God – herbcotton.org

Where Do You Turn When Life Gets Hard?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 116:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

116 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Do you know the God of the Bible? In whom do you trust? Where is your God? To love the Lord, you must know Him.

Psalm 115:1-3 King James Version (KJV)

115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

The following conversation of Jesus with a Gentile woman informs my understanding of the God of the Bible.

John 4:21-26 King James Version (KJV)

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.

The Bible describes God in human terms that we can understand. He has eyes that can see us, ears that can hear us, and hands that can touch us. God is a great God and a loving heavenly Father.

There is no place I would rather be than in the hands of God.

Psalm 31:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

There is nothing beyond the reach of God, and there is nothing too difficult for our Father in heaven.

Luke 1:37 King James Version (KJV)

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we offer up to you our prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Father, we acknowledge that You are God, and we are not.

Father, we are so grateful that You have eyes to see us, ears to hear us, and hands that can reach down and touch us.

Father, we rest in the knowledge that nothing is too difficult for You. Father, we stretch our hands and surrender our lives to You. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

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

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Why Should We Wait on the Lord?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Isaiah 40:31 King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Have you ever prayed and got weary in waiting on God to answer your prayer? If so, let me encourage you by saying you are not alone in feeling or thinking in this way. Let me welcome you as a member of the human race.

2 Corinthians 12:6-9 King James Version (KJV)

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God Has Something to Say to You:

I don’t know what God has to say to you, but I have shared with you in the above passage what God said to the Apostle Paul.

Now, I will share with you some of the things God said to me today.

The storm comes before the glory.

The promise comes before the blessing.

The blessing comes to those who believe.

The glory belongs to God alone.

The price precedes the provision.

In my weakness, God provides His strength.

There is nothing too difficult for God.

God uses my problems as raw material for a miracle of sufficient grace for all my needs.

Philippians 4:19 King James Version (KJV)

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we exalt You together as we look up to You in prayer. We give You thanks for who You are, and for how much You love us; even when we were unlovely.

Father, today we ask You to teach us to pray and to wait on You. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

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

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Who Has Your Eyes and Ears?

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

2 Chronicles 16:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

Do you wonder why you are having so many unresolved problems in your life? It seems like the devil is after you all the time. What are the issues in your life that are presenting themselves as a mission impossible?

What may be impossible in your eyes are possible with God because nothing is too complicated for the Lord.

Have you not heard the invitation of Jesus to give your problems to Him?

Matthew 11:28-30 King James Version (KJV)

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Are you willing to surrender the heavy load that you are carrying and receive the yoke that Jesus wants to exchange for your heavy yoke not intended for you? The devil is a liar and thief; reject him, and believe that Jesus is the way and the truth.

1 Peter 5:6-7 King James Version (KJV)

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

How can I overcome the troubles I have faced all of my life?

Turn from your old ways, and turn to Jesus. Give Him all of you, and He will give you all of Him. Nothing less will do what Jesus wants to do for you. It’s only one step to your deliverance. Why not take it today?

Hebrews 11:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Father, I pray and ask others to join with me in praying that burdens are being lifted right now all across the length and breadth of the earth as people release the heavy yokes on their backs and replace them with yokes that Jesus offers that are easy and burdens that are light.

Lord Jesus, we thank You for lifting our burdens on the cross at Calvary. Now, we can say with joy in our hearts, “I am a child of God.”

And a host of God’s children all over the world, united and together we say, thank God, Amen.

—

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

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

Why What We Do With Our Heart Is Important

Text:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Observation:

Who you have in your heart is of utmost importance. Notice what Solomon, who was called the wisest of men, said about the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

We may trust in many things and people, but there is no thing or person that can compare with the Lord. The reason why we can trust in the Lord is because He is trustworthy. There is no one that you can say this about without reservation. “The Lord cannot lie”. “It was impossible for God to lie”.

Titus 1:2 (KJV)

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV)

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

I have no difficulty in trusting in the Lord with all my heart, seeking and doing His will, and walking in His ways. I trust Him when He speaks; I listen, and obey. I believe it is impossible for Him to lie.

John 14:6 (KJV)

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

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful, and thankful for the open door that I have to come to Your throne room of grace and mercy.

Lord, I trust in You with my whole heart, and I submit my understanding to Your will, and Your way. 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.

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How Do You Respond to Trouble?

Text:

Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Observation:

There is a school of thought that says that we are either fear or anger prone. If this is so, which are you?

In fact, we don’t have to be stuck in either of these responses to external or internal trouble. The secret to deliverance is found in the eternal God; He can be your refuge. This can take place when we broaden our focus from the temporal to the eternal.

The way to live the abundant life through all of the troubles of living in a fallen world is to give your life to Jesus, and receive from Him the gift of eternal life.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (KJV)

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

When the risen Christ is alive in you, and the Holy Spirit of God lives in you, there is nothing that you will lack to live the abundant life in Christ.

1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV)

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we give our whole life to You, and we receive in exchange the life of the living God in us. Father, we rejoice, and shout for joy for the exceeding blessings, and favor You have so generously and gracefully given to us. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

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What Gives You the Most Satisifaction?

Text:

Psalm 119:107 (ESV)

107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!

Observation:

I considered taking a break from writing for publication today. But, the Lord had a better plan.

I love my life, and I view it as a gift from God. I love the Lord because He loved me first.

I am so thankful that the Lord led me to this verse early this morning. It was a very timely, and uplifting message for me; it met a need in my life; it was life giving, inspiring, and gave me just what I needed in this season of my life.

These words will stay with me for a long time, “Give me life, O LORD, according to your word”. There is power in the Word.

As I reflect upon these words, I was reminded of the importance of relationships. I value relationships above riches. There is nothing more precious to me.

However, I am also reminded daily of the difficulty of having close, and meaningful relationships. The psalmist reflected this in his words, “I am severely afflicted”.

What I have found to be true in my life is that the Lord, and His Word gives me life, it gives me power to live, and overcome any afflictions I will face in life and death.

Today, and everyday, I am grateful to God for the life He has given me. I am so blessed by the presence, plan, provisions, protection, peace, and power of God, which are the gifts that I receive daily from the Lord. God gives daily bread to His people.

I will be eternally grateful for the gift of faith that is the key that gives me access to my creator, my redeemer, and my best friend. I am so blessed to be able to talk to God, and to talk to you; my family and friends, about the one who is the source of life, and who gives His children the resources to live the abundant life.

This is my story, and I love to share it with others. I am so grateful for having God in my life; for the faith that enables me to be in a relationship with Him, and to please Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You praise, honor, and glory. Father, I am so thankful for the blessing of life, and the provisions that You give to enjoy life now, and forever. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Do You Desire to Have True Unity?

Text:

Ephesians 2:14 (NLT)

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

Observation:

Yesterday I listened to what man, female and male, said about how to have unity in our nation.

This morning as I sat down to write the Lord directed my steps to turn to this passage in Ephesians. In this passage we hear of what God says about how to have true unity.

Many of you heard what man said. If you are willing, here is what God says in His Word.

Ephesians 2:11-18 (NLT)

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Who do you believe; man or God? Who do you trust; man or God? Who do you follow; man or God?

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)

19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

God has spoken. What is your response to Him?

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name higher the highest heavens. Father, I declare that my only hope is in You alone because all other ground is sinking sand.

Father, I pray that no one listening to the sound of my voice or reading these words would reject your invitation to come to You, and find the only way to peace and rest that endures forever. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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What Do You See and Hear?

Text:

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Observation:

Where is the focus of your eyes and ears? Do you see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, failure and doubt?

Have you resigned yourself to this, “It is what it is?” That may be true, but have you considered that it is not what it appears?

When the reality of a windstorm faced the disciples of Jesus, they thought they were going to perish. However, they were not alone because Jesus was in the boat. This is what He told them after commanding the winds to be still.

Mark 4:40 (ESV)

40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

We need God in our lives to get through this world, and live the overcoming life.

Hebrews 12:2 (HCSB)

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

We need to take our eyes off of the circumstances, and fix and keep our eyes upon Jesus. We need to have faith in God; it is God’s gift to His children.

Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB)

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Are the words of this hymn your song?

“My faith looks up to Thee,

Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior Divine;

Now hear me while I pray;

Take all my guilt away;

Oh, let me from this day

Be wholly Thine.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, I am so thankful for the God of the Word, and the Word of God.

Father, I join in singing with the Saints of the ages, “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”.

Father, by faith in You, we take the focus of our eyes and ears off of the world, and fix them on Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Are You Able to Fulfill Your Purpose?

Text:

Psalm 85:10-11 (HCSB)

10 Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace.

11 Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven.

Observation:

There is nothing more persuasive and powerful than the heart that has been filled by the presence of the Holy Spirit of God; the presence of the the love of God in our heart.

Is the love of God present in your life? This is God’s promise to all who believe in Jesus, and have received Him.

John 1:12 (NLT)

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 5:5 (HCSB)

5 This hope will not disappoint ?us?, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

There is nothing that the child of God lacks. We have everything that we need to fulfill the purposes of God for our life. If God be for us, who can be against us?

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You the praise and thanksgiving that You alone deserve.

Father, I am persuaded that I have everything that I need to fulfill the purpose for which I was born, and born again. Father, I am persuaded that the God who lives in me is greater than any difficulty, danger, or disappointment that I will ever encounter in my walk through this world.

Father, I am so glad that I am on my way to heaven, and that this world is not my home.

Father, thank You for bringing heaven to earth by sending the Holy Spirit of God, who is love, to live in my heart forever. Let all those who agree say, Amen.

—

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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Do You Know How to Overcome Fear?

Text:

Romans 8:26-30 (HCSB)
26 In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Observation:

How hungry and thirsty are you for God? How much value do you place on prayer? Is prayer your first option, or is it your last option? Do you view prayer as the least you can do, or do you view it as the most you can do? How big is Your God?

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)
For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Do you have a God size need in your life today? Why not do what the Psalmist did?

Psalm 77:1-3 (HCSB)
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me. 2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble. My hands were continually lifted up all night long; I refused to be comforted. 3 I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah

Asaph was in a hard place; however, he served a great God, and Asaph cried out to God as his first option, and not his last. Asaph’s faith was not in vain; God hears and answers the prayers of His people. David said this about his prayer. God will do it for you, if you ask Him.

Psalm 6:9 (HCSB)
The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer.

We are not alone when we call out to God in prayer. There are times when we don’t know how to pray, but God has that covered; He provides us with the Holy Spirit to be our helper in prayer. Not only that but God works in the circumstances of our life, no matter how painful they may be, God works in them and through them for our good, and for His glory.

Don’t ever forget that God is for you; He will succeed in making you like Jesus; a promise He makes, and one He will surely keep.

Romans 8:31 (HCSB)
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

“O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful for your love, guidance and support that you give to your people. Father, forgive me for the peace I forfeit when I fail to bring everything to you in prayer.

Father, with the aid and assistance of the Holy Spirit, I will learn to carry everything to You in prayer. 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:

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