Daily Spiritual Meditations - 10/15

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Confidence in God

“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

We can have confidence in God. He is the creator of the Universe. He made all that exists, surely He has rule over all. Is not the Creator greater than the created? Then we need have no fear that God can do all things and that there is no plan of His that can be stopped or stalled in any way. God gave men and angels free-will when He created them. He did not create puppets on a string, but beings that can think and act according to their own choice. It was this freedom of choice that allowed sin and its ravages into this world, beginning with Satan, who desired God’s station, and ending with Adam’s fall. But that is not the end of the story. For God has a plan, a plan that will not be thwarted, a plan that includes all of mankind, a plan that will bring the entire world to the feet of their Savior and the throne of their God. How blessed we are to be part of that plan! We can be assured that God can do all things for us and through us. Romans 8:28 tells us that all that passes through our lives is a part of that plan; a plan for our eternal good. Sometimes we may become discouraged because we do not understand the complexity of God’s plan, but we can rest assured that God is working and in the end there will be a happy ending. God is in control; we just need to trust Him.

Father, we thank you for giving us the confidence to know that you can and will do all things according to your plan. We know that Satan can never thwart any plan of yours; that he has no power over you. Help us to live our lives in that assurance, in that confidence. May our dependence on you bring with it the confidence that nothing that befalls us will harm us, but will only bring eternal good. May our lives bring you glory and honor always as you complete your plan in us! Amen Quiet Waters

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Walk with Jesus all the time

Decide today, this hour, this minute to walk with Jesus all the time, all the way, in all circumstances.

Jesus said, " I am with you always."

Do not be a fair weather Christian, who only praises the Lord when the going is easy, but also praise the Lord when the going gets rough.

I have decided to follow Jesus all the time, through thick and storm, through prosperity and poverty, when the days are good and when the days are bad.

Jesus said, " Follow Me."

I will go with Thee, Oh Lord all the way.

No turning back, no turning back.

You are the bright beacon of hope that guides me through the storms of the seas of peril in the darkness of the night, Oh Lord Jesus.
©10/15/2001 Jim Welch

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Devotional For Dieters
October 15

Zechariah 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, 'This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, +Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,' saith the Lord of hosts.'

Curtis liked to think he could do everything on his own. He often told friends that he didn't need anybody else; he was fine all by himself. On those rare occasions when Curt was feeling down and in need of a friend's support, he usually found himself alone. Everyone figured he really didn't need anyone else, and so he was lonely. No matter how strong or powerful or talented we might be, we all need the support of friends. Our greatest friend is, of course, Jesus Christ. We need never feel alone when we have the Spirit of the Lord with us. Accept the helping hand of the Lord, and find out what real strength is all about.

Today's thought: Let me lose not only weight, but also false pride!

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ACCEPTANCE AND GRATITUDE

“…Unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 417
“How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” Psalm 116:12

For what it's worth: Was that really me -- that worthless drunk with not one drop of acceptance or gratitude in his entire being? It seems to me that drunk just disappeared one day. It happened in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was like a bright, white cloud overcame the drunk and, when it cleared, there I stood, free of denial and full of gratitude. Ever since then there has been spiritual growth in some small degree from both the mountains and valleys along life’s path. And as old age arrives, acceptance and gratitude increase. I have to accept losses, changes, and health problems. And I treasure what used to be taken for granted, like a breath, a step, a new day.

God bless you!

Joe W.

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Today I will...give thanks for fellow believers in Jesus.

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25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. Acts 16:25-34

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Pray To Be Enlightened

EPHESIANS 1:18 NIV
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

There is much we don't know.

In fact, the most spiritual among us has only glimpsed a part of God's plan. The Apostle Paul said that he only "knew in part."

So, with the Apostle Paul we should pray that "the eyes of our heart may be enlightened." For ourselves, and for others, too.

If study alone was the answer, those who have studied the Bible the most would have the most faith, and would be doing the most exploits in God's name. Often, the opposite is true.

Thank God for scholarship, but that is not the total answer.

The Bible is a living message given by a living Author. Fellowship with God and illumination from Him are necessary for full understanding from the Bible.

Our prayer needs to be that of the Psalmist.

PSALM 119:18 NKJ
18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

You may have wondered why you see some things clearly in the Bible that your friends or loved ones seem blinded to.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 NIV
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The answer is that, somehow, our hearts and minds need opened or illuminated by God. This is a reason, and a way, to pray for your unsaved loved ones.

ACTS 16:14 NIV
14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia . . . The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

SAY THIS: Lord, open my eyes and give me understanding of all that you have for me to know.

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Show The Blessings
October 15

And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.
—1 Timothy 1:14

God wants to bless you today. You may feel that you shouldn’t have nice things, but let God balance your thinking when it comes to His blessings. He will help you understand what you should have and what you shouldn’t have. God blesses you so that you will be a blessing to others.

When God provides for you, it offers hope to unbelievers that He is faithful to provide for those who serve Him. You are an ambassador for Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:20); expect His provision today, and don’t hide His blessings when they come.


From the book Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year by Joyce Meyer.

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Daily Thoughts

A Time to Think Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower. —Hans Christian Anderson
To Act Try something new everyday. You never know what you’ll end up loving.
To Pray Lord, help me to bring the dark places of my life into the sunlight of Your promise.

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Change the Way You Think About Work.

Get a correct mental attitude, remembering that ease or difficulty in your work depends upon how you think about it. Think it's hard and you will have the tendency to make it hard. Think it's easy and it will tend to become easy.

No. 89 in a series of 100 Power Thoughts from The Power of Positive Thinking, the All-Time inspirational Best-Selling Book by Norman Vincent Peale.

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NACR Daily Meditation

Wednesday 15th of October 2008

I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of
flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19

God promises us a heart transplant. God promises to change us. Our stone
hearts will be removed and in their place will be put a heart of flesh.

A heart of stone is a dead heart. It is closed to honest, intimate relationships.
A heart of stone is unmerciful with itself and with others. But we do
become attached to our hearts of stone. And we find ourselves fearing God’s
promised transplant. Our stone hearts have one thing in their favor - they
allow us to feel strong and to appear strong to others. A stone heart is
a protected heart. It seems invulnerable. You cannot wound a heart of
stone.

God’s offer of a heart transplant is a promise of life. A heart of flesh
is alive. Only a flesh heart can feel joy. Only a flesh heart can celebrate.
Only a heart of flesh can give and receive love. But, the vulnerability
of a heart of flesh scares us. A flesh heart does not seem as well protected
as a heart of stone. It can feel joy, but it can also feel pain. You can
wound a heart of flesh.

God promises to change us. God will remove our hearts of stone and give
us hearts of flesh.

I like the safety of my stone heart, Lord.
But it is hard, cold, dead.
It is a heartless heart, bloodless, lifeless.
Remove it from me.
I want a heart of flesh, Lord.
I want life.
But I am afraid.
Give me the courage to say ‘yes’
to your promise of life today.
Remove my heart of stone and
give me a heart of flesh.
Amen.

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Growth Begats Growth

2 Corinthians 9:10: “For God…will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest” (TLB).

This afternoon I strolled through a beautiful, lush flower garden. The gardener explained each blossom, seedling, and shrub. There were dainty lilies of the valley, majestic purple iris, sun-splashed petunias, and geraniums the color of red crayons. My childhood favorite, the peony bush was ready to burst into bloom.

Then the gentle gardener showed me a hosta plant with its crisp green and white leaves. This globular plant presented a classic backdrop for the more brilliantly tinted flowers. “Years ago someone gave me one small hosta plant,” she explained. “I put it in the ground right here. That original plant grew and multiplied. And just look what has happened. There are now hostas outlining the entire yard. Every season as each plant grows wider, I break off new shoots and transplant them.”

As I walked away I thought, “O, Lord, make me like the hosta plant. Its fresh green and white foliage adds character and depth wherever it flourishes. May I be consistent in and out of season. And may I mature and grow a sufficient root system to produce other sturdy, healthy plants.”

Growth begets growth, Lord.
Please help me to develop and produce
with consistency and balance.

2008 Joan C. Webb

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Love Worth Finding
October 15

Seeing Through the Eyes of Faith

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Let me tell you how to experience God. Get your heart pure, and you will see God with the eyes of faith. You see, Jesus is not talking about your physical body. You get your spiritual heart right, and your spiritual eye will see.

Hebrews 11:27 says that Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” You get your heart right, and you’ll see the invisible God...in circumstances...in nature...in the face of your spouse, your child, your grandchild. You’ll see Him in the scriptures.

God will become a bright, living reality to you.

Put on the eyes of faith today and find God creating and sustaining life. Think of a favorite place that reflects the beauty of His creation. Do you see the hand of God?

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Answers for Each Day - Oct. 15, 2008

The Number One Cause for Spiritual Drought

By far the Scriptures teach that the number one cause for spiritual drought is sin. And the number one cure for drought, according to the Scriptures, is repentance.

In 2 Chronicles 6:26-27, King Solomon is clear in this prayer,

When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance.

Notice that the heavens were shut up, there was no rain, because of sin. But when the people confessed God’s name and turned and repented, Solomon prayed, “God, hear and open the heavens once again and send rain.”

This prayer is particularly significant because Solomon is praying at the dedication of the temple. Scripture declares to us in 2 Corinthians 6:16, You are the temple of the living God.

The Old Testament temple was just a type and a shadow pointing to better things—to the era in which God would no longer dwell in buildings made with mortar and stone, but take up residence in human hearts.

That’s you and me! As 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are not our own. We have been bought with a price, and God’s expectation is that we glorify Him in our bodies. You and I are God’s temple.

If there is sin in your life, turn from it and turn to God, so that you can experience the refreshing rain of God’s blessing in your life.

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I am God’s Workmanship
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Friend to Friend
When my son was in elementary school, he created some works of art that had a striking resemblance to that of the world-renowned artist, Picasso. However, Picasso’s paintings are worth millions of dollars and my son’s are only valuable to me. What makes a work of art valuable? Its value is based on the artist who created it. You, dear friend, are a piece of art created by God Himself. King David described it this way:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16).

A woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. In fact, she was His grand finale. After He fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful. Let’s go back to the beginning of time and reflect on our magnificent beginnings.

After God created the sun, moon, stars, earth, waters, creeping and flying animals, he created man. But something was missing. For Adam there was no creature suitable for him. This is the only time God said any aspect of His creation was “not good.” He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. And the LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. And the man said, “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:21-24 NASB)

While God created the world and all it contains, He did something a little special when He made woman. The NASB translation says He fashioned Eve. He didn’t simply make you – He fashioned you with extra special care and meticulous detail. You are a thing of beauty, a sight to behold, and one of His most spectacular masterpieces - a work of art, a valuable original, a one of a kind.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Forgive me when I complain about Your masterpiece – my nose, my hips, my complexion, etc. I praise You for the intricacies of the human body. The fact that my heart beats without my telling it to, my lungs inhale and exhale without my instruction, and my reflexes react automatically. Yes, I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Now It’s Your Turn
Make a list today of how your body is wonderfully made by God. Example:

* My eyelids blink.
* My food is digested.
* My heart beats.

What ways have you complained about your body lately?

How does the above list of how you are wonderfully made compare to your complaints?

When you see a newborn baby, what is one of your first thoughts?

Considering that Genesis 1:26 says, “Let us make man in our own image,” how should we view ourselves?

More From The Girlfriends
Wow, when we think of all the intricacies God put into making us, it is truly amazing. But more than a body, He also created us with a soul and a spirit. And all through our lives, God is at work to complete the masterpiece of you and me through our minds, wills, and emotions. If you would like to begin seeing yourself as God sees you, you’ll want to read Experience the Ultimate Makeover by Sharon Jaynes. When you see yourself as God sees you, you’ll never again feel inadequate.

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Living Free Every Day®

Today's Scripture
"They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." Romans 1:25 NLT

Thoughts for Today
When we become obsessed with controlling someone else's behavior, we have a problem called codependency. Codependents center their lives on the person they are trying to help, and as a result they exchange the truth of God for a lie, worshiping and serving a created person (the struggling loved one) rather than God the Creator.

Codependency is harmful because the person becomes mastered by a loved one's problem or becomes a loved one's master (playing God).

Generally, people are not aware that they are enabling and becoming codependent. They are trying to do the right thing, but too often they feel guilty because their efforts are not good enough to make the person they love change. Children are especially vulnerable to this distorted, guilt-ridden thinking.

Consider this…
Christians can be unusually susceptible to codependency. Sometimes when attempting to love others as Christ has commanded us, we slip into enabling behaviors that lead to codependent relations. The subject of codependency should be approached with balance. According to the apostle Paul, the body of Christ should be interdependent (see Romans 12:7-16 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). We need to avoid the extremes of selfish independence and codependence.

Prayer
Father, teach me to love and help people without going to the extreme of trying to fix or control them. Help me to always put you first and trust you to guide me in loving and helping others. In Jesus' name …

These thoughts were drawn from…
Living Free by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. and Dan Strickland, M.Div. Using Living Free training, your church or ministry can unleash a new kind of group leader—one who understands how tough life can be, but also knows the hope and freedom found in Christ.

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Senior Living - October 15

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. --Ephesians 5:19-20

Walking through an open market one day, a mother and her five-year-old daughter browsed through the items available on each table. As the little girl stopped to stare at a large pile of oranges on one table, the generous vendor selling the oranges took one from the stack and gave it to her.

The mother asked her daughter, “What do you say to the nice man for giving you a gift?”

The little girl stared at the orange again, then tossed it toward the vendor and said, “Peel it!”

Thankfulness is something we learn over time and grow into regardless our age. What might be considered innocent and harmless coming from a five-year-old child would certainly be considered rude and ungrateful coming from an older child or adult. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of responding as that little girl did to God’s blessings by thinking, “This is nice and all, but I’d like a little more.”

An attitude of gratitude toward God’s gifts is a mark of spiritual maturity in a believer’s life. In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he challenged them to follow Christ, which included “giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This holiday season practice thankfulness to God, instead of complaining about what you don’t have, instead of bemoaning the unfairness of life, or instead of expecting and desiring more than what you already have. God has provided all your needs and as His child, it’s His desire to bless you with enough to sustain you. Be thankful for what you have!

PRAYER CHALLENGE: Ask God to give you a thankful heart no matter the circumstances. Pray that He would help you see the blessings in all the gifts you receive—both big and small.

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Just A Lump of Clay
This devotional was written by Jim Grams

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10

Martin Luther once said, “God created the world out of nothing, and so long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.” And yet, it is so very hard to be nothing. We like to think we’re somebody and when people tell us we’re wonderful, we want to believe every word. It is human nature to look at our successes and achievements.

I’m not saying we should dwell on our failures or live with constant self-criticism. I’m convinced that God doesn’t want that from us. But neither does He want us proud.

The very best way to be a servant of the Lord is to become a lump of clay in His hands. His design for our lives is perfect – Only He can take an ordinary lump of life and make it beautiful. I’m reminded of that wonderful chorus we used to sing. “Something beautiful, something good. All my confusion, He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful out of my life.”

God knows just what each of us needs to shape us perfectly. To become a lump of clay in God’s hands means total surrender on our part. The words He longs to hear from us are: “Here I am Lord, break me, mold me, and make me into whatever you want.”

We need to ask God to remind us that we are lumps of clay. Then we need to place our lives with their flaws and needs in His strong, creative hands. He will make us useful and we will bless others with a touch of His love.

Going Deeper:

1. Give God your life today….all of it. Just say, “Here I am Lord, I’m yours.”
2. Expect God to mold you into a vessel of beauty, honor and usefulness.
3. Thank God for making you what you are.

Further Reading
I Corinthians 1:20-25; Jeremiah 18:1-6

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Just as Jesus Said


Jesus sent two of his followers into the city. Jesus said to
them, "Go into the city. You will see a man carrying a jar of
water. The man will come to you. Follow that man. That man
will walk into a house. Tell the person who owns the house,
'The Teacher asks that you show us the room where he and his
followers can eat the Passover meal.' The owner will show you
a large room upstairs. This room is ready for you. Prepare
the food for us there." So the followers left and went into
the city. Everything happened the way Jesus said. So the
followers prepared the Passover meal.

-- Mark 14:13-16 (ERV)


KEY THOUGHT:
The disciples of Jesus "found everything just as Jesus had said" they
would find things. What great comfort! And today, as we look back at
the promises of Jesus, this is another reminder that we will find
everything true, just as Jesus has promised us!


TODAY'S PRAYER:
O Father in heaven, give me the faith to live passionately and
confidently, knowing that all of Jesus' promises can be trusted. In the
mighty name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.