Monday, January 1, 2007
Creflo Dollar - Daily Devotional
"...May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance..." (1 Peter 1:2, AMP).
God wants to bless you with His grace and peace beyond what you could imagine. No matter what may be troubling you, lay hold of these things by faith and experience true spiritual blessings from the Lord.
God wants to bless you with His grace and peace beyond what you could imagine. No matter what may be troubling you, lay hold of these things by faith and experience true spiritual blessings from the Lord.
From Veronica: Prayer for For You for 2007
I pray that peace break into your house and that thieves will come to steal your debts. I pray the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
I pray that love will stick to your face like Vaseline and laughter assault your lips! I ask God to cause your clothes to have the smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words ...
I pray that love will stick to your face like Vaseline and laughter assault your lips! I ask God to cause your clothes to have the smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words ...
May 2007 be the best year of your life!!!
This is the year of completion. It's done in Jesus Name!
Kenneth Copeland: "Happy New Year"
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
Today people everywhere are gathering together to celebrate the first bright moments of the New Year.
Yet, for thousands of others, this day will be the toughest 24 hours of their lives. For those people, New Year's will serve only as a dim reminder of loneliness and loss. It will simply mark the beginning of another year of failure.
What about you? What's this year really going to be like for you?
You may appear to be happy enough. You may be passing out seasonal smiles and holiday greetings just like everybody else. But inside, you may hurt. You may be disappointed. You may even feel like you can't go on.
If so, I want you to know something. All of that can change in an instant. You can start your life over today and make this New Year's Day the most joyful day of your life!
How many times have you said to yourself, "If I could just start over, I'd do it all differently"? That doesn't have to be simply an idle wish. Jesus Christ has actually made it possible. That's His Christmas present to you. He paid the price for all your sins. He paid the penalty for all your mistakes.
That's the reason He came to earth. That's the reason He was born--so you could start over!
You may look at your life and say, "But I've made some terrible mistakes. I've done some despicable things." That doesn't matter. Jesus paid the price for them all!
How can you make a new start? Romans 10:9 says that "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." It's as easy as saying, "Jesus, I'm turning my life over to You. From this day forward I'm Yours."
What better time to turn your life around than on this first day of the New Year. Right now, wherever you are, just give your life to Jesus. Then jump up and down and holler, "Praise God, I'm starting all over!" And find out what it really means to have a Happy New Year!
Scripture Study: Romans 10:1-13
Today people everywhere are gathering together to celebrate the first bright moments of the New Year.
Yet, for thousands of others, this day will be the toughest 24 hours of their lives. For those people, New Year's will serve only as a dim reminder of loneliness and loss. It will simply mark the beginning of another year of failure.
What about you? What's this year really going to be like for you?
You may appear to be happy enough. You may be passing out seasonal smiles and holiday greetings just like everybody else. But inside, you may hurt. You may be disappointed. You may even feel like you can't go on.
If so, I want you to know something. All of that can change in an instant. You can start your life over today and make this New Year's Day the most joyful day of your life!
How many times have you said to yourself, "If I could just start over, I'd do it all differently"? That doesn't have to be simply an idle wish. Jesus Christ has actually made it possible. That's His Christmas present to you. He paid the price for all your sins. He paid the penalty for all your mistakes.
That's the reason He came to earth. That's the reason He was born--so you could start over!
You may look at your life and say, "But I've made some terrible mistakes. I've done some despicable things." That doesn't matter. Jesus paid the price for them all!
How can you make a new start? Romans 10:9 says that "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." It's as easy as saying, "Jesus, I'm turning my life over to You. From this day forward I'm Yours."
What better time to turn your life around than on this first day of the New Year. Right now, wherever you are, just give your life to Jesus. Then jump up and down and holler, "Praise God, I'm starting all over!" And find out what it really means to have a Happy New Year!
Scripture Study: Romans 10:1-13
Just do it!
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
Fear not. That is the message David had for his son, Solomon. For many years, David wanted to build a temple for the Lord. But God told Him that specific job belonged to his son, Solomon. Solomon was young and inexperienced, and even though he knew he had a mandate from God, he was intimidated by the prospect of building a great house of worship, one that would be a dwelling place for the Most High. Your can probably understand his apprehension.
But his father David had some good advice for him. He told his son, "Forget your fear. God is bigger than your problems. He is bigger than the temple you are going to build. He is bigger than any adversity that you might face. So just get busy and do your part and God will do the rest."
Perhaps as this New Year approaches you have some changes that need to be made. Maybe you need a renovation in your marriage, finances, health, or emotions. Whatever your individual needs may be, notice the words of David, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you."
A Prayer for Today
God, I'm excited to see what You have planned for me this year. Whatever I face, I will not be intimidated. I will begin this year by seeing myself as You do – happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thank you for the gift of another year. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's Scripture
"Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not; be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord." (I Chronicles 28:20)Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Fear not. That is the message David had for his son, Solomon. For many years, David wanted to build a temple for the Lord. But God told Him that specific job belonged to his son, Solomon. Solomon was young and inexperienced, and even though he knew he had a mandate from God, he was intimidated by the prospect of building a great house of worship, one that would be a dwelling place for the Most High. Your can probably understand his apprehension.
But his father David had some good advice for him. He told his son, "Forget your fear. God is bigger than your problems. He is bigger than the temple you are going to build. He is bigger than any adversity that you might face. So just get busy and do your part and God will do the rest."
Perhaps as this New Year approaches you have some changes that need to be made. Maybe you need a renovation in your marriage, finances, health, or emotions. Whatever your individual needs may be, notice the words of David, "Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you."
A Prayer for Today
God, I'm excited to see what You have planned for me this year. Whatever I face, I will not be intimidated. I will begin this year by seeing myself as You do – happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thank you for the gift of another year. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Giving Your Dreams a New Beginning
Joel Osteen
AUDIO PODCAST
God has given you the potential for greatness. When life is unfair and pushes you down, you have to get back up, brush yourself off and let the past be the past. Then you can give new life to the dreams God has put in your heart.Joyce Meyer: "Biblical Confessions Over Your Life"
- I love all people, and I am loved by all people.
- I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life - spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.
- All my children have lots of Christian friends, and God has set aside a Christian wife or husband for each of them.
- All my household are blessed in their deeds: we’re blessed when we come in and when we go out.
- I take good care of my body. I eat right, I look good, I feel good, and I weigh what God wants me to weigh.
- I operate in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are tongues and interpretation of tongues, the working of miracles, discerning of spirits, the word of faith, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, healings, and prophecy.
- I know God’s voice, and I always obey what He tells me.
- The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.
- I do all my work excellently and with great prudence – making the most of all of my time.
- I am creative because the Holy Spirit lives in me.
- I love to pray. I love to praise and worship God.
- I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. I will speak forth the righteousness of God all the day long.
- I have humbled myself, and God has exalted me.
- I am a giver. It is more blessed to give than to receive. I love to give! I have plenty of money to give away all the time.
- I cast all my care on the Lord for He cares for me.
- I don’t give the devil a foothold in my life. I resist the devil, and he has to flee from me.
- I don’t have a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.
- I am not afraid of the faces of man. I am not afraid of the anger of man.
- I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.
- I have died and have been raised with Christ and am now seated in heavenly places.
- I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness.
- I am a doer of the Word. I meditate on the Word all the day long.
- I am not passive about anything, but I deal with all things in my life immediately.
- I do not judge my sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus after the flesh. I am a spiritual man and am judged by no one.
- I take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ, casting down every imagination, and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
- I am a responsible person. I enjoy responsibility, and I rise to every responsibility in Jesus.
- I have been set free. I am free to love, to worship, to trust with no fear of rejection or of being hurt.
- I have compassion and understanding for all people.
- I catch the devil in all of his deceitful lies. I cast them down and choose rather to believe the Word of God.
- I am Anointed by God for ministry. Alleluia!
- Work is good. I enjoy work. Glory!
- I have a teachable spirit.
- I do not think more highly of myself than I ought to in the flesh.
- Pain cannot successfully come against my body because Jesus bore all my pain.
- I am a teacher of the Word.
- I lay hands on the sick, and they recover.
- I do what I say I will do, and I get where I am going on time.
- I don’t hurry and rush; I do one thing at a time.
- God opens my mouth, and no man can shut it. God shuts my mouth, and no man can open it.
- The law of kindness is in my tongue. Gentleness is in my touch. Mercy and compassion is in my hearing.
- As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he; therefore, all of my thoughts are positive.
- I do not allow the devil to use my spirit as a garbage dump by meditating on negative things that he offers me.
- I am a believer not a doubter.
- No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper, but every tongue that rises against me in judgement, I shall show to be in the wrong.
- I am slow to speak, quick to hear, and slow to anger.
- I cast out devils and demons; nothing deadly can hurt me.
- I never bind a sister or brother with the words of my mouth.
- I am always a positive encouragement. I edify and build up; I never tear down or destroy.
- I will cry to God most high Who performs on my behalf and rewards me.
- My son (name) has a sweet personality, and he is not rebellious.
- I don’t speak negative things.
- My children love to pray and study the Word. They openly and boldly praise God.
- My children make right choices according to the Word of God.
- I am an obedient wife, and no rebellion operates in me.
- My husband is wise. He is the king and priest of our home. He makes Godly decisions.
- I use my time wisely. All of my prayer and study time is wisely spent.
- I walk in the spirit all of the time.
- My car is paid for.
- I am rich - very rich.
- I love to bless people and spread the Gospel.
- I am an intercessor.
- I receive speaking engagements in person, by phone, and/or by mail every day.
- My daughter (name) operates in Godly wisdom and discipline, and she is full of energy.
- I have a finished basement.
- I have a beautiful wedding ring.
- We have all the new furniture we need. We have a new car.
- I never get tired or grow weary when I study the Word, pray, minister, or praise God; but I am alert and full of energy. And as I study, I become more alert and more energized.
- I will to study the Word of God. I will to pray.
- My husband can see perfectly. By the stripes of Jesus, he is healed.
- I do not hate or walk in unforgiveness.
- I do not fear. I am not guilty.
Kenneth Copeland: "Don't Speak--Shout Your Victory!"
"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised." (Psalm 113:3)
Praise God. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise Him at night. If you've never praised God in your life, then get started right now. Praise Him for freedom. Praise Him for healing and Calvary. Praise Him for the Name of Jesus.
You ought to be shouting your way to work and shouting your way back home! If there's anything the devil can't stand, it's praise.
If you've taken territory from the devil and he's coming against you to get it back, this is not the time to sit down and whine about how things aren't working out. It's not time to decide that God has taken His hand off your life.
It IS time to get into the Word and get yourself reanchored in God's promises. It is time to keep that promise constantly before your eyes and in your heart. It is time to pray the prayer of faith and take your stand on the basis of His provision. It is time to continue to do the things you know to do.
When Satan starts shaking your mountain, don't retreat and run for cover. Speak to the mountain with the authority you wield in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then, when you're done with that, start to praise and shout the victory.
You don't have to be afraid of Satan. He'll be afraid of you!
Scripture Study: Psalm 50:1-23
Praise God. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him at noon. Praise Him at night. If you've never praised God in your life, then get started right now. Praise Him for freedom. Praise Him for healing and Calvary. Praise Him for the Name of Jesus.
You ought to be shouting your way to work and shouting your way back home! If there's anything the devil can't stand, it's praise.
If you've taken territory from the devil and he's coming against you to get it back, this is not the time to sit down and whine about how things aren't working out. It's not time to decide that God has taken His hand off your life.
It IS time to get into the Word and get yourself reanchored in God's promises. It is time to keep that promise constantly before your eyes and in your heart. It is time to pray the prayer of faith and take your stand on the basis of His provision. It is time to continue to do the things you know to do.
When Satan starts shaking your mountain, don't retreat and run for cover. Speak to the mountain with the authority you wield in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then, when you're done with that, start to praise and shout the victory.
You don't have to be afraid of Satan. He'll be afraid of you!
Scripture Study: Psalm 50:1-23
Friday, December 29, 2006
Joyce Meyer: "Be Still and Know That I Am God"
Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.... —Psalm 46:10
One of the most awesome commands that God gives to man is, "Be still" (Psalm 46:10).
Our activity when birthed out of the flesh actually prevents God from showing Himself strong in our lives.
This doesn't mean we are to be passive or lazy. It means we are to do whatever God leads us to do, without running ahead of Him in the energy of the flesh.
We need to be careful to submit our ideas and plans to God, then slow down, and wait. Make sure there is a sense of peace to go along with the plans and ideas. Ask the Lord for His will in your life, then be still and know that He is God.
Learn to trust the Lord without having to know what He is going to do, when He is going to do it, and how He is going to do it. Just let Him do it.
If you will turn your heart toward God in loving trust, He will do what needs to be done.
God gives His highest and best to those whose trust is in Him. Be still and let Him show Himself strong in your life.
Do This:
Be still and know that He is God. Be assured that as long as you trust Him, He will never fail you or disappoint you.
One of the most awesome commands that God gives to man is, "Be still" (Psalm 46:10).
Our activity when birthed out of the flesh actually prevents God from showing Himself strong in our lives.
This doesn't mean we are to be passive or lazy. It means we are to do whatever God leads us to do, without running ahead of Him in the energy of the flesh.
We need to be careful to submit our ideas and plans to God, then slow down, and wait. Make sure there is a sense of peace to go along with the plans and ideas. Ask the Lord for His will in your life, then be still and know that He is God.
Learn to trust the Lord without having to know what He is going to do, when He is going to do it, and how He is going to do it. Just let Him do it.
If you will turn your heart toward God in loving trust, He will do what needs to be done.
God gives His highest and best to those whose trust is in Him. Be still and let Him show Himself strong in your life.
Do This:
Be still and know that He is God. Be assured that as long as you trust Him, He will never fail you or disappoint you.
Gloria Copeland: "Remember Noah"
"And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:7-8)
One of the dirtiest, most damaging lies that the devil ever told you was when he said, "You aren't important." Don't you ever believe that.
You are important! Every born-again member in the Church of Jesus Christ has a part to play in God's plan. God has something for you to do that no one else can do just like you can. If you don't take your place and do your part, things won't be quite right.
I can just hear you thinking, "Oh, Gloria, I'm just one person. What could I possibly do that could be so significant?"
Look in Genesis 6, and you'll see the answer to that question. There you'll see that the people on the earth had gotten so wicked that God had regretted that He'd made them. He was ready to wipe the whole population out--but He didn't. Why? Because of one man: Noah! One obedient man saved the human race.
Think about that. What if Noah had said, "Well, this is just too much pressure for me. I can't live upright before God in the middle of this ungodly generation. I mean, everybody around me is living the other way. Every man around me imagines only evil in his heart. I can't make any difference in this dark world anyway. I'm just one man."
Praise God, Noah didn't say that. He didn't picture himself as an insignificant man whose life didn't matter. According to Hebrews, he saw himself as a man to whom God had spoken and by faith he obeyed God. And because of that he ended up being the only thing that stood between mankind and total destruction.
Next time you're tempted to shrug off the instructions of God and be disobedient, next time you catch yourself thinking, "It doesn't matter what I do"--remember Noah. Consider the fact that, whether you understand it or not, God is counting on you to carry out your part of His plan. Live like you're someone important in the kingdom of God. And sooner or later you'll realize, you are.
Scripture Study: Genesis 6
One of the dirtiest, most damaging lies that the devil ever told you was when he said, "You aren't important." Don't you ever believe that.
You are important! Every born-again member in the Church of Jesus Christ has a part to play in God's plan. God has something for you to do that no one else can do just like you can. If you don't take your place and do your part, things won't be quite right.
I can just hear you thinking, "Oh, Gloria, I'm just one person. What could I possibly do that could be so significant?"
Look in Genesis 6, and you'll see the answer to that question. There you'll see that the people on the earth had gotten so wicked that God had regretted that He'd made them. He was ready to wipe the whole population out--but He didn't. Why? Because of one man: Noah! One obedient man saved the human race.
Think about that. What if Noah had said, "Well, this is just too much pressure for me. I can't live upright before God in the middle of this ungodly generation. I mean, everybody around me is living the other way. Every man around me imagines only evil in his heart. I can't make any difference in this dark world anyway. I'm just one man."
Praise God, Noah didn't say that. He didn't picture himself as an insignificant man whose life didn't matter. According to Hebrews, he saw himself as a man to whom God had spoken and by faith he obeyed God. And because of that he ended up being the only thing that stood between mankind and total destruction.
Next time you're tempted to shrug off the instructions of God and be disobedient, next time you catch yourself thinking, "It doesn't matter what I do"--remember Noah. Consider the fact that, whether you understand it or not, God is counting on you to carry out your part of His plan. Live like you're someone important in the kingdom of God. And sooner or later you'll realize, you are.
Scripture Study: Genesis 6
Christ makes everything new
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
With the new year comes fresh starts, resolutions, and new beginnings. It is a time of making plans, setting goals, and writing visions. But the greatest "new start" of all comes through Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come."
If you need a new beginning this year, in any area of your life, allow Christ to make you a new creation and the old will pass away! He will put a new and right spirit within you when you call upon His name! This year, make your relationship with Him your number one priority. As you develop an intimacy with Him through daily prayer and the study of His Word, you will experience the joy of newness of life!
A Prayer for Today
God, this is the year I put You first. I want to start with a clean slate and begin anew as I develop a deeper personal relationship with You. Thank you for sending Your Son who gave His life so I could have a new beginning.
Today's Scripture
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." (Psalms 51:10)Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
With the new year comes fresh starts, resolutions, and new beginnings. It is a time of making plans, setting goals, and writing visions. But the greatest "new start" of all comes through Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come."
If you need a new beginning this year, in any area of your life, allow Christ to make you a new creation and the old will pass away! He will put a new and right spirit within you when you call upon His name! This year, make your relationship with Him your number one priority. As you develop an intimacy with Him through daily prayer and the study of His Word, you will experience the joy of newness of life!
A Prayer for Today
God, this is the year I put You first. I want to start with a clean slate and begin anew as I develop a deeper personal relationship with You. Thank you for sending Your Son who gave His life so I could have a new beginning.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Joyce Meyer: "Kingdom Living"
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."
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."
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
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Gloria Copeland: "Don't Answer"
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
Be not conformed to this world. If you live like the world, you'll be overcome by the world. It's as simple as that. So don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold.
Instead..."be transformed" by the entire renewal of your mind. Overcome the world by having your mind transformed to think like God thinks. In other words, when you see something in the Word, say, "I agree with that. From now on I'm acting on that instead of what I used to think."
For example, when sin calls your name, don't answer. Agree with the Word instead and say, "I'm dead to that, Devil. You can't pull me into it anymore!"
As you do that, you'll find yourself changing. You will find yourself living like a world overcomer!
Scripture Study: Romans 6:1-11
Be not conformed to this world. If you live like the world, you'll be overcome by the world. It's as simple as that. So don't let the world squeeze you into its own mold.
Instead..."be transformed" by the entire renewal of your mind. Overcome the world by having your mind transformed to think like God thinks. In other words, when you see something in the Word, say, "I agree with that. From now on I'm acting on that instead of what I used to think."
For example, when sin calls your name, don't answer. Agree with the Word instead and say, "I'm dead to that, Devil. You can't pull me into it anymore!"
As you do that, you'll find yourself changing. You will find yourself living like a world overcomer!
Scripture Study: Romans 6:1-11
Find that Special Place
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
God's special place for you is where you are most content and fulfilled, experiencing prosperity in your health, your emotions, your relationships, and your finances. A good example of this is found in 1 Kings 17:3, where God told the prophet Elijah, "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." Elijah obeyed God and went, and the ravens fed him. If Elijah had decided not to obey God and do things his own way instead, he would not have been in a place to receive God's blessings. You are blessed when you are fully convinced that God wants to meet all of your needs, and you decide to obey Him.
A Prayer for Today
Lord, I want to thank You for giving me a place where I can be fulfilled and blessed as I serve You. Give me the wisdom and patience to know where to go to find this special place of Your blessing. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Do You Have Room for God?
Joel Osteen
Today's Scripture
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Being fruitful means being productive and excelling in everything you do. When you're fruitful, life isn't a drain, it doesn't wear you out and you don't have to force things to happen. When you confuse fruitfulness with busyness, you can head down a path that wears you out and robs God of His glory. You can be content when you're being fruitful because you know you're living a life that is pleasing to God. A fruitful life blesses others and receives God's blessings in return. This is how God intended your life to be!
A Prayer for Today
God, I know that I am often too busy for my own good. Help me to slow down when necessary and even say "no" to some things so I can give You my best. Thank You for Your love and for designing me to be fruitful! In Jesus' name. Amen.
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