Take Heart

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have tribulation; but take heart, I have overcome the world."

All of us would like things to go our way all the time, but we have to admit that life doesn't work like that. The irrefutable fact for all of us is: hard times have come, are here now, or will come in the future.

Jesus said, "In this world, you will have tribulation." But the good news is, He didn't stop there. He also said, "Take heart, I have overcome the world." Yes, trouble is a fact of life. But Jesus has given us a means of finding victory--the real victory--even in hard times.

Allow Him to provide all you need to face the good times and the bad. He's willing and able to provide triumph, even when things look the darkest. And it's usually through the storms of life that we learn our most valuable lessons. Put your trust in Jesus Christ.

God Instructs Those He Trusts

From: Os Hillman Ministries

Genesis 6:22 "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." 

When God got to a very bad place with the human race, He decided to start over. He chose one man, Noah, to place His entire strategy around. Why? Because He could trust him. The Bible says Noah did everything just as God commanded him. He didn't argue with God. He didn't take short cuts. He listened and he obeyed.

Who was this man Noah? "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." (Genesis 6:9-10) When it came time to execute His plan, God told Noah to build a big boat. He gave him the dimensions; the height, width, space requirements - everything he needed to complete the task.

God will instruct us in performing our work too. God is in partnership with us in our working life. He has given us the tools, the creativity, and the drive to accomplish what He placed us on earth to do. That partnership requires us to listen to our Senior Partner though because He knows the exact way our project is to be done. And when you follow His direction that project will be excellent in every way.

Difficult Courses

From: Bob Gass Ministries

Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the person who gains understanding."

The truth is that experience is costly. You cannot gain experience without paying a price. You just have to hope that the price is not greater than the value of the experience you gain. And sometimes you cannot judge what the price will be until after you have gained the experience. Further, not learning from experience is more costly.

It's tragic to pay the price for experience and not learn the lesson. But that's often what happens. When an experience is negative we want to run away from it and say, "I'll never do that again." No, don't run away from your experiences; instead, evaluate and learn from them. Remember, evaluated experience lifts you above the crowd.

The school of life offers many difficult courses. Some we sign up for, others we find ourselves taking unexpectedly. All can teach us valuable lessons, but only if we desire to learn and are willing to reflect on these lessons.

New Challenges

From: Bob Gass Ministries

Matthew 14:29 "Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus."

When Peter was certain it was Jesus who was calling him, he left the security of the boat and entrusted himself to the power of God. So far, so good. "But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted." (Matthew 14:30). So you must focus on the Lord, not the storm.

We all know what it's like to "see the waves." You begin a new venture - a job, a relationship, an area of spiritual growth - full of hope. Then you encounter storms and setbacks. Jesus said, "Here on earth you will have many trials... Expect it; it's part of the journey of faith!" 

Growth requires taking on new challenges. Each time you do you'll experience fear, because growth and fear go together. But each time you risk leaving the boat it means you're more likely to do it again. And each time you step out on the water without drowning, you realize that fear no longer has the power over you. The answer to fear is to get out of the boat a little more each day, until fear loses its hold on you.

Count The Cost

From: Daily Disciples Devotionals

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost." 

Do you have an idea for a new project? Have you considered the cost? Before jumping in head first, stop and sit down. Go to the Lord in sincere prayer asking for His guidance. Try to lay out the complete plans from start to finish and find confirmation for these plans in God’s word.

If we truly seek His will and plans for us, He will show us what to do and how to finish them. So often, we are in much more of a hurry than God is. Be prepared to wait on Him.

Finishing something we started is tremendously satisfying. Knowing that the Lord has led our steps through the entire task brings both earthly and spiritual fulfillment, because the journey means as much as the destination.

Stay Alert

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober and alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

The Lord wants you to be alert — to recognize that you have a spiritual enemy who would love to weaken your faith and destroy your spiritual vitality. He may do it through attracting you with worldly things, or distracting you with hobbies or activities, or shaming you with ridicule, or any other of his tactics.

Don’t let your spiritual guard down. If things are going well, then deepen your relationship with God, look for ways to speak about Him to people around you, make your life count. If things are going badly, your enemy will be trying to take advantage of that and make you discontent or resentful toward God.

Keep trusting God. Praise God’s goodness in the middle of your battle. You will come through that experience a seasoned spiritual soldier with a much more mature faith.

Alive And Well

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Acts 4:33 "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all."
 
Jesus Christ is alive and well. His earlier followers, taken aback by His death, initially denied His resurrection. They rejected reliable testimonies and refused to receive the truth of Christ’s rising from the dead. However, when they encountered the risen Lord He rebuked them, and then loved them. 

The Lord is alive and well in your heart. His resurrection resulted in Christ taking up residence in your soul and transforming your life. By faith you believed and God gave you grace upon grace. Because He has risen from the grave, He has given all who confess Him as Lord, abundant grace on earth and the promise of heaven with Him. "Heaven Is Real!"

Easter is your eternal encouragement that He is alive and well. There will always be doubters, but don’t dwell there. Focus on the undeniable force of faith that has captured you and millions before you. Because He has risen, you can rise above your circumstances, your hurt, and your fears.

Biblical Convictions

From: Rick Warren Ministries

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the confidant assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Dictionaries usually define conviction as a fixed or strong belief. Conviction is really much more than that. Your convictions include your values, commitments, and motivations.


I like the definition of conviction I once heard from the great Bible teacher Howard Hendricks: "A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!" Our convictions determine our conduct. They motivate us to act in certain ways.

Biblical convictions are essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Let's think about our walk with Jesus and the convictions we now hold.

Be Ready

From: Oswald Chambers Devotionals

Exodus 3:4 "God called to him . . . . And he said, 'Here I am.'"

When God speaks, many of us are like people in a fog, and we give no answer. Moses' reply to God revealed that he knew where he was and that he was ready. Readiness means having a right relationship to God and having the knowledge of where we are.

Readiness for God means that we are prepared to do the smallest thing or the largest thing— it makes no difference. It means we have no choice in what we want to do, but that whatever God’s plans may be, we are there and ready. Whenever any duty presents itself, we hear God’s voice as our Lord heard His Father’s voice, and we are ready for it with the total readiness of our love for Him.

Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready— he or she is ready. 

God's Word

From: BBH Daily Devotionals

Hebrews 4:12 "The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Notice first that the Word of God is quick, or alive. It always is (present tense) alive. God’s Word will always be true. And therefore God’s Word is always relevant. The Word of God is also powerful. If you have ever felt the moving, slicing, energetic operation of God’s Word on your heart as you read, or listened to, or meditated on its truth, you know the kinetic power of God’s Word to reach and melt and penetrate the heart.

God's Word is compared to a sword. Why do we need a sword? Because we are in a war. We battle daily against the principalities, powers and evil spirits of this present darkness. We need the spiritual power of God’s Word to strengthen us and fight for us against these foes.

Finally, God’s Word is called a discerner. The truth of God’s Word sifts through and analyzes the myriad of ideas, aspirations, and desires with which we are enticed and, as a qualified and a skilled judge, discerns truth from error, good from bad. God's Word - a powerful and effective weapon designed for spiritual warfare!

Your Life's Summary

From: In Touch Ministries

Acts 13:22 "I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after My own heart; he will carry out My every wish."

We're each going to leave a testimony of some kind when we leave this world. Have you ever wondered what you will be most remembered for by your friends and loved ones? If God was writing a summary of your life, how would He describe you?

In our passage today, the apostle Paul tells us God's evaluation of David: He described him as "a man after My own heart." What an awesome testimony of a life well lived! The Lord wasn't describing a perfect man, but one whose life was centered on God's interests and desires.

David's many psalms attest to the fact that his relationship with the Lord was the most important aspect of his life. His passion was to obey God and carry out His will. However, that doesn't mean he was always obedient. Who can forget his failure with Bathsheba? But even when he sinned, his heart was still bent toward God. The conviction he felt and his humble repentance afterward proved that his relationship with the Lord was still his top priority. 

Intimately Acquainted With Christ

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Philippians 3:8 "Yet indeed I also count all things as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

What is your determined purpose in life? Everyone has one. Some of us declare it, and others of us just practice it. But we all have something that is our purpose in life—something that gets us up in the morning, something we live for, something we would even be willing to die for.

The Apostle Paul’s determined purpose was to know the Lord. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, "Yet indeed I also count all things as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." 

Paul recognized the wonder of becoming more intimately acquainted with Him. God can be known. Not completely grasped. Not completely understood. But at the same time, God can be known in a personal and a very real way. 

God Looks At The Heart

From: Bayless Conley Ministries

1 Samuel 16:7 "... For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Samuel's mission to select David as King of Israel is a fascinating story with a very strong lesson. Jesse knows why Samuel is there, but he doesn't even bother to get David. David's own father had written him off. His own father didn't see enough potential in him to call him before Samuel.

But David was anointed king that day. Not based on what Jesse thought was important, but on what God thought was important…David's heart.

Only God can see things in your heart that your family and friends don't see. It is not that God overlooks ability or talent or training. All of those things are important. But God looks first at the most important quality for service, and that is the heart.

A Regular Fill Up

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do."

"How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they're breathing" - Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy   

Everyone is in need of encouragement. Each day life issues extract courage from other human beings. Indeed, we all are candidates to receive back courage from another caring soul. We need to hear, "Job well done", "You can do it", "You are a blessing", "You are a gift from the Lord", "I need you" and "I love you". Like the gas tank in an automobile, people need a regular fill up of encouraging words, kind deeds and a listening ear.

When you give others hope—you become hopeful. When you give others peace—you become peaceful. When you give others faith—you become faithful. When you give others comfort—you become comforted. When you give others encouragement—you become encouraged. When you give others Jesus—you become like Jesus!

No one normally complains of too much encouragement, so be a regular replenisher of courage. Most of all lead others to be refreshed by the Lord.

He Has A Plan

From: Daily Disciples Devotionals

Psalm 121:8 "The Lord will guard your coming and going both now and forever."

God's Word tells us that He has a plan for our lives. God's Word tells us that He knew us before we were formed in our mothers' wombs. God's Word tells us everything we need to know about who our Lord is, just so we can trust and believe in Him.

Before you were born, God saw the entirety of your life, from beginning to end. He is never surprised or caught off guard by your behavior or the circumstances in your life.

His desire for each of us is that we grow in Him, that we love Him with all that we are, and that we give Him all that we have. Then, His words will be spoken through us and our lives will unfold His divine purpose, all for His glory. Ask the Lord today to help you find strength and confidence in knowing He has a plan and purpose to bless your life from beginning to end.

Rely On Him

From: In Touch Ministries

Psalm 25:15 "My eyes are ever upon the Lord..."

Those who are aware of the Lord’s presence during their daily activities enjoy the peace of knowing that He is always in control and working to accomplish His good purposes. Every day’s experiences with Him teach them to know and love Him more.

When we learn to see God’s footprints in our days, we will become aware of the scope of His involvement in our lives. Maybe He strengthened you for a task or opened a door of opportunity. Perhaps He guided your decisions or helped you respond in a Godly way to a difficult person.

Each night before you go to sleep, take some time to reflect on the day’s activities. The Lord is constantly with you, guarding and guiding your way. He wants you to see Him in everything and understand life from His perspective as you rely on His wisdom and power to face any challenge.

Insight Into Jesus Christ

From: Oswald Chambers Devotionals

Acts 9:18 "...He regained his sight."

When Paul received his sight, he received spiritually an insight into the Person of Jesus Christ, and the whole of his subsequent life and preaching was nothing but Jesus Christ – "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) No attraction was ever allowed to hold the mind and soul of Paul save the face of Jesus Christ.

We have to learn to maintain an unimpaired state of character up to the last notch revealed in the vision of Jesus Christ. The abiding characteristic of a spiritual person is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. 

The one concentrated passion of the life of a spiritual person is Jesus Christ. Whenever you meet this note in someone, you feel they are a person after God’s own heart. Never allow anything to deflect you from insight into Jesus Christ. 

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! According to this Psalm, you can be like that tree! God’s plan for you is fruitfulness. That is, Christlike character and Godly choices can be the natural outflow of your life! 

The Christian life is not intended to be a matter of whether you have enough willpower to live the way you should. Rather, 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!

When you prune out of your life those things that pour the world’s way of thinking into you, 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.

Holy Scriptures

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Psalm 119:72 "Teaching from Your lips is more precious to me than heaps of silver and gold."

Romans 12:2 tells us that we are "transformed by the renewing of our minds." When God’s Word begins to saturate your life, it changes the way you think about life; it affects what is important to you; your life begins to change!

God wants you to approach the Bible as His personal communication with you! Not simply as a place to find spiritual truths, or life principles, or moral standards, or theological teaching. But as a place to meet with God.

The Apostle Paul describes the Bible as "the sword of the Spirit." It is the Spirit of God that inspired the Scriptures and He is the One who will speak to you through them.

Best For Last

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

John 2:10 "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 

Jesus sometimes saves the best for last. He delights in delivering the unexpected to the unsuspecting. He waits until there is opportunity to show up where the needs are rampant but the solutions are few. Then He meets the need unconventionally and boldly. 

Many times, this is His method because Christ is counter-intuitive. One reason the Lord saves the best for last is to honor the recipients. Those who persevere deserve the best. For example, in relationships, the fruit of long-term commitment produces the best experience. Trust, contentment, and fulfillment all earn their right in relationships that resolve to remain true.

The best is yet to come if you look to the Lord for His best outcome. Your humble request of God will result in much more than you thought you were capable of, for Christ has no capacity issues. He is looking for those in whom He can trust with His best. Be patient, wait on Him, and remind yourself often: He saves the best for last.

Weary But Strong

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

Life has a way of wearing us down. Constant digital connection exhausts our emotional energy, saps our attention span, and depletes our physical strength. There are especially intense cycles of life that require a robust infusion of spiritual strength. Our physical weariness is an opportunity for invigoration by the Spirit.

The soul rules over the body, not the body over the soul. If we are preoccupied by our physical needs, we lose touch with our affection for our heavenly Father. This is why determined soldiers are able to persevere through painfully adverse elements to win the battle. Disciplined athletes keep their bodies in submission, so they can reach their goals. So, in our weariness--we are strong, as we default to the habit of carrying out God’s will.

Furthermore, like Jesus--we are wise to regularly take time to stop and rest. We sit down so we can refresh our soul, not bloat our body. We pray for those we can engage in conversation about Christ. Spiritual discussion can clarify our thinking and change our behavior for the better. Strength in our weariness comes from doing God’s will.

Eternal Optimists

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

2 Corinthians 4:18 "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."

Eternal optimists base their optimism on the eternal, not the temporal. The temporal is consumed with current circumstances, while the eternal experiences eternal security. The temporal trusts what it can see, while the eternal trusts in the unseen.

Your eternal optimism is what gives you the courage to carry on; so do not let temporal pessimists persuade you to lose heart. Stay fixed on your Savior, the author of your faith.

It is faith that keeps you grounded in God, the definer of reality. The righteous learn to live in the reality of the Lord’s love and leadership. Pain and striving are temporary, but healing and peace are eternal. You can be optimistic, knowing by faith you can be certain of the unseen. 

Constant Fellowship

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible—just three words—but it is one of the most powerful keys to your Christian life. Your faith will flow from your current of communion with God. To increase your faith, increase your communication with God!

Your living, interactive, personal connection to God makes your faith bulletproof. It is this kind of connection with God that Paul is talking about in this passage and that God is challenging us about today. God wants you to not only have a special time with Him in His word and prayer each day; He also wants you to learn the practice of communicating with Him throughout the day.

Keep your awareness of the presence of God constant and you never need to worry that your faith might falter at the critical moment. Your faith will pour out of your experience of God. If you are able to think while doing other things, then you are also able to pray while doing other things. Why not work on it today? Develop the habit of constant fellowship with God.

Life Is A Battleground

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Ephesians 6:1 "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

It seems in the life of the believer the enemy is at every turn. Yet some Christians don't realize that the Christian life is not a playground but a battleground. They are oblivious to the fact that a war is raging. And in this war, they are either winning or losing.

In a battle, it's always better to be an aggressor instead of a defender because the defender is simply waiting for the enemy's next attack, hoping he will survive. If we, as believers, are always defending, then the Devil is in the superior position. 

But if we are attacking, then we are in the superior position. When the apostle Paul wrote about the armor of God in Ephesians 6, he mentioned one offensive weapon: "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." When the Enemy has you surrounded, keep him on the defensive with the Word of God.

Spiritual Freedom

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

The Spirit of God brings freedom to everyone born of the Spirit. Just as the wind is free to blow in any direction, so we are free to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. He calls us to prayerfully persist against culture’s prevailing winds. We have freedom to do the right thing, because the Spirit of God empowers our actions. So, we listen for the Lord’s leading and join with Him.

Sometimes the wind of the Spirit blows with the roar of religious revival; other times it barely brushes over our brow in peaceful assurance. Thus, as we remain under the Spirit’s influence, we are free to experience His effects.

Spiritual freedom is a benefit of belief in Jesus, so we seek to steward it responsibly. It is not a pass for poor decision-making, but permission to pursue wise opportunities. We use our spiritual freedom to shun self-indulgence and invest in the needs of others. Spiritual freedom is God’s gift of the Spirit.

An Opportunity

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Make the most of your time. As you work to develop prayer habits, learn to turn your heart to God in those little moments of downtime. Turning to prayer at all times during the day is not an obligation; it is an opportunity! It isn’t some big activity you are adding to your schedule; rather, it is using what is already in your schedule to deepen your walk with God and to lift others up in prayer.

It only takes a moment to put a situation or need before the Lord and ask for His work in that circumstance or in that person’s life. And it’s cool also to just chat with the Lord about life and about your relationship with Him.

This kind of open, frequent communication is what makes a relationship extra meaningful and deep, that puts it at the center of your life. Today God is inviting you to speak with Him often during your day.

Spiritual Nutrition

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Matthew 4:4 "...It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

The Bible is like food for your spiritual life! If you were to stop eating physical food, your body would not last very long (some estimate 4 to 6 weeks, on average). If you were to eat just once a week, your body would be in very bad shape from being starved of essential nutrients. You need to keep on eating regularly, every day.

God knows that your spiritual health is just as dependent on regular feeding. You need good spiritual nutrition in order to grow! And so God has set your spiritual table with wonderful food—the best you could imagine. There is encouragement, hope, revelation, instruction, advice, challenge, insight, counsel, values, and testimony—everything you need for a well-rounded spiritual meal.

Don’t neglect your spiritual food today. Take time reading God’s Word, thinking about it, meditating on it, and responding to His voice in your heart.

All Things

From: Bob Gates Ministries

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

When you are in close fellowship with Christ, you won't be quick to get discouraged when situations bring conflict and disorder. You won't become frustrated or overwhelmed by those things you can't pray away, confess away, or speak away. Why? Because you know that if it's in your life, God has allowed it and He can use it to produce in you the nature of Jesus. "All things", not some things, work together for good to those who love the Lord.

You say, "But I can't see any real purpose in it." Hold on, you will! God is building a foundation under you. He's equipping you to handle a level of circumstances you can't cope with right now. Out of this pressure will come the power to do what He, not others, desires in your life. 

He wants you to know that your help comes from the Lord, not people. His Word says, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

Spiritual Battle

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Ephesians 6:13,17 "Therefore, take up the full amour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. …take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

The Bible is God’s weapon for the spiritual battle in my life! The reality is that every one of us is involved in a spiritual battle. 

The real struggle of your life is not relational conflict or financial difficulties—the real struggle is in your spiritual life. If you are trying to win the spiritual battle of your life without your weapon, what chance do you have of victory? None.

Have you been trying to fight the spiritual battle and walk with God, but you find it very difficult to stay focused? God is challenging you today to use the Scriptures as a central part of your daily life. The Bible is a powerful spiritual weapon in your life in the hands of the Holy Spirit, but only if you open it!

Obstacles In Our Path

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

When the power goes out at night in my house, I go staggering to where we keep a candle, bumping into things all the way. When I finally get the candle in my hand and light it, everything is clear and obvious and I feel silly for having bumped into things on the way.

But that candle wouldn’t help me at all if I just picked it up and kept it with me without using it. I would still be stumbling around. I have to light it to make it useful.

In the same way, God’s Word makes the things of life clear and obvious; it sheds the light of God’s perspective on my life. I can then see which way I should be going. When we finally shine God’s light on our lives we can see clearly and we can deal with the obstacles in our path.

The Bible

From: Ambassadors For Christ International - John North

2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and training in holiness."

When you buy a new piece of equipment, the maker supplies an instruction manual with it, to help you get the most from it. If you don’t follow the instructions in the manual it voids your warranty and can lead to disaster. Someone has said that B-I-B-L-E stands for `Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth’. When God placed us here on earth, He provided an instruction manual so that we could make the most of our lives.

The Bible is "useful for teaching"—that is, it shows us how to live life. It guides us with God’s life-principles. Life is good and right when we live life God’s way. The Bible is also "for reproof"—when we go off God’s path for our lives He uses the Bible to get our attention and show us where we went wrong.

And the Bible is also,"for correction"—it shows us the way back to God. Very often God uses His Word to convict us about steps we need to take in our spiritual lives. And the Bible is "for training in holiness"—when we have renewed our walk with God, the Bible keeps us going that way.

Listen To Him

From: Daily Disciples Devotionals

Matthew 17:5 "...'This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.'"

It does not always seem clear to us when God speaks. However, when we pray and seek the Lord, we become more willing and able to hear His voice. As we draw near to the Lord, He draws nearer to us and is faithful to speak in a way that brings peace, confirmation and often, changes (for our benefit) to our surrounding circumstances.  

There are so many voices speaking and our minds seem to have a voice of their own. Many people in our lives give us many conflicting messages. We each have a responsibility to know what the Lord is telling us, to listen to Him and to act on those commands. If you have come to Christ, you have His Holy Spirit in you. He is there to lead you and guide you in the ways He has called you.

Be sure to follow His voice. Be confident, knowing that He knows what is best.Take your thoughts captive, stay in His Word and trust Him to lead you in the way you should go.

First Things First

From: Billy Graham Ministries

Matthew 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

It has been said, "The secret of happiness is not to just do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do." Too many think of happiness as some sort of will-o’-the-wisp thing that is discovered by constant and relentless searching. 

It is not found by seeking. It is not an end in itself. Pots of gold are never found at the end of the rainbow, as we used to think when we were children; gold is mined from the ground or panned laboriously from a mountain stream.

Jesus once told His disciples, "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." The "things" He spoke of were the things that make us feel happy and secure—food, drink, clothes, shelter. He told us not to make these the chief goal of our lives but to "seek the kingdom" and these needs would be automatically supplied. There, if we will take it, is the secret of happiness.

"Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." C. S. Lewis

Never Give Up

From: Gospel.Com Devotionals

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."

It was during World War II when Great Britain’s back was against the wall defending herself against seemingly overwhelming odds with the unrelenting onslaught of Hitler’s military might, and the unyielding bombing by the German Luftwaffe.

Winston Churchill was asked to address the students at Harrow School, the school I believe that Churchill himself had attended as a student. The following is the speech that he gave that day: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

When it came to never giving up Churchill certainly practiced what he preached. His determined leadership helped win the war against Germany. And when it comes to God’s work, let us all be like the Apostle Paul who said about his work for God in his second letter to the Corinthians Chapter 4: "It is God Himself, in His mercy, who has given us this wonderful work [of telling His Good News to others] and so we never give up."

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Joy In Doing God's Will

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Psalm 40:8 "I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart."

Jesus taught us to pray always for the will of God in our lives. So we should set our lives in the direction of knowing God’s will. We are told in 1 Peter 4:2 not to "spend the rest of [our] lives chasing your own desires, but to do the will of God." 

The very essence of the Christian life is doing God’s will. Jesus taught us to pray, "... Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) 

So how do we know God’s will? The way I have discovered it is by studying the Bible, praying for the wisdom and direction of God, and taking steps of faith. Then I have found myself in the middle of His will. The Bible says, "The Lord directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37:23)

Your Best Friend

From: Bryant Wright Ministries

Matthew 6:6 "When you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret, and your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  

Prayer is often the subject of teaching in the world of Christianity. Yet, it is also oftentimes the most misunderstood subject! In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus advises us to spend quiet time with God each day. In fact, He not only suggests that this time be private, He actually uses the word "secret!"

Some people take this verse so literally that they say you should never pray in public, but that's not what Jesus is talking about. He's talking about the spirit of prayer. He's talking about having time alone to pray to God and not being showy about it.

Why does Jesus place such emphasis on this? Why is it so important? It's important because Christianity is a relationship. Make it your daily priority to have a quiet, secret time with God. These precious moments alone with your Heavenly Father are your opportunity to grow your relationship with Him, your best friend.

Marinate Your Mind

From: Boyd Bailey Ministries

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."

Doubt seeks to destroy our faith. It is in our discouragement—even despair—that we begin to question God. Left to its natural conclusion, doubt crushes our faith in Christ.

It is okay to be in doubt, but it is not okay to remain in doubt. When in doubt, seek out the Lord, learn to love Him completely, and discern more fully His profound promises. Use doubt to dig deeper into the truth of Scripture; marinate your mind.

When in doubt, stay steadfast in seeking out your Savior. Wait on Him, especially when you wonder what is next. Perseverance will one day free you as a stronger and more-committed follower of Christ. See Jesus for who He is. Doubt dissolves in His reassuring presence. Doubt starves to death when it is not fed.