Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about the truth of God’s Word. We are here to serve God, so the questions that come with that broad commandment are how, when, and with what do we serve Him. The answers to all of those questions can be found in the Word of God. God is your Heavenly Father, the One who will eventually Judge you for all of your decisions and actions in life, so it’s important to know what He expects from you. This is the reason why He gave us the Holy Bible, which is His living Word. Any question you have about Him, or life in general can be answered in His word. We could learn how to communicate with, obey, and love, Him all in one place.

I was just talking about how important communication is in any relationship. Without proper communication people end up making a lot of assumptions, and you know what they say about people who assume? The same is true for our earthly relationships, and even more so with God. Since He isn’t physically here with us every day, and we can’t have a “real” conversation with Him, He’s given us this handbook for life. Whenever we hunger and thirst for His wisdom or knowledge, all we have to do is pick it up. When we need answers to life’s hardest questions, or help making the toughest decisions, all we have to do is seek the truth in His Word. It’s called the “living Word” for a reason; because that’s the way He communicates with us. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you seek the answers, He will, and His Word comes to life. You’ll always find what you’re looking for, but you must communicate with Him first.

God expects us to be obedient, and every human being needs laws, which are setup to not only keep us safe from evil, but to keep us safe from ourselves. God understands the weakness and frailties of the flesh, so He had to put certain laws in place. It’s written: Oh, how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your Word. I have not departed from Your judgments because You Yourself have taught me. (Psalm 119:97-102) The Psalmist truly understood the secret to a peaceful life; it’s all here in black in white. Simply seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and He’ll give you all the wisdom, strength, light, and guidance you’ll need to make it to the finish line of life victoriously!

God is the Alpha and the Omega, and He created you for a reason. He has dominion over everything on this earth, which means that, as heirs to His throne, we could have the world at our finger tips. The only requirements is to first believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and confess Him as Lord, and then you’ll be baptized with His Holy Spirit. Next, we must do as the Psalmist did next, and ask for the wisdom to follow His will for our life. If you’ve made the step to confess Jesus as Lord, you are one of the chosen few, so it’s time to seek some answers. It’s written: Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. (119:108-109) When we pray a prayer similar to this and then open the Word of God, a whole new world is opened up to us

I don’t know where I’d be without my bible; I feel lost without it. My Aunt gave me a bible cover as a gift, and I’m so grateful for it. I carry my bible everywhere, because I know it holds the truth. On this earth people are being controlled by the devil, and you just don’t know what to trust, because deceit lies in wait. Don’t forget the Spiritual warfare that’s constantly going on in our heart–spirit against flesh–so it’s good to have your “sword, which is the Word of God”, at hand. Whenever I feel lost, angry, lonely, scared, confused, or even happy, joyful, and content, I pick up the bible, and read the awesome promises of God. The more I get to know about my Savior Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father, the more I fall in love with them, which allows me to greater depend on, and trust, them with my entire life.

If you’d like to get to know who Jesus is, as Lord and Savior, in order to trust Him with your life, then start with the New Testament. If you have confessed Jesus as Lord, but that’s about it, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, open the book and start to read, I promise it’ll come alive, and eventually you won’t want to put it down. Don’t forget to meditate on His Word, because as soon as you take it in, the devil is coming to try and steal it, because He knows that God’s wisdom is the only way we can defeat Him. It’s written: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…(Hos. 4:6) To seek God, through His Word, is the most important step to maturing in your faith walk, so take some time out to study each day. My favorite verses today are: My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:11-12)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you’re enjoying the beginning of another workweek (for most). My brother Demitrius is in the following documentary, done on his middle school Washington Jesuit Academy. Here’s the link: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/november-12-2010/washington-jesuit-academy/7470/. WJA is a wonderful middle school; I thank God for it, and other schools like it. They truly educate these boys, so they can become men for others. Both my brother and nephew are alumni, and WJA has changed their life, for the better. Everything that they’re saying in the video is true–the staff is very supportive and loving–and on top of that, religion is a priority. The teachers are awesome, and they truly care about the future of each boy that comes to the school. Please pray for the continued success of WJA, and other schools like it around the country, they’re much appreciated and needed. They further inspire me to want to teach, so I could make a positive impact on young women and men, in organizations like these. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!

Today’s scriptures are about fellowship with God and Jesus Christ. Jesus once said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45 NIV) In order to get to the Father, we must go to and/or through the Son. It’s not as complicated as it seems, but we must know who Jesus is, and the role He plays in our life. To fellowship with Him takes on a whole new meaning, because it requires interaction, communication, and sharing love with Him. Unlike just believing in Him, which can be done by anyone, fellowship requires effort. Being a believer is just the first step. I want you to ask yourself a fairly easy question, but you need to be completely honest with your answer–How often do you interact with God, through Jesus Christ?

Faith is one of the most important parts of being a Christian. The Apostle Paul wrote: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (11:1KJV) What did Paul mean by that? Well the New International Version (NIV) of the bible translates it: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. From the beginning of time people preached about the love of God, even though most of them had never seen Him, but they were confident in Who He was, and what He taught. Most believers gained their confidence in Him, by building a strong and relationship with Him. They fellowshipped, worshiped, and praised Him, which helped build a bond, that assured them of His love.

Jesus’ coming was prophesied for years before He was even born, so people already expected the Messiah [the Son of God] to come. When He came they already believed in Him, because they believed in the Father that sent Him. He lived, died, and was resurrected, which changed the life of every human being, then, now, and forever. I don’t think a lot of people can grasp the complete truth in this, because it seems so unreal. There are people who suffer from internal pain–heart wrenching pain that they can’t seem to shake–and they can’t imagine anything other than that. They refuse to open up their heart to have faith in Him, because that comes with the risk of being hurt again. If you’re one of those people [like I used to be], then I need you to understand there is no one in this world who can love you like Jesus Christ. God loved you so much that He gave us His Son Jesus Christ, who reigns over us, and takes care of every aspect of our life, now and throughout all eternity. Jesus was created to give you life, so you can lay down your burdens and be free.

To have faith in God is to trust in Jesus Christ, and to trust in Jesus is to be obedient, and keep His commandments. It’s written: Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-25) Faith in the “implanted Word”, who is Jesus Christ, is the only way to save your soul.

I can promise you that when you experience the love of God, through Christ, you’ll truly understand what life is all about. Jesus is freedom, and through Jesus, God lives in our heart. He’s there to lead and guide us, shape and mold us, into the person He truly created us to be. All He asks us to do is have faith in Him, and through that faith we love Him with all our heart. I don’t care what else goes on in life, we can always depend on Jesus to be who He is, and He’ll always be there for us. God made sure that we will never have to be apart from Him again. If you don’t know Jesus as Lord, then you don’t know God as Father–to have faith in the Son, is to have faith in the Father. Remember faith can move mountains, and the first step of your faith walk is to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verse today is: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1John 4:15)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about delighting in the laws of God. Laws are always put into place for protection and order. We must have some type of boundary set up to protect us from others, as well as protect us from ourselves. According to the natural order of life, everything has a boundary. The Law of God is no different. He's placed all of His laws, promises, and repercussions into one trustworthy book, the Holy Bible. No matter which translation you read, they are all saying the same thing - just as Dr. Stanley says, "Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him". King Solomon, one of the wisest men to ever live, also concluded in Ecclesiastes, one the books the bible he wrote: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Eccl. 12:13-14)

We're not only supposed to obey the Word of God, but we're to delight in His Word. We should enjoy being obedient, not only because we're rewarded, but because we're pleasing our Father in Heaven. It should please us that He's proud of us in everything that we do. He's proud of who we've become in Christ, and our love, fear, and reverence for Him. He knows, because of the flesh, it isn't easy to fight off the temptations of the world. We're bombarded with evil thoughts, evil people, and evil pleasures every day, all day. There isn't a corner that we turn, where temptations aren't lurking, it's the way of the world. God came in the flesh, as Jesus Christ, so He understands what we go through very well. Jesus said, “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it" (Matt. 7:13). So for us to choose Him, and put Him first in all that we do, it pleases Him tremendously. We should rejoice in the fact that He's pleased with us, and we'll be blessed for doing so.

I mentioned in yesterday's devotional that the Word of God is our Sword. It's what we use to fight against the enemy, when we put on the Armor of God. It's the only weapon that will defeat all of the temptations that come our way. Everything we do in life needs to stand on the Word of God - the way we talk, interact with others (especially the people we love), and the way we conduct ourselves at all times. The Word of God brings the joy to our heart that shines brightly, and shows in the expression on our face. It also brings conviction when we fall short, or are about to take a step in the wrong direction, to help us avoid many pitfalls. I like the way the Psalmist describes it: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) God's Word helps us navigate our way through life; like our compass of sorts. It tells us which way to go, and how to get there.

Every Word that God speaks is meant to give wisdom and instruction, even those words that you can't quite understand. I remember the first few times I read the bible, as a baby spirit, I just didn't get it. I was so upset about the wars, and the thousands of people being killed, in the stories of the Old Testament. I was even upset by the fact that our loving God would destroy the entire world. However, once I grew in my Spirit, and sought the wisdom in His Word, many reasons were revealed to me. In most cases the people didn't obey His Word, nor acknowledged the Laws given, so there had to be consequences. I will never again disagree with anything I read in the Holy Bible, because it's all be proven, and justified through the Holy Spirit. God is so mighty, that we can't begin to completely understand all that's going on in this world, but He's faithful and true to each of us. If we love Him, we seek Him, and He will reveal everything we need to know. He'll answer every prayer we pray, and bless us with everything we need in abundance. His Law promises that to every believer. That's been proven true in my life, and I'm sure it's been proven in yours.

By the grace of God, and the love of Jesus Christ, the most important laws we should delight ourselves in, are the easiest of them all. Jesus said: “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt 22: 37:39) All God asks us to do is love Him and love each other. With that comes enough respect for Him, that we don't want to sin against Him, and that we're absolutely elated about pleasing Him. After all, isn't that what you do when you love someone? You're delighted to do whatever it takes to make them happy? It doesn't take much effort at all when you love them with all of your heart.

Although God commands us to love Him, He cannot make us do it. He can't make us choose Him, and accept the salvation offered to us-He allows us to choose. Just as we're to choose Him, we're to love Him, and be excited about that love, which is renewed each time we wake up to see another day. If you don't know Jesus as Lord, then it's time to pray and ask Him to come into your life. If you still aren't sure, take some time to take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verses today are: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. (James 1:22-23)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about the justification of sins. What do you believe about sin? The enemy will have us believe all types of things, and will make us feel all types of ways about sin, but through Christ, every sin we commit is justified when we confess and repent. That's a reason to rejoice! God doesn't see us like the rest of the world, but He sees our heart. He knows our intentions and actions, before we even make a move, and yet He still loves us. With that absolute fact, you can defeat the enemy! Those who love Him have nothing to worry about; Jesus once said, "Because I live, you will live also" (John 14:19) He offers us salvation from the world, evil, sin, and eternal damnation, because of this one simple truth, He lives, and we live through Him!

What does it mean to be justified? The online dictionary has a “theological” definition: to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit. This pretty much sums it up, but so does this "normal" definition: to show a satisfactory reason or excuse for something done. I cannot say this enough, we're children of God and He loves us! He's willing to do anything for us, so all we have to do is love Him in return. He has given the life of His Son, so that we could be seen as innocent or guiltless. The only reason for Him to do such a thing is because He loves us, and that's satisfactory enough. We were never created to be perfect, which has never been a requirement to be a child of God.

This makes me think of King David, one of the greatest men to have ever ruled over Israel, but he was by far a perfect man. I was reading the "bible bowl the other day, which is a weekly e-mail I get, and the author pointed out the flaws of the people who God chose to do great things for Him. This was a real eye opener for me, because each person that he wrote about was a liar, adulterer, murder, drunkard, prostitute, etc., but God still used them to do great things! Things that was so great, that they made it in the Handbook for life, the Holy Bible. These people were justified by God, not because of the mistakes they'd made, but for the amount of love they had for Him.

In this story, God had appeared to Solomon, the son of King David and said: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’(1 King 9:3-5) Solomon had already by justified by His father David, the one who loved God with all of his heart, and served Him until his death. Yes, David was a murderer and adulterer, but that isn't what God was judging Him on. God doesn't see us as the world sees us, but He's a forgiving and loving God. David had so much favor in God's sight, that he, his children, grandchildren, etc. were blessed.

David lived before the saving grace of Jesus Christ, so just imagine what God does for those who serve Him, and love His Son as well. Each of us have a great opportunity to be justified through Jesus Christ, but does that give us the license to freely sin? Of course it doesn't, however, God understands if we do fall short, and is quick to forgive anyone with a remorseful heart. He has promised to save ALL who ask, forgive their sins, and cast them away, as far as east is to west. He'll never throw them in our face, or withdraw our salvation because of them, as the enemy will have us think. That's the biggest weapon Satan uses on us, the guilt of sin. He's quick to tell us, "are you seriously going to pray to God after what you did today" or "remember when you... God hasn't forgotten about that, and He's angry with you". He tells us lots of lies like these, but they could be further from the truth! I don't know how many people lose their way, because of false guilt that's been placed on their heart. Okay one more time, you are justified by the Blood of Jesus Christ! Don't worry about your mishaps, because those are things of the past. Those are small compared to the love of God.

It's written: “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. (Malachi 3:17-18) If you're a believer in Christ, you're a precious jewel to God; all you have to do is serve Him in love. If you aren't a believer in Christ, all you have to do is believe, ask God for forgiveness, and invite Jesus into your life as Lord. You will become righteous, just because you believe in the Justifier Jesus Christ. Service will come naturally, along with trials and errors, but don’t worry, service is more important! My favorite verses today are: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. (Isaiah 43:25-26)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about God’s Word. The Word of God, also known as the Holy Bible, is our handbook for life. God created it so that His love and wisdom would never be far away. The bible holds all of the answers to life, great or small. It gives us a History lesson, which is very much relevant today. The Bible is also known as the “Living Word of God”, because it’s translated by the Holy Spirit, and each time we read it we get something different. God speaks to us through His Word, and gives us nourishment for our Spirit, which helps us grow and mature in our Faith walk.
This entire book is God’s truth, and was written and translated in my different languages and versions, by God, through many different men and women. I hear people say all the time that they don’t believe everything in the bible because it was written by man, but I’m here to tell you that that’s a dangerous belief system. Think about how God uses people, isn’t He capable of having His truth written in one book, for the greater good of all of us children?
Jesus was the greatest teacher of the Word of God. However, even He studied God’s Word. Throughout the Gospels of Christ (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), He quotes scriptures from the Old Testament, which was written on scrolls, distributed and taught in churches throughout the land. Jesus sought the Word from a very young age. There’s an account in the book of Luke, where when He was a child, He had wondered off, and His parents were looking for Him frantically, because he had been missing for a few days. It’s written: Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. (Luke 2:46-50) Just as Jesus, we too must be about our “Father’s business”, but studying His Word is the only way to find out what that is. We must primarily concern ourselves with taking care of “God’s business”.
Jesus was the Word of God walking on this earth. He taught a new doctrine, or a new way of life. He spoke of Salvation and forgiveness of sins. He spoke of love, life, and the Holy Spirit. He taught from two perspectives, because He was both God and human. He shared things with us in a way that we could relate, because He had experienced what it meant to be human. He also experienced the awesome Love of God, and He wanted to share that with us as well. The New Testament of the bible is all about the love, grace, and mercy of God, because He introduced a new way of life, through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus’ way of teaching is a blend of the fear [or reverence] of God taught in the Old Testament, with the “Love God with all of your Heart” of the New. The most precious gift that God gave through Jesus was the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: “…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)
In order to prosper in life you must become acquainted with the Word of God. Once you’ve accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you’re anointed with the Holy Spirit. His job is to connect you with God. Before you sit down to study the Word, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand, and to gain the Wisdom God intended to teach you through that study session. Each time you open the Bible God is trying to tell you something, you not only have to read it, but you have to listen with your heart. I can guarantee you that all you will discover is the truth and love of God. If when you pick up the bible it seems like a foreign language to you, I suggest finding a bible study group at your local church, or form one with family and friends.
If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you don’t truly know God. Jesus is the only way to open the gates of Heaven, so that you can experience God’s love, peace, and joy right here on earth. You’re either for Him or against Him. It’s written: Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:42-44) With that being said, examine your heart. Who is your father? If you love Jesus, and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior, then you’ve proclaimed God as your Father. Jesus is “the Word that became flesh”; He’s that promise of Salvation, and eternal life, so without Him it’s impossible to obtain. Pray and ask Him to be Lord of your life today! My favorite verse today is: The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)

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