Unconditional Love

TODAY’S VERSE
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love”
John 15:9 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I have had Christians chide me for my passion over the unconditional love of God. What about the Holiness of God, the part of God that hates sin? And yes, I understand that God is Holy and that He doesn’t have to love us at all – but He does. He chooses to. He sees my sin and then He sees the sacrifice of His son. Jesus Himself said it, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” How much does the Holy Father love His only begotten? Can we fathom it? And Jesus makes only one request. That we understand it? That we rationalize it? That we argue over it? No, He asks us to remain in His love. Like myself, Brennan Manning taught for years about the love of God without personally understanding its depths. Manning speaks of his own awakening in his book, Abba’s Child. He writes, “Unwittingly I had projected onto God my feelings about myself. I felt safe with Him only when I saw myself as noble, generous, and loving, without scars, fears, or tears. Perfect! But on that day in Colorado I came out of hiding. Jesus removed the shroud of perfectionist performance and now, forgiven and free, I ran home. For I knew someone was there for me. — I finally felt all the words I have written and spoken about stubborn, unrelenting love. That morning I understood that the words are but straw compared to the reality. I leaped from simply being the teacher of God’s love to becoming Abba’s delight.” Today, you too can leap from reading to reality. Quick trying to earn His love and accept the unconditional love He has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, dear Father. How long have I felt unworthy of your affection? How long have I strived trying to win Your approval?  But today I quit. Today I quit trying to earn Your love. Today I surrender. I surrender to Your word and accept the love that You freely have for me. Thank you Father for Your unconditional love.  AMEN

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The Desires Of Your Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:4

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The song, “Looking for love in all the wrong places” could easily be changed today to, “Looking for desire in all the wrong places.” We look to fulfill the desires of our heart through worldly pleasures only to come up empty handed. In his book “Desire” John Eldredge writes about pleasure as a false God, an idol. He writes, “Wal-Mart is open twenty-four hours a day now, with a dozen restaurants nearby. Next door, a multiplex theater with thirty seven screens. Or stay home – we have more than a hundred channels on the TV. Then there are computer games and the internet. We’ve discovered gourmet coffee, gourmet jelly beans and popcorn. We’ve nearly perfected our little pleasures. But they are all imposters—every one. We are so taken by the dizzying array of choices, we never have to stop and take a good look at what we are doing.” He then brings up an interesting point. “Pleasure isn’t nearly so much about satisfying our desires as it is about anesthetizing ourselves. Think about the relief your pleasures provide: Is your desire truly and deeply satisfied, or does the relief come more through the temporary absence of desire?”  You see, God knows the desires of your heart. He knows what you are lacking and He has promised that if you delight yourself in Him and His ways, He would give you the desires of your heart. No worldly pleasure can do that. Today delight yourself in God.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, only You can really satisfy the desires I have deep in my heart. Only You know me intimately and have a plan for my life. Forgive me for having idols of pleasure. I renounce them and have decided to delight myself in you. Thank You that You will give me the desires of my heart.
AMEN

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Where Are You Walking?

TODAY’S VERSE
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” — “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:1-2, 10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Not all walking is the same. There is the stroll down the beach on a beautiful sunny day. Is there anything better than hearing the waves slap the shore, the sounds of birds above and feeling the warm sun on your face? How about a hike down a mountain path? Beautiful horizons, breathtaking waterfalls and exotic foliage as you walk back to the valley below. But then there is the walk from the car into the hospital after you have received news of a loved one who has been admitted. Or the terrifying walk into a court room as you face a legal battle. Or how about a walk looking for somewhere warm to sleep when you are homeless, living out in the streets. Not all walks are the same. Paul is writing about the contrast in two different types of walk. In this context the word walk means the way of life we choose to live. The first walk Paul talks about is a death walk. Walking through each day spiritually dead because of our own disobedience and sins, obeying the devil the commander of this world. The second walk Paul talks about is the walk of purpose and meaning. Paul writes that this is living as if we really believed we are the personal workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works. This is walking through life with a meaning, a purpose and a mission greater than ourself. Where are you walking? You do have a choice. You don’t have to go down the walk of death. Today, choose life. Choose to follow Christ and walk with Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me walk with You. You know the times I have wandered down dead-end streets and alleys and ended up spiritually bankrupt. Thank You for sharing with me that I ‘m Your personal workmanship and that You have created me for doing good. Help me walk today in the kind of life You created me for. I choose to follow You.
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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Strength Of Our Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”
Psalms 73:26

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Asaph, the author of this Psalm, was a bitter man. He was envious of the wealthy and upset at his own demise. He was consumed at what he thought was unfair about life. But then he came to his senses. He writes, “Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant”. How many times have we been the same way? But let me ask you. “Who says life is fair?” “Where in the Bible does it say everything in life is going to be grand?” “Where does it say that we will be spared from pain and heartache?” Asaph awoke with the realization of what really mattered. He wrote, “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.” Asaph realized what was the most important thing in life. He said it all in today’s passage, “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” It is the strength of the heart that comes from knowing God that matters. That is why Paul said, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” Our circumstances may crumble, our bodies fail, our enthusiasm all but gone and yet God will never, never, never leave our heart. The strength of our heart from His abiding presence will remain with us forever. Rejoice, His love and presence is with you forever!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me to truly understand what it is to have You as the strength of my heart. Help me treasure Your relationship above all else. Thank You for loving me and being my strength forever.
AMEN

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Come

TODAY’S VERSE
“Come, follow me,’ Jesus said”
Matthew 4:19

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”
John 7:37

“Come, for everything is now ready.”
Luke 14:17

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Come is one of the most beautiful words in the Bible. It is an offer to participate in something. An invitation to move in a certain direction. It is only as good as the person requesting you to come and the object which you are moving toward. Today God offers so much for you to partake of. He offers you the ultimate relationship with Himself and all that goes with it. What is it your soul desires? Come. What is it that you find missing in your life? Come. Are you weary? Come and find rest. Are you poor in Spirit? Come, take your inheritance. Is your heart thirsty? Come. Do you desire peace, joy, forgiveness, strength, hope and love? Come. Today, hear the voice of the Lord. He is calling out to you. All you need to do is come.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know my needs. You know my desires. You love me, and today I hear Your voice say, “Come”. So I come to You dear Lord with open arms and heart. I come to You in humility and anticipation to receive all that You have for me. In Jesus name.
AMEN

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He Is With You

TODAY’S VERSE
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Joshua 1:5

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;”
Isaiah 43:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is easy to get overwhelmed with life’s struggles. We begin to worry and lose our focus. We become overwhelmed and reach out in inappropriate ways to relief the stress we have built up in our mind. Anxiety and worry is like that. Even though the majority of what we worry about will never happen we obsess on the negative and soon are out of control with fear. But God has a better way. Isaiah tells us to “fear not” because God has redeemed us and summoned us by name. We do not need to fear because God offers us a deep personal relationship with Him. He promises us that when we “pass through the water” He will be with us. Likewise God told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So today when we start to worry, when we start to feel things are out of control remember that God has not left you. He has not forsaken you. When you feel the pressures of the day build up stress and you are tempted to give up, remember He knows you by name, you are His. He has promised that when you go through difficulties, He will be with you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me not to fear. Help me not to worry. Instead help me to remember that You will never leave me or forsake me. Thank You that You know me by name and that no matter what I go through today, You will be with me.
AMEN

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Forgive Yourself

TODAY’S VERSE
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” — “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”
Romans 7:24-25, 8:1

TODAY’S THOUGHT
No condemnation. That was something hard for me to understand. For whatever reason, I wrestled with God’s love and acceptance. It was easier to condemn myself then to feel forgiven. Just recently I was leading a group in a “forgiveness” exercise. As we were making a list of those who have offended us, I mentioned that one person we may need to forgive is ourself. During the meditation time I reflected on things that I had regretted. Things I had done or not done. Things I had sought forgiveness for from those I offended. There I sat, still feeling a sense of guilt and shame. But in that moment, the Holy Spirit prompted me to “forgive myself”. With deep conviction I told God how sorry I was for each offense and then began the process of “forgiving myself”. One by one, I decided to take myself off the hook, to let go of the guilt and shame and accept the forgiveness, not that I deserved, but that is offered freely to those in Christ Jesus. How about you? Are there things that you need to forgive yourself for? Things that you have long since asked forgiveness for, but still plague you? Today let yourself off the hook. Forgive yourself the way Christ does. “There is now no condemnation”. Christ believes that about you. Will you?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for Your amazing love, mercy and grace. I thank You that there is no condemnation to those that know You as Savior. 
I thank You for the forgiveness that You have extended to me. Help me to extend the same forgiveness to myself. In Jesus Name’.
AMEN

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He Gives Us Strength

TODAY’S VERSE
“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:29-31

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We live in a stressful world. Physical labor is tiring, but what really weakens me is the stress of everyday living. Have you ever felt that way? You come home and your energy is gone? You are not sure which way is up? You seem overwhelmed and start to fear and doubt? Stress can drop you to your knees. Financial, emotional, relational and physical stress weakens your body, soul and spirit. The good news is that God has given you everything you need to renew yourself and keep going. Isaiah says that God gives power and strength. You will find this when you trust in the Lord. When you put your life into His hand, He is more than able to give you all the strength you will need. When you trust in Him, He will renew your strength. God promises that you will be able to run and yet not get weary. You will walk and not faint. God is faithful, loving and all powerful, He will give you strength.    

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how weary I can get. You know how hard it is to keep going. I cry out to You today and ask You to give me all the strength I need to combat the stress I experience. Give me all the power I need to overcome the obstacles I face. Please give me all the faith I need to trust You with the details of my life. Thank You, Lord for Your wonderful provision.
AMEN

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Waiting Quietly

TODAY’S VERSE
“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. – O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.”
Psalms 62:1,8

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How do you wait? I have to admit, I do not always wait with patience. I do not always wait with faith. Often, when I have to wait, anger, worry, and fear often are my companions. Not far behind are murmuring and complaining waiting to have their say. Why is that? Why is waiting so hard? It is because I forget who I am waiting on. I act as if I am waiting on a younger sibling. Worse, I behave as if God did not even exist. David was different. He said that he waited quietly before God. Why? Because, if David was going to be victorious, he knew it would be because of God. God was his rock, salvation, fortress and refuge. David knew the peace that came from trusting God and he implores us to do the same. He says, “Trust in God at all times. Pour out our heart to Him.” What a difference this will make. As we pour out our concerns, worries, fears, doubts, all that is on our heart to God, He will reassure us. He will guide us. He will give us the peace we need. Today when the pressure is on, when you are under the gun and you have to wait, try waiting quietly on God. He will be your rock, He will give you the victory.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for my impatience. Forgive me to leaving You out of my life. Help me to remember that You love me and care about the details of my life. Today help me, as I wait patiently on You.
AMEN

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