Daily Devotion, Daily Wisdom

baddison · Mar 20, 2015

March 20, 2015

Devotional:
“Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the LORD, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:24 (NASB)

There is no hiding from God, but for those who willingly and joyously seek him, there is comfort, power, and hope in knowing his presence is ever with us.

Prayer:
El Shaddai, God of the Mountains, be my source of strength as I seek your presence. I acknowledge your presence in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, don't just keep blessing me, but use me to bless others in your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 21, 2015

March 21, 2015

Devotional:
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 (NASB)

Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to get over a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives. If we can't do this because it's hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, we do it because we know God and want to please him!

Prayer:
Father of light, love and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism or delight in seeing others around me fall. Instead, help me to be a rescuer rather than a neglector. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 23, 2015

March 23, 2015

Devotional:
“For whoever wishes to save his [fn]life will lose it; but whoever loses his [fn]life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:25 (NASB)

The key to life is letting go of ourselves and welcoming Jesus and his will into our lives. Please don't forget to relinquish your life to the one who gave up his own life for you. You see, he took it back up again, just so that when we lose our life to him, we can have it back forever with him.

Prayer:
Holy God, I believe that Jesus is Lord, your Son, my Savior and King. I long for his life to be made visible in mine to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:4 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 24, 2015

March 24, 2015

Devotional:
Yet those who [fn]wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will [fn]mount up with [fn]wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)

Maranatha — O Lord come! This cry of the early church, especially during times of trial, persecution, and difficulty must be tempered with the reminder that there is a lost world around us — many of whom are dear friends and family. Our passion for the Lord's coming must be equaled by our passion to share his grace with those who have not "come to repentance" and have not changed their lives to serve the Lord who died to bring them life. Until he comes, let's commit to do his work of bringing others to repentance and salvation in him.

Prayer:
O great and patient God, please use all of your power and grace to bring my loved ones and dear friends to repentance so that when Jesus appears they can share in my joy and your salvation. In the name of Jesus the only Savior I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:21 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 25, 2015

March 25, 2015

Devotional:
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8 (NASB)

God has a purpose and plan for each of our lives. The greatest thing we can do is to find that purpose and live it out. We can trust his purpose for us because it is based on his wisdom and love. As long as we seek his will, we're not going to do anything that can ultimately mess up his purpose for us. Yes, we may at times stray from the perfect channel he wants us to travel, but we never get totally out of the main channel. As long as we do not abandon him, and remember he will never forsake us, he will use us for his purposes.

Prayer:
O Sovereign God, help me discern today what my life is intended to fulfill in your plan. Thank you for loving me and promising to walk beside me every step of my life. I live trusting that you will never forsake me and committed to never forsaking you. In the name of your faithful Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3 (NASB

baddison · Mar 26, 2015

March 26, 2015

Devotional:
And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Zechariah 14:9 (NASB)

"Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Jesus taught us to pray for the day that the LORD would be The recognized King over all the earth. We look forward to that, because our faith will be shown true and the LORD himself will be glorified as he should be. In a world of profanity, a world where God's name is blasphemed, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is not only LORD Yahweh, but he is also incomparable without rival, that his name is the only name worthy of reverence, honor, and praise.

Prayer:
Great Almighty LORD, work to bring yourself glory, not only in me, but in your people, and in our time of history. With all my heart I pray for your name to be reverenced in all the earth. Do mighty works that show your control and sovereignty to help your people bring others to call on your name and to praise your grace. In Jesus' holy and precious name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 27, 2015

March 27, 2015

Devotional:
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 (NASB)

Pride does go before a fall! Try balancing these two truths: "I must not be prideful, but I must understand just how much God values me." It's not easy. Satan can use our self denigration, what I call the worthless worm syndrome, to discourage us and keep us from using our gifts and knowing our value to God for Kingdom work. On the other hand, pride takes God out of the picture and attributes any contribution to God's Kingdom to us and not to God. To be both bearer of the image of God and part of fallen humanity is more than a theological issue; it is the daily struggle of being a disciples. But we maintain the proper balance by praising the One who made us his child and adopted us into his family.

Prayer:
Holy Father, as your child, redeemed at the cost of Jesus' life, I know I am loved and valuable to you. I know you have given me abilities and gifts to use for your glory and to bless your church. But Father, I do not want to ever think that my abilities are somehow tied to my superiority or work. I know you have given me the gifts, abilities, and experiences that have shaped me, so please empower me to your glory. But Father, I never want the glory that is achieved from your gifts to puff me up or rob from me the realization that I am what I am, I have what I have, and I do what I do, because of your grace and your generous gifts. May I ever be your humble but valuable child at work in your Kingdom. I pray in the name of Jesus, my older brother and your Son. Amen.

Wisdom:
For, ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS, THE GRASS WHITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF. 1 Peter 1:24 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 28, 2015

March 28, 2015

Devotional:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; ho can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NASB)

Jesus told us that what is in our heart ultimately works its way out into our public life. The great wise man of Proverbs told us to guard our heart because it is the well spring of our life. Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our heart. I we want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our heart. Invite the Lord into what you do and think and read and watch and hear. Ask him to remove deceit and help you see if what you are doing is really worthy of your time and interest.

Prayer:
Righteous Father, please help me guard my heart and be wise enough not to place things into it that would rob it of its devotion to you. I want to be pure through and through. Please search me and help me remove everything that would steal my devotion from you and that would ruin my influence with others for you. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
We urge you, brethren, admonish the [fn]unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 30, 2015

March 30, 2015

Devotional:
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 (NASB)

Wow, what an indictment. When we vote our pocketbook more than character and when we excuse the indiscretions, infidelities, and illegalities in the leaders of both political parties, we have reached a very sad state indeed! But before we rant and rave about the sad state of morality in our public officials, let's make sure we're honest in our own daily lives — that we don't say cruel things about others, that we remain faithful to our marriages and our purity vows, and let's make sure that we expect of ourselves higher standards than we do of others.

Prayer:
God, you are not only the Almighty, you are holy! Holy, Holy, Holy are you, the LORD God Almighty. May the whole earth be filled with your glory and may that glory be shown in what I do and say. Forgive me of my own sin and hypocrisy. Bless me with purity, righteousness, and holiness as I pledge my life to your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [fn]ridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 (NASB)

baddison · Mar 31, 2015

March 31, 2015

Devotional:
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. Psalm 33:12 (NASB)

What is the god of our culture and our nation? Certainly our God is the LORD, Yahweh, King of Israel and Redeemer of the lost. He is King of all nations. But he is not necessarily God of our nation. We are far from "one nation under God." But we can pray for revival to sweep our land. We can repent for not placing him first in our own lives. He has promised to respond if we will humble ourselves and seek him. Let's do that beginning today!

Prayer:
LORD, God of the heavens and Father of all nations, I humble myself before you today, acknowledging my own sin and the sin of my people. I pray that you will revive us by the power of your Word and the sanctifying power of your Spirit. Bring renewal and revival to our land. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit I ask this. Amen.

Wisdom:
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 1, 2015

April 1, 2015

Devotional:
And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; [fn]Make them remember that His name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4 (NASB)

It is wrong to think God's love for the nations began only with Jesus and the Great Commission. Remember Jonah's preaching to save Israel's great enemy, Nineveh? Remember the precious story of Ruth, a foreigner grafted into the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah? God loves all people and wants them to come to share in his grace. As Christians, we are his salt and light. We are here to touch all the peoples of the world and beckon them to come back to the one Father who truly loves them.

Prayer:
Holy God, stir in my heart a greater passion to share your love with the world. May my life, my money, and my concern be used to do more of your work throughout the world. Please bless the efforts of all those who share the Gospel of Jesus in a culture other than their own. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” Luke 18:27 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 2, 2015

April 2, 2015

Devotional:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Matthew 24:35 (NASB)

What do you have that will last? Not much — the love you have for God and his children, the praise you offer him, and the Word he has spoken to us through his Spirit, the prophets, and his Son Jesus. Invest in these things and you will never be without lasting truth, blessing, and hope!

Prayer:
Eternal God and loving Father, give me wisdom to discern what is truly lasting and invest my life in them. I want my life built on things that will never suffer decay. Thank you for sending Jesus to teach me truth that will last. I want to be obedient to his words and his life. Bless me in ways that help me live a life that is true. In the name of Jesus, my eternal Savior I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 3, 2015

April 3, 2015

Devotional:
As for God, His way is [fn]blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 18:30 (NASB)

God is a shield whose Word can be trusted. His way is not only true, but it is also life-giving. But, we must take refuge in him if his flawless word and his perfect way are going to be blessings and his presence is going to bless us as our shield. Our allegiance, reliance, and dependence must be voluntarily placed in him and lives must be committed to living by flawless word.

Prayer:
God of our Fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I trust my soul and future to you. You are my strength and shield. Please protect and guard me, my family, and your church from the Evil One. Please keep us physically safe, spiritually vibrant, and morally upright as we serve you this summer and seek to honor your will by obeying your Word. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wisdom:
How blessed are those whose way is [fn]blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD. Psalm 119:1 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 8, 2015

April 4, 2015

Devotional:
I will bow down toward Your holy temple And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your [fn]truth; For You have magnified Your [fn]word [fn]according to all Your name.Psalm 138:2 (NASB)

For Christians, God's temple is one of two related things: either the Christian's body (1 Cor. 6:19-20) or the group of people who make up his Church (1 Cor. 3:16). Because of the flaws in people who make up our churches, many are hypercritical of their hypocrisy. But God's Church is precious to him, and should be to us. Anyone who destroys his Church through division will be utterly destroyed. God's faithfulness to his people is seen in his preservation of the Church through all the ravages and persecutions of history and his patience with the flawed people who are in his Church. But, God is still the center of the Church and he alone is to be exalted. The Church is still to be governed by his Word and not just their own will.

Prayer:
Holy and incomparable God, I praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness revealed in your preservation of your Church through all the years of history. I will cherish your Church and do all I can to help it grow and mature to become more like Jesus. I recognize that you and you alone are to be exalted above all other things and that church must never be more important than your will revealed in your word. Give me the courage to be true to you even if the church with whom I'm involved may not completely honor you. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD, “For asthe heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 8, 2015

April 6, 2015

Devotional:
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him bethe glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [fn]forever and ever. Amen.Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)

Of all the names for God in the Bible, this is my favorite: "Him who is Able to Do Immeasurably More." Our God is the same God who parted the Red Sea and fed 5,000 on a green hillside with only a couple of sardine sandwiches. He longs to do more than we can ask or imagine! Unfortunately most of us haven't really given him much of a challenge with our wimpy dreams and shallow prayers. Let's dream big dreams for God. Then hang on for the ride that is more than we can even imagine!

Prayer:
Almighty and Awesome God, do in our day what you did in past days. Give us faith to believe and then amaze us at how shortsighted our faith really was. Give us vision to see your plan and believe you long to do greater things. We ask this, not for ourselves or our reputation, but for your glory and the salvation of our world. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wisdom:
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is donein secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 8, 2015

April 7, 2015

Devotional:
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

God finished his creation work in the world in 6 days. He sustains it with his powerful word. He is still working on us and in us and he will continue to work his will in us to his glory (see Philippians 2:12-13) until Christ comes to take us home!

Prayer:
Thank you Father, for being at work in my life. I confess that at times you seem distant, but looking back over the crucial moments of my life, I can see your fingerprints and your grace leading me to where I am today. Dear Father, please make your presence even more powerfully known in my life as I seek your will and commit to live to your glory. In the name of Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
And without faith it is impossible to please Himfor he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 8, 2015

April 8, 2015

Devotional:
‘Ah Lord [fn] GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB)

In the immense expanse of our universe, with its billions upon billions of stars, where our own tiny blue planet is but a small speck of sand on an inestimable seashore, God knows us each personally. Such knowledge it too wonderful to be true, and yet it is! God has shown us his love in Jesus to remind us that he not only knows us, but he cares for us and longs to bring us to himself.

Prayer:
O Great God of the heavens, thank you for caring for me when I am such a small part of your great work in the universe. Your love is beyond my comprehension and yet it thrills me to know that in your grace one day I will see you face to face. In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.

Wisdom:
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, [fn]set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, [fn]A very present help in [fn]trouble. Psalm 46:1 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 9, 2015

April 9, 2015

Devotional:
But He answered and said, “It is written, “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”Matthew 4:4 (NASB)

Like Esau, we get so diverted by the mundane things of life and the growling of our bellies, we forget the longer range view of things. God's Word, his written Word the Bible, his demonstrated Word in Jesus, and his proclaimed Word in the Gospel are what can sustain us eternally. This is the living bread we seek.

Prayer:
True and Faithful God, through your Holy Spirit create in me a hunger for your Word that is much more necessary for my life than my hunger for food. I confess that at times I have been distracted by the mundane things of life and have not sought your Word and have not nourished my soul as fully as I could. Please forgive me as I re-commit myself to be more attentive to your leading and your truth through your Word and by your Spirit. In the name Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the [fn]king. 1 Peter 2:17 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 10, 2015

April 10, 2015

Devotional:
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11(NASB)

When Jesus is exalted, when his name is praised and his glory confessed, God is honored and blessed. Praise be the glorious name of Jesus of Nazareth, our great Messiah the Christ, Savior, Son of God, and conquering King!

Prayer:
Precious Savior, Jesus Christ my Lord, your name is wonderful! Your sacrifice for my sin was so loving and generous. I am so thankful that our Father raised you from the dead and that through you, I will be able to be with God and worship you all of eternity! You are glorious, Jesus my Lord! In your glorious name I bring this praise to God. Amen.

Wisdom:
Therefore, laying aside falsehood,SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 11, 2015

April 11, 2015

Devotional:
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.John 15:10 (NASB)

Love is not just a feeling. Love is action. For believers, the action that most shows our love for Jesus is for us to be obedient to his words, his will, and his example.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for showing your love in Jesus. Thank you Jesus for showing us how to love our Father by obeying his will and honoring his word. Today I will consciously live in obedience to your will. Please receive my actions, my words, and my thoughts as my offering of praise to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wisdom:
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.[fn]Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 13, 2015

April 13, 2015

Devotion:
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all [fn]that remains of wickedness, in [fn]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.James 1:21 (NASB)

Isn't it true! When we find ourselves caught in the clutches of the moral filth of our culture, we find the Word of God boring and irrelevant. Yet even in those moments when Satan uses sin to harden our hearts, God's Spirit calls us to change at a level deeper than just the mere understanding of the words of Scripture. Thank God for his Spirit which can use his Word like a surgeon's scalpel and do the needed surgery on our hearts.

Prayer:
Holy God, with the help of your Holy Spirit, today I willingly and decisively give up the immoral habits in my life. I recognize that these not only offend your holiness and grace, but also harden me to your will, pull me away from your character, and blunt my witness to others. Please forgive me and sustain me as I seek to live a life wholly pleasing to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Now faith is the [fn]assurance of things [fn]hoped for, the [fn]conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 14, 2015

April 14, 2015

Devotional:
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,Colossians 2:9-10 (NASB)

If you had known Jesus' address in Nazareth along about A.D. 20, you could have gone to that house and said, "God lives here!" While the doctrine of Jesus being fully God and fully man — fully God yet having emptied himself of all of his divine privilege ( Philippians 2:5-7) — is nearly impossible to fully understand, it is the awesome reality of grace. God chose to be like us because we could not be like him. God came down to us because we could not ascend to him. In Jesus, God came to us in fullness so we could be full in him.

Prayer:
Almighty God, I acknowledge that you are too great for me to comprehend. Yet as marvelous and mighty and majestic as you are, your grace is greater still. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can know you. Thank you for sending Jesus so I could be forgiven. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can go home to you and live forever. Thank you Jesus, for coming to redeem me and then returning back to the Father so I can speak to him through you. In your name Jesus, and because of your grace, I pray with boldness before our Father. Amen.

Wisdom:
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all theirheart. Psalm 119:2 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 15, 2015

April 15, 2015

Devotional:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.Romans 1:16 (NASB)

For the rich and poor, young and old, weak and strong, thin and heavy, there is still just one message and one name and one story that makes the eternal difference. That one message, story, and name are announced in the gospel — God's good news to the world in Jesus Christ. God's good news of life in the story of Jesus Christ is The Story and The Message and The Hope for all.

Prayer:
Great Redeemer, make me more bold to proclaim the Gospel today. Give me eyes to see those who are waiting to be told. Fill me up with your Spirit so that I will not be ashamed but will gladly proclaim the story of Jesus. Fill my life with the optimistic hope of Jesus' glorious and victorious return so that I might share it with passion and others will know of your grace. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 1 John 3:11 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 16, 2015

April 16, 2015

Devotional:
I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgements.Psalm 119:7 (NASB)

Praise is integrally connected with our character. So for us to worship God, the intent of our hearts and the effort of our lives must show the determined desire to know and live his will. While we will never do this perfectly, grace covers us as we seek to live for his glory. But that grace must never be used as a pretense to excuse spiritual laziness or intentional weakness.

Prayer:
Holy God, I want to be more like you in character even though I will never be like you in might or majesty. Open my eyes and through the Spirit enlighten me as I seek your will in your Scriptures and as I seek to be obedient in my daily life. Forgive me of my sin and create a clean and holy heart, wholly determined to do your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:27 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 17, 2015

April 17, 2015

Devotional:
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

Fear saps our will power and leaves us feeling depleted and hopeless. Yet very few of us have ever experienced a defeat so complete and bitter as the one God's people faced when Isaiah shared this message of hope. The preservation of Israel through their horrors to the time of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead when all appeared lost, the triumph of the Church through centuries of persecution and opposition are all powerful reminders that underneath us are the everlasting arms of a mighty and loving God who will ultimately bring us to share in his eternal victory.

Prayer:
Almighty and Eternal Father, it is such sweet comfort to know that you are always there. Thank you for always being there and guaranteeing my victory! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Wisdom:
and the prayer [fn]offered in faith will [fn]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [fn]they will be forgiven him. James 5:15 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 18, 2015

April 18, 2015

Devotional:
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.1 John 1:7 (NASB)

As we seek to please God and trust in his grace, more grace is supplied — we are given relationship with each other. And while Jesus' death was "once for all," its cleansing power goes on and on as long as our hearts are tuned to his grace and our hearts seek to walk his path.

Prayer:
Loving Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus and the cleansing his death brings me. Help me today to live a more dedicated life. Thank you for the assurance that as I seek your will and live your life you are also forgiving me of my sins and cleansing me and making me new. Through the intercession of Jesus, and in his mighty name, I offer these words of thanks. Amen.

Wisdom:
“For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:31 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 20, 2015

April 20, 2015

Devotional:
I have chosen the faithful way; I have [fn]placed Your ordinances before me. Psalm 119:30 (NASB)

Jesus reminded us to "pick up your cross daily and follow" him. The way of truth is a daily choice. To not seek to intentionally put him at the center of our life, the top priority in all of our decisions, is to slip a little bit further away from the life he calls us to lead. Any decision made without consciously seeking to please him is a decision to place him at the periphery of our lives. So let's set our heart on him. Let's choose his way, the way of truth, the way of life, and set our hearts on doing his will.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I choose to follow you and your truth today. Open my eyes that I may see your truth and open my heart that I may live it with consistency and passion. I decide today, again, to follow you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 21, 2015

April 21, 2015

Devotional:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter answered, “You are [fn]the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Matthew 16:15-16 (NASB)

There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12). We are to confess Jesus before men, knowing that when we do, we can be sure he will confess us before the Father in heaven. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Saviour and Lord. We may not know all the theological gravity behind those words — after all, Peter didn't when he confessed Jesus as Christ — but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do know more. Jesus asks us to open our hearts to his Lordship and begin the journey toward fuller knowledge and experience of him.

Prayer:
Living God and Holy Father, I believe you sent Jesus as your Son to save me. I confess to you that I want Jesus to be Lord of my life because I believe him to be your Son and my Saviour. It is through your Son, the Christ promised in Scripture, and in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” Hebrews 13:6 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 22, 2015

April 22, 2015

Devotional:
But Jesus said, “[fn]Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”Matthew 19:14 (NASB)

Jesus' love for children in an age when they weren't highly regarded is a powerful reminder. It is a reminder of God's love for what the world often abuses or abandons. We are called to love the unloved, the forgotten, the abused and neglected. Why? Because that is what Israel was in Egypt and that is what Jesus was at Calvary and that is what we were without grace (Romans 5:6-11). How can we claim to know salvation and not share it with others who need that grace!? How can we claim to be Jesus' disciples and not show love for those the world forgets?

Prayer:
Father, I want to be more of a parent like you — a holy and loving parent to my own children and a tender parent to the forgotten children of today. Help me not only to be aroused by the neglect and abuse children suffer in my world, but to be moved to act in ways that bless them. In the name of Jesus, the great lover of all children I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.James 4:10 (NASB)

baddison · Apr 23, 2015

April 23, 2015

Devotional:
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will [fn]maintain his cause in judgement.Psalm 112:5 (NASB)

Generosity is love expressed in practical ways with joy. Generosity and justice are two character traits more needed in our selfish world. They come from a heart touched by grace and from a Father who is gracious.

Prayer:
Loving Father, I know I will meet people today who need me to be generous with my love, my time, my forgiveness and my money. Please help me to treat them fairly and with love, just as you have treated me. May my life reflect your grace to others who need your love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Wisdom:
BE ANGRY AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,and do not give the devil [fn]an opportunity.Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)

Daily Devotion, Daily Wisdom

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