Fear and False Guilt

TODAY’S VERSE
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
I john 4:18 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is false guilt and real guilt. False guilt is the guilty feeling over something that we really shouldn’t feel guilty about. False guilt is a major reason while so many live in fear. Fear of abandonment, rejection, failure, so many fears are the result of feeling guilty for something that doesn’t deserve it. For example, you fear trying something new in fear that you may fail. Is that fear or guilt? Well, if the fear came because you think you have to be perfect than you are running from guilt. You have equated guilt with failing. Now, not studying and failing a test is reason for guilt. But studying hard, giving the test a great effort and getting less than an “A” should not produce guilt. Disappointment over the grade, perhaps, but not guilt. That guilty feeling is based on something else. Perhaps it is the fear of letting someone down that is masquerading as false guilt. When it comes to fear based guilt, we need to remember what John wrote. “Perfect love expels all fear.” God’s perfect love also expels false guilt. Today consider how much of what you do is motivated by false guilt. Consider the fears behind the guilt and then bring both to the Cross of Calvary. Let God’s perfect love expel all your fears and false guilt.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me discern between real and false guilt. I need your wisdom. More than wisdom, I need to know Your perfect love. Help me live in that love in all that I say and do. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Overcoming Fear

TODAY’S VERSE
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
We often think of fear as the reaction to scary events, like the screams in a horror movie. But some of our most fearful behavior is often hid from us. Many people who are living daily in fear aren’t even aware of it. In “Surrender To Love” Dr. Benner writes, “One of the things that block us from gaining freedom from fear is that most fearful people don’t think of themselves as afraid. Unless their fears are focused on something external (such as snakes, heights or crowds), most people in bondage to fear fail to recognize the true nature of their inner distress. – Although the object of one’s fears may seem to be external, the real source of the fear is internal. The danger is within. The enemy is one’s own self, or at least some aspect of their self.” This is what Paul was trying to get across. We are so focused on our behavior we don’t see the motivation behind it. Paul called it a “spirit of fear”. It is this internal pervasive fear that controls what we do. It is spiritual and emotional. Satan is a liar and accuser so he fills our head with fear. Our own experience and belief systems do the rest. If we take most of the fear we have, we will see that it is a fear of what others will think or do. But today’s passage says that we do not have to live in that kind of fear. Why? Because God has given us something else. He has given us power, love and a sound mind. What an alternative to anything we would fear. Anything we fear can be defeated either by God’s power, love or the sound mind He has given us. So today, when you are tempted to act out of fear, remember, there are other options. Give the power, love or a sound mind that God has given you a chance.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for not giving me a spirit of fear. Today, I want to live in Your power and love and the sound mind that You have given me.
AMEN

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You’re Valuable

TODAY’S VERSE
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
Matthew 10:28-31 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
We are valuable to God! Why is it that I wrestle with that so much? Why can’t I accept the fact that God’s love defines my value, not my performance, material belongings or status? I have value because God says I do! It is the lack of believing in our value that causes us to create a false self. In “The Deeper Journey”, M. Robert Mulholland Jr. writes, “As our false self manages our life, we fear that we might not be valued. If our false self’s identity is rooted in our performance, then our value must be rooted in how well we perform. – To the extent our false self guides our life, we fear others. Life with others is a constant threat to our false self. – Others are constant threats to that fragile structure we have created to provide ourselves with identity, meaning, value and purpose.” Jesus came to declare how valuable we are. He would not have wasted His life and died the horrible death He did for something of little value. No, He came to redeem the most valuable thing to Him in the whole universe, the human race. Today, know that you are loved by God. Know that you are valued by Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You love me and created me with value. Might the thought that I am valuable to You change my life today and set me free from the fear and bondage of trying to earn Your love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Keep On Keeping On

TODAY’S VERSE
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
I have probably fought with this passage more than any other portion of scripture. How many times have I had to pray over situations that seemed impossible without God’s intervention? Overcoming mental anguish, living in poverty wondering how the bills were going to be paid, facing a near fatal illness of a loved one, rebuilding a failing relationship, seeking direction when I didn’t have a clue what to do. I am sure you can add your own experiences to this list. And so you find your self before God praying. Nothing happens so you pray again and again. After a while you begin to wonder, “God are You there?” That soon turns to, “God do You care?” There is a saying that the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. And that is how you feel. You start to doubt and then God brings you back to this passage. You read with tears in your eyes, “Keep on asking”, “Keep on seeking”, “Keep in knocking”. So you have to make a choice. Is this insanity or is it faith? There is a huge difference. The difference is God. God is in the picture so every time we pray we know that the God who is able to do all that we ask is there. He cares and He hears our prayers. He knows our situation and has not abandoned us. Because we have prayed He is moved. And so we keep on keeping on. We live by faith, we ask by faith and many times we have to wait by faith. But it is faith in the God who is there. The God who knows. The God who cares. So today, let us again hang on to His promise, “Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come to You in faith. I come asking, seeking and knocking. I come in faith believing that everyone who asks, receives, everyone who seeks, finds and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
AMEN

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Friend Of God

TODAY’S VERSE
“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15 (NIV)

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’ —and he was called a friend of God.”
James 2:23 (ESV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
There are many things to aspire to in life. The world holds up honors, riches and fame as worthwhile goals. There are many things that we can do, and many roles that we can become, but there is something very special and unique about being a “friend” of God. This is the only relationship that can fully fill the empty spot in our heart. In his book “Surrender To Love”, Dr. David G. Benner explains our need for unique friendship. He writes, “The deepest ache of the soul is the spiritual longing for connection and belonging. – We seek bridges from our isolation through people, possessions and accomplishments. But none of these are ever quite capable of satisfying the restlessness of the human heart. To be human is to have been designed for intimate relationship with the Divine.” God has made it clear, both in the Old Testament and New Testament, that we can have friendship with Him. It was faith that built the relationship between Abraham and God. It is the life, death and resurrection of Christ that has paved the way for you and I to be friends with our Heavenly Father. Today, listen to the words of Christ and let them sink deep into your heart – “I have called you friend.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I desire to know You more. I long for Your intimacy. I yearn to know Your love deep in my heart. Thank You for loving me, thank You for calling me Your friend.
AMEN

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His Great Power

TODAY’S VERSE
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”
Ephesians 1:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Here is a mystery. How in the world can I have something so great in my possession and totally ignore it? If I was a soldier on a mission I would be conscious that I had powerful weapons at my disposal. If I were a rich man going on a vacation, I would be fully aware of my financial ability. Yet day after day I live my life as if there were no presence of God or any of His power available for my life. How can this be? Is it that I am not conscious that I am in a spiritual battle therefore Christ’s power has no relevance to my life? Is it pride or arrogance that allows me to live as if everything depends on me instead of Christ? I thank God that Paul realized this spiritual cancer and set an example for us to follow. Paul wrote that I must ask God to help me understand the incredible power that He has available for my spiritual journey. It is with this understanding that I begin to ask God to do mighty things. How about you? Are you applying the power of God in your life? If not, start today. Ask God to help you begin to understand the incredible greatness of His power available for your life.
   
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I pray that You would help me trust You and the power you have available for me. I believe in You Lord, but I need help with my unbelief. I really want to experience Your power alive in every aspect of my life. I ask this in the name of Jesus.
AMEN

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Light Up The Darkness

TODAY’S VERSE
“You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.”
Psalms 18:28 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Life can be unpredictable and messy. Everyone of us has drama in our life. We all have a story. We would rather have control over our situation, but so often we are simply left in the dark, wondering what to do. David experienced this. He had his difficulties, but instead of staying in the dark, he turned to God for help. He cried out to God and God became his light. He wrote, “You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.” Today, if things become unclear, if you are bombarded with problems, or if dark clouds start to clutter up your sky, turn to God. He will light your path.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for being a light in my life. Whenever I have been left in the dark Your light has been right there. Thank You for being a lamp for my path showing me where to go. Guide me today I pray.
AMEN

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Can or Can’t

TODAY’S VERSE
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Can or can’t. They are two opposite pathways. They take you to different places. “Can’t” takes you into the territory of doubt, despair and eventually into hopelessness. We can’t, they can’t, soon we are believing that God can’t. Paul knew this. That is why he spent his life encouraging unbelievers to follow Christ and believers to trust Him with their whole life. And what an example he was. He trusted Christ for everything. And everything is what he expected. That is why he proclaimed, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Today, decide to join Paul. Make your motto, “Through Christ I can.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me change my “can’ts” to “cans”. Help me trust in Your strength and not mine. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Don’t Be Weary

TODAY’S VERSE
“O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?”
Psalms 10:1 (NLT)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
Life can get hard. Feelings from inside, forces from outside . . . it can become overwhelming. David knew this and he was honest in his writings. Sure he eventually brings us into a trusting relationship with God, but not until he displays his raw emotion. He challenges his impression of God by asking, “O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” How many times have we been perplexed with our situations and have wanted to say the same thing? And yet somewhere deep in our heart we know that there must be more. The more is in the wait. It is the “be still and know that I am God.” It is the process of renewal. Isaiah writes, “But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” He uses three glorious metaphors: a high soaring eagle, a person running without getting weary and a person on a long difficult walk and not fainting. And how is it we can experience victory even in defeat, peace in turmoil or strength in a long weary journey? The author of Hebrews gives us the answer. He writes, “Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Might today, you experience all the grace of our loving God that you need so you can rise up with the wings of an eagle and not be weary or faint. 

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I need You. I need Your grace. I need Your renewal. Today I come to Your throne and wait on You. Be my strength, help me run and not be weary and walk and not faint. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. AMEN

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The Joy Of His Presence

TODAY’S VERSE
“You have given him the joy of being in your presence.”
Psalms 21:6 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
What a gift. God has actually put the capacity to experience His presence in us. Like an antenna picks up the signal sent to it, God has put His Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to experience Him. But no antenna in the world would pick up a signal, if none were sent. This passage is more about God than us. It is God that sends His presence out to us. It is God that desires our fellowship. It is His grace that causes Him to seek us out. Does that grab you? Let me say it again, the God of the universe not only allows us an audience with Him, He comes to us and seeks us out! And when we respond, we find out what David knew. There is extreme joy being in His presence.  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for seeking me out. Thank You for allowing me to enjoy Your presence. I pray that I may experience the joy of Your presence more and more.
AMEN

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