Keep It Real

TODAY’S VERSE
Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts.
Luke 16:15 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is so easy to perform. We play different roles depending upon which play we are in. At work, we are one person, at home another. At school, we adapt to the particular people around us, and at church, we put on the righteous role. The question is, “who are we?” When we quit coping, quit people-pleasing, stop posturing and posing, who are we? If you know Jesus, you are a child of God, a citizen of heaven, a disciple of Christ. This is not pretending. It is a reality. When you dedicated your life to Christ, you became a citizen of another world. Integrity, love, truth, justice, morality, purity are virtues of His kingdom and run counter to what we, as humans, have come up with by ourselves. That is why in the very next verse, Jesus says, “What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.” Today, Jesus invites you to keep it real. You don’t need to act, perform or appear to be something you are not. Instead, give Him your heart. Confess and repent of any sin, live for Him, and love others. This is what God is looking for.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, keep me from pretense and posturing. I want to live for You in all I do. Help me to this end, I pray.
AMEN

___________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Jesus Cares For You

TODAY’S VERSE
But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:32 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny Him. He knew who Peter was. He knew Peter was human and struggled in the same way that you do. So what did Jesus do? He pleaded in prayer for him! He prayed that Peter would not become so discouraged that he would give up. Instead, Jesus desired that Peter would repent and turn back to God. And then, in renewed faith, Peter would go and help others. This same Jesus comes to you. He knows your life. He knows your struggles, and He is pleading in prayer for you. He wants you to repent and turn back to Him. Jesus doesn’t define you by your past, your faults, your weaknesses, or your sins. Neither should you! God deeply loves you, and His death and resurrection have taken away all your sins. This is good news. This is grace. Today believe it, accept it, and strengthen others with God’s grace in the same way He has strengthened you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for pleading in prayer for me. Thank You for Your loving kindness toward me. Thank You for Your forgiveness of all my sins. Please help me to share this truth with others so they will be strengthened too.
AMEN

___________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

My Sins

TODAY’S VERSE
Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.
Romans 1:29-30 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I read today’s verse, and I think, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.” Just when we think there is a pecking order of sins and ours isn’t that wrong, Paul comes along and shows us how bad we need Jesus. When our self-righteous mask starts to feel comfortable, Paul helps us peel it off. We are human. We sin. But God saves. He forgives. He fills us with the Spirit and helps us live the way He wants us to. Today, look in the mirror of today’s verse. Confess any sin and accept God’s forgiveness and grace.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, be merciful to me. Forgive me for all my wrongdoing. Help me, through Your love and grace, live for You.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Bondage Of Sin

TODAY’S VERSE
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 7:24-25 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
A part of our human condition is our propensity toward sin. Paul shared that this fight between good and evil made him miserable. He explains, “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” How true is that? Cravings, habits, emotional stress can lead to all kinds of sin. Fear, worry, insecurity creates an atmosphere where misbehavior grows. Anger, ignorance, prejudice, hatred can lead us into relational strife and discord. Paul asked the right question, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” More importantly, he gave the right answer when he wrote, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” The truth is we are powerless to handle our sinful nature by ourselves. We need to turn our will and life over to Christ. He came to forgive us and set us free.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, my sin has me baffled. I need You to free me from this bondage of sin in my life. Come Jesus, forgive me and help me live the life You have called me to.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Drifting

TODAY’S VERSE
Don’t let me drift toward evil.
Psalms 141:4 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Drifting. It can take you by surprise. You think you are heading in the right direction, but suddenly you are somewhere you don’t want to be. You could be crossing a large lake in a canoe and think you are heading toward your destination, but the boat’s drift will take you way off course. There are only two cures. The first is to not drift in the first place. This is what the Psalmist asked God to help him with. Stay away from things that take you in the wrong direction. Get rid of anything that starts you to waiver. The second is to re-correct your course. When you feel yourself drifting, you correct yourself and move back toward your destination. The scriptures, prayer, meditation, good Christian fellowship all help us re-correct our path. Today, check your bearings. Where are you spiritually? What can you do to get back on course? What can you do to stop from drifting?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, help me not drift away from You. Help me continually re-correct my course.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Maturity Is A Journey

TODAY’S VERSE
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. – Romans 8:12-13

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Maturity is a journey. When we think we have matured in one area, we move to another challenge in life that stretches us more. We are in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus. Maturity can be difficult, but we don’t give up! The good news is that Paul tells us that we do not have an obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do. Now, it doesn’t always feel that way. Cravings, temptations, habits run deep. But today we have a choice! We have a choice to say, “No.” We have the choice to “stop.” We have a choice not to be dominated by our sinful nature. Paul wrote, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” So today, repent; say no; stop! You have a choice. Ask the Spirit of God to direct your mind and behavior.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Father. I struggle with maturity. I need Your help. I need the power of Your Holy Spirit to put to death my sinful nature. I come and ask You to forgive me, fill me, and empower me. In the name of Jesus.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Cleansed

TODAY’S VERSE
But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I Corinthians 6:11 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We make mistakes. We stray from the path. We find ourself in an ungodly state of mind. What do we do? We come to Jesus. We confess our sins. We repent and ask for His forgiveness. When we do, He cleanses us. The Apostle John writes, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” King David had committed heinous sins, and when confronted by God through Nathan the Prophet, David repented. He later wrote, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Today, what is it that you need to be cleansed? Know that God will take care of it if you ask Him to. Just call upon the name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I need You to come and cleanse me. Help me start fresh today. I want to fully know Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Sin In My Life

TODAY’S VERSE
How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.
Psalms 19:12-13 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are complicated creatures. Paul explains our sin problem when he writes, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” The good news is that Christ has made a way that we can live for Him. Paul continued, “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” He concludes, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” So today, thank our Lord Jesus for the forgiveness you have through His death and live in victory you have through His resurrection.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus, who died for me and rose again that I can be forgiven and set free from the bondage of sin.
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

You Still Belong To God

TODAY’S VERSE
Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Psalms 73: 21-22 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever stopped to think about what our behavior seems like to God? The Psalmist did. He caught himself in a spiritually unhealthy place and saw a glimpse of what God must see. He writes, “I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.” What repentance. Oh, that I would be that sensitive. However, what really thrills me is the next part the author writes. It stands alone as today’s devotional. Read it and rejoice in the love God has for you. The Psalmist writes, “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” Today repent of any bad attitude toward life and God and know you still belong to Him!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I pray with the Psalmist, “Lord, I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but You Dear God remain the strength of my heart; You are mine forever.”
AMEN

____________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey

Doubt

TODAY’S VERSE
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Doubts come. And when they do, they often attack our faith. Is God there? Does He care? Is He going to do anything? Sometimes it is more profound. Does God love me? Does He have a purpose for me? Some doubts get even more personal. There must be something wrong with me. No one loves me. I will never make it. Doubt is the enemy of our soul. The good news is that God gave us the solution to doubt. It is faith. Faith looks at doubt and says, begone, I believe in God. Faith allows us to commune with the Holy Spirit, the comforter, and He works deep in our heart to do what the Psalmist said He would centuries ago. Today, when doubts fill your mind, you can turn to God, and His comfort will give us renewed hope and cheer.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank You that I can turn to You in faith when I have doubts. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, whose comfort brings me hope and cheer.
AMEN

___________________________________________________

CLICK HERE to send this to a friend

You can get this Daily Devotional sent to your e-mail as “Moment In the Word”. CLICK HERE to have this Daily E-votional sent to your e-mail

Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gifts Are?
Now You Can. CLICK HERE to Get your FREE Spiritual Gifts Survey