Tag: #trustingodalways

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:25-26 (NLT)

Greed causes fighting; trusting the LORD leads to prosperity.

Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 120:1 (NLT)

I took my troubles to the LORD; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 120:2 (NLT)

Rescue me, O LORD, from liars and from all deceitful people.

The Gospel Message:

1 John 2:1-2 (NLT)

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Observation:

My one-word goal for this year is LISTEN. Today I’m going to reflect upon the first word I heard at the start of my day.

Psalm 119:9 (AMP)

How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it].

Five months ago I started writing a book. The idea to do this was a sermon I heard on June 21, 2017. The speaker challenged the listeners to write down a bucket list of your dreams for the future. I wrote over forty things on that list that night. The next day I selected one of the items to pursue. I decided to take the first step in fulfilling my dream to write a book. Five months later the book is currently in the production phase, which is forty-five days to publication.

The title of the book, “31 Days of Hearing God Speak – How Listening to God Speak can change Your Life.”

Oh, how sweet it is to trust in Jesus with your whole heart, and to walk in His steps all of the days of your life. Think about the words of this hymn as you walk with the Lord today and every day of your life in this world.

“I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

? Refrain:

? And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

? And He tells me I am His own;

? And the joy we share as we tarry there,

? None other has ever known.”  – – Charles Miles – Author

Prayer:

Father God, we, Your dearly beloved children, are so grateful for Your abiding love and presence in our lives. Father, we are so thankful that we don’t have to walk through this fallen world in our strength alone, but we can walk and live in Your presence all of the days of our life.

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 28:11 (NLT)

Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 119:33-34 (NLT)

Teach me your decrees, O LORD; I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Psalm 119:35-40 (NLT)

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.

Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.

I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.

The Gospel Message:

1 Peter 2:1-3 (NLT)

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Observation:

The following verse describes the experience I had last night before going to bed.

Psalm 119:130 (KJV)

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Then, this morning the first thing I saw was a Facebook notification from a friend who is in the hospital preparing for surgery this afternoon. He posted the following message that was a handwritten note in his Bible next to Psalm 139.

“God is honored best when we give our worst moments to Him.”

He believes this was said by Joe Atkinson, guest speaker at FBC Valdez in the fall of 1994.

Psalm 139:5-7 (NLT)

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

Prayer:

Father, we are so thankful that You are always with Your children. Father, it comforts us to know that in our worst moments You are with us and that it is in those moments You get the most glory.

Romans 8:39 (NLT)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

O, how blessed are the people who trust in the Lord with their whole heart, and lean not on their own understanding declares the Word of God and all who agree let’s say together, Amen.

—

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

Where Do You Turn During Life’s Storms?

Text:

Psalm 93:1-5 (ESV)

1  The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

2  Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

3  The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

4  Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty!

5  Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

Observation:

The verse that leaps off the page, and into my heart today is this one from our focal passage.

Psalm 93:3 (ESV)

3  The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

It is impossible to avoid the storms of life while living in this fallen world. It’s not a matter of if we will face a storm; it’s a matter when. We have either been though a storm, we are currently in a storm, or there will be a storm in our future.

There are two promises in this Psalm that I want to draw your attention to; they will provide a shelter in the time of your storm; past, present or future.

The first promise is God’s throne. No matter what you face in life, you can know that the Lord reigns, and He is clothed  with majesty and strength.

Psalm 93:2 (ESV)

2  Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

The second promise is the testimonies of God are true, and He is forever faithful; God never fails to keep His promises.

Psalm 93:5 (ESV)

5  Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.

You can cling to the testimonies of the Word of God, and find safety and security in the midst of the storms of life.

Psalm 119:31 (HCSB)

31  I cling to Your decrees; LORD, do not put me to shame.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt You, and give You all the praise, honor, and glory that You alone deserve.

Father, I am so grateful that You are a shelter in the midst of our storm tossed lives, and that we have a sure foundation to build our lives upon.

Father, I am so grateful that with my eyes of faith, I can say that I am not ashamed to call upon Your name, and I know that You will never let Your children down. In the mighty arms of Jesus we rest in perfect peace, and in His name 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/

What to Do In Difficult Times?

Text:

Psalm 56:1 (NLT)

1 O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long.

Observation:

David did what Jesus did during his earthly ministry, and it is a wonderful example for us to follow today. David first priority was to call upon God in prayer.

It is so important for God’s people to remember to call upon God for all of our needs. There is nothing too difficult for God. Our problems are God’s raw material for miracles.

Notice in the following verses what the Lord did for David in his season of difficult days.

Psalm 56:8-9 (AMP)

8  You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

9  Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me.

God knows where you are, He sees what is happening in your life, He knows your feeling, and how deeply you are hurting. God will hear, and answer your prayers.

When He does, don’t forget to give Him the praise from a thankful, and grateful heart. It is believed by commentators that David wrote Psalm 34 after God answered His prayer for deliverance from the enemies he was facing in Psalm 56.

Psalm 34:1-4 (ESV)

1  I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2  My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

3  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!

4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we exalt and bless Your name. Father, we are so grateful that You are a God who hears and answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, help us to remember to place a high priority on prayer, and to have the faith to persevere in prayer until we hear for heaven; to never give in, and to never give up because it is in trusting in You that we receive from You the things we ask for in prayer. 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/