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Think Right

10/1/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
You have heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” I think in reality, “We are what we think.” Thoughts, whether conscious or on a more hidden level, affect the way we feel, perceive reality, act or react. Thoughts help create our moods, attitudes, and beliefs. Anger, jealousy, pride, envy, sadness, rebellion – these and many other negative emotions or behaviors have their root in the way we think. That is why it is so important to be aware and take responsibility for our thinking. Paul instructs us to consider that our mind is in a spiritual war. Because of that, we are to demolish any rouge thoughts that set itself up against Godly thinking. We are to take our thoughts captive and put it through a Godly filter so it becomes the way He would have us think. Paul admonishes us to dwell on thoughts that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Today you have a choice; you can rule your thoughts or you can let them rule you. Let Jesus be the Lord of your thought life. Let Him help you with the way you think.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I bring you my mind and my sub-conscious mind. Help me bring all my thoughts into the light of Your Holy Spirit. Today, dear Lord, help me dwell on thoughts that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

The Real Deal

9/22/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
Job 42:5

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is so easy to walk in our Christian experience and really believe that we know God. We are like a baseball fanatic. You know the kind. He can tell you everything about a certain player. He can quote their batting average, the number of homers, lifetime RBI’s. He knows where they played college ball, the names of his wife and children. He even has an autographed baseball. Yet, he has never met the player. Never went to his house, never sat with him at dinner or even had a discussion. Everything he knows is from reading or listening to commentators. Now don’t get me wrong, there is passion! Chances are he will fight you if you say something derogatory about the player. There is a passion but it is based on admiration, not friendship. Job came to a place where everything he thought he knew about God seemed empty and vain. And then He met God. Job knew all about God, He “worshipped” God, He even lived the way he thought God wanted him to; but when he saw God, it all changed. Knowing God in a personal and intimate way changes everything. And the beauty is that God created each of us with the ability to know Him. He has equipped us with the Holy Spirit who is to teach us all things and bring us into intimate fellowship with God. But the choice is yours. You can choose to spend time with God and ask Him to reveal Himself to you or you can continue to “know” about Him. Cry out to God today and ask Him to open your eyes like He did Job’s and you will be able to say, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, sometimes I feel so phony inside. I talk about You, I read about You, I pray to You, but I don’t seem to really know You. Today, Lord, help me be conscious of Your presence. Father, speak to me. Help the eyes of my heart to see You. I want to know You in a deep and personal way. Help me Lord I pray. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

First Love

9/1/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. – Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
Revelation 2:2, 4-5

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Remember when you first came to Christ? You were aware of your need. You were humbled by His love, appreciative of His sacrifice for you. You wanted to help everyone else know Him. What happened? How did we allow our intimate relationship with Christ to become a ritual? When did we trade our freedom? When did we forsake our joy? Have we traded our relationship with Christ for a religion? Have we given up grace for rules and regulations? Have we traded the mission of the church for membership in a country club? Paul wrote the church in Colossians, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” He asked them to continue to live in Christ just like they did the first day they tasted of salvation. The first day the Spirit of God was born in their heart, the first time the tears from God’s forgiveness stained their cheeks. John warned the church in Ephesus that even though they worked hard and persevered, they had lost their first love. He admonished them to repent and return to doing the things that they did at first. Oh, that we would never forget the wonder that God loves us. Today, examine your heart. Do you feel far from God? Who moved? Go back to the place you met Christ. Rededicate your heart to Him. Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, take me back to the time I first knew You. Renew the joy in my soul. Reignite the fire that burned in my heart. Help me to remember and to live this day in the fresh awareness of Your love and forgiveness.
In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

God's Path

8/1/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love.
Psalms 25:4-6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Life is a journey. We are not settlers in this world. We are called to go through life as an ambassador of heaven, a sojourner commanded to give away God’s peace and love. And the journey can get messy. That is why it is so important to learn to navigate, to solve problems and to discern what to do next. David is crying out that God would direct his path. He said, “Lead me by your truth and teach me.” This is important. So much of our hardships, misdirection and hurts in this life are due to deception and misinformation. We need to pray that God would show us the truth and teach us through each experience. This is how we derive our faith and hope in Him. We succeed and make progress by learning. David learned to put his hope in God and trusted that God’s compassion and love would not fail. God wants the same for you. Today, may God lead you and point out the road for you to follow. May you learn all about His compassion and unfailing love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I need Your guidance today. Show me what road to follow. Guide me by Your truth and teach me to trust You. I put my hope in You and Your compassionate, unfailing love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

My Needs

7/1/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:32-33

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We can really complicate life, can’t we? There are so many demands on our life. There are so many things that we think we must do we have lost sight of what is really important. Jesus comes along and would say to us, “Stop filling your life with so many other things and let Me fulfill your real need.” You see, Jesus knows what satisfies, and He offers it to all His followers. He said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” The real secret to this life is to live in His Kingdom, instead of our own. We need to live in this world with heaven’s priority. God loves you. Trust Him, live for Him and He promises that He will give you everything you need.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know my name. You know who I am. You also know my needs. Thank You, for Your promise that if I seek Your Kingdom above everything else, You will give me everything I need. So I come to You now, Father, and ask that You would help me live for You. I entrust my needs to You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN

That People Would Know God

6/3/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. I Kings 18:36-37

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Elijah challenged 450 Baal worshippers to a contest. Elijah and the Priests of Baal would put up two altars complete with offerings and whichever, Baal or Jehovah, would call down fire from Heaven onto the sacrifice was the real God. Elijah was confident that it would be Jehovah because he was doing what Jehovah commanded him to do. Today our faith in God is on trial more than ever before. God has given us commands too. Not a command to call fire down from Heaven but to live our Christian life out in front of the world. God’s great compassion must be exhibited through our lives. As we love others, in the name of Christ, they see the love He has for them. How can we do anything else? We who were snatched from our sinfulness, brokenness and alienation from God, how could we not love others and pray for them to know God in the same way we do? Elijah cries out to God in a broken voice and says, “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Do our hearts weep over those that do not know Him? Do we live our life so that others would see our life and recognize the Savior’s influence? Oh that God’s holy fire would fall from the sky today through our acts of love and kindness. Might He receive the Glory and might people turn to Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, like Elijah, I come to the altar of sacrifice. Might You use me today to love, to sacrifice, and care for those in need. Might others see my life today and come to know You, the true and living God. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

God's Pursuing Love

5/1/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.”
Psalms 23:6 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Psalms 23 is perhaps the most popular passage in the Bible. Parts like, “Though I walk through the shadow of death I will fear no evil” are often heard at funerals. At the end of Psalms 23 there is a glorious verse. Usually it reads, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” It sounds so poetic but do we really understand the meaning? Today’s passage says it in a slightly different way, a way that really brings out the true meaning. It reads, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” See the difference? It is not some passive “following”. It is not a result of any good we have done. Instead, it says that God “pursues” us with His unfailing love and goodness. Not just temporarily, but all the days of our lives! He pursues you. If you ignore Him, He pursues, if you take Him for granted, He pursues, even if you turn your back on Him, His unfailing love and goodness pursues you. Today, live in the joy that God is pursuing you with His love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Oh Father, thank You for Your pursuing me with Your unfailing love and goodness. Today, help me live in the joy of that reality.
AMEN

His Love

4/2/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
Romans 8:35 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul asks one of the most heart wrenching questions we can come to grips with. How many times has there been tragedy in our life and we are tempted to say, “Where is God?” Paul addresses this feeling. He asks if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death does it mean God no longer loves us? What I love is his answer. He writes, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” However, he doesn’t stop there, he adds, “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing can separate God’s love from us and yet sad to say, we can live our life day after day and choose to never be conscious of it. Paul, who knew persecution, prison, torture, beatings, poverty and homelessness was able to write of the unfailing love of God that never left him. And yet most of us live in comfort, freedom and good health and we hardly find the time to acknowledge this wonderful gift of God. Today, let us embrace His love. Let’s celebrate His faithfulness to us and the fact that nothing, not even ourselves, can separate us from God’s love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You that nothing, not even my apathy, can separate me from Your love. Today, I pause and thank You for calling me back, for reminding me again, that it is Your love that makes all the difference in the world. Praise You, dear Father, for Your love to me.
AMEN

He Knows My Name

3/25/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Isaiah 49:15-16 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I am deeply moved every time I sing the worship song, “He Knows My Name”. It makes me think of today’s verse. The Israelites doubted the love of God and Isaiah reminded them that even if a mother forgets her own child, He will never forget them. In fact, Isaiah writes that our Lord has written our name on the palms of His hands. God knows my name? I am overwhelmed by the thought. How personal, how loving, how intimate. And yet I can’t help but wonder, “What else does God know about me?” He knows my situation. He knows my struggles. He knows my limitations. My fear and anxiety is no surprise to Him. He knows my anger and frustrations. He knows my weaknesses. He knows and loves me, but do I know Him? Do I? Do I know His name? Do I know Him as the God Most High, the God who sees, the all-sufficient one, the provider and the Lord who heals? Do I know Him as my banner and my peace? Do I know Him as my creator, shepherd and my righteousness? Today, take joy in knowing that the God above all other names knows yours.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for knowing and loving me. Thank You for knowing my name and caring so deeply for me. Help me know and love You more.
AMEN

Doubt And Fear

3/11/2018

TODAY’S VERSE
Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria! This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you. Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the LORD by saying, ‘The LORD will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’’ Isaiah 36:13-15 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you been confronted by doubt and fear? It happens. And it’s not always quiet. Just like the chief of staff in today’s passage, doubt and fear shouts out his message of pending doom. Isn’t that usually how it goes? Our faith whispers, “trust God” and our doubt and fear shouts “Don’t be fooled!” “Don’t be deceived.” These doubts and fears challenges our faith in God’s integrity, power or desire. However, Hezekiah knew what to do. The Bible says, after Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the LORD’s Temple and spread it out before the LORD and prayed. Part of what he prayed was this, “It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But, of course, the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O LORD our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O LORD, are God.” Today, be like Hezekiah and don’t give up. Don’t give in. Instead, quiet your heart, spread out your worries before God and trust in Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You that You are the one true God. Your word is true, Your power is almighty and Your love toward me is boundless. Today, I give you my doubts and fears. Today I recommit myself to You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN