#godslove – herbcotton.org

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

Today Somebody Prayed for You

Today’s Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

Bible Text for Today’s Meditation and Application:

1 John 4:16 King James Version (KJV)

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

My Reflections on the Word of God Today:

Can you imagine what our world would look like if God’s people demonstrated a love for God and others?

We may not be able to change the whole world by being people who love God and love others, but we can exercise a great deal of influence by our words and our deeds.

Notice what the Word of God says about God’s people.

Romans 5:5 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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.

Are you ready to see a change in our world that would result in a transformation in our communities from your house to the White House and Congress of the USA, and in the institutions of your Homeland?

What will be your response to being a change agent; to be one to do like an Evangelist of another century preached and practice in his ministry. The evangelist was Gipsy Smith, and this is what he said in the following quote from a message.

“Find a piece of chalk, and find an empty room. Go into that room and shut the door. Draw a circle on the floor with than chalk, kneel down in that circle, and ask God to start revival right there.”

Will you be the one to do like Gipsy Smith? His ministry changed many lives. You can read about it by clicking on the following link.

https://theshepherdspresence.wordpress.com/2015/07/08/rodney-gipsy-smith/

Prayer Offered to Our Father in Heaven:

Father God, I pray that You will stir the hearts of Your people today so that we will be willing to become transformation agents.

Father, we ask for the humility to bow down, and the obedience to get up and go and be love to others by what we do to give to them out of the abundance of love we have received from God.

Father, send us a revival and let it begin with me, the man that is standing in the circle in my prayer room today, In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray for ourselves and others, Amen.

2 Chronicles 7:14 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

What Is God’s Intentions for America?

Text:

Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB)

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—?this is? the LORD’s declaration—”plans for ?your? welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Observation:

I woke up this morning with this Word of insight and inspiration.

Genesis 50:20 (HCSB)

20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

Recent events in our nation reminds me that intentions matter. I am unable the know the intentions of others, but I can know God’s intentions.

What do we know from God’s Word about His plans? We know from Jeremiah 29:11 and Genesis 50:20 these things about God’s intentions; God’s plans.

God has a plan.
God’s plans are good.
God’s plans are better than man’s plans.
God’s plans are backed by God’s promises.

What is God’s plan for His people?

John 3:16 (HCSB)

16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 20:21 (HCSB)

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

God’s intentions are to heal our land, and to use His people to accomplish His plans.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

John 14:12-14 (KJV)

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

God’s will is that His people pray. Will you join me in prayer?

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so thankful that in the midst of the chaos and division we see across America and the world, that You are still God, and that there is none like You.

Father, I give glory and praise to You. Father, I am so thankful that You have a plan, and that it is backed by Your promises. Father, I believe You, and I am standing on the solid rock of the promises of God my Savior, and the lover of my soul.

Father, forgive us of our sins, and heal our land. 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

Have You Experienced the Love That Last Forever?

Text:

Psalm 143:8 (HCSB)

8 Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You.

Observation:

One of the most amazing things I know I learn as a child, and it is as real today as it was the first time I experienced it.

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so”. I will gladly tell the world that I know that God is real, and that His love never fails.

The amazing thing about God’s love is that He loves us first, and that He loves us without requiring us to do anything but accept His love. Notice what the Psalmist said.

Psalm 143:2 (HCSB)

2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight.

At this very moment Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, and He watching and waiting for you to open the door and let Him come in. Are you willing to let Him come in?

Psalm 90:14-15 (HCSB)

14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us rejoice for as many days as You have humbled us, for as many years as we have seen adversity.

There is no one that can satisfy the needs of your life but God. Why not open your heart and let God come in?

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful for the love that You have for us. Father, I pray that no one would reject the love of God that You are waiting to pour into the hearts of those who would receive the gift that You offer to all who believe in You.

Father, I am so thankful that the hope of experiencing the forever love of God is backed by Your promises, and the Word 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.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (HCSB)

13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

—

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 Power of Love

Text:

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

38 This is the great and first commandment.

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Observation:

Today I want to focus on what Jesus had to say about the superiority, and the power of love. I’m glad Jesus was asked, and answered this question.

Matthew 22:36 (ESV)

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

Our focal passage for today gives the answer of Jesus to that question. We are further informed by what John wrote to those he described as his “dear little children”.

The Apostle of Love said:

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Is there anybody in your circle of influence that you find it difficult to love? Before you answer consider this.

1 John 4:21 (ESV)

21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Love is such a high priority with God that Jesus also said this about how God’s people should love others.

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Loving our enemies is not easy; it is not natural. Love is supernatural. God has poured love into your heart, and your responsibility before God is to love others with the love of God.

Romans 5:5 (ESV)

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This is something you can do. Before you say you can’t love some people consider this verse.

Romans 8:9 (ESV)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Prayer:

Father, I am so touched and convicted by this message of the bible on the priority that You put on loving You, and loving others; and how they go together.

Father, help us to be more loving today than we have ever been before. Father, I pray for the faith to take the next step in appropriating the love that You have poured into our hearts up to You, and out to others. 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