The God Kind of Faith

Today’s Scripture “…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God…” (Galatians 2:20, ESV) The God Kind of Faith Faith is all around us. People have faith in so many different things: faith that a friend will be true, faith that your job is taking you on a certain career path, faith that the chair you are sitting on is going to hold you up! Faith is simply believing in something. But there are different kinds, or levels, of faith. We’ve all been given a measure of faith. The question is, what are you doing with it? The God kind of faith will cause you to believe for things when you don’t even know how they’ll happen. It will take you further than you ever dreamed. It probably won’t make sense in your mind, but you have to allow your spirit to rise higher than your thinking. Don’t ever talk yourself out of believing. Don’t focus on all the reasons why not; instead, allow supernatural faith to rise up within you. Meditate on His Word that says you can do all things through Christ, and you are strong in the Lord and the power of His might. As you rise up in faith, He’ll take you places you’ve never dreamed, and you will live the abundant life He has for you! A Prayer for Today “Father, today I humbly open my heart to You. Use me for Your glory and have Your way in my life. I choose to trust You. I choose faith in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Jesus: The Man

Dear Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. You are all-knowing and all-seeing, and all-powerful. I praise you for your magnificence. I also bring a request to you, to help me and every adult and even teenagers be the witnesses that we should be. Little children are watching us. They look up to us. They imitate us. They learn from us.  I pray that all we do and say is honorable, good, true, and pure. I pray that our hearts, minds, eyes, hands, mouths, feet all do things that are pleasing to you and good examples for the children. Thank you for your inspiration and guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man! (John 19:5 NKJV). Jesus is The Man that the Jewish leaders brought to the Roman governor Pilate to be tried. They said Jesus claimed to be God, “He has spoken blasphemy!” (Matt. 26:65). Pilate interrogated Jesus, but found no crime in Him.  Still the Jews cried out for His blood.  So Pilate had Jesus flogged with whips and sticks. The Roman governor wrongly thought that a brutal beating would satisfy the bloodthirsty Jews.  Then Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd exclaiming, “Behold the Man!” By calling Jesus a man, perhaps Pilate thought the Jews would go way when they saw Him brutally beaten. But the crowd cried, “Crucify Him!” What do you cry when you see Jesus The Man? Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins when I see Your sufferings. I cry out for forgiveness and mercy.  You are the Son of God. Jesus is The Man who was tried by a Roman court. Jesus is The Man who died for your sins.  Jesus is The Man interceding for you at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Jesus is The Man who will return from Heaven to judge the world.  Jesus is The Man, who also is God. Jesus, I worship You for Your great divine glory, because I don’t understand why You would become a man to die for me. I bow in human amazement at your greatness. Amen. Go Deeper: John 19:1-6 The Son of God became a Man for us. Tomorrow: The Holy Spirit Brings Unity  365 Ways to Know God © 2004 Elmer L. Towns

Good place for everyone

The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.
– Ralph W. Sockman

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Good place for everyone

There are a lot of other people in this world. You’ll do much better in life when you are good to those people.

There is one of you, and billions of everyone else. The more of those billions who have a positive experience with you, the better.

Being considerate to others is old fashioned. That means it has stood the test of time.

Before you act, before you speak, think of the impact it will have on everyone else. Then make the choice that makes the world where you live a better one.

Take care not to sacrifice the goodwill of others just to grab yourself a momentary advantage or convenience. Live with respect and consideration, even when it is not noticed.

The behavior of each person directly influences the kind of world we all live in. Make it a good place for everyone to be.

— Ralph Marston

The Apple of His Eye

Today’s Scripture “Keep me as the apple of your eye…” (Psalm 17:8, NIV) The Apple of His Eye In this day and age, people are considered to be important for so many different reasons—titles, position, possessions, where you go, what you drive. But God’s value system is very different from the value system of the world. If you’ve ever thought that God has too many other important things on His plate to be concerned with you and your life, know this today—you are God’s number one priority. You are the apple of His eye, the center of His world! There’s nothing you can do to change that. There’s nothing you can do to be more important or less important to Him. God values you because He made you, and your value will never change. Always remember, you are significant. Your life is significant. The things that concern you, concern God. He carefully watches over every detail of your life, and there is nothing too big or too small for His attention! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally. Help me to understand Your love and share it with others. I open my heart to You completely and cast every care on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The Prince of Life

“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways,  King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Rev. 15:3-4NIV). Dear Lamb of God, how much longer until you come again? The Scriptures are being fulfilled as God revealed. This world is in such turmoil that it can’t be long now before you bring it to an end…and all will know that you are who you are. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you, Jesus Christ, are Lord. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for your promises. I pray now for those who still do not know you. As the time draws near, may their eyes be opened and their hearts receptive to the truth, to you and your gift of eternal life. Please guide me, direct my steps and my words, that I may speak wisdom to those who need to hear and be a living example of your grace. For it is in your name I pray, the name above all names, amen.

Jesus: The Prince of Life

And killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses (Acts 3:15 NKJV). Before His death, Jesus was also called The Prince of Life. Because a prince is one who is waiting to ascend the throne, the name Prince of Life was a prediction of His coming resurrection. Because He is Life, death could not keep Him in the grave. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He was given new resurrection life. The predicted Prince of Life becomes the resurrection and life to all who would believe. After the resurrection, Jesus ascended to His throne in Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father. Now, Jesus is more than The Prince of Life; He is the reigning King of Heaven. Today, He wants to enrich your life. Lord Jesus, when You died, my sins were nailed to the cross. When You arose from the dead, I arose with you (Gal. 2:20). Now, let Your resurrection life flow through me. Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe in Him, so they can live forever (1 John 5:12). He gives them abiding life so they can be fruitful in (Jesus) the vine (John 15:1-5). He gives them the power of resurrection life to overcome sin and temptation. He gives them satisfying life so they can enjoy fellowship with Him. He gives them heavenly life so they can worship Him. Will you do that now? Lord Jesus, I thank You for eternal life that I will live forever. I praise You for the power of resurrection life and its victory over sin. Now I worship You for all you are. Go Deeper: Matthew 27:50-28:7 Jesus gives life to you. Tomorrow: Jesus Understands  365 Ways to Know God © 2004 Elmer L. Towns

Proven path

Thoughts mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire are powerful things.
– Napoleon Hill

Before you can see the light, you have to deal with the darkness.
– Dan Millman

Friday, July 24, 2015

Proven path

An action that doesn’t get very good results is still better than no action at all. Being mediocre at doing something is better than being highly skilled at doing nothing.

Your initial effort at solving the problem or reaching the achievement may not work. But that’s no reason to avoid the effort.

Even if you fail, and fail again, you can still reach the success you seek. However, if you let the fear of failure prevent you from taking action, you will never achieve that success.

Do your best. If that’s not good enough, get better.

The way to get better is by doing. Whether the results are what you intended or not, every action makes you stronger, more capable, more experienced and more effective.

Develop your best strategy, take action, learn from it, and do it again. That is the proven path to wherever you wish to go.

— Ralph Marston

Holy Spirit: His Seed

Dear Father God, Thank You for sending Jesus to save me from sin and unrighteousness and thank You for planting the good seed of the Holy Spirit within me, to keep my soul for You, to guide and comfort me, to help me live for You. Thank You for the good things the Holy Spirit has grown in me. Please help me to continue to “put off the old nature,” rejecting temptation and growing in the Spirit to become more like Jesus day by day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God (1 John 3:9 NKJV). The Holy Spirit is the Seed who was planted in your life when you were born again. It was His presence that delivered eternal life to you, as well as a new nature and new desires. Just as a seed planted in the ground will grow and bring forth its fruit, so the Holy Spirit is the Seed planted in your heart who will bring forth the fruit of righteousness and godliness. A seed has all the ingredients of what it will be when fully grown, so the Holy Spirit has everything you need to be completely godly and fully effective as a servant of God. Holy Spirit, I know You were planted in my heart. Thank You for the good things that have grown there. I praise You for new desires and new character. Keep me growing to be like Christ. God’s Seed planted in your heart cannot bring forth bad fruit. The Holy Spirit cannot sin, nor can He tempt you to sin (James 1:13). You were given a new nature that is a divine creation; it cannot sin. Listen to the urges of your new nature and follow it. Do not give in to the desires of your old nature, because it’s the source of your temptation and problems. If you listen to the old nature, it will lead you astray. Listen to the Holy Spirit and He will grow good fruit in your heart. Holy Spirit, I want to be godly; grow the fruits of righteousness in my heart. I reject temptation and the lust of the old nature. Amen. Go Deeper: 1 John 3:1-10 The Holy Spirit is a Seed who grows good things in you. Tomorrow: Jesus Gives You Life  365 Ways to Know God © 2004 Elmer L. Towns

Different in a good way

The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.
– Madeleine L’Engle

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Different in a good way

Would you like to get a leg up on life? Then be reliable in an unreliable world.

Be truthful in a world in which dishonesty is all too easy and all too common. Be authentic in a world that is weary of people pretending to be something they’re not.

Be persistent and consistent. Be compassionate, friendly, helpful, and full of pleasant surprises.

In situations where tempers are flaring, be patient. Amid the noise and confusion and distractions, stay focused.

Though you may look foolish, you can be optimistic and then act on those optimistic expectations. Even when it may seem that no one cares, you can be positively purposeful.

Be different in a good way, and the world will take note. Live true to your highest values, and spread richness throughout life.

— Ralph Marston

Jesus: Prince and Savior

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desire” (2 Peter 1:3–4 NIV). Father God, Your very Word tells me that you have given me divine power to live this life as You want me to; to escape evil desires and to experience godly living. Please help me to draw strength from Your power and to practice moral discipline. Help me to work at knowing You better, developing perseverance, doing Your will, and loving others. And may You get the glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31 NKJV). After being released from prison, Peter told the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the Prince of Salvation and the Savior of Israel. Peter understood his audience—the Jewish leaders—who were still looking for Messiah. They had rejected Jesus. So Peter called Jesus a Prince. A prince is one scheduled to be king, but he is not yet ruling on the throne. That’s a true picture of Jesus, He is not yet ruling on the throne of Israel. When Jesus returns to earth in power and glory, He will be called King of Kings, and He will rule on David’s throne. When Jesus first came to earth, He offered a kingdom of inward peace and inner righteousness. Jesus knew the way to influence nations was to rule the hearts of individuals. Is Jesus your King? Jesus, You are my King and You rule my heart. I know one day You will rule the outward affairs of all people. Savior is the second title used by Peter to describe Jesus. By calling Jesus Savior, Peter was pointing the Jewish leaders back to the accomplishments of the Cross. In His death, Jesus became the Savior of the world (John 4:42). So in this quick description of Jesus, Peter gives the Jewish leaders a backward and a forward look. In the past, Jesus is Savior; in the future Jesus the Prince will become the King of Israel. Jesus, I praise You for past salvation, and I worship You as the coming King of All Kings. Amen. Go Deeper: Zechariah 14:1-9 Jesus is the Savior and coming King. Tomorrow: The Holy Spirit has the Power to Transform You  365 Ways to Know God © 2004 Elmer L. Towns

The Great Exchange

Today’s Scripture “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV) The Great Exchange If you’ve accepted Jesus today, you are the righteousness of God! That means you are an extension of His virtue. You are approved by Him. You are in right standing with Him. Jesus not only paid the punishment for your sins, He actually became sin. He took sin upon Himself and into His being so that you could take God’s righteousness upon yourself and into your being. It’s the great exchange. Don’t let sin hold you back any longer. Don’t let the enemy lie to you and make you feel guilty and condemned. First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If there is anything in your life that is holding you back today, confess it to God. Let Him cleanse you and make you new. Remember, He paid a great price so that you could be His righteousness. Receive it by faith and be a reflection of Him! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for cleansing me and making me new. Thank You for making me Your righteousness. Show me if there is anything in my heart that is displeasing to You. I choose to honor You with my whole being all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”