Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Seeking God

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Read: Psalm 46

Be still, and know that I am God. (v. 10)

Here is a recap of our definition of spiritual formation so far: “Christian spiritual formation is the process of being conformed into the image of Christ, through an intimate relationship with God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in order to live a good and beautiful life . . .”

Spiritual formation is not a hobby for religious types. It is necessary work for each Christ-follower. Spiritual formation is first and foremost for me: I must become a “peculiar” person whose life is defined by humility, service, and submission before I am of any value to others. It’s a lifelong practice of letting go and allowing God to be in charge.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.H. – Out of the Pit

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On October 14, 1987, Jessica McClure became America’s baby when, at 18 months old, she fell into a well behind her aunt’s Midland, Texas home. When her rescue made national news, President Ronald Reagan said all of America became Jessica’s godmothers and godfathers. Due to the nature of the small pipe in which Jessica was stuck and the rock surrounding it, rescue was complicated…but after 58 hours, the little girl was set free.

He drew me up…and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Psalm 40:2

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Prayer Is Surrender

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Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. —1 John 5:14

Nothing lies outside the reach of prayer except that which lies outside of the will of God. God will only answer the request He inspires. You see, prayer is surrender—surrender to the will of God. It’s cooperation with His will.

You might be thinking, Then why even pray?

Because God wants us to be a part of the process. Here’s how it works. God puts a burden on your heart. It may be for the salvation of someone, or it may be for some other thing. But when God puts a burden on your heart, you pray. And then you see God do the so-called impossible and answer that prayer.

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Hears

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“I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)

Have you ever tried to talk to someone who isn’t paying attention to you? You probably feel frustrated or discouraged if you think you aren’t being heard. It is encouraging, though, for God’s children to remember that God always hears them when they pray to Him. He is never too busy to listen to His children. And He is never uninterested in what they have to say. No matter what time of day it is or where you are, God always hears you.

Sometimes, though, God is the last person Christians go to when they’re having troubles. Instead of going to God, they sulk. Or they go to their unsaved friends. Their friends may be good listeners, but they have no power to give true answers. Maybe God’s children do go to a godly friend or parent with their problems. But the whole time, they may be resisting God, using Him as a “last resort” only.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Joy’s Stepping Stones

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:6

“You received the word . . . with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”

Joy is a fruit of the spirit, the effect of his ministry in our hearts. Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NIV). It’s by the power of the Holy Spirit that we experience the joy of salvation and are enabled to rejoice even in the midst of trials.

The Spirit uses his Word to create joy in our hearts. Romans 15:4 speaks of the endurance and encouragement that come from the Scriptures; the next verse says that God gives endurance and encouragement. God is the source; the Scriptures are the means. The same truth applies to joy. Verse 13 speaks of God filling us with joy and peace as we trust him. How would we expect God to do this? The reasonable answer is by means of the Scriptures.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Leading with Heart

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Today’s Scripture: 2 Chronicles 29-32

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. – Romans 12:11

Isn’t it good to see people give it all they’ve got, whatever they’re doing? That’s what we see in today’s section of Scripture concerning King Hezekiah. Second Chronicles 31:21 tells us, “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (KJV).

This is God’s evaluation of Hezekiah’s life: he sought the Lord and served Him with all his heart.

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BreakPoint

BreakPoint –  Colson’s Speech: A Final Address, A Plan for Renewal

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Nearly four years ago, Chuck Colson walked onto the stage at the Colson Center’s Wilberforce Weekend. Chuck didn’t seem quite himself, as he had been recovering from an illness.

But the address he gave was vintage Colson. Surveying the cultural and political landscape, Chuck told the crowd, “What we are seeing now is the full fruits of 30 years of relativism, the death of truth, in the academy in particular, and in public discourse, and the coarsening of public discourse, [the] coarsening of politics.”

And in words that ring so true today, Chuck said, “Everybody looks to the elections and thinks the elections will settle this problem or settle that problem. Elections are important. Whoever serves in office, it makes a difference what kind of person that is and what that person believes.

“But elections can’t solve the problem we’ve got. The real problem that we’ve got is that our culture has been decaying from the inside for 30 or 40 years. And politics is nothing but an expression of culture. So . . . how do you fix the culture?”

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Moody Global Ministries

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – A RESTING PLACE

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Read Hebrews 4:1-13

The American mentality is sometimes described as “work hard, play hard.” Who hasn’t heard someone returning from vacation complain, “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation!” Even when we have opportunities to rest, we often choose to fill our time with more busyness.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. In today’s passage, the writer of Hebrews warns of the danger of falling short of the promise of rest. This language is significant, and it comes from God’s promise to provide a place of rest for Israel after the Exodus from Egypt. Like the land that God promised to give to Israel, we must receive the rest of Christ as a gift.

Also like Israel, we must change our place of residence. Those who enjoy the rest of God are those who have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son (see Col. 1:13). This is more than a change of attitude—it is a change of venue. Those who come to Christ by faith enter a new realm of experience. We occupy a domain of redemption, forgiveness, and empowerment through the Holy Spirit.

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – BRONCOS WIN SUPER BOWL 50: WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW

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Last night the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers to win Super Bowl 50. Here are some facts about the teams and the game that you might not know:

  • Peyton Manning became the oldest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl.
  • He is also the first quarterback to reach the game with two different teams.
  • For the first time, two quarterbacks who were number-one picks in the NFL draft competed against each other in a Super Bowl.
  • The age gap between Manning (39) and Carolina quarterback Cam Newton (26) was the largest in Super Bowl history.
  • John Elway, Denver’s general manager, became the first to win a championship as a player and as a GM.
  • Over the last fifteen championship games, the favorites won only three times.
  • A thirty-second Super Bowl ad cost at least $5 million.
  • Around 170 million people worldwide watched the game from 180 different countries.
  • People eat more food on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year except for Thanksgiving. Around 4,000 tons of guacamole were consumed yesterday, with the assistance of 13,500 tons of chips. Around 90 million pounds of chicken wings were eaten yesterday as well.

I admire the way Peyton Manning prepared for the game and handled victory afterwards. In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, he consistently deferred attention from himself and focused on his team. After last night’s win, he refused to answer questions about his possible retirement, lest his story overshadow his team’s victory.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Steps of Faith

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Deuteronomy 10:12-13

The Bible portrays the Christian life as a walk. It speaks of walking in the Spirit, in God’s ways, in love, and in truth. Our lives, then, shouldn’t be stagnant; they ought to move and develop to be increasingly like the life of Jesus. Scripture calls this sanctification. (See 1 Thess. 4:1-8.)

But what if you feel you’re going backward instead of forward? Turning around can happen only by faith in Christ. Here’s how to correct your course:

  • First, have assurance that God keeps every promise. The Bible contains an amazing number of guarantees for believers, including wisdom for the asking, God’s constant presence, and peace when we focus on Him.
    • Second, anticipate the Father’s response. In other words, joyfully expect that your confidence in His promises will lead to blessing.
    • Third, be aware daily of His involvement in your life. By spending time in the Word and prayer, you will become sensitive to what He is doing.
    • Fourth, pray boldly because you are God’s child (Heb. 4:16; Gal. 3:26). Approaching the Father in such a manner isn’t a prideful confidence, but an overflow of your assurance in Him.
    • Finally, obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the true test of your belief. As James 2:17 says, faith without action is dead.

Can you sense that your life is progressing and you are maturing into Christ’s likeness? Or do circumstances and character traits seem to hold you back? God promises to continue making His children beautiful throughout their lives. You can resist Him or cooperate with His gracious work in you.

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 26-27

 

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — The Factory of Sadness

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Read: John 16:28-33

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 1-3; Matthew 24:1-28

[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. —Revelation 21:4

As a lifelong Cleveland Browns football fan, I grew up knowing my share of disappointment. Despite being one of only four teams to have never appeared in a Super Bowl championship game, the Browns have a loyal fan base that sticks with the team year in and year out. But because the fans usually end up disappointed, many of them now refer to the home stadium as the “Factory of Sadness.”

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – God’s Holiness Revealed

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“The Lord is righteous in all His ways” (Psalm 145:17).

God’s holiness is evident in everything He does, particularly in creation, the law, judgment, and salvation.

The whole purpose of the Old Testament is to reveal the holiness and righteousness of God, who is utterly perfect and pure. In fact, the Hebrew word for “holy” is used more than 600 times in the Old Testament to indicate moral perfection.

What are some areas in which we see God’s holiness? First, we see it in the original perfection of His creation: “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). All of creation was in tune with God’s holy character.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – Road Less Traveled 

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Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13–14

What road do you travel in life? Is it the narrow road of trust in God and others, or is it the wide road of trust in you alone? Do you briskly travel down the road of life with the masses, or is your trip more measured and prayerful with a few companions? The wide road may seem more exciting in the beginning, but it is the narrow road that leads to fulfillment.

You may have been on the road of righteousness with Christ for a long time. Now it seems like your Savior is directing you in a direction that is less familiar. The level of faith required to digest the risk is much higher and more daunting. Even within the family of faith there are not that many who have gone where your heavenly Father is asking you to go. How will you respond? Do not be so cautious that you miss Christ’s new direction.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Paraclete

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But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].—John 16:13

God knew you would need help in understanding His plan for you, so He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside you. He is your Guide, your Teacher of truth, your Comfort, and your Helper. He is also the Parakletos (Paraclete), which means counselor, advocate, and intercessor.

Jesus was confined to a body and could be only one place at a time. But He knew the Holy Spirit would be with you everywhere you go, all the time, leading and guiding you. Embrace the Holy Spirit in you, resting in the knowledge that in Him you are becoming everything God planned for you to be.

From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Refuge for the Oppressed

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“All who are oppressed may come to Him. He is a refuge for them in their time of trouble” (Psalm 9:9).

The late evangelist Henry Moorehouse once faced a disturbing dilemma. His little paralyzed daughter greeted him as he entered the house bearing a package for his wife.

“Where is Mother?” he asked, after kissing and embracing his daughter.

“Mother is upstairs,” the girl responded.

“Well,” Moorehouse said, “I have a package for her.”

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The One Coming

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Read: Isaiah 11:1-5

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

It is not difficult for us to see that this is a clear prediction of the Lord Jesus. Here in these opening verses is a hint that the Messiah will appear in history in a very obscure way. That is suggested by this word, A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. Like a great tree that has been cut down, the ancestry of Jesus represented in David and his father Jesse has been reduced to obscurity and insignificance. But out of that lowly stump will arise a shoot, a single sprout, a man who will, as the prophet goes on to say, be filled with the Spirit of God and who will do a great work in the land. When our Lord is referred to as the son of David in the gospels, it is always in terms of royal glory, but when he is called the stump of Jesse, it is a reference to his humble beginnings.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – A Good and Beautiful Life

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Read: Colossians 3:1-17

Put off the old self with its practices and . . . put on the new self. (vv. 9-10)

What is the key to living a good life? Marketers spend millions convincing us that they know the answer. But the truth is, we were created to be in fellowship with God. The key to a good life is our collaboration with the Holy Spirit to build it.

What will this life look like? Colossians 3 gives a clear description of a good and beautiful life with directions on how to gain it. First, we take off our old self with its need for self-gratification and control. Then, we put on a new self. We are able to do this because we are “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved” (v. 12). Next, we allow God’s Spirit to make us into compassionate, kind, humble, meek, patient, forgiving, and loving people.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; G.C. – Invisible

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First year spy school includes a course in “How to Hide in Plain Sight.” Could you pass the class? Being unnoticed hinges on common sense ingredients like adjusting your clothing to match those around you, walking slowly in close proximity to a larger group, and avoiding eye contact in a crowd. Thankfully, your life will probably never depend on not being noticed…but it never hurts to be prepared.

In the cover of your presence you hide them…you store them in your shelter.

Psalm 31:20

In today’s verse, David expresses his great confidence in God’s protection. David endured the unrelenting jealously and persecution of a powerful enemy. King Saul used every resource available to seek out and attempt to destroy David. In the midst of such fearful circumstances, David leaned deeply upon the Lord and trusted in His providence for security. David knew Saul couldn’t do anything that God did not allow.

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Uncategorized

Kids 4 Truth International – God Never Makes Mistakes

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“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalm 18:30)

Have you ever tried to make it through a whole day without making a mistake, a wrong decision? When I was little I used to try so hard not to do anything wrong – not to sin – all day long. Of course, it didn’t take long before I did something wrong and sinned. Don’t you wish you could just decide to be perfect – and then not mess up? Well, you and I can’t do that, but there’s Someone that never messes up.

God never makes a mistake; He never sins! The verse I quoted above tells us that God’s words can be trusted. What God says has been “tried.” That means His word has been tested and proved. Isn’t it nice to know that we can trust what God says because He never makes a mistake? He has never made a mistake in the past and will never make one in the future. Even though we make mistakes, we know that God never will and that He can help us make fewer mistakes in the future.

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Uncategorized

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – One Blessing After Another

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Today’s Scripture: 1 Peter 1:2

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

John wrote that Jesus was “full of grace and truth” and that “from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:14,16). The idea portrayed is analogous to the ocean waves crashing upon the beach. One wave has hardly disappeared before another arrives. They just keep coming from an inexhaustible supply. So it is with the grace of God through Christ. He’s full of grace and truth, and from his inexhaustible fullness we receive one blessing after another.

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