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Post by Aeliana on Jun 28, 2023 10:15:24 GMT -8
Forgetting About Ourselves
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Paul said that he had been "crucified with Christ." In other words, he had to stop thinking about himself in order to live for God. And we are encouraged to do the same.
At this point you may be thinking, "What about me? Who is going to take care of me?" This is usually what prevents us from living the way God wants us to live. It always comes back to me.
We are so accustomed to seeing our desires satisfied that the very thought of forgetting about ourselves even for one day can be frightening. But if we can muster up the courage to try it, we will be amazed at the freedom and joy we experience.
The secret to having joy is giving your life away rather than trying to keep it. When you get the focus off of you and onto God, God can show you how to live a truly meaningful life.
I encourage you to start your days by dedicating yourself to God. When you do, He will faithfully help you live a godly life.
Prayer Starter: Lord, I offer You my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, heart, finances, gifts, talents, abilities, time, energy, all of me! It's not about me. It's all about You.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Jun 29, 2023 6:36:43 GMT -8
Step Out and Find Out
A man's heart deviseth his way:
But the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
People often ask me how to find their place in ministry. Some spend many years waiting to hear a voice or to receive supernatural direction. I tell them to step out and find out.
Early in my journey with God, I wanted to serve Him. I felt He had placed a call on my life but I didn't know exactly what to do, so I tried different opportunities that were available.
A lot of them didn't work out for me, but I kept trying different ones until I found an area that fit me. I finally came alive inside when I had an opportunity to share the Word with people. I found joy in teaching, and it was obvious I was good at it. I knew then that I had found my place in ministry.
Sometimes the only way to discover God's will is to practice what I call "stepping out and finding out." If you have prayed about a situation and don't seem to know what you should do, take a step of faith. Don't be afraid of making a mistake. Step out and God will guide you.
Prayer Starter: God, I trust You, and I know that You will direct my steps, so I'm not afraid to step out and find out what You have for me.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Jun 30, 2023 5:46:09 GMT -8
What If?
What if...?
The longer a person lives, the greater the possibility becomes that they will be haunted by those words. The good news is that for any follower of Jesus, "what if?" doesn't have to be a regret over the past but an exciting challenge to see the future God has for them.
I know of a congregation that was challenged by their pastor to do four simple things (for only a month) to consecrate themselves for the coming year. He asked them to pray every day, fast one day a week, tithe and bring one unsaved person a week to church.
The result was an unprecedented breakthrough in the life of this church. God's presence marked the services in an increased way. Financial breakthroughs came for ministry projects and proposed buildings. In addition, church members entered a phenomenal season of bringing lost souls into God's kingdom.
I want to challenge you: What if you pursued God today, just like that church? What if you dedicated your life entirely to Him? What if you pushed forward, ready to see what God can do? What might happen?
Prayer Starter: Lord, I don't want to spend my life asking 'what if?' and never seeing any breakthroughs in my life. I make a fresh commitment to pursue You today, excited to see the amazing things You will do in my life.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Jul 1, 2023 15:14:17 GMT -8
God Can Clean Up Any Mess
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and ]that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
I was seriously abused throughout my childhood. My life was horrible! I don't remember ever being really happy until I was in my twenties. My mind was a mess, my emotions were a mess...everything was a mess!
But it didn't stay that way. God has dealt with me, changed me and brought me through it all. Now I have a great relationship with God, real peace and joy, good relationships with family and friends, and I'm doing what God has called me to do.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. I've discovered that anything I sacrificed to get closer to God and obey Him, I received back from Him many times over what I gave. And what He gave me was always much better.
You may be thinking, "But Joyce, you don't know what I'm dealing with. It's so hard!"
I understand, I've been through some really hard stuff. But God will reward those who seek Him. Be determined to seek Him in the midst of your hardship. He is more than able to clean up your messes!
Prayer Starter: God, I believe that You can clean up my messes. Instead of staying stuck in my troubles, I earnestly seek You today.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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Post by Aeliana on Jul 3, 2023 12:19:09 GMT -8
Let God Do the Heavy Lifting
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
One of the most important things I have learned is to let God do the heavy lifting. Too many times we see what's wrong with ourselves and try to fix it through our own strength, but this will never be good enough. Jesus said in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (NIV).
We may try to be self-sufficient, but we need to let God supply the grace and ability to do what we need to do. Willpower and determination can get us started, but they've been known to quit in the middle and leave us stranded.
We can learn to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us by inviting God to become involved in every aspect of it. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew11:28 NIV).
We are not made to function without God. And with Him, we can break any bad habit or addiction, like overeating, substance abuse, poor time management, anger issues, you name it. Jesus is bigger than any problem you have.
Prayer Starter: God, I know that I'm nothing without You, so I invite You into every area of my life. I'll let You do the heavy lifting, following and trusting You every day.
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Post by Aeliana on Jul 10, 2023 4:56:01 GMT -8
Worry About the Camels, Not the Gnats
You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Matthew 23:24
It's hard to believe how many denominations and independent churches there are today, yet there's only one Bible, one message. It's evident that God has one thing to say to all people, a single plan for our conduct and relationship with Him.
But over the years, because of our pride and narrow-mindedness, we've felt the need to develop a myriad of churches and church groups, even different versions of the Bible, to suit our own strict interpretations of what we believe the Bible says.
I've come to realize that none of us are 100 percent correct. Most of the things we fight over are petty. In Matthew 23:24, Jesus told the Pharisees that they strained out a gnat but swallowed a camel. They had gotten so picky about the little things, it prevented them from dealing with the things that were truly important.
As long as we allow prejudice, hatred and division to continue to have a place in our lives, we'll be powerless to stop it. Only agreement and unity in the love of Christ will bring the power to defeat prejudice. We can defeat hatred by allowing love to overcome our critical, divisive attitudes toward others.
Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, help me to not waste my time worrying about gnats. I realize that I must defeat hatred and prejudice with Your love and be unified with others in the body of Christ.
Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life - a Daily Devotional
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