1.Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it">Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul."Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!... To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6
God answers prayer. ]]>I could list all 31 Proverbs because I read one a day but I have a few verses I try to live by. If you haven't tried reading the Proverb chapter for each day of the month every day, you're missing an easy and quick way to strengthen your wisdom and understanding.
I will be honest I started by taking the lazy way, listening to the daily verse on my iPod. Go to http://www.dailyaudiobible.com/ for daily Proverb MP3s, iTunes, or listen on the site. I started by listening to the verse when I found the time but after a couple of months, I now start my day reading the daily Proverb and listen to the daily Proverb many times throughout my day.
Some of my favorite verses are...
I have tried to live for myself and I try to live for The Lord and my way always turns out to be the wrong way or the long way. Knowing that you would think I would quit trying to do it my way and always live his way but I'm not that smart. I also like...
Read Proverbs everyday!
There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. Reading 1 chapter everyday will increase your faith and wisdom. Read chapter 1 on day 1 of every month and continue reading the next chapter on the next day and so on through the month.
Proverbs a day
]]> Proverbs contains a huge range of topics through the 31 chapters. After a few months of reading a Proverb chapter a day, each day will resonate with the corresponding chapter.For the months that have less then 31 days, on the final day of the month read the rest of the chapters remaining. For example in February, on the 28th day you would read the remaining 4 chapters 28-31.
]]>For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
The Lord has a new life he want's us to have. He wants us to have it now. He wants us the way we are. With this new life all sins will be forgottn and everything old will become new.
Why wait?
]]> Why do wait to accept this life? Whether it's because we are wanting to change first, quit a particular sin, or we are just not ready, The Lord Jesus Christ wants to take our burdens and help us through whatever obstacles are in our way. He can create a new you...2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
With this new life, there will still be sin, temptations, and we will all fall short but The Lord will give us strength and guidance to continue our growth as Christians.
We get stressed and mad when life does not meet our expectations of what is or was supposed to happen. We continue to try and force the life we think we want and end up more stressed, and further from the person we are meant to be. We lose love for ourselves and in the process lose love for others. God's plan may not be the same as ours but his plan is what is best and what will direct us to victory.
]]>Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face
Every decent human being deeply detests injustice. When we see it in life, or even in a movie, it agitates us. Nothing makes our blood boil more than injustice.
Will the judge of all the earth do right?
]]> We instinctively know injustice is wrong because God put that within us when He made us in His image. You can be sure that God's reign will never involve injustice of any kind.PSALM 11:7 ICB
7 The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice. So honest people will see his face.
While we may not understand all that God might do in judging the human race, surely we can be confident with Abraham who said in Genesis 18:25, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?".
God is fair. God is just. God does what is right. God is righteous. All these statements are equivalent.
People who would condemn God now are judging Him before the time -- before all the evidence is in -- before God has finished His great work with mankind. Then, and then only, shall we see and understand the greatness of the mercy and the justice of our wonderful God.
ISAIAH 9:7 NIV
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
]]>But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
You may be working yourself to a frazzle trying to be perfect so you can please God.
What does God desire from us?
]]> Not perfect performance, but total trust. God wants you to believe that He is good a rewarder!You may have tried so hard and become so frustrated that you are about ready to give up. Well, maybe you should quit trying to be perfect on your own -- because none of us will ever be perfect through our own efforts, anyway.
God knows you are human. He does not expect perfection out of you. If you were perfect you would not even need a Saviour.
God loves you and accepts you because He made you. And He is able to make you into what He desires for you to be -- if you will trust Him and allow Him to work in you.
God wants you to trust Him. He wants your love and respect. He has certainly earned it and deserves it. Don't let the devil keep you from giving to God what He really desires: your love and faith.
]]>And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
The sword, or weapon, of the spirit is speaking the Word of God. Left sitting in a book on your shelf, it does you no good.
Who is our adversary?
]]> A weapon must be used against an adversary to be of any benefit. Our adversary is the devil and a weapon he uses is doubt. We must speak God's Word to actively resist doubt defeating us.JAMES 1:22 NIV
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
We need to personalize the Bible, and act on it. The first, and main, way to accomplish this is to speak in agreement with what the Bible says.
]]>who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Jesus of Nazareth, born into this earth by the virgin Mary, who was the pre-existent, eternal, Creator God, and who suffered and died on a cross as mankind's substitute, is coming back to earth again.
When, Where, and Why?
]]> Fortunately, the Bible does give us answers, just not as many as most of us would like. (This attitude is really a matter of pride, thinking we know better than God how much information He should share with us.)Godly people, throughout history, have not all reached the same conclusion by studying Scripture, as far as the specific timing and events surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ.
What is crystal clear from Scripture is that Jesus Christ will return to earth in triumph to rule over all. And that all people should live in a state of readiness for His return.
(Since all the details are not clear, let us not fall into the trap of fighting over this doctrine. The Bible does not say that a perfect understanding of this subject is necessary for you to be saved.)
My personal opinion is that the coming of Jesus Christ is drawing very near. (Of course, I have been wrong about other things) One thing is sure: it will happen some day!
For a believer, the return of Jesus Christ to earth is the most wonderful thing that could happen. Any fearfulness is a sign that you do not know the Lord as intimately as you should.
As believers, we should look forward to the triumphant, physical return to this planet of its rightful owner and ruler:
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here are a few things Jesus said about His return.
MATTHEW 24:3,4,14,27,36,44 NKJ
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you.
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
27 "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
Jesus will return in person -- instantly, as lightning flashes from east to west. Everyone will know it when it happens.
Be ready.
Thank you Dean Wall for this devotion!
]]>"So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Many shy away from the Bible because they think it's just a bunch of rules to keep them from enjoying life. Although many have misused the Bible -- to tear people down, its true purpose is to build people up.
What about feeling guilty?
]]> Tradition makes us think a good sermon should "skin 'em alive" and make the listeners feel guilty.But God is on your side and He loves you. So He gave you His Word for your benefit, to build you up and give you things -- not to take anything good away from you.
Certainly God's Word can, and will, correct you. But primarily, if you understand it correctly, the Word will build you up -- not beat you down and make you feel guilty.
Yes, there are passages in the Bible that will not encourage you. They are needful at certain times for certain people who need to be corrected and called to repentance. But for those who love God and are His children, there are words of encouragement to build you up.
Feed on the Word of God's grace -- His favor, His love, His goodness. It will build you up.
If what you are feeding on is not encouraging your faith, check to see if it really lines up with the Word.
Don't spend all your time meditating on a passage from the Bible that's not written to you. All the Bible is profitable, and we can learn from it. But you should concentrate on what God is saying to you, as His child: a member of the Body of Christ.
The message God has for His family, the church, is primarily found in the letters (epistles) in the New Testament. These are written directly to us, the church.
God is never interested in just cutting you down, or hurting you.
His intention is to build you up, to encourage you, to make you better.
]]>Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind"
The most important command is to love God with all your being. As with all His commands, God does not give this for His benefit, but for your benefit. It will bless you, and improve your life and well-being to put God first.
What about the love of family?
]]> MATTHEW 22:38 KJVLoving people, while important, is only secondary according to Jesus. In practice -- because God loves people -- loving Him will result in you loving people also.
When you get your priority backward -- putting people and their needs first -- you miss God's plan, and will be relatively ineffective in helping people -- compared to what you could have been if you put God first.
MATTHEW 6:33 CEV
33 But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Determine to follow Jesus and obey Him. Don't allow anything other than Jesus Christ to be your highest priority.
]]>Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The word translated "way" means road. Jesus is the road to God.
Is Jesus Christ really the only way to heaven?
]]> The Bible is clear. Jesus did not lie. There is no salvation or entree into Heaven without receiving Jesus Christ.ACTS 4:12 NIV
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The Bible clearly teaches there is only one name by which people can be saved. That name is not Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammed, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no other way to God than through Jesus Christ.
]]>Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Many people give up too easily in prayer. When they don't see the answer almost immediately, they quit. God is not pleased with this approach.
God knows my need. Why doesn't He just give it to me, instead of playing games?
]]>"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Religious traditions label many things as sin which the Bible does not. People make up all kinds of rules based on what they think is right. But God is the judge and only God can decree what sin is.
Do good Christians sin?
]]> Every person lives their life with sin, even "good" Christians.God has not left us to wonder what sin is. The Bible reveals it to us. We don't have to guess, or make it up as we go.
Just because you do something someone else thinks is wrong does not mean it is a sin. So don't let people condemn you over things the Bible does not clearly say are wrong. God is the judge.
COLOSSIANS 2:8 NKJ
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty
deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the
basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
The word "sin" is a translation of the Greek word "hamartia" which means to miss the mark.
MARK 7:9 KJV
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of
God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
HEBREWS 4:15 NKJ
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet
without sin.
A common mistake is believing that having bad thoughts is a sin. It is not a sin to be tempted with bad thoughts. It only becomes a sin when we embrace those thoughts as our own and decide to commit them.
JAMES 1:15 NLT
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is
allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
God is against sin because it is deadly. Sin brings forth death, not life and blessing. God loves people, so He is against everything that harms people.
All sin harms people. (Just because you don't see how a sin would harm anyone, does not mean you know more than God.)
But no human can be right with God by never sinning. We have all fallen short and need a Savior. It is only by God's grace and His forgiveness that we can be right with God.
ROMANS 3:20 NLT
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the
law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
We can be glad because Jesus came to save sinners, and He paid the price for the forgiveness of all sins by shedding His blood.
EPHESIANS 1:7 NKJ
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace
"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
The name "Jesus" actually means "the Lord saves" or "the Lord is a Savior." So, when we say "Jesus" we are actually saying "Savior." The two words are synonyms. Why the name Jesus?
]]> The angel told Joseph what to name the son born to his wife Mary -- and the reason for that particular name. Jesus: because He will save. We could say, "Savior -- because He will save." Being a savior is integral to Jesus' nature. That's what He is. Not just something that He does.He IS, by His very nature, a Savior.
But we are so used to hearing the word "Savior" in relation to Jesus that it has lost its meaning for us. It no longer affects our thinking the way it should. So we need to hear another word -- Deliverer.
The word savior means deliverer. To save something means to deliver it. To deliver something means to set it free from what held it down and kept it from being whole.
You don't have to convince Jesus to deliver you -- He IS a deliverer! That's what He does.
It's as natural for Him to set you free and make you whole as it is for you to breathe. All you have to do is allow Jesus jurisdiction in your life. Invite Him in. He will bring deliverance. Too many people have been deceived into thinking that allowing Jesus into their life would put them in bondage and hold them back. No! Jesus brings freedom. He delivers you from bondage.
]]>"For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Christians often struggle in their walk with the Lord, but it should not be so. Have you ever thought, "It's so hard to be a Christian!"? I have. It seems hard because we are either fighting his direction or forcing our own. Being a Christian gets a lot easier when he wins.
]]> If you are having a hard struggle, it's not because of what the Lord is requiring of you. The problem lies with yourself -- in pride and unbelief, which the Lord will help you overcome.Walking with the Lord is meant to be a joy, not a burden. Yes, there are trials and difficulties. But the Lord always helps us and delivers us. Therefore, we can always trust in the Lord and rejoice in Him. When we do that, every day can be a joyful day.
Living the Christian life is not supposed to be just a matter of our willpower, but a matter of trust -- faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who carries the load. We are not qualified and capable of saving ourselves by our own effort.
That's why we need a savior.
Too many people are trying to save themselves, instead of trusting in Jesus to save them and make them into what He wants them to be.
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 NKJ
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.