Come Back To God

TODAY’S VERSE
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
James 4:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Going down a highway, a person saw a sign that said, “Do you feel far away from God?” He was thinking about the question when the next billboard read, “Who moved?” Isn’t that usually the case? When we feel far from God, it’s not that God has moved, but rather it is because we have turned our back on Him. James knew that we have this propensity, so he wrote, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” But how do we come close to God? The first thing we need to do is go in another direction. If we moved away from God, we need to turn back and “draw near” to Him. Next, we have to confess and repent of those things that took us away in the first place. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.” Confessing to God and repenting from any wrongdoing will allow us to have a clear conscience and reopen the door of fellowship with Him. Finally, we turn to God with all our heart and mind. We come to Him in quietness, reflection, meditation, and prayer. We open our emotions and thoughts to Him and allow His Holy Spirit to commune with us, guiding, convicting, teaching, and directing our life. God desires to have a relationship with us. He hasn’t moved. Will you come to Him today?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I must confess that there are so many times I feel so distant from You. I admit to my wandering. Forgive me for the sin that has separated us and help me stay in close fellowship with you. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit, I pray.
AMEN

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Hard hearts

TODAY’S VERSE
For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
Matthew 13:15 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
God wants His word to penetrate our very being. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and this includes the way we comprehend truth. Jesus took the writing of Isaiah and applied it to the people of His day. He warned them that their “eyes” were not seeing the truth, their “ears” were not comprehending the truth, and their “hearts” were not sensing the implications of the truth. It was a result of hardening themselves toward God. Turning away from Him, they ended up ignoring God’s truth. How often have we done the same thing? But it is not too late. It is through self-reflection, repentance, and being purposeful in believing in God’s word, that we can turn this around. Today, might God help you, and I read the word, hear the word and most of all, believe the word with our whole heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for the times I have hardened my heart toward You. Help me today to see Your word, hear Your word, and most of all apply Your word to my life. In Jesus’ name I pray.
AMEN

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Gently Restore

TODAY’S VERSE
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There are many sins that you can fall into. Many habits, addictions, and sins are hard to break. That is why we need each other. There is so much talk about accountability. But you need something more than a watchdog. You need someone who knows your struggles and loves you, even when you fall. Someone who is there for you without judgment. They understand about “slips” and are there to lift you back up. Their goal is to restore, not scold or shun. God has called you to do the same. He has asked that you “restore” someone gently, not reprimand or ostracize them. Today, follow Christ and help carry someone else’s burden.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for judging others. Instead, help me gently restore those in need and bear their burdens. Help me to remember my own sins and how You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Slipping

TODAY’S VERSE
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported and cheer.
Psalms 94:18-19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love the “do-over.” Optimism comes from the ability to “bounce back’, to be resilient, and our God is the God of resilience. The author cried out that he was slipping. Have you ever felt that way? It’s like you are trying to climb out of a well, but the sides are slippery, and you keep sliding back down. The result of the authors slipping was a mind full of doubt. But even in his doubt, God was there. God’s unfailing love was able to support him. The comfort that came from God gave him renewed hope and cheer. God can do the same with you. Today, bring God your doubts. Bring Him your slippery situation. Let His love support you; let His comfort give you renewed hope and cheer.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am slipping. Help me today. May Your love support me. May Your comfort renew my hope. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Overcoming

TODAY’S VERSE
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Every day we make choices. Some choices, however, are more subtle than others. For example, the old saying, “Not to decide is to decide already.” Otherwise, if you need to make a choice and you do not say “yes” to it, then you have really chosen against it. It is like that with most of the things that we “lust” after. Lusting implies that we desire something that we cannot (or should not) have at that moment. The trouble, however, is not in the one time choice to lust. All of us struggle with occasional temptations. Instead, it is the rebound effect that gets us in trouble. You know, get close to something you know is wrong, withdraw and then rebound, getting closer the next time. It is like the proverbial frog that boils in water, never noticing that the water was gradually getting warmer and warmer. As time moves on, we eventually find ourselves in the grips of the thing we were trying to avoid. How much better to choose ahead of time not to trifle with those habits, thoughts, and behaviors that lead to trouble. We do this by being quick to repent when we slip and then asking the Holy Spirit to renew our thoughts and attitudes. If we throw off our old sinful nature and our former way of life like we would a burning jacket, and instead, let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes, God can help us discern what temps us so we can determine ahead of time to set our limits and boundaries. Today, let us give our various temptations over to God and ask Him to help us overcome them.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, You know that I struggle with temptation and lust and need Your help. Renew my thoughts and attitudes so I can live the way you want me to. Help me continue to say “no” and throw off those things that war against me. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Renew me

TODAY’S VERSE
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
II Corinthians 4:8,9,16 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What are you going to do today? What’s on your list? It is hard to get everything done when we are stressed and under the gun. But what about those things that never made your list? How will they ever have a chance? Paul knew what it was like to have struggles. He had a lot to do. A lot of churches looked to him for leadership. He was concerned about all the new converts and whether they were getting the right teachings. On top of all that, Paul had much contention and hardships as he ministered. He said that he was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. It would have been horrible to work under those conditions except for one thing. And Paul had it on his list of things to do. He took the time to be inwardly renewed every day! Look at what he wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Paul took the time to get to know God. He allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to him. He came to God and did not leave until the work of renewing was done. It was on the top of his list of things to do. Is it on yours? Today, find some time to let God minister to you. Be purposeful and deliberate in getting to know God and He will renew you day by day.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, I come to You today and ask You to renew me. Renew my thoughts, renew my attitudes, renew my passion. Fill me, guide me, direct my path. Renew me today I pray.
AMEN

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Sin Issues

TODAY’S VERSE
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
Romans 5:20 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
God’s grace is amazing. Paul knew this, so he wrote, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Paul explains that grace has set us so free in Christ that we are no longer slaves to sin. In “True Faced” the authors write, “The environment of grace provides me with truth, acceptance, healing, safety, perspective, freedom, and the power that I did not before know; these realities are foundational to resolving my sin issues.” You see, God’s grace is more than forgiveness. It is the availability of God’s power to help us mature. He forgives us and then helps us live for Him. Today, don’t run and hide from God. Talk to Him about sin issues in your life. Though you are overwhelmed, He will forgive you. He will help you. His grace is greater than your sin.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the death and resurrection of Your son Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Guide me, direct me, work with me, and by Your grace, help resolve the sin issues in my life.
AMEN

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God’s Will Be Done

TODAY’S VERSE
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The disciples came to Jesus and asked Him to show them how to pray. Jesus shared with them what is now known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” In the prayer, He says, “May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Notice Jesus did not say, “God, may my will be done on earth.” So often, that is how we are tempted to pray. Instead, Jesus teaches us to align our desires with God the Father. In “Desiring God’s Will,” Dr. David Benner writes, “The prayer that comes most naturally for all of us is ‘My name be hallowed, my kingdom come, my will be done.’ This is a prayer of independence and willfulness. It is the liturgy of the kingdom of self. The prayer that goes against our nature and that can become our prayer only through the action of divine grace, is the Lord’s prayer. It inverts everything in the liturgy of the kingdom of the self – ‘Thy name be hallowed, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.’ It is a prayer of surrendered autonomy and willingness. It is the liturgy of the kingdom of God.” Today, attune your heart with God. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and align your request with His will. Then we can pray, “May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I ask that You would help me discern Your will for my life. Help me align my joys, desires, and will with Yours, I pray.
AMEN

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Temptation

TODAY’S VERSE
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!
Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
If ever we needed Jesus’ admonition, we need it today. Television, internet, media – all around us are temptations ready to take us out spiritually. Peter said it this way, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” So what do we do? Jesus said that we must live “in” the world, but we are not to be “of” the world. That is why He told us to watch and pray; He didn’t want us to fall into temptations. When Jesus said, “watch and pray,” He wasn’t suggesting a casual Christianity. He was biding us to follow Him in a life of vigilant spiritual discipline involving devotion, prayer, and consecration. Today, keep alert toward the many temptations surrounding you. Keep your eyes and heart on Jesus. Pray, spend time with God, and confess your sin when needed. Praise God; He is faithful, He is forgiving. He will give you all you need to live for Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how I want to live for You, but I can’t do it by myself. Because of the precious blood of You son, my Lord Jesus, forgive me, cleanse me, and empower me to live for You.
AMEN

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It’s Your Choice

TODAY’S VERSE
So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering His glorious miracles and obeying His commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
Psalms 78:7-8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We have choices. In today’s verse, the new generation had to choose whether they were going to be rebellious, unfaithful, and stubborn toward God as their ancestors or be different. Thankfully, they appreciated God’s goodness and decided to follow Him. It started with a choice, a choice to break from their ancestral influence and follow God. What’s your choice? Are you going to be stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful to God like the ancestors? Or are you going to remember His glorious miracles, love, and grace and live for God? Perhaps you are not sure and don’t want to choose. However, not choosing is a choice not to live for Him. The good news is that it’s not too late; a new pathway is only a choice away- Today, choose to follow God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the freedom to choose. Thank You that by Your grace, it is never too late to follow You. That is what I want; I want to follow You. Help me to that end.
AMEN

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