God Takes Care Of Us

“The Lord will fight for you;

   you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:14

God will fight our battles means we do not have to anguish, be anxious, or be discouraged when bad things happen in our lives. When it seems a situation is hopeless or the matter at hand is too overwhelming, we may be tempted to doubt God. But Christians must remember that no problem is beyond the scope of God’s sovereign care for His children. He has promised to take care of us (Philippians 4:19), make good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and love us beyond measure (Romans 8:37–39).

 “Be still' means to stop striving, stop fighting, relax. It also means to “put your hands down”. Sometimes we put our hands up to defend ourselves from all that life can bring our way.”

gotquestons.org

Worry Less Pray More

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer

and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

“Imagine never being “anxious about anything.”  It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school.  But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers.  Do you want to worry less?  Then pray more!  Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.”

Life Application Bible Study

Be Still

“…Be still, and know that I am God!...” (Psalm 46:10, NLT)

Stay at Peace

It’s easy to live frustrated because somebody is not doing what we want, discouraged because of a disappointment, upset because our dreams haven’t come to pass. But God doesn’t remove every frustration. He doesn’t change every person we don’t like or take away everything that’s bothering us. When He says, “Be still and know that I am God,” this implies that if we’re not still, if we’re upset, frustrated, and worried, we’re not going to know that He is God. Most of the time when we’re frustrated, we’re trying to change things that only God can change. We’re trying to be God and fix things over which we have no control. You can’t make people do what’s right or make yourself get well. If you’re trying to control everything, you’re going to be frustrated. Do what you can, then turn it over to God and let Him take care of the rest. Stay at peace, knowing He’s in control.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I can be still and know that You are God. Help me to stop trying to change what only You can change and stop trying to fix things over which I have no control. I declare that I’m going to stay in peace and know that You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen." ~ Joel Osteen Devotional

God’s Compass

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lean on your own

understanding; in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

“When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone - not even God.  But God knows what is best for us.  He is a better judge of what we want than even we are!  We must trust him completely in every choice we make.  We must not be wise in our own eyes.  We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s word and wise counselors.  Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use Bible as your guide, and then follow God’s leading.  He will make your paths straight by both guiding and protecting you.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Focus on God

“Set your minds on things above,

not on things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:2

Exodus 2:7-9

“Special opportunities may come our way unexpectantly.  Don’t let fear of what might happen cause you to miss an opportunity God gives you, and take full advantage of them.

Focusing on our human predicament may paralyze us because the situation may appear humanly impossible.  But concentrating on God and his power will help us see the way out.  Right now you may feel unable to see through your troubles.  Focus instead on God, and trust him for a way out.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Holy Spirit Within Us

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send

in my name, will teach you all things and

will remind you of everything...”

The list of advantages of having the Holy Spirit within us, as compared to having Jesus with us, goes on and on. The advantages can be summed up in the fact that Jesus’ power is now complete and open to all believers (Matthew 28:18  and John 14:12) and is no longer confined to one physical body. Now, it is up to us to find out what it really means to be ‘in Him.’ To find out how each of us can allow Jesus to walk, talk, and work through us – through the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus did not mean for this indwelling of the Holy Spirit to last for only a few years. That would not be helpful to all of us. No, the Holy Spirit’s work is still fully available for each and all of us today.

Study the Bible, receive Jesus, receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and learn to walk in Him. Having the Holy Spirit inside of you is better than having Jesus walking beside you. What an honor! What an opportunity! What an adventure!

~ hopefaithprayer.com

The Lord is My Strength

“The Lord is my strength and my shield,

my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps

for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

Psalm 28:7

Those whose hope and trust is in the Lord are those who receive the blessed assurance of not merely being given strength from God, but having God as their strength and shield.  

David reminds us on today that dependence upon God by faith is truly where strength and protection for the journey in life is found. 

Indeed, the heart that truly hope and trust in the Lord shall greatly rejoice. 

God bless you and remember that God is just a prayer away. Through faith He promises to hear and answer your prayers.

~ totellhimthankyou.com

Peacemaker

“…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9, NIV)

Be a Peacemaker

It’s easy think, If my coworker wasn’t so disrespectful, I wouldn’t argue. No, you have to be the bigger person. Just because they’re doing wrong doesn’t mean you have to engage. That’s the enemy baiting you, saying, “Argue, fight, set the record straight, prove you’re right.” Don’t take the bait. It takes a mature person to overlook an insult and say, “No, I’m staying in peace.” Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who are right.” For the sake of peace, sometimes you have to let the other person think they’re right, even when you know they’re wrong. We think, I’m right, and I’m going to prove it and win this fight. Can we tell you that being right is overrated? You can win every battle, prove your points, but your relationships are being damaged. Put your ego down and let them be right even though you think you’re right. Be a peacemaker and learn to shake it off and move on. Joel Osteen

Self Love

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 22:39

In many places, the Bible says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 19:19; Gal. 5:14), but we often overlook the “as yourself” part. We can’t fully love God or anyone else unless we love ourselves. This means realizing that we’re a child of God, created for fellowship with Him. 

Everyone’s valuable to the Lord. But our self-worth is rooted in the fact that we have a relationship with God. We need to care for ourselves because He’s offered us salvation, given us the Holy Spirit, and developed a unique plan for our life. 

Love of self is essential to God’s plan for every believer. He wants us to exercise proper care for ourselves, which helps us relate to Him. If we dislike ourselves, we may feel unworthy of God’s love and refuse to approach Him as Father. But love teaches us to see ourselves the way He sees us—as His beloved children, each with unique gifts and talents. 

Whoever you are and whatever your circumstances may be, I can tell you something about yourself. God has a special plan for you. But He can’t set you on the path to achieving His goals for your life until you recognize your worth and learn to love the person He created you to be.

In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Love the Lord

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

This is God's greatest commandment to us.  Scripture is clear that the heart is hugely important as far as one’s well being and health is concerned.  Let God help you protect your heart, soul and mind in times of despair, He will give you strength and His love!

Strength of My Heart

“... God is the strength of my heart ...”

Psalm 73:26

“And through our trials and difficulties, God Himself becomes the strength of our lives. God is the strength of our hearts. We are not limited to natural strength.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

A Happy Heart

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, 

but heartache crushes the Spirit.”

The discerning heart seeks knowledge...”

Proverbs 15:13-14

“What we feed our minds is just as important as what we feed our bodies.  The kinds of books we read, the people we talk with, the music we listen to, and the films we watch are all part of our mental diet.  Be discerning because what you feed your mind influences your total health and well-being.  Thus, a strong desire to discover knowledge is mark of wisdom.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

My Heart Trusts

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in you, and I have been helped.”

Psalm 28:7

“My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.”  He has promised to be with us in every situation of life... and all God wants from us is to trust His word; believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and hold fast to His many precious promises.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him, but those who put their trust in Him will never be disappointed.”

~ Knowing-Jesus.com

Take Heart In All Things

Ephesians 5:15-20

“...making the most of every opportunity...”

“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

always giving thanks to God the Father

for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“When you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks.  Take heart - in all things God works for our good!  Thank God, not for your problems, but for the strength he is building in you through the difficult experiences of your life.  You can be sure that God’s perfect love will see you through.”

Hope In The Lord

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

Isaiah 40:31

“Hoping in the Lord is expecting that his promise of strength will help us to rise above life’s distractions and difficulties.  Do you believe God loves you and wants the best for you?  Can you relax, confident that his purposes are right?  Are you convinced that he has power to control all of life -and your life as well?  Though your faith may be struggling or weak, accept his provisions and care for you.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

God My Rock

God My Rock

Song by Brenton Brown

When my heart is overwhelmed
I will look to You alone
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock
You will stand when others fall
You are faithful through it all
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock

In the blessing, in the pain
Through it all You've never failed me

You are the strength of my heart
You are the strength of my heart
I can rely on You, I can rely on You
You are the joy of my life
You are my song in the night
There is no one as true
Jesus I trust in You

When I've struggled to believe
You have not let go of me
God my rock, God my rock, God my rock
Carried through the darkest storms
You have held me in Your arms
God my rock God my rock God my rock

Closed Doors

“What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts

no one can open.”

Revelation 3:11

Closed doors prevent mistakes. Just because a path is clear doesn’t mean it’s the one God intends for us to follow. Sometimes we won’t have the information we need to make a wise decision, so He blocks the way. The Holy Spirit knows the whole road map for our life, so we should follow Him. 

Closed doors redirect our walk. God won’t leave a willing servant with nothing to do. Closed doors can result in better fruit, more satisfaction, and greater glory for Him. 

Closed doors test faith and build perseverance. Waiting for the Lord is hard, but it’s a means by which we can learn wisdom, patience, and trust. 

Closed doors buy us time. We aren’t always as prepared as we’d like to think. God may temporarily hold shut an opportunity for service until we’re ready. 

Despite the many references to closed doors in this devotion, the real message is that God opens doors for us, and they lead us in the best possible direction. His path is perfect, and if we stay on it, we will live a life of service, satisfaction, and glory for God.

~In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

God Fights For You

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you 

to fight for you against your enemies

to give you victory.”

“Just like the Israelites, we sometime face over-whelming opposition.  Whether at school, at work, or even at home, we can feel outnumbered and helpless.  God bolstered the Israelites’ confidence by reminding them that he was always with them from the potential danger.  We too can feel secure when we consider that God is able to overcome even the most difficult odds.”

~ Life Application Study Bible