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Post by Aeliana on Apr 15, 2023 5:06:22 GMT -8
The Victory We Have in Jesus
What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
The Bible says that Jesus experienced death for us. So you and I do not have to experience eternal death because He has paid the penalty for our sin and given us the gift of eternal life. Now that is something to rejoice about!
Because of Christ's resurrection and victory over death, what happens when you wake up in the morning? I believe that when Christians put their feet on the floor in the morning, hell ought to shake. Demons should tremble when they realize we're up!
That's exactly what will happen when we realize who we are in Christ and understand the authority we have in Him. We are soldiers in the army of God. We have authority in Him!
Jesus has defeated sin and death. Now we need to consistently walk in the authority and victory that He provides for us. Then you will be extremely dangerous to the enemy of God.
Prayer Starter: God, thank You for the victory I have in You. Every day, help me to further understand the price You paid for me, so that I can walk in all the authority and victory that You have for me.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 16, 2023 10:29:29 GMT -8
You Can Come Over Anytime
Because of Christ and our faith in him, (Or Because of Christ’s faithfulness) we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. Ephesians 3:12
God has given us permission to fearlessly, confidently, and bodly draw near to His throne of grace. In fact, we are encouraged in Ephesians 3:12 to approach Him freely.
This means we can go into the presence of God anytime we feel like it. We can go 200 times a day if we want to go, with an "in and out" type of privilege. God doesn't even tell us we have to knock on the door or wait for someone to say, "Come in."
Suppose you have a friend who says, "You know what? You can come over anytime you want to come. You don't even have to knock because you are welcome anytime, day or night. Just come on in!"
Now just think...God is saying that to you, unreservedly, which means you don't have to be careful or hesitate or wonder if you've worn out your welcome. It means even if you make some mistakes or do things you shouldn't do, you can repent of your sins, be cleansed in the blood of Jesus, and go boldly into His presence.
Prayer Starter: Lord, how wonderful it is to be able to enter Your presence anytime. I am so grateful for this privilege, and thank You for encouraging me to come.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 17, 2023 8:04:53 GMT -8
God Knows We Can't Be Perfect
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. Philippians 3:12
There are many people who are so afraid of making a mistake that they don't do anything. Instead, they sit around saying, "What if I'm wrong? What if I miss God?"
Do you know what God told me one time? He said, "If you miss me, I'll find you."
If we are wandering off somewhere and not sure where we are, we can just lift up our hands and say, "Jesus, come and get me! I'm confused. I think I made a wrong decision."
God knows we cannot be perfect, so He sent His son as a perfect sacrifice for us. Now we're pressing toward the mark of perfection. In Philippians 3, the apostle talks about pressing forward to what lies ahead and forgetting about the past.
God is calling you to press forward today. Stop living in fear of making mistakes, because everyone makes mistakes, period. God is not asking you to not make mistakes. He's calling you to press forward, trusting Him to lead you. He's asking you to call upon Him. Don't live in fear of your imperfection. Live with faith in God's perfect plan for you.
Prayer Starter: God, I don't want to live paralyzed by fear of my imperfection and my mistakes. I know that instead, I can call out to You, and You will help me press forward to the mark of perfection.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 18, 2023 5:19:56 GMT -8
Pursue a Life of Holiness
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 Peter 1:15
I think we need to be a little more careful than we are with how we live. Not that we have to be so careful that we live in fear, but careful in a godly way, not a legalistic way.
Because if we're not careful about who our friends are, what television programs and movies we watch, what kind of books we read, what kind of music we listen to, how we spend our money, and what we do with our time, we could end up living wasted lives.
As Christians, we must pursue holiness and realize that we are sanctified, which means we are set apart for God's use. In fact, the minute we accept Christ as our Savior, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit and set apart for a God-given purpose. And if we're not fulfilling our purpose or if we're not pursuing our purpose, we're going to feel empty and frustrated.
I urge you today to pursue your purpose of holiness. When faced with tricky decisions, ask God what to do and choose the path of holiness that He has laid out for you.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, alert me before I do something that would pull me away from a life of holiness. With Your guidance, I want to live carefully, following the path of holiness You have for me.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 19, 2023 5:06:21 GMT -8
You're No Surprise to God
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
Do you ever feel like God is disappointed with you? I used to feel this way until one day He said, "You know, Joyce, you're no surprise to Me. I knew what I was getting when I got you."
Think about it! God knows the end from the beginning, and all the days of our life are written in His book. Every decision we're ever going to make, good or bad, God already knew them before we ever showed up on planet earth. He already knows today every word in our mouth that is still unuttered, even what we're going to say a year from now.
Sometimes we go around thinking that God is so disappointed with us all the time. It's true that we make mistakes. And we're not supposed to be lighthearted about them, we need to take them seriously. But in spite of our mistakes, God has hope for us and knows that He can change us if we'll stay close to Him.
God's not disappointed. He's full of hope where we're concerned! He believes in us more than we do ourselves.
Prayer Starter: Lord, Your hope for me is so encouraging and inspiring. Even when I don't believe in myself, I know that You do, and that gives me the strength to overcome my mistakes and follow You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 20, 2023 4:38:17 GMT -8
You Must Develop Patience
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:4
When you and I say to God, "Change me," we better know what we're saying because we are not just going to wake up different the next morning. Instead, what God is going to do is give us an opportunity, through opposition, to grow as we change.
James 1 tells us how important it is to have patience when we're changing and facing opposition. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that only develops and grows under trial, and it's something we need. Scripture tells us that when we have it, we're perfect and entire, lacking nothing. However, there's just no way to get it without going through something to receive it.
If we really want to be victorious Christians who serve God and make a difference in the world, then we are going to have to go through some challenging things. The devil will try to scare you off, but God can see you through any challenge.
So today, choose to let God work through you, even in the face of opposition. As your patience grows and develops, you will step into a life of great victory.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I want You to change me, and I know that means I'll have to go through challenges. Give me Your strength to endure and be steadfast when I'm going through trials so I can have patience and be fully developed in Christ.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 21, 2023 5:54:41 GMT -8
Be a True Worshiper
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:23
Worship is so much more than just singing songs. It is a condition of the heart and a state of mind. We can even worship God passionately without singing a single note. Our worship for God is born in our hearts, it fills our thoughts, and it is expressed through our mouths and through our bodies.
The world often thinks of worship as "religion," which could not be further from the biblical concept of worship. It's about a personal relationship, spiritual intimacy and passionate expressions of devotion from people who love God with all their hearts. This is true worship.
The Bible says that God is seeking those who worship Him 'in spirit and in truth."
I find it interesting that He does not want just anybody to worship Him. He wants true and genuine people. He does not want to be worshiped out of fear, obligation or religion.
True worship is a result of intimacy with God. Worship God today with your whole heart, and be a worshiper in spirit and in truth!
Prayer Starter: Lord, I don't just want to offer You lip service. Instead, I give my life to You as a true worshiper, intimately connected with You. You are so good to me and I want to worship You 'in spirit and in truth."
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 22, 2023 4:43:30 GMT -8
The True Test of Spiritual Maturity
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. Galatians 5:6
We are to have genuine, pure, fervent love for others above everything else we do. If we can manage only one thing in our lives, it should be to love other people.
Many people think great faith is the number one sign of spiritual maturity. But I believe that walking in love is the true test of spiritual maturity, and I know that it energizes our faith walk.
The Bible teaches that faith works through love. Galatians 5:6 says that what really counts is "faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love." Love is not talk or theory; it's action.
Trying to walk in faith without love is like having a flashlight with no battery. We must keep our love battery charged at all times, otherwise our faith will not work! I believe Christians can run into problems when we do not diligently pursue walking in love as a vital part of our faith and relationship with God.
So pursue a life of love, and watch your faith strengthen and grow. When God's love comes first, everything else follows.
Prayer Starter: God, I know my faith is useless without love. Help me live a life overflowing with Your love. Guide me as I receive Your love and give Your love to others.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 23, 2023 10:35:27 GMT -8
Stir Yourself Up!
God's love is unconditional and everlasting. I remember how amazed and excited I was when He revealed His love to me. I felt like I was going to burst!
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:6
But after awhile, I got used to the fact that God loves me, and I didn't feel the same passion.
Are you experiencing the same thing? If so, I believe there is something you can do about it.
Paul told Timothy to stir himself up, to fan the flame and rekindle the embers of the fire he once had. Paul's message to Timothy is God's message to you today: Stir yourself up! Stop living life being tired of the "same old, same old."
We need to remember this: Passion is a decision about how we will approach life before it becomes a feeling.
So make a decision today to wake up every morning excited about the relationship you have with your Creator. Stir yourself up and live amazed by Him!
Prayer Starter: God, I want to always be amazed by You! I will not live without passion. Knowing You is amazing, and I choose now to life with passionate about my relationship with You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 24, 2023 6:28:45 GMT -8
Your Three Best Weapons
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 2 Corinthians 10:3
Through careful strategy and cunning deceit, Satan attempts to wage war against you and keep you in a mindset of defeat. But God has given you spiritual weapons to use against him. Here are the main three spiritual weapons you can use to fight off the enemy:
1. God's Word: Receive it through preaching, teaching, reading and private Bible study. Continue in the Word until it becomes revelation given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
2. Praise: This defeats the devil faster and more efficiently than any other battle plan, but it must be genuine heart-praise, not just lip service or a religious ritual.
3. Prayer: Prayer is relationship with the Godhead. It is communication with God, asking Him for help or talking with Him about whatever is on your heart. To have an effective prayer life, we must develop an intimate, personal relationship with the Father. Know that He loves you and that He wants to help you.
There is a war going on, but God is fighting on your side and has given you the weapons you need. Use them to send Satan running!
Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You so much for giving me the spiritual weapons I need to fight my enemy. With Your help, I know that I can win the battle today!
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 25, 2023 6:08:20 GMT -8
Thankful in the Midst of Suffering
The Bible encourages us to always be thankful. That's easy when God answers prayer and delivers us from problems. But it isn't always easy when things go wrong. So how can we remain thankful in the midst of suffering?
We have two choices to make. The first is to praise God in spite of what's going on in our lives. Or another way to say that is, in the midst of our troubles and hardships, we can rejoice over the things that are not wrong in our lives.
The second choice is to ask, "God, what can I learn from this? What do You want to teach me through this so that I may be closer to You and rejoice more fully in Your goodness?" Those are not easy questions, and the answers are often hard to hear.
Sometimes we can only grasp the important lessons in our lives when we go through difficult times. Thank God that the hard times will lead you to better things.
In the midst of suffering, give thanks to God and trust Him to lead you to bigger and better things.
Prayer Starter: God, I'm thankful for Your love and Your presence. Forgive me for grumbling when things go wrong, and remind me of how many things go right in my life. I want to rejoice in You always.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 26, 2023 5:16:07 GMT -8
What Is Faith?
Faith is a word that we use a lot, but sometimes we can make it too complicated. Faith simply means 'belief or absolute trust'; the word also implies loyalty and commitment.
Faith isn't a huge, complicated concept that we have to stress over. Genuine faith in God simply acknowledges that the message of Jesus' death and resurrection is absolutely true. It happens when we say, "Not only does it make sense to me, but I'm willing to stake my life on it."
The Bible says that the uncompromisingly righteous shall live by faith and faithfulness. One way to think of the uncompromisingly righteous is to think of those who are made right by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Through faith we are made right, and God treats us as His own beloved children.
Today, I encourage you to get back to the basics of faith. Know that when you put your faith in Him, you are made right. Live by your trust in the God who reaches out to you with loving and open arms, ready to receive you and love you just as you are.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I am so thankful that I can put my faith in You and become 'uncompromisingly righteous.' Today, I live by faith in You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 27, 2023 3:41:33 GMT -8
Filled with All Peace and Joy
I went through a particularly difficult time several years ago when there was absolutely no joy or peace in my life. Every time I made a mistake, I was quick to condemn myself, angry that I couldn't be the "perfect Christian."
Then one day, I came across Romans 15:13: May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing... That was it. I got it!
I realized that I had plunged into doubt and unbelief, allowing the devil to torment me with negativity, anger, and impatience. In the process, I had forgotten that believing in God and trusting His Word brings peace and hope and overcomes my weakness.
God's Word gave me the answer. Jesus loved me so much that He not only forgave all my sins from the past but also looked ahead and forgave me for those moments of weakness when I'd fail in the future. I don't have to allow Satan to sneak in with questions or unbelief, and you don't either.
Know today that peace, hope and joy are right in front of you. Go to His Word and let it stir up your faith.
Prayer Starter: Lord, every time I start to believe the enemy's lies, remind me of the truth in Your Word. By believing in You, I receive peace and joy today.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 28, 2023 4:05:10 GMT -8
You're Only Accountable to God
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. Romans 14:12
Too many people never get around to fulfilling God's purpose for their life because they're so busy keeping everyone else happy. The world is filled with people who think they know what you should be doing with your life.
But the Bible says you will give an account to God, not anyone else, of how you've lived. So if you're not already doing so, you need to start living in a way that will enable you to stand before Him without shame.
Are you daring enough to follow your heart rather than the crowd? Are you focused even when many voices try to draw you away from your purpose?
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who wait for something to happen and those who make things happen. God has called you to do great things for His Kingdom, don't shy away from it.
You need to be intentional. You need to live life on purpose. Don't just wait around to see what everyone else is going to do and then follow the crowd. Stir yourself up, make a decision, and get going!
Prayer Starter: Lord, I only want to live my life to please You, not others. I boldly step into the purpose You have for me. I will not sit back, but I will purposefully live my life for You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Apr 29, 2023 4:05:00 GMT -8
Taking Responsibility
When life or people disappoint us, we have a responsibility to remain stable and continue with God's purpose for our lives.
Consider Psalm 94:12-13. Notice that it does not say that God keeps us calm. It says He gives us power to keep ourselves calm. We are partners with God. His part is to give us ability and our part is to be responsible.
Responsibility means 'to respond to the ability we have.' An irresponsible person wants God to do everything while he does nothing except follow his feelings. But don't let your feelings run the show. Declare out loud right now, "I have attended my last pity party." I can promise you: in the end you will feel much better about yourself if you take responsibility than if you avoid it.
God cares for you, but He won't do your part. He enables you to do it, but let me emphasize that He won't do it for you! I dare you to stand firm, take responsibility and begin working with God to have the blessed life He's planned for you.
Prayer Starter: God, Your Word says that You've given me the ability to remain calm. I receive that today. I won't let my feelings run my life, and I will be responsible and respond the way You want me to.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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