Ephesians 4:29-Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Suppose that someone walked up to you to give you the most perfect present, it is something that you have wanted all of your life but never been able to obtain. As you say thank you the giver does not reply with a common "you welcome." Instead they reply with words of hate and abuse. In this position would you even care about the perfect present if it was followed up with damaging words?
Words are a very common theme through out the Bible. God chose to reveal Himself to His people through words. Our influence towards other people comes through our words. So where do our hurtful and kind words come from? Luke 6:45 answers that question-"The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and the wicked [man] out of the wicked, brings forth what is wicked: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Our words are not where encouragement or hate start. The heart, what we think, how we feel, our attitudes, this is where all things overflow into our words.
James 3:3-5 says "Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things." Our words have the power of providing cooperation or division.When a person of influence speaks, people's lives and actions can be turned together in a positive way.
What we say can truly build up, encourage, edify, or heal. Unfortunately our words can also lead people to sin, or they can leave others feeling unwanted or discouraged.
Respond: What do you words say about the condition of your heart? Do you sometimes build yourself up by making other people feel small? Why? How have encouraging words shaped your life? How have hateful words shaped your life?
Reflect: Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Psalm 51:10- "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Matthew 15:18-"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person."
Matthew 12:36- "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,."
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Daily Bread
Matthew 6:11-" Give us this day our daily bread."
What does Matthew 6:11 mean? Does it simply ask for a physical provisions, or does it ask for a fulfillment of less tangible needs?
Matthew 6:11 comes from the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The most obvious meaning of "give us this day our daily bread" is a physical fulfillment. This is the acknowledgement that God is the provider that meets all of the physical daily needs. The Lord's prayer comes very shortly before Jesus spoke about worrying, in Matthew 6:26 Christ says "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I certainly do not think that is coincidence! God provides all of our daily needs, weather we acknowledge that or not, He does!
" Give us this day our daily bread" isn't just about a physical provision though, God is also the provider of less tangible needs being met. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Salvation is the perfect example of God's spiritual provision in our lives. He satisfied our need for salvation by providing His Son as a sacrifice for all sins. Romans 8:32 says " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God went to an extreme to fill our need for salvation.
His spiritual equipping did not stop at salvation- Philippians 4:13 says "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This verse can be misinterpreted to say that God will meet whatever need we have. It is God's will to supply all of our needs, but the key word is "God's" will. God sometimes teaches us through adversity, we may not understand that through suffering God is providing for our needs. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is also a wonderful reminder of how God provides- " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Even in the midst of whatever hardship you face, God has equipped you with what you need to not be overtaken by it- He provides a way of escape-He has provided Himself.
Respond: Do you look for all the ways God has provided for you? Does God ever ask more than you are capable of? How has God shown His faithfulness to you? How does God daily meet your physical and spiritual needs?
Reflect: Philippians 4:6-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 3:16- " For God loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
What does Matthew 6:11 mean? Does it simply ask for a physical provisions, or does it ask for a fulfillment of less tangible needs?
Matthew 6:11 comes from the Lords Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. The most obvious meaning of "give us this day our daily bread" is a physical fulfillment. This is the acknowledgement that God is the provider that meets all of the physical daily needs. The Lord's prayer comes very shortly before Jesus spoke about worrying, in Matthew 6:26 Christ says "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I certainly do not think that is coincidence! God provides all of our daily needs, weather we acknowledge that or not, He does!
" Give us this day our daily bread" isn't just about a physical provision though, God is also the provider of less tangible needs being met. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Salvation is the perfect example of God's spiritual provision in our lives. He satisfied our need for salvation by providing His Son as a sacrifice for all sins. Romans 8:32 says " He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God went to an extreme to fill our need for salvation.
His spiritual equipping did not stop at salvation- Philippians 4:13 says "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." This verse can be misinterpreted to say that God will meet whatever need we have. It is God's will to supply all of our needs, but the key word is "God's" will. God sometimes teaches us through adversity, we may not understand that through suffering God is providing for our needs. 1 Corinthians 10:13 is also a wonderful reminder of how God provides- " No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Even in the midst of whatever hardship you face, God has equipped you with what you need to not be overtaken by it- He provides a way of escape-He has provided Himself.
Respond: Do you look for all the ways God has provided for you? Does God ever ask more than you are capable of? How has God shown His faithfulness to you? How does God daily meet your physical and spiritual needs?
Reflect: Philippians 4:6-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
John 3:16- " For God loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Ephesians 2:8-"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Who Are You?
What if you had the choice between a life filled with misery worry and confusion, and a life filled with joy, hope and fulfillment, which would you choose? I know that I would choose a life filled with joy, hope, and fulfillment! While i say that I choose that life, I know that a lot of the time i live in misery, worry and confusion. Lets look at God's word and see what He has to say about who we really are and how we can and should be living.
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
In the original Greek the word " justified" means "to render righteous as always being so." If you are in Christ you are viewed by God as justified, but not just justified-,God sees you as always being justified-wow!
Acts 10:43,
"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
As a Christian you have received forgiveness from God by giving your life to Christ. You have been forgiven for all sins.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Your a new creature! You are not a dirty sinner anymore, God has made you into an entire new creation!
These are just a FEW of the things God has made you into. You are Justified, you are forgiven, and your not who you were. Here's the big question though- if God has made you into something new and wonderful, why do you live thinking that your anything but a new creation? Simple, Satan makes you think that. When you don't focus on Christ you invite the power of sin to tell you that your anything but God's wonderful creation, this keeps you from being a threat to Satan. When you begin to believe that God has changed you, the devil knows that he is on the way out.
Respond: Does God have power over Satan? How could God change your attitude if you would believe in what He's already done in your life? What keeps you from being confident in God's ability?
Reflect: 2 Corinthians 3:17-"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."- Your free in Christ!
John 8:36- "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
Galatians 2:20- "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."- Your are loved by God!
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
In the original Greek the word " justified" means "to render righteous as always being so." If you are in Christ you are viewed by God as justified, but not just justified-,God sees you as always being justified-wow!
Acts 10:43,
"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
As a Christian you have received forgiveness from God by giving your life to Christ. You have been forgiven for all sins.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Your a new creature! You are not a dirty sinner anymore, God has made you into an entire new creation!
These are just a FEW of the things God has made you into. You are Justified, you are forgiven, and your not who you were. Here's the big question though- if God has made you into something new and wonderful, why do you live thinking that your anything but a new creation? Simple, Satan makes you think that. When you don't focus on Christ you invite the power of sin to tell you that your anything but God's wonderful creation, this keeps you from being a threat to Satan. When you begin to believe that God has changed you, the devil knows that he is on the way out.
Respond: Does God have power over Satan? How could God change your attitude if you would believe in what He's already done in your life? What keeps you from being confident in God's ability?
Reflect: 2 Corinthians 3:17-"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."- Your free in Christ!
John 8:36- "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
Galatians 2:20- "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."- Your are loved by God!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Who Is He?
God gave me such a wonderful reminder of who He is as I was reading today- Really let this Psalm sink in.
The Voice of the Lord in the Storm.
A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty,
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Worship the Lord in holy array.
Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Worship the Lord in holy array.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”
The Lord sat as King at the flood;
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29
Devotion Of The Day: Not The Plan
Prov. 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
I don't enjoy not knowing what's going to happen. I read the last chapter of a book first, I keep a schedule, I love lists, and I want structure. Large surprises in life are not my thing. So when something comes along in life that isn't planned, I'm left feeling helpless.
A change in plans always leaves me in a vulnerable place. Feeling vulnerable and exposed is a reminder of just how badly you really need God. That you cannot trust in anything but the Lord, and that trust is a powerful one. You have no power, no control, and that's exactly where you desire to be.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is such a wonderful message. The meaning of trust in this verse in the original Hebrew means "to be secure or confident." Another Hebrew meaning also makes this passage equally encouraging. In verse 6 it says " He will make straight your paths," it translates to meaning " to lead, direct, to lead straight along." If you read back with that in mind- Be confident in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and lead your straight along. Knowing this, I don't mind the unknown nearly as much.
Trust in the Lord- He will lead you to the right path and He will follow you through it. Don't lean on your own understanding.
Respond: How can not knowing make you trust God more? How can it make you trust God less? When you choose to trust in Him, what is the outcome?
Reflect: Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. Psalm 86:7
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8
I don't enjoy not knowing what's going to happen. I read the last chapter of a book first, I keep a schedule, I love lists, and I want structure. Large surprises in life are not my thing. So when something comes along in life that isn't planned, I'm left feeling helpless.
A change in plans always leaves me in a vulnerable place. Feeling vulnerable and exposed is a reminder of just how badly you really need God. That you cannot trust in anything but the Lord, and that trust is a powerful one. You have no power, no control, and that's exactly where you desire to be.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is such a wonderful message. The meaning of trust in this verse in the original Hebrew means "to be secure or confident." Another Hebrew meaning also makes this passage equally encouraging. In verse 6 it says " He will make straight your paths," it translates to meaning " to lead, direct, to lead straight along." If you read back with that in mind- Be confident in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct and lead your straight along. Knowing this, I don't mind the unknown nearly as much.
Trust in the Lord- He will lead you to the right path and He will follow you through it. Don't lean on your own understanding.
Respond: How can not knowing make you trust God more? How can it make you trust God less? When you choose to trust in Him, what is the outcome?
Reflect: Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. Psalm 86:7
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:5
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Spiritual Load
1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Matthew 11:28- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
With one person already on her back, i took a running start and successfully landed on the back of a girl who was on another girls back. My friend took three steps with two girls on her back and just simply collapsed. She had exceeded the load that she could handle.
Do you ever just feel like you need a spiritual rest? Lately I feel like my "spiritual load" is at it's max. Should I have a "spiritual load" at all? Matthew 11:28 answers that question quite nicely. The verse doesn't say " Come to me and we will share the load," it just says come and I will allow you to rest. 1 Peter 5:7 also makes a distinct observation, the verse says to "cast ALL your anxieties on Him"- you don't have to carry ANY of the load, you just have to give it to the Lord.
I've observed that rest, to many people, doesn't line up with rest in 1 Peter 5:7 God may not fix the situation. He may not give back what was taken, He also may not work in the way that you envisioned. But cast your cares on the Lord and He will completely take the load and change your heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." That almost sounds like an excuse to get anything you want, but i promise you that it is not. When you delight yourself in the person of God, you are changed. What God wants begins to become what you want. Your desire literally becomes the Lord.
If your struggling to let the Lord handle your burdens, I encourage you to just give them to Him.You will be freed and you will be left watching God make the best out of every single circumstance in life. Fully delight yourself in the Lord and your heart will follow after God's will.
Respond: What do you need to cast upon the Lord? What is the desire of your heart? Is it God? How could letting God handle your burdens change how you view hard circumstances? Spend time in prayer asking God to allow you to hand over your burdens.
Reflect: Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Matthew 11:28- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
With one person already on her back, i took a running start and successfully landed on the back of a girl who was on another girls back. My friend took three steps with two girls on her back and just simply collapsed. She had exceeded the load that she could handle.
Do you ever just feel like you need a spiritual rest? Lately I feel like my "spiritual load" is at it's max. Should I have a "spiritual load" at all? Matthew 11:28 answers that question quite nicely. The verse doesn't say " Come to me and we will share the load," it just says come and I will allow you to rest. 1 Peter 5:7 also makes a distinct observation, the verse says to "cast ALL your anxieties on Him"- you don't have to carry ANY of the load, you just have to give it to the Lord.
I've observed that rest, to many people, doesn't line up with rest in 1 Peter 5:7 God may not fix the situation. He may not give back what was taken, He also may not work in the way that you envisioned. But cast your cares on the Lord and He will completely take the load and change your heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart." That almost sounds like an excuse to get anything you want, but i promise you that it is not. When you delight yourself in the person of God, you are changed. What God wants begins to become what you want. Your desire literally becomes the Lord.
If your struggling to let the Lord handle your burdens, I encourage you to just give them to Him.You will be freed and you will be left watching God make the best out of every single circumstance in life. Fully delight yourself in the Lord and your heart will follow after God's will.
Respond: What do you need to cast upon the Lord? What is the desire of your heart? Is it God? How could letting God handle your burdens change how you view hard circumstances? Spend time in prayer asking God to allow you to hand over your burdens.
Reflect: Psalm 62:1-2 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Devotion Of The Day: Don't Give In
Do you ever feel like giving up? To be honest I feel like giving up today! Every person struggles with something different, weather it's a heartbreak, a job, a heartache, or school, at times all of us feel like giving up. But God has not given us a spirit of fear ( 2 Timothy 1:7 )! He wants to be the one who rises you above your circumstances so that you can fully glorify Him! If you feel like breaking- spend time with Him. If your hurting- tell Him. God is very interested in every part of your life, and He wants you to give yourself to Him! Reflect on the following verses:
Reflect: Psalm 28: 7- The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Proverbs 18:10-The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
John 16:33- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 46:1-God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Romans 8:31- If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Psalm 27:1 -The Lord is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the defense of
my life;Whom shall I dread?
1 Corinthians- 13:12 or now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known
Hebrews 13"8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 55:22-Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
James 1:2-4- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Respond :Before you decide that you can't handle what is around you, remember that God is the one doing to work through you ( Galatians 2:20. ) How would your circumstances look if you let God handle them instead of yourself? Would you be more stressed or less stressed if you let go of what you can't even control?
Reflect: Psalm 28: 7- The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Proverbs 18:10-The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
John 16:33- These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 46:1-God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Romans 8:31- If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Psalm 27:1 -The Lord is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the defense of
my life;Whom shall I dread?
1 Corinthians- 13:12 or now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known
Hebrews 13"8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Psalm 55:22-Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you;He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
James 1:2-4- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Respond :Before you decide that you can't handle what is around you, remember that God is the one doing to work through you ( Galatians 2:20. ) How would your circumstances look if you let God handle them instead of yourself? Would you be more stressed or less stressed if you let go of what you can't even control?
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