#lovedbygod – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)

1 Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 40:1 (NLT)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Job 19:25-27 (NLT)

25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!

27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

The Gospel Message:

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NLT)

13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

14 And do everything with love.

Observation:

What did God say to you when you read these scriptures?

Often in our lives, we try to change the things on the outside. They may result in us looking better to ourselves, and to others. However, God does not look on the outside. What God looks at is our hearts.

Because of this, what is God saying to you today that speaks to your heart? What will you do with what you heard God say to your heart?

Prayer:

Ephesians 1:16-18 (NLT)

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,

17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

—

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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Why Are God’s People So Valued In His Eyes?

Text:

Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Observation:

As I read this scripture recently my eyes were opened to receive the truth that God really does see value in all of His created beings. When I think about the extent to which He went to redeem us from the fall of humanity, I am awed by His love, grace, and forgiveness.

John 3:16 (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

You become valued in God’s eyes when He sees Jesus living in you, and you walking with Jesus day by day, and moment by moment.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God does not leave us the way we are. When we receive Christ into our lives we are changed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

God has a wonderful purpose for your life. He will take you where you are, and make you useful for His purpose.

John 3:17 (KJV)

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The process may be slow, but you can trust God to finish the work He begun in you. God is a worker that never fails, and He will never give up on you.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father, I extol and give your name the highest praise because You are God alone. There is none like You, no not one.

Father, I shutter to think of where we be without Christ in us; the hope of glory. Father, I am so grateful that we don’t have to worry about that because of Your promise to never leave us or forsake us.

Father, by the power of the triune God living within us, we give you thanks for making us worthy to be ambassadors for Christ. 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.

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The Tie That Binds Our Hearts Together in Love

Text:

Philippians 1:6-8 (ESV)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Observation:

The tie that binds the hearts of God’s people together is Jesus. It’s all about Jesus, and His love for us, and His love that has been deposited as a grace gift into the hearts of His people.

Can you say from the depths of your heart what the Apostle Paul said to the saints at Philippi?

Philippians 1:8 (ESV)

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

What is the tie binds the hearts of God’s people together in fellowship and friendship? It is Christ Jesus our Lord. We have each received His grace that has been lavished upon us so abundantly. Jesus commands us to love one another.

John 15:12 (ESV)

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Are you willing to obey? You can’t, but God can. He has poured His love into your heart.

“BIND US TOGETHER, Lord, Bind us together

With cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord,

Bind us together,

Bind us together with love.” {Bob Gillman – Author}

Prayer:

Father, I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit that You would unleash a flood of the love You have poured into our hearts to flow from us to others. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Where Can I Go to Get All of My Needs Met?

Text:

Mark 10:27 (HCSB)

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

Observation:

I was reading my Daily Bible Reading Plan for 2016, and the focal verse leaped off the page, and into my heart.

Some people may think it strange that God speaks to His children, but I’m not one of those people. I am learning to open the eyes and ears of my heart, and when I do I am able to hear God’s voice speaking into my heart.

God speaks to us through His Word. Here is what I heard Him say to me in my daily reading.

Exodus 7:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD answered Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet.

God delights to have a conversation with His children, and He has provided the vehicles of prayer, and the Word of God for His people to communicate and connect with Him.

Why not call God today? Consider this verse from God’s Word as His personal invitation to you.

Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)

3 Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.

My soul is singing this hymn written by the late gospel singer and writer, Roberta Martin.

“God is still on the throne,

Within your bosom, you have a phone.

Where’er you walk,

you’re not walking alone,

For God, is still on the throne.”

Let’s talk to the Lord; He can meet all of our needs.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that the children of God never have to walk through this world alone.

Father, I am so glad that I can call upon You anytime, anywhere, and for any need or desire I have in my heart.

Father, I can rest in and rely upon the promise that nothing is too difficult for You. Lord we need You, and thank You Father, that we have all of You living in our hearts. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Have You Ever Meditated On How Much God Loves You?

Text:

Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Observation:

I was challenged by the Word of God, and the Spirit of God to spend some time recently meditating on how huge it is that God loved me when I was at my worst.

We love people when they are at their best, and we like to be around people who are good, and who are mostly like us. However, God who is so much higher and better than us, looks at people differently. He sees how they can become, and provides the means for them to become a brand new person.

God is a relational Father, and He desires to have a personal and intimate relationship with His children. Jesus demonstrates in His work of grace toward us that mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace are vital ingredients in our relationships with God, and in our relationships with others.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

God has remade His children, and equipped us to be demonstrations of His love to others. Are you doing your best to be who He made you to be?

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so grateful that You loved me when I was at my worst, and provided the means by which I could have a close and intimate relationship with You; not just for a season, but for eternity.

Father, I thank You that this grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness was not just a one time gift; it is a gift that is available all of the days that You allow for me to live in this fallen world.

Father, there are still days when I am at my worst, and there is never a time when I don’t need a little more grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness.

Father, since I am the recipient of so much love, I pray that I will be willing to show an abundance of Your love to others. Father, make me, and all of Your beloved children more like You in our relationships with others.In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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