In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 (AMPC)

There are many people around us on a daily basis who are in need. People we could bless if we took a moment to think about how we could help them.

I have learned that true giving is not giving until I can feel it. Giving away clothes and household items that are old and I am finished with may be a nice gesture, but it does not equate to real giving. Real giving occurs when I give something I want to keep, or I make an effort that will give aid to someone else.

That’s how God gave to us. When He sent Jesus to pay for our sins, He gave His very best. God gave us His only Son because He loves us, so what will love cause us to do? Can we at least be inconvenienced or uncomfortable occasionally in order to help someone in need?

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You that Your mercy is greater than yesterday’s mistakes. Help me release the past, ignore the enemy’s lies, and press forward into the new beginnings You have for me today, amen.

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Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC)

If we truly believe our words are filled with life or death, why don’t we choose what we say more carefully? There is a time to talk and a time to keep silent. Sometimes the best thing we can say is nothing. When we do say something, it is wise to be purposeful in what we say.

I firmly believe if we do what we can do, God will do what we cannot do. We can control what comes out of our mouths with the help of the Holy Spirit and by applying principles of discipline. Even when we talk about our problems or the things that are bothering us, we can talk about them in a positive and hopeful way.

One time I was having some back problems, and my daughter, Sandy, called to see how my back was. I told her it was still hurting, but I was thankful it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I said, “I am sleeping well, and that is a positive thing.” In other words, I didn’t deny the problem, but I made an effort to have a positive outlook. I was determined to look at what I do have and not just at what I don’t have. I believed in time the backache would be taken care of, and I believed that until then, God would give me the strength to do what I needed to do.

If you will make a decision that you are going to say as little as possible about your problems and disappointments in life, they won’t dominate your thoughts and your mood. And if you talk as much as possible about your blessings and hopeful expectations, your frame of mind will match them. Be sure each day is filled with words that fuel joy, not anger, depression, bitterness, and fear. Talk yourself into a better mood! Find something positive to say in every situation.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me choose my words wisely today. Guide my mouth by Your Spirit so I speak life, hope, and gratitude instead of fear, negativity, or discouragement, amen.

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Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMPC)

God’s Word teaches us that when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, He gives us a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). He gives us His nature. He also gives us a spirit of discipline and self-control, which is vital in allowing us to choose the ways of our new nature. And He gives us a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). That means we can think about things properly without being controlled by emotion.

Every believer can be thankful that the way we once were passes away, and we have all the equipment we need for a brand-new way of behaving. With God’s help we can choose spirit over flesh and right over wrong. Our renewed spirits can now control our souls and bodies or, to say it another way, the inner person can control the outer person. Then we can live out God’s plan for our lives.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I thank You that I am a new creation in You. I am so grateful for a fresh start and the new nature You have given me. Help me to leave the old ways behind today and live a brand-new, joy-filled life of victory in You.

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Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

I think a person would need a high level of confidence in order to invite God to examine their heart and mind. I’m not talking about confidence in their own goodness, but confidence in God’s love, mercy, longsuffering, and forgiveness. David had no fear of inviting God to examine him, because he knew that even if God found flaws in him, he could be forgiven. He wanted to know if there was anything in his life that was offensive to God. He wasn’t afraid to face his weaknesses, and we should not be either.

Being honest about where we are is the only way to get to where we want to be. If we hide from our sins or make excuses for them, we can never be free of them. Anything we run from will chase us. But if we confront things, we can defeat them in God’s strength.

The apostle James teaches us to confess our faults to one another so we can be healed (James 5:16). Things hidden in darkness always threaten us, but when they are brought into the open, they are exposed and no longer have control over us. Our secrets make us sick, but the truth makes us free (John 8:32). You can talk to God about anything—after all, He already knows all about it. God is not shocked or surprised by anything you tell Him. He loves you and knew all about you before you ever knew Him, so, like David, let’s rely on His faithfulness and be mindful of His unfailing love.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I invite You to examine my heart and mind because I trust Your unfailing love and mercy. Thank You for Your amazing goodness.

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Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

Mark 11:23 (NIV)

Doubt is the enemy of faith, and it is something that we all experience. To doubt means to be between two opinions, or to feel that you are without a way. When doubts arise, we can choose to believe our doubts, or we can doubt our doubts. The devil suggests doubts to us in the form of thoughts, but we don’t have to ponder them or allow them to take root in our minds, making us feel confused or lost in our way.

With Jesus, we are never without a way because He is the Way (John 14:6). The only opinion to hang on to is the one about which you have peace in your heart. Feed your faith with the promises of God, and your faith will stay stronger than any doubt you might have.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me believe Your Word above anything that I feel or think. I want to trust You at all times and learn to ignore all my doubts. Help me stay strong in faith. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:4 (AMPC)

Who can hear from God? Does He only speak to the spiritually elite among us, or can every believer have a conversational relationship with Him? I spent many years practicing Christianity without ever being taught that I could hear from God. I talked to Him, mostly when I needed something, but it never occurred to me that He might want to say something back.

Thankfully, I have since learned that we can and should hear from God. He has no desire to give us minute-by-minute instructions about every choice we make, but He speaks to us regularly and we need to expect to hear Him. Education is vital in any area, and especially so in this one. I have read several books on the subject, and I have also written one, but I am reading another right now because of how important it is.

God, of course, speaks through His Word. The Bible is God speaking to us! He speaks through circumstances, people, peace, wisdom, and nature, just to mention a few of the ways we can learn to perceive what He is saying. We don’t normally hear God with our natural ears; we hear Him in our spirit through the still, small voice. We may discern, perceive, or know with certainty what God is communicating to us and yet not hear a voice. Or, if we do hear words, they often sound like our own voice because our mind is interpreting what our spirit knows.

If this is a new thought for you, I encourage you to study diligently in this area. There are people who do ridiculous and even wicked things claiming that God has told them to do so, but we should not let their sinful behavior frighten us and keep us from a wonderful privilege that is available to us. Learning to listen is the first rule of hearing. When you talk to God today, take a little time and listen. Let Him comfort you, sense His peace, and hear Him tell you that He loves you greatly.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am sorry that I have spent so little time listening to You. I want to hear from You, and I believe it is Your will for me to do so. Teach me in this area. I am eager to learn, amen.

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“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30 (NIV)

One of the emotions we need to manage at times is the feeling that we simply don’t want to do something we know we should do. It may be inconvenient or uncomfortable, or we simply may not like it. In other words, we don’t want to sacrifice. But many times, obeying God does require giving up something or doing what we’d rather not do. To follow His will for our lives, we have to come to terms with the fact that it often calls for some type of sacrifice and to be willing to do what He asks of us.

In today’s Scripture passage, Jesus promises to reward those who sacrifice for Him. He says the rewards will come both on earth and in eternal life. Sometimes He asks for radical obedience, and radical obedience pays great dividends. It leads us to the personal joy and peace we experience when we know we are walking in God’s will and to the other rewards He has promised. God is always aware of what we sacrifice, and He knows how to bless us in ways that make us glad we have obeyed Him.

Obeying God always brings a reward. It may not be exactly what we think it should be, but it is always what is best for us. It may not come when we think it should, but it will come right on time. I have found that God is a great rewarder. When we sacrifice in order to obey Him, He blesses us in amazing ways.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me be willing to give up whatever I need to in order to be obedient to You and experience the blessings You have for me.

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I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 (AMPC)

Most people are afraid not to be like everyone else. Many people are more comfortable following specified rules than daring to follow the leading of God’s Spirit. When we follow man-made rules, we please people, but when we step out in faith and follow God’s Spirit, we please Him. We do not need to feel pressured to pray a certain way for a certain length of time or to focus on specific things because other people are doing so. Instead, we need to be free to express our uniqueness as we pray the way God is teaching us. God uses each of us to pray about different things and that way all the things that need to be prayed about get covered.

Somehow we feel safe when we are doing what everyone else is doing, but the sad thing is that we will feel unfulfilled until we learn to “untie the boat from the dock,” so to speak, and let the ocean of God’s Spirit take us wherever He wills. I spent many years tied to the dock following specified rules and regulations of prayer that others had taught me and it was a good beginning, but eventually my prayer experience became very dry and boring. When I learned to untie my boat from the dock and give myself to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, a freshness and creativity came and it has been wonderful. I find that the Holy Spirit leads me differently almost every day as I pray, and I no longer do it according to rules, regulations, and time clocks.

Start right now asking God to show you who you are in the uniqueness He has given you and to help you hear and follow His voice according to the one-of-a-kind, wonderful way He has created you.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, free me from comparison and man-made expectations. Teach me to pray in the unique way You created me, and help me follow Your leading with confidence and joy, amen.

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And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Philippians 1:6 (AMPC)

God chooses us according to His foreknowledge, and He begins a good work in us. Most of us struggle at times and feel we are not making any progress. We may even feel we are going backward in our spiritual growth. Today’s scripture is a great one to go to when you feel this way because He who began a good work in you, meaning God, will bring it to completion. He doesn’t tell us how long it will take, but He never fails to finish what He started.

Part of how long the good work takes depends on how responsive we are to the teaching and correction of the Holy Spirit. Correction is not a bad thing; it is really just direction about how to do the right thing. If we receive it graciously and thankfully, we can grow much faster than if we are stubborn and rebellious. God’s way is always the best way. Submit to it quickly, and your walk with Him will be much easier.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for beginning a good work in me. Help me welcome Your correction with gratitude, submit quickly to Your leading, and trust You to complete everything You’ve started in my life, amen.

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He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7 (ESV)

Isaiah 53:7 says Jesus was oppressed, and he was afflicted (ESV). He suffered for our sins. He took our punishment, and His heavenly Father sent Him to do it. We forget sometimes how God, out of His love for us, allowed His own Son to suffer, and then we complain when something is hard or inconvenient, which is foolish on our part.

The scripture continues, yet he opened not his mouth. Despite everything that Jesus went through, He did not complain. He didn’t blame God; He didn’t question God. At the very end, when His suffering was at its worst, He did cry out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34 ESV). He had to experience everything that we would ever experience, so in the end, He felt completely abandoned and forsaken.

We don’t even know what suffering means compared to what Jesus went through for us. He took our sin upon Himself, and because of that, we’re free! Hallelujah!

So, what do we have to complain about? If Jesus didn’t complain, if He opened not his mouth even when He was being beaten and oppressed, then we should follow His lead.

Prayer of the Day: God, I am so grateful for what Jesus did for me. Help me never take for granted the freedom He died for me to experience. I will focus on my gratitude and keep my complaints to myself, amen.

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Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.”

Isaiah 48:17 (ESV)

An important aspect of the healing of the soul is finding the courage to move beyond our pain. We may not be able to avoid all the hurts we face in life, but we can decide that we will not let them keep us from moving ahead. Sometimes when we are very wounded, we are tempted for various reasons to stay stuck in the pain, even though we can see that life is moving forward all around us. We can join in and go with what is happening, or we can stay behind, stuck in bitterness, resentment, hard-heartedness, and pain.

There are many reasons why people stay stuck in their pain. Maybe the “wounded person” has become their identity, and they even use it to get attention. Maybe they fear they will fail if they try to do something new. Maybe they do not feel strong enough to move forward. Or maybe their self-image has been damaged to the point that they have no confidence in themselves and no confidence that God will take care of them if they move into something new.

We can always choose to stay in our pain, but that will not lead to the good things God has for us. Jesus died to give us a life of abundance, but we can choose whether to embrace it or not. If we want what He has, we have to make the choice to move beyond our pain and risk following Him.

I once saw a movie about a very talented woman who suffered such deep wounds in her soul that she completely withdrew from life and from other people. After a stay in a mental health facility, she literally parked her van in someone’s driveway and lived in it for the rest of her life. The movie was a powerful picture of what can happen to people who either don’t know how to or will not deal with their pain, leave the past behind, and move ahead.

God will never park us in our pain and leave us there, and I hope we never allow ourselves to park in it either. He is always calling us forward. He never leaves us alone to figure out on our own how to move ahead. He makes the path clear to us and leads us, as Isaiah 48:17 says, in the way that we should go. He promises to bring hope, healing, strength, and restoration to our lives if we will believe His Word and trust Him to lead us. Plenty of people in the Bible chose to leave their pasts behind and follow God into something new. And you can too!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, give me courage to move beyond past pain. Heal my soul, restore my strength, and lead me forward into the new, abundant life You’ve prepared for me, amen.

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So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

James 1:21 (AMPC)

Once you are born again, your spirit has been reborn, and you will go to heaven when you die. But God is not finished—He is just beginning. You need to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12 KJV). In other words, your soul needs to be saved. The soul is often defined as the mind, the will, and the emotions. Each of these areas needs salvation.

The Holy Spirit works relentlessly to transform the whole man into God’s perfect will. This process is called sanctification. When your soul is renewed with His Word, you think His thoughts and not your own. Submit yourself to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to change every thought and motive.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, renew my mind, will, and emotions. Help me submit every thought to You. Shape my motives, guide my steps, and continue Your sanctifying work in me each day, amen.

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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

My definition of get is to obtain by struggle and effort, and receive is to act like a receptacle and simply take in what is offered. We can receive mercy, grace, strength, forgiveness, and love from the Lord. It is a new day—and God’s mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).

You can have a brand-new start today. Allow God’s mercy to strengthen and heal you before starting your routine activities. Receive His healing power and let its grace work in you. Today can be effortless as you depend on God’s grace to do what He has called you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for new mercy today. Help me receive Your grace, strength, and healing without striving. I depend on You to empower everything You’ve called me to do.

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And as for [the rest of] you, believers, do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (AMP)

There are times when individuals will come to me for advice and prayer, and when I tell them what the Word of God says or what I think the Holy Spirit is saying, their response is, “I know that’s right; God has been showing me the same thing. But, Joyce, it’s just too hard.”

There were times in my past when I said the same thing to God: “Lord, this is just too hard.” But God graciously showed me that this is a lie the enemy tries to inject into our minds to get us to give up. God’s instructions are never too difficult for us to obey.

You can always walk in obedience to God because He has given His Spirit to work powerfully within us to help us at all times (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is with us, and He will enable us to do anything and everything God asks of us.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me reject the lie that obedience is too hard. Strengthen me by Your Spirit, and enable me to follow Your direction with confidence, courage, and complete trust, amen.

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[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised…No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.

Romans 4:18-20 (AMPC)

In our ministry we want to help more people every year, and we believe God wants us to grow. But we also realize that if God has a different plan, and if we end our year with no growth, we cannot let that situation control our joy.

We believe for many things, but beyond them all, we believe in Someone. That Someone is Jesus. We don’t always know what is going to happen. We just know it will always work out for our good!

It is reported that Abraham, after sizing up his situation (he didn’t ignore the facts), considered the utter impotence of his own body and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Although all human reason for hope was gone, he hoped in faith. Abraham was very positive about a very negative situation!

Hebrews 6:19 tells us that hope is the anchor of the soul. Hope is the force that keeps us steady in a time of trial. Don’t ever stop hoping. Don’t be afraid to hope. No one can promise that you’ll never be disappointed. But you can always have hope and be positive.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, strengthen my hope in You. Help me stay positive even in uncertain seasons, trusting that You are working for my good and anchoring my soul with unshakeable confidence, amen.

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And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

God blesses us so we can bless others. He does not want us to be needy; He wants us to be equipped to help people who are in need, and we cannot do that if all we are experiencing is lack.

When we don’t have enough to meet our own needs and the needs of our families or others for whom we are responsible, then it is very difficult to help other people. This is one reason God promises to provide for us and to do so abundantly.

I encourage you to develop the mind-set of a generous giver. Look for ways to give and for needy people to whom you can give. Study what the Bible says about God’s provision and see yourself as one who meets needs.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, make me a generous giver. Help me see needs around me, trust Your abundant provision, and use what You’ve blessed me with to bless others freely and joyfully, amen.

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…One thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on….

Philippians 3:13-14 (AMPC)

Many times, before your feet even hit the floor in the mornings, the enemy begins to remind you of everything you did wrong the previous day or everything that didn’t work out well. In doing so, the enemy’s goal is to use yesterday to keep you from living today.

You don’t have to be afraid of repeating the past. If you believe God is greater than your sins, mistakes, and shortcomings, you will have the spiritual energy and the strength and the grace of God to help you press on and do better in the future. The dreams of your future have no room for the disappointments of the past. They will keep you stuck and weighed down.

Every day can be a new beginning if we make a determined decision to press on to achieve the greater things God has for us today. God’s mercy is greater than yesterday’s mistakes.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You that Your mercy is greater than yesterday’s mistakes. Help me release the past, ignore the enemy’s lies, and press forward into the new beginnings You have for me today, amen.

Jesus heeded his fears. He still does. Jesus heeds the concern in the parent’s heart. After all, our kids were his kids first.  Even as they are ours, they are still his. We forget that fact. Wise are the parents who regularly give their children back to God. Parents, we can be loyal advocates, stubborn intercessors. And we can take our parenting fears to Christ.

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Adapted from Trusting God Day by Day

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18 (AMPC)

Have you ever been absolutely sure you were right about something? Your mind appeared to have a store of facts and details to prove you were right—but you ended up being wrong. What did you do? Did you admit your error, or did you keep pushing and trying to find a way to defend your position?

In the past, when my husband and I were watching a movie or television show, we often argued over which actors and actresses were portraying the characters. It seemed to me that Dave thought Henry Fonda played half the characters in movies.

“Oh, look,” he’d say as we watched a movie on television. “Henry Fonda is in this movie.” “That’s not Henry Fonda,” I’d answer back, and we’d start arguing and bickering. Both of us were so intent on being right that we would insist on staying up much later than we should, just so we could see the credits roll at the end. Then one of us could say, “I told you so!”

Why do we want so desperately to be right about things? Why is it so difficult to be wrong? Why is it so important for us to “win” in a disagreement?

For years I felt bad about who I was, and in order to feel any confidence at all, I had to be right all the time. So I would argue and go to great extremes to prove I was right. I lived in frustration as I tried to convince everyone that I knew what I was talking about.

It wasn’t until my identity became rooted and grounded in Christ that I began to experience freedom in this area. Now I know my worth and value do not come from appearing right to others. Trusting what Jesus says about me is enough.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, free me from the need to always be right. Root my identity in Christ so I can walk in humility, let go of arguments, and find confidence in what You say about me, amen.

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…But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:6 (AMPC)

No day will seem ordinary if we are thankful for the gift God is giving us at the start of each day. An extraordinary attitude can quickly turn an ordinary day into an amazing adventure. Jesus said He came so that we might have and enjoy life (see John 10:10). If we refuse to enjoy it, then it’s no one’s fault but our own.

I would like to suggest that you take responsibility for your joy and never again give anyone else the job of keeping you happy. You can control what you do, but you cannot control what other people do. So you may be unhappy a lot of the time if you depend on them as your source of joy. The psalmist David said that he encouraged himself in the Lord, and if he can do it, then we can do it too.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I am grateful for this new day that You have given me. Regardless of the actions or attitudes of others, I am going to enjoy this day because You are the source of my joy.

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