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Old 11-09-2007, 04:45 AM   #1
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Icon23 A Bible Devotion

November 9, 2007

God's Word Is Like A Seed

LUKE 8:11 NKJ
11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

A seed is powerful.

As a seed begins to grow, it will push up dirt, rocks, etc. Whatever the obstacles are, God's Word planted in your heart will push them out of the way.

A seed begins its growth in secret (underground).

The only way to tell if a seed is growing is to dig it up, or wait for a plant to appear. If you dig up a seed, you may kill it.

A seed takes time to produce.

No one expects a seed to produce a harvest the same day that seed is planted.

Sometimes the Word of God seems to spring up and bear fruit immediately. Yet, if we knew the details, we would understand that the fruit of the Word grew in that person's life over time.

A seed is persistent.

A seed never gives up, but works day and night. Even when you are sleeping, the seed you have planted is working to grow and express itself in a fruitful harvest.

A seed is not affected by other seeds.

Whatever happens to other seeds does not make any difference to a specific seed. Each seed sticks to its own task. One wheat seed planted in a corn field will still produce wheat. Seed does not become discouraged, or quit, even if other seeds die.

A seed will stop growing without nourishment.

Planting a seed is not enough to assure a harvest. Seed must be protected and taken care of until harvest time. A seed which is dug up, or not watered, will not produce.

More seeds planted produce a larger harvest.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Think on these truths about seeds. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you apply them to the role of God's Word in your life.

SAY THIS: God's Word is the most important seed. I will diligently plant it in my life, so God can be glorified in my life.
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Old 11-10-2007, 03:54 AM   #2
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November 10, 2007

You Are God's Garden


1 CORINTHIANS 3:9 LB
9 We are only God's coworkers. You are God's garden, not ours; you are God's building, not ours.

We discovered that God's Word is a seed (Luke 8:11). Now we see that the Bible says that we, as believers, are God's garden -- the place where seed is planted.

The question for you to consider is: who determines the harvest? God, or you?

(The harvest I speak of is the fruit, or result, of the Word of God. The harvest of blessing that God's Word produces in your life.)

I suggest that the harvest is mainly controlled by the one who determines what seed is planted. Would you agree?

If wheat seed is planted, it is unreasonable to expect a harvest of corn. If only a few seeds are planted, it is unreasonable to expect a large harvest. Wouldn't you agree?

Yes, you are God's field, but He allows you a lot of freedom to choose what will be produced in your life. And the main way you choose is by choosing what seed will be planted in your heart and mind.

You can choose something other than God's Word. You can also choose different areas of God's Word. Planting different scriptures will produce different results in your life.

If all you ever plant are scriptures on the new birth, you cannot expect to have a huge harvest of healing or financial blessing in your life. The choice is yours.

SAY THIS: I am God's garden. Lord, help me plant the seed of your Word in me in abundance.
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Old 11-11-2007, 04:27 AM   #3
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November 11, 2007

Forgive Others As God Has Forgiven You

COLOSSIANS 3:13 NKJ
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Forgiving others for deep hurts seems to be one of the hardest things a human being can do. In fact -- very few are successful in forgiving.

Yet, in the Bible God commands us to forgive. Is God overly demanding, or...?

God is smart. That is why He commands us to forgive. (Also because He loves us and desires the best for us.) God knows how terribly destructive it is for us to harbor unforgiveness. Not forgiving someone can literally kill you.

Unforgiveness is a poison that eats away at your spiritual, mental, and physical health and life.

Knowing that, God strictly tells us to forgive. But how can we? We are just human, and we don't feel like forgiving when someone has wronged us severely.

(You may think it is impossible to forgive someone who hurt you. With God it is possible. He never asks us to do something we cannot do.)

The answer is in receiving God's help, enabling you to forgive. First, you must be "born again" spiritually by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. That means you receive new life in your inner being, giving you a new nature -- a nature of love instead of selfishness.

Next, when you are wronged, you need to ask the Lord to help you forgive the person who hurt you. Having done that, you must make a firm decision to quit holding anything against that person.

Forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision to quit holding something against someone. When you forgive you must release them and forget it.

You must forgive by faith, after asking God to help you. Feelings always follow faith -- not the other way around.

How can we humans forgive others just as God has forgiven us? Having God's help is necessary. Only His love in our hearts can enable us.

You must forgive others -- no matter what they have done. To not forgive hurts you. You must forgive.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will forgive others as God has forgiven me.
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Old 11-12-2007, 03:53 AM   #4
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November 12, 2007

How High Are The Heavens Above The Earth?

PSALM 103:11 NIV
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

If you understood how much God loves you -- your life would be different.

Fear and worry would have no power over you any longer. Fear has no torment for someone basking in the sunlight of Almighty God's love.

This passage in Psalm 103 attempts to picture the size or extent of God's love. It is not portrayed as simply big as the highest mountain. No, no -- far more. As high as the sky is above the earth. That is the picture God wants you to see when you think of how great His love is for YOU.

How do I know this? Just from what the Bible says. And from what God did in and through Jesus Christ to redeem you. He paid a mighty price for you -- because His love for you is so great.

But, you may ask, "Why is my life going so poorly if God really does love me so much?" That is a valid question, but not the same one as whether God loves you. The quick answer is that God has made provision for us -- but most of us are not taking advantage of the help He offers.

Put another way, we are not acting on God's instructions -- whether out of ignorance or for some other reason. When you don't follow a proven recipe you cannot expect a good outcome.

God has no desire to condemn us for our failure, but instead desires to invite us into His fellowship and His way of doing things. It is through His Word that this will happen in our lives. So, read the Bible to see how much God loves you, but also remember that it is because of His great love for you that He gave you the instructions found in the Bible. They are for your benefit -- not God's benefit.

SAY THIS: God's love for me is greater than I can see or understand. His love caused Him to give me the Bible, so I could know the truth and be set free.
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Old 11-13-2007, 11:24 AM   #5
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November 13, 2007

Don't Give Me What I Deserve

Do you really want what you deserve? Maybe you should first find out what you really deserve.

PSALM 103:8-10 NIV
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

Thank God that I don't get what I deserve! People clamoring to get what they deserve are really in the dark.

God is the judge and He declares that we have all fallen short -- none of us deserves good. But the wonderful news is that God loves us so much that He is not giving us what we deserve. But it doesn't stop there. It gets better. Believers are actually going to receive what Jesus deserves!

Jesus took what we deserved -- punishment. And now, because of His great love, offers us what He deserves -- freely as a gift of love.

How can you not respond to Someone like that!

SAY THIS: Thank You, Lord for not giving me what I deserve, but being merciful and gracious and giving me what you deserve instead.
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Old 11-14-2007, 02:51 PM   #6
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November 14, 2007

Control Your Words


1 PETER 4:11 NIV
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. . . .

When you speak what the Bible says, you are speaking the very words of God. Anything contrary to what the Bible says, should never be spoken by a Christian.

EPHESIANS 4:29 NIV
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

JAMES 4:11 NKJ
11 Do not speak evil of one another . . . .

TITUS 3:2 NKJ
2 to speak evil of no one . . . .

You are responsible for what you say. If you cannot say something good, the Bible is clear: keep quiet.

SAY THIS: Lord please help me to keep quiet unless I have something to say that would be acceptable to you.
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Old 11-15-2007, 06:30 AM   #7
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November 15, 2007

Jesus Is Lord!

PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11 NKJ
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

No matter what it may seem like at times, Jesus Christ is Lord. He is ruler, boss, king: the One ultimately in charge.

He just hasn't exercised His prerogative and taken charge of everything yet.

Jesus is not currently micro-managing everything on earth. He is not responsible for every mistake, accident, and bad thing happening in the world.

God has allowed mankind to "try things our way" so we may see the folly of going our own way in rebellion to God.

But this won't last forever. God has a plan with a limited amount of time allotted for this part of history.

Although God has set certain boundaries, basically human beings are now in control on earth. We are free to choose. Because we are free to choose, we bear the responsibility for the consequences of our chosen actions.

All that is bad in the world today is the result of choices people made. God is not to blame. His only blame is that He allowed us the freedom to choose.

One day Jesus will exercise His authority and put a stop to all evil. Not only that, but He will eliminate the curse and all its effects. He will make all things new, whole, and sound again.

One day everyone will see and acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You have that privilege today.

SAY THIS: Jesus Christ is Lord and I am glad!
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Old 11-16-2007, 12:14 PM   #8
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November 16, 2007

Overcome That Problem You Face

I JOHN 5:4 NIV
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

Yes, we do face difficulties in life, but they only give us an opportunity to trust the Lord and overcome. Without problems we would have nothing to overcome, and thus not be able to receive all the blessings promised to those who do overcome.

There are seven promises given to overcomers in the second and third chapters of Revelation. Here is the last one:

REVELATION 3:21 NIV
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

As you face the problems of life, keep your eyes on your destination, just as Jesus did. Walk close to God and depend on Him. He will not fail you.

I JOHN 4:4 NIV
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

SAY THIS: I am an overcomer in Christ Jesus. The Lord is my Helper. The One Who is in me is greater than any problem.
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Old 11-18-2007, 07:08 AM   #9
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November 17, 2007

The Greater One Is In You


1 JOHN 4:4 NASB
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

There are two vital points in this verse, which is addressed to believers. (If you have not welcomed Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit into your life -- none of this applies to you.)

FIRST, God is IN you -- not far off somewhere.

Yes, God is in Heaven -- but that is not the only place He is. By the Holy Spirit, God now has His dwelling place in you! You don't have to "try to reach God." He is right there! What you need to do is to cultivate an awareness of His presence. This, along with communication, is the way to develop a closer relationship with God.

Knowing that God lives in you, and that He loves you, should banish all fear from your life. Fear of failure should have no place. Fear of what other people think should not bother you. Fear of problems that may come up should be of no concern. You have God living in you!

2 CORINTHIANS 6:16 LB
16 And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For you are God's temple, the home of the living God, and God has said of you, "I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people."

SECOND, God, Who is within you, is greater. Greater than any problem. Greater than any difficulty. Greater than the devil. Greater than anything you will ever face.

1 JOHN 4:4 ICB
4 My dear children, you belong to God. So you have defeated them because God's Spirit, who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world.

This is the Word of God. We must embrace it and live in the light of it. We must meditate on it and speak it. We must resist any contrary thought the enemy might try to place in our thinking.

SAY THIS: God, Who is in me, is greater than anything I will ever face. The Greater One is in me.
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Old 11-18-2007, 07:08 AM   #10
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November 18, 2007

Give Attention To My Words

PROVERBS 4:20-22 NKJ
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

Giving attention to God's Word is not as easy as it once was. Today we have a multitude of distractions. Busyness seems to be a disease shared by everyone. We all have more than we can do.

Yet . . .

God doesn't change. His Word doesn't change. It still says the same thing it did a thousand years ago -- and it will still say the same thing a thousand years from now.

"Give attention to my words...."

We are confronted with a choice. What is most important? To what shall we give our limited time? God, or....?

God makes promises no one else does -- or can. He created, so He knows how things work.

Life. Life in its fullness. Life as God intended it to be. And health. Isn't that what everyone would like? That is the written guarantee offered by God to the human race -- for paying attention to what He has said.

SAY THIS: I choose to pay attention to God's Word. I choose life and health. I choose God.
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