Tag: #live4christ

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

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 27:1-2 (NLT)

Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 105:16-17 (NLT)

He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.

Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Ezekiel 11:16 (NLT)

“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.

The Gospel Message:

Hebrews 6:9-12 (NLT)

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

Observation:

Can this be said about you? “We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.”

When you are saved, it is not a stationary position. The writer of Hebrews encouraged the believers to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

The believer in Christ should be a person who is growing and glowing in the will and ways of Christ. You have a calling and a charge to keep, and a God to glorify.

As you walk in the footsteps of Christ, you will need to devote yourself to grow toward maturity in the following three areas:

  1. Faith –  This is the evidence of your trust in God and your dependence upon Him. Your sureness about God will result in your surrender to God.
  2. Diligence – The genuine believer will have perseverance in God. It’s a life characterized by intensity and intentionality. The price of maturity is the ability to pay attention to the Word of God.
  3. Patience – The Christian life is a marathon and not a sprint. You have within you the capacity to finish the race. You must, in everything and at all times, have the willingness to endure.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so thankful that You provide to Your people all that we need to run the race of life, endure to the end, and receive the crown.

—

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

The Power of Working Together

 

Text:

Philippians 1:3-5 (HCSB)

3  I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,

4  always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,

5  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Observation:

One of the things I noticed when reading this passage is how many times Jesus is mentioned in this passage. I read this chapter from a hard copy study bible, and noticed that I had underlined the occurrences of Jesus and Christ, and they appear 18 times in chapter one.

One of those 18 mentions is this one.

Philippians 1:21 (HCSB)

21  For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

The heart of the Apostle Paul, and all the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi were linked together by the love of God that had been poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit.

The verse that is speaking into my heart today is this one.

Philippians 1:4 (NLT)

4  Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

Notice that Paul prayed for all of the saints. This reminds me of what he said to another group of saints.

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

There is power in working together, and praying together, and in praying for one another. Why not begin to practice the 4 Alls of prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed for the saints.

  • Pray at all times.
  • Pray with all prayer and supplication.
  • Pray with all perseverance.
  • Pray for all the saints.

Prayer:

Father, I lift up and exalt the name of Jesus, and give glory and honor to Your most righteous name.

Father, stir our hearts, and move us, by the Spirit of God, to be people who pray with thanksgiving to the God of our salvation. 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