Today’s Daily Devotional

ISAIAH 30:
21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Follow the Little Promptings 
Sir Holy Spirit always wants to lead us through life, but sometimes we get so focused on seemingly “big” issues that we don’t realize how much He speaks in small promptings every day.

I was on my way home one day when He told me to go home by another route. At the time I did not know why but I would soon find out. At that time, we lived near Jeff State Jr. College and I took the street by the baseball fields. There was a game going on that afternoon and a lot of people at the Park. I said to myself, ‘why, Father, did you want me to come this way?’
I rounded a curve and in front of me, I saw a small car hit head-on with a pickup truck. I immediately stopped to go help and said a quick prayer to Father, saying, ‘now I see’. A young man got out of the car in front of me and tried to walk around the back of the car but he fell. I got to him and examined him, he had a fractured patella(kneecap) and that was why he couldn’t walk. He kept telling me to ‘check her’. I stood up and looked but did not see anyone else in the car. Then a lady who had stopped on the other side of the car called out, ‘there’s a baby in there.’ So I ran around the car and there was a baby girl on the floor of the car. She was now crying but seemed ok. Apparently, the young man had not strapped her into the car seat so she was thrown into the floor. He then said, ‘my wife is going to kill me’. I told him to just hold on that she was ok. Seeing they were ok, I then turned to the pickup truck. I was able to pull open the passenger’s side door and help the lady out but her husband was pinned in behind the steering wheel. This time we needed help to get him out. Being right down the street from the Jeff State Fire Station, someone had already called and they were pulling up. Using the ‘jaws of life’, they were able to extricate him from the truck and he was ok. He did have a bruised chest. Apparently, from what the young man told me, he was at the ballgame with his daughter and decided to leave. He was reaching back to check the car seat when he went around the curve causing him to hit the pick-up truck. They all were taken to the hospital to be checked but they were ok.
So, sometimes Father speaks in a loud voice like thunder but most of the time, if we are sensitive to Sir Holy Spirit, he speaks in a ‘still, small voice’. This has happened to me many times over the years.
In the same way, Father wants to bless the people around you and in your life. I encourage you today to keep your heart sensitive to His voice. Follow the little promptings, that ‘still, small voice’ of Sir Holy Spirit. He will speak to your heart and lead you in the way you should go.

Prayer: Sir Holy Spirit, we choose today to quiet ourselves in this world of so much noise so that we can hear from You. Show us ways that we can bless others in Jesus name. Guide us, lead us. In Jesus holy name!!!

Today’s Daily Devotional

PROVERBS 17:
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first, it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore, abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.

Living Life Free of Strife 
Strife is one of the main weapons the enemy uses against Christians. I believe there are three things that open us up to a spirit of strife.

1. Our lips: Wrong words spoken at the wrong time can certainly start a firestorm. The more wrong words we pour on the fire, the bigger it gets. One way to stop a fire is to remove the fuel.
2. Our pride: Although wrong words may open us up to strife, it is a proud heart that refuses to be quiet in order to have peace. Pride demands that we have the last word, but the Word says it will lead to destruction (see Proverbs 16:18).
3. Our opinions: We can often get into strife by trying to convince others of our own opinions. When we realize we have much to learn and stop passing out our opinions, we will begin to gain the knowledge we need.

These are the three biggest areas that Satan uses to infiltrate our lives with strife. Make a decision to honor Father God and others by resisting strife and instead pursuing unity and understanding.

Prayer: Sir Holy Spirit, help us to stay on guard against strife. We give You our words and our opinions. We desire to walk strife-free in our relationships with others. Empower us to live a godly and holy life. Thank You. In Jesus holy name!!!

Today’s Daily Devotional

PSALM 94:
12 Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, And whom You teach from Your law,
13 That You may grant him [power to calm himself and find] peace in the days of adversity until the pit is dug for the wicked and ungodly.

Taking Responsibility 
When life or people disappoint us, we have a responsibility to remain stable and continue with God’s purpose for our lives.
Consider Psalm 94:12-13. Notice that it does not say that God keeps us calm. It says He gives us power to keep ourselves calm. We are partners with Him in life. His part is to give us ability and our part is to be responsible and use that ability.

Responsibility means ‘to respond to the ability we have.’ An irresponsible person wants Him to do everything while he does nothing except follow his feelings. But don’t let your feelings and emotions run the show. Declare out loud right now, “I have attended my last pity party.” I can promise you: in the end, you will feel much better about yourself if you take responsibility than if you avoid it.

Father cares for you, but He won’t do your part. He enables you to do it, but let me emphasize that He won’t do it for you! I dare you to stand firm, take responsibility and begin working with Him to have the blessed life He’s planned for you.

Prayer: Father God, Your Word says that You’ve given us the ability to remain calm or to calm ourselves. we receive that today according to Your Word. We won’t let our feelings run our lives, and we will be responsible and respond the way You want us to. Guide us, lead us, empower us, Sir Holy Spirit. Thank You. In Jesus name!!!

 

Today’s Daily Devotional

PHILIPPIANS 3:
10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];11 so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Key Verse:
12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.

Father Knows We Can’t Be Perfect 
There are many people who are so afraid of making a mistake that they don’t do anything. Instead, they sit around saying, “What if I’m wrong? What if I miss God?”

Do you know what Father tells us? He said, “If you miss me, I’ll find you.”

If we are wandering off somewhere and not sure where we are, we can just lift up our hands and say, “Jesus, come and get me! I’m confused. I think I made a wrong decision.”

Father knows we cannot be perfect, so He sent His son as a perfect sacrifice for us. Now we’re pressing toward the mark of perfection. In Philippians 3, the apostle talks about pressing forward to what lies ahead and forgetting about the past.

Father is calling you to press forward today. Stop living in fear of making mistakes, because everyone makes mistakes, period. He is not asking you to not make mistakes. He’s calling you to press forward, trusting Him to lead you by Sir Holy Spirit in you. He’s asking you to call upon Him. Don’t live in fear of your imperfection. Live with faith and trust in Father’s perfect plan for you.

Prayer: Father God, we don’t want to live paralyzed by fear of our imperfections and our mistakes. We know that instead, we can call out to You, and You will help us press forward to the mark of perfection. Fill us, guide us, Sir Holy Spirit. Thank You. In Jesus name!!!

 

Today’s Daily Devotional

EPHESIANS 3:
10 So now through the church, the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.11 This, in accordance with [the terms of] the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him [that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ].

You Can Come Over Anytime
Father God has given us permission to fearlessly, confidently, and boldly draw near to His throne of grace. In fact, we are encouraged in Ephesians 3:12 to approach Him freely.

This means we can go into the presence of our Father God anytime we feel like it in and through the name of Jesus. We can go 200 times a day if we want to go, with an “in and out” type of privilege. Father doesn’t even tell us we have to knock on the door or wait for someone to say, “Come in.”

Suppose you have a friend who says, “You know what? You can come over anytime you want to come. You don’t even have to knock because you are welcome anytime, day or night. Just come on in!”

Now just think…Father is saying that to you, unreservedly, which means you don’t have to be careful or hesitate or wonder if you’ve worn out your welcome. It means even if you make some mistakes or do things you shouldn’t do, you can repent of your sins, be cleansed in the blood of Jesus, and go boldly into His presence.

Prayer: Father, how wonderful it is to be able to enter Your presence anytime. We are so grateful for this privilege and thank You for encouraging us to come. In Jesus holy name!!!

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Today’s Daily Devotional

HEBREWS 2:

9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

10 For it was fitting for God [that is, an act worthy of His divine nature] that He, for whose sake are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the author and founder of their salvation perfect through suffering [bringing to maturity the human experience necessary for Him to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest].11 Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason, He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,12 saying,

“I will declare Your (the Father’s) name to My brethren (believers) In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise,”

13 And again He says], “My trust and confident hope will be placed in Him.” And again, “Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

 

Key Verse: 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.

 

The Victory We Have in Jesus

The Bible says that Jesus experienced death for us. So you and I do not have to experience eternal death because He has paid the penalty for our sin and given us the gift of eternal life. Now that is something to rejoice about!

 

Because of His resurrection and victory over death, what happens when you wake up in the morning? I believe that when Christians put their feet on the floor in the morning, hell ought to shake. Demons should tremble when they realize we’re up!

 

That’s exactly what will happen when we realize who we are in Him and understand the authority we have in Him. We are soldiers in the army of Father God. We have authority in Him!

 

Jesus has defeated sin and death. Now we need to consistently walk in the authority and victory that He provides for us. Allow Sir Holy Spirit to fill you up to overflowing with His power. Then you will be extremely dangerous to the enemy of God.

 

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the victory we have in You. Every day, help us to further understand the price You paid for us so that we can walk in all the authority and victory that You have for me. Fill us, guide us and empower us, Sir Holy Spirit. Thank You. In Jesus holy name!!!

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Today’s Daily Devotional

Ephesians 2:
8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own masterpiece, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

The Key to Possessing Your Promised Land 
Father God wants to lead you into your promised land…after all, you have been RECREATED in Christ, born anew, that you might live the good life that He prearranged for you. But to follow Him into that life, He will have to prepare you first, and that means some things will need to change.

Now, don’t be afraid of the word change; it just means that you stop doing some things you’ve been doing and start doing some things you haven’t been doing. For example, stop thinking negative thoughts and start thinking positively, stop settling in your comfort zone and step out of the boat, stop procrastinating and start taking the opportunities that arise.

It’s not enough to just read about and talk about the ‘Promised Land’. Decide that you are going to possess your promised land. Father is good; He will lead you there. Just be willing to follow and accept the positive changes that He wants to bring to your life as He prepares you to be a blessing to others.

Prayer: Sir Holy Spirit, show us the changes we need to make in order to possess our ‘promised land’. Thank You for preparing us to be a blessing to others and fulfill the destiny You have for us. Fill us, guide us, lead us, change us. Thank You. In Jesus holy name!!!

 

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Today’s Daily Devotional

JOSHUA 3:
3 and they commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from where you are and follow it.

Follow the Ark 
Are you facing any new opportunities right now? Whatever those opportunities may be, it’s always important to “follow the ark.”

What do I mean by that? Well…sometimes we can hang on to old, stale situations in life, simply because they are familiar to us, and we’re really just afraid of getting into uncharted territory. And then there are times we can sense something new ahead of us and we just want to step right into it, before it’s God’s time for us to do it.

In Joshua 3:3, God talks to Israel about following the ark of the covenant. The ark represents the anointing of God…the presence of God…the will of God. It’s very important for us to learn to follow the will of God and not our own will or the will of others.

Father God has a plan for you and me, and the only way to see that plan unfold is to follow the ark, or the will of God/His Word, and not our flesh or other people or our emotions.

Remember today that whatever His will is for your life, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it.

Prayer: Father God, like the Israelites, we know that we need to “follow the ark.” Our timing for the new opportunities doesn’t matter…only Your will matters. As we follow You, we know that You will make a way to bring Your plan for us to pass. Guide us, lead us, Sir Holy Spirit. Thank You. In Jesus name!!!

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Today’s Daily Devotional

ROMANS 13:
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].

Living Free from Debt 
It’s important for us to understand that the battle for our finances is really a spiritual battle. The enemy tempts us to spend more than we are able to pay off so he can keep us under pressure and distracted from our walk with Father God.

But we need to have a goal to enjoy the life that Jesus died to give us, a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in Sir Holy Spirit. We can’t do that if we are under pressure and frustrated by financial debt.

It’s possible to live debt free by using biblical principles for managing money. Father says that if we learn to live within our income or our borders, then He will bless us, our borders will be stretched, and we’ll have more. Luke 19:17 tells us that He is pleased when we are faithful and trustworthy in little things. When we are, it says He will give us authority over bigger things.

So don’t fall into the trap of trying to live “bigger” than what Father’s entrusted you with. Get out of and stay out of debt by living within your boundaries…then watch Father expand them.

Prayer: Father God, we want to win the spiritual battle over our finances, and we refuse to live in debt. We will not give in to the temptation to spend what we don’t have. Instead, we will be faithful with the boundaries that You have given me. Guide us, lead us, Sir Holy Spirit. In Jesus name!!!

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Today’s Daily Devotional

HEBREWS 4:
11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

Face the Truth About Yourself 
Someone once asked how to live free from an oppressive past. The answer is very simple: Father God has given us the grace and the power to face the truth about ourselves.

One person told me they grew up in a war zone. Because of their quick temper, they were upset most of the time. Because of being upset, they grew up depressed, disappointed and discouraged. They wished they could have a better life, but their wishing didn’t solve anything. It wasted their time as they kept blaming their problems on their bad family background.

Finally, Father God helped them realize that they had to stop wishing and start taking personal responsibility, to quit blaming other people and their circumstances, and quit making excuses for themselves.

You might be in a similar situation. Facing the truth about yourself is scary, but you don’t have to do it alone. All your flaws are exposed to Father and He knows you better than you know yourself. And… if you ask Him for His perspective, He will help you pick yourself up, take responsibility, and live a peaceful life. Today, don’t be scared to face the truth about yourself, but let Him guide you into a new tomorrow.

Prayer: Sir Holy Spirit, we need Your help to face the truth about ourselves. It’s time to stop blaming our problems on our past and on other people and to meet them head-on with the power of Your Word. Empower us to take responsibility and to change for the better. To change us into the image of Jesus. Thank You. In Jesus name!!!

 

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