What Do You Believe About God?

TODAY’S VERSE
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
What we believe about God makes a difference. Is He an overbearing parent, never pleased with us? Is He our celestial Genie whose purpose is to give us our wishes on command? Is He a senile old man, unable to comprehend what we are thinking or doing? Is He sadistic, getting pleasure from making our life miserable? Perhaps a mad scientist who started this experiment but has lost control not able to influence any desirable outcome? If we are honest with ourselves, we may see a little bit of our beliefs in these scenarios. The author of Hebrews says if we want to please God, then we must believe He is the God of the Bible, not something we made up. Not some misconceptions that we bring with us from childhood. He is the God who created the world and loves us with a never-ending love. He is the God that rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Start to seek Him today. Study the Bible, pray, and meditate on His goodness. He is the God who desires to be known.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, I confess I do not know You as I should. I haven’t spent the time it takes. I haven’t shared my real heart with You. I haven’t waited long enough to hear Your voice. Forgive me. Please reveal Yourself to me through Your word and in my prayers. Today, I commit myself to know You more.
AMEN

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The One Thing

TODAY’S VERSE
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
Psalms 27:4 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Have you ever gone somewhere and hated to leave? Have you ever enjoyed something so much that you did not want it to stop? Is there anything in your life that has become that “one thing”? This is what David felt about his relationship with God. If we had to choose a word to describe David, it would be “worshipper.” David really loved God. He was sold out to Jehovah. So much so that if he had to choose just “one thing,” it would be always to worship God. What about you? What role does the worship of God play in your life? Is it just an hour of church on Sunday? That wasn’t enough for David. If he could, he would have stayed in the Temple of God, always worshipping! The good news is that we don’t have to go to a Temple to worship God. We are the temple. Our body is His temple, and our heart is an altar for worship. We can stop anytime, anywhere, and gaze upon His beauty in the quietness of our soul. Bring your praise and adoration to Him in your own temple throughout the day and night. Let loving God and living for Him become your “one thing.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I admit I have been preoccupied with so many things that worshipping You has taken a back seat in my life. I am so sorry. I do love You. I do want to get my priorities right. Help me know and love You more and more until worshipping You becomes the “one thing” in my life. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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How Do You Behave?

TODAY’S VERSE
Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:1-3; 31-32

TODAY’S MESSAGE
How can it get any clearer than this? Paul is commanding us to live as Christians should. This is not a “once for all” choice but a daily decision to live the way Christ would have us live. We are to be humble, gentle, forgiving, loving and patient. We are to eliminate bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander. Throw it off! Stop. Instead, we are to be tenderhearted, forgiving, and kind. How will we live during the next twenty-four hours? What are we going to choose to do today? We will have opportunities all day to choose. But our choices need to be grounded in the Holy Spirit. Paul writes in Galatians that the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is the by-product of living under the direction of the Holy Spirit, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We need to make living this way our goal. We must ask the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our life today. He will.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Oh, Holy Spirit. I need to eliminate all the negative emotions and behaviors in my life. But I can’t without You! I need You to produce Godly behavior in my life. I want love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to be my normal experience. I want to be a witness to others of Your love through my behavior. Come Holy Spirit, convict, correct, forgive, inspire, teach, guide, and fill me. Might I live completely under Your control. Might my life bear the fruit that only You can produce. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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I Can Only Imagine

TODAY’S VERSE
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.
I Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Whenever we moved, my wife and I worked together to find a house. However, when we moved to Georgia, I was there for two months before her. My son came with me, and we looked for homes. He found one on the MLS listing and went to meet the people. He called me at work and said that he found the house for us. He was right. It was love at first sight. It was rustic, in the woods, and had a lot of potential. Of course, that meant it needed a lot of work. Somehow, though, I could see the finished home in my mind’s eye. I was excited and sent my wife a rendering of my proposal. I promised her that I would get the house fixed up. I kept my word. I put in trails, two ponds, a bonus apartment, a bird sanctuary, plumbing, electric work, a deck, and new floors. I painted, cleaned, and put in gardens. I have never enjoyed a project more. I wanted my wife to love it like I did. Well, she fell in love with the house, too. Now, imagine what Jesus feels like. He said that He went to prepare a place for us. And what a place it must be! Paul writes, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” As the popular Christian song says, “I can only imagine!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Jesus, I thank You that You have gone on ahead to prepare a place in eternity for me. I cannot imagine what You must have in store. I only know that You love me, and no one can even begin to conceive how great it will be to spend eternity with You. Let me live today with eternity in mind. Thank You, Lord Jesus.
AMEN

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Wounded Healers

TODAY’S VERSE
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
II Corinthians 1:3-4

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love the term “wounded healer.” Henri Nouwen coined it in his book of the same name. It conjures up the image of a person that comes alongside someone and shares “healing” with great understanding, compassion, and empathy. Why? Because they have been in the same situation. They share the same wounds and scars. They know the other person’s pain. But Paul is going a step further than just being a wounded healer. He is suggesting that we be a “healed healer!” There is great empathy and compassion in being wounded and helping another with their wound, but besides empathy and compassion, a healed healer offers hope, health, and wholeness. Paul states that God is the merciful Father and the source of all comfort. As we come to Him and receive comfort, we are to go and give this same comfort to others. As God heals us, we share that healing. Should we be full of empathy? Yes, much so. Should we be compassionate? Yes, we, of all people. Should we be patient, kind, and understanding? If we are not, then we have forgotten that it was by His grace that we were healed. When God comforts us, we are grateful, humbled, and joyful. Make His comfort complete by comforting others in the same way. May we never forget His mercy. May we never forget to treat others in the same way He has treated us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, God of all comfort. Thank You for the many times You have comforted me. Forgive me for not being as compassionate and patient as I should be toward others. Forgive me for forgetting how much You have done for me. Help me today to extend that same comfort to others that You bring into my path. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Trust In His Love

TODAY’S VERSE
Let all who fear the LORD repeat: ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me.
Psalms 118:4-7

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a marvelous passage. Our faith is in a God who knows. Our faith is in a God who is able. Our faith is in a God who cares. Our faith is in a God whose love endures forever! A tragic situation faced our family. My middle son was in critical condition after being hit by a car. My youngest son was shaken to the core, and that night before he went to sleep asked me to pray with him. I prayed with all my heart. Afterward, as I was leaving, he asked me, “That won’t really make a difference, will it?” I know he believed, but he was as fearful as I was. I looked at him and said, “Yes, I believe it makes a difference. I always pray for God’s power. I ask for His power, but I trust in His love.” Like the Psalmist, we too can pray in our distress, and the Lord will answer. The Lord is for you; you can trust in His love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I don’t know everything that is going on. I can’t see the future. I know I often waiver in my faith. But Lord, I know I can call upon You in my distress. Please help me with those special burdens I am carrying. Most of all, help me today to trust in Your love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Open My Eyes

TODAY’S VERSE
And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
II Kings 6:13-17

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The King of Aram was at war with Israel, and every time the military commanders decided to make a military move, God told Elisha, who told the Israelites. It was so bad that the King of Aram thought he had a spy in their midst. But the officers assured the King, “No, Elisha is telling the Israelites our plans.” The King was furious and asked his armies to get Elisha. Elisha’s servant saw the army approaching on horses and chariots, surrounding their camp, and he was scared to death. But Elisha saw a heavenly reality that made all the difference in the world. He was at peace and asked God to give the servant the same perspective. The Lord opened the servant’s eyes to the heavenly reality of their situation. Can you imagine how he must have felt? It would be like someone raised in the deep jungle seeing America for the first time. Telephones, videos, automobiles, restaurants, airplanes. How different the two worlds are. Yet, we are no different. What do we know of heaven? What do we know of God’s power available to us? What do we know of His infinite riches and power toward us who believe? It made all the difference when the servant saw the heavenly resources there on his behalf. Would it make a difference in your day today if you knew more about the Heavenly reality waiting to bust in on yours? I pray for you what Elisha prayed, “May God open your eyes so you may see.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess I spend much of my time blind to Your presence. Blind to Your power. Blind to Your heavenly reality all around me. Lord, help me see all of Your vast love and resources available for me today. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Come To God With Confidence

TODAY’S VERSE
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
I John 5:14-15

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Confidence. There are many different ways you can approach God. You could be fearful, apathetic, humble, arrogant, with faith or without it, confused or assured, angry or in worship. You can also come to God with full assurance and confidence that He loves you and will answer your prayer. Leanne Payne, in her book Listening Prayer writes, “In a day when we are out of touch with the soul and its way of communicating and interacting with God, we have to learn anew how to receive from Him.” She continues, “It is really simple. Through an act of the will we release our faith in confidence and receive what we have asked for, thanking God in advance for the answer.” This happens as we dialog with God about His will. “What is it You want, Father?” we ask. And when He answers (and He will in His time), we can go to God confidently, knowing He will do His will. John says it this way, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know we have what we ask of him.” What do you want to ask God for today? Come to Him in confidence and talk to Him about it.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me learn to be more intimate with You and to have confidence, even today, in who You are and how much You love me. Lord, You know my situation. You know my needs. Help me understand Your will in these matters so I can pray accordingly, and thank You in advance for Your answer. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Citizen Of Heaven

TODAY’S VERSE
You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; but now you have received God’s mercy.
I Peter 2:9-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I grew up without a nationality flavor to my life. Yes, Americans, but we weren’t strong on any particular ethnic heritage. On the other hand, my two best friends did. Steve was Italian, and Ron was Armenian. I enjoyed learning about their heritage, foods, and customs. I always loved their family gatherings and the sense of belonging to a shared past and future. I have often felt that is what Christianity should be about. As Christians, if God is our father, then we are all related to Him, and our citizenship is not just of this world but of the one to come. Peter is talking in this passage to all of us who believe. All of us who call on the name of Christ for our salvation. We are a chosen people! But we are not to keep this truth to ourselves. It is God’s will that all people become part of His forever family. Because we are God’s chosen people, Royal Priests, a Holy Nation, Peter wrote, “You can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” It is marvelous that once we were outside God’s family, but then we saw the light, and now we belong to Him. Let’s share this great privilege with others so they, too, can enjoy being a citizen of Heaven.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, once I was without mercy and forgiveness. Then You came along and called me into Your Kingdom. Thank You for forgiving me of all my sins and making me Your child. Even today, help me share with others who do not know You, how they can come to know You as their personal Savior; how they, too, can enter Your forever Kingdom. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Near

TODAY’S VERSE
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.
Matthew 10:7,8 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus did the will of His Father. He told His disciples to do the same thing. He gives us the same commission. Jesus said it best, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” Today you and I have been called to be about the same Father’s business. We have been asked to go to the world and cry, “The Kingdom of God is near!” We go in His power and do His will. We go in His love and heal the brokenhearted. We go in His provision and give to those in need. He has called us to do greater things. Today, let’s be like Jesus and let the Heavenly Father live and do His work through us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I pray that Your Kingdom will be evident in my life today. Guide, lead, and show me what You would have me do. Give me the courage and faith to trust You for mighty things and to be obedient to what You ask of me. I pray that I will honor You in all that I do today. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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