Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about working with the Lord to stay away from evil. The bible teaches us that God will deliver us from evil; all we have to do is ask. However, we must be open to Him, in order to honestly be delivered from evil. One of today’s scriptures says: The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matt. 26:41) We’re taught that Jesus offers us freedom, but what exactly are we being freed from? We’re being freed from the penalties and bondage of sin. The flesh is a major part of that bondage, and before we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we’re a slave to it–our every waking moment is spent trying to please the flesh. There are plenty of Christians who are still slaves to their flesh–it’s like the gate has been opened to allow them to roam free, but they stay in the cage.

I think the Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Gal. 5:16 NIV) So you see if we allow the Spirit to lead us, then we’ll be able to easily overcome the temptations of the flesh. However, if we’re trying to keep up with what’s hip and happening, and do what the world does, we’ll fall short every time, because “worldly” people, live by the flesh. If we’re seeking pleasure all the time, then we’ll allow the flesh to lead.

Jesus once said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) What do you think He meant when He said “let him deny himself”? If we want to follow Christ, we can’t very well give into our flesh, it’s a conflict of interest, or an oxymoron (we can’t have a “Holy flesh”). Jesus said we must turn away from our “flesh pleasing” way of life, take up our cross and follow Him. See when Jesus took up His cross, He was going to Calvary to give up His life for us. So we must take up our cross, and be prepared to give up our “worldly” life for Him. It’s not a death sentence for us, but it’s actually a life sentence. When we make a commitment to follow the Lord, and focus on what He has for us, then we’ll go on to live in victory. Jesus is the better choice, because pleasing the flesh often leaves us hung over and empty. However, denying ourselves and following Him, gives us fulfillment, peace, joy, and happiness, all the days of our life. Hallelujah!

If we want God’s best in our life, then we must allow Him to deliver us from evil. Some of us pray that every day in the Lord’s Prayer, but we don’t know how to surrender to Him. We must understand that being a Christian is not just a title, but it’s a way of life. We must be aware of His presence and seek His guidance with each step. It’s very important to surround ourselves with positivity, and the Word of God, so we can stay in touch with Him. We can’t expect to grow in our Spirit, and never pray, read the bible, listen to gospel music, or watch any TV or online ministries. These are ways to ensure that we’re always feeding our Spirit. You better believe that when we’re listening to secular music, or watching something raunchy on TV, we’re feeding our flesh, and those desires become stronger, and more attractive. The law “you reap what you sow” applies to everything.

I’m a strong advocate in the fact that life is what you make it–you get out of it, exactly what you put into it. Jesus never promised to wave a magic wand and make it all better, but He challenged us to take up our cross and follow Him. Being delivered from evil has to be something that we really want, and following Jesus frees us from evil’s reign over our life. We cannot serve man and God; it just doesn’t work that way. If you’re a Christian, but truly feel like you’re a slave to the flesh, then you haven’t taken up your cross yet. Start by learning who Jesus was as a man, and who He is as our Lord and Savior. If you don’t know Jesus as Lord, then you’ll need to start by inviting Him into your life. Once you do that, you can pray and ask God for deliverance, in Jesus’ Name, and He’ll give you freedom. For more information, please take a few minutes to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verses today are: Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30-7-9)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY

Today's scriptures are about separating ourselves from the evil ways of the world. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we're making a covenant with God, confessing our desire to become like Christ. In order to do that, there are certain ways we must conduct ourselves, and its noted, by Jesus Himself, that it's hard to do without the correct surroundings. Our minds absorb everything it comes in contact with, so if we continuously surround ourselves with evil, we'll eventually conform to its ways. It doesn't matter how strong you are in your faith, how much you go to church, or read the bible. Most people justify their sins with this quote, "nobody's perfect, Jesus was the only perfect man". Although that is a fact, it doesn't give us the license to go out and do whatever we want to do, and then beg God to help us out of our mess later. God wants us to seek Him everyday, and in all things, and if we're doing that, then we have no time to "not be perfect". We have good intentions, but the fact is, the flesh is weak, and won’t keep us from sinning, because it wants just that. Let's look at the story of King Solomon. His father King David was one of God's most beloved children. He made some mistakes in his life, but he always stayed true to God. He sought Him in everything, and was always honest about his weaknesses. David loved his son Solomon very much, and before he died he said to him: "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel." (1 King 2: 2-4 NIV) Notice some of the key things David pointed out to his young son. David had already experienced hardship and punishments, but he endured because of his love for God. He was basically telling his son to be a man of integrity, and most importantly, to try his best and do right by God. At the beginning, Solomon took his dad's advice, and God blessed him to be the wisest Kings of all of Israel. Then we get down to chapter 11, oh boy. It's written: King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women… (1 King 11:1) Now let's stop right there. God told Solomon to stay away from these women, because they worshipped false gods. He warned him that if he were to get involved with them, they would surely turn his heart away from Him. It's written: ...He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. (1 King 11:2-4) Why do you think, if Solomon was the wisest King to have ever reigned, he got so caught up in such a way? The answer is because he trusted the strength of himself, over the commandments of the Lord. I'm sure he thought to himself, "I can handle this, or I'm the King I can have whoever I want". Who knows what he was thinking, but obviously he wasn't wise enough to avoid falling into the trap of the enemy, because he chose to surround himself with the evils of the world. God had mercy on Solomon because of his father David, but He was truly hurt and disappointed. What I personally take from King Solomon is how to know my limits. I understand that my life has to change, and I must be very conscious of the things and people I surround myself with. After all, God has blessed me with the gift of Salvation, as well as the privilege to teach His Word, and I’m grateful. He also gave us commandments for a reason, and if we don't have laws, there would be utter chaos throughout the world. If you confess to be a Christian, then people, who walk past you on the street, should know there's something different about you. If you're associated with a people who are still lost, know your limits with those people. You can't hang out with them every weekend, because they're ways will eventually rub off on you, no matter how long you've been saved. Surround yourself with people who love God just as much as you do. Keep in company with people who will help you grow Spiritually, and encourages you to stay on the right path. Never think you're above anything. Make sure your heart stays 100% true to God, because He's the only way to living in abundance. The two advantages we have over Solomon are the blood of Jesus, which makes us righteous, and God's Holy Spirit, which gets us through each day. I thank God for those essential gifts, and I will always consult Him in everything I do. Get to know Jesus right now, and allow God to show you how as well. Take the God Quiz today. My favorite verses today are: The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

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