Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. --- Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. — Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)
Little baby on the hay,
soon there’ll be another day
when nails shall pierce
Your hands and feet
as You provide our sin’s defeat.
Risen Jesus on the throne,
we lift our praise to You alone-
for You’re the gift that we receive
the moment that our hearts believe.
– Roy Lessin
Thank God for this gift, His gift. No language can praise it enough!
2 Corinthians 9:15 The Message
God is using you for His special purpose.
To Shine His light.
To Share His love.
To Shape His People.
You are making a difference in ways you don’t even realize. And you’re very much appreciated.
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
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Source: DaySpring Devotions via email
Sometimes life is hard to understand. We face challenges and obstacles that were never in our plans. Yet we can trust nothing is a surprise to God.
He’s there to walk with us each step, hold our hands, and guide us to all the good He has for our lives. His love will be with us wherever we go.
Asking God to show you His love in amazing new ways today.
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Source: DaySpring E-mail Subscriptions
This is another inspiring daily devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley of InTouch Ministries.
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First, we need to have compassion for others. This sounds obvious, but the sad truth is that we are often consumed with our own problems and don’t make time to care about others, much less pray for them. As we seek to identify with the suffering of others as best as we can, God gives us the ability to pray fervently for His deliverance in their lives.
Second, we must be willing to listen. This is one of the most affirming, comforting, and healing things you can do for others. Instead of trying to fix problems by offering advice or sharing your own experience, try to express God’s love and compassion. Listen patiently to people’s stories. Then, go to the Lord together in prayer, and ask Him to speak directly into their specific situations. Just remember: unless you have permission, never share with others—even in the form of a prayer request—what hurting individuals tell you.
Third, we should have clean hearts. That means we must be born-again, committed to Jesus Christ, and living a lifestyle of obedience. We don’t have to be perfect, but the overall patterns of our lives should be that of seeking to do God’s will. We can’t harbor willful, deliberate rebellion against the Lord and expect Him to use us in the lives of others.
Fourth, we need to pray in faith. James 5:15 says, “The prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.” While this verse is speaking specifically about the prayer of church leaders, the principle holds true for all believers. It’s true that we don’t always see complete healing this side of heaven, but we need to pray confidently, knowing that God not only can heal but that He desires to do so. If you struggle with this, use a concordance to discover what the Scripture says on this subject. As you fill your mind with biblical truth, your faith will grow. Seeing God answer prayer also builds our confidence, so keep interceding for those in need.
Fifth, we must trust the Lord with the outcome. Sometimes we don’t pray boldly because we are afraid that if God doesn’t act, it will appear to be a failure on our part. But our job as believers is to take a hurting person’s needs to the Lord. He will choose whether to answer their cries for deliverance or see them through it by His grace.
Source: http://www.intouch.org/you/article-archive/content/topic/how_to_pray_for_others_article
Just want to share this article from Brian Hardin (www.biblegateway.com)
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So what’s supposed to happen if we read the Bible every day? What can we really expect?
I can say with all honesty that everything will change—but it may not be the way that you’d think. Change will happen from the inside out, not the outside in. If you’re looking for a genie in a bottle, you will be disappointed. The Bible isn’t a magic book of ancient wisdom; it’s a book about life and about God’s love for you.
In John 15 Jesus uses the metaphor that he is the vine and we are the branches. He breaks it down in simple terms by telling us that life is not going to work apart from him. If we remain in him, he will remain in us, and that connection will bring life. There is no possibility of true life outside of this connection, for without him we can do nothing.
A branch gets its nourishment from the vine or trunk. Our spiritual nourishment comes from Scripture, which provides the context for a dynamic relationship with God. This isn’t just religious jargon thrown in for encouragement. Our relationship with God is informed by Scripture, and according to Jesus this relationship is what gives us life itself.
We are all seeking life. It’s built into our DNA. Every commercial offers it and every romance novel, every magazine article, and every toy we buy promises to give it to us. Sometimes we settle for counterfeits such as materialism, an addiction, or any other obsession; but in the end, everything fails to give us what we want. The entire book of Ecclesiastes is a study on the meaninglessness of life without God, written from the perspective of a man who had seen and done it all. King Solomon had over a thousand of the world’s most beautiful women waiting for his call. He had riches and honor that brought dignitaries from far and wide just to observe it; his wisdom and cunning were feared and revered. From an earthly perspective, his exploits are still referred to thousands of years later. Yet, in the end, he found it to be meaningless. All of his pleasures and pursuits did not bring life. What Solomon sought—and what we all seek—is authentic life. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Full and abundant life, Jesus says, is the very reason he came. This life cannot be found in earthly pursuits alone. King Solomon, the wisest man ever known, demonstrates this. Jesus, God in flesh, demonstrates this.
When we expect external things to bring us peace and happiness, we live our lives backward— outside in rather than inside out. Living from the inside out correctly orients us to the vine, the life force of God within us. From this place of connectedness we experience the abundance we crave. And when we have an insatiable desire for more of God, we are truly living an authentic life.
Just as our bodies need a balanced diet, our souls require a steady diet of Scripture. Our spirits cannot survive without the Word of God. God sets us a banquet. He offers us 31,173 nutrient-rich verses about himself and encourages us to feast! We nourish our hungry souls when we devote a balanced and generous amount of time to feasting on the truths of Scripture. It doesn’t take long to notice the change. The Bible is life-giving—it revives every famished heart and breathes resurrection power into deathbed souls.
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Original Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/08/the-benefits-and-blessings-of-reading-scripture/