Daily Devotion, Daily Wisdom

[baddison]

February 28, 2014

Devotional:

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may [fn]believe that You sent Me. John 17:20-21 (NASB)

Few things are more precious than knowing that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, thought to pray for us! So often, we read the words of John 17 and study them as a prayer for his apostles in the upper room. But if we look closely at this passage, we see that Jesus prays for us, those who believe on him because of the apostles' testimony. He wants us to be one! He wants us to live with the same unity, purpose, and character of God that he did. If we do not, then how will the world know that God sent his Son? How will they know what to believe? How will they find Jesus as their Savior?

Prayer:
Father, forgive us and change us and help us see what is most important in our lives as your disciples. Break down the barriers that divide us into different religious groups and help us find unity around the things, and the One, that matter most. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
and the prayer [fn]offered in faith will [fn]restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [fn]they will be forgiven him. James 5:15 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 1, 2014

Devotional:
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your [fn]master.’ Matthew 25:21 (NASB)

We want it all now! We don't want to have to wait for anything. But God has a principle that is absolutely vital: we will be entrusted with much only after we have been faithful with a little. So let's not discount those moral choices about "small and inconsequential matters." How we handle these reveals who we are and helps determines what we become.

Prayer:
Holy and Righteous Father, please give me wisdom to discern the way of faithfulness and righteousness in all my dealings. I want to be faithful in the small things so that I can also be entrusted with those larger things that matter to the Kingdom. Please purify my heart and use my gifts and actions to bring you glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
“For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. Deuteronomy 4:31 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 3, 2014

Devotional:
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22 (NASB)

"The proof of the pudding is in the tasting." The proof of biblical wisdom and understanding is in the living. To simply know the truth doesn't mean a whole lot; to live the truth is everything. (cf. Matthew 7)

Prayer:
O LORD God, empower me with your Spirit as I seek to not only "practice what I preach," but also show my obedience to your will and live consistently with your character in my daily life. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.


Wisdom:
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 4, 2014

Devotional:
I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [fn]in unity, so that the world may [fn]know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:23 (NASB)

How will the world come to know that God sent his Son? Through our unity? How will the world know that God truly loves us as his children? When we live together in unity. What is that unity? That's harder to define. The basis of unity is a life of character so consistent with the will of God that he can be seen living in us! Yet for this kind of unity to be seen by the world, it has to be visible in the way we work with each other in the cause of the Gospel, the way we handle our differences, the way as a group that we consistently treat people of the world, and the way come together in areas that clearly matter to God. May it only be so!

Prayer:
Father, please help us, your children, come together in ways that honor you, reveal your character, and lead others to call on Jesus as Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
so that we confidently say, “THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” Hebrews 13:6 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 5, 2014

Devotional:
“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24 (NASB)

Wow, what an unbelievable collection of high powered phrases of truth and promise! We are a gift from the Father to Jesus. Jesus wants us to be with him in the glorious presence of God. Jesus wants us to see his glory and experience it. Jesus has been loved by the Father from before the Creation. Think about these things. Ask God to show you how powerfully they reveal our importance to him. Dream of the day you will share in God's glory as one of his children! (cf. 1 John 3:1-3) Now, let's go live based on the view God has of us.

Prayer:
Almighty God and Abba Father, forgive me for the mundane and earthbound view that I have of myself and your other children. Through your Spirit, stir in me a more profound appreciation of Jesus' disciples and how much each of us means to you. Please empower me to be more patient, tolerant, forgiving, and respectful of my Christian brothers' and sisters' imperfections as I acknowledge my own imperfections and as I long for the day that we are united in perfection before your holy throne of grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 6, 2014

Devotional:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 (NASB)

How warmly do you personally welcome visitors at your church or in your Bible study group? When was the last time you invited someone new in your congregation over for dinner or included them in a gathering of your Christian friends? While some have the gift of hospitality, all of us need to be warm and open to folks we don't know that join us for Christian worship and fellowship. Why not make a commitment to meet and welcome one new person at church each week. In a cold impersonal world, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those seeking the shelter and grace of Jesus and his people.

Prayer:
Father, please help me, and please help my congregation, be more open and welcoming to people who are new and who are visiting. Please use us to share your grace and provide them a Christian home. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil [fn]an opportunity. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 7, 2014

Devotional:
and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 (NASB)

Jesus reveals God to us. One of the reasons he does this is so that we can know who God is and what is important to him. Clearly, the most important thing on Jesus' heart in this prayer is that we share his love for us with each other. In this way, Jesus comes to life in us.

Prayer:
Almighty God and loving Father, please fill me with your love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to honor you in the way I treat them and share the love of Christ in the way I interact with them. Please bless me as I seek to be a more gracious child of your love. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
A Song of Ascents. How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. Psalm 128:1 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 8, 2014

Devotional:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. Isaiah 43:2-3 (NASB)

In the context of this passage, God reminds his people that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He is not about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he will be with them to deliver them and bring them to safety and victory. We can accept this same promise; we also have the benefit of history to show God's faithfulness. We can see how God did preserve his people and redeemed them time and time again from their bondage to their enemies. God will not forget his children! We know it by promise. We know it by history. We know it by faith!

Prayer:
Thank you, Almighty God, for always being near. I know that there are many times when I am not aware of your nearness or of your providence at work or of your miraculous moving in history. Nevertheless, I do believe, dear Father, that you are near even when I feel alone and your presence seems so far away. In those times, dear God, please give me confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that I can also share in your times of triumph. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
Whoever loves [fn]discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 12:1 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 10, 2014

Devotional:
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how [fn]can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5 (NASB)

Finding fault in someone else is so easy for most of us. Finding fault in ourselves is much trickier. Jesus reminds us that we must deal with the shortcomings and sins in our own lives before we start telling others how to live. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? But we all know it isn't.

Prayer
Father, please forgive me when I am severe, harsh, and judgmental toward others. I know there are problems in my own life that need the work of your Holy Spirit. I confess that there are routine sins that I find myself excusing more and more. Please, dear LORD, forgive my sin and empower me to move beyond it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 11, 2014

Devotional:
For thus says the high and exalted One Who [fn]lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 (NASB)

Jesus' coming to earth is not inconsistent with the God who reveals himself in the Old Testament. God is high and holy. God is righteous and majestic. However, God loves people, especially people who come to him knowing that they need his love and grace. To those who seek him with passion and reverence, God brings revival that touches the spirit and heart.

Prayer:
Holy and Righteous Father, thank you for loving me and coming to save me in Jesus. Father, I do come humbly to you asking that you fill me with your Spirit in a more powerful way and revive my heart and stir my spirit to work for your glory in my life today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 12th, 2014

Devotional:
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NASB)

God is the God of all comfort (see 2 Cor. 1). Even when he deals harshly with our sin and rebellion, it is for our good. It will last only a short while and then it gives way to rejoicing. If you are in a time of discipline or facing the cruel consequences of sin, please don't give up. Morning will come, and on that dawn will come God's grace. It's more than worth the wait!

Prayer:
Father, please bless your children who are facing hardships and difficulty. Please help them endure through "the night" so that when your dawn comes, they can experience the great rejoicing that lies ahead. Please bless the following people, dear Lord, and help the find your joy.... In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [fn]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 13, 2013

Devotional:
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Matthew 7:1 (NASB)

Are you judgmental? Do you assume you can judge the intent of another person's heart? Are you critical and negative about the actions of others? Jesus wants us all to realize that we cannot know the motivations of someone's heart. When we are unfairly harsh or bitingly critical in our judgment of others, we are setting the standard by which God will judge us. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to exchange God's grace for my unreasonable harshness. I’m going work harder at viewing others with mercy and grace.

Prayer:
Dear God, please forgive me for being unfairly harsh and critical in my assessment of others. Thank you for being so rich and free with your mercy and grace lavished on me in Jesus. Please help me to be more gracious and merciful in the way I assess the intent and motivation of my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks [fn]sense. Proverbs 12:11 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 14, 2014

Devotional:
For the choir director. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness deliver me. Psalm 31:1 (NASB)

When all the clutter is stripped away, what is your real hope? When you push aside the diplomas, awards, accolades, and honors, what is the basis of your significance? Only one source for hope and only one basis of significance is trustworthy. Only One -- the LORD God -- endures forever! Only our Father in heaven guarantees that our life is significant. So let's place our hope in the LORD and have him be our refuge!

Prayer:
O LORD, God and Redeemer of our Fathers, Keeper of your many promises, thank you for allowing me to place my hope, my future, and my significance in your hands. Give me the courage and the confidence to know that you will not let me be put to shame, but will share with me your righteousness on that day I stand in your presence. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Therefore the LORD [fn]longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He [fn]waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who [fn]long for Him. Isaiah 30:18 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 15, 2014

Devotional:
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [fn]through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 (NASB)

"You are mine! My righteousness and glory are yours! Enter into your Father's eternal reward!" If we are in Christ, we don't face judgment, only welcome, before God. His Spirit lives in us. His grace has set us free from the power of sin and death. His Son has paid the price for our sins. We are children of God!

Prayer:
I praise you, loving and gracious Father, for your mercy and grace. Your steadfast and redeeming love never ceases. Your mercies are endless. Your love is new and fresh every morning as your Spirt fills my life and your hope revives me to face another day. Thank you! In Jesus' name I praise you. Amen.


Wisdom:
“Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die [fn]in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not [fn]wane. Isaiah 51:6 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 17, 2014

Devotional:
The Spirit of the Lord [fn]GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the [fn]afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And [fn]freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, Isaiah 61:1-2 (NASB)

Jesus read this passageat a synagogue in Nazareth to describe his ministry (see Luke 4). He came to preach good news, to bind up, to bring deliverance, to offer relase, to proclaim grace, and to offer comfort. If Jesus has sent us into the world as the Father sent him (John 20:21-23), shouldn't we be going the same?

Prayer:
Through the power and wisdom of your Spirit, who longs to powerfully work in me, please open my eyes, dear LORD, to help me see those you put in my path with whom you want me to share your grace, deliverance, and comfort. In Jesus' name I ask this. Amen.


Wisdom:
“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to [fn]rest”— Your poverty will come in like a [fn]vagabond And your need like [fn]an armed man. Proverbs 6:10-11 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 18, 2014

Devotional:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 (NASB)

We know God paid a high price to redeem and forgive us in Jesus. If he has gone to such great lengths to purchase our pardon, what will he refuse us that is good, right and holy? So if God answers our prayers "No!" then it is for our good and the eternal well being of those for whom we've prayed. His intent is to bless, not wound. His desire is to redeem and bless. His commitment is to work things out for our ultimate good (cf. Rom. 8:28) as he is transforming us to be more like his beloved Son (Rom. 8:29).

Prayer:
Dear Father, I confess that I am sometimes impatient and disappointed when my prayers do not seem to get the response I desire. Please calm and quiet my doubting heart. Please remind my spirit of your rich grace. Bring your comfort and assurance through the ministry of your Holy Spirit to my human spirit. I do believe that you want to bring me your blessing and grace, so while I may not always understand the bad things that happen in my life, I do trust that you are at work to make them all work for my good and your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [fn]bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 19, 2014

Devotional:
For whatever is [fn]born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NASB)

This is the companion passage to 1 John 2:17 -- "The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever." Our destiny and future are not limited to the boundaries of existence tied to our little blue planet. Our future and our hope burst the boundaries of mortality and are tied to our faith in a resurrected and victorious Savior who is coming back to bring us to his eternal home. This faith is displayed by doing God's will even when the most in our contemporary culture choose to chase what is fleeting and transient.

Prayer:
Thank you, dear Father, for the assurance of victory, immortality, reunion, and joy. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 20, 2014

Devotional:
So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” Then he [fn]said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:5-6 (NASB)

There are times in each of our spiritual lives when we face challenges far too big for our own resources and strengths. Zerubabbel faced such a challenge. God sent a prophet to remind him, and us through him, that our greatest victories will not be won by our power and might. No, these greatest victories, the ones that catch us up in God's great story of salvation, will occur when we trust that God's power is greater than our weakness and God's might is greater than our insufficiency. The real question that each of us must face is very simple: in our personal lives, and in our ministry efforts, where do we place our trust and what is the source of our confidence? Are they in our abilities, skills, insight, and strength or God's?

Prayer:
Please forgive me, dear Father the LORD Almighty, for trusting in my own power too much. Forgive me, God, for being overwhelmed and afraid by the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities placed before me. Through your great stories of faithfulness and victory in the Old Testament, please stir me to trust that your power is at work in me and in your Church, through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be [fn]exhilarated always with her love. Proverbs 5:18-19 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 21, 2014

Devotional:
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NASB)

Love does have its delights. One of those delights is in what is authentic, genuine, and true -- TRUTH! So as Jesus' disciples, we are not deceitful, manipulative, or coercive in our relationships. Instead, we are transparent, intimate, and honest. Why? Because true love delights in truth.

Prayer:
O LORD, God of love and truth, as you pour your love into my heart through your Holy Spirit, please refine my love to be genuine and true, without guile, manipulation, and deceit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.” Revelation 19:9 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 22, 2014

Devotional:
For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:7-8 (NASB)

Godliness with contentment is great wealth! (see 1 Tim. 6:6) So what does it take for us to be content? Paul reminds Timothy that as long as we have food and clothing, we should be able to be content. It's when our desires get out of that channel, when covetousness and greed take over, that our life gets out of control and we replace God with a hunger for what is idolatrous. (cf. Col. 3:5).

Prayer:
Holy God, forgive me for being caught up in the lifestyle of greed and covetousness, of excess and extravagance. Help my heart to be content with the blessings you have so lavishly poured out on me and to find my joy in you and your people whom you have put into my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 24, 2014

Devotional:
The wise of heart will receive commands, But [fn]a babbling fool will be [fn]ruined. Proverbs 10:8 (NASB)

When you hear a command from Scripture, do you wince? How about rationalize? How about transferring the responsibility to someone else? Or, do you obey to honor the Father? A wise heart accepts the commands of God as a blessing and a safeguard. A fool finds a way around the personal application of the command. Let's ask ourselves honesty, "Which of the two am I?"

Prayer:
Precious and Gracious God, my Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me enough to show me your truth and your commands. Please use my obedience to form your character in me and to make my example to be a good influence over those you have placed in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may [fn]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of [fn]visitation. 1 Peter 2:12 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 25, 2014

Devotional:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Psalm 103:8 (NASB)

God is holy, righteous, and just. But, as important as these qualities are, he reveals them within his compassion, graciousness, patience, and overflowing mercy and love. We can not only obey, worship, and reverently respect God, we can also love, appreciate, and adore him! Maybe the greatest challenge, however, is to reflect the character of God in our own lives!

Prayer:
LORD God Almighty, I not only trust in you, but I appreciate your faithfulness, your mercy, your love, your graciousness, and your patient compassion. Please help me display each of these virtues more fully. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.


Wisdom:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 26, 2014

Devotional:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold [fn]from those who walk [fn]uprightly. Psalm 84:11 (NASB)

These promises are made to the true worshiper (see Psalm 84. This worshiper delights to be in the presence of God and yearns to be with God in worship when he cannot be. This worshiper trusts fully in God as his source of strength, hope, victory, and joy. For this worshiper, God has left this incredible set of promises! Very similar to Romans 8, and its hallmark passage in verse 28, God promises work out things for good and bless those who "love him and are called according to his purpose" "all things in Christ" and withhold nothing that is good (Rom. 8:32). Why? God is for us! He is our sun and shield, he lavishes his grace and glory upon us, and he will not withhold any good thing from us.

Prayer:
O dear Father, how can I thank you? You have lavished your grace upon me in Jesus. You have promised me victory and heaven. I praise you for your grace. I thank you for sharing your glory with me. I rejoice knowing that you long to bless me. Now, dear Father, help me through your Holy Spirit to be the faithful person you long for me to be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
[fn]Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, [fn]making the most of the opportunity. Colossians 4:5 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 27, 2014

Devotional:
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [fn]through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 (NASB)

Romans 8 reminds us again and again of the blessings of the Holy Spirit living in us, God's children. The Spirit in us is our guarantee that we will be raised from the dead! Because the Spirit that gave Jesus life and raised him from the dead is in us, we can have confidence in our resurrection. Mortality will not claim us. The Holy Spirit's life-giving power is stronger than death. We will live! Even though our bodies may die, the Spirit of God animates, inspires, and empowers us to victory.

Prayer:
Holy Father, thank you so much for the gift of the Holy Spirit. To know that the power of the same Spirit who helped create the universe and who raised Jesus from the dead also lives in me takes my breath away with wonder and awe. You have chosen to live inside me, to bless me, mold me, develop me, and conform me to the goal of Jesus. Thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
but [fn]sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a [fn]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and [fn]reverence; 1 Peter 3:15 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 28, 2014

Devotional:
My son, do not reject the [fn]discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, Proverbs 3:11-12 (NASB)

Discipline, even when it is not falsely confused with punishment, is considered onerous, irritating, and unnecessary. The lazy and sinful part of us wants no boundaries, even if they are good, and no direction because it might conflict with what we want to do. But the Lord disciplines out of love to bless us. It is a sign of his delight. Why? Because he is not content to leave us unchanged, unmotivated, and disinterested. He wants to move us closer to our goal: Jesus!

Prayer:
I confess, Righteous Father, I don't like discipline all that much. However, Father, deep down I know that your discipline is for my good and my spiritual blessing. Please help me better know and use the situations in my life to become more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
The righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not dwell in the land. Proverbs 10:30 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

Mach 29, 2014

Devotional:
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NASB)

Words communicate and explain. We can tell someone we love them. We can explain how precious they are to us. Actions validate and confirm. When we sacrifice our preferences for another, we show our respect and affection. When we sacrifice ourselves, our wishes, and our preferences for a friend we give the greatest of all gifts and prove our love beyond any doubt.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus as a ransom for my sins. Jesus, thank you for your loving sacrifice that not only saves me, but shows me the full extent of your love. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.


Wisdom:
from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both [fn]fresh and bitter water? James 3:10-11 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

March 31, 2014

Devotional:
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14 (NASB)

The Holy Spirit is God's seal on us. The Spirit lives in us and his presence in us means we are God's temple. The Spirit works to transform us to be more like Christ. The Spirit helps us produce the virtues of Christ -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness. The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, communicates the groanings of our heart when we don't have words, and fills us with power when we worship. In addition, the Spirit is our assurance that we are God's children. We are his. His future, his blessings, and his grace are ours.

Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you so much for living inside me through your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the assurance of your love, your presence, your power, and your guidance as I try to make the decisions and face the challenges of my daily life. Dear Father, as I yield my heart and my will to your Spirit's transforming grace and power, please help me develop more of your character and more completely display your grace today as I face the tasks before me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
[fn]and be subject to one another in the [fn]fear of Christ. Ephesians 5:21 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

April 1, 2014

Devotional:
For you have not received a spirit of slavery [fn]leading to fear again, but you have received [fn]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-16 (NASB)

Ab-ba. Listen to a baby and you will hear these basic early sounds. Incredibly, Jesus showed us, and the Spirit enables us, to speak to God with these syllables of familiarity, trust, vulnerability, dependency, and intimacy. The Spirit is our guarantee that we don't have to be afraid of God, but that we can approach him as our loving and tender Father who always listens to our hearts and seeks to bless our lives.

Prayer:
Abba Father, you are glorious and majestic. Your deeds are awesome. Your power, O LORD, is unfathomable. Your grace, Almighty God, is wonderful. Thank you, Holy and Righteous Father, for allowing me to approach you as my always near and ever present Abba. Please make your nearness clear in my life today. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

April 2, 2014

Devotional:
Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. Psalm 31:16 (NASB)

Can your faith hold during trying times? I hope mine can! This is a Psalm written during trying times. However, no matter how difficult the situation, the Psalmist still knows who God is and what he can do when he decides to do it. Even in trial he doesn't lose sight of the blessing that comes from the LORD being present.

Prayer:
Father, make your presence known in my life. I am confident you are there, I just need to experience your presence and receive your deliverance. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.


Wisdom:
“So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am [fn]giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may [fn]live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40 (NASB)

 

[baddison]

April 3, 2014

Devotional:
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. John 15:16 (NASB)

Were you ever chosen last? Were you ever the one no one wanted on your team? Isn't it remarkable that God chose us in Jesus Christ! Isn't it amazing that we are loved and wanted by the King of the Ages and his Son, Jesus Christ! Not only that, we weren't chosen out of pity, but to make a difference. We're chosen to bear fruit that will endure! To help insure that productivity, Jesus has promised we can ask for God's blessing on our work for his Kingdom and he will bless us. Incredible!

Prayer:
Give me a heart, O God, that is open to your work and a vision that is as expansive as your grace. May my prayers ask for things that bring you glory, expand the borders of your kingdom, and reach beyond the limited things that so often distract me. In Jesus' name. Amen.


Wisdom:
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 2 Peter 3:8 (NASB)