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Post by Aeliana on Apr 30, 2023 4:43:38 GMT -8
Living Life Free of Strife
Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop before a dispute breaks out. Proverbs 17:14
Strife is one of the main weapons the enemy uses against Christians. I believe there are three things that open us up to a spirit of strife.
1. Our lips: Wrong words spoken at the wrong time can certainly start a firestorm. The more wrong words we pour on the fire, the bigger it gets. One way to stop a fire is to remove the fuel.
2. Our pride: Although wrong words may open us up to strife, it is a proud heart that refuses to be quiet in order to have peace. Pride demands that we have the last word, but the Word says it will lead to destruction (see Proverbs 16:18).
3. Our opinions: We can often get into strife by trying to convince others of our own opinions. When we realize we have much to learn and stop passing out our opinions, we will begin to gain the knowledge we need.
These are the three biggest areas that Satan uses to infiltrate our lives with strife. Make a decision to honor God and others by resisting strife and instead pursuing unity and understanding.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, help me to stay on guard against strife. I give You my words and my opinions. I desire to walk strife-free in my relationships with others.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 1, 2023 4:32:59 GMT -8
God's Supernatural Favor
1 Samuel 2:7
The Lord makes some poor and others rich;
he brings some down and lifts others up.
There is a distinction between natural favor and supernatural favor. Natural favor must be earned, but supernatural favor is a gracious gift from God.
First Samuel 2:7 says, "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up." A perfect example of this is found in the life of Esther. God raised her up out of obscurity to become the queen of the entire land. He gave her favor with everyone she met, including the king.
Esther drew upon that favor to save herself and her people from being murdered by the evil Haman. She may have been afraid to go to the king and ask him to intervene, but Esther knew she had favor with God and pressed on with complete confidence in Him.
Like Esther, we should live with the freedom and liberty that comes from living in God's favor. Regardless of the circumstances that come into your life, believe God for supernatural favor.
Despite how hopeless things may seem, God can lift you up. If your life is in His hands, the light of the Lord shines upon you.
Prayer Starter: God, I don't rely on natural favor. Instead, I want to live in Your supernatural favor. With my life in Your hands, I know You can lift me up.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 2, 2023 4:27:34 GMT -8
Choose God's Standards, Not the World's
Psalms 1:1
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
Living above society's moral decline involves the choices we make regarding our conversations, the way we dress, what we read, and the TV shows and movies we watch. It also has to do with the level of integrity with which we live our personal lives, interact with other people and conduct ourselves in our businesses or professions.
As Christians, we need to encourage one another to live by godly standards and resist the pull of the world. A well-known quote offers some good advice: 'Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.'
One of God's great gifts to mankind is the power of choice. If we want to enjoy the blessings He has for us, we need to make lifestyle choices that align with His Word and are consistent with the values of His Word, not choices reflecting the constantly eroding values of the world.
I urge you to make a decision to serve God wholly, putting Him first in everything you do.
Prayer Starter: God, I don't want to live by the world's standards. I put You first in my life, because I know that Your ways are the best.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 3, 2023 3:59:28 GMT -8
Move Past Regret and Make New Choices
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wrong choices cause regret, and when we experience regret we need to deal with it and let it teach us how to make better choices in the future.
I understand firsthand that wrong choices lead to regret. I remember a time several years ago when I looked at myself and saw a noticeable difference between my husband, Dave, and me, because he has exercised all his life and is healthy, strong and in good physical shape.
Initially, I merely regretted that I wasn't as strong as Dave, but then I realized I could do something about it. I now exercise regularly and have been amazed by the positive difference.
The Bible says that with God, you are a "new creation." You don't have to live in your old ways, but you can now make new, better choices empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself regretting some of the unwise choices you have made in the past, don't be deceived into thinking it is too late to do anything about it. Just start doing what's right and then stick with it.
As you start making better choices, you will come to experience a life in which you enjoy God's blessings every day.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I know that I have been made a new creation. I don't want to live in regret about the past. Help me to make good choices so I can enjoy the future You have for me.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 4, 2023 4:41:26 GMT -8
Follow the Little Promptings
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21
The Holy Spirit always wants to lead us through life, but sometimes we get so focused on seemingly "big" issues that we don't realize how much He speaks in small promptings every day.
I was on my way home one day and intended to stop and get a cup of coffee, when I had a strong impression that I should call my secretary and ask if she wanted a cup too. When I called, she said, 'I was just standing here thinking, I would love a good cup of coffee right now.'
You see, God wanted to give her the desire of her heart, and He wanted to work through me. I did not hear a loud voice or see an angel or have a vision. I simply had an inner sensing that I should offer her a cup of coffee.
In the same way, God wants to bless the people in your life. I encourage you today to keep your heart sensitive to God's voice. Follow the little promptings. He will speak to your heart and lead you in the way you should go.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I choose today to quiet myself so that I can hear Your little promptings. Show me ways that I can bless others.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 5, 2023 7:19:26 GMT -8
Trust Him Through the Process
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley, (Or the dark valley of death)
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me. Psalms 23:4
We often think of trusting God for things we need or want, but a true relationship of trust in God extends beyond trusting Him just to get something. We need to learn to trust Him through the process of attaining those things we desire.
There was a time in my life when I focused intensely on trusting God for things, saying, 'I want this, God,' and 'I need such-and-such, God.' He began to show me that getting all those things was not the most important issue in my life.
He wanted to teach me how to trust Him enough to walk through situations with stability and with a good attitude on a consistent basis. He needed me to learn that He may not always rescue us when we want to get out of circumstances, but He is always with us as we walk through them.
God does not always deliver us from everything when we think He should, but He is always with us. Today, instead of focusing on just the end result, realize that God is with you now. He is near to you, so trust Him to walk with you through the process.
Prayer Starter: God, I am so glad that You are with me now. I don't just trust You to give me things, but I trust You through the process of life.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 6, 2023 3:50:35 GMT -8
Give Him Your Ashes
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west. Psalms 103:12
When we let God take our messes and turn them into miracles, the Father has the ability to use our mistakes for our good if we will only trust Him.
Isaiah 61:3 says He will give us "beauty instead of ashes," but I find that many people want to hold on to their ashes, the cinders of the past, as reminders of their shortcomings and failures. I encourage you to let go of your ashes and reach for something new.
Too many people live in the past, feeling like they'll never have another chance. Do you need a second chance? Ask God for a second chance or a third, fourth or fifth, whatever you need. God is full of mercy and long-suffering. His loving-kindness never fails or comes to an end. The Bible says that He has removed your transgressions from you, so you don't have to hang on to them anymore.
Jesus came to lift burdens, but you must be willing to let them go and believe He is greater than your mistakes. Give Him your ashes today.
Prayer Starter: God, I know it doesn't do me any good to hang on to the past when You lovingly stand before me with a fresh chance, so I let go of my ashes. I give them to You, excited to see the beauty that You will bring from them.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 7, 2023 4:25:06 GMT -8
Experience a New Beginning
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Ephesians 4:23
The Bible is filled with stories about people who experienced new beginnings. Moses became a leader after being a shepherd for 40 years. Paul hated Christ until God renewed him and made him the greatest apostle of all time.
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, it is the ultimate new beginning. We become new creatures with an opportunity to learn a new way of living. But the first step to experiencing that new life is believing that it's available to you.
Ephesians 4:23 says we must be constantly renewed in our minds and attitudes. It's easy to read about great people in the Bible and think that you are nothing like them, but when you start to think that, you need to renew your mind right away.
Choose to think according to God's Word, not how you feel. Receive His love and experience a new beginning. Life will become so much sweeter if you live with an attitude that says "God is completely changing me from the inside out. He's giving me a new beginning and there are greater things ahead."
Prayer Starter: Lord, I renew my mind in You. I know that You have a new beginning and a calling for me just like you did for Moses and Paul. I receive it today, believing that You can bring it to pass.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 8, 2023 6:38:53 GMT -8
Learn to Trust God's Plan for You
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you. Psalms 37:5
You can simplify your life by learning to develop trust in God. Far too often, we don't allow ourselves to trust. Maybe your trust has been betrayed too many times in the past, or maybe you're just a very independent person. Even so, it's so critical to learn to trust God.
It's easy to get stressed out and run-down trying to make your life work on your own, but that never works. And God's plan is always better than your own. The person who trusts God knows that His way is best.
Now trust won't just magically happen. Trust grows as we take steps of faith and experience God's faithfulness. You have to tell your doubt, your fear, your insecurity, or maybe even your fierce independence to make way for a life of trusting in God. When you do that, you won't have to struggle so much to make your life work.
Trusting God brings a supernatural rest to our souls, allowing us to live simply and freely, the way He wants us to live. So even when it doesn't make sense, trust Him, and experience His freedom and rest.
Prayer Starter: God, Your ways are better than mine and I know that trusting in my own strength will get me nowhere. I place my trust in You. Even when it doesn't make sense to me, I choose to trust You, knowing You will make Your plans come to pass.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 9, 2023 4:23:07 GMT -8
A Life of Discipline Will Bring God's Peace
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11
Too many things compete for our limited resources of attention, energy and time.
I used to complain to God about my schedule being absolutely insane. I'd cry, "God, how could anyone be expected to do all that I have to do?"
Then it hit me: I was the one who made my schedule and nobody could change it but me! I could no longer spend time wishing things were different because wishing wouldn't change anything.
God showed me that I had to discipline myself in order to simplify my life.
You'll have to do that too if you want life to slow down. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. He can guide you, showing you what commitments to make and which ones to turn down.
It may be tough at first, especially if you haven't been disciplined in the past, but the rewards of order and restraint are worth the effort. The Bible says that discipline brings peaceable fruit. Begin disciplining yourself today, and you can begin to enjoy the peaceful life that God has waiting for you.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I want to experience the peaceful fruit of a well-disciplined life. When I'm tempted to overcommit and stretch myself too far, help me to slow down and only do the things You want me to do.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 10, 2023 6:43:37 GMT -8
Getting Rid of Unrealistic Expectations
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. Mark 10:18
Unrealistic expectations can quickly steal our peace and joy. We usually visualize a perfect day, with perfect people, and ourselves being perfectly happy in our perfect little world, but we all know that isn't reality. In reality, only God is perfect and the rest of us are under construction.
The devil knows what steals our peace and he sets us up to get upset when our unrealistic expectations fall apart.
After years of letting the devil steal my peace, I finally got it: Life is not perfect, and things are going to happen that we did not plan for and would rather not go through. My new attitude has become, "Oh well, that's life!" I have discovered that if I don't let those things impress me, then they can't depress me.
Everyone has to deal with inconveniences, but we can deal with them and avoid a bad attitude. Remember today that only God is perfect and trust in Him. He can always lead you past disappointing circumstances, strengthening you and helping you to hold on to your peace.
Prayer Starter: God, only You are perfect. I am so glad that even when people and circumstances fail, You never do. Instead of putting my hope in things that will disappoint, I choose a life of peace that only comes from putting my hope in You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 11, 2023 7:01:55 GMT -8
Living for God Is All That Matters
It takes boldness to follow God instead of the crowd. Being excessively concerned about what others think leads only to torment. Although all of us enjoy being well thought of, it is not possible to be liked by everyone all the time.
In God's economy, we usually have to be willing to lose something we have in order to gain what we really want in life, and that means we have to stop comparing ourselves to other people's standards and start living for God.
People who are real friends will help you be all God wants you to be. They won't judge you for following God's call. Real friends will encourage you to make God number one in your life.
Even if everyone else walks away from you, He promises to never leave you or forsake you.
Life gets too complicated, confusing and frustrating when we try to please both God and people. You don't have to compare yourself to anyone and worry what people think about you. Live life for God and be free to be who He made you to be.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I make a decision right now live for You alone. Living by other people's standards and expectations for me will get me nowhere. You are the only One who matters, and I will be the person You've made me to be.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 12, 2023 4:23:23 GMT -8
Give Him Your Cares and Follow Your Heart
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
"To thine own heart be true," the old saying goes. It remains a timely and relevant life lesson that all of us would do well to remember. When we veer off the course that our heart is advising us to follow, we can make our lives very difficult.
Now I'm not talking about selfish desires. I'm talking about pursuing the desires that God puts in your heart. What do you want out of life? What do you believe is God's will for you? Are you pursuing it?
Some people have too many cares and worries that keep them from stepping out and following what's in their heart. They've decided it's out of their reach.
The Bible says we should cast all our cares upon God for He cares for us. Whatever worry you have that is keeping you from following your heart, you need to give it to God and let Him take care of it.
He wants you to follow the desire He's placed in you. Let God take care of your cares and follow your heart. You can trust Him. He cares for you!
Prayer Starter: God, sometimes I don't pursue what You've placed in my heart because of my worries and cares, so today, I give them to You. I know You can handle them, and You want me to be free to follow my heart.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 13, 2023 4:04:50 GMT -8
Be Decisive!
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. James 5:12
Indecision is a miserable state to be in and certainly is not a fruit of the simple life. The apostle James said the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Never making a decision because you're afraid you'll make the wrong one will get you nowhere. How much time do you think we waste when we can't make up our minds?
We often labor over the choices before us when we just need to make a decision and let it stand. This may be a simple example, but think about it: When you stand in front of your closet in the morning looking at all your clothes, just choose something and put it on. Don't go back and forth until you make yourself late for work!
Let me encourage you to start making decisions without second-guessing yourself or worrying about the choices you make. Don't be double-minded or wishy-washy because doubting your decisions after you make them will steal the enjoyment from everything you do. Make the best decisions you can and trust God with the results.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, thank You for showing me that indecision doesn't really get me anywhere. Help me to let my "yes" be "yes," and my "no" be "no." I know I can't go wrong when I make decisions the best I can and simply trust You with the results.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on May 14, 2023 4:20:22 GMT -8
Wisdom Is Calling Out to You
I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began. Proverbs 8:23
Along the way on our journey through life, we will have to make many decisions, and we will always get into trouble if we make them emotionally or according to what we think or want.
God wants us to make wise decisions. I believe having wisdom is choosing to do now what we will be happy with later.
Proverbs says that wisdom is calling out to us. You must walk in God's wisdom and realize that the choices you make today will affect your tomorrow. So many people never enjoy life because they're always dealing with messes resulting from a lack of wisdom.
Don't do something selfish, gambling that things will turn out right. Wisdom does not gamble, it invests in the future. Wisdom doesn't settle for a cheap thrill. Instead, it follows God into a better tomorrow.
So what about you? Are you walking in wisdom today? If you're not, the good news is that wisdom is already calling out to you. God's ready and willing to provide you with His wisdom. Just ask Him for it and make the decisions that will invest in a godly future.
Prayer Starter: God, I want to enjoy life, not constantly clean up problems that result from a lack of wisdom. Thank You for providing Your wisdom for me. I choose to receive it and make godly decisions for my future.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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