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Have You Ever Wondered, What’s Wrong With Those People?

Today Somebody Prayed for You

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

Philippians 2:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

Have you experienced the pain of being hurt by another person, and when you looked back at the situation you realized that it was not about you, but it was about the other person?

I often recall the words of the old school preacher, “To live above with saints we love, oh, that will be like in glory. But, to live below with saints we know, well that’s another story.”

The problem that we all have is that our words once spoken cannot be retrieved. Being sorry does not remove the power of the words spoken, and in many cases, the memory of the words spoken.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon each of us to think before we speak. We are all in the same boat, controlling the tongue is not an easy assignment. But, it is one that we need to make a priority in our lives of learning to take a position of humility and discipline ourselves to trust in the Lord with our whole heart and walking in the Spirit who will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Ephesians 3:20 King James Version (KJV)

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

In conclusion of our thoughts on this topic, let us make it our prayer and the goal of our life to be a blessing to others and not a curse, judge, jury, and executioner for others bad behavior. There is one judge of all humankind, and it is undoubtedly not you and thank God not me.

Romans 12:18 King James Version (KJV)

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Our Father in heaven, in these times in the world, we need more than ever to be like Jesus, and to see people like You see them and treat them. It is by Your grace that they are still alive, and because You have not finished with them, we should not attempt to be their judge.

2 Peter 3:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

—

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What Fruits Are Hanging on the Tree of Your Life?

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:

Do you know that you were born again to bear much fruit? Why not take a long look at your life for a day, and examine whether you are yielding much fruit?

God has something to say about the topic of fruit in the lives of His children. Do you have a moment to read this devotional that I received from the mouth of the Lord, written with my pen, and now typing them to send them to you?

The Bible says:

John 15:4 (KJV)

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

The Bible says about the gift of love; the first fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22.

Romans 5:5 (NKJV)

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

God has spoken to us, and He gets the final word, and the Bible says this about love.

1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for the privilege of living in Your presence every hour of every day, and all the day and night long. We have Your iron-clad promise that You would never leave us.

Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Father, help us to always remember Your abiding presence with us, and that we would draw near to You when we feel we cannot love others as we love ourselves.

Father, help us to love others first with the love that was poured into our hearts when we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

—

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Title: 31 Days of Hearing God Speak

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:17 (NLT)

Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 99:1 (NLT)

The LORD is king! Let the nations tremble! He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake!

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 99:9 (NLT)

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem, for the LORD our God is holy!

The Gospel Message:

Titus 2:1-3 (NLT)

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching.

Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.

Observation:

Today is a glorious day to give praise and thanksgiving to God. What a difference we could make in influencing others if we would learn the wisdom revealed in the Proverb featured today by staying out of someone else’s argument.

Instead, exalting the Lord our God and giving glory and honor to His most holy and righteous name is not just better, but the best use of our time. God does not need our praise, but it sure does wonders for us when we have an attitude of gratitude.

I am so blessed, encouraged, and fired up by the following encouragement by to Titus. O, to be like Titus and be blessed with a mentor like Paul.

Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we give You the highest praise our hearts can conceive, and we speak it with our mouths with joy and appreciation for the love and grace of God that You have so lavishly given to Your children. Holy is the Lord; You are God all by yourself; there is none like You.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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Why We Should Guard Our Mouth

Text:

Proverbs 10:11-12 (HCSB)

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.

Observation:

When I read this Proverb, I was reminded of a song that our children were taught. It had these words in one of the verses; the song was “Be Careful”.

“O be careful little tongue what you say

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love

So be careful little tongue what you say. ”

The wisdom in this Proverb would be a great benefit, and a blessing to all who would hear it, and do it.

Proverbs 10:1 (NLT)

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

Notice this line from the song “For the Father up above is looking down in love”.

This is what our Father in heaven says to His children on earth.

John 13:34-35 (HCSB)

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.

35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Prayer:

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for 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.

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Do You Know the God Who Made You ?

Text:

Psalm 33:10-12 (ESV)

10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

Observation:

If there was ever a need to go back to the Bible, we sure do need to do it in these last days. We need to turn off the bad news, and tune in to the Good News of the Word of God.

The God of the Bible has a wonderful purpose and plan for your life. He who made you from the dirt of the earth loves you with an everlasting love. The one who controls the universe surely has the power to control your life, and bless your life, and your nation.

Psalm 33:18-21 (ESV)

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

19 that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

We live in times of confusion, and conflict; it exists in all the earth below, and it exists in all of us. However, there is one place we can look, and find relief and deliverance from the confusion and the conflict; we can look to the counsel of the LORD.

Would you be willing to pray this prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray? Are you willing to ask the Father for His will to be do in you as it is in heaven?

Prayer:

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

—

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There Is A Thief In The House

Text:

Ephesians 4:1-3 (HCSB)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love,

3 diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds ?us?.

Observation:

In this passage the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus about unity in the Body of Christ.

Paul warned the church that there is a thief that will break in, and attempt to steal your peace, and destroy your unity.

Ephesians 4:26-27 (HCSB)

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity.

The church is not the first institution that God created. The first of God’s creation was the family.

Genesis 2:18 (HCSB)

18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.”

The thief of peace and unity has been at work since the beginning, and here is his attack on the first family.

Genesis 3:1 (HCSB)

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Whether in the Body of Christ, the big church, or in the family, the little church, we must be diligent to live in unity with one another in the family, and in the church. Don’t give the Devil an opportunity to destroy your family or your church.

Galatians 3:27-28 (HCSB)

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ?like a garment?.

28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

How do we do this? It’s an inside, outside thing. It is Christ in you that gives you the ability to live in unity with people that are different from you.

Philippians 2:12 (HCSB)

12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2:13 (HCSB)

13 For it is God who is working in you, ?enabling you? both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we praise You because we are fearfully, and wonderfully made by You.

Father, thank you for making us one, and depositing the power of Your presence in us.

Father, help us, by Your power, to workout what You have deposited in us for the glory of Your name. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

—

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The Power of the Encouraging Word

Text:

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Observation:

I read this quote recently, “People will respond much more to your words of encouragement than words of criticism”.

I’m reminded of a song that goes back to the early years of my life. I looked it up, and found that the earliest version is attributed to Dr. Brewster M. Higley, and written in 1870.

“Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam

Where the Deer and the Antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the sky is not cloudy all day.”

There is nothing more effective in personal communications than the power of an encouraging word.

I remember reading this quote from the author of the One Minute Manager. It said, “Catch your employee doing something right, and praise them”.

I am reminded of another english proverb: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

Think about this: It’s easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity.

Notice these encouraging words from the Apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, thank You for loving us with an everlasting love that is full of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Father, help us to be demonstrations of love for You, and love for others. Father, help us to speak words of love; words of encouragement to build up those who we encounter in our daily walk. Father, help us to walk worthy of our calling as sons and daughters of God. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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What Believers Should Become After They Become Christ Followers

Text:

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Observation:

One of the things that we should always remember is how much we have been forgiven by God.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, this is what He taught them about forgiveness.

Matthew 6:12 (ESV)

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

This daily prayer for forgiveness is not about justification. This was settle by Jesus on the cross at Calvary.

Romans 5:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is in view when we pray for daily forgiveness is for the sin in our heart that cases us to be out of fellowship with God. We need forgiveness every day, and every hour to maintain a right relationship with God, and with others.

I make these verses my daily prayer of repentance of present sins, and my hope for today and tomorrow.

Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

1 John 1:7-9 (ESV)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Thy name; there is no name in heaven or on earth that is greater than the name of the Lord.

Father, I am so grateful for Your love, and for the gift of forgiveness that I have received from Your heart and hands. Father, help me to be as forgiving to others as You have been to me. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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