OCTOBER 31, 2013. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

THURSDAY OCTOBER 31

“They…compare themselves with themselves.” 2 Co 10:12 NIV

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

One definition of success is: “Gaining wealth and fame.” But how much wealth do you need to be successful? How much fame?” Should you pick an arbitrary target? Should you compare yourself to others? What if you have decided to devote yourself to raising children of character, or serving your church or your community? Does that mean you are less successful? No. Success is doing the best you can, with what you have, wherever you are in life. The Bible warns, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” When you play the comparison game you are like the two cows that saw the milk truck go by with a sign, “Pasteurized, homogenized, Vitamin A added.” One cow said to the other, “Makes you feel sort of inadequate doesn’t it?” God will help you be all that you can be, but He will never help you be someone else. When you focus your attention on who you aren’t by comparing yourself with someone else, you lose sight of who you need to become. Ever heard of the eighteen/forty/sixty rule? When you’re eighteen, you worry about what everybody’s thinking about you. When you’re sixty, it dawns on you that most of them weren’t thinking about you at all! Paul’s life changed dramatically with one question: “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Ac 9:6 NKJV). Only when you ask that question, will you discover who you are and what God’s called you to be.

Taken from the Word for you Today devotional

OCTOBER 30, 2013. PREPARE FOR ATTACK (4)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30

“What saith my Lord unto his servant? Jos 5:14

PREPARE FOR ATTACK (4)

Some issues are so crucial that until you have resolved them you cannot move forward or enjoy God’s blessing in your life. Joshua faced such an issue when he stood before the towering walls of Jericho, the strongest city in the Promised Land and the first that had to be conquered. We read: “When Joshua was by Jericho…he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man…with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua…said unto him, ‘Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?’ And he said, ‘Nay; but as captain of the hosT of the Lord am I Now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, ‘What saith my lord unto his servant?’ And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, ‘Loose thy shoe from thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.’ And Joshua did” (vv. 13-15). So, what is your Jericho? What’s the one big battle you must win in order to fulfill what God has planned for your life? Some battles can only be won on your knees. Before His victory at the cross, Christ, who is our example, spent His hardest night in Gethsemane praying, ‘Not my will, but thine, be done” (Lk 22:42). Are you intimidated by the size of the challenge? Do you think you don’t have what it takes? Does it feel like you have been going in circles and getting nowhere? Take time out. Get alone with God, and stay in His presence until He gives you His plan. Then say yes to it, and He will empower you.

Taken from the Word for you Today devotional

OCTOBER 29, 2013. PREPARE FOR ATTACK (3)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 29

“But Paul shook the snake off.” Ac 28:5 NIV

PREPARE FOR ATTACK (3)

Luke writes: “The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper…fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god”(vv. 2-6 NIV). People’s opinions are often fickle, so there’s a response you need to adopt: “Shake it off!” These folks started out thinking that Paul was an escaped convict, and ended up thinking he was a god. Incredible! There is an important lesson here. Beware of those who change their mind about you when your circumstances change. Build your life on those who believe the best about you, and want to bring it out. Behind Paul’s spectacular success in ministry you will find people who never stopped believing in him. He writes, “Priscilla and Aquila…risked their lives for me” (Ro 16:4 NIV). He called Epaphroditus “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier…who ministered to my need” (Php 2:25 NKJV). He says that Onesiphorus “often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (2 Ti 1:16 NIV). Look for such people; they’ll bless you. And they’re out there!

Taken from the Word for you Today devotional

OCTOBER 28, 2013. PREPARE TO ATTACK (2)

MONDAY OCTOBER 28

“A brother is born for adversity.” Pr 17:17

PREPARE TO ATTACK (2)

Nehemiah discovered that not everybody will be happy about your success. “Sanballat…sent to me, saying, ‘Come, let us meet together’…But they thought to do me harm. So, I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’ But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner” (Ne 6:2-4 NKJV). Note the words, “I am doing great work, so that I cannot come down. “ That could be classified as an Academy Award-winning response to attack! Anytime you stop the work God has given you to do and step down to the level of your critics, you’ve sent the Devil a signal that his strategy is working. So you can expect more of the same. Think: if God can deliver you in times of trouble, surely he can defend you in times of misunderstanding! So get back up on the wall He has called you to build and keep working. Don’t get distracted. There are three kinds of people you will meet in this life: (1) The critic. They’re the first to point an accusing finger and the last to extend a helping hand. (2) The cautious. When you’re in trouble they’ll distance you lest they become tainted by your perceived liabilities. These people are not bad, they’re just self-serving. Don’t put your trust in them. (3) The committed. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Recognize such people and build your life around them because they are a gift from God.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.  

OCTOBER 27, 2013. PREPARE TO ATTACK (1)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27

“He…ran out of the house.” Ge 39:12 NIV

PREPARE TO ATTACK (1)

Observe how some of God’s champions dealt with Satan’s attack, so you’ll know how to handle it when it comes. Joseph ran. “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he refused…’How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’ And thought she spoke to Joseph day after day, her refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hands and ran out of the house” (vv. 6-12 NIV). Notice the setting for this attack: Joseph was young, single, lonely, and far from home. And Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him “day after day.” Giving into her may actually have helped his career, but Joseph had a very different value system. His character meant more to him than his career. God’s approval meant more to him than the boss’s favor. After his affair with Bathsheba David wrote, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes” (Ps 101:3). Whether it’s an affair or an online fantasy, pull your eyes away! Lust is like a tiger; once uncaged it will prowl through your mind and prey on your thoughts. What it won’t do, is willingly go back into its cage. So if you haven’t looked, don’t! If you have, pray for victory and get it out of your life.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.  

OCTOBER 26, 2013. KNOWING GOD’S VOICE

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

“His sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Jn 10:4 NIV

KNOWING GOD’S VOICE

Here are seven occasions when knowing God’s voice is all-important: (1) Hearing from God before you entertain the ideas of others. Why? Because their ideas are not His commands. Don’t make commitments and end up bound by promises you can’t keep. You must love others, but be led only by God’s Spirit. (2) hearing from God before you listen to the complaints of others. Why? Because you are not responsible for their happiness. Your need to “fix” others in order to feel good about yourself is called “co-dependency.” Give them to God! (3) Hearing from God before you consider the needs of others. Why? Because their needs are driving them; only the plan of God should be leading you. (4) Hearing from God before you respond to the requests of others. Why? Because you must discern what’s behind their requests. Check the soil before you sow your seed. (5) Hearing from God before you share your dream with others. Why? Because it’s not enough to have a dream, you must have a team. You need people to help you, cheer you on and lift you to a higher level. The right people motivate you to grow stronger, think better, work harder and risk more. They compel you to continue! (6) Hearing from God before you seek approval of others. Why? Because people with an agenda will flatter and manipulate you. Hearing God’s voice will keep you from falling into their trap. (7) Hearing from God before you make significant changes. Why? Because it’s not your job to decide what God wants you to do, but to discover it and do it.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.  

OCTOBER 25, 2013. FIND A MENTOR. BECOME A MENTOR.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 25

“The works that I do [you] will do also.” Jn 14:12 NKJV

FIND A MENTOR. BECOME A MENTOR.

Jesus was the perfect mentor. He told His disciples, “The works that I do [you] will do also.” If you want to reach the fullness of your God-given potential, ask God for the right mentors. You will always go further with a good mentor coaching and pushing you. Some mentors are given for a short season, others for a lifetime, so you must know the difference. How do you recognize a mentor? In eight ways. The credo of the true mentor is this: (1) I am willing to spend the time it takes to build a close relationship with the learner. (2) I commit myself to believing in the potential of the learner; to telling him the exciting future I see ahead of him or her; to visualizing and verbalizing the possibilities for his or her life. (3) I am willing to be vulnerable and transparent before the learner. I’m willing to share not only my strengths and successes, but also my weaknesses, failures, brokenness, and sins. (4) I am willing to be honest yet affirming in confronting the learner’s errors, faults, and areas of immaturity. (5) I am committed to standing by the learner through trials—even trials that are self-inflicted as a result of ignorance or error. (6) I am committed to helping the learner set goals for his or her spiritual life, career, or ministry, and to helping the learner dream his or her dream. (7) I am willing to objectively evaluate the learner’s progress toward his or her goal. (8) Above all, I am committed to faithfully living out everything I teach.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.  

OCTOBER 24, 2013. DEALING WITH ADVERSITY (2)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24

“God led you through the wilderness…to prove your character.”  Dt 8:2 NLT

DEALING WITH ADVERSITY (2)

God led the children of Israel through the wilderness: “to prove [their] character, and…find out whether or not [they] would obey his commandments.” They could choose to perish there, or trust Him to bring them safely to the Promised Land. One author writes: “How many times have you changed courses in life, rather than pass the test and get through the tough stuff to the promises of God? He wants to know if you are worthy of the blessing that awaits you on the other side of the Jordan. Do you have the courage to face the challenges, or will you go back and settle for second best? If you’re facing a challenge that stands between you and your promise…look at Joshua 1:9 and Daniel 10:19 for courage. Ask God to give you the courage to face whatever hurdles stand in the way of your claiming what God has prepared for you.” The landscape along Florida’s Everglades is dotted with wiry, primitive-looking trees known as Caribbean Pines. They thrive in a rugged environment, can withstand prolonged periods of drought and fire, and hold their own against the fiercest hurricanes. In fact, if you plant them in a cultivated setting they usually shrivel and die. Joni Eareckson Tada says: “Like Caribbean Pines, our souls usually don’t thrive during good times. Our hearts grow complacent, our need of God becomes less urgent, our hope of heaven dims, and our prayer life dries up…in a beautiful setting with our needs met and every resource at our fingertips…our soul shrivels…We need and occasional blast of storm or fiery trial if our faith is to mature.”

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.  

OCTOBER 23, 2013. DEALING WITH ADVERSITY (1)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23

“Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy.” Jas 1:2 TLB

DEALING WITH ADVERSITY (1)

Lori Schneider is one of very few women to climb Mt. Everest—yet another step on a climb she started ten years earlier when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Terrified, but determined to achieve her goal, she quit her job and devoted herself to climbing. Nine years later she’d conquered the peaks of six of the earth’s continents! “Lori sees MS not as a negative, but a positive,” her father said. “She accepted it as a challenge.” Unfurling a banner in honor of the first World MS Day, she called her dad on a satellite phone: “I’m here on the summit! I made it!” A dream sixteen in the making realized! Now, her goal is to show others who face challenges that even the highest mountain can be climbed one step at a time. In Staying the Course, BJ Gallagher writes: “Our journey… is about progress, not perfection. It’s not about doing one thing 100 percent better—it’s doing 100 things 1 percent better each day. Progress is evolutionary, not revolutionary…most days we measure in inches, not miles. What matters most is showing up for your life whether you feel like it or not. Ask yourself, ‘What two or three little things can I do today that would move me forward?’ You’ll be amazed how much distance you can cover taking it in increments. Little things add up; inches turn to miles. We string together our efforts like so many pearls, and before long…you have a whole strand!”

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional. 

OCTOBER 22, 2013. ALWAYS DO WHAT’S RIGHT

TUESDAY OCTOBER 22

“Hold fast what is good.”  1 Th 5:21 NKJV

ALWAYS DO WHAT’S RIGHT

Someone wrote: “Today we mourn the passing of an old friend—common sense. He devoted his service to schools, hospitals and churches; he got jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, silly rules and frivolous lawsuits didn’t affect him. He cultivated practices like sharing with others, teaching kids spiritual values, and living within your means. He survived the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression. But he couldn’t withstand the ravages of declining moral spiritual values. He watched as leaders became corrupt and good people became apathetic. He saw the Ten Commandments outlawed in public buildings, prayer banned from the classroom, and criminals enjoying more rights than their victims. He watched in despair as teachers who needed parental consent to administer an aspirin, couldn’t tell a parent their child wanted an abortion. Common sense was predeceased by truth, trust and responsibility. His funeral wasn’t well attended; few realized he had gone!” In a recent Gallup Poll, 50 percent of those interviewed said they believe there are “no absolutes” when it comes to good and evil. Look around you and you’ll see the results of that kind of thinking! But God doesn’t share their opinion. His Word says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (vv. 21-22 NKJV). God told Israel not to remove the ancient boundary markers. God establishes boundaries for our protection, blessings and guidance (See Pr 22:28). So stand up for what’s right and don’t fear criticism. Darkness has never been a friend of light, or wrong a companion of right. Nevertheless, walk in the light and always do right.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional. 

OCTOBER 21, 2013. SPARROWS (5)

MONDAY OCTOBER 21

“Your heavenly father feeds them.” Mt 6:26 NKJV

SPARROWS (5)

A needy sparrow. Jesus said: “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?... These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (vv. 26-33 NLT). If you need some more scriptural promises to stand on, here they are: “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear Him, will have all they need” (Ps 34:9 NLT). “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on the earth; He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Ps 112:1-7 NKJV). God recorded these promises in His Word so that you could read them over and over, and in reading them, rise above worry and live your life with joy and confidence.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 20, 2013. SPARROWS (4)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20

“Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.”  Mt 10:29 NKJV

SPARROWS (4)

A fallen sparrow. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.” Great news: God knows when you fall, and His will is to lift you up again. Perhaps you were flying high, and then you made a mistake. You were sabotaged by a secret struggle you couldn't share with anyone. Or your trust was devastated by someone you loved. As a result you are afraid to begin again; afraid you can’t overcome your past and rise again to fulfill your destiny. Regardless of how many times you've failed, God still loves you. Have you been attacked in a specific area of your life and it’s become an area of repeated failure? Have you asked yourself, “What is this battle about?” Hear this: the battle is not over your past, it’s over your future! That’s why you are a target. And the God Who gave Peter and John a second chance, will lift you from the ashes of failure and remake your life into something beautiful. God saw you when you fell, so there’s no reason to try and hide from Him. Like the shepherd who went looking for his one lost sheep, God is looking for you today. Not to condemn you but to restore you. Self-exaltation leads to pride, which God hates. But self-loathing leads to paralysis. There’s only one unpardonable sin, so you can go to God with confidence knowing He will give you a fresh start. And this time, He will empower you to be strong and succeed.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 19, 2013. SPARROWS (3)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 19

“The sparrow has found a new home…a place near your altar.” Ps 84:3 NIV

SPARROWS (3)

A lost sparrow. The hit TV series Lost was about a plane crashing on a remote island and the survivors rebuilding their lives amidst the wreckage. The secret of the show’s success was that we could all relate to it. We’ve lost marriages, businesses, homes, self-worth, security, and a lot of other things. But Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). Unlike us, Jesus didn’t see people as “good” or “bad,” but as “lost.” He knew they’d lost their way, lost their values, lost their relationships, lost their ability to cope, lost their faith, and in some cases lost their reason to live. And He sought them out: like the woman at the well with five divorces and a live-in boyfriend; like the man who lay at the Pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years, chronically ill, noticed by no one; like Mary who wept at the tomb of the One she loved most. If you’re lost today, you can have a personal audience with the Lord. “The sparrow has found a home…where she may lay her young—even Your altars, o Lord of Hosts…Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You” (Ps 84:3-4 NKJV). Today you can “come home” to God! You can build your nest and raise your family in the shelter of His protection. You can feel safe with Him. As you bow in worship, He will lift you up and make you feel valuable again. He will deliver you from the fear of rejection and loneliness. You can’t hide from God, but you can hide in Him.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 18, 2013. SPARROWS (2)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18

“I am like…a sparrow alone on the housetop.”  Ps 102:6-7 NKJV

SPARROWS (2)

A lonely sparrow. The Psalmist wrote, “I am like…a sparrow alone on the housetop.” Has your nest been torn apart by storm? Have you lost your mate? Jesus can relate. His disciples didn’t “get Him.” They argued over who would be the greatest. They failed to pray with Him in His most difficult moments. On the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46).

We smile at the story of the single lady who hung a pair of trousers on her bedpost, then sent God a letter: “Father in heaven, help me if you can. I’ve hung a pair of trousers here, please fill them with a man.” Seriously, loneliness can be devastating to your self-worth. Young people wonder if they will ever find the right person to marry. Older people fear ending life all alone. The God who knew that Adam was incomplete not only created Eve for him, but actually introduced them and brought them together. And He can do the same for you. If you are widowed, divorced, or never married and want to find a mate, don’t be anxious. God says, “I know…where you dwell” (Rev 2:13 NKJV). God knows your name, your address, and every detail about you. And better yet, He cares! And one more thought: sometimes loneliness in not the absence of affection but the absence of direction; not the absence of people but the absence of purpose. So begin to reach out to others. Find a need no one is meeting, pour your life into it and watch how things begin to improve for you.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 17, 2013. SPARROWS (1)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17

“Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than any sparrows.” Lk 12:7 NKJV

SPARROWS (1)

In teaching us how to live, Jesus used sparrows to illustrate His point. For the next few days, let’s look at them: A worthless sparrow. “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God…Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (vv. 6-7 NKJV). In Christ’s day, they didn’t sell hamburgers, they sold sparrows on a stick that had been roasted over a fire. You could buy two of them for one copper coin. But you could get five for two copper coins; the vendor threw in the fifth one free. That meant it was worthless. What was Christ’s point? You are valuable in God’s eyes! Do you feel like if you weren’t around nobody would miss you; like your life means nothing? You’d be surprised how many people, even high-profile ones, struggle with a sense of inferiority and inadequacy. When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he explained to God that he was afraid of people. So God said, “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jer 1:8 NKJV). When you feel worthless, you conclude that others feel the same way about you, so you begin to approach them fearfully, or aggressively, or even resentfully. What’s the answer? Remembering your worth in God’s eyes! There is no rejection in His love, only complete acceptance. You’re connected! You have a friend in high places. Jesus said, “I have called you friends” (Jn 15:15). Will everybody accept you? No, but when you base your worth on God’s love and acceptance, you’re free to enjoy life.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 16, 2013. WALKING IN YOUR GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16

“What is your name?” Ge 32:27 NIV

WALKING IN YOUR GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY

As they wrestled together, the angel of the Lord asked Jacob, “What is your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” Then the angel said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, which means deceiver, but Israel, which means ‘a prince with God’. Because you have struggled…and have overcome” (See Ge 32:27-28). God forced Jacob to look at his true identity. He wrestled him into a revelation of who he was—not who others said he was. His parents gave him his name and others called him by it, so he believed that’s who he’d always be. But God had a different plan for him. Hear this: you are not who others say you are. Why should they name you? Determine who you are before God. Let Him determine the level of your success. Why should others be allowed to live at their highest potential but not you? You are more than your past, more than your education or resume, more than the color of your skin, more than your bank account, and more than your circumstances. Tell those who talk down to you and devalue you, “You’re confusing me with somebody else. God says I am a prince. And if I’m a prince, then I have the right to be treated like one!” You ask, “But is that true?” Yes, the Bible says that when you walk with God you are part of a royal priesthood (See 1Pe 2:9). You are an overcomer (See 1Jn 2:13-14). You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath (See Dt 28: 13-14). So dry your tears, lift your head, square your shoulders and begin walking in your God-given identity.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 15, 2013. START STIRRING…AND DON’T STOP (2)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 15

“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.”  Pr 17:8

START STIRRING…AND DON’T STOP (2)

Paul speaks of “the gift og God” in you (2Ti 1:6-7). IT isn’t something you learn; it’s something He gives you, and nobody else can activate it for you. You ‘stir’ it up by developing and using it. Solomon said, “A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes os him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.” Your gift will enrich many different areas in your life, not all of which are financial. While money is the wrong reason to devote your life to something, developing your God-given gift is rewarding on multiple levels. Unfortunately, many people are jealous of other people’s gifts. Don’t waste time on jealousy; it’s a gift robber, and energy-drainer, and besides, you should be so busy stirring up your own gift that you have no time for envy. When Louis Armstrong auditioned for music school, he was asked to sing scales. But he could only sing two notes properly, so they wrote him off. Armstrong cried when he was rejected, but later told his friends, “There is music in me and they can’t keep it out.” Consequently, he went on to become one of the world’s most successful, beloved musicians, selling more records than others who were more talented. We’re all born originals, but many of us settle for becoming carbon copies. Think:: if you become like everybody else and join the rat race, even if you do win, that just makes you the Big Rat! Your gift will make room for you (See Pr 18:16). So go ahead and fill the slot God designed for you.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 14, 2013. START STIRRING…AND DON’T STOP (1)

MONDAY OCTOBER 14

“Stir up the gift of God…in you.”  2 Ti 1:6 NKJV

START STIRRING…AND DON’T STOP (1)

God gave you your talent, but it’s your job to develop it. And it’s not that complicated, because your gift usually relates to something that excites you. Think about it: God made you; He hardwired the desires of your heart. Knowing that, helps you to understand why things you find rewarding involve your innate talents and abilities. One author says: “It’s natural for a hunting dog to hunt. Coop him up and he’ll lie around with no enthusiasm. But when he realizes he’s going hunting, he comes alive. That’s because God designed hunting dogs that way. They have that passion inside them…They don’t have to get themselves worked up…or say, ‘Let me go listen to a sermon or motivational message so I can work up some zest and zeal.’ No, when those dogs know they’re going hunting they’re naturally excited…And when we’re doing what we know we’re called to do, enthusiasm and excitement exude from us naturally. We may not jump up and down…but deep within, we know ‘This is what I was called to do. This is why I was born.’ On the other hand, if you’re doing something that’s not natural, it’s a struggle. If you try, train, practice and push and you still can’t get a skill down; recognize that it might not be in your nature. Of course, we must persevere…push through and learn hard things…but in general, life shouldn’t be a constant struggle.” When you’re fulfilling your purpose, one of the most noticeable results is how rewarding it feels to “stir up the gift of God…in you” by utilizing your natural abilities.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 13, 2013. ARE YOU RUNNING ON EMPTY?

SUNDAY OCTOBER 13

“I will pour out water to quench your thirst.” Isa 44:3 NLT

ARE YOU RUNNING ON EMPTY?

Julie Coleman writes: “I was headed for a writer’s conference in Philadelphia when I realized I’d better think about stopping for gas…Normally I’m fussy about where I stop…but as I drove the lonely stretch of road, I began to feel desperate…any minute…I’d be stranded in 100-plus degrees and I didn’t even have a water bottle…I drove several long miles ‘til I came to a tiny crossroads. Four houses…and a gas station! It looked like it could be called ‘Joe’s Gas Station and Storm Door Company’… I’d probably have turned up my nose at it in another circumstance. But at that moment [it] was the best thing I’d seen! Funny how our circumstances can dictate how we feel!” Running from his enemies, David prayed, “My soul thirsts for you…in a dry…land where there is no water…Teach me to walk in the way I should” (See Ps 143:6-7). Would his prayer not have been different if David had been living in luxury surrounded by servants? Not knowing where his next meal was coming from and sleeping outside every night changed his perspective. When life goes well, we become self-sufficient and forget God. Spiritually speaking, we run on empty until a spark ignites an outburst. If your car’s on empty whose fault is it? The gas station hasn’t moved! You chose to drive by without stopping! When you’re running on empty you end up hurting those closest to you, then dealing with the guilt that comes after a flare-up. God said, “I will pour out water to quench your thirst.” So today pick up your Bible and refuel your soul!

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 12, 2013. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE LORD?

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12

“Your face, Lord, I will seek.”  Ps 27:8 NKJV

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE LORD?

At the end of a play, the leading actor held his audience spellbound as her recited the “Twenty-Third Psalm. He did it as an encore, and it brought the house down with applause. Looking across the room, he spotted his old vicar and called on him to say something. To their surprise, he too recited the Twenty-Third Psalm. When he was through, there was silence. The audience dried tears from their eyes. At this point the actor stood beside his old vicar and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the difference is, I know the Twenty-Third Psalm but he knows the Shepherd!” Dr. Alexander Maclaren, the great Scottish preacher, attributed everything he knew to one habit: spending and hour each day alone with God. Sometimes he allowed others into his study, but they were never allowed to speak. Maclaren would sit in a well-worn armchair with his Bible lying across his knees. Sometimes he’d read its pages, but mostly he’d just sit with his hand over his face. During that hour he wouldn’t read the Bible as a student, or study it for sermons. One of his assistants noted, “He read it as a child would read a letter from an absent father, or your heart would drink in the words of a loved one from far away.” How well do you know the Lord? How well do you want to know Him? The answer is not in what you say but in what you do. What you truly desire, you pursue. The Psalmist said, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 11, 2013. HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (4)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 11

“You God will come with…[restoration].”  Isa 35:4 NKJV

HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (4)

What you give up in order to serve God is nothing compared to what you will get back. “Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left and followed You’…So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you…you who have followed Me…And…left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life’” (Mt 19:27-29 NKJV). That means God can give you back a hundred times more than what you’ve sacrificed in order to serve Him. Are you feeling weak and ineffective today? Read these words and stand on them: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense [restoration]…He will come and save you’” (Isa 35:3-4 NKJV). You say, “But I have lost my joy.” God can give it back to you in overflowing measure: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (v. 10 NKJV). You say, ‘But I have so little to show my efforts.” Then stand on this promise: “And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly” (vv. 1-2 NKJV). Rejoice; your God is a God of restoration, so your best days are ahead of you!

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 10, 2013. HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (3)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 10

“That you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Co 8:9 NIV

HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (3)

Are you saying, “If only I hadn’t said, or done…”? You’re not unique; we all have our regrets. But God wants us to learn from them, not live in them. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.” Jesus wore the crown of thorns so you could wear the crown of righteousness, and be in right standing with God. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro 5:1). Being justified gives you the right to stand before God and claim His best. Is your business struggling, or failing? Peter the fisherman experienced that too. So Jesus, the Restorer, said to him: “’Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink” (Lk 5:4-7 NKJV). Just one word from Jesus, and you can go from the threshold of bankruptcy to adding a second boat. Jesus actually gave Peter back more than he lost. So the word for you today is, “Believe for more than you expected, because our God is a God of restoration.”

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 9, 2013. HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (2)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9

“You shall surely…recover all.”  1 Sa 30:8 NKJV

HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (2)

One day the Amalekites swept down on King David’s hometown, burning it to the ground and taking its families captive. In this scene of devastation, David and his men “lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (v. 4 NKJV). Now, God will let you grieve your loses because that’s healthy, but He won’t allow you to stay there too long. So God said to David, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” Did David and his men get back everything they had lost? Yes, and much more besides, for our God is not only a God of restoration but a God of abundance.

You say, “I feel so ashamed for the years I have wasted.” The God Who created time can give you more of it. “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten… the consuming locust…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame” (Joel 2:25-26 NKJV). Notice the word, “plenty.” When God blesses you, it will not come from an eyedropper or from a rationed supply. No, you will be able to sing, “His love hath no limit; His grace hath no measure, His power no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.” Ever SINCE Adam and Eve “blew it” in Eden, God’s desire and plan has been to restore us all that we have lost. So come to Him today and let the restoration begin.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 8, 2013. HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (1)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8

“I will restore you.”   Joel 2:25 NKJV

HE’S A GOD OF RESTORATION (1)

Whatever life has taken from you, God can restore. He might not give you exactly what you want, but He will give you what’s best. And even when you fall under His corrective hand through obedience, if you repent, He will reinstate you to a place of blessing. You say, “But what about the time I’ve wasted, the opportunities I’ve squandered, and the mess I’ve made of my life? Sometimes I wonder if I’ve fallen so low that even God cannot reach me.” No, there’s hope for you. The Bible says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isa 59:1 NKJV). After wasting all that he’d inherited from his father, the Prodigal Son returned home, broke and embarrassed. All he wanted was three square meals and a job in the servants’ quarters. But the moment he said, “Forgive me,” his father called for the best robe, the fattest cow, the newest shoes, and a ring of son-ship restoring him to his rightful place as a member of the family. Even under the crushing weight of the Old Testament Law, with demands no one could live up to, God said, “If a man steals an ox or a sheep…he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep” (Ex 22:1 NKJV). Now if God would do that for those who lived under the Law and on the wrong side of the cross, how much more will He do for those He has redeemed? So you can go to Him today with confidence, knowing He’s a God of restoration.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional

OCTOBER 7, 2013. THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

MONDAY OCTOBER 7

“On behalf of a man he pleads with God.”  Job 16:21 NIV

THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER

The bible says: “So Joshua fought the Amalekites…and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired…Aaron and Hur held his hands up…So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army” (Ex 17:10-13 NIV). This story illustrates the power of intercessory prayer. Far from the crowd, but seen by the eye of God, are men and women who “hold up the hands” of ministries in prayer. And God is looking for more of them. Charles Finney wrote, “Mr. Clary continued as long as I did, and he did not leave until I had left. He never appeared in public, but he gave himself wholly to prayer.” Finney may have impacted nations, but he didn’t do it alone. Job writes, “My intercessor is my friend…on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend” (Job 16:20-21 NIV). The ministry of intercessory prayer is: (1) a ministry of identification in which you stand with others; (2) a ministry of sacrifice that calls you away from the pleasures and comforts of life; (3) a ministry of authority, for your prayers move the hand of God on behalf of others. Today the God who said, “I sought for a man among them, that should…stand in the gap before me for the land” (Eze 22:30) is looking for intercessors. You can be one of them!

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional. 

OCTOBER 6, 2013. REACH OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE (2)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

“How can they hear, unless someone tells them?”  Ro 10:14 CEV

REACH OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE (2)

John Ortberg says: “(1) Never rule anybody out. Jesus reached out to tax collectors, lepers, sinners, and Gentiles, and they shocked the religious establishment by saying yes…Maybe there’s somebody in your world who’s so far from God you’ve written them off…a relative who ridicules your faith…an acquaintance who’s resisted for years…somebody so steeped in sin you think there’s no hope? Never say no for another person…you don’t know when their heart will soften or how God’s Spirit will work.” (2) Put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Ortberg continues: “Blocks from my parent’s home…is the largest Buddhist temple in America. I checked it out and received amazing insight into how intimidating it is to go into a place of worship as a stranger not knowing the customs. When you invite someone to church they’re much more likely to go if you go together. Then have coffee together and talk about what took place.” (3) Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Jewish law prohibited lepers from having contact with non-lepers. But when a leper approached Jesus, He reached out and touched the man who hadn’t been touched in years (See Mk 1:40-45). Was Jesus infected by his leprosy? No, He infected the leper with the gospel, because Jesus was more contagious with God’s power than the leper was with his disease. Be a contagious Christian who infects others with God’s love. Look at your hands. How often do you extend them to someone far from God? His kingdom has been spread the same way for two thousand years: by believers who reach out and bring people to Christ!

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.

OCTOBER 5, 2013. REACH OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE (1)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5

“How can they hear, unless someone tells them?  Ro 10:14 CEV

REACH OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE (1)

One author writes: “While visiting my parents I needed a haircut, so I went to where my mom goes. As the owned, Jim, trimmed my hair, we started talking about spiritual things. The more we talked…the more he cut. I ended up with very short hair, but our conversation about Jesus was worth it. Later when I suggested to my mom that she invite Jim and his wife to church, she said, ‘No way they’re interested…they lead a pretty wild life. I don’t know two people further from God.’ Nevertheless…the next time she went to the salon she shot up a silent prayer: ‘God, I don’t think these people are interested in You. So if You want me to say anything…make something happen.’ Just when Jim’s wife said… ‘I understand you’re in a group that discusses spiritual things. We’d like to come.’ Pam and Jim…eventually prayed with my folks and gave their lives to Christ—all because of a conversation that developed over a series of haircuts. This kind of reaction rarely happens. Most Christians spend virtually all their time with other Christians…But when it comes to important matters…people listen to people they trust…especially about spiritual matters. Paul says, ‘How can people have faith in the Lord…if they have never heard about him? And…unless someone tells them?’ If people are going to be reached for Christ, for the most part, it’ll happen through friends, not strangers. So, cultivate a relationship with somebody who works at a restaurant you frequent, or the people at your health club, Have the neighbors over for dinner…follow Christ’s example and befriend people who don’t know God.”

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional. 

OCTOBER 4, 2013. BE CLEAR AND ORDERLY

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4

“Ezra…brought the Law before…all who could hear with understanding.”  New 8:2 NKJV

BE CLEAR AND ORDERLY

You will accomplish more through others than you will ever accomplish alone. But you’ll only do it if you’re able to give clear direction. The story’s told of a track coach who always communicated his goal to his runners before the race. Just before the starter’s gun sounded he would say, “Stay to your left, and get back here as soon as you can.” It doesn’t get any clearer than that! Ed Rowell says’ “A dream is a better future in need of an architect who will show others how to make it a reality.” So you must be an architect. You must identify the dream and be able to draw it, not only for your benefit but also for the benefit of others. If you create a fuzzy picture, people will follow you in a fussy way. Lack of clarity hinders initiative, inhibits persistence, and undermines follow-through. People don’t give their best to something they cannot see. Nobody becomes motivated by something they kinda, sorta, believe in. The Bible says, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Co 14:40). God is a God of order, and He honors our efforts when they are carried out in a clear and orderly way. God instructed the prophet Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it” (Hab 2:2 NKJV). If you are not clear as to your vision, seek God’s guidance, write down what He tells you, and communicate it to those you need in a clear, step-by-step, orderly way.

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.

OCTOBER 3, 2013. “I AM NOT ASHAMED” (2)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3

 “Let me not be ashamed of my hope.”  Ps 119:116

“I AM NOT ASHAMED” (2)

The Psalmist wrote, “Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” What is our hope? It’s found in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul spells it out:

“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep I him…For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with a voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1Th 4:14-17 NIV). Jesus said, “For a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (Jn 5:28-29 NIV). In that day the Lord’s Prayer will finally be answered” “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). The hymnist wrote, “O Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait. The sky, not the grave, is our goal. O trump for the angel! O voice of the Lord! Blessed rest, blessed hope of my soul.” Jesus has not changed His mind; He’s coming again. Coming for whom? For a prepared people, to take them to a prepared place, where they will dwell with Him forever. Are you planning to be there?

Taken from the Word for you Today Devotional.