Answered Prayers Breathe Life
October 27, 2008
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)
Each of us has patiently waited for something important or an ideal for which we believe strongly to come to fruition. When these dreams do not become a reality frustration and disappointment often set in. Since God is watching over His WORD to see it performed (Jeremiah 1:12), we can choose instead to see our prayers answered when we put the power and truth of His WORD to work in our lives.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Too many times I have seen my dreams and longings fade into the distant past and not become a reality. Today I ask you to help me begin something new. I will seek to apply Your WORD to my life and then watch it breathe life into my daily routine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Diligence Leads to Reward
October 26, 2008
“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)
God has placed deep down inside of every person godly desires for provision, healthy relationships, and most importantly, a God connection. At the same time there are other desires that compete for our attention – these are called the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and the desire for control/power (1 John 2:16).
You and I are given an opportunity to match our desire with diligent effort. This requires hard work, consistency, focus and the choice to direct our desire and diligence toward godliness.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Today I make the choice to focus my attention on the godly desires of provision, healthy relationships, and my connection with You. I know that these are good choices. I commit to be diligent toward the things You have decided are best for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen
God’s WORD brings Discernment and Opportunities to Learn
October 25, 2008
“The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.” (Proverbs 16:21)
While the foolish make hasty and costly decisions, those who apply God’s WORD to their lives find wisdom even in complex situations. Those who seek the fullness of who God has intended them to be integrate the truth of God’s WORD and gain wisdom for their heart’s desires. Applying God’s WORD also creates an appetite to climb to the next level by learning more of His truth each day.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I desire for my life to be rooted in Your wisdom so that I can navigate each circumstance that comes my way. I know that left to my own understanding I will continue to repeat my mistakes. Teach me, Lord, to apply Your WORD so that I may learn from each situation and grow in godly discernment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wisdom from God’s WORD brings Abundance
October 24, 2008
“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
Measuring your life by the truth of God’s WORD is the best life decision you can make. The WORD will teach you who God is, who you are and how you should relate to the Creator. The result? Humility in life and respect for God will bring abundance to every aspect of your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I need the clarity of focus and purpose that Your WORD brings. Today, I commit to base my life on Your WORD, and I trust You to work in me to bring abundance to every aspect of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God’s WORD is the Pathway to Revelation
October 23, 2008
Scripture: “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18)
Directionless. Aimless. Pointless. These words describe the person whose life is absent a divine destiny. In reality God’s WORD provides the revelation you and I need to focus our lives to live above the monotony of sameness and the dullness of a meaningless routine.
We need revelation that speaks of purpose, destiny and future. Where can we find this? The WORD teaches us that the “law” – God’s covenant is our guarantee of revelation and blessing.
Prayer: Dear Lord, Forgive me for being easily distracted by the meaningless data that swarms around my every day life. Today I seek the revelation available through your WORD and ask You to grant me increased clarity for my divine destiny. You will make known to me the path of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our Words Shape our Destiny
October 22, 2008
Scripture: “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things, as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (Proverbs 12:14)
Most people prioritize their hard work thinking that it is THE factor that propels them beyond their peers. They expect “effort” to be the dominating influence at work, school and in the neighborhood.
While there is no doubt that work and effort play an important role, God’s WORD here makes it clear that our words can shape and prosper our future. When we concentrate on creating conversations that respect others and honor God’s WORD, God promises that good things will come our way.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I recognize that there is power in godly conversation. I admit to You that I have, at times, focused more on “effort” and diligence than I have on carefully choosing my words. From today onwards, I am asking for Your wisdom to grant me the courage to increase the focus of my conversation with others so that the “fruit” of my lips will breathe life into the rest of my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Words of Integrity and Trust Create Opportunity for Personal Influence
October 21, 2008
“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.” (Proverbs 22:11)
Many people spend enormous amounts of energy and resources “positioning” themselves for a promotion, a better opportunity or to gain power in relationships. However, God’s WORD offers a clear and never-failing alternative to the work of self-promotion.
God searches throughout the whole earth looking for people who can be trusted with the wisdom of His WORD. He promises to opens doors for those whose hearts are pure and whose actions are filled with integrity.
Prayer: Dear Lord, You are eternally wise and promise to provide a future for me that is filled with Your goodness. Teach me to put my hopes in You and to focus my heart, not on self-promotion, but rather on staying pure in heart and using words that are gracious and honor others. Then I can trust your WORD to work in me and on my behalf. In Jesus’ name, Amen
A Joy-filled Heart Brings Health
October 20, 2008
Scripture: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
You and I can make the choice today to have a cheerful heart. It is an amazing power granted to us by our Creator. We can choose to look at our circumstances and be affected by them, or we can choose to have the WORD of God impact our circumstances. A heart that is crushed can siphon every bit of life away, but a cheerful disposition restores like a good medicine.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Today I choose to be cheerful and to look at the blessings You have given me! I will not be brought down by my temporary circumstances any longer, I will choose to rejoice in Your goodness working in my life. Help me to be consistently cheerful in my outlook. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Kind Words Encourage even the Heavy Hearted
October 19, 2008
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)
If the truth were to be told, many of us have “unknowingly” over-scheduled and over-burdened our daily routines with the obligations of work, social commitments, our children’s school and extra-curricular activities. The result of this “busy” life is often a sense that, rather than managing our own activities, we allow our schedules control us.
God’s WORD has a solution that will help us “power down” from our over-booked priorities. We should be first seeking the spread of His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and second, we can carefully choose our words to no longer focus our own “busyness,” but rather speak words of kindness toward circumstances of others.
When we speak God’s WORD over our own situation and operate conversationally with kindness toward others, God begins to work on our behalf so that His priorities help us shape our daily routines, and His mercy extends through our conversations to the harried and hectic lifestyle of those around us.
Try it! It will bring cheer both to your heart and to those around you!
Prayer: Dear Lord, Today I choose to not allow my own “busyness” to keep me from being kind to others. Help me not to be too inwardly focused, but to instead choose Your Kingdom and Your Ways. I ask that You grant me the opportunity to bring joy and happiness to those around me by replacing my complaints with words that are kind, loving and considerate toward others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wisdom Nourishes your Soul and Provides Lasting Hope
October 18, 2008
Scripture: “Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:14)
Wisdom nourishes your soul and provides lasting hope
There is a confident assurance that comes from the wisdom of God’s WORD. Even in the midst of difficult circumstances we can find peace and rest as we depend on God’s WORD to work on our behalf. Wisdom is “sweet” to your soul, in that Godly wisdom can provide solutions and direction to your life even if others are trapped in a sea of confusion.
God’s WORD is not only our rescue from difficulty; it is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path.” The future is bright for those who trust in God’s WORD.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, today I will seek wisdom in Your WORD. You have placed before me an opportunity to walk out my life with you and be filled with hope. I choose You and Your WORD, rather than my own attempts at finding “solutions.” Beginning today, I confidently place my future in Your hands and ask that You guide my conversation to reflect the truth of Your WORD. In Jesus’ name, Amen.