But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. —Matthew 6:33
As the children of God, it is our privilege to live in His Kingdom. What is the Kingdom of God?
According to Romans 14:17, the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. We can gain everything in the world, but without righteousness, peace, and joy, we still have nothing!
People without Christ have things, but not all of them are truly satisfied. Satisfaction in the inner man is what the Lord wants to give.
Jesus wants us to know that we are right with God because of what He has done for us. He wants us to have peace and joy in the midst of tribulation. Only He can give us that. Things can never produce lasting joy by themselves.
When things are right on the inside, outward things don't matter as much. When they don't matter as much to us, God can give us more of them. When we keep our eyes on the true Kingdom of God—on Him, His righteousness, His peace, and His joy—the rest will be added to us in abundance.
Learn to really live in the Kingdom of God.
Say This:
"Because I seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness, He adds to me all the things I need to live in His peace and joy."
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Prepare for Your Blessings
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
God has a place of abundance in store for you! It's a place where all needs are supplied–a place of joy, happiness, and victory. But in order to experience all the great things that God has prepared, there are some conditions that need to be met in the natural. God already did His part to make provision for the blessing. You must do your part to obey the Word of God and aggressively pursue the abundant life that's rightfully yours.
In this new year, stir yourself up to pursue wholeheartedly the dreams God has placed in your heart. Don't settle for a life of mediocrity! Get the Word of God in your heart and walk in the abundant life God has for you. This can be your best year yet!
A Prayer for Today
God, There is no better time to come to You with a renewed spirit and a resolve to be Your disciple on earth. I am excited about the possibilities the new year brings and ask Your blessings for a victorious, abundant life! In Jesus' Name – Amen.
Today's Scripture
"The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity...." (Deuteronomy 28:1)Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God has a place of abundance in store for you! It's a place where all needs are supplied–a place of joy, happiness, and victory. But in order to experience all the great things that God has prepared, there are some conditions that need to be met in the natural. God already did His part to make provision for the blessing. You must do your part to obey the Word of God and aggressively pursue the abundant life that's rightfully yours.
In this new year, stir yourself up to pursue wholeheartedly the dreams God has placed in your heart. Don't settle for a life of mediocrity! Get the Word of God in your heart and walk in the abundant life God has for you. This can be your best year yet!
A Prayer for Today
God, There is no better time to come to You with a renewed spirit and a resolve to be Your disciple on earth. I am excited about the possibilities the new year brings and ask Your blessings for a victorious, abundant life! In Jesus' Name – Amen.
Kenneth Copeland: "Major on Mercy"
"I beseech thee, show me thy glory." (Exodus 33:18)
What would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What's His most important characteristic? Some people would say it's His power. Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer.
You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.
Now the word "glory" could literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their worth.
So what Moses was actually saying was, "Lord, I want to see the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest attributes." What did God say to him in response?
Chapter 34:6-7 tells us, "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."
Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy.
That means if you and I are to imitate God (Eph. 5:1) we must major in mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our behavior above all else.
Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.
Scripture Study
Exodus 33:7-23, Exodus 34:5-10
What would you say is the single, most outstanding thing about God? What's His most important characteristic? Some people would say it's His power. Others, His holiness. But God Himself would give a different answer.
You can find that answer in Exodus 33. There Moses is asking God to show him His glory.
Now the word "glory" could literally be translated "heavy weight." It refers to the heaviest, biggest, grandest thing about someone. It's the sum total of their worth.
So what Moses was actually saying was, "Lord, I want to see the weightiest thing about You. I want to know Your grandest attributes." What did God say to him in response?
Chapter 34:6-7 tells us, "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin."
Just think about that! When Moses asked God to show him the most important thing about Himself, God showed him His mercy.
That means if you and I are to imitate God (Eph. 5:1) we must major in mercy too. Mercy, goodness, forgiveness and compassion must mark our behavior above all else.
Major on mercy and others will see the glory of God in you.
Scripture Study
Exodus 33:7-23, Exodus 34:5-10
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