Monday
Defining Yourself
[Jesus speaking]
"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart" (Matthew 12:35 NLT).
What comes from your heart defines you today and for eternity. Think about the direction your life is taking. Is your heart producing good or evil things? Seriously, think about it. Search your heart. As long as you have the breath of life, it's not too late to ask Jesus to change your heart.
Lord, I pray time doesn't run out for those who have not proclaimed you as their Lord and their God. I pray this in the mighty name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Tuesday
His Mighty Word
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable (Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT).
Don't fool yourself, you can't hide your sin from God. He knows all your transgressions.
Sin is easy to define through the filter of God's Holy Word. Defining sin is the first step. Accepting what you are doing is sin and against God's instruction is the next step. After defining and accepting, the next step is repenting from your sin. This is more than being sorry for what you are doing, it means stopping your sin and ungodly behavior. It is then turning from that sin toward following God's ways. The next step is laying that sin at the foot of the Cross, walking away, and not looking back.
Living our lives with the power of Christ in our hearts will then convict us of our bad choices and bring us to repentance when we slip and fall. I thank Jesus every day for His sacrifice that I get second...third...fourth...and more chances.
God's Word is infallible and perfect. His Word cuts straight through into our hearts. Thanks be to God.
Father God, my prayer this morning is we all will spend more time in your mighty Word. May you show us what we need to see and where our failings are by studying your Scripture. Thank you, Father God, for giving us your Living Word so that we might have a closer understanding of you and a better understanding of how to live in this broken world. Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. Without Him, we would never be able to enter your mighty presence. With Jesus, we can accomplish all things you desire, plus enter your presence with praise and thanksgiving. Thank you, Father. It's in the mighty name of your Son, our Savior, we pray. Amen and amen!
Wednesday
Test Your Choice
The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray (Proverbs 12:26 NLT).
We should be cautious about who we follow, who we take advice from, and who we associate with because they might not be who we think they are.
Test all decisions by comparing them with the Word of God. Read His Word. Pray about all of your choices and decisions, even the smallest. Then we must, listen for God's response and follow His path.
I know I've failed at testing many of my decisions with God's Word and by prayer. When I've not followed His Word and prayed diligently about my decisions, it hasn't worked out well for me. I highly recommend going to God in prayer and reading His Word to direct all of your decisions.
Lord God, help us to come to you in all situations. Give us the desire to search your Word for truth and direction. Father, help us to make time for prayer. Help us to silence the busyness and clutter in our lives so we can hear your voice or feel your nudging. Lead us today, Lord, and help us to be willing to follow you and not the vices of this broken world. We pray in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus. Amen.
Thursday
Reservations Made
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So 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 (Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT).
The One who knows each of us intimately walked this earth as a human, just like us. though He was fully God too. His name is Jesus. He was tempted by the same temptations we face but did not sin. We can't make that sinless claim.
Jesus came, lived, and then He died a sacrificial death for us. He was raised from the dead and is our great Redeemer. He has gone on before us to prepare a table (feast) in the presence of God. We are invited to His table.
Have you made your reservations? Do you know Jesus as your Savior?
Lord God, may everyone run and fall down at the feet of Jesus, praising Him for what He endured to save us from ourselves. This fallen world promises us nothing in comparison to what Christ promises us. We should raise our hands high in thanksgiving and praise our Savior. Thank you, Lord! Amen!
Friday
We Are Forgiven!
This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins (1 John 4:10 NLT).
By God's mercy, grace, and love, we are new creatures.
Dear Lord, thank you! Amen
Saturday
Total Love
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NLT).
There is no greater love than this. Today, be reminded that no matter what we are going through or what we are dealing with in this life, God loves us. He will not only lead us through our problems but will carry us in His amazing arms when we can't take another step.
Friends, He loves you. Rejoice in Him, in His holiness, in His righteousness, and in His grace.
Dear Father, thank you for becoming flesh, in the body of Jesus Christ, and dwelling among your people, living a sinless life so there would be a perfect sacrifice for our sin. Thank you, Father God, for raising Jesus from the dead so we too might be raised when our earthly life is over. Father, your love is greater than the human mind can ever understand. I praise your mighty name today! Amen.
Sunday
Tempting Others With Sin
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin" (Luke 17:1-2 NLT).
What are we doing that might cause someone to stumble back into an old sinful dependency? We all sin; that is a fact. We all sin differently; that is a fact. We need to be conscious of our actions around others. Our actions might cause someone to stumble back into old addictive sin.
Thank you, Lord God, for loving us so much that you gave us forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ. Let us relive your mercy today. Amen.
