Today's Scripture
“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight” (Ephesians 1:4).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Did you know that God had a plan for you before the foundation of the earth? He created you to be holy and blameless in His sight. Why did He do that? He chose you to be His ambassador, or representative, on the earth. God created you to reflect His glory. He created you to reflect His character, His righteousness, His holiness. Think about that for a moment. Part of your purpose on this earth is to be a representative for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Let that sink in deeply on the inside of you. Knowing that should make you want to walk a little differently. It should make you want to talk differently. That should make you think a little more carefully about where you go and what you choose to do with your time. Are you representing God’s holiness today? Remember, what God’s called you to do, He’s equipped you to do. If there are things in your life that aren’t holy, God wants to empower you to overcome those things. Receive His strength and might today so that you can walk in holiness and live the abundant life He has for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me today. I ask You to search my heart and remove anything that is displeasing in Your sight. I accept Your holiness today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Fix Your Eyes
Today's Scripture
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus today? It’s so easy to let the distractions of the world and the cares of every day life to change your focus. And whatever you fix your eyes on, you open your spirit to. You can choose to fix your eyes on Jesus no matter what distractions of life are going on around you. You see, when you fix your eyes on Jesus, you are opening yourself to the Healer. You are opening yourself to the Deliverer. You are opening yourself to the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Strong Tower of refuge. What do you need in your life today? Peace? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need healing? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need a safe retreat? Fix your eyes on Jesus. And you may have to turn off other things that you’ve been watching so that you can fix your eyes on Him. But remember, He is your source of life and the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to work in your life so that you can experience the victory He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose to tune out the negative voices of the world so that I can fix my eyes on You. I acknowledge that You are my source and strength for every good thing in life. I open myself to you today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Are your eyes fixed on Jesus today? It’s so easy to let the distractions of the world and the cares of every day life to change your focus. And whatever you fix your eyes on, you open your spirit to. You can choose to fix your eyes on Jesus no matter what distractions of life are going on around you. You see, when you fix your eyes on Jesus, you are opening yourself to the Healer. You are opening yourself to the Deliverer. You are opening yourself to the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Provider, the Redeemer, the Strong Tower of refuge. What do you need in your life today? Peace? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need healing? Fix your eyes on Jesus. Do you need a safe retreat? Fix your eyes on Jesus. And you may have to turn off other things that you’ve been watching so that you can fix your eyes on Him. But remember, He is your source of life and the Author and Perfecter of your faith. Fix your eyes on Him and allow Him to work in your life so that you can experience the victory He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose to tune out the negative voices of the world so that I can fix my eyes on You. I acknowledge that You are my source and strength for every good thing in life. I open myself to you today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Friday, January 11, 2008
SPRING-LOADED TOWARD THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
When we first became Christians, we were like one-third horsepower lawn mower engines. We could accomplish something, but not very much because we weren't very mature. Our ambition as Christians is to become engines that can power earth-moving machinery--real powerhouses for the Lord. But neither a lawn mower nor a bulldozer can accomplish anything without gas. And neither can we accomplish anything apart from Christ (John 15:5). No matter how mature you are, you can never be productive unless you are walking in the Spirit.
When it comes to the choice between walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit, our will is like a toggle switch. The new Christian's will seems to be spring-loaded toward fleshly behavior. He is still the unwitting victim of a thoroughly trained flesh which only knows how to operate independently of God. The mature Christian's will is spring-loaded toward the Spirit. He makes occasional poor choices, but he is learning to crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit on a daily basis.
If you re hoping for a magic formula or a list of foolproof steps for walking in the Spirit, you will be disappointed. The moment you reduce the Spirit-filled walk to a formula or an intellectual exercise, you probably won't be Spirit-filled anymore.
The Holy Spirit is a "He," not an "it." Our walk with God is a personal experience, not a mechanical or legalistic formula. We see the immorality of fleshly indulgence everywhere, but simply preaching against it and telling people to shape up is not God's answer. The law is powerless to give life (Galatians 3:21). Reintroducing the law to believers won't work. But if we learn to walk by the Spirit, we won't carry out the desires of the flesh. Let's encourage others to do the same.
~Neil Anderson
When we first became Christians, we were like one-third horsepower lawn mower engines. We could accomplish something, but not very much because we weren't very mature. Our ambition as Christians is to become engines that can power earth-moving machinery--real powerhouses for the Lord. But neither a lawn mower nor a bulldozer can accomplish anything without gas. And neither can we accomplish anything apart from Christ (John 15:5). No matter how mature you are, you can never be productive unless you are walking in the Spirit.
When it comes to the choice between walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit, our will is like a toggle switch. The new Christian's will seems to be spring-loaded toward fleshly behavior. He is still the unwitting victim of a thoroughly trained flesh which only knows how to operate independently of God. The mature Christian's will is spring-loaded toward the Spirit. He makes occasional poor choices, but he is learning to crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit on a daily basis.
If you re hoping for a magic formula or a list of foolproof steps for walking in the Spirit, you will be disappointed. The moment you reduce the Spirit-filled walk to a formula or an intellectual exercise, you probably won't be Spirit-filled anymore.
The Holy Spirit is a "He," not an "it." Our walk with God is a personal experience, not a mechanical or legalistic formula. We see the immorality of fleshly indulgence everywhere, but simply preaching against it and telling people to shape up is not God's answer. The law is powerless to give life (Galatians 3:21). Reintroducing the law to believers won't work. But if we learn to walk by the Spirit, we won't carry out the desires of the flesh. Let's encourage others to do the same.
~Neil Anderson
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The importance of obedience
Immediate obedience to Jesus is so very important. When it's clear that Jesus is saying, "Do this," or "Don't do that", hesitation is foolish. An opportunity or blessing may be missed; a negative circumstance or even tragedy may result.
A friend tells the story of the time he was driving along a familiar road, when suddenly he heard the Spirit of God say, "Stop the car now!" He immediately pulled over and stopped the car. The next instant, a car came careening around the corner just ahead of him. The car was sliding on the ice, coming around the corner on the wrong side of the road. Because my friend had stopped his car when God spoke to him, he was parked far enough away to allow the driver of the other vehicle room to get his car under control and back on the right side of the road. If he hadn't obeyed, it would have been a head-on collision and certain tragedy.
The importance of obedience.
God's love for us is so great. He never asks anything of us that isn't for our good. So why do we sometimes hestitate or ignore His requests? It simply isn't possible to say, "No, Lord." When God asks us to do, or not do, something, it's either, "Yes, Lord," or "No, You aren't my Lord."
A friend tells the story of the time he was driving along a familiar road, when suddenly he heard the Spirit of God say, "Stop the car now!" He immediately pulled over and stopped the car. The next instant, a car came careening around the corner just ahead of him. The car was sliding on the ice, coming around the corner on the wrong side of the road. Because my friend had stopped his car when God spoke to him, he was parked far enough away to allow the driver of the other vehicle room to get his car under control and back on the right side of the road. If he hadn't obeyed, it would have been a head-on collision and certain tragedy.
The importance of obedience.
God's love for us is so great. He never asks anything of us that isn't for our good. So why do we sometimes hestitate or ignore His requests? It simply isn't possible to say, "No, Lord." When God asks us to do, or not do, something, it's either, "Yes, Lord," or "No, You aren't my Lord."
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Guard Your Heart
Today's Scripture
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Just like a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your thinking and words, which ultimately determines the direction of your life. Your eyes, ears, and mouth are all gateways to your heart. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not. You can guard your heart by filtering what you watch and listen to. If you don’t want to be like the people you see on TV, you shouldn’t watch that program. If you don’t want to act like the people in the songs you hear, you shouldn’t listen to them. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against bitterness and bad attitudes. When those negative emotions sink into your heart, they will keep you from moving forward. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means your words show where your heart is. Take inventory today of what you are saying, watching, and listening to. Make sure that you are glorifying the Lord with your every action. As you guard your heart and mind, the wellspring of life within in you will flow freely, and you will live in the abundance the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I submit my mind and heart to You. I choose to guard my heart and ask that You guide and direct my everyday choices. Purify me by Your spirit so that life will flow from me in every area. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Just like a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your thinking and words, which ultimately determines the direction of your life. Your eyes, ears, and mouth are all gateways to your heart. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not. You can guard your heart by filtering what you watch and listen to. If you don’t want to be like the people you see on TV, you shouldn’t watch that program. If you don’t want to act like the people in the songs you hear, you shouldn’t listen to them. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against bitterness and bad attitudes. When those negative emotions sink into your heart, they will keep you from moving forward. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means your words show where your heart is. Take inventory today of what you are saying, watching, and listening to. Make sure that you are glorifying the Lord with your every action. As you guard your heart and mind, the wellspring of life within in you will flow freely, and you will live in the abundance the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I submit my mind and heart to You. I choose to guard my heart and ask that You guide and direct my everyday choices. Purify me by Your spirit so that life will flow from me in every area. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Develop Your Gift
Today's Scripture
“Do not neglect the gift of God within you…” (I Timothy 4:14).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
You are created and designed for a specific purpose. God has placed gifts inside of you to equip you to fulfill your purpose. Do you know what those gifts are? What are you passionate about? What can you do better than other people? What would you choose to do if there were no obstacles? God wants you to develop and pursue the gift inside of you. Your gift is a part of your destiny. But the gifts God gives aren’t just for us. He gives us gifts to help build the kingdom of God. You have a specific role to play in the body of Christ. That doesn’t mean God’s going to send you to a third world country or make you preach. But, there are people only you can reach. Are you using your gift to build the kingdom? Are you serving in your local church? Even if you are still discovering what your gifts are, you can simply take a step and volunteer. Everyone has something to give. You can give a smile, a handshake, or an encouraging word. As you step out and serve others, you’ll see the gift inside of you begin to grow, and you’ll move forward into the destiny God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me to fulfill my destiny. Thank You for walking with me and guiding me. Show me ways to develop what You have given me so that I can build Your kingdom in the earth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Do not neglect the gift of God within you…” (I Timothy 4:14).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
You are created and designed for a specific purpose. God has placed gifts inside of you to equip you to fulfill your purpose. Do you know what those gifts are? What are you passionate about? What can you do better than other people? What would you choose to do if there were no obstacles? God wants you to develop and pursue the gift inside of you. Your gift is a part of your destiny. But the gifts God gives aren’t just for us. He gives us gifts to help build the kingdom of God. You have a specific role to play in the body of Christ. That doesn’t mean God’s going to send you to a third world country or make you preach. But, there are people only you can reach. Are you using your gift to build the kingdom? Are you serving in your local church? Even if you are still discovering what your gifts are, you can simply take a step and volunteer. Everyone has something to give. You can give a smile, a handshake, or an encouraging word. As you step out and serve others, you’ll see the gift inside of you begin to grow, and you’ll move forward into the destiny God has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me to fulfill my destiny. Thank You for walking with me and guiding me. Show me ways to develop what You have given me so that I can build Your kingdom in the earth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
He is the Healer
Today's Scripture
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Aren’t you glad that God is a healer! It doesn’t matter what is “broken” in your life today, God’s nature is to bring you complete healing. Do you need healing in your body? Your mind? Heart? Finances? Relationships? God is your healer. Notice what the Psalmist says in this verse: He binds up their wounds. In the natural, if you have a broken arm, it doesn’t just heal over night. The doctor makes a cast to hold it in place and protect it. He binds up your wound. In the spiritual realm, God does the same thing. He wraps Himself around your brokenness and protects the wounded area until it is strong enough to function properly again. The Bible also says that He is a restorer. That means that when He does a work of healing in our lives, He makes us better than we were before. If you’re going through the healing process today, know this: it may take longer than you planned, but God is binding up your wound. He is protecting you and healing you. He will bring you out better and stronger than you were before. He will take you to a place of complete healing so that you can live the life of victory He has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for being my healer. Thank You for restoring every area of my life. I give You everything that I am today. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
Aren’t you glad that God is a healer! It doesn’t matter what is “broken” in your life today, God’s nature is to bring you complete healing. Do you need healing in your body? Your mind? Heart? Finances? Relationships? God is your healer. Notice what the Psalmist says in this verse: He binds up their wounds. In the natural, if you have a broken arm, it doesn’t just heal over night. The doctor makes a cast to hold it in place and protect it. He binds up your wound. In the spiritual realm, God does the same thing. He wraps Himself around your brokenness and protects the wounded area until it is strong enough to function properly again. The Bible also says that He is a restorer. That means that when He does a work of healing in our lives, He makes us better than we were before. If you’re going through the healing process today, know this: it may take longer than you planned, but God is binding up your wound. He is protecting you and healing you. He will bring you out better and stronger than you were before. He will take you to a place of complete healing so that you can live the life of victory He has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for being my healer. Thank You for restoring every area of my life. I give You everything that I am today. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
