Revive Your Heart

Revive Your Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
Mark 3:5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It must have been something horrible to cause God to be angry and sad at the same time. God had a divine plan, a holy purpose. He would send Himself, in the person of His Son Jesus, to earth and redeem man, bringing them into a loving relationship with Himself. Ironically, it was mankind that got in the way. Jesus was bringing the good news to man and confirming it with “signs and wonders” all the while the religious zealots were opposing Him at every turn. Isn’t that like us? Those of us who know so much about God end up knowing so little. And so Jesus found Himself angry and deeply saddened. Why? Because their hearts were hard. The metaphor is poignant. A heart that is hard like a stone has no life in it. It is not able to fulfill the purpose for which it was created. You can lose a leg, an arm, an eye, and still live a meaningful life, but without a heart, there is no life. So what do you have? Is your heart pumping faith, hope, love, and grace into every fiber of your being, or has the beating stopped? Today, come to our Holy Heart Surgeon. Let Him revive your heart and restore you to the life you were meant to have.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, take my heart and mold it into a heart that is used for you. Keep me alive in my faith, hope, and love. Might You be praised and glorified in all I do and say.
AMEN

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Abundant Life

TODAY’S VERSE
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.`’

Psalms 16:11 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How do you look at your relationship with God? Is it drudgery? Is your Christian experience legalistic, nothing more than an empty ritual? Perhaps your spiritual life is haphazard at best, a hit or miss with your devotional life. It begs the questions, “What are you looking for?” What are you expecting from God? David said that we could expect God to show us the way of life! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” When we come to God thirsting for real life, when we seek Him with all our heart, David said that He would show us the way and grant us the joy of His presence and the true pleasures of living with Him forever! We were made for fellowship with God, and nothing else will satisfy that longing in our heart. Today commit your life to Him. Let Him show you the way of life, granting you the joy of His presence and the pleasures of living with Him forever.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You that You know me and have everything I need to live a happy and fulfilled life. Please show me the way of life and grant me the joy that comes from being in Your presence.
AMEN

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Hypocrite

TODAY’S VERSE
Jesus replied, ‘You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce.'”
Mark 7:6-7 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
According to Webster, a hypocrite is “a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings, puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion.” None of us start out trying to be a hypocrite, but if not careful, it can happen. What starts as a beautiful relationship with Christ somewhere along the way becomes a religion. We begin to believe that God would love us more if we behaved in certain ways and slowly go from a relationship of grace to a system of works. We end up spending more time knowing about God and less time knowing Him. Our Christianity becomes more about church and less about discipleship. We “talk” about Jesus instead “walking” with Him. Jesus said it this way, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Today be real with God. Come to Him, seeking to know Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in new and refreshing ways. Live in the reality of His grace and fellowship and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, search my heart. Help me to know where I have wandered from You. Forgive me for any hypocrisy and help me to live in the full awareness of Your love and grace.
AMEN

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Coming To Our Senses

TODAY’S VERSE
When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father.”
Luke 15:17-18 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It has only recently that we have understood why so many hidden emotions drive us. With the rise of the neurosciences, we have come to know more about intrinsic memory. What has been hidden can now become integrated into who we are. We can take all the negative beliefs, lies, and wounds that we have from our past and bring them to God. He, in turn, can reveal to us the truth of who we really are in these memories and help us change the way we believe about life and our self. This has been life-changing for me and the hundreds that I have taught. Insight also changed the prodigal son. For whatever reason, he too was driven and decided to leave home and spend his life doing whatever he wanted to. No pleasure was out of the question. But like so many others, there was a price to pay. Soon he found himself in desperate straits. It was at that point that Jesus said, “He finally came to His senses.” And I love what the son did next. Jesus said that he went home to his father. My friend, it is our Heavenly Father that can correct all our negative thinking. It is His love that can tell our hurting child inside us that all is well; we are loved. Our Father is waiting. He is happy to be with us; He longs to tell us the truth of who we are. Today, come to your senses. It is God who wants to forgive, to love, to heal, to set free. His grace is sufficient.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You with so many needs. So many emotions drive me. I need You to correct my thinking, heal my memories, and help me re-envision who I am. Father, I have come to my senses. I am coming to you. Help me see myself through Your eyes.
AMEN

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Aware Of His Presence

TODAY’S VERSE
And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!
Psalms 116:9

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a gift we have been given. God has asked us to walk in His presence. But it is our choice to make. We don’t have to be alone and alienated from God. We can choose to live with the awareness of His presence and build a real and vital relationship with Him. Or we can choose to be conscious of Him only while we are at church or in one of life’s crises. Of course, we don’t have to walk with God at all. We can spend all our time walking through this world, barely paying attention to His love for us. But why? God has an incredible love for you. He desires for you to fellowship with Him. He is ready to share with you His very presence. So why not commit yourself to Him? Ask Him to fill your heart and open your eyes to all that He is. He will. And then you can say with the Psalmist, “I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, today I choose to follow You. I want to be conscious of Your presence. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me live in the awareness of Your love for me.
AMEN

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Important Things

TODAY’S VERSE
What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Luke 11:42 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Just follow the rules. Obey the law. It seems so right. It can be, but there is a point where we get into trouble. We trade following rules for spirituality. Legalism for righteousness. Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were so obsessive in following laws that they even tithed their tiniest income from their herb gardens! The Pharisees were zealous about keeping the law but neglected what God really wanted. He wants us to give Him our interests and focus. He wants us to love Him and those all around us that are in need. In fact, when we love justice for those in need we are really loving God. God cares about people. Broken, hurting, disenfranchised people. And if we want to tithe anything then we should give of our time, talent and treasures to helping those in need. Jesus said it best. He said, “You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” Today, love God and give of yourself to help those in need. This is what God desires.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me to have your priorities. Help me to have a heart that beats like Yours. A heart full of grace and mercy for those in need. Help me love You by loving justice and those in need around me.
AMEN

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Humble Before God

TODAY’S VERSE
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?
Isaiah 40:12-13 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We can get so haughty before God. We complain, second guess, doubt, question, and offer God suggestions on how to rule our little part of the world. We are so finite, and yet we come against the infinite and throw our intellect in His face. Who are we that we think we can advise God? This is the question Isaiah is forced to ask the children of God. Children of God? You would think that they would know better. Who better to know the mighty power of God? Who better to know God’s infinite wisdom? Who better to know the unfathomable love of the Father’s love? But, who better to take God for granted? And that is what they did. Sadly, that is what we do too. Are we not His children? How often have we raised our fist to God? How often have we doubted His word? Who are we that we think God needs to check in with us before He does something? Who are we that we think He needs us to tell Him what to do? And yet, though we get proud and rebellious, God still loves us. God still calls us His children longing to fellowship with us. He is waiting to have us humbly love Him in return.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for my pride and arrogance. I have so often raised my fist to You. Forgive me, Lord. I cannot begin to fathom You in all Your majesty. I cannot understand all Your wisdom or power. Who Am I that You would allow me to be Your child? And yet I am! How I praise You. Please help me live for You today. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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The God Who Is There

TODAY’S VERSE
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever sought after God? There are so many different things we seek after every day, some good, some not so good. But the one thing that will make all the difference in the world is seeking after Him. God can meet the longing of your heart. He can satisfy your every need. The secret is seeking God with all your heart and soul. It cannot be a half-hearted search, but rather a desperate longing, a deep commitment to know and love God. It is nothing less than a consecration of your life, passions, and purpose. When you seek God in this way you will find Him. Start today. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to make you aware of His presence. Spend time with Him. Meditate on His word and come to Him in prayer. When you do, you will find out that the Psalmist was right when he wrote, “you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I want to know You better. I need You and want to know You with all my heart and soul. I come today to seek an intimate relationship with You and ask that You help me. Show me the way, guide me to Yourself. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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True Thoughts

TODAY’S VERSE
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What we think can dictate the way we feel. Then our feelings affect our thinking and so the spiral goes. So much of what we think at a rudiment level is false. Often what we worry about, the self-talks we have, how we view ourselves, our core beliefs about life, are based on lies, half-truths or erroneous assumptions. They enter our minds in stealth mode and before we know it, we are feeling down. These lies go unchallenged and cause all sorts of havoc in our lives. Not only do we think of them, but we also make agreements with them. Soon the stories we share over and over again about ourself and life are based on these false beliefs. Paul says that there is a better way. He says we should bring these rogue thoughts to God. We must expose them to the light of the Holy Spirit and the word of God which is able to guard our hearts and minds. William Backus in his book, “Learning To Tell Myself The Truth” shares “Feelings follow your thoughts. Untruthful, negative thoughts lead to unpleasant feelings of anxiety, depression or frustration, while truthful, positive thoughts create corresponding pleasant and upbeat feelings.—Your feelings can serve as an alarm to remind you to question your thoughts and beliefs. Are they negative or positive? Are they true or false? Once you’ve begun to identify the underlying thoughts and beliefs, you are on your way to healing, wholeness, and happiness.” Today begin to follow Paul’s advice. When negative feelings come, “fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know my inner person. You hear my self talk better than I do. By the power of the Holy Spirit please alert me to my negative thinking and help me fix my thoughts on what is true. Help me think with my faith in Your love and power, not negative lies. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Wake Up

TODAY’S VERSE
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.
Acts 12:8-9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Peter was being set free from prison by an angel and did not even know it. He thought he was dreaming. Isn’t that a lot like us? Jesus came along and said that if we hold to His teachings, we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. What truth? The truth found in what Jesus taught. He taught that we could have a relationship with Him; that He would love us unconditionally; He would give us peace that passes all our understanding; He would forgive us of all our sins; and that He came to give us an abundant life. What promises, what a spiritual reality, and yet, like Peter, our walk gives us away. Peter was walking in a trance. He did not realize he was being set free. How many mornings do we awaken only to walk in a spiritual stupor, go to work and live out our day as if God did not even exist? How many days have we spent defeated, far from the reality of victory that Jesus promises? Thankfully, Peter came to senses, woke up and realized that he was indeed free from jail. We need to do the same thing. We need to wake up! It is time to get the sleeping dust out of our eyes and wake up to the tremendous Spiritual reality that God has for us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I want to know what it is to be Spiritually free, free from all that is holding me down, that is chaining me in bondage. Wake me up, Father, that I may see the reality of the freedom You have given me in Christ Jesus my Lord.
AMEN

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