#dreams – herbcotton.org

What Am I Hoping For?

Text:

Romans 8:25 (ESV)

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Observation:

Do you have hopes and dreams for things you do not see? It is possible to achieve your hopes, and dreams. It takes practice and patience. It also takes faith in God.

Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)

1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Hope in God is possible through the eyes of the heart. The way to have hope, and to access the power that is within you is to have the Holy Spirit of God living in your heart. The Holy Spirit is God’s gift to His children.

Romans 5:5 (NIV)

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

To make your hopes and dreams become reality put your trust in God, who can do anything but fail, and who will never disappoint you. Take the first step; it can be a small step, but make it a step forward; a step toward Jesus.

“Footprints of Jesus,

That make the pathway glow;

We will follow the steps of Jesus

Where’er they go.” – – Author: M.B.B. Slade (1871)

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, Your name is so wonderful, and it is so sweet, and wonderful to think about what the Word says about your name.

Psalm 103:2-5 (ESV)

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Father, help us to open the eyes of our hearts, and surrender all of us to all of You, and allow You to establish our steps. O, we ask You to give us sufficient grace and faith to walk in the Spirit of God. 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

Is It Now Time for You?

Text:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Observation:

Who do you want to be? What are the goals for your life? Who do you want to be with? Where do you want to be? When will you move?

This morning I had a wonderful start to my day. I’m in the process of re-dreaming the fulfilling of my purpose for being alive. It is so exciting, and so rewarding. God is so real in my life; He loves me, and I love Him. He loved me first.

There is so much potential that is planted within us by the God who made us. It is waiting to be unlocked, and unleashed. God has done His part; the next step is ours, and we have the freedom to take it.

Do you realize that the key is in your hands, and the door is standing before you; it is locked, but you have the key. The key is God given, and it is exercised by faith.

You have everything that you need; faith in God is the key that will unlock the door to you fulfilling your God given purpose.

What is hindering you from becoming all that God made you to be? It only takes one step of faith to move you in the direction of fulfilling your purpose. You have the freedom, and the faith to take one step. Just do it, and watch what happens.

Romans 8:31 (KJV)

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Are you willing to take the next step? Are you willing to pray this prayer?

Prayer:

Lord, I believe in you with my whole heart. Lord, I declare that you are able, and I submit, and say that I am willing to take the next step in becoming the person you made me to be. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

Father, I see now time as being my time. I believe it, and I receive it. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Luke 1:37 (KJV)

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

—

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

What Would Victory Look Like to You?

Text:

Psalm 126:1-3 (ESV)

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

Observation:

This passage speaks of something God had done for His people. He had delivered them from Babylonian slavery, and returned them to Jerusalem. It was a time of great rejoicing.

Psalm 14:7 (ESV)

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Let’s go a little further in this Psalm.

Psalm 126:4 (ESV)

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

Deliverance was a great victory for God’s people, but in time they desired more so they cried out to the Lord.

In your distress, don’t get depressed. Why not do like the people of God of every age?

Psalm 120:1 (ESV)

1 In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.

The people were looking to the future. Notice they looked to the Lord who had provided their deliverance. This is what victory would look like for them. They had a vision of peace and prosperity.

Psalm 122:6-7 (ESV)

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, there is none like You, no not one. Father, we lift our eyes and hearts toward the heavens for hope and help in this difficult season.

Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, no other help I know. Father this I also know that the God who has brought us thus far; Our God will see us through. So, we ask for an outpouring of Your amazing grace, and tender mercies to flood our hearts, souls and minds. Father, stir our hearts to run to You.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. 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

What Are Your Plans, Hopes, and Dreams?

Text:

Proverbs 16:3 (HCSB)

3 Commit your activities to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved.

Observation:

I started this week with the title of today’s message on my heart, and here it is near the end of the week and it is still with me. I read this verse first thing this morning, and it found a place in my heart.

The first word in the verse, commit, caused me to pause, and meditate upon it. There is an app that I use called Roll-It-Up. It is a neat tool for managing your email inbox.

I listened to a devotional this morning based on our focal verse, and it said that to commit is to roll your plans up to God. I immediately made the connection with what I do each day with my email inbox.

I commit now to rolling my plans, hopes, and dreams up to the Lord because He is much more able to carry these cares on His shoulders.

In conclusion, I go back to the verses I started the week with, and I will commit my activities to the Lord, and rest in knowing that He will give me the desires of my heart as I take delight in the Lord.

Psalm 37:4-5 (HCSB)

4 Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act,

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, I thank You for being a God who hears and answers the prayers of His people.

Father, thank You for speaking into my heart this morning the need to cast all of my cares upon You. Father, there is no place I would rather have my plans reside then in the hands of my God. Father, I will daily roll them up to You. In the might name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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

What To Do When God Speaks To You

Text:

Ezekiel 1:28 (ESV)

28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Observation:

What do you do when God visit you in a vision or in a dream? The thing that Ezekiel did is what God’s people of every age have done, “I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking”.

Notice that what came after the vision was the voice of God. We should follow this pattern, and go to the most reliable source for what God has said; it is the eternal Word of God. In His Word God will speak into your heart like He spoke to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 2:1-2 (ESV)

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

Is your heart prepared to hear from God when you read, meditate, and study the Word of God? This is the prayer that David prayed.

Psalm 119:18 (ESV)

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

After, you have heard from God; then, go and do what He tells you to do. Don’t just hear the word; do it.

Psalm 119:103 (ESV)

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed by Your name. I’m so grateful that You are still speaking to Your people through visions, and through the Word of God. Father, may we all have open hearts to receive what You want to say to us. Father, may we be hearers and doers of the Word of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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

What Are Your Dreams and Vision?

Text:

1 Corinthians 9:12 (HCSB)
12 If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more? However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:15-18 (HCSB)
15 But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with a stewardship.
18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

Observation:

When I open my bible each day, this is the prayer that I pray in my heart. In the depths of my heart, I want to hear a word from God.

Psalm 119:18 (KJV)
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

What I saw with my eyes, heard with my ears, and felt in my heart is the purpose, priority, and the passion that the Apostle Paul had for the ministry that God had given him.

The Apostle Paul was willing to give up his right to compensation by the church for the sake of advancing the gospel of Christ.

Paul’s compensation did not come from a paycheck. Rather, it came from something far more valuable, and money cannot buy what Paul valued most.

1 Corinthians 9:18 (HCSB)
18 What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.

Paul got his reward from preaching the gospel free of charge, and not taking advantage of the church by the full exercise of his Apostolic authority. The servant of the Lord has the freedom to give up their rights. Paul did, and he encouraged others to do the same.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I ask that you form in me, and all of Your children, the character traits that we see in the life of the Apostle Paul in today’s bible reading.

Father, I am so thankful for the dream and vision that I had last night, and early this morning. Father, I look forward to developing actionable goals to move toward turning the vision into fruitful service for the advancement of Thy kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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