Generous Provisions

2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Here Paul is talking specifically about giving of our treasures to help others in need.  If we give generously with no thought of reward, God will reward us great than we can possibly imagine.

I love God for this.  I love how He says basically, if you do it humbly, I will reward you beyond your greatest imagination.  Only a loving God can do that.

Dear Lord, I am so blessed by Your unfailing love and never-ending mercy.  I don't know how I deserve You, but I am so thankful I have found You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Highest Hopes

2 Corinthians 8:5 - Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.

Here Paul is referring to the churches in Macedonia, but these really are instructions to all Christians today.  We must dedicate ourselves to God and our brothers and sisters in Christ, and trust whereever God guides us.

I am so dedicated to God.  I will follow where He leads me.  And recently, I witnessed a stunning example of what being dedicated to our brothers and sisters in Christ means.  I want to be like that.

Dear Lord, as I renew my dedication to You today, help me be the example that I saw last night so that others will see the great work You are capable of.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

The Rock

1 Samuel 2:2 - No one is holy like the Lord!  There is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God.

Hannah was so faithful to the Lord.  She was so humble and knew how to give praise to God for bringing her son to her.  God is our Rock to lean on, and there is none greater than Him.

Do I give God the praise and reverence to God that He deserves?  Am I humble enough before Him?  Do I lean on my Rock during times of pain and suffering?  I lean on no other.  Nothing gives me greater joy than my love for Jesus.

Dear Lord, thank You for being my Rock to lean on.  These past few months have been especially trying for me, and You have stood faithfully beside me.  Thank You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Nothing - Everything

2 Corinthians 6:10 - Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.  We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

This is a great way to describe our relationship with Christ.  He fills our hearts with joy, despite the aching of our sin.  He fills our spirits so that we may help others fill theirs with love.  He gives everything we need to be faithful to Him.

I am so happy to have found Jesus Christ.  He has filled my heart and spirit with so much joy and love, that my cup runs over.  I wouldn't trade this relationship for anything in the world.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for this relationship I have with You.  I know I had to seek you for redemption, but I feel like You were always seeking me too.  Thank You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

New People

2 Corinthians 5:17 - What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons.  They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone.  A new life has begun.

Once we accept Christ has died for our sins and bring Him into our hearts and lives, we must turn our back on our old ways.  We must start to live for Him, just like He died for us.

I am happy to turn from my old ways and live for Christ.  My old life only brought me trouble and sadness, but my new life with Christ has nothing but joy and happiness ahead.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for the opportunity of this new life.  I am so thankful and so grateful for Your love and kindness.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Wonderful Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:1 - And so, since God in His mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.

The wonderful ministry that Paul speaks of, is the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  It is our duty to share it.  No matter how hard the persecution may be at times, we never give up.

I am happy to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with anyone that will listen...and some that won't.  If I lose friends because of it, then they weren't meant to be there.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful ministry of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I am so blessed.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Power & Success

2 Corinthians 3:5 - It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves.  Our only power and success come from God.

Everything we are and everything we have, we owe to God.  It is through His love and grace alone that we have anything in this world.  Nothing we do of our own accord will ever last long enough for us to enjoy it.

I try very hard to be thankful to God for His unfailing love and kindness.  I know He is responsible for all the good in my life.  I need to make sure that I keep my focus on His promise.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for everything You have done for me and everything You have given me.  Help me stay strong in my faith in You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Sincerity

2 Corinthians 2:17 - You see, we are not like those hucksters - and there are many of them - who preach just to make money.  We preach God's message with sincerity and with Christ's authority.  And we know that the God who sent us is watching us.

Paul made it clear that preaching the Good News for money was the only reward the people who did it would receive.  The real reward of preaching His Word is the privilege of doing it and the honor of working for Christ's cause.

I only want to glorify God in all that I do.  That is my true reward.  That is all God wants from us.  I just hope that I can show the proper honor and reverance for Christ.

Dear Lord, thank You for allowing me to serve You.  My reward is in Your service, and I am honored by Your gift of salvation.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Honoring God

Psalms 50:23 - "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.  If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God."

This is a great Psalm.  In it, God is saying that He doesn't want or need any burnt sacrifices.  He just wants our praise and the sacrifice of our devotion to Him.  But not without reward.  He promises His Salvation in return.

I am happy to stay faithful to God.  It means I will have His salvation and His gift of eternal life.  That's a pretty awesome reward.

Dear Lord, I come before You in absolute faith and devotion to You.  I completely beg for Your forgiveness for my sins and ask for Your mighty healing power.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Courageous

1 Corinthians 16:13 - Be on guard.  Stand true what you believe.  Be courageous.  Be strong.

These were very simple final instructions from Paul.  He was reminding them to be on guard from evil.  From sin.  To stand true in their beliefs and to not let outside influences compromise their faith.

Simple but important instructions.  I have seen a lot of people compromise their faith because of outside influences.  I am certain that I have done it myself before I had a real relationship with God.  It takes strength and courage to stay true, and we can only get that from God.

Dear Lord, I want to thank You for giving me the strength and courage to stand true to my faith in You in the face of temptation.  All praise be to You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

A Great Harvest

1 Corinthians 15:20 - But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead.  He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.

Paul is speaking of Jesus' return to reclaim those believers who have died and to take them up to Heaven with Him.  Christ is the first of a great soul harvest.

Will I be part of this great soul harvest?  Have I found favor with God?  I know I am not perfect and I don't deserve His mercy, but I know He loves me regardless.

Dear Lord, I don't want to ask You for anything, because I have no right to be that presumptuous.  I just want to thank You for loving me anyway.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Thriving

Psalms 52:8 - But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.  I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever.

David knew how to thrive.  He knew that without God's love in his life, he could not survive.  Just like an olive tree couldn't survive without proper care.  God's love is our nourishment.

I enjoy my quiet time with God every day.  He is my nourishment, and I cannot live without Him.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for caring for me.  I know that I could not survive with You, and I praise You for Your nourishment daily.  Because of You, I am thriving.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

My Hope

Psalms 39:7 - And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?  My only hope is in You.

David had it right.  Our only hope is in God.  No one else would ever be willing to give up their only son to save us.  As long as we keep our hope in God and His Son Jesus, we will be just fine.

I am so blessed to have found my salvation in Jesus Christ.  It took me a lot longer than I would have preferred, but I won't complain...I have hope!

Dear Lord, thank You for saving me.  Words cannot express my gratitude for Your gift of salvation.  Thank You for giving me hope.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

The Body

1 Corinthians 12:26 - If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

This is a great metaphor of the church body.  Paul is speaking about unity within the church.  If one member is suffering we should all work together to help them.  It is our duty as Christians.

I have realized that my desire and ability to help others is indeed a gift from God.  This is my calling from Him, and I want nothing more than to use it for His glory.

Dear Lord, please continue to use me to help others.  I desire only Your glory and I pray for the guidance from You to be a positive reinforcement to everyone.  Amen!

Examining

1 Corinthians 11:31 - "But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way."

Paul was reminding them that they should be mindfule of their hearts.  God knows the heart of every man, and if our hearts are not true when we worship God, he will know.

I love communion time.  Even though I have my quiet time with God every day, communion is extra special.  My heart and mind are more focused on my prayer and listening to God.  I have no doubt that this is the Lord doing His work in me.

Dear Lord, help me to stay focused on You.  Not just during communion time, but all time.  You know my heart, and I want You to lead me.  Amen!

Tempted

1 Corinthians 10:13 - ...God is faithful.  He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it.  When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

Whatever temptations we may face, God already knows about.  He may test us from time to time, but He will always show us a way through without giving in to the temptation because His faithful love endures forever.

I know I have faced many temptations in my life.  Too many to count.  At the time, I didn't understand how I got through them without giving in and making a stupid decision.  Now I know it was through His love and grace alone.

Dear Lord, please contine to guide me through the every day temptations that rise up in front of me.  With Your love and grace I know I will conquer them all.  Amen!

Eternal Prize

1 Corinthians 9:25 - All athletes practice strict self control.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

Paul is reminding the Corinthians that controlling their desires to sin is not for a mere earthly prize.  It is for an eternal prize from God in heaven.  But we have to practice strict self control.

Controlling my sin is tough.  Just because I am saved doesn't mean I am sinless, it just means I sin less.  I have to work hard at my self control so that I may stay right in the eyes of God.

Dear Lord, give me the strength and courage to have the self control over my sin, so that I may enjoy my eternal prize in heaven with You forever.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Love God

1 Corinthians 8:3 - But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.

God loves all of His children.  But the ones that love Him back, and seek that relationship with Him, are cared for and protected by Him in a special way.  Nothing or no one on this earth can do the same thing for us.

I feel so blessed.  God has blessed me in ways that I can't begin to describe.  He has loved and cared for me like no other can.  All honor and praise be to Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for the opportunity to serve and worship You.  Thank You for Your care and protection.  You are everything I have searched for my whole life.  Amen!

Enslaved

1 Corinthians 7:23 - God purchased you at a high price.  Don't be enslaved by the world.

God set us free from a life where we were slaves to our sin.  He paid the highest price possible for it.  We owe it to God to make sure we honor and praise Him for this.

My old life as an unbeliever was so unfulfilled and empty.  All I cared about was doing what made me feel good. But I never quenched that hunger.  God did.  He set me free from my slavery to sin.  God is Freedom.

Dear Lord, thank You so much for my freedom.  I will spend the rest of my life giving You the honor and praise You deserve.  Amen!

Marvelous Power

1 Corinthians 6:14 - And God will rise our bodies from the dead by His marvelous power, just as He raised our Lord from the dead.

Even though our earthly bodies have very little true meaning, Paul tells us to be mindful of destroying them because God cares for them and He will raise us up to Him from the dead like He did with Jesus.

This has been something I have struggled with for most of my life.  I have not been good about taking care of my body as God wants.  I know with His strength, I can and will overcome this as well.

Dear Lord, give me the strength and marvelous power to overcome my biggest sins and weaknesses so that I may continue to honor You as I should.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Sure Salvation

Pslms 69:13 - But I keep right on praying to You, Lord, hoping this is the time You will show me favor.  In Your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with Your sure salvation.

David knew that he was unworthy because of his sins, but he knew that God would protect and save him because of His unfailing love the salvation that God promised.

I know that I am unworthy.  I don't deserve any of God's love and kindness.  None of us do.  But I sleep better at night knowing that it doesn't matter what I may think I know.  It matters that God loves me and I have been saved because of His unfailing love.

Dear Lord, I cannot thank You enough for Your love and Your gift of Your sure salvation.  All praise be to You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Examining

1 Corinthians 4:4 - My conscience is clear, but that isn't what matters.  It is the Lord Himself who will examine me and decide.

Paul wasn't seeking the approval of the Corinthians for his work.  He knew that he done what he was supposed to do, but he knew it was up to God to decide if he had done everything properly.

Do I have a clear conscience?  I know what I have done in my life, and that I am an unworthy sinner.  I may not speak aloud of some things, but God knows my heart, and He knows my heart belongs to Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness.  I know that I don't deserve it, and I am rescused from my sin by Your love and grace alone.  Thank You so much.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Courageous

Joshua 1:9 - "I command you - be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

God is giving Joshua some of the same words of encouragement to Joshua that He gave to Moses.  He was reminding him also to study God's Word every day so that Joshua would be successful in leading Israel into their new land.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone could say, "I talked to God the other day and He said He's got my back."  That's how living a life in service to God is.  He'll have our back.  That's some pretty strong protection.

Dear Lord, thank You for protecting me as I go out into the world every day.  I know that as long as I have You I have nothing to fear from anyone on this earth.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Understanding

1 Corinthians 2:9 - "That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Here, Paul is epreaching about wisdom to the Corinthians.  He is explaining that people who don't believe in God will not understand His plan.  But for true believers, the Holy Spirit will reveal His plan.

Nothing wrong with having that kind of inside information.  But we have to be careful not to brag or be boastful.  We need to share it with others so that they can come to understand as well.

Dear Lord, give me the wisdom and the words to share Your Word so that I may help others to come to know Your splendor as I have.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Tender Mercies

Psalms 40:11 - Lord, don't hold back Your tender mercies from me.  My only hope is in Your unfailing love and faithfulness.

David was such a humble man.  He knew that he was nothing without the Lord's love and mercy.  And he was not too proud to beg God not to deny him.

Has God blessed me with His unfailing love and faithfulness and tender mercies?  He sure has.  Even though I don't deserve them, He still blessed me with them.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving me.  When I felt that I was not loveable, You prived me wrong and showed me Your unfailing love.  Thank You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Holy People

Deuteronomy 28:9 - "If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in His ways, the Lord will establish you as His holy people as He solemly promised to do."

Moses was very clear with his instructions to the people here.  All they had to do was to follow the rules God gave them in His covenant with them, and they would be blessed.

We all know that if God says it, it's true.  He wants a relationship with us.  But we have to want it too.  This is where free will comes in to play.  He won't force us, but He will bless us.

Dear Lord, please continue to give me Your blessings as I try hard every day to sin less and to keep my relationship with You.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Freedom To Love

Galatians 5:13 - For you have been called to live in freedom - not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.

Going from slaves to our sin, to being slaves of love and kindness.  There is nothing wrong with that at all.  Loving each other is the best thing we can do for each other.

I am happy to serve God in this manner.  If loving everyone as God commands will put me right in His eyes, I am happy to do it.  Besides, hate and bitterness hurts.

Dear Lord, help me to sty true in my faith to You, and show love to everyone You put in front of me.  Let me serve You and them with love.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

God's Children

Galatians 4:7 - Now you are no longer a slave, but God's own child.  And since you are His child, everything He has belongs to you.

When we accept Christ's redemption and salvation and get baptized, we are born anew as children of God.  And God will spoil us with the riches of His unfailing and perfect love.

Now this is what I call an inheritance!  I wasn't born into a wealthy family, but I was born anew into the wealthiest family that has ever or will ever exist.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your amazing inheritance You have offered me.  Help me stay true and faithful to You so that I may enjoy it.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Victory

Deuteronomy 20:4 - For the Lord your God is going with you!  He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory!

God will protect and care for those who put their faith and trust in Him.  He will not let them fall because He loves them.

This is such a great promise of God.  I know He loves me, and He will not let me stumble as long as my faith in Him remains true.  I hope I never let Him down.

Dear Lord, give me the strength to be true to You in faith so that I may enjoy Your gift of life eternal with You and Jesus in heaven.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Meaningful Needs

Galatians 2:21 - "I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless.  For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die."

We are saved by grace alone through our faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ.

No works can save us.  If it was that easy, everyone would do it.  I pray that I am found in God's grace when my time comes. My belief and faith in Jesus is stronger than it has ever been and will only get stronger.

Dear Lord, thank You for this amazing gift of salvation.  I will treasure it always and never take it for granted.  You are my great Redeemer.  Amen!

God Bless!!!

Serve & Obey

Deuteronomy 13:4 - Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone.  Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.

These are very simple instructions that Moses gave the people directly from God.  We are to serve and obey God, and He will take care of us.  He promised this.

I am so happy to be in God's service.  It is the best thing I have ever done with my life.

Dear Lord, thank You for allowing me to serve You.  I cannot imagine a life without You in it, nor do I want to.  Amen!

God Bless!!!