Approaching God

TODAY’S VERSE
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How do you approach God? It often depends on your presuppositions of who God is. Is He some mean, unreasonable disciplinarian who is watching your every move? Is God some detached, non-involved creator who has no desire to relate to you? Perhaps your view of God is that of a Santa Claus you give your wish list to and hope to get nice things in return. Possibly worse than any of these, the God you worship is unpredictable. You never know if and when God will show up and what kind of mood He will be in. What we believe about God has much to do with how we come to Him. In today’s passage, Paul is writing about his faith in God. He says that because of Christ, we can come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. The author of Hebrews says it best. He writes, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” So today, rejoice and join Paul in saying, “Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for Your love for me. Thank You for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which have made it possible for me to come boldly to You. So I come to You now, Lord. Fill me with Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Honest With God

TODAY’S VERSE
Pay attention to my prayer, because I speak the truth.
Psalms 17:1 (NCV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
You would think being honest with God would be natural, but it isn’t. Oh, it’s not that we tell God some big fat lie. It is more like we omit the truth. We pray, “Lord, help me; I need money for my bills.” Perhaps a more honest prayer would be, “Lord, please show me where I can be better at my finances.” We pray that God would help us with a sour relationship when we should be praying for our behavior and attitude toward the person. We ask God to forgive our sins, but not the wisdom and discipline to change our behavior. Sometimes we would be better off starting our prayers with, “Lord, what do You want me to pray about?” and then wait to see what God challenges us with. This kind of honest, life-changing prayer only comes from a sincere relationship with God. As we spend more time with Him, we will find it easier to pray in an open, honest, and fresh way.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me share with You honestly and openly. I want nothing between us. I want to serve You with all my heart and pray that honesty will be at the core of our relationship.
AMEN

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Renew Me

TODAY’S VERSE
They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 30:10-11 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever been at the place where the last thing you want to hear is a word from God? You know, there is nothing like a “twinge of conscience” to ruin a “good time.” Who needs a sermon that meddles in our affairs? That is what the children of Israel felt like. They wanted to abolish visions and prophetic words from God. Instead, they wanted the prophets to tell them nice lies. They didn’t want gloom and doom. They didn’t want to live in a narrow way. Sadly, we can become this way. It starts slowly, like a frog in boiling water. If we knew the poisonous attitude we were cultivating would reach the boiling point we would never allow it to grow, but apathy never starts that strong. It is subtle. It is an insidious process. We become too busy for Spiritual discipline. We begin filling our minds with television, the internet, and other distractions. Work and other affairs begin to distance us from church and fellowship with other Christians. Our conscience slowly loses its conviction. We find it easier and easier to ignore that “still small voice.” Let me ask you, “Where are you?” “Do you feel far from God?” If so, who moved? God is always there, His love for you is unconditional. Turn to Him today while there is time. Before your heart gets hardened, tell God how sorry you are. Repent, come back to God and you will find Him. He is ready to forgive you and restore you to a real and relevant fellowship with Himself.  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how far I have wandered from You. Forgive me. Today, I desire to renew my fellowship with You. Restore my heart. I want to hear Your voice. I desire to do Your will. Hear me dear Lord, guide and direct me I pray, in Jesus’ name. 
AMEN

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Abide In His Love

TODAY’S VERSE
As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you: abide in my love.
John 15:9 (DARBY)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where do you abide? According to Merriam-Webster, “abide” means to continue in a place and to sojourn. In this situation, Jesus refers to continuing in a particular state of mind. Of course, when it comes to our mind, we have a lot of choices as to where we will dwell. It’s not uncommon to find ourselves having painful emotions like fear, anger, disgust, bitterness, or doubt. But do we have to stay there? Are we choosing to abide in that emotional state? Instead, as Jesus abided in the love of the Heavenly Father, He invites us to do the same with His love. He offers His own life as an example. What a picture. You can feel the love bond that God the Father has with His Son. And as you read about Jesus, you can sense that Jesus has the same kind of love for us. Is there a better place to abide? Is there a better place to call home than the loving arms of Jesus? Today, find your rest in Him. Find that peace that passes all understanding. Abide in Jesus and the incredible love He has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You that I can abide in Your love and experience all the peace, joy, and faith that comes with it. Help me abide there today.
AMEN

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NOW YOU CAN HEAR A DIFFERENT MOMENT IN THE WORD ON YOUTUBE! Go to http://www.youtube.com/@ronovitt and You will find my channel. Click on playlists and go to Moment In The Word. Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you will get them every day!

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Receiving His Love

TODAY’S VERSE
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.
Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a fine line between doing good to earn someone’s affection and doing good because you already have it. Take God. He created us out of love. He has redeemed us out of love. We don’t have to earn His favor. We become His child through the acceptance of His finished work on the Cross. From then on, it is love and gratitude that should motivate us. But some of us have a hard time receiving that kind of unconditional love. What kind of marriage would it be if we had to constantly earn our spouse’s love? Wouldn’t it be a shame to have a spouse who loves you so much, and yet, because you couldn’t receive that love, you constantly feel as if you must earn it? It is the same way with God. Yes, Paul asks us to “live a life worthy of the Lord” and to “live in a way that pleases God.” But nowhere does it intimate that we should live this way to earn His love. Instead, the Apostle John wrote that we should love God because He first loved us. Today, rejoice in the love that the Father has for you. Love God because His love for you is secure.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You that I don’t need to earn it. I don’t have to live under fear and condemnation; rather, I can simply enjoy Your favor. Help me to truly receive Your kindness and Your abiding love.
AMEN

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Realization

TODAY’S VERSE
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 14:20 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
A realization is different than assuming something. You can think you “know” how difficult something may be and later explain, “I never realized how much work it was going to be!” Knowing can be academic or theoretical, whereas realization is experiential knowledge. Actual realization is an awakening. It is an “aha” moment. We can “know” all about Christ, but realizing His presence is totally different. Jesus is explaining that because He rose again from the dead, we should realize that He is equal with God the Father. Jesus is also saying that because we believe He has a special relationship with God the Father, we should likewise realize that He has a special relationship with us. As God the Father is “in” Jesus, Jesus is “in” us. Here is the crux of the matter. When are we going to start living as if the Almighty God of the Universe is living in us? When are we going to realize all that is ours in Christ? It is not too late. Today, meditate on God’s love for you and His desire to live in and through you. Ask Him to help you realize what that should mean to you and the way you live. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank you for your presence in my life and for making me Your child. I pray that today I may fully realize what it means to have You alive in me.
AMEN

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Come Boldly To God

TODAY’S VERSE
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15,16 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The author of Hebrews uses the High Priest as a model of Christ. It was the High Priest who represented the Israelites to God, confessed their sins, and gave an offering for their offenses. To do this, he would first have to confess his own sins. He would have to make a sacrifice for his own failings. Then, after his cleansing, he could represent the people. You see, there was a limit to what the High Priest could do. He couldn’t help the people stop their sins. He could not meet the individual needs of the people. Today, God has created a better way. He has sent Himself to be our High Priest. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, came once and for all time and sacrificed Himself so we could be forgiven. More than that, Christ is on the right hand of the Father, interceding for our every need. He knows your weaknesses, so He gives you complete access to His love, power, mercy, and grace. If you know Him, you can say with confidence that He is “my” Savior. When Christ became your High Priest, He made it personal. Today, come to God’s very throne. Come to the one who loves you and has everything you need.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for sacrificing Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I thank You for knowing who I am, You know my weaknesses, and You still love me. I especially thank You for promising to care for my every need with Your mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Seek Him First

TODAY’S VERSE
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It’s easy for us to assume God’s will instead of asking Him for it. The truth is that God’s ways are not always our ways. Jesus said to seek His kingdom and righteousness before anything else. So, if we want to live out God’s will, we must seek God first. A quarterback has the same goal as his coach. They both want to win the game. But the Coach is better versed in the game. He has more experience and a more comprehensive view of the whole game. If the quarterback is going to do his best, he needs to work in harmony with the coach. How much more should we align our behavior and attitudes with God Almighty? A hurtful situation, a wayward son, a sudden illness, a loss of a job. Life has many twists and turns. When they come, stop and seek God. Let Him know your thoughts, your apprehensions, your fears and your frustrations. Come to Him, seek Him first, and He will direct your path.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I confess I do “my own thing” so often. I do not take the time to know your will. I assume that what I am doing is the “right” thing. Forgive me. Please help me to stop when I am tempted to run in a certain direction. Help me to seek You first.
AMEN

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Talk With God

TODAY’S VERSE
My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.
Psalms 27:8 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a glorious invitation! There are two elements to an invitation that can make it special: who is inviting you and what you are invited to do. In both cases, this invitation is extraordinary! First, it is God who is inviting. David said that his heart heard God’s invitation. Have you? Have you sensed that call of the Holy Spirit to come and fellowship with God? He bids you come to Him. God desires your fellowship, but you must come. Second, we see that God has invited you to talk with Him! So many times, we talk “to” God, not “with” Him. What kind of friendship would you have with someone if you did all the talking? That is not fellowship, it is not a relationship. God Almighty has asked you to talk with Him. You can share your innermost thoughts and then wait and listen to what He has to say. God wants to commune with your heart if you will let Him. Today, God has invited you to come talk with Him. Stop now and start a conversation. Talk with Him, listen, and let it begin a lifelong dialogue.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for inviting me to come and talk with you. Today, I come to share my thoughts and situation and listen. Talk to me, God; I want to hear from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
AMEN

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Forgiveness

TODAY’S VERSE
LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness.
Psalms 130:3-4 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is easy to keep a record of sins. How many times have we found ourselves caught up in bitterness over someone’s repeated offenses against us? How many times should we continue to forgive? Jesus addressed that very question when Peter asked Him how many times we should forgive someone. In a magnanimous gesture, Peter suggests seven times, but Jesus said seven times seventy was more like it. The truth is God’s love is greater than we can imagine. David was trying to make that point in this passage. He was amazed that God is justified in keeping a record of all our wrongs but chooses not to. Instead, what does God do? He offers forgiveness. Forgiveness is a powerful healer. Is there something weighing heavy on your heart? Is there a secret sin or something from the past you need to repent of? Today, bring it to God. The God who does not keep a ledger of your wrongdoings but instead offers complete forgiveness.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for not keeping a record of my wrongs. Instead, I bring my sins to You, ask You to forgive me, and set me free. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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