Tag: #godisfaithful

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:21 (NLT)

Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 119:130 (AMP)

The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Daniel 6:25-27 (NLT)

Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!

“I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.

He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

The Gospel Message:

2 Peter 3:14-16 (NLT)

And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

Observation and Prayer:

I love to read and hear the final words of godly and wise men and women.  I commend to you the final words of Peter to the believers that were scattered to several places because of the persecution they faced for being believers in Christ and the Word of Christ.

2 Peter 3:17-18 (NLT)

I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

—

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

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

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 27:18 (NLT)

As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 113:1-3 (KJV)

Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 114:1-2 (NLT)

When the Israelites escaped from Egypt— when the family of Jacob left that foreign land—

the land of Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom.

Psalm 114:7 (NLT)

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

The Gospel Message:

Hebrews 12:14-15 (NLT)

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Observation:

I find something in each of today’s focal passages that speak volumes into my heart. As you meditate upon them, what are they saying to your heart?

It is not enough to know the ways of God, we must do the will of God every day of our life, and every moment. Every decision we make shapes the course of our life.

God speaks to us at the point of our need. Stay close to God and allow Him to have His way and His will to be done in your life.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we declare that You are holy, sovereign, and faithful in all that You say and do. Father, we acknowledge that You are the potter and we are the clay. We willingly submit to Your will and plans for our life. Father, consecrate our hearts to Thee.

“Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.”

Frances R. Havergal

—

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

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

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:27 (NLT)

If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 104:33-34 (NLT)

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!

May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 104:31 (NLT)

May the glory of the LORD continue forever! The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!

Psalm 104:35 (NLT)

Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth; let the wicked disappear forever. Let all that I am praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

The Gospel Message:

Hebrews 4:1-3 (NLT)

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.

For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.

For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,'” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.

Observation:

My first reflection after selecting today’s focal passages were the lyrics of the hymn by Cleland McAfee, “Near to the Heart of God.”

There is a place of quiet rest,

Near to the heart of God;

A place where sin cannot molest,

Near to the heart of God.

? Refrain:

? O Jesus, blest Redeemer,

? Sent from the heart of God;

? Hold us, who wait before Thee,

? Near to the heart of God.

In this troubled filled world, I am so glad that God has provided a way for us to have a place of quiet rest, not just now, but to live forever in His presence.

Hebrews 4:3 (NLT)

For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger, I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,'” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.

Prayer:

Father God, our dear Father, we join with David and the Saints of the ages in singing, “Let all that I am praise the Lord.”

—

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

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

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:7 (MSG)

A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 94:11-14 (NLT)

The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!

Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.

You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.

The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 45:4-5 (NLT)

“Baruch, this is what the LORD says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!'”

The Gospel Message:

2 Timothy 2:21-22 (NLT)

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Observation:

The message that I hear God speaking to my heart today is that God is sovereign. He knows our circumstances, and He takes care of His people. All who trust in the Lord have nothing to fear.

Paul, the mentor, encouraged Timothy, the mentee, to have the attitude that he had while serving others in his ministry.

2 Timothy 2:10 (NLT)

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

Prayer:

Father God, we are so grateful that You are God and we are not. Father, we rest in the blessed assurance that you are the potter and we are the clay. Father, make and mold us into the people that will be pleasing in your sight.

—

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

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:

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God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 25:23 (NLT)

As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 81:1 (NLT)

Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 16:19 (NLT)

LORD, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, “Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols.

The Gospel Message:

1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT)

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.

Observation:

The Apostle sums it up well when he said these final words to the church at Thessalonica, “We urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God.” Are you living that way?

The testimony of Jeremiah in today’s Old Testament scripture is an encouragement to my heart, and I pray it will be to your heart. So, are the words of Billy Graham.

“There is no greater joy than the peace and assurance of knowing that, whatever the future may hold, you are secure in the loving arms of the Savior.”

Billy Graham

Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible.

Prayer:

Father God, we are so grateful that we, the people of God, can have peace because we know that we are secure in the loving arms of our Savior.

—

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

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:

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The Reality and Rewards of Faith In God

Text:

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.

Observation:

The lyrics of this gospel hymn is ringing in my heart as I think about the greatness, and goodness of the Lord.

“Have you any rivers

That seem uncrossable?

And have you any mountain

That you cannot tunnel through?

God specializes

In things thought impossible

And He will do what no other

No other power but holy power can do”.

I am so thankful for the gift of saving faith. I will never forget the day that God’s love and forgiveness; God’s grace, and mercy, found me.

How do you get the faith that pleases God?

Romans 10:17 (HCSB)

17  So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

Notice this illuminating verse.

Isaiah 53:1 (HCSB)

1  Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the LORD been revealed to?

The faith that pleases God includes three steps.

  1. Hearing
  2. Believing
  3. Receiving

The Bible says that the Gospel of Christ was written for this reason.

John 20:31 (HCSB)

31  But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

Before you deny Christ, read the Gospel of John. God is speaking. Are you listening?

When we have biblical faith in God, everything changes. True belief results in change of belief and behavior.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)

17  Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I unite my heart and voice with all who believe in Jesus. Father, I am so thankful for the reality, and the rewards of faith in the true and living 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/

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What to Do In Difficult Times?

Text:

Psalm 56:1 (NLT)

1 O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.

Observation:

David did what Jesus did during his earthly ministry, and it is a wonderful example for us to follow today. David first priority was to call upon God in prayer.

It is so important for God’s people to remember to call upon God for all of our needs. There is nothing too difficult for God. Our problems are God’s raw material for miracles.

Notice in the following verses what the Lord did for David in his season of difficult days.

Psalm 56:8-9 (AMP)

8  You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

9  Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me.

God knows where you are, He sees what is happening in your life, He knows your feeling, and how deeply you are hurting. God will hear, and answer your prayers.

When He does, don’t forget to give Him the praise from a thankful, and grateful heart. It is believed by commentators that David wrote Psalm 34 after God answered His prayer for deliverance from the enemies he was facing in Psalm 56.

Psalm 34:1-4 (ESV)

1  I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2  My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

3  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we exalt and bless Your name. Father, we are so grateful that You are a God who hears and answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, help us to remember to place a high priority on prayer, and to have the faith to persevere in prayer until we hear for heaven; to never give in, and to never give up because it is in trusting in You that we receive from You the things we ask for in prayer. 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/

Do You Have Access to Help When You Need It Now?

Text:

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Observation:

As I was reading the One Year Bible this week this passage spoke to me, and today I want to reflex upon David’s Psalm.

Psalm 15:1-5 (NLT)

1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

2  Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

3  Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

4  Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the LORD, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

5  Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

Take a moment to consider the open invitation and access that every person has to communicate, and commune with our Father in heaven. Notice that our focal verse says let us with confidence draw near to God.

Also, think deeply about the benefits of drawing near to God. We receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I’m singing in my heart the lyrics from a song by Nicole Mullen.

“But when I call on Jesus

All things are possible

I can mount on wings like eagles and soar.

When I call on Jesus

Mountains  are gonna fall

‘Cause He’ll move heaven

And earth to come rescue me when I call.”

Prayer:

Father, I am so glad that the doors to the throne room of grace and mercy are always open.

Therefore, I will rest in Your invitation to come to You; I will come with confidence, and with the promise that all of Your children will receive mercy, and find grace in time of need.

Father, I pray that all who hear this encouraging word will draw near to You, and be blessed. 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:

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Where Do You Turn When You Are Desperate?

Text:

Psalm 105:1-4 (ESV)

1  Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

2  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

3  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

4  Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Observation:

If you feel that we are living in desperate times this Psalm is for you. If you live in a place where you feel you don’t have any good choices, then this Psalm is for you.

This Psalm is one of my favorites. When deciding on what to write about today, this Psalm came to my mind. It contains my life verse.

Psalm 105:4 (ESV)

4  Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

It is from this Psalm that I reduced my mission statement to two words.

Please God.

If you are struggling with issues in your life, this Psalm is for you. If you have exhausted all of the alternatives to relieve health issues in your life, and nothing has worked, this Psalm is for you. This Psalm was written to a people who were facing extremely difficulty challenges in their life, and in their world.

The Psalmist wrote to remind them of God’s faithfulness. I want to add my voice to the voice of the Psalmist in agreeing that God is faithful. I delight to join him in singing praises to God. This Psalm will lift the burdened, and the broken by the troubles of this world. Will you join me in praise and prayer.

Psalm 105:2 (ESV)

2  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

My soul sings:

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Refrain:

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided;

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Father, thank you for being sovereign above all, and that you look low, and value man; male and female you created them, and that you love us with an everlasting love.

Father, I declare that You are a great God, and that You are a good Father. So, my heart overflows, and my soul sings, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”. 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/

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Are You Facing Problems Beyond Your Strength?

Text:

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

26  But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation:

Do you ever get the feeling that life is just one problem after another? As long as we live in this fallen world we will have problems. The question then becomes how to deal with the challenges we face in living in this world.

As I focused on our text for today, I was reminded of a thought from a teaching I did many years ago on the topic of prayer.

“Our problems are God’s raw materials for a miracle”. God is bigger than any problem you will ever encounter.

Let’s look at the context in which Jesus spoke the words of our text, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

Matthew 19:24-25 (ESV)

24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

What problems are you facing in your life today that are posing as mission impossible?

Why not give those problems to God in prayer, and have faith in Him that He can turn your problems into solutions; your defeat into victory.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus – John Scriven

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I praise and thank You for being a God in whom we can trust with our whole heart, and that nothing is too difficult for You.

Father, help us to learn to lean hard of You, and not try to carry on our shoulders burdens that we are not able to bear. Father, You invite us to cast all of our cares upon You.

Father, give us the faith to release our problems to you, and receive the blessings that You want to give us from Your tender heart, and powerful hands. In the mighty name of Jesus we 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.

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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