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Hope in Him

4/2/2021

TODAY’S VERSE
From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. – I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. Psalms 130:1,2,5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where would we be without hope and faith? And yet faith and hope by themselves are not enough. We can have faith and hope in the wrong thing. But the Psalmist knew who he believed in. He knew the character and power of God, so when he was in his deepest despair, he would cry out to Him. He could count on God to hear him. He writes to Israel, “O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love.” It was God’s unfailing love that kept him going. It got him up in the morning and allowed him to put one foot in front of the other, even when he did not know where he was going. In his depths of despair, God’s love sustained him. Today, bring your needs to God. Call on Him for help. Count on Him to come through. Today, put your faith and hope in Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I come and put my trust in You. I am counting on You, Lord, and Your unfailing love to sustain me. I have put my hope in You.
AMEN

Wait on the Lord

3/8/2021

TODAY’S VERSE
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalms 27:14 (NIV)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is hard to delay gratification. We want what we want when we want it. We have yearned so long. So, what do we do when it seems that God is silent and we can’t wait? David knew. He wrote, “Be strong and take heart.” Take heart is to be courageous emotionally and mentally. David is calling on us to be strong and brave and use all the patience and strength we have to persevere. Then he calls upon us to “take heart.” When everything in us is screaming for action, crying for resolution, and we have the accelerator pushed to the floor, we need to stop, take a deep breath and calm ourselves. We need to refocus on what is true and reconnect with God. It is in that moment, we take heart and allow God to help us regulate our emotions back to peace and joy. Today we have choices. He is here! Choose to be strong, wait for the Lord; and take heart.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You that You know my situation. You know my needs. Help me gain strength from this and to take heart. Teach me to wait on You and trust You to provide for me in ways that only You can. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

Never Give Up

2/9/2021

TODAY’S VERSE
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever had your back against the wall? There was a period in my life when I thought I would never get out of the horrible situation I was in. Emotionally, I was a mess. Financially, it was much worst. We had lost everything, and I could not find a job that paid what I needed. I had a wife and three boys, and it was everything I could do to put one foot in front of the other. But then there was God. I prayed while I waited for a way out. I would cry in despair when there was no answer and then pray again. How often, over the years it took to dig out, did I read today’s passage? Every time I did, I would pray and fight the feeling of giving up over and over again. I read where Jesus said, “Knock and keep knocking, ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking.” So I would pray some more. As life went on, some days better than others, there was one thing I knew. God had not forsaken me. His love was sufficient even in the worst of times. God never promised me wealth, a sublime life, but He did promise He would never leave me. I kept thinking of His life, walking from town to town, nowhere to lay His head, all the way to the cross. And He did it so I could pray to Him. He did it for you, too. I know many who are reading this are going through horrible struggles, perplexed and hurt. Today know this. Jesus was purposeful in what He said. He wanted us to know this one thing, pray and never give up.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, it is so hard sometimes. I just want to give up, but You said to pray and never give up. So, Lord, I will get up, I will show up, I will pray up, and I will never give up. Help me make it so. In Your name, dear Lord.
AMEN

Splendor of His Holiness

1/13/2021

TODAY’S VERSE
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Psalms 29:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So often, we are taught to “Fear” the Lord. He is Holy and to be deeply revered. But there is another side of His Holiness that bids us come close. There is a Splendor to His presence. Something about His power, majesty, and might that is greater than awesome: it has a magnificence beyond our imagination. It is a splendor that can take us beyond our comprehension. We worship, and with our soul, we can see His beauty, the radiance of His love for us, the warmth of His presence, and soon the absolute splendor of being with Him. Oh, today, linger longer, wait for it. Open the eyes of your heart and be amazed!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, how marvelous You are. Help me to worship You in the splendor of Your holiness. Because of Jesus.
AMEN

LIVING LOVE

12/3/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul starts Romans 12 by telling us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Then he shares how we can do it. We serve God sacrificially by loving one another. It is the Christian trademark. It is the distinguishing call of Jesus to all His disciples. If we follow Jesus, then we must be devoted to one another in brotherly love. This is a love that puts others above ourselves. It is this form of community that the world is looking for. It is this kind of love that completes us as human beings. This unconditional love that we offer each other allows us to mature into the type of people God has called us to be. Praise God that you have been called into this wonderful fraternity called His church. Bless God that you can be part of a fellowship where you love each other dearly, putting the needs of each other above your own. Today follow Jesus, devoting yourself to loving others.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for Your love for me. Thank You that You have called me to the same kind of love. Help me devote myself to others around me. Help me honor others above myself. Help me love like You do.
AMEN

JOY!!!

11/6/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. – I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
John 15:9-12 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We were born for joy! So often we think joy is the result of our circumstances. If we behave, if we are lucky, if everything works out right, there will be joy. But joy goes much deeper than that. Events and circumstances can make us happy or sad, but can they give us true long-lasting joy? The kind of joy that isn’t dependent on what we do? No. But Jesus can. Listen to the words that He says to you, “I have loved you like my Father loves me.” And that love was from the time He chose to create you—unconditional, irrevocable, love from God Himself. Today, let the thought of God’s love poured out for you on the cross of Calvary bring wonder. Let the image of almighty God looking at you with pleasure, love, and acceptance warm your heart. Hear the words of Jesus, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy!” Today, let His joy overflow in your heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, overflow my heart with Your joy. The joy that comes from knowing that You love me. From believing that there is nothing, I could ever do to earn or lose your love. You love me because You choose to. It is finished, and I am left with deep, deep joy.
AMEN

A Fruitful Life

10/29/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We live so much of life as if it all depended on us. We must achieve. We must make people happy. You know, “If it’s going to be, then it’s up to me!” mentality. Now, I believe in personal responsibility and accountability, but we need to realize that we cannot live the kind of life Christ wants us to without Him. He is the one that came to give us a full life. It is “with” Him. We need to add faith to whatever we do by bringing God into the picture. We do this by changing “me” to a “we.” It is “Christ in me” that makes all the difference in the world. Jesus said that He came to give us a life that is to the full. He didn’t come to make us busy, or famous, or rich, or any other obsession that we may have. He came to give us the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is what He wants our life to be built on. This is the life He desires for us. Today, let’s quit striving and start living. Come to Jesus and let Him fill you with His Holy Spirit. Ask Him to produce the “fruit of the Spirit” in your life.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I ask that You would produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life. Help me live for You in Your strength and Your power.
AMEN

He is Alive!!

10/18/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
Revelation 1:18 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
“He’s Alive!” Those two words can make all the difference in the world. So many people talk about a God of their choice. They say that we should be in touch with an energy, a force, or one with the universe. But the God of the Scriptures is so much more than that. We serve an entity. A true living God, not of our choice, but one that chooses us. A God who is there and is active in His creation. A God who united with us through His son Jesus. Jesus came as a baby lived among us, and then died to be a sacrifice for us. He took the penalty for our sins so we could be right with God. And then, as a result of His very Deity, Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive! What does that do for you? What reality does that speak into your life? Our God is real, and He is alive. He is all-knowing and all-powerful. And most of all, God is vitally interested in your life! Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, today, you can invite Him to be your God, and you can give Him complete control of everything that you are. When you do, He will not only be alive, He will be alive in your heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, I thank You that You are alive. I need to know that You are alive in me. Forgive me of all my sins. I accept the death of Jesus Christ as the payment for all my wrongdoing and ask You to become alive in my heart. Make me a Christian right now. I pray this in the name of Jesus.
AMEN

Worship Him

10/9/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”’
Revelation 4:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What is it about God’s Holiness that moves me so much? Holiness, I can’t comprehend it. I try to put my mind around it, but it is too vast. When I sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” the fact that this Holy God allows me to adore Him and worship Him is humbling and very moving. It is mind-boggling to be in His presence and sing about the very thing that would generally separate me from Him. His majesty, His power, His might, His Holiness; who am I that He would allow me to sing His praise? And yet He desires my praise. And He desires yours! He rejoices in our worship. He invites us to say with all of Heaven, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Today, worship Him. He is Holy. He is worthy of all our praise.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, how I adore You. How I worship You. Thank You for Your Holiness, majesty, and power. Thank You for Your grace and love. Indeed, You are worthy of all my praise.
AMEN

No Burden

9/2/2020

TODAY’S VERSE
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love this passage. The Lord bids us come and rest. How different is that? It is the complete opposite of striving. You know, striving to “earn” God’s love, or worst, “keep it” as if God is some fickle tyrant. Nothing could be farther from the heart of God. Jesus knew we would be weary and carry heavy burdens. It is part of living in this world. But He never meant that living for God would be the cause of the burden. No, He said if we would take His teachings and live them, we would find rest for our soul. In “Desiring God’s Will” Dr. David Benner writes, “Hearing the invitation, everything within me wants to draw near and receive the gift of love that Jesus represents – not out of obligation but out of a soul-aching desire. And each time I do, my heart is slowly but progressively more aligned with the heart of God – God’s desires becoming my desires and God’s will becoming my will.” So today, quit trying to earn His love. You already have it. Don’t strive to please Him so He won’t abandon You; he will never leave you. Today, rest in His love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for not believing You. Forgive me for making a mockery out of Your unconditional love for me. Thank You that your love for me is real, I don’t have to earn it, it is not a burden. Help me rest in your love today.
AMEN