#godsword – herbcotton.org

What Is Posing In Your Life Today As Mission Impossible?

Text:

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)

26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Observation:

It is so amazing this year to be engaged with my church family in reading the One Year Bible Reading Plan.

I was thinking of writing something from that plan this morning, but God had another plan. I remember when I was a kid growing up in Louisiana I would go to the neighborhood grocery store to buy a nickel’s worthy of Moon Cakes.

The owner would give me a lagniappe, which is a small gift that the merchant would add to the purchase. Well, God gave me a little extra this morning, and it is our focal verse for today.

God is speaking into my heart about the things that we say to ourselves that we can’t do. I don’t believe I am isolated when it comes to thinking like this.

Rather than listen to myself say, I can’t, I’m going to listen to what God says. God says, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.

The world has not seen what you can do until you stop saying I can’t, and begin to have faith in God, and put your trust in Him.

The key to overcoming the impossible is to trust in God for the need. What is your problem? What is your lack? What is your need? What do you believe? I heard Jesus say, “But with God everything is possible”.

I encourage you to change what you believe about the impossible and reap the results of what God can do in you and through you.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, I thank You for speaking this good word to me today. Father, I have already received the fruit from putting my trust in You.

Father, now my prayer is that as I send this message out into the traffic lanes of the world, someone would hear this message coming from Your lips to their heart. Father, I pray that they will respond by trusting in You to do what is impossible for them to do humanly speaking.

Father, I’m thanking You in advance for the miracle of grace that You are pouring into the lives of the readers, hearers, and doers of the Word of God.

Finally, I pray that many in the Family of God will join with me in praying this prayer for themselves and for others. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, 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.”

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Where Do You Turn During Life’s Storms?

Text:

Psalm 93:1-5 (ESV)

1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!

5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

Observation:

The verse that leaps off the page, and into my heart today is this one from our focal passage.

Psalm 93:3 (ESV)

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

It is impossible to avoid the storms of life while living in this fallen world. It’s not a matter of if we will face a storm; it’s a matter when. We have either been though a storm, we are currently in a storm, or there will be a storm in our future.

There are two promises in this Psalm that I want to draw your attention to; they will provide a shelter in the time of your storm; past, present or future.

The first promise is God’s throne. No matter what you face in life, you can know that the Lord reigns, and He is clothed with majesty and strength.

Psalm 93:2 (ESV)

2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

The second promise is the testimonies of God are true, and He is forever faithful; God never fails to keep His promises.

Psalm 93:5 (ESV)

5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

You can cling to the testimonies of the Word of God, and find safety and security in the midst of the storms of life.

Psalm 119:31 (HCSB)

31 I cling to Your decrees; LORD, do not put me to shame.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt You, and give You all the praise, honor, and glory that You alone deserve.

Father, I am so grateful that You are a shelter in the midst of our storm tossed lives, and that we have a sure foundation to build our lives upon.

Father, I am so grateful that with my eyes of faith, I can say that I am not ashamed to call upon Your name, and I know that You will never let Your children down. In the mighty arms of Jesus we rest in perfect peace, and in His name 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:

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What Is Your View of God, and His Word?

Text:

Psalm 12:6-8 (HCSB)

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

7 You, LORD, will guard us; You will protect us from this generation forever.

8 The wicked wander everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.

Observation:

Let’s do a comparison of man and his word, and God and His Word. Think about the vast differences.

Man and his word:

Psalm 12:1-2 (HCSB)

1 Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.

2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.

God and His Word:

Psalm 12:6-7 (HCSB)

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

7 You, LORD, will guard us; You will protect us from this generation forever.

When it comes to God, and His Word, I take a stance of humility, wonder, and awe. I take the position that David took in this Psalm.

Psalm 51:4 (HCSB)

4 Against You—You alone—I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.

Prayer:

Father, I bow low, and look up to You in humility, and thankfulness for Your love, forgiveness, and compassion for man that You have created in Your image. Father, help us, by Your almighty power, to be who You made us to be.

Father, I am so grateful that every person can know You, and be reconciled to You. So blessed that we have the pure Word of God to draw us to You, and to keep us in You. 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 Look In God’s Eyes?

Text:

Proverbs 16:1-3 (HCSB)

1 The reflections of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD evaluates the motives.

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

Observation:

As Samuel was searching for a king to reign over God’s people in Israel he went to the house of Jesse in his search. Here is the response of God to Samuel concerning one of the sons of Jesse who looked good in the eyes of Samuel.

1 Samuel 16:7 (HCSB)

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the LORD sees, for man sees what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Since God looks so intently at our heart, should we not pay more attention to our heart?

Proverbs 4:23 (HCSB)

23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

We reveal what is in our heart by what we say, and by what we do. We need the standard of God’s Word to guard our hearts.

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Why not ask the Lord to search your heart. Prayer is two way conversation. Therefore, read God’s Word, and allow the Spirit of God to teach you God’s will, and His way.

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.

Prayer:

Father, we adore You, and ascribe to You the honor and the glory that You alone deserve.

Father, search our hearts today, and burn Your Word deep into our hearts. Father, guide and empower us by the Holy Spirit to know Your will, and to do it. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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