Friday, January 31, 2014

Treasures Deep Within

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”
(2 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV.)
 
Today's Word:
You have many treasures buried deep inside of you. Gifts, talents, abilities that you don’t even know about yet. But as a believer in Jesus, the greatest treasure within you is the Spirit of God. You carry the treasure of God in an earthen vessel!
 
He’s also deposited treasures on the inside of you that are tied to your purpose. By His Spirit, you will discover that God has fully equipped you for everything you need in this life. We have to draw out those treasures inside of us by what we speak and what we believe. We stir up the gifts by praying in the Spirit.
 
Don’t let those treasures lie dormant. Seek God and follow His leading. Dig deep, stir it up and move forward in the destiny God has in store for you!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Consider Your God

by Dave
 
Today's Scripture:
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body…he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform…
(Romans 4:19-21, NKJV.)
 
Today's Word:
Abraham, who is known as our father in the faith, had many obstacles coming against the promise of God in his life. God told him that he would be “the father of many nations.” Abraham was over 90 years old before he ever saw that promise begin to come to pass. This scripture tells us that He didn’t consider his body. He didn’t think and meditate on all the reasons why he couldn’t be the father of many nations. No, he considered and thought about the strength and ability of God! He thought about God’s faithfulness and gave praise and glory to Him. The faith that Abraham exercised opened the door for God to do mighty things in and through Him.
 
Today, what are you believing God for? Does it seem impossible? Has it taken a long time? Consider your God. Consider His Word. Consider His faithfulness. Just like Abraham, you’ll grow strong in faith as you give glory to God. Trust Him today and experience the victory He has in store for you tomorrow!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Magnify The Lord

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
(Psalm 34:3, KJV.)
 
Today's Word:
Something powerful happens inside when you magnify the Lord. What does it mean to magnify the Lord? When you magnify Him, you aren’t changing Him; you are changing the way you see Him. You are making Him bigger in your life than your problems and circumstances.
 
So many people today waste time and energy talking about their problems and feeling sorry for themselves. That’s because they are magnifying their circumstances in their own mind and heart. But when you start magnifying the Lord by talking about Him and worshiping Him, you are making Him the main priority in your life and opening the door for Him to move on your behalf.
 
Today, decide that no matter what’s going on in life around you, you are going to magnify your God. Talk about His goodness. Talk about His faithfulness. Declare that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Exalt His name today and lift Him up and see His hand of blessing in every area of your life!

Friday, January 24, 2014

Joy to the World

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
(Psalm 16:11, NIV.)
 
Today's Word:
God promises that joy is found in His presence. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you. That means you can have joy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
 
Joy manifests when you focus your heart on the Father and praise Him for who He is and what He’s done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you are in His presence. You have access to His full joy.
 
Today, know that no matter what’s going on around you, God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world, so He could live inside of you. Don’t waste another minute feeling burdened or condemned. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and move forward in the victory He’s prepared for you!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Say of the Lord

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!”
(Psalm 91:2, AMP.)
 
Today's Word:
What are you saying of the Lord today? In other words, what are you declaring that God will do in your life? The next verse in this passage says, “And He will cover me, deliver me and protect me.” Notice the connection: “I will say” and “He will do.” What a wonderful promise! On the other hand, if we’re not saying anything, we’re not releasing our faith. So you could read the passage in the reverse, “I will not say of the Lord, and He will not do.”
 
Always remember that your words have creative power. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. When you declare who God is in your life, you are displaying your faith and trust in Him. Faith is what pleases God and opens the door for Him to move in your life. Today, declare God’s greatness in your life. Declare that He is faithful. Say of the Lord and watch what He will do on your behalf!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Day 6 - To Prayer

by Bonnie (Where Can Broken Hearts Go?)

Sometimes during my deep, deep pain, I can remember not having a word to pray. At those times I would just say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” Remember that God already knows and sees your heart. Just try to talk to him. Talk as if you were sharing your heart with a friend. I found the best way to pray was having a prayer space. It happened to be my closet. I would get up early in the morning when it was quiet. I would sit with my Bible, study books and journal sometimes. At other times, the pain was so great, I would lay on the floor in my closet. God sees each tear you cry. His heart bends towards your weeping. His heart aches with you as you cry for help.

Psalm 6:6-7; I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Psalm 88:9; I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.

Romans 12:12; Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Reflection: Although you can’t always see the rainbow, determine in your heart to believe his promises. Even when Jesus was in the garden agonizing, He talked to God. While He hung on the cross, He prayed to His Father. He prayed through agony and so can we. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation. Give God time to speak to you. Be still and quiet.

Prayer: O God, you know this is one of the hardest things to do in such a busy world. Thank you that even in the chaos and busyness around me, you can still speak to me. Help me to long to be still and quiet before you. Father, help me to establish a faithful prayer life that isn’t rushed or scripted. Help my mind to be focused on you as I pour my heart out to you. Thank you that you are faithful to hear my prayers as I learn to walk in your ways. O God, thank you that prayer changes things and I believe absolutely nothing is impossible for you. I love you, my Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Exactly What You Need

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ “Jesus.
(Philippians 4:19, NIV.)
 
Today's Word:
Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the challenges and obstacles we face. But, we have to remember that God equips for every season of life. God will not allow you to face Goliath, He will not allow a major challenge and then just give you a little favor, a little strength, a little wisdom. No, God equips you with exactly what you need to overcome every obstacle. What you have in your hand may not seem like much, but remember, David had victory with only five small stones!
 
Know today that you have been empowered to accomplish every dream that God has placed in your heart. Oftentimes, the reason you have a huge obstacle is because you have a huge future. You may be facing a big challenge, but you’re a big person serving a big God. Know that no matter what you face, God will meet your needs. You are equipped, you are empowered, and you are headed toward victory in every area of your life!

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Identify with Him

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, AMP.)
 
Today's Word:
So many people fall into the trap of identifying with their challenges instead of identifying with Christ. For example, you may be dealing with a sickness, but understand, you are not a sick person trying to get well. You are a well person fighting off sickness. You may be struggling in your finances, but you’re not a poor person trying to get ahead. You’re a successful person fighting off poverty. You may be struggling with an addiction. You’ve had it many years. Don’t see yourself as an addict. Don’t let that image become ingrained on the inside. You are not an addicted person trying to get free. You are a free person fighting off an addiction.
 
Remember, in Christ you are a new creature. The old has passed away. Don’t let it cling to you! Identify with Christ and embrace the freedom and victory He has for you!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Day 5 - To God's Word

by Bonnie (Where Can Broken Hearts Go?)

God's Word speaks like no one else can.  I spent a vast amount of time in the Psalms.  I planted myself there when I was searching for a word of hope for my aching soul.  Try out the Psalms.

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your Word (the Bible) in my heart that I might not sin against you.

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

Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Reflection: I can promise you this. If you will remain faithful in your time of devotions with God, reading his word, the Bible, even when you don’t feel like it, He will remain faithful to give you strength, comfort and hope in this pain and sorrow. His word is made active by the work of his Holy Spirit and will bring all those things to his faithful people. His Word can revive and restore us in EVERY way if we continue to read and live by what it says. His Spirit will give you peace that goes beyond your understanding. Stay in God’s Word. His Word will guide you as you travel this road.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you that as we put on the full armor to stand against the enemy, we can speak your Word in the face of our enemy. There is no other book worthy of standing on, relying on or meditating on. I am so grateful for your Guidebook through this life. Renew my mind as I study it. Lord, help me to remember specific verses of your faithfulness to me this day. May I hide your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Thank you for the precious gift of your Word. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Something New For You

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?”
(Isaiah 43:19, NLT.)
 
Today's Word:
It’s a new year, and God has something new in store for you! His plan for your life is not for you to reach one level and get stuck and stay there for 30 or 40 years. His plan is to increase you, open new doors before you, and take you places that you’ve never imagined. He has something big in your future, and He has something big in store for this year! He’s already planned out big breaks, big opportunities, and big ideas for you. You may have seen God’s goodness in the past, but you have not touched the surface of what God has for you in 2014! He is doing a new thing!
 
I believe this new thing is going to be far greater than you’ve ever seen before. It’s going to be bigger than you imagined. It’s going to be more rewarding than you thought possible. Receive it by faith and declare, “Yes, God, this is for me today. I’m not going to get stuck where I am. I know You’re a big God, and You have something new coming my way!”
 
Prayer for Today:
Father, thank You for a new day and a new year to glorify You. Thank You for choosing me and using me for Your purposes. I set my love on You today knowing that You have something new in store for me this year in Jesus’ name. Amen

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Esteeming One Another

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…” (Ephesians 5:2, AMP.)
 
Today's Word:
We don’t often hear the world esteem very much in our culture, but the Bible tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One definition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another and hold them in high regard, even if you don’t always agree with them. Sometimes people think, “That person doesn’t act honorably, so why should I honor them?” But the truth is, we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of God.
 
If you had a very costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn’t just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. It’s the same way with people. When we see others as valuable the way God sees them, we treat them carefully. We speak respectfully. We look for the good in others and honor them for who God made them to be. This year, choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds into your relationships and see a harvest of blessing in every area of your life!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Nothing Wasted

by Dave

Today's Scripture:
“Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” (Psalm 103:4, NIV.)
 
Today's Word:
I know people who feel like they’ve wasted years of their lives because of poor choices. They spent years in a relationship that was toxic, years with an addiction, years at a job where they weren’t fulfilled. But you have to realize, nothing you have been through is ever wasted. Your past experiences, good and bad, have deposited something on the inside of you. Those challenges have sharpened you to help make you who you are today.
 
When the enemy brings hardship into your life, God has a way of taking that experience and turning it around for your advantage. You may think you’ve hit a dead end, but if you’ll stay in faith, you will see God begin to open up a new route. He’ll put the right people in your path, the right opportunities, the right circumstances to move you forward toward the blessing God has in store for you!
 
Today, don’t focus on what’s happened in your past, focus on what God will do in your future. He wants to restore your soul and revive your dreams. Keep believing, keep expecting, keep hoping because God has a new route for your future!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Day 4 - To Grieving

by Bonnie (Where Can Broken Hearts Go?)

This was the first stage of my recovery from a broken heart. I spent seven weeks specifically dealing with grieving. I wish that was all the time it took to grieve, but it was much longer for me. Everyone grieves differently and for different durations. I believe it is necessary for healing.

During this time, God showed me a lot of things in my life that I needed to change. One of the biggest battles and weaknesses I dealt with was living in overblown emotions…looking at life through a negative lens and having a critical and impatient spirit. I had other weakness and coping issues that were not pretty. Grieving was hard work and I wish I could tell you I always grieved properly, but I didn’t. Anger was huge for me. When I was angry I felt I was in control, but it didn’t take long for that anger to turn to sadness. I would be sad that I was mad and mad that I was sad.

Through grieving, I’ve learned to own my weaknesses and I’ve learned how to live with my feelings. I’m learning that feelings are OK. God made us this way, but it is our choice what we do with those feelings. I’m learning to take care of myself and to be gentle with myself when I’m grieving or have feelings that I just don‘t like. I’ve learned we can’t control anyone or anything. Triggers are real and we are powerless over them, but with God‘s help, we will make it through them. I’m learning what it means to be loved by God, how to forgive and accept healing.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Psalm 30: 11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Reflection: Grieving is hard work. Journaling all of the losses helps relieve them from your mind as you write them on paper. It takes a brave heart to put it all out there and begin to ask God to show you any loss you will need to grieve. Pray over your list. Crying is part of grieving. Be very gentle with yourself during this process. God will meet you there if you open yourself up to his tender mercies. Allow the feelings of grief to come. Sit in them for a period of time. Anger was probably the hardest for me to understand. It is OK to be angry. Cry, scream or hit a pillow if you need to. God already understands your emotions. He made you with all the emotions you feel. Be honest with him over your grief. Believe and determine in your heart the hurt you feel right now will get better.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, please help me grieve properly. Help me to understand that the emotions I’m feeling, you understand and you love me anyway. If I am stowing away emotions that are causing me physical issues, help me identify them. I want to grieve the best way for me to receive healing. I open up all of my pain and hurt to you. You are my healer and I praise you, even in this pain. Thank you for helping me grieve and be honest with you. I submit to you. Help me to see something good in all of this. In Jesus’ Name, Amen