canvas of our lives, we ask, "What is going on? What is God doing? Where is this going? This doesn’t make sense. I don’t even know whether I agree with that." But God, as an artist, is at work. And as Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."

God’s work will be done in His time. He sees the expected end. He knows what it will look like before He has finished because He is God. He knows how your life is going to turn out.

So don’t put a period where God has put a comma. He is not done with you. No matter your age, you are a work in progress—and He is still working.

God's Presence, Peace And Love

From: Our Daily Bread Ministries

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." 

The writer of Ecclesiastes lists some of the seasons in human experience: birth and death, gain and loss, tears and laughter, mourning and dancing. Just as the seasons in nature change, so do the seasons in our lives. Our circumstances never stay the same for long.

Sometimes we welcome change in our lives. But often it is difficult, especially when it involves sorrow and loss. Yet even then we can be thankful that God does not change. "I am the Lord," He said through the prophet Malachi, "I do not change." (3:6)

Because God remains the same, we can rely on Him through the shifting seasons of life. His presence is always with us, His peace has the power to guard our hearts and His love provides security for our souls.

Seek To Know God's Will

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

We often go through life guessing which way is best. A man who wants to please the Lord will ask for His direction and help in decisions. Sometimes the answer comes clearly, and at other times there seems to be no answer at all. Yet, because of our situation, we must make the choice we think is best. 

Scripture declares that the Lord has already planned our steps. He has ordained each day of our life to teach us and draw us closer. We often fret over our decisions, but what a peace to know that when we choose what we believe to be the Lord's will, we will either have His instruction that we have made a mistake or we will go on in the steps He has already ordered.

Commit your way to the Lord. Seek to know His will. Get the counsel of godly people. Make your decision with a heart surrendered to God. Then, trust that if you have erred, the Lord will make it clear to you and show you how to correct your error. It is not as if God cannot get through to us. As long as we have a surrendered heart that is listening, He can make His will clear to us.

Eternal Energy

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Isaiah 40:31 "Those 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 be faint."

An eagle soars somewhat effortlessly. He cannot create or direct wind, but he greatly benefits from its silent effect. He is hopeful that the wind will blow again tomorrow. But if it is boisterous or too mild, he may wait in his nest, positioned in the cleft of the rock. He experiences rest and renewal while he anticipates the energizing power of the unseen wind. 

In the same way, the Holy Spirit lifts those who wait to be empowered by Him. Rest in God. Let the wings of your faith carry you as you wait on the wind of the Holy Spirit to empower you. 

You can run God’s race with patient endurance, but it comes through the process of hope and renewal. Indeed, the Lord is your hope and strength. Hope in God expands your capacity. You can run harder and farther in the renewed strength of the Holy Spirit. This is eternal energy that comes from God. Hope in the Lord renews your strength. 

Peace

From: The Upper Room Ministries

Matthew: 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

One of the biggest dilemmas for most people is juggling the roles and responsibilities of modern life. These roles clash with one another, competing for our time. The constant struggle to choose takes our physical, emotional, and spiritual energy. 

We may feel life is out of control as we go in different directions and find no satisfaction in any of our accomplishments. Turning to God can give us peace in the midst of this chaos.

Through the years I have come to realize that the most important priority in my life is to cultivate a personal, intimate relationship with God. When I commit to doing what God has called me to do, my choices become clearer. This puts my other responsibilities and roles in perspective, blessed by God's wisdom.

Every Storm

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

Matthew 14:31 "Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" 

Jesus sent the disciples ahead while He went up into the mountain to pray. They rowed against a wind that kept them from getting across the lake. During the few remaining hours before dawn, Jesus came to them walking on the water.

Peter asked Jesus if he could come to Him and Jesus invited him to come. That first step off the boat was quite a step of faith. Remember, the wind is blowing and the waves are rolling by. Do you step on the top of wave, or jump to a low point? Peter actually took a few steps but then got his eyes off Jesus and onto the waves and started to sink. He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord grabbed his hand and rebuked his doubt.

Every storm in life is a test to see if we will walk through by faith or doubt. Sinking into that lake was the last thing Peter wanted to experience, yet the distraction of the physical caused him to experience what he dreaded most. Even then, in the midst of doubt, you can call out to the Lord and immediately His hand is there. We rarely walk straight across our storms without being distracted. It helps to realize that the Lord has allowed the storm so that our faith might be increased. 

Seen And Unseen

From: Through The Bible Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Paul calls his trials and tribulations "light and momentary". If being shipwrecked, overnight in the ocean, beaten and left for dead, scourged with whips, in jail and much more is "light and momentary", then what are the little things you and I go through?

How did Paul endure all that? He kept his vision on the unseen. He focused on the eternal glory that would far outweigh what he was presently experiencing. He knew that if you put these temporary troubles on one side and eternal reward on the other, the scale would tip so hard and fast that troubles would be launched into orbit! His focus was the unseen. That is faith, and faith pleases God.

The visible is temporary. The unseen is eternal. That alone should give us a point of reference, a reality check, for whatever we endure in this life. Whatever you are going through today, remember, it is temporary. Don't lose heart.