From: Today God Is First - Os Hillman
2 Corinthians 12:7 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."
Have you ever had something in your life you wish was not there? If God gave you one wish, perhaps it would be to change that one thing. Perhaps it is the source of pain or challenge in your life. You seek God continually for relief from it, but He seems strangely silent.
Paul also experienced an ongoing burden that he called a "thorn in his flesh." Bible scholars have speculated as to what this thorn might have been, but no one knows for sure. We do know that it was so hurtful to Paul that he asked God on three different occasions to remove it from his life.
Paul had a great calling on his life. The revelations and faith experiences that God gave him would have been too much for any man's humility. So God, in order to insure His investment in Paul's life, gave this man a thorn in his flesh to help him maintain a humble, godly perspective.
Perhaps God has given you such a thorn designed to allow you to place greater trust and reliance upon Him. Ask God to reveal to you the blessing of the thorn He has placed in your life.
The bloom of a rose is beautiful, but the thorn of a rose produces only pain. Thorns hurt us yet they humble us. That is the blessing of thorns.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tough Times
From: New Life Daily Devotional
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light."
Have you experienced a recent setback? If so, look for the lesson that God is trying to teach you. Instead of complaining about life’s sad state of affairs, learn what needs to be learned, change what needs to be changed, and move on.
View failure as an opportunity to reassess God’s will for your life. And while you’re at it, consider life’s inevitable disappointments to be powerful opportunities to learn more—more about yourself, more about your circumstances, and more about your world.
Life can be difficult at times. And everybody makes mistakes. Your job is to make them only once. And how can you do that? By learning the lessons of tough times sooner rather than later, that’s how.
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon your shoulders and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light."
Have you experienced a recent setback? If so, look for the lesson that God is trying to teach you. Instead of complaining about life’s sad state of affairs, learn what needs to be learned, change what needs to be changed, and move on.
View failure as an opportunity to reassess God’s will for your life. And while you’re at it, consider life’s inevitable disappointments to be powerful opportunities to learn more—more about yourself, more about your circumstances, and more about your world.
Life can be difficult at times. And everybody makes mistakes. Your job is to make them only once. And how can you do that? By learning the lessons of tough times sooner rather than later, that’s how.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wait For The Lord
From: Ambassadors For Christ International
Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and for You I wait all the day."
There is a source of inner strength that the secular world knows nothing about, and that source is God Himself. God has set up life in such a way that we are not able to face life victoriously without Him. Neither do we have the strength to minister to others in the way He desires, without His enabling.
Are you wearing out? Have you come to the end of your own strength? Are you “stumbling badly”?
God wants you to learn to “wait for the Lord”. He wants you to wait for His leading before moving forward, even with something good. He wants you to wait for His provision, to wait expectantly for His anointing on your ministry. Learn to pray and ask God for His enabling in your life.
Learning to “wait for the Lord” is one of the most important patterns to establish in your life!
Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and for You I wait all the day."
There is a source of inner strength that the secular world knows nothing about, and that source is God Himself. God has set up life in such a way that we are not able to face life victoriously without Him. Neither do we have the strength to minister to others in the way He desires, without His enabling.
Are you wearing out? Have you come to the end of your own strength? Are you “stumbling badly”?
God wants you to learn to “wait for the Lord”. He wants you to wait for His leading before moving forward, even with something good. He wants you to wait for His provision, to wait expectantly for His anointing on your ministry. Learn to pray and ask God for His enabling in your life.
Learning to “wait for the Lord” is one of the most important patterns to establish in your life!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Encourage Somebody Today
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, while it is still 'today'..."
When times are tough we need encouragement to keep going. When we're on the brink of failure, the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. When we're too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength.
Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
Encouragement doesn't deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. It doesn't validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It doesn't leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us.
Funny how when you encourage others, you also will be encouraged..."30, 60, or 100 times more!" Nothing gets by God! As He says in Matthew's Gospel , "...learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..." So today, encourage somebody!
Hebrews 3:13 "Encourage one another daily, while it is still 'today'..."
When times are tough we need encouragement to keep going. When we're on the brink of failure, the right word at the right time can keep us in the game. When we're too tired or discouraged to keep going, an act of compassion can give us new strength.
Encouragement is one of the central themes of the Bible: "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
Encouragement doesn't deny the problem; it enables us to overcome it. It doesn't validate stubbornness or stupidity; it simply corrects and guides us in the right path. It doesn't leave us alone to carry the burden, it lets us know that God is present to help and strengthen us.
Funny how when you encourage others, you also will be encouraged..."30, 60, or 100 times more!" Nothing gets by God! As He says in Matthew's Gospel , "...learn from Me for I am gentle and humble of heart..." So today, encourage somebody!
Monday, August 10, 2009
So, If You Want To Succeed - Prepare Well!
From: The Word For Today - Bob Gass Ministries
Proverbs 24:3 "Any enterprise… built by wise planning, becomes strong."
What happens when you're not well-prepared? Things you hope won't happen, do, and they occur with greater frequency than the things you hope will happen. The dividing line between winning and losing - is preparation! Tennis champion Arthur Ashe said, 'The key to winning is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation.' Singing, 'When you wish upon a star' won't make your dreams come true; you've got to prepare yourself.
Ever wonder what Jesus was doing during those pre-dawn risings and nights of prayer? Preparing! If you plan to keep growing, preparation must become a way of life. You must never stop asking, 'Lord, what do You want me to do? What will it cost me in time, effort and resources? What obstacles must I overcome?' If you live with that mindset you'll be well on your way to fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
Asked how long it would take to bring his ship to a stop, the Queen Mary's captain replied, 'A little over a mile.' Then he added, 'A good captain thinks at least a mile ahead.' Your success in any venture is determined by how important it is to you, and your ability to prepare for it.
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, said, "Men give me credit for genius, but all the genius I have lies in this: when I have a subject to hand, I study it profoundly." So, if you want to succeed - prepare well!
Proverbs 24:3 "Any enterprise… built by wise planning, becomes strong."
What happens when you're not well-prepared? Things you hope won't happen, do, and they occur with greater frequency than the things you hope will happen. The dividing line between winning and losing - is preparation! Tennis champion Arthur Ashe said, 'The key to winning is self-confidence, and the key to self-confidence is preparation.' Singing, 'When you wish upon a star' won't make your dreams come true; you've got to prepare yourself.
Ever wonder what Jesus was doing during those pre-dawn risings and nights of prayer? Preparing! If you plan to keep growing, preparation must become a way of life. You must never stop asking, 'Lord, what do You want me to do? What will it cost me in time, effort and resources? What obstacles must I overcome?' If you live with that mindset you'll be well on your way to fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
Asked how long it would take to bring his ship to a stop, the Queen Mary's captain replied, 'A little over a mile.' Then he added, 'A good captain thinks at least a mile ahead.' Your success in any venture is determined by how important it is to you, and your ability to prepare for it.
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, said, "Men give me credit for genius, but all the genius I have lies in this: when I have a subject to hand, I study it profoundly." So, if you want to succeed - prepare well!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
True Friendship
From: Bryant Wright Ministries
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times…"
What is your definition of true friendship?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Happy is the house that shelters a friend,” and “a friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.”
Walter Winchell defines a friend as “one who walks in when others walk out.”
Someone else has said that a friend is “a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain’t so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain’t so bad.”
Do you have a friend? Do you know true friendship?
Many, I’m sad to say, would have to answer no. The good news is this; you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You’ll never be disappointed. He’ll always be there with you.
Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times…"
What is your definition of true friendship?
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Happy is the house that shelters a friend,” and “a friend is a person with whom I may be sincere and before him I may think aloud. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.”
Walter Winchell defines a friend as “one who walks in when others walk out.”
Someone else has said that a friend is “a man who laughs at your funny stories, even when they ain’t so good, and sympathizes with your misfortunes, even when they ain’t so bad.”
Do you have a friend? Do you know true friendship?
Many, I’m sad to say, would have to answer no. The good news is this; you can have a best friend forever. That friend is Jesus Christ. I encourage you to get to know Him. You’ll never be disappointed. He’ll always be there with you.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Our Behavior Is Important
From: New Life Daily Devotion - Steve Arterburn
Proverbs 22:25 "A Bad temper is contagious—don’t let yourself get infected."
Sometimes people can behave badly . . . very badly. When other people are unkind to you, you may be tempted to strike back, either verbally or in some other way. Don’t do it! Instead, remember that God corrects other people’s behaviors in His own way, and He doesn’t need your help (even if you’re totally convinced that He does).
Our behavior is important. People see us in many situations at many different times, and the way we act and react can be a powerful witness to the power of Christ in our lives. Christ calls us to a perfection that we cannot achieve on our own. Rely upon the Lord and He will give you the capacity to live an upright, holy, and pleasing life.
So, when other people behave cruelly, foolishly, or impulsively—as they will from time to time—don’t be hotheaded. Instead, speak up for yourself as politely as you can, and walk away. Then, forgive everybody as quickly as you can, and leave the rest up to God.
Proverbs 22:25 "A Bad temper is contagious—don’t let yourself get infected."
Sometimes people can behave badly . . . very badly. When other people are unkind to you, you may be tempted to strike back, either verbally or in some other way. Don’t do it! Instead, remember that God corrects other people’s behaviors in His own way, and He doesn’t need your help (even if you’re totally convinced that He does).
Our behavior is important. People see us in many situations at many different times, and the way we act and react can be a powerful witness to the power of Christ in our lives. Christ calls us to a perfection that we cannot achieve on our own. Rely upon the Lord and He will give you the capacity to live an upright, holy, and pleasing life.
So, when other people behave cruelly, foolishly, or impulsively—as they will from time to time—don’t be hotheaded. Instead, speak up for yourself as politely as you can, and walk away. Then, forgive everybody as quickly as you can, and leave the rest up to God.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Try "Plan B"
From: New Life Daily Devotion - Steve Aterburn
Joshua 1:9 "I command you: be strong and courageous! Do not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Some of our most important dreams are the ones we abandon. Some of our most important goals are the ones we don’t attain. Sometimes, our most important journeys are the ones that we take to the winding conclusion of what seem to be dead-end streets. Thankfully, with God there are no dead-ends; there are only opportunities to learn, to yield, to trust, to serve, and to grow.
The next time you experience one of life’s inevitable disappointments, don’t despair and don’t be afraid to try “Plan B.” Consider every setback an opportunity to choose a different, more appropriate path. Have faith that God may indeed be leading you in an entirely different direction, a direction of His choosing. And as you take your next step, remember that what looks like a dead-end to you may, in fact, be the fast lane according to God.
Often God has to shut a door in our face so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. Catherine Marshall
Joshua 1:9 "I command you: be strong and courageous! Do not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Some of our most important dreams are the ones we abandon. Some of our most important goals are the ones we don’t attain. Sometimes, our most important journeys are the ones that we take to the winding conclusion of what seem to be dead-end streets. Thankfully, with God there are no dead-ends; there are only opportunities to learn, to yield, to trust, to serve, and to grow.
The next time you experience one of life’s inevitable disappointments, don’t despair and don’t be afraid to try “Plan B.” Consider every setback an opportunity to choose a different, more appropriate path. Have faith that God may indeed be leading you in an entirely different direction, a direction of His choosing. And as you take your next step, remember that what looks like a dead-end to you may, in fact, be the fast lane according to God.
Often God has to shut a door in our face so that He can subsequently open the door through which He wants us to go. Catherine Marshall
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thriving In The Pit
From: The Upper Room Devotionals
Genesis 39:21 "The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love."
Three years ago I found myself in a deep "pit" when I was falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit. One certainty in life is that we will find ourselves in the pit at some time. For one young mother the pit is a terminal illness. For some middle-aged man, it is the loss of a job or financial disaster. And for a fragile teenage girl, it is a broken relationship.
No one knew more about surviving in the pit than Joseph. His own brothers cast him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph not only survived but also actually thrived in his miserable circumstances.
The statement "The Lord was with him" appears several times in today's Bible reading. The scripture seems to imply that Joseph was able to face misfortune because he knew he was not alone. Joseph understood that the Lord was with him and would deliver him. (See Acts 7:9-10.)
How comforting it is for Christians to know that in whatever "pit" we may find ourselves -- the death of a loved one, health issues, broken relationships, or financial problems -- God is with us and able to lift us out.
Genesis 39:21 "The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love."
Three years ago I found myself in a deep "pit" when I was falsely accused and threatened with a lawsuit. One certainty in life is that we will find ourselves in the pit at some time. For one young mother the pit is a terminal illness. For some middle-aged man, it is the loss of a job or financial disaster. And for a fragile teenage girl, it is a broken relationship.
No one knew more about surviving in the pit than Joseph. His own brothers cast him into a well and then sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. Yet Joseph not only survived but also actually thrived in his miserable circumstances.
The statement "The Lord was with him" appears several times in today's Bible reading. The scripture seems to imply that Joseph was able to face misfortune because he knew he was not alone. Joseph understood that the Lord was with him and would deliver him. (See Acts 7:9-10.)
How comforting it is for Christians to know that in whatever "pit" we may find ourselves -- the death of a loved one, health issues, broken relationships, or financial problems -- God is with us and able to lift us out.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Good Out Of Adversity
From: Powerpoint Daily Devotional - Jack Graham
Genesis 50:20 "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end."
Adversity has a way of getting our attention like other times can’t.
Think about it this way. When was the last time you were drawn closer to God as a result of easy times? It doesn’t happen that often. That’s because it is in life’s dark times that we’re most open to what God is teaching us and are therefore drawn closer to Him.
Over the years, I’ve had adversity and I’ve been with people as they have struggled with adversity. And I’ve come to realize that what we really battle with in times of adversity is the desire to control our own circumstances. We want to be the ones to figure things out and to fix things our own way.
The good news about adversity is that it is not pointless. God promises to bring good out of it if we trust him. So don’t be surprised when adversity comes. Jesus has already told us it will come!
And the next time adversity comes your way, say to the Lord, “What is it you are trying to show me? I want to trust you more.” He will be right there drawing you ever closer to himself.
GOD PROMISES TO BRING GOOD OUT OF ADVERSITY IF WE TRUST HIM.
Genesis 50:20 "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve His present end."
Adversity has a way of getting our attention like other times can’t.
Think about it this way. When was the last time you were drawn closer to God as a result of easy times? It doesn’t happen that often. That’s because it is in life’s dark times that we’re most open to what God is teaching us and are therefore drawn closer to Him.
Over the years, I’ve had adversity and I’ve been with people as they have struggled with adversity. And I’ve come to realize that what we really battle with in times of adversity is the desire to control our own circumstances. We want to be the ones to figure things out and to fix things our own way.
The good news about adversity is that it is not pointless. God promises to bring good out of it if we trust him. So don’t be surprised when adversity comes. Jesus has already told us it will come!
And the next time adversity comes your way, say to the Lord, “What is it you are trying to show me? I want to trust you more.” He will be right there drawing you ever closer to himself.
GOD PROMISES TO BRING GOOD OUT OF ADVERSITY IF WE TRUST HIM.
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