#trustandobeygod – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:28 (NLT)

A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 105:1-3 (NLT)

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 105:4 (NLT)

Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.

The Gospel Message:

Hebrews 5:13-14 (NLT)

For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Observation:

God’s people are expected to grow spiritually; we are to become mature in the ways of God. Notice what the writer of Hebrews wrote to the first-century believers.

Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

The maturity of believers is of first importance. The writer mentions it again with this encouragement to become mature in the faith.

Hebrews 6:1 (NLT)

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.

Prayer:

Father God, I pray that You would create within us a burning desire to grow, and a hunger and thirst to know more of the will and the ways of God by studying the scriptures. Father, I ask that You would guide us to be hearers and doers of the Word of God.

—

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

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:12 (MSG)

See that man who thinks he’s so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 96:9-10 (NLT)

Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.

Tell all the nations, “The LORD reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 95:1-3 (NLT)

Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

The Gospel Message:

2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Observation:

Paul gives Timothy the calling and charge of the servant of God. Know your purpose and pursue it with passion and the power of the God who called you to do His work and will.

Never give up and never give in to those who oppose the work. The God who called you is higher than any opposition you will encounter.

Be willing to bear the cross, endure the pain. For those who finish the race will receive the prize; the crown of righteousness which the Lord will give you.

Prayer:

Father God, we delight to worship you. We acknowledge your holy splendor. Father, we come into your presence with thanksgiving, and we sing with joy for you are a great God and the King above all gods.

—

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

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 26:7 (MSG)

A proverb quoted by fools is limp as a wet noodle.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 94:11-14 (NLT)

The LORD knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless!

Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions.

You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.

The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 45:4-5 (NLT)

“Baruch, this is what the LORD says: ‘I will destroy this nation that I built. I will uproot what I planted.

Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!'”

The Gospel Message:

2 Timothy 2:21-22 (NLT)

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Observation:

The message that I hear God speaking to my heart today is that God is sovereign. He knows our circumstances, and He takes care of His people. All who trust in the Lord have nothing to fear.

Paul, the mentor, encouraged Timothy, the mentee, to have the attitude that he had while serving others in his ministry.

2 Timothy 2:10 (NLT)

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

Prayer:

Father God, we are so grateful that You are God and we are not. Father, we rest in the blessed assurance that you are the potter and we are the clay. Father, make and mold us into the people that will be pleasing in your sight.

—

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

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!

Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right. Proverbs 23:15-16 (NLT)

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

But you have raised a banner for those who fear you— a rallying point in the face of attack. Interlude

Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power. Psalm 60:4-5 (NLT)

The Hope of the Old Testament:

I will give him the key to the house of David—the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. Isaiah 22:22 (NLT)

The Gospel Message:

Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16 (NLT)

Observation:

I am so thankful that when God speaks, He is consistent. In the Psalms of the Old Testament, He says, “He rescues and saves us by His power.”

In the New Testament, God says, in His holy and divine word, “We are made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law.”

Is there anybody anywhere who feels like giving praise and thanksgiving and thanks-living to the Lord?

Prayer:

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:1-2 (NLT)

—

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

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 22:22-23 (NLT)

22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.

23 For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 50:1 (NLT)

1 The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets.

Psalm 50:8-9 (NLT)

8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.

9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.

Psalm 50:14-15 (NLT)

14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Song of Songs 1:5-6 (NLT)

5 I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem— dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents.

6 Don’t stare at me because I am dark— the sun has darkened my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they forced me to care for their vineyards, so I couldn’t care for myself—my own vineyard.

The Gospel Message:

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NLT)

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

Observation:

Today the Old Testament passage from the Song of Songs speaks into my heart. The message is a timely one for the times we are living through all that we face in this world.

God speaks to us through this word that Christ loves us. He loves us no matter what others say or thinks about us, and He loves us no matter what we may say or think about ourselves.

Examine your heart. For it is out of your heart that your tongue speaks. Even children know at an early age, “Be careful little tongue what you say for the Father up above looks down below, and hears every word that you speak.”

Prayer:

Father God, we exalt Your name and give You the praise, glory, and the thanks that You alone deserve.

Father, I pray for the readers and receivers of the Word of God. Father, I pray that they will hear and receive the Word of God, and the God of the Word into their heart.

Father, I pray that our words of our mouth that say we love God would match the deeds of our living and will bring glory to our Father in heaven.

John 14:21 (NLT)

21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

—

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