Change Your Clothes

TODAY’S VERSE
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I like to lay out my clothes the night before I have to get up and go to work. It is one less thing I have to think about when I get up. It allows me to be more objective and intentional instead of rushing to decide what to wear. Paul shares that intentionally is also important in wearing the wardrobe that God has for us. Paul uses the analogy of clothing because our behavior is something that people see about us. Paul admonishes us to clothe ourselves in love. He then says to accessorize love with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. What an ensemble. Can you imagine if we were intentional in putting on this behavior every day? What a difference it would make in our lives and those around us. Today, decide what you want to wear. It is your choice. God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has custom-made an outfit just for you. The clothes fit perfectly and bring out your true self. Go ahead, find a quiet changing room, and go change. Clothe yourself today with love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I know I need to wear something different in my heart. I haven’t been wearing the clothes You gave me when I became a Christian. Help me change the outfit of my heart today and put on love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Be The Light

Be The Light

TODAY’S VERSE
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love synergy. It is the result of different entities working together to create a more significant response than they could by themselves. Have you ever been to a “candlelight sing,” when at the end of the service, one candle is lit, and one by one, each candle in the auditorium sends forth its illumination? What a beautiful sight. How amazing that one little candle combined with others can create such brightness. This is the effect Jesus had in mind when He said we were the “light of the world.” He was leaving this world, and with the power of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives, together, we would become a bright light. Dallas Willard in his book Hearing God writes, “Those who receive the grace of God’s saving companionship in His word are by that very fact also fitted to show humankind how to live. Collectively the ‘called out’ people of God, the church, is empowered to stand up for wandering humanity to see. When faced with starvation, crime, economic disasters and difficulties, disease, loneliness, alienation and war, the church should be, because it alone could be, the certified authority on how to live to which the world looks for answers.” We are called to be the light where we are. Today, come to Him, bring Him your candle; let Him light it for you, and then light up your corner of the world. I’ll light mine. If everyone reading this devotional would let Christ light their life, someone is bound to be affected. There are people all around us dying to come out of the darkness.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, speak to me, ignite my heart, and help me shine that light today. Help me share my light with those hurting in utter darkness so they, too, can live in the light of Your love and glory. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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What Do You Thirst For?

TODAY’S VERSE
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
John 4:13-14

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What a beautiful picture God is painting for us. Here is a woman coming to the well for water during the heat of the day. She must have been an outcast, for why else come alone during the hot time of the day? Why not come early in the cool of the morning with the other women? Regardless, she comes for water for her physical thirst, and Jesus offers her water for her soul. Jesus touches her heart, so she leaves the water at the well and runs and tells everyone in the village about Him. She had found what her soul really thirsted for. How about you? What do you need? Is it to be heard and understood? Is it to be affirmed or blessed? Do you want to be loved? Do you need to be forgiven? Perhaps you long to be included or to be chosen? Maybe it is just to be safe? Whatever your heart’s longing, Jesus has the living water that can quench your thirst. His love for you is what you have been looking for. Come to Him today. Drink of His love, forgiveness, understanding, affirmation, and blessing. When you do, you too will tell everyone, “Come and see this Jesus who knows me and quenches the thirst of my soul.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, You know the longings of my heart. You know my needs, my fears, my desires. I come to You today to be filled. Fill me with Your living water. Holy Spirit, come and quench the desires of my heart. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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The Fruit Of The Holy Spirit

TODAY’S VERSE
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I am amazed at God’s solution when I think of our human propensity for anger, confusion, impatience, harshness, lack of control, and impulsiveness. Our humanness, a result of man’s fallen condition, has been trumped by God’s Holy Spirit. What a plan. God gives us a body in which we house our personality with enough room for His Holy Spirit. The result is the Holy Spirit’s ability to produce new attitudes, motivations, and behaviors in us. Paul calls it fruit. What a great analogy – the Holy Spirit alive in us, growing into a beautiful fruit tree. The Holy Spirit’s fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You don’t have to make an apple tree produce apples. An apple tree produces beautiful luscious apples when watered, nourished, and receiving adequate sunlight. Likewise, you don’t have to manufacture the fruit of the Spirit; instead, you begin reading and meditating on His Holy word and spending time in a relationship with God through confession and prayer. The Holy Spirit will generate the results. Begin today to nourish your spiritual life and let the Holy Spirit produce its fruit.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I desire the fruit of the Holy Spirit to be evident in my life. Help me to read and meditate on Your word. Help me to relate to You in prayer and confession. Help me, Holy Spirit, live the life You want me to. Produce Your fruit in my life, even today. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Love As God Does

TODAY’S VERSE
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
I John 4:7-8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He said to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as yourself. If this wasn’t enough to convince us that love is essential, the Apostle John makes it abundantly clear by giving us a unique piece of theology. He defines God. He says, “God is love!” Not “God wants us to love.” Not “God desires love.” Not “God loves us.” He says, “God is love, and if anyone does not love, he or she does not know God.” Today, let us reset our priorities and love the way our God, who is love, loves.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, You are love. I cannot even imagine what that means. But I do know that You want me to love as You do. So today, dear Lord, help me love others the same way You love me.
AMEN

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Love His Way

TODAY’S VERSE
Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 15:12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There are commands, and then there are commands. Jesus gave us a tall order when He told His disciples to love others the same way He loved us. Jesus’ love was unfathomable. His sacrifice and compassion were His trademarks. It doesn’t take long, and we will find that we cannot do it. We cannot love the way He does without His help. The good news is that just a few sentences later, Jesus looked at His disciples and said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit.” Here in lies our answer. Here is the solution. God chose you and me to be His disciples. He chose us to love others in the same way He loves us. And whom He chooses, He can empower. We don’t love in our strength but in His. Today, in the power of the Holy Spirit, let us love those around us the way Jesus would love them.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, Help me in the power of your Holy Spirit, to love others the way you love.
AMEN

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What Are You Wearing?

TODAY’S VERSE
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12, 14 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What are you wearing? I like Paul’s analogy that our Christian lifestyle is like the clothes we wear. Clothes are what people see, and so are our actions. Paul is saying that because God dearly loves us and chooses us to be His holy people, we should behave in certain ways. Not out of necessity but out of gratitude. Not phony like a mask or pretentious like a Tuxedo, but our actions should reflect our everyday attire. It should be natural for us to wear tenderhearted mercy and kindness. People should see humility, gentleness, and patience when they see us. Most of all, love should be evident to everyone that meets us. The good news is that Paul included all but mercy in his list of the fruit of the spirit. The Holy Spirit, Himself, helps us live this way. So today, make sure when you pick out your outfit to wear, you include tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, help me to make mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love a priority in my life. Help me wear them like I do my clothing. For Your glory and in Your power, I pray.
AMEN

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Real Love

TODAY’S VERSE
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
I Timothy 1:5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
When is love not love? When it is done with the wrong motives, wrong means, and wrong rationale. There have been all sorts of corrupt, devious, and unsanctified behaviors done in the “name” of love. How many have been lured down the wrong path because of promises of love never coming to fruition? How many fights and wars have been in love’s name when it was about power, revenge, or some other motivation? Paul knew that “love” is complex, and when it comes to community, we need to love with pure motives, good behavior, and for the glory of God. We need to let our “love” be His “love.” So today, let us love one another but let’s love with a love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, help me to love others the way You do. Fill me with Your love so I can love with a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.
AMEN

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Real Hope

TODAY’S VERSE
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
Psalms39:7 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where do you put your hope? Hope is that feeling of expectation. It is the anticipation of realizing our aspirations and desires come to fruition. But what makes David’s hope more than wishful thinking is the object of His hope. His hope was in the Lord God Jehovah! Because of who God is, David’s hope was a confident expectation, a firm assurance that God would do what He said He would. He could trust God’s love. He could believe His word. His hope was in God. So today, where can you put your hope? Put it in God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, forgive me for putting my hope in everything else but You. I can’t make it by myself. I need You. Today Lord, I put all my trust in You and Your love for me.
AMEN

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Living For Him

TODAY’S VERSE
We think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thessalonians 1:3 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What do people think about when they consider your life? Is it your skill, behavior, appearance, or accomplishments? Is it your failures, tragedies, or misdeeds? None of that really defines you. You are defined by God and His love for you. Paul confirms this when he continued to write about the Thessalonian church. He wrote, “We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.” God has done the same for you. He loves you, chose you to be His child, and has filled you with the power of the Holy Spirit. It is this that defines you and the outcome of this calling is a life pleasing to Him. So today know that He has called you and will empower you to be faithful in your work for Him. He will help you be loving in all you do and He will fill you with enduring hope.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank You for all You have done for me. Help me live for You and be faithful to You in all that I do. Help me to be loving in all my deeds and to endure in the hope I have in You.
AMEN

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