Life in the Word

Today's Scripture“For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God” (1 Peter 1:23, NLT).

In Genesis we read that God spoke the world into existence. His words produced life and are continuing to produce life today. Aren’t you grateful for the power in God’s Word? Because of God’s Word, we can have life in eternity and live in strength and victory over every obstacle that comes against us here on earth!Today, you have access to life, strength, and victory in the Word of God. The Bible says in Job 22 that what you declare shall be established. When you declare God’s Word, you establish it in your life. You activate its power. Make it a habit to declare God’s Word over your life daily. Declare that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Declare that you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus. Declare that His favor and blessing are upon you because you follow His commands. As you declare His Word, you will see His hand moving on your behalf. You’ll experience His power to live in victory in every area of your life!

A Prayer for TodayHeavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I commit to seek You first and invite You to establish Your Word in my heart. I bless You and magnify You today. In Jesus’ Name

Stir Up Your Dreams

Today's Scripture
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…" (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJ).
Do you need some freshness in your life today? It's probably time to stir up what God has placed on the inside of you. It's time to stir up those gifts, stir up those dreams, stir up those talents inside. Start stretching yourself. You are meant to dream and to pursue the desires God has placed in your heart.

The Scripture tells us that without vision, people perish. If you don't have a dream, you're not really living the way God intends. You're merely existing. Maybe at one time you had a dream, but you went through some disappointments or setbacks. Things didn't turn out the way you planned. But here’s a key: when one dream dies, dream another dream.
Just because it didn't work out the way you had it planned doesn't mean that God doesn't have another plan. You cannot allow one disappointment or even a series of disappointments to convince you that your dream is over. It's time to dig your heals in and hold on to the promises in your heart. As you stir up those God-given dreams and desires, He'll pour out His favor and blessings and fulfill every desire in your heart!

A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, I come humbly to You. I give You my past, my disappointments, my brokenness. Fill me with Your hope and expectation and give me the dreams and desires that You have in store for my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Happy Valentines Day

You Are Loved
February 14

BIBLE MEDITATION:“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers. Did you know that Jesus is the lover of your soul? He is. You, as part of the church, are His bride…His chosen one. Our Lord loves us with an infinite love, an everlasting love, and an indescribable love. Are you without a valentine today? Take heart…His heart. He has set His affection on you. Jesus has purchased you, not with silver or gold as a bridegroom would have in Jesus’ day, but our Lord has purchased you with the silver of His tears and with the gold of His blood. You are loved!

ACTION POINT:Every time you get a Valentine or see an advertisement for Valentine’s Day or hear someone say, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” remember that Jesus is the Lover of your Soul

The Forgiveness of the King

BIBLE MEDITATION:“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:There was a king who asked slaves on a ship, “Why are you in chains?” One replied, “I don’t know. I was in a crowd when a crime was committed. I am innocent.” He asked another who said, “I am not guilty, but am a victim of false witnesses.” The king proceeded to ask each man the same question and each had a reason why he was innocent. That is, until one man responded, “I am here because I deserve to be here. I have sinned against my God and against my king. And now I am paying the penalty.” The king stepped back and said, “What are you doing here among so many honest men? Guards release him!”

ACTION POINT:Not until we admit our sin are we going to know the mercy and the forgiveness of the King. Bow before Him today and admit you are lost without Him.

Unexpected Treasure

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
Devotion:
"Where is that goat?" the young Bedouin shepherd muttered under his breath in frustration. He clambered over the rocks as he moved up the cliff on his search. It was hot, and he was impatient. Rather than going into the darkness of the cave near him to look, the shepherd tossed a rock into the opening and listened for a protesting "Bahhhh!" Instead, he heard the breaking of a pot. Suddenly the goat was forgotten, and the shepherd's curiosity prevailed. He entered the cave to find one of the greatest archeological and religious treasures ever discovered--the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Visiting an exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls recently captured my imagination, and my mind pictured the story above. The tale continues that this nomadic shepherd took the scraps of paper rolled in a cloth and stored in the pot to a merchant in Bethlehem. From there, the treasure passed from hand to hand until they came to rest in a special museum at Hebrew University named the Shrine of the Book. The fact that these ancient documents of God's own Word lay moldering, unfound in a cave for over a thousand years before being found in the search for a wandering goat seized my heart and mind.
Paul tells us that each believer is a jar of clay that contains treasure. When we look through scripture, we can see that we contain peace (Philippians 4:7), the forgiveness of sins, redemption, the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7), joy (John 15:11) and the resurrection power of Christ (Philippians 3:10).
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides a powerful and biblical picture of how a broken vessel can release the power of God into our lives and those around us. Brokenness, although painful, is one of God's means of showing His all-surpassing power in our lives. Even when the cause of our brokenness is the result of living in a fallen and sin-filled world, God is able to show Himself as the Redeemer by pouring out His treasures through us.
Are you a broken or crushed pot today? Are you suffering because of the loss of a job or the current financial crisis? Are your emotions broken and bruised because of the rejection of a friend or husband? Are you experiencing crushing loneliness because of the loss of someone dearly loved? Is your heart torn and bleeding for a wayward child? If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He says even in catastrophic times He is not only with you but longing to pour out through you. God's Word that you have been storing away in the quiet times with Him can be revealed through your brokenness. He sees your pain, and His heart breaks with your every hurt. You are dearly loved. Hold on to His promise that your brokenness is not wasted but releases His Spirit to do works of perseverance, power, character and hope.
At times, I've been a very intact pot, moldering and hidden in a cave while the world around me sinks into the abyss of the absence of His Word. I pray with my broken sisters today that God would use the broken places in each of us for His great glory and our ultimate good. I pray even as He walks with us through the broken places of our lives that His Word would be exposed and powerful in a lost and dying world.
Dear Lord, I come to you in brokenness today. I give myself over to you even in my weakness and frailness. No matter if I've been broken by sin or circumstances, I ask you to fill my broken pot and pour out through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Read the power verses below.
Memorize one of them and quote it often as you struggle in a difficult time.
Reflections:
How can I come to know God's Word better so that it can flow out in times of brokenness?
Power Verses:
Phillipians 3:10-11, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (NIV)
James 1:2-3, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (NIV)
Romans 5:3-5, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (NIV)
© 2009 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries

He's Always There

It matters not what path we take,The high road or the low,Our heavenly Father is always thereWherever we may go.Whatever turn we make in life -To the left or to the right,However far we venture out,We’re still within His sight.If we ascend into the heavens,There our Lord will be.If we make our bed in hell,His grieving Heart shall see.His eye is on the sparrow,He takes note if it should fall;And how much more He cares for usWho respond to His gentle call.Under His Wings we’re sheltered,While held within His Hand;His grace and power enabling usTemptation to withstand.A friend closer than a brother,Our burdens all to bear -Such a tender, loving Shepherd,Yes, "He’s Always There".

"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? OrWhither shall I flee from thy presence?"(Ps. 139:7)