Tag: #believeingod

How Do You Determine the Truth?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

John 14:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

What is your go-to source for the truth? What do you believe? Who do you believe? These are three questions we need to examine if we want to know the truth or subscribe to the lies, and to know the difference.

John 17:17 King James Version (KJV)

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The God of the Bible has something more to say to us about the source of truth. However, it begins and ends with our focal verse for today; John 14:6. Jesus is the truth.

Numbers 23:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

John 8:32 King James Version (KJV)

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 3:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

As for me, here is what I believe: “God said it, and that settles it; whether anybody else believes it or not.”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, I exalt Your name above every name on earth and in heaven.

Father, speak to hearts that are open to knowing and doing the will of God and walking in the footprints of Jesus. We offer up to You our prayers in the name of Jesus, Amen.

—

Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author’s Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

How to Have Joy in Your Life Every Day?

Text:

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Observation:

To have joy in your life every day is possible because God’s Word shows us the way to receive this blessing in our lives.

Philippians 3:1 (KJV)

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Philippians 4:4-5 (KJV)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

It will take you less than ten minutes (10) to read The Letter of Paul To The Philippians. I recommend that you read it today and that you read it often because it reveals the truth that you can have joy in your life every day.

Now, allow me to encourage you in your daily walk by reminding you of this right word from The Letter of Paul To The Galatians.

Galatians 5:25 (KJV)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, help each of the readers, hearers, and doers of these encouraging and useful words to also share these words with others. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

My new book was released on December 8, 2017, and is currently available at the following links. It is possible for your local bookstores to obtain it from the Ingram Network, a primary distribution source for Book Stores nationwide.

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/

Barnes & Nobles

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Xulon Press

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Title: 31 Days of Hearing God Speak

 

Do You Need Mercy In Your Life?

Text:

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

16  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Observation:

This week we have talked about God’s love and grace. You can read those by clicking on this link: https://herbcotton.blogspot.com.

Today I want to meditate on God’s mercy. In the Psalms, we see that David felt the deep need in his life for mercy.

Psalm 51:7 (NLT)

7  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

The grace of God covers the penalty for our sins. But, it is God’s mercy that covers the shame of our sins.

Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

10  Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

I’m so thankful and forever will be so grateful that God’s mercy trumps God’s judgment.

James 2:13 (NLT)

13  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.

But, it gets even better. God looks with favor on the one who receives mercy and gives it to others.

Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

7  God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Prayer:

Father God, we come into your presence today, and we exalt your name and give you the glory that only you deserve.

Father, we are so grateful for the loving gift of mercy. Father, we are so glad that your mercy covers the shame of our sins, and frees us to experience the joy of our salvation.

Father, I’m at a loss for words to express our appreciation for the gifts of love, grace, and mercy. So, I look to the Psalmist for help.

Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)

16  You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

17  The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Father, we agree with David; we offer the sacrifice that you desire, and we surrender to you our whole heart. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Listen to all of the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

How Gracious and Good is the Lord?

Text:

Isaiah 30:18 (ESV)

18  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Observation:

There is nothing that I can think of that is more profound than the truth that God answers prayer.

Notice what the bible says, “Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you”.

So what are you waiting for before you have a conversation with God? What in your life is so important that you don’t have time to have a conversation with your creator?

Notice another thing that the bible says, “He exalts himself to show mercy to you”. The LORD is a God of love, and love is gracious and generous. God is waiting to be love to you, and to be gracious and generous to you.

This is God’s invitation to you; you can receive it as a personal invitation to visit Him in prayer. Store this word from the prophet in your heart.

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

3  Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

After you have talked to God, and listened to Him, the next step is to wait for Him to answer your prayers. The bible says, “Blessed are all those who wait for him”.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. I am so thankful that You are a God who delights to hear from Your people.

Father, I am so grateful that You are a God of grace and mercy because these are things that I need in my life.

Father, I am so appreciative that You are patient with Your children because You remember that You made us out of dirt.

Father, I will watch and wait while You wait for the right time, and the right way to answer my prayers. Father, I thank You for being a God who knows our needs, and meets our needs. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry