Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Here's today's black history quote: "The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at." (-Jesse Owens) Enjoy the rest of your day, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about backsliding. We know that it’s God who delivers us from evil, yet it is up to us to follow the paths He's laid before us. There's no mistake, when God frees us from bondage we're free forever, and there is no going back. However, we have freedom to choose right from wrong, and because of the mere fact that we're Christians, the enemy will tempt us more often and more severely than others. Which unfortunately causes a large number of us to backslid. The enemy tests our will power to shake our relationship with God, and to bring us back into his kingdom, but God is always greater. Each day starts a new day in our Faith walk, so it's up to us to keep our relationship fresh and new with God. Study His word daily and communicate with Him often, to stay focused on the true meaning of life. To carry the title "Christian" means that we're representing Christ in everything we do. When we are weak, God makes us strong, but we're also commanded to repent from sin. Each of us was once lost to the ways of the world, and sin was our favorite pastime, and I'm not pointing fingers, I'm speaking from personal experience. There were times when I thought nothing of the sins I committed, or of the fact that I was blatantly disobeying God's word. I was "having fun", experimenting, “finding my way”, or whatever other clever excuse I could come up with, but when God saved me, there was no denying His place in my life. It's written: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. (Eph 5:8-12) There is no mistake as to where you are right now in your life, or the fact that you're reading this message. God calls each of us for a reason, and it's not okay to ignore His calling on your life, nor disregard His commands. It’s wrong to choose Him today, and ignore tomorrow. Growth is a normal part of life and relationships alike, and that goes for our walk with God as well. Paul says it best here: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Cor. 13:11) Just as Moses, another strong man of God, we must choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25). God gives us every opportunity, through Jesus Christ, to do great things in His Name, but sin and a lack of faith are our only hindrances. Make up your mind today, because God doesn't tolerate the back and forth; you're either for Him or against Him, light or dark, there’s no in between. Be very careful to stay on the path, and when you feel that temptation is getting to be too much, pray and ask for strength and it will be given to you. If you find that you’ve backslid, always remember that Jesus said if he had a flock of one hundred sheep, and one was lost, He would leave the ninety-nine to look for that one lost sheep, and all of heaven will rejoice when it's found (Luke 15:4-7). God knows us better than we know ourselves, and forgiveness is offered to anyone who asks, so don't waste any more time in the past. The peace that surpasses all understanding is worth more than a few minutes of temporary pleasure for the flesh. The past is just that, the past, it's over and done with, and there's no going back to relive it. Time travel is only in the movies, so when you fall down, get back up, and keep it moving. Our past hurts and pains were meant for us to learn and grown from, so don’t allow it to keep you in sin. Lust, fornication, adultery, drunkenness, envy, deceit, and lies are all temporary fixes to our problems, but Jesus is the permanent fix for all of Eternity. If you don't know Him as Lord and Savior get to know Him today. He's actively seeking His lost sheep, so the only thing you have to do is accept Him. Once you’re saved there is no turning back. My favorite verse today is: The Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. (Deuteronomy 17:16)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455232&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547

I love you!