loveinaction – herbcotton.org

The Word of God Speaks, and God’s People Listen and Obey

Today I am changing the format of the presentation of the Devotional that I have been writing for over 18 years.

I will not be writing five days a week unless that LORD gives me something more to say. I just published my first devotional book. Information about the book is found at the bottom of this page in the SIGNATURE BOX. I’m also writing a journal daily and will see with the unfolding of time if a second book will be the fruit of my labor together with our LORD.

I am deeply concerned about the division in my homeland; the United States of America. If you are citizens of another country, I believe that you have concerns for your homeland also. The whole world is changing, but our God remains the same.

Numbers 23:19 (NKJV)

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

One of my mentors in leadership and writing is John Maxwell, and he has written a book about it.

John C. Maxwell

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

All of us are leaders, and the first person we lead is ourselves. I have started asking myself better questions, and I have talked to my family about the importance of asking themselves better questions.

How can we heal the divisions in our country among the left, the moderate, and the right?

What outcome do you have in mind for the position you know hold? Will it result in a better opportunity for everyone?

God Words Speaks:

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV)

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

When God’s People Pray the Word:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

—

My new book was released on December 8, 2017, and is currently available at the following links. It is possible for your local bookstores to obtain the book from the Ingram Network, a primary distribution source for Book Stores nationwide.

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/

Barnes & Nobles

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Xulon Press

htpps://www.xulon.com/

Title: 31 Days of Hearing God Speak

A Call to Action – Bear Much Fruit

Text:

Matthew 5:15-16 (HCSB)

15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Observation:

This call to be a light is to everyone. If you are someone, it applies to you. However, you must be connected to The Light if you desire that your light will produce the fruit of life that last forever.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (HCSB)

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

This world with all of its evil is not our home. Yes, we are citizens in our homeland, but those who believe in Jesus are citizens of heaven.

Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Let this word from God’s Word inspire you to let your light shine to dispel the darkness in this world. This is God’s gift to His children who have been born from above.

Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)

10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

My dear brothers and sisters, allow me to encourage you to let your light so shine so that others may see Jesus in you.

John 15:5 (HCSB)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your work of love, grace, and mercy in the lives of your people.

Father, help us, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, to walk in the light, and to let our light shine in this dark and evil world, and with Your help, produce much fruit. In the mighty name of Jesus 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:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

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Do You Know Why We Need One Another?

Text:

Ephesians 4:25 (HCSB)

25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

Observation:

Today I want to focus on this portion of our focal verse, “We are members of one another”.

The members of the Body of Christ come closer to being Christ-like when we are demonstrating the loving attitudes indicated in this passage.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (HCSB)

31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

We who live in Louisiana have seen the kindness and compassion of so many members of the Body of Christ during our recent times of going through the fire, and the floods. We in Louisiana know why we need one another.

As my pastor said yesterday in his sermon, ” God is working for us, God is working in us, and God is working though us”. Are there any witnesses that God is great, and so good to His people?

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, we give You the honor and the glory for all the work that You are doing through those You have sent to serve our communities during our season of destruction and distress. Father, with a grateful heart, we thank You, and we thank them. In the mighty namer 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.

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

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

Do You Get More Joy from Getting or Giving?

Text:

Proverbs 11:24-25 (HCSB)

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

25 A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.

Observation:

Today I have the word giving on my heart. So, I asked myself this question. What has God freely given to me that I am now giving to others in His name? Today, I thank the Lord for the life experience he has given to me, and that I have the privilege and blessing of sharing freely with others.

I have been touched and moved today by our focal passage from he Word of God, and by the lyrics of the hymn by the gospel writer Doris Akers, “Your Can’t Beat God Giving”.

“You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how hard you try

And just as sure as you are living

And the Lord is in heaven on high

The more you give the more He gives to you

But keep on giving because its really true that

You can’t beat God giving,

No matter how you try.”

Why not consider what God has freely given to you, and make a decision to freely give it to others for His glory, and as a deposit in the life of some needy person. Take an inventory of your blessings, and see if the promise of the Word will not become real in your life. Notice that blessings and influence comes from what we give.

Luke 6:38 (HCSB)

38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Prayer:

Father God, I thank You so much for the generous way that You give to Your people.

Father, help us to show how deeply Your love abides in our hearts by how we freely give to others what You have freely given to us. 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

How to Test if Your Love is Genuine?

Text:

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

Observation:

Today the one word that I have on my heart is cooperation. The word comes from my prayer, which was the prayer of Jesus for His followers.

John 17:21 (ESV)

21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

If this was a need that Jesus saw in His people, and was moved to pray for us; then, certainly this is a need that I should be concerned about, and make a matter of prayer. This I know; God will answer the prayer of Jesus.

How can we be a part of God’s answer to prayer for God’s people of the first century, and God’s people today?

Galatians 5:6 (ESV)

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Cooperation is birthed and grows in a relationship of loving one another. Here are some ways that we test if our love for one another is genuine.

Romans 12:9-19 (ESV)

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that You would give Your people a love like Peter and Paul described; please answer the prayer that Jesus prayed in John 17:21 in our hearts. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.