After nearly 3 years between covid years where things were canceled in many cases, and modified in other cases, this year we get to do it! This year we get to be filled up and pour out our lives for the good of others and the glory of God! There are many who may try to manipulate through fear, worry, anxiety, and doubt but that’s not what or how God wants it! Today, let’s choose to live our lives in alignment with God’s plan to give us hope and a future! Let’s choose to live our lives in a way where we live life to the full! Let’s cast our care and anxieties on God because He cares for us! Let’s consider it pure joy when we face trials allowing perseverance to complete its work so that we can be complete and lacking nothing! Let’s live out today humbly trusting that God will lift us up in His due time! It’s time! Let’s do it!
Are you ready? Is the foundation set? Is the support in place? Are you covering it all in prayer? Are you trusting God? Are you being faithful in the little things? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.
If you are reading this then you are here and as such you have things to do and get done. This is the day that the Lord has made and so let’s rejoice and be glad in it! God has prepared in advance good works for us to accomplish today and it is up to get it done! So let’s be about the work of the Father and getting done those good works! Let’s focus on the things He has for us to get done today including making plans for what is next. Let’s not try to go it alone but instead choose to work on things together! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God gave us one another! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God sent the Holy Spirit! God cares too much to leave us on our own and promises to never leave us nor forsake/abandon us! So today let’s make sure we lean into God and cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Let’s choose to listen to the prompting and directing of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to accomplish all that God has planned for us! Let’s remember God’s plans for us are for good and not for evil, they are to give us hope and a future! Yes, in this world we will have troubles but we don’t have to worry or mope about it because we know that Jesus overcame the world! Yes in this world we will face trials too but don’t fret or worry about that because we know that we should consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because we know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. We know that when we let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. So today, let us choose to lean in on God and trust Him, pursuing His plans, His purposes, and His calling on our lives!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ‘
Are you ready for today? Do you have a to-do list? Do you know what you need to do? Invite Jesus into your heart and life today to lead and guide us in every good work!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.
Can you believe it is the middle of the week again? Where does the time go? Yesterday my son finished his first year of high school and today my younger daughter finishes her senior year of classes. Today is the first day of the second 25 years of marriage as we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary yesterday. And there is still so much to get done. So today the focus is on accelerating up the hill, over the hump in order to use it as a ramp for getting more done and landing further ahead. It’s time to make it happen, no excuses, no delays, just get it done! As Knight Rider would say “turbo boost K.I.T.T.”.
It’s time to get ahead and get it done so we can be prepared. So let’s make today count! Let’s grab hold of what the definition of thrive really is:
So today, let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ‘
Let’s choose to live our lives humbly submitted to God! Let’s choose to live our lives with humility and allow God to lift us up at the right time rather than walking around with pride and arrogance and being brought down! Let’s ask Jesus into our hearts in order to receive a new heart and be able to live our lives in alignment and in relationship with God! Could today be your day for this new beginning? Could today be your day to live differently? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life and situation! Pursue Him with all you have and see God’s hand lead and guide you beyond anything you could ever ask or imagine!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.
As I wake up this morning I see a list of todos in front of me with excitement and energy. As I look ahead and see how busy work is and how busy life is I am excited to see God’s hand at work across all the areas of my life. Be it work with planning and preparing, meeting and learning, driving and executing. Be it life with training plans, camp plans, college plans, family plans, travel plans, and graduation plans. Both are busy and as I like to joke with people it helps me stay balanced. So as we get today going, let’s be focused, putting first things first, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that we can get it done in alignment and accordance with His perfect will and plan and purpose for our lives and allow God to help carry the load and get it done for His glory!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. ‘
Are you ready to go beyond just being a hearer of the Word to being a doer for the Word? Are you ready to get your to-dos into to-dones? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your situation and ask Him for wisdom to help you live your life to the full as He desires? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and allow Him to lead and guide you through your day?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.
So you get to listen and try to absorb. You get to participate and ask questions. You get to see people in action. Now it is time to go deeper from knowledge to understanding so that this understanding comes will be the triggering mechanism to help things rocket off, finding the power to propel us forward and thrive for the glory of God! Understanding is so powerful as it can help us get to forgiveness when needed! Understanding is so powerful because it can help us respect and honor others better! Understanding is so powerful because it can bring joy and happiness! So today, let’s lean into what God has to say and make sure we don’t just know about God but rather we know God and live to understand Him intimately! Let’s lean into what God is speaking to us so that we aren’t just people who are hearers or readers of the Word but rather people who understand and become doers of the Word!
Verse of the Day:
‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ‘
So are you ready to wait upon God so that He can renew your strength? Are you ready to abide with and in God? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life in order to make the choice to grow closer and closer to God? Are you ready for today to be the day your life is transformed for the glory of God?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Let’s be people who live authentic lives and don’t try to make decisions or choices for others. Why should you limit them by thinking they will say no rather than hopefully thinking they will say yes? Why would you limit them because of your own doubts or fears? Why not share what God is and has done in and through your life rather than allow others to make the decision for themselves if they want to start their own personal relationship with God or not! It’s the beginning of a new workweek and this one feels different. It’s the beginning of a new workweek and it feels like wrapping up in some ways and getting started in others. So I give this day into God’s hands and ask Him to provide me the wisdom and discernment I will need to make it through this day. I give this day into God’s hands and ask Him to provide the protection and health I will need to make it through this day. This is the day that the Lord has made so I will rejoice and be glad in it! I will lean on God more than my own understanding! I will acknowledge God so that He can make my path straight! Thank You Jesus for not leaving me wondering but rather answering my prayer and making the decision clear. Thank You, Lord, for helping me to be able to evaluate and move forward in alignment with Your direction. You are amazing Lord and I am so excited for what is yet to come while at the same time looking to make the most of today which is the present, a gift from You. Help me Lord to live out my today in a way that will bring You the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name. Help me Lord to live out my today accomplishing the good works You have prepared in advance for me to do so that when I get them done people will see the good works and give the praise, the honor, and the glory to You, praising my Heavenly Father!
Verse of the Day:
‘One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. ‘
So are you ready for this day? Are you ready to find your purpose? Are you ready to find your calling? Are you ready to live out your today for the glory of God? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and ask Him for wisdom and discernment? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and ask Him for direction and purpose? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life so that you can be filled with His Spirit and overflow into the world around you? Are you wondering or wanting to have Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
This is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s not be paralyzed by fear of the future but instead let’s make the most of our today! Let’s keep focused on what we can do today because tomorrow is not promised! Let’s focus on today rather than worrying about tomorrow because tomorrow will have enough to worry about! So let’s choose to start thriving today! How about physically? Let’s start our workout routine we have stopped and been putting off! How out spiritually? Let’s start a bible reading routine so we can dig deeper into scripture and understand God’s Word and His Word for us today! How about mentally? Let’s look into what we need to know, to learn, to be ready and grow! How about emotionally? Let’s take inventory of the things that will help us grow and flourish emotionally! In the midst of all of this let’s combine them in a way that will help us to take new ground in spite of or because of our current circumstances around us!
TODAY! This is the day the Lord has made! Let’s work as unto the Lord! Let’s be good stewards! Let’s lean in on God because we can trust Him and we know that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it! Let’s persevere no matter what obstacles get in front of us, no matter what struggles we are facing, no matter what trials we must walkthrough, and no matter what troubles come our way because we know that Jesus is with us and that we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world! Let’s choose unity over self and walk it out at the speed of health so that the relationships will end up better and stronger than ever before!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
We have been created on purpose, with purpose, and for a purpose! We have been uniquely created for this life and we get to choose if we will answer the call and be who God created us to be! We need to answer the call in order to thrive for the glory of God! Are you ready? Have you asked God about why He created you? Have you asked God why He created you with the gifts, skills, and talents He has given you? Have you asked God what He wants you to do? Are you ready to find out? Would you consider digging into God’s Word? Would you consider going through a book like The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren? Would you consider going through a book like The Cause within You: Finding the One Great Thing God Created You to Do in This World by Matthew Barnett. Why not get your journey started by inviting Jesus into your heart? Why not get started with allowing the Holy Spirit to be your comforter and your guide? Why not get started today?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
When things don’t seem clear and you aren’t sure what to do, do what you know to do. God has given you directions so do that. God has given you wisdom so do that. God has given you hope so do that. God has a plan so do that. God has a purpose so do that. And in God’s timing, which is perfect, you will know what to do and then you can step up, step out, and do it. Be it at work! Be it at home! Be it somewhere in between! Let’s capture what God has for us to do today in the midst of the world being shaken and do it! Let’s capture what God has for us to do today so that we are doing the right things when the only thing left is unshakable and do it!
For me, that means I get to be the dad my wife needs me to be. For me, that means I get to be the dad my kids need me to be. For me, that means I get to focus on preparing for what is yet to come like scripts, decks, and videos that speak to men, youth, and kids about the importance and the responsibility of being the dads this world needs.
Verse of the Day:
‘Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ‘
Where are you today? Are you ready to lean in on God to be able to do what you know to do in the midst of uncertain times? Are you ready to lean in on God to be able to do what you know to do in the midst of shaky times? Are you not sure what to do? Are you not sure how to do it? The answer is to turn back to God and lean in on Him for wisdom and discernment, direction and instruction, so that in everything you do He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory and it will be for your good.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
The first day of the workweek is behind us. I grabbed the concept, the direction, the idea and produced recommendations to support it. So much change is taking place and yet with the final update published my final destination (from a reporting structure) is unclear. The good news is that my final destination (for eternity has been decided). So I lean into God for wisdom and direction! I lean into God for strength the press in and persevere. I lean into God to know what’s next and trust in Him for the perfect answer in the perfect timing and that He will help me walk through each day till the timing is right. In the new world, who can I talk to? In this new world even though I have a past and a history with people does this new change mean I have to hold back or stop reaching out to help? In this new world with so much decided and yet feeling like I am missing the why. When we consider what has been and is now taking place in this world, the words of the book of Hebrews comes to mind where it says:
‘At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”’
Even in looking up and looking at “everything that can be shaken will be shaken” another scripture showed up:
‘“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘
So it’s the second day of the workweek. There is an emergency to take care of. There is change and shaking taking place. So let’s not lose hope but instead persevere! Let’s not lose hope but instead put our trust in and lean on God! Let’s not lose hope but instead choose unity at the speed of health to ensure we can all make it through this together.
Verse of the Day:
‘She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. ‘
So what are you facing today? Are you ready to turn it over to God? Are you ready to go it His way?
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Let us take hold of the reality of what we have learned through the book of Exodus when it comes to THRIVING and allow God’s Word to help us as we look ahead and into the future of this life. We learned about risk-taking, getting out of the boat, and allowing God to do new things in our lives, God answers prayer, and God is near to His people. We learned that God’s deepest work can come out through our trials, troubles, and pain. We learned how we are closer to a breakthrough than we think even during what we are going through. Just like the turbulence right before breaking through the sound barrier, life can get bumpy right before the breakthrough. During the struggle, we need to trust God and His choice of us for this calling and purpose rather than thinking we are the wrong choice. We need to trust God even when we do not understand. We need to keep turning to God when we do not know what to do or where to go. We need to fight our way through the pain, fear, and unbelief. God is in control! Do not give up! Lean in, kneel, and call out to God. We have learned the importance of picking our battles. We need to choose to fight the fight of trust – that God is good even when our circumstances are not. We need to choose to fight the fight of perseverance – to keep going and not quit (do not give in to the doubts and fears the devil is trying to use to get you to quit). We need to choose to fight the fight for unity – to move forward at the speed of health. We learned the why! It is important to know why! Why did God put Egypt through the plagues? Because He wanted to answer Pharoah’s question “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” Egypt had a god for everything, and the plagues demonstrated that God was over and of them because they were not real gods. We need to understand WHY. Could simplification be the answer? What does that say and what does that mean for and to you? We learned the importance of leaving the things behind us to move forward to the things God has for us. We learned the importance of leaving the mistakes and trials of the past behind us. We learned the need to let go of the struggles and pains of the past. We learned the importance to instruct our kids. We learned God is so for you – taking you right where you are and leading you into a new beginning. We cannot get stuck in the past and not step up and step out into what God has planned for us. We need to do what we have to do to get where God needs us to be. We learned that we need to wake up to the reality of what is taking place instead of getting stuck we need to act. We need to pray and call on God rather than absorbing or accepting failure around us. We need to be able to accept success and breakthroughs when it is right in front of us. We cannot allow the fear of the unknown or the future to become our master again. We learned how we must let God make the change and take hold of the reality that God is able to exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine. We learned how God wants to forgive you so much He came after you. He did all the work himself. Just needed to accept the gift. Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. We learned how God gave the cloud and the fire to comfort them. Do not let your heart be troubled. God has a change and a new way for you. God will stand between you and the enemy. We learned how today by faith in Christ you can be forgiven and start the journey with Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will lead you and guide you. He will come behind you to watch your back. We learned that we need to do what God is telling us to do. We need to stop going backward. We need to stop surrendering when we are on the verge of a breakthrough. Start moving towards what God is calling you to. Dare to sow, to pray, to give your best. The things you can do so do it. We learned how God had the wind stack up the water into walls and dried the ground. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord and keep moving towards what He is showing us and telling us. Pharaoh woke up to a supply chain issue – he questioned why he let them go and just because one day their eyes may be opened to the reality of the situation, it does not mean that we should not be moving forward into the promised land and glory had prepared in advance for us to step into. God does not send you to hell, He opened the door to forgiveness and heaven, and we need to choose the final destination. You are the only one who can keep you from eternal life with God and forgiveness.
Where are you today? What decisions are you facing? What challenges are you facing? What struggles are you facing? What opportunities are you facing? What will you do about it? Where will you turn for wisdom and advice? What will you do about the answer you receive? Will you go? Will you do it? Will you trust Him? Let’s give it up to God! Let’s go to Him for wisdom and advice! Let’s be obedient to His instruction and go do it!
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
I am so grateful for a loving and caring God. I am so thankful that He knows what I need even before I can ask. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave me His Word. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave His one and only Son. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He doesn’t want me to go it alone and so He not only give me one another but also His Holy Spirit to be my comforter and my guide. So, what to do when you don’t know what to do? You do what you know how to do and turn to God and ask for His wisdom and discernment, for His leading and guiding, so that you can move forward for the glory of His kingdom.
Can you believe it is the end of the workweek already? Let’s finish the week strong! Let’s give our day into God’s hand to help us navigate not only the information that will come our way but also the time we spend today with others, on projects, etc. Let’s choose to live today in a way that will glorify God! Let’s trust God knowing that whatever is going on it will be for His glory and our good! Let’s persevere as we move forward not giving up and not giving in to the lies or tricks of the devil. Let’s work for unity in health so that in and through it all God will be lifted up and glorified and others will see it and glorify our Father in heaven.
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ‘
So are you ready to finish the week strong? Are you looking to figure out what to do? Are there many open questions? Is there uncertainty taking place? Let’s lean in on God! Let’s trust in God! Let’s not think we can figure it all out but instead turn to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help us! Let’s invite God into our life situation.
If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.
Today, as I enjoy the weekend with my family the workweek, has finished and yet the news/answers didn’t come. So what is going to happen? Don’t know! What will we do? Don’t know! Where will we be? Don’t know! But I do know what my team does and so we will keep doing that to the best of our abilities in order to not only support the various teams across the company but also produce the best-localized content we can for our customers, shoppers, and visitors.
So are you having to deal with unknowns? Are you having to deal with uncertainties? Are you having to deal with changes? Are you having to deal with obstacles? Are you having to deal lack of clarity? Are you having to deal with a lack of direction? So what are you going to do?
Do what you know how to do! Invite God into the situation and do what you know how to do!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. ‘
So what are you dealing with today? Is God your go-to? Is God where you turn when you are facing uncertain times? Is God where you turn when you are facing challenging times? Is God where you turn when you are facing change? Are you ready to open that door to start a conversation and relationship with God so that not only can you be engaged to the world but allow God to engage with you in the midst of the trials, the troubles, the challenges, and the change? Let’s invite Jesus into our situation and walk it out with Him! God doesn’t want us to leave Him out of it but rather He desires to be with us, He is going before us, He is walking with us, He will never leave us nor forsake us, and so we just need to invite Him.
Ever found how life can get busy? Ever found how your emotions can get in the way of moving forward? Ever found that you can get tired while doing good? Ever found that you can get discouraged if you aren’t seeing fruit from doing good? Ever found that others may say or do things to try and get you to stop doing good? Let’s consider what God’s Word says about doing good and plant our feet on that.
It is interesting the number of posts I found about the Bible verses on “doing good” like:
Let’s start with the one that motivated my title today and check out a few others too:
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. — Galatians 6:9
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. — Psalm 37:3
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. — Matthew 5:16
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. — Ephesians 2:10
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. — James 2:14-17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. — James 4:17
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. — Galatians 6:10
‘This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.’
Let’s try to grab some additional context by starting at the beginning of this chapter and using the Amplified version for some additional insights:
‘Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good, to slander or abuse no one, to be kind and conciliatory and gentle, showing unqualified consideration and courtesy toward everyone. For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people. But avoid foolish and ill-informed and stupid controversies and genealogies and dissensions and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him], well aware that such a person is twisted and is sinning; he is convicted and self-condemned [and is gratified by causing confusion among believers]. ‘
So where are you today? Are you ready to be doing good? Are you ready to do good even when you don’t feel like it? Are you ready to do good even when you are facing trials or troubles? Are you ready to do good whenever you get the opportunity? Are you ready to do good in every opportunity for everyone? Let’s be doers of the Word! Need some help? Why not invite God into the situation? Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
This is a new day. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. So what are you going to do with your today?
What needs to be done? What needs to be done by you?
What are the needs? How will you fill them?
The Bible provides many examples of things we can do by faith. What are you going to do with your today?
The Bible isn’t just a book of stories, it is an instruction manual to help us be able to live productive lives. What are you going to do with your today?
The Bible is a love letter from God that helps you know how to live a life that can be blessed. What are you going to do with your today?
If we take the key element from the Bible which is LOVE, and how we are to LOVE God and LOVE people, how will that change the way you decide to do your today?
Are you ready to live, to love, and to serve? Are you ready to make a difference with your today? Are willing to make your today a Happy Today fueled by the joy of the Lord?
So where are you at today? What is your view of the truth? What is your reason or as I’ve heard some say “raison d’être“? Are you living out your life as a doer of the Word? Are you living out your life as a hearer of the Word? Have you decided to receive Jesus into your heart? Have you chosen to go beyond hearing and reading about Jesus to starting a real relationship with Him? Could today be your day? Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Do you realize the importance of acknowledging others? Do you realize the importance of expressing how valued others are? Do you realize the importance of telling someone you appreciate them? Do you realize the importance of telling someone they did good? Do you realize the importance of celebrating victories with others? Do you realize the importance of celebrating milestones with others? Do you realize that you have a part to play in making sure that everyone in the group is appreciated for the work they do?
So what can you do about it? How can you bless someone today? Now that you know you can’t say you didn’t. Some may think that ignorance is bliss because if you don’t know something then you don’t have to worry about it. Worry changes nothing but prayer changes everything! God doesn’t want us to worry, God wants us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us! With all the technology, all the social media, all the broadcast technology that is taking place, it can be a choice to not know. When you think of the word ignorance what comes to mind? Is it any of these words?
incomprehension, unawareness, unconsciousness, inexperience, innocence, unfamiliarity with, lack of enlightenment about, lack of knowledge about, lack of information about, cluelessness, nescience, lack of knowledge, lack of education, unenlightenment, benightedness, lack of intelligence, unintelligence, stupidity, foolishness, idiocy, denseness, brainlessness, mindlessness, slow-wittedness, thickness, dimness, dumbness, dopiness, doziness
So why not turn to God and ask Him for wisdom and discernment? Why not turn to God rather than trying to stick your head in the ground in order to avoid the world? Why not turn to God for health and protection rather than avoiding the opportunity to accomplish His will and plans for your life? Take time to hear from God so that you know the what, the why, the how, the who, the where, and the when and then step up and step out boldly and with courage knowing that God has you protected to get it done His way!
So now that you know how important it is to bless someone, what will you do today? Will you be on the watch to catch someone doing something that you can recognize them for? Will you be on your guard to find something good that your team, your family, and your friends have done? Will you take a half hour to express it?
You are blessed in order that you can be a blessing to others! God blesses you so that you can bless others!
‘If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?’
As I read this and want to learn more, I took a look at the Amplified translation and it goes like this:
‘ If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?’
Will you take accountability for what you have or haven’t done?
Will you take responsibility for your mistakes?
Will you stop blaming or pointing fingers at others?
Don’t make up stories to try and make it look like you didn’t have a choice!
God is gracious!
God is forgiving!
God is also omniscient and omnipresent, so nothing goes unseen!
God didn’t miss or not see what happened! God didn’t miss or not know your thoughts!
God knows what we know!
God knows what our motives are!
God is able to take all of that knowledge into consideration when evaluating our responsibility, our guilt, and our accountability!
We each will get to give an account for our choices and actions!
We each will get to be before the throne of God who is just and gracious and have to deal with the evaluation of our behaviors that will either be rewarded or not!
What is your conscience telling you to do?
How did you respond when your conscience told you to do or not do something?
What does the scripture tell you to do?
How did you respond when the scripture told you to do or not do something?
Are you reading God’s Word? Are you meditating on God’s Word? Are you living in alignment and accordance to God’s Word?
How did you respond when your Christian friends told you to do or not do something?
Are you spending time with them or other friends instead?
How did you respond to the Holy Spirit when He told you to do or not do something?
Will you listen?
What would it take for you to listen to such godly guidance?
Will you take accountability for what you have done?
Will you avoid making up excuses?
For Christians, the day of reckoning will evaluate our deeds and motives as believers and have to give an account and no excuse will work!
For Christians, the day of reckoning isn’t about the judgment of heaven or hell.
So are you ready to express it? Are you ready to make the decision? Are you ready to get it done?
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
When calls you to something you should just do it. When God calls you to do something you should just do it. I know from my own experiences that isn’t always an easy task because the call may not be easy to do. I know from my own experiences that if God calls you to it and you don’t think you are qualified to do it, you should trust God and just do it as I have learned God doesn’t call the qualified but He qualifies the called. I know from my own experiences that if God asks you to do it then it is for your good and His glory! So like the Nike slogan, when God calls you to do something, you should just do it. I remember resisting and coming up with so many reason why I shouldn’t and couldn’t because I wasn’t qualified and it took an ultimatum from God (“you will be president or nothing, you choose!”) for me to accept it, whereas I could have started earlier and avoided the back and forth on the subject. So are you ready to be what God created you to be? Are you ready to do what God is calling you to do? Are you ready to fulfill the purpose God created you for? The choice is yours! He won’t force you to do it! Are you ready and willing to just do it if God calls you to it? What if it were to begin by helping someone who is poor? who is in need? who is needing a hand up? What if God prompts you today on your journey to help, will you just do it?
Ever heard of the saying “what goes around comes around”?
Ever heard of the saying “you reap what you sow”?
Ever seen it happen when you get angry or frustrated and snap at people and then they snap back?
Ever seen it happen when you come to the help of someone in need who later is able to come and help you?
Consider what today’s verse says and how by doing something for someone who would be unable to pay you back will have God looking to help you out.
Imagine the blessings of God because we were generous to that person on the corner in need, that family with bills pilling up in need, helping someone who is unable to reciprocate but is in need.
God sees what we do, even when nobody else does and when we do what He asks, He blesses that and multiplies both the blessing to the others and the blessing over our lives.
Remember what Jesus said on this topic in Luke 14?
‘ Jesus also said to the man who had invited Him, When you give a dinner or a supper, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, lest perhaps they also invite you in return, and so you are paid back. But when you give a banquet or a reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. Then you will be blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied), because they have no way of repaying you, and you will be recompensed at the resurrection of the just (upright).’ — Luke 14:12-14
God loves it when we give to those who are unable to pay us back!
Let’s be aware of those around us!
Let’s be aware of those in need!
Don’t be so sheltered that you can’t help!
Don’t be so sheltered that you would mock them!
Let’s see them through God’s eyes and respond how God asks of us in the moment!
Let’s consider their circumstances so that we can truly care for them!
Let’s care enough to do something!
When God calls you, just do it!
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Consider the poor. Who are they? What are their lives like?
Moms, Dads, Kids
Families
Homeless
Unemployed
Living in tents, under bridges, in the woods, in their cars
What is one thing you can do to care for one of them?
Stop, talk, and give
Find an organization that focuses on them who can help with their needs (like Union Gospel Mission)
Find an organization that focuses on meeting their needs locally and then around around the world.
Are you ready to just do it? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and your life to be your Lord and Savior? Are you ready to be transformed from the inside out for the glory of God?
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
If someone asked you “why do you do it?” or “why did you do it?” or “what makes you keep doing it?”, how would you answer? Is there a motive behind why you do what you do? Is there a purpose behind why you do what you do? Is there a plan behind why you do what you do?
Was it something in the past? Was it someone from the past? Was it through some inspiration? Was it triggered by some event?
Ever heard people say “the devil made me do it”? Ever heard people say “it’s because I love…”? Ever heard people say “it is because of an encounter with Jesus”? Ever heard people say “it is something on my heart”? Ever heard people say “it is because I like to serve”?
When you consider motivators people have, they tend to get bucketed into groups like money and rewards, desire to be the best, helping others, power and fame, recognition, and passion.
So how about you? What do you do? How do you do it? When do you do it? What makes you do it?
‘I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. ‘
POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:
It’s not about a self-help program
It’s not a workout routine to help us get results
It’s a process from the inside out when we invite Jesus into our hearts.
When we invite Jesus into our hearts we are saved
When we live our lives with Jesus in our lives we live out the process of sanctification.
As we live with Christ in us, we need to allow Him to increase and us to decrease as we become more and more like Jesus.
Let’s take hold of the new perspective of life and death that Jesus provides us
Let’s put our old ways to death, nailing the sins to the cross
Let’s allow Jesus to transform us and our hearts day by day
We need to make a decision, choose every time a moment of choice appears that we can choose life or death and choose Christ over our own selfish desires.
Don’t lose hope or give up because you miss the mark, just reset and get back on track asking God to forgive you and start moving forward from where you are now
Let’s allow God’s character to fill us up with love, humility, and hope.
Let’s remember the promise and the power of the resurrection.
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Describe what it means for Christ to live in you.
We invite Jesus into our hearts, and we start to live our lives putting God’s will first and leaning on the Holy Spirit to help lead and guide us and to resist the temptations of the devil in order to live lives that will be pleasing and glorifying to God.
What’s your responsibility for change, and what’s Christ’s responsibility to change you?
We need to realize when and take responsibility when selfish motives and actions come up and nail them to the cross, considering them dead – the old is gone and the new has come
Let’s replace those selfish thing with God honoring thoughts and behaviors
We need to pick life over death
We need to pick eternity with God rather than eternity apart from God.
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together.
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
As I was starting my day the verse of the day jumped out at me with an interesting statement. I started with 6 things God hates and 7 that He detests. It brought to mind what things are being done that should be stopped? It also brought to mind what things are being done that should be avoided. After the last couple of days speaking to what we need and should be doing all founded on love, it was interesting to me to read today’s verse of the day. If we just love God and love people, we won’t find ourselves doing what God hates nor what He detests. So as we consider the DOs and how we can live out our lives with AGAPE or UNCONDITIONAL love and live our lives loving our neighbors as ourselves and as we learn through the story of the Good Samaritan – it means we need to love everyone! God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to give His life once for all in order to make a way to pay for our rebellion and rejection, put another way out sin, so that we can and are able to turn back to God and receive forgiveness, put another way repent of our wicked ways and be forgiven. And yet, here we are today and loving everyone isn’t the way the world is moving forward. It isn’t fake love but unconditional love that we are to be living. We are to be living AGAPE love not just PHILEO or EROS type of love which are temporary or can sway or change over time. AGAPE is something where even if you don’t like someone, you can still love them. You wouldn’t have PHILEO love nor EROS love for someone you don’t like. So today, let’s get our day started with and in love!
Today’s reading from God’s Word comes from the book of Proverbs:
‘ These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [Ps. 120:2, 3.] A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.’ — Proverbs 6:16-19
So first let’s look to remove pride for we know that pride comes before the fall. Let’s eliminate the spirit that makes us overestimate ourselves and underestimate others. Second, let’s be truth seekers and truth tellers and remove a lying tongue. Third, let’s be justice and righteous and stop causing or instigating or creating situation that will cause the shedding of innocent blood. Forth, let’s bring our minds under the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us purify and sanctify and cleanse our minds, taking captive every thought and making it obedient to Christ so as to stop the creation and the speaking and the acting of manufactured wicked thoughts and plans. Fifth, let’s turn back to God, let’s turn from wickedness and evil, let’s humble ourselves keeping our feet from running to evil and getting tripped up by the lies of the devil who is trying to rob, kill, and destroy us. Sixth, we need to be seeking truth and justice, keeping ourselves from making up stories and being false witnesses or gossips. Seventh, let’s be people who live their lives to produce love, hope, truth, and unity, people who are trying to draw people together and towards God by the words we speak, the thoughts we think, and the way we live our lives keeping from sowing discord among others.
Are you with me? Are you willing to try and be doers of God’s Word? Are you willing to be ambassadors of peace? Are you willing to be salt and light? Are you willing to lead with love even when it is hard and you may not be in agreement with others? Will you put God first, loving God? Will you put people second, loving your neighbor as yourself? Just these two love commands will make such an impact to the world around you for the glory of God, in Jesus’ name.
With September in the rearview mirror how will you live out your today? Another work week complete. Less than a week away from a new year beginning. Taking record of the lessons learned this year and how to use them to improve the year ahead that will start in a week. They say hindsight is 2020, let’s learn from it and not repeat the mistake nor increase the pain, let’s choose to be salt and light, being good stewards, and producing good fruits by the Spirit of God!
Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 298 link to join me and sign up. It is never too late. The 49 week challenge has 6 days in which to notice a promise to trust, a command to obey, a truth to embrace, a warning to heed, or an encouragement to rest in and 1 day to reflect on what you’re learning and to share it with others, to think back over the week’s readings, to see connections between the various passages of the week. Each day we have time to talk to God and contemplate what is being said through His Word, and even more so on the 7th day.
How interested are you in what will happen today? How interested are you in what will be required of you today? How interested are you in what decisions you will need to make today? How interested are you in hearing from God today? How interested are you in accomplishing what God is calling you to do today? What if it were life and death decision? What if it were everlasting life and everlasting death decision? What if the decision that you make today will determine how you will spend the rest of eternity? Would it make a difference?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Remember the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Be strong in grace
Entrust to reliable people who will teach others
Let’s live according to the rules
Let’s endure for Jesus!
Let’s be faithful to God!
Let’s be a worker who handles the word of truth
Let’s build our lives on God’s solid foundation!
Let’s decide to invite Jesus into our hearts and become His
Let’s be useful to God and be ready to do the good work He prepares in advance for us to accomplish.
Do not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Don’t be a gossip or troublemaker
Don’t be grumblers against God
Don’t be a grumbler against God’s plan and will
What would it take to get your attention? How severely would it have to be? Would it require the ground swallowing it or you up? Would it require a plague?
How long does it take for you to forget what God has done and you start grumbling?
God can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around and use it for good.
Don’t lose hope or faith in the midst of trials and troubles. Trust in God!
Remember the experiences of the past, the trials and troubles, and how God used it and turned it around for His glory and promised you Job 42:12
Lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge God who will make your path straight!
As day 298 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Heavenly Father I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven. and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the day’s of my Life! Because your word is truth, I confess with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Today’s devotional that I am following is The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com
As today begins and the direction is seemingly becoming clear, don’t worry. Cast your worries, cares, and anxieties upon he Lord because He cares for you. Take hold of God’s Word where the verse for today is:
“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” — Philippians 2:13 AMPC
Did you feel the draw? Did you feel the desire? Did you find yourself back where you started but this time setup to do or accomplish more? Consider how God has created connections. Consider how God has given you wisdom and knowledge. Now consider how pursuing the pleasures and satisfaction of God is so much better than merely the satisfaction of man. God has brought you and positioned you right here and now for such a day and such a time as this. Ask for God’s wisdom in and through today’s reading and today’s meetings so that you can choose your path and walk it out in a way that will bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name.
Life changing is part of God’s plan. He is in the transformation business. With the craziness or craziest year that I can remember 2020 has brought many challenges and changes and opportunities to learn and grow. Be it at home, at work, as a society, as a nation, as a neighborhood, there is an opportunity to have 2020 be a year of lessons learned. A year where going God’s way rather than going with the flow can bring great revelation and direction. Waiting on God to help renew your strength and refresh your mind. Be it a week away at the beach with family. Be it a week away spending time both meditating on God’s Word as well as reading a devotional like Chase the Lion. Coming back, unaware of the crossroads that would appear on the first mourning back and needing to decide. The excitement and energetic response of being ready thanks to God to respond and to decide to let go and let God work in and thru the process. It may look similar but God has bigger and greater plans for what is ahead. He will give wisdom and discernment along with clarity of vision with he lessons learned from the hindsight of 2020. Are you willing to go it God’s way? Let’s do it.
So let’s allow God to will and to work in and thru us for His good pleasure. In Jesus we don’t just have the motivation but also the power to act and accomplish His purpose and plans. From the beginning God has been planning and preparing the good works He has for you to accomplish. We are full of good works to accomplish! We can’t just be packed with potential, we need to go beyond that. We need to transform that potential energy into kinetic energy and get it moving into explosive power of and from God. Let’s move into the miraculous power of God in and thru us. Let’s allow God’s purpose and plan to explode out of us, moving things forward for the glory of His kingdom. So let’s do the works God has called and created us to do. Let’s go beyond the ability and into the action of doing and accomplishing the good works He prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Let’s be doers of the Word. When we aren’t doing what we are full of from God we end up full of it. Let’s not be full of it but rather instead let’s be doers for the glory of God. Let’s be working as unto the Lord.
August is in the rearview mirror and just over a quarter of the year remains. Are you willing to wait upon the Lord who will renew your strength and direct your steps? Are you ready some clarity of vision for what is ahead from what you have learned from the lessons of 2020? If hindsight is 2020 then how will you take the lessons learned into your future? Have you written down your lessons? What you did right? What you did wrong? There is no such thing as failure as long as you learn from the mistakes, then there is successes and lessons.
With August in the rear view mirror, let’s reflect on what we have learned in the past 6 days as we meditate on God’s Word this 7th day. Do you have any highlights or insights from what we have read in the past 6 days? What connections have you made or can you make in relations to our readings from God’s Word? Have you made time to speak with God through your reading time? Have you made time to speak with God as a part of your daily schedule? Are you prioritizing God enough that He gets prime time with you? Have you missed the mark this week and need to turn back to God and confess it and ask Him for forgiveness? Have you taken time to thank and praise Him for the forgiveness that has already been paid for through the blood of Jesus? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the other blessings in your life? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the answered prayers? Do you have any worries? Are you taking hold of His promise not to worry but to give it up into His hands? Let’s ask God for wisdom and guidance for this day! Let’s put our trust in Him!
In a time of change, will you share what God is doing and saying in and through your life with others?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Today’s reading from GOD’S WORD – THE BIBLE comes to us from:
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. — Matthew 6:25-34
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:6-7
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. — Psalm 55:22
Be careful for nothing,…. This must be understood not in the most extensive sense, but with a limitation and restriction. There are many things that saints are to be careful for, as men and Christians; they are to be careful of their bodies, as well as of their souls; of the health of them, which is to be preserved by all lawful means, and not exposed to unnecessary danger; and for their families, to provide things honest for them, proper food and raiment, and the necessaries of life; for whoever does not do that, denies the faith, and is worse than an infidel; and even for the things of this world in a moderate way, using all diligence and industry in obtaining them; men ought to be careful to discharge the duties of their calling in civil life, and to care and concern themselves for the honour of God, the interest of religion, and the support of the Gospel; and that they offend not God, by sinning against him: but the carefulness the apostle speaks of, is an anxious solicitude for worldly things, an immoderate concern for the things of life, arising from diffidence, or negligence, of the power, providence, and faithfulness of God: saints should not be anxiously, or in a distressing manner concerned for the things of this world, but be content, whether they have less or more; nor be over much pressed with what befalls them, but should cast their care upon the Lord, and carry every case to him, and leave it there:
but in everything. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, “in every time”: always, constantly, every day, as often as there is opportunity, and need requires. The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions join it with the following clause, “in every prayer and supplication”; but the grammatical construction of the words will not admit of such a version; it is best to understand it of every thing, or case, which should be brought to God; whether it be of a temporal or spiritual kind, relating to body or soul, to ourselves or others, to our families, relations, and acquaintance, the church, or the world:
by prayer and supplication: which may include all sorts of prayer, mental or vocal, private or public, ordinary or extraordinary, and every part of prayer: prayer may design petition, or asking for good things that are wanted; and “supplication”, a deprecating of evils that are feared; though these two are often used together for the same thing, for prayer in general: which ought always to be accompanied
with thanksgiving; for mercies received; for a man can never come to the throne of grace, to ask for grace and mercy, but he has mercies to bless God for, and so to do is very acceptable to God; nor can a person expect to succeed in the enjoyment of future mercies, when he is not thankful for past and present ones: in this manner therefore, at all times, upon every occasion, in a way of humble petition and supplication, joined with thankfulness for all favours,
let your requests be made known to God; not to men; fly not to an arm of flesh, but to God, to him only, and that in the most private mariner, as not to be known by men; and put up such requests, as there may be reason to hope and believe God will “know” and approve of; such as are agreeable to his will, to the covenant of his grace, and the declaration of his word: use familiarity with God, tell him as you would do a friend, freely and fully, all your case, pour out your souls and your complaints before him. This God would have his people do, and he expects it from them; and though he knows all their wants, and what are their desires before they express them, yet he will seem not to know them, or take any notice of them, until they open them to him in some way or other; either by vocal prayer, or mental; by ejaculations, or sighs and groans, by chattering as a crane or a swallow, all which he understands: and be the case made known in what way or manner soever, with ever so much weakness, so be it, it is made known, it is enough, it shall be regarded and not despised.
Verse 7
And the peace of God which passeth all understanding,…. Not that peace which God calls his people to among themselves in their effectual calling; and which he requires of them to cultivate and maintain; and which he encourages in them by the promise of his gracious presence among them; and which indeed he is the author of, and therefore is so called, Colossians 3:15; and which may be said to surpass or exceed all speculative knowledge, and understanding; for the one puffs up and profits nothing, but the other edifies; and much less that peace which God has in himself, who is all peace and love, and which passes all understanding, human and angelic; but either that peace which is made with God by the blood of Christ, and is published in the Gospel of peace, which passes and surprises all understanding of men and angels, that it should be; that the thoughts of God should be concerning it from everlasting; that a council of peace should be called and held between the eternal Three, and a covenant of peace entered into; that Christ should be appointed the peace maker, and the chastisement of it laid on him; that he should make it by the blood of his cross, and for men, while enemies to God and to himself: or else that peace of conscience, which arises from a view of peace made by Christ; of justification by his righteousness, and atonement by his sacrifice; and which may be called “the peace of Christ”, as the Alexandrian copy reads; both because it is founded upon, and springs from him, and is what he is the donor of: and this is what passes the understanding of every natural man; he knows nothing of this peace, what this tranquility of mind means; he intermeddles not with this joy; it is unaccountable to him how it should be, that such then should have peace, who have so much trouble, are so much reproached, afflicted, and persecuted, and yet have peace in Christ, while they have tribulation in the world; which
shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ, or “in Christ Jesus”: some read these words prayer wise, or as a wish, “let it”, or “may it keep”, so the Vulgate Latin; but they are rather a promise, encouraging the saints to the discharge of the above duties; as rejoicing always in the Lord, showing their moderation to all men, avoiding anxious care, and betaking themselves at all times, on all occasions, to prayer to God; in which way they may expect peace, and such as will be of that see vice to them, as here expressed; that is, be a means of their final perseverance; for the peace of God, in either sense, is a preservation of the saints: peace made with God secures them in Christ from all condemnation by the law, sin, Satan, the world, or their own hearts; and peace in their own souls, on so good a foundation as it is, keeps them through Christ as in a garrison, from being overset with the troubles of the world, or the temptations of Satan; and is a means of preserving them from being carried away with the errors and heresies of the wicked, having a witness to truth within themselves; and from every evil way and work, from profaneness and immorality; the grace of God teaching them, and the love of Christ constraining them, which is shed abroad in their hearts, to live and act otherwise.
As day 259 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
How will you make a difference in the lives of others? Will the change help you find new ways to make a difference and stay connected with others? Will you find better and more efficient ways to be a connector, an encourager, a helper, a friend, a leader, a mentor, …
So you lost your team but how will you keep the friends and relationships? So you changed your job, your roles and responsibilities but how will you be prepared to be adding value and making a difference to the world around you? So you are working from home through the change but how will you reach out and define new role while at the same time become relevant and create a new normal that matters and will make a difference?
Will you be a servant leader and give to others, pour into their lives to help them become a success and overcome any challenges caused by the change? Will you be a steward of all that you have done and accomplished so that the return can be used to renew and rekindle and restart the next leg of the journey? Will you share the pains and the troubles with others in order to prevent them from having to figure it out on their own? Will you explain the joys you received in those trials and how it was like a refining experience to help you know and understand what is most important? Will you share your story in order for others to be able to learn and grow without having to personally go thru it? Will you face the giants like David did with all your hope and faith in God? Will you take on the challenge like Benaiah did when he faced and chased the lion? With so much trust and hope in God David as a boy defeated Goliath and eventually became king. With so much trust and hope in God Benaiah chawed and killed the lion and eventually became the head of Solomon’s army.
So what about you? How are you going to face your today?
Do you know what true wisdom looks like? Do you know how to recognize Godly wisdom? Do you know how to practice godly wisdom? Faith without works is dead we learn in James 2. God is going before us, preparing the good works He has for us to accomplish, will you be ready, prepared, and observant enough to see it and then walk it out for the glory of His kingdom? Will you choose to walk it out in humility giving God the glory and not robbing yourself by being prideful? Can you rethink what true wisdom is by reflecting on the words of James which say:
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
Not by human definitions but rather God’s definition. It isn’t about ourselves being the all knowing and all seeing but rather it is about love a life that is seeking the good of others. We need to realize who we are first without Jesus, flawed, with lots of cracks in my character and failures which produces a life lived in humility. It helps me realize how much I need God love and help and grace. It makes it so that I will live in humility because of this need rather than pride that I am all that in my own strength and power. I need God to transform me thru Jesus and the working of the Spirit in and through my life. We need to live our lives unselfishly putting others before myself. Looking to serve others and honor others by the way I choose to live my life. We need to realize that other people are just as important and valuable to God and so I need to live my life so as to treat them that way. You aren’t pretending or putting on an act but rather you are treating others with the love and honor and respect they deserve. Imagine a world where everyone is living with this wisdom, elevating each other and how incredible he world would be and how high and lifted up God could be because of that. Imagine how everyone would feel and act with such an environment of love, hope, truth, and respect. Who are the people that you can treat with humility as more important than yourself? How will you choose to put that out there and lift them up and empower them? Let’s be prepared to do the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Let’s love our neighbors like our selves. Let’s be Jesus with skin on the world around us. Let’s live out our Happy Today because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Let’s live as humble servants so that God can be glorified and lifted up in Jesus’s name.
Let’s not be fooled or tempted by the lies of the world but rather live according God’s will, way, and plan. Let’s not get tripped up by allowing the devil’s lies that my life is about me and that my happiness matters most. Let’s not be tricked that there aren’t any absolute truths or objective standards that we should be living by. Let’s instead choose to live out our lives in accordance to God’s inspired Word found in the Bible. Let’s take a moment to reflect on the words of James and decide to walk out today in true wisdom that will glorify God and point people to Him by the way we choose to out our today.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
— James 1:22
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
— James 2:14-26
They say hindsight is 2020 but what have you learned from the past 8 months? Are there new ways? Are there new responsibilities? Are there new roles? Are there new asks? Are there new tasks? For 2020 to make a difference, we need to make sure to take time to reflect on it. Day by day, week by week, month by month.
With August in the rear view mirror, let’s reflect on what we have learned in the past 6 days as we meditate on God’s Word this 7th day. Do you have any highlights or insights from what we have read in the past 6 days? What connections have you made or can you make in relations to our readings from God’s Word? Have you made time to speak with God through your reading time? Have you made time to speak with God as a part of your daily schedule? Are you prioritizing God enough that He gets prime time with you? Have you missed the mark this week and need to turn back to God and confess it and ask Him for forgiveness? Have you taken time to thank and praise Him for the forgiveness that has already been paid for through the blood of Jesus? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the other blessings in your life? Have you taken time to thank Him for all the answered prayers? Do you have any worries? Are you taking hold of His promise not to worry but to give it up into His hands? Let’s ask God for wisdom and guidance for this day! Let’s put our trust in Him!
In a time of change, will you share what God is doing and saying in and through your life with others?
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.
Today’s reading from GOD’S WORD – THE BIBLE comes to us from:
‘For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ‘
Jesus has rescued us from the power of the devil, Satan
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ — Acts 26:18
Let’s not get trapped in the darkness or by the darkness
Let’s not remain or stay in the darkness
Let’s step into the light and invite Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior
As day 245 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision today and the blessing to get to live out the rest of the year in that power and that truth and that hope.
If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity... 
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