Tag: bible

Why I Read & Rely on the Bible

 

Text:

Isaiah 40:6-8 (ESV)

6  A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

7  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.

8  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Observation:

This word settles it and nails it for me, “the word of our God will stand forever”.

It is through the word of God that we get to know the God of the word. O, the love of God; the grace and mercy of God for people like you and me. Think about the greatness and goodness of God.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (ESV)

3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

5  he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

When the fierce winds of adversity blow into our lives the redeemed of the Lord have an anchor that is sure, steadfast, and secure; we have a forever God in whom we can trust to deliver us. Notice how David called upon the Lord in his time of trouble.

Psalm 57:1 (ESV)

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.

Mary the mother of Jesus found God to be able in the season of life that was most difficulty for a young woman; what she found in God you can find to be true also.

Luke 1:37-38 (ESV)

37  For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Why not call upon Him, and experience God’s power to deliver for yourself?

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so thankful for the word of God, and the God of the word. Father, I am so grateful that the God of the word, and the word of God are forever.

O, how blessed are the children of God that when adversity comes into our lives we can take refuge in the shadow of the wings of our dear Father in heaven. Father, I’m praying for a mighty move of the faithful turning to God in these perilous last days. In the mighty 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

The Lord Wants to Feed You Daily

Text:

Psalm 130:5-6 (ESV)

5  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

6  my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Observation:

How do you know that the Lord wants you to eat daily of the bread of life? I’m glad you asked. Here is how Jesus taught His followers to pray.

Luke 11:3 (ESV)

3  Give us each day our daily bread,

There are life lessons in the bible to be learned every day, and there are life lessons in our environment that will reinforce the lessons we learn from the bible.

We just need to open the eyes of our heart so that we might be able to see, and our ears that we might be able to hear what the Lord wants to say to us. O, how we need to pray this prayer every day.

Psalm 119:18 (ESV)

18  Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

When you read God’s Word it is amazing how He will speak to you from His Word, and from your surroundings; He will speak to you out of things that have been stored up in your heart. Just now, He spoke to me from the words of this song that was stored in my heart.

“Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus, Speak that my soul may hear; Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus, Calm ev’ry doubt and fear. Speak to my heart, oh, speak to my heart, Speak to my heart, I pray; Yielded and still, seeking Thy will, Oh, speak to my heart today. ”

I sent a message earlier this morning to a friend who exchanges messages of encouragement with me every day. In response to what he said to me, I said this to him.

I’m listening to and leaning on Jesus. Do the same and open your heart and your hands to receive your blessings from the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, thank you for being our shepherd and our friend.

Father, your people will be forever grateful for Your provisions and protection; for your power and peace; and for your presence and our pleasure. O, what a blessing we have of eating at The Table of the Lord daily.

Father, thank You from the depths of our hearts for all of our blessings. In the mighty 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

The Bible Our Reliable Source for Truth

 

Text:

Acts 17:11 (ESV) 

11  Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 

Observation:

I was talking to a friend this week, and the verse listed above came up in our conversation. Then, the next day it was the focus of an article I read in my email inbox. 

As a child I learned the most profound truth that I have ever been exposed to. It is more profound than anything I learned in sixteen years of formal education, and thirty-three years in the business world.

That truth is this, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”. Without the Bible as my compass, I would be like a ship at sea without a sail; I would be lost in this world, and the world to come.

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. 

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) 

12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful for the Word of God.

Father, I am so thankful for the wisdom and the wealth that I find when I read the Bible. Father, I am so grateful for the peace and the power that I receive by obeying what You have said in Your Word.

Father, Your servant David, a man after Your own heart, says what’s in my heart about Your Word. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Psalm 119:11 (KJV) 

11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

 

—

Daily Bread

Title: Does The Word of God Work in You?

Text:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (HCSB)
This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.

Observation:

Let me go on record as saying yes I believe the Word of God works because it works in me. The key is that you must read it and receive it into your heart. To work in you it must be in you.

Psalm 119:11 (HCSB)
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.

When you receive God’s Word into your heart you are in good hands. You will be amazed at the changes that will take place in you when God begins His work. God is not like man, He finishes what He starts.

Philippians 1:6 (HCSB)
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The members of the church at Thessalonica had a high view of scripture; they viewed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God. It worked in their lives effectively, and it still works effectively in the lives of God’s people who read it, receive it, and heed it.

Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Isaiah 40:8 (HCSB)
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”

This is my invitation to you; open your heart to God and His Word.

Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful for the Word of God and for the blessing it is in the lives of those who receive it. Father, I ask You to stir within us a burning desire to taste and see that the Word of God is good for us, and that it works.  In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Daily Bread

Title: The God of the Bible – – He is Real and Faithful

Text:

Genesis 8:22 (HCSB)
22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”

Observation:

Over 4,000 years ago is the dating of the above promise. This is a promise made, and a promise kept. I often hear people in the marketplace talk about the irrelevance of the Bible or speak in terms of it being a fairy tale.

However, I beg to differ with them, and would kindly invite them to take a closer look at the Bible for themselves. Try it, it won’t hurt you, and I believe it will help you. The sincere and serious seeker will find answers because of this promise.

Hebrews 4:12 (HCSB)
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

What a book, and what a God. I invite you to read it, and introduce it to your family and friends. You and they will discover more of the promises of God, and His faithfulness. The Word has the power to speak to you personally, powerfully, and profitably.

Psalm 34:8 (HCSB)
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!

My prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the Word of God, and for the promises that You are faithful to keep. Father, I pray that Your Spirit will do His office work in the readers, hearers, and the doers of the Word.

Father, only eternity will reveal the benefits of Your Word for those who believe in You. In Jesus name 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.

“I am so glad that our Father in heaven
Tells of His love in the Book He has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see:
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/291#ixzz2sMEmPG99

 

Daily Bread

Title: It’s That Time of the Year – – Looking to the Future

Text:

Mark 1:35 (HCSB)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

Observation:

One of the most challenging verses I have ever read in the Bible is this one; it captures and compels me to pause and ponder what it says.

1 Peter 2:21 (HCSB)
21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.

When I think about the wisdom of God and the power of God; when I think about Jesus, and what He said of himself; I bow in awe.

John 14:8-11 (HCSB)
8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

When I look at our focal verse for today, I say to myself, If Jesus had to pray, then what about me? Think about it, If Jesus had to pray, what about you?

I can’t help but make prayer the priority in my life; I can’t help but make daily reading of the Bible my daily bread. O how I need, and so much more, what Jesus needed; time alone with God.

Ephesians 6:18-19 (HCSB)
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

This is the time of year I hit the pause button; I will not be writing for distribution for the next two weeks. So, let me wish for each of you God’s best during this holiday season; may it truly be a holy season for you.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy and Blessed New Year.

 

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I long to have an intimate relationship with You the way Jesus did. Father God, help me by Your power to be a man of the Word, and a man of prayer in these  last days.

Father, since You are the same Father who lived in Jesus, I ask You to do in me the works that You did in Him; Your works, and Your will. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

“O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

 Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/398#ixzz2o11nLh5M