Day 94 - Let Jesus Guide The Way

I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness.

JOHN 12:46 HCSB

"Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life ...or have you relegated Him to a far corner of your life?  The answer to this question will determine the quality, the direction, the tone, and the ultimate destination of your life here on earth and your life throughout eternity.

Thomas Brooks spoke for believers of every generation when he observed, "Christ is the Sun, and all the watches of our lives should be set by the dial of His motion."  Christ indeed, is the ultimate Saviour of mankind and the personal Saviour of those who believe in Him.  As His servants, we should place Him at the very centre of our lives.  And every day that God gives us breath, we should share Christ's love and His message with a world that needs both." p190

"The dearest friend on earth is but a mere shadow compared with Jesus Christ." - OSWALD CHAMBERS p190

"When we are in a situation where Jesus is all we have, we soon discover He is all we really need." - GIGI GRAHAM TCHIVIDJIAN p191

"In your greatest weakness, turn to your greatest strength, Jesus, and hear Him say, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (CORINTHIANS 12:99, NKJV). 

"Tell me the story of Jesus.  Write on my heart every word.  Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard." - FANNY CROSBY p191

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Jesus, You are my Saviour and my protector.  Give me the courage to trust You completely.  Today, I will praise You, I will honour You, and I will live according to Your commandments.  Amen

Day 93 - Sharing Your Burdens With God

If God is for us, who can be against us?

ROMANS 8:31 NKJV

"...tough times are temporary but God's love is not - God's love endures forever." p188

"...you must share your burdens with Him." p188

"Whatever the size of your challenges, God is big enough to handle them.  Ask for His help today, with faith and with fervour.  Instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer.  Instead of worrying about your next decision, ask God to lead the way.  Cast your burdens upon the One who cannot be shaken, and rest assured that He hears your prayers." p188

"We are not called to be burden-bearers, but cross bearers and light bearers.  We must cast our burdens on the Lord." - CORRIE TEN BOOM p188

"No matter what we are going through, no matter how long the waiting for answers, of one thing we may be sure.  God is faithful.  He keeps His promises.  What He starts, He finishes ...including His perfect work in us." - GLORIA GAITHER p189

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, whatever "it" is, You can handle it!  Let me turn to You when I am burdened and when I am worried.  You are my loving Father, and I will always trust You.  Amen

Day 92 - Overcommited?

 

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame.  Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant.  Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

 

ROMANS 12:11-12 MSG

 

 

"...it's time to take a long, hard look at the way you're prioritising your days and your life." p186

 

"The world encourages you to rush full-speed ahead, taking on lots of new commitments, doing many things, but doing few things well.  God, on the other hand, encourages you to slow down, to quiet yourself, and to spend time with Him.  And you can be sure that God's way is best." p186

 

"Today, slow yourself down and commit more time to God.  When you do, you'll be amazed at how the Father can revolutionise your life when you start spending more time with Him." p186

 

"Life is strenuous.  See that your clock does not run down. - MRS. CHARLES E. COWMAN p187

 

"Taking care of yourself physically really helps you emotionally.  People who get a lot of sleep, who do the things that relieve stress, can withstand a lot of stress." - LAURA BUSH p187

 

 

TODAY'S PRAYER

 

Dear Lord, when I'm tired, give me the wisdom to do the smart thing: give me the wisdom to put my head on my pillow and rest!  Amen

Day 91 - Temptations Everywhere

No temptations has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 NIV

"If you stop to think about it, the cold, hard evidence is right in front of your eyes:" you live in a temptation-filled world.  The devil is out on the street, hard at work, causing pain, stress, and heartache in more ways than ever before.  Here in the 21st century, the bad guys are working around the clock to lead you astray.  That's why you must remain vigilant.

In a letter to believers, Peter offered a stern warning: "Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (Peter 5:8 NASB).  What was true in New Testament times is equally true in our own.  Satan tempts his prey and then devours them.  As believing Christians, we must beware.  And, if we seek righteousness in our own lives, we must earnestly wrap ourselves in the protection of God's Holy Word.  When we do, we are secure.

"The devil's most devilish when respectable." - ELIZABETH BROWNING p184

"Do not fight the temptation in detail.  Turn from it.  Look ONLY at your Lord.  Sing.  Read.  Work." - AMY CARMICHAEL p185

"In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went through agony of soul in His efforts to resist the temptation to do what He felt like doing rather than what He knew was God's will for Him." - JOYCE MEYER p185

"Temptations is not a sin.  Even Jesus was tempted.  The Lord Jesus gives you the strength needed to resist temptation. - CORRIE TEN BOOM p185

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, life is filled with temptations to stray from Your chosen path.  But, I face no temptation that You have not already met and conquered through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the One who empowers me with His strength and His love.  Amen

Day 90 - Keeping Up With The Joneses?

Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

LUKE 12:34 NLT

"As a member-in-good-standing in this highly competitive, 21st-century world, you know that the demands and expectations of everyday living can seem burden-some, even overwhelming at times.  Keeping up with the Joneses cam become a full-time job if you let it.  A better strategy, of course, is to stop trying to pleases the neighbours and to concentrate, instead, upon pleasing God.

Perhaps you have set your goals high; if so, congratulations!  You're willing to dream big dreams, and that's a very good thing.  But as you consider your life purpose, don't allow your quest for excellence to interfere with the spiritual journey that God has planned for you.

As a beliver, your instructions are clear: you must strive to please God.  How do you please Him?  By accepting His Son and obeying His commandments.  All other concerns - including, but not limited to keeping up with the jones - are of little or no importance." p182

"For better or worse, you will eventually become more and more like the people you associate with.  So why not associate with people who make you better, not worse? - MARIE T. FREEMAN p183

"True friends will always lift you higher and challenge you to walk in a manner pleasing to our Lord." - LISA BEVERE p183

"We, as God's people, are not only to stay far away from sin and sinners who would entice us, but we are to be like our God that we mourn over sin." - KAY ARTHUR p183

"You will get untold flak for prioritising God's revealed and present will for your life over man's ...but, boy, is it worth it. - BETH MOORE p183

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, other people may encourage me to stray from Your path, but I wish to follow in the footsteps of Your Son.  Give me the vision to see the right path - and the wisdom to follow it - today and every day of my life.  Amen

Day 89 - Your Own Worst Critic

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love.  This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.  It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.  And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!

1 JOHN 3:18-21 MSG

"Are you your own worst critic?  And in response to that criticism, are you constantly trying to transform yourself into a person who meets society's expectations, but not God's expectations?  If so, it's time to become a little more understanding of the person you see whenever you look in the mirror.

Being patient with other people can be difficult.  But sometimes, we find it even more difficult to be patient with ourselves.  We have high expectations and lofty goals.  We want to receive God's blessings now, not later.  And, of course, we want our lives to unfold according to our own wishes and our own timetables - not God's.  Yet throughout the Bible, we are instructed that patience is the companion of wisdom.  Proverbs 16:32 teaches us that "Patience is better than strength" (NCV).  God's message, then, is clear: we must be patient with all people - including ourselves.

The Bible affirms the importance of self-acceptance by exhorting believers to love others as they love themselves (Matthew 22:37-40).  Furthermore, the Bible teaches that when we genuinely open our hearts to Him, God accepts us just as we are.  And, if He accepts us - faults and all - then who are we to believe otherwise?" p180-181

"The great freedom Jesus gives us is to be ourselves, defined by His love and inner qualities and gifts rather than by any kind of show we put on for the world." - LESLIE WILLIAMS p181

"Being loved by Him whose opinion matters most gives us the security to risk loving too - even loving ourselves. - GLORIA GAITHER p181

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, I have so much to learn and so many ways to improve myself, You love me just as I am.  Thank You for Your love and for Your Son.  And, help me to become the person that You want me to become.  Amen

Day 88 - Defeating negativity

Let angry people endure the backlash of their own anger; if you try to make it better, you'll only make it worse

PROVERBS 19:19 MSG

"From experience, we know that it is easy to crisis others.  And we know that it is usually far easier to find faults than to find solutions.  Still, the urge to criticise others remains a powerful temptation for most of us.

Negativity is highly contagious: We give it to others who, in turn, give it back to us.  This stress-inducing cycle can be broken down only by positive thoughts, heartfelt prayers, encouraging words, and meaningful acts of kindness.

As thoughtful servants of a loving God, we have no valid reason - and no legitimate excuse - to be negative.  So, when we are tempted to be overly critical of others, or unfairly critical of ourselves, we must use the transforming power of God's love to break the chains of negativity.  We must defeat negativity before negativity defeats us.

"Winners see an answer for every problem; losers see a problem in every answer." - BARBARA JOHNSON p178

"We never get anywhere - nor do our conditions and circumstances change - when we look at the dark side of life." - MRS. CHARLES E. COWMAN

"To lose heart is to lose everything." - JOHN ELDEREDGE p179

"Do not build up obstacles in your imagination.  Difficulties must be studied and dealt with, but they must not be magnified by fear." - NORMAN VINCENT PEALE p179

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, let me be an expectant Christian. Let me expect the best from You, and let me look for the best in others.  If I become discouraged, Father, turn my thoughts and my prayers to You.  Let me trust You, Lord, to direct my life.  And, let me be Your faithful, hopeful, optimistic servant every day that I live.  Amen