Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY FRIDAY!



I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying the end of another workweek (for most). I'm doing well, looking forward to the weekend, TGIF! Friday is my favorite day of the week, because it marks the beginning of your weekend. I call it "treat yourself Friday", because I always give myself a special treat, nothing fancy, a movie, or something really good for lunch or dinner (without counting calories or fat), or maybe a new dress (rarely). I'm not sure what it'll be today, but I know it'll be good. I believe that you should treat yourself at least once a week, my day is Friday, but yours doesn't have to be, the main thing is that you enjoy yourself. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 says: I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. I totally agree with this author, life's too short to just work, work, work, and never enjoy you. With that being said, have a wonderful weekend, and whatever you do, keep in mind that Jesus is always with you.



Today's scriptures are about being still. Being still, something that seems so simple, but in today's society, really isn't that simple at all. Yes we're chosen to help strengthen the kingdom of God, and that requires work on our parts, but we have to also allow ourselves to rest. Sometimes we can move so fast, that we get ahead of God, and start messing things up. Patience is a virtue, especially for the children of God, because it's written that He is a God of Patience. The inability to be still normally comes from a sense of unrest in our Spirits. We often busy ourselves with self fulfilling tasks to ether occupy our mind when trying to avoid dealing with stressful situations, or by trying to accomplish a goal that we have set for ourselves. When we receive the Spirit of Christ, we're supposed to follow the laws of the Spirit and not the rules of the flesh. When we start working mostly to fulfill our earthly desires, to please the flesh, our Spirit comes to a point of unrest. We each have to live by the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we lose sight of these things, it's most likely time to be still. Our minds are very similar to computers, but we are not machines, God requires us to take some time out to rest, or reboot and start fresh. It took God six days to create the earth, and on the seventh day He rested. He commands us to take one day out of our week to rest and rejuvenate, because if we're constantly going, we're bound to miss something. This is also why we should meditate daily, because God is constantly working in our lives. He's with us every step of the way, and He often reveals important lessons we need to learn. He gives us vital information we need to complete His will, so if we don't give ourselves time to just be still and process these things, then we just my miss a valuable lesson. Have you ever been mentally and physically exhausted, and just felt like you can't go on another minute? This happens all of us, and God allows these moments in our lives, to bring us back to Him, as a warning sign, because He's trying to get our attention. There is no way that we can effectively listen to Him when our minds are all over the place, thinking about deadlines at work, school, children, which bills are due, getting the car repaired, etc. all at once. At the end of the day, it's important to just sit still, talk to our Heavenly Father, and then listen. When we meditate, we give ourselves time to listen to, and focus on God. I challenge you to try that tonight. It's the end of the week, and most of us we've endured the first week of school, along with work, paying bills, and now it's time to be still. I can promise you that after you cast your cares on the Lord through prayer, and then let your mind rest, you'll feel so much lighter and free. Then repeat these steps every night, because we're commanded to "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God"; so time with Him is the most important time of the day. If you feel like your mind and spirit is in a state of confusion right now, please be still, and give it to God. If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior then most likely your Spirit is in unrest, and a quick, yet heartfelt prayer asking Jesus to be your Savior will open you up to the Fruits of the Spirit, try Him out, and enter into rest. My favorite verse today is: In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)



ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455079&dtype=Scripture

http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197

http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5408289


I love you!