Be A Blessing

TODAY’S VERSE
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What would you do if you were given two potions, one that could cure cancer the other that would make people deathly sick? It is obvious that you would give every cancer victim you could find the cure and no doubt, do away with the poison. Yet what do we do with our words? With each sentence, there is the potential to cure or destroy. We can use our tongue to heal those that are hurting, bring joy to a broken heart or hope to those that are suffering. We could also choose to use unwholesome words that tear down, wound and destroy those that get in our way. James writes, “Sometimes it (the tongue) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” Today, be careful with what you say to others. Use the wonderful gift of language as a blessing to others, not a curse.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me use my tongue as a blessing. Direct my mouth with Your power and help me use my words to share love and peace with others.
AMEN

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Bear Each Other’s Burdens

TODAY’S VERSE
Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
If I was asked to describe Christianity using only one word, I would choose the word, “love”. John tells us that God is love. It is His love that makes mercy and grace possible. Is it no wonder then, if we are really going to fulfill what Christ wants us to do, we must bear each other’s burdens? Bearing a burden means to take that burden on as if it was your own. We are called to help the wounded, love the hurting and to do whatever it takes to help those that are overburdened. If we don’t, who will? Who else is called to do this? It is this love of Christ, lived out by us in community, that is the mark of true Christianity. And if community is going to work, then each of us must prefer the needs of others to our own. We must put the needs of others above ourself. Jesus set the example. His whole life exemplified sacrificial love. So must ours. Today, ask God to help you sense when someone needs help. Ask Him to help you bear their burden.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I am so grateful that You have borne every one of my burdens. Give me a heart like yours and the filling of Your Spirit so I might love others in the way You have loved me.
AMEN

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No Revenge

TODAY’S VERSE
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
Romans 12:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Revenge. What a toxic emotion. What a deceptive motive. It is so easy to slip into this deadly trap. It starts with a wound. Perhaps a deep hurt, humiliation or betrayal. Life isn’t fair, but this is just too much! Soon our wound festers and anger becomes an obsession. But what makes revenge so deceptive is that we don’t have to murder someone to get revenge. Instead, we feel justified in slandering the person, shunning them, campaigning against something they are doing or a million other ways of getting nasty. But this is not revenge. It is getting even, or giving them what they deserve, or settling the score. No, it is revenge. It is hard not to go there. What can we do? Paul shares the only thing we can do. Let go. Give it to God. Let Him take over your case. The author of Hebrews was serious when he wrote, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Today, follow that advice. Let God search your heart and then pull out any bitter root that has taken ground in your emotions. Don’t let a wound fester into something worse.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, search my heart. Show me any toxic bitterness I may have. Show me any attitude or behavior of revenge. Forgive me and help me change my attitude. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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New Reality

TODAY’S VERSE
Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
I Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is easy to miss the reality of what Christ has done for us. We get so caught up in our everyday living. Our habits, thoughts, emotions constantly remind us of our humanness. However, Paul shares that there is another reality. There is a new you! It was created in Christ when you were born again. Born again as in a “new” creature. So what is this new creature? It is royalty, a new child of God. Not made with flesh and blood like you were in your mother’s womb, but rather born again in the Spiritual realm. God took you, with your own self-will and sinfulness and made you right with Him. He created you this time, pure and holy and most of all He has freed you from the power of sin. It is hard to believe but you don’t have to strive to be right with God. You don’t have to earn God’s love. When Christ died on the Cross you received His free gift of salvation. He freed you from sin that very moment. He made you over again, pure and holy. He canceled all records of your wrongdoing and made you right with Him. Today, live in this freedom. Look into the mirror of God’s love and see what He sees.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Thank You for freeing me from sin. Thank You for Your salvation and for making me pure and Holy in Your sight.
AMEN

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Compassion

TODAY’S VERSE
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.”
Psalms 146:6-9 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How the Church has distorted the purpose of God in this world. We have made it all about us. It is our worship of God, it the discipleship of our own, it is care of our people, our buildings and our programs that take top priority. Now, obviously, we are to worship Him. Certainly, God inhabits the praise of His people. We must disciple those who have come to faith in Christ. Christ Himself told us to go and make “disciples” of all nations. Finally, we must take care of the resources God has given us to use. But we have an incomplete picture of God’s purpose if we never consider the compassion He has toward those that are needy. We read many times in the gospels where Jesus was moved with compassion and then He ministered in power. Likewise, we are woefully short of God’s purpose for the church and scarce on His power, if we are not moved with compassion toward those that are outside our four walls. The question is, will we join God in all of His work? God has called you and me to follow Him, let us follow Him, by helping those around us that so desperately need our help.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me see the needs of others the way You do. Help me to respond in a way that honors you. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Do This

TODAY’S VERSE
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
I Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a “to do” list! Such an important list of things to do for our spiritual vitality. What is so exciting is that God would not ask us to do something that He will not help us with. This is within our grasp. All we need to do is focus, ask God for His help and then be as diligent as possible. He will guide us. He will give us the strength and power to do what He has asked of us. Today, be on guard against spiritual apathy, attacks, and adversaries. While you are on guard, stand firm on His word and your faith in what He has said and who He is. When trouble comes remember who God is and what He has asked us to do and be courageous in your attempt to be strong. Finally, if all else fails, allow Him to work through you and do everything you do today with love! God is good and He will help you do what He has asked you to do. Simply trust and obey.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You will provide all the help and strength I need. Help me to be on my guard and stand firm in my faith. I need Your help to be courageous and strong. Lord, please help me do everything I do today with love. I ask this in the name of Jesus.
AMEN

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Forgiveness

TODAY’S VERSE
Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Forgiveness is crucial to our mental health. More than that, it is imperative for a right relationship with God. God puts a premium on grace and forgiveness. Forgiveness is love in action. It is an act of grace that is inspired by Jesus Himself. In fact, Christ emphasized it when He taught us to pray. He said, “Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” There are two key elements in today’s verse. First, we see that God wants us to confess our own sins and ask for His forgiveness. He didn’t say, “Put on a mask and pretend you did no wrong.” Jesus didn’t say to rationalize away our attitudes of pride, anger, and bitterness. Instead, He admonishes each of us to focus on our own sinful situation, repent and ask for His forgiveness. When we do, God will bless our heart and give us the capacity to participate in the second part, that is to forgive others. God wants us to be ambassadors of His grace. Today, as we have been forgiven let us go and forgive others.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Thank you for not giving up on me. I pray that I might express the same kind of forgiveness to others.
AMEN

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