Covenant

TODAY’S VERSE
But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
Hebrews 8:10, 12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We get married and say, “For better or for worse.” We buy a house and sign a loan agreement. We get bids on a job and award a contract. We accept a job for an agreed-upon salary. We live much of our life with promises, contracts, pledges, and covenants. How difficult is it when one of them is broken? Doesn’t it play havoc with our life? That is why I find it fascinating that God has made a covenant with us. Who are we that God would make us a promise? And yet, what a promise He has made. And what I love the best is God does not break His promises. In today’s passage, God says He is making a covenant with us. The Lord promises to make us His people by working in our hearts and minds. He promises to be our God. And then He removes the one hindrance toward fulfilling the covenant, our sins. Yes, our sins would have breached our relationship. Our sins separate us from God, but by His mercy and grace, He even takes care of that! He promises to forgive all our wrongdoings! He makes a covenant with you and me to forgive our wickedness absolutely and to never, never, not ever remember any of our sins. How great is that? How awesome! Only God could make a promise like that! Only God can keep it. Today, take God at His word and confess all your sins to Him. Accept His unconditional love for you. Accept His forgiveness for all your wrongdoing.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your precious promises. Thank You for promising never to remember any of my sins. I come to You today for total forgiveness and freedom.
AMEN

______________________________________________

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!

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

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

_______________________________________________

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!

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

It’s All About Grace

TODAY’S VERSE
 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What happens? When we first become Christians, we revel in His forgiveness. We knew that only His grace could ever clean and forgive us from our past sins. And yet, as time goes by, we get sucked into believing we somehow “earned” His forgiveness. We live as if God’s love is conditional and we are good enough to earn it. Then, we begin to feel the pressure to keep us in this “earned salvation” position. So, we begin to play a game of hiding our sins, pretending to be “perfect” instead of perfectly forgiven. The authors of “TrueFaced” write, “As we try to hide the sins we can’t control, we are unwittingly inviting blame, shame, denial, fear, and anger to become our constant companions. A theology of more right, less wrong behavior creates an environment that gives people permission to wear dozens of disguises and masks. It triggers and complicates the chain reaction of unresolved sin, causing us to lose hope.” This thinking leads to us trying to “please” God by trying to be something we aren’t. We play the role of “perfect pleasing Christian” instead of being grateful and trusting God for our complete forgiveness. Our trust in His sacrifice and forgiveness pleases God, not some sanctimonious pretense of being righteous. It is our trust that in this world, God has us in the process of being changed more and more into His likeness. Today, quit performing and trust the love that God has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, if you were to judge me according to my sins, I would never be able to sit here, praying in Your presence. Instead, You have lavished Your unconditional love upon me. I am forgiven! I am a new creature. I am loved. Thank You for Your grace. Thank You for my new identity in You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

______________________________________________

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!

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

Forgiveness

TODAY’S VERSE
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
Mark 11:25 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Forgiveness can be difficult. It is hard to forgive some of the offenses against us. But we must remember that forgiveness is a very important part of our spirituality. We go to church; we pray; we read the scriptures. This is all good, but Jesus is making it clear that the true test for real Christianity is to forgive others. That is because all of Christianity is built on forgiveness. Where would we be without the forgiveness of Christ? In “Steps To Freedom In Christ,” Neil Anderson shares the following six important elements of forgiveness. 1. Forgiveness is not forgetting; rather, forgetting is a long-term by-product of forgiveness. 2. Forgiveness is a choice, a decision of the will. 3. Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person’s sin. 4. We forgive from our heart, not our head. 5. Forgiveness is choosing not to hold someone’s sin against them anymore. 6. Finally, do not wait until you feel like forgiving. If you do, you will never get there. Instead, make a hard choice to forgive those that you are bitter toward. Let go of all the unforgiveness that is eating you up inside. Today, let God help you forgive.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You know the pain I harbor in my heart. Forgiveness seems so far from my grasp, yet I know You have commanded me to forgive. Help me forgive those who have offended me as You have graciously forgiven me. In Jesus’ name.5
AMEN

_______________________________________________

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!

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

Mercy

TODAY’S VERSE
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Confession is good for the soul. If done right, it is a tremendous spiritual discipline. As a counselor and Pastor, I have heard many “confessions” in the form of remorse, sadness, guilt, and fear. As a person struggling with my “sinful” nature, I have had the blessing of confessing my “sins that so easily beset me.” There is something about cleansing our hearts that gives us life. The Apostle John shares, “If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus listens with never-ending love and forgives with His matchless grace. And yet, even with His forgiveness only seconds away, many of us end up with a false suspicion that we are unlovable, condemned, and damaged goods. So we work harder and put on our “Christian” mask to ensure we make the mark. Where does that come from? From God? No. This false condemnation and poor sense of God’s love comes from our own hearts. Today, let go of that nagging doubt and self-condemnation. God loves you. Period! He completely forgives you! It is finished. You have found mercy; don’t give it back. Keep it. Treasure it. Believe it. Hear Jesus say, “Go, your sins are forgiven, be whole!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know my sins. I confess them to You. You know my struggles, fears, and masks I have put on. Help me believe you so I can put down this heavy burden of shame and condemnation and live in the freedom of your mercy. In Jesus’ name.______________________________________________

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!

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
AMEN

His Power

TODAY’S VERSE
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is no doubt in this life we need to be strong! How many times are we gripped with uncertainty, fear, and doubt? How often are we attacked by rogue thoughts that would take us captive and leave our souls barren?  It seems no matter how weak we get, we still have more room for weakness. But today’s passage says, “Finally, be strong.” And we try! But our strength just doesn’t seem to be enough. That is why I rejoice in the rest of the passage. When we continue reading, we see that we are not alone in this spiritual battle. No, the verse says, “Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” What a difference a few words can make. We are to be strong, but not in our power. Instead, we are to lean upon the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ and His mighty power. Today, take a few moments and meditate on what “His power” really means. Consider what it can do; think about your life and how different it would be if God unleashed His power in it. This power is what He offers. He says, “Come today and use my power. Don’t try to do it on your own. Lean on me. I will give you my strength, so come, be strong in me!”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, today, teach me about Your power. Show me how strong You are. Open my eyes to the possibilities before me as I trust You and Your mighty power.
AMEN

______________________________________________

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!

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

Choices

TODAY’S VERSE
Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Choices can make all the difference in the world. Of course, not all options are equal. It probably won’t matter much if you had meatloaf or fish for dinner. However, what you choose to commit your life to does. Jesus constantly challenged us about our commitments. We can measure our commitments by looking at what we consider important. Jesus said it this way, “Where our treasures are, there will our heart be also.” So what do we have to choose today? Will you choose things that matter? Will serving God permeate the choices you make? Given other options, will you choose God’s peace, joy, and love? Make choices based on the things that God values. Today, choose whom you will serve.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know that I don’t always make good choices, but today, I choose You. I choose to follow You. I pray that You will help me make the right choices.
AMEN

_____________________________________________

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!

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

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

______________________________________________

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!

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

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

_______________________________________________

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!

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

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

_______________________________________________

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!

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