Joy and Quiet

TODAY’S VERSE
I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.
Psalms 131:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever seen the behavior of a mother and infant? They go through a rhythm of joy and quiet. The mother is happy to be with the baby, and the baby is joyful in return. Laughter and a lot of love are exchanged. Next, the baby will quiet itself and want to rest. Rest is especially true after nursing. The joyful bond between the mother and child is followed by quiet. A deep, serene trust is built. This is the way God prepares us for life. He knows that, in this world, we need joy and quiet. David knew this, too. David purposely stilled himself to a place of quietness where he could enjoy and be nourished by the fellowship of God. He knew that peace, hope, courage, and strength came from His love bond with His Heavenly Father. This loving bond resulted from times of joy and quiet in God’s presence. We need to do the same. God offers us peace that passes all understanding. He gives rest to those He loves. He asks us to be still so we can know that He is God. Today, put aside some time and quiet yourself before God. Be at peace, resting in His love for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You today and desire a sacred time of quietness before You. I need Your peace. I need to be assured of Your love. I desire to experience Your quiet presence. As I come before You, like a child resting in their mother’s love, I ask You to please quiet my heart and fill me with your joy, love, and peace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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The Father’s Love

TODAY’S VERSE
His Father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”
Luke 15: 31-32 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Someone thought they would help Jesus and called this story “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Now true, it is about a son leaving home, but it would be more appropriate to call it “The Parable of the Loving Father.” The story is about a father who had two sons, one irresponsible and one responsible, when it came to the matters of the farm. It would have been easy to disown the son who left and enjoy the pleasure of the son who stayed behind. But that isn’t how love works. In his book, “Surrender To Love,” Dr. David Benner gives excellent insight into the Father’s love. He writes, “The Father’s love reflects the Father’s character, not the children’s behavior. My behavior – whether responsible or irresponsible – is beside the point. Responsible behavior does not increase the Father’s love, nor does irresponsible behavior decrease it.” The prodigal son returns home, and the Father is beside himself with pure unadulterated joy. This wasn’t a time for rebuke. It was not the time to test the son’s sincerity. The son’s behavior and consequences could be dealt with later. It was time to lavish love on his lost son. But the other brother did not understand. The saddest part of the story is that the son who stayed home had every opportunity to bask in his Father’s love. But he took the Father’s love for granted. Both boys missed their Father’s love. One returned home to receive it. The other had it all the while and ignored it. Which are you? Are you far from God’s love today? Return to him. Or have you taken His love for granted? If so, draw close to the love that God the Father has for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for Your love for me. Forgive me for the times I take Your love for granted. Forgive me for the times I have taken advantage of Your love and rebelled. Help me today live in the knowledge that You love me unconditionally.
AMEN

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The High And Lofty One

TODAY’S VERSE
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”
Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love the poeticness of today’s passage. God the “high and lofty one, who lives in eternity.” What a fitting description. He is the Holy One! How worthy He is of our worship and praise. And yet, in the same passage, we hear Him say that He can live in the high and holy place with those who are not holy. It is not perfection that He is looking for. It is not holiness. He knows how far those are from our human condition. But there is one thing within our grasp. One thing that each of us can aspire to. We can be contrite, humble, and repent. God’s love, through the sacrifice of Jesus, a love we cannot even begin to fathom, allows Him to “restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Today, you can come into the very presence of the High and Lofty one who lives in eternity. Bring your crushed spirit. Bring your failing heart. But with them, bring humility and repentance, and He will restore your soul.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear High and Lofty One. Dear Holy Father. How I thank You that You are God. That in Your majestic love, You have allowed me to humble myself and know You. How I repent from my sin. How I bow with a contrite heart. How I accept the gift of Christ’s death on the Cross for me. You are the Holy One and how I praise You for Your love. Revive my heart with joy, I pray.
AMEN

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BHAG For Your New Year!

TODAY’S VERSE
With God’s help we will do mighty things.
Psalms 103:13 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In his book, “Good To Great,” Jim Collins introduced us to BHAG. This stood for “Big Hairy Audacious Goals.” Companies that went from being good to being great had larger-than-life goals. Stretch goals that shape a company into driving economic success. Thousands of years earlier, David spread the same philosophy among his countrymen. God is the God of the impossible, and we do Him no service by thinking small. When Jesus, who lived a life full of miracles and wonders, was about to leave this earth, said that He had to leave so The Holy Spirit could replace him. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would guide us and lead us, and then He made this incredible promise, “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. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” Today, examine your heart. What have you asked God to do? What BHAG could God have for your church, your company, your family, or your life in this new year? Join David and believe, “with God’s help we will do mighty things.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Almighty God, it’s not about me. It’s not about my fame or what I can accomplish. It is about Your glory, Your will, and all the healing needed in this world. I ask for big, audacious goals for Your kingdom in this coming new year! What is it You would have me do? Guide me, Lord, and help me join You in Your mighty works. I pray this, Jesus, in Your name.
AMEN

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Accepted And Forgiven

TODAY’S VERSE
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness.
Psalms 130:3-4 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We sin. We know it. But do we gloat? Do we take it lightly? God forbid. Can you imagine if God recorded all we have done wrong? Worst, if he punished us accordingly? The Psalmist was correct to say, “Who could ever survive?” But when we repent and confess, God’s grace forgives and accepts us as His loving child. Today’s verse reminds me of one of my favorite prayers. It is by Neil Anderson in his book, “Bondage Breaker” section, “Steps To Freedom In Christ.” Let me paraphrase it. He writes, “I reject the devil’s lies that I am not clean or in any way unacceptable to You as a result of my past sin. Lord, thank You for cleansing and forgiving me and loving and accepting me just as I am. Therefore, I choose now to accept myself as clean in your eyes. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I do reject the devil’s lies that I am not forgiven or that I am in any way unacceptable to You as a result of my past sin. I thank you that I am cleansed and forgiven. I praise You because You love and accept me just the way I am. I choose now, dear Lord, to accept myself as totally clean, acceptable, and forgiven in your sight. In Jesus name, I pray.
Amen

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He Lives

TODAY’S VERSE
The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
Psalms 18:46 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What an excellent proclamation. What a felt reality. I can hear David proclaiming, “The Lord Lives!” And why not? He had spent His whole life trusting God. He trusted God when a bear and wild animals attacked him as a shepherd. He trusted God when he slew Goliath. He trusted God when being pursued by Saul. God delivered from them all, so he starts this Psalm by saying, “I love you, Lord!” He then gives the reason for his exuberance. He writes, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” His proclamation was similar to Peter’s revelation when Jesus asked Peter, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter answered Jesus, saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our God is alive. Christ rose from the dead. Let it stir your soul! A famous hymn says it best, “I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today. I know that He is risen no matter what man may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He’s always near. He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” Today, rejoice that the Lord lives!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, how I praise You for Your resurrection. How I praise You that You are alive in my life. Thank You that I can put all my trust in You. I love You, my Lord and my Savior.
AMEN

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Remember God’s Grace

TODAY’S VERSE
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.
Galatians 2:21 (NLT)

TODAY’S PRAYER
It is easy to take life for granted. How often do we wake up in the morning and go through our day complaining, moaning, and bitter over life, forgetting all the good things that we have? How about people? How many times do we treat those who love us as if they were nothing special? We start to take advantage of their faithfulness and love for us. How often do we do this with God? We do precisely what Paul said that we should not do. We treat the grace and love of God as if they were meaningless. We live as if God didn’t exist. Paul knew too well that with our humanness, our bent toward rebellion, that sooner or later we would forget. And so he made a conscious effort not to treat the grace of God with disrespect. Paul fought spiritual pride and his bent toward entitlement. He did this by being purposeful in the way he lived. We can do the same. The best way to be faithful to your wife is to be purposeful in loving her. Likewise, we will refrain from treating God’s grace disrespectfully by being intentional in our relationship with Him. Today remember. Remember all that God has done for you. Remember His grace, faithfulness, forgiveness, and unconditional love toward you. Worship Him, praise Him, surrender your will to His control. Dedicate this day and all your days to His service. Humble yourself before Him and remember who you are without Him. May we join Paul and never treat the grace of God as meaningless.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, how You have lavished Your grace on me. How You have forgiven all my sin. How You have rescued me over and over again. Forgive me for forgetting. Forgive me for my disrespect and for taking You for granted. Today, I come and worship You and praise You for Your grace toward me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Stop and Praise Him

TODAY’S VERSE
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
Psalms 103:1-5

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I don’t know which is more incredible, God’s faithfulness or man’s forgetfulness!” It is so easy to forget all that God has done for us. We get so preoccupied. Our lives get so crazy that we can go whole days, weeks, perhaps months without thanking God for His presence and provision. But today is a new day! Today, we can say with David, “Let all that I am PRAISE THE LORD!” Today, we can thank Him with our whole hearts. Right now, we can lift our eyes to heaven and shout, “Thank You, God, for all Your blessings!” He forgives our sins. He crowns us with love and tender mercies! He fills our lives with good things. Stop and spend a moment thanking Him for all He is, and has done for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, I praise You today with my whole heart. Everything that is in me says, “Praise You, God!” I thank You for Your tender mercy. I thank You for Your love and provision. I thank You for forgiving all my sins. Forgive me for forgetting so easily. Truly, Father, You are worthy of all my praise. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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God Will Rescue You

TODAY’S VERSE
We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.
II Corinthians 1:8-10

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes life gets so hard. You wonder how you will make it. And then you come to a passage of scripture like today’s and become encouraged deep down in your soul. Paul was overwhelmed beyond his ability to endure, but through it, he learned not to rely on himself but on God, who is so powerful that He can raise the dead! As a result, Paul put all his confidence in God, who he knew would rescue him again. What about you? Is there something that is wearing you down? Do you, or someone you love, need rescuing? If so, come to God today. Bring your situation to Him, who is faithful. Place your confidence in Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that I can come to You with my deepest sorrow, gravest situation, and greatest fears. I thank You that I can put my confidence in the fact that You will hear my prayers and rescue me. I commit myself to You today and will rely on You to provide all my needs. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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This Day

TODAY’S VERSE
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalms 118:24, 29

TODAY’S THOUGHT
In most cases, there is always a choice. Even if there is no other way out of a situation, you still can choose how you react to the certainty of the event. Paul writes in Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Here we have a whole range of Godly reactions to our situation. When you add faith, hope, and prayer to that list, how else can we react than what the Psalmist suggests, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it?” I know how hard life can be. I know there are difficulties, horrific situations, and sometimes a seemingly hopeless situation, but God has made this day. This day. What you do with it may have human limitations, may have the deck stacked against it, but know this, nothing, nothing, nothing can take you out of the love God has for you, and you can rejoice and be glad in that.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I know I have a choice. Today I choose You. This is a day You have made; with Your strength, I will rejoice and be glad in it. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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