20 Wednesday Aug 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Tags
When we turn our hearts toward God, we gain something far more valuable than earthly treasures, which is the eternal treasures God has promised us. Psalm 119:36 says, Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. When we align our hearts with God’s desires for our life, we may not gain what we think we want, but we will gain everything He ever intended for us, which is far more valuable.
19 Tuesday Aug 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Tags
Sadly, today is our last day in Proverbs. I think I will somehow try to make proverbs a bigger part of our reading next year. But for today, the passage that stood out to me was Proverbs 31:30, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. This verse is a good reminder for us all, not just to women. As we age, the things we once thought were so important will no longer matter. The only things that truly matter are those of eternal consequence.
12 Tuesday Aug 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Tags
We must always guard our hearts, minds, and emotions from evil. If we do not put up barriers, they will take over and cause us to fall. Proverbs 25:28 says, Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. While self-control will limit us for sure, it is necessary because being out of control only leads to vulnerability to attack from the enemy. Self-control is our wall of defense and we should constantly strengthen and reinforce it.
08 Friday Aug 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Raising children is hard. Especially when there are days you feel like what you say is not sinking in. Proverbs 22:6 is a great reminder to keep going, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. When it feels like all I am doing as a parent is being lost, I must trust in the Holy Spirit’s power to help it all sink in. It is a matter of perseverance and trust on our part and to never give up.
21 Monday Jul 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Tags
04 Friday Jul 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
As believers we know God will ultimately triumph over all the bad things in this world, but we must be patient for His timing. Revelation 14:12 says, This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. The secret to patience is trust and obedience. We can only control the things we can control knowing God is in control over the rest.
17 Tuesday Jun 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Tags
The verse that stood out to me today was 2 John 1:8, Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you be rewarded fully. Being rewarded fully does not mean salvation, it means being rewarded for loyal service to God. We can only receive salvation once and it is for eternity through grace because of Christ’s sacrifice. But when we have a relationship with God and want to serve Him in all we do, He will reward us for that loyal service.
16 Monday Jun 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
Whether we are children or adults, obedience is not always easy. Sometimes doing the right thing is actually harder than than doing what is easy. Jesus never promised us obeying Him would be easy, but when we love and serve Christ, the hard work and self-discipline in serving Him is not burdensome. 1 John 5:3-4 says, 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. But when the burden does become too heavy, He never leaves us alone and is with us to help carry the load. All that we face and the obedience we show is because of the victory we ultimately have in Christ.
12 Thursday Jun 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
When in doubt, follow what Jesus did. 1 John 2:5-6 says, 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. To live as Jesus did we must obey His teaching and follow His example of obedience to God and serving people with love and kindness. When in doubt, follow what Jesus did.
09 Monday Jun 2014
Posted in Daily Reading
We live in a time where instant gratification is almost a requirement. When we want something (food, drink, clothes, information) we want it immediately and, if possible, at the click of a button. So, when we ask God for something, it can almost seem like God is slow to act on our behalf. Just because God does not operate on our timetable does not mean He is slow. 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God was patient for us and He continues to be patient enough to wait on others to come to Him. At the same time, we are not supposed to wait around for Him to act, we are to move in a direction and be willing to be redirected along the way.
Daily Devotion 