Tag Archives: spirituality

Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – The Spirit’s Witness

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Read: John 1:19-34

Then John gave this testimony: I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. (John 1:32-33)

If you read through the Old Testament you find in it a deep sense of unsatisfied longings. From the very beginning of the Bible people are longing after righteousness and holiness; longing to be better than they are; longing to be free from the struggle with evil within; wishing somehow they could get hold of the evil, self-centered tendency within themselves, and eliminate it.

Have you ever felt that way? There have been times when I wished I could have had a surgical operation to remove my tendency to be sharp, critical, harsh and caustic; when I saw the hurt I caused I wished somehow to be able to stop doing those kinds of things.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Do You Really?

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Read: Matthew 7:21-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man. (v. 24 NIV)

At the beginning of our reflections on “knowing Christ,” I must ask myself and you a hard question. Do you really want to know Christ, enough to do something about it?

Some time ago, I found an interesting and troubling story attributed to the Danish philosopher S°ren Kierkegaard. It’s about a make-believe land in which only ducks lived and it went something like this. On Sunday morning, all the ducks got up, brushed their feathers, and waddled off to church. After waddling down the aisle, they sat down in their pews.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Little Things

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What has God put on your heart for this New Year? Consider that five basic responsibilities of a Christian are to seek God, to pray, to serve, to give, and to be thankful.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Proverbs 4:27

Seek God: “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’” (Psalm 27:8). Intercede: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (I Timothy 2:1). Serve: “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Give: “Give, and it will be given to you…For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Be thankful: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

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Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Sowing and Reaping

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“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.”—1 Kings 18:18

Elijah was not a popular guy after his announcement to King Ahab. He had walked into Ahab’s court and declared, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” (1 Kings 17:1).

Elijah was a wanted man, dead or alive (preferably dead). But then he emerged on the scene, and he and Ahab had their confrontation. When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17).

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Comforts the Fearful

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“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:3)

Like many people, Maggie was afraid of the dark. She was afraid of the scary things she couldn’t see in the dark. Maggie shared a bedroom with her sister Kathi, and she made Kathi promise not to go to sleep until after she had fallen asleep so that Kathi could protect her from all of the “scary things” in the room.

For the times that Maggie’s fears were very strong, her mother told her to quote Bible verses and pray. Maggie’s mom said that the Lord promised in His Word that He would calm all of Maggie’s fears. Psalms 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Maggie’s mom explained that God did not want her to be afraid; instead He wanted her to trust Him with all her fears. Maggie followed her mom’s advice and began to see how the Lord was more powerful than anything real or imagined. As she quoted verses, she was reminded of God’s control over everything. As a result, she started being less and less afraid of the dark.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Personal Responsibility

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Today’s Scripture: Leviticus 20:7

“Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.”

Another reason that we do not experience more holiness in daily living is that we have misunderstood “living by faith” (Galatians 2:20) to mean no effort at holiness is required on our part. In fact, sometimes we’ve even suggested that any effort on our part is “of the flesh.”

The words of J. C. Ryle, Bishop of Liverpool from 1880 to 1900, are instructive to us on this point: “Is it wise to proclaim in so bald, naked, and unqualified a way as many do, that the holiness of converted people is by faith only, and not at all by personal exertion? Is it according to the proportion of God’s Word? I doubt it. That faith in Christ is the root of all holiness . . . no well-instructed Christian will ever think of denying. But surely the Scriptures teach us that in following holiness the true Christian needs personal exertion and work as well as faith.”

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Leroy Eims – Daily Discipleship Devotional – Streams of Living Water

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Today’s Scripture: Hosea 12-14

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. – Galatians 2:20

Hosea 13:15 presents a prophecy of judgment against the nation of Israel: “An east wind from the Lord will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures.”

Here is a picture of someone whose inner source of life and power has dried up. His life was once a blessing to those around him but has now become a curse. As I studied this passage, I was reminded of a man I knew well.

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Today in the Word

Moody Global Ministries – Today in the Word – Cain: Shame Covered Up

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Read Genesis 4:1-16

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. Hebrews 11:4

Presenting gifts is a customary part of official government visits. Lady Kramer, the British transport minister, discovered too late that her present to Mayor Ko Wen-je of Taipei, Taiwan—a watch from the House of Lords—was more gaffe than gift. In Chinese culture, giving someone a clock or watch is considered in bad taste, since the phrases “giving a clock” and “attending an old person’s funeral” are pronounced similarly. “I had no idea a gift like this could be seen as anything other than positive,” Lady Kramer said. “In the U.K. a watch is precious—because nothing is more important than time.”

Cain had worked the earth by the sweat of his brow to produce a gift for God, but God favored his younger brother’s instead. We are told in the book of Hebrews why Cain’s offering was insufficient: it was not offered in faith (Heb. 11:4). Cain might have responded to God’s rejection of his offering with humble contrition, but he chose to turn away from God in anger.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Created to Praise

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Psalms 103

Do you ever wonder why you exist? Day-to-day activities and worries pull us in so many directions that most of us seldom think about the goal of life. But our Creator made us with a purpose: to glorify Him (Isa. 43:7).

In His Word, God is emphatic that we are to testify to His faithfulness and His mighty works. Jesus Christ considered this important as well—when teaching His disciples how to communicate with God, He began His well-known prayer with adoration of His Father (Matt. 6:9).

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Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread — All His Benefits

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Read: Psalm 103

Bible in a Year: Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. —Psalm 103:2

A recurring difficulty on our journey of life is becoming so focused on what we need at the moment that we forget what we already have. I was reminded of that when our church choir sang a beautiful anthem based on Psalm 103. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (v. 2 nkjv). The Lord is our forgiver, healer, redeemer, provider, satisfier, and renewer (vv. 4-5). How could we forget that? And yet we often do when the events of daily life shift our attention to pressing needs, recurring failures, and circumstances that seem out of control.

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Strength for Today – From Doctrine to Duty

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“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:3).

There can be no right living without right principles.

Imagine someone saying, “I have some extra money lying around. I think I’ll send a large check to the government.” Absurd, isn’t it? But every year, honest wage-earners fill out forms and give part of their income to the government. Why? It’s not because they are generous but because there is a law— a doctrine—that says they have to.

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters, Boyd Bailey – God-Sized Goals 

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Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  Luke 18:27

God-sized goals are meant to challenge our thinking and further our faith. These Holy Spirit-inspired big ideas are crafted by our Creator to spur us on to good works and transformational living. God-sized goals make us uncomfortable at times. They are not guaranteed to happen, but they position us to pray more and believe in God better.

It is through prayerful planning and implementation that gigantic goals move from mere possibility to a surer probability. Huge objectives are a hedge against mediocrity and a prod toward perfection. God-sized goals are given to govern your thinking and determine your time, so you are intentional and focused on His big picture. Otherwise, you can drift without a rudder of reality, destined for disappointment.

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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Let Your Light Shine

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You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. —Matthew 5:14

As believers in Christ, we can be bubbling over with life. We can be vibrant, alive, active, energized, peaceful, and joy-filled.

It is our approach to God that determines our attitude and countenance. When we approach God with boldness, thankful for His grace and confident that He loves us and He is for us, we can’t help but be full of life. However, a legalistic, religious approach to God steals life. It does not nourish it. Remember, Paul said, The Law kills, but the Spirit makes alive (2 Corinthians 3:6). When we follow the Spirit, we feel alive.

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Girlfriends in God

Girlfriends in God – Friend to Friend

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Let’s face it. Life can be scary.

We watch the news and feel like Chicken Little. The sky always seems to be falling.

We lose sleep over our loved ones, our lost ones, and our little ones.

We worry about the economy, finances, and employment.

We shake and shudder when more medical testing is required or the diagnosis is not favorable.

We are anxious with “what ifs” and “whys.”

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Abundant Life for the Asking

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“The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

For me, the Christian life is an exciting, joy-filled adventure. It has been that way through more than 30 years of walking with the Lord. If you are not already experiencing such a life, it can be the same for you today, tomorrow and the rest of your days, no matter what the circumstances.

Jesus promised the full and abundant life for all those who walk in faith and obedience. His “exceeding great and precious promises” include every kind of provision for you – spiritual, emotional, material.

You start by getting to know God – who He is, what He is like and the benefits we enjoy when we belong to Him. Your view of God influences all the rest of your relationships. Scripture says the righteous shall live by faith. Faith must focus on an object, and the object in which we have our faith is God and His inspired Word.

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Ray Stedman

Ray Stedman – Grace Upon Grace

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Read: John 1:14-18

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:16-18)

Notice the reappearance in verse 17 of the words grace and truth, and the contrast which John draws between them and the Law and Moses. The Law makes demands. It is hard, cold, unyielding, without mercy. The symbol of it today is the IRS — the Tax Man. If we do not give up what the law requires we are subject to penalty: Do this and thou shalt live, says the IRS. John says that the Law was given by Moses. Moses did not originate it, but he gave it. Moses may disappear, but the Law remains — cold, unyielding, demanding, without mercy.

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Words of Hope

Words of Hope – Daily Devotional – Brief Encounter or Long Marriage?

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Read: Genesis 2:18-24

That is why a man . . . is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. (v. 24 NIV)

I knew two presidents—Nixon and Clinton. I don’t just mean that I knew about them, I actually knew them because I met them personally. I met Richard Nixon when the seminary choir sang at the White House on Mother’s Day. And I met Bill Clinton at a huge banquet in Philadelphia. OK, I admit that my presidential encounters amounted to a hand shake and 10 words. I didn’t know either president nearly as well as I know my wife.

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Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R.- Experience Count

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What have you “inherited” from 2015? Maybe it was your greatest year ever. Perhaps it was a nightmare you’d rather never repeat. Either way, now is a good time to reflect upon your experiences – good and bad – so that you can learn from them. Notes author John Maxwell: “Experience is not the best teacher. Evaluated experience is the best teacher. Reflective thinking is needed to turn experience into insight. We draw lessons from the past only when we study it.”

The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Proverbs 3:35

In this presidential election year, you will hear endless discussion of the various candidates’ experience. Why? Because Americans want a Chief Executive who has a record of success – someone who has been an effective leader regardless of the circumstances.

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Kids 4 Truth

Kids 4 Truth International – God Is a God of Truth

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“He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Have you ever broken something like your mom’s good china or a special glass? Glass is fragile; it is easily broken. It’s the same way with trust. Trust in a friend can easily be broken. One of the quickest ways to lose a person’s trust is by lying. If a person lies to you, you never know when to believe him.

Lies are told in several different ways: telling a half-truth, sharing a story in a way that makes you look better than what actually happened, being one way with one person and another way with somebody else, or allowing a lie or rumor to continue when you know that it is not true. No matter what form it takes, a lie is a sin.

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – The Cross and God’s Holiness

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Today’s Scripture: Nahum 1:6

“His wrath is poured out like fire.”

Many people think that God can just forgive our sins because he’s loving. Nothing could be further from the truth. The cross speaks to us not only about our sin but about God’s holiness.

We usually think of God’s holiness as his infinite moral purity, but there’s more to it than that. The basic meaning of the word holy is “separate,” and when used of God it means, among other things, that he’s eternally separate from any degree of sin. He does not sin himself, and he cannot abide or condone sin in his moral creatures.

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