Receive His Peace

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV) God's peace is ready to take over us... But how do you receive it? Be still in God's Presence, asking him to control your thoughts. Letting his light soak into your mind until you are glowing with Jesus Christ! Are you in need of some of God's peace? Receive it today.

It's Worth It.

2 Chronicles 16:9a "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." It is so important to spend time with God and commit yourself fully to him. Although sometimes its hard, it is so worth it. God searches throughout the whole earth to strengthen those hearts who are fully committed to him! Sometimes you have to shut the world out for time with God.. Away from all distractions and agendas.... Spending time with God is a wise investment.

Immanuel: God With Us

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). (Matthew 1:23 NIV) IMMANUEL: God with us.... He is ALWAYS WITH US! Even though in the dark times in your life it is hard to see God, you can have faith and know he's with you. God is kind of like the sun - When everything's going great and your life is bright, he is visible to you. But when life gets dark and times are rough, it is a lot harder to see him... Although if you search for him in those times, you will find that he is always there!! He is with you today!!

His OVERWHELMING Greatness

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (Psalm 145:3 NIV) Isn't God's presence overwhelming? That overwhelming feeling you get in God's presence is worship - feeling your smallness and his greatness. For me, it is awesome to know that I have a relationship with the one who created the earth, the one who is GREAT in all the earth... And he calls me "friend"!! Don't you feel like that? Don't ever let yourself think that you know and understand God's greatness. None of us do and ever will. I think it would probably take our brain capacity times 100 to even comprehend half of his greatness!! Draw near to him today, and he will draw near to you. And you can experience God's great presence in a way you never have before.

What to Wear

"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." (Romans 13:14 NIV) Clothe yourself with Jesus Christ every morning. Spend time with him when you wake up and ask him for his mind, so that you can think his thoughts! This will help you to be well equipped for whatever will happen during the day, and will reduce the worldliness inside of you!! It makes a difference to the people around you too... What will you Wear today? Jesus or the world?

Forever and Ever

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13 NIV) In this fast-paced world that is always changing, there is only one place we can find stability: Jesus Christ. He stays the same forever and ever!! The only remedy for the poisonous threat of uncertainty, is drawing closer to God. He is stable and certain!! Run to the one who never changes!!!

Encouragement for Christians

"The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time." (Psalm 34:19 NLT) When your a Christian, sometimes a sin or a problem in your life will make you feel like its all falling apart - all your relationships, your plans, everything. But that's not the truth. God says that even "righteous people" or Christ followers make mistakes and face problems! Don't ever let yourself think that it's all falling apart - that's a lie that is fed to you by the enemy, who wants you to fail. " ...But the LORD comes to the rescue each time." Yep.. He does. Even though we continue to make mistakes every single day, God's still going to rescue us!! Today, don't let the problems in your life bring you down... They will soon be gone. With Jesus, we are VICTORIOUS!!!

Give God Your Mind

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD." (Psalm 89:15 NLT) Sometimes you just have to bring your mind to God for rest, renewal, and new awareness of his presence. Just like Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the garden, we can walk and talk in the garden of our heart!! Let your mind stop raising and your body stop running, so you can focus on Him!! Let God have your mind!!

Today is a Treasure Hunt!!

"...in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3 NIV) Before you woke up this morning, God was already working to prepare the path that will get you through today. Go into today (and everyday), knowing that God is in it! There are some hidden treasures in today too... God knows the trials you will face, and the blessings you will receive.... In fact, he planned them all out. Pay close attention to the situations that happen today... Search for Jesus in all of them!! Think of your day as a treasure hunt!!

Beyond Our Understanding

"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor." (1 Peter 5:6 NLT) God is sovereign over all our circumstances... We need to humble ourselves. What God does, is a lot of times way beyond our understanding! But we need to rejoice in it anyway! Take your eyes off yourself, and fix them on Jesus... Learn to view things from his perspective!! Sometimes we just have to humble ourselves and stop thinking that we know how God works or what he is doing... Because truth is, mostly we don't!! God will lift you up eventually, but for now stay humble!!

He. Is. For. Us.

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 NIV) God is with us and for us! God offers abundant life; our job is to trust him and refuse to worry about anything. We really need to watch our thoughts though... They can take us from "God's in charge, I don't need to worry" to "What in the world am I going to do? I have so many problems." Today, switch your focus from the problem to God's Presence!! It's the only remedy!! And don't ever forget that God's on our team!! He loves us and is for us, not against us!! And I've read the end of the story... We are the VICTORIOUS team!!!

Living in the Light

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7 NIV) When there is sin in your life, instead of hiding it and secluding yourself in darkness, confess your sins and ask for forgiveness, and God will purify your heart!! Live in the light and walk with the One who is the light!! Don't let your sin bring you to a point of liking darkness.... Confess it and get it out ASAP!! Life is so much better when you're living in the light!!

Strength for This Life.

"The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace." (Psalm 29:11 NIV) Life is hard. But God gives us strength to get through everyday, and he blesses us with his peace. His peace knowing that in the end, it will be better. In heaven, we won't have to deal with frustration, hurt, anger, guilt, shame, or anything else that we struggle with today.... Instead it will be just the opposite - Love, joy, peace, and the list goes on!! With God's strength, we can make it through!!

Higher

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9 NIV) He is higher than us in every way. Trust Him today to guide you through, accomplishing His purposes in His timing! It's so easy to make our own plan, and do our own things... But instead, trust God and search for His way everyday!! His way is always better than ours!!!

Unlimited Abundance

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 NIV) We serve a God of abundance...a God who NEVER runs out of resources. There is no such thing as supply and demand in God's kingdom! His provisions are far too great for us to comprehend!! Do you need something? Or know someone who does? Ask God today, believing in faith that he will provide!!! ...because he will!! His ability to bless us is unlimited!

GPS or Print-Out Map?

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails." (Proverbs 19:21 MSG) What's the last thing that you know God told you to do? That's what you should be doing. In all areas of your life, that's how it works. God never said he would show us a blueprint of our life and give us an instruction sheet - but instead, He said he would guide us step by step. We should have more of a GPS mindset instead of a print-out map. On a GPS, the voice won't tell you the next direction until you've taken the last one it told you to take! Where as in a print-out map, you have all the directions laid out for you to see at the beginning of the trip! Don't expect a print-out map from God, but trust Him to guide you to the next step! Just do the last thing He told you, and listen for His voice!!

Come Near to God...

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:7, 8 NIV) Say "No" to the devil and he will run. Come closer to God and he will come closer to you. Spending time with our Lord and savior is essential to us. It's not an option. Satan will try to make you feel guilty for spending too much time alone with God, but DO NOT LISTEN TO THAT!! Satan is afraid of our faith, so when he tries to make you feel guilty, hold up your shield of faith! The more time you spend with God, the better. Even though temptation will arise, you will know what to do from your time spent with God!! Come near to God today!!

Weaknesses = God's Power

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV) We are weak, but He is strong. Our power and His don't mix. His grace is sufficient for us! And his power is made perfect through our weaknesses!! God has never told any of his children to man-up or be powerful... But instead, he tells us to let our weaknesses show through, so that his power can sustain us!! He chooses weak ones like us to fulfill his purposes!! Never fear your limitations, but instead, boast about your weaknesses so that God's power will rest in you!! God is a mighty God!! Trust in his strength, not your own!!!

Let Go and Let God.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (1 Peter 5:7 NLT) Let go and let God. Give all your worries and cares to him...they won't do any good sitting in your hands! Do you trust God to completely run your life, or do you still try to do some things your way? You can't follow your will and God's will. When things are tough, instead of stressing ourselves out, we need to just learn to let go!! Let Jesus take the wheel! Situations that he's involved in will always turn out to be the best!! He cares for you! Give him all your worries and cares!!

Unlimited Ministry

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV) Are you burnt out? Burnt out with ministry, and trying to meet people's needs? You can't meet anyone's needs with your own resources. Your love, time, energy, and money is limited. News flash: Our God doesn't have limits!! His love continues to pour out. Our love is like a water bottle, but his is like a water fall!! If you are weary, burdened, and burnt out with ministry right now, take some time to let God give you rest, and fill you back up with his infinite love!! That way when you begin pouring back out, the flow will be never-ending!! Don't try to meet needs with your limited resources, but instead meet them with God's unlimited resources!!

Presenting Your Request With Thanksgiving

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6 NIV) Present your request to God with THANKSGIVING. Yes, thank God for your problems as soon as they come. This simple act of thanking can calm your mind down from its anxious thoughts. When a problem comes up in your life, you usually have questions running through your head: What am I gonna do? How am I going to get through this?... But before you get too deep into your nervous wondering, just stop. Thank God for the growth opportunity, and chill out - God is in control. Present your request to him, do what you need to do, and let him do his work!! That's all you can do!! Thank you Jesus for the problems I have in my life that bring me closer to you!!

From self-sufficiency to "God, I need you!"

2 Corinthians 1:9 "Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead." Don't run from the difficulties in your life. They are in your life so that you can learn to rely on God, not yourself. In the world today, they try to teach you that self-sufficiency is what you need... But it's totally not - don't ever rely on yourself!! When you get stressed or into a hard situation, listen for a little alarm going off in your head telling you to rely on God. If you rely on yourself, you might get higher in the worldly stuff that will just go away when you die, but if you rely on God, he will provide you will everything you need and more, and you will be able to have an intimate relationship with him on the earth and in heaven for forever and ever!!! Rely on Him today!!!

Beauty Out of the Ashes

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Don't ever try to undo a decision you made in the past.. It's a waste of time. Instead, give all mistakes you've made to God. He can bring good out of your worst mistake! My God is a God who can make beauty out of the ashes!! And for the future, as much as we should do our best, don't ever expect yourself to be perfect. Mistakes are what humble us and highlight our dependence on Him! Give your past mistakes to God today... And watch what he does!! We know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love him and are called by him!!

Overcome

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV) Don't try to live a problem-free life, because your expectations on this will never be met... Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble. But instead, keep your eyes on the prize - Heaven. In heaven you will live a problem-free life for the rest of eternity. Also, don't start each day saying "I hope I don't face any problems," but instead saying, "God, I know I will have problems today, so please equip me to get through them... Let's face them together." And be encouraged that we know the end of the story - Jesus has overcome the world!!!

From Bad to Good

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20 NIV) Bad situations are not always bad. Look at Joseph... His brothers' intention was to hurt him, but God turned it around and put him in a high place to save some people!!! Instead of spending your time worrying about getting out of these bad situations, just trust God. He knows exactly what he is doing!! My devotional book says, "This is how you foil the works of evil, growing in grace through the very adversity that was meant to harm you." Relax! God can bring good out of anything!! Trust him!

Finding Security.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV) You won't find your security in anything that you can see - not your friends, not your schedule, and not by checking off everything on your checklist. Although while searching for security, it may seen like you will find it in something on earth... the truth is, you will not. Focus on God's presence and his overwhelming peace - because that's where you will find your security!!

Our Thankfulness = God is Good

Psalm 95:2 "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." God is good. And when we are thankful, it confirms that He really is good. When you tell God what you need, he will provide it for you!! Come to him with "confident expectation" because HE WILL PROVIDE YOUR NEEDS. And when he does provide them for you, it will give you tons more reasons to be thankful... which says that OUR GOD IS GOOD!!!

BELIEVE

1 Peter 1:8 "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy," Even though we have not seen God, nor do we see him now, we love him, and we believe and are filled with this joy that this verse says is "inexpressible and glorious". Seeing is not believing, but believing is seeing. When you believe in God with all your heart, you see him working all around you!!! He becomes obvious to you, even though you've never seen God with your very eyes!! It's so important to spend time with God!!! Let him flood you with his divine presence and inexpressible joy!!!

Only One Master

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24 NIV) You CAN'T serve two masters. If God is your master, you will want to please him in all you do, but do you aim to please people? Don't let people have power over you like that. When you aim to please someone else, you will end up hurt and disappointed. God also says we cannot be a slave to sin or money... Look at your choices in the past week to find out what you have been serving. Aim to please God, because he should be your master!! Who are you serving today?

Complete Trust

"The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that." (Proverbs 29:25 MSG) It is harder to feel God's presence when you are around other people... There's just something inside all of us that makes us want to please everyone. If this is the case for you right now, just whisper God's name... And learn to trust him slowly. When you begin to trust God with your entire life, and you see the blessings, you will never want to go back!! Once you've seen the fire of God, you won't be satisfied with the smoke!! Complete trust in God makes people pleasing vanish!!! Learn to trust him with your life!!!

The Present.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Luke 12:25 NIV) Worrying about what came in the past and what is coming in the future will not do anything for you. We need to live in the present, making the most of EVERY opportunity.... Nothing that comes in your life is random - it is all planned out by God!! Don't let your moments slip through your fingers, half-lived... Live life to the fullest, walking with God, step by step, and the fulfilling the huge plan he has for you - one small step at a time!