Doing Good

TODAY’S VERSE
This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. – Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then, they will not be unproductive.
Titus 3:8,14 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Doing good to others is very important to God. Paul uses strong language to communicate this point. He uses the words “insist,” “devote” and “must” when talking about meeting the urgent needs of others. He writes that helping others will keep us from living an unproductive life. There are people all around us with urgent needs. Are we responding? Are we exemplifying the love of Christ to them? God wants us to learn to do good by meeting the pressing needs of others. Why not start today. Ask God to lead you to someone you can help.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me to see the needs around me. Help me to view others through Your eyes of compassion. Lead me today to someone who needs my help. Give me the wisdom and strength to do all I can to meet their urgent need.
AMEN

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Give Away Your Hope

TODAY’S VERSE
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
I Peter 3:15 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Hope is a precious commodity. You can live without a lot of things but it is hard to live this life without hope. Solomon wrote, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick!” How true that is. The opposite is true too. Hope makes the heart peaceful. Hope, in the resurrection power of Christ, enables us to overcome obstacles that hinder us. With hope in God’s love and faithfulness, we can look beyond adversity. But with hope, comes responsibility. It would be wrong to have a warehouse full of food and not let those that are starving have some. Likewise, to have hope and not show others how to have the same hope, would be unconscionable. For that reason, Peter tells us to, “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” So where is your hope today? Is it in the living God? Are you feeling secure even when the pressure is on? If so, ask God to bring people to you that will ask about your hope. And when He does, ask God to help you present to them the reason you have hope in Christ.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the hope that I find in You. You are my hope and I want to tell others about You. Give me the courage and strength to give an answer to every person that asks me where my hope comes from.
AMEN

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Get Rid Of Anger

TODAY’S VERSE
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil.
Psalm 37:7-8

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In life, you will always find situations that will make you angry. It is what you do next that makes a difference. Many who have acted out their anger justify it by saying that it was “righteous indignation.” But I don’t see righteous indignation listed by Paul as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Instead, God encourages us to react differently. In today’s passage, we are told to be still before God and wait patiently for Him. We are to stop fretting, refrain from anger, and turn from wrath. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians that we are to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Paul admonishes us to be compassionate and forgiving toward each other like Christ is to us! Today, when pressures mount up, when there is a misunderstanding when you feel like there is no way out, don’t let anger take over. Get rid of the bitterness, rage, and anger that consumes you. It is a habit that needs to be broken. Instead, pause, take a deep breath, lift up a prayer and ask God to help you react in a more Godly fashion. Do what Paul suggests. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward those that have made you mad. Why? Because Christ has already done the same for you!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how anger comes so easily for me. You know how I struggle to let you control my life, especially in negative situations. Forgive me. Help me trade my anger for compassion, my bitterness for forgiveness, my rage for love. Help me live the way You would have me live. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Love Others

TODAY’S VERSE
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 13:9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We can make following God complicated. We make up rules, regulations, and standards of behavior so we can measure our progress toward Spirituality. Yes, God gave us the ten commandments to guide the conduct of mankind, but it did not take man long to add hundreds of rules and regulations to them. Today, we have our own. Look a certain way. Listen to certain kinds of music. Exhibit certain acceptable behavior. While there is right and wrong, God does expect us to live holy and righteous with a bunch of man-made rules. There is a better way, one that covers all the bases. It is love. Jesus came to share the message with the whole world. When asked, “What is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul explains in Roman that the commandments are written to guide our behavior, and it can be summed up very simply. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Do you want to know what God wants you to do today? He wants you to love others. Do you know what God’s will is for your life? Love those he brings you in contact with. Today, if tempted with choices between good and bad or right and wrong, choose love. Love never fails.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, You are love! Give me the courage, strength, patience, and discipline to love the way You do.
AMEN

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Created To Do Good

TODAY’S VERSE
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is amazing to study how the cells in the body all work together to survive as an organism. Insects work in hives all working in unison. Systems throughout the universe are in motion working in harmony. But then there is mankind. How dysfunctional can we get? It is every person for their own self. This is not God’s desire. God created humans to exist in a system that has each of us looking out for the interests of others. He created love to be our model of coexistence. As Christians, God created us in Christ to do good works. The author of Hebrews writes, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” And the world needs love in action. There are so many weary, hurting, broken, saddened, terrified people all around us. Every family has a story. So today volunteer. Just show up. Let God know that you will be willing to help someone and then be available. He will lead you. He will guide you to someone who needs your help. And you will be blessed, for there is nothing better than doing what you were created to do. After all, you have been called by God Himself to do good works, which He prepared in advance for you to do!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I know that You have created me to do good. I know that it is Your desire, yet I need You to guide me. Direct me to someone who needs what I have. Someone who will benefit from the way you have wired me. Guide me, then empower me to do the good that You have prepared in advance for me to do. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Compassion

TODAY’S VERSE

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT

Everyone has a story. Everyone hurts sometimes. If not now, wait. It is a hurting world. This is what Jesus saw. He saw the crowds, harassed and helpless. He compared them to lost sheep without a shepherd to protect them. And when He saw them, He had compassion. Why? Because He was God incarnate! God in the flesh. All you have to do, to understand why Jesus reacted the way He did, is to read the Old Testament. God Jehovah had compassion for the poor and needy. Even in Proverbs, Solomon gives us instructions to help those in need. He writes, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” We are to defend the rights of the poor and needy. But you ask, “What can I do?” It starts with your willing heart. From your heart, it moves to your eyes. Next, it moves to your head, then to your hands and feet. If you are willing to be used on behalf of the needy and ask God to help you help others, His love takes over. His compassion will be more than you could ever begin to contain. His miracles on behalf of the needy will be more than you can keep up with. God loves His human race, but He ordained His church to be His hands and feet. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he called his disciples for help. He is still calling! What will you do?

TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, there are so many needs, so many hurting and dying. Use me today, right here, right now, to make a difference in someone’s life. Help me see with Your eyes, love with Your heart and move with Your power. In Jesus’ Name.

AMEN

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I Am Slipping

TODAY’S VERSE
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalms 94:18-19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever slipped? I have. It is a helpless feeling. Your legs fly up and your body comes down without warning. Once I slipped off a tree limb and landed many feet below on the ground. There were scratches down the side of my body from the many branches that I hit on my descent. Slipping out of control can be a terrifying experience. But there can be more fearful slips. Ever have the fear of abandonment or rejection that leads to anxiety so bad that you felt your heart would beat out of your chest? You feel like you’re going down a long winding chute picking up speed leading directly to annihilation. It is a fear of non-being, leaving you in terror, trying anything to bring relief. The Psalmist knew what it felt like. He cried, “I am slipping!” The good news is God can help you down from those mental and emotional cliffs that you are hanging on to by a thread. As difficult as it may seem, as terrifying you may think the outcome could be, God is with you to help and comfort. He will help you find a way. The Psalmist was in a dilemma. It was sheer horror that made him cry out to God, “My foot is slipping!” But when he did, God’s unfailing, better said, His never-failing love, supported him. When his anxiety was so high, when doubts filled his mind so much that he could not stand it, God consoled him, bringing real joy deep to his soul. God will do the same for you. Bring Him your fear, your anxiety, your terror. Bring Him to the spot where you are slipping. Reach up your hand and He will grab you. He will hold you with His strong arm. He will put your feet in a safe place.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I am slipping. Please come to my aid. Catch me, hold me, help me find better footing. I need Your consolation. I need Your never-failing love. I need Your help. Guide me, comfort me, rescue me, in the name of Jesus I pray.
AMEN

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