Habitual Sin

TODAY’S VERSE
Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me.
Psalms 19:12-13 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are creatures of habits. That is why so many of our sins happen over and over again. Unfortunately, some sins we get so used to, they no longer offend us. Others drive us to our knees. We cry out like Paul when he wrote, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” What are we to do? We can do what David did. He acknowledged his behavior and asked God to cleanse him and keep him from his deliberate sins. We can do what Paul did and acknowledge the power of Christ when he wrote, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” The secret is found in what David writes in this same passage. In our relationship with God and His Word, we will see victory. David writes, “The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.” Today, talk to God about your habitual behavior. Confess any wrongdoing and accept His forgiveness. Spend time with the Lord and let His word shape your life. In Christ, there is freedom!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, forgive me for my habitual sins. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit and Your word, give me victory. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Come Close To God

TODAY’S VERSE
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
James 4:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
You can be so close to someone yet so far away! The Children of Israel had the Tabernacle of God as they went through the wilderness. They had the tablets with the Ten Commandments written on them by God Himself. They were close to God, yet their hearts were far from Him. Are we any better? We have the scriptures, beautiful sanctuaries, thousands of Christian books, an endless supply of Biblical teachers in the media, and yet how close are we to God? Closeness to God is not about all the spiritual aids we have. It is not about His proximity. He is as near as our breath. The question is, how close have we moved toward Him? Where is our focus? What are we conscious about? Today, if you feel far from God, who moved? Get up, awaken your heart and move toward Him. Talk to Him, love Him, worship Him. He is there. Are you?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, today I come to draw near to You. Draw near to me, I pray. Invade my heart. Speak to my inner being. Fill me with Your presence, that I may know You better. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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My King

TODAY’S VERSE
O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
Psalms 84:3 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is easy to use a word in a way that it loses some of its meaning. Look at the word “love.” We love our spouse, and we love chocolate cake. It is possible to use the word “God” and not fully appreciate His majesty and the influence He should have in our life. In today’s verse, the author gives us another view. He calls God the “Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” God is almighty. He is powerful and able to deliver us in our battles. He is a King, supreme ruler of everything, the sovereign Lord of Lords. But what really captures the intent of the word is when the author says, “He is MY King.” A King is one thing. “My King” makes all the difference. Today ask yourself, “Is He MY King?”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Mighty God. Forgive me for diminishing Your importance in my life. Today I declare, “You are the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King, and My God!”
AMEN

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Do Right

TODAY’S VERSE
So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
I Peter 4:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes there is a price for doing the right thing. But there is always a reward. It may not be the kind of reward we were looking for. Materialism is so addictive. We judge our value by our accomplishments, net worth, and how many toys we have. However, with all that can come Godless attitudes of self-sufficiency and pride. So we decided instead to follow Christ. Peter explains, “You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.” As a follower of Christ, the good you decide to do may be countercultural to where you work or those that you associate with. Peter says that this could result in people slandering you. You could suffer because of it. That may be the price you will pay, but Peter also explains the reward. He writes, “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” He will never fail you. He will never fail you! Keep on doing what is right.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, help me keep on doing right because I know it pleases You. Thank You that You promised You will never leave me or forsake. You will not fail me.
AMEN

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Live Like Christ

TODAY’S VERSE
Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
I John 2:6 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How true is this? How often do we hear the word, “hypocrite” in association with Christians? Why? Because we follow a high standard. We claim to follow Christ so people assume we are going to live like Him. Why not? Isn’t that what Jesus expected? He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father.” Isn’t that what Paul meant when he wrote to the church in Corinth, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Peter wrote, “Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.” It is a tall order. Sure we will fail, but in humility, we confess and ask for His strength to help us to try again. The good news is He hasn’t left us empty-handed. He has given us the Bible. Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Today, let us live like Christ. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, I try to live like You, but I fall so short. I cannot do it by myself. Please help me, through the power of Your Holy Spirit and Your word, to live like You. 
AMEN

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Cravings

TODAY’S VERSE
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.
I John 2:16 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Cravings. It has been my experience that most cravings have their roots in emotional and spiritual issues. Of course, by the time addictions are created there is a heavy part of the brain involved. But in their genesis, cravings stem from some childhood edict that we are flawed. This arouses certain fears that if we do, feel, or think certain things, we’ll be neglected and abandoned—which to a child is to be left to die. This is a primal fear. It stays with us because these fear-based lies are timeless and the brain will do anything to protect us from them. None of this is conscious, but the bottom line is that we “crave” certain things in order to stay alive. So, if we escape enough, have enough, or achieve enough we believe we will be safe. That’s the world’s lie. The truth is, there is never enough! Only truth from God can really set you free. Jesus is the truth, and His love will fill the emptiness, fear, frustration, anger, sadness, and disgust that have been living in your heart. Today, trade in the need for excitement and their false promises for the satisfaction that comes from the truth of God’s love for you.    

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I have bought the lie. From a child, I have believed that having the most, the best, or being famous and admired would satisfy all my emotional needs. But it was a lie. Only You can satisfy. Help me know You more and find my true happiness in You. 
AMEN 

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Confess and Repent

TODAY’S VERSE
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.
I John 1:8-9 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We sin. And yet, John has to remind us to confess our transgressions. More than that, he is asking us to admit that we sin. Who could live as a human being and say they do not sin? And yet we do. Perhaps we wouldn’t say “No” if someone came and point-blank asked us if we sin, but we are not living as if it matters. Many times our behavior is suspect, yet we do not stop. Our attitudes are entirely wrong, and yet we do not change. Instead, God wants to convict us of what we do wrong so we can clear our conscience and stay in a right relationship with him. The saddest reality is not the act of sinning itself, but not repenting, not confessing, and not letting God help us correct it. Today, check your heart. Confess to Him any sin that has you trapped, any sin that has not been confessed, any sin that you think does not matter. It does.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, You know I sin. Forgive me for not keeping my conscience clear. Today speak to me, show me my wrongdoing, and help me confess so I can live in the awareness of Your forgiveness and cleansing. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Godliness

TODAY’S VERSE
Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
II Timothy 3:5 (ESV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Here is a riddle? How can you be Godly without God? You can’t. Yet, that is what so many of us try to do. We read scripture. We go to church. We live a moral life. But does that make us Godly? The Pharisees followed that same program, yet Jesus constantly criticized them for their ungodliness. The secret is in the second part of the verse. We become Godly by God’s power. It is the power of the Holy Spirit alive in our hearts that teaches us, rebukes us, and corrects us. It is God Himself that helps us live for Him. Today, fall in love with God. Seek His power in your life. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead can bring you into a Holy loving relationship with God Himself. As you love Him and live in His presence, His power will make you more like Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I desire to follow You. I want to live a Godly life, but I cannot do it myself. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and make me more like You.
AMEN

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His Servant

TODAY’S VERSE
And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.”
Luke 12:42 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus has called you to follow Him. But do you understand that this means you are to be His servant here on earth? Do you take seriously the tremendous privilege and responsibility that comes with that? Your first and foremost job on earth is to discern His will every day and then do it. He wants you to be faithful in following Him, taking the tasks He has given you with all seriousness and sensibility. Today, decide that He is Lord of your life and you are His servant. Commit to being His faithful and responsible servant managing all He gives you to do. This indeed is your noble calling. And praise God, what He calls you to do; He will empower and equip you to do.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for calling me to be Your servant. Help me be faithful in living this out. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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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

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