If we live by the Spirit and do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, we are going to be ridiculed by those who don't. If we listen to what the Lord is telling us, we will not be bothered or deterred by the attitude of others toward our faithful walk with the Lord. He will honor our hearts and will take care of those who feel free to mock us.
Heavenly Father, so many times we let what others say keep us from speaking and living your Word. We ask you to forgive us for that and to give us the boldness and peace to live every moment in what we know to be right and just in your eyes. In Jesus' name.
Read Isaiah 51:7
"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults." (NIV)
"Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." (KJV)
©2010
Do we remember the last time we examined the quality of our own integrity? Integrity is our adherence to moral and ethical principles. The Lord has promised that he will support us in our integrity. If our integrity is lacking, the Lord withdraws Himself because He does not dwell where there is immorality and unethical behaviors. Let's examine ourselves to see if we need an integrity tune up.
Heavenly Father, we often fail to recognize when subtle things of this world weaken our integrity. We ask for vision and discernment to see the true condition of our integrity. Then we can be assured that You are supporting us in our daily walk. In Jesus' name.
Read Psalm 41:12
"In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever." (NIV)
"And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever." (KJV)
©2010
So many Christians either don't believe they have been
given a gift from God or they refuse to acknowledge they
have a gift. The fact is, every one of us has been given
a spiritual gift from God. Our gift is not for us to feel
good about ourselves or to use for our own purposes.
We have been entrusted with gifts to serve others and
to glorify the Lord. If we don't know what our gift is,
we can pray that the Lord will reveal it to us and He
will.
Heavenly Father, how we thank you for counting us
worthy to receive your gifts. Help us to recognize the
gifts within us and to use them wisely, with love in
serving others. May you be glorified through the gifts
you have given us as we use these gifts to serve
others. In Jesus' name.
1 Peter 4:10
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received
to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace
in its various forms." (NIV)
"As every man hath received the gift, even so
minister the same one to another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God." (KJV)
©2010
Are we truly and honestly aware of the tragedy of sin?
Do we understand its' effects on our own hearts? Have
we found ourselves humiliated at the fact that we have
offended God? Are we deeply grieved by the sins of
others and the state of the world? If so, then we are
among those who mourn. Be encouraged, we will be
comforted.
Heavenly Father, we pray for spiritual insight to
understand the tragedy of sin and how it has
separated us from you. We thank you and praise
you, Lord, that as we repent and mourn over the
effects of sin on us and our world, you have
provided comfort for us. In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."(NIV)
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (KJV)
©2010
Isn't it interesting that we tend to hide when we have
done something we know is wrong. Adam and Eve hid
in the garden and covered themselves up after
disobeying God. Keeping sin hidden so it won't be
publicly exposed is a very exhausting and stressful way
to live. Don't we all want a clean conscience before the
Lord? If we bring our sin to the light by confessing it to
God, stop doing it, and ask for His forgiveness, we will
have a conscience that is clean. We can then purpose to
continue staying in the light of God and His Word so
that we will see when the enemy is trying to tempt and
trap us.
Heavenly Father, we come with repentant hearts, asking
that you forgive us for the sin in our hearts, those things
we have kept hidden in the dark. We ask that you will
forgive us and make our hearts clean before you. Give
us pure hunger to walk in your light so that we will stay
clean in your sight and we can see your path. Thank
you, Lord, for your light and for giving us the freedom
to live in it. In Jesus' name.
Read John 3:21
"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done
as been done though God." (NIV)
"But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his
deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God." (KJV)
©2010
So often we spend great amounts of time trying to
find out who we are. Perhaps there have been so
many things in our lives that have affected the way
we think and feel. We wonder who we would be if
these things would never have happened. It becomes
a quest to "find ourselves." The Bible tells us not to
do that at all. If we spend precious time trying to find
out who we are, we will always run into a brick wall.
If we really want to know who we are, we will seek
the Lord with our whole heart. He tells us if we seek
Him we will find Him. In finding the Lord, we will
always find ourselves, because we are in Him. We
are children of the Almighty God.
Heavenly Father, we must ask your forgiveness for
striking out on our own quest to find out who we are.
You have clearly told us in your Word that we are to
seek you, so that we will find you. In finding you,
Lord, we will also find who we are. We thank you
and praise you for mighty love, wisdom, and grace.
In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 10:39
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever
loses his life for my sake will find it." (NIV)
"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that
loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (KJV)
©2010
To have a pure heart, we must be free of all our own
personal agendas. We must be filled with God's motives,
attitudes, and plans. Then we will see Him everywhere
we look. It's like all the clouds in the sky going away,
leaving a crisp bright blue sky. Only then does the sun
shine brightly and we see it's rays of light everywhere.
Heavenly Father, we know that You are the only One
who can give us a pure heart. We ask with all our being
that You will make our hearts as pure and holy as Yours.
Help us to guard our hearts so that we will keep them
clean and pleasing in Your sight. We pray this in Jesus'
name.
Read Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
(NIV)
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
(KJV)
©2010
As our great shepherd, the Lord shows us such love
and wonderful gifts, we can't fully know them
until we are in heaven with him. The Lord not only
restores and refreshes our souls as we entrust them
to Him, but He also provides us with the direction
that will lead us right to Him. There we will find perfect
peace, joy, and wisdom for eternity. With the Lord as
our shepherd, we will not be in need of anything.
Heavenly Father, so often we fail to recognize the many
wonderful things you provide for us each day and for
eternity. Help us to always be aware of your great love
and kindness to us so that we can stay on the path You
have laid out for us. In Jesus' name.
Read Psalm 23:3
"He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake." (NIV)
"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake." (KJV)
©2010
To grieve is to cause great sorrow. We are commanded to
not grieve the Holy Spirit. How do we grieve the Holy
Spirit? By resisting His prompting, by hindering His
move in situations in our lives, by ignoring His
direction, we grieve Him. On the other hand, if we let
the Holy Spirit have liberty and control in our lives, our
seal of secure and assured salvation is kept strong and
in tact.
Heavenly Father, have mercy on us and forgive us for
those times when we have grieved Your Holy Spirit.
We realize that we missed out on a great work You
had intended for our lives because we chose to ignore
the Holy Spirit. Help us to always respect the presence
and prompting of the Holy Spirit. We ask this in Jesus'
name.
Read Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom
you were sealed for the day of redemption." (NIV)
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption." (KJV)
©2010
In our times, it is next to impossible to keep ourselves
from getting distracted and veered off in the direction
of worldly ways. Most of the time it all seems innocent
and very trivial so we don't give much thought to what
we are doing. As a result, our Christian walk is not pure,
but tainted with parts and particles of human error.
How can we keep this from happening on our own lives?
The answer lies in making sure we know the Word of
God and in walking in Its' precepts.
Heavenly Father, please forgive us for getting distracted
by this world and allowing impurity to enter our walk
with You. Give us total awareness of Your Word and the
wisdom to walk in its' wise counsel and principles at all
times. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Read Psalm 119:9
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word." (NIV)
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By
taking heed thereto according to thy word." (KJV)
©2010
The root of the tree produces the large and fruitful
branches of the tree that is seen by all, but the root
is unseen. That is how our prayer life should be. The
deeper and more wide spread the root, the more
elegant and fruitful the tree. How can you get your
unseen root of prayer deeper and more widespread?
Do it by not praying from the lips and memory, but
from the soul.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your forgiveness and
mercy that we neglect the prayer life you have
designed and desired for us. Help us to make our
selves less busy and more drawn to come to our
secret place of prayer so that we may know You
more. In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 6:6
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
will reward you." (NIV)
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray
to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
(KJV)
©2010
We are responsible for searching our own hearts and
actions to be sure we are practicing self control.
According to the Word, it is critical to our Christian
walk to have self control. Without it, we are no
different than a city with broken down walls. A city
with broken down walls will be at the mercy of
anything or anyone who wants to take the valuable
things within and will be open for evil and harm to
enter. The Christian who walks in the Spirit and
produces the fruit of self control will have fortified
walls to prevent being destroyed by the enemy.
Read Proverbs 25:28
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man
who lacks self control." (NIV)
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a
city that is broken down, and without walls." (KJV)
©2010
Commitment has almost become a word of the past and
very few people of today truly understand its' meaning.
The term used in older times by the law system defines
commitment as: mittimus - a written order of a court
directing that a person be imprisoned. This is what
committing ourselves to the Lord means. We become
prisoners of His. While this sounds as though we have
no freedom, we are actually set free from the prison
of sin and we are free to serve the Lord. Would we see
living in clean conscience, peace, and joy as something
unpleasantly confining. I think not. As prisoners of the
Lord we are free to say no to sin and we are under the
loving protection and everlasting life of our Lord.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your forgiveness when we
lack trust to fully commit our ways to you. Give us the
assurance and understanding to see that committing
our ways to you will bring us righteousness and the
total love and protection of your heart toward us. In
Jesus' name.
Read Psalm 37: 5,6
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he
will do this: He will make your righteousness shine
like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the
noonday sun." (NIV)
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him;
and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth
thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as
the noonday." (KJV)
©2010
Christ as their personal Saviour, they can merely walk
along in this life and the Lord will do everything else
and if things don't go right, they think God is unhappy
with them or has forgotten them. This is totally opposite
of Biblical truth. It is our responsibility to be on guard
so we can keep victory against the enemy. It is our
responsibility to seek God through prayer, study of the
Word, fellowship with other Christians, and live what
we know to be right in His eyes so that we can grow
in faith and mature in our spirit.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for being lazy Christians
and expecting You to do what You have told us we
are to do ourselves. Help us Lord to do our part so
that we will stand strong and grow in your grace.
In Jesus' name.
Read 2 Peter 3:17,18
"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this,
be on your guard so that you may not be carried away
by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure
position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both
now and forever! Amen." (NIV)
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things
before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error
of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow
in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Amen." (KJV)
©2010
We can look like very virtuous and devoted Christians
on the outside, while on the inside we are full of selfish
things, wrong attitudes, and less than holy intentions.
However, we cannot be virtuous and committed
Christians on the inside, without it radiating out of us
wherever we are. It's rather difficult to tell the chaff
from the wheat. We don't want to be whitewashed
tombs. So we will wash our hearts, along with our
hands.
Heavenly Father, we pray that you would show us our
own hearts and help us to rid our inner selves of any
thing that is not pleasing to you. Let us be clean before
you we ask in Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 5:20
"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you
will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (NIV)
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom
of heaven." (KJV)
©2010
Unfortunately, we live in a world of "pay backs" for
personal insult or injury. A good example of this is
road rage. But, as Christians, if we are committed to
the mind set of God, we will have made preparations
beforehand about how we will respond to evil aimed
at us or those we love. Then when we encounter
personal attacks of evil, we can payback evil with
good and not be overtaken by the evil. To be
overcome by evil is to imitate the evil. But, we
choose to imitate God and overcome evil with good.
Then even the ungodly will have to take notice and
know that we behaved as Godly people.
Heavenly Father, we ask your forgiveness for
those times when we have failed to imitate You
and we have repaid evil for evil. We ask that
you will stir us to put on Your armor before we
encounter evil, so that we will be ready to
respond with good. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Read Romans 12:17
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful
to do what is right in the eyes of everybody."
(NIV)
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide
things honest in the sight of all men." (KJV)
©2010
Being worried and concerned is a normal human condition. If we
will take our anxieties and turn them into prayers, God will hear
our requests. If we turn our prayers into petitions, which is being
more detailed in what it is we need, we will be prepared to
recognize the answer when it comes. Our heavenly Father
already knows what we need. We are the ones that need to be
able see the answer.
Heavenly Father, so often we remain stuck in our worries and
concerns without taking time to just bring them to you. Help us
to pray about those things and to be specific in our needs. Give
us clear spiritual eyes so that we will see the answers when they
come. We thank you for this and ask it all in the name of Jesus.
Philippians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
(NIV)
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God." (KJV)
©2010
How often do we find ourselves struggling to do what we
want and then find a way to make it appear as though it is
God's will. The noise of this world and our busy minds tend
to crowd out the voice of the Spirit of God in us. The hard part
is to stop and listen. If we will just stop, really listen to the
Holy Spirit, and do whatever it is He is leading us to, we will
find that it is the best thing that has ever happened to us.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your forgiveness because we
try to place Your will into our own plans. Help us to shut
out the noise of our own desires and the things of this world
that crowd out the Holy Spirit. Give us Godly ears to hear and
hearts to know where the Spirit is leading us, and the will to
obey. In Jesus' name.
Read Romans 8:5
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their
minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live
in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires." (NIV)
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of
the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things
of the Spirit." (KJV)
©2010
Sometimes we find ourselves asking God for more
maturity, knowledge, and revelation from Him. Then
we wonder why time has gone by and we have not
received more of these things from Him. The reason
is that we have not put into practice those things
He has already given to us. If we will apply and live
in the light He has already given us, we will find
that more light comes in His Time and His way.
Heavenly Father, forgive us for failing to live in the
light You have already given us. Help us to savor
the light we have, so that we will be prepared to
live in the light You are longing to add to what we
have. In Jesus' name.
Read Philippians 3:16
"Only let us live up to what we have already
attained." (NIV)
"Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,
let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same
thing." (KJV)
©2010
The Lord is pleased with those who have a heart like His.
He was pleased with David. How could the Lord choose
someone like David and be pleased with him? David was
a man of bloodshed, he committed adultery, and he did
deceitful things to take advantage of his enemies. If we
are honest with ourselves, there are things in our lives
that would certainly not be pleasing to the Lord. But He
chose David because he recognized his sin and he fully
repented and cried out to the Lord. If we fully repent and
cry out to Him, He will not only forgive us, but He will
consider us as people after His own heart.
Heavenly Father, we pray that your Holy Spirit would
reveal to us our wrong doings so that we can come to
you and repent. Then we thank you that your love is so
great toward us that you would be pleased with us and
consider us as children after your own heart. In
Jesus' name.
Read Acts 13:22
"After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified
concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after
my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" (NIV)
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them
David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony,
and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine
own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.'" (KJV)
©2010
The tender eyes of God perpetually see us. He never
stops noticing. Why, then, do we think at times, that
God has forgotten us, or has left us, or doesn't really
care about us? We find ourselves in circumstances of
life that are quite bad and intolerable. Our thoughts
seem to naturally begin thinking those thoughts. Have
we forgotten that we live in a cursed world and that
Jesus, Himself, told us we would have tribulation in
this world. Have we forgotten that He said He would
never leave us or forsake us? In our tribulation, He is
right there with us, and never taking His eyes off us. If
we find ourselves here, if we stir our faith and fully trust
him with our lives, we will know He sees our need and He
is with us.
Read 2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth
to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed
to Him........." (NIV)
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the
whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward him....." (KJV)
©2010
Starting with the prophecies about His coming, His birth,
childhood, baptism, and temptation in the desert, Jesus
was prepared to do the ministry He came to do - bring
light, life, and the blueprint for living to a lost and dying
world. Now we can carry out our ministry to Him - repent
and follow Him.
Heavenly Father, we praise and worship You for Your
grace, mercy, and faithfulness in completing the work
in Jesus Christ for us to be brought back to You. We
ask that You help us to complete our part as Your
children, to be like Him. In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 4:17,19
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is near.' 'Come, follow me,'
Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" (NIV)
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,
'Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' And
he saith unto them, 'Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men.'" (KJV)
©2010
We have all used Christian lingo. We may even wear our
Christian symbol jewelry faithfully. And isn't it a certainty
we are right with God if we are attending church
regularly? These are just vain forms of religion if our
hearts are not surrendered to God. Failing to do the
outward acts of traditional religion does not make us
impure. But, failing to have a pure and clean heart
before God will make all we do in outward religious
acts worthless in His eyes. In fact, without a pure and
clean heart before God, we are lost. Let's examine
our hearts! God already knows their condition.
Read Matthew 15:8
"Those people honor me with their lips, but their
hearts are far from me. (NIV)
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their
mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but
their heart is far from me." (KJV)
©2010
The enemy can't uproot true Christians, so he deceitfully
plants counterfeit Christians among them. He even goes
so far as to plant counterfeit churches, false righteousness,
and in the last days, a false messiah. Unfortunately, this
evil tactic will result in some of the very elect of God being
deceived and believing lies. In His time, the true and the
counterfeit will be revealed. If we stay alert, keep on the
armor of God, and search our own hearts, we can be
revealed as true Christians, not counterfeits.
Heavenly Father, You have told us that deception would
be rampant in the last days. We earnestly pray that You
will help us to stay alert, keep Your armor on, and search
our hearts so that we may be found as Your true children.
In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 13:24,25
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good
seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his
enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and
went away. (NIV)
"The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed
good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came
and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." (KJV)
©2010
As human beings we all belong to a family. Members of a
family are connected by their bloodline. Each family has
a bloodline that identifies the members belonging to that
family. Each family member has the bloodline in them. Most
of the time others can identify a person as belonging to a
particular family because of the way he looks, his talents, or
his behaviors. As Christians, we belong to the family of God.
All Christians are connected by the Holy Spirit, given by God
at salvation. Others will be able to tell if we belong to the
family of God by our words and behaviors. Do we resemble
our Father?
Read Romans 8:16
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's
children." (NIV)
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are
the children of God." (KJV)
©2010
Sometimes the concept of freedom is tragically
misunderstood. Freedom is not being able to do whatever
we want to do. If everyone practiced this view of freedom,
there would be total chaos. Actually, freedom is being able
to do what we know is the right thing to do. As humans, we
are unable to practice this kind of freedom, but we are
given the ability through the Holy Spirit. We are then free
to say no to sin, temptation, and habits that interfere in our
walk with the Lord. We are no longer imprisoned by the
ways of the world and Satan. We are free to live righteous
and holy lives. Free to become more like Christ.
Heavenly Father, please forgive us for misusing our freedom
to do as we please. Help us to trust You and be receptive to
Your Holy Spirit so that we can be truly free to become more
like Jesus Christ. In His name we pray.
Read 2 Corinthians 3:17
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom." (NIV)
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is liberty." (KJV)
©2010
Many times, we ask forgiveness for our sins,
and then continue to feel guilty or beat
ourselves up for what we have done against
the Lord. We may even have well meaning or
not so well meaning people who stand ready
to remind us of the sins and errors we've made.
Satan would love nothing more than for us to
remain in captivity to our guilt and think about
the things we've done. But, God not only
completely forgives us for our sins, but He also
forgets that they ever happened. He will never
hold them against us. They are gone and
forgotten forever. All because Jesus Christ
already took the punishment of our sins on
Himself, we are totally forgiven, clean, and
righteous before God.
Heavenly Father, we pray for Your help when
we feel the guilt over sins we have committed
and have already confessed and repented of
them. Remind us that You have forgotten our
sins and we have no need to worry or feel
guilty about them anymore. In Jesus' name.
Read Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he who blots out your
transgressions, for my own sake, and
remembers your sins no more." (NIV)
"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and
will not remember thy sins." (KJV)
©2010
Jesus brought up the issue of forgiveness more than once.
It must be very important. It is! Forgiveness is a relationship
matter. Not forgiving others is an indicator that we are not in
right relationship with God. If we are not in right relationship
with God, our prayers will be hindered. Are our prayers
getting through to God? Is there unforgiveness in our hearts?
Go to the Lord to get it settled through Him.
Read Matthew 6:14,15
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
will also Forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(KJV)
©2010
As humans, we have a strong tendency to spend our lives
searching for who we really are - our identity. In the process,
we go from place to place, idea to idea, and follow all sorts
of trends and philosophies just to find ourselves. All these
kinds of attempts are dead end roads. We will never know
who we are by chasing after it ourselves. We will only come
up at the end of our lives still as lost and unidentified as we
were in the beginning. Rather than seek to find ourselves
we can seek God, the One who made us. Hunger to know
Him and Who He is. If we do that, miraculously we find
that we also know who we are. If I want to know who I am
and what my purpose is, I need to seek God. Then I will
know Him and I will find me in Him.
Heavenly Father, please forgive us for trying to find
ourselves by looking in all the wrong places. We
thank you that You have provided the way to find
who we are, by knowing You. What a wonderful God
You are! In Jesus' name.
Read Matthew 16: 25
"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for me will find it." (NIV)
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
it." (KJV)
©2010
In our spiritual immaturity and selfishness, we asked the
Lord to bless us, even though we had not ever stopped to
give Him the time of day. Surprisingly, He gave us what we
asked for, without us realizing He knew what would happen.
When we found ourselves in the most hopeless of
conditions, lost and afraid, we turned toward Him, just
hoping by chance we could just be given the chance to be
the lowest of His servants. When He saw us coming, He ran
to us, put His arms around us, and said, "Welcome home, my
children." How unworthy we are to be His children! How great
and awesome is His love!
Read Luke 15:24
"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost
and is found. So they began to celebrate." (NIV)
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost,
and is found. And they began to be merry." (KJV)
©2010
Infants and young children imitate the faces and gestures
of their parents because, to them, their parents are their
only source of gaining understanding and interaction with
their world. We are to be just like the infants and children
when it comes to our own actions and behaviors. We are
to imitate God, who is our only source of gaining under-
standing and wisdom of eternal spiritual things.
Heavenly Father, we ask that you would help us to always
be imitators of your love, grace, and mercy to others. Give
us the ability to walk this earth as Christ did, who obeyed
you and did what He saw you doing. We ask this in Jesus'
name.
Read Ephesians 5:1
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children."
(NIV)
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." (KJV)
©2010
