Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today I wanted to write about seeing the world through Jesus’ eyes. Some days I get a glimpse of how Jesus felt about mankind—lots of compassion and sympathy, which allows Him to love us unconditionally. He loved us because of our heart, and not our actions. He never failed to see the potential in every human being, because He understood the power of faith. We often say, “If only people would do this, or think like that, the world would be a better place”, and most of the time we’re right. I can wholeheartedly say that if every believer took on the mind, heart, and spirit of Christ, the world would be a much better place. At the same time, we live in the midst of evil, which tempts us, and makes disobedience look so very appealing. It’s hard to stay as focused as Christ, but it isn’t impossible. There are still Pastors, disciples, prophets, and apostles, and everyday Christians, who dedicated their lives to spreading the gospel of Christ, just as Paul, Peter, Stephen, and James did. We’re able to do it because they’ve chosen to see the world through Jesus’ eyes.

Love and faith are the two most important factors that will help us grow in our daily walk. It’s a gradual process, and when we accept Jesus as Lord, we’re “born again”, which implies that we start off very small in our spirit. The more we feed, nurture, and exercise our faith it’ll grow beyond temptation, all because we’ve inherited the Kingdom of God. Jesus said: “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32) When we plant small seeds of faith in our life, that plant will grow to unthinkable magnitudes. The more we grow, the more we begin to see Jesus for who He is, but most importantly, see ourselves for who we are in Him.

Jesus had the faith that He had, because He knew the Father. He believed in His promises, and understood His love. He worried more about pleasing God than man, because He understood His temporal earthly existence, and didn’t want to waste any time in hatred, un-forgiveness, prolonged anger or strife. He merely wanted to show God’s love to everyone He came in contact with. He once said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt 5:43-45)

I’m a firm believer in the saying “put yourself in their shoes”, which means to try to understand what other people are going through, before being judging them. Love doesn’t cost anything; Jesus gave it to us freely, so we’re obligated to give it away just as freely. I’ve work in Customer Service for the last ten years, and I’ve spoken to people from all walks of life. I’ve spoken to some downright evil people, whose main objective was to transfer their negative energy onto me before they even picked up the phone to call. I try not to let these people bother me, because I don’t know what’s happening in their life. There had to be an event in their past, that makes them interact with others in such a manner. Most of the time, I’ll say a quick prayer for them, because it takes more energy to return the evil, then to love freely.

Being a Christian is a lot easier than it looks, all you have to do is focus on God. When things are wonderful, you’re reaching all of your goals, and are surrounded with love—focus on God. When it seems that everything has gone as bad as it could ever go in life, and you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders—focus on God. Faith in the God that we serve, and in our powerful freedom through Jesus Christ, will transform our life in ways that we never imagined. Every day that we consciously walk with Jesus, we’ll become more and more like Him, and begin to see the world through brand new eyes. I can testify that it’s the most liberating thing that could ever happen in your life, but you have to allow it to happen. I’m gradually dropping my fears, and solely depending on God to see me through each and every situation, and He’s granting me with the wisdom that I asked for in the process.

If you don’t know Jesus as Lord, you’ll need to start with planting that mustard seed. If you believe in Jesus enough to confess that to God in prayer, and ask Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior, you’re on your way to abundant blessings, and a complete transformation in life. For more information, please take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verses today are: For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about finding the wisdom of God. I can see God’s wisdom in people from a mile away. It’s something that can be felt by everyone around us, because it’s a special gift. It’s a catalyst for the light of Jesus, which shines brightly through those who love Him. When you love God you seek to learn all there is to know about Him and His Son Jesus Christ, in order to keep His commandments, through faithful obedience. When you seek you will find, through Jesus Christ. Over the last few days we’ve been given scriptures which tell us that all things were created through Christ, so He is the key to obtaining Godly wisdom. Actually to seek knowledge about Him, and the earthly life He lived, will help you gain wisdom about the One who sent Him.

It’s one thing to be smart, and to know allot about everything, but it takes a special person to be wise. Wisdom is such a precious gift from God, because it allows us to truly live above the world. When we’ve received wisdom in certain areas, we can stop looking at those things in the “world’s perspective”, and start looking at them through the eyes of God. Our main objective, from the time we wake up in the morning, is “how can please we God today”. When we focus on what we can do for Him, and the Kingdom, He’ll make sure that He provides everything that we ask of Him. The reason that happens is because we’re wise enough to understand His will. When we seek the right knowledge and understanding, we receive wisdom. Just as I mentioned yesterday, there are times when you gain knowledge on a certain subject, and you get it, but you don’t get it. Wisdom comes in when you truly get it.

How do you become a wise man or woman of God? Obey God, and leave the consequences to Him. Seek His face, and study His Word, with the guidance from the Holy Spirit. Most importantly, ask, seek, and knock, and it will be given to you. One of the greatest blessings to ask for is the blessing of wisdom. When you’re wise in God, though Christ, there’s nothing you can’t conquer on this earth. There’s nothing you can’t endure, or overcome. There are no dreams or goals that are too high to obtain, because you finally get it—you’re living life as a follower of Christ. Jesus once said: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35) This is the way a wise person chooses to live their life. The first step to seeking wisdom is to deny yourself and take up your cross—which means that it’s no longer about what you can do for yourself, but how you can contribute to the Kingdom of God. It’s all about loving God, and when you love God, you’re going to seek the wisdom, in order to do what it takes to please Him.

In prayer, ask God to show you His will, just as Jesus did in the wilderness, shortly before His crucifixion. He prayed: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36) It takes God’s wisdom to pray these types of prayers. Jesus knew what He wanted, but He also understood that He was here to complete God’s will. Scary as it may have been, He was prepared to follow God’s will through to the end. This is what Jesus taught to His followers, which is why they too were able to do so many wonderful things by faith.

God’s wisdom is unlike any others. We don’t always understand His ways, but He will reveal them to us in due time, we just need to trust Him. We’ll have our “Damascus Road” lessons in faith. Remember when it was time for Paul to follow His calling in life? Jesus allowed him to be blinded, and held in a strange home for 3 days, so that all he could do was pray and seek God. Before this, Paul tortured people who spoke the Name of Jesus. When questioned about why God chose such an evil person to do His work, his answer was: “…for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16) When Paul’s eyesight was restored, he was immediately baptized in the Name of Jesus, and became one of the wisest Apostles to have ever lived. We’re each one of God’s chosen vessels, and He has everything we need to make it through life victoriously. We will, or may already have, suffered for our shortcomings, but we’ve overcome the darkness, and are now in the light. Paul never complained or dwelled on his suffering, but He learned from them, and sought the wisdom and knowledge through them. He used those things to teach all of us about the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ.

If you don’t know Jesus, then you have no source of wisdom, so you may be a very smart person, but you aren’t wise. Wisdom is a God-given spirit of discernment and spiritual truth. You must first believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and then you’ll become one with God. God holds the wisdom we desire, all we have to do is ask for it. If you’re confused as to what you believe, take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verse today is: Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Job 11:7-8)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about Understanding what the will of the Lord is (Eph 5:17 How many countless Christians are clueless as to what God’s will is for their life. I have to admit that even I get confused sometimes. On one hand I love to write [and some of you seem to think I’m pretty good at it], and on the other hand I love to cook, and that too brings me joy. I also love to serve and teach, and I feel so at home when doing both—so what is God’s true will for me? I’m sure I’m not the only person who wonders whether your gifts and talents, are what you’re supposed to use to complete God’s will for your life.

Just to be clear, God’s will is the same for each of His children—to love Him and fellowship with Him, to love His Son Jesus Christ, and to strengthen His Kingdom. At the same time, the path to accomplishing these things is different for each person. The way you show you love may be different from the way I show love. I show my love through feeding someone a good meal, and you may show your love by singing to them to uplift their spirit. You have a gift to sing and I have a gift to cook. To strengthen His Kingdom, I was called to write daily devotional emails, and serve as a Deacon at my church. Yours may be to show Jesus through you, by speaking uplifting words to those in need, or doing mission work in underprivileged countries. Ultimately we’re each Disciples of Christ, and just as it’s written: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

God created us for His own personal reasons, so there’s a purpose or will for our life, and your part is just as important as mine. He wants us to stay near to Him at all times, so He gives us the resources to receive all of the wisdom and knowledge necessary to complete His will for our life, all we have to do is seek Him. Praying without ceasing allows us to keep that connection, and avoid being vulnerable to sin. Studying His Word allows us to truly know what He expects from us. As we know, His will could change each day, so we must look at each day as a present, a hidden treasure or gem, because God has something special planned for us that day. You are the light of the world, and He will place you on top of a hill where for many to see, so that those who are in darkness will turn toward the light (Matt. 5:14).

Following God’s will is an awesome responsibility, but it comes with great rewards. In one of my favorite verses in the bible it’s written: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Eph. 1: 3-6) God has blessed us with EVERY Spiritual blessing in heavenly places, just because we believe in Jesus Christ, so our faith and works is a very small price to pay, for such a grand reward. The beauty of all if this is that we’re blessed no matter what. As long as we believe, we’re blessed even when we mess up or fall short, because He already knew you and everything you were going to do before He chose you. As we learned yesterday, don’t allow mistakes and sin to allow you to give up, because He’s still here, life goes on, and you have a job to do. Repent!

See, it isn’t that complicated after all? All God wants from you is love, but how you show that love is something the He’ll show you in due time. Jesus says to love Him is to do whatever He commands of you. I love the story of when Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler—this man had every earthly desire, and was asked to sell all of His possessions, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus; the man went away unsaved. I used to be at point in my life where I honestly thought about it. If I was the rich man, and didn’t know anything about Jesus, would I have made that sacrifice? Back then I honestly said no, but today I can seriously say that I would rather face being penniless, homeless, and without food, to spend one day with Jesus Christ, than to have all of the riches in the world. You may think that that’s extreme, but I know in my heart that as long as I’m following Jesus [which would no doubt be in God’s will], I’ll have everything I could ever desire for all eternity.

Do you get it now? Dr. Stanley said it best, “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him”. The only way to know Gods will is to first accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verses today are: The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ... give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

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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 THURSDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying this beautiful Friday-eve. I'm doing well, just a little tired, but blessed nonetheless. While catching up with my e-mails today, I came across information about another Woman's Weekend Retreat, hosted by my aunt, Minister Sabrina Roberts. If you'd like more information, check out her website http://faithwalkministry.vpweb.com/. I wasn't able to attend the one she hosted back in June, but heard it was spectacular. I'll be sure to attend this one, because I know it's going to be great. These are strong, wise, women of Faith, and I'm sure we'll learn a lot. Her contact information is under the section that says "Contact Us", on the website. Feel free to contact her if you have any questions. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!

Today I wanted to write about the wisdom of accepting who you are, and it all started from Proverbs 12. Every verse of every Proverb is full of wisdom, and you can get so much from a few words. This chapter began with: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (vs 1) What God sees as discipline is to keep His commandments, and walk according to His Word, but the world often sees it differently. Discipline is necessary to live a successful life, but could often be misconstrued. It's strengthened through trial and error, and can only be mastered by the ability to see correction in the Lord, the ability to accept life as it comes, and be grateful for every aspect. None of us are experts at everything, all the time, but it takes discipline to please God. Only a fool will fight the natural process of growth, because of their own self-proclaimed wisdom; the only true wisdom comes from God.

God created us just the way that He wanted us to be, but people spend so much time telling us to be something other than our self. There is nothing wrong with who you are, how you look, or what you like, because that's a part of your makeup. Some people kill themselves each day trying to correct mistakes, change their appearance, or readjust themselves, because of what society (or the world) tells them they should be. We place so much emphasis on our flaws and failures that we forget to praise God for our triumphs and victories, which far outweigh the bad. Mistakes are made to bring knowledge and wisdom, as well as refinement. When we fall out of step with God's will, the best thing to do is to ask Him how to get back in. He is our only Judge, so we're living to please Him and no one else. Yes we love the people in our lives, and strive to make them happy, but God sits on the throne of our lives; so must work hardest to please Him.

So far this year, I've heard of three suicides from friends who lost neighbors, and loved ones, because the weight the world was on their shoulders (so they thought). It's written: Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. (vs 25) I know depression very well, and most of you that I've shared my story with know this very well. Anxiety brings a pain so severe that it could bring people to the point of taking their own life. It gets this severe because of the pressures of the world. Everyone is different, and they process things differently, so to try to completely understand why suicide is so prevalent in our society is beyond me. However, I can take a wild guess. Turn on the television and watch commercials. We're always inventing something to make us look better, perform better, make more money, buy better clothes, bigger homes, etc., as if the way God created us, or what He’s blessed us with isn't good enough. The best piece of wisdom I’ve received is to be content with who you are. If you aren't content with you, then it's up to you to change it, that's where the discipline comes in. When you close you close your eyes at night it’s just you, and you must be able to live with yourself. Don't change because the world wants you to change, but be open to the leadership of God. Remember we are peculiar people, and we're meant to be different from the rest. Surround yourself with positive people, who will give you a positive word, and you're heart will be forever glad. God loves you just the way you are, flaws and all.

A friend shared this verse with me earlier today, and I think Paul had the answer to how to be content with being you. It's written: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT) This is the truth, and nothing but the truth. Love who you are and I know that's not easy for everybody, because you've spent so much time hating who you are. If you don't love who you are, learn how to see yourself the way God sees you. He sees you through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and you're blameless and righteous in His sight. If you don't know Jesus Christ then you may never be content within yourself. Take a few moments and take the God Quiz today! My favorite verse in this chapter is: In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. (vs. 28)

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Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!


Today's scriptures are about the holding steadfast in the chastisement of God. There are many sides to the love of God, and He is a Father to us first. He loves us so much that He won't stand aside and watch us self-destruct. He'll do whatever it takes, whenever necessary, to make sure that we receive all that He has to offer in life. The word chasten is found in the New King James version of bible, on several occasions, starting with Moses' counsel: You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you. (Deut. 8:5) The word chasten is defined: to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise. Just as our earthly parents worked hard to raise us to be wonderful, upstanding citizens, and tried to afford us everything we need, and most things we want, God does the same for us. Without discipline and boundaries, we wouldn't know responsibility, or how to make good choices in life.

For me, I've grown to a point where I know right from wrong, and my spirit of discernment is strong, so when I sin against God, I'm instantly made aware of it, and I expect to be chastised. I don't expect to be able to go through life, doing whatever I want, whenever I want, and continuously receive rewards. I understand that we each have free will, and we're given choices in life, and if we choose wrong we'll pay the consequence. We cannot plant an apple seed, and expect an orange tree to grow from it, nothing in life works that way. We have common sense, which tells us that if we want the best out of life, we must follow the will of God. At the same time, the flesh is weak, we're prone to sin, and will fall short of His glory, so with God there's a happy medium. He will never give us more that we can bear. He'll never hold something against us that we did out of ignorance, but He'll allow us to experience the consequence, so learn from it. He's quick to forgive whenever we ask, and the Holy Spirit convicts us to a point of repentance.

It's written: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matt 18:1-5) The life of a believer is completely different from life in the flesh. God has a different plan for each person, so when we accept Jesus as Lord, we're born again. We start from the infant stage of our spiritual walk, and continue to grow each day. We have inherited the Kingdom of God, and our Father is the ruler of all things. He's afforded us everything we'll need to grow into wonderful human beings. He's given us Jesus Christ for Salvation, and the Holy Spirit for step-by-step guidance. He's given us the Holy Bible for instruction, and knowledge. All we have to do is seek Him with child-like innocence, and depend on Him as a child depends on his parents for nourishment and growth.

If you're a believer, the next time you're experiencing heartache or trials count it all joy. God will only test those who He intends on using, and keeping dear to Him. Don't forget, all things work together for the good of those who love Him, so rejoice everyday, no matter what's going on in your life. Be worried when you know you're not living right, and you aren't being chastened, because God has put you up on a shelf. I'm not saying that our life should be full of pain and anguish, and we aren't supposed to be happy, but we're being shaped and molded into kings and queens in the Lord, and sometimes we'll experience growing pains. You're not supposed to live in utter chaos and defeat the rest of your life, because you're more than a conqueror, however accept the fact the you're meant to suffer with Christ in certain seasons. This knowledge allows you to keep your head up when faced with adversity, because you know that God is still in control. It allows you to keep your inner peace and joy, and avoid worry and anxiety.

To know Jesus is the love Him, and to love Him is to love God. With that being said, the only way to please God is to accept His Son Jesus Christ. If you've never done it, then confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart, and confess your sins. Stay open to Him, and seek His wisdom, to continue to grow in your personal walk with Him. Jesus said, "my yoke is easy and my burden is light", so He'll fill your life with so much joy that you won't buckle, when faced with adversities. Simply trust Him with your whole heart. My favorite verse today is: The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:3 )

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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 very well today, but my head is spinning, because of the numerous directions I’ve been pulled in today. Who said prayer doesn't work? Surrendering to God is the best thing that I could've ever done, because He's shown me love and given me so much wisdom. There isn't anything that I ask Him for that He doesn't provide. It may not come in the exact form that I want, but it's exactly what I need. Prayer, meditation, and fellowship are necessary to keep a close bond with Him, so that you'll know that what you're asking for is in His will. I believe in praying for one another, and your prayer makes a big difference in my growth, so I thank you. If you ever need prayer please let me know, and I'll be happy to pray for you. You know one of my favorite verses: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16) Enjoy your weekend family, and be blessed family!

Today's scriptures are about seeking wisdom from Christ to walk in His ways. Jesus Christ was the wisest Man to ever walk this earth, because of His sincere love for His Heavenly Father. When asked who my Hero is, my answer is always Jesus, because I strive most to be like Him. Sure, we have other people we look up to and admire, but when it comes to learning how to live a Godly life, Jesus is the first person you should examine. When we're saved, we're anointed with His Holy Spirit, and then to be baptized by water. Baptism represents us being buried with Christ, washed, and then resurrected as a new person in Him. When we start on this journey, we're tempted more than ever, and if we don't seek the right wisdom and understanding, we'll never know the power that lies within. There's nothing worst than enduring pain and heartache that you don't have to endure, especially if you had the resources, to avoid or overcome, within you all along.

Paul said: Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. (1 Cor. 9:26) Seeking the wisdom of Christ will save us a lot of time in the wilderness, going around the same mountain, over and over again. Gaining true wisdom, which comes from God, is as easy as asking, seeking, and knocking, and it will be given unto you. Once we ask Him for it, we have to seek it in His word, by regular study, and meditation. We should also seek the wisdom in every event in our lives. My belief is, that you can receive knowledge from anyone placed in your path you just have to look for it. I've learned that negativity is a waste of energy, so I intently listen when I'm having conversations with people.

To be honest, I used to be a very proud person, and wouldn't take any advice from anyone who I thought wasn’t smart or knowledgeable enough. I would listen to them speak, but I would be thinking in my head, "who are they to try to tell me how to live, I know what I'm doing". I'm so grateful God is breaking me out of that, because I’m sure I missed some valuable lessons thinking that way. God has given me the wisdom to understand that I could learn from a 5 year old child, or a homeless man with a 5th grade education, so I keep my spiritual eyes and ears open at all times. It's written: He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:28-31) One of the wisest lessons we learn from Jesus is to never judge each other. None of us are above the other, God has the power to make or break us. It's written: Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. (Heb. 13:1-2)

I cannot stress this enough, take some time out to read the Gospels of Christ [Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John], because they’ll teach you not only the ways of Christ, but also the knowledge of God. Jesus was wise enough to know that He couldn't do anything without God, which is a part of humility. Learning how to walk in humility, meekness, and love is the first step toward gaining an unimaginable amount of wisdom. That wisdom is the difference between the believer who never grows, and is stuck in the same helpless and hopeless situation, and the believer who continually flourishes, and is blessed with much. Lay down your burdens, confess your sins, forgive, and receive forgiveness, and you'll begin to thirst for the wisdom of Christ. All you have to do is knock, and He'll open the door and give you so much wisdom that you'll surprise yourself; I can definitely testify to that.

I want to leave you with the serenity prayer. This prayer is known to be for people we refer to as addicts. People who have gone down some rough roads, and made some poor choices, but in my opinion, I think we all have. This prayer has helped me through some rough situations, so hopefully it’ll also help you. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference..." If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then that's the first step to becoming a stronger, wiser, and more courageous person. Please take the step to invite Him into your life, I promise you won't regret it. Let me know if you need someone to pray with, or take the God Quiz right now. My favorite verse today is: Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455408&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/broadcast/today-on-radio
http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional

I love you!