Devotion: Thursday August 28, 08 August 28, 2008

Higher Ways

Today’s Scripture

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

Sometimes it’s easy to get focused on what’s happening in the world around us. We see things on the news or hear something about the economy, and we dwell on those thoughts. Before long, those thoughts start to drag us down. But when we choose to think higher thoughts, the way God thinks, and when we choose to meditate on God’s Word, His higher thoughts will draw us to a higher level of living.

You can live above the stress and pressure of the world because He has promised to give us perfect peace when we keep our minds focused on Him. You can live above financial worries because God has promised that when we follow His Word, He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. You can live above fear and dread because God has promised that His perfect love will drive out all fear. Choose God’s higher thoughts today and allow His ways to become Your ways. Open your heart and allow Him to direct your every step. As you do, you will rise higher and higher, and you’ll live the life of victory He has in store for you. 

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. Fill me with Your higher thoughts which will lead me in Your higher ways. Help me to look beyond my circumstances to the good things You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Devotion: Live like a Champion August 28, 2008

You Are God’s Masterpiece

 

God longs for us to be like a well watered garden, flourishing, full of joy, always in blossom. Yet many times, due to situations that are happening in our lives, we don’t necessarily feel like we are in full blossom, rather we feel like we’re in a dry spell.

When this happens, instead of giving up and accepting your present circumstance as your lot in life, decide to praise God more than you ever have. In the Bible, the psalmist said, “I will keep on hoping for You to help me. I will praise You more and more.” When we decide to give God praise, something powerful and supernatural happens. Peace, joy and divine favor begin to rain down over our lives.

By praising God at all times, what happens in the natural with rain, will be the same spiritually over your lives; a cloud can only hold so much condensation, so many vapors, before it releases. In the same way, when you keep sending up praise, you keep singing, “God is good all the time,” that cloud can only hold so much before the blessings come bursting back down. When you stay full of praise, God’s blessing will begin raining down, making sure that you are always in blossom; causing you to bloom where you’re currently planted, even if you’re in a dry spell!

Devotion Thursday August 21, 08 August 21, 2008

Fulfilling the Law of Christ

Today’s Scripture
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 NIV).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria
It pleases God when we live in peace and unity; when we love and serve others and put their needs above our own. The bible says we are fulfilling the law of Christ when we carry each other’s burdens, when we pray for them and when we are supportive in their time of need. There are many ways to reach out to people and help carry their burdens. Just by giving an encouraging word or smile, you can help lighten the load for someone. When you pray and intercede for others in their day of difficulty, you are helping carry their burdens. Maybe there are other ways to help the people around you. Maybe you can pay for someone’s groceries, or give someone cash at the gas pump. Anytime you help others and reach out to them, it’s as if you are directly lending a hand to God.

Remember, in God’s kingdom what you sow, you shall reap. When you help others, God promises to repay you. He’ll make sure that people reach out to you in your time of need as well so that you can live in victory and blessing all the days of your life. 
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I want to fulfill Your law of love by serving and helping others. Show me how to be a blessing to the people around me so that I can help carry their burdens. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

Devotion August 20, 08 August 20, 2008

Experience His Love

Today’s Scripture
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38 KJV).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria
God loves you so much today. He wants you to know and experience His love. When you experience something, it becomes real to you. You “own” it, so to speak. For example, if you’ve never eaten chocolate, someone else can describe it to you. They can tell you all about the taste and texture, but until you take a bite of it, it won’t really mean anything.

In the same way, you can hear all about God’s love and how wonderful He is, but it’s not until you experience it first hand and allow His love to sink down into your heart, that something happens on the inside of you. His love changes you. It builds confidence and strength in you. It empowers you to overcome temptation and to stand strong no matter what difficulty you may be facing. When you open your heart and receive His love, you will be fully persuaded that nothing can separate you from Him!
 
A Prayer for Today
Father in Heaven, I open my heart to You today. Fill me with Your love so that I can know You more. I surrender every area of my life to You and ask You to fulfill Your purpose in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.