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

Day 87 - Serve Him

The greatest among you will be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

MATTHEW 23:11-12 HCSB

"We live in a world that glorifies power, prestige, fame, and money.  But the words of Jesus teach us that the most esteemed men and women in this world are not the self-congratulatory leaders of society but are instead the humblest of servants." p176

"Today, you may feel the temptation to take more than you give.  You may be tempted to withhold your generosity.  Or you may be tempted to build yourself up in the eyes of your friends.  Resist those temptations.  Instead, serve your friends quietly and without fanfare.  Find a need and fill it ...humbly.  Lend a helping hand ...anonymously.  Share a word of kindness ...with quiet sincerity.  As you go about your daily activities, remember that the Saviour of all humanity made Himself a servant, and we, as His followers, must do no less." p176

"In the very place where God has put us, whatever its limitations, whatever kind of work it may be, we may indeed serve the Lord Christ." - ELISABETH ELLIOT p177

"Through our service to others, God wants to influence our world for Him." - VONETTE BRIGHT p177

"So many times we say that we can't serve God because we aren't whatever is needed.  We're not talented enough or smart enough or whatever.  But if you are in covenant with Jesus Christ, He is responsible for covering your weakness, for being your strength.  He will give you His abilities for your disabilities!" - KAY ARTHUR p177

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, let me help others in every way that I can.  Jesus served others; I can too.  I will serve other people with my good deeds and with my prayers.  And I will give thanks for everybody who helps me. Amen

Day 86 - The Lessons of Tough Times

If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.  If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.

PROVERBS 28:13 NCV

"Have you experienced a recent setback?  If so, look for the lesson that God is trying to teach you. Instead of complaining about life's sad state of affairs, learn what needs to be learned, change what needs to be changed, and move on.  View failure as an opportunity to reassess God's will for your life.  And while you're at it, consider life's inevitable disappointments to be powerful opportunities to learn more - more about yourself, more about your circumstances, and more about your world.

Life can be difficult at times.  And everybody (including you) makes mistakes.  Your job is to make them only once.  And how can you do that?  By learning the lessons of tough times sooner rather than later, that's how." p174

"Truth will sooner come out of error than from confusion." - FRANCIS BACON p174

"Mistakes offer the possibility for redemption and a new start in God's kingdom.  No matter what you're guilty of, God can restore your innocence." - BARBARA JOHNSON p175

"We become a failure when we allow mistakes to take away our ability to learn, give, grow, and try again." - SUSAN LENZKES p175

" Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change; and when we are right make us easy to live with." - PETER MARSHALL p175

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, I know that I am imperfect and that I fail You in many ways.  Thank You for Your forgiveness and for Your unconditional love.  Show me the error of my ways, Lord, that I might confess my wrongdoing and correct my mistakes.  And, let me grow each day in wisdom, in faith, and in my love for You.  Amen

Day 85 - God Can Handle It

I will lift up my eyes to the hills.  From whence comes my help?  My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth. 

PSALM 121:1-2 NKJV

"It's a promise that is made over and over again in the Bible: Whatever "it" is, God can handle it.

Life isn't always easy.  Far from it!  Sometimes life can be very, very difficult, indeed.  But even when the storm clouds form overhead, even during our most stressful moments, we're protected by a loving Heavenly Father.

When we're worried, God can reassure us; when we're sad, God can comfort us.  When our hearts are broken, God is not just near; He is here.  So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him.  When we do. He will answer our prayers.  Why? Because He is our sheperd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever." p172

"God is God whether we recognise it or not.  Nothing about that can change except us." 

- LISA WHELCHEL p172

"Either we are adrift in chaos or we are individuals, created, loved upheld and placed purposefully, exactly where we are.  Can you believe that? Can you trust God for that? 

- ELISABETH ELLIOT p173

"God is in control, and therefore in everything I can give thanks, not because of the situation, but because of the One who directs and rules over it." - KAY ARTHUR p173

"The choice for me is to either look at all things I have lost or the things I have.  To live in fear or live in hope.  Hope comes from knowing I have a sovereign, loving God who is in every event in my life." - LISA BEAMER p173

TODAY'S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You never leave or forsake me.  You are always with me, protecting me and encouraging me.  Whatever this day may bring, I thank You for Your love and Your strength.  Let me lean upon You, Father, this day and forever.  Amen