Tag: goodness

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 23:24 (NLT)

The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 65:1-3 (NLT)

What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you,

for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you.

Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Isaiah 38:4-5 (KJV)

Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

The Gospel Message:

Galatians 6:7-8 (KJV)

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Observation:

The portion of the scripture that speaks to my heart today is Galatians 6:7; The Law of the Harvest. Paul reminds us that we reap what we plant.

How we treat others matter. We need to take care of our own lives, but we should also be willing to lend a helping hand to others. It pays richly to be humble, kind and helpful to others.

Galatians 6:1-2 (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Then, the Apostle Paul gives this encouragement to the members of the church at Galatia.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Prayer:

Father God, we are so grateful that you are a God who forgives sinners. Father, we are so grateful for all that we have received from your loving heart and hands.

Father, we ask that you would give us sufficient grace that we will never get tired of doing good.

Father, we are encouraged by knowing that at the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Father, help us to never give up on you because we know that you will never give up on us.

—

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:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

Have You Been Searching for Meaning in Life?

 

Text:

Psalm 23:1-6 (HCSB)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

2  He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3  He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

4  Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6  Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD as long as I live.

Observation:

This will be my final daily post in this format for 2015. Each year I take time off from writing for a few weeks in December. I will be returning in January. Have a joyous Christmas, and a blessed New Year.

As I read this familiar Psalm, this verse leaped off the page, and into my heart.

Psalm 23:3 (HCSB)

3  He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

This is the goal of my life; to have the Lord renew my life. The following passage from the Psalmist encourages me in my walk, and I pray that it will do the same for the readers, hearers, and doers of God’s Word.

Psalm 19:7-9 (HCSB)

7  The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.

8  The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.

9  The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank you that You are the shepherd of your people. Father, I would rather have Jesus in my life, and the Lord guiding my life than anyone else.

Father, my faith is firmly fixed on You. Lord, I need You to lead and guide me on all of life’s journey.

Father, order my steps to walk daily in the footsteps of Jesus, and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. 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

Daily Bread

Title: You Were Born for a Purpose, and God Has a Plan for Your Life

Text:

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Observation:

God made you, and his promise is one that we can rely upon; you were born to be a winner. If you focus on your circumstances, you may doubt this. However, if you rely on the promises of God, you can be the person God made you to be.

Life will present its obstacles. However, we should remember that God has a plan. Sometimes God’s plan for us requires patience on our part.

Jeremiah 29:10 (ESV)
10 “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Things in this fallen world can get messy and untidy. Life can become very uncomfortable and difficult as you wait on God. Remember that God surrounds his children all the days of that life with two angels; goodness and mercy. When the going gets tough don’t look down; you will get discouraged. Rather, look up, and be encouraged. And, don’t forget those two angels; they are God’s agents to guard you and guide you.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that I can go to bed every night, and wake up every morning knowing that my life is in good hands. Father, I thank you that I can sleep in peace, and walk in victory because my life is in your hands.

Father God, I pray that you will keep me close to Thee; when I faint and falter, help me to remember to look to Calvary; the place where my Savior died to pay my sin debt, and to give me the gift of eternal life with you. What a future, and what a friend I have in Jesus.

Father, help my family and my friends to keep the faith, and to keep their eyes upon Jesus. When life gets hard; I pray that they will remember to take the upward look. In Jesus name, Amen.