Joy in His Presence
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Posted:Dec 10, 2007 6:52 am
Last Updated:Dec 10, 2007 9:29 am 20062 Views
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“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).
Do you need more joy in your life today? God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you! That joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him for what He’s done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you are in His presence where there is fullness of joy. It doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night. And know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for an endless supply of joy. Today, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory, and honor You deserve. Let joy flow through me today so that I can be a witness of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Living the abundant Life
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Posted:Dec 9, 2007 4:51 am
Last Updated:May 12, 2024 11:31 am 20275 Views
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God desires that you be so blessed that you can turn around and be a blessing everywhere you go! He wants you to have so much peace, so much joy, so much victory that when other people get around you it spills over onto them! In the book of Psalms, David said, “My cup runs over.” He was overflowing with the anointing–the tangible, effective power of God. Too many people today have a barely-get-by-mentality. They settle for thoughts like, “I can barely pay my bills…I have an okay job… I have an okay marriage.” But Jesus came so we can live an abundant life! That means an abundance of joy, an abundance of peace, an abundance of health, an abundance of finances. You may not see it right now, and maybe you haven’t experienced it in the past, but don’t get complacent and just settle for where you are. Get a vision for your future! Get a vision for increase! Get a vision for Abundance! Psalm 35:27 says, “Let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His .’” God delights to see you prosperous and successful. When you choose to think God’s thoughts and choose God’s way, you’ll see that increase and victory in every area of your life. Now is the time to move forward and live the abundant life God has planned for you!
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You Are God's Masterpiece
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Posted:Dec 8, 2007 3:12 am
Last Updated:May 12, 2024 11:31 am 20353 Views
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Ephesians 2:10 says that “We are God’s masterpiece.” That means you are not average. You are not ordinary. You are one of a kind. When God created you He went to great lengths to make you exactly the way He wanted. You didn’t just happen to get your personality. You didn’t just accidentally get your nose, your skin color, your gifts or abilities. God designed you the way you are on purpose, for a purpose.
The Apostle Paul said, “We should be to the praise of God’s glory.” In this passage, he’s not talking about giving God praise with our words, although that is important. He’s encouraging us to make our lives a living praise to Him! When you understand your value, and not only who you are but Whose you are, then your very existence will give God praise. When you are secure in who God made you, and you go out each day being your best, your life will give God praise. In other words, driving to work you’re giving God praise. Mowing the lawn you’re giving God praise. Going to the grocery store you’re giving God praise. Walking through the mall you’re giving God praise!
Honor God today by accepting who you are. Make the decision to be the best you can be. Get up every morning and set your mind in the right direction by making positive affirmations over your life: “I’m the apple of God’s eye. I’m His masterpiece. His fingerprints are all over me.”
If you will learn to accept and approve yourself and have a right opinion about who you are then you’re going to rise higher. God is going to pour out His blessings and you will live that life of victory that God has in store!
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He Promises Peace
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Posted:Dec 7, 2007 4:34 am
Last Updated:May 12, 2024 11:31 am 20321 Views
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“I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to His people.” Psalm 34:1485:8
No matter what is going on in your life right now, the Lord promises that you can have peace. Notice in this verse that the psalmist is making the decision to listen to what God says. When you make the decision to listen to God, and follow His direction, you will have peace. You may be thinking to yourself, “God doesn’t speak to me.” But the Bible says that you are His sheep, and you can hear His voice, and the voice of a stranger you will not follow. The Lord speaks in many ways–sometimes through a friend, or a song, or in the beauty of nature. Sometimes it’s a simple “knowing” deep down in the inside of you. If you aren’t sure how God speaks to you, ask Him to teach you. All you have to do is open your heart and be willing to hear His voice. As you open your heart to Him, He will speak to your heart, and you will live in peace all the days of your life.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of peace. I open my heart to You and ask You to teach me to hear Your voice clearly. I give You all that I am today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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THE PRINCE OF PEACE
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Posted:Dec 6, 2007 2:49 am
Last Updated:Dec 6, 2007 1:34 pm 20220 Views
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“…and His name shall be called…the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Aren’t you glad Jesus is our Prince of Peace? He rules our hearts with peace. He gives us peace that passes understanding–which means we can have peace when it doesn’t make sense. We can have peace in the midst of the storm. We can have peace in the midnight hour. We can have peace when gas prices go up and the housing market goes down. We can have constant peace because we are connected to the true source of peace! Do you need more peace in your life? Call on the Prince of Peace. Give Him your burdens and cares. The Bible says that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. When we are working and living the way God intends–full of peace and joy–we are carrying His “light” burden. We are working with His “easy” yoke. Don’t carry the worries and stresses of this life! Call on the Prince of Peace, and He’ll take you places that you’ve never dreamed. His peace will open doors for you that No one can shut! Walk in His peace, and you will walk in the life of victory the Lord has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for peace that guides and protects me. I choose Your Word today which says that I can walk and live in Your peace. Thank You for being the Prince of Peace in my life today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Esteem One Another
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Posted:Dec 5, 2007 1:02 am
Last Updated:May 12, 2024 11:31 am 20142 Views
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“And walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…” Ephesians 5:2
We don’t often hear the world esteem used very much in our culture, but the Bible tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One definition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another. And you may not always agree with everyone around you. They may not always act honorably, but we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of God. If you had a very costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn’t just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. When we see others as valuable, the way God sees them; we should treat them carefully as well. We should watch how we talk to other people. We should look for the good in others and honor them for who God made them to be. The Bible tells us that the way we treat others is like sowing seeds, and it will come back to you. Choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds, and you will see a harvest of blessing in your own life in return!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose love. I choose to honor the people around me. Help me to see the value in others the way You see the value in me. Help my actions and words to esteem and delight in others so that I can be an example of Your love and light. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Receive Grace
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Posted:Dec 4, 2007 3:28 am
Last Updated:Dec 4, 2007 4:05 pm 18415 Views
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“It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations” Romans 1:5
Do you want to see more of God’s favor in your life? Receive His grace. Grace is God’s favor, but it’s also His supernatural empowerment. When you have God’s grace and favor, it enables you to accomplish more and to be more effective both in your own life and in building the kingdom of God. This verse says that God’s grace enables us to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples among all nations. Maybe you can’t go to all nations today, but you can make a difference in the lives of the people around you. You can “promote faith” by living a life of love. God wants to empower you with His Grace so that you can show love and encourage the people in your life–your coworkers, your family, your friends. Receive His grace today by simply opening your heart and thanking Him for it. Thank Him for His grace that empowers you. Thank Him for a gift of faith in your life, which works by love. As you receive His Grace today, you will feel His empowerment and walk forward in the favor and blessing He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your promise of grace in my life. Thank You for unmerited favor and empowering me through Your Word. I receive Your grace right now and invite Your love to flow through me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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PURSUE YOUR STRENGTHS
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Posted:Dec 3, 2007 2:10 am
Last Updated:May 12, 2024 11:31 am 15018 Views
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“Do not neglect your gift…” (I Timothy 4:14).
God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to you to not only to identify those gifts, but to be disciplined to develop those gifts. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses and as the scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve your weaknesses. Don’t waste valuable days pursuing things that are outside your main gifting. Focus on your strengths. There is something that you’re good at naturally–something you can do that comes easy to you. Step out into your area of gifting. Are you good with people? Are you good with your hands? Do you have a great voice? Find ways to develop those gifts. Know that your gifts and talents are a part of your divine destiny. If you’ll be comfortable with who God made you to be, and thank Him for your unique gifting, you’ll not only enjoy your life more, but you’ll be ready to receive the abundant blessing God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be successful in this life. I ask that You show me how to develop the gifts within me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Guard Your Heart
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Posted:Nov 30, 2007 3:52 am
Last Updated:Dec 1, 2007 4:56 am 13961 Views
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“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23
Just like a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your thinking and words, which ultimately determines the direction of your life. Your eyes, ears, and mouth are all gateways to your heart. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not. You can guard your heart by filtering what you watch and listen to. If you don’t want to be like the people you see on TV, you shouldn’t watch that program. If you don’t want to act like the people in the songs you hear, you shouldn’t listen to them. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against bitterness and bad attitudes. When those negative emotions sink into your heart, they will keep you from moving forward. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means your words show where your heart is. Take inventory today of what you are saying, watching, and listening to. Make sure that you are glorifying the Lord with your every action. As you guard your heart and mind, the wellspring of life within in you will flow freely, and you will live in the abundance the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I submit my mind and heart to You. I choose to guard my heart and ask that You guide and direct my everyday choices. Purify me by Your spirit so that life will flow from me in every area. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
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Forgive Others
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Posted:Nov 29, 2007 2:19 am
Last Updated:Nov 30, 2007 3:52 am 12439 Views
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And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted, (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another (readily and freely) as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32
As followers of Christ, our character should mirror His character. We should be helpful to one another, kind and tender toward one another, understanding and loving. Most of all, we should be extending forgiveness to one another in the same way that Christ extends forgiveness toward us. In other words, forgive unconditionally. Many times, people won’t forgive until the other person says they are sorry. Or, they won’t forgive because they think somehow they are punishing the other person or giving them what they deserve. But the only person that is hurt by your unforgiveness is you. When you hold unforgiveness, you can’t be forgiven by God, and you are the one locked up in the hurt and pain. Don’t hold unforgiveness any longer! Forgiveness simply begins with a choice to obey God’s command. When you open your heart to forgiveness, you open your heart to God’s healing and restoration in your life. Make the choice today to forgive others–readily and freely–as God in Christ forgave you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for shaping my character and making me more like You. I invite You to work in every area of my life. I choose to forgive just as You have forgiven me. I bless Your holy name today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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