A Second Chance and More

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Our God is the God of second chances and more. Here is Peter coming to Jesus. He is blown away by the grace of Jesus and asks a very serious question. Peter was trying to see if Jesus really was as forgiving as He seems. He asks Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus responded with a shocking answer. He said, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Now some people ridicule Peter because Jesus’ answer was seventy times the number Peter suggested. But I think Peter was sincere. Think about it, forgiving someone seven times is incredible. It is just that the grace of God is so much more than we can comprehend. And Peter knew that. After all, he always seemed to experience the grace of God in threes. Three times Peter denied Christ and he was forgiven. Three times Jesus had to tell Peter to “feed my sheep” until Peter fully understood his mission. Finally, in the book of Acts, three times God had to show Peter the vision of a blanket with non-kosher food on it, while telling him to eat. Three times God had to illustrate to Peter that He loved the gentiles and that Peter was to go and share the gospel with them. God was patient with Peter. How has He been patient with you? What has He forgiven you of? What is it that God has been waiting for you to do? Today, might you appreciate the grace of God in your life. Truly He is the God of second chances and more.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace. How patient You are with me. How forgiving You are. How wonderful is Your love and mercy to me. Thank You for forgiving me seven times seventy.
AMEN

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Truth

TODAY’S VERSE
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”
Ephesians 6:10-14

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is interesting that when God chose to warn us about Spiritual Warfare and described the armor of God, the first piece He told us of was the “belt of truth.” Truth is crucial to having spiritual victory. Jesus said, “”If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But today, if we are not careful, we will lose the ability to know the truth. More and more information is being dumped on us all the time. It is impossible to keep up with all the new information. With the increase in media and the ability to make celebrities, we find ourselves choosing truth because of the way it is presented or who is presenting it. It is like choosing a sports team or favorite musician. We have become spectators of the truth. We choose truth without a real allegiance. In fact, many times we decide what we want to believe and then build a case to prove it. We have lost the reverence for truth. Worse, it is a “I can believe two opposites are true at the same time.” So when I am in church, I will sing like I truly believe (And I may truly believe) but on Monday I live at work as if God never existed at all. I deny Christ as any authority in my life. Today we must recommit ourselves to truth. We must dig into the word of God, ask God to speak to us and hold on to the truth as if our lives depended on it. Let us put on the armor of God and stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I know I am in a spiritual battle and need to know, believe and live the truth. Help guide me be strong in Your mighty power as I pray, meditate and follow Your lead.
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.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”’
Romans 13:9-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We can make following God pretty complicated. It is natural for us to create rules, regulations and standards of behavior so we can measure our progress toward Spirituality. Now God gave us the ten commandments in order to guide the conduct of mankind, but it did not take man long to add hundreds of rules an 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 and God does expect us to live holy and righteous, there is a better way, one that covers all the bases. It is love. Jesus came to share the message with the whole world. In Matthew 22:37-39, 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. Are you wanting to know right from wrong? 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! Empower me with Your Holy Spirit. Give me the courage, strength, patience and discipline to love the way You do. Help me love others like I do myself.
AMEN

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His Grace Is Sufficient

TODAY’S VERSE
“Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith.”
Hebrews 11:35-39

‘“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”
II Corinthians 12:9

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We all go through the valleys. There are times of disappointment, sorrow, anxiety, stress and suffering. To those who are addicted, have lost loved ones, are suffering with chronic pain, have incapacitating disease, are going through financial hardships, have been abused, have broken relationships, are lonely, confused or have mental illness, what do we do with faith? How do we believe in the face of such discouragement and doubt? Where is God in all of this? But then we must also ask, “What is faith for?” Maybe that is why Jesus came born in a manger not a palace. That He was “acquainted with grief a man of sorrows”. That He had “nowhere to lay His head.” That in the Garden He would fall down in prayer and say, “Father, if it is your will, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless your will, not mine, be done.” Or on the cross He would cry to His Father, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Perhaps Jesus’ exemplified the normal Christian experience? Perhaps like the examples in today’s passage, those that suffered so much for Jesus, all lived by faith as much as David, Moses, Abraham and the other examples of victorious achievements. Perhaps Paul was right when he quoted God as saying, “My grace is sufficient for you”, and he concluded that “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.” Today, when you go through all you go through, May God fill your heart with the same peace, hope and faith that Jesus, Paul and those in Hebrews had.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, there are times that I don’t understand what is going on. Times when I get discouraged and start to doubt. But, I also know that these are the times I experience Your mercy and grace at a deeper level. When I am drawn by Your Spirit to a new realm of intimacy with You. Lord give me the faith, courage and strength I need for todays journey. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Restore Me

TODAY’S VERSE
“Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”
Psalms 80:3

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The Children of Israel had abandoned God. They turned their back on God and began to worship Idols. God was angry at their betrayal. But a few of the people cried out to God. They repented and pleaded with God for mercy. Three times in this Psalm the author cries, “Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” And God did. He has done the same for me. How many times have I turned my back on God with unbelief, doubt, fear and even apathy? How many times have I wandered far from God, pursuing other objects of affection, ignoring the love He has for me? And yet, God loved me when I was farthest from Him? I snarled at His hand of affection, yet He reached down to me again.  Likewise God hears your cries. He is waiting for you to call out to Him. He loves to answer the prayer of repentance. Might your prayer be today, “Turn me again to Yourself, Oh God; make Your face shine upon me that I might be saved.”
AMEN

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, restore my soul to You. Forgive me for the times I have wandered far away from You and have mercy upon me today. Shine Your face upon me that I might sense Your love, mercy and forgiveness. Lead me back to You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Tender Mercy

TODAY’S VERSE
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”
Psalms 51:1

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.”
Isaiah 42:3

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How great it is that we can come before an Almighty and Holy God, totally unworthy, full of sin and rebellion and yet experience such love, mercy and forgiveness. David knew this. After getting a married woman pregnant and then purposely having her husband killed in battle, David came to the realization of how far he had wandered from God. He then comes to God in repentance praying, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” And that is exactly what he experienced. God was gracious to him. God forgave him and had mercy upon him. Isaiah knew about this kind of love as well. He paints a word picture illustrating God’s mercy toward us. He writes “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” How gentle we would have to be, not to break a reed that was already bent? How careful would we have to be, not to totally extinguish a smoldering wick that has already lost its flame? Isn’t it good to know that this is God’s attitude of mercy and grace toward us? Doesn’t it bring joy to your heart to know that you can take anything you have done or have not done and confess it to Him and experience His tender mercy? How wonderful God is. Today, might the words of Jeremiah, in Lamentations 3:22-23, fill your heart with joy and peace. He wrote, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to you today, with all my sins and wrong doings and give them to You. I thank You for Your tender mercy. I thank You for Your forgiveness and compassion toward me. God, I understand that it because of Your great love that I am not consumed. Truly, Your compassions never fail, they are new every morning.
AMEN

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Don’t Worry

TODAY’S VERSE
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
John 14:1

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Anxiety can ruin a day. Most of our anxiety centers around something terrible we think will happen. Of course, this would make anyone anxious; but what if what we thought was terrible, really wasn’t? The truth is that most of the time what we think terrible will happen, doesn’t! But try telling ourselves that. That is the dilemma. We believe so many lies. No wonder Jesus said that the truth would set us free. So what is our definition of terrible? Basically, it is something that we think will be more than we could ever endure. It is a frightful dread. It is beyond human endurance, worst than anything we can imagine. According to William Backus in his book, “Telling Yourself the Truth,” there are four areas of anxiety. They are: Fear of losing someone’s love. Fear of making someone angry or upset. Fear of public embarrassment. Fear of pain and death. Now Jesus comes along and says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about ANYTHING!” Backus suggests that you can minimize your fears until you see them for what they are, lies, and do not be anxious. So, today realize that you have a choice and choose not to be anxious. Today believe the truth that you can trust God and choose not to be anxious. Today when anxiety comes, know that the terrible dread that it conjures up is a lie and follow Paul’s instruction, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
 
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I give You my anxious heart. Forgive me for believing so many lies. Help me change my core beliefs and bring them in line with Your word. Today I choose faith and choose to bring all my anxieties to You.
AMEN

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He Leads The Way

TODAY’S VERSE
“Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.”
Psalms 77:19-20

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
Psalms 23:1

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Life’s pathways are not always smooth. There are many times when the terrain is rough at best. What do we do then? Thank God He is the one who promised to get us through to the other side. In today’s passage we see that God was able to lead the Israelites through what seemed to be an impossible pathway. The Jews had left Egypt and were heading to the promised land when they ran smack into the Red Sea. I am sure that many of the people wondered what kind of path God had led them on. But the scriptures are clear; God had led them on a road that went through the Red Sea, a path that ran through the mighty waters. It was a road no one but God knew was there. He offers the same to us. He is the great shepherd. He is the one who can make our crooked paths straight. He is the one who turned the Red Sea into dry ground. So, what terrain are you on? What is your path like? Is it steep, full of sharp rocks, high cliffs and loose footing? Does it take you through dark forests and thorny underbrush? There was a song we sung as little children that you can take comfort in. It said, “My God knows the way through the wilderness. All I have to do is follow.” Today, choose to trust God. Follow Him. He has a path you know nothing about. He is the Great Shepherd, He will get you home.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know the journey I am on. You know the path I am following. Please guide me, Lord. Help me know which way to go. You are the Great Shepherd, be my shepherd today I pray.
AMEN

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Keep Me From Lying

TODAY’S VERSE
“Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.”
Psalms 119:29

TODAY’S THOUGHT
As humans we are separated by other creatures in the fact that we are cognitive. We have thoughts. Therein lays our problem. Just because we have a thought doesn’t mean it is true. Our thoughts can be influenced, manipulated or misled. We can be sincere in our thoughts but be sincerely wrong. David prays that God would keep him from lying to himself. We need the same prayer. Jesus said that Satan is a deceiver and a liar. It is his purpose to trip us up through a web of deceit. I am sorry to say, but I often don’t need any help from Satan. I  do fine with lying and deceit all by myself. Instead I need to repent, admit my lies to God and ask Him for discernment and wisdom in speaking and living the truth. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” As we seek the truth of every situation we are in, God will lead us. He will give us the privilege of knowing His instructions. He will guide us and we will be more free than we have ever been before. How about you? Are you living in the truth or have you set yourself up with a web of deceit? What is it you are lying about? Confess it to God. Repent and choose to live the truth. When you do, He will set you free.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, you know how easy it is for me to be deceived. You know how easily I deceive myself. Please help me today. Keep me from lying to myself and others. Help me discern the truth and then live it out in my life.
AMEN

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Come Boldly To God

TODAY’S VERSE
“Since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.”
Hebrews 10:21-22

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In the Old Testament it was the High Priest that offered sacrifices to God for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel. Each year the High Priest would go through the ceremony waiting upon God to see if indeed the sacrifice would be accepted. Then Jesus came. God send His own son, Jesus, to be the new Great High Priest. It was His blood shed on the cross that paid for our sins once and for all. No more annual ritual. It was finished when Christ died and rose again from the dead. Jesus opened the door for us to have a deep and personal relationship with God. In today’s passage it says, “Since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.” Have you ever stopped to consider what this really means? It means that you have a personal invitation from God, to come right into His presence anytime that you want. Today, don’t just read His word. Don’t just pray. Today, come boldly to God’s throne and enjoy His presence. He has forgiven your sins and is waiting for you to come and know Him, fellowship with Him, worship Him and live for Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Your only son, Jesus, making it possible to forgive all my sins. Thank You that I now can come right into your presence. Help me Lord to know You better. Help me today to fully understand Your love for me. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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